1. Discovery

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It was ordinary late evening. Only two researches, the night shift, remained at the central communication station of Central Planetology Institute of the Union. Automatic probes sent their signals as they should, receivers worked evenly, cores processed. Everything was calm. It seemed that absolutely nothing will happen in following hours. So researches just sat before monitors and holoscreens of main terminal and whiled away their time.

“Gimme a second…” muttered first. “Aha! Dje-Oirth.”
“Themegatou,” second said flatly, looking at his opponent.
“Ouzxay.”
“Wait, where is it? I don’t remember this planet.”
“It’s in God’s Eye Galaxy, Sector 54.”
“Oh, okay then… Hm… Yedeiz.”
“Szeit’f.”
“Dude, we agreed to use common phonetic alphabet!”
“Oops, my bad… Zeiregozh.”
“Zhulethezh.”
“Damn you… Ehm… Zhad’poakh.”
“Kg… Pardon me, Khaqod.”
“…”

He only prepared to answer, when signal sounded throughout the whole station. Loud alarm made first researched choke and made second spotted. In a second after this communication projection appeared on the central holoscreen. Face on it had clear and sharp lines – true sign of artificial subintelligence.

“Oh, excuse me please, sir Idszem, sir Aokg! I didn’t want to scare you!” projection said beseechingly.
“Y-you are f-forgiven…” answered Idszem, the first researcher, turning to the projection. “A…”
“ASI Kepo, Probe 514, was sent to Equalcross Dwarf Galaxy, sir.”
“Next time don’t act like that, okay?” said Aokg, the second scientist.
“Yes, sir, but… I just acted according to the protocol.”
“Never mind. And now… explain, why you called for five days ahead of schedule?” Idszem addressed to ASI.
“Well, sirs, you see… I made a discovery.”
“And what kind of discovery?”
“Class eight finding.”

Researches were taken aback. But soon they recovered.

“WHAAAT???” they exclaimed.
“Yes, sirs, eight class,” confirmed Kepo.
“You mean that… new separate civilization?” Aokg spelled.
“Yes.”
“A-and on what level are they?” Idszem asked.
“Highest precosmic, sir.”
“Incredible! New sapient species!” Aokg exclaimed.
“A-allow me precise, sir. There are several species.”
“S-s-several? At one planet?”
“Yes, sir.”

Scientists got even more wonderstruck.

“A-are you all right, sirs?” Kepo worried.
“What planet is it?” shouted Aokg.
“Yeah, give the coordinates! Galactic ones!” added Idszem.
“Yes, sirs! 000-5-1-735,6774-452,9012-501,2883 (3).”
“That region?” both scientists surprised and switched on star map hologram. “But we thought that only lonely star is there!”
“Well, sirs, first surveys still aren’t always accurate.”
“Did you make all the scans?” asked Aokg.
“Yes, sir.”
“Wow! Just wow! Man, such discoveries didn’t happen over the last three or even four generations! We should inform administration of the Institute!”
“No, wait! We should inform all the departments and administration!” exclaimed Idszem.
“All the departments? Why? They all are connected!” his colleague wondered.
“They all are interested in this!”
“They can easily communicate!”
“It’s the matter of organization!”
“I don’t see any difference.”
“There is big difference!”

Researches angrily looked at each other, then, suddenly, on holoscreen, like they wanted to hear answer from it.

“Sirs, I’m just an artificial subintelligence!” gibbered surprised Kepo.

Idszem and Aokg sighed.

“Okay, have it your way,” said Aokg. “We’ll send messages to each department and to administration.”
“A-ad-d-dminis-stration?” ASI asked in trembling voice.
“Yes, Kepo, what’s the problem?” wondered Idszem.
“You see, sirs, I just never sent messages to any chiefs…”
“Don’t worry! It’s not worse than jump into a collapsar! We’ll help you!”
“Yes. – Aokg added, - And now let’s start to work.”

Researches and ASI began to inform all departments of Central Planetology Institute and all its branches. And since that moment with every minute number of enthusiastic sentients got greater and greater. News spread rapidly, and soon population of millions of planets in hundred great galaxies was rapturous.

It was discovery of the millennium!

Emergency Council was convened on the following day. Hundreds and hundreds of scientists, diplomats, officers and journalists arrived on Ateir, the Great Intersection, central world of the Union to discuss the event. Number of guests appeared to be so great that organizers from the Institute, where the Council had to sit in session, didn’t find suitable hall all over the complex. So they had to move to one of planet’s great Arenas to gather everyone.

It took all invited about four hours to get there. When the last ones arrived, heads of the Institute took their places at long table on the stage, live broadcast was started and doors were closed. The session began.

Avalanche of questions came immediately:

“Is information about this discovery truly reliable?”
“How developed are they?”
“It was found in Equalcross Galaxy? But probability of emergence of sapient species in such small star clusters is very small!”
“We heard that there are several sapient species on that planet. Is it true?”
“What can you say about the system and planet in general?”
“What will you do now?”

Director of the Institute stood up and said:

“Quiet! Calm down, please!”

Thanks to Arena’s audio systems his voice spread over entire volume of the building. All gathered calmed down. Director looked around and then continued:

“Yes, thanks to ASI Kepo, Probe 514, class eight finding, discovery of new inhabited planet, was made in Equalcross Galaxy, and there are several sentient species on it. It’s all true. We would be glad to answer all your questions, but now, as the situation is really extraordinary, and because there are a lot of interested ones there, it will be quite problematic. We understand your curiosity, so for satisfying it we’ll give the word to the discoverer, Kepo, who will provide the detailed report.”

He nodded to his assistant, and she quickly established new communication channel. One moment – and huge holoscreen behind the stage flashed. And Kepo’s communication projection appeared in front of all forty thousands gathered. It looked very confused.

“Ehm…” projection tried to speak. “Um… A… Ow…”

IT specialists who were at this session put their hands, or paws, or tentacles, or fins or what they had on their faces. Since the very creating of modern ASIs it was their common problem. All subintelligences have emotion imitation algorithm made as source for giving convenience and simplification of conversation between real and virtual sentients. And such things as worrying and hesitation also were included in it. According to the main subroutines, their degree depended on number of sentients, statuses of interlocutors and results of analysis of their facial expressions. Now there were hundreds of very important sentients, and all they wanted information, so ASI, which just followed the program, successfully fell into stupor.

“Calm down, Kepo! ” said head of probe department of the Institute after sigh. “Focus and… just make report as you usually do it.”

“Oh, sure,” ASI uttered. Then projection closed its eyes and slightly nodded. After this it continued:
“Okay… On seven hundred and third day of the mission I checked the star, located at following galactic coordinates: 000-5-1-735,6774-452,9012-501,2883 (3). According to the first surveys it was a lonely star. But as the survey was made from distance of thirty light years, it appeared to be inaccurate. This star isn’t lonely, it has quite large planet system. There are twelve celestial bodies in it: five gas giants, one of which seems to be captured rogue planet, five rocky ones and two icy ones. And the third planet from the sun can support suitable conditions for life. This planet is 0,887 times smaller than average rocky planet in diameter and 0,691 times smaller by weight. Its rotation period is 2,413 times shorter than average for rocky planets. It has one big natural satellite, its orbital period is about 28 local days. Atmosphere of this planet belongs to group of nitrogen-oxygen-inert gases type, it’s very clear and has average density for rocky planet. There are oceans on this planet, and they cover about two-thirds of its surface. Polar caps are quite small. Climatic conditions are favorable, biosphere is rich. Speaking about sapient species… There are 42 of them on this planet,” all gathered gasped. “Yes, it’s so. It can not compete with Ha’Xu and its 57 species, but there is one circumstance: all sentients of Ha’Xu were rather primitive, they all were just tribes when we found them, and they are tribes even now. But creatures of that planet were able to create real cultures, real civilizations: they reached highest precosmic level of development or they are approaching it. According to the research protocol, I made series of scanograms to get information about local inhabitants. But it appeared that environment of whole this system and this planet particularly is supersaturated with different kinds of energies – electromagnetic, gravitational, transspatial, subwave, vital, distorting and other – so I wasn’t able to make detailed and, sometimes, correct scans. These energies are thoroughly mixed, and to separate one kind from other was impossible for my meters and instruments. We can say that we have one more so-called perfect mix. Although its intensity interfered the measuring process, I was able to get some information. I got approximate images of local sentients and defined the regions where they live, as none of them spread all over the planet. Dividing of the surface, as it should be according to the procedure, was exercised along the middle meridian of the widest ocean. The results are the following…”

Projection gave a nod, and then disappeared. Instead of it sketch-map of that world showed up together with silhouettes of local sentients, placed near their homelands. After this all descendants of Earth and other sentients which were acquainted with human culture just dropped their jaws, mandibles or what they got instead of them: local sentients looked just like animals or – it was even more unbelievable – mythological creatures of the terran’s homeworld. And even more shocking it was because of the fact that almost seven million light years separated these worlds. Other present after brief looking for information in the Net, also got very surprised.

“No way!”
“Wow…”
“There are so many of them!” exclaimed one of the senior sociologists, who sat in the first rows, but soon remembered that she forgot to introduce before saying as it should be. “Oh… Pardon me… Karin Axelsson. How such thing is even possible?”
“Well, we more than once faced with external similarity of species on absolutely different planets,” said head of general planetology department. “It seems to be one of the universal regularities. And for your civilization, as I remember, it's second such event.”
“Right…” Karin uttered and glanced at her neighbors, representatives of Tauwada civilization, which originated from small planet relatively not far from Ha’Gxa beacon star, among earthlings known as Betelgeuse, and which looked just like terran apes.
“But I must admit that it’s really exceptional case,” noticed head of department.
“Max Sudarmono,” one of the senior physiologists raised his hand. “I can understand emergence of ungulates with single horn… but winged? And with horn and wings?”
“And one more thing, please. Bluve K’oishea. Can they fly at all? Wings of such size can be only rudiments!” added his neighbor.
“It’s still puzzling me, sirs,” Kepo’s communication projection appeared again, on new holoscreen. “But all scanograms what I made show that they are able for it.”

Doctors choked.

“H-how?” only some ones could utter.
“I can’t find any other explanations except the influence of this perfect mix of energies, sirs,” Kepo answered.
“Agree. Until we explore this phenomenon, we won’t be able to give an answer,” quietly nodded head of planetary and stellar physics department.

Then there came silence.

“Well… Kepo, please, continue,” said director of the Institute.
“Thanks, master,” ASI answered. “Since there is such similarity, I will use terran terms to make the report faster and easier to understand. As we can see, there are sixteen great regions on this planet, and almost each one populated with separate species. Horselike species are the most widespread and populate three regions in the northern hemisphere: here in the west,” Kepo began to show them with special markers, “here in the middle, here in the east. Between the middle and the eastern regions of horselike species lies three other areas: domain of deerlike and bisonlike species in the north, domain of camellike and antelopelike species in the south and domain of a bit undefined species in the central part of this continent. Appearance of representatives of this species varies greatly, but results of scanograms showed that all they have quite similar structures of organisms. Like dragonlike species of this planet – I’ll speak about them later. Also there is second region of such… promiscuous species, it separates western domain of horselike species and domain of alpacalike and llamalike species in the southern hemisphere. To the south of the middle region of horselike species there is big domain of zebralike, giraffelike and elephantlike species, to the south-west of the first region there is domain of griffinlike species. In the south-east there is domain of marsupial species. To west of it there is big domain of dragonlike species. Such species also populate region situated to the southeast of western domain of horselike species. To the north-east of western region of horselike species there are two other areas – of feliformia species and caniformia species. And between the greatest domain of dragonlike species and zebra- giraffe- and elephantlike species there is a small region – in fact, group of islands – populated with seaserpentlike species. According to the preliminary data of mind scanning different species show different degree of friendliness, but none of them are really aggressive. All survey data I sent to the Institute servers, they are freely available.”
“Thanks, Kepo,” nodded heads of the Institute.

Still a bit confused ASI in response only gave a trembling nod.

“Well, if so, then we can already start the preparations for the expedition!” said head of department of planning.
“Affi Mana-tosu. Missions will be carried out according to the standard program, right?” one of the master researchers, who were in the front line at tribune, asked to precise.
“The only obstacle may be only this perfect mix, but standard program worked well in all cases when we had to deal with such things, so yes.”

Heads of biological researches department and general planetology department confirmed her words.

“Edez Ad’Deigoro. But are you sure that our systems of avatar creation will be able to handle with… such variety?” asked another master researcher. “Genome integration technology still fails sometimes, although we have been working on it for three million years.”
“Right!” added some other master researchers.
“The system was used during the explorations of more than nine hundred of newfound civilizations, and it is more than two thousand species, so it’s only a matter of proper configuration to make it work. Even in such really difficult situation,” answered head of technical support department.
“Yes, it’s so,” said director. “But we should have second plan, if we won’t succeed. So, sir Eitto,” he addressed to head of department of public relations, “prepare request to the Prior Council to give us for temporary use the emergency upgrade algorithm…”

Several thousands of gathered sentients after these words gasped. Head of department of public relations stumbled during the typing.

“…give it to us under my full responsibility,” finished director after pause.
“A-as you wish,” said head of department and continued to fill the request form.
“Ske and Stu Oriffe. Pardon us, but you didn’t say about general type of these organisms,” a couple of physiologists from the side sectors noticed.
“Oops, my bad…” Kepo quickly uttered in apologetic voice. “Well, according to the scans, greatest part of them belong to homeothermic heterotrophic type, other few species are representatives of poikilothermic heterotrophic type.”
“What? Heterotrophic? Excuse me, Sheim Tat-Doil. And what sentients from primarily autotrophic races who will appear among the sent researchers should do?” exclaimed one of the senior planetologists, who sat in the central part of the tribune.
“And chemosynthetic? It was Oma Kiegekko,” intervened deputy head of sociology department, Sheim’s neighbor.
“Zet’rar Dou. And poikilothermic, even partly?” added one of the technology masters of the Institute, who also was near. “And, also, with such atypical body structure?” he pointed to six tentacle-like limbs on his back.
“Yes. In our cases probable defects of avatars may be fatal,” said some other researchers.
“As I said, it’s just a matter of proper adjustment. Avatar creating system dealt with similar problems before,” answered head of biological researches department. “We just need to find data and materials in our archives and spend some time.”
“As you say…” said researchers.
“Oh, excuse me,” suddenly exclaimed Kepo. “I forgot to mention one moment. It may be not the most important thing, but it’s very particular: only eighteen sapient species of this planet are omnivores, all other are herbivores.”
“All 42 are plant-eaters? And what about primarily carnivorous races? The avatar creation machines almost never change digestive system!” resented one of the security officers who served the Institute.
“Ehm…”
“Well, you’ll have to eat when nobody sees you, Kor,” said one his colleague and put his tentacle on his shoulder. “And, in case of this world – use bioreactors.”
“Damn…”
“Well, is there any other notices?” wondered director.

All other researchers, including Kepo, with no words showed that they don’t.

“If so, then, I think, it’s possible to pass to the answering the questions of our guests…” director continued, and journalists pounced the researchers.

Journalists, diplomats and officers who were present on the session, kept asking for whole six hours. Answering all these questions exhausted researchers and heads of the Institute almost completely. Their thoughts got mixed, because of incessant speaking their mandibles hung down, tongues tied between teeth or tied themselves into knots. Some scientist looked so bad that all their expressions showed that only thing what they need is instant brain reboot or day of sleeping. But, eventually, this part – to everyone’s relief – came to the end, and it was possible to pass to the most interesting: while other spoke with public, heads of department of planning, technical support department, department of practical researches, department of home affairs and expeditionary department, which were ordered, argued about membership of research groups. It was decided that each team will consist of nine researchers: two planetologists, two sociologists, two biologists, one technology master, one master telepathist and one security officer. Also heads of departments agreed that each team will have two curators, which will be chosen among master researchers. They had done thorough job – reviewed personal data files of hundreds of best scientists of the institute and chose the most skilled – and now, when audience got its answers, they were ready to announce the teams.

The information was sent to Arena’s ASI, and soon, when all gathered calmed, mighty voice of autonomous master of this great hall began to declare the names, and at the same time portraits of members of the groups began to appear on the main holoscreen.

“Team One,” ASI declared, or, to be precise – as one that had been an entertainer for several centuries and just couldn’t do it differently – thundered. “Edez Ad’Deigoro, first curator and senior planetologist, Sheim Tat-Doil, regular planetologist, Affi Mana-tosu, second curator and master telepathist, Oma Kiegekko, senior sociologist, Karin Axelsson, regular sociologist, Max Sudarmono, senior biologist, Bluve K’oishea, regular biologist, Zet’rar Dou, technology master, Kor Ndtal-Emai, security officer…”

And in the same way members of other fifteen teams were named. But structure of all the groups had one specific feature, and it caused several questions: there were at least two terrans at each team, whereas representatives of other races usually remained alone. Organizers answered simply: environments of the newfound planet seems to be very close to Earth’s, so terrans may have knowledge which will make exploration of new world easier. It’s the only reason. This explanation appeared to be satisfying – after it there were no more other questions, so heads of the Institute and all other gathered sincerely congratulated the appointed and wished them good luck. And at this, as it was late already, the session ended. Guests began to leave the Arena, and researchers, who will become partners for next months or, maybe, even years, began to gather.

Members of the Team One met near service entrance in the right of the stage. Max and Karin, terrans, Edez, dreketanian, Affi, jokhrian, Zet’rar, unfalizan, Oma, yedeizan, Kor, verekan, Bluve, anxaiman, Sheim, rugartairan, stood in a circle and looked at each other. Tranquil Edez, who was almost three and half meters tall, towered over all other members of the group, and this despite the fact that his neck, as it should be for dreketanians, was perpendicular to other regions of vertebral columns. Affi seemed to see everybody through even when she did nothing, glance of her two big eyes with four rhomboid pupils pierced, three horn-like appendages on her head slightly trembled. Kor had to raise his head to look at faces of others, but it was only because he belonged to originally quadruped race, really he was as big as Edez; he grinned, and this grin showed two rows of sharp teeth. Bluve tried not to show her feelings, but was obviously worried – she nervously rubbed all four her hands, and moves of her spiracles were uneven. Zet’rar was calm, all six his dorsal limbs hung like mantle, but there were sparks in his eyes, and he also grinned. Proud, but really interested Oma was still, and this, together with her height, slenderness and pale color of skin made her look just like ancient statue. Sheim didn’t stop to look at his colleagues, and because of this green crest on his head and back rustled – in general he was rather active for a representative of autotrophic species. Karin, though she was the lowest among all bipedals, was calm and expectantly looked around, it felt like some kind of force came from her, and soon others noticed why: she slowly spun her communicator in her hand, telekinetically. Max mostly looked like average terran – two meter tall, centner in weight, imperturbable expression – but because only feature seemed to be even more formidable than Affi: he had artificial sensory organs on his face, which looked like open wounds that had just stopped bleeding.

For few moments they were silent, then Edez started the conversation:

“Well, colleagues… I’m glad to meet you all!” he smiled.
“We too,” answered regular researchers.
“It’s an honor to work with you,” said Sheim and bowed.
“We’re all now in the same boat, so, please, let’s do without it,” said master researcher.
“Okay.”
“An interesting and very particular company we are, I must admit,” uttered Oma, looking at her colleagues.
“You don’t say…” Karin added, slightly shaking her head.
“I can’t even imagine, what occasions will happen to us,” grinned Zet’rar. “Especially when we’ll use the avatars.”
“Let’s hope for the best,” quietly answered Bluve and smiled.
“But if they will happen, they always can be fixed!” Max grinned.
“What a tone…” senior sociologist shuddered.
“Dude, that was creepy,” said technology master.
“Even for physiologist,” confirmed Kor.
“I know. It’s just a habit,” answered senior medic.
“Enough of this! We’ll have a lot of time to discuss our work,” intervened Edez. “Now let’s just relax and talk to each other.”
“Absolutely agree,” said Karin, Sheim and Zet’rar.
“Well, I know only one really good way that will help us know each other better,” said Affi. “We need to go to a café and have a good snack together.”
“No doubt,” confirmed Oma.
“Damn right!” nodded Kor and Max.

Having unanimously agreed, new research team rushed to the exit.

“But only one moment,” suddenly said Zet’rar, when they were already near the door. “Where exactly we will go?”
“And what we’ll order?” added Kor.

And they started to argue.

2. Way to the New World

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For the first time in last thousand years the equipping of the Pointing the Way class starship, made for exploration of new worlds, was started. The reason was extraordinary, so work was quick and thorough. Thousands of robots prepared necessary mechanisms and other instruments, repaired and upgraded the ship and minor vessels which will become local bases for research teams and uploaded huge holds. Best scientists of the Institute adjusted the avatar creation machines for two decades. Researchers studied Kepo’s survey materials. Time passed quickly, and, finally, in twenty six days after the session the announcement of the vessel launch was made.

About six millions gathered near the Institute spaceport to see it. The process itself started at noon. Announcement was made, and spectators prepared. But nothing happened. For rather long time. Gathered sentients got confused, some ones got upset, but then… The earth shook, and the thundering sound came – the underground hangars of the spaceport began to open. The starship was raising. Mighty airflow swept through and above crowd, and soon the vessel appeared. Eight kilometers in length, one and a half kilometer in height and two kilometers wide, matted, but with huge, shining in the sun letters of the name, “Kelkerdez-Unaad”. She was more than two thousand years old but still was amazing. Spectators met her with applause. Starship herself meanwhile continued to rise. Soon she was above the hangar roof. When the sufficient distance was reached, the great gates were closed. “Kelkerdez-Unaad” gave the farewell signal and, having turned on the gravity shield, in a minute disappeared in the sky. Spectators saw her off with very loud cheers.

Later, when the planet remained far behind, starship crew gave command to implement space breakthrough. Interstellar jump was started. During it on-board ASIs take control over the vessel, so all crew and researchers can relax and mentally prepare themselves for the mission. They have to overcome seven million light years – it’s four days of flight – so they will have enough time for this.

But during the first couple of days greatest part of all sentients, as it usually happens, just idle.

Edez together with his colleague, technology master and curator of Team Two, leisurely walked along wide corridor that led to ship’s atrium garden, the center of air producing. They were talking, and time by time looked around.

“…and then he just ripped out sensor block with two transmitting modules from her communicator, grabbed that permanently glitching plasmic joiner, in few moments resoldered about forty contacts and then shoved, I say shoved second module in that hole, which remained from broken lever and hit the control panel with full force. And all this started to work! And he, nevertheless, did it! He managed to avoid the collision! Except all already mentioned damages aerocar remained without a scratch! Witnesses said that they’ve never seen stunt like this even on HV! I know that lever control system in case of emergency can be run with imitators, but with details from simple communicator?.. How, dammit, how??? I work with this stuff for eight hundred years, I have full access to all information about previous researches for eight million years, and I still can not understand!” technician surprised. “Somebody, tell me, how?!”
“S’te, if you, technology master, can’t find the answer, then what to say about me?” answered Edez. “I’m a planetologist, I may be as good as you only with measurers.”

S’te sighed.

“I'm starting to believe that no one will help me…” he uttered.
“You can ask other master researchers,” offered planetologist.
“I’ve already tried. Got no results, absolutely.”
“Oh…”
“The only ones I didn't ask are Priors,” S’te continued. “But do you imagine how they will react on such request?”
“Well… I’m sorry for you,” said Edez. “But you must admit that if your protégé was able to do something like that, though he’s mad, he will be really amazing scientist!”
“True.”
“…and that was really cool.”

Technician looked at his colleague and smiled:

“Oh yes! That’s my Rogi!”
“That’s your school,” added Edez.
“Don’t magnify like that!”
“I don’t…”

And at this moment their attention focused on odd procession: in two hundred meters from them, in the atrium, one of the flight engineers headed group of six ASI robots that moved a trolley, full of containers with spark units – starters of ship’s engines. Teleportation is prohibited during the jumps, so all transportations must be implemented only with “traditional” ways. Spark units are incredibly powerful devices, and, at the same time, dangerous. So it was necessary to be extremely accurate with them. But scientists of the Union haven’t invented sources what can be better, so all industry continued to use these devices.

Robots moved very slowly, each their step was only twenty centimeters long, and only two robots was allowed to make moves at the same time. But in spite of this engineer was tensed and just fixed his eyes on ASIs.

“And that’s what I call stressful job,” said S’te.
“You don’t say…” confirmed Edez.

They looked at this for several seconds, but then a calamity happened: one robot that was moving in the front of the trolley stumbled. The trolley shook. And container from the top of the load lurched enough to shift the center of gravity. It began to fall.

Engineer froze and turned pale. S’te and Edez stood still. All other witnesses were paralyzed.

If the unit will fall and break, it will explode. And everything within four hundred meters range will be destroyed.

Technician was shocked and didn’t know what to do. He lost his courage and just started to look around. Other were on the verge of panic. But Edez… His expression changed – he closed his eyes and lowed his head, like he was about to do something really bad.

Oh no! Not this and not now!

“Edez!!!” signal flashed in researcher’s brain. “Stop! If you’ll do it, the consequences can be much worse! Don’t do it!!!”
“Sorry,” Edez quickly answered and…

Having left slight trace behind, in a second he was near the trolley. A moment later he caught the falling container.

Other witnesses got even more shocked. Only after a minute at least they began to came into their senses and sighed with relief.

Edez sighed too, raised and put the container back on load. Engineer, when he recovered, could only utter: “Th-thanks…” Researcher gave a nod in response and rushed back to place where his colleague remained. Others soon returned to their businesses.

When planetologist came back, his companion shouted at him:

“Have you gone mad? What were you thinking? We all could die!”
“I know and I apologize,” answered Edez. “But what else could I do?”
“If your energy mixed with the energy of the unit, it could cause the destruction of whole ship!”
“Tell me, what would you prefer: inevitable destruction of atrium or small chance for salvation?”
“You know, both variants could let to powerful explosions, so they all are bad.”
“But sometimes all possible variants are bad.”
“Eh… Okay, now we’re safe, and this is the main thing. It’s better for both of us to chill out now.”
“Agree.”

And master researchers went to one of ship’s dayroom.

Shutter doors swiftly opened, and Bluve, having looked around, entered the central ship’s canteen. She slowly approached the first free food distributor and put her hand into special aperture. Mechanism grabbed her palm and set of nanoneedles imperceptibly pierced the skin. One moment – and neural connection was established. Machine’s scanner read her mental order, then just thirty seconds of waiting, and her dinner was ready. Full plate of anxaiman treats, which almost entirely consisted of seafood, appeared from distributor’s special window. Bluve took it and, after another look having noticed group of her friends from other groups, decided to join them.

Guys – technicians, officers, sociologists, planetologists, other biologists – amiably greeted her and gave her place in the middle part of the table. Bluve was friendly and very nice girl, so, although she was shy, she always quickly made contacts and found new friends. Medic nodded and sat down. And she immediately got involved into conversation.

Friends talked on various topics – from personal expectations from this mission till latest communication gadgets and several ridiculous incidents that happened recently. But then some guys finally noticed that they forgot why they gathered here. So they passed to their already cool dishes. And the very first bites caused them to remember about the main problem of food from distributors – it always was insipid.

“Eww…” wrinkled some guys.
“Oh Universe, what a muck!” exclaimed other.
“Millions of years have passed, and there automates still producing food that have almost no differences from ancient bacterial masses!” said biologist from Team Fourteen.
“It’s worse than BMs,” growled her friend.
“Nothing can be worse than BM,” answered officer from Team Six.

Other didn’t find anything to object – quality and composition of army food, especially in the training camps, thousand years ago became “legendary”.

“But still these meals are bad,” continued planetologist from Team Ten.
“No doubt,” confirmed almost all others.
“I dunno, why even on the most distant colonies in cafés one easily can find qualitative food that cooked the same way, and even on the best Institute’s ships these machines produce such gruel!” exclaimed medic from Team Nine.
“Hey, Xarri…” officer from Team Seven suddenly addressed to technician from his group. “You said that you had been working with these machines, right? Then tell us why it keeps happening?!”
“I have no idea,” answered Xarri after a sigh. “Automates work as they should. It’s question for ones who fill these machines.”

All other after these words just lowered their heads.

“But you know what’s the most terrible thing?” sociologist from Team Six broke the silence.
“What?” some ones turned to her.
“It’s that we can’t even add some spice in it.”
“Oh yes…”
“You don’t say.”
“I can’t understand, why if some spices from several worlds are drugs for sentients from other, it’s necessary to ban all of them!” exclaimed planetologist from Team Ten. “Especially now, when the treatment is spread everywhere.”
“Those damned bureaucrats just prefer to not force their brains,” answered couple of sociologists.
“Nasty food that we can’t make better… Nice…” spelled biologist from Team Three and fastidiously stirred her soup.
“I’m demotivated,” said officer from Team Six and lowered his head.
“Well…” Bluve began. “I can provide one source…”
“You can? How? What source?” surprised her friends.
“A spice from my homeworld,” answered medic. “But about “how”… You won’t like this…”

After these words she slightly bowed and unbuttoned jacket on her stomach. Then she put own her hand under the fabric and started to fumble. Some ones already wrinkled. She continued, and in twenty seconds muffled crackle and gurgle came. Gathered shuddered, and Bluve pulled her hand out. With a small jar, surprisingly dry.

“That was disgusting,” winced some other girls.
“I know, I’m sorry,” answered Bluve in very apologetic voice. “But it’s the only way to fool the scanning systems of the ship.”
“Forgive me my curiosity, but… Where did you learn such things?” wondered officers.
“This? Well, allow me to reintroduce myself. I’m Bluve K’oishea, who sixty three years ago was also known as Calm Bei.”

Some guys spat out their drinks.

“WHAT???” exclaimed all gathered.
“Yes, my friends. I was that smuggler.”
“I never would have thought that it was you,” spelled officer from Team Seven, hardly managing to not allow his jaw to fall down.
“But it’s so,” said Bluve after a sigh. “At that time I just didn’t find anything better. Hegi occupied Zateaf, my native planet, and I had to do something to help my nation. Yes, I robbed the Institute, but I helped to save lives. For six years, till the end of the war.”
“Ow…”
“And… What happened after?” asked some guys.
“As it should be. I was sentenced.”
“But you did good things in fact!” exclaimed sociologists. “The court should took it into account!”
“They did it. So I had only to pay a fine. Rather big fine, but still… But enough about this. Who wants some?” she raised the jar.
“Is it really spicy?” asked technology master from Team Five.
“Try it!”

Technician nodded, and Bluve gave the jar to her. Then she gave it to other wanting ones. Soon all gathered added some in their meals. And found that this zateafian stuff is really hot.

In the end of the dinner Bluve was declared the savior of the day.

After sufficient nap – that means about twenty one hour – Kor thought that it would be great to have a snack. So he left his cabin and rushed to the nearest canteen. He was already near it, when he heard loud shouts from one side corridor. He got interested and decided to look. Some quiet steps, turn, and the reason became visible: Maderz, officer from Team Three, yelled at his colleague from the group, planetologist Viffo. Maderz was a leyzerzan, representative of race that was known among all the Union for their sizes – even such titans as Kor and Edez were half time less than average descendant of Leyzerz. And Viffo, gojan, thin and low, was like a weak blade of grass before mighty tree. He was just paralyzed, he couldn’t say a word.

The situation was critical: officer was on the verge of fury, and because of difference in sizes and strength he could just crush poor scientist with one hand. It was necessary to intervene, but all other afraid to deal with angry colossus.

Kor also hesitated for some seconds, but then, finally, decided to undertake an attempt. He approached the wranglers and made a growl. Maderz and Viffo heard it, stopped and turned to Kor.

“Guys,” started officer. “What’s going on? What’s wrong with you? We need to be together, be friendly, be calm! We had to became a close-knit team already. What will happen when we arrive if you’re still cussing?”
“Yes, we must,” answered Maderz. “But I can’t act in other way when I need to deal with such stubborn!”
“Stubborn?” Kor looked at Viffo. Planetologist didn’t give a coherent answer because was too shocked. In answer he could only babble, and only from time to time.
“Yes!” roared Maderz.
“Why so?”
“We studied some materials from terran archives about “analogue species” from their planet and prepared some devices what can be helpful. They are rare, and very expensive. That… Viffo needs some special treatment to be absolutely ready for the mission, but at the moment he hasn’t it. I told him, we all told him to avoid any kinds of work. But he just don’t listen! “I can’t sit without work!” he said. And now he “decided” to start prepare our module ship – add these device to her scanning complex. But when he carried them, he dropped them. And broke them all!”
“You got so angry because he just broke some devices?”
“If it was a single case, I thought that it’s an accident, but it’s fifteenth, I repeat: fifteenth such case!”
“If so, then why not take him to doctors?”
“Because he’ll run away anyway. He’s crazy!”
“Well, now he doesn’t look like crazy one…”
“Listen, Kor, go away and don’t interrupt, okay? It’s our problem!”
“Wait, dude. I won’t go away until I know what you will do with him. You are in such state now, so…”
“I know in what state I am now,” Maderz shouted. “You think that I’ll smash him? I would be very glad, but I can’t. He’s the most important planetologist in our team. So I’ll just grab him, throw into his cabin and lock the door till the end of this damned jump.”
“You know, it’s still rather rude.”
“Listen, get the heck out before I locked you in your coop too,” growled officer and turned to trembling scientist.
“Oh no, you won’t…” spelled Kor, ran to Maderz, quickly stood on hind limbs and grabbed leyzerzan’s head with his paw. Maderz after this immediately stopped, screamed, then croaked and shuddered and finally fainted.

Huge body with loud thud fell down. Surprised witnesses froze. Kor, in turn, having sighed, shook Viffo and addressed to him:

“And now you explain me what the heck is happening.”
“Oh…” muttered Viffo in some seconds, when he recovered. “Well… You see… Maderz was, in fact, right…”
“What???”
“Yes, I’m not in good shape now,” quietly said Viffo. “To be honest, I have never been. Since the earliest childhood I have conductivity disturbance of nerves. Because of this muscles sometimes contract absolutely chaotically, I can’t control it. Only reliable source to overcome it is the special nanite construct. And now it’s upgrading. But I got used to work all the time, I just can’t do without it! Understand me, please! They could give some tasks that won’t do harm to anyone, but instead of this they just prohibited everything! So I resented. And, by the way, thanks, Kor.”

Kor didn’t answer. For some moments he stood still, being confused, but then he recovered, shook his head, uttered: “You both are dumbs…” and raised his limb.

“Wait, what you are g…” Viffo didn’t finished the phrase. Kor grabbed his head, scientist wheezed and, having given a groan, fainted. Officer after this sighed, then turned to some guys from crew who watched the action and, having pointed to lying, said:
“Please, take them to their cabins.”

Confused crew members after few moments gave nods, approached officer and planetologist from Team Three and took them. But before they started to move, one of employees asked Kor:

“Excuse me, sir, but what did you do to them? Why they just fainted like that and so quickly?”
“Yeah,” added some others.
“Well,” Kor started. “I’m a verekan, and, as you may know, we some time ago were Lifetakers, so… And now excuse me, I need to have some snack.”

And he quickly went to the canteen. Crew members recovered after some relatively not long time, and when they did it, they complied with the request: soon fainted Viffo and Maderz were dragged to their rooms.

Affi together with telepathists of other fifteen groups gathered in one small dayroom, which has only four long couches and a table between them, to play the most favorite game of all-seeing – the distant guessing. Essence of the game was the following: one telepathist tells another name of his or her acquaintance and the asked should say where the mentioned one is and what he or she is doing. Then they change their roles. Whose guessing appeared to be the most correct, that one becomes winner and moves to the next round. Now was the eighth game, and it was the second semi-final. Affi competed with Jermel, telepathist of Team Nine.

“Okay, let’s see…” Affi thought aloud. “Hm… Oh! Right… So, Jermel, tell me, please, about Sebiffo.”

Jermel closed his eyes and concentrated. He opened his perception and scanned the whole ship. And when he met his aim – officer of his group – he gave the answer:

“Seb is sleeping. That’s for sure. And he’s lounged in… atrium garden.”
“Well, let’s find out,” said Koney, crew telepathist and the referee of these matches, took her communicator and called Sebiffo.

Officer’s device rang, he woke up and answered:

“What’s happened?”
“Ehm, Seb?” Jermel began. “You were sleeping, in the garden, right?”
“No, I slept on the balcony…” uttered Sebiffo. “Wait… Are you playing this damned game again?”
“Well, yes.”
“You pissed everyone off with it, you know?”
“Sorry, dude. But this thing is really interesting!”
“Go to hell!.. Wacks…” and he disconnected.
“Not bad,” said referee. “Jermel, now it’s your turn!”
“Thanks,” he nodded. “Well, dear Affi, tell me about your colleague Edez.”
“Hm…” she concentrated, appendages on her head started to tremble. “He’s in his cabin… watching hypervision movie… and I can even say what he’s watching – “Semtela uprising”.”
“Okay…” smiled Koney and connected with another curator of Team One.

Telepathists gathered and looked at the screen. Soon connection with Edez’s cabin was established, and Affi asked:

“Edez, dear, can you answer?”
“Yep,” he replied.
“If so… Are you watching “Uprising” again?”

Edez didn’t answered. He only made angry face and switched communicator off.

“Well, in that case we can say that the guessing was right,” said few other telepathists.
“So, summing up,” began the referee, “we can say that Affi’s guessing was absolutely correct, but Jermel’s… Dude, you were wrong with the place. Sorry, but you lost.”
“Oh…” sighed Jermel and turned to his opponent. “Well, it was fair. Good luck!”
“Thanks!” nodded Affi.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, in that case we start the final of our eighth game,” Koney declared. “Affi versus Numabe! For the third time!”
“It’s nice to see you again in the final!” Numabe, telepathis of Team Five, smiled as it usually happens when one sees his or her archfriend.
“I’m also glad,” Affi reciprocally smiled.
“In that case let’s find out who will become the best this time!”
“Agree.”
“So, ladies, get ready!” said Koney. “Affi, you’re first.”

Affi nodded and addressed to Numabe:

“So, what’s about our first flight engineer?”
“Well… He’s again plays HV games at work. Third, yes, third level of central engine compartment,” she answered flatly.

Koney, using her passcode, connected with security cameras in the necessary compartment and displayed the translation on her communicator. And it’s appeared that Numabe was absolutely right: first engineer puttered again.

“Correct… So, Num, gave your task.”

Numabe grinned and said:

“I’ve been wondering why our Creo doesn’t appear at meetings lately. Can you tell me?”

Affi gave a nod and concentrated on the necessary one, the youngest planetologist from Team of her opponent. Her mind flashed through the whole vessel, she recalled all the places and all the faces, and in few moments she found the aim. She concentrated more to see the sight more correctly. But when she did it… Affi sharply opened her eyes, froze and fell unconscious.

For her luck, other telepathists who were near caught her. They took her and seated on the nearest sofa. At first she didn’t react, but her colleagues in a minute managed to bring her to life.

“Affi, are you all right?” wondered Numabe.
“M-me? Why, yes, I’m fine, I’m fine.”
“Then what in that case happened to you?”
“I just… saw things that I prefer not to see.”
“But can you at least give a hint?”
“Well… If you insist… I must say that Creo has… own very private reason to forget about the meetings.”
“You mean…”
“Yes. That’s not for public.”
“Oh, right… And can you…”
“No!”
“Okay.”
“Pardon me, Affi,” Koney intervened. “But such reaction for those thoughts and images isn’t normal.”
“I know,” she answered. “But I just can’t do anything with it.”
“If so, then how did you manage to be on your previous “job”?” asked telepathist from Team Thirteen.
“Yeah!” added some others.
“How could you even enter the objects with such reaction?”
“Don’t forget that I was younger at that time,” answered Affi with a grin. “And how I managed? I just created my own images of that kind.”
“You what?” exclaimed almost all other.
“Every telepathist know that intimate thoughts are the most powerful!” exclaimed Numabe. “And you did that, became moving target?”
“If you produce these thoughts absolutely randomly, you create a shield for yourself. That’s the secret.”

Other telepathists froze with surprise and weren’t able to say even a word. Only after a half of minute first ones spelled: “Wow.”

“Yep, that’s how I did it…” said Affi. “But enough about this. I don’t want to recall this. Let’s continue our little championship!”
“As you say,” answered her colleagues, “as you say…”

Scratching his stomach, Zet’rar approached ship’s main dayroom. Sensors detected him, and the entrance opened. He clasped his hands behind his back and went inside. Having looked around for free places near terminals or HVs which were scattered around this huge room, he noticed one thing that stood out against the general cheerful mood: his pal, Lezwe, technician from Team Four, sat alone and was sad as cloudy day on the lower levels of Ateir. Lezwe helped him for countless times, was awesome guy, and it was hard for Zet’rar to see him being in such mood. He decided to find what was wrong and help his friend.

He approached sad master and sat down near him.

“Hey, Lez, why so sad face?” asked Zet’rar.

Lezwe only sighed in response.

“Tell me, please, buddy,” continued Zet’rar. “My insides shrink when I see you like this.”
“Oh, Zet…” Lezwe finally started to speak. “You always helped me, with different matters, but now I’m not sure that you’ll be able to do something.”
“Is the problem is so hard?”
“Yes…”
“Still, tell me, please. Maybe I’ve dealt with something similar before, so I’ll be able to help you!”
“I dunno… It’s difficult to say…”
“Don’t bother. There’s no one around us, nobody will hear you.”
“Well, if you say so… Zet, have you ever had a crush, but without even a single, simple response?”

Zet’rar, having heard these words, paused, then sighed and grinned.

“Tell me about it…” he said.
“You also had this?” surprised Lezwe.
“Since the very first when we became a Team,” Zet’rar uttered and gently pointed to Oma, who was on the other side of the room.
“Oh…”
“Yeah. And, by the way, who’s your… object of adoration?”
“My? Well… Pevi.”

Technician remembered his pal’s team and that girl. Amalifan, really pretty, for men of tens of civilization. And, as he learned, rather sociable and opened.

“And she doesn’t response?” Zet’rar surprised.
“In spite of everything, yes…” sighed Lezwe.
“Dude, don’t give up! Do your best, try again! Be insistent, but moderately. And you’ll succeed!”
“If only…”
“And you know what? You may try to date some other girl. If she isn’t indifferent – and I think that she isn’t – she will react. You can ask any one. Even… Oma, for example!”
“What?”
“Yes! If such proud girl as she will agree to have a dinner with you, then you will reach your aim for sure!”
“Do you think so?”
“I’m sure! And we can try it right now…” and Zet’rar started to tune his vocal folds to imitate his friend’s voice.
“WAIT!!!” Lezwe shouted. “No!”

His pal stopped, but because of abruptness chocked. When he coughed up, he said: “As you say.”

“Okay, Zet. You convinced me. I’ll try again.”
“Great! Well, buddy, good luck then!”
“Thanks!.. Wait, where are you going?”
“What?” Zet’rar, who stood up and turned to exit, asked again. “Oh, I just thought that I’ll watch some videos on terminals now. Will you join me?”
“Now? Excuse me, but no. I’ll go to start the preparations.”
“Well, good luck again then and see you!”
“See you!”

And technology master left the room.

Oma was spending her time in a company of friends in a comfortable corner of the ship’s main dayroom, near one big table, for hours already. They actively chatted, but then, when Zet’rar came and approached his pal Lezwe, paused and started to secretly watch and listen to their conversation. Some of them had very good hearing, so they, in spite of all the noise that filled the room, could hear everything. And when guys finished and Lezwe left the room, they decided to change the topic and addressed to Oma.

“Listen, Oma,” said Dexessi, planetologist from Team Thirteen. “Allow us to ask something.”
“Sure, ask!” she turned to her.
“Pardon me, but… Zet’rar seems to be really nice guy. He’s really smart, gentle, never let anyone get sad or bored…”
“He almost as hilarious as our curator!” added girls from Team Twelve.
“Yeah, he’s just like Beurru!” confirmed members of other groups.
“Why do you continue to turn away?” finally asked Dexessi.
“Ow…” Oma got a bit confused. “I just… I dunno… Listen, Dex, yes, Zet is awesome lad, and I really like him…”
“Then why?”
“…but he is careless, idle and – what’s annoying me the most – he’s bothersome.”
“Bothersome? Or just too insistent for you?” some her friends maliciously grinned.
“Well, maybe…” sighed Oma. “But such perseverance is repulsive.”
“But keep avoid the response is not the way out,” said Rel, sociologist from Team Two. “You should know.”
“Yes,” confirmed others.
“Okay, okay, I’ll do it, I’ll talk to him,” answered Oma. “For everyone.”
“And that’s nice!”
“So…” said Dexessi. “Ehm… Remind me, please, what we were talked about before this?”

Other sighed, shook their heads or put their palms on faces.

“Dexessi…” spelled some girls, having put their hands or tentacles on their faces.
“What?” exclaimed planetologist.
“Never mind,” said Oma. “We were talking about difficulties with forthcoming integration among locals on that planet.”
“Oh, right…”
“So, any opinions?” said Rel.
“Absolutely no idea what we’ll meet there,” answered some other girls.
“We still have only primary data, and that’s not sufficient,” few sociologist started. “We can only make hypotheses, and still they won’t be good, because we have really limited initial conditions.”
“Well, we can use other sources,” said Rel.
“Like what?” asked some skeptics.
“Some ones offer to use info about analogues… books about terran culture, for example.”
“Myths of single planet? Seriously?”
“These analogues sometimes were connected not only with the similarity of appearance, but with behavior.”
“No way!”
“Girls, in reality it’s so,” suddenly said Oma.
“What?”
“Yes. There were some cases. But more often myth appeared to be flase.”
“I dunno,” said Dexessi. “Remembering those scanograms… I can’t believe that those adorable four-legged can be cruel, and that ugly winged beasts can be friendly.”
“I read about twelve thousand pages,” continued Oma. “Pages of stories, legends, myths and other stuff. And I got nothing.”
“So do I,” spelled some other sociologists.
“You see? We can get first exact data only when we’ll take first local and get her or his mind scanogram.”
“Yeah… Sad, but true.”
“Alas, but yes.”
“Girls, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get gloomy now. Let’s change the topic and stop talk about sad things.”
“Agree.”
“Okay.”
“Well, any ideas?” said Rel and looked at her friends.
“How about a game?” offered one medic.
“Well… Something as invigorating, but less active would be better.”
“Um, stories?”
“Oh, do you know what our Karin got up?” exclaimed Oma.
“Ehm… No,” other shook their head.
“And what did she do?” asked Dixessi.
“It was just brilliant! I assure you that you’ll laugh so hard you become sick.”
“Then tell it!”
“Okay. So, it’s started when she decided to visit our pilots…”

Sheim was in the ship’s bar and had relaxing conversation with his colleagues. Good atmosphere, good jokes, good company, good drinks… What else one needs for gladness? So Sheim enjoyed all this. And everything was perfect till the moment when visitors decided to organize a little performance and started to tell stories from their lives. And this caused Sheim’s friends to remember that there was one occasion that happened to him, which already become legendary. So they started to persuade their pal to tell it everybody.

“Aw c’mon, dude!” said Holo, planetologist from Team Sixteen. “Just tell it like you always do!”
“Yeah!” added others.
“Ehm… I would be glad, but…” Sheim answered in non-confident tone after short pause.
“What the problem?” exclaimed another scientist, Fradda. “Are you afraid to perform?”
“Well… Yes,” Sheim honestly answered.
“You what???”
“You have a stagefright?” exclaimed Holo.
“Not quite. The mater is that I feel very uncomfortable being on stage.”
“And how bad it is?” wondered Fradda.
“Remember Kepo? Absolutely the same.”
“Dude, you’re not an ASI. You can find courage and focus!”
“Yeah, you can do it!”
“Guys, I’m not su…”

But guys didn’t allow him to finish the sentence.

“Sheim! Sheim! Sheim! Sheim!” they started to exclaim.
“Oh, all right,” sighed researcher. “I’ll do it.”
“Yeah!”
“Go dude!”

