//------------------------------//
// Learning 
// Story: Of Harmony & Chaos 
// by BBeee 
//------------------------------//


                “Looks like he’s coming around. You know, it was nice of you to stay by him, but he was only drunk. There isn’t anything seriously wrong with him.”
 
                “…”
 
                “Is he a friend of yours?”
 
                “…”
 
                “No? Well, I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: you’re an odd one.”
 
                “Ughh…jus’ a few more minutes…pardner’…”
 
                “Except for the migraine he’ll no doubt have, I’d say he’s fine. I’ll leave you two alone for now. Just shout for me or the nurse if you need anything.”
 
                The creaking of wood under the weight of somepony’s hooves roused the green earth pony from his slumber even more than the voices already had. A dull throb rhythmically pounded around his skull, though it was not the worse hangover he had ever experienced. Craggy slowly drew himself up and opened his eyes. He was in a hospital bed. The log walls enclosing the building told him that he was still in Neighly, but he could not see a window and thus tell the time due to the half-drawn curtain around his bed. He did not notice her initially, though the faint feeling of being watched drew the stallion’s attention to a young mare sitting beside his bed and smiling happily at him.
 
                “Well howdy there!” Craggy cheerfully replied.
 
                “…”
 
                “I said, howdy!”
 
                “…”
 
                For one of the few times in his life, Craggy frowned. He had quickly come to realise that there were a number of odd things about the pony in front of him. There was of course her refusal to speak, but the ranger also noticed that her pupils were never focused. They moved and she blinked, but it was if she was unable to get her eyes to properly lock onto anything.
 
                A pony in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck suddenly popped his head around the curtain. “Sorry, you don’t know each other, right? I should have explaine-“
 
                “Hey Doc, ya mind telling ol’ Craggy what’s the matter wit’ this ‘ere lady?”
 
The medical pony stared at Craggy momentarily before continuing. “…Yes…Firstly: she’s mute. As you can no doubt already tell, she also suffers from an eye condition. She isn’t blind but does have difficulty with her vision. Please, try not to make a fuss about-”
 
“My most pro-found apolo-gies miss. I hope ya can forgiv’ me,” Craggy put his hoof to his chest and bowed a little to show his respect. The mare simply continued to smile and patted the earth pony on the head.
 
The physician did not feel quite so forgiving to Craggy. He stared at the rude pony then shook his head and disappeared around the curtain once more. “You’re free to leave whenever you want,” he called to them over the sound of his hooves.
 
Upon hearing that he was not required to stay in the clinic, Craggy was quick to leap out of bed. “A’ight then! Ain’t no point in staying here. Got ta make sure ma friends got to the big ol’ city jus’ fine! Still can’t believe a let ma drink git the best of me, have to apolo-gise for tha’ too!” Craggy was not speaking to anypony in particular but the silent mare, who the stallion also noticed to be a pegasus, nodded and began to follow him as he made his way to the small clinic’s entrance. Craggy waved his thanks to the doctor who only scowled in reply while the mare quickly grabbed a bag from a coat stand and slung it over her shoulder.
 
The two new friends stepped outside into the early morning light shining over Neighly. It would be sometime before the ferry was to sail again and the decision was already made in Craggy’s mind to just go by hoof. He did not ask if the mare wanted to come with him, he assumed, correctly, that she would. After only a few minutes of trotting, the two were on the path to Manesterdam with the golden rays of dawn lighting their way.
 
______________________________________________________________________________
 
 
                “Mama…! Heehee…! Oh!” Luna’s eyelids fluttered open and she looked around. She was lying on a pile of cushions in a comfortable sitting room. Celestia, Discord, Surprise, Firefly and even the unicorn Viator were spread around the cosy space in varying positions of sleep. She looked to a clock perched on the mantelpiece above the fireplace: midmorning. “I suppose I should wake everypony…” she muttered to herself, still partially under the thrall of sleep.
 
                “Sis,” she mumbled while rubbing her eyes. The blue maned alicorn went to prod her sister awake but stopped upon noticing a glint in the corner of her eye. Turning her head, Luna found the light’s source: a blue gemstone lying casually on the coffee table next to where Viator was sprawled. Careful not to wake the slumbering unicorn, Luna slowly crept to the table and peered closely at the gemstone. It glowed with its own power and was incredibly familiar to the dark blue mare, yet she couldn’t quite put a hoof on why.
 
                  Realisation suddenly hit her and she squealed as loudly as her lungs would allow out of pure excitement. The room was suddenly flung into comical chaos as hoofs flailed everywhere in an attempt to find the floor.
 
                “I’m up, I’m up!” cried Surprise as her wings sent her shooting into the ceiling head first.
 
                “Dragon!? Where!?” Firefly screamed, her head flitting back and forth in panic.
 
                “Luna, what is it!?”
 
                “An Element! An Element!” If the young alicorn’s shrieks hadn’t been enough to fill her companion’s with adrenaline, her subsequent mentioning of an Element definitely was.
 
Celestia and Discord both scrambled over the sofas and many cushions spread around the room to examine the pristine stone clasped in Luna’s hooves. Instinctively, Celestia magically drew the Element of Ambition, which they had found previously, from her saddlebag across the room. Holding the orange gem close to the blue, it was clear that they were both of the same size, shape and general characteristics.
 
