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// Meeting again for the first time. 
// Story: Being of Two Minds 
// by cosmofur 
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Banyan's whisper echoed  as if it had been shouted, '“That can’t be true! My mom’s dead!”'

Gentle Breeze shakily stepped forward towards Banyan who was now sitting behind Fluttershy who in turn looked like she would like somepony to hide behind as well. 

Most of the other adult ponies had paused to think about Banyan's words and seemed frozen in spot for the moment. Giving Gentle Breeze a chance to answer. 

She did so with a voice choking with sobs. "Monster's took me away from you, my baby, they told me, no, they made me believe you were the one that was dead. I was trapped with the monsters for years, until Princess Twilight and the Doctors freed me. I never wanted to leave you."

Banyan poked his head from behind Fluttershy and asked "Princess Twilight?"

Gentle Breeze nodded quickly, holding her hooves up towards Banyan, the little colt stayed where he was though. Blinking back tears, Gentle Breeze replied, "She helped free a lot of ponies. I was just one of many."

Pinkie Pie still looked uncertain had suddenly pulled a magnifying glass out of her mane and looking at Gentle Breeze with it asked. "Are you able to prove that 'Sister'? Anypony can come in and 'claim' to be Banyan's long lost mother, but only..." and with a blur of motion Pinke pulled from nowhere a hoofull of what looked like sheets of typed blue and green papers, "... his real mother would have the other half of the secret heart shaped locket that she left around Banyan's neck when he was dropped off at the orphanage!" 

Both Banyan and Gentle Breeze looked at Pinkie confused "What?" 

Lyra at this time decided it was time to step in. "Last night I was there when Princess Celestia told Gentle Breeze about Banyan." She said clearly.

Nearly everypony turned to each other once they heard Lyra and said "Ohhh! Princess Celestia!" as just dropping her name was enough to reassure all doubts.

Pinkie though responded by throwing her papers into the air and grumbling, "I keep getting these mixed up!" One of the loose sheets of paper drifted near Gentle Breeze and she spotted a title at the top of what appeared to be a theatrical script that read 'Annie' 

Fluttershy looked up and looking through her long locks of hair, whispered a question, "Princess Celestia told you that? But Twilight never said anything about Banyan's mother returning." In a slightly stronger voice, "I don't think I can't let Banyan go with a stranger, until I hear it's OK from one of the Princesses myself! " Then in a softer voice, "I mean, if that's ok with you?"

While Gentle Breeze was still trying to make out the softly spoken Pegasus's words, Lyra stood up and replied first. "You know me Fluttershy, you can trust me..eh except for that time you asked me to watch your rabbit, and uh, well let's not get into that now. But both Bon Bon and I vouch for Gentle Breeze, so please trust her."

If Fluttershy replied it was lost in the noise as more and more ponies started to argue out loud. Mrs Cake was loudest and said, "I just don't know dearie! I saw how well the foals got along with the poor girl yesterday, but with so many strange ponies in town now, well you just can't be too careful, don't you know?" 

The volume of the talking increased as everypony was talking over every other pony. It wasn't even clear what sides each pony was taking, some ponies were urging taking Banyan and Gentle Breeze straight to the Princess right away to clear things up, while others felt it was asking for trouble to even let Banyan leave Sugarcube Corner, even with an escort and Pinkie Pie seemed to be arguing both sides, mostly concerned on which venue would be best for the Party she was planning. Made more complicated as she seemed to be planning for both a 'Welcome Mother and Son reunion Party' and a 'We stopped an evil foal napper and had her sent to the moon Party' (tm) 

Gentle Breeze's head was spinning as she had lost track of which side she herself was arguing for. Her only constant was to lock her eyes on Banyan's who seemed to be equally fascinated if uncertain if he should approach her, or continue hiding behind Fluttershy.
 
Suddenly there was a loud piercing whistle and everypony became silent and turned towards the noise. It was Applebloom sanding on Scootaloo's back who was in turn standing on a table, so she could tower over all the adults in the room. She had created the loud whistling by blowing through her hooves pinces (1)  and now that everypony was looking at her, she glared back at them. "You all should be ashamed!" She cried.

Applebloom jumped off Scootaloo's back, landing next to Sweetie Belle so all three crusaders could glare at the adults together.  "Mrs Breeze here has been nothing but nice to us fillies and look how upset you're making her! Is this the way Ponyville Ponies act?"

