[Well, now that the phenomenon's ended, its time for business. Princess Luna, looking quite livid, is staring into the scrolls. Behind her is a small cadre of royal guards.]

Now that things have calmed down, I think its time to do what needs to be done.

[She stamps her feet, letting out the Royal Canterlot Voice as she does so. Judging by how Luna's voice suddenly echoes through Ponyville, well. Three guesses where she is.]

CITIZENS! WE REQUIRE YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE ON A SERIOUS CRIMINAL MATTER! ONE OF YOUR FELLOWS AIDED THE ONE CALLED TIREK DURING HIS INVASION, AND MUST BE BROUGHT TO OUR CUSTODY IMMEDIATELY!

...You Highness, does this involve the cows in the--

SILENCE! THAT IS SPECIAL INFORMATION THAT YOU CANNOT RELEASE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC! If the criminal knows, they will try and flee!

Ok then.

WE SHALL KEEP ANY TIPS YOU MAY HAVE CONFIDENTIAL! BUT REST ASSURED! COWARD, IF YOU ARE READING THIS, WE WILL FIND YOU! GIVE YOURSELF UP AND ACCEPT THE PUNISHMENT OF THE PRINCESS OF THE MOON!

[ The scroll is pointed towards the sky, and the feed is unstable and constantly changing, to the sound of some annoyed grunts. Eventually, some way or another, it is forcibly held open and made to look at an empty field on the outskirts of Ponyville.

After a few seconds of nothing, a rather miniscule martian shuffles into the frame, carrying a large flag over his shoulder. Without any fanfare, he plants the flag into the ground, before looking at the camera and raising his finger in triumph. ]

This planet has officially been claimed in the name of Mars! Hm. Quite superb, wouldn't you agree?

[Here is Dust, as usual not big on the eye-contact thing. He has absolutely no idea what he missed on the scrolls the other day, for that matter...]

I think I need to face facts and admit that there's really not much work available for a swordsman around here.

I don't suppose anyone's been sitting on a large number of jobs that can only be solved by a sharp edge...

[Yeah, in his own way, Dust is trying to ask for advice on what to do to actually keep himself going financially. Especially since he's not looking out for just himself any more.]

Hello, everypony. Some of you may not recognize me from around town, which is fair... I only just got one of these scrolls. My name is Bon Bon, and yes, that means I'm the one who runs the candy shop downtown. Either way, I've got a few announcements to make, now that the nasty business with the eclipses is over.

Firstly: Since it's only a month until Nightmare Night, I'm accepting suggestions for varieties of candy to make for the big day-before sale. Last year's celebrations being cut short by the actual Nightmare Moon I entirely blame on my stocking of way too much black licorice, so I want to know if you all can help make the holiday not a catastrophic failure this year.

Secondly: thanks to that eclipse, I actually do have a bit of a surplus here, so until the end of the month, all taffy is 75% off. Something to chew on for a while. [The mare chuckles, quietly, at her own joke.]

Finally: Until further notice, Zetta and all of those who collaborated with him are blacklisted from the Sugar Shack. I understand that it was apparently some super-secret plan to lure out the evil mastermind keeping all of the offworlders here, but you caused Lyra and Fluttershy to work themselves into exhaustion, made one of my employees sick, and turned the other into a bear! [Yes, Zetta, she's blaming you for that too even if it happened after the fact. And was technically Teddie's fault.] If you want me to lift the ban, then I'm expecting a pretty big apology. Yes, your majesties, that includes you two, too. I'm a businessmare, not a politician, and you hurt my bottom line, so I have to take action.

Thank you all for your time.


( [Private to Dame Trixie] )


( [Private to Kyouko and Teddie] )


( [Private to Lyra and OU!Fluttershy] )

MY FELLOW EQUESTRIANS!

[Good morning! Princess Luna is on the scrolls, and she seems to be in Celestia's room. Its...very bright and golden, with several wall-sized bright mirrors behind the moon princess reflecting the light of the rising golden sun.

The room is also quite spotless, and everything is in order - including Celestia's crown, sitting very neatly on her bed pillows.]

It appears our sister has made a rather grievous mistake. Several days ago, she left a note for us, stating she was had to leave expeditiously, and was thus spending time with the Element bearers as part of an urgent, much-needed vacation. But it appears that in her haste to leave, she forgot something very important: her toothbrush and toothpaste!

[At this, a gold-plated mechanical toothbrush floated up into view.]

I know it is possible that she may have bought a travel toothbrush. And also a travel crown and clothing since she left those here too. Also her scroll since that is what we're using right now. And...actually, I don't think she bothered to pack anything. HOWEVER, travel clothing is easily obtained, and she perhaps wishes to be incognito, so leaving her crown makes sense. But travel toothbrushes are not as effective as regular toothbrushes!

This really cannot be stressed enough! Plus, it is oddly unlike her to forget such a basic essential as her toothbrush which cleans between her tooth crevasses so efficiently! And not cleaning them efficiently causes dreadful cavities! We doubt our sister would want to explain to her dentist that she ended up with such because she forgot to use her regular toothbrush for an extended period of time, correct?

If it is at all possible, would someone please relay this message of worry to our sister, in whatever guise she's decided on, so she might get a proper toothbrush? We...er, I'd greatly appreciate that.

[Sometime after the ponies wake up, scrolls and quills suddenly start raining from the sky. Don't worry, its not the ponypocalypse, its just a squadron of flying white ponies dropping them from above.

Once everyone receives one, the scrolls suddenly glow and come to life, its surface revealing the visage of a large white alicorn with rainbow hair and a golden crown, sitting on a large, velvet-upholstered throne. She has a calm, reassuring, regal smile on her face as she speaks, though those who know her better can see the light of worry and concern in her eyes.]

Good afternoon, newponies! I am Princess Celestia.

I've heard of your arrival in Ponyville and of some of the more interesting stories that have come from it. We're...not certain how this phenomenon has occurred, but we here at the royal castle will put our efforts into solving this mystery, and I hope you will help us out as we wish to help you out!

Rest assured, no harm will come to you. Nor, as some of you have worried, are we holding you against your will. On the contrary, you're free to move about Equestria as you please, be it through Ponyville, Los Pegasus or anywhere in between. I only request that you use the scrolls we have provided you to check in from time to time, so that we know where you might be when we figure out the solution to this current situation.

If you have any questions, you are free to ask them of me. If I am not available - and, I will admit, there are times when I can be quite busy - there are many other ponies willing to help you, including the other princesses of Equestria. We are all in this together, after all.

[And then she smiles a little more. Its a much more relaxed smile. The concern is still there, of course.]

But, in the meantime, I'd also like to get to know all of you! I always like to meet new people, after all. I hear we even have a dragon?