“It is an Element. Though I wonder how…” Discord trailed off, lapsing back into the thoughtful looking state he had been in for most of their recent travelling.
 
As excited as she was about the Element, Luna could not help but cast a worried look to her brother. He had been very quiet in the past day or two, as if he was preoccupied with something terribly important.
 
“So that thing is what you’ve been looking for? An ’Element?’” They all froze and slowly inched their heads around to face the unicorn. Viator was standing and peering at each of them with a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure you didn’t simply drop that one last night? I found it on the roof, after you’d all left. Of course, if you didn’t drop it, then you haven’t got a hope of finding more, it was in quite plain sight if I remember. So what are they? Some sort of mysterious mineral? Artefacts maybe? Anything the Grand & Mightful Viator can make use of, perhaps?”
 
‘Oh no… We aren’t supposed to tell anypony about them. Brother or Sis’ll come up with something, they have to!’ Luna frantically thought. She could trust her siblings, they would know what to do.
 
“Huh? You mean it was just lying there? Gee, sorry guys, I didn’t notice! But it was an awesome fight!” Firefly grinned and laughed, the rush of fear at thinking there was another dragon and exhilaration at finding an Element still coursing through her.
 
“Hehe, neither did I? Guess we were all just hooked on the duel!” Celestia shot a look to Surprise and Firefly. They didn’t seem to appreciate the seriousness of the situation at hoof. Aumean had always been adamant at guarding the secret of the Elements, yet here was a pony who was on the very verge of discovering them.
 
The clanging on hooves on metal announced yet even more of an audience to the potential unveiling of the Elements. The forms of both Star Swirl and Dawn appeared on the iron spiral staircase that lead to the second floor. “What’s all this racket!? Would you young ones keep it down!? It’s still early!”
 
“Sorry everypony! Uncle is always a little grumpy in the morning!” apologised the younger of the two hosts.
 
“Star Swirl, Dawn. It’s probably best that you’re here,” announced Discord as he magically grabbed the two gems and took centre stage as best he could in the living room.
 
“Discord…? What are you…?” stammered Celestia, mind still reeling for someway she could explain to Viator, Star Swirl and Dawn without letting her mother’s secret out.
 
“I’m going to tell them. Everything.” Both alicorn’s mouths hung open. They weren’t sure how to respond to such an apparent disregard to their mother’s wishes, by her adopted son no less.
 
“‘It won’t just be them; I have a feeling they’ll make even more allies on their trip.’ Those were mother’s exact words, if I recall. I know how you feel, Celestia. But I believe mother intended for more ponies to learn about the Elements. I mean, think about it! Did you really think we would get through this entire journey without running into something like this?” Discord casually explained and asked. “Besides, our latest acquisition, which is the Element of Pride I believe, practically confirms my thoughts on the nature of this little trip our cunning mother devised for us all.”
 
All eyes turned to Celestia, waiting for her authorisation on the matter. ‘Brother’s right! C’mon Sis, we can trust Uncle and Dawn and even Mr. Viator!’
 
“I… suppose so. Just so long as you don’t go out in the street with a loudhailer or the like.”
 
Discord grinned as Celestia approved, reluctantly as it may have been. “In that case, get yourself comfortable everypony, we may be here for a while.”
 
For the rest of the morning, Discord passed on the lectures he, Celestia and Luna had all received from their mother. Star Swirl, Dawn and Viator all sat enthralled, all having a keen interest in magic. It wasn’t long into Discord’s lesson that Surprise, Firefly and eventually even Luna fell asleep again, but he was not deterred and continued into the early afternoon.
 
“…which brings me to a little theory I’ve thought of. Both Elements we’ve found thus far have been in odd places and under equally odd circumstances. I don’t believe mother’s spell physically hid the Elements, rather, they’re set to appear when we achieve something. When we fought the dragon, Firefly overcame her inability to fly and rescued us regardless. And just last night, our new friend Viator stood tall and proud even after being defeated and then just so happened to come across yet another Element, Pride to be precise. Coincidence? Possibly. But I still think dear mother’s magic was a little more complex than simply setting up a game of fetch,” finished the draconequus with a large breath.
 
“So that is what we saw that night…Good. Now come along, Dawn. We have experiments to run.” The three other magic users frowned at Star Swirl’s blatant and quick dismissal of the near-omnipotent artefacts he had just learned of.
 
“Sorry! If it’s something old, then Uncle probably isn’t terribly interested in it. I thought it was fascinating though!” Dawn meekly apologised before scampering back up the staircase in pursuit of her uncle.
 
“Anyway…let me get this straight. These Elements, when combined, can achieve almost anything?” Viator inquired as he turned back to Discord.
 
“In theory,” he replied.
 
“I see…In that case, I am coming with you.”
 
“…You are?” It was Celestia’s turn to speak up.
 
“Yes. I planned to hold another show here, and then move on for another. But the duel last night taught me something. As Grand & Mightful as I am, I must become even more Grand & Mightful before I can show myself on a stage again! And what better way to become more Grand & Mightful then in a quest for a group of exceedingly powerful artefacts! I won’t take no for an answer.”
 
“Oh…well, I suppose that is settled then.”
 
“Take Dawn as well.” The old unicorn’s words had an even greater impact than Viator’s and the rest of the room, including Dawn herself, were left staring at Star Swirl in confusion.
 