"Besides it's obvious they are related, just look at them, they have the same eyes!" Sweetie Belle added. Scoots gave her an incredulous look. "Well they do!" Sweetie insisted. 

Mrs Cake replied first, "Oh my! The little dears are right! The whole town is a bit on edge with all the rumors from Canterlot, don't you know." 

Fluttershy looked out from behind her bangs and said, "Maybe taking Banyan straight home can wait, I'll go with you to the hospital to see the Princess and she can straighten this all up. If you think that be ok?" 

Gentle Breeze gave Lyra a quick nod and Lyra answered for both of them, "Of course Fluttershy, we weren't going to take Banyan anywhere without you! It was all a big misunderstanding."

Pinkie Pie quickly started pushing with her head Gentle Breeze and Banyan out the door saying. "Stop wasting time! Sooner we get this whole thing cleared up, the sooner I can start the welcome party...."

Fluttershy peeked out the door, saw a huge crowd of ponies out there and with an "Eeeep" withdrew back into the bakery, only to be pushed out again by Mrs Cake, "Sorry dear, I really don't think it would be a good idea to leave Pinkie Pie in charge. Don't you know."

They had just cleared the Sugarcube entrance when Pinkie then gasped, the town square was simple packed with ponies of all sorts and colors, most looking lost and confused. "Gasp! Strike that, not welcome party, welcome PARTIES! Oh boy Oh boy Oh BOY!" She jumped into the air and let of a hoof full of streamers and confetti. "Oh! Girl's sorry! I can't go with you now! I have to get supplies and cake mix and balloons, and lots of balloons! But don't worry I'll catch up with you later. Tell the Princess I'll have her Seven Section Spectacular Spicey Sherbet Seasonal Surprise cake ready very SSsssssssSoon! "

Meekly Gentle Breeze followed the other ponies out. Lyra kept pushing here ahead, excited to go see the Princess again, but Gentle Breeze kept slowing down to look over her shoulder at Banyan who followed quietly, drifting between Fluttershy and the two other adult ponies. 

After a bit, when they had crossed the town square and were on the road to the Hospital, Banyan took a deep break and picked up his trot to catch up with Lyra and Gentle Breeze. He looked back and forth between the two ponies, uncertain if he should walk next to Lyra or Gentle Breeze. Then Lyra noticed him and with a nod motioned for Banyan to walk between them both.

They walked this way for several minutes. Gentle Breeze found it hard not to turn to look at Banyan, she wanted to nuzzle him, to ask him a million questions but she didn't want to scare him back to Fluttershy, yet the silence was quickly growing heavy. 

Before she could make up her mind to act, Banyan spoke first. "If you're really my mom, why did you leave?" 

Gentle Breeze took a breath in, preparing to answer, but Banyan held up his hoof and stopped her, "No I heard you before, a monster took you away. But why did the monster want you? Was it that Cult, the ones who tried to kill daddy a few months ago? Why do they hate us so?"

Gentle Breeze should have been prepared for this, she had gone over a million possible questions as she sat awake the previous night, but to try to explain the cult and its plans to a ten year old. Her jaw waggled a bit, but just a squeak came out.

Then after gulping hard, Gentle Breeze said. "The world isn't perfect, Banyan, there are ponies out there, that have been hurt, or are angry, or are just bad ponies that rage against the unfairness of the world. They sometimes get together and complain about how they would make everything alright if they were in change. In power.'

'Most of the time, that's as far as they go. The most bitter ones will do petty things, the small evils of small minded ponies that changes nothing but only hurts themselves. For the most part no ponies notices, they go back to their normal lives and nothing changes.'

'But the Stone Heart, it's a book, a book that feeds on and grows that helpless feeling. It's full of magic stories of lone ponies fighting and saving the world from the great evils by clever deeds and tricks. If you're in the right mindset, reading the stories make you feel empowered, you feel smarter and more 'right' than all other ponies. The Cult leaders say the stories are true, but that's not the point, it how the stories make you feel that's important. They make you feel that anything you do to bring about the Stone Hearts visions is worth it. No sacrifice is too much. No ponies life is more important than the goals of the Stone Hearts heros. The stories make it seem that if you can just fight the right enemy, then the world will be made perfect and it will all be worth it, regardless of sacrifices made or how many ponies are hurt.'