Planetologist sighed again, stood up, got up on improvised stage and took communicator that was used as microphone.

“Hello, folks!” he started. “I’m Sheim, Team One's planetologist, and… I’m here to tell you one more mad story…”
“And what is it?” grinned some officers that were in the room.
“Well… Bar isn’t the best place for such stories, but I will tell it. You know, alcohol is really incredible substance. Despite the fact that treatment has been used for generations, sentients are still receptive to it. And that’s why sentients still consume it. It causes absolutely similar effects among ones from almost every known race. It caused a lot of funny things and even more adventures, but also it can cause great troubles. The story what I want to tell you is about why you shouldn’t work being blind drunk.”
“That may be interesting…” spelled some visitors.
“Nah, everybody knows this!” snorted few other.
“Dudes, it’s really awesome one!” objected Sheim’s friends.
“Yep. You can’t even imagine what can happen after thorough booze-up,” continued Sheim.
“How thorough?” officers grinned again.
“Honestly?” answered researcher. “I haven’t been so shit-faced even when I was studying in university.”
“Oh… Wow.”
“Exactly. Well, let’s start then. It happened on Bakheid-Az-4. There were five of us, guys, that were sent there to do a geological survey: Sazaar Yteda, Klesfe A-Poruru, M’gu Nutu Didi, Rra Ttu Hok’kol and me. It’s a pity that I am the only one from that team on this board now, but when you’ll return, shake their hands. So… We had successfully finished the first stage of works. And, as it should be, we celebrated it. Celebration was hard, contents of bottles disappeared like a stardust in black holes. Contents of many bottles… So, as you can guess, results were obvious. We woke up with cast-iron heads. For a whole supramoment* we tried to remember who we are or what we are, where are we and what are doing here. When it was – almost – successfully completed, we stood up. And looked at clock… “Dammit, already eleven!” was our only thought at the moment. We were responsible workers, yes, we remembered that we have work. But instruments were in special container storage (which we left on the most prominent place outside, by the way), and it has a code lock. Can you even remember launch code for your communicators after drinking? No. And it’s only seven numbers. And unlock code for that storage consisted of twenty numbers. We just physically couldn’t remember it. But will to work appeared to be stronger that we thought. So Rra and Klesfe, trying to remember their programming courses, decided to write an unlocking algorithm. Yes… Eventually, the container appeared to be locked forever. But we had to do our job! So Sazaar, who got angry, returned to our coop and took a scrap. He came back to place where we were and began to hack it. He was doing his best, but… During the fifth try scrap just slip off and poor Sazaar hit own face with it. The scrap was only two times thinner than my arm, so no wonder that he was knocked out. At first we were shocked. But then, looking at poor Sazaar, got angry. Especially M’gu. Now he returned to tent and… brought explosives. “If it wants hard way, it’ll get it” he was saying. So he put the substance near the container, joined the detonator, and we stepped back, having taken the fallen Sazaar with us. M’gu shouted and activated the detonator. The explosion came and… We did it! We got our instruments! But there was one problem – M’gu went a bit too far with explosives. There were too many fragments. And one of them successfully – like it was planned! – cut two-thirds of my crest. The crest is weak spot of all rugartairan, as you may know, so I just fell down like a log because of pain shock. And wasn’t able to move. My friends got scared. But when they saw that I was alive, calmed down. They had already rushed to help me, when Rra finally remembered one important thing: we all still were in underwear! You can’t work only in underwear, right? So those three, having apologized, returned to coop to put their clothes on. And everything would be fine, but there was one thing. As I already said, M’gu went far with explosives, and there were too much fragments. Some of them fell on the tent. Its fabric roof wasn’t an obstacle for them. They were sharp, and they were hot. They were scattered around in the tent, but my friends didn’t notice this. So they took their pants and jackets and started to put them on. And at this one moment they made a finding: one fragment fell in Klesfe’s pants… It was hot, I repeat. So Klesfe, having changed his phiz, screamed like “AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!” and began to run around waving his arms like a freak. Rra with M’gu tried to stop him, but Klesfe because of shock just forget about outer world. M’gu was hit right in the nose and was knocked out. Rra because of another punch fell into opened water tank. Klesfe himself just run into a shelving and knocked himself out. And all this happened in few moments, right.”

Audience was exhausted. They laughed so hard that seemed to shake the whole ship.

“But that’s not all!” continued Sheim.
“Not all?” sincerely surprised gathered.
“Yes. When all this mess ended and dust got dispersed, Rra raised his head from the water. And, finally, the punchline came – Rra sighed and said: “Well, that escalated quickly…”

Visitors after this just fell down.

“Yep, that’s the story,” summed up Sheim. “That’s why you shouldn’t work being drunk – ‘cause everything can happen after it.”
“A-and?.,” came a voice.
“What happened next? Well, we, obviously, couldn’t do anything else after this. So we just waited till the moment when we will get sober and recover. When we finally succeeded, we sent a message. Other team arrived, and we got some help and got a big fine. And, also, new instruments – all ones that were in the container were completely destroyed.”
“Wow, just wow!”
“Awesome story, bro!” visitors said.
“Thanks everybody!” Sheim bowed.
“Come again to tell other ones!”
“I will.”

And he left the stage.

“We told you!” grinned Holo and Fradda when their friend returned to them. “We told you that it wouldn’t be so difficult!”
“Yes, you were right,” Sheim agreed.
“So, will you really do it again?”
“After this? Well, maybe…”

Karin got bored. She was tired of gadgets and terminals, she wanted to talk. But all her friends were busy or were already speaking with others, and she didn’t want to intervene. So drooping Karin just walked around the vessel. And at one moment an idea came to her: why not visit the crew? She have already become friend of many engineers, navigators and pilots, they are relatively free now, so they can become a company for her. So she rushed right to the bridge.

Sociologist came to the entrance, typed on the terminal screen her access code, gates quickly opened, and she was already about to went in, but only she glanced around… The bridge was almost as empty as university auditorium during boring lecture – there was only one crew member in this big hall, Drezxo, the second pilot. Karin got demotivated. Why it happens to her? Why?.. Well, at the moment she had nowhere to go, so she, having sighed, decided to talk to Drezxo and find out why other are mooching. She started to approach him. But from the very first steps she felt that there’s something wrong with him – pilot was so tensed that seemed to be on the verge of explosion. When she came closer, she saw that his face was just warped, all muscles on it shivered. So Karin acted as gently as it was possible.

“Um… Drezxo?” she uttered.

Pilot shuddered, but didn’t get scared or irritated.

“Oh, hi, Karin,” he nodded.
“Do I interrupt your work?”
“No, no… Flight is still under automatic control, I’m here just to watch the process… And what are you doing here?”
“I just… wanted to find someone to talk. I thought that there will be at least small company, but…”
“Well, sorry to disappoint. During jumps a lot of our crew might even not appear here. Lazy asses…”
“Ehm… Though such characteristic is quite rude, I’ll agree with you.”
“Heh, thanks…”
“Pardon me my curiosity, but…” Karin a bit timidly said after short pause. “Drezxo, why you are so stressed? Is something bad happened to you?”

After these words pilot faltered.

“You see… Our cap’n is real professional and great master, but sometimes he behaves like complete bastard.”
“Emm… I don’t get it.”
“He has a habit to choose ones for tasks among sentients that are present right here and right now and don’t call ones that are absent, and sometimes he don’t listen to his subordinates,” Drezxo began to explain. “When it happened, there were only me, cap’n and two engineers here on the bridge. According to the Charter at least one pilot or navigator or captain himself should watch the flight during jumps. Engineers had to go – they had to clear some matters with installation of spark units – and cap’n together with them. So cap’s, obviously chose me. I told him that I will have some troubles soon, it may happen in moments, but he didn’t listen and just ordered me to be here and do not leave. Then he just went away. And I can’t go out, ‘cause else I’ll be punished.”
“And what are these troubles?”

Drezxo gulped and muttered:

“Nature calls me.”
“Ow…” Karin felt awkward.

The thing was that Drezxo belonged to zhorghatanians, and for a representative of a race that usually have need to visit the bathroom only one time in a week delays were serious trouble.

“Ehm… Oh!” Karin suddenly exclaimed. “I know how to help you!”
“You what? How?” Drezxo surprised.
“I regularly sat at the helm of different ships, I have skills. In fact, I’m a pilot too! Thought without a license, but still!”
“Wait! You, researchers, pilot only vessels of small classes! And this is large-scale machine!”
“Listen, dude, you have an emergency here, right? And I have experience! What you are doing now? Just looking at the screens! Though I piloted only those small ships, I can watch the jump! It’s not hard. It will be easy for me!”
“You see… Ehm… Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely!”
“A…”
“Don’t waste your time, go! I’ll do it!”
“Oh, Karin, thank you, thank you!” he stood up and started to go backwards and bow. “You are the best!.. I love you!”
“Run, dude!”

Drezxo gave a nod and in a second disappeared from the bridge. Karin saw him off, but then, when the doors closed, she became sad again. She’s lonely again… Drezxo won’t come back in hour at least, and what about others – she just had no idea. For a whole hour she will be alone with her boredom.

She sat in pilot’s chair and for some minutes just rocked in it. But then one nice, no, wonderful idea came to her. Karim grinned, turned internal communication system on and, having coughed, declared:

“Ladies, gentlemen, altmedies, unaii, and transexes, welcome to the first “Evening Kelkerdez-Unaad show”!..”

In about fifty minutes later captain with some of the crew returned to the bridge. Sensors detected them, and doors opened. Karin heard this, and when they were entering, promptly finished:

“…that was awesome! Sorry, but today we have to stop. Good time for everybody! Goodbye!” and she closed the channel. As it will turn out later, only outgoing one.

Captain soon approached the pilot’s chairs and saw Karin it one of them. He got startled. Sociologist, having seen this, quickly explained and apologized:

“Oh, excuse me, I just walked near and… But don’t worry, everything is fine!” she smiled. “Flight is going well, even perfect. Drezxo will come soon, and don’t punish him – he had valid reason to do this. He’ll tell you later. Well, something like this… Excuse me one more time, please!”

And she run out of the room.

Captain and others didn’t say a word. And where they got ready, a voice came from internal communication system:

“Phew! Exuce me, I slept like a log and just didn’t hear… Dear “Evening”, are you still able to put a song? I would like to order one for my friend…”

No one answered. For a whole minute – all crew was in stupor. When they finally came to life, they got angry firstly, but then, when they realized the situation, they laughed.

Soon after this starship’s crew appreciate the idea and even found a new constant host for the broadcast.

Though the main canteen was rather crowded, Max almost didn’t pay attention to sentients that scurried near him, was calm and even a bit indifferent. He slowly ate his meal and, at the same time, watched movie on HV screen. Thanks to sensors he could keep looking at film action – additional organs detected where plates, tableware and other things were, so he had no need to use eyes for this. It looked quite odd, but a lot of sentients had implants nowadays, and they are able to do usual things in much more strange ways, so for all other it had already become normal.

But it still sometimes caused questions.

“At once these things have become handy, isn’t it?” asked one of crew's medics that sat down near him with grin.
“You know, they are handy all the time,” answered Max without expression. It wasn’t the first such case for him, so he already had well-established pattern of actions.
“All the time? Hm… And I thought that they are used as special tools only,” said other crew medic, who heard his colleague and decided to join the conversation.
“Well, yes, they are special tools, but if you know how, you can use them in all cases of life,” continued researcher.
“Why did you even agree to implant sensors?” wondered first doctor.
“Though officially I’m a biologist, in fact I’m a medic like you, guys,” answered Max. “I had to do not only preparations and dissections, but real surgery too. I knew the importance of good tools and instruments – as researcher and as medic. And sensor organ are one of the best that you can get now – you can’t even imagine how they are useful during surgeries. That’s why I agreed to add them on my face,” and he smiled. The expression appeared to be quite scary.

First medic coughed. Second froze. And Max returned to his meal and HV show.

“But still I must say that you seem to be pretty good with them,” said second medic.
“Agree… I’m really surprised,” added first.
“You are surprised?” Max raised an eyebrow.
“Yep,” nodded first doctor. “I know thirteen other sentients who got this stuff. Years have passed, and only thing that they able to do is orientation when lights are off, and still not always successfully. And their hearing and smelling got better only a little more.”
“I have to agree with him,” spelled second medic. “I saw such things too.”
“Well, all this happens just because of laziness,” said Max. “Yes, it’s always hard for nervous system to accept new sense organ, but if one wake some efforts, he or she can reach the full integration. But sentients, when they start to try, face with obstacles, and then they just running out of patience. They stop to work and don’t return to it, so they can do only easy things. But if a sentient has patience and purposefulness – a couple of years of work, and – I’m not afraid of these words – that sentient will reach new horizons. But in general there’s nothing special in it.”
“So just a lot of time and a lot of patience, and that’s all?” asked second doctor with slight mistrust.
“Yep, work, work and work again and nothing more.”
“Sounds not so bad, but… I still don’t believe that these things can be useful for me,” said first medic.
“And I just don’t feel like,” added the second.
“…but if someone could gave me really good proof, I would probably change my point of view,” the first continued.
“Yeah, maybe…”

Max after these words paused, then, after a look on the table, took a knife and addressed to crew medics:

“So you want a proof, right?”
“I just said that I wouldn’t mind,” answered first doctor. “And what you are going to do?”
“Well, I can give this proof to you,” researcher said. “Right now.”
“You can?”
“Yes. Just put your hand on the table, and I’ll show.”

Medic gulped, looked at his colleague, who petrified again, gave a quiet growl and then, having put his hand on the table and spread the fingers, said:

“Okay, I’ll do it. But if you even touch my fingers, I’ll do my best to make your bank accounts empty as student’s stomach.”
“Oh, don’t worry. Just enjoy,” grinned Max in response.

Then he closed his eyes and started to do the trick. At first he was slow, and hits were very careful and accurate – a sentient with additional sensor organs can do the same thing after even rather short trainings. But in few seconds he began to accelerate. And, for crew medic’s surprise, he didn’t lost the accuracy. First doctor, looking at this, had already started to change his point and got ready to put his hand away, but Max, as he felt this, only accelerated even more. Doctors got really frightened, the first started to shiver. Researcher was like an android: hits were absolutely accurate, but moves and shifts of knife blade were so quick that it just flickered. First medic couldn’t stand it. Because of that mad trick he was scared as never before in his life. He lost all his courage. So doctor, after a gulp, decided to stop it. He was already about to open his mouth, when Max moved to the next stage: he threw the knife up, shoved medic’s limb away, grabbed his other palm with left hand, and with right caught the knife when it was in the air. And continued. Crew members were shocked. They were so frightened that they weren’t able to move. And Max, feeling it, used this circumstance to… put second guy’s hand on first medic’s palm and continued to perform the trick.

Max stopped only in a minute. When he finished, crew medics looked so scared that it seemed that they are closer to the dead than to the living. They were completely shocked and paralyzed. Researcher, in turn, put the knife away and with indifferent face said:

“Here’s your proof.”

And at this moment ship’s ASI declared:

“One day until arrival.”

Biologist, having heard that, grinned and addressed to crew medics:

“Well, it’s time to finally start the preparations. Excuse me, gentlemen, but I have to go.”

And he, having put almost empty tray in the special aperture under the table, stood up and left the canteen.

* – about ½ of an hour

3. Setting Up

View Online

A spark, then one more, then lightning, and, after all of this – one huge flash. Transspatial channel opened and in a moment later collapsed. Interstellar jump was finished. “Kelkerdez-Unaad” arrived at its destination.

She appeared on the orbit of the planet, about two hundred thousand kilometers away from the surface. The planet was perfectly visible from portholes. Everything was just like Kepo described: clear air, whimsical clouds which formed ridges and eddies, azure of the oceans, green of the continents – there was surprisingly small amount of gray, brown, yellow, orange and red spots on the surface, all land seemed to be covered with forests and meadows. It was a magnificent sight.

But there were no time for admiration – ship’s crew and research teams had to work. So right after the emergence starship’s ASI informed everyone on board that it’s possible to start the launch of module vessels. Soon all researchers with their personal luggage were in the ship’s hangars, where sixteen crafts of smaller class were already prepared. Robots quickly finished the loading, scientists boarded, and soon all hatches and locks were closed. Huge gates of “Kelkerdez-Unaad” hangars opened. Researchers appointed as pilots started the engines of small vessels, and soon teams’ ships were off the floor. Starship crew and ASIs wished them good luck, researchers gave farewell signal, and pilots slowly pulled the steering wheels to themselves. Soon smaller vessels left the hangars. Gates closed. And researchers’ ships began to head to the regions that were their aims. “Kelkerdez-Unaad” remained in the orbit to coordinate the work of Teams and to implement detail monitoring and scanning.

Team One, having examined the survey data, after short discussion during the flight decided to stop at the central part of their area of interest and explore adjacent territories gradually.

In an hour they reached the necessary place.

The doors opened, and bearers of Elements of generosity, laughter, honesty, loyalty and kindness entered the main hall of new Ponyville castle.

“Oh, girls, I’m so glad that you’ve come!” exclaimed Twilight.
“No problem, sugarcube,” smiled Applejack. “Ya know that ya can always rely on us!”
“Yeah!” confirmed Rainbow Dash. “So what’s the matter?”
“Well, I called you because princess Celestia sent us another task this morning,” said Twilight.
“Oh, what’s it about? What it’s about?” exclaimed always eager Pinkie Pie.
“Princess just asks us to attend one reception that will happen in Canterlot Castle in six days,” Spike briefly retold the letter.
“And that’s all?” surprised Rainbow Dash.
“Yep,” alicorn and her assistant nodded.
“So ya just inform us?” said Applejack.

Twilight gave another nod.

“Well, it’s an honor that her highness addresses us and asks to do such things, but, I must say, that now it happens rather often, and not rarely these asks are minor,” noticed Rarity.
“Agree,” quietly said Fluttershy.
“Well, if it’s the only thing, we’ll do it, we visit this reception,” shrugged Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah,” confirmed other ponies.
“Thank you,” answered Twilight. “And… excuse me, but there is one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Could you, girls, um…” she nervously and confusedly smiled, “give me a helping hoof?”

All her friends groaned.

“Again?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“Aawww, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie dulled.
“I’m sorry, very sorry,” Twilight apologized. “But it takes me whole hour to clean the castle up, though I use magic! Please, help me, one more time!”
“Darling, if you have such problem, them why don’t you just transfer some servants and guards from Canterlot?” wondered Rarity.
“Or from Crystal Empire?” added Fluttershy.
“Well… You see… Ehm…” alicorn faltered.
“Twah, Ah know that ya like to be independent,” Applejack began. “But if ya have troubles with keepin’ the castle up, ya should quit this yer habit to solve this problem!”
“Yeah, make it to stop call other for help!” added Rainbow Dash.
“I know, girls, I know,” sighed Twilight. “But the procedure of transfer is quite difficult and complicated, and it may take a month at least. And we also have to agree about the salary.”
“Well, if you can’t get helpers from other princesses, then why don’t you find your own ones?” suggested Pinkie Pie.
“What?” exclaimed Applejack and Rarity.
“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrow. “You just suggest Twilight to put an ad on hiring?”
“If it’s so hard to transfer, then why not?” answered Pinkie Pie.
“Listen, Pinkie, Ah don’t think that it’s the suitable variant,” said Applejack.
“Yes,” Rarity nodded. “In Canterlot and Crystal Empire all employees are professionals. You can’t just find ones from streets for such responsible job!”
“It may be unsafe,” added Fluttershy.
“Well, if you want to solve this problem now, then what else can you offer, smarty pants?” asked Pinkie in turn.

Her friends didn’t find anything to object.

“Well…” spelled Twilight. “I have to do something or I’ll continue to spend hours on cleaning and other things or continue irritate you with my asks.”
“So you’ll just give an ad?” surprised Rainbow Dash.
“Pinkie is right. There is no other suitable variants for now. I will put ad in town, or, maybe, in several towns and cities across whole Equestria and hire some ponies for temporary job and at the same try to agree with princesses Celestia and Luna about the transfer.”
“Temporary job?” surprised Fluttershy.
“Yes. Rarity’s right: it’ll be better to have servants and guards from Canterlot or Crystal Empire.”
“Pardon me, but Ah wonder how will ya pay those folks?” wondered Applejack.
“Well, every month I receive an allowance from Canterlot. It’s quite big, and I’m don’t spend too much money, so, I think, I will be able to provide salary for few ones.”
“If so, then… why not?”
“It can be the way,” said Rarity.
“So, let’s make an ad then!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“And do you know how to make them right?” asked Fluttershy.
“Um… No. I’ve never put any ads in papers.”
“And me too…” spelled Twilight.
“And what now?”
“Gimme a second!” Rainbow Dash raised her hoof, then soared up and flew out from the hall through the nearest window. In a minute she returned. With a small newspaper in her mouth.
“Here!” she said, having put the paper on the table that was in the center of the hall.
“Ponyville list of free ads?” surprised Twilight, having took the newspaper with her magic.
“If you need to make an ad, it’s the best example,” answered pegasus.
“Well…”
“You know, she’s actually right,” admitted Spike. “It’s the best variant in Ponyville.”
“If you say so, okay then…” Twilight said. “Well, it’s decided. Spike!”
“Yes?” little dragon came closer to alicorn.
“Get ready!”

Spike gave a nod and took a sheet of paper and a quill. Twilight smiled and said:

“Write down…”

They stopped not far from one small town. Although the place was only in three miles from the settlement borders, it was already the area of wildlife: no lonely huts around, only vast meadow that almost always was empty on one side and a quite deep and spooky forest on the other. There was a trail on opposite side of the meadow, but because of the hills even without any camouflage their two-hundred-and-fifty-meter long ship, when she will land, won’t be visible from it. But locals can fly, so shield is still necessary. And not one – they needed additional barriers to avoid the influence of energies that filled whole this place.

It was a perfect place to start the expedition: the city that, according to its architecture and intensity of life, was the capital appeared to be quite near, and the area around this forest seemed to be untouched or abandoned. They can emerge into local culture in days and then start to get data – the capital in almost all the cases is the place where such possibility is the simplest. But such step would be too dashing – for the first time they needed quieter place, like this town. There was a castle in it too, but the town didn’t seem to be other governing center – there were no other large administrative buildings in it – so researchers thought that it was a summer residence of local monarchs. Location in the midst of beautiful landscape confirmed that guessing.

But before they start the exploration itself, they need avatars. And to make them they need to take a local, or some locals. So Team One stopped their ship in a mile from the surface – at that height only rare local creatures flew – she hovered, and researchers moved from the bridge to the laboratory, large room that occupied almost half of the entire volume of the ship and where all necessary equipment was, sat near the main terminal and switched scanners on. In such empty place it was unlikely that they’d meet a local near. But at that evening they got lucky.

“We detected an one!” exclaimed Kor and Max, keeping to look at screens.
“Already?” surprised Karin.
“Where is… this one?” asked Edez.
“In four milligrads* to the south-east of us,” answered Kor.
“And it’s him,” added Max.
“He’s alone?” wondered Oma.
“Absolutely. He’s an only local in seven milligrads from us.”
“And what he’s doing?” asked Affi, looking at data from scans. Every vessel of the Institute had anti-telepathic barrier, so no one could break through, but also no one could perceive the surroundings.
“Just pulls a cart. What’s in the cart – the scan can’t tell,” said senior biologist.
“Okay…”
“Is he a suitable candidate?” asked senior planetologist.
“More than,” grinned Max.
“How long the procedure will take?”
“Well, the scanning will take about one and a half supramoment, the analysis – about thirty or so. And speaking about the creation of avatars, it’ll probably take standard term.”
“Then do it.”

Biologist gave a nod in response and together with officer and technician activated the transportation beam. A little part of ship’s shield disappeared, immediately after this the emitter appeared from the formed spot and in a moment it flashed. Focused beam of light pierced the air and hit the local. Transportation didn’t take even a second. Harness of the cart fell down.

Soon the taken, in unconscious state, materialized in special camera in one of the corners of the lab, near the terminal. Researchers stood up and approached it. And when they saw the local, they got surprised like never before in their lives: this creature looked almost like ordinary terran pony! Except unnatural red color of the coat, quite big eyes and strange tattoo-like sign of half of a fruit on both flanks the local was identical to well-known to every terran dwarf horses: four limbs, hooves, mane and tail. And even that collar-like thing that was used in ancient times. Team One was shocked.

“Oh my…” whispered Bluve.
“No way…” whispered Karin.
“Hit me somebody, please,” said Sheim.

A thud came. Planetologist almost fell.

“Hey!” he shouted.
“You asked for this,” answered Zet’rar with indifferent face.
“Eh, forget it…”
“Hm… They look nice,” said Oma, looking at the taken.
“Agree,” nodded Affi. “Both externally and mentally.”
“What do you see?” wondered other researchers.
“Well,” telepathist began. “I see simple, industrious, kind lad who loves his family and his job.”
“Seems that he’s really good guy,” said Zet’rar.
“He is.”

Some researchers after this smiled. And Edez, meanwhile, having taken a thought, decided to do one thing. He came closer to the camera and put his hand in it. Subfield barriers, source of biological protection, bended and soon enveloped his palm like a glow. When it happened, curator grabbed the stallion by the shoulders and lifted him.

“You know, they are little,” he said, weighing the pony.
“They aren’t little. It’s your huge paws,” grinned Affi.

Edez snorted in response, put the stallion back of the floor of camera and removed his hand. After this a short pause came.

“Well, if there are no other special interests,” Max with Bluve broke the silence, “then may we start the particle scan?”

Curators looked at them and said: “Do it.” Biologist nodded and activated the machine.

Eight hatches on the floor near the camera opened and robotic scanners appeared from them. Emitters, receivers and other antennas began to hum, and soon the drafting of complete matter-energy-information scheme of the taken was started. Manipulators shifted, twisted, twitched, stirred, swayed… It was a dance aimed to register every particle. All of them took part in it, except the biggest one that was directed at stallion’s head – it made the most important part, the mind scan.

The robot dance lasted for forty minutes. Then manipulators one by one began to stop and hide in their hatches. The scanning was finished, and researchers smiled with a deep sense of satisfaction. Now they can return the local on the ground. Technician activated the transportation beam again, and in few moments later the stallion was brought back to his cart. Soon he opened his eyes, shook himself and stood up. He felt pain all over his body, but comparing with headache other pains were minor. Stallion growled. Then he looked around. And gasped: the sun was already down! Nightfall was the matter of minutes! He nervously exclaimed, gulped, quickly put the harness on and rushed to the farm with all his legs.

Meanwhile pilots of Team One, Zet’rar and Karin, went back to the bridge and landed the vessel. After this they returned to the lab, and ship’s ASI began to process the data of scanning. Biologist started to watch and control it, other researchers at the same time waited in their cabins. One tense hour – and Max with Bluve finally call their colleagues. Sociologists, planetologists, officer, technician and telepathist came closer to holoscreens of main terminal. They stopped and looked at the main hologram, huge projection of the taken.

“Wow,” uttered Kor.
“Amazing!” exclaimed Oma.
“This scan looks surprisingly good,” admitted Karin.
“Yeah. Even too surprisingly…” answered Max and pointed to his now twitching eye.
“Heh, what did you found then?” Edez turned to biologists.
“Well, so to say, the degree of similarity appeared to be… really, really high,” said Bluve.
“Interesting…” spelled curators.
“And how high?” wondered Sheim.
“Just look,” said Max, and together with Bluve started to explain and demonstrate it by regulation of projection. “Well they have typical organism structure of homeothermic heterotrophic creature. That’s not surprising, it was quite predictable. Surprises began when we compared scan of the local with scans of terran ungulates.”
“…and?”
“They are almost identical!”
“What?”
“Yes! They not only look the same, but also have very similar body structure!” exclaimed Bluve.
“They have absolutely the same organs!” continued Max, pointing to the hologram. “Skeleton that consist of two hundred and fifty bones or so, muscle, ligaments, brain divided into two hemispheres, spinal cord, one four-chamber heart, blood vessels, lymphatics, trachea, lungs, esophagus, stomach (the only thing that they have two compartments, not four), intestines, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidneys, “private parts”… Organ structure surely has differences, but in general it’s quite similar!”
“Heh…” Zet’rar, Affi and Kor nervously grinned.
“No way!” spelled Karin and Sheim.
“Oh yes, it’s so!” becked Bluve.
“…it’s just can’t be!” exclaimed Oma.
“Such similarity… Incredible!” smiled Edez.
“I still can’t believe it,” Karin shook her head.
“Well, now we all got the proof that the Universe likes to joke,” said Affi.
“And does it perfectly,” added Zet’rar.
“So, it was about the similarities,” continued Max. “But there are also some great differences!”
“Yes?”
“Well, every creature with highly organized structure has at least one system of transportation of substances and one system of signal transmission. Average terran organisms have three systems: cardiovascular system, lymphatic system (which, in fact, are one complex) and nervous system. Local creatures have them too,” senior biologist with gesture switched the image of projection and only body contours with mentioned organs remained on the hologram. “But inhabitants of this planet have one more system…”

And he showed it. Thousands of thin like a string channels pierced the body of the local. Through the all organs, through the legs, through the head… They were everywhere – the net was even more dense than nerves. It was rather homogeneous, but there were few areas of increased concentration: in the head and, for some reason, in area of those signs on flanks. And all of the channels were connected with strange organ of oblong shape which seemed to be attached right to the vertebral column.

“And… what’s that for?” said Kor.
“We tried to find it for twenty six supramoments,” answered Max. “And… all the characteristics suggest that this system is for controlling the energy mix what fills the environment of this planet.”
“What?” exclaimed other researchers.
“Yep. Well, it’s just amazing: all cells of this system has minimal differences, their structure is quite similar to nerves with only exception – the number of links is lesser; there are cells that conduct energy and cells that accumulate it, and their conducting and accumulating capacities are so high that they surpass characteristics of almost all known organic devices. Undoubtedly, it developed as source of protection from influence of perfect mix. But it evolved further and now provide them incredible possibilities! Each local may be able to perform everything what we can do!”
“Heh, not bad…” said Edez.
“Marvelous, isn’t it?” smiled Bluve.
“And what’s this organ near their spines?” wondered Oma. “Is it the… main channel?”
“Oh… This organ is much more than just main channel,” smiled Max. “It’s, in fact, their second heart.”
“What?”
“It’s the battery,” explained Bluve. “It has high concentration of cells, so they can absorb, accumulate and redistribute the energy!”
“Now that’s cool,” said Zet’rar after the short pause.
“Indeed,” nodded Kor.
“Well, sounds really great,” said Edez. “But tell me: will this be able to cause troubles during the creation of avatars?”
“I don’t think that it will…” answered Max. “But… I dunno… It may take longer period of time. About seventy nine supramoments.”
“One and a half days?” exclaimed Sheim.
“Well, the system has to deal with new organs and cellular formations. It will take time.”
“Oh, right…”
“And what about the mind scan?” wondered Affi.
“The processing will be finished in sixty eight supramoments,” answered Bluve after look at other screen. “The results will be downloaded right into our minds during the transfer, as it should be.”
“Okay then.”
“If everything is clear, then, I think, it’s possible to start the process?” said Edez.
“Oh yes,” biologists smiled.
“Okay, people, move over now!” said Zet’rar and went to the control panel.

Physiologists moved aside. Technician leaned over the panel, and researchers together began the activation. Continuous line of commands rushed to the ship’s ASI, machine received it and immediately began the processing. Cell masses were transported into bioreactors that were placed under the lab, electric charges activated the nutrient solution and the creation began. Soon scientists set all the parameters. Further system will work autonomously. For next hours they’ll be free.

“So, what now?” asked Kor when his colleagues finished.
“Relax,” Sheim answered. “Take a nap, for example.”
“Take a nap? If I do it, I won’t have time for other things.”
“You have to grow out of that night on your native planet are more than twice longer than standard, dude.”
“Eh… You’re right.”
“So, let’s putter then, because I don’t think that we’ll have such possibility soon.” smiled Zet’rar.
“Agree,” nodded other researchers.

But only they turned back, the ship’s communication module activated. Loud signal sounded throughout whole vessel.

“Oh, what now?” muttered annoyed Karin.
“What… not good person calls us at such time?” growled Kor.
“Oh, it’s Team Two,” answered Edez, having looked at the screen that appeared on the terminal.
“Let’s find out what do they want,” said Affi.

Senior planetologist nodded and opened the channel. In a moment face of the first curator of Team Two appeared on the main screen.

“Hi there, Zhifo,” said Edez. “Why are you calling?”
“Oh, it’s just about the synchronization of works,” he answered. “Have you taken a local already?”
“Yep. We got an one,” nodded Edez. “We even started the creation of avatars.”
“Not bad.”
“Thanks. And what about you?”
“Well, we’re only preparing to start the creation. We took four ones, so the analysis appeared to be quite long.”
“Four? Why so many?”
“It just happened that we found a group…” Zhifo said. Then he paused, but very soon his expression suddenly changed and he exclaimed: “Oh, guys?!”
“Yes?”
“Can you do one thing for us?”
“What thing?”
“We want to make the conspiracy better, so we decided to act as foreigners. So, please, can you send us mind scan what you got?”
“Why, yes, we can. When it will be finished, of course. But in such case… let us get better cover too – send us your scans.”
“Oh, Edez, you’ve always been quirky guy… Okay. So be it.”
“So we agreed?”
“Agreed!”

Curators gave each other a nod, then Zhifo turned the communicator off.

“So, foreigners?” Affi looked at him.
“Why not?” answered senior planetologist. “As a cover it’s not so bad.”
“Well, in fact, we are foreigners!” grinned Zet’rar.
“Oh yes.”
“But now let’s have some rest,” said curators.

Other researchers agreed, and all they went to their cabins.

During the following hours they mostly whiled away their time: slept, had some snacks, talked to each other, watched videos or played HV games. Only when one day had passed, curators together with biologist and technician executed the request of Team Two and received the response message. After this they added new scans to ASI’s processing complex to download data from them too. Affi together with Zet’rar made little special program which will choose new names for all of them. Guys that Team Two took turned out to be polyglots, as they were traders, so there will be a lot of variants.

Then some more hours passed like this. And, finally, after one and a half standard days, when the sun here had only emerged from the horizon, the processing of the scan data and creation of avatars together with basic cover stories were finished. Team One went to the bioreactor compartment to look at their new bodies and learn the names what program chose for them.

They entered the room under the lab and stood before the tanks of reactors, now without nutrient solution. Nine ponies. Nine ponies, different from each other, but at the same time not particularly notable among other. The same two sets were in the reserve, and, as it should be, 34000-page report on how genes were combined was provided. Perfect. And what about names… Well, for next weeks or even months Edez should become Berg, Affi – Antilipsi, Sheim – Lierre, Max – Zicht, Bluve – Calma, Oma – Didinga, Karin – Pippi, Zet’rar – Allegro and Kor – Erő. These will be their personalities for a lot of days, this will be their life now.

Researchers looked at each other.

“Well, team, are you ready?” asked Edez with Affi.
“Oh yes!”
“So let’s do it then.”

They skipped the humongous report – reading will take at least three days – and, having turned on the voice-activated control – their new bodies have no fingers, so they just won’t be able to use a lot of necessary devices – went to the transfer cameras that were in other part of the room. They gave a nod to each other, opened the cameras and lay in.

The last sight, and then the covers of the cameras close. Few moments of silence, and then – flash, hit and vision of rapid flight along the corridor of light. Then one more flash, one more hit – now really painful – and again rapid flight. A second, then the last flash, and they wake up in their avatars. Pipes and cables disconnected from them, and they opened their eyes and made their first breath. Tanks opened, and researchers, making their first steps, left them.

Some tentative moves, a couple of falls, but soon mind connected with all parts of the body for sure and assimilated the downloaded information. A shake – and they feel more or less good, they are quite ready.

“Strange sensation…” uttered Oma.
“It’s odd to stand on all limbs,” said Sheim, looking down.
“Welcome to my world!” grinned Kor.
“It will take some more time to get used to these bodies for sure…” said Karin, doing limbering-up.
“You don’t say…” sighed Zet’rar. “Especially this confusing feeling…”
“What feeling?”
“It’s like… Ehm… Like part of your mind says that there’s something wrong with your body.”
“I feel it too,” said Bluve.
“And me,” added Sheim with Affi.
“Maybe we should read the report?”
“No way! It'll take at least a milligrad to find what we need.”
“Hm… And I don’t feel such great difference,” said Edez.
“Well, type of your species is quite close to type of locals,” noted Bluve.
“Can be, can be…”
“But you must admit that system rather correctly copied all features of our organisms…” said Max, who, while other talked, approached the control panel of bioreactor and looked at his reflection on main console. “It even got this!” he stuck out his tongue. And he smiled, when he saw that avatar also has fifth sensor organ, which was on the tongue.
“Jeez… You have them even there?” winced Oma.
“Why not? Yep, it’s not always useful, but you can’t even imagine how it allows to enjoy the taste.”
“I’ll take it on trust.”
“Only one more question, Oma,” wondered Karin, looking at her colleague. “Why your… legs look different from ours?”
“Well, legs of my original body were different from yours: I have four joints while you have three,” answered senior sociologist. “Maybe it’s just a consequence of this.”
“Hey, look!” suddenly exclaimed Sheim. He approached the wall and, having leaned on it, stood on hind legs. Then he pushed away from the wall. Other researchers gasped. Planetologist staggered for a couple of seconds, but then concentrated and made one step. And he didn’t fell down! He managed to stand like this.

His colleagues just dropped their jaws.

“Haha! I can do it! It’s possible!” Sheim smiled.
“No… way!” exclaimed Karin, Kor and Bluve.
“Come on, guys! Try it!” planetologist encouraged them.

Soon all other researchers, even Kor, tried to do the same. Some of them succeeded from the first time, some of them fell. But after only a half of a supramoment all of them were able to stand on hind legs without great difficulties.

“Incredible. Just incredible!” smiled Affi.
“I didn’t even think that these bodies will be able to do something like this,” said Kor. “I didn’t think that they’ll be like mine. But I was wrong.”
“Check this out!” exclaimed Zet’rar, turned and started to make simple rhythmic moves and sing. “I can’t dance, I can’t talk, the only thing about me is the way I walk…”
“Nice!” smiled Max, Karin, Sheim and Oma.
“Um… Edez?” Bluve quietly addressed to curator when she noticed that he sat aloof from others and just looked at his forelimb. “Is it something wrong?”
“Bluve…” spelled planetologist after short pause. “I think that I found one of the reasons of that strange feeling that Zet mentioned.”
“And what is it?”

Edez didn’t answered. Instead he focused, raised his limb higher, then shook it and… from under the fur and edge of the hoof eight big claws appeared. Bluve screamed and fell down.

“What happened?” other researchers turned to senior planetologist and medic and exclaimed.
“Look.” just said Edez and showed the transformed forelimb.
“Wow…” uttered Kor with Zet’rar.
“Oh my…” uttered Bluve with Oma.
“It looks quite scary,” noticed Affi.
“Maybe… But I like it,” grinned senior planetologist and waved, fingering over.
“Ew…”
“No way…” grinned Max. “How did you do that?”
“I just focused on my… limb, and then it just happened,” answered Edez.
“Just focused?” surprised other.
“Yes. Just it, and nothing more,” his claws disappeared under the fur and hoof.
“Heh…”
“You also should try! If I could do it, you also should be able!”
“Hm, okay…”
“Let me,” said Affi, stepped forward, closed her eyes and focused. She tensed, her face covered with wrinkles, and in one moment three appendages of sensor organs appeared from her hair. She opened her eyes and gasped.
“Nice…” smiled Edez.
“Heh, I feel much better now,” said Affi and also smiled. “I felt that my telepathic sense didn’t vanish, but now, I must say, I perceive everything much better.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I don’t know, maybe it’s because of this energy regulating system, but it’s a fact!”
“Your sensors just were hidden in your hair?” surprised Karin.
“It seems so.”
“Um… Affi,” Zet’rar said.
“Yes?”
“Your eyes.”
“My eyes? What’s wrong with them?”
“They were blue, but now they are orange.”
“What?” exclaimed telepathist. “How?”
“I’m a technician, I have no idea!”
“Max, Bluve, please, help me a bit.”

Physiologists nodded, approached her and carefully – as their new limbs were quite big – started to examine. And soon they found the reason.

“Aw man…” said Max when he saw it.
“What is it? What is it?” shouted telepathist.
“Affi, each your eye still has two pupils!”
“What?” exclaimed Affi with other researchers.
“But… I haven’t felt anything like this!”
“Yes,” Bluve confirmed. “Locals have irises, so you have them too now. But their colors are different.”
“And what should I do now?”
“Well, it’ll be quite hard to explain to locals…” Max uttered.
“Affi, you can control it. Just focus one more time,” said Edez.
“Oh, okay,” nodded telepathist, closed her eyes and focused again. She sighed and then opened her eyes. “Well, how I look?”
“Eh…”
“Well, now your left eye is blue, but right is still orange,” Sheim answered honestly.
“What?”
“Try again!” exclaimed Edez.

Affi closed her eyes and focused again. In a couple of seconds she opened her eyes.

“Now you’ve reversed the colors,” sighed senior planetologist.

Affi groaned, then growled, then sighed and after all of this just shook her head.

“And now everything is fine!” exclaimed Edez when she finished.
“What? Really?” she surprised.
“Yes! Now your amazing eyes are blue again!”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it…”
“Guys, seriously, let's read the report!” Bluve asked.
“No!”
“Believe me, it'll be much easier to do with educated guess method,” said Edez.

And, thus, researchers continued their tries. And soon they found that they even now, being in bodies of absolutely different species, can do the same things: Oma found that she could move her hair and tail just like she could move tentacle-like appendages on head and back of her original body, Max found that now he also was able to perceive everything, and even could do it better, Karin found that she preserved her telekinesis, and it even became stronger – she managed to lift Kor with it, although he was more than two times bigger than she, Edez found that besides claws he still was capable of total energy control of own body, Zet’rar found that he still could imitate voices of other, Bluve found that her forelimbs could divide – she still was six-limbed – and that those big scars near her shoulders were the spiracles, and she could breathe with them too, and scar on her belly was the pouch, Kor found that he preserved all additional organs of Lifetakers, including that terrifying moving fang that hided in his palate and two rows of teeth – but now one of them was identical to locals’ and other – to typical verekans, and he could switch them, Sheim found that crest on head of his original body and mohawk of his avatar were, in fact, the same formations. And, for everyone’s surprise, researchers found that they all can do the same thing that Edez showed: they all had hidden mobile claws. The amount of surprises was so high that Max with Bluve decided: since nobody wants to read the report, they have to scan themselves to find all of them and find out what they should do with it. Other researchers supported this suggestion. So Team One moved to the lab where biologists activated medical scanner, and scientists began one by one pass through it.

Edez was first.

“Well…” said Max when the results appeared on the screens. “Two vertebral columns, two humeri at each forelimb and two femurs at each leg, three hearts, four kidneys, battery of locals and battery of dreketanians… All features of your race are combined in this body. And it’s stable!”
“Glad to hear,” curator answered.
“Who’s next?” asked Bluve.
“Hey, guys! Look!” suddenly exclaimed Zet’rar.

Guys turned and looked at him. Technician stood on hind legs, spread his forelimbs and… six tentacles, just like the ones that his original body had, appeared from his back. Others choked. And Zet’rar smiled: “Let me hug you!”

“You… Preserved them too?” muttered overwhelmed Bluve.
“Turns out that yes,” Zet’rar stood on four legs. “This hump with scar was just a pouch with hidden dorsal limbs.”
“Nice…”
“Yes!” technician grinned. “So, remember, when we’ll remain alone, I’ll continue to get you,” he looked at Oma, and his dorsal limbs hung over her.
“Oh no you won’t…” she smiled in response and… Both big curls of her hair divided into two, and her tail – into three.

Researchers, especially Zet’rar, froze with opened mouths and stunned expressions again.

“H-how?” they muttered.
“I just found it out!” smiled Oma. “So, my dear Zet’rar, you won’t get anybody because now I have the advantage!” and she grabbed technician’s tentacles with her curls. And with the seventh one she started to slightly slap him on the nose.
“Ow! Ow! Ow!” he winced.
“Guys, please!” said Affi.
“Okay,” Oma sighed and released Zet’rar. Her hair and tail returned to normal, Technician hided his dorsal limbs.
“Well, if there’s no volunteers… Max, scan me,” said Bluve.
“Okay,” senior physiologist gave a nod.

Bluve passed through scanner and quickly returned to the control panel to look at the results.

“So?” she wondered.
“Knowing that you are an anxaiman, nothing surprising,” said Max. “As you already know, combined limbs. About other – two hearts, two stomachs and spiracles instead of lungs. Interesting moment is that now they are connected with nose through trachea, so that’s why you can breathe like a local and like an anxaiman. But there is one moment… Is it even normal for anxaiman to have hidden mandibles?”
“Oh, this…” Bluve faltered a bit. “You see… One of my grandfathers was a kiemrinean.”
“Ow… Well, it explains the matter.”
“And what is this dark spot?” medic wondered, having pointed to area between spiracles and hearts on the scanogram.
“Your spiracles have lesser volume than lungs, Bluve, much lesser,” answered Max. “So this dark spot is, in fact, empty space.”
“Empty space?” uttered Edez.
“Yes, and why are you asking?” surprised biologists.
“Well, there is one matter… You see, according to the protocol we all should have sources of self-annihilation. They are implanted in us already. But there’s a point that every team should has one device for group annihilation. It’s quite big, but…”
“Wait, you want me to become the carrier?” exclaimed Bluve.
“Yes,” curator nodded.
“What?” exclaimed other researchers. Medic started to shiver.
“Listen!” said Edez to everybody and turned to trembling physiologist. “Bluve, in our team only you have no lungs, so only you, as I think, have such cavity in your body. So only in you the device will be hidden perfectly. Well, we can implant it inside us, but if a lad will do it, he’d look ridiculously fat, and girls… we can spent months here, and it will be very suspiciously if girl will remain at such stage of pregnancy for all this time.”

Bluve was going to exclaim in response, but, having taken a thought, didn’t find anything to object.

“Eh, okay… I will do it.”
“Thank you,” Edez bowed.
“So, if this problem is solved, who will be the next volunteer for scanning?” asked Max.
“I will be,” answered Kor and get into the scanner.

Few minutes, a couple of flashes, some hum – and the drafting of scanogram was finished.

“Um… Kor?.,” said Bluve and Max when they saw the results.
“What?” he wondered.
“Your head is empty.”
“Guys, that’s insulting,” said Karin.
“No, his head is really empty.”
“It is?”
“Yes. There’s no brain in it.”
“It should be so,” said officer. “All verekan have brain in special capsule joined to the spine.”
“Well, now nothing changed,” Max shrugged.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” grinned Edez. “I think we found the one who will be the carrier of main memory block and main recorder!”
“Excuse me?!” resented Kor.
“You have the perfect place for it, and don’t try to outargue me, you have no chances.”

Officer just sighed. Yes, he has no chances – curator has experience of twelve centuries, and it’s almost three times longer than whole his life.

“Fine…” he uttered. “And what about other things?”
“Well, nothing more special,” answered Bluve. “Shield-column spine, oblong heart with nine chambers near the spine, combined lung. Typical verekan body structure.”
“I’m satisfied.”
“We are glad for you.”
“Next!” commanded Max.

