//------------------------------//
// 5. The Visit 
// Story: Exploring Equestria 
// by A_guy_from_Earth 
//------------------------------//

  It was early in the morning. Sun had already begun to rise. Affi, holding a banana in her mouth, went to the back yard of the house that they rented. She looked around and noticed Sheim sitting on the grass and looking at his hoof.

“Good morning!” she said, having put the banana to her hoof.
“Good morning to you too,” responded Sheim.
“Pardon me, but why you are looking at your limb?”

Sheim made a short pause and then spelled:

“Watch,” and pointed to the wall of the shed that stood in one of the yard’s corners. A muffled scrubbing sound came, and in a moment one-and-a-half-inch spike was sticking out from the wood.
“Wow!” exclaimed Affi. “You can spike-shoot?!”
“It’s one of the main self-defense means’ of rugartairans,” spelled Sheim, continuing to look at his hoof. “I’ve just learned that this avatar can do it too! Isn’t it cool?”
“I must admit that it is.”
“Well… Then let’s find out how large the magazine is,” and he again pointed to the shed. His limb shuddered and gave a salvo. Soon eleven more spikes plunged into the wall of the structure.
“Twelve,” gladly grinned Sheim. “Just like in my own body… Though now I have only three phalanges instead of twelve… Well, and what brought you here?” he turned to Affi.
“I just want to have a snack outdoors,” she answered. “And… I must say that I’ve also made a small discovery this morning.”
“Really? And what did you find?”
“Take a look at this…” she lifted the fruit, then placed her other hoof on the banana’s top and with gentle move peeled it.

Sheim hardly managed to hold own jaw from falling on the ground.

“H-how?” he muttered.
“I have no idea,” with stone face said Affi, continuing to peel the fruit. “It just happens so.”
“You don’t use your… hidden fingers, aren’t you?”
“Nope.”
“No… way…”
“And that’s what I’m talking about. Oddities and oddities.”
“Impressive demonstration of perfect mix influence… As I think,” said Sheim. “Well, and what guys are doing?”
“Them? Well, Oma, Zet’rar and Bluve are still sleeping, Kor woke up literally a couple of moments ago… Karin and Edez were finishing their reading…”
“They are reading now?”
“They think that it’s better to do this when your mind is “fresh”. And Max… Max has just returned after the checking why Berry Punch’s store is so popular among adult male ponies, as Pinkie Pie said.”
“And he found why?”
“Yep. It sells alcoholic beverages, that’s why.”
“Heh…”
“Right…”

Suddenly someone started to sing:

“I feel good, I knew that I would now…
I feel good, I knew that I would now…
So good, so good… I got you!”
“Kor!” Karin’s voice came from inside. “Why are you singing? At such hour?”
“I… just feel like it!” he answered.
“Don’t pay attention to it,” said Edez. “He’s doing it only because he’s just left the toilet.”
“What??? Ew…”

Sheim grinned, Affi winced.

“Huh?” Zet’rar woke up.
“What’s happening?” asked Oma and Bluve who also have just woken up.
“Um… Nothing special,” answered Kor.
“Yeah… Nothing…” added Karin.
“Well, if everyone is up,” Edez begun, “then let’s brush up, take our local names…”
“Local names?” surprised Kor.
“They aren’t local at all!” added Karin.
“In Universal scale they are. Well, as I said, take our local names and move on! We don’t want to miss our first day, aren’t we?”
“Wait? And what about breakfast?” Zet’rar sincerely wondered.
“Oh…”

So, after the proper breakfast, as some ones wished, they finally brushed themselves up, took the books that were given to them, recalled their official local names and left the house. They were ready to start their first working day as castle guards and servants.

Soon they arrived to the workplace. In the Castle of Friendship Twilight and Spike greeted them, took the books and… gave them their new uniforms. Yesterday, when the tour was finished, Rarity went together with them and stayed in the castle after the moment when they took the books and left. And, as it turned out, she stayed there because of ask of her friend Twilight, who decided to gave the new workers the most necessary attribute of castle ponies and, thus, needed some advices of professional fashionist. So Twilight with magic and friend’s help created three armors and six suites. And now she presented these sets to them.