'At its core of the stories it says that some group of ponies are the cause of all the worlds problems. It carefully doesn't name the stories villains, the book is vague about them and lets you imagine who they must be. The Elders, uhh the Cult leaders, they tell you who is the blame, who to hate, and it very easy to believe them. Then they tell you it is not just enough to hate these unnamed ponies, if you can stop them, hurt them, or kill them first, then all the world's evil will just go away."

Gentle Breeze closed her eyes remembering all the stories she had been told, in a whisper she continued. "'The Stone Heart lies.'

'The magic potion formulas, glyphs and spells in the book are real though, and when petty, weak or simply evil ponies get their hooves on them, they can use that magic to force their twisted worldview on others. They harm other ponies, twist them, take over their will and minds and turn them into servants. The victims minds so dulled that even thank their attackers for it.'

Gentle Breeze shuddered as she finished saying, "And somepony like me could be taken from her family for a decade and not realize how much she's missed until it is too late."

Suddenly Banyan was pressed against her side, sobbing into her coat, "it's not fair!" he mumbled.

"Shhhh" Gentle Breeze whispered and for the first time in both their lives, she nuzzled her baby.

Bryan curled up on the ground into Gentle Breeze's side and the two ponies silently cried together for a long time. Indeed there was much Gentle Breeze would have given just to make that moment last.

Still time had to move on, and Lyra politely coughed to draw their attention.

Which was promptly ignored.

So Lyra coughed a bit less politely, then again.

Then again.

"BREAK IT UP YOU TWO! WE GOT TO GO!" The shout made nearby windows rattle.

That did it.

Gentle Breeze and Banyan both quickly got to their hooves and looked in surprise at the source of the shout..

It wasn't Lyra, she was in shock with her jaw hanging open and as wide as her pie plate eyes.

Instead, Fluttershy was completely balled up, hiding in her mane and tail. Under that shaking pink hair, she whispered, "Sorry everypony! Too loud?"

After a pause to realign her world view with Fluttershy being the source of the loud cry, Lyra approached the shy mare and gave her a hoof up. "Come on everypony, the Princess told us to meet her soon."

"Oh yes! Of course Lyra." Fluttershy agreed in her more normal meek voice.

The three adults and one colt pony moved on towards the Ponyville Hospital. As they drew closer the mob of new Ponies were drifting off into various hastily set up aid tents on the sides of the road to be sorted for housing and instructions. The ones who had physical issues and required healing, were already in the Hospital, being triaged by the overworked Hospital staff. There wasn't even a reception nurse in the main lobby, as all hooves were needed in the ER and intake wards. 

As Lyra and Gentle Breeze already knew where they were going, they just walked past the waiting ponies and the empty reception desk and climbed up the stairs to the floor where Red Wood and Princess Celestia were last.

Approaching the guard station outside Celestia's room, they found they weren't alone. 

Standing by the guards and giving them instructions was a familiar, (well to at least three of the group) purple pony. 

"Twilight!" Cried out Banyan, who then seeing the glare the guards was giving him added, "umm I mean Princess Twilight!"

Twilight turned from her conversation with the guards, and seeing the young colt trotting up the hall, gave him a warm if very tired smile. "Why hello there! Banyan, Fluttershy, Lyra!" Then she paused a moment to look closely at the fourth pony. "Gentle Breeze! Last I saw you, you were getting your first treatment with Red Wood! So glad to see you up an about now!"

Banyan ran up to Twilight and gave the Princess a nuzzle. Excitedly he pointed back, "Can you believe it! Mrs Breeze here is my mother!"

Of the ponies there, only Fluttershy was close enough to Twilight to recognize that the smile Twilight gave Banyan was forced. Before she replied her eyes flickered for a moment to a patient room off to the side of the hallway. Lyra and Gentle Breeze followed Twilights glance and looked questioningly towards what they knew was Red Wood's room. But they waited to see what the Princess would say. Twilight found her voice and replied back to Banyan, "Yes I can believe it! And I'm so glad you two had a chance to meet!"

Banyan didn't show any sign of seeing the tension in Twilights body language, and instead replied in a happy and fast flowing giddy stream of words. "She showed me all these neat tricks with paper! And that was even before she realized who I was. Then she showed my new friends, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom how to fold paper flowers and we had cookies and Mrs Cake made us all hot chocolate and..." 

