Satisfied that everything is in place, I summon my unicorn illusion, just to make sure the populace isn't frightened. I then teleport down the mountain to the closer alicorn. Appearing right outside a castle, I immediately extend my magical senses. Determining that there are no guards nearby, I then do a short range hop to the other side of the wall. Broad daylight, not the best time to be sneaking around, so I don't even try. Using a spell, I 'feel' the entire castle, constructing a mental map of the place. I am sure some ponies were rudely interrupted by a questing wave of magic, but it would seem they are nobles, so I don't mind. I head for the throne room, as if I belong here. I have also located my target, she is sleeping at the moment, but that is a good thing.
Waltzing across the courtyard, I come upon a tower with waaayyyy to many steps. So instead of walking up them for ten minutes, I just teleport to the top, looking around to make sure no one notices. At the top, I pull a needle out of the box in my bag, and prepare to stab an adorable colored pony. Opening the door (good oak, this stuff) I shuffle quietly along the floor to the bed on the far side of the room. I also notice a balcony that is glowing with powerful magic. Balcony later, blood sample first. I arrive at the bed after a long and arduous journey across the bedroom. I carefully apply a pain nullifying spell to the pony's neck, and draw the sample. Also noticing that the pain nullify spell took more mana than usual, I check out the mare with Mage-sight. Oh shit. She is one of the major points, meaning I should not stay here too long. But I still want to check out the balcony. Satisfied that I have not woken her, I creep over to the balcony to get a closer look at the runes there. The runes are nearly identical to the ones I found in the ruins, the only difference being these ones are less worn. These ones might actually be more powerful. I understand the circle for extra power, but why on the balcony? What is so special about here that isn't anywhere else?
Hearing a shuffle, I take a glance at the sleeping alicorn. She has re-positioned herself so that she is facing the balcony. If she had woken up, I would have been spotted for sure. Stepping into her circle of runes, I use its mana reserves to teleport me to the city in the far north with the other alicorn.
I arrive on the edge of the city. Completely made of crystal, it is stunning to behold. The castle at the center is where I believe I am headed. Strutting towards the city center, I see many houses, shops, and other buildings, all made of a crystalline substance. Arriving at the castle, I search for signs of an alicorn in the vicinity. I find two alicorns, but one appears to be smaller than the other. Eh, doesn't matter, I can get samples from both. I also find one of the most powerful runes I have seen. Looking at it is nearly blinding. Getting a closer look, I see that there are symbols on it I don't recognize, while I do recognize others. I will need to study that further, but first, I have some blood to get.
Prepping my needles, I keep moving closer towards the two. Maybe the one is a foal? I should not stab a foal, that's just cruel. Finding the room they are in, I take a peek. One is indeed a foal, the other, based on color similarities, could be the mother. Drawing blood sample from the larger one, I move away quickly. I don't sense any rune circles, so I will have to rely on my own power.
Pulling out my teleportation rune, I charge it up, and poof! I am back at my cave. Inserting the samples in the spectrometer, I decide to make this place more comfy. First, warmth. While the thick rock does offer some protection from the cold outside it is still quite cold in here. Casting a small spell, I place an insulating barrier over the cave entrance. Reaching into the earth again, I transmute the rock around me into a thin layer of plastic covered aerogel. Insulation is taken care of, now I need a better place to sleep than the benches in my ship. Carving the rock, I make separate rooms. I have the hangar, for my ship, a bedroom, to sleep in, a kitchen, for making food that isn't rations. A workroom, secured around the outer edge with runic wards, as well as a rune circle to generate a powerful shield that should be able to absorb anything I can throw at it. And finally, a map room. I move holographic projectors into there to use as I see fit. Speaking of which, after all this work, time for some fun. Firing up my computer, I start Civilzation: Universal. Play for hours.
4 hours later
"Aurthur? Your body is done." Alyr is always good at reminding me when I need to get off a video game.
Placing my completed alicorn body in one chamber of the consciousness transference device, I mentally prepare for what is about to happen. Removing your mind and soul from a body is not easy, but placing them in one is. Fortunately for me, the process has become nearly perfect, so the side effects should be minimal. I will also have to make sure all the tubes are connected, to supply my human body with nutrients to keep it alive.
Stepping into the other chamber, I connect the tubes, put the needle in place and place the crown on my head. Ready for the transfer, I tell Alyr.
"Start transfer."