“U-Uncle! What d-did you say!?” The earth pony stammered.
 
“I said for them to take you with them as well. Like the colt said, it will be good for your studies,” he casually explained, gesturing to the other unicorn in the process. The show stallion grimaced at being called a colt again, but did not retaliate.
 
“But…! But…! I can’t just up and leave you! Who’s going to look after you!? Help you in your research!? I know you like to try and do things by yourself, but you know just as well as I do that even if you did manage to perfect all those spells you’re working on, you would still need somepony to lend a hoof with a few things!” ranted a fuming Dawn. She was angry with her uncle for even suggesting such a thing, given his deteriorating age and health.
 
Star Swirl grinned despite his niece’s fierce face. “Hehe, don’t worry, dear. You’re right, I know. But, I still have friends who wouldn’t mind coming around every few days just to check in. And there isn’t any need to concern yourself with those spells,” he slowly turned his grin, towards the three guests, “I think I’ve found the perfect test subjects.”
 
Celestia raised a hoof to herself with a growing sense of unease. “…Us? What kind of spells?”
 
The wizened pony laughed merrily at their reactions. “Let me explain. As Dawn says and as much as I hate to admit, I’m only getting older and older. With each year I’m less able to take care of myself on a daily basis. So I’ve recently started research into spells that will help me get by without being waited on. Muscle enchantments, immunity augmentation, memory spells, that sort of thing. But as you may know, body and mind altering magics can be dangerous and need to be properly tested and trialled before fully applied. The problem though is that we’ve yet been able to find any suitable and willing test subjects.”
 
Each of the three guests nodded along in comprehension. The old pony’s plight should have been obvious to them. After all, Star Swirl was already a fully grown and matured stallion by the time of the Migration and settling of Equestria which had been well over five decades prior to the current year.
 
“Now just wait a moment. I refuse to believe, no matter how old they actually are, that anypony who could defeat me so easily, like you did, could have problems with something as simple as taking care of themselves!” Viator angrily exclaimed. He could accept being defeated by an older pony, even by a much older pony, but one who might not be able to bathe themselves? That may be going too far.
 
“Clearly, there’s still a lot you need to learn about magic, colt. I’ll admit, when it comes to the practical side of things, you have a lot of talent. Being able to perfect your own teleportation spell is proof of that. There is still a lot of theory missing though. For example; raw magical ability does not fade with time in the same way physical ability does, but magical endurance can. I could not do what I did last night again in any quick succession. Even now I’m still a little worn from it,” explained Star Swirl to a sulking Viator. Clearly, the azure unicorn did not like being lectured like that, but held enough respect for the older sorcerer to not interrupt. “Anyway, we’re going off topic. What I would like you and your friends to do, Celestia, is to help me perfect the spells I’m working on. I won’t lie, there will be some risk involved, but all the additional hooves and horns present will minimise it,” he asked coolly, returning his gaze to the white alicorn.
 
Celestia’s face was full of doubt. “I’m sorry, I’m sure we would all like to help, but we don’t wish to delay our travels for too long either,” she stated apologetically. It was clear from her expression that she did want to help her mother’s old friend.
 
Rather than the look of disappointment they expected, Star Swirl merely chuckled again. “If it’s time you’re concerned about, then you shouldn’t. I don’t expect the tests to take anymore than a few hours at the very most. These spells aren’t perfected, true, but they are highly developed theoretically. One or two tries per spell should be more than enough to tell whether they are safe and suitable enough for actual use.”
 
“There isn’t any real reason why we can’t spare a few hours and assist him, Celestia. You haven’t even checked the compass for our new heading yet. Or brushed your mane,” commented Discord, his tone becoming noticeably more sly near the end of his words.
 
Celestia intuitively gazed at herself in a mirror mounted on the wall and turned a bright pink at seeing the mess her mane was in after forgetting to maintain it since being suddenly awoken by Luna’s screams. Without another word, the older alicorn summoned a brush to her and frantically set about taming the multi-coloured bush upon her skull into something she considered presentable, much to the cackling amusement of her brother. “Yes, yes, we can help then! Just be sure to ask the others!”
 
The others in question were promptly awoken from their boredom induced slumber with a few gentle prods from the draconequus and the situation quickly explained to them.
 
“Of course we’ll help Uncle!” Luna happily agreed.
 
“Same! What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t? Besides, it sounds super fun!” added Surprise.
 
“I’ll join in too, on the one condition I get to test those muscle whadyamacallits!” Firefly also pledged.
 
“Excellent. When you’re all ready, come through to my lab,” Star Swirl gestured to a heavy door and made his way to it, accompanied by his niece. “Just be sure not to touch anything, understand?” He received nods all around.
 
Once the door had creaked shut again, the travellers each quickly groomed and fed themselves then squeezed through the door together in pursuit of Star Swirl. What greeted them was a interesting sight, even for Firefly and Surprise who held little interest of magic. The walls, floor and ceiling of Star Swirl’s magical laboratory had been left as bare, smooth rock, or possibly even had the stone purposely added since it did not match the rest of the building. The room itself was also very large, far bigger than the lounge they had slept in. Its status as a laboratory was clear as well; throughout the room were benches, shelves and cupboards filled with all sorts of mystical items, from worn tomes to beakers filled with colourful liquids to jars of preserved creatures, no doubt magical in nature.
 