Twilight held up a hoof and gently stopped Banyan, "That's very interesting Banyan, but I need to talk to your mother. Perhaps you and Lyra would like to visit with your father."

Twilight looked thoughtful for a moment before adding, "I'm afraid he's asleep right now, you can try to wake him, but don't get upset if you can't. Instead just talk to him and tell Red Wood all about the fun time you've been having with the Crusaders. Even if he doesn't look like he can hear you, it might help him get better."

Banyan looked happy at the idea and started to pull Lyra's hoof away towards Red Wood's room. Lyra gave Twilight a nod to indicate she understood the unspoken message to keep Banyan distracted while Twilight and Gentle Breeze talked. 

Fluttershy looked back and forth between the two groups of ponies, In a gentle voice she said," I guess you really are his mother, so you'll be wanting to take Banyan after your talk with the Princess, I can get his bag together. But you're both welcome to stay with me in my cottage if you need a place to stay."

Gentle Breeze smiled, "Thank you. Lyra and Bon Bon have already offered us their spare room." 

"Oh! That's nice... wait Lyra? Oh! I better go lend her a hoof." Fluttershy turned and quickly trotted into Red Wood's room.

Once Gentle Breeze and Twilight were alone, the Princess led Gentle Breeze past the guards and into Celestia's room. Closing the door behind them and lighting up her horn to cast a privacy spell. 

Once inside, Gentle Breeze saw that she was now in the company of three Princesses, Celestia sitting up in her bed, Twilight working her magic by the door and to Gentle Breezes surprise, Princess Luna was attending to her sister. 

Celestia spoke first. "Good afternoon Gentle Breeze, we were about to have Lunch, please join us." 

Nervously Gentle Breeze looked from Princess to Princess. If she had been hungry, she couldn't remember it, and from the butterflies in her stomach she doubted she could have kept anything down. She tried to protest that she wasn't worthy of a royal meal but Celestia ignored her and using her magic set out four plastic bowls filled with greens. 

It was 'hospital food' with a distant claim to being a salad, but Gentle Breeze sat there just moving the vegetables around the bowl with a fork with no interest in actually eating any of it. Celestia didn't look that much more please with the green stuff, but surprisingly Twilight and Luna seemed to be relishing the wilted leaves. Gentle Breeze wondered if this was because they really enjoyed the flavor, or perhaps they just were relieved that Princess Celestia seemed stronger than the previous night and was mending speedily.

After a short period of silence, broken up by the noise of chewing, Celestia turned to Gentle Breeze and said, "I'm sure you have some ideas about why its so important we talk."

Gentle Breeze gulped, "I think so, you're hoping I can give you inside information about the Stone Heart and help you stop them."

Celestia narrowed her eyes, "The way your phrasing that sounds like you're not confident you can help us? Are you conflicted? Do you still wish to protect them, even after what they have done, to you, to your family?"

Gentle Breeze closed her eyes, "Conflicted? Odd some part of me thinks I should be. I lived with them for ten years and not all of them are bad ponies. Some I'd say were true friends. But No I know that I was living a lie and now I just want to help them end the lies. I only wish I could tell them what I understand now and help free them. But Princess, despite being with them for ten years, I wasn't included in the long term plans. Virgulinos like me were not allowed even to leave the compound except very rarely in enclosed wagons and under cover of darkness. I don't know what knowledge I have that would help you."

Luna interjected, "Hold! "Compounds?" See your worries are for nought, we hath no knowledge the miscreants had more than one base of operations, and now we do.  Let us be the  judge what knowledge you have is of worth."

Twilight interrupted before Gentle Breeze could continue, "Gentle Breeze, don't you think its a bit strange that they allowed you to be captured? The leaders of the cult must have know we would be trying to get information from anyone we rescued? If a Virgulino was so valued, why did they allow you to play the role of a  'rescued' villager?" 

Gentle Breeze blushed, "This was my first mission, ever since the Cult got their hooves on the new magic, they don't need us Virgulino's as much anymore. I was kind of excited to go out and 'help' in the field. Then unexpectedly I ran into Red Wood, I just couldn't leave him alone, so I begged Frato Bones to let me disguise myself with the villagers. I really wasn't thinking about what it meant to be captured, I just wanted to be with Red Wood again and Frato Bones is not as quick a thinker as Frato Charmer. Had the leader of the Stone Hearts been there I'm sure he would have stopped me. "

Luna asked, "Frato? That's a corruption of an old equish word is it not?."

