One week later, in the morning, Dusk Glow had already become quite skilled at using magic to pour his own tea.
He sat at the desk, looking at his cutie mark.
It was a book opened across the middle, with a quill resting beside it.
A drop of ink fell from the quill’s tip, forming a tiny trail of sparkling light across the page.
“Seriously,” Dusk Glow said, turning toward Twilight Sparkle, “the whole concept of cutie marks is incredible.”
“In the human world, people spend their entire lives searching for themselves. But here…”
He lowered his gaze toward the glowing mark.
“Everypony is born with such a clear ‘answer’ to what they’re meant to be.”
Twilight thoughtfully turned the pages of the book in front of her, The Origins of Cutie Marks.
“But from another perspective, that can also be a sweet burden.”
“Some ponies spend their entire lives trying to understand what their cutie mark truly means.”
“Like a riddle you’re born with?” Dusk Glow’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Come to think of it…”
He pointed at Twilight’s cutie mark, a magenta six pointed star surrounded by five smaller white stars.
“How did you get your cutie mark, Twilight?”
Twilight’s movement stopped.
The book gently fell onto the desk.
She turned her head and looked at her cutie mark.
“It appeared when I was taking the entrance exam for the School for Gifted Unicorns.”
Her voice softened as she recalled the memory.
“Suddenly, a rainbow appeared in the sky. At that moment, my magic just exploded. I cast several spells all at once, and then my cutie mark appeared.”
She gave a small laugh.
“Honestly, I was terrified.”
Dusk Glow’s ears perked up.
“So… the moment your cutie mark appeared, you knew you loved magic?”
“Yes.”
Twilight thought for a moment, trying to find the right words.
“It was like…”
“Like there was a voice inside me saying, ‘This is what you’re meant to do.'”
“I see.”
Dusk Glow gently touched his own cutie mark with a hoof.
“Having a clear direction to work toward must be nice.”
His expression became slightly downcast.
“I don’t really understand what the book and quill are supposed to have to do with me.”
“They might represent a ‘recorder’ and a ‘writer.’ But…”
Twilight closed her book and quietly waited for him to continue.
“I don’t think I have any real talent in that area.”
Dusk Glow sighed.
“Back in the human world, even though I was pretty young, I submitted papers at several academic conferences.”
“But the professors told me that my papers were creative, yet completely disorganized.”
“But your research notes this week have been really good.”
Twilight looked at him seriously.
“Maybe his cutie mark just means he’s a bookworm.”
Spike walked past with a plate of cookies and immediately added his opinion.
“That’s only because you’re helping me.”
Dusk Glow shook his head with a troubled expression.
“If you weren’t here, I don’t know if I could have done them nearly as well.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.”
Twilight smiled.
“Perhaps your talent isn’t about traditional ways of recording things.”
“Maybe your talent is about using your own unique way of writing the world.”
She thought for a moment.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up.
“Maybe this library is simply too small for you to find the answer.”
“I should take you to the central city library.”
“There will be even more books for us to look through. Maybe you’ll discover your talent there.”
“Right now?”
Dusk Glow’s eyes brightened as well.
“Sure! I haven’t really had the chance to see what your city is like.”
“Great!”
Spike’s tail swished excitedly.
“We can stop by Joe’s Donut Shop too! I heard they just started selling a limited edition flavor!”
Twilight immediately brightened.
“And I reserved the newest Cross-Dimensional Creature Compendium.”
“Princess Celestia personally approved the request!”
“Oh, and the underground library recently received a whole new collection…”
Once the idea was decided, there was no stopping Twilight.
She used her magic to put saddlebags on herself and Dusk Glow, then had Spike write down the schedule and the list of books they needed to borrow.
And just like that, the two ponies and one dragon set off.
…
The bright morning sunlight poured over the clean white streets of the central city, giving the buildings a warm golden glow.
Dusk Glow stood beside the fountain in the central plaza, staring up at the castle spires that seemed to reach into the clouds.
His eyes were wide with amazement.
“Well?” Twilight pointed toward the magnificent royal castle in the distance.
“Quite a sight for your first visit to Canterlot, isn’t it?”
Well dressed noble ponies walked along the streets in small groups, their saddlebags and jewelry glittering beneath the sunlight.
Several uniformed attendants pushed elegant carts filled with tea and refreshments.
The sweet smell of freshly baked scones drifted through the air.
“It’s incredible!”
Dusk Glow looked around in amazement.
He took in the buildings, the busy streets, and the crowds of ponies.
He even noticed several noble ponies walking around with their heads held unusually high.
Um…
did those ponies sleep funny and wake up with stiff necks?
Spike tugged on Dusk Glow’s hoof.
His eyes were shining.
“Hey! Joe’s Donut Shop is just around that corner!”
“Their rainbow glazed donuts are supposed to be the best in all of Equestria!”