“Hey gramps, what’s this stuff?” casually asked Firefly who had zoomed up to a fat cauldron filled with a bubbling cyan liquid.
 
“Fire!” Surprise hissed at the rude earth pony.
 
Star Swirl, who had been skimming through a small notebook lifted his head and looked over to the speedster and cauldron she was peering into, apparently oblivious to her disrespectful comment. “Oh, that? Its just a little something for when I publish my finished teleportation spell. Increases a ponies’ ‘slickness’, helps those new to it get through space/time. Made mostly from wheat of all things. Anyway, that’s not what we’re here for…” the old unicorn trailed off as he went back to his notebook.
 
The six guests continued to examine and visually probe Star Swirl’s lab with wonder and awe for a few moments more when Dawn pulled her head from a circular array of lines on the floor by the far end of the lab. “The wards are ready, Uncle. Did you find your notes yet?” She walked over to the wizened pony and joined him in skimming through the notebook before pointing to a page which Star Swirl stopped on with a smile.
 
“Right, yes, here it is…Listen now, everypony. We’ll be trying the muscle enhancement first. You volunteered, didn’t you…ehm…”
 
“Firefly,” the pink earth pony reminded the senior unicorn.
 
“Firefly, yes. In that case, could you please step into the circle here and we can get started,” Star Swirl was no longer making eye contact with anypony, becoming increasingly focused on the open books and scrolls laid on roughly on the bench in front of him.
 
“The circle is full of magical wards. Basically, they’ll help stop anything…bad, happening,” Dawn explained without any considerable level of confidence.
 
“Did you mean ‘help’ or ‘will’?” Firefly asked with a suspicious tone.
 
“Don’t worry! The chances of anything really bad happening are virtually nonexistent!” Dawn tried to reasure her fellow earth pony.
 
Firefly waved a hoof dismissively, never really concerned from the start, and trotted into the circle. “Eh, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Now bring on the muscle!”
 
“Alright then…everypony step back,” warned Dawn, urging the others a few feet away from the circle.
 
“Are you ready Firefly?” inquired Star Swirl as he took up his position in front of the circle.
 
“I’m always ready gramps!” said Firefly confidently.
 
“Heh, let’s do it then!” chuckled the unicorn in response. A moment later and Star Swirl’s horn began to glow and spark as did the lines making up the circular ward. As the glow became brighter, the others covered their eyes with their hooves until there was a bright flash of light that engulfed Firefly. Their vision was still obscure, even once the light had faded, due to the smoke billowing around the room.
 
“…Firefly? Are you alright?” Dawn received no response.
 
“Fire?” Surprise likewise did not get any reply.
 
“Firefly!” Panic that something had went wrong was now spreading through the assembled group and Star Swirl, being the closet, pushed himself through the smoke to the circle and magically began to force it away.
 
“Whoa! Talk about a buzz! Hey gramps, got a treadmill or something?” Celestia, Luna, Surprise and Dawn each breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of the speedster’s voice. As the smoke fully cleared, it became obvious that Firefly was unharmed, she even seemed the complete opposite. “Seriously though, I need to run! Now!” The earth pony was not just unhurt, she seemed to have been energised, she was actually bouncing up and down to try and stay the urge to tear up some ground.
 
“Interesting…We’ll need to see how well you fair, but it looks as if this spell is a success…” Star Swirl muttered mostly to himself as he observed Firefly from a variety of angles.
“Gramps!” yelled Firefly in growing desperation. She could feel masses of pent up energy in her every limb, just waiting to be burned.
 
“Oh, yes, yes of course. If you just give me a moment…” With a flick and spark of his horn, Star Swirl magically opened a small storeroom and levitated various mechanical objects from it. Before long a simple, magic-powered treadmill had been set up in the middle of the lab and Firefly was galloping happily on it at full speed. Despite powering the exercise machine, Star Swirl was still able to focus on his notes again, preparing for the next spell.
 
“Why don’t we try the memory spell next, Uncle?” suggested Dawn as she pointed at a page and stopped the old unicorn’s skimming with a hoof.
 
“Yes, a good idea. Though this one might be a little more tricky,” spoke Star Swirl as he lapsed into thought and began stroking his beard.
 
“What does it do, exactly?” Celestia asked.
 
“It makes one or more subjects of choice unforgettable to whoever it is cast on. Not only that, but it is extremely resistant to anything that might make a pony forget something, including other spells. Regardless of what it is, with this spell you will remember it. The tricky part is testing it,” the elder unicorn explained.
 
“Why not use one of those forget spells then? Cast your memory spell, then the forget spell and if whoever still remembers, then surely it will work, correct?” Viator tried to helpfully add.
 
“Yes, those are the lines I was thinking of. It isn’t my preferred course of action, but it’s the only one I can suitably think of,” continued Star Swirl. “Well, any volunteers then?” He stopped stroking his beard and lifted his gaze to his guests. Firefly was still under the effects of the previous spell and it would be difficult to properly quiz her while she was still galloping madly away on the treadmill.
 
After a moment’s stillness, a midnight hoof rose into the air. “I’ll do it!”
 
“Luna, are you sure? This test will be more dangerous than the previous. Not by much, but the risk is nonetheless greater,” the unicorn warned.
 
“I’m not sure I want you doing this, Luna,” Celestia interjected. The worry was clear in her voice.
 
