Sledge sat on the edge of his bed, about to get up.
The mane was rough, the wings hung loosely from his back... and there was this odd taste in his mouth, making him smack a bit. Didn't taste like anything particular, just... odd.
His eyes were wandering to the dresser and the picture on top.
The mattress shook and a cup was offered “Jack made it... woke him up”
“You are aware, he likes to sleep through?”
Her slim shoulders shrugged “You are welcome... now take your cup”
Sledge looked after her, slowly emptying the appreciated brew... when Muse got in front of the mirror dresser, in order to tame this wild mane of hers. The brush got stuck several times, to get smoother with every try... until it, there were long strokes, all the way through.
“... did you consider my proposal?” he asked seemingly out of nowhere.
“Why do you keep asking?” she said looking at his reflection “You know how I feel about it.”
-pok- the cup was put aside “Than I will go on my own.”
“No, you wouldn't. You would miss me too much, to be that stubborn.”
The blacksmith got up, to sit down right behind the mare, reaching out with his wings, stroking along the contours of her back... - she had to giggle... it always tickled, when he did that. “...e-nough... you know I don't like that.” she wiggled, since neck fur was already standing up, letting a cold shower run down her spine “You know i'm serious.”
The mare's smile fell flat “... and it makes me sick. Do you want to find somepony else?”
His snot gently stroke along her neck, whispering “an unthinkable option.”
Muse slammed the brush down and spun around “What makes you believe, that if you wait long enough... I just come after you? -why do you just want me to give up like that?” her face was saddened and angry, whenever he brought it up.
It wasn't easy to see her like this, but up until now, he couldn't think of any other way.
“I will go. You will come with me” he said with a caring tone to it, grabbing one of her hooves, to put it in between his own “Even if this project exceeds our expectations, it won't be enough, to change the world around us.”
“This isn't about anypony else. Neither the two of us...”he continued, watching the mare's breath became heavy and faltering “...but this could be, about the three of us.”
“T-that's just not fair!” the white hoof pulled away, but was grabbed right away, causing a tug of war between the couple - back and forth, harsh to the left – to try it with both hooves of herself... but one he seemed to win, when Muse face dropped on his chest, crying bitter tears onto the rough ground, while still being held in a gentle grip.
The stallion stroke the back of her head, watching the two of them in the mirror “Hate me, as long you need to... I will always wait... till the last snow has fallen.”
Sledge let go.
Muse sat there, the face down to the side. Sniffing. Huffing. Sulking.
“I hope today will change your mind.” the mare was told, before being left alone, looking at the closed door. Left behind, trying to think on something else, other than a life without him.
Swift-Move was up as well.
Of all pony's, he always was the first to be up. Getting up and to bed like a clockwork.
Usually, he would make breakfast at this hour... but since he wasn't at home, he just sat there... licking his hoof-tip once in a while... trying to find something readable.
“Weather forecast: Cloudy, with high chances of snow” …some bonehead got paid to write this? .… another lick, followed by the sound of turning pages.
“I assume things are going according to plan?” Sledge skipped a couple of lines.
There wasn't any answer. The unicorn simply scratched his chin.
The blacksmith got around the metal stallion and grabbed his ear – twisting it about 180 degrees, to pull it down. The chest snapped open, after which the plates were pushed aside. He than got up to the magician, grabbing the small wooden chest sitting next to him, carrying it back to the horse, in order to place the purple crystal in its middle...
a last scrutinizing look... after which the chest closed again.
From there on in, hours seemed to fly by.
The others walked in and out - having breakfast next door, to come back again and talk things through. Jack chewed self-made licorice, offering strings to everypony...
Tenet explained tonight's changes in detail, while Sledge tried to lecture him, about last minute changes. Muse joined the group, asking if everypony slept well – some of which the second time today ...being offered some candy. A string or two wouldn't hurt.
When the magician put down his newspaper, the room got silent.
The white mare swallowed the last string “... thank you” before trotting towards the one waiting. Orange-, Purple-, Brown- and Dark-green-eyes were following. Some with more concern than others.
“You kept us going, now make it move.”
The mare nodded once and passed by, making her way up to the tank. It was about two meters in height and had a ramp on its side, so you could easily get up and into the nutritious goo. Jack followed along, helping with the respiration mask... before lowering herself halfway into this gel-like liquid. “Tastes like cherry, hope you like...” it whispered, on which she pet his cheek... before going down all the way...
The world got mute... pony's around become smudged shapes, behind curtains of red silk.
As soon the fur was soaked through, it felt kinda awkward... and movements became slow.
The earthpony turned at the pegasus, which turned him down in an instant “- your considerations have been duly noted.”
“I get why somepony has to do it, but it has to be her?” it asked nervously.
Meanwhile, Jack tried to remember, why he holds a big glass of honey “Jack... the tank” the reminder came just in time, before shoving the first spoon into his mouth.
“Oh... right! right! right!” - the jar turned upside down and was shook, to it with the rest. Scratching every bit out of it. It would keep her heartbeat calm and the steady, which was vital. This was also the number one advice provided by Ace: Stay calm... and if you have to think of something, at least stick with it. Don't panic, so I can do my job.
“I need you for external diagnosis. Jack to monitor vitals. Swift-Move to perform the spell...” to be ignored right after “Proceed.”
Swift-Move already stood between tank and puppet. Rattling down the spell one more time in his head- moving silently his lips. The horn was charged and eyes shut, mumbling it one more time.
The brown head turned for a second, when the rest tried to follow but was fought down already. The pegasus nailed him to the ground – hooves clutched around chest and throat while being hit with the elbow.
“SHE IS YOUR WIFE!” it screamed while wiggling from side to side “Indee-d!” he squeezed out, while the magic began to spread across the room.
Blue shimmering strokes of light reached out for the tank to spin around its base, before crawling along its sides – when the earthpony freed himself, to be grabbed and pulled flat on his stomach, kicking blindly behind, hitting his face in the process.
A curtain of dancing firefly's reached into the tank, causing a numb feeling beneath her skin, while first strokes split up, to spiral upwards – above Jacks head, which was hiding beneath his hooves, unable to any of it – neither the magic, but mostly the fight.
The earth one got up and stumbled a few steps, about to interrupt the howl procedure, when the pegasus pulled his wings backward with all its might – sending it with a harsh body-check against a cabinet, battering the thin metal door. Tenet couldn't get up, tried to – was grabbed... and hit to the face, sending him back to the ground.
Sledge then saw it... - the brightness cast sharp shadows all across the room.
A bridge of light...
...between mare...
...and metal.