Dear Twilight,
It’s been so long! The war has been over for almost a year now, but you still spend all your time in your “secret library.” How are your wings? It took me the longest time to get used to my new horn when I got it. Hopefully, it isn’t the same for you.
We received news of the founding of Ponyville. You probably knew this already, but the farmers living with you there used to be guards at the castle! They retired before the war even started, and I think they lived somewhere near The Great Falls, but Shiny thinks they moved near you out of instinct. “Once a royal guard, always a royal guard,” he says.
Shining and I would have loved to be there, but we are still dealing with the aftermath of the war. According to Aunt Celestia, not all changelings have left Equestria. I thought they would have, considering we defeated their queen, but there’s a possibility some of them wished to make a life here—even if in secret. Despite having been allied to the changeling queen, Discord is being little to no help in the matter. I only hope we’ll be able to find them and reach a peaceful solution.
Everypony here misses you terribly, of course—especially Shiny, but you did not hear that from me. I know Aunt Celestia visited you last week. How did that go? She told me she enchanted your books so they would never be damaged. She also thinks you’ve forgotten you’re not a filly anymore. How strongly did you “joyfully throw” yourself at her to have almost tumbled her down, silly?
Aunt Luna might be visiting soon. Her… relationship with Aunt Celestia is a bit strained on her side. A nearby village organized another “sun celebration” for Aunt Celestia, and even if she would never admit it, you can imagine how Aunt Luna felt about that. It used to be less hard on her when you were here, but now that her favorite night-owl is gone, she has no one to remind her how beautiful her night is by stargazing all the time.
Shiny and I are trying to see if we can stop by Ponyville next month. I hear you’ve been eating very good apple pies. Don’t eat too much, though, or you’ll get a tummy ache!
Hope to see you soon,
Cadance
That was a very sneaky hide there. Took me a fourth scan to spot it
6252369 Alright now I need to know what I'm missing.
Anyone have a guess at what kind of code that is?
I always knew Granny Smith was that old.
6252662
Got it.
Also, wiki.
Nicely done author, well played!
DPFSOIGIOM YSYSQ XKWF XHOFI (4)
It does. It always does.
Anyone care to enlighten us about that author's note?
6252837
Yes, but what's the key?
6253718
DIRL BYYBEZ ZTKY N VULFX SNEHNARK ? (4)
YES, IT MAY BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND IT.
It's strange to think of Discord as allied to the princesses given what we see from Rarity's POV.
6252369 At first I was almost certain that it would be Luna, but well, no such luck. I actually got the right word on second trial, but he web decoder I used was broken and gave me a wrong result.
Tipp if you can't find it:
The keys are always key words of the text, so I find them pretty easy to find.
6253503
It really depends on the system. I generally read on Android tablet and the difference is rather small. So small in fact, that looking for the key was pretty damn hard. On PC, however, it's glaring.
Ooooh so THAT'S why the story was allowed to fall into legend!
Either it's too early or my brain just doesn't like cyphers. Spotted the key, read the wiki someone posted, still can't figure it out.
I'm gonna blame it on still being half asleep, may try again after I get moving...
What a neat twist on how and why Ponyville was founded. Same for the differences and similarities with what happened a thousand years back, very interesting.
It also raises a few new questions, such as the source of the apple pies and whose house was Discord living in.
6253101
jcg mw
I'm loving all this AU worldbuilding and tying it in with the canon history. So very well done.
What's the Cipher?
Very clever fun n_n
6253659
Sorry for the late reply, but it's a Vigenere Cipher, which uses a keyword to scramble something somehow, and if you know the keyword you can figure it out. The keyword is Aunt, and once solved the message is "Does belief make a curse stronger?"
6347921
Been using http://www.vigenere.net/ for the decryption work, just a matter of finding the keyword
I wonder if I would have a harder time findingthe kkeyword if I was on the computer and not on my phone...
I would think it does, if it is crafted correctly
7429590 I... Believe it does
Yes, for that is where it gets its' power from
7429590 Hurr durr, don't say it, don't think it! It gets stronger if you believe in him!
(Bye Bye Man... a movie that has made too much money by being so stupid people see it to laugh at it. Meaning the makers win by default because profit. )
Discarded my original theory long ago. I'm no good at solving mysteries to be honest~
Where did the author's note go?
Where’s Applebloom in all of this
What's this about a cipher that people keep talking about? I'm not seeing anything like that mentioned.
So, I can only assume that the riddle, along with the cipher, was subsequently removed? Why? I get that people don't really understand spoiler tags, but...
10378408
10077368
Reading this in October 26 of 2020, 6 days until Hallow’s Eve, and I have yet to see see any ciphers. I started reading this about two days ago, as well. I imagine the ciphers and riddles were removed for creative or suspense/intrigue-inducing purposes. The word ‘Solar’ on the dragon drawing when Elena comes to get ink from the quill shop is still there, though.
Also, did anyone else notice that Twilight named her candelabras after Star Swirl? I thought it was adorable.
10077638
I know this may seem random, but I accidentally added you to a reply on another story. To any authors who see this in their story’s comment section, feel free to delete it or ask me to delete it. I am terribly sorry, and I promise I will do everything in my power not to let this happen again. I feel this is be uncomfortable for all parties involved. Again, I am terribly sorry, and good day.