Researchers sincerely thanked Twilight and Spike for such gift. They put their uniforms on started to take their places: Edez and Kor stood near the main entrance, Oma and Zet’rar – after light sighs and looks at each other with smiles – sat at the table that had been placed near the entrance, Sheim directed to the exit, Karin and Affi – to the stairs that led to second floor, Bluve – to the kitchen, and only Max for some reason stood in the middle of the hall and started to look around.

“Excuse me, but… Where I can find a bench or something like it?” he asked. “I would like to have a nap.”
“Have a nap?” surprised all others.
“Well, I’m night watch, after all,” said Max. “My time hasn’t come yet.”

Several sighs and groans came.

“You may take one of the rooms at second floor,” said Spike. “They are empty anyway.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, before you go away, I have one important message for you!” said Twilight.
“Yes?” researchers turned to her.
“Oh, it’s going to be so great!”
“We’re listening!”
“Guys, yesterday I sent a letter to princess Celestia, told about you and… In the late evening she sent me a reciprocal message, where she said that she wants to visit the castle to see you! So she will arrive here.”
“What?”
“P-princess Celestia w-will v-visit this c-castle?” muttered Kor, Sheim and Bluve –  thanks to those books now they knew about social and political systems of Equestria.
“T-to see us?” added Oma and Zet’rar.
“Yes! And princess Luna too, and princess Cadance, and my brother Shining Armor!”
“Oh…”
“They all will come here?” exclaimed Affi.
“Yes.”
“When they’ll arrive?” asked Edez.
“Well, today in the evening.”
“WHAT??? Today??? Oh no…”
“Hey, guys, why you’re acting like this?” wondered Spike.
“You aren’t glad?” surprised Twilight.
“Glad?” exclaimed Edez. “Rulers of whole this country will come here just because of us!”
“And we aren’t ready!” exclaimed Affi.
“Oh, don’t worry so much!” said Twilight with a smile. “They’ll come just to look at you and have a word, that’s all!”
“Yeah,” confirmed Spike. “It won’t be their first such visit. Think about it like about a simple, usual check.”
“Check?” exclaimed Kor.
“Pardon us, Your Highness, but we know these “checks”,” intervened Zet’rar. “At first we are said that we shouldn’t worry, but then we surely get excoriated in the best case!”
“Exactly,” confirmed other members of Team One.

Twilight and Spike got ready to object, but couldn’t focus because of noise of worrying researchers. Researchers themselves, by the way, soon stopped to worry and gathered in the center of the hall.

“So, guys, we need to prepare,” Edez begun. “If rulers of this country want to see us, then we should prove that we are worthy to be servants and guards of this castle. So, separate and do your best!”

Others gave a nod.

“Gia tin kouzina, ta koristia!” exlaimed Antilipsi.
“Lassen sie uns beginnen die reinigung, jungs!” exclaimed Edez.

And they ran. Twilight and Spike tried to stop them or, at least, calm down new workers of the castle, but their attempts got no results – it’s very hard, almost impossible to make any stirred sentient to listen to anybody. So hosts of the Castle of Friendship had only to look at how five adult stallions cleaned up the whole castle, and four mares made a feast and sigh. For several hours.

But in the end, though it was necessary to move away real sedimentary deposits from some corners, and no food remained in the fridge, Twilight and Spike had to admit that their castle now was ready to meet any high-ranking guest: it just shined, and gorgeous feast only waited for guests. When they saw the set table, hosts of the castle surprised why there were so many places – they thought that there will be only fourteen ponies and one little dragon – but Team One answered that they did it because didn’t know about guards and servants of royals: maybe they also will join? Having heard that, Twilight and Spike decided to not touch this question again.

So, in seven hours everything was finished. The last decorations were put in their places, and princess of friendship with her assistant and castle workers moved to the entrance hall and began to wait.

Royals didn’t make them wait too long. Soon silhouette of the chariot pulled by six pegasi swept outside the windows of the hall. It made a circle and landed right in front of the entrance. Researchers stood in a line, Twilight and Spike approached the door. Few seconds – and it was opened. Four tall ponies went into the hall. White alicorn, the Day Princess, the tallest pony and eldest sister, with large wings, long horn and voluminous flowing iridescent mane and tail, dark blue alicorn, the Night Princess, youngest and smaller sister, whose mane and tail seemed to be made of night sky, pink alicorn with tri-color curled mane and tail, a bit smaller than night alicorn, princess of Crystal Empire and Princess of Love, and prince of Empire, tall white unicorn with blue mane and tail. They greeted the hosts of the Castle of Friendship – not like one ruler greeted another, but like friends – and then looked at researchers.