“Why not, Tia? It’s Star Swirl! The bestest unicorn in ever! Fire was fine, right Fire?” Surprise spoke up with cheer, gesturing to the earth pony that was threatening to outpace the treadmill.
 
“Never better! It’s like I could run forever!” Firefly called back vigorously.
 
“I agree with Surprise, Tia. You heard Star Swirl, with all of us here the chances of anything happening are minimal. Besides, she wants to help, don’t you Luna?” The draconequus nodded to the young alicorn who returned it with an added smile.
 
“Uh-huh! Don’t worry Sis! I trust Uncle Star Swirl, everything will be fine, you’ll see!” Her younger sister’s confidence and trust was a little reassuring. It was Star Swirl after all. “Let’s do it Uncle!”
 
The ‘uncle’ in question had returned to his notebook but lifted his head once more. “Decided? Good, good. Now, in order for this to work, you’ll have to remain outside of the wards. If you three could be ready with any dispel magics you know, and Dawn, if you could search for one of your potions please?” Each pony complied with the instructions and were soon more prepared for anything that went wrong than the emergency wing at Manesterdam hospital. Star Swirl gently guided Luna a few steps back from the others then positioned himself before taking a final check of his notes. “Here we go…” For the second time, Star Swirl’s horn lit up brightly. The whole room, even Firefly who had slowed down to watch, tensed in anticipation. A pure white orb of light sluggishly pulled itself away from the old unicorn’s horn and drifted lazily to Luna. The twilight alicorn stared at as it floated along hypnotically. Finally, the orb bopped itself down on Luna’s head causing her hooves to slide away beneath her as fell unconscious.
 
“Is…Is she alright?” Celestia was the first to ask.
 
Star Swirl trotted over and gave Luna a quick examination, being sure to check her pulse and breathing were normal. “Yes. She’ll wake up in a moment. Before that though, I’ll have to apply the forget spell.” Carefully, the elderly wizard placed his horn on the skin of Luna’s forehead where it glowed once more, though with less intensity. Blood red trails of magic leapt from his horn and seeped into the sleeping alicorn’s skin. She did not stir in the slightest and looked quite content despite her position.
 
“What did you have her forget? Nothing too serious I hope, restoration magic is not my speciality,” the azure stallion informed them all, though only Star Swirl was listening to any great degree.
 
“Me. Even with my age I still know a lot of details about myself so it will be easier to restore in the event the memory spell failed,” clarified Star Swirl as he raised his head and gave Celestia, Discord and Surprise space to get closer to their companion.
 
The three’s huddling was more for their own comfort than it was Luna’s, but it nevertheless warmed their hearts to see her eye’s flutter open and an expression of dazed confusion spread across her face. “Uncle…? Did it work…?”
 
Star Swirl smiled. By Luna still being aware of both the unicorn as her adoptive ‘uncle’ and that they were testing something confirmed the spell had worked, at least to some degree. “Yes, Luna. I do believe it has.”
 
The young alicorn was still too groggy to give a verbal reply and so simply beamed a large smile once more. With the help of her siblings and friend, Luna ws soon back on her feet.
 
“This is certainly going even better than I had originally anticipated. But we aren’t finished quite yet. Are you all still up for a little more testing?” Star Swirl chuckled. The success of his experiments had clearly put him in a very jolly mood which spread and lifted the spirits of everypony present, especially those of his niece. “You’ve all earned my thanks, truly. So after we’re done with these, why don’t I teach you the basics of some of my more practical magic? I’ll even give you a copy of the final notes, to help you revise with.”
 
Although the faces of the three other magic-users in the group lit up, Viator instead sniggered to himself. “If they’ve yet to work them out by themselves, of course.” He received a volley of glares in response to which he just chuckled.
 
“Great & Mightful over there aside, I think I speak for everypony when I say we’d be honoured,” said Discord, accompanied by gracious nodding from Celestia and Luna.
 
“I think we would greatly appreciate it,” The elder alicorn stated.
 
“Can you teach us to teleport!?” Luna asked excitedly, her eyes lit up with eagerness.
 
“Of course, of course. But I’ll be clean shaven if I don’t also manage to teach that colt a few things before he leaves either.” Star Swirl was sure to put additional emphasis on the demeaning name.
 
“Oh? Why? You don’t happen to secretly respect me, do you, Star Swirl?”
 
“Don’t flatter yourself, colt. I just don’t want anypony of your potential running around like a loose cannon, possibly blowing up sensible sorcerers like these three,” scolded the older unicorn before nodding with approval at the two alicorns and draconequus. For all the master wizard’s willpower however, he could not suppress a grin as he spoke. “Now, let’s get started.”
 
For the rest of the afternoon the travellers helped Star Swirl with several more spells and were then taught and trained by the reputable unicorn. Once the sun had reached its peak and begun its descent, they found themselves once again at the city harbour, packed and waiting for the boat that would take them across the river and further west to the very borders of Equestria. Unlike before however, there were now seven sets of travel bags.
 
“Now you all look after my little Victory, won’t you?”
 
“Uncle!” Star Swirl’s teasing had its desired effect and he laughed at Dawn’s pouting, causing the many small bells on his outing cloak and hat to jingle cheerfully. His merry chortling had started to die down when the old wizard once again noticed the products of Celestia’s disastrous first attempt at teleportation and exploded into another fit of mirth. He was quickly joined by the rest of the gathered group, even Viator managed a quiet snigger.
 