Bluve and Kor went to get their implants, they returned soon. All other researchers meanwhile rushed to pass through the scanner. And soon they found that Affi’s sensor organs hided not only under her hair, but also under the skin in special “pockets” on her neck just like Zet’rar’s dorsal limbs and, also, as jokhrian, she preserved cartilaginous quasi-spine that joined chest and pelvis, two livers, but had no gallbladder and had no heart – jokhrian instead of it have set of so-called nodes that pumps their blood. Zet’rar preserved shield-column spine, four node-like hearts, special cluster of nerves on back and combined lung. Oma even in absolutely another body remained chemosynthetic – instead of usual stomach she preserved organ that yedeizans themselves call “the reactor” and difficult excretory system: quite large liver and six kidneys; she hadn’t radial and calf bones, and her hair appeared to be absolutely different thing from usual: her curls were made from substance similar to calloused muscle with some nerves, but, in general, they looked like ordinary hair of locals, though a bit thicker. Also after the scanning they had finally noticed that she preserved eight fangs like ordinary yedeizans. As organism structure of locals appeared to be rather similar to terran species, Karin hadn’t such great anomalies – little distinctions like presence of artificial heart launcher and absence of appendix weren’t considered – except one: large channels, almost as thick as the organ itself, stretched from the battery to the limbs and head; that’s why, as appeared later, she was able to improve significantly her ability of telekinesis. Max had similar anomaly, but the thick channel was only one, and it stretched to the sensor organs. And Sheim… He was autotrophic creature, so he had much different structure of the organism. So his avatar turned out to be an unimaginable thing: unlike typical rugartarian he had endoskeleton instead of exoskeleton, but other parts he preserved: air capsule, pump and numerous trachea instead of lungs together with air absorbing appendages that now were his beard, accumulating organ and quasi-blood with quasi-heart that pumped it – autotrophic races also had special source for nutrients delivering, but it was absolutely different thing from blood of heterotrophic species.

Looking at Sheim’s scanogram Max said:

“You know, we should avoid any kind of injuries. Especially you, my friend.”
“Why me?” resented planetologist.
“Listen, do you imagine what will happen if you get into hospital? What should we say? ‘Help our friend! He need…’ I dunno… ‘maple juice, group AB, Rh+’?”
“Okay, I get it, I get it!” answered Sheim.
“Well, if so, then, I think, we are ready.”
“Wait!” exclaimed Bluve. “What about emergency mind transportation?”
“Oh, right…”
“Well, it’s easy to test,” said Edez, approached the nearest tool chamber and, when other still were surprised, quickly grabbed a cutter, switched on the maximum power mode, put emitter to own head and pulled the trigger.

Before anyone screamed Edez’s head stopped to exist. Decapitated body fell on the floor. Other researchers were paralyzed with shock. They just looked with terrified faces at the remains of their curator.

But in a minute ship’s ASI informed that one of the reserve bioreacors was activated, then sound of its opening came, and soon alive, but standing on shaky legs Edez appeared on the stairs that led to the bioreactor room.

“Well, they are working!” he said.
“You shitass! Do you imagine how it looked for us???” shouted Affi.
“We’ll stutter for a week because of this!” shouted Oma.
“I know, I’m sorry, excuse me for this,” apologized Edez. “But it really was the fastest way!”
“But the most terrifying too!” exclaimed Zet’rar.
“Yes, and I’m sorry.”
“Why would you even do that?” frowned Affi.
“Well, it’s not the first time when I do this test,” said senior planelologist, giving commands to the creation of new additional avatar and annihilate previous body with on-board cleaning systems.
“What???”
“Um… Bluve?” Max got scared when he saw that his colleague still was shocked.
“Are you all right?” asked Karin and Sheim in trembling voice.
“Bluve, dear, speak to me!” exclaimed Oma.
“…though I’m a medic, and I know my body perfectly, I don’t know why I didn’t throw up,” finally said Bluve after short pause.
“She’s all right,” Kor summed up.
“If everything is fine, then let’s move forward, guys!” exclaimed Edez.

Researchers returned to the bridge of their ship. There they approached the main control panel and gave two special commands to ship’s ASI: make some gems – from mind scans of locals they learned that gemstones can be used as currency here, and it made the task much easier – some necessaries and some other stuff which they may use without hiding and, when they will leave, close the lock and switch to standby mode. Soon their first task was executed: ASI presented nine saddlebags with documents, personal hygiene items, utensils, maps, books and some other things and, separately, three jewels, right from the transmutation reactor. Researchers took it and rushed to the exit hall.

Sigh, look at each other, and command to open the gates was given. Few seconds – and they saw the meadow with their own eyes. Researchers tuned back, said goodbye to ship’s ASI, who watched them through the cameras, and went outside. Soon they left the vessel. Gates were closed, standby mode was activated.

The exploration began.

In ten minutes they were just in few steps from the town.

“Wow, I didn’t expect that mastering of local language will be so fast!” surprised Karin.
“Yep, such speed of assimilation is a rare thing,” nodded Affi.
“It’s almost as good as native!” said Sheim.
“Indeed, but now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s be quiet,” said Edez. “We’re going in…”

Researchers crossed the town border. They calmed themselves down, sighed and started to behave just like ordinary tourists: wander and look around.

The settlement appeared to be very picturesque and unusual place: wooden buildings with thatches looked comfortable, even idyllically, but at the same time seemed to be toy. All buildings were decorated with carved elements, there was no paving on almost all the roads, and there was a lot of greenery of different kinds – flowers, decorative bushes, trees. From the most elevated places large town park, located on the outskirts of the settlement, was visible. Citizens were busy with their own businesses or just walked around and enjoyed their lives, they were calm and very, very affable – passers regularly greeted them and smiled. It was the most surprising thing for researchers – they didn’t remember places where people were smiling so frequently just because. All locals seemed to be friendly with each other and with newcomers, Affi didn’t feel even a sign of hostility in ponies – it turned out so that it’s how locals call themselves. When researchers learned this, they got really dumbfound and confused: this similarity will go down in the Annals for sure and will surprise lots of following generations. Well, if conditions are that favorable, then it’ll make the task much easier to implement. And much nicer.

“So, what now?” asked Bluve when the group was approaching the center of the town.
“Well, a visitor should do three things: first – get local currency, second – find place to live and third – find a job,” said Oma. “We have some stuff that can fit as currency, so… you can see for yourself.”
“Okay.”
“Then should we do it one after the other, or should we separate?” asked Kor.
“I think that we should separate. We’ll be able to handle this faster,” answered Edez. “And what do you think?”
“I think that I’ll agree,” said Affi.
“Me too,” Max gave a nod.
“And me,” Karin said.
“If both curators agreed, then you can think that it’s determined,” said Zet’rar to Sheim who was near.
“You don’t say, my friend, you don’t say…” planetologist responded.
“So, who will do the first and who do the second then?”
“Let us to go find the place,” suggested Oma and looked at other girls.
“I don’t think that it’ll be the best variant…” said Kor.
“Excuse me?” resented Oma. “Who’s international relations specialist here?”
“Wait! It’s not the thing what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“You are girls, we are lads. Yes, you all have good taste, and we are sure that you’ll do your best to find wonderful house. But your tastes differ from ours, and we need a place where we can live too.”
“Then what do you suggest?” asked Affi. Oma still was confused.
“One from us go with you, and one from you go with us!” offered Edez.

Girls looked at each other and, having sighed, said: “Fine. But who’ll be that one?”

Lads gathered, quickly discussed the matter and Edez gave the answer: “…Zet will go with you,” Girls did the same and decided that Karin will be the one who go join the boys. Zet’rar and Karin didn’t mind.

“Wait a sec,” suddenly said Sheim. “If we’ll separate, then how we find each other later?”
“Don’t worry,” smiled Oma. “We have Affi. We’ll find you.”
“Oh, right…”

Edez with Sheim gave Zet’rar the bag with two diamonds, and company of professional tenants rushed to find the place to stay. Other meanwhile went to look for job offers.

“Remember that we need to find the place where we all can work at the same time?” said Karin.
“We do, we do,” answered boys.
“Okay then.”
“Only one question: where can we find such offer?” said Max. “I haven’t seen large enterprises here since we crossed the town border.”
“Well, there is one variant…” uttered Edez and then sharply turned to the nearest passer. “Excuse me, sir, can you tell me where I can purchase a newspaper here, please?”
“Oh, sure!” answered the stallion. “There is one stand on the main square, near the town hall. You’ll find it easily. It’s the second tallest building here now.”
“Now?”
“Yep. After the appearance of that castle.”
“Oh… right… Well, thanks a lot!”
“You are welcome!” passer nodded and went further.

Researchers looked around and, having noticed the steeple of the town hall, rushed there.

On the square they quickly found the newsstand, approached it and asked for a newspaper of ads. Seller after a short nod gave them “Ponyville list of free ads”. Researchers thanked, Max took off his bag and was already about to get the diamond from it, when the seller stopped him and said that “List” is free. Researchers got surprised, paused for a moment, then, having thought that if the seller himself says that it is free, then they won’t insist, so thanked again and left the stand. They came to trees that grew behind the town hall, sat under one of them and started to look through the paper.

Well, there were tens of job offers in it, great number for such small town, but all them revealed the problem that Max had already mentioned: there were no big enterprises here, even among the farms, so employers hired only one or, in rare cases, two ponies. Jobs for nine ones at the same time on the same enterprise were just out of the question.

It was really big problem: if the situation here is so bad, then they should move to other settlements, bigger ones. There they may find jobs and house for themselves, but there they will have problems with hiding their ship and hiding themselves – somewhere simply there are no suitable places to hide such big vessel in miles around, and there are more… policeponies working in bigger settlements. It looks that they have no other choice – they should separate…

When they thought about this problem deeper, they heard voices that called them. Researchers raised their heads and looked. It was their colleagues. Judging by their smiling faces it was possible to say that they succeeded. But there was one strange thing: their bags got bigger, and each their step caused ringing sound.

“Oh, hi there,” said Edez. “I see that you find the place?”
“Yep,” nodded Affi. “Nine nice rooms in big nice house. You gonna love them!”
“Zet?” asked other lads.
“I confirm it,” nodded Zet’rar.
“Well, if you say so…”
“Excuse me, but… what’s that ringing sound?” Kor raised an eyebrow.
“And why your bags are so filled?” wondered Sheim.
“Oh, this… It’s a change,” said Oma.
“Change???”
“The guy we took has excellent agricultural knowledge, but seems to be not so good at economics.”
“We see…”
“So what we’ll do with all this money?” said Max.
“We gonna live high, dude,” answered Bluve.
“Um…”
“And what about you?” asked Oma with Affi.
“Eh, not so well…” sighed lads and Karin.
“Why?”
“As Max said, there is no big enterprises here, so we all can’t be hired at one place,” explained Edez. “There are job offers only for a single one or two.”
“What?”
“Alas, but yes. We have to separate again.”
“But we may ask the employers to hire more – three of us at one enterprise,” said Kor.
“Only thing that we can do this only with local farmers.”
“A… are you sure that there’s no other variants?” muttered Oma.
“Sorry, but yes.”
“So… We’ll go to the fields now?” said Zet’rar.

Other lads slowly nodded.

“Eh… Okay then.”
“Let’s go, guys,” Edez said and other researchers followed him.

They found the road that led to main farms of environs. If it’s the only possible variant, they’ll do so. It demotivated. Researchers went with bowed heads. But they continued to look around – they had to execute their task, they had to notice everything, had to mark every detail to make the whole picture in future.

“I just can’t believe it…” uttered Oma.
“Yes, it’s not the best variant, but what else we can do?” said Kor.
“We can move to other town, or city!”
“Yes, we can, but there we’ll have more problems. This town may be the best variant in whole this country, speaking about hiding.”
“It’s so,” confirmed Edez. “The circumstances are such that we have to separate. But, if we’ll manage to get jobs at neighbor farms, we can contact with each other regularly, and it won’t be such great problem.”
“We can only hope,” sighed Affi.

Sheim, listening to them, sighed too. If they separate and work at farms, their possibilities will be limited. The exploration in this case may take a several years! Oh, it was so hard… Sheim sighed again, raised his head and looked around. Little nice houses, greenery, dirt road… Everything as at other places of this town… Wait, what is THIS? Sheim suddenly he stopped and approached one of the nearest houses. There was a paper, glued to its wall. It has a text on it. And it was an ad, a hiring ad that offered large number of vacancies! Wide smile appeared on researcher’s face.

“Hey, guys, come here!” he exclaimed.

But his gloomy colleagues didn’t response – they continued their walk and sad conversation.

“Guys!” planetologist shouted again.

And again no response.

“Ugh, why?..” growled Sheim and, having sighed, screamed one more time. “Tzhie, vezfahore!!! Sladiz hade nabiizte gza u aaniz!” [“Hey, you, shitfuckers!!! Drag your asses here and look!”]

This had the effect. His taken aback colleagues stopped, turned and looked at him with very angry faces.

“Ta fi deerd?” [“What did you say?”] growled Kor.

“Just come here and look, dammit!” shouted Sheim.

They run to him, Sheim pointed to the paper, and other researchers read it. And they smiled too.

“Excellent! Excellent!” exclaimed Edez.
“It’s the best offer what we could hope for!” exclaimed girls with Max.
“Good work!” Zet’rar patted Sheim on the back.
“Forgive me, pal,” said Kor to Sheim
“I should ask for forgiveness for using such words, pal,” answered planetologist. “Hey, why we are still here? We have to run!”
“Right!”

And researchers rushed to the castle.

Hosts of the Castle of Friendship waited in the hall.

“Are ya sure it work?” asked Applejack.
“Honestly, I have no idea,” answered Twilight.
“It will work! I guarantee it!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Well, maybe not right now, but in an hour, or two, or three for sure!”
“I think that Pinkie is right – we have to wait,” said Rarity.
“Agree,” Fluttershy and Spike nodded.
“…I’ll abstrain for now,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Well, maybe you’re right,” weakly smiled Twilight. “Only time will show how good it was…”

And right at this moment someone knocked on the door. Ponies and Spike shuddered.

“I told ya!” smiled Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie, it can be anypony,” said Applejack.
“There’s only one way to find out,” uttered Twilight, approached the door and opened it with her magic.

Over the door sills there were nine ponies. When they saw the hosts, they bowed and then tall stallion in the middle of the group said:

“Excuse us, we are here about the hiring…”

* – about 0,6 kilometer

4. Getting Acquainted

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Surprised Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie looked at the guests. The pause lasted for a couple of seconds, then pink pony smiled and exclaimed:

“See? I told ya, I told ya!”
“Okay, okay, Pinkie, you win,” answered Rainbow Dash. “But now, please, hold back your smugness.”
“Yes, you can enjoy your victory later,” said Twilight and turned to the guests. “Come in, please!”
“Your Highness…” they bowed again and slowly entered.

It was quite bitty group: five stallions and four mares, all – earth ponies, but very different from each other. First two stallions were real giants: they were only an inch or two lower than princess Celestia, were broad-shouldered so could easily compete with Bulk Biceps. The one who spoke first was bearded, had arsenic coat, dark olive mane and tail with some dark stripes, which were rather long and looked angular, bright green eyes and silhouette of a mountain as cutie mark. He looked quite gentlecoltly. Second one had brown coat, short russet mane, but very long tail – third its part dragged behind him on the floor – gray eyes, impressive sideburns and strange cutie mark: a black figure that looked like a striking hoof or a comb. There was something from beasts of prey in his appearance. Between them, as if in contrast, was small mare – her ears were on eye level of average adult pony – with blond coat, cinnamon mane and tail with few dark stripes, blue eyes and flying bird figure as cutie mark. Her manecut was quite similar to Twilight’s. Third stallion was green. Absolutely green: light green coat, dark green mane and tail, olive eyes and green ivy branch as cutie mark. He had a goatee and mohawk. Second mare was one of the most beautiful ponies that they have ever seen: slender, graceful, with gold eyes, silver coat and long shiny cardinal mane and tail that formed huge curls. Her cutie mark was combination of diamond and thiradial star. She was tall as princess Luna and had very similar figure. Fourth stallion didn’t stand out among usual colts on height, had bronze coat, short black mane and tail, brown eyes and strange target-like figure as cutie mark. But his appearance was scary: he had four big and quite fresh scars on his face. Third mare was a bit taller than usual pony, had turquoise coat, cerulean mane and tail with some dark stripes, red eyes and cutie mark that looked like a star in hooves. Her manecut was similar to Rainbow Dash’s. She had two big symmetric scars near her neck and one on her stomach. Fifth stallion was a bit lower than ordinary ones, but was chunky and had a hump with long scar. His coat was coral, his mane and tail were khaki, his eyes were purple, and his cutie mark were six exploding fireworks. And he was very, very shaggy. Fourth mare was as tall as her marine-colored neighbor, had yellow coat, orange mane and tail, blue-colored eyes of a crystal pony and figure of diamond making circles on water as cutie mark. Her manecut was very close to Apple Bloom’s.

They got to the center of the hall, stood in a row and bowed again. Pinkie Pie squinted and then said:

“You aren’t local, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said mare with orange mane.
“We are from Europonia,” added bearded giant.
“Europonia?” exclaimed bearers of the Elements and Spike.

Guests nodded.

“We’ve, in fact, just arrived here,” said humpbacked stallion.
“If you are here recently…” said Twilight, coughed and continued. “Well, good day, I am Twilight Sparkle… princess Twilight Sparkle. This is my assistant Spike, and here are my friends: Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Welcome to the Castle of Friendship!”
“Thanks, Your Highness,” guests bowed again.

In their minds they deeply sighed with relief: now they knew how to address these ponies.

“One more thing, please,” Twilight continued. “Don’t call me Your Highness, at least so often.”
“As you say…”
“So, you are here about the work, right?”
“Oh yes. We’ve just arrived in town, in fact, but came here as soon as learned about such vacancies,” answered yellow mare.
“Really?”
“It’s a very good offer, so we had to act quickly,” said arsenic giant.
“Well, you have a point.”
“Pardon me, but… could ya tell us ‘bout yerselves?” asked Applejack.
“Yeah, guys, who are you?” agreed Spike.
“Oh, right… We beg your pardon, we forgot to introduce ourselves,” said guests. “Let us fix it.”
“Berg,” bowed arsenic giant.
“Antilipsi,” uttered yellow mare.
“Erő,” nodded brown giant.
“Didinga,” said silver mare.
“Lierre,” bowed green stallion.
“Pippi,” nodded the smallest pony.
“Allegro,” said coral stallion.
“Calma,” bowed marine-colored mare.
“Zicht,” nodded stallion with scars on his face.
“Nice to meet you,” said dragon and bearers of the Elements.
“Oh, can I call ya Didi, Anti and Al?” Pinkie Pie asked Oma, Affi and Zet’rar.
“Ehm… Sure!” they answered.
“To be honest, we came to Equestria only because of large variety of jobs,” Edez said.
“Because of this?”
“Well, in our lands only possible variants for us were work in fields, forests, schools and factories or mines,” continued Max. “We weren’t satisfied with this, so… decided to move here.”
“And your parents didn’t object?” wondered Rarity.
“A-and your friends?” added Fluttershy.
“Well, no,” answered Karin. “Speaking about friends… They didn’t mind, and we haven’t so many pals in Europonia. Now we are best friends of each other.”
“Yep. We got acquainted during the journey here,” continued Sheim. “We know each other only for two months, but because of regular and intense communication we really became close.”
“Nothing is so good in bringing ponies together as journey in company,” added Kor.
“Indeed!” Twilight smiled.
“And, speaking about parents, we all are fully grown ponies,” said Oma.
“Fully grown? How old are ya?” wondered Pinkie Pie.
“Ehm…”

At that moment researchers paused. If now they tell their real age, it will at least shock their potential employers because their real age is estimated in three-digit numbers (and four-digit for Edez). But thanks to telepathic message from Affi they remembered about such thing as biological equivalent of age, so they quickly gave the safe answer.

“I am 28,” said Zet’rar.
“I’m 26,” said Sheim.
“24,” uttered Bluve.
“I am 27,” said Oma.
“29,” said Kor.
“28,” nodded Max.
“25,” said Karin.
“31,” nodded Affi.
“34,” said Edez.
“Oh… Wow…” said bearers of the Elements.
“What’s the problem?” surprised researchers.
“Well, you see…” Twilight began a bit shaky. “You are older than us, sometimes mush older…”
“Oh, don’t worry!” exclaimed Zet’rar.
“Yeah, it’s nothing,” agreed Bluve.
“You really think so?”
“Age of employers isn’t so important for us,” said Edez.
“Glad to hear,” Twilight nodded. “So… What can you offer?”
“Well, we can be your guards,” said Edez and Kor.
“Guards? Well, you are big and look very impressive, but are you skillful enough?” grinned Rainbow Dash.
“Skillful you say?” Edez grinned in response and in a second appeared right before rainbow pony. “We are.”

Rainbow Dash gasped.

“H-how?..” she uttered.
“Wow!” exclaimed Applejack and Spike.
“That was fast,” stated Rarity.
“How did you do it?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“Special trainings,” grinned Edez.
“Oh, oh, I can do it too!” suddenly exclaimed Pinkie Pie and vanished, having left light purple trace.

In a second she also appeared right before Rainbow Dash, on the right of Edez, with wide smile on her face. Giant, when he saw her, at first got surprised, but then (at the most frenetic pace having understood that all possibilities of these creatures are unknown now, so reaction should be more confident) smiled too and said: “That’s our school!”

Meanwhile his colleagues quietly uttered:

“O Dieve…” said Oma.
“Mamma mia…” said Zet’rar.
“Nem rossz…” said Kor with grin on his face.
“Okay…” Twilight uttered. “And what about you, mister Erő?”

Kor at first paused a little, thinking. Then he looked around and soon stopped on the stool that stood near the main entrance. He addressed to Twilight, pointing to the furniture:

“Could you sit here, please?”
“Me? There?” surprised Twilight.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Um, okay,” and she approached the stool and sat.

Then Kor came there too, put his right forelimb under the seat and easily lifted the stool together with pony. Twilight, when she appeared in the air, gasped and grabbed the edges. Kor meanwhile started to move the stool up and down like a dumbbell.

“Oh… Wow…” Twilight nervously smiled.
“Impressive, really impressive…” Rarity gladly admitted.

After some more moves Kor put the stool down, and Twilight left it.

“Okay, I see you point,” she said.
“But his strongest part is his head,” intervened Edez.
“What?”
“Eh, it’s just by the way.”

Almost immediately after this Max began to speak:

“These guys can guard you during the day, I will guard you during the night.”
“Night watch?” Applejack slightly smiled.
“Zicht may be not so strong and swift as we,” said Edez, “but he has incredible senses. He can see at night as well as during the day. Damn, he can even do without eyes.”
“Without eyes?”
“Yes,” grinned senior planetologist and turned to his colleague. “Zicht, show them.”

Max gave a nod and closed hie eyes. Then he took a deep breath and started to move, making short but quite loud crackling and creaking sounds – in fact, there was no need in these sounds, but he decided to imitate the echolocation for greater credibility. Bearers of the Elements and Spike froze. And Max… Max just walked between them. With tightly closed eyes. And he easily managed not to hit others. He got round any obstacle and any pony, whether she or he was standing still or moving. He even found time to make two notes: first to Pinkie Pie, who moved too quickly, and second to Fluttershy – Max said her to relax, because she is so stressed that he can hear her heartbeat. He made a circle, then stopped and opened his eyes. Ponies and Spike remained very impressed.

“Really good…” admitted Applejack.
“Perfect for night watch!” exclaimed Rarity.
“Indeed,” said Twilight. “I must agree that you will be excellent night guard, Zicht.”
“Thanks, Your Highness,” he bowed.
“And I can be your housekeeper,” said Affi.
“Housekeeper?” Twilight surprised.
“Well, it’s a large building, and it needs proper care. I have some experience and I’d like to do it, so…”
“And I will help her!” exclaimed Karin.
“What?”
“The castle is really big. You need at least two ponies too keep it in fine state.”
“I see, but…” Twilight started, but she was interrupted.
“Please, cleaning is not an occupation for a princess,” said Affi.
“Yes,” Karin nodded in confirmation.
“But…”
“Darling, they are right,” said Rarity. “Cleaning and other similar stuff aren’t occupations for a royalty.”
“But in Golden Oaks I did all this by myself!” resented Twilight.
“But now you are in the castle.”

Twilight paused. She didn’t find anything to object. She sighed and spelled:

“Fine.”

Karin and Affi bowed to her.

“And I would like to be a receptionist,” said Oma.
“Receptionist?”
“Well, judge for yourselves: a lot of ponies visit you and your castle. I don’t doubt your abilities, but I don’t think that you can handle all of them. You need somepony who will lighten this load. And I want to be this one. I have the experience and I like to work with public.”
“Hm…” Twilight took a thought.
“I can vouch for her,” intervened Zet’rar. “She really likes to work with other ponies, and she’s great actress – our Didinga will easily handle any public. And, by the way, just look at her! She is perfect attractor!”
“Hm, he’s right,” quietly said Rainbow Dash and Rarity.
“Okay, I’ll agree for this,” said Twilight. “And what about you, mister Allegro?”
“Me? Well, I can be repairpony,” he answered. “I’m a mechanic, after all…”
“He’s really good in this. We can prove it,” intervened Max.
“But when there is nothing to fix, I, for example, can work in the library,” continued Zet’rar.
“Library?” exclaimed Twilight.
“Yeah. I like to read, and though I’m humpbacked I can be really quick when it comes to bringing a book.”

Twilight paused again.

“Well, what do you think?” Zet’rar wondered.
“I… I don’t know,” answered Twilight.
“You get a multi-specialist,” grinned Edez.
“It’s really great to have professional repairpony, but… not the library! I’d like to work there myself! I love it!”
“Excuse me, Your Highness, I didn’t want to offend you…” technician apologized.
“Oh, please, don’t,” Twilight said. “We just have some misunderstanding. We’ll be very glad to have professional repairer. But I’d like to remain library works for myself.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
“He also can work as answering machine, if you want,” said Kor.
“Answering what?”
“Show them…”
“Okay…” spelled Zet’rar and focused.

Few seconds, and he spoke again. But now – in Twilight’s voice. Identically Twilight’s voice. When bearers of the Elements and Spike heard this, they hardly managed to stand on own hooves and feet. Twilight just sat down with opened mouth. Zet’rar, having said a couple of phrases, stopped.

“How such thing is even possible?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“Let’s say that it’s one of my very special talents,” answered Allegro.
“And… you can mimic not only my voice, right?” quietly asked Twilight.
“I can mimic any voice.”
“If so… Then, I think, you will be prefect assistant for Didinga in free from repairs time!”

Zet’rar and Oma got extremely surprised, looked at each other then at Twilight.

“You do not agree?” she surprised.
“Oh, no. We’ll be perfect partners!” they smiled and hugged each other.
“Then great!”

Oma and Zet’rar put off hooves from backs of each other.

“And I would like to do different chores outside,” said Sheim.
“What kinds of chores exactly?” wondered Twilight.
“Well, gardening, cleaning, for instance… Help my friend Allegro fix things outside.”
“I see.”
“Why only outside?” asked Rainbow Dash. “You have a claustrophobia?”
“No, I haven’t any phobias,” answered Sheim. “It’s just… my preference.”
“Well, if you say so…”
“And what about you?” Twilight asked the last member of the group.
“Well…” Bluve began. “I would like to be a cook.”
“A cook?”
“Um, yes.”
“Pardon me, but Ah don’t think that cook is important job here,” said Applejack.
“Job of cook is very important, duh!” interrupted her Pinkie Pie. “I say ya as a cook.”
“Pinkie, ya aren’t a cook.”
“But I help mister and missis Cake as cook.”

Applejack paused.

“Well, I think that we’ve agreed with this,” said Twilight and addressed to Bluve. “So, are you ready?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“But are your dishes delicious?” asked Pinkie Pie in a bit ominous voice.
“Don’t worry. I have good experience. Trust me. I’m a doctor.”
“What?”
“A doctor?” exclaimed Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy.
“Oh…” Bluve realized what she just blurted out. “Well, yes. I’m a doctor by my higher education.”
“You have a higher education?” exclaimed ponies with Spike.
“We all have higher education,” said Edez.
“Really?”
“Well, it’s not a problem if this education is free.”

It was true. Higher education in all regions of Europonia was free – all those traders whom Team Two took for explorations were university graduates.

“You all are graduates?” exclaimed Twilight. “Wow… And who are you according your educations?”
“Well, I am a geophysicist,” answered Edez.
“Geologist,” said Sheim.
“Ethnographer,” said Karin.
“Sociologist,” uttered Oma.
“Mechanical engineer,” answered Zet’rar.
“Strategist,” said Kor.
“Psychologist,” said Affi.
“Biologist,” answered Max.
“Professional soldier?” Rainbow Dash asked Kor.
“And also a military historian. I finished Military Academy,” he answered.
“That’s why you know our language so well, isn’t it?” asked Applejack.
“Oh yes,” answered researchers.
“I can’t believe it…” Twilight uttered. “You are university graduates! And you say that you didn’t find a job?”
“Well, as we said, higher education in Europonia is free, so it is widespread. Competition is high. And in our cases only way of implementation of our knowledge was job of teachers,” said Edez. “But we didn’t want to be teachers. So we decided to move here, as we thought that here we’ll find more possibilities.”
“And we’ve found them!” smiled Affi and Karin.
“You think that working as castle servants are great possibilities?” sincerely surprised Twilight.
“Yes,” guests nodded.
“Comparing with what we had there… It’s so. At least it's prestigious,” finished Affi.
“Um… Missis Antilipsi?” quietly said Fluttershy.
“Miss, and, yes, my dear?”
“Your eyes… They changed colors from blue to orange.”
“What? Ow…”
“Jeez…” said Pinkie Pie with Applejack.
“Oh my…” Rarity spelled when she also noticed it. “What happened to you?”
“Um… It’s a consequence of an incident,” Affi blurted out.
“Incident?”
“Yeah. There are some big stone-pits in region where I lived before, and workers there use magic to make explosions. It’s very focused and powerful magic. And when I was a little filly, I once accidentally got under influence of this magic. Since that time I have this…”
“Your eyes… Can change own color?” uttered Fluttershy.
“Uh-huh. And, I must notice, that switches from blue to orange and vice versa aren’t only possible variants. Sometimes one my eye can be blue when other is orange.”
“That’s weird,” Applejack winced a bit.
“I know…” sighed Affi.
“Okay…” said Twilight. “And one more thing: can you tell me who can serve as the leader of your group?”

After these words researchers synchronously pointed to their first curator.

“What? Me?” exclaimed Edez.
“Sorry, but you since the very first days acted like this,” said Affi.

Other members of the group nodded with malicious smiles on their faces. Edez looked at them and growled.

“Fine,” he said.
“So, we agreed?” said Twilight.
“Wait! What about the salary?” exclaimed Zet’rar and Karin.
“Oh this… You see… How to say it better… We have some problems with funding now. But don’t worry! In a month we’ll solve it, and you get your salary!”
“If so… Okay then.”
“You agree?”
“Yes. For now we have some sources.”
“We can’t pay you now, but can provide you rooms here!”
“Oh, please, don’t worry. We found a place to stay.”
“Ow… You really don’t need them?”
“Really.”
“Well then, deal?”
“Deal.”

And they shook hooves.

“Ow! Ow!” suddenly exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Yes, Pinkie?” Twilight said.
“Guys, you said that you came here very recently, right?”
“Right,” guests nodded.
“So, would ya like a town tour?”
“Town tour?” surprised Spike.
“Well, they are our friends now… And if they are going to stay here, they need to know everything and everypony around!”
“You know… It’s really good idea!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“Yes!” other ponies agreed.
“So, what do ya think?” Pinkie Pie asked the guests.
“That… would be wonderful!” they answered.
“Then let’s move on!”

Soon Team One walked behind Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dahs, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy, who became the guides, along the town streets.

“Here you can see Daisy’s, Lilly’s and Rose’s famous flower shops,” Pinkie Pie pointed and told. “They are one of the most lovely places in our town. Ponyville is so beautiful because they provide the greatest adornments – their amazing flowers. And here is the town post office. You can’t even imagine how crowded sometimes it can be! But postponies who work there are the nicest guys I know. And there is Berry Punch’s store. Very popular among adult stallions, I must say.”
“Oh yeah…” sighed Applejack and Rarity.
“Thanks, we’ll keep this in mind,” said Kor, Max and Edez.
“You’re welcome,” Pinkie Pie continued. “And here are our town hall!”

Researchers looked at the building again. It stood out among the rest: it was bigger and much taller, its roof was metal and looked like a tent, there were less half-timbered elements in it, and in general its style was different. But it looked very elegant.

“Wonderful!” said Oma and Bluve.
“I like the architecture,” said Sheim.
“Yup, it’s unique,” said Pinkie Pie. “But it’s not the clou of our tour, it’s waiting for us around the next corner!”
“We’re looking forward!”
“So let’s go!”

They approached the corner and turned. And they saw another interesting building. It was very bizarre. It looked like it was made from baked dough: walls, roof, porch, chimney – all this was just like cookies with frosting. Only things that didn’t look like sweets were door and windows.

“Sugarcube Corner?” surprised Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight when they saw the store. “This is your clou?”
“Yup!” chirped Pinkie Pie.
“Why?”
“And why not?”

Her friends looked at each other. And didn’t find anything to object.

“Fine…” they said.
“And… What is this?” quietly wondered Edez and Affi.
“This is “Sugarcube Corner”, Ponyville’s the most famous bakery! The best sweets are here, everypony can confirm this!”
“Well, that’s true,” said Spike.
“It is so,” confirmed Twilight.
“So, do ya wanna come in?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“Well, let’s try!” answered researchers.

Pinkie Pie smiled and with gesture said to follow her. Team One nodded and rushed to the store.

Soon they entered it. Six bearers of the Elements, one little dragon and nine members of research team took all free space. Wondering mister and missis Cake came out from the kitchen to look at them.

“P-pinkie, who are they?” a bit nervously asked mister Cake.
“Oh, mister Cake, they are Berg, Antilipsi, Lierre, Zicht, Calma, Didinga, Pippi, Allegro and Erő, they are from Europonia and now they are working in the Castle of Friendship!”
“Europonians?” surprised missis Cake.
“Workers of the castle?”
“Um… Yes,” nodded Edez.
“Ow… Wow.”
“We are here recently, and kind misses Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, princess Twilight Sparkle and mister Spike agreed to tour us around the town,” explained Affi.
“Oh, we see now.”
“Oh, mister Cake, missis Cake, do ya have those Superfrosting Surprise Cupcakes?” suddenly exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Well, yes, there are some of them here…”
“Oh, miss Pie, mister Cake and missis Cake, please, it’s not necessary!” Max started to make excuses.
“Yes, we aren’t hungry,” added Bluve and Oma.
“Aawww…” Pinkie Pie in a moment got sad.
“Thank you, really, thank you, but…” Edez began.
“And what about just a treat?”
“Treat?” members of Team One looked at each other. They are making their first steps, so they have no right to make mistakes. Every wrong move can cause great negative consequences. So they need to be nice with every…pony. So now they have to taste those… cupcakes if they want not to upset this vigorous but sensitive pink pony.
“Well, it would be… impolitely to refuse such offer, so… we agree,” answered Edez, Affi and Kor.
“You do agree?” Pinkie Pie became cheerful and hyperactive again.
“Yes.”
“Great!” she chirped and took the tray with cupcakes. “So, who wanna try?”

Researchers looked at each other again and delegated Max. He quietly gulped and slowly approached pink pony. He took one cupcake, put it in his mouth and started to chew. One second – and… his face suddenly warped. Max now looked like he swallowed own teeth with tongue. And he froze with such expression.

Bakers gulped.

“Is it… something wrong with the cupcake?” quietly asked mister Cake.
“Khmm… No,” answered Max when he found strength to swallow. “It’s just… too sweet for me.”
“Too sweet?”
“Yes… Excuse me, but I got use to more bland dishes.”
“And… That was the reason?” surprised Pinkie Pie.

He gave a nod.

“I dunno…” she frowned. “Nopony before said me such thing. Too sweet! I can’t believe it!”
“Well, maybe because there were no europonians in your store before.”
“Hm… Maybe, maybe…”
“May I try?” asked Oma in few seconds after this.
“Sure!”

She gave a nod, came to Pinkie and also tasted a cupcake.

“Hm… Yes, it is very sweet,” she said after swallowing. “But it’s very tasty,” she turned to her friends. “Come, guys! Taste it too!”

Other members of Team One approached and took a cupcake. Soon, when they finished, Pinkie Pie asked them:

“So, how are they?”
“Really tasty!” answered Karin.
“It’s delicious!” exclaimed Affi.
“Wonderful!” said Sheim.

Edez didn’t say anything, but his glad expression spoke for itself.

“Eh… I’ll agree with Zicht,” said Bluve. “For me it’s also too sweet.”
“Um… Can I take another one?” asked Zet’rar.
“Of course!” smiled Pinkie Pie.
“Not bad,” said Kor.

Some his friends looked at him.

“What? I like sweet dishes!” he answered.
“Okay…”

Soon they finished. Guests thanked bakers for wonderful treat. Hosts of the castle also thanked them, and then all they leaved the store.

“So, what next?” asked Spike when they appeared on the street.
“I dunno… My tour is over!” answered Pinkie Pie.
“Maybe… maybe… Oh! Ya can visit our places!” suddenly exclaimed Applejack.
“What?” exclaimed her friends.
“Well, Pinkie led our new friend to her place, then why not show them ours! What do ya think?”
“You know… I don’t mind!” answered Rainbow Dash.
“Me too,” said Fluttershy.
“Hm… I agree,” said Rarity.
“That’s… very generous of you,” answered researchers. “Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s not necessary!” answered bearers of the Elements.
“So, who’ll be the next?” asked Applejack.
“I can be!” answered Rainbow Dash.
“Um… Pardon me, but where should we go?” wondered Affi.
“There!” rainbow pony pointed.

And at that moment researchers hardly managed to stand on their hooves and do not let their jaws hang open. This… thing was unnatural.

They were scientists. They have been studying physics for fifty years at least. And now they were seeing this… A house made of clouds with that weird rainbow-colored “creek”… This punched their logics in stomachs and all their conceptions in face. This… was just impossible!

“Um… guys?” worrying Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack waved before faces of their new friends.
“Eh… yes?” they uttered when they came to life.
“Heh, you looked like you’ve never seen a cloud house before!” grinned Rainbow Dash.
“Well, you see… Such… architecture is quite rare in our regions,” “explained” Affi.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
“Well then… You may visit my place later!” said Rainbow Dash.
“…and meanwhile you can visit my place!” exclaimed Rarity.
“Oh, that’s so kind of you!” said researchers.
“It’s not necessary! Please, come!” white unicorn smiled.

Guests nodded and rushed follow her.

In a couple seconds after this they heard loud and approaching vroom. Few more seconds – and from around the nearest corner little orange filly with purple mane and tail on scooter appeared. She sharply turned, looked up, noticed figure in the sky and exclaimed:

“Hi, Rainbow Dash!”

But, having noticed her, she didn’t noticed that ponies on the ground stood still in a tight row. The distance was only ten meters, there were no time for her to react…

Everything happened in a second. Edez grabbed filly right from her scooter and held her, scooter itself crashed in Kor and Zet’rar. For everyone’s surprise everypony and everything remained safe.

“Wha… What?” muttered little filly when she came to her senses. “Where am I?” she looked around and noticed that she is hooves of giant stallion. “What happened?”
“You… didn’t notice us,” said Edez. “But now everything is fine,” he put filly on the ground.
“I think it’s yours,” Zet’rar smiled and brought scooter to owner.
“Th-thank you…” said filly. “A-I’m sorry…”
“Oh, Scoot…” sighed Rainbow Dash and then addressed to Team One. “Excuse us. This is Scootaloo. When she sees me she forgets about everything around.”
“Eh?” surprised Karin.
“Rainbow Dash is my hero,” answered Scootaloo.
“Oh…”
“Well, next time be more attentive,” said Edez with smile on his face.
“Sure, sir,” Scootaloo smiled in response, stood on her scooter and soon vroomed away.
“Nice filly,” said researchers when she disappeared behind a corner and they continued their walk.
“Though even that she crashed in you?” said Rainbow Dash.
“Why, yes,” answered Edez. “Not the most attentive, but nice.”
“Pardon me, mister Berg,” Twilight approached him. “But… can I ask you one question?”
“Yes?”
“I apologize in advance for this, but… I’ve been wondering… Your friends absolutely suddenly chose you as leader. Well, at least it looked so for me. So… Are you sure that you can be their leader?”
“Oh, don’t worry. If there will be problems, I quickly make them arbeiten.”
“If you say so… Okay.”
“What does “arbeiten” mean?” Rainbow Dash asked her neighbor, Applejack.
“It means “work”,” she answered.
“Oh… Wait a minute, where did you learn this?”

Applejack made a scrunchy face.

“Um… From europonian Apples,” she blurted.
“And here we are!” suddenly exclaimed Rarity.
“What?” surprised researchers.
“Ladies and gentlecolts, welcome to “Carousel Boutique”!”

Guests looked at the house that stood before them. It greatly differed from usual buildings of the town. It seemed to be incredibly light, was richly decorated and looked not like an ordinary stone or wooden construction, but more like a tent.

“It’s… beautiful!” exclaimed Oma.
“Splendid!” smiled Karin and Zet’rar.
“Eh… Thank you,” Rarity bowed. “So… Come in, please!”

She approached the door and opened it.

“Sweetie, are you here?” said Rarity when she came in.

Little white filly with light pink and purple mane and tail came out from behind of one mannequin.

“Rarity? You… Who are they?” she exclaimed when she saw Team One.
“Oh, don’t worry, darling, they are our new friends and, concurrently, new workers of the Castle of Friendship,” answered Rarity. “Sweetie, this is Antilipsi, Berg, Erő, Didinga, Lierre, Pippi, Allegro, Calma and Zicht, they are from Europonia. Ladies and genltecolts, this is my sister, Sweetie Belle.”
“Nice to meet you, miss Belle,” researchers slightly bowed to her.
“Eh, h-hello,” shyly responded Sweetie Belle.
“Well, my friends, make yourselves at home!” Rarity smiled to the guests.
“You are a fashionista?” asked Karin when she was looking around.
“Yes. This is the matter of my whole life!”
“Gorgeous…” said Max and Edez.
“Well, this is an occupation just for you,” said Sheim.
“Undoubtedly,” nodded Bluve.
“You really think so?” Rarity smiled.
“Oui,” nodded Lierre.
“Por supuesto!” smiled Calma.
“What?”
“I mean of course!”
“Oh… Thank you!”
“Um… Pardon me, but do you work with individual orders?” asked Oma.
“Regularly, darling,” answered Rarity.
“Oh…”
“You want to make an order?”
“Oh, no! I’ve just been wondering. You know, not rarely it’s difficult to find clothes for such tall mare as me.”
“Oh, don’t worry! If you need anything, I will make it.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I must say that your works are very, very good,” admitted Affi.
“Indeed,” confirmed Karin.
“Very good? Rarity is amazing fashionist!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “Just look at what she made last Friday!” and she pointed to one mannequin. There was really gorgeous dress on it: white with light blue and silver, with long elegant skirt, decorated with feathers and gems. “And look at this!” little filly jumped on the mannequin and pointed to the fabulous collar and hat of the dress.
“Sweetie, get down this instant!” resented Rarity when she came to her senses after even greater resentment.
“Oh, sorry,” apologized Sweetie Belle and started to get down.

But now she decided not to jump. She, having dangled her hind legs from mannequin’s back, began to slip down. But as the height was quite large, she held with her forelegs. At first she slightly moved down. But then… When greatest part of her body appeared in the air, she instinctively grabbed the fabric to avoid the falling down. But fabric of the dress was stretch. So it stretched. Accompanied by Rarity’s resentment gasp, Sweetie Belle, who realized the situation, so now had very big eyes and mind full of thoughts about upcoming scolding, slowly slid down. Soon her hind legs toughed the floor. Little filly gulped and slowly let the fabric go. But there was one circumstance: the fabric was stretched almost to its limit. So when it got free, it immediately shrunk. And because of this one diamond on the collar of the dress, which wasn’t thoroughly fixed, tore off. And shrinking fabric launched it in the ceiling…

“Un-oh…” said Sweetie Belle.

The diamond meanwhile hit the ceiling, rebounded, hit the empty mannequin, rebounded again, then hit Rarity’s basket with sewing accessories, rebounded again, hit Kor’s head, crackled and broke into three pieces. They also rebounded. And flew to Oma, Karin and Sheim… In a second one piece of the diamond appeared right between green stallion’s teeth, another had been caught with bare hooves by small mare in few inches before her face, and the last one stuck in Oma’s voluminous mane.

“Ow! Ooow!.,” roared Kor, holding his head.
“Well, that escalated quickly,” said Sheim when he spat out the diamond.
“Get it out! Get it out!!!” shuddered Oma.
“Hold it!” Zet’rar bethought, run to his friend and put his hoof in her mane.

There were no words to describe how Oma’s face warped when Allegro got that diamond out. It looked like he put his hoof not in her hair, but in her body – well, technically it was so.

In few seconds Oma’s suffering was over.

“Thank you,” she said to Zet’rar, having sighed with relief.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” repented Sweetie Belle. “Please, forgive me!”
“Oh, it’s not necessary. It’s not the first incident…” said Bluve to console and calm down little filly.
“Yeah…” nodded Max.
“I told you that head is his strongest part!” Edez grinned, turned to hosts of the castle and pointed to his friend Kor. “It even made that diamond to crackle!”

Kor, still rubbing his head, grumbled some swearwords in his “native” language.

“We see…” said Twilight, Spike and Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, I apologize for this and for my sister!” said Rarity.
“Please, do not! It really was just an incident!” said Max.
“Yes, and, by the way, such thing always happen when we are together,” sighed Affi.

Yep, that was the sad experience of Team One.

“Well, ehm… Shall we continue our little tour?” offered Edez.
“Okay,” Applejack said. “C’mon, folks! Ah’ll take ya to Sweet Apple Acres!”

Researchers nodded, and together with hosts of the castle they left the boutique. But before this Sweetie Belle was said to clean the room up.

They passed through the town and soon they were approaching the gates to the farm.

“I’ve been wondering…” Spike began. “Guys, where did you got those terrible scars?”
“Oh, this…” Max said. “Well, mine will be a reminder for me to be more careful next time with cutter.”
“And mine – with steel cables,” said Zet’rar.
“Mine too,” added Bluve. “…and reminder not to overload your cart.”
“That’s horrible!” exclaimed Rarity.
“Well, it has already happened, and this has nothing to do about it,” said Max.
“Yes,” nodded Zet’rar. “But we aren’t bothering about it. Yes, we have big scars, and so what? Many other ponies have scars too and also don’t bother about it.”
“Oh yes,” confirmed Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

Spike nodded with understanding.

“And here we are!” exclaimed Applejack and pointed to the farm house. “Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!”

And with a gesture she said others to follow her.

She and her friends and researchers passed through the gates and appeared among huge orchards. On the left and on the right were apple trees, apple trees and, again, apple trees with ripening fruits on them. Though they were still small, some of them were already reddish. And all of the fruits were smooth and shiny, like there weren’t real, but were made from plastic. Because of this Team One got a bit confused: is this ideality the result of highly developed selection and genetic engineering or, still, the result of influence of perfect mix of energies.

But once-over at the pony culture made them to think that this, likely, is the result of second factor.

Three minutes of walking – and they were near the farm house. There were three other ponies: one green and very old mare in rocking chair on the terrace of the house, little sandy-colored filly running around and big red stallion who brought a plow to its conventional storage. Applejack smiled and run to them.

“Hi everypony! Ah’m home!” she said.
“Oh, Applejack… Ya brought some guests?” answered old mare. “Yer friends and… who are these lads and girls?”
“Granny, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, this is Berg, Erő, Antilipsi, Didinga, Lierre, Allegro, Calma, Zicht and Pippi. Guys, this is Granny Smith, my sister Apple Bloom and my brother Big Macintosh,” Applejack introduced Team One to her family and vice versa.

But researchers showed no reaction – when they saw Applejack’s brother, they nervously gulped and stood still. That stallion, Big Macintosh, was the one whom they took for explorations! And now they met each other face to face! “Oh crap…” was the only thought that was in minds of all nine members of the team at that moment. They knew that with such reaction they give themselves away, but they couldn’t do anything with it.