“Princess Celestia, princess Luna, Cadance, Shining, allow me to introduce new workers of the castle!” said Twilight and came closer to members of Team One, who stood perfectly still. “Berg and Erő, day watch, Zicht, night watch, Antilipsi and Pippi, servants, Lierre, gardener, Didinga, receptionist, Allegro, repairer, and Calma, cook. Mister Berg is the informal leader of the group.”
“Mister Berg?” Cadance surprised a bit.
“They are much older than we,” said Spike.
“Unusual names…” quietly spelled Shining Armor, made a pause and continued in normal voice. “You are europonians, right?”
“Yes, we are,” researchers gave a nod.
“Absolutely no accent,” gladly smiled Luna. “You seem to know our language very well!”
“We got very good education, Your Highness,” Edez answered and bowed.
“Well, it’s nice to see you, ladies and gentlecolts!” smiled Celestia.
“Thank you. We also very pleased,” answered researchers.

Royals gave a nod and then approached the line. Princesses and prince began to examine ponies who stood in front of them. Researchers snapped to attention. But total examining wasn’t long, and soon the whole line stopped to be the object of attention – royals focused on individuals.

Celestia stopped her sight on Kor and Edez. For few seconds she just looked at them, making no moves and saying no words, but then smiled:

“It’s a rare thing when I meet ponies who have no need to rise their heads to look in my eyes.”
“Ehm… Well… We just turned out like this, didn’t stop to grow when other did it,” Kor smiled a bit shyly.
“Yes… Turned out like this… Big and bulky,” confirmed Edez.
“In such case you should be really redoubtable guards,” princess said.
“We do our best!” said Edez and Kor.

Celestia smiled again.

Luna stopped her sight at Oma. Oma, seeing that princess focused on her, stood still as rare guard can do. She even tried to breath as quiet as possible.

“You know…” Luna began, gently scratching her chin. “When I look at you it seems to me that I look in a mirror…”
“Well…” Oma gulped. “Maybe that’s because of the same height and long mane, Your Highness.”
“Hm… Maybe, maybe… But still you are very similar to me. Miss…”
“Didinga, Your Highness.”
“Didinga, what would you say to offer to be my double?”
“Your double?”
“Well, you are perfect candidate! You need minimal changes of appearance!”
“Pardon me, but… I am an earth pony, Your Highness.”
“Fake wings and horn can be added with a very simple spell, you know…”
“I think about it.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Luna smiled.

Shining Armor stopped near Max. He looked at him and got ready to ask one thing, but words stuck in his throat. He paused, staggered, but finally got together and said:

“Excuse me, but… I’ve been wondering what…”
“…happened to my face, Your Highness?” finished Max for him.
“Well, yes.”
“It was an incident.”
“It should be something really severe.”
“You’ll surprise, but the matter is that it wasn’t.”
“And… what was it?”
“A cutter.”
“Oh…”
“Yes… It will be a reminder to be more accurate next time.”
“Oh yeah,” added Bluve and Zet’rar.
“You… Also have… such wounds?” surprised Shining Armor.
“They aren’t visible now because of clothes, but… I have one here,” said Zet’rar and pointed to his back.
“And I have two here,” Bluve pointed to her neck. “And one on my stomach.”
“It’s horrible…”
“Don’t worry,” said Max. “All this remained in the past and, besides… We always try to find better sides of the things,” he smiled. “For example, I need only a reed skirt, ands my costume of tribal warrior for Nightmare Night will be ready!”
“And I, having such thing on my back, need only to grimace and…” said Zet’rar. “Igor at your service, master!”

Shinhg Armor laughed.

“And my problem easily solve a wide necklace and a dress!” smiled Bluve.
“Well, it’s really great to see such optimism, guys!” said prince.
“We are trying,” nodded Max and Zet’rar.

Cadance stood in front of Karin. She looked at her, than at Kor who stood near, and accidentally spelled:

“Oh my…”
“What’s wrong, Your Highness?” surprised Karin.
“Pardon me, but… Comparing with your friend… You are so tiny…”
“Well, I may be small, but I’m quite tough, you know,” said Karin, then quickly put her hoof under Kor’s chest and… easily lifted him.