Gentle Breeze nodded, "All the more senior leaders, at least the stallions are all called Frato as a sign of respect. Frato Charmer's full name was Rock Charmer, and Frato Bones was Granite Bones. Fratino was the equivalent for mares."

Gentle Breeze then told them the location of the Baltamare compound and ruff locations of the other locations she knew about. 

Luna wrote down the addresses and announced, "Please continue your questioning my Sister, but this information needs to be acted on immediately, I will have scouts check out these locations and return with answers before your Sun sets." Before either Celestia or Twilight could reply, Luna opened the hospital window and was out flying.

Celestia watched her sister disappears into the sky, then turned to Gentle Breeze, "I fear my sister may have been a little rash now to not wait for more information, but we'll correct that when she returns, please my Dear, continue to tell us about your life in the Cult"

Gentle Breeze bowed her head. "Of course Princess. I just hope what I know can be useful, the majority of my time was taken up training new recruits. I guess the only honest description of what I was doing was brainwashing them, but in my mind I was just educating them in the proper ways to think. When I wasn't doing that, I helped with the domestic day to day operations on the compound. Things like cleaning and cooking, preparing the holy chambers for the nightly ceremonies." Gentle Breeze blushed fiercely added, "I also frequently had a roll in those ceremonies, but it was certainly not one of any great authority, unless you consider being the center of mindless orgies being in charge." 
 
Twilight was also blushing but answered Gentle Breeze. "From my research, the frequent, uhh 'intimate parties' were used to gather and store life force mana which in turn would later be used to empower some of the Cult's most dangerous spells. 

Gentle Breeze nodded, "Mostly the Oracle Spell, but only a hoof full of, " she paused and tapped the smooth hard spot on her forehead. "former unicorns could cast it. Even then only perhaps once or twice a year at most. Looking back now I can tell that casting the Oracle Spell would break the hold the Cult had on me, at least for a few days. They would have to 're-educate' me again after each casting. It wasn't pleasant."

Princess Celestia said,"In my talks with Parker and Red Wood, he told me they showed him a recording of one of the Oracle Spell's when he was first captured in that attack on Coltsdale. I have in somewhere in my records a transcript of Red Woods description of the event, but knowing more of their prophecies should help us to counter them."

Gentle Breeze shook her head, "I think most of the prophecies have already come true. All the times I was involved, the Oracle words would mostly about the coming of the 'Visitor', where and when to meet him and how he would help the Red Heart become powerful.  Well he came, and been helping the Cult for months, and as sick as it is, the Red Heart is more powerful than it ever has been before. I don't think any of the prophecies went much further into the future than where we are now."

Twilight put her hoof to her muzzle and scrunched in in thought. "I'm confused, we were certain that the 'Visitor' Red Wood was told about was Parker but he's been with us and there no way he was helping the Cult all this time.."

Gentle Breeze, looked confused, "Parker? Before we returned to Canterlot from Sea Del Mare, Red Wood mentioned a 'Parker' but with all the excitement of seeing him again, I just played along and really didn't take in what he was telling about that 'thing?' in his head."

Celestia prodded Gentle Breeze, "I'm guessing that this 'Visitor' you are talking about is somepony else, what can you tell us about her or him?"

Gentle Breeze nodded, still confused, she made a mental note to ask more direct questions about this 'Parker' when the subject came up again. "It's Not really a him or a her, its more of a thing, a spirit. I wasn't ever allowed to talk to it directly, very few of even the most loyal of the Stone Heart followers were allowed near it. But from what we were told, it was a powerful magic creature, that claimed to not even be alive at all. It has incredibly powerful healing abilities., curing every sick pony that the Cult leaders would allow near it. Because it didn't have a physical body, and didn't respond to magic like normal ponies, we couldn't... well 'brainwash' it with our normal spells, but the Leader of the Stone Hearts, Frato Charmer, he spent weeks just talking to the thing. In time he convinced the Visitor that our cause was just and it decided to help us."

Twilight looked at Celestia, "Parker was always referring to a 'Medic' or 'Doctor' which he said was a machine that was responsible for merging himself and Red Wood together."