“Um… Guys?” Applejack waved before their faces.
“Eh… yes?” responded Karin and Sheim.
“Ya looked like ya saw a ghost!”
“Oh, you see… your brother…” began Edez.
“Looks just like one other our pal from the ship who decided to stay in Newport,” finished Affi with a bit nervous smile.
“Oh, I see,” said Applejack.

Big Macintosh just hemmed and shrugged.

“They are foreigners, europonians,” Applejack precised for her family.
“Foreigners?” Granny Smith smiled. “Heh, no wonder then Ah thought that yer names sound odd for these regions!”
“Foreigners? Real foreigners?” Apple Bloom got delighted.
“Yep,” nodded researchers.
“Oh, Ah’ve always wanted to see a foreigner!” continued little pony. “But… Ah thought that ya’ll differ from us, and ya aren’t so different at whole…”
“Well, ponies everywhere are ponies, they shouldn’t differ from each other so greatly in different regions,” said Affi. “But if you want some differences… Ti lete gia afto?”
“Of deze,” said Max.
“Eller här!” smiled Karin.
“Okay! Ah believe that ya are foreigners!” said Apple Bloom.
“Me too,” nodded Big Macintosh.

Researchers smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you,” they said.
“Well, we also are very pleased!” smiled Granny Smith in response.
“Yeeup,” confirmed Big Macintosh.
“Oh, maybe ya want some apples?” suddenly suggested Applejack.
“Oh, miss Applejack, please…” uttered Edez.
“Why not? Just one little apple! We have some early ones!” she ran to one of the nearest trees and bucked it. Ten small round red apples fell down.

Greatest part of Team One remained very impressed with that technique, but not Sheim. When he saw this, his quasi-heart quasibled (well, usual terms aren’t always applicable for primarily autotrophic organisms). Though he perfectly knew that other races use plants for food, as building materials, for some other needs, and even as fuel and in chemical industry, view of bucked apple tree was too painful for him. He couldn’t suffer it.

“Pardon me…” he interrupted. “But… Is this the usual way how you harvest?”
“Yeah,” answered Applejack, picking apples. “And what the matter?”
“You see… In some places of my native region this technique is recognized as too harsh…”
“Too harsh? Interesting… And what technique in this case farmers in yer region use?”
“Well, something like this,” said Sheim and approached the tree.

And he started to climb on it. Swiftly, just in few moves he got up and disappeared in the crown. “Just like a stick-bug,” thought some hosts of the castle. They had a point: Sheim now was green, very thin and had quite long legs. Then a rustle came from the leaves, and ten more apples fell from them. After this Sheim jumped down.

“Yeah, Ah agree that this way is less harmful for apple trees, but, Lierre, look around: we have tens of acres of orchards. If we want to harvest them all in terms, we should be quick as Pinkie or yer friend Berg.”
“I understand…” sighed Sheim. “But keep my words in mind, please.”
“Ah will.”
“A…”
“I think it’s better to have an apple now,” interrupted Affi.
“It’s the greatest thought that Ah’ve heard for whole this day!” exclaimed Granny Smith.

Others agreed and every one took an apple. Soon all researchers, even Sheim – highest autotrophic always were parasites, at least partially – and Kor, found that production of Sweet Apple Acres not only looks good, but also tastes good. Really, it was one of the most delicious things that they have ever tasted. Juicy, sweet with light sourness – it was something incredible. Guests sincerely thanked Apple family for this treat.

And then they continued their tour. Team One and Applejack’s friends said goodbye to Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh and went to the last point of the route – Fluttershy’s house.

When they approached it, researchers noted for themselves that they have found the most particular place in the town: bird houses, animal burrows and nests were everywhere and between all of this was cute small cottage. One can say that it’s the house of kind animal doctor from fairy tales and be almost absolutely right.

And there were inhabitants of those nests and houses. Dozens and dozens of them. They were small and cute, and they all looked at them, watched how they moved. It seemed for researchers – and that was the most frightening – that these little guys are incredibly smart, maybe even have the beginnings of intelligence. And soon their hunch was confirmed: Fluttersy literally spoke with a couple of rodents, and they showed that they understood everything.

“Well, here we are,” said Fluttershy when they stopped. “Welcome to my place.”
“Tell me…” Karin began. “Is this place… always so full of life?”
“Um.. Yes. But I like it. I’m never alone and I always have a little friend to keep a company for me. I take care of them, and they, in turn, help and protect me,” yellow pegasus said and opened the door. “Come in, please!”

Researchers bowed and entered the house. And there they got even more surprised: the house was filled with animals too, and there was full set of them – from sparrows to eagles and from mice to bears. Yes, there were two bears in the house. How and why they were here – there was no answer. But there were bears. In the house.

They were big and hirsute. And seemed to be not so kind as other creatures. Bears looked up and down at group of the guests and stooped on Bluve and Affi. For some reason they decided that these two mares were the weakest. So they stared at them. But just in a second after this the bear who started at Affi suddenly felt a powerful urge to fall asleep, and soon successfully fulfilled it. Other bear continued to look at his victim. For ten seconds, for twenty, for thirty… He didn’t know one thing: anxaiman blink much rarely than many other sapient races – for example, seventy times rarer that terrans. So very soon the bear lost stare down contest with Bluve. After it he was the calmest creature in the room.

And again, by tradition, host of the place offered guests some treats. Now it was a cup of chamomile tea. Team One sincerely thanked for the offer and took their cups without any objections – they understood that now they are dealing with the most sensitive one, so they behaved quietly and patiently.

So they sat together, slowly drank their tea and chatted. It would be real Idyll, but there was one moment: Fluttershy’s little friends also wanted to take part in the conversation. So they regularly squeaked, chirped, tweeted and produced other sounds and noises. Hosts of the castle and researchers didn’t pay attention to it or took it with humor. But some of those creatures were too insistent – they not only made noise, but also sought to join the circle of talking. In short, they annoyed and pestered everypony. No wonder that some ones started to lose own patience.

All this continued for a minute, two, three, five, ten, fifteen, twenty. Some ones – especially from the guest’s group – almost approached their boiling point. One more loud squeak, and the first one lost his patience. Kor growled, turned to animals and shouted:

“FALL IN!!!”

Creatures alarmed, but just in few second stood in a row. Kor continued:

“EYES LEFT! EYES RIGHT!” creatures turned their heads to the left, then to the right. “ATTEN-SHUN!!!” creatures stood stiil. “Stand at ease…” creatures sighed with relief, and slowly, but now very and very quietly started to disperse around the room.
“Wow…” spelled surprised Pinkie Pie and Spike.
“No way!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“Oh my…” uttered Fluttershy.
“You… Also can influence on animals?” surprised Twilight.
“Ehm…” Kor faltered.
“You have Voice!” suddenly exclaimed Fluttershy. “Just like my Stare!”
“You see… How to say it better… It’s just the influence of military academy.”
“What?”
“In europonian military academies every creature can be taught how to march.”
“Oh yes…” grinned Edez. “Believe me.”
“Wait!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “You’ve said that you are… geophysicist, not a soldier like Erő!”
“Yes, I told it,” answered Edez. “But I also had been studying in military academy.”
“And I had military training too,” added Max.
“You too?”

He gave a nod.

“Or else we wouldn’t offer our candidacies for guards,” said Edez. “It would be simply impractical.”
“We see…” spelled ponies.
“So, maybe a second cup?” offered Zet’rar.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but we’ve run out of it,” apologetically said Fluttershy after look in the pot.
“It’s a pity. But everything was just perfect!”
“You really think so?”
“Oh yes,” all researchers confirmed.
“So, I guess our little tour is over?” said Karin.
“It’s sad to say, but yes,” answered Twilight.

Fluttershy sighed, confirming this. Members of Team One nodded with understanding. Hostess took the pot and cups to the kitchen, and they all left the house.

“So, how did you like the tour?” asked bearers of the Elements.
“It was great! Thank you very much!” answered researchers.
“So, we start tomorrow?” asked Twilight.
“Of course, Your Highness!”
“But before we leave, can we ask you about one little thing?” said Edez.
“Yes?”
“Can you give us some books about Equestria? To get acquainted better with it as soon as possible.”
“Why, sure! How many books do you want?”
“Um… Not so much… About sixty or seventy.”
“Not so much?” Spike chocked.
“We can read very quickly,” said some other researchers.
“Well, if you say so… Then follow me. I’ll give them to you,” answered Twilight.

Then she turned to her friends:“See you tomorrow!”

“Goodbye!” said her friends.
“See you!” said researchers.

And they went home.

5. The Visit

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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.”

6. Taking a Pegasus

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“How is she?” asked Kor.
“Yeah, it’s kinda worrying…” nodded Sheim. “Because she looks so… weak and helpless.”

They looked at the camera of particle scanner. Behind the working manipulators blue pegasus with rainbow-colored mane and tail lying unconscious on its floor was visible. Her head was turned to the side, her wings were spread. She breathed very slowly and quietly – it was almost unnoticeable. It seemed that life was ready to leave her.

“Different species have different reaction for universal anesthetic, you know,” answered Max in calming voice. “But don’t worry: she’ll be fine. She may just wake up too late next day, that’s all.”
“I confirm this,” said Affi. “Her mental signals are weak, but they are stable. She is dreaming now.”
“Well, as you say, as you say…” uttered Sheim.
“I don’t know…” said Oma nervously. “I think that we shouldn’t take her…”
“Yeah,” agreed Karin. “She’s our friend now, after all…”
“It is so, but…” Bluve began, “we have instructions according to which we have to take not any creatures what we can find, but seek for the best representatives. And she is one of the best.”
“Yes. Student of Academy of best flyers in whole this country… Has several rewards… It says a lot,” noticed Edez.
“Wait, where did you learn all this?” surprised Karin.
“She said about this herself.”
“Really? When?”
“During our excursion around Ponyville. When we were… near the town barber shop.”
“Wow. You remember it, and with such accuracy?”
“We, dreketanians, are taught always listen very carefully since the early childhood,” said Edez. “So, what about the scan?”
“A couple of moments, and it’ll be finished,” answered Zet’rar.
“Good. Because I’m tired of waiting.”
“Waiting for what?” wondered Kor.
“Waiting for the answer to the question how the heck they can fly with such tiny wings!”
“Yeah, that would be very interesting to learn,” admitted Zet’rar. “Oh, the scan is finished!”

Manipulators with scanning devices stopped. They straightened, and then began to move downwards. In few seconds they disappeared in their holes. Hatches on the floor near the camera closed.

Researchers approached monitors and screens of the terminal and began to explore the holographic scanogram that appeared right after the end of the procedure.

“Well, in general, the results are very close to our first scanogram,” admitted Bluve.
“Yes, differences are minimal…” agreed Max. “The same organs, except that they belong to a smaller creature. Skeleton structure, muscles… All this is similar. What about wings… Well… Bone basis, quite difficult network of muscles and blood vessels, covering of feathers – mostly – and fur… Their structure is very similar to bird wings of ordinary terran birds.”
“Eh, not completely.”
“Not completely?”
“Well, usually winged creatures have a carina, a basis for flight muscles. They, pegasi, seem to have no such bone.”
“Yeah… They haven’t it, but… Wait…” Max with gestures made the projection of chest region bigger. “There are several small protrusions on their sternum that act like a carina. See, they have almost all the flight muscles that terran birds have. But they are smaller and weaker, comparing in a scale.”
“Indeed… Well, then their wing system is really almost identical to terran birds.”
“With the only difference that back muscles are more important for them than for terran birds.”
“Yeah…”
“Excuse me, but what about… Um… Eh…” Oma faltered.
“About what?” surprised Bluve.
“About… Well, gender differences.”
“Oh, this…”
“Let’s see,” Max changed the view of the hologram again. He looked at it for a half of a minute and then said. “Well… Absolutely no differences from terran organisms.”
“What?” exclaimed all non-physiologists.
“Absolutely no differences?” Kor was taken aback.
“On the planet which situated in seven million light years from Terra?” exclaimed Karin.
“Yep,” dazed Max gave a nod. “Sexual dimorphism, organs… All this is the same for them and for terran creatures. How to explain it? I don’t know…”
“Incredible…” uttered Oma.
“Agree,” nodded Sheim.
“An article about this surely will make hundreds of biologists puzzled at least,” said Bluve with face of an one who started to get tired of surprises.
“No doubt,” agreed Max.
“That’s boring,” Kor got upset. “Absolutely no additions to “Particularities”!”
“Yeah,” nodded Zet’rar. “For both versions.”
“What? “Particularities”? Ew!!!” winced Affi.
“How can you think about such thing now?” exclaimed Oma.
“It’s just a thought, nothing more,” answered Kor.
“And we weren’t the ones who started to speak about this,” added Zet’rar.

Girls didn’t answer.

“It’s really incredible, but let’s pass to the main question: how they can fly,” interrupted Edez.
“Right,” said Bluve and Max.
“Well, you said that their muscles are quite weak. Considering their wing area, it’s even more mysterious how they can hover and move in the air. As a physicist I just don’t see the possible reason!”
“We neither,” said Sheim, Zet’rar and Bluve.
“Hm… And what about this… second conducting system?” supposed Kor.
“You mean ETS? Their energy transportation system?” Max asked again.
“Yes!.. Ehm, you call it ETS?”
“Yeah, for simplicity.”
“That can be it! Having environment full of energy and necessary organs, although it could be just a simple mutation, they could develop such ability!” exclaimed Edez. “Max, Bluve, show us the ETS network in their wings!”

Physiologists nodded and with gestures changed the projection again. They removed holographic covering tissues, muscles, bones, blood vessels and nerves – only ETS channels and contours of the wings remained. When the last item was hidden, Team One gasped.

“Wow…” spelled Max, Bluve, Oma and Affi.
“That’s something…” grinned Kor and Zet’rar.

Density of energy channels in the wings was at least threefold greater than in other parts of the body. They pierced not only muscles, as it usually observed, but covering tissues too – some outgrowths stretched to the ends of feathers. These channels were thinner, but conduction in them was even more intensive than in usual ones.

“Check their sensitivity,” Max asked Bluve.

She nodded and gave the command. In a second machine began the processing.

“Give me one moment…” she spelled. “Yes! It’s finished.”
“So what’re the results?” asked Edez with impatience.
“Channels in pegasi’s wings are much more sensitive than in other parts of their body. It seems that they are able to feel the smallest fluctuations of energy. And they… also have a repulsive ability.”
“What? Repulsive ability?”
“Well… Yes. Great part of energy conducting through these channels is reversely charged to energy in environment.”
“Reversely charged… Then…” Edez paused. “They are flying like a…”
“Flarecrafts,” Zet’rar predicted the thought of curator.
“Yeah, flarecrafts… Energy flarecrafts! Incredible!”
“Well, that’s really unusual,” said Bluve.

Max after these words suddenly and sharply straightened and moved to the monitors of the terminal.

“What are you doing?” wondered Karin.
“Just one test…” he answered, continuing to type commands. “I wonder…” he stopped to type, waited for a couple of seconds, and then, when new set of data appeared on the monitor, said. “Like I expected.”
“Expected what?” surprised Oma.
“Yes, tell us!” said Kor.
“Well, if you remember school biology courses, you should know that genetic code has information not only about the individual, but also about norms for a species,” explained Max. “I checked for average density of energy channels in pegasi’s wings and… it turned out to be less than our friend has.”
“Less?” surprised Edez. “Well, then it is clear why it’s so easy to her to be good flyer.”
“Yes.”
“Oooooooohhhh…”
“What was that?” researchers shuddered and quickly and quietly asked each other. Then, having realized that source of the voice was behind them, they turned back.

The taken was waking.

“Shit…” they thought.
“Oooohh… Oooww… My head…” Rainbow Dash muttered. “What a dream…” she raised her head and looked around. “Where am I?” She noticed Team One. “Guys? What are you doing here?”
“Ehm…”
“You see…”

They were confused.

“Yeah, what are you doing in my dream?” Rainbow Dash continued. “Jeez… What a weird place!”

And then, before she looked around again, Affi jumped forward and stared right at her. They made eye contact, and then three appendages appeared from Affi’s mane. They stood up and formed some kind of crown on the back of her head. In a moment appendages began to tremble, and soon Rainbow Dash after weak “Ah…” fell down unconscious back on the floor of the camera.

Affi breathed deeply, but with relief.

“Phew! That was close!” she said.
“Did you…” Oma uttered. “Use the shutdown?”
“Well, yes.”
“You what???” exclaimed Max and Bluve.
“Did I have a choice?” resented Affi. “She could realize that all this is real!”
“Yeah, but…” Bluve began.
“…now nothing will be able to wake her until dinner,” finished Max.
“Or even more,” sighed Kor.
“Yeah,” agreed Karin and Zet’rar.
“I understand, but I had no other choice!” said Affi.
“Okay, okay,” Edez interrupted. “We see the point. Let’s finish with this.”

Other looked at each other and after this gave a nod.

“Good,” said curator, and then a pause followed.
“So, what next?” Sheim rubbed his hooves.
“Is the scanning completed?” asked Affi.
“Well, automatic processing has been started and will be finished in sixteen supramoments,” answered Zet’rar.
“We got our data,” said Max, and Bluve nodded in confirmation.
“So, we are done, right?” asked Edez.
“Yes.”
“If so, then… let’s return her,” suggested Kor.

His colleagues looked at the pegasus and said:

“Agree.”
“And let’s make Teams Two, Three and “Kelkerdez-Unaad” a call” grinned Edez. “Tell them about our finding…”
“Of course!”

They activated the teleportation beam, and soon Rainbow Dash was in her bed, sound asleep. Researchers stayed on the ship – the processing will be finished in the morning, so they will have some time to check the final results. But before this they have waiting. And so they began to while away their time.

7. Odd methods

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Days passed. Researchers gradually got used to roles of castle servants and guards. Edez and Kor patrolled the castle in daytime, Max – at night. Affi and Karin kept it clean and shining. Oma welcomed the guests and toured them. Sheim began to make a garden around the castle and kept the building clean outside. Bluve cooked food for everybody and kept the pantries full. Zet’rar made small repairs – the castle still was settling – and helped others, mostly Oma, Affi and Karin. They did their everyday work, but didn’t forget about their duties as scientists. The castle, whole town of Ponyville and the nearest surroundings were completely mapped. Drafting of the taxonomy of local species was started – and drafting of taxonomy of edible (for them) organisms was almost finished. Social structure of Equestria and all other possible available information about the country was studied thanks to the rich castle library. Description of local technologies was started. And they began to understand what is this thing that locals call “magic”. All this they did insensibly, at their free time from castle duties, and sometimes they had to combine them. In general, they were very busy. But researchers liked it – there were so many new and interesting things to see, so many things to learn and master… They were tired, but they were glad.

They worked diligently, and this couldn’t be noticed.

So at one day, when they all gathered in the dining room for lunch, Twilight addressed to her subordinates:

“Guys,” she said when she finisher her meal. “There is something I want to tell you…”
“Yes?” researchers turned to her.
“Did something happen?” asked Kor.
“Or we did something wrong?” wondered Sheim.
“Oh, no,” Twilight shook her head. “You see… You are working here for fifteen days already, and during all this time you didn’t even have a break!”
“…and?”
“And this is wrong.”
“Well, in our homeland we had to work like this sometimes,” said Max.
“Yes. Or else you won’t earn much,” confirmed Oma.
“But you are in Equestria now!” exclaimed Spike. “Here you have no need to work all the time!”
“What do you want to say?” Edez raised his eyebrow.
“Take a break!” said Twilight.
“Ehm, what?” surprised researchers.
“I want you to take a break. Have some rest.”
“Yeah, guys. Relax!” smiled Spike.
“Relax?” exclaimed Affi. “But… there is huge amount of work! Who will do all it?”
“Yes! And, by the way, castle needs permanent care!” added Zet’rar.
“Oh, please…” Twilight waved her hoof. “We alone watched this castle for weeks before you arrived! It doesn’t need any special care!”
“So… you don’t need our assistance now?” asked Affi.
“You did great job, guys, really. But now you need to have some off-time.”
“We care about you,” added Spike.
“Well… As you say, as you say…” uttered Edez.
“I’m glad that you agree,” smiled Twilight. “And don’t worry about me and Spike.”
“Yeah, we’ll be fine,” smiled little dragon.
“Yes. You are free now, my friends!”

Researchers looked at each other, shrugged and said:

“Thank you.”

Twilight and Spike nodded and stood up.

“Relax. Walk in the park, visit some stores or salons or just go home and take a nap or read,” proposed Twilight. “Spend this time with pleasure!”
“Cut loose!” said Spike.

And they went away.

Team One watched them off, and when they got out of sight, looked at each other again.

“So, what do we do now?” asked Max.
“I don’t know…” uttered Oma.
“Me neither,” said Affi. “We didn’t plan any significant research for today and tomorrow, so… I’m just lost.”
“If so, then, maybe we should follow Twilight’s and Spike’s advice?” suggested Kor.
“Have a rest?” Edez and Karin turned to him.
“Well, yeah! We have been working here for seventeen days. Fifteen days and, not rarely, nights of work! I think that we earned some rest.”
“I agree,” said Bluve. “This off-time will be useful for us – after it we’ll be able to get started with new strength!”
“Well, it’s so,” nodded Edez. “Even a little rest is always useful…”
“Yes.” nodded Sheim.
“So, let’s go?” Kor looked at his colleagues.
“Let’s go,” agreed others.

They went out of the dining room and went to their corner – near the main entrance, in one of the small rooms, there was their storerooms. There they put off their uniforms, put them in closets, then they moved to the hall and soon left the castle.

They were free.

An hour passed since the moment when their off-time had started, but Max still thought about occupation for himself. He had no want to go home, no want to join anypony in their games and conversations and he had no money for café. Once he felt an urge to go to park and have some nap there, lying on the grass under spreading crowns of local oaks and elms, but this urge was transient and it quickly went away. So now he just wandered around the town and gazed. He looked at playing little fillies and colts, their businesslike parents. He looked at craftsponies making products in their stores or, sometimes, right in the street. He looked at flying pegasi, who made tricks between the clouds. He thought that it will help him finally decide what to do, but for a moment it gave no results. So he continued his stroll.

He reached the end of another street, turned to next one and gazed around to define if he was at this road before. Silhouettes of houses’ roofs and amount of potted plants at the windows said that he wasn’t. Max got ready to tread along this street as usually, but suddenly one thing caught his attention. It was an young stallion, no different from all other youths except for one feature: his hind legs were on the special barrow and were fixed. This very surprised Max: there were disabled here, in the world of magic? He thought that locals, although they haven’t good medical technologies, developed great curing methods based on using features of energy mix that fills environment of the planet. But, as it turned out, he was wrong – some diseases couldn’t be cured even with this powerful source.

As a doctor Max got interested: what was the ailment that paralyzed almost half of his body? He focused, strained his sensor organs and looked at the stallion. Radiation of tissues of all local organisms was quite intense, so Max without difficulties could look under the skin of disabled one. Brain and spinal cord were absolutely safe and had no abnormalities. He focused on the vertebral column. Cervical spine was all right, thoracic – too. But lumbar spine… There Max noticed traces of injury. But fracture was cured, vertebrae fused just like they had to. Then what was the reason? Max strained his sensor organs again, and soon he found it: though the bones were fixed, several nerves were dislocated. It wasn’t a bad case – the dislocation was minor, in fact – but because of it that guy was completely paralyzed.

But for Max the most important thing was that this injury could be cured. He even didn’t need any instruments: some quick moves with his hidden claws and everything will be done. He could help this poor lad. So Max took it upon himself and rushed towards the injured pony.

In few seconds they met.

“Ehm, can I help you?” asked the disabled stallion when he faced with tall and quite broad-shouldered guy with resolute expression.
“Pardon me, but I wanted to ask you the same question,” answered Max.
“Help me? Well… I don’t know… I don’t need any help or assistance now. And, by the way, what help do you mean?”
“Let’s say that I can give you back one thing.”
“Give back? What thing? I don’t understand.”
“Just allow me to show.”
“Well, okay.”

Max gave a nod, approached his interlocutor and then… In a couple of seconds he stood on hind legs, touched injured stallion’s lower back and with sharp and quick moves of claws pushed some points near the spine.

Scream of pain resounded through the town. Disabled guys hardly managed not to fell down unconscious. Max, having finished, stepped back.

This happened in front of dozen ponies. For some seconds they were absolutely shocked and couldn’t do anything: how anypony could do such thing? But then they came back to their senses. And they attacked Max.

A couple of stallions grabbed him and yelled “What have you done, bastard?” Some old mares cursed him with all known ways. Other stallion without any words punched him in the face. Because of this Max barely managed not to lose consciousness: sensor organs are incredibly sensitive, and not rarely even one inaccurate touch can cause strong pain.

“Before you punch me again,” he said, slowly rising from the ground, “look,” and pointed to the injured stallion, who already recovered after pain shock.
“And what do you want to prove with it?” growled one of the attackers.
“Move your legs,” Max wheezed to the injured guy.
“What?” he surprised.
“Move your legs. All legs,” Max repeated.

Stallion on the barrow slowly made some moves. At first with his forelegs, and then, for everypony’s surprise, with his hind ones. The last moves were weak and little, but he did it. Paralysis disappeared.

“How? How???” surprised witnesses.
“I can move all my legs! I can move all my legs!” joyfully exclaimed the lad.
“Don’t rush to rejoice like this,” Max said when he finally stood up. “You still have a lot to be done. Stay on the barrow, but regularly train your legs, recall, how is it – to walk. Only after five or six weeks you’ll be strong enough to leave the barrow and walk on your own legs.”
“Still thanks a lot, thanks a lot, pal! It was damn painful, but now I am cured! Thank you!”
“You are welcome.”
“But tell me: what and how did you do? All the doctors said that they had no clue what is the reason of my paralysis.”
“Yeah, it was a real miracle!” said some ones from group of witnesses.
“Let’s say I have my own experience and methods, different from usual ones of your doctors,” answered Max.
“I don’t even know what can I do for you…” said the cured one.
“Please, I don’t need anything. Just remember: train your legs, slowly, but regularly,” said Max. “And now excuse me, I have to go.”

And he went away. Witnesses and healed lad saw him off and then started to disperse, having remained agreeably surprised.

Affi, unlike many of her colleagues, immediately decided where she will go: town’s Artisan Street. In her opinion house that they rented lacked ornamentations, and it was the paramount necessity to decorate the place where they lived. So she returned to the house, took a saddlebag and hundred bits and went shopping. The Artisan Street was relatively small – there were only dozen stores in it – and was near from the place where they stayed: it could be reached in three minutes of slow walking. So she was in no hurry – she’ll have enough time to visit all the stores and check every piece of art exhibited there, and even in this case she will be free all evening.

She leisurely approached the street, thinking about items for living room, when she heard a loud shilling voice. Some artist sold his goods. Advertising sounded pretty good, Affi got interested and decided to look. She quickened her pace. Few more seconds – and she was in the Artisan Street, short but wide road that joined two main streets of the town. In the middle of it there was an improvised scene, made from inverted box. Gray stallion with very shaggy mane stood on it and with fairest epithets described all the charm of the items that he was selling. He had been spoken for quite long time already – there was a small crowd of other interested around him. And all artisans of the Street looked at him with disgust and contempt – they obviously disapproved such way of trading.

But still it was interesting to look at what the visiting trader got. Affi came closer, jostled through the crowd and started to listen.

“…as I said, ladies and gentlecolts, this is an exclusive offer!” declared the trader. “You’ll hardly find such things even in Canterlot! Only here and only now – pieces of art right from El Fantea! With rich history! Real hoofwork and trunkwork!..”

Having head that, Affi got surprised. El Fantea was the place where Team Eleven settled, and because of this she knew how the thing stood. El Fantea was a big city, probably the most important cultural center of whole that continent, but it was situated in oasis in the middle of huge desert. Yes, there were several roads that lead to it. But because of the location visitors from other regions, even europonians, were extremely rare there. And number of equestrians visiting this city a year can be easily calculated with forelegs of a pony. So, as one might guess, the statement that goods in this trader’s bag were artworks from El Fantea had minimal probability for confirmation.

But when Affi reached this link in her chain of reasonings, voice of trader began to distract her.

“…this is the most wonderful samples of art of the desert nation!” he continued his advertising. “They are just incredible! You, miss,” he suddenly turned to Affi.
“Ehm, me?” she surprised.
“Yes,” trader nodded, grabbed her hoof and dragged her on the stage. “You look like a pony with a good taste and quite the experience in the field of art. So, what do you think about this statuette?” he took a wooden figure of dancing giraffe from his bag.
“Well… It looks… unusually, but it’s really beautiful, very nice and… has its own charm,” muttered Affi, still surprised and mixed-up.
“You see, ladies and gentlecolts, independent evaluation confirms everything what I said! So purchase these pieces of art, and you won’t regret it! Only twenty five bits apiece.”

And he took some more statuettes from his bag and put them on the “stage”. Listeners immediately gathered near and began to bargain. Affi meanwhile got down on the ground. She remained mixed-up for some more time after this, but then – thanks to voices of struggling byers – she shook her head and returned to normal. And she remembered her guess. So she addressed the trader herself:

“Excuse me, sir, but can you give me this statuette of a giraffe again?”
“Sure!” answered trader and gave it to her.

Affi thanked him and pretended that she began to examine the statuette. In fact she started to scan the trader’s mind. Some searches in the hidden parts, and she found what she wanted. Her guessing was confirmed: the things that this guy sold weren’t from El Fantea – he have never been abroad in his life. And these pieces of art… Being an industrial spy she saw many nasty and, sometimes, even terrifying details of fabrication processes, but the way how these statuettes were made sometimes was really eerie. And results of this eeriness are now sold to unsuspecting ponyvillers.

It should be stopped. This stuff was simply dangerous. But after everything what this guy told to his audience it will be difficult to dissuade them. Luckily, she was a telepathist, so she knew some methods.

“You know…” she started, addressing to the buyers. “I have to agree with this gentlecolt. It is really outstanding piece of art! Incredible work of unknown, but very popular master. Why so? Well, judging by these cleavages and splits he was in a hurry – he had to execute a lot of orders. And these wonderful traces of old age! They don’t appear with no reason. You have to make a lot of efforts to reach them – you need special treatment, you need special chemicals. Not rarely you have to completely forget about all the safety regulations! Yes, it’s a lot of work. And… Hm… These spots indicate that this thing also spent some time in a sewer. Oh, wait… My bad, it’s not spots from a sewer, it’s just spots from rust in a water. So, as you can see, these thing really are the result of enormous hoofwork and have rich history!”

All the buyers dropped their jaws. The trader was struck to the core and weren’t able even to babble. They all were so shocked that only began to came to their senses in a half of a minute. Buyers, looking at Affi, then at things in their hooves, started to put the statuettes back on the stage and with no words leave the street. Artisans mutely hided in darkness of their stores. And the trader… He just sat down. He felt slack, he didn’t know what to do now.

At this moment Affi suddenly felt sorry for him. Though he tried to sell forgeries, moreover, potentially dangerous forgeries, because of her he failed like this. She approached him, put her hoof on his shoulder and said:

“I’m sorry for that, but I couldn’t do otherwise: what you were going to do now is a bad thing. And I’m sure that you understand it yourself. So next time don’t do it. But I have to say one thing: you are really talented. If you forget about forgeries and focus on own original souvenirs, you can achieve a lot. Only don’t forget about safety regulations, okay?”

She smiled to him and went to the nearest store. And trader, when he returned to normal, took a thought and agreed with her.

Sheim, after some deliberation and hesitation, finally decided what occupation will be better for him now. So now he was going to the town park – after all these days a couple hours in the company of other autotrophic organisms, though immovable, absolutely silent and without any nervous system, will be very nice and pleasant for him.

He unhurriedly walked, thinking about and mentally preparing for meditation, when, after another turn, he saw an odd scene: near the wall of one house, where fresh – because there still was dust coming from it – small hole was made, gathered a group of two stallions, three mares and one little unicorn filly who was in one step from crying. Adults argued about something, but during the process regularly and alternately fell into a stupor. It was obvious that they were lost and didn’t know what to do, but they had to do something, or else it will be a tragedy for the foal.

Sheim got wondered: what occasion happened there? He went through a lot of variants of probable answers, but none of them could fit as explanation. It was a riddle for him. So he decided to learn the cause of the incident.

He slowly and quietly approached the group and when he got near asked:

“Please, forgive me for my curiosity, but what happened here? You look like you all have a very serious problem here.”
“Well… Yes,” said one mare, who, judging by her appearance, was the mother of this filly. “We have a quite difficult situation here.”
“And how difficult it is?”
“You see… My daughter’s doll appeared to be immured in this wall.”

Now Sheim was the one who fell into a stupor.

“P-pardon me, but… how?” he muttered.
“Little unicorns, when they learning how to use magic, sometimes lose control over it,” explained other unicorn. “Because of this rather powerful bursts happen, and results of them are absolutely unpredictable. Now because of such burst this filly’s doll was teleported in this wall.”
“Oh… Well, it’s clear now.”
“But the most terrible thing is that we can’t find it!” continued mother of poor filly. “We made the hole right in the place where the flash happened, but couldn’t find anything! And because of this we can’t teleport it back!”

Other gathered nodded in agreement.

“Well, can I help you in such case?” offered Sheim. “My legs are longer than average ponies’, so I may be able to find your daughter’s doll. ”
“Oh, thank you!”
“I haven’t done anything yet, you shouldn’t thank me. And now… Pardon me…” he approached the hole and put his foreleg into it.

And soon it turned out that he was right: after few seconds of palpating he touched an edge of something soft and covered with fabric. It could be only that occasionally teleported doll.

“I think that I found it,” said Sheim.
“Can you show us the place?” asked the mare.
“Sorry, but only approximately. I’m barely touching its edge.”
“If so, then can you get it out yourself?”
“I’ll try.”

And he tried. He put his limb as deep as he could, but result was the same: he could only touch the edge of the doll. He undertake another attempt, but still no success.

“You have a problem? You can’t get it out?” asked one of the watchers.
“I’m working on it,” answered Sheim.

He tried and failed again. He couldn’t pick up this doll – pony joints just couldn’t be wrestled enough. But… His present body was result of combination of pony and rugartairan genes. Rugartairans thank to structure of their exoskeletons have incredible mobility of their limbs. Now he has endoskeleton, and his moves are limited. But what if rugartairan genes didn’t lose all their power? He needs only to turn his forelimb a little more, and he will be able to pick the doll. A little turn in unnatural direction – and the thing will be done. Sheim focused and tensed. His face covered with wrinkles and… In a second later after this all gathered heard a crackle. They got surprised. Some ponies looked at Sheim. And at this moment two more crackles came. Sheim wheezed.

“A-are you all right?” gathered wondered.
“I’m fine,” wheezed Sheim in response.

Then there was one more crackle, after this – a quiet but continuous scratching sound, and, in final, one big loud crunch. Sheim raled, staggered and… got out dirty, dusty, but intact rag-doll from the hole. Watchers gasped and in a moment rejoiced. Little filly exclaimed: “Yay! Thank you mister” run to Sheim and took the doll. Her mother and others sighed with a relief.

“Thank you a lot!” said the mare, “You really save our day.”
“You are welcome,” answered Sheim.
“We are very grateful. But tell us, what was that awful sounds? It looked like you wrestled your own leg there, and these shudders…”
“Well, partly you are right. I had to put a lot of efforts to get this doll out from the hole.”
“Can we help you?”
“Oh, no. I’ll handle it myself.”

He gave a nod to others and slowly hobbled away. And gathered began to fix the perforated wall.

Karin was heading to the town SPA. Warm bath, massage, hooficure, moisturizing mask… What else a mare needs for a good relax? During all those days Karin was probably the most hard-working member of the Team as she had to learn all the history of Equestria. She still had books to study, but it was small part comparing with the amount that she had already mastered. So she decided that she earned some good rest.

She was already near the SPA and looked forward to the coming session, when loud angry shouts from a side made her to return in the real world. Karin looked around and at the opposite side of the street found the source of the sounds: two colts-teenagers were arguing. They had been bickering for quite long time: their voices were hoarse already. And intensity of this arguing made to think that the end of this quarrel is not near.

After some time, having listened, Karin noticed one thing: the way how they addressed each other showed that these lads were brothers. And now they were cursing one another like each of them met his archenemy.

It was wrong. Yes, there may be disagreements between brothers, but they shouldn’t reach such state. Karin decide to intervene. She came closer to the wranglers and coughed loudly. Colts stopped to argue and turned to her.

“I understand that you, guys, were pretty busy, but still…” she started. “Your cussing can be heard from the Central Square. What’s all this about?”

Teenagers looked at each other.

“It was him!” said the one who was left of Karin and pointed to his brother.
“Me?” other lad resented. “It was you who started it!”
“I’m not asking who started it,” Karin raised her voice. “I asked what was the reason of your arguing.”

Colts faltered. They lowered their heads, looked to a side, and then the first lad took one thing from his saddlebag and showed it to Karin.

“This,” he said.
“Well…” Karin spelled, taking the thing in her hooves and starting to examine it. “Very nice part of airship engine, in good condition. Where did you find it?” she returned detail to the colt.
“I found it near the edge of the forest,” answered first lad.
“I found it, not you!” shouted other.

Karin growled. Lads silenced again.

“Well, we found it near the edge of the forest,” continued first. “We were just walking around, when we noticed something shining in the grass. We came closer and saw this.”
“Yeah. How it got there, we have no idea. But we liked it so we took it,” added second.
“So why then you were arguing?” asked Karin.
“Ehm… We couldn’t agree on who will keep it in his room,” answered second.
“If this was the reason of disagreement, then why not put it in other room? I don’t know, living room or dayroom?”
“Our parents won’t allow us do it,” said first.
“I see. Well, in this case you could make an schedule. For instance, one of you keeps this detail for a week, then other keeps for the second…”
“He will not comply with the schedule!” second protested and pointed to his brother.
“He will hide the detail!” objected first.
“Okay. Then I have only one variant,” said Karin.
“What is it?” wondered lads.
“We have to go to a forge to saw this detail in half.”
“NO!!!”
“We can’t do that!” exclaimed first.
“It’ll become just a trash!” exclaimed second.
“So you don’t want to saw it,” Karin looked at them.
“Yes,” nodded lads.
“Then you have to agree.”
“He will not follow it!” shouted colts and pointed to each other.
“I don’t know…” shrugged Karin. “You don’t want to agree and don’t want to divide your finding… It seems that I have no choice but to use the last way.”
“The last way?” surprised first.

Karin gave a nod.

“What is it?” asked second.
“Give me the detail,” said Karin.
“Ehm, what you are going to do?”
“Just give me that thing.”

Brothers looked at each other again and gave Karin the detail. She took it and then… quickly stood up and threw it away. Because of additional telekinetic push the detail flew over a third part of the town. In twelve seconds it fell into the nearest pond.

Lads froze with opened mouths. And Karin, having turned to them, said:

“Well, that’s all. I think now you’ll stop your pointless arguing,” and she went away.

She made only few steps, when one of the witnesses of the scene addressed her:

“You know, it was rather rude,” she said.
“You know…” answered Karin. “Sometimes the only way to make two stubborns stop the arguing is to force them to unite against the third.”

She sighed and continued her way.

There was no such question as a choice of occupation for Edez – since the first seconds he knew what he will be doing on his free time. After these hard days he wanted only one thing: come home, fell into a cozy chair and read a good book. The only question was what book to choose – during all three and a half million years of existence dreketanians wrote incredible amount of literature, septillions of books. And there were thousands of other cultures with quintillions and seztillions of their works… So it wasn’t easy.

Edez leisurely went home and intently thought – it was difficult even to choose a category. He didn’t watch the road attentively, so because of this for a few times he hit and almost knocked down other passers. But, in spite of this, he, after apologies, continued his walk without any changes in the level of attentiveness.

And he would reach the house like this if during one rare look-around he didn’t notice one unusual picture: a team of workers sat in poses of thinkers on their toolboxes and stared at the trunk of dead tree with no top and branches that once grew in a nook between two houses. A ladder has been put to it, and near some tools were scattered. The workers seemed to have no intention to do anything. It looked as if they wanted to hear the answer for the question of meaning of life from that tree. Edez got curious: what so special was happening here? He approached the team and asked:

“Excuse me, but… you have a problem here?”
“Well, yes,” one of the workers said, still staring at the tree. “We were ordered to cut down this tree. But it turned out that we can’t do it.”
“It’s just impossible,” added other worker.
“Impossible?” surprised Edez.
“We thought that if this tree is dead, then it’s mouldering, so we will be able to tumble it down easily,” continued first worker. “But very soon we learned that although the tree was dead, its wood remained solid. We couldn’t even move it. Then we started to cut it down… After twenty hits we made only small hole and broke the ax-handle. Then we tried to saw it into pieces… And got nothing.”
“You couldn’t even saw it?”

The worker pointed to the top part of the tree. There a blade of two-pony saw stuck out from the trunk. Handles of the saw were broken off.

“Oh…” uttered Edez.
“Exactly,” sighed the worker. “Roots of this tree spread under the foundations, so it’s dangerous to pull it out with magic. We tried everything what we could. What should we do now – we have no idea.”
“Yeah… It’s a very bad luck…”

Having heard this story, Edez began to pity these guys. They really tried, strove, but because of absolutely unforeseen circumstances failed. He wanted to help them, so he concentrated and started to stir up his physical and engineering knowledge base. He tensely thought for a minute, and one idea came to him.

“Guys!” he exclaimed. “I think I know how to help you.”
“Really?” workers turned to him. “How?”
“You will bring all your force to it?” suggested one.
“What? No, we will solve this problem with scientific method. If we want to remove this tree, we need a box of big nails, one big metal dowel and somepony who can cast a lightning spell.”
“A lightning spell?”
“Yeah. Remember what lightnings do when they hit the trees? Now I offer to do the same, but under controlled conditions.”

All workers turned to the only unicorn in the team.

“Ehm, well… I knew some spells that may fit, but… I’m not so skillful and powerful.”
“It’s not necessary: we need only to crackle this tree,” explained Edez.
“Oh, if so, then I might be able to do something.”
“Good!”
“Only one moment: we haven’t nails and dowel,” intervened other one.
“And what should we do now?”
“Well, there is a construction area near here, we can take some stuff there,” said the worker who told Edez their story.
“Excellent! So, bring the inventory and we’ll begin!” grinned Edez.

Two young worked nodded and run away. Soon they returned with all necessary stuff, and team set to work. Stallions took their hammers and began to nail down. They worked on different levels at the same time, so in five minutes eight vertical rows of nails were made. Then Edez climbed up and with all his might stabbed the dowel in the broken off top of the tree. The preparations were finished. It was possible to fire the lightning.

“Are you ready?” Edez asked the unicorn worker.
“Honestly… I’m not so sure,” he answered.
“Oh don’t worry! Everything will be fine! Trust yourself! Just focus properly and cast it!”
“Well, okay,” he quietly gulped, closed his eyes and focused.

Soon his horn started to glow. Then a little sparks appeared in the aureole, and their length and number began to grow. Some more time – and he will be ready to fire. His colleagues with great tension waited for this. Unicorn strained and prepared to release the charge. And at this very moment Edez insensibly put his hoof on stallion’s back. He decided to support the unicorn with additional amperes and volts – Max and Bluve found that thanks to ETS locals are quite resistant to electrical shock, so he didn’t worry about unicorn health, he’ll be fine – and quickly imparted the energy. Unicorn screamed, his horn flashed, and the lightning was released. It hit the dowel and in a moment spread through the trunk using nails as guiding lines. And the tree literally burst up: with a thunderous sound it crackled, dangerous steel rain of nails poured down, dowel stuck in thatch of the nearest house. Workers gasped, Edez laughed, a bit maniacally. Mission was accomplished: the tree was split, and the only thing what should be done was carefully demount it.

“I told you that it gonna work!” exclaimed Edez and hugged the unicorn.
“Yeah…” muttered surprised stallion.
“It was awesome!” exclaimed young workers.
“But also quite dangerous,” added their colleague.
“I should agree, but it was effective, right?” said Edez.
“I’d say that it was super effective.”
“Then fine!” he smiled. “So, do you need other help?”
“Oh, no. Now we’ll be able to handle this ourselves.”
“As you say. Good luck!”
“Thank you! Good luck to you too!”

Edez gave a nod to the team and continues his walk. And workers started to disassemble the crackled tree.

Oma was going to the town’s greatest café. She, as all other members of the Team, was already acquainted with local cuisine, but she wanted to try something new. Comparing with typical ration of chemosynthetic creatures menu of equestrians was very and very limited, so she was wondering how ponies add diversity in their gastronomy. Yes, there were a lot of edible plants here, but after all the variety provided by ability to digest almost everything, organic and inorganic, vegetarian diet seemed to be extremely restricted for Oma. She more than once addressed Bluve, trying get better understanding, but still often though about how ponies can excel during cooking. And she was thinking about it now.

But soon she’ll probably get able to find the answer: the café was already near. The building wasn’t so big, dining room occupied only half of the total square, but it had large summer terrace and some tables right in the street. Because of spotted top surface and roughness under it these tables looked just like amanita, and researchers got incredibly surprised when they learned that they actually are mushrooms, except that they belonged to other genus. Lunch break was already over, so only three tables were taken: on the terrace, in its corner, one stallion was taking a nap after hearty meal, near the entrance an old mare with very indifferent face drank her tea, and aside, at the farthest mushroom table was happening something that captured Oma’s attention. She made few steps back and hided in a shadow of the nearest house. There was a couple of young stallion and mare, they were talking very emotionally. Lad complimented and admired the girl, pleaded her, told her that she is the only one, that she is the meaning of his life. The mare nodded, thanked him very much, but answered with refuse. It continued for some more minutes and ended up that girl thanked the lad for the lunch, but said that she just can’t be with him. Young stallion, having heard another refuse, hung his head, quietly apologized and slowly left the café.

Oma watched all this and sighed. Another broken heart… How many times such things had happened? Inattention, indifference, inadequate self-conceit, inability to notice and appreciate, ruined hopes, dreams and aspirations of billions. That’s how destinies got broken. As a sociologist and psychologist she constantly faced with such things. It happened to her acquaintances, and it almost happened between her and Zet’rar. Yes, there still were some tensions in their relationships, but they found each other and began to come together. She came to her senses in time and could avoid the mistake. Now she understood, and she wanted to help others understand it too.

She quickly developed the action plan. The renounced stallion was plodding down the alley where she was standing, and it was just what she needed. She leaned on the wall and began to wait.

When sad lad came closer, Oma spoke:

“She was quite harsh, I think.”
“Huh? Who is here?” stallion shuddered.
“Don’t be afraid,” Oma appeared from the shadow. “It’s just me.”
“Eh… Pardon me, but I don’t know you, miss. Who are you?”
“Let’s say that I am the one who can help you resolve the situation.”
“What situation?”
“This one,” she turned to the café. There still was that girl – she stayed to have a couple more cups of coffee.
“Help me with this?” exclaimed stallion and looked at Oma with angriness. “Who do you think you are?”
“A pony, versed in psychology and some other things,” she answered and then quietly sighed. “I’m very familiar with such situations, and I don’t want anypony have them.”
“Oh…”
“I really want to help you, believe me.”
“Well, I don’t know… I tried many different ways, but didn’t achieve anything. I have no idea what could be able to help me now.”
“There’s always a way. But first, tell me more.”

Young stallion nodded, and they stepped aside, back in the shadow of the house. There lad told Oma his story. Having listened it, she mentally shook her head: the case was very similar to her and Zet’rar’s. This youth met that girl at painting courses and quickly got acquainted. At first they were just friends, but then lad started to fell something more for her. And he told her about this. She, having learn about this, hesitated. Lad continued to show her his feelings, but girl’s responses remained uncertain. The pattern of her actions showed that she also has great feeling for him, but something prevents her to love back. It seems that she makes excessive demands on the chosen one and, at the same time, doesn’t know what she wants. Well, in that case, the only necessary thing for solving the lad’s problem is to give this girl a push. And how to do it, she already knew.