Kor got very surprised.

“See?” smiled Karin and put his friend down.
“I see…” said Cadance.
“Oh yeah…” agreed Kor when his forelimbs touched the ground again.
“Your Highnesses, if you don’t mind, I suggest to move to the main hall,” said Affi.
“Main hall?” surprised Celestia and Luna.
“We… prepared a modest dinner for you.”
“A dinner for us?”
“I said them about your visit in the morning and…” Twilight sighed. “And I couldn’t dissuade them.”
“Would you do us a little honor?” asked Edez.
“Well…”

Royals looked at each other.

“I guess that small snack will do no harm,” smiled Celestia.
“Thank you,” Affi bowed. “Follow me.”

Edez and Kor stepped forward and opened the doors that led to the main hall. Alicorns gave a nod and followed Affi. Some steps along short, but wide corridor, and they were at the place: large room with served table for thirty persons. Having seen this, guests surprised and asked new workers of the castle why they prepared so many places. Members of Team One just shrugged in response and said that they had no idea about number of guests.

So, having casted a glance over the table, royals decided that they have to invite their guards – if they are going to eat together with servants of this castle, they should not refuse their own. And, besides, there will be enough place and food for everypony.

Speaking about the food – the table was full of dishes. Canapes, little sandwiches, tartlets, salads, fried vegetables, plates, pies, cakes, bowls with fruits, other desserts… And also there was a lot of drinks: mostly juices and mineral water, but there were some bottles of white and red wine.

Princesses, prince and Spike sat in the middle at one side, Canterlot guards sat on both sides of them, and researchers sat on the opposite side of the table. When everypony took their places, they, having slightly nodded to each other, began to eat and/or drink.

At first members of Team One felt themselves very timidly and awkwardly – rulers of whole country came here to see them! But they also were confused: they knew that Twilight is Celestia’s, Luna’s and Cadance’s fellow princess, but interrupt whole their schedule just for this?.. Well, princesses of Equestria were absolutely different from first persons of the Union, who never had enough time to look at the matter themselves.

They watched the royals, and soon noticed that princesses’ and prince’s behavior wasn’t so different from behavior of average pony. Yes, they were intelligent, sedate, well-mannered as it should be for such high-ranked persons. But they were freely chatting with each other and others, joking, telling stories or, sometimes, even allowed themselves to be a bit silly. In general, they behaved themselves as usual ponies during usual dinner. It was strange to look at it, but it made researchers feel more comfortable and confident. They became less and less tensed, and soon, surprisingly for themselves, got really relaxed.

The conditions became incredibly favorable, there were no mental barriers between them and royals. So they decided that now is the best moment to start another set of their explorations. Kor with mental order switched on the recorder and memory block,  Affi began to scan the guests.

The dinner meanwhile lasted on as usual.

“Mister Zicht, you didn’t even touch the desserts,” noticed Luna.
“Ehm… You see, Your Highness,” he paused a bit, “I don’t like sweet dishes.”
“Why so?”
“I don’t know… I just didn’t get used to them.”
“Didn’t get used?”
“In place where I was growing sweets weren’t so spread.”
“Oh… Well, in that case, what dishes do you prefer?”
“I usually prefer something salty.”
“Excuse me,” suddenly blurted Kor and before anybody said anything he yawned.

It was particular sight. Though Kor covered his mouth with his hoof, in fact it had no effect. Kor yawned so widely that he could easily put in his mouth not only one hoof, but all four. Guests, who looked at this, got very impressed. They didn’t know that pony can yawn so widely: lower jaw almost got perpendicular to upper one. It seemed that he could easily grab a bowling ball with it.

“Excuse me,” said Kor again.
“Wow…” quietly uttered Spike.
“I must say that it was… pretty impressive,” said Celestia.
“Ehm… Your Highness?” sincerely surprised Kor.
“Your yawn.”
“My yawn?”
“I don’t remember any pony who could open his or her mouth like this, though I’m one in age.”
“Oh, this…” Kor got confused. “Well, it’s… congenital anomaly. According to doctors.”
“Congenital anomaly?”
“Yes. So-called birth defect.”
“The same here,” intervened Zet’rar and pointed to his back.
“You too?” Celestia raised her eyebrows.