The once-white alicorn ground her teeth and tried with all her might to remain calm. “Can we please just not talk about this…?”
 
“But Tia! You’re pink!” Surprise did not have to point the fact out to anypony. For reasons even Star Swirl was not completely sure of, Celestia’s coat had turned a vivid pink upon first attempting to teleport. The spell had been mostly successful in terms of moving the older alicorn from point A to point B instantly, but something had clearly gone wrong along the way. Celestia could only cling to the hope that Star Swirl’s assurances that the changes would not be permanent were correct. Despite not being the only pink member of their party -Firefly was naturally a rosy colour after all- the colour swap was nonetheless irresistibly hilarious for them all, baring the pastel maned mare herself.
 
Much to Celesia’s relief, her companions finally managed to rein their laughter in and settle down, though tears and aching lungs were in abundance, to her annoyance. They had been laughing for so long in fact, that the shape of their boat could be made out, chugging its way closer and closer to the maze of piers where they stood.
 
“Now, before you go, I have some things to give you…” said Star Swirl as he magically opened a small sack and rummaged around inside it. “It isn’t much, but they’ll hopefully help…first of all,” what looked like a rolled up bundle of cyan wool emerged from the sack “these! I’m afraid I only have enough for four hooves, but they’ll still work if you share, albeit not as well.”
 
“Wait, but I knitted and enchanted those especially for you Uncle!” Dawn cried out in protest. The rest of the adventurers remained confused and looked between the earth pony and the unicorn for an explanation.
 
“Dear, you’re all going out on a long journey. You’ll make much more use of them than I do! Anyway, these,” Star Swirl used his magic to unravel the bundle and reveal their true identity as four socks “are magic socks! They are enchanted to try and keep their wearer to as close to a comfortable temperature as possible, so they work both ways, in the heat and cold.”
 
“Neat, I guess…?” Being the closest to the sorcerer, Firefly was the first to closely examine and hold the woollen tubes. She passed them around and each pony inspected them with a variety of expressions. The socks finally came to Luna, who held them in her hooves with great care and looked at them in a way that could only be described as intense awe. She did not pass them to anypony else.
 
“Really Star Swirl, it’s awful nice of you but I’m certain we could do without…” humbly noted Dicord as he tried to peer into the still floating sack.
 
“Nonsense. Good preparation is vital,” Star Swirl said dismissively as he continued to rummage. “Next, we have this.” A simple bronze amulet with a small garnet embedded in its centre was next to hover from the bag. “I saw how effective that muscle enhancement spell was, even for young ponies like yourself. So, I stored a few charges worth of it in this old trinket. Just push down on the gem, and it will release one charge of the spell onto the wearer. Just remember that there is a finite amount of times it can be used-”
 
“Now that is neat! Thanks gramps!” Firefly snatched the amulet from the air and tried it on. Seeing the magic-filled gem glow caused her to grin confidently. “Getting to run like that again, for real though! This is so cool!”
 
“Now, now Fire. You should be more polite when someone gives you something,” Discord mockingly scolded the pink pony.
 
“Heh, so long as she likes it. Finally…” a worn and battered tome emerged from the bag “Some research notes. Not as good as actual tutelage, but they should help you practise and better understand the things you learned today.”
 
“You really didn’t have to go all this way for us, but thank you,” Celestia told the bearded pony.
 
“Yeah, this is some good stuff! Thanks!” Surprise added before the boat’s horn began to blare across the harbour, signalling its close arrival. The boardwalks were becoming more and more crowded as ponies hurried to the growing queue in anticipation of the ferry’s docking.
 
“Uncle…”
 
“Ah, ah! I won’t have any of that, Dawn. There’s only so much one pony can teach another, and this is an excellent opportunity for you to go out there and learn. An opportunity I’m not going to let you pass up. After all, to carry on my work demands the highest standard and you still need the experience!”
 
Dawn tried to smile, though a hint a sadness passed through. “I’ll miss you, Uncle.”
 
Star Swirl burst into laughter. “How long do you think you’re going to be gone for, dear? Pah! I didn’t raise you to be a cry filly! Now go, off with you!” The powerful unicorn had intended his words to be more resolute than they sounded, but uncle and niece still shared an understanding smile.
 
“Kinda reminds you of when we left, huh Fire?” commented the snowy pegasus to her friend as Star Swirl and Dawn shared a warm embrace.
 
“Nah, I was way less sloppy!”
 
“What!? You were too! We all were!” The friend’s imminent argument was stopped short by another blast of the ferry’s horn. Their transport had arrived.
 
“Come along, everypony. The boat won’t wait for us forever,” Discord called as he turned and made his way towards the waiting vessel, gesturing for the others to follow. Celestia, Surprise, Firefly and Viator broke their gaze away from the two embracing ponies and followed the draconequus along the pier, each saying a silent goodbye.
 
“Go on now, dear. You don’t to keep our friends waiting.”
 
“A-Alright…bye, Uncle. You take care now!”
 
“I will. Goodbye, Dawn.”
 