So Oma told the lad her plan. He, having heard it, was taken aback: Oma offered to show guy’s fiancée that he in case of refuse will easily find another mare, and for making greater impression Oma agreed to be that another mare. Sight of such stunning beauty as Oma near him will give her – if she really loves him – the necessary push.

All they have to do is to play a little scene – walk near the café, having a romantic chat. But before this they need to wait some time – it will make the scene more believable. So they waited until the moment when the girl ordered the last cup and began to act.

Young mare carefully drank her coffee and looked at the street. She slowly turned her head, gazing around, and when she focused on the end of the alley… She almost dropped her cup: her stallion walked together and chatted with another mare! And what mare: graceful, slender, tall, long-maned… And how they looked at each other!..

“What else do you do?” asked the tall beauty.
“Well, except that I draw and photograph.”
“And what do you draw? Portraits, still lives?..”
“I prefer landscape. It fascinates me since foalhood: views of nature – mountains, forests, hills covered with meadows, waterfalls… Also I like to picture buildings, especially ruins. I think that they have their own special beauty.”
“Oh, it’s very romantic.”
“I like that you like it.”
“You are just wonderful!”

And at this moment Oma decided to one more thing to provide greater impression: she stood on hind legs, grabbed the lad, tightly embraced him and gave him a thing known as yedeizan passion kiss. It’s incredible and unforgettable, in comparison with it all other just pales. That cuddle, that fever… Yedeizan girls lay themselves out when they do it. Kissed at these seconds just stop their breath – partly because yedeizans for greater effect pull out some air right from their lungs. And what they do with their tongues… It can’t be described – one just have to experience it.

Oma kissed the lad for almost a minute, only then she released him. Overwhelmed stallion, when he got free, at first tried to stand on his own hooves, but then, when he managed to remain standing, he looked at Oma and kissed back. At this moment Oma appeared to be overwhelmed one – usually guys after first experience of yedeizan passion kiss barely remain conscious. She didn’t expect locals to have such stamina. They’re much stronger than they thought… And, by the way, they are incredible kissers.

It was the last straw. Girl, looking at this, just boiled up. She crushed the cup in her hooves and roared. In a moment she was near the couple and with one move threw Oma off, although she was one and a half times bigger. Oma fell down, and crimson with indignation mare yelled at her:

“Don’t you dare approach him!!! He is my coltfriend, not yours! Understand?”

The plan worked. Oma mentally smiled and gave a nod. Girl hemmed, took lad’s hoof and said: “Come, my dear,” And, having kissed him, quickly dragged her fiancée away. Stallion – when he recovered after surprise – found a moment, turned back to Oma, smiled and silently said “Thank you”. Then they disappeared behind the turn of the street.

When they went away, Oma laughed. Everything turned out to be even better and greater than she expected. Now these two will be happy. She stood up, shook herself and entered the café. It was necessary to celebrate the new union.

Kor walked away from the town. He was heading to the starship – only there was device what the needed, bioreactor. Even a decade of vegetarian diet is pure nightmare for a verekan. So now he wanted only one thing: to eat meat, preferably fresh, with blood and a lot.

He had to do it. For preventing incidents. Because if you dream that you’re having a snack cooked from your employers, then it’s the sign that time has come.

He was already approaching the town border when he heard three loud screams. It was Daisy, Lilly and Rose. Things like this happened quite often: on average, once a week – Team One learned about this in first days and at the same time witnessed such case. These mares not rarely panicked because of insignificant reasons, so ponyvillers got already used not to pay attention to it. But now there was something wrong with these screams: they were much louder than usual, and amount of wailing was larger. If so, then… maybe, something bad really happened to them? Kor, though he originated from one of the most dreadful group of creatures in the Union, in reality was rather kind-hearted one. He couldn’t just ignore it, so he rushed to the flower shops.

When he ran to the place, he saw that his guessing was right – bad thing had really happened: a group of about hundred famished parasprites attacked gardens of flower-girls. Lilly, Rose and Daisy were terrified. Some other citizens tried to drive the pests away, but parasprites didn’t react on all their attempts and continued to gorge. They had already destroyed third part of all flowerbeds, and when they’ll finish the rest was matter of minutes. And there was no certainty that they won’t attack anything else.

They should be kicked away. But how to do it if there’s hundred of them? Kor, having went over the options, found only one way: to scare the hell out of them. And he knew how to do it.

He silently approached the swarm. He had very resolute look, so other ponies with no words stepped aside and made way for him. Kor stood right in front of munching creatures and looked at the nearest parasprite. The parasprite looked at him. They stared at each other for some seconds and then… Having grinned, Kor jerked and in a second parasprite disappeared in his jaws.

Other parasprites in that moment immediately stopped to eat. They looked at Kor for some time, and then, having realized the situation, screamed and flew away back to the forest. Kor saw them off, and when the last ones got out of sight, spat out the swallowed parasprite. Slavered pest hurried after his fellows. And Kor started to spit furiously.

“Akhe! Khe! Aaahh… Jeez…” he uttered when he finally cleaned his mouth. “What a muck…”

And then, suddenly, he realized how it looked from the side of ponies. He coughed once again, slowly raised his head and looked at the witnesses. They looked at him too, and for a while they all presented a dumb scene.

“Ehm…” Kor felt a bit embarrassed.
“Th-thank you,” muttered Rose, who came to her senses first. “F-for s-saving our g-gardens.”
“Y-yeah, th-thank you,” added her friends.
“Ehm… You are welcome.”
“W-we are very grateful for this,” said Lilly and, after short pause, continued. “Maybe, we can do something for you in gratitude?”
“Oh, please, no! This little act isn’t worth it.”
“But it was very important for us!” exclaimed Daisy.
“You are our savior!” added Lilly. “Although your method was very strange.”
“Yeah,” agreed Rose. “And, by the way, where did you learn it?”
“Well… Some time ago I had to drive some parasites away from my grandparent’s garden. All usual ways I’d already tried, and they gave no results. It was necessary to come up with something new. So, experimentally, I found that the most effective way to get rid of pests is to scare them. And the way I used turned out to be the best.”
“Yes, it’s very effective, but still very queer,” said Rose.
“I can’t even imagine how it was possible to hit upon such idea!” exclaimed Lilly.
“Honestly, it wasn’t first time for me,” said Kor.
“What?” exclaimed flower-girls.
“Yeah… Once I got lost in a swamp. Spent six days there… And you just can’t survive there eating only reed and fir needles.”
“Ow…”
“Yeah… That’s the story.”
“Well, still thanks a lot.”

Kor gave a nod and said:

“Can I help you with anything else?”
“Oh, no. We’ll be able to handle the rest ourselves,” answered Rose, Daisy and Lilly.
“Then good luck, ladies,” Kor bowed and went away.

When flower shops and gardens disappeared behind the turn, Kor accelerated. It was necessary to get to the ship as quickly as possible. To endure the taste of parasprite, this rottenness, was impossible. He had to eat something after it, and urgently.

Fortunately, the suffering wasn’t long.

After some meditation Bluve finally decided what she will do in her spare time. The weather was wonderful: air was warm, sky was clear, sun was shining – perfect conditions to spend some time near a river and swim a little. Anxaiman are originally amphibious species, and although now they spend dozens of weeks on land, they are always glad to return to water.

The road to the most secluded and beautiful places ran through the town park. Today it was especially good: trees and grass quietly rustled under light wind, flowers adorned vast meadows, and all this was full of life – different little birds twittered far and near, squirrels darted in crowns and voles darted in grass, bees buzzed and dragonflies hummed around, grasshoppers chirped… Idyll, in one word. And Bluve enjoyed this beauty. She trotted along paths, peered, listened and admired.

She was relaxed and blissful, when a deep loud sigh disturbed the harmony. Bluve stopped. The sigh repeated. As the first one, it was very heavy. The one who made it was not just dejected, he was in the state of universal despondency. Such sighs one usually can hear when results of long and thorough work fail. If so, then somepony has great problems. And compassionate Bluve couldn’t just pass by. She headed to the place from where those sounds came.

Having waded through thicket, she came to the point. There was an old stallion in uniform of a gardener, who sadly looked at pond. And the pond… The pond bloomed. Because of flourishing blue-green algae it even changed its color. Looking at this, Bluve sighed too. The case was really bad.

“Yep, this is serious,” she spelled.

Park worker, having heard her, turned and looked at her.

“Oh, yes…” he said. “I’ve been working here for thirty years, and I haven’t seen such bad cases.”

Bluve gave a nod of understanding.

“And what to do now?” continued the gardener. “The cleaning will a week at least! Even if I’ll work together with all my colleagues. And there are no guarantees that it won’t happen again!”
“Yes, but… There are some ways…” said Bluve.
“There are? Really?”
“Well, yes. They may not help you so much with the cleaning – you’ll have to do it the usual way – but they guarantee that algae won’t appear again for a very long time.”
“Please, tell me about them. And, forgive me my curiosity, where did you learn about this?”
“I had hydrobiology courses in university, and thanks to them I know some things about maintenance of ponds. And what about the method… For preventing the appearing of blue-green algae you should reduce amount of organic matter in the water. After the cleaning you have to remove greater part of the bottom sediments, that silt. Then you have to provide better aeration of the water. This can be achieved if water in the pond will be well-mixed. You may use special devices for this or… do the following thing: put some black sheets on the bottom. During the sunny days they will get warm and thus warm water near them. Warm water moves upwards, and so the convection process will be started. Water will be mixed and, thus, well-airated. Only thing you have to do is to clean the sheets from sediments – just a couple of times during the season. Or you can dig a creek from the pond to the river and make a spring on the pond’s bottom – this will also create current, necessary for aeration.”
“Well… These sound like really reliable ways, but… They’re very costly. And amount of work is also quite large.”
“I know, but these ways will allow to avoid such problems in future.”
“I understand, but… they’re too laborious. I need another way. Is there anything else what can help me?”
“In fact… Yes – it’s chemicals. But they aren’t always reliable and provide only temporary effect.”
“It’s better than rummaging in this pond anyway. So, what do you recommend to use?”
“Well, you may try blue vitriol, for example. A little dose is needed, and effect is quick…”
“That’s more like it!”
“… but then, after some time, algae will appear again. And you’ll have to use vitriol again, and use bigger dose. Then the cycle will repeat and… In the end, the pond will be dead, completely lifeless and poisonous.”
“Ehm…” park worked faltered. “It doesn’t sound very good.”
“It’s so. And the same problem with all the chemicals.”

Gardener looked at the pond and sighed.

“Well, it seems that I have no other choice.”
“Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
“The next week will be very, very intensive… Thank you for advices!”
“You’re welcome. I was glad to help.”

They nodded each other and left the pond. Bluve went further, and gardened rushed to prepare for the upcoming work.

Zet’rar was walking around the town. He wasn’t going to any special place, he just wandered along the streets. He liked it: Ponyville was perfect place for strolls, very picturesque and peaceful. The stroll itself relaxed, and being outdoors cleaned his mind from heavy and bothering thoughts. This felling of clarity was great, and he didn’t want to lose it.

But, unfortunately, nothing in the Universe can be eternal. Quiet late afternoon was grossly violated by a series of angry shouts. The shouts were harsh and full of resentment. And, judging by the number and rudeness of swearwords and peculiarity of their using, they came from builders. They had problems with materials – they had a small shortage, but because of it they now blamed each other and all their providers.

If so, then the problem is not so simple as it seems. But you’ll never know without seeing. So Zet’rar went there to find out what was the reason.

After a couple of turns he came to the place. It was one of town’s small shops, closed for some days because of construction of awning. The area was fenced in, tools and building materials were just at the places where they may be needed – in short, there was real working environment. But there was no work – all three builders stood in the middle of the area and sparred.

Zet’rar decided to intervene.

“So, why you’re standing idle?” he said when he approached.
“Wut?” workers stopped to swear and turned to him.
“It’s none of your business,” said the forepony. “We didn’t call you.”
“Well, I perfectly heard your altercation and thought that some help of a colleague might be helpful for you.”
“Wait, you are builder too?” surprised another worker.
“Not quite – I’m an engineer. It may be even more useful. So, I heard you lack some materials, right?”
“Well, yes,” answered forepony after a sigh. “We’ve just found that one girder is missing. One and only damned girder, but without it construction is impossible!”
“Okay. And what kind of girder it was?”
“Standard wooden girder, 4x5 inches, two steps long, made of larch,” answered third worker.
“Ehm, and there was nothing in the town’s construction materials store that could fit as replacement?”
“If only it was so simple…” sighed the forepony. “That girder was made of mountain stone larch, solid but rather light wood. It can’t be replaced with another wood – it’ll violate the structural integrity. And the only provider is situated in Dodge City.”
“Oh…” Zet’rar stumbled. “It complicates the problem.”
“Yeah…”
“But still there should be a way… Hm… You know, if we can’t find a replacement among other wooden girders, we can use other materials!”
“Other materials?”
“Yes! We need to find another light but solid stuff.”
“You’ll never find anything as good as that larch,” said the forepony.
“You haven’t even tried yet. It’s quite possible that we’ll find what we need here and soon… Hey, by the way, what about other stuff that you have?”
“I don’t know… All other wood we’ll need later,” said second worker.
“And what about non-wooden materials?”
“Well, we have cardboard,” answered third worker and pointed to neatly stacked pile.

Zet’rar turned to look at it and for a moment got bowled over: that amount of cardboard would be enough for providing thorough insulation for two houses at least. Why there was so much material for one small awning? The reason was unclear, and Zet’rar was not going to look for it – having such perfect example as Pinkie Pie, Team One had already learned that logic here is very specific and not rarely leaves for smoke breaks.

“Okay, I see…” muttered Zet’rar. “And something except the ca… Wait… Wait! This is just what we need!”
“What? Cardboard?” surprised builders.
“Yes!”
“Excuse me, but how the heck you are going to replace wood with cardboard?” asked the forepony.
“It’s just ridiculous!” added second worker.
“Let me ask you one question,” said Zet’rar. “How long ago your textbooks on materials science were published?”
“Um… Eleven years ago.”
“Then you are not familiar with the latest achievements in the field. Just allow me to show one thing.”

Zet’rar took a knife and came closer to the pile of cardboard. There he took one sheet and cut eight elongated rectangles from it. Then he, having put the knife aside, accordion-folded the rectangles. When it was done, he put cardboard pieces on the ground so that the fold were perpendicular to surface. And then he… stood on them. And cardboard withstood. Builders gasped: Zet’rar, in fact, stood just on pieces of paper, and they didn’t even crumple! It was incredible.

“See?” Zet’rar meanwhile turned to builders. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he stepped back on the ground. “And now imagine: you made two or three hundreds of such folds, then paste them together with a good glue, press them – you may use other board and girders for it, only tie them up – and wait until the glue dries. You’ll get durable and at the same time light material! You’ll only have to saw out the fragment of necessary size and treat it to make nonflammable. Yes, it will take some hours, but you’ll have no need to go to Dodge City, and you can continue the construction!”

Workers exchanged glances.

“You know… It might work!” said third builder.
“Yeah!” smiled second worker. “If only eight folds were able to sustain his weight, then two hundred will easily be able to sustaint whole awning! Isn’t it right, boss?”
“Agree…” said the forepony. “It’s really amazing method.”
“I told you!” smiled Zet’rar.
“Thank you. Well, my lads, we need some glue and ropes.”
“Yes, sir!” said workers
“Thanks again!” forepony nodded to Zet’rar.
“You’re welcome!”

And, having said goodbye, technician left them. He continued his leisurely stroll. Workers began to to prepare the mold and cut the cardboard. The work will be long.

8. Exploring Appleloosa

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In the Castle of Friendship another meeting was about to begin.

“Where’s Applejack?” asked Rainbow Dash. “She’s late for fifteen minutes already!”
“I don’t know,” answered Twilight. “She didn’t notify that she is going to be late, she just said that she will come.”
“She might just immersed herself in work again,” said Fluttershy.
“It seems that so it is,” spelled Spike.
“Let’s wait for her a little more.”
“Well… Okay,” agreed Rainbow Dash.
“Pardon me, but… can you remind what is the agenda?” asked Rarity.
“Oh, nothing special,” said Twilight. “Princess Celestia and princess Luna asked us to attend Flower Festival in Mountain Meadow as royal representatives at next week, because they will receive delegation from Eastern Kingdoms.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” smiled Fluttershy. “I always wanted to see it. It’s one of the most beautiful holidays in whole Equestria!”
“Yeah!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Their flower parade is just amazing! And firework after the sunset… Girls, we have to see it!”
“Well, I’m glad that you are ready…”

And at this moment Applejack rushed into the room.

“Applejack, where have you been?” exclaimed Rarity, looking at her panting friend.
“Ah’m sorry for being late…” answered Applejack. “But… that’s because Ah have a trouble.”
“A trouble?”
“Yeah. An hour ago Ah received letter from Appleloosa. For some reason buffaloes stopped there and say that they cannot leave!”
“What happened there?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“There were no words about it in the letter,” answered Applejack. “They just asked me to come quickly as possible and bring help.”
“It’ll be quite problematic…” spelled Spike.
“What do ya mean?” surprised Applejack.
“You see, after this meeting me and Spike have to go to Canterlot, Rarity and Fluttershy – to Manehattan and Rainbow Dash – to Wonderbolt Academy,” said Twilight. “Sorry, but we won’t be able to help you.”
“And I’ll be very busy here,” added Pinkie Pie. “Mister and missis Cake soon will go visit their parents in Dodge City, so somepony has to watch Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. So I also won’t be able. Sorry.”
“And what should Ah do now?” exclaimed despaired Applejack.
“I think I know what…” said Spike and shouted. “Guys!!!”

Clattering sounds came from everywhere, and in few seconds all castle guards and servants were in the room. Bearers of the Elements at first got surprised a bit, but then they, having taken a thought, agreed that it can be the way.

“What do you need, masters?” asked researchers.
“Please, stop it!” said Twilight. “Guys, we called you because we have a problem. From Applejack we learned that there is difficult and, probably, conflict situation in another town, Appleloosa. For an unknown reason buffaloes that live at that region stopped there and have no possibility to leave. This problem should be solved, but it happened so that no pony from us can help Applejack with it. So we ask you to support her.”

Researchers exchanged glances, said “One minute, please!” and quickly stood in a circle. They had been actively deliberating for some time in their “native” languages, but soon they finished, stood in a row, and Edez said:

“We understand your situation, and we’re ready to help you…”
“Oh, thank you!”
“… but I should note one thing. We also have work to do, so we can send only some of us,” he pointed to his colleagues, and then Max and Zet’rar came forward.

“I know, we aren’t the greatest group, but we’ll do our best,” said Zet’rar.
“Yes, and, by the way, for a technician and biologist who are working together there are no limits,” added Max, and they put their hooves on shoulders of each other.
“Well, still thank you very much,” said Applejack.
“So, when we have to leave?”
“The sooner the better.”
“Got it.”
“And Ah’m sorry for skipping the meeting like this,” Applejack said to her friends.
“Oh, don’t worry about that!” answered Rainbow Dash and Twilight.
“I’ll retell you everything when you come back,” said Pinkie Pie.
“Thank y’all,” Applejack bowed and then she together with Zet’rar and Max ran out from the Castle.

Outside they parted: Applejack ran to the farm, and researchers – to the house they rented to pack their things. Preparations should be quick, so guys just threw their stuff into bags, then – as they have to use this journey to explore new region of the country – swallowed self-implanting scanners, recorders and memory blocks and rushed to the railway station. Running to the place while micromachines were making their way through their bodies and installing themselves in was extremely hard, but they managed to cope with it and give no signs – at least, they soothed themselves with the thought that during the work and getting them out there will be no pain. Soon Applejack got to the station too, they purchased the tickets and in a few minutes they were on the way to Appleloosa.

Road to the town took about nine hours. The train quickly picked up speed, and sights of landscapes behind the window turned into a filmic tape. Bright pattern, consisting of picturesque fields, lush meadows, vast orchards and small well-conditioned, as if they were parks, forests, changed with every passed mile: forests gradually became even more small and after two hours disappeared from the sight, orchards also got rarer and rarer, meadows turned into areas of overgrown grass, but fields spread wider and wider. After three hours of journey cornfields stretching to the horizon became the only view. But such landscape didn’t preserve for the long time – in four and a half hours after the beginning of the trip first areas of dry yellowish-brown grass appeared, they began to spread and in an hour they replaced the fields. Train entered the semidesert regions. Now it became just senseless and blah to look out the windows – except some whimsical and bizarre weathered rocks there was nothing to watch. Semideserts at each planet are boring places: the same dried plants-xerophytes or mushrooms, the same soil-colored tiny animals and flying creatures, the same bare ground. The only noticeable difference between them is colors, but even this has no great variety: usually there were only gray, brown, red, orange, yellow, beige, white and black. And such dull landscape will extend till Appleloosa.

Watch the sights, looking out the window, indisputably, is enthralling, but not for all the time of journey. There are a lot of other things to do during it, like chatting, playing games, singing. And Applejack, Zet’rar and Max actively enjoyed them. The trip was perfect chance to get know each other better, and they used this possibility. Applejack vividly spoke with lads on various topics. Researchers told their friend about themselves, about their colleagues, about Europonia, its inhabitants and their traditions. Applejack reciprocated and told guys about her and other bearers of the Elements of harmony, about little-known features of Equestria and Ponyville, about place where they were going, about her great family (the last part made Max and Zet’rar think that if Equestria was the Unity, no kungmasavian, dreketanian or zestekkan great clans weren’t a marker to Apple family). They played “I spy” when landscape wasn’t monotonous and charades when they appeared in deserted lands. They told stories to each other; one time they got enthralled and decided to compete a bit and find who can tell the funniest one. Fierce struggle lasted for whole hour. Each side made its opponent cachinnate and cry, but after all victory went to Applejack. Her story about how she and Big Mac, when they were foals, decided to filch some cakes with apple jam during the Haystack Apple Festival just made Zet’rar and Max hysterical. But they recouped during the game of charades. Also the journey was not without music: Max and Zet’rar mentioned some famous europonian legends, so Applejack – together with some other passengers who heard their talk – asked lads to tell one. Lads, in turn, agreed, but decided not to tell but sing – this was the legend of the ghost train that they chose. Max borrowed a harmonica for accompanying, and Zet’rar sand. For next fifteen minutes other ponies quietly listened to them. The legend was very impressive: when guys finished some passengers found gray hairs in their manes. The sight of old, rusty machine, controlled by skeletons in putrefied torn clothes, regurgitating red smoke and striking sparks on the rails was terrifying. When everyone got horrified, Applejack asked how such dreadful story could appear. Max and Zet’rar answered that Europonia, unlike Equestria, is peaceful region only for the last century. Before it there were a lot of different conflicts between Europonia and Griffin Empire, Deer Kingdoms, Land of Elephants, Land of Zebras and Camel Sultanate, and a lot conflicts in Europonia itself, as it was a set of sovereign states, each one of which has its own interests. And during the hard and dark times dreadful legends appeared – for example, this legend of the ghost train emerged during the great europonian war that ended one hundred and twelve years ago. Also location near the Lands of Monsters has its influence. A moment of silence followed, but then they were back on track.

Eventually, they arrived to the destination.

“So, are ya ready?” Applejack turned to lads when train stopped at the terminal station.
“Yes, ma’am!” answered Max.
“No matter what is expecting us,” added Zet’rar.
“That’s an attitude!” Applejack smiled. “Let’s go then!”

They took their bags and went to the exit. Doors opened, ponies went down the short car stairs and stepped on platform. There already were some ones waiting for them: canary and sand-colored stallions and two buffaloes – young orange one and old big dark brown one with impressive war bonnet. When they saw Applejack, they rejoiced, but when they saw researchers, they got upset.

“Ehm… Greetings, y’all…” said surprised with this Applejack. “Ah came as soon as Ah could.”

Appleloosans and buffaloes slightly nodded in gratitude.

“And Ah brought help as ya asked,” continued Applejack and pointed to researchers. Lads smiled and waved.
“Thank you, Applejack,” said old buffalo. “But you see… It’s not quite the help what we expected.”
“Yes,” sighed young buffalo. “We thought that you’ll bring somepony with magic abilities, like Twilight. Because we don’t know how to solve the problem in another way.”
“Magic abilities?” surprised Applejack.
“Pardon me,” Zet’rar intervened. “We may be not able to do magic, but we know some tricks. Tell us what the problem is, and I think we can find some solutions.”
“Oh, right…” Applejack uttered. “Folks, allow me to introduce mah team: this is Zicht, and this is Allegro,” members of Team One gave a nod. “Guys, this is mah cousin Braeburn, sheriff Silverstar, chief Thunderhooves and Little Strongheart.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Max.
“Thank you. We also very glad,” answered Little Strongheart.
“You guys have… quite unusual names, I must say,” uttered sheriff Silverstar.
“We are europonians,” answered Allegro.
“Europonians? Well then… Welcome to Aaa-aa-pple-loosa, travelers!” exclaimed Braeburn.

Even a creature without any conception of facial expressions as a thing could tell that expressions of Max and Zet’rar said “Seriously?”

“Please, Braeburn, not now…” sighed Applejack.
“Oh, sorry,” canary stallion apologized.
“So, what’s the problem?” asked Zet’rar, rubbing his hooves.
“Yeah, tell us!” added Applejack.
“Well, two days ago we were moving along our stampeding path as usual. We recently passed the town and orchards and got to the Wry Canyon – the only way that joins eastern and western parts of lands we inhabit. We only started to go through, when we faced with greatest obstacle: the gorge was blocked with a landslide,” told chief Thunderhooves. “So we returned to the only possible place where we could stay, to the town.”
“Your traditional path was blocked with a landslide?” exclaimed Applejack. “Why didn’t you tell about it in the letter?”
“We were afraid that you might deem this cause… insignificant.”
“What? It’s very significant cause! If we knew it, we probably would come up with some solution now! And Ah could bring more help!”
“Please, forgive us in such case…”
“Oh, don’t worry! Now it doesn’t matter. We’re here and we’re gonna solve this problem, right, guys?”
“No doubt!” confirmed Max and Zet’rar.
“Thank you,” nodded buffaloes.
“We’re hoping to solve this situations as quickly as possible,” said Braeburn.
“Yeah,” added sheriff and turned to chief. “No offense, but… we are running out of produce.”
“We understand,” answered Thunderhooves.
“Then let’s solve it!” exclaimed Little Strongheart.
“Agree.”
“Hm… Did ya try to clear the blockage?” Applejack asked the buffaloes.
“The landslide is too big. It’s just useless,” answered chief Thunderhooves.
“Is that gorge really the only way you can stampede?” asked Max.
“Yes,” Little Strongheart said. “Wry Canyon is the only gorge in this region, and slopes of the mountains are too steep to climb on them.”
“Well then… I guess we can’t offer you anything right now.”
“Yes. We have to see this landslide to make any suggestions,” said Zet’rar.
“Yeah,” added Applejack.
“Then follow us!” answered Little Strongheart and came down from the platform. Chief and applelossans came down after her, and Applejack together with lads followed them.

They left the train station and went along the main street. It always was crowded and full of life, but now the situation changed: it got even more crowded, but became inanimate. Dozens of other buffaloes were standing near stores, post office and town hall, lying on the ground or wandering about. Townsfolk got lost among them. Everyone was sad and lifeless. Applejack, Zet’rar and Max felt very uncomfortable looking at them.

Soon they left the town. They climbed on the hill that towered above the town and appeared in the orchard. Then they crossed it along the road made especially for buffaloes and went down the river that flowed nearby. In an hour they turned left and soon got to the cliff, which was split up with rift of the gorge. They entered it and started to move through.

“You will see the blockage right after the next turn,” said Little Strongheart when entrance to the gorge disappeared from view.
“Okay.”

Soon they reached the turn. Buffaloes and appleloosans got round the rock, Applejack, Max and Zet’rar followed them and sight of the landslide spread in front of them. The gorge was almost completely blocked with huge mass of rocks and sand – its top was only forty steps below the edge. Chief Thunderhooves was right: there was absolutely no possibility to clear this blockage up by hoof.

“Holy…” gasped Max when he saw the blockage. “Dudes, it’s not a landslide, it’s a landfall!”
“Yeah…” nodded surprised Zet’rar.
“Eh… If they are surprised, then we have nowhere to wait for help…” sighed sheriff Silverstar.
“Don’t worry, sheriff, Allegro and Zicht surely will find way out!” said Applejack. “Right, guys?”
“Vierhonderdduizend kubieke meter tenminste,” Max addressed to his colleague.
“Sono d’accordo,” Zet’rar nodded.
“Ehm, guys?!” Applejack raised her voice.
“Oh, excuse us,” lads apologized.
“Did ya come up with some ideas?”
“Well, yes,” answered Zet’rar. “We can blow it up.”
“Blow it up? But… how?” exclaimed Braeburn.
“Yes! It’s impossible without powerful magic!” added Little Strongheart.
“Yes, we have no magic abilities, but it doesn’t mean we can’t explode this pile of rocks. Your friend Allegro, for your information, once mastered the art of demolition and is a quite specialist in this field.”
“What? Demolition?” surprised Applejack. “But ya said that ya are engineer!”
“Yeah. You see, it is the second specialization what I tried to get. I hadn’t finished the studies, but still I have a lot of experience. I can’t cast an explosion spell, but I can make an explosive device which will work as good.”
“You do?” asked Little Strongheart.
“Sure! I just need necessary details and plant it,” he turned to his colleague. “Zicht, please, can you look at the top of this landslide?”
“Okay,” answered Max and began to climb on the mass of landslide.
“Sheriff, can you, please, make an announcement when we come back in the town?” asked Zet’rar when his friend was already five steps above.

While Max was climbing, Zet’rar listed all stuff what he needed to sheriff. Soon Max got to the top, took a look and shouted:

“There are some caverns there. I think they may fit.”
“Excellent!” answered Zet’rar. “Now come down, we are going back to the town!”

Max gave a nod, started to get down, and in a couple of minutes he was among others. When they reassembled, ponies and buffaloes rushed back to Appleloosa.

When they came back, the sun was setting. On the opposite side of the sky first twinkles of planets appeared. But there still were a lot of ponies and buffaloes at the main street. They haven’t started to go to sleep yet, so it was possible to make a public announcement. So sheriff Silverstar, after look around, cleaned his throat and began to declare:

“Citizens of Appleloosa! I’m glad to report that current problem can be solved in the nearest future by our guests from Ponyville! Buffaloes will be able to continue their stampeding, and we, appleloosans, will be able to replenish our stocks of produce! But for making this possible they need your assistance. They need some things to make the necessary device and place to work. So, who can provide his workshop for temporary use?”
“For how long?” asked tall and beefy stallion, judging by the clothes, local blacksmith.
“Only for this night,” answered Zet’rar.
“Well then I guess I could do it,” said local watchmaker.
“Good! Thank you, Quartz Crystal,” said sheriff. “And about second part. Our guests need the following items: twenty six light bulbs, one mercury thermometer, one silver spoon, two iron horseshoes, a coil of copper wire, one bottle of acid, one empty metal flask, one alarm clock and one powerful battery.”
“Wait a second…” Max uttered quietly when he heard the list.
“So, my friends, do you have any of this?” asked sheriff.
“I think so, but we aren’t sure about the last item,” answered the watchmaker.
“Maybe you have something like it?” Zet’rar began to worry. “We need any energy source.”
“Energy source? Well, there are some magic energy crystals in the town.”
“But are you sure about them?”
“Quite sure. In fact, these crystals are batteries too, but of other type.”
“Then… okay, but tell, please, how powerful are these crystals?”
“One crystal is enough for three years of work.”
“Excellent! Thank you!”
“Okay, folks, bring the stuff!” commanded sheriff.

Appleloosans dispersed and soon started to come back with the items. One pony brought the thermometer, other – the spoon, third – the acid. And almost every third inhabitant of the town brought a light bulb. All things were put in small cart, which sheriff himself gave to researchers. Then watchmaker escorted them to his workshop and allowed to use all the tools. Lads sincerely thanked him and all others and bowed.

“Do ya need any help, guys?” asked Applejack when other ponies and buffaloes went away. “It looks like ya goin’ to do something really difficult.”
“Don’t bother, Applejack!” answered Zet’rar. “Yes, it looks quite… complicated, but we’ll perfectly handle it ourselves!”
“Yes,” confirmed Max. “Now have a rest and tell other not to worry.”
“But ya are goin’ to work all night! Somepony should assist you!”
“It’s not quite so,” said Allegro. “Indeed, we are going to work for rather long time, but we’ll probably finish it at three or four o’clock. So we’ll also have some time for sleep.”

Max gave a nod.

“Well then…” uttered Applejack. “Good luck! And remember: the hotel is situated directly opposite the town hall! Yer room is 3B!”
“Got it! Thank you!”

Applejack smiled and went away. Max and Zet’rar saw her off, and when she disappeared from the sight, they entered the workshop and locked the door.

“Zet, pal, allow me to ask one question,” said Max while his colleague was approaching the worktop.
“Yes?”
“This stuff… It looks suspiciously like the components of plasma bomb.”
“Well, congratulations! You guessed my plan!”
“What??? Are you fucking nutz??? These things are prohibited in all galaxies!”
“But, actually, the law doesn’t apply to this planet.”
“Well, yes, but it doesn’t change the situation.”
“I understand, but, Max, chill! Relax your buns! Everything will be just fine!”
“And how you’ll make it?”
“Well, at first, I will make relatively small and low-powered bomb – that’s why I asked for a flask. And, at second, I will use much safer design.”
“What is it?”
“Gremlinovich’s modification.”
“Whose modification???”
“Gremlinovich’s.”
“I was right. You are nutz.”
“Why?”
“You see, Jan Gremlinovich is just a known colleague from another department for you, but I know him personally and perfectly. We were roommates for fifteen years when we were studying in Radun’ Central University. He was born insane!”
“Well, yes, he does sometimes act weirdly, but you must admit that he is great technician and amazing in improvement of stuff.”
“Well, it’s so.”
“I’m very glad that you agree. Now, release your claws and start to help: break the bulbs. I need this tungsten…”

The night passed, and lads finished their work almost at the predicted time: five o’clock. When the bomb was ready. Researchers put it in the safe place – buried it behind the watchmaker’s workshop – and went to the hotel. There they said receptionist to tell Applejack in the morning that at ten o’clock everything will be prepared, took the key from their room, rushed there and, when their faces met the pillows, fell asleep.

But then it turned out so that five hours of sleep wasn’t enough to replenish their forces.

“Where the heck are they?” growled Applejack, walking back and forth in front of company of sheriff, her cousin, watchmaker, chief and young buffalo. “It half past ten already!”
“Maybe they were talking about eleven hours?” supposed Little Strongheart.
“No! They left a message that everythin’ will be ready at ten! And now they are late for…”

At this moment they heard sound of a gallop, and from behind of the corner of the nearest building a dust cloud appeared. It quickly approached, and in a moment later disheveled and panting Zet’rar and Max appeared from it.

“Where have ya been?” exclaimed Applejack.
“Our sincere apologies…” exhaled Zet’rar.
“We overslept,” said Max.
“I see…”
“Did you make this… device?” asked chief Thunderhooves.
“Yes,” nodded technician and took it from his saddlebag.
“Ehm… A flask coiled with wire and with attached alarm clock?” watchmaker and Applejack raised their eyebrows.
“Well, having such materials it was the most ergonomic design.”
“Okay.”
“You know, it doesn’t look like an explosive device at all,” noticed sheriff.
“But it is,” answered Zet’rar.
“And how powerful is it?” wondered Braeburn.
“Approximately one and a half megaton.”
“It doesn’t sound so great…”
“Believe me, it’s more than enough!” said Max.
“So, what are ya gonna do with this thing?” asked Applejack.
“Well, we just need to return to the landslide, set the clock and put the device in one of the caverns what Zicht had found. After this we just have to retreat to a safe distance, or, better, return to the town,” answered Zet’rar.
“Do ya need any assistance?”
“No.”
“We just need one more watch to synchronize the time,” said Max.
“Okay,” said the watchmaker and gave his pocket watch to lads.
“But you can go with us to watch the process,” added Zet’rar.
“Them Ah’m with ya.”
“And me!” exclaimed Little Strongheart.
“Good. In an hour and half we’ll return. Say other citizens to get ready.”
“Let’s go!” exclaimed Max and lands together with Applejack and Little Strongheart rushed to Wry Canyon.

Braeburn, Silverstar and Thunderhooves saw them off and went to tell their people to prepare. When all citizens were informed, they began to wait. In an hour and half, as they said, Applejack, Little Strongheart and researchers returned to the town.

“All set?” asked sheriff when the team stopped.
“Yes,” nodded Applejack.
“The device was adjusted. Explosion will happen in next few seconds,” said Zet’rar.
“Thank you, mister Crystal,” said Max, giving the watch back.
“You’re welcome,” smiled watchmaker.
“One more thing,” Zet’rar addressed appleloosans. “We apologize in advance for broken windows and tableware.”
“What?”
“Three, two, one…”

Mighty thunder shook the earth and the sky. In direction of the canyon ground heaved and in a second collapsed down with another thunderous sound. At that time the child of explosion reached the town – Appleloosa was hit by the shockwave. Wind blew so hard that it seemed to be flying rock wall. Gusts just knocked down. Even mightiest buffaloes hardly managed to stand up straight. But the shockwave spread not only through air. At the same time, when strong wind hit the towns, all buildings shook like from an earthquake. Boards and planks clattered, windows rattled, furniture in all the rooms rumbled. It was a nightmare. But the shaking continued only for several seconds, then everything calmed down. Things stopped to shiver, ponies and buffaloes could stood on their hooves again.

There was absolute silence for a moment, but then…

“Wow! That was whole two megatons!” exclaimed Zet’rar.
“That’s a shake…” uttered Braeburn.
“Holy… Do you realize what you’ve done?” sheriff shouted to researchers.
“We know, and we apologize. It appeared to be more… radical than we expected. But look from the other side: now the problem is solved for sure!”
“What makes you to think so?”
“Explosion of such power just wiped the blockage out,” said Max.
“Certainly,” nodded Zet’rar.

Sheriff took a deep breath.

“Blowing Blizzard, you are the fastest among us, can you run there and take a look?” chief Thunderhooves addressed one of the members of his tribe.

Blowing Blizzard gave a nod and ran away. Soon all appleloosans recovered, calmed down and went to their homes, stores and workshops. A great clean-up should be done: because of that shockwave a lot of utensils and other things fell down. Some stuff got broken. And it was necessary to replace some old windowpanes that were crackled.

Approximately in an hour Blowing Blizzard returned.

“Chief! Chief!” he exclaimed when he ran back.
“What have you seen?”
“It’s just unbelievable! The blockage, it’s just vanished! The canyon is free again! And now it’s four times wider than it was!”
“Incredible…”
“Ah was wrong. That was a powerful explosion…” uttered Braeburn.
“How could you create such powerful device?” sincerely wondered watchmaker.
“Well, you said yourself that one crystal is enough to power a device for three years,” said Zet’rar. “Now just imagine what happen if all this energy will be released in one moment.”
“I understand, but still: where did you get such technology?”
“Let’s say that it’s a part of europonian military legacy.”
“Oh…”
“Ehm, is there any need in other kinds of our help?” asked Max.
“A-ah guess not,” answered Braeburn. “Consequences of the quake are mostly eliminated already, so… The rest we’ll handle ourselves.”
“Well then, if there’s no need, I think we have to pack up. The train leaves soon,” Max spelled and looked at Applejack. Applejack looked at him and gave a nod.
“Ya’re right,” she uttered. “It’s time to say goodbye.”

Buffaloes and appleloosans thanked researchers again for solving the problem, but sheriff – together with some other townsponies – reprimanded them and told to warn next time. Lads promised that they won’t repeat the same mistake again.

Ponyvillers and applelossans nodded to each other and Applejack with researchers returned to the hotel, took their bags and went to the railway station. Braeburn, sheriff Silverstar, chief Thunderhooves and Little Strongheart escorted them to the platform. The train was about to depart, so appleloosans and buffaloes briefly thanked ponyvillers for help again, they hugged each other, and then Zet’rar, Max and Applejack got into the car. The engine had been started, and train began to move away. At first slowly, but then it started quickly gather the speed. Appleloosa train station was left behind, but ponies and buffaloes waved each other until they turned into a spots near horizon to each other. When it became impossible to distinguish the silhouettes, Applejack and researchers moved away from the window, and in Appleloosa Little Strongheart, Thunderhooves, Silverstar and Braeburn left the train station.

Several hours of rhythmic rocking of the car, sound of the wheels and chuffing of locomotive, and they were home.

“That was really interesting adventure,” said Zet’rar, stepping on the platform.
“Ya, guys, made it so,” grinned Applejack.
“Heh, there is surprisingly beautiful wife of the Moon here,” noticed Max, looking at the crescent glowing above the town.
“Agree,” nodded Applejack and yawned. “Gosh, it’s so late already… What time is it, by the way?”
“It’s 11:04 p.m.” Zet’rar looked at the station clock.
“Heh, at such time Ah usually see the second dream.”
“And for some other ones it’s only the beginning of the shift,” said Max.
“Yeah… Well, thank ya again, guys. See ya tomorrow!”
“Pardon us, miss Applejack, but we won’t let you go alone at such time.”
“Yeah. We’ll escort you to the farm,” said Zet’rar.
“Oh, it’s not worth it! Ah can return alone.”
“Sorry, but we, as gentlecolts, cannot allow this to happen.”
“Thanks!”
“And by the way we can visit the castle,” added Max.
“What?” surprised Applejack.
“Yeah. Looking at the town I noticed that there are lights in its windows. Maybe Twilight and Spike and other our friends, if they have already arrived, are still awake.”
“It may be so.”
“Let’s take a look then,” said Zet’rar, and they left the station.

They passed through the town and got to the place. Applejack and lads climbed the stairs, and bearer of the Element of honesty knocked on the door. They didn’t expect quick response, but soon after the knock familiar voice from inside said “Come in!” They smiled, looked at each other and opened the door.

“Applejack, Allegro, Zicht, you are back!” exclaimed Twilight when they entered.
“Yep, sugarcube. Just off the train, Ah can say,” smiled Applejack.
“Welcome back!” said other members of Team One, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.
“Ya have returned too?” Applejack asked her pegasus friend.
“Yeah. I’m back since the morning,” she answered. “I just had to attend one of the Academy routs.”
“And I got free only now,” said Pinkie Pie.
“I see. And Fluttershy and Rarity are still in Manehattan?”
“Yes,” nodded Twilight. “They will arrive only tomorrow.”
“And what about you? How was your trip to Applelossa? Did you solve that problem with buffaloes?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah. Thanks to Allegro and Zicht we just blew it up,” grinned Applejack and looked at her companions.
“Blew it up?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Can you tell us what was it?” wondered Twilight.
“A landslide blocked the canyon that buffaloes use to get to other regions. They didn’t tell about it ‘cause they thought that we’ll deem it inconsiderable. But now everything is fine: the blockage is removed, and buffaloes can continue their stampeding.”
“Good to her it.”
“And, by the way, why do ya meet so late?”
“Because of me,” Pinkie Pie apologetically smiled. “I succeeded to put Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake to bed only an hour ago.”
“I understa…” Applejack yawned, hasn’t finished the sentence.
“You also want to go to bed, right?” said Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah. It’s late, we all usually sleep at this time usually.”
“I understand,” said Twilight. “Well then, we’ll meet again tomorrow, when Rarity and Fluttershy come back.”

Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie nodded in agreement.

“Good. Guys, please, escort my friends to their homes, and then you can be free,” finished Twilight.
“Sure,” said the lads. Girls gave a nod.

Twilight said goodbye to her friends and went to the second floor. Researchers put off their uniforms and together with other bearers of the Elements left the castle. The lights in the castle went out, girls of Team One went home, and lads parted to accompany Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash to their houses.

9. Taking a Unicorn

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“I hate it,” growled Karin.
“Why so?” wondered Bluve.
“It’s our third taking, and we again took our friend!”
“Well, yes, but, you know, she is good at magical telekinesis,” doctor said, looking at white mare with violet mane and tail who lay at the bottom of particle scanner chamber.
“And we must find out how do they do it,” said Max.

Karin sighed.

“I also don’t like it, but what can we do?” said Oma. “It’s our job, it’s our research program.”
“Right,” Kor gave a slow nod.
“Indeed,” said Affi. “When you’ll finish the scanning?”
“In a half of supramoment,” answered Max.
“Good.”
“Um, I don’t want to offend you, Affi, but where is Edez? Usually he bosses the show,” wondered Bluve.
“And where are Sheim and Zet’rar?” added Karin.
“Oh, Edez decided not to pass to unicorns until he figures out all matters with pegasi: he studies how they can walk on clouds. And Zet and Sheim…”
“Pardon me…” Max intervened. “After that “experiment” in Appleloosa Zet’rar got fascinated with these energy crystals and decided to learn how do they work. So he bought an one and now studies it. He also involved Sheim because only he in our team has sufficient mineralogy and inorganic chemistry knowledge.”
“Oh, I see.”

They stopped to talk and looked at the holographic projections of the main laboratory terminal. There were dozens of screens with rapidly changing data – indicators of vital activity, biophysical parameters, information about chemical composition, graphs of mental activity and other. And between them there was the main projection: three-dimensional hologram of scanned mare. Manipulators continued their intricate dance, their program aimed to fix every molecule of the body of the taken, every particle, every mind pattern. All this should form complete portrait of the species, the total scheme.

Team One waited. The process continued, scanners hummed and twisted, but eventually drafting of the scanogram was finished. Manipulators stopped to meander, straightened and one by one disappeared in their hatches. The main projection flashed and in a moment holographic control panel appeared under it.

“So, I think we can pass to the analyzing, right?” said Affi.

Her colleagues gave a nod.

“Then let’s start,” she continued. “Max, Bluve, is there any general differences in their biological structure?”
“I don’t see any,” said Max.
“Neither in biophysical parameters, nor in biochemical,” added Bluve, looking at the minor screens. “The same picture that we had seen during the investigation of earth ponies’ and pegasi’s physiology and genetics.”
“Well, nothing surprising, I guess,” uttered Affi.
“Honestly, there is one moment,” noted Max after some more reading.
“What is it?”
“This similarity itself. Earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, although they have quite significant external physiological differences, their genomes are almost the same. According to this information, they have only… 267 genes that differ. And there are 31283 genes in their genome! 267 differing genes is a tiny fraction! Real biological difference between all three kinds of ponies is minimal. So, I think, we were wrong at first time when we considered them as three different species. Earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi are likely to be subspecies.”
“It’s really interesting, but there are some difficulties with this,” uttered Affi. “You know, I have a biological education too – not so detailed as your, but still I know some matters. Yes, genetic differences are small, but external differences are great, and you can’t just write them off. Their taxonomy will become a sore point. We should discuss it with other Teams and master biologists from the Institute.”
“Agree,” said Bluve.

Max looked at his colleague, then at his curator and also consented.

“And one more thing,” he said. “There is something that bothers me… She has too much mineral and foreign organic substances in her hair.”
“Oh, this… Such things happen because of regular use of primitive cosmetics,” said Oma.
“What? How do you know that?”
“Well, I used primitive cosmetics, based on substances, before and I use it now. I like its effect, you know. And, by the way, every girl-biologist can prove this fact.”

Bluve nodded in confirmation.

“Okay…”
“And, I must say, she uses way too many cosmetics,” sighed Kor. “Even after short conversation with her I need at least seven supramoments to recover my sense of smell.”
“Really?” surprised others.
“Oh yeah. I don’t know what perfume she uses, but I’m sure that it’ll be perfect base for creation of weapon of mass destruction of verekans.”
“Hm, then it would be interesting to find out!” grinned Max.
“Thanks, you are true friend,” Kor looked at him.
“Always welcome.”
“Fine, we dealt with all minor problems. Now let’s find how do they control the energy mix,” stated Affi.
“Give us a moment,” said Bluve and together with Max proceeded to searching.