Zet’rar gave a nod and said:

“Yes. But it’s doesn’t make any obstacles for me.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Please, don’t! Let’s better… think about it like about an occasion,” said Kor.
“Mister Erő, you are very polite for a guard.”
“It’s just… Features of education,” said Kor and furtively looked at Canterlot guards. They, for his own surprise, didn’t let even a bit on.

Then a pause followed. After it Celestia – having look at the clock – decided to renew the conversation:

“Well, ladies and gentlecolts, we saw what kind of ponies you are. And we were very glad. But there are some moments what we want to clarify. Tell us, please, why did you move from Europonia? Was it so bad there?”
“You see, Your Highness…” Edez began. “There was only one reason that made us to move here: job offers.”
“Job offers?”

Researchers gave a nod.

“Europonia is big land, but for us all available vacancies were farmers, loggers, miners, factory workers or school teachers,” said Sheim.
“And depending on region this list was even more limited,” added Bluve.
“Yes,” confirmed Edez. “And we all wanted to find something greater. And work here is the greatest thing. For an emigrant it’s an achievement.”
“We see…”
“But life in Europonia wasn’t bad. Yes, very limited job offer was big minus, but speaking about other things… Europonia is incredibly friendly land. Yes, there are some creepy and rough places there, but local ponies are very kind, generous, tolerant and calm.”
“And Europonian education we’ll never exchange for any other education ever!” exclaimed Karin.
“Because it’s the best!” said Bluve.

Other members of Team One confirmed this.

“Well, I must say that our equestrian academies also provide excellent education…” said Celestia.
“We aren’t doubting, Your Highness,” said Sheim. “But Europonian system has one big plus: it’s free for everypony.”
“…and it also provides the greatest time and best memories in whole your life!” added Karin.
“Best memories in whole life?” surprised Twilight.
“The greatest time?” surprised Shining Armor.
“Yes,” said researchers.
“All our best memories are connected with the times when we were students,” added Oma.
“Really?”

Team One confirmed.

“Then… can you tell us about it?” suddenly asked Luna.
“Tell about it?” exclaimed researchers.
“Yes.”
“It would be very interesting to listen,” said Cadance.
“We don’t even know…”
“Why so?”
“There are so many of them…”
“Then just pick one or few ones,” said Luna.
“The best ones!” added Cadance.
“Well…” researchers sighed. “As you wish…”
“Maybe I can tell something,” said Edez.

His friends looked at him, then with gestures said “Please!” Edez gave a slight nod and began to tell the story, adapting it on the run.