Celestia replied, "But he always insisted that the thing was destroyed by the effort. Apparently it was instead captured by the Cult and turned into their ally." Turning to Gentle Breeze again, "I'm guessing that the potion or magic in the pills the Cults been using come from this creature?"

Gentle Breeze nodded, "Yes, we called them 'Blessings' anypony who swallowed one, would only need a few minutes of ehh 'persuasion' to join us...the Cult I mean."

Twilight nodded, "That's bad, that's very bad. From my talks with Parker, I know the technology they have is at least as advance as our most powerful magic. But we have next to no real knowledge about how it work. We're just lucky that this 'Blessing' seems to share the same weaknesses to magic treatment as the original Cult Brainwashing spells, but if this 'Doctor' realizes that, he probably can modify his technology imune to our current counterspells. " 

Princess Celestia nodded in agreement. "We are completely ignorant about the ways this Doctor works. To make it worse, the only pony that could give us the insight we need, is currently comatose and in great risk of death."

Princess Celestia turned her attention back to Gentle Breeze, "I am not tell you anything you don't already know, but Red Wood is in a bad state. It was my hope that we could afford to take time and slowly treat him with the most gentle treatments and coax him back to health."

Gentle Breeze shook, "I just found him again, what do you mean 'was your hope' what other options are there."

Celestia looked away from Gentle Breeze and out the window where her Sister had flown off her face impassive, she started to speak to answer Gentle Breeze but for a moment the Princesses voice broke, gagging on her own words. It took her two more attempts before her legendary control resumed and she could say her thoughts clearly. "I need the knowledge the this alien Parker has, if Red Wood does not recover very soon. I will have to, for the good of all my ponies, use a powerful mind reading spell on him. A type that would normally be considered banned magic."

While Gentle Breeze tried to make sense of how this was making Celestia act so ominous, Twilight choked in realization. "Princes Celestia! You can't be referring to a brain lock spell! There's no way any pony could survive that in the state Red Wood is in!" 

Gentle Breeze's jaws opened in shock. "No!". 

Celestia turned to Twilight. "It would be only something I will do only as a last resort, but I also can't wait too long, Red Wood's health may fail at anytime and then it will be too late even for a brain lock. Think about it Twilight. Those pills took out nearly the entire Royal House guard. What's to keep the Cult from dropping a barge of them into the Manehatten Water Aquifer? We need that knowledge or we have no way to stop the Red Heart."

Gentle Breeze dropped to all four knees. "Please your Majesty! Give me some time! I can try to get through to him! I can't lose him again so soon after just finding him! I'm no longer a real unicorn, but I know the nature of the magic the Cult uses, I can help!"

Celestia put a gentle hoof on the distraught pony, "I will give you every moment I can afford, but time is running out for all Ponies, and I can't give you too long. Go to him now and try to awaken him."

Without another word, and not even a pretense of a exiting bow, the former unicorn pony leaped up and galloped out of the Princess's room, already calling out for her husband, even before she cleared the first door.

With a sad look Celestia turned to her former student. "Twilight, please get from your castle's library the books we'll need for the brain block spell. I haven't had reason to cast that spell in a very long time and we'll need to review it. We'll have to cast it tonight." 

Twilight looked surprised, "But you just said to Gentle Breeze.,.:

Celestia looked sadly towards the door. "I gave her hope, nothing more, unfortunately for myself in regards to Red Wood's case, I have none. He will be dead by tomorrow morning if we do not act now."

Twilight slumped down to the floor, emotionally drained. 


(1) Pince: Equestrian Ponies have a soft frog and a relatively thin and bendable 'shoe' that they can squeeze the tips of together, creating a two finger clamp they call a 'pince' that is how non unicorn's hold things, rather than magic velcro. It's not a full 'hand' and most of the dexterity has to come from the wrist rather than the pince but it allows ponies to hold thin things like brooms and hammers. Because their hooves normally block easy viewing of this grip, things like writing is still done with their mouths as well as close in and fine work.  The wrist dexterity should not be discounted though, its very high, made from a biological ball and socket joint, they can feel and position their hooves very precisely..That's how the two 'button' typewriters work, its really two flat disk like joysticks that between them provide over one hundred distinct 'directions' for different letters and shift combinations.