Ten stressful minutes passed, but biologists didn’t come up with the answer.

“You have problems?” wondered Kor.
“No,” answered Bluve. “It’s just because of processing. It took much longer than we expe… Yes! Here they are!”
“You got the data?” asked Karin.
“Yes!”
“Let’s take a look then,” grinned Affi.

Doctors gave a nod and opened the files obtained.

“So?”
“Well, honestly, we expected something like that,” said Bluve. “Unicorns are able to controlling the energy mix because their nerves and ETS are tightly intertwined and because their battery organs, or magic hearts as they call them themselves, are more powerful.”
“Magic hearts?” surprised Oma.
“Yeah.”
“So they knew how they can do their magic?”
“Uh-huh, but they know only general scheme of how’s the process going. Their researches and technologies aren’t advanced enough to provide really detailed information we need.”
“Where did you learn all this?” asked Karin.
“Just visited local hospital once in our free time,” answered Max.
“This is the reason?” surprised Kor. “Then what about their horns?”
“Well, horns, in fact, are only the emitters,” continued Max, looking at the screens. “Just keratin outgrowths densely filled with ETS channels. It’s absolutely utilitarian organ. But it’s the only way out for unicorn’s own energy, so without it they won’t be able to do any tricks.”
“Yes,” nodded Bluve. “According to this data, unicorns are able to… do magic because, thanks to close connection, their brain can give much more complicated and detailed commands to battery organ and main channels than – earth ponies’ and pegasi’s possibilities in this… area are quite limited. And horn serves only as antenna.”
“Hm, that’s really interesting,” noticed Karin.
“Then do you think that alicorns’ magic work the same way?” asked Kor.
“I bet so,” answered Max. “I’ve just look through some files with deciphers of genes and… Ponies’ genome suggests that this scheme, connection of two systems, is the only possible way. The reason of alicorns’ incredible power is something else. And what exactly – we won’t know until we take an alicorn.”
“That’s risky.”
“I know. But we have no other choice.”
“Well, ladies and gentlesents,” Affi summed up. “We learned how unicorns can control the energy mix. Now we have to learn what is this mix…”
“Ehm, guys?” a voice from the side came.

Researchers turned to the source of the sound. It was Sheim and Zet’rar, who just left one of the small ancillary laboratories.

“Oh, it’s you,” spelled Affi.
“Yep,” nodded lads.
“So, did you find anything?” asked Oma.
“Yeah, did you solve the riddle of these crystals?” added Max.
“We did,” answered Zet’rar. “We found how do these crystals accumulate so much energy.”
“And what’s the secret?”
“As it turned out, there is nothing so supernatural in them,” said Sheim. “Ponies were right: these crystals work just like ordinary batteries.”
“Yeah,” nodded Zet’rar. “Attach a couple of contacts and here you go.”
“Principles of energy accumulation are the most typical and even primitive,” continued Sheim. “As you know, electric charge accumulates on the surfaces, so in ancient storage batteries there was a lot of layers of winding to accumulate more energy. Here we have the same scheme: these crystals aren’t solid masses of rock, they are penetrated with incredible number of micropores. They occupy about one-third to two-fifth of total volume of a crystal. And because of their sizes and density, they increase total surface square, well, about in 864 times.”
“Wow!”
“Indeed, but that’s not all. We’ve found that this scheme isn’t the main. The greatest amount of energy preserves thanks to simple chemical bonds.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Again, typical for ancient batteries scheme: release of energy thanks to chemical reaction. Only particular feature is that the reaction starts spontaneously when crystal appears under the influence of even the weakest current.”
“Wait,” Bluve intervened. “Energy release thanks to chemical reaction is usually weak if it is continuous, it is great only when the reaction is rapid.”
“Yeah,” nodded Kor after short thinking. “Since the times of academy exercises I remember that such batteries are low-powered.”
“And here’s the crux of the matter,” grinned Zet’rar.
“Oh yes,” sighed Sheim. “You see, crystals can accumulate so much energy thanks to their formula. It’s so difficult that it’s just a true nightmare: one single molecule consists of 5823 atoms. 5823 atoms!!! And 14257 bonds.”

His colleagues choked.

“Yep, that’s quite the formula…” uttered Max.
“I just can’t believe that it can be so many atoms in a formula of inorganic substance,” spelled Bluve.
“Well, these crystals are one of our champions,” said Sheim. “There are silicon, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, sodium, potassium, iron, aluminum, chlorine… about half of whole periodic table in this wacky formula. Such diversity provides incredible variety of chemical bonds, and many of them are very powerful. Thanks just to this crystals can contain incredible amounts of energy.”
“That’s very impressive, boys, I must say,” said Affi.
“Glad to hear it,” nodded Sheim and Zet’rar.
“And what have you found?” wondered Zet’rar.
“Well, we found that unicorns can control the energy mix thanks to tight connection between nerves and ETS,” answered Bluve.
“And that the horns, in fact, are only antennas,” added Karin.
“That’s interesting,” Zet’rar rubbed his chin. “I thought that role of horn would be greater.”
“Me too,” said Sheim.
“Sorry for the disappointment, but these are the facts.”
“We see.”
“And have you heard anything from Edez?” asked Affi.
“He didn’t tell us,” answered Sheim.
“Yeah, He just locked himself in the second ancillary laboratory and we heard nothing from him,” added Zet’rar.
“Well, then we have no more questions. We have to wait for him.”

And at this moment doors to the second minor laboratory opened.

“Eureka!!!” sounded from inside of it.
“Edez, dammit, quiet!” hissed Affi.
“Oh, excuse me,” apologized the first curator when he came out and closed the door. “I just got too excited.”
“And what could make you so excited?”
“I have finally found it.”
“You learned how do pegasi walk on clouds?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell us!” said Max. “We all want to know the secret.”
“Yeah,” confirmed others.
“Well, this secret has two components. First of them is that energy repulsive ability of some parts of pegasi’s ETS. As it turned out, it’s inherent not only for wings, but for legs too, except that in a less degree. And, also, it manifests all the time. It’s power doesn’t depend on anything, it’s constant. And the second component are the clouds themselves. Well, here they allow pegasi to walk on them.”
“Ehm, what do you mean by this?” asked Oma.
“I mean that properties of the clouds make such thing possible. You see, local clouds are different from usual for planets of this type.”
“And what is this difference?” wondered Sheim.
“As it should be, clouds here consist of droplets and vapor, but water of these droplets and vapor… If we were on Ateir, and I saw such data of air pollution analysis, I would go to Air Purity Service and disembowel some ones there, really. One three hundredth to one hundredth of all material of the droplets are various admixtures, mostly salts.”
“You mean local clouds consist of ocean-like water?” surprised Kor.
“Ehm, no. They have different chemical composition: greatest part of cloud droplet salts are carbonates, bicarbonates and silicates.”
“I do not quite understand…” uttered Karin. “What is the role of these salts?”
“Thanks to them clouds can accumulate energy from environment. The amount isn’t so great because of lean solution, but still you can find a small charge in each small cloud. Concentration of energy gradually gets noticeably higher than in environment, and repulsive ability of pegasi’s ETS manifests itself stronger. And, as result, they can walk on clouds without any strain while others have to use magic to adapt their ETS.”
“Now I get it. Thanks.”
“Always welcome. So, and what about you?”
“Well, we have found how unicorns can do their magic,” said Bluve. “Original hypothesis was correct.”
“The only “but” now is the question of their taxonomy. Earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns turn out to be not three different species, but subspecies or even races.”
“And we solved the mystery of energy crystals,” said Zet’rar. “Results turned out to be quite difficult, but there was nothing supernatural. All their properties can be explained by natural effects and phenomena.”
“Yes. Micropores and complex chemical composition were the reasons,” added Sheim.
“Hm, interesting, interesting… This is all the information?”
“Yes,” answered Affi. “We finished our work. You missed the most curious parts.”
“Well, my bad luck.”
“All right, guys, you can bring her ho…”

At that moment unicorn deeply breathed and moved. Researchers gulped and stood still. Some ones got pale. Unicorn fidgeted and yawned. She didn’t open her eyes, but she began to get up. Researchers got scared. It happened again! They started to turn to each other like they wanted to get the solution from his or her neighbor. But they were lost or just couldn’t come up with anything. Unicorn meanwhile got up and got ready to open her eyes.

They had only a couple of seconds. A couple of seconds not to let the takes see the laboratory. Although it seemed to be impossible, it happened. Suddenly for everybody Karin swiftly raised her forelimb, released her claws and then made a fist. In a moment after unicorn wheezed, opened her eyes, then rolled them and fell down unconscious.

Team One for some seconds silently, without a move, looked at the pony, then they turned to their colleague.

“What was that?” exclaimed Kor, Sheim and Oma.
“What have you done to her?” worried Affi.
“Well, I sent her to faint,” answered Karin.
“How?” exclaimed Bluve and Max.
“Squeezed her carotid a bit with my telekinesis.”
“What?”
“You squeezed her carotid artery?” Max flew into a tantrum. “Do you realize how dangerous it was?”
“I know it perfectly. But I know very well how to do this trick.”
“What? Really?”
“You can check her. You’ll see that she is fine.”

Max glanced at her one more time and took a medical scanner.

“Heh, she is fine,” he said when he finished. “In fact, she’s just sound asleep now.”
“I told you!” said Karin.
“Well then I apologize.”
“You know, it was impressive,” said Kor. “Where did you learned it?”
“Oh, at training center for telekinetics. It was one of the basic tricks of advanced self-defense courses.”
“Not bad.”
“Indeed.”
“When she’ll wake up?” asked Affi.
“Well, not in the next fourteen supramoments.”
“Good. Then let’s bring her back. Zet’rar, teleport her.”

Zet’rar gave a nod and came to the main terminal. He quickly switched on the transportation beam and typed the coordinates. When everything was prepared, he gave the final command. The device activated, and in a moment later white unicorn was in her bed, peacefully snuffling and having a dream. Researchers, when they got assured that the taken was successfully brought back, returned to work. Private analysis and preparation of the report awaited.

10. First Bad Signs

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“Pinkie, if you keep jumping like this, you’ll hit a cloud with your head sooner or later,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Sorry. I can’t help myself. I’m sooooo excited!” Pinkie Pie chirped in the answer. “I just can’t forget how amazing the festival was!”
“Ah understand ya, Pinkie,” smiled Applejack. “It was really incredible!”
“Undoubtedly!” nodded Rarity. “I’ve never seen such gorgeous flower garlands! And there were so many of them! And those flower accessories were just magnificent! It’s a pity that they are so ephemeral…”
“And I really liked the parade,” said Fluttershy. “The carts were so beautiful! They were just like real flowerbeds! Well, except that they were on wheels.”
“Yes!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “And the firework! I couldn’t even imagine that it is even possible to give them such shapes!”
“Yeah. They turned whole sky into a garden!” said Rainbow Dash. “That was awesome!”
“I’m glad that you liked it so much,” said Twilight, addressing her friends.
“We must thank princesses Celestia and Luna,” said Applejack.
“I agree.”
“Oh, and what did you like?” Pinkie Pie addressed to Twilight.
“Me? Well… Everything was wonderful, but… I think that I liked the parade the most.”
“And you, Spike?”
“Huh? Oh, the snacks.”
“Spike!” Twilight said in very dissatisfied voice.
“What? They looked good and were really tasty!”

Twilight sighed.

“And from the main program of the festival?” asked Applejack.
“Well, the fireworks. Oh, I wish I could do even the easiest such things with my fire breath…” he sighed and turned his head. “Oh, look! We’re met!” he pointed.

Bearers of the Elements looked at that direction. They were near the castle already. Two big figures of sentries stood at the entrance – Edez and Kor guarded the doors.

Friends smiled and went to them.

“Greetings, ladies, young master. How was your trip?” asked Edez.
“Guys, we told you not to be so formal,” said Twilight.
“Yeah,” nodded Spike. “It makes us feel awkward.”
“Sorry. It’s just a habit.”
“Indeed,” confirmed Kor. “So, how was it?”
“Oh, it was just amazing! Incredible! Wonderful!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie and started to gibber. “We took part in the opening ceremony, where we were just showered with flowers, then we shower other with flowers, we admired flowers, smelled flowers, even wore flowers! We congratulated ponies of Mountain Meadow, they congratulated us, we thanked them and took part in every event! The flower parade, flower games, carnival… And then the awesomest firework at the evening! And…”
“Um, Pinkie, I think it’s better to wait a little with the detailed story,” Rainbow Dash interrupted her, looking at absolutely confused faces of Kor and Edez.
“Guys? Are ya all right?” asked Applejack.
“Eh? Oh, excuse us,” apologized Edez.
“We didn’t want to offend you,” added Kor.
“Oh, that’s okay!” answered Pinkie Pie. “Such things happen sometimes. Even with my friends.”
“We see.”
“And how were you?” wondered Twilight. “Did anything happen when we were absent?”
“Well, except for one little incident everything was as usual,” answered Edez.
“Yes. The castle is safe, clean and protected,” confirmed Kor.
“What was that incident?” asked Spike.
“An attempt to penetrate the castle.”
“What? Penetration?” exclaimed Twilight, Spike, Applejack and Rarity.
“Yes, but don’t worry: it was prevented.”
“And who tried to penetrate?” wondered Rainbow Dash.
“Well, they looked quite unusual,” said Edez.
“We have never seen such creatures before,” added Kor.
“What creatures?” sincerely surprised all hosts of the castle.
“Their body shapes were those of ordinary ponies, but they had curved horns, blue eyes without irises and pupils, membranous wings…”
“They all had fangs?” asked Rainbow Dash, who started to guess.
“Yes.”
“They had holes in their hooves?” added Applejack.
“Ehm, yes.”
“And all of them were dark gray?” added Rarity.
“Yeah.”

Spike and Pinkie Pie froze.

“Oh no!” exclaimed Fluttershy and Rarity.
“Nonononononononono!” worried Twilight.
“Changelings!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
“Changelings? So that’s how they are called…” uttered researchers.
“You saw them here?” said Twilight in trembling voice.
“Yes. They tried to sneak in using magic cover, but we could detect them and chase away,” said Edez.
“Wait, you chase them away?” surprised Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
“Yeah. Luckily, there were only twenty eight of them, and we all fought,” said Kor.
“Yes. Not only me, Erő and Zicht, but all other our friends helped to defend the castle,” added Edez.
“Girls too?” surprised Spike.
“Oh yes.”
“Even Calma?” surprised Fluttershy.
“Thanks to her these changelings now will be afraid of scoops for the rest of their lives.”
“And Didinga?” surprised Rarity.
“You know, her kick can be as strong as ours.”
“Wow.”
“Oh yes. She has very strong hind legs.”
“You just… walloped all the changelings?” Twilight was taken aback.
“Well, yes. We gave them thorough dusting.”
“According to Zicht’s observations, we didn’t break their bones, but we provided them impressive amount of bruises and hematomas,” answered Edez.
“And cracks in their shells,” added Kor.
“Holy smoke!” exclaimed Applejack.
“You are monsters, guys,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Really,” added Spike.
“We had to protect the castle. It was our duty!” said Edez.
“Um, but walloping them so much is too harsh,” uttered Fluttershy.
“Well, at least we left them possibility to get away on their own hooves. Oh! Erő, show them your souvenir!”
“What souvenir?”

Kor lowered his gaze, sighed and… took a piece of membranous wing from under his armor.

“Is that?..”
“Yes. It is. A piece of changelings’ wing.”
“And… pardon me, but how did ya get it?” wondered Applejack.
“I… bit it off.”
“What?”
“How could you even come up with this?” exclaimed Twilight.
“When it comes to a really tough fight, there’s no time for rules. You have to act. Yes, I was taught martial arts in my Academy, but in reality it turns out that you have to use any possible ways, act like a street fighter. I was a street fighter when I was a teenager, and since those times I learned that my trump are strong jaws and sharp teeth. So I tend to use them during the fights. Because of this I once was almost excluded from the Academy, but still… It’s just a habit!”
“Well… It’s an odd and dangerous habit.”
“I know. But I can’t help myself.”
“Pardon me…” gently intervened Rarity. “But… could you tell whose is this?”
“I bit it off from their leader.”
“Ehm… Tall one with awry horn and green hair?” asked Rainbow Dash to precise.
“Yes. Is it something wrong with this?”

Hosts of the castle didn’t answer. For some seconds they were absolutely still, but then Spike and Pinkie Pie silently folded up, Rainbow Dash burst out laughing, Fluttershy uttered “Oh my…”, other just remained stunned.

“Bwahahahaha!!! You bit off queen Chrysalis’ wing! Hahahaha!” laughed Rainbow Dash. “Wow!”
“Nice. Just nice!” uttered Spike through laughter.
“That was severe,” said Applejack.
“And harsh,” added Rarity.
“But awesome!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “Now these changelings know that it is dangerous to mess with us!”
“Undoubtedly,” nodded researchers.
“Well, that was… something,” said Twilight. “But there is one thing that puzzling me: how could you detect them?”
“Yes!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Especially considering the fact that they, as you said, were disguised.”
“Oh, thank Erő and Zicht for this,” answered Edez.
“You detected them? How?”
“Honestly, by smell,” answered Kor.
“By smell?”
“Yeah. Me and Zicht have heightened sense of smell, so we are able to detect relatively faint scents. And when these guys were approaching, we sensed something really odd. The smell was very weak, it was almost at the limit of our possibilities, but we detected it. It was like a mix of smells of swamp and burning. It was strange because they didn’t look like they were in a swamp or a workshop recently. It alerted us, we stopped them, started to see into and then we had the conflict which you have heard about already.”
“Wow. You guys really are amazing!” exclaimed Twilight.
“Yeah! You are awesome!” added Rainbow Dash.
“You are true guards!” added Rarity.
“Thank you, but it’s not worth it. We’ve been just doing our job,” said Edez.
“Yes,” nodded Kor.
“Oh, don’t underestimate your merits!” said Rarity.
“Thank you once again.”
“Hey, why do we stand here?” suddenly exclaimed Edez. “Come on in! Our girls prepared surprise for you!”
“Really?” Pinkie’s eyes lit up.
“Oh yeah. You gonna love it.”

So guards opened the doors and with gestures invited the friends. They nodded in gratitude, smiled and went in.

And some time later, in an unfrequented part of Canterlot, another event was about to happen.

It was the most usual office: cabinets along the walls, five tables, arranged in a rectangle and covered with papers, folders, pens, pencils, rulers, clips and other stationery, couple of windows with green because of potted plants windowsills, and different junk everywhere. And workers of that office did typical things for afternoon: got bored and whiled away their time. Tea green stallion with coyote brown mane and tail tried to find how sharp his broken horn was, peach pegasus mare with titian mane in a light blue T-shirt read a newspaper, another mare, state gray unicorn with dark tan mane, was building some kind of blockhouse of pencils, tall and broad cobalt pegasus with indigo tail and mane was just sleeping and even snored a bit. Typical picture, but all this happened behind the door that has the following plate: “Hidden Path, Grace, Razor Edge, Dim Silhouette, Cloudbreaker. Special Service of Equestria, Second Department.”

Time passed. Peach mare almost finished reading all the articles, unicorn stallion found that shatter of his horn can easily pierce fifteen layers of paper, state gray unicorn had reached the second floor of the construction. And at this very moment the doors opened, and tall smoke earth pony with stormcloud mane, who wore a coat and held a folder in his hoof, entered.

“Razor! Dim! Grace! CB! I have something for you,” he said loudly.
“Finally!” exclaimed Grace and put the newspaper aside.
“Huh?” Cloudbreaker woke up and sharply headed up.
“You’ve got something interesting, Hid?” grinned Razor Edge and removed his hooves from the horn.
“I hope that’s not even close to what we had been doing last week,” Dim Silhouette stopped the construction.
“Oh, you’ll like this, my friends,” grinned Hidden Path. “Now we have something really big.”
“So what is it?” asked Razor Edge.
“I’ve got piece of news from Ponyville. Remember, some weeks ago we were reported that princess Twilight Sparkle got servants and guards for her new castle?”
“Those nine europonians? Of course we remember!” answered Dim Silhouette.
“Well, it turns out so that it’s absolutely unclear who they are.”
“What do you mean?” surprised Cloudbreaker.
“They are not who they say they are.”
“Then are from Eastern Kingdoms, not Europonia?”
“No. Eh, the thing is that there is absolutely no clue to who they are. Our watchers in Ponyville kept an eye on them and… Well, they look like ponies and, moreover, like ordinary europonians: they spoke their languages, keep their traditions. They behave just like typical ponies, but some of their acts are very suspicious.”
“Suspicious? Maybe those were just some their customs, alien and strange for us?” supposed Dim Silhouette.
“No. They know a lot about customs of other nations, and what they had seen wasn’t even close to these.”
“And do they all show such behavior?” wondered Razor Edge.
“Watchers say that yes.”
“It can be just their little fads,” said Grace.
“Oh, it doesn’t look like fads. It’s something much more serious.”
“Okay. Then what are the examples?” asked Razor Edge.
“Yeah,” nodded Cloudbreaker. “Give a proof of such statements!”
“Well, our colleagues from Ponyville provided examples for each one. For instance, that arsenic giant, one of princess Twilight’s new guards. He can show real superequine abilities.”
“Like what?” asked Grace.
“Once he was ordered to deliver a message from the castle to one of the local farms, Sweet Apple Acres. Road between those two places takes about seventeen minutes of walk and approximately ten minutes of run. He delivered the message in a half of a minute.”
“Heh, that’s really fast.”
“Indeed. I’d say that it’s just incredible. No pony can run so fast.”
“Why? What about bearer of the Element of laughter? I heard that she is very nimble pony.”
“Yes, she is. But even she can’t compete with this guy. How did he do it? He’s an earth pony, he has no wings to fly and he can’t teleport. There’s just no answer.”
“Well, that’s quite a puzzle, but I don’t think that it is so suspicious. Maybe he’s just well-trained?” supposed Grace.
“Can be, can be. But it’s just a guess, there is no evidence.”
“Well, and what about others?” wondered Cloudbreaker.
“Let’s see,” Hidden Path started to look through the files. “Well, his colleague, another princess’ guard. Here are some recent news: a group of changelings tried to penetrate the castle, but they were detected and driven away. That brown giant was the one who detected them. Hid did it by smell.”
“What?”
“Yes. As he said. By smell.”
“This guy must has bloodhound’s sense of smell in that case,” uttered Razor Edge.
“That’s what I’m talking about! Superequine abilities. Like they are absolutely another species, masked as ponies.”
“Oh, it can’t be that… bad!” exclaimed Cloudbreaker.
“Oh, my friend, it’s only the beginning,” sighed Hidden Path. “Well, the third guard, who serves at night. His senses significantly surpass average level of ponies. For example, he doesn’t need eyes to walk and not hit the objects.”
“Bat ponies can do such trick too,” objected Dim Silhouette. “They’re able for echolocation.”
“But he isn’t a bat pony! He’s an earth pony, like all other workers of the castle. And, moreover, that’s not his only trick. He also was able to detect changelings by smell.”
“You know, such soldier would be incredibly useful for our guard,” Grace rubbed her chin.
“It’s so, but that’s strange and even frightening. And mares there are also strange. For instance, that turquoise one, the cook. As one of our watchers report, during her day off she went to local park. There she decided to swim in the river. She went into the water, dived in and… didn’t emerge!”
“Didn’t emerge?”
“Yes! Watcher had been waiting for half of an hour, and she didn’t appear anywhere along the river!”
“You’re right. That’s strange,” said Razor Edge.
“And maids there seem to be sources of, without belittling, devilry. Just look! There was one episode. One market seller was rude to that blond short one, she threatened him and went away. And in a couple of hours counter of that seller was destroyed by mighty poltergeist!”
“Well, I’ve heard that poltergeist is usually connected with some certain ponies…” spelled Dim Silhouette.
“I also heard about this, but I’ve never heard about controlled poltergeist. And that one seemed to be controlled. And what about the second maid… Well, once she had a conflict with two young stallions, who were rude to her. They quarreled and then went in different directions. But in an hour one of those stallions with tears on his eyes began to beg other to kill him because he’s an idiot and didn’t stop until he dozed off. Another one approached a tree and started to hit it with his head. And he continued to do this for ten minutes – until he felt down unconscious.”
“Wow.”
“Yes. Also, some of those guys show weird taste. That tall silver mare, for example, was once seen eating rocks in the local park.”
“Eating rocks? Well, I know that some ponies eat chalk, and some zebra tribes consider clay as a delicacy…” spelled Grace.
“Well, that’s the problem: she ate granite, spars and sandstones.”
“Ehm… Yeah, it is a problem.”
“And second example: another castle worker, the green stallion, once came in the park, dug a hole in the ground, waited until it got filled with water and then drank that mud!”
“What? Ew!” girls winced.
“Why?” exclaimed Cloudbreaker.
“I don’t know. But that’s the fact: he drank mud, she ate rocks.”
“Well, you were right, this is suspicious,” said Razor Edge.
“And about the last one from that team, the humpbacked coral stallion. There was one difficult situation in Appleloosa: buffaloes couldn’t leave the town because their traditional path was blocked by landslide. That stallion solved this problem by creating an explosive device that just wiped the blockage out. And that blockage was huge. We don’t know technologies of explosive devices that could be powerful enough to destroy such masses of rocks and sand. But he seemed to know them perfectly. He said that is was one of europonian developments, explosive device on energy crystals.”
“Hm… These crystals are very powerful. They contain a lot of energy,” said Razor Edge. “If it all will be released at one moment, you get a powerful explosion.”
“You see…” spelled Hidden Path. “I’m familiar with europonian military technologies. Yes, they really developed bombs based on energy crystals. But none of them was that powerful. The explosion what that stallion made surpasses typical explosion of energy crystal in times! There was something more than just energy from crystals. But what exactly – I don’t know.”

After this there was a silence for some seconds.

“Well, that’s a mystery,” said Grace.
“Yeah,” nodded Cloudbreaker.
“So this is our task now?” asked Dim Silhouette.

Hidden Path gave a nod.

“Eh, it gonna be difficult.”
“You don’t say…” uttered Razor Edge.
“So, what do we do now?” Cloudbreaker looked at Hidden Path.
“Well, now it is our main aim. We have to solve this mystery and find out who these strange nine are. And there is only one way to do it. My friends, get ready. We are moving to Ponyville…”

Bluve was returning to the castle kitchen. Twilight and Spike were going to work until midnight today, so they asked for an extra bite after the supper. Well, cook up some sandwiches was matter of a couple of minutes. Only questions were what to put in them and what juice would be better to bring in addition. Bluve was choosing the juice when she walked past the balcony. She habitually looked there – from its aperture one could see a wonderful view of the town and hills and mountains that surrounded it – and noticed that four her friends, Affi, Karin, Max and Sheim, were standing there. They had been discussing something actively. Bluve got interested and went to them.

“Hey, guys! What’s happening?” she wondered.
“Oh, it’s you, Bluve,” Karin sighed with relief. “Oh, nothing extraordinary.”
“We just have some new neighbors,” said Affi and gently pointed to one of the nearest buildings. There was small group of ponies – two pegasi, two unicorns and one earth pony – who carried things from their cart in the house.
“Oh. That’s… nice,” Bluve uttered.
“You know, I’ve never seen them in town before,” said Sheim.
“Well, it’s most likely that they are new here,” said Karin. “Probably moved from some big city, decided to enjoy the flavor of small town.”
“Agree,” nodded Affi. “But only for some time. Judging be their luggage, they came here on vacation.”
“I don’t know about you, but for some reason I don’t like them,” said Max. “They look… suspicious. I have some associations with our group.”
“I’m not able to scan them completely from here,” spelled Affi. “Indeed, I feel some specific moments, like desire to remain unnoticed and strong wish to observe everything around, but I don’t sense anything so threatening in them for us. I see just ponies who came here to stay and have some rest in peace and quiet.”
“Yeah. They look just like nice group of old friends,” said Sheim.
“And some of them are quite handsome…” dreamily smiled Bluve.
“Which one?” wondered Karin.
“That gray stallion in coat. He looks… so mysterious!”
“Oh, Bluve…” sighed Affi. “You got very addicted to women’s novels.”
“Yeah,” nodded Max. “How many of them have you already read?”
“Well, quite a lot. I admit that my little weakness.”
“But, you know, these girls are pretty. Especially that one in T-shirt,” Sheim grinned.
“Oh, and you too!” sighed Affi.
“And, by the way, where is Oma? I haven’t seen her since afternoon,” wondered Bluve.
“Oh, that’s because our Zet finally succeeded and coaxed her to go to a restaurant and… spend some more time together after this,” answered Sheim.
“Yep. They won’t return soon,” added Max.
“Well, I guess we’ve seen enough,” said Karin, looking at how unicorns brought the last bags in the house. “Now there’s nothing to look at.”
“Agree.”
“Let’s go then,” said Max, and they left the balcony.

11. Learning Magic

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It was a usual morning in Ponyville. The Sun only recently rose above horizon, so the town only started to wake up. First ponies went out, owners prepared their stores and workshops for opening, foals slowly got ready to go to school. And the Castle of Friendship came to life too. Although princess and her loyal assistant were still sleeping, their servants and guards took up their duties.

Oma was sitting at her desk. Since it was early morning, there were no visitors, so she as a receptionist had no work to do. She just silently sat, looked at small pile of turquoise right in the center of her desk and thought about something. Meanwhile Bluve with a saddlebag, full of kitchenware, walked past her. She noticed that her friend was still and silent, got curious, so approached her.

“Good morning!” smiled Bluve. “What are you thinking about?”
“I wonder…” answered Oma, “Spike more than once said that among all the gems of Equestria these are the tastiest, so I decided to try. But now… For some reason I do not dare.”
“Why? You are a yedeizan, you can eat and digest almost everything!”
“That’s not the matter. I… well… afraid that our taste preferences and preferences of dragons can differ greatly, so these gems will be horrible for us.”

Bluve thought for a moment.

“Well then let’s find it out together!” she said.
“Together?” Oma surprised, “I know that you, anxaimans, have strong stomachs too, but I’m worried about your teeth.”
“My species got used to crack all kinds of shells with own jaws, it’s not a problem.”
“But shells are brittle and soft, comparing to even ordinary rocks.”

Bluve looked at her friend, sighed and took a knife from her saddlebag, an ordinary kitchen knife. She raised the knife, showing it to Oma, and then put it in her mouth. She grabbed the blade with her teeth and handle with her hoof. And then she with all her strength pulled the handle down. Soon the knife blade bent almost at right angle.

When the demonstration was over, Bluve put the knife back in the bag and Oma gulped and said:

“I see your point.”

Bluve grinned.

“Well then, let’s do this,” said Oma and together with her friend took a couple of rocks.

Symphony of crunch filled the hall.

“Damn, they are hard,” uttered Bluve.
“Yep,” nodded Oma. “But, you know…” she chewed the stone a little more, “Spike was right. They are very tasty!”
“Indeed! It’s an excellent snack!”

And they continued to consume the turquoise. Cheerful and happy crunching spread throughout the castle. The sound was loud, so girls couldn’t hear how Twilight and Spike woke up, did their morning hygiene and prepared for the day. So they learned that owners of the castle are already up only when they went downwards to the hall.

Bluve, when she saw Twilight and Spike, got scared and nearly choked. Oma quietly yiped, also got scared, but managed to cover the tracks: she opened the nearest drawer and immediately swept all the gems into it. She quickly closed it and then pretended as if nothing had happened.

“Good morning!” nodded researchers when Twilight and Spike approached them.
“Morning to you too!” answered Twilight. “How long have you been here already?”
“About an hour,” said Oma.
“Your breakfast is ready,” uttered Bluve. “Pancakes with raspberry jam and green tea.”
“Sounds delicious!” Spike licked his lips.
“I’m glad that you like it.”
“Has anypony come?” asked Twilight. “Were there any messages?”
“No. Everything is quiet and still as in depth of a cave,” answered Oma.
“Well, great! Only one more question: what was that crunching?”
“Yeah,” nodded Spike. “It sounded like somepony was crushing a stone!”
“Oh, this… We ate some sugar-candy,” lied Bluve.
“Sugar-candy?”
“Very hard sugar-candy,” said Oma.
“Oh, okay.”

Princess and her assistant gave a nod to their servants and went to the dining room. Bluve left the castle to take some knives for sharpening – and one for straightening – and returned soon – owners of the castle had just passed to their tea. Other members of Team One gathered in the castle hall while she was absent. So when Twilight and Spike returned there, they met all the crew.

“Well, Spike, what are our plans for today?” princess addressed her assistant.

Little dragon took a small scroll and opened it.

“Nothing special,” he said. “A couple of petitions, report for princess Luna and a short session in the town hall.”
“At once, we have relatively free day!”
“Yep. We can do all this in few hours and be free all the afternoon!”
“Oh yeah. We have to think about some enterta…”

And right at this moment rainbow-colored bolide zipped through the castle door, almost knocking down Edez and Kor with a stream, made a circle under the ceiling, slowing down, and with a thud landed right in front of alicorn and little dragon.

“Twilight! Spike!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash, panting, “You have to come with me! She’s here!”
“Calm down, Rainbow!” said Twilight.
“And who’s “she”?” added Spike.
“Trixie!”
“Trixie is here? What is she doing?”
“Well, she seems to prepare for performance. At least, everything looks like it – she had already built a stage on the Central Square – but I don’t know exactly,” answered Rainbow Dash.
“What’s happening?” asked members of Team One and ran to pegasus, alicorn and dragon.
“Well, it seems that one my rival decided to pay me a visit,” sighed Twilight.
“It’s Trixie!” continued Spike. “We told you about her.”
“That magician?” wondered Affi.
“Yes!”
“We need to know what she is going to do here,” stated Twilight, looked at Spike and then at Rainbow Dash. “We are coming with you!”
“And what should we do?” asked Zet’rar.

Twilight halted.

“Support can come in handy,” said Rainbow Dash, seeing Twilight’s hesitation.
“Fine,” responded alicorn. “Guys, come after us.”
“Understood. We’ll prepare and will be in a couple of minutes,” said Edez.
“Okay,” bearers of the Elements and Spike nodded and rushed to the Central Square of Ponyville.

Researchers ran to their chambers, quickly put off their uniforms and threw them into closets. Then from the most secure part of the closets each of them took metal box the size of a tome. All nine ones were absolutely identical. researchers looked at each other and opened the boxes. There were thirteen self-installing implants in the each one, five supporting and healing ones, four recording ones, three battle ones and the last was communication one. Members of Team One sighed and… swallowed all the implants. Devices immediately activated. They began to pierce through the flesh to join with muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels. Researchers shuddered in pain and fell down. They writhed in agony for a minute, then supporting and healing implants started to do their job. Pain gradually eased, and they could stand up. The installation process continued – it would be completed only in one-third of a supramoment – but now it was bearable. So they focused to hide all manifestations of the pain and moved forward.

Soon they were at the Central Square. There typical small wooden mobile stage for public performances had been assembled already, and a crowd of about forty ponies gathered in front of it. All bearers of the Elements were there, and they stood in the front row. Nothing happened for some time, but then a fanfare sounded, fireworks flashed on the perimeter of the construction, the curtain rose, and blue unicorn absolutely without any attributes of a magician slowly walked onto the stage. She smiled and loudly exclaimed:

“Good morning, Ponyville! Your favorite magician is back! Get ready for something really unforgettable!”
“And what have ya planned this time, oh Great and Powerful?” asked Applejack with a grin on her face.
“Oh, am I not allowed to visit a town and put on a show?”
“There are no restrictions, it’s just… well, your previous visits here weren’t entirely harmless,” said Fluttershy.
“And your arch-enemy lives here!” said Pinkie Pie and pointed to Twilight.

Twilight after this sighed and slightly shook her head.

“I proved that I have changed!” answered Trixie. “I’m doing good things now! You’ve seen it! And what about the second… Twilight was my arch-enemy – we made peace after the last incident. And, by the way, Twilight is an alicorn now. I give you three guesses who will win.”
“So, you came here just to present a show?” said Spike.
“Yes! I decided to take a break from performances in Manehattan and go on a small tour with my new program “Tricky challenge”.”
“Tricky challenge?”
“Exactly. I just decided to start in the most memorable town for me.”

Some bearers of the Elements slightly rolled their eyes.

“I just want to make a good show for all of you!” said Trixie.
“Well, if you say so… Let’s then take a look at it!” answered Twilight.

Her friends gave a nod. Spike turned to researchers and said:

“End of alarm, guys! It’s all right!”

After this Trixie finally noticed a group of nine earth ponies that stood behind princess and her assistant.

“Ehm… Twilight, who are these guys?” uttered the magician.
“Oh, they now work in our castle,” answered alicorn. “We called them just in case.”
“Okay…”

Members of Team One looked at each other.

“Well, if they don’t need our help, what should we do now?” asked Kor by sending neutrino-electromagnetic signal via communication implant to all his colleagues.
“I don’t know…” answered Max the same way. “There would be no use for us here, so… Return to the castle and continue our usual duties?”
“And should we get rid of the implants?” added Karin.
“Wait…” Edez stopped them. “We have perfect chance right now. As it turned out, it’s just a local magic show, so why not use this moment? We still know little about magic and how ponies use it. It’s our chance to significantly fill our knowledge! We have memory blocks all the time, and now we have excellent recording devices right in ourselves! We can get incredible amount of data and finally improve our understanding of the phenomenon!”
“Yes…” agreed Affi, “It’s an incredible possibility! We have to stay and watch!”
“And, by the way, there is nothing interesting to do in the castle now,” continued Edez.
“Let’s enjoy the show then?” said Sheim.
“Yep.”

Meanwhile bearers of the Elements and Spike continued their conversation with Trixie.

“Pardon me, but where are your cloak and hat?” wondered Rarity.
“I’m experimenting with my image,” answered Trixie.
“And what’s all this “Tricky challenge” about?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Well, the essence is in the name of the show. It’s a competition. Anypony can get up on the stage, show a trick, and I, in turn, show that I can do the same or even better!”
“Sounds interesting.”
“Yeah. Ah want to see it,” added Applejack.
“So, if you have finished… Fillies and gentlecolts! The show begins! Let’s start the challenge!”

And right after these words bright sphere of white light flashed above the crowd, and a big armchair made of red velor fell down right between surprised researchers and hosts of the Castle of Friendship. A moment later one draconequus with big portion of popcorn in his paws levitated down in it.

“Discord?” exclaimed ponies. Trixie nervously gulped.
“Yes. That very one!” smiled spirit of chaos.
“What are you doing here?” asked Twilight.
“I’m here to enjoy the show!”

Trixie hardly managed to hold her jaw in the place.

“Enjoy the show?” exclaimed surprised Twilight.
“Oh yes! It’s always great to see a pony with many excellent talents.”

Magician didn’t even know what to do.

“Oh, don’t worry, miss… Trixie, I’m just a spectator here, don’t pay attention to me.”

Trixie nodded uncertainly. It was quite problematic to not pay attention to the draconequus who sat in the chair that was at least twice higher than average pony.

During the conversation between ponies and spirit, researchers – when they came to their senses – addressed their communication implants again and quickly exchanged words.

“Is that who I think?.,” transmitted trembling Karin.
“Yes, it is him,” Affi confirmed her fears. “One of so-called local spirits.”
“So-called?” surprised Zet’rar.
“Yeah,” Edez gave a slight nod. “They seem to be creatures of pure magic, but all this is just a consequence of their great power.”
“Teams Two, Three, Five and Eight faced them some weeks ago,” continued Affi. “And since then they study them. According to their research, these spirits are creatures very similar to ones that populate the regions Teams Five and Eight explore. But because of some mutations their possibilities are much greater than ordinary creatures.”
“So they are just mutants?” surprised Oma.
“It’s only a hypothesis now,” said Edez. “They have only scanograms made by remote devices, and they are only preparing for the taking.”
“Should we get ready for the taking too?” asked Max.
“No. These spirits are the most dangerous creatures on the planet, and this one…” Edez looked at Discord, “this one, according to the descriptions of equestrians, and comparing with materials provided by Teams Two, Three and Five, is one of the most powerful among them all. And, besides, we have other creatures to explore – alicorns and changelings. But mind scan of this spirit will be priceless data, so… Affi, do your job.”

She gave a nod and added:

“And, by the way, our colleagues from those Teams had already staked out the right to be the first researchers of the spirits.”
“Okay then.”
“Now we have to determine what can we do at the moment.”

Edez slowly came forward and in a bit hesitant voice addressed Twilight:

“Ehm… Is there any need in our help?”
“Oh, no,” she answered. “Everything is fine. Yet.”
“Hm…” Discord frowned. “I don’t remember these guys. Who are you?”
“They work in our castle,” said Twilight.
“What? You mean they are your servants and guards?”
“Using your terms, yes.”
“Oh, it’s wonderful! Now I can say that you, Twilight, became a true royalty!”

Discord smiled and snapped. And immediately after this Twilight appeared in a gown, with big plateresque crown on her head and personal scepter that topped with a figure of alicorn herself with silly expression in her hoof.

Twilight gave Discord a scathing look and sighed:

“Seriously? Again?”
“It’s my gift to you in honor of this momentous event!” spirit grinned. “And, by the way, I have plenty of this stuff.”

He snapped again, and all ponies who were on the square got own personal scepters.

“And what are we going to do with all this?” wondered one stallion.
“Well, if I had a horn, I could pick my teeth with this thingy,” said Kor.
“I have an idea…” Sheim smiled, quickly stood on hind legs, holding his scepter like an epee, and shouted. “Defend yourself!”

His colleagues looked at him, frowned, then looked at each other, nodded and… Jumped with their scepters at the ready. Some other ponyvillers also joined the battle.

“Enough! That simply won’t do!” exclaimed Twilight. “Discord, put this junk out of here this instant!”
“Okay, fine…” sighed spirit.
“Ehm… Can you leave one for me?” quietly asked Trixie.
“Sure,” answered Discord and snapped again. All scepters except Trixie’s disappeared. Trixie quickly hided her cane behind the curtain.
“Oh, pardon me, I completely forgot,” Discord suddenly addressed researchers. “We haven’t introduced ourselves to each other! Well, I am Discord, the spirit of chaos. And you, my friends?”
“I’m Berg,” Edez uttered, and his colleagues hesitantly followed him.
“Antilipsi.”
“Zicht.”
“Didinga.”
“Erő.”
“Pippi.”
“Allegro.”
“Calma.”
“Lierre.”
“You are europonians?” said spirit.
“Yes. Migrant workers,” answered Karin.
“Gastarbeiters,” added Zet’rar.

Discord laughed.

“I like you!” he said. “Twilight, you have an excellent crew!”
“Eh, can I start the show?” quietly asked Trixie.
“Oh, excuse us, sure!” apologized Discord with Team One and sat down.

Trixie bowed and exclaimed:

“Let the challenge begin! Who wants to be the first one?”
“Ah want!” exclaimed Applejack and jumped on the stage.
“So, what is your trick?”

Applejack grinned, put her saddlebags on the floor and took a lasso from them.

“A lasso trick?” said magician. “Applejack, you repeat yourself!”
“Not this time!” answered Applejack and took the end of the rope in her mouth.

She started to untwist the rope and spun it faster and faster with every second. So soon it wriggled above the pony like a snake. Then Applejack passed to the second phase. With a couple of moves she narrowed the loop, and when it was done, she threw it to the nearest tree. The loop gripped a branch, Applejack jumped and, using the lasso as a swing, swept above the crowd. But it was only the beginning: when she began to approach the tree, she ripped the loop from the branch and with a lightning move threw it to the chimney of one of the houses that surrounded the square. The loop tightened, and Applejack flew to the house. But in the last moments she pulled herself, soared above the house and successfully landed on its gable on all four legs.

“Well, what do you say now?” she shouted and looked at Trixie with wide grin.
“Impressive trick, undoubtedly,” answered magician. “But Trixie has something better…”

She went behind the curtain. When she came back, there were two massive metal bracelets that look more like irons on her forelegs. Trixie stood on hind legs, looked at Applejack and said:

“Watch and learn.”

Her horn glowed, and light shimmering covered the bracelets. Trixie raised her foreleg, turned towards the tree that Applejack used for her jump, and… metal cable shot out from the iron. The end of the cable gripped one thick branch, Trixie pulled herself and raced to the tree. When she flew over the crowd, she threw her other foreleg forward, and bracelet on it shot out another cable towards the nearest house. It gripped protrusive beam right under the roof, and Trixie with a magic command released the first cable from tree crown, and threw it over to second house. It grabbed another scarcement, Trixie pulled herself again, disengaged cable of other bracelet and threw it over to new aim. Continuing to do like that, she swept around the whole square only in twenty seconds, and in final she landed right in front of the first challenger.

Applejack, her friends and all other ponies were stunned. Discord also changed his expression – he was really impressed.

“Well?” grinned Trixie.
“No way…” uttered Applejack.
“I have been preparing for this show for a long time,” said magician.

Using her bracelets, she together with Applejack got down. Soon Trixie was on the stage again.

“Any other volunteers?” she smiled and looked at the spectators.
“We’ve just begun!” loudly answered Rainbow Dash and flew to Trixie. “Let’s see how you repeat this!”

After these words Rainbow Dash soared higher and grabbed a cloud. She moved it away from the stage and started to flounce around and in it, gradually gathering speed. She flew up through the cloud and down along it edges. Rainbow-colored trace that she left formed large sign of infinity, and it almost hided the cloud. But, nevertheless, it was noticeable that cloud got bigger and darker. Rainbow Dash continued to flounce for some more time, but then, suddenly for others, flew up high and dashed down through the cloud. Central Square shook the sound of thunder, and bright rainbow-colored lightning struck the ground. Rainbow Dash, absolutely dry and very satisfied, soon landed on the stage.

“Very good,” said Trixie. “But I have something that can compete with it.”

Magician looked around the crowd, stopped at Cloudchaser and addressed her:

“Excuse me, miss, can you fly up and kick that cloud on my signal?” and she pointed to the darkest cloud above the square.
“Uh, okay…” said Cloudchaser and hesitantly flew up.

When she approached the cloud, Trixie stood on hind legs, her horn enlightened again, and she raised her right foreleg up.

“Are you ready?” she asked the pegasus.

Cloudchaser nodded.

“Do it.”

Cloudchaser closed her eyes and kicked the cloud. The gray mass rumbled and shot out the lightning. Gigantic spark hit Trixie’s outstretched foreleg. Magician bent, but soon straightened again and threw out her left foreleg. And lightning came out from it. Electrical discharge hit one of the spotlights and smashed it to pieces.

Rainbow Dash dropped her jaw.

“Where did you learn that?” she exclaimed.
“I mastered it myself,” answered Trixie.
“That’s just… incredible!”
“I know.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head and left the stage.

“Next?” said Trixie.

Pink meteor jumped from the crowd and landed on the stage.

“Well, Pinkie?”
“Try to repeat this!” said Pinkie Pie with the most serious face expression that she could ever make and jumped again.

But now she put all her strength in the jump. In result she reached the height of the third floor. Spectators gasped. They knew that Pinkie Pie is very jumpy, but they didn’t even imagine that she can be that jumpy. Pinkie meanwhile successfully landed and looked at Trixie, like saying “and what about you?” Trixie with absolutely imperturbable face looked at her competitor, then she lowered her head, looked at her legs and casted a spell. She kneaded a bit, and then… repeated Pinkie’s jump a hair’s breadth.

“Wow!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “How did you do that?”
“One old spell for increasing of spring ability. If you want, I show its effect to you,” answered Trixie.

Pinkie Pie gave a nod, and magician repeated the spell on her. Pinkie moved her legs, tried… Soon joyful pink flubber with loud “weeeeeee!” skipped around whole Central Square. Pinkie Pie covered dozens of steps with a single jump and easily swept over spectators. Although she was flounced at quite great height, ponyvillers still were afraid that she might hit somepony. So – after numerous requests – they persuaded Discord to stop and disenchant her. When it was done, Trixie again looked at the crowd.