“Well, it happened during my third year of the university… As many other students, I lived in a hostel. Separate hostels weren’t assigned for separate faculties, so students from different departments lived together. For example, I, geophysicist, lived together with biologist, historian and chemist. We were a bitty, but very united group. A lot of things we did together. Including hosting.
“It was another welcoming. We invited some girls and other lads from other rooms to celebrate the end of the exams, so there was no free space in our small one. You can imagine such student hosting – it’s real carouse. But we weren’t so hot-headed, so everything was quite calm. We had a snack, and passed to the final dish – the dessert. We had a cake, we had a tea, so quickly set the table. But during the process we found that something was missing: spoons. We quickly gathered and tried to recall where our spoons were. After short arguing we remembered: Spat – our chemist – had them. So he rushed to his little cabinet and got out the box with the necessary flatware. Soon all had full set of dessert tableware. We sat, put spoons in cups and… then something weird happened: spoons began to melt!” listeners got very surprised, some ones even shocked. “We got shocked. We screamed, somepony even threw their cups away. Tea was spilled, and everything got covered with it. Guys, who first came to their senses, grabbed poor Spat and yelled at him: ‘Did you want to kill us with that acid???’ Spat didn’t know what to do. We neither.
“Well, everything would end very bad, if during the showdown we didn’t find… another set of spoons in Spat’s cabinet.”
“Another set of spoons?” surprised listeners.
“Yes. Then we looked at the boxes. And after this everything became clear: the set what we’d found was set of normal tea spoons. And set what Spat brought at first was, well, a prankster’s stuff. It was one of the famous jokes of chemists: a spoon made of gallium…”
“Gallium spoons? And what the point? I don’t get it,” said Spike.
“You see, my friend,” said Edez, “you need temperature of only thirty degrees to melt the gallium. And average tea is much hotter.”
“Well… Heh… That was quite interesting occasion,” admitted Celestia.
“Yes…” sighed Edez. “But our little holiday was spoiled… And we didn’t even started to eat that cake.”
“But you got good adventures!” smiled Luna.
“No doubt.”
“And my strongest memory about being a student is memory about my room in the hostel,” Oma began. “I’m from not the richest region of Europonia, and public education always has not all the financial resources that it needs, so… You can guess how the hostel looked…”
“I beg your pardon for the interrupt,” said Cadance. “But… Can you tell us what regions of Europonia you are from?”
“Yes,” nodded Luna. “It would be interesting for us to know.”
“I’m from Upelia,” said Oma.
“Waldland,” said Edez.
“Pusztia,” uttered Kor.
“Fjordenland,” said Karin.
“Nisios” said Affi.
“Bloemland,” spelled Max.
“Colinia,” uttered Bluve.
“Giardinia,” said Zet’rar.
“Champia,” said Sheim.
“Thank you,” princesses nodded.
“Well, returning to the previous…” continued Oma. “As I said, I’m from rather poor place, so all… specific features were connected with this. The hostel where I lived was big, massive and very imposing building. Real bastion! And it was very old.
“The rooms were big – they had enough space to provide place for four ponies. But their furnishing… It seemed that a pony with no reason at all furnished them. Wardrobes stood in the center of the room… There were two tables for four ones – it was good that those tables were quite wide… And shelves right above beds. Shelves at least twice bigger and heavier than you… I still remember how I was going to sleep – looked at my shelf and thought: will if fall or it will not… Yep… Wonderful time…
“But the clou was the wiring. Many of modern students have different electric devices, without which they just cannot live, you know. Wiring in my hostel could meet the needs of students generally, but… Since when it was made, there were no more repairs. Any repairs. So the state of that wiring, as you can guess, was awful. It ran rough. But there was one big plus in it: we could talk through the sockets.”
“Talk through the sockets?” listeners almost spat out their drinks.
“Yes. But that wasn’t not all! Once our boys decided to find out why such thing is possible. So they found a long knitting needle and… shoved it into a socket,” listeners held their breath, “and nothing happened to them. No one got shocked. And the needle soon appeared from socket on the other side of the wall.”
“What???” exclaimed Celestia and Luna.
“How?” spelled Twilight.
“I have no idea,” said Oma with stone face. “But it was so.”
“You had a really terrible hostel,” said Shining Armor. “Comparing even with the worst barracks in my Academy…”

Oma just shrugged.

“Maybe… But I didn’t complain. We had fun!”
“Well, as you say…”
“You know, there are own specific features in every hostel,” said Zet’rar. “For example, the one where I lived had one stringent rule: do not bring your works to the hostel. Well, it was possible to understand why it was so: me and my pals studied at mechanical faculty, so our works were different prototypes and devices. But once one of my roommates broke that rule and brought his work to the hostel. He just finished it and was very afraid that some bad pony could steal it. He thought that this precious will be safe only with him. So he secretly brought it to the room. And left it in his cabinet. And everything was as usual. Until the night came…
“At the middle of it we woke up because of terrible noises. They sounded like a noise of huge beast trying to escape from metal cage: gritting, rattle, scratching… And they seemed to came from our walls! We were terrified. No pony could sleep. So we sat under our blankets, shivered and waited. Before the sunrise the noises stopped. We, still shivering, stood up to look what could be the source of that awful sounds and… Well, we found it. As appeared, it was that guy’s work – so-called ‘steam sphere’. It was very hot inside, and needed constant warming. But in the room there was just no possibility for this. So it began to cool. And the cooling caused the contraction of the metal. Which, in turn, caused those noises…
“Since that time we never again brought our works to the hostel.”

Listeners laughed.

“Well, that was something!” said Shining Armor.
“We had never before known such horror…” said Zet’rar. “In the end we were ready to tore this guy. But everything finished peacefully.”
“For everypony’s luck.”
“Yes.”
“Oh… Student time indeed is one of the best periods of your life,” Celestia said dreamily.
“I agree with you, sister,” Luna turned to her.

Celestia smiled.