The blue earth pony finally turned her back towards her beloved uncle and made her way in the direction of her new-found companions, stopping momentarily to nudge Luna out of her sock-filled trance. Without another word she and Luna trotted towards the boat without looking back. Star Swirl, in turn, turned around and slowly began the journey back to his house. Nopony noticed the slight few droplets that ran around his smiling muzzle and dampened his beard.
 
______________________________________________________________________________
 
 
                The sound of clanking machinery, splashing water and a blaring horn echoed around the sunlit shores of Manesterdam. Two ponies, approaching from the south, could clearly see the shape of a ferry departing from the cities’ port.
 
                “…Ah sure hope those folks aren’t on tha’ there boat.”
 
                “…”
 
                “I git ya. How else am I going ta return these ‘ere trinkets?” The moss green earth pony looked to the saddlebags slung over his back. His good friend had entrusted him with the duty of helping him carry the additional belongings he had managed to salvage from his ruined stagecoach, but forgotten to take them back. Though blurry, Craggy pulled the painful memory of his failure to mind. He saw Viator, encouraging him with his magic, trying to give the stallion that helping hoof which would let him reach the boat before it sailed too far out. But in his drunken stupor, he had tripped and fallen.
 
                A grey hoof rested itself on his shoulder and he looked to his new companion, whom he had simply decided to name “Bright Eyes,” who was smiling encouragingly at him.
 
                “…You’re right, pardner. It migh’ be outta ma juris-dict-ion, but Ah need ta’ return these things on ma honour as ranger!” Craggy vowed solemnly. It would be difficult, the show stallion had already gotten a considerable head-start. The only thing he knew was that the azure unicorn had wanted to hold one of his shows in Manesterdam, so Craggy would have to ask around and see if he could not find his one-time travel partner that way. If Viator had already held his show and already moved on, then things would be considerably more difficult.
 
                Another comforting pat on the shoulder. Craggy could tell that already that Bright Eyes was a particularly kind pony. ‘Ah don’ wanna go pickin’ fa-vou-rites, but Ah’m sure glad I got this ladies’ com-pany instead o’ some folks,’ admitted Craggy to himself silently. He smiled to Bright Eyes and she smiled back. “Up an’ at ‘im now. Can’t go wastin’ too much time.” The pegasus remained silent as usual and merely nodded in agreement.
 
The two ponies started up their pace again and they entered the city proper not long after. Both of them had seen and visited the sprawling settlement before and so its wondrous heights and majestic streets didn’t ensnare them in awe as it did so many first time tourists, traveller and migrants. Regardless, the green stallion could not resist complimenting the collected marvels of pony engineering in the form of a drawn out whistle.
 
“Manesterdam, pardner’. This ya first time?” Craggy asked the grey pegasus.
 
“Sorry to interrupt, but it’s not ‘Manesterdam’ anymore. The vote passed today in favour of renaming it. Now-”
 
“Not Manesterdam? Then what in tarnation is it?” The well-dressed pony who had been walking past and overheard the two’s conversation frowned at Craggy and looked the ranger up and down.
 
“Now, this city is now called ‘Manehattan’. The whole ‘New’ business in New Manesterdam made some ponies feel that such a marvellous city should sound a tad more…independent. I must say, I’m inclined to agree-”
 
“Huh. Well ain’t tha’ jus’ dandy. C’mon Brighty, we got ourselves a pony to find!” Craggy called loudly while rearing himself up on his hind legs and charging off, Bright Eyes in tow. The finery-clad pony was left in a small cloud of dust and an equally fine temper.
 
“Can’t say Ah liked the look o’ tha’ one. Shame the place is so full o’ them! Think they’re so much better than every other pony, jus’ cause o’ their fancy ex-otic oranges.” Craggy did not immediately notice that his friend had suddenly stopped mid-air and he managed to gain some distance before grinding to a halt and whipping back around to investigate why the pegasus had frozen up so suddenly. “…pardner?”
 
Bright Eyes, noticing the stallions arrival by her side, smiled and pointed enthusiastically into a shop window where bread, croissants muffins and all sorts of baked goods were neatly arranged. “…Well, we ‘ave been on the road for a while. One short break won’ hurt!” Bright Eyes squealed and clapped her hooves together in delight and the two entered the bakery to rest their hooves and wings and plan their next move.
 
Craggy made orders for them both, based primarily on the ecstatic indications of Bright Eye’s, whose hooves seemed ready to break the glass of the shop’s display window. Several minutes, a few bits and an annoyed glare directed at Craggy later and the pair found themselves on a wooden bench chomping down happily on two extra large muffins. Bright Eyes consumed hers in what the stallion considered may have been record timing. He looked on curiously as a small pencil emerged from her saddlepack and she started to draw something on the paper bag that her treat had come in. Before long it was clear that not only was Bright Eye’s a talented artist despite not having the precision-granting magics of a unicorn but her picture was that of Viator’s cutie mark. There were a few small details off, but it was still impressive given all she had for reference was Craggy’s description of the azure stallion during their journey to Manehattan.
 
“That’s a mighty fine pen-hoof you’ve got there, pardner!” praised the green ranger pony. As per usual, the pegasus smiled happily and quickly put the finishing touches to the sketch. She then waved at Craggy’s own muffin bag which he gave up without question. She proceeded to draw an identical sketch of the show stallions cutie mark. Craggy was not exactly sure what she intended by doing so, but remained quiet. Once they had each had a bag emblazoned with Viator’s mark, Bright Eyes pointed to a few random passerby’s and then to the bag.
 