Now Rarity went up to the stage.

“Well, what do you have?” asked Trixie.
“I recently learned one thing…” Rarity began, “about common features between some gems. I started to see into and came up with this.”

She opened her saddlebag and levitated two blue gems from it with her magic.

“It’s a sapphire and aquamarine,” said unicorn. “Yet.”

She smiled, closed her eyes and casted the spell. For a moment gems disappeared in a flash, but when light gone away, it turned out that Rarity held red and green gems.

“Et voila!” she smiled. “I had aquamarine and sapphire, now I have emerald and ruby! And transformation is permanent!”
“I see you’re doing some alchemy…” said Trixie. “But I also know some interesting things.”

Trixie came to the curtain, lifted it and levitated a piece of coal from behind the scenes. She gave it to Rarity so that she could see that it’s ordinary anthracite. When Rarity got convinced, Trixie took the stone with her magic, lifted it and started to cast her spell. Spectators saw how piece of coal slowly became hot. It turned red, then – white. Then Trixie lifted it even higher and strained. A loud clap sounded throughout the whole town, and the coal stone flashed. Spectators turned away to avoid bright light, and when they looked at the stage again, Trixie held a small diamond.

Rarity was taken aback.

“Not bad, isn’t it?” said Trixie, looking at the diamond. “For a poor traveling magician it’s a very good way to earn money.”
“Yeah…” Rarity weakly nodded.

She left the stage, after her Fluttershy got up to the stage.

“And what interesting do you have?” wondered Trixie.
“I don’t wanna do it, but…” Fluttershy sighed and looked around.

Soon she noticed small group of sparrows and lured them. Birds flew towards yellow pegasus, sat on the stage in front of her, and then she used her stare. Birds stood like at attention. They were still for some seconds, then, as it seemed, came to their senses. But they didn’t fly away, they remained at the stage and began to sing the melody from the latest hit of Sapphire Shores. Soon they finished, and Fluttershy sincerely apologized to them.

When everything was settled, Fluttershy turned to Trixie. Magician just smiled and her horn illuminated again. And sparrows, for everypony’s surprise, started to sing the song again. And everything looked like they wanted to do this. Bird choir sang for a minute, then spell dissipated and sparrows flew away.

“How did you manage to do this?” surprised Fluttershy. “They sang like they did it on their own!”
“The spell of inculcated want,” briefly answered Trixie. “Any other volunteers?”

Fluttershy returned to the audience, and Spike left its ranks.

“Well?” smiled Trixie.
“I need some equipment for my trick,” said Spike. “Do you have any unwanted cutlery, spoons or forks?”
“Um, I have one.”
“Give it to me.”

Unicorn levitated a spoon from behind the scenes and gave it to the dragon. Spike thanked her and… put the spoon into his mouth. And started to chew. He did it for a quite long time, sometimes he stopped and slightly opened his mouth. At those moments he exhaled smoke. But eventually he stopped, took several deep breaths and opened his mouth. In front of surprised ponies he took out a ring from it. The ring was simple, but it was done very carefully. Spike smile and gave it to Trixie.

Magician thanked him and said:

“Very good. Unfortunately, I’m not able to do the same, but I can do another interesting thing.”

She took one more thing from behind the scenes – a piece of chain that consisted only from two links. And did the same thing that Spike did to the spoon. She also made some moves with her jaw and then spat the thing out. Rings were separated.

“Heh, impressive,” said Spike. “I like it.”
“I’m glad that you’re happy,” answered Trixie and addressed to the spectators. “So?”

After her words Twilight Sparkle flew up and in a second landed on the stage. Spike, who appeared behind the alicorn, grinned and left the stage.

“And what you have prepared for me, princess?” asked Trixie.
“You know, I could prepare really heavy task for you,” Twilight began. “But I’m not a monster, and we have a good relationship now. So, my challenge will be the following. Trixie, did you know that a pony does not necessarily to have wings to fly?” she folded her wings, her horn enlightened, and soon alicorn soared above the stage. “Can you do something like this?”
“Easy.”

Trixie’s horn illuminated again, and soon she was up in the air. But that’s wasn’t all: magician, levitating herself, quickly flew above all spectators. She just swept over their heads, and she was fast as a pegasus. She made a circle and stopped in front of Twilight, continuing to soar.

“How could you reach such speed?” exclaimed stunned Twilight.
“I combined simple levitation with one of the latest achievements, gravity screen spell,” answered Trixie and widely grinned.

Twilight levitated herself down without any words. Trixie got down after her.

“Gravity screen?” Zet’rar whispered, having smiled. “These ponies have very progressive ideas”
“Yeah,” said Oma. “And what they could achieve if they had proper technology level?”

Alicorn left the stage, and Trixie addressed the audience again:

“Anypony else?”

But now there were no volunteers.

“Oh, come on, people! Is that all? I thought that I could do at least fifteen tricks! It’s just… blah!”

Suddenly Spike stood up straight and smiled. He got an idea. He slowly turned to Team One and said:

“Guys, maybe you can have a try?”
“What?” surprised researchers.
“Show some of your stuff!”
“Yes! You can do amazing things!” Twilight supported her assistant.
“Well, we don’t know…” they uttered and lowered their heads.

In fact they almost were in a panic.

“Dammit, what should we do?” transmitted Karin via her communication implant.
“First – do not show any signs,” answered Edez. “And what should we do… Crap, we can reveal ourselves!”
“Wait!” intervened Zet’rar. “We can show them some tricks and preserve our cover – we just have to show something simple. Something that won’t be so suspicious.”
“This might work,” said Bluve.
“And, besides, if we are studying magic right now, why not try closer contact with the phenomenon?” added Sheim.
“You know, you’re right!” transmitted Edez.

Meanwhile other bearers of the Elements continued to persuade them.

“Yeah, Twilight’s right!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “You’re awesome!”
“Ya could beat queen Chrysalis!” added Applejack.
“We know you can do it,” said Rarity.
“Come on!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Well… Okay,” said Edez and turned to his colleagues. “Who wants to be the first?”
“Let me do this,” said Affi.
“You’ve finished the scanning?” transmitted Edez via communication implant.
“Oh yes,” she answered telepathically.
“Then, please!” said master researcher aloud, stepped aside and bowed.

Affi nodded in response and went to the stage. She climbed low stairs and stood in front of Trixie.

“Well, my trick looks quite simple,” she began, “but it’s not so easy to repeat it.”

Then she tightly closed her blue eyes, waited for a second and opened them. But now they were orange. Trixie got a little surprised.

“Well, it’s quite extraordinary,” she admitted.
“It’s only the first part,” smiled Affi and blinked again. When she opened her eyes, left one was blue, and right remained orange. Then she blinked one more time, and the colors reversed. She blinked for some more times, unsystematically switching the colors, then stopped, having returned the usual blue irises.
“Interesting. But it can be repeated,” Trixie closed her eyes, focused and casted a spell. When she lifted her eyelids, she had yellow eyes of a bat pony.
“You need tuft of hair on ears and fake wings for completeness,” said Affi, looking at magician.
“I’m working on it,” answered Trixie.

Affi nodded and left the stage. Karin decided to go next.

“Well, and what do you have for me?” wondered Trixie, looking at small blond mare.
“Do you have a horseshoe?” asked Karin. “A large one is desirable.”
“I think I have one…” magician looked in her luggage, and soon levitated out one big and quite new horseshoe.
“That’s exactly what I need!”
“So, what are you going to do with it?” asked Trixie, giving the horseshoe to Karin.
“Watch,” grinned blond mare. “And one, two, and one, two, three, four…”

In the eyes of astonished crowd Karin unbent the horseshoe, turned it into a simple metal strip and then twisted it into a spiral.

Discord almost dropped his popcorn. He didn’t expect that such tiny and sweet-looking mare can be so strong.

Karin, continuing to smile, gave the spiral to stunned Trixie.

“What’s your occupation?” muttered magician.
“I’m a maid. And, sometimes, a porter.”

Researchers snickered. Their colleague can really rock!

“Well…” continued Trixie. “I can’t repeat what you’ve just done, but I can do this.”

Her horn illuminated, and spiral crumpled into a sphere. Trixie spun it with her magic for some time, then made one more effort, and sphere slowly took the form of the original horseshoe.

“This spell might be extremely helpful for me. It’s a pity that I’m not a unicorn,” said Karin.
“And thanks Celestia that you aren’t! I can’t even imagine what you could be able for if you were a unicorn!” thought Trixie but said: “Thank you.”

Karin gave a nod and went back to the crowd. Her place on the stage was taken by Zet’rar.

“And what is your talent?” asked Trixie.

Zet’rar raised his foreleg, like saying “one moment!” and started to cough. He did it for some seconds and, sometimes, it was so hard that it seemed he’ll just cough out his own tonsils. But, eventually, he stopped and turned to Trixie.

“Well?” she said.

And Zet’rar repeated what she has just said. In her voice.

“What? No way! How do you do it?” exclaimed surprised magician.

Technician continued to mimic her, repeating all her acts and words.

“Now, enough!” stated Trixie. “So, you can mimic voices of others?”
“Yes,” nodded Zet’rar.
“And how many voices can you mimic?”
“Quite a lot.”

And then he began to talk in voices of all bearers of the elements, Spike, Discord, Shining Armor, and, in final, he exactly repeated festive speech of princess Celestia from the opening ceremony of Canterlot carnival.

After this even Discord applauded. “Even changelings aren’t able to mimic voices so perfectly!” he thought.

“Well,” said Trixie when Zet’rar finished his performance, “maybe I’m not able to switch the voices as fast as you, but I can mimic them too!”

She casted another spell and sang chorus from one of the most famous songs of Sapphire Shores in voice of the singer.

When she was singing, Kor slightly pushed Edez and send him a message via the implant: “Dude, I have one awesome idea…” and told about her. Edez, having heard it, widely grinned and gave his friend a nod. “We’ll do it!” he said.

Meanwhile Trixie finished to sing.

“You sing beautifully, I must say,” said Zet’rar.
“Thank you,” responded Trixie.

Technician gave a nod and left the stage. When he got on the ground, Kor raised his foreleg.

“Pardon me, but can you accept a challenge from two ones at the same time?” he asked.
“Hm, why not?” said magician. “It would be interesting.”

Having heard yes, Kor waved his foreleg, and together with Edez rushed to the stage.

Trixie faltered for a moment when two giants stood in front of her.

“So, and what’s your trick?” she quietly asked.
“It’ll look quite unusual,” said Edez. “But before we start… Do you have a big cushion?”

Magician nodded and soon got the pillow.

“And now the last thing… Pippi, come here!” continued Edez.

Blond mare got up to the stage again and stood near her colleagues.

“What are you, twits, up to?” she asked via the implant.
“We just want to show what some energy pumping can do,” answered Kor.

Edez with a gesture asked Karin to come to the cushion and sit on it. When she sat, Kor turned to spectators, said “Watch!” and touched his friend’s neck. Karin rolled and closed her eyes and fell down on the cushion.

“What have you done to her?” exclaimed Trixie and some other ponies.
“Nothing harmful, I swear. She’s just unconscious. You can see for yourself.”

Some ponies got up on the stage and checked Karin. Indeed, she was unconscious and looked just like she was sound asleep.

“And… what now?” asked a couple of ponies.
“Now – stage two,” answered Edez and touched Karin’s stomach. She twitched, opened her eyes and in a moment was up. She shook her head and deeply breathed.

“H-how?” uttered amazed Trixie.
“Like this,” said giants, and Kor made his friend to faint again. In a couple of seconds Edez woke her up. Then they repeated the cycle. They were ready to do it for the third time, but Karin, when she got up, shouted:
“Will you stop it?”
“Okay!” answered stallions.

Soon everything was settled, everypony calmed down. Karin forgave her colleagues and returned to the crowd.

When Trixie and Kor and Edez remained alone on the stage again, magician said:

“Your trick is incredible. I don’t even know how I can respond, but I’ll try.”

She looked around the crowd, stopped at Derpy and asked her to get up on the stage. When pegasus flew there, magician told her to sit on the cushion. Meanwhile she took a pocket watch. Trixie said Derpy to get ready, then took the chain of the watch with her magic and started to swing the device slowly. Derpy stared at the watch, Trixie muttered something. This lasted for some time, then, suddenly, Trixie put the watch aside and clapped. Derpy immediately fell asleep. Trixie clapped again, and gray pegasus woke up. Researchers gave approving nod. Soon magician undid the hypnosis and thanked Derpy. She flew back to the crowd. Kor and Edez went after her, but Trixie stopped them:

“Tell, me, please, what’s the catch?”
“Sorry, miss, it’s a military secret,” said Edez.
“Military secret?”
“Yep. We’re guards, after all.”

And they took their places among spectators. After them Oma got up on the stage. Trixie looked at her with expectation. Oma smiled, sat on the cushion that remained after the previous trick and turned to the spectators.

“For my trick I need a volunteer,” she said and looked around. “Allegro, dear, can you come here, please?”

Zet’rar almost jumped. She has never called him like that publicly. But he did what she asked for.

“So, what should I do?” he asked.
“Just put your hoof in my mane,” said Oma.

Zet’rar surprised, but did it. Oma smiled wider and said:

“And now try to pull it out.”

He pulled. But his foreleg didn’t even move. Zet’rar surprised, frowned and tried again. Nothing. Spectators and Trixie got amazed. He tried one more time, put more strength, but still no results. His hoof just stuck in her mane like in a tar. Technician growled and pulled with all his strength. But he only dragged Oma behind himself. Zet’rar got completely stunned. He just couldn’t pull his hoof out! So, seeing no way out, he said “Excuse me”, lifted snickering Oma on his forelegs and returned to the audience. Only there she finally freed her friend’s limb.

“How did you do that?” wondered mint-colored unicorn who stood near her.
“Just excellent hair straightening,” Oma answered.
“Ehm… Can you give me this remedy?”
“Sorry, company confidential.”
“Well, I have absolutely no idea how you did it, so I can’t repeat this,” said Trixie. “But I can turn my coat into a velcro!”

She quickly hided the cushion, focused and casted the spell. When the work was done, magician levitated her hat from behind the scenes and stuck it to her side. And it adhered. Then, with silent “Ow!” she tore the hat off and undid the spell.

“Next?” she addressed to the spectators.

After her words Sheim went up on the stage.

“Well, my trick may seem weird to you, but… that’s my ability.”

He sat, deeply breathed, closed his eyes, lowered his head and… did nothing more.

“Ehm… that’s it?” uttered surprised Trixie.
“Allow us to demonstrate what really is this trick!” intervened Kor and together with Edez got up on the stage.

They approached sitting Sheim, and Edez just pushed his colleague. Sheim fell down like a statue. There was even a thud. After this Kor grabbed the green stallion, lifted him and shook like a puppet. Sheim again didn’t move and show absolutely no reaction.

“See?” said Edez. “He’s perfectly still! No response on anything! Absolutely!”
“Really?” Discord got interested and snapped. Sheim took the pose of thinker, but still hie eyes were shut and he didn’t move. It seemed that he didn’t even breathe. Spirit of chaos made some more “sculptures” from green stallion, but he always remained still.

Only after a couple of minutes he, suddenly for all others, came to life and sincerely wondered why he’s standing in a pose of discus thrower. Discord apologized and explained the reason. Sheim forgave him, having said that other always want to test it. When he finished, his colleagues returned to other spectators, and Sheim himself turned to Trixie.

“I don’t even know how to respond on it…” she said. “The only similar thing what I’m able for is this.”

And after these words she sat in the lotus position, closed her eyes and focused. Her horn glowed again, and in a moment she took off from the floor. She spent some time still and floating in the air, then got down, looked at Sheim and shrugged.

“Not bad. I like it. Perfect for the meditation,” said green stallion.
“Well, I’m glad,” said Trixie in response.

Sheim got down from the stage, and Bluve got up.

“And what do you have to surprise me?” magician asked her.
“Ehm… I can do one trick, but I need a table and… an apple.”
“No problem,” said Trixie and levitated folding wooden table and the fruit from her luggage.

Bluve thanked her and quickly prepared the table. She put an apple on it near herself, leaned, opened her mouth and… in a moment apple was gone, and her mouth was full. Spectators don’t even have time to blink when all it happened.

Trixie froze with surprised expression. “How?” she muttered.

“I can do it again,” said Bluve, having swallowed the food.

Magician gave her another apple, Bluve put it on the table, leaned, and everything happened as it was at the first time.

“I still don’t get how do you do it,” Trixie began, “I just saw how you jerked a bit, and… But I can give a good respond on this,” and she addressed the spirit. “Mister Discord, could you give me some of your popcorn?”

Discord snapped, and Trixie got portion of popcorn what was only twice smaller than her. “You’re welcome!” said spirit.

Trixie thanked him and focused on the snack. She casted another spell, then just say on the floor and opened her mouth. And pieces of popcorn began to jump right in it. Trixie ate them with pleasure.

Discord, looking at it, thought “Dammit, that’s the idea!” So he repeated this, only having made his portion to float in the air near him.

“Good trick,” said Bluve and gave Trixie a nod. Trixie reciprocated, and turquoise mare left the stage. And the last member of Team One, Max went to the stage. When he approached, he asked Trixie to leave the table and said that he needs a knife, usual kitchen one or a penknife. Magician said “Okay” and gave him her penknife. After this Max turned to the audience and said:

“Spike, my friend, I need you.”
“Me? Why?” surprised little dragon.
“Because for this trick I need someone with fingers.”
“Uh, okay,” He got up on the stage and came to Max.

Bronze stallion addressed little dragon again:

“Now you have to trust me. It’ll look frighteningly, but it’s be absolutely safe for you. You won’t get hurt. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Put your paw on the table and let’s start then,” said Max, prepared the knife and began to hit.

Spike froze and just watched how guard hit the table with the knife right between his fingers. At first he did it quite slowly, but then he started to accelerate. Knife began to move faster and faster, and in a minute it just flickered in front of dragon’s eyes. But Max remained calm and concentrated.

“Ohhh…” uttered Twilight, worrying for her assistant. “I can’t believe that this can be safe!”

Max turned to her and said “Don’t worry, it’s absolutely safe.” He didn’t stop during this. Spike got pale. Max, in turn, as if nothing were wrong, continued. A bit later he decided to do one thing for greater effect. Absolutely suddenly he threw the knife up, caught it with other foreleg, and continued to hit with the same speed. He exhausted Spike’s nerves for twenty seconds, then finally stopped. He sincerely thanked little dragon. Spike gave a nod and, staggering, returned to Twilight.

“Very impressive,” said Trixie. “But we, magicians, knew the trick that can compete with this one.”

Trixie went behind the curtain and soon returned with one well-known device: huge spinning wheel. She chose a volunteer from the public, fixed her on the wheel and spun it. When velocity got great, magician took seven daggers and threw them one after another. Then she stopped the wheel, showed that all daggers didn’t hit the pony and gave her volunteer some time to recover. Max appreciated the trick.

“Thank you,” said Trixie. “But I have one question: where did you learn it?”
“Well… I had to spend some time with dragons,” answered bronze stallion. “If you want them to respect you, you have to show your strength to them or frighten them. I’m just an earth pony, I can’t do magic, I can’t fly and I’m far from being really strong. So the only possible way what I had was to scare them a little. So I came up with this.”
“Interesting. And thanks again.”

Max gave her a nod and got down from the stage.

“So, anypony else?” wondered Trixie.

Discord raised his paw.

“I said that I won’t take part in the challenge,” he said, “but now I want to join it. Miss Trixie, don’t you mind?”
“Ehm…”
“Excellent. Now, I won’t do something extraordinary, I’ll focus on one thing. As I heard, you’ve made some really impressive transformations, so I wonder: can you do some more? For example, some transformations to order?”

Red armchair, where spirit sat, vanished in a flash, and a second later typical counter with big signboard “Conversion Bureau” appeared on the stage.

“So, my friends, who wants to get transformed?” spirit asked.
“This is our chance!” transmitted Max via implant. “If we’ll get right under influence now, we may get all the data what we need to finally understand the phenomenon!”
“Yes!” responded Affi the same way. “We have to do it!”
“We are ready,” said other researchers.
“So, who’ll be the first?”
“I want!” Oma raised her foreleg.
“Then come in, miss!” smiled Discord and invited her with a gesture.
“So, what would you like?” asked spirit when she came to the counter.
“Well…” she began. “Recently me and my friends met princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadance, and princess Luna, looking at me, said that I could be her double… So I’m just wondering how I will look in disguise – you know, with changed colors, with fake horn and wings and other stuff.”
“Hm… Her Highness are right, you are perfect candidate for her double. You got me interested. I will change you. Horn might be fake, it’s not so difficult to imitate magic, but it would be better if wings will be real – there is high probability that you’ll have to move them. Let’s do it.”

Discord snapped, and Oma for a second disappeared in bright flash. When the light dissipated, amazed ponyvillers could contemplate exact copy of princess Luna on the stage. Oma for some moments was still, only then she came to her senses and looked at herself. She tried to move her new wings, and they were real indeed. Then she looked at the audience, raised her foreleg like saying “One moment!”, coughed and said:

“How is my voice? Is it similar to princess’?”
“Quite so…” said Zet’rar.

Spirit gave a nod. Oma smiled and addressed Zet’rar, now in her normal voice:

“Thank you for the lessons,” she turned to Discord. “Well, I’m completely satisfied. Undo the spell, please.”
“As you wish,” responded spirit and with another snap gave Oma her usual appearance.

Sociologist gave him a nod and returned to the audience.

“Anypony else?” asked Discord, looking around at the crowd.
“Me!” jumped Karin.
“So what’s your wish?” he asked when she stood in front of his counter.
“I wonder how I will look in stallion body,” she answered.

Discord surprised, but then, having shrugged, said: “Well, client’s wish is the law,” and snapped. Veil of the light hided Karin, but soon it vanished and revealed a bit shaggy blond stallion. At first he was happy, but then he looked around, focused on some things like measuring them, and soon realized something. He sat down and swore:

“Oh dammit! I thought I’ll be at least an inch higher being a stallion!”

He stood up and approached Trixie. His ears were still on the eye level of average pony. Karin sighed and looked at Discord. Spirit only shrugged again in response.

But soon Discord suddenly became serious, sat down and started to muse.

“You know…” he said after some seconds of thinking, “there is a disproportion in your crew now…” he looked at other researchers. “That’s not right! It should be fixed!”

And, before anypony realized, Discord casted another spell. Kor turned into athletic mare with short mane but long and beautiful lush tail. All his colleagues, bearers of the Elements, Spike and some other ponyvillers just dropped their jaws. Shocked Kor looked at himself, got angry, turned to Discord and growled like a cougar.

“Now everything is fine!” grinned spirit.
“What has just happened?” exclaimed Karin, Affi and Sheim.
“I just restored the balance,” answered Discord. “I returned the number of mares and stallions in your team to original.”
“Dammit, you could just disenchant me!” shouted Karin.
“Nah, it’s boring,” Discord waved off.
“Wow…” uttered Derpy, looking at changed Kor. “You are still so big!.. You can be princess Celestia double like your friend Didinga was double of princess Luna!”
“Hm, no,” said Discord. “The figure does not fit. Shoulders are too broad and hips are narrow. If princess Celestia was engaged in fitness and powerlifting then it would be perfect, but now – no way!”
“Oh, it’s just lovely!” smiled Edez, holding his friend’s tail. “It’s so lush and fluffy! Gorgeous! I like it a lot more!”

Kor growled again, and in a moment his tail jerked, twined around Edez’s neck and sterted to squeeze it.

“I got it! Got it!” wheezed planetologist.

Guard released him and addressed Discord:

“Will you stop all this, please?” he said in a voice of angered dragoness.
“Okay,” said spirit and disenchanted both researchers. Karin and Kor breathed a sigh of relief.
“Any others?” asked Discord.
“I’d like to try one thing,” said Max and went to the stage.
“Well, and what’s your order?”
“You know, I always wanted to spend some time being a zombie. Like, real undead: dreadful look, putrefied flesh, characteristic moves and other attributes.”
“I can do this, but… why?”
“I just like to scare others.”
“Fine.”

Discord casted another spell. Max vanished for a moment in a flash, but when he returned, he was a living nightmare as he wished for. Biologist quickly examined himself, smiled and exclaimed “Oh yeah!”

“And now what?” said Zet’rar. “What’s the benefit?”
“Well…” grinned Max. “Now I can always give you a helping hoof!” and after these words he tore off his left foreleg with his right one and held it out.

Spectators shuddered, the most nervous fainted. Max laughed, joined the leg back and after short pause turned to Trixie.

“Madam,” he began, “you are magnificent magician and wonderful mare. I can’t express my admiration to you. You charmed me, and so I’m ready to give you my heart right now!”

And with his right foreleg he breached his chest and started to fumble inside. But after the first move he became extremely surprised.

“That’s odd…” he spelled. “Everything got mixed! That’s liver, that’s pancreas, that’s a kidney… Wait! What is kidney doing between my lungs?”

At that moment Trixie sincerely regretted that she hadn’t her hat now. At least she’d have something to vomit into. Now she had to put incredible efforts to keep retching. Like many other ponyvillers.

“Ew! Gross!” shuddered ponies.
“Make me unsee this!” screamed Sheim and Zet’rar.
“Disenchant him! Now!” shouted Aff to Discord.
“Agree,” nodded spirit and undid the spell.

Max, when his body returned to normal and his foreleg appeared to be out from his chest, exclaimed:

“Oh come on!”
“Dude, it was too harsh,” said Edez.

Max looked at him, sighed and then addressed all present. “I’m asking for forgiveness for what I’ve just done. Especially you, miss Trixie.”
“We forgive you, b-but next time don’t d-do something like that, okay?” said Spike.

Trixie gave a nod.

Max nodded in response and returned to his colleagues.

When everypony calmed down, Discord vanished the counter, stood up and looked at Trixie. Magician at first asked for some time, but then said that she is ready. Spirit smiled and stepped aside, giving space to her. Trixie bowed, looked around the audience and asked Spike to get up on the stage. Little dragon said “Okay” and came to magician.

“Who would you like to be?” she asked.
“You know… Living among ponies sometimes makes me wish to become one of them. Even for a couple of hours,” said Spike.
“Well, this can be arranged,” smiled Trixie and focused. For some seconds she concentrated, and then, suddenly for everyone, place where Spike was standing just exploded. Stage was with smoke. Seeing this Rainbow Dash together with some her colleagues from weather team soared up and began to disperse that smoke. Soon it was done, and when the stage became clear again, surprised spectators could see that Spike turned into purple teenage colt with bright green mane, tail and eyes.

“Wow!” he exclaimed, looking at himself. “I even have my cutie mark!”
“Yes,” Trixie gladly smiled and looked at Discord, like saying “Well?”
“Good, very good,” said Discord. “You really achieved a lot.”

He bowed to her and, having materialized his red armchair again, returned to the audience.

After this there were some more challenges. Berry Punch, Bon Bon, Cloudchaser and Flitter, Bulk Biceps, Big Mac tried their hooves, but Trixie successfully repeated and improved their stunts. There were only two tricks that turned out to be difficult for magician. First, the Derpy’s one, looked quite easy: mare took a rope and started to tie a knot, slowly forming a clod. When it reached the size of a hoofball ball, Derpy grabbed the ends of the rope, pulled them, and whole construction easily decayed, and soon she held the rope again. The second trick was performed by Ponyville musicians – Lyra, Vinyl and Octavia. Together they played some typical house music, but using traditional instruments. That trick was the only one about what Trixie said that she can’t repeat this or do something similar. She admitted that Lyra, Vinyl and Octavia won the challenge.

The show was over. Trixie thanked the spectators for their attention, ponyvillers thanked her for good performance. Magician said goodbye, and citizens started to go away. Discord bowed to Trixie and together with his armchair teleported away. Researchers also expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Trixie, said goodbye to her and slowly went to the castle. Bearers of the Elements and Spike stayed to talk a little bit with her.

“Well, that was really amazing experience!” said Karin.
“Oh yeah!” nodded Kor. “That was…something.”
“We got even more than we needed,” said Zet’rar.
“By the way, what about the data?” asked Edez. “How much data has been collected?”
“Memory blocks are almost full,” answered Bluve.
“And some of us got so much information that had to use additional ones,” added Oma.
“We’ll surely provide work for our ASI for the next three days,” said Zet’rar.
“Now, when we have all these scans and tested the influence of magic on ourselves, we may be the first Team who solve this mystery,” said Affi.
“I hope so too,” uttered Edez. “And, by the way, what did you record Discord’s mind scanogram?”
“Yes. After Celestia and Luna it wasn’t so difficult to process it.”
“So, and what is your opinion?” wondered Sheim.
“Though he was a villain, now he’s really reformed and nothing more but a prankster and troll. With quite difficult character. I like him.”
“You liked him?” surprised Oma. “He’s absolutely ungovernable!”
“I like to tame ungovernable ones.”
“You decided to become the most dangerous pony, eh?” grinned Kor.
“I just liked him, that’s all! Let’s better return to our jobs.”
“Agree. Let’s return to our jobs,” said Edez.

And they continued their walk.

Meanwhile another group was returning to their place, discussing today’s events.

“Well, that was one of the most impressive magic shows that I’ve ever seen,” uttered Cloudbreaker.
“Yep, these guys are talented,” said Razor Edge. “Sometimes even too talented…”
“When we arrived here, I still was thinking that all these words about princess Twilight’s servants and guards aren’t true,” said Dim Silhouette. “But now I saw this…”
“Everything as our Hid said. Superequine abilities!” grinned Grace.
“I can understand and accept the imitation of voices, play with knife and that trick with fruits,” continued Dim Silhouette. “But that anabiotic fading, holding things with hair and making faint and bringing to life with a single touch…”
“Having such tricks, these big guys can be really redoubtable guards,” spelled Razor Edge.
“And what about the mare who changed colors of her eyes?” wondered Cloudbreaker.
“It’s questionable,” said Grace. “I heard that she said that it was the result of an incident. There is such possibility, but… I’m not completely sure about it.”
“Well, my friends, you’ve seen what these nine are able for,” suddenly said Hidden Path. “And I’m sure that it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“Why do you think so?” asked Cloudbreaker.
“They didn’t want to take part – they did it because princess Twilight with her friends persuaded them. So they just had to come up with something that wouldn’t be so shocking and extraordinary, they had to show something that could be accepted as ordinary tricks to avoid any suspicions.”
“Can be…” uttered Grace.
“But still it’s not the proof,” said Razor Edge. “We all saw this and now have the evidence. But all this can be explained as usual, but highly professional tricks!”
“Indeed,” nodded Hidden Path. “That’s why we should continue the observations and collect data until we get one hundred percent sure that they are not the ones they say they are. Now we have only first evidence. Let’s fix and keep it.”

His colleagues gave a nod, and they went to their headquarters.

12. Exploring Everfree Forest

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Night came to Equestria. Sun got down, and full Moon slowly started to climb to the zenith. Ponies finished their work for today and went to have some rest before sleep or went to bed immediately to replenish their forces. The Castle of Friendship prepared for the night too. Meeting of bearers of the Elements was over, and Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy went to their homes. Researchers finished all their chores, Max prepared to stay for his shift, and his colleagues got ready to leave.

They gathered in the hall to say goodbye to each other when Twilight with Spike came to them.

“Thank you for your assistance once again. Everything was prepared in record time,” she said. “You did a great job. Now you all, including you, mister Zicht, may be free.”
“Yeah. Enjoy your two-day off-time!” smiled Spike.
“Two-day?” surprised researchers.
“Their slumber parties, especially if Pinkie Pie takes part, have tendency to turn into something much more continuous,” said little dragon.
“Yeah…” Twilight shyly nodded.
“So relax and have a good time during these days!” said Spike.
“As you wish,” smiled members of Team One and bowed.

They said goodbye to each other, and researchers left the castle.

“I can’t believe it!” exclaimed Karin when Twilight’s and Spike’s residence remained behind. “Two-day off-time! That’s plenty of free time!”
“Yep,” nodded Zet’rar. “And it’s wonderful!”
“I know, but… We haven’t so much free time since we arrived here. I have no idea what to do!”
“You know, I’d prefer to follow Spike’s advice,” said Kor. “Let’s seize the opportunity and have really good rest!”
“I’m voting for this!” Sheim, Max, Bluve and Oma raised their forelegs.
“I have another idea…” spelled Edez and smiled.
“What is it?”
“Why not combine business with pleasure? There is one place not far from here where we haven’t been. We could visit it, walk there and explore in en route!”
“Sounds good, but I have one question: what is this place?” asked Affi.
“I’m talking about Everfree Forest,” answered Edez.
“Everfree Forest?” exclaimed his colleagues.
“Edez, this place is probably the most dangerous in whole this country!” resented Oma.
“I know, but we also are dangerous, and we easily can get excellent protection: one small Set 11, and nothing will be able to kill us here!”
“Those nanites?” winced Sheim.
“Yes. They are the best protection for such place as Everfree Forest. Our best weapons are, in fact, parts of our bodies and… agree, after the last weeks we need some adrenaline.”
“You know, Edez is right about the last. These days were very boring,” said Kor.
“So, what do you think? Spend the next day exploring the forest, and the second day having the rest?”
“We’re agree,” answered his friends and nodded.

Edez smiled and they together rushed to their house.

The next day they woke up very early. The forest, as they knew, was huge, and they wanted to look over as much as it was possible. They had a quick breakfast, packed more precise scanners, analyzers, memory blocks and some more necessary devices in saddlebags and passed to the last and the most important part – protection. Set 11 was, in fact, a big portion of nanites that greatly improved some abilities of organism. They provided incredible stamina, vitality and regeneration, and were able to heal even the most horrible wounds in a couple of moments. They were self-installing, like the implants from research set. The installation process wasn’t so painful comparing with the implants – sometimes it was even imperceptible – but the thing was that there was about a liter of these micromachines, and all of them had to be swallowed. It took some time, but eventually all preparations were finished. Researchers nodded to each other and rushed to the forest.

They quickly reached its edge and boldly entered the most unique, peculiar, harsh and dangerous area in whole Equestria. Team One went to the central regions of the forest and immediately began to study: make scanograms and snapshots, collect samples, analyze, classify and explain everything notable what they found. And soon they got quite deep into the thicket.

“You know…” spelled Kor, looking at another strange crooked tree, “Now I’m ready to fully agree with ponies. This is absolutely alien place, even comparing with other extremely wild regions of the country. Just look at these plants! They look like they are from another planet!”
“Indeed,” said Bluve, “but the most surprising is that, according results of analyses, in lot of cases they are the same species what we regularly see in Ponyville!”
“Yeah, it’s very hard to believe that these plants and those ones are the same,” added Max.
“But it can be explained,” said Edez, looking at his scanner. “For some reason, structure of energy mix is different here. It’s disordered and changeable, and it gets more and more complicated when we go deeper. But at the same time transition zone between the forest and surrounding regions is incredibly narrow – only a quarter of micrograd. How to explain this – I don’t know.”
“You want to say that all these incredible differences are just reaction on local energy environment?” wondered Karin.
“Yes. It’s the most probable explanation.”
“We’ll be able to say exactly in two or three decades, when we examine the samples and find the mechanism of reaction on changes in perfect mix,” said Bluve.
“I see.”
“Speaking about foreignness of this place… I must say that this forest looks surprisingly similar to thickets of Hartulox,” noted Sheim.
“Agree,” said Affi. “They are very alike.”
“Wait, where’re Zet and Oma?” exclaimed Kor, looking around.
“They were right behind me…” said Max, looked back and surprised: Zet’rar and Oma were absent.
“Affi, can you sense them?” asked Edez.

She nodded and concentrated, but it turned out so that there was no need in this – soon the answer swept right over them. Zet’rar, vigorously screaming like a jungle hero, and Oma, joyfully laughing, rushed forward, clinging to the branches with their additional limbs. They brought down small avalanche of leaves on their friends and moved further.

“Well, here they are,” grinned Bluve, brushing off the leaves from her head and back.
“Just like children!” sighed Affi.
“Oh, come on!” said Edez to her. “Rejoice for them! They have finally found each other!”

Meanwhile Kor noticed one thing that could spoil his friend’s fun.

“Zet!” he shouted. “Watch out for that…”
“Huh?” Zet’rar, continuing to rush forward, instinctively turned, and – very predictably – having no possibility to see the general situation, crashed into huge pine.
“…tree,” finished Kor and sighed.

Oma gasped, stopped and dashed to her friend. Other members of the group made haste too. Together they unstuck Zet’rar from the tree and brought him to life.

“Thank you,” said Zet’rar when he finally got up and looked at Oma. “We should be more accurate next time.”

She gave a nod.

“Next time don’t rush like mad, okay?” said Affi.
“Sure,” answered Zet’rar and Oma.

Researchers continued their journey together and on the ground. But Oma and Zet’rar agreed that they will repeat this, and next time they do it in the dead of night in Ponyville park.

The trees around became higher and higher, their crowns got more and more dense. Although the Sun was rising and slowly got higher above the treetops, Team One, moving to the center of the forest, got into places where everything around became darker. But the work went as usual: their saddlebags gradually got bigger and heavier because of samples that they took, their hand-held and implanted devices continued to register, mega- and gigabytes of information filled their memory blocks. And nothing seemed to be able to interrupt their mission: neither spooky landscapes nor strange sounds and shadows behind the bushes. But some sounds made them to alert.

“Did you hear that?” asked Kor when he heard suspicious noise again.
“Hear what?” wondered Bluve.
“The rustle.”
“I haven’t heard anything,” said Zet’rar.
“I clearly heard it!”
“Probably you hear a bird swarming in a tree crown,” supposed Karin.
“I’m able to distinguish sounds, and this one wasn’t from a bird, it was from something bigger.”
“Then it was a big bird,” stated Edez. “There are some flying creatures three times bigger than me and you, Kor, in this forest. So don’t pay too much attention to this, let’s keep up!”

They continued the exploration, but the rustle didn’t stop. From time to time it came from different places around the group. Usually it seemed to be far, but in some cases the source was very close.

“Yipe!” exclaimed Oma when something quietly rustled right to the side of her.
“You heard it too?” asked Kor.
“Yes! Like there was a big animal here,” she pointed to the nearest bushes.
“See?” officer addressed to other members of the group. “I’m not the only one who hears this noise. It follows us!”
“I think it’s just a curious marten or raccoon,” said Bluve.
“No. If it was just an animal, it would show itself sooner or later. The thing that follows us always hides and does it intentionally.”
“Kor, dude, you’re exaggerating,” said Edez.
“No! Something really watches us!”

And at this moment something rustled in the crown of the elm that was in front of the group.

“There!” shouted Kor and pointed.

Sheim immediately raised his foreleg, aimed to where his friend was pointing and released a spike. One second, then there was a sound like two pieces of wood hit each other, and… in front of startled researchers an unconscious changeling fell down from the crown.

“Heh, nice…” nervously grinned Max.
“A changeling?” exclaimed Oma. “They are spying on us?”
“I think they are spying on many ones here,” said Kor.
“Is he dead?” asked Karin, looking at motionless body.
“Nope, just way out,” answered Sheim. “I blunted some spikes just to knock out and not to wound,” he leaned over the changeling and found big bump on his head. “And I see that it works.”
“Good job, my friend!” smiled Kor and put his foreleg on Sheim’s shoulder. “Right in the bonce!”
“And what should we do with him?” asked Affi, pointing to chitin pony.
“Let’s eat him,” suggested Kor.
“What?” exclaimed his friends.
“I tried to regenerate their flesh in bioreactor, and it turned out that it’s very tasty!”
“Count me out,” uttered Karin, Zet’rar and Sheim.
“I can understand that these creatures may be a delicacy,” said Oma, “but we came here for peaceful explorations, and nothing more. And, by the way, he hasn’t done any harm to us.”
“I have an idea,” said Max. “Let’s just leave him here, but before it – Affi, provide an amnesia for him.”
“With pleasure,” grinned Affi, sat down and grabbed changeling’s head with her forelegs. She focused and her hornlike antennae rose from her mane. She had been sitting like this for a minute. Then she released the changeling and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Done,” she said. “Now he won’t remember anything in the last month.”
“Good.”
“So, we go further?” said Edez.
“I think that it would be better to take some break from surprises of the woods and visit Zecora,” offered Karin.
“Zecora?”
“Yes. We can learn about specific features of whole this region in one place, learn about all local plants and ways of their application.”

Other researchers paused and took a thought.

“It’s an excellent offer indeed, but we don’t know where she lives,” said Oma.
“Why? I know. Twilight and Spike told me.”
“Well then lead us!” said Edez.
“Okay. Follow me!”

They left the changeling to have a thorough nap under the elm and turned off the path. For the following half of an hour researchers waded through the jungle, did their job as far as it was possible, strayed, brushed away local midges and cursed thorns and mosquitoes in all languages they knew. But, eventually, they got out from the bushes and came to the small house inside a crooked tree.

It looked just like bearers of the Elements and Spike described it: little door right in the middle of the trunk, no porch, some little windows of irregular shape in unexpected places, old wooden walls, sometimes covered with moss and lichen. It was the house of true forest sorceress. But except all this one more thing was noticeable: there were no signs of presence of the owner inside – windows were curtained, and ones which haven’t blinds showed that darkness filled the rooms, no smoke or steam came from flues and vent-holes.

“Oh damn!” swore Karin when she approached one of the windows and looked inside. “I hoped that we would spend time in a quiet environment, pleasantly and usefully! But she is absent!”
“Well, it’s not in the cards…” sighed Affi.
“We’ll have to wander through the woods again.”
“Guys, come here!” called Zet’rar, who stopped near the door.

His friends quickly gathered near him, and technician pointed to the door. There was small wooden box attached to it with description ‘Open’ on its cover and some illegible writing on the sides. Researchers looked at each other, and Zet’rar slowly opened the box. Inside they found only one small transparent crystal.

“Ehm, do you have any ideas what is it?” asked Bluve.
“Not a single one,” honestly answered Zet’rar. “Except jewelry, I haven’t seen anything like this. And this thing aren’t jewelry, it’s just a… rock!”
“Maybe it’s a key, a magical artifact which can tell where Zecora is,” suggested Sheim.
“You think so?”
“Locals have a lot of stuff based on the effects of energy mix. We saw some examples, and all of them amazed us – they had so unexpected genesis and application so we could barely hide our real emotions. And we saw only small part of them. Probably it’s another such thing.”
“Sheim is right,” uttered Edez. “It might be another artifact.”
“Well, there is only one way to find out,” said Affi and looked at Zet’rar.

Technician sighed and gave a nod. He put his hoof inside the box to grab the crystal, but only he touched it, he recoiled. The crystal began to vibrate and soon after this… resounded.

“Excuse me, my friends,” the crystal said in Zecora’s voice, “but now I am absent. I am in Thicket, improving my knowledge and enchantment. If you have something to say, touch again this crystal, and leave your message after the signal.”

Researchers just sat down with their jaws hung open.

“Say whaaaaat???” exclaimed Zet’rar. “Is that an answerphone?”

Max stood up and came to the box. He focused on the writing on the sides and tried to read it. Soon his eyes became big and round.

“Dang it, dude, it is!” he exclaimed.
“Magic answering machine?”
“Yes!”
“This is madness. This is just madness!” said Affi.
“Well, at least we’ve found really impressive and useful artifact!” uttered Edez.
“No doubt,” nodded Kor with empty expression.

Only in a couple of minutes they finally fully came to their senses. After short discussion it was determined that they’ll take the extra precise scanogram of the crystal. They really were interested in how to make a simple stone solve a great amount of communication problems.

“Wait!” suddenly exclaimed Karin when the decision was taken. “And what about Zecora herself and her house?”
“I have an idea,” said Zet’rar and took extra precise scanner for large objects from his saddlebag. “Speaking about her house, we can make a detailed scanogram and later regenerate all the mixtures and powders that she made particle by particle. It’s not difficult and it will allow us to do everything what we need and want. And what about Zecora herself… Well, we’ll have to wait.”
“I agree,” said Affi. “It would be much easier, useful and… safe for all of us.”

Other researchers agreed too, and they began to make the scanograms. Sheim and Edez were working on the “answering crystal”, Zet’rar, Affi and Kor processed the house. Fixing the location and characteristics of every particle takes some time, even though you have the best tools developed over eight million years.

In twenty minutes they finished. Tenth part of total free space of memory blocks turned out be filled – the amount of data was simply enormous. Researchers packed their devices and got ready to move in the depths of the forest again, when the nearest bushes suddenly swished. Team One stopped, and a timberwolf jumped out from the thicket. Researchers knew average sizes of these beasts from the books, and comparing to them this one was small. Probably it was just an adolescent. But it doesn’t reduce the danger: it was furious and ready to attack.

Timberwolf stood in a fighting pose, his green eyes glowed, and he growled loudly and angrily.

“And what now?” quietly asked Bluve in trembling voice.
“Leave it to us,” said Kor and Edez, grinned and stepped forward.

Now it’s necessary to say that original species of Kor is close to wolverines, cougars and crocodiles of this planet, and Edez’s species – to bears and crows. Their ancestors were strong and, not rarely, aggressive animals, and thought they were separated by hundreds of thousand years from those ages, they preserved some habits and rituals from their wild past. And among them were some cries, including battle ones. So Edez and Kor approached the timberwolf, made angry faces too and roared.

The sound could be heard a mile away, even in this dense forest. The timberwolf, say the least of it, didn’t expect something like this. His anger and desire to fight instantly vanished, he sat, gulped, and soon, whining, ran away. Kor and Edez with satisfied smiles saw him off and then turned to their colleagues. They thanked them and said that they did a good job – all of them except Max. He didn’t say a word, continuing to stare at the place where few seconds ago the timberwolf was.

“Um, Max, what’s wrong?” wondered Bluve.

But biologists didn’t respond. He didn’t even react. Seeing this, his colleagues looked where he was looking. And was taken aback: there was a piece of wood on the ground at that place.

“Is that?.,” hesitantly began Oma.
“Yeah,” nodded Bluve. “It is. That guy shat a log because of fear.”
“A log?” choked Kor.
“Well, he’s wooden, after all,” spelled Zet’rar.
“Act like you want, but I won’t take it as a sample!” stated Max.
“Well, my friends, this is how you become the dominant species,” spelled Edez. “Yeah… Let’s better keep on.”

Other researchers agreed, and they left Zecora’s site.

The immersion into the forest’s depths continued. They went along barely discernible trails that hided under the mighty crowns of huge trees again. They got farther and farther from the edge, and the regularity which Edez had found showed itself more and more perceptibly. Disorder of the structure and other anomalies gradually escalated – it was evident not only in the instrument readings, but also by the sight of surroundings. They met strange plants, mushrooms and animals more often. It seemed that even quaintness of their look escalated too while they went deeper and deeper. And they met more creatures and things what they have never seen before. So they had to take more samples.

But soon one problem became apparent: the number of samples was too great, they simply couldn’t bring all them to their house and ship’s on-board laboratory. Yes, they had blocks of warped space that allowed to carry things far greater than the sizes of blocks themselves, but these storages also were limited – they consumed enormous amount of energy, and because of this the ratio of outer and inner sizes should be relatively small, or else the devices won’t work for a long time. There was only one solution of this problem: carry out more analyses right on the place. So Team One slowed down and focused on the examining.

They made scanograms and snapshots and estimated them, noted specific features and tried to give the explanations and find ways of practical application, visually examined them and did some more tests. Sometimes they dissect samples using simple instruments and even their claws to ensure the reliability of the scanner reading, and not rarely they tasted the samples. They could allow this – thanks to the treatment they were almost absolutely immune to poisons, only preparations from programmed substances could really harm them. They used this possibility to supplement the total characteristics of the studied things. The only bad moment was that the samples quite often had bad taste.

Sheim took another weird mushroom that looked more like a clamshell, made a scanogram, viewed it from all the sides and, just for interest, tasted it. He made only two chewing motions, when he winced and spat it out.