“Oh yes… Remember our time? Especially that days when we were at Star Swirl’s mansion?” she said, addressing to sister.
“Of course!” princess of the night exclaimed. “Those were one of the best days of our lives!”
“It’s so. Especially when we found that journal about mysteries of local lands and started to explore them!”
“Yes. Though I still wonder why Star Swirl, when we showed him the journal, disowned it and said that he has no idea how it got to him.”
“What? Journal? Mysteries? You’ve never told about this!” Cadance suspiciously addressed to Celestia and Luna.
“Really?” surprised royal sisters.
“Yes,” nodded Twilight.
“Well… Then we’ll tell you. Some day. It’s a long story,” said Celestia.

Luna confirmed.

“Well, in that case…” Edez spelled. “Your Highnesses, sirs… Allow me to toast.”

Royals and Canterlot guards gave him a nod.

“For our student times!” Edez said and raised his glass.

Other raised their glasses too and then they all emptied them. Princesses, prince and guards winced a bit – it was unusual for them to drink something alcoholic after long period (Spike drank juice). But researchers… Researchers drank their wine like ordinary liquid, like water. No winces, no shuddering. That looked strange for equestrians. And this feature didn’t escape sharp eyes of guards.

“Pardon me, but… You seem to be more familiar with such drinks, aren’t you?” said one of them.
“Well…” uttered researchers.

At that moment they faltered. They didn’t know what to answer. Yes, they all were familiar – sometimes very – with such drinks, but that wasn’t the matter.

The matter was that in the Union there was very particular method of dealing with drugs – so-called treatment. At first scientists of all planets, obviously, tried to inculcate the aversion to drugs to people or make the drugs revolting. But all these attempts failed because the inclination to drugs appeared to be stronger than artificial dislike – it was just impossible to break or switch off the will to find easy relax and relief, curiosity and thirst to taste the forbidden. Then they decided to use the new methodology: if this inclination can’t be eradicated, then they should make drugs to be perceived like some usual substances, and for this they have to reduce the susceptibility and negative effects that they are causing. So the great work had been started: during the generations scientists continued their experiments on genes and physiology. And with every new generation susceptibility of sentients for drugs reduced. And with this, as they stopped to provide “the necessary effect”, the interest to drugs. It was the greatest victory. But it had one consequence: sentients got ability to consume drugs in unimaginable amounts. For example, an average terran now can make a pancake made of pure heroine, eat it, and nothing will happen to him or her – except diarrhea is rare cases. The only exception was alcohol: it still had effect. But it’s necessary to say that this effect began to emerge only if sentients drank really big portion: the same terran needed two liters of pure alcohol only to get tipsy. And other sentients, from elder civilizations, needed even more. And also, by the way, this treatment provided immunity to various poisons.

That was the matter. Their original bodies were immune to any drugs, and their avatars inherited this feature too.

“Well… yes,” Edez finally said, haven’t found any better explanations.
“But it’s because… You see, wine is traditional drink in Europonia,” said Max.
“Yes,” confirmed Kor. “It’s spread in our lands, so…”
“We just got used to it,” finished Karin.
“Oh, I see…” guard slightly nodded.
“But we never misuse them,” added Edez.
“Well, then it’s okay.”
“Glad that you agree with it.”

And the dinner continued – as it should be. Mostly.

During all the conversations no one noticed that one pony from group of new castle workers was very silent – she didn’t join any chatting, laughed very rarely and seemed not to listen to others. She just ate from time to time and always looked around. Affi, usually one of the most talkative members of the group, now was like changed. But she has a reason to act like this: she had been scanning.

Every telepathist will say you that making a thorough mental scan and act like ordinary one is very and very hard, almost impossible sometimes. So, if it’s necessary to make a good scan, telepathist needs help and cover. At the moment her friends made great job and distracted everypony from her, even royal guards, incredibly attentive and observant ones, didn’t notice that her behavior was a bit odd. So it was possible to focus on the job.

Affi put all her efforts to this, but the process was slow. She decided to start from royal sisters, and they appeared to be very tough ones. No, they didn’t made any mental obstacles – she learned in the first minutes of arriving here that equestrians aren’t able for telepathy – there were other difficulties. At first, the volume of the mind. Celestia and Luna had the greatest minds that were comparable only with representatives of the most ancient civilizations. At second, the depth. Royal sisters had minds of philosophers and scientists, they had incredibly developed intelligence. And, at third, which was the main difficulty – the amount of memories. But it was expected if you are dealing with ones who have been living for several centuries.