“Why don’t we stop there first…”
“No!”
Twilight immediately lifted Spike into the air with her magic.
Her mane puffed up slightly from impatience.
“The library only allows borrowing of the Cross-Dimensional Creature Compendium between ten and noon!”
“We can have donuts later.”
Spike crossed his arms while floating in midair.
“But Joe’s limited cloudberry flavor is only available until ten thirty!”
“Knowledge is more important than sweets!”
Twilight said firmly.
Her eyes were filled with determination as she headed toward the library.
Spike’s tail drooped as he followed.
“The cloudberry donuts are definitely going to sell out…”
Dusk Glow quietly moved closer to the little dragon.
“Don’t worry.”
His horn glowed faintly.
A magical map appeared in front of them.
“I checked the routes.”
“From the library’s side entrance to the donut shop, we only need to pass through two corridors.”
“It’s twice as fast as the main route.”
Spike’s scales seemed to brighten.
“Really?”
Twilight’s ears suddenly twitched.
She immediately turned around.
“What are you two whispering about?”
“Discussing the academic value of The History of Culinary Magic!”
Dusk Glow answered without changing his expression.
His magic quickly returned the map to his saddlebag.
“Right, Spike?”
Spike immediately straightened himself.
“Absolutely!”
“Especially the chapter about how ancient ponies used magic to keep donuts fresh and fluffy!”
Twilight stared suspiciously at the two of them.
“Well, that’s convenient.”
“The History of Culinary Magic is also on my borrowing list today.”
She immediately increased her pace toward the library.
…
Once they entered the library, an elderly librarian wearing gold rimmed spectacles poked his head out from behind the front desk.
“Miss Sparkle!”
“Your reserved copy of The Cross-Dimensional Creature Compendium is ready.”
“And it even comes with several manuscripts from Princess Celestia’s private collection.”
Twilight’s expression instantly transformed.
Pure joy filled her face.
She rushed toward the bookshelves like a purple whirlwind.
Dusk Glow and Spike both sighed in relief.
They exchanged a silent glance before gently bumping hooves.
“Remember,” Dusk Glow whispered.
“The moment Twilight gets completely absorbed in reading…”
“We slip out the side door!”
Spike eagerly finished.
His scales practically sparkled with anticipation.
Sure enough, the moment Twilight received The Cross-Dimensional Creature Compendium, she became completely absorbed in it.
No matter how often Spike tried talking to her, he received little more than brief responses.
“Quick!”
Dusk Glow whispered.
“Twilight is completely absorbed in the book!”
He hurried toward the side door with Spike.
They slipped outside.
After turning around the third corner, they spotted the familiar shop with a little bell hanging above the entrance.
Joe’s Donut Shop.
Spike let out a cheer and pushed open the door.
“Joe! The usual!”
He slid dramatically across the floor and stopped perfectly in front of the glass display case.
His claws slapped down on the counter.
“Three cloudberry limited editions!”
Behind the display case, a yellow unicorn was polishing the glass.
“Oh, hey, Spike.”
Joe looked at him, then glanced at Dusk Glow.
“Don’t recognize this one.”
“I thought Twilight was bringing you along.”
“This is Dusk Glow.”
Spike casually gestured toward him.
“He’s a new friend of mine and Twilight’s.”
He then pulled out a small bag of gems and tossed it onto the counter.
“My treat today.”
“Dusk, what flavor do you want?”
Dusk Glow’s eyes wandered toward the simplest tray in the corner.
Golden, crispy rings with nothing more than a layer of sparkling sugar sprinkled across them.
The sunlight made them shimmer.
“I’ll just have…”
“A sugar one.”
His voice was strangely nostalgic.
Spike stared at him.
“What?”
“A plain sugar donut?”
“At Joe’s?!”
“That’s a crime!”
Joe cheerfully leaned over the counter.
“Wouldn’t you like to try one of our newest flavors?”
“Our Rainbow Falls flavor and chocolate lava are both very popular.”
“No, thanks.”
Dusk Glow smiled.
“If you don’t mind, could I get some mayonnaise with it?”
A few minutes later, the bell above the door rang.
Dusk Glow and Spike stepped back onto the street carrying paper bags filled with donuts.
Spike walked ahead excitedly, practically bouncing at the thought of finally getting to eat the new flavor.
Suddenly, a blue blur shot toward them like a streak of lightning.
“Look out!”
Dusk Glow barely had time to react.
Then came a loud thump.
Spike was sent spinning two and a half times through the air.
The paper bag flew high above them.
The limited edition cloudberry donuts followed a beautiful arc through the sky.
Then, with almost perfect accuracy, every single one dropped straight through the bars of a storm drain.
“My limited editions!”
“Noooo!”
Spike let out a heartbroken cry and reached helplessly toward the narrow gap.