Realisation came to the ranger pony. “Oh! Ya think we should go an’ ask folks whether they done seen ‘is mark before? I bet fifty bits ‘e uses it for ‘is show!” The yellow maned pegasus bounced her head up and down in confirmation. Craggy had seen the magician’s mark on his coach after it was destroyed, so it was more than likely that he used it to represent his show as well. “Great idea, pardner! If it was as big an’ fancy as he said would be, then there’s no doubt somepony will ‘ave seen ‘im!”
 
Without further hesitation, Craggy got to his hooves and set about probing the citizens of the newly named Manehattan as to whether they had seen the cutie mark anywhere before, whether on posters or even in the flesh. Bright Eyes was quick to join him and together they began their great hunt for the Grand & Mightful Viator.
 
______________________________________________________________________________
 
 
                Something burned. Not just physically, but inside as well. The young zebra didn’t know what had happened, and she didn’t want to. The screaming had stopped, but she knew that opening her eyes would be much, much worse. But she had no choice. The heat was getting closer and even more intolerable, it had gone from just being uncomfortable to outright painful, and she would have to open her eyes and move away soon. She could handle the pain for a little longer if it meant delaying her eyes opening for even just a few second more, but that was all.
 
                “...K-Kromi…” The roaring of the flames almost succeeded in smothering the pathetically weak sound from reaching the young zebra’s ears. And Kromi wished that the fires had achieved complete oppression of all other sound. Because the voice forced her eyes to open, almost against her will.
 
                From under the cover of an overturned sack and piles of cloth, Kromi could only see destruction. The storage hut she had hidden in was now near non-existence. Its mud walls were gone, forcibly broken or melted by the intensity of the flames. Scrabbling her hooves, Kromi was able to pull herself from under the hiding spot which may well have saved her life. And then she saw her father. He had discovered her personal hiding hole once before and must have figured she would return to it. He had not managed to reach it however, and had collapsed in the middle of the barely standing hut, covered in blood. He had stopped moving.
 
                “…Papa…?”
 
                He did not stir.
 
                “Papa!”
 
                Once again the older stallion did not respond. For all the hatred she often felt for him, Kromi still found herself rushing to his side, trying vainly to awaken her father. When that did not work, she instead began to drag him outside and away from the growing fire. The young zebra was only able to pull her father just clear of the burning hut and out into the village as the sight that greeted her drained the strength from her hooves. It was not one hut that had been set aflame during the Taloned raid, but every hut. Kromi’s home, everything she knew had been turned into one, horrifying bonfire whose smoke smothered the night sky. Zebras, the ones she had known her whole life, lay just like her father: bloodied and motionless.
 
                “No…” Even if somestripe had been there to try and listen to her, Kromi’s voice came out as little more than a terrified mew. She hit herself in the head, just like the elder would. She then hit herself again. And again. The scene before her did not go away. As much as she wanted, needed it all to be a nightmare, it would not go away. She fell to her haunches and began shaking. She had no idea what to do, no idea how to even process what she was seeing. So she sat and trembled.
 
                For as long as she could remember, Kromi had felt little but a burning desire to escape from the strict, harsh life of Oromo Village. But this was not how she wanted it. She may have disliked her parents, her elders, her entire home, yet to have it all be so suddenly and brutally wiped away shook Kromi to the core. To say she was shaken or upset would be a drastic understatement; she could not even muster the necessary thoughts to cry. Just as her village had been washed clean away into the unknown, so too had Kromi’s mind become lost. So she sat.
 
                Hours passed, and only then did the great flames of the Taloned’s wrath begin to die down.  Only when the once scorching infernos became little more than kindling embers could the soft sound of hooves on ash be heard. Kromi kept her head straight, making sure to not so much as glance at the lifeless bodies of her family and neighbours littering the dusty streets of what was once a proud village.
 
                The sound soon changed to that of a zebra walking on sand and of the waves. The foliage between the beach and Oromo concealed the carnage completely. The moon and stars casting their light down on the gentle waves made for an especially beautiful picture and Kromi, despite all the confusion and pain wracking her soul, could not help but find it oddly amusing the realisation of how thin a line there was between harmony and chaos. Separating what was truly a precious work of nature from spirit-shattering disorder was but a few feet of trees and shrubs. It had even taken less than a single night to turn Oromo’s very existence from that of a rigid village of predetermined fate to a smouldering ruin.
 
                As Kromi gazed unceasingly into the swirling sea, letting the cool waters lap up and down over her hooves, she noticed a tiny blip appear on the horizon. It did not take long for the blip to grow and grow in size and it eventually became evident that it was a yacht, speeding in the exact direction of the village on what must have been an unnaturally strong wind. Kromi could soon make out a platinum coated figure onboard the vessel, a bronze light shining from his forehead.
 
                “…Coinbag…” she whispered quietly to herself. She remembered the note and schedule he had given her. He must have seen the smoke and come to investigate. For the first time in the hours since the devastation, Kromi was able to let her lips form a tiny, heartbroken smile. Tears began to flow freely from her eyes and she made no effort to stop them. A silent chuckle echoed within her. The chains that had bound her had at the same time been the ones holding her up. Those chains had been broken; the pain of falling was intense and would surely leave scars, but at least she had the choice of climbing back up or not.