But, finally, after almost an hour of work, she finished the scanning of royal sisters. Personal mind files of first two rulers were ready. Now it was necessary to made such files for rulers of Crystal Empire. Knowing that they are more close to Twilight than to royal sisters and remembering that Twilight had been completely scanned in one fourth of a supramoments, it wouldn’t be so hard. So Affi focused on the royal couple.

She expected to make good quick scan but instead of this she… let’s say that she faced with something that she didn’t expect and want. The point was that when she focused on Cadance and Shining Armor, they were also distracted from general conversation – looked at each other with smiles. They were at the same wavelength, they were thinking about the same thing. And this thing was, well, their amorous plans for the late evening.

These thoughts were very intense. So Affi, when she looked at princess and prince, noticed them first. And, as it happened to her, she got shocked. And because of this, having rolled her eyes, fainted.

She would fall down if Edez didn’t notice that she staggered. So when she started to fall he quickly caught her.

“What happened to her?” exclaimed worrying royals.
“She…” Max ran to Affi. “Oh, she just fainted.”
“Fainted?” surprised Twilight.
“How?” exclaimed Cadance.
“Can you bring her to life?” asked Shining Armor.
“I know one way…” said Edez, grabbed his fainted neighbor, lifted her and shook like a doll.
“H-huh? Wha-wha-what ha-a-apene-e-nd?” said Affi when she opened her eyes.

Edez stopped to shake her.

“You fainted,” her friends said to her.
“Really?”
“Yes. You rolled your eyes, staggered and then fell,” said Edez.
“Oh…”
“What happened to you?” wondered Twilight.
“I don’t know…” uttered Affi. “Everything just… turned dark and I fell.”
“Does this often happens to you?” asked Luna.
“Rarely, but sometimes it does, Your Highness. It’s another consequence of that incident.”
“What incident?”
“Antilipsi told that once she appeared under the influence of powerful magic explosion,” explained Twilight. “Since that time her eyes can change their colors.”
“Really?” surprised royal sisters.

Affi gave a nod. Then she blinked, and her blue eyes became orange.

“Well, that’s interesting,” said Celestia.
“I apologize for that,” said Affi.
“Oh, don’t blame yourself,” said Luna. “Such unexpected things can happen to everypony.”
“Thanks, Your Highness.”
“Let’s better return to our little chat.”

All others agreed, and the conversation renewed. Everyone calmed down. Affi also came to her senses, and later even tried to return to her job. After her fainting Cadance and shining Armor didn’t return to that topic, so she managed to make proper scans of them. And it turned out to be even faster than she expected.

The dinner continued for thirty more minutes. Then Celestia and Luna looked at the clock and said that they, unfortunately, have to go – they have to return to Canterlot before the night. Shining Armor and Cadance said that they also should go – their train leaves tomorrow early in the morning. So guests thanked princess of friendship, her assistant and, especially, new workers of the castle, and left the castle. Pegasi-guards harnessed themselves in the chariot, royals sat in, and then the chariot rose into the air. Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor waved before chariot didn’t turn into small spot in the sky. Twilight, Spike and researchers waved too. Only when they became indistinguishable to each other they stopped. Hosts of the castle sighed and turned to Team One.

“So, what do you think now?” asked Twilight.
“Yeah, how was the visit?” added Spike.
“Well… That was… very pleasant,” answered Edez.
“Even in spite of some incidents,” shyly smiled Aff.
“I didn’t feel myself like on the check,” said Kor.
“Me too,” added Zet’rar and Karin.
“And what do you think about princesses and my brother?” Twilight continued.
“Well, we don’t know them as rulers,” said Max. “But as persons they are very nice.”
“Yes, they are very good ponies,” nodded Bluve.
“It was very interesting to talk with them,” added Sheim.
“Thought at first we all felt very awkward,” said Oma.

Twilight smiled.

“Thank you for making this visit so interesting!” she said.
“And thank you too,” said Edez. “Now we all feel ourselves more confident.”
“Yes,” confirmed others.
“I’m glad for you,” Twilight said.
“But now I have to repeat my question,” said Max.
“What question?” surprised Spike.
“Where I can take a nap before my shift starts?”
“Oh!..” groaned his colleagues.
“Follow me, mister Zicht,” Twilight smiled. “I will show you.”