“Yuk!” he muttered “Tastes like shit.”
“And seriously?” said Affi and Oma.
“I am serious. Listen, you, heterotrophs, unlike some other ones, don’t need fertilizers.”
“Got it! No more questions!”

Meanwhile Max examined one more new mushroom species. It looked just like chanterelle except that it was gray, even a bit silvery. He did standard exploration procedure and took one. Most likely, it was a mimicking poisonous mushroom, but there was small probability that it’s just another kind known edible one. Getting the information from the scanners will take time, so Max decided to find the answer with the simplest way – he tasted it. He chewed it and… sighed with disappointment.

“Hey, Max, what’s wrong?” wondered Karin.

Biologist spat out the mushroom and said:

“I’m a biologist, and I must distinguish species by their appearance, must guess their taxonomy. I must presume the most probable characteristics. But I keep failing again and again! Especially with mushrooms.”
“And… what happened now?”
“I thought that this one was just mimicking inedible one. Well… It’s absolutely another species, another family. It’s some kind of psilocybes.”
“There is analogue of this filth here?”
“Turns out that yes. It’s the first time when I see mimicking hallucinogenic mushroom.”
“Psilocybe, you say?” spelled Zet’rar who came to them.
“Yep,” nodded Max.
“Ehm, can you give me some ones then?”
“Sure, but… why?”
“You see, to us, unfalizans, psilocybin is the same thing that caffeine is for you, terrans. And I’d like to make a little boost now.”
“Okay, here you are,” said Max and gave his friends some mushrooms. “Although I can hardly understand how a bowl of mushroom soup can replace a cup of coffee.”
“Well, it’s biology and traditions,” said Zet’rar and ate a mushroom. “Wow! They are really good! How much psilocybin do they contain?”
“Hm…” Max focused on the aftertaste. “I’d say that one mushroom contains lethal dose for a dozen average ponies.”
“That’s a strong stuff.”
“Yeah… Wait!” biologist suddenly grinned, took some more mushrooms and put them into a box for samples.
“Why are you taking them if you have done the analysis?” surprised Karin.
“I know some chemists who will pay a lot for such rich source of psilocybin.”
“What?” she exclaimed together with Affi, Bluve, Edez and Sheim who heard him.
“You’re relapsing to this again?” snarled Oma. “Have you forgotten that you were condemned for this!”
“At first, I perfectly remember this. At second, now I have every right to sell the samples legally – we’re allowed to assign small things like these and do everything what we want with them. And those guys, having only a couple of samples, can easily reproduce the necessary amount by bioregenerating. And, at third, why did you fall on? You all are “nice and good”, I must say.”
“What do you mean?”
“I remember your personal dossiers, guys,” said biologist and grinned. “We all have criminal records. You, Oma, using your position of the secretary of department, not once did some machinations with documents for a good reward. Zet’rar, during student protests on Naglavon you blew the whole building of new laboratory complex, empty by happy coincidence. Karin, you have even two criminal records for vandalism during student protests. Sheim, you pandered to illegal miners from your native planet for nine years. Bluve, for almost all six years of war between Zateaf and Hegi you were a smuggler who supplied people of Zateaf with equipment from the Institute. Kor, you was tired by tribunal twice for grievous bodily harm during fight at bars. Affi, you were an industrial spy for nineteen years. Edez, I know that you were a victim of circumstances and appeared at the bottom, but still, you committed thirty nine robberies. And what about me… Yes, I illegally traded chemicals, but I started not because I wanted, I started to do it because of stupid laws of Aurelia that don’t allow students to have a good job to pay for extortionate student loan. My fault is that I didn’t stop when I should.”
“So what?” snorted Kor.
“I just want to say don’t put hasty judgments and first look at yourselves before blaming other. And, by the way, our criminal records it’s just the beginning.”
“What do you want to say?”
“I want to say that all of us also took lives of other sentients. And not once. I can even rank us in the ascending order! Oma, you survived one attack of apters on the research base where you were, you fought with cruelty and killed thirty eight ones. Sheim, you survived one attack of ultu and one attack of apters on research bases, you fought during both attacks and killed fifty four ones. Bluve, you survived an attack of nobu on your research base, took part in hostilities and killed eight ones; during the war between Zateaf and Hegi you, protecting yourself, “treated” seventy two ones with X-413, no one survived. Zet’rar, you survived one attack of jyaxee on your research base, fought and killed fifteen ones, also you survived the attack of these imitators on transport ship where you were, took part in hostilities, used unfalizan battle suit and killed one hundred and twelve ones. Then me. I took part in seven armed clashes and during them killed one hundred and fifty nine ones. And because I mastered ains-brukis trainings on Radun’… one hundred and forty eight of them were killed with a single shot or hit. Karin, survived two attacks of ultu and one attack of jyaxee on research bases, took part in hostilities, used the avatar suit and thanks to this killed two hundred and four ones. Edez, survived a lot of battles, during which killed six hundred and eighty three ones, two hundred and forty four ones you roasted alive with your abilities. Kor, survived a lot of battles, during which killed seven hundred and thirteen ones, six hundred and seventy you used as a “fuel”. And, finally, our dear Affi. Six successful telepathic attacks, six destroyed enemy ships, including vobhian “titan”. Seventeen thousand one hundred and forty killed ones. We’re wonderful group, aren’t we?”

Researchers just sat down.

“Yeah… Having looked from the side… We are just a bunch of thugs and maniacs,” spelled Kor.
“And such monsters as we are exploring this peaceful, friendly and nice land,” said Karin.
“And we arrived here on the starship which is able to turn four planets like this into dust with a single shot, and it’s still in orbit,” added Zet’rar.
“As I said, wonderful! Just, dammit, wonderful!” exclaimed Max.
“Now I’m realizing… We are horrible,” said Edez.
“I’m sorry, Max,” uttered Oma.
“Eh, it’s me who must ask for forgiveness,” sighed Max. “I did this excoriation to you.”
“But thanks to it we realized some very important moments,” said Affi. “You opened our eyes.”

Other researchers nodded in confirmation.

“Such slams are useful,” said Edez and put his foreleg on Max’s shoulder. “They help to look on the things from the other side and rethink the actions.”

Biologist gave a nod. Edez nodded in response and with a gesture said “Let’s get back to work”. Team One stood up and mover farther.

The exploration continued. Researchers returned to collecting and analyzing data and sampling. There were a lot of things to study: they found something new and extraordinary every few minutes, and each of these things was different from the other, unique. They had to put all the efforts to do the job qualitatively and thoroughly, use all their intelligence to find explanations and reasons. It was very interesting, but, despite all the seeming variety, it was quite monotonous job – although they addressed to different fields of science, the algorithm of actions during the research procedures was of the same type. And they had been keeping working like this for several hours. It began to affect researchers: they slowly got bored, but, most importantly, they became more inattentive. They remained focused on finding new and strange and were extremely careful with analyses, but they stopped to pay attention to minor details. For example, they haven’t noticed how the Sun climbed to the zenith, passed it and started to move down, they didn’t hear bird songs and animal noise, they didn’t pay attention to midges that scurried around. And, also, they haven’t noticed how gradually the general landscape changed.

Zet’rar was the first who noticed that trees around became more crooked and bare, small clearings appeared, amount of moss and lichen grew, and it started to take more strange and spooky forms, from time to time there were big tussocks, and squelch more and more often came from under their hooves.

“Guys,” he uttered, “I think we wandered into a swamp.”

His friends stopped and looked around.

“Oh my!” exclaimed Bluve. “Indeed.”
“Well, goodbye, hooficure,” sighed Oma, shaking the dirt off her forelegs.
“How far we have got?” asked Kor.

Edez looked at his tracking device.

“Twenty eight micrograds from the edge of the forest,” he said. “As far as I know, it’s the outskirts of Froggy Bottom.”
“Well, we are at one of the largest swamps on whole this continent,” said Karin. “Nice!”
“What a nasty place!” winced Affi. “I have goosebumps from it.”
“I don’t want to study it,” said Bluve.
“Why?” surprised Max. “It’s just a big swamp. Yeah, it looks creepy, but a lot of swamps are creepy.”
“Yes, there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Edez. “It’s just a large bog, which you can find at every planet with water resource level above average minimum. So come on, people! Let’s move!” he waved and went forward.
“Okay,” said other researchers and followed their first curator.

They quickly found that except excessive humidity and its consequences Froggy Bottom was, in fact, the same area as Everfree Forest. All characteristics inherent to the woods were inherent to this swamp. The same chaotic structure of energy environment, the same atmosphere of wildness, the same oddities around. It made researcher’s work easier and had calming effect on them – it seemed that they will continue their small scientific journey as usual. But, unfortunately, it wasn’t fated to happen.

After some time researchers finally found relatively dry path, but only they started to move along it, loud noise, which could be made only by something big, came from the nearest bushes. Team One stopped, in a moment branches drifted apart, and huge beast came to the path and stood in front of the group. It was at least twice taller than Kor and Edez, had shape of a cat, was black as coal, but covered with real scattering of stars and seemed to be a bit transparent, its gray eyes glowed as big star-like spot on its forehead. It wasn’t going to set on, it showed no open agression, but it made it clear that it won’t let them step back or get round.

“What is that?” whispered Oma.
“A Lynx,” quietly answered Bluve and gulped, “one of the constellation beasts.”
“Constellation beasts?”
“Yes. Very strong creatures filled with magic. I read about them in castle libraries, and Teams Five and Eight reported about them. They said that they are, in fact, ordinary animals mutated for some reason.”
“So it’s just an overgrown feline?” said Kor, continuing to stand still.
“Yes.”
“That’s nice, but what should we do?” whispered Zet’rar.
“I have an idea,” answered Max. “But, Kor, Edez, you have to cover me.”
“Okay.”

The biggest members of the group slowly bended towards each other, hiding Max behind themselves. Lynx noticed it and became suspicious, it frowned and began to growl.

“Ehm, Max, it’s going to attack us!” muttered Edez.
“Just one more moment…” said biologist, looking down at the stone near his right foreleg. “Now!”

He immediately released his claws, grabbed the stone, stood on hind legs and threw the rock at the beast. Boulder hit a glowing star on Lynx’s forehead, beast staggered, rolled its eyes and fell unconscious.

“Wow!” exclaimed Kor, looking at the defeated creature. “That was impressive!”
“How you managed to knock this monster out with a single throw?” wondered Karin.
“I looked under its skin,” answered Max. “Well, they are very strong creatures but with very irrational body structure – their weakest spot marked with the most noticeable sign! They have a little ganglion right under their skin at this “forehead star”. Hit it – and pain shock will do the rest.”
“Well, Max, thank you,” said Edez. “But I have one question: how soon it’ll wake up?”
“Not in the nearest ten supramoments for sure.”
“Then great.”

They moved further, but it turned out so that Lynx’s growl attracted another monster. And it showed itself very soon.

Researchers walked only three hundred steps when load roar shook everything around. They froze, and four identical heads with big toothy jaws appeared above the treetops and roared again.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” sincerely exclaimed Kor, Sheim and Karin.
“Nice! A hydra! That’s, dammit, all we needed now!” swore Zet’rar.
“I don’t wanna annihilate!” screamed Bluve.
“Affi!” screamed Edez. “Help!”
“Eh, here goes nothing,” said Affi and ran towards the monster.

Meanwhile hydra, having fallen a couple of trees, came out from the thicket. It roared again and rushed into attack. Seeing this, Affi stopped and got ready for the telepathic strike. Her antennae rose from her mane, ridged and started to vibrate. She strained herself and stared at the monster. Hydra was quickly approaching, first head had already prepared to seize the prey, but suddenly the beast jerked and… stopped. Affi strained even more and growled from stress. Hydra slowly stood up straight, then all its heads turned and stared at each other with empty expressions. Beast was motionless for some seconds, then its head began to lean back slowly. But soon they suddenly stopped, jerked forward and collided. Clash of hydra’s skulls with each other was like a thunder. Affi, having finally completed the attack, shouted and hardly managed to keep standing on own hooves. Hydra collapsed like a felled tree with loud crash.

When the hydra was defeated, researchers made haste to help their second curator.

“I’m all right, all right… Thank you,” spelled Affi when Sheim, Kor and Max helped her to stand up.
“It’s we who have to thank,” said Sheim. “You saved us!”
“I was the only one who could do it.”
“But still, thank you.”
“How are you? Can you walk?” asked Max.
“In a moment I’ll be fine.”
“Well, my dear, congratulations,” said Edez, helping her to stand. “You defeated probably the most dreadful animal on this continent!”

Affi thanked him with a nod.

“But… May I ask one question?” continued Edez.
“Yes?”
“I saw how you made hundreds obey you, and it didn’t cause you great problems. Why now you were so stressed?”
“If creature has several brains in one body, it always makes the telepathic control much harder. Structure of the mind is complicated, it’s a single massive, but it looks like a rete of ropes. You have to put a lot of efforts to regularize it.”
“Oh, I understand now.”

Soon Affi recuperated, and researchers were ready to continue their journey. They made a scanogram of the hydra, took some samples of its tissues and went farther.

Luckily, there were no more monsters around, so they could continue their work in a quiet environment. They spent about an hour in the swamp, scanning and analyzing, and after this, having seen enough of moss- and lichen-grown trees, strange amphibian and pesky insects, they came to dry raised area. It stood out from all other surroundings – it has taller and greener trees, there was no reed and sedge on the ground. And there was small trail that led to the most used crossing through the swamp. After short discussion Team One decided to continue their walk along it.

Soon Froggy Bottom remained behind, and researchers found that they again were among typical landscapes of Everfree Forest. These places looked very similar to what they had recently crossed, though it was another region – probably the one noticeable differences was the species composition.

Researchers were glad that they returned to the more familiar environment – at least they could predict what they can meet. So they smiled and went on. They had whole third of the day for studying.

They returned to their ordinary tasks and everything went as usual until Kor suddenly stopped everyone.

“Hey, dude, what’s wrong?” wondered Zet’rar.
“This,” answered officer and pointed to thick layer of fallen leaves that began in thirty steps from their current location.
“Just some piles of leaves? Do you really think that there is something hiding under it?”
“I don’t sense anything serious,” said Affi.
“I don’t like these leaves. It looks like someone poured them here intentionally,” said Kor.
“You think it’s a trap?” uttered Bluve.
“Yes. And there is only one way to check this out.”

Kor looked at a side, noticed a stick, took it and threw to the leaves. The stick flew about fifty steps and fell in one of the piles with loud and pleasant rustle. Team One waited for some time, but nothing happened.

“Well, what was I saying? Just lots of leaves!” grinned Zet’rar and waved. “Come on!”

And then… Whole layer just exploded. Waves of old brown leaves drenched all around. researchers jumped back, stared at the leaves and shuddered: from under the piles something monstrous was appearing. It was huge – at least three times bigger than Lynx – and hulky. It quickly stood up, and when it happened, researchers could see the beast. It was bipedal and had huge paws. Though it was stooped, it reached the tree crowns, and, what was the most surprising, it looked like a bad-made golem: it was covered with stones, bark, grass, moss and lichen. Its single eye was just a black hole. The monster opened its mouth and showed jaws full of sharp teeth made of rocks.

Researchers were terrified.

“Holy crap…” muttered Max. “Mapinguari!”
“Mapi-what?” said Oma.
“Terran animal, a kind of giant sloths, cryptid in former times, primarily vegetarian, but very angry…”

“Mapinguari” slowly took battle pose and growled.

“That’s nice but this fucking thing can attack us at any moment!” hissed Karin.
“Step back,” suddenly said Edez. “I’ll handle it.”
“What? Alone against this monster?” whispered Affi. “You are not a telepath!”
“Yes, but I have something else. Let’s see how powerful combination of equestrian and dreketanian organisms can be…”

First curator of the Team went forward. Having seen that only one from the whole group was going fight, beast got surprised, but then, having thought that it will be much easier to beat them one by one, snorted, leaned a bit and got ready to pounce. Edez looked at the monster and…

Everything happened in a second. With lightning speed Edez dashed forward and hit the monster in the stomach. For a moment researchers could see how net of large electric sparks covered the beast. It shouted with all its might, shuddered and soon fell down unconscious. Edez, panting, stood back on all four legs.

“Well, it is powerful!” he spelled.
“Wow…” uttered Affi.
“You roasted whole forest monster,” muttered Kor. “Wonderful!”
“I wouldn’t say so,” uttered Max who approached the beast and put his ear to its body. “You just singed him a bit, Edez. He’s alive.”
“Teams Five and Eight and other groups didn’t report about creatures like this,” said Bluve, examining the monster.
“So we are pioneers now, right?” said Sheim.
“Yep.”
“Then let’s explore it!”
“Wait!” Max loudly said. “I don’t want this thing to wake up when I’ll rummage under
his skin or what he has… So, Kor, come here and process our little friend.”
“You want me to…” began surprised officer.
“Yes. Take some of his life forces and provide him good knock out.”
“As you wish.”

Kor approached the monster and put his forelegs on it. He focused and soon began the taking. One minute, and he finished.

“That’ll be enough,” he said.
“Are you sure?” asked Max.
“I took so much energy that he won’t wake up even if plasma bomb explode only a micrograd away.”
“Then I’m satisfied.”

And they began the studying. In fact, they did the same procedure what they did with hydra, except that now they took more samples, made extra precise scanogram and Max tried to look under the skin of the monster using his sensory organs. He remained very surprised after this: the monster not only was covered with different natural materials, he was entirely made of them – all organs were stone, wooden or metal. It seemed that this creature was much more complicated version of a timberwolf. It was something more than mutation.

Eventually, they finished the exploration and continued the campaign. But they didn’t have time to go far – the situation in which they fell in the swamp, repeated: shouts of one beast attracted other ones…

Researchers got to a small clearing when sudden loud rustle came from all the sides. They alerted and stood in a circle. And soon timberwolves started to come out from the thickets all round and approach them. All of them were adult, big and ready to attack.

“Dammit, that mapinguari summoned all the creatures from the surroundings!” swore Max.
“Or our little friend, whom we met near Zecora’s house, called for help…” uttered Edez.
“There are tens of them!” exclaimed Bluve, looking around.
“Yeah, there are really a dime a dozen of them,” said Oma.
“And all of them come to us,” added Zet’rar.
“Well, my friends,” spelled Edez, “we have no other choice.”
“Fight?”
“Yes.”
“I have nothing against,” grinned Kor, kneading his neck.
“Then let’s beat the shit out of them!”

They stood in fighting poses. Timberwolves, seeing this, bared their teeth and jumped on them.

Fierce fight started with the first seconds. Each member of the group got attacked by two or three beasts at the same time, but they managed to dodge and even hit back. Team One repulsed the first attack and went on the offensive. Although only Kor, Edez and Max were professional soldiers, all researchers of the Institute had military trainings – it was impossible to equip all research groups with military units and predict all the assaults, so researchers had to protect themselves, their works and bases. They knew how to fight and had the experience. So they could battle with any beasts.

Karin strained herself to maximum and just tore creatures apart with her telekinesis. Bluve separated her forelegs and thrashed every beast that attacked her – anxaimans are strong species, they are able to tear off a limb of creature what is as big as them. Sheim knocked timberwolves out with lightning prodding strikes – he wasn’t strong, but thanks to biological features of rugartairan could contract his muscles incredibly quickly, and it provided high killability; he preserved his spikes and used them only when he had no other possibilities. Zet’rar released his dorsal limbs and brought an avalanche of blows on the beasts. Not the strongest, but numerous and frequent hits did their job. Oma most part of the time evaded the attacks, but when there were possibilities, she shifted and kicked beasts with all might of her hind legs; the power of her blows was so great that she just cracked the skulls of wooden monsters, sometimes she even dented their jaws into their throats. Max acted mostly like Oma – dodged, scanned the enemy, and when he found the weakest spot, put all his strength into the hit; he methodically destroyed the creatures one by one. Affi strained and sent powerful telepathic pulses right into the heads of the monsters; it killed them immediately. Edez flounced across whole glade, crashed creatures with mighty blows and ran a current through them; some ones he set on fire. Kor released his claws, changed the teeth and just mauled and lacerated them like giant mad wolverine.

Team One managed to resist the attackers, but number of timberwolves significantly exceeded them, and they always attacked in groups. All members of the group sooner or later got wounded, even Edez couldn’t escape this – wooden monsters all the time tried to bite off their limbs, and Zet’rar lost one of his dorsal ones. They left traces of their teeth on Max’s, Kor’s, Affi’s, Oma’s and Sheim’s backs. And not everyone was finished from the first time – a lot of beasts restored themselves and continued the battle until it got crashed again or destroyed. But thanks to nanites of Set 11 and supporting implants researchers were able to continue the battle.

In six minutes it was over. Researchers, hardly panting, stood and looked at the destroyed beasts. Whole clearing was covered with remains of timberwolves – slivers, chips, broken and burnt logs.

“That’s all,” breathed Edez.
“No more ones,” said Max, looking around.
“We did it! We did it!” exclaimed Bluve.
“Wait, where’s Karin?” exclaimed Affi.

All other looked around. Karin wasn’t on the glade. They got worried, and suddenly a loud scream came from the woods. It was her.

Before anyone reacted, Kor rushed to her.

During the battle Karin, fighting off, got into the woods. Timberwolves took advantage and surrounded her with significant part of their pack. Karin was trapped – having strained, she could destroy the greatest part of the beasts, but not all of them. And when she’ll be dealing with the majority, the remained ones attack her.

She, trembling, slowly stepped back and prepared for the worst. But suddenly a loud crackle came from the nearest bushes, and huge brown shadow jumped from it right on the monsters. Furious Kor in the first seconds turned three creatures into raw material for particle boards. In the following moments he destroyed five more monsters. Timberwolves, seeing all this rage, just stopped the attack. Now Karin took advantage and, having strained, grabbed dozen of monsters and crushed them in the air. Kor meanwhile killed all the remained ones.

Now it was finished. Kor slowly stood up straight, turned to Karin and asked:

“You alright?”

She nodded and smiled.

“Y-yes. Thank you! Thank you!” she ran to him, embraced and kissed.

Kor got confused for a couple of seconds.

“Ehm… Not worth it!” he muttered.

But Karin continued. She stopped – and sprang back – only when officer gently said that all other are here and watching.

“Are you okay?” Edez asked Karin.
“Yes,” she answered. “I got in a trap, but Kor came to the rescue.”
“Together we defeated the last of them,” added officer.
“Glad to hear it.”

They returned to the trail and there just fell down. For a half of an hour they just lay on the grass, recovered and recuperated. Then they finally stood up and discussed their plan of actions.

Researchers unanimously agreed that it will be enough adventures for today. Yes, Everfree Forest is place with numerous mysteries which would be very interesting to learn, but if they continue to face with monsters, they won’t last long, and no one wanted to use the last source. So they decided to stop combing the woods and turn back to Ponyville. But they left one object for exploration in their list – the Castle of Two Sisters.

Edez together with Sheim and Kor quickly defined the direction and group moved on through the thicket. The castle stood almost at straight line from their present location to Ponyville, so it would be a sin just to pass by and didn’t look at one of the most mysterious and historically significant places in whole Equestria.

And so they made their way through bushes, grass and vines. Researchers made their way quite slowly as they didn’t use any trails, but they were glad – since the fight on that clearing they haven’t met anyone bigger than fox on the ground and owl among the tree crowns, and their only problem again were bothersome midges.

They were walking and enjoyed the particular beauty of this forest, when they heard rustle somewhere near again. Researchers quietly cursed this place and their luck and prepared for another encounter. The rustle meanwhile got louder and louder. Team One expected another constellation beast, so they stood in fighting poses to attack at any moment. The source of the noise quickly approached and then showed itself. From the shadows of huge trees two figures came out – one of them was only a bit lower than Edez and Kor, second one was tiny as a colt. Both figures had a pair of horns. They came to light, and then researchers saw that they were deer: the tall one was brown and wore red armor, the young one had color of desert sand, both of them had strange necklaces with small barrel-looking boxes. They approached the researchers, who breathed a sigh of relief and took usual poses, and stood near them.

“Good day, travelers,” tall deer greeted them. “Are you alright? Do you need any assistance?”
“Thank you, but we’re fine,” answered Edez. “Good day to you too and thanks for the care.”
“We saw that you were moving not along the trail, so we thought that you might get lost.”
“It’s very easy to get lost in this Forest if you don’t follow the trails,” added young deer.
“We don’t have any problems with terrain orientation,” said Sheim.
“Pardon me, but let me ask, what are you doing at such distant part of the Forest?” wondered tall deer.
“Oh, we just walking, enjoying and admiring the wildlife,” said Affi.
“We’re here as tourists,” added Zet’rar.
“Tourists?” surprised deer.

Max, Zet’rar and Sheim with no word took their recorders, which looked just like ordinary cameras, from the saddlebags and showed them.

“Well, okay then,” spelled tall deer.
“Where did you come from if you are so interested in the Forest as a sightseeing?” wondered young one.
“From Europonia,” said Edez and, seeing surprise on faces of deer, decided to confirm it with introducing. “I’m Berg, and these are my friends and colleagues Antilipsi, Erő, Pippi, Lierre, Didinga, Allegro, Calma and Zicht.”
“And I am Bramble and this is Blackthorn,” young deer introduced himself and his companion.
“I am the commander of the guard of the Thicket, and Bramble is prince of our little kingdom,” added Blackthorn.
“Our regards,” said researchers and bowed.
“Well,” said Kor when he stood up, “I didn’t expect that I’ll meet a colleague in Everfree Forest,” and he looked at Blackthorn.
“Colleague?” surprised deer.
“We came here for permanent residence and now are working in the Castle of Friendship as servants and guards,” explained Oma.
“Hm, princess Twilight has finally hired a staff…” quietly spelled Bramble.
“Well, nice to meet you too, colleague,” said Blackthorn, nodded to Kor and then addressed to all group. “But, still, do you need any help?”
“Thank you again, but no,” answered Karin. “We know the way.”
“But what about creatures that live here? Manticores, timberwolves…”
“Oh, don’t worry about that! We can stand for ourselves!” assured Max.
“We know a number of ways,” added Bluve.
“And what are these ways?” wondered Blackthorn.
“Guys, give them a roar,” Affi grinned and addressed Kor, Edez and Zet’rar.

Guys smiled and gave a roar. Almost whole hundred decibels of roar. Blackthorn didn’t move, but all his hair stood on end. And Bramble… Bramble was soon found at the top of the nearest small fir.

“Well, that was impressive,” said Bramble when he got down.
“Thank you,” nodded guys.
“We’ve already used this to drive away one timberwolf,” said Zet’rar.
“And… what happened?”
“It laid a log with fear.”
“No wonder…” spelled Blackthorn.
“Thank you again for the offer,” said Affi, “but we can handle everything ourselves. As you see.”
“Well then good luck!” said Bramble.
“And beware of Guardians of the Forest and stone porcupines,” added Blackthorn.
“Guardians of the Forest? Stone porcupines?”
“Guardians are big bipedal monsters made of wood, stones, grass and other things. Stone porcupines are live druses of crystals that may explode if you walk near them. They make loud metal rasp right before this. Both of them usually hide themselves.”
“Well, now we’ll know!”
“Goodbye!”
“Goodbye!”

Researchers and deer nodded to each other, and they went in different directions.

“They’re strange,” spelled Bramble when Team One disappeared from sight.
“You don’t say…” nodded Blackthorn, and they went back to their city.

Team One continued its way to the castle. An hour and a half of walking separated them from their destination. A lot of things could happen during this time, but the last part of the way turned out to be as calm as the first, before the meeting with deer. Only four little surprises had occurred: they ran into a couple of fighting wolverines, a hawk caught a mouse just in three steps from them, a flying squirrel occasionally landed on Zet’rar’s head and they had to make a detour to round big swarm of wild bees. Eventually, having overcome the thickets, they approached the ruins.

From the top of the last hill they could see the castle. Although only some parts of whole building remained safe, it looked magnificently. Even now it was possible to feel its might and former royal luxury. Researchers, looking at it, smiled and quickened their pace. They walked down the hill and could already see the suspension bridge that went over gorge, when something cracked right under small pile of leaves and dead branches which their group surrounded.

They stopped, and in a second loud metal raps came from the pile. At that moment all researchers remembered words of Blackthorn, and spelled the only thought what they had:

“Fuck.”

And the pile exploded. Four dozens of dark long crystals shot in all directions. Most of them flew past, but other reached the aim. All researchers, even Edez, just had no time to react. Everyone was hit.

Karin and Sheim were stabbed in their sides, Oma – in stomach, Zet’rar – in thorax. Three crystals dug into Edez’s legs and two into Bluve’s, and they fell down. One crystal crashed Kor’s mandible. Two crystals hit Affi’s hips. Two more ones pierced Max’s throat.

“Argh!” growled Oma. “Why we always get into such crap?!”
“Damned creature of damned forest…” swore Bluve.
“Shit!” snarled Sheim.
“Egh… a little help here?” uttered Edez, pointing to his legs with own head.
“Not only you need it…” hissed Affi.
“Oh… Fine!”

After some time they got all crystals out from their bodies. Wounds were terrible: muscles and some organs were torn apart, bones were broken, and they lost a lot of blood. But thanks to implants they withstand the pain, and thanks to nanites they could regenerate themselves. Researchers focused and sent mental signal to all micromachines in their bodies. Tiny robots immediately rushed to heal the damages. And wounds began to skin over right in one’s sight. Ten minutes, during which they only had to hold fixed bones and wait, and the healing was finished. There even were no traces of formed injuries on their bodies.

“Finally!” exclaimed Max when the process was over. “I can breathe like a normal terran!”
“Bearable,” spelled Kor, moving his mandible.
“Just like new!” smiled Bluve, looking at her legs.
“Does it look fine?” Oma asked Zet’rar, sitting and stroking her belly.
“Perfectly, my dear,” answered technician.
“Well, these nanites should do their best…” uttered Affi, stretching her hind legs. “How’s my… butt?”
“Sexy as always,” answered Edez.

Affi sighed and shook her head.

“You know, Edez is right,” said Sheim. “Affi, you have amazing figure!”
“Yep,” nodded Edez and grinned. “It can charm even a draconequus!”
“What???” she exclaimed.
“We are not blind. We saw how you looked at him. There was something more in your eyes than just interest and admiration. So, if you want to get him, don’t be shy, my dear. Use it,” master researcher grinned again and with a wave told other to follow him.

Soon they left the forest and crossed the bridge. Affi’s face meanwhile regained its usual color. When researchers approached the ruins, they stopped for a moment near the entrance and looked up at rising ancient walls and towers. They looked severe and cold, it seemed possible to feel all the horrible events what happened here, but at the same time for some reason these mures created the impression that nothing happens when they will be inside. This strange sensation gave confidence. So researchers gave each other a nod and went in.

They appeared in grand hall: big high elongated room with set of portals on both sides, total volume of which was so great that it seemed possible to place three Ponyville town halls there. Seven corridors began in it with low but quite wide stairs. Though the roof of the hall almost entirely collapsed long ago, a lot of decoration elements preserved, and surprisingly in very good state.

“I can’t believe that all these things are more than thousand years old…” spelled Oma, looking at carpets, tapestries and wooden carved panels.
“Yeah…” nodded Sheim. “All fabric and wood should decay, having spent so much time under winds and rains!”
“Once I heard Twilight saying that princess Celestia casted a special spell on whole this place for better preservation,” said Affi.
“Well then it’s clear,” uttered Edez. “But I have a feeling that it’s only the beginning of surprises.”
“Let’s start the excursion then!” grinned Kor.

Researchers went to the widest stairs which were right in front of the entrance. They climbed it, passed a couple of corridors and appeared near the entrance to another large hall. They entered it and saw that it was the main room of whole castle – the throne room. It was almost as big as the main hall and looked quite similar to it – mostly because of brutal colonnades on the sides that were almost just like those sets of portals. But here, instead of the main stairs, there was an elevation on which two thrones stood. The wall behind them was decorated with two large tapestries with stylized images of princesses. This hall also had only remains of the roof, but was surprisingly clean.

“Wow…” uttered Karin, looking around. “Just like ancient Terran palaces of feudal era!”
“Well… With the only exception that this room is much bigger than in average castle on our home planet,” added Max.
“Yeah, right.”
“Amazing!” uttered Sheim and took his recorder. Zet’rar also activated his camera.
“Hm…” Kor rubbed his chin, grinned and went to the thrones.
“What are you doing?” asked Affi, looking how officer approached the seats.
“Well, we’re alone here, no one looks, and I always wanted to sir in the chair of a ruler!” he said and sat on old Celestia’s throne. But in a moment he jumped from it with loud exclamation like he has just sat in a nettle bush.
“What’s wrong?”
“Aaaghh… It’s cold!”

Researchers laughed.

“It serves you right!” said Affi to him.
“Princess is still protecting her place!” grinned Bluve.

Having giggled for some more time and made Kor even more grumpy-faced, they made several panoramic shots and went further.

They started to move along numerous corridors of the castle. Great passages, so high that pegasi easily could do their stunts there, interspersed with narrow tunnels where ponies could walk only in a rank. Some of them were empty – even without doors and windows, only bare walls – other had some decoration. It wasn’t so splendid like in throne room or main hall, but still it was more than worthy of the royal residence. Team One could see magnificent tapestries representing historical moments of old times, portraits of nobles, warlords, court alchemists and magicians, some sculptures and vases. Unlike Canterlot – as they knew from bearers of the Elements and Spike – there was no furniture in the corridors. It could be understood: Canterlot palace served almost entirely as a residence, this castle also served for defense. And this feature had left its mark: although the castle looked grand, its decoration was strict and somber.

“Gosh! I can’t believe that princesses could prefer such grim style!” said Oma when they entered the passage full of torch holders made in form of pony’s forelegs.
“Well, your tastes and preferences can change significantly during your life, especially if you live for several thousand years,” said Edez. “For example, five hundred years ago I was bald but with spade beard.”
“Oh my…” sociologist shuddered, having imagined her curator in such image.
“Wooden,” said Zet’rar, gently tapping one of the holders.
“These could be used as quite nice sconces…” uttered Max.
“Yeah,” nodded Affi. “For a cabinet where you want to write a horror novel.”

They moved farther, and soon appeared in the corridor which they could call “The exhibition of equestrian armors.”

“I wouldn’t edge myself into them even if I was a teenager!” swore Kor.
“And they fit me just right!” smiled Max, standing near one of the armors.

The wandering continued, and during it researchers also looked into rooms. After the throne room they hadn’t met anything more notable: all the rooms what they visited were cabinets, bedrooms for guests, maid’s rooms, barracks and closets. There was nothing interesting in them, and they showed various degrees of mess. Something different they found only in basements – castle pantries and kitchens. But because of presence of remains of food there, there was inexpressible strong smell that could easily cure rhinitis and created want to never come back here. Sometimes they opened a door and it turned out that it lead to nowhere – rooms were just absent, and through doorway they could see remains of masonry and treetops of Everfree Forest to the horizon. They could visit various rooms – as apartments of nobles as storages where cleaners and gardeners kept their tools. It was possible because all these rooms were unlocked – the castle was abandoned quickly, so no one cared about this. Now this circumstance allowed researchers to learn more.

But, eventually, they found a locked door.

“Hey, guys, come here!” exclaimed Bluve.
“Yes? What did you find?” asked her friends who ran to her.
“This door is locked,” said physiologist and pointed to ordinary wooden door – ones like this usually led to closets.
“Yep, it’s closed thoroughly,” spelled Zet’rar, having pulled the handle.
“Well, in that case, there should be something really important inside if it was or remained closed,” said Affi.
“Then let’s find out!” smiled Edez and leaned all his weight upon the door. It creaked, but didn’t yield. Edez frowned and leaned again, but again with no results.
“Let me,” intervened Kor.

Curator of the Team stepped back, and Kor hit the door with his forelegs. The door loudly creaked, but moved only a millimeter.

“Step back, you weaklings,” sighed Oma and approached the door.

Surprised Kor retreated. Oma stopped in a step from the entrance, moved her tail, then stood on it and hit the door with all might of her hind legs. The door crackled and flew off its hinges. “Nice,” uttered Zet’rar, Bluve and Max. Edez and Kor dropped their jaws. Oma, having given them a smug smile, stepped aside. Affi took and switched on a lantern, and they entered the room.

Their guess turned out to be true: this room really was one of the most important in whole castle. It was the armory. Dozens of racks with different weapons. Eyes of lads and Karin lit up, Affi gladly smiled, and they rushed to examine the ammunition. Oma with Bluve just slowly walked and looked around. Armory was incredibly rich: there were weapons not only for ponies, but also for griffins and minotaurs. Spears, glaives, knives, daggers, swords, sabers, axes, halberds, clubs, hammers, slings, bows and arrows, armors, helmets, shields – the storage had enough arms for a whole brigade. And all these arms preserved in very good state: wooden parts remained intact, metal parts have no traces of rust, blades still were fine. Researchers with undisguised delight examined the weapons, held them and even tried them, making some simple moves and testing their ease and practicality of use.

“Neat!” smiled Max, lifting and looking at blued machete in perfect state.
“This is for me!” gladly said Kor and took minotaur battle-ax.
“I must say that for peaceful creatures they have quite large armory,” spelled Karin, sorting out throwing knives.
“Well, centuries ago everything wasn’t so peaceful here, so existence of such armory is understandable,” answered Affi.
“Yeah, those guys thoroughly prepared for battles,” added Zet’rar.
“You know… After all those meetings with monsters…” said Edez. “Such stuff as this will be quite useful for all of us.”
“Your hands are itching too?” Affi addressed him.
“At first, now it’s hooves, and at second, this place is forgotten and no one needed it for centuries. And these things will be really useful for us.”
“And not only Edez thinks that we should take some stuff from here, believe me,” said Kor.
“Oh yeah,” added Sheim and Karin.
“Well then let’s rob this storage!” grinned Max.

And they started to pick the weapons what they liked. Luckily, they have some additional bags, free space in blocks of warped space and other means of carrying.

“Girls, take something!” Edez addressed Bluve and Oma.
“Okay,” said girls, and went to choose arms for themselves. Soon Bluve had four short swords and four clubs, Oma took set of small knives, a glaive and pair of heavy metal “boots” for her hind legs.
“Ready for another monster attack, sir!” reported Kor.
“Glad to hear,” responded Edez. “And, by the way, we can visit this place a couple of times more.” Others agreed, and they continued their tour across the castle.

And again endless corridors began. But now they were excited: they have found forgotten armory, and who knows what they can find next? So they actively looked around and examined all the rooms and portals trying to find something new.

Edez led the group. They were near another wing full of apartments and other rooms, when suddenly first curator heard loud scream of his subordinates right behind him. He turned around and got shocked: all other disappeared – a big dark hole now was on the place where his friends and colleagues were. Still affected, he looked down at his hooves, and noticed that tile under his left foreleg was indented in the floor. He realized what had happened, quietly swore and turned back to the hole.

“Guys, are you alright?” he asked.
“Except for a couple of bruises, yes,” answered Affi.
“What happened?” wondered Karin.
“I occasionally stepped at tile that activates a trap…” growled Edez. “I can’t leave because you might get locked, so can you get out yourselves?”
“We’ll try.”

After some minutes they managed to get out. Using their claws, they one by one climbed the walls of the trap. Quite slowly, because they didn’t want to damage their tools, samples and now weapons, but they did it. When the last got out, Edez put his hoof away from the tile. And the trap closed with slam.

Researchers looked at each other and moved on. But now, having got the reminder, they slowed down and watched their step and not only step.

Wandering through the next wing, they found another large entrance portal. After the throne room and main hall it was first big room what they met, so, wondering what could it be, they rushed inside. And when they got in, they delightfully gasped: it was the royal library. A hall even bigger than throne room, filled with incredibly well-preserved books. Thousands of tomes, placed on shelves that were as high as three-storeyed house. Although here and there were dust, spider webs and stones and bricks from the roof, this place looked amazingly. It was real treasury of knowledge of ancient times.

“Now I can fully understand Twilight,” uttered Affi.
“Yes… As far as I know, you can see libraries like this only in three places in whole country – Canterlot Royal Archive, Trottingham and Manehattan Universities,” said Oma.
“There are so many ancient books here…” spelled Bluve. “It’ll take hours to look through all of them!”
“Two days at least,” added Max. “We should came here first! Or we should return here tomorrow.”
“My friends, there is no need in this,” said Zet’rar.
“What do you mean?”

Technician didn’t response. He only smiled and took a can-sized device with a shape of truncated pyramid from his saddlebag and put it on the floor. Then he activated it, quickly typed a command on holographic panel which appeared right after the activation, and said “Wait!” Soon the panel disappeared, and short, but powerful flash lightened the room. When the library plunged into darkness again, he took the device and put it back.

“What was that?” uttered Max.
“One of the latest unfalizan achievements. Instant particle scanner of medium precision,” answered Zet’rar.
“You scanned the library with it? Why?” wondered Oma.
“Simple. To convert these books into electronic format,” said technician and, seeing light incomprehension on faces of his colleagues, continued. “The scanner isn’t detailed, but it’s able to detect particles of ink on the paper. Thanks to scanogram it will be possible to reconstruct the location of each area of ink on the paper. And, using one simple algorithm, which I’ll write in a couple of supramoments, we will be able to define every sign by location of ink particles and, thus, convert the book.”
“Zet, you’re genius!” smiled Kor.
“I just can’t express how you make this task easier and better,” said Affi.
“Thank you.”
“Good job, Zet,” Edez nodded to him. “Now we have all the materials, but, still, let’s stay here for a while.”
“Sure!” smiled Zet’rar. “Electronic formal is handy, but nothing can compare with primary sources.”

Other agreed, and they started to explore the ancient temple of knowledge.

“Just look at all these chronicles!” exclaimed Kor, looking at rows of records. “They’re not only about Equestria, they’re about all regions of this world! Wow! Well, now I know what I gonna read in the evenings!”
“For you it’ll be a good entertainment…” spelled Karin. “But for me and Oma – a good number of reports…”

Zet’rar found a tome named “History of Necromancy” on one of the most hidden shelves. He got interested and decided to take a look. Max, Bluve and Affi joined him. They quickly looked through it. Zet’rar, when he was closing the book, said:

“Quite frightening, but it can’t compete with what rotula did.”
“Yeah…” responded his friends and shuddered, having remembered one of the most cruel and unprincipled civilization in Known Space, which turned fallen soldiers of their enemies into own weapon with swarms of nanites.
“Take a look at this!” exclaimed Oma, holding such a big book that it could fit as a hovel for a filly.
“Terrors of Equestria…” Edez read the title and got silent.
“It’s a complete catalog of all the monsters that inhabit this continent,” continued Oma. “There are detailed descriptions of different spirits, changelings, shadow ponies, windegoes, dragons, guardians of forests and mountains, trolls, constellation beasts, timberwolves, hydras, parasprites, and other and other. You name it!”
“Well… I didn’t expect that this land can be so rich!” uttered Sheim.
“Me too. I just can’t imagine how ponies can be healthy and live long and happily having all them right next door!”
“Well, ponies really live in a couple of steps from these monsters, but they don’t contact with them or contact incredibly rare,” said Max. “For instance, how many ponies usually visit Everfree Forest during a day? Although thousands live near its borders, only a couple of dozens dare to go into. They keep themselves safe thanks to the simplest strategy: avoiding. And, speaking about “healthy and live long and happily”… Ponies created very favorable environment for themselves and support its existence. All these have its good effects on them, so we can see prosperous and contented culture. Also they follow some simple but very salutary rules, like spend more time outdoors and be physically active.”
“Can the effect of these prescriptions really be so great?” wondered Kor.
“Why, yes,” nodded biologist. “Before invention of genetic modifications and treatments they were the most reliable ways of improvement of health and providing the longevity in every civilization. Even basic physical exercises, good environment and enjoyment of it can do miracles. As we said in Medical Academy, sun, fresh air and onanism will strengthen your organism!”

Several researchers sighed and shook their heads.

“Seriously?” said Sheim.
“Well, for some species…” Zet’rar began.
“For some species – yes.”
“Ah, forget it!” Max waved off. “None of you will understand it!”
“Just look at all this magnificence!” exclaimed Edez, standing in front of magic literature section. “Now we’ll certainly create complete description of phenomenon of local magic!”
“Yes,” nodded Affi and smiled. “Having the data what we got during that show and such theoretical basis, we’ll be the first who crack it!”
“Guys!” shouted Karin. “Come here! I found something what you should see!”

Other researchers gathered near her and looked. It turned out that Karin found a folder with architectural drawings of the castle. That was really useful finding. Her colleagues thanked her and began to memorize it. Soon they could navigate freely through the whole building, so, since now there was no fear to stray, curators allowed their subordinates to divide and explore everything what they want. Only with a single time limit: since it was evening, they had only about an hour to spend here if they wanted to return into Ponyville before nightfall. Regular members of the group agreed, and they went in different directions.

Max and Bluve went to castle hospital. It took them some time to get there, but when they did it, they were very glad: its rooms remained in very good state, and thanks to this biologist could find drugs that ponies used in old times and some interesting literature. Karin and Kor rushed to the rooms of headquarters and after their exploration remained very amazed: it turned out that Equestria long time ago had quite rich military history. Zet’rar and Oma spent greatest part of their time in ballroom where they danced and Zet’rar played some music to his love, but they did some explorations too: they found that all the traps built in the castle based on difficult mechanics and contained absolutely no magic elements. Edez, Affi and Sheim decided to do a little sacrilege and wade in princesses’ apartments. They managed to do it, but they didn’t find anything interesting and noticeable – if there was something, it was removed long time ago.

In two supramoments they met near the entrance as they agreed. They quickly exchanged the news, briefly told to each other what they found and what they got, and, while the sky still was blue, left the Castle.

They knew that with nightfall dangerous creatures of the Forest brisk, and a lot of them start their hunt at that time, but on their way to the town Team One met only small evening birds and other arboreal animals. This gave confidence: they chose perfect period, when day animals only started to go to sleep and night ones only about to wake up. So they with no fear went forward and vividly discussed the events of this day.

The trail seemed to be calm and quiet until their very arrival to Ponyville. They passed two thirds of whole way and didn’t meet anything special. They thought that nothing can happen to them in next supramoments, but everything changed in a second.

Thunderous sound shook the surroundings. Frightened researchers froze and started to look around. Trees and bushes rustled and soon from behind of them dozens of angry growling predator beasts slowly came out. But now it wasn’t timberwolves, it was their counterparts from constellation beasts – lupis, blue sparkling monsters at least one and a half times taller than highest of researchers. And they were not alone – together with them there were several purple corvis, which could easily carry away a pony, and three silver leones, high as average tree. And, in addition, four hydras.

Researchers were shocked.

“Oh come on!” exclaimed Sheim and Oma.
“It can’t be that we got so unlucky!” exclaimed Zet’rar.
“We’re screwed,” stated Edez.
“It can’t be that there is no way out!” exclaimed Karin and Bluve.
“Teleportation of material bodies now, when ship’s ASI is in passive mode and all shields are up, is impossible. We are alone against almost hundred monsters, which are much stronger than us. Even our abilities and weapons won’t guarantee victory.”
“And I won’t be able to hold them all, especially hydras,” added Affi.
“Sorry, but now we really have no chance. The only way out is the last source. Guys, transfer all the data into your implanted memory blocks, Bluve, activate the main annihilator.”

Bluve took deep breath and concentrated. Other researchers encircled her. Beasts meanwhile continued to approach, and now only several steps separated them from attack distance.

“Done,” said Bluve.
“Get ready for transportation…” spelled Edez.

Monsters, shouting, growling and showing their teeth came closer, and suddenly all nine ponies simultaneously fell down unconscious. Creatures surprised – they have never seen such reaction. Interested, they leaned over ponies’ bodies and… Main annihilator activated.

Huge dome of white light rose above the forest without a sound. It instantly spread and covered area at least twice bigger than Ponyville. All the beasts and forest around vanished in the annihilation wave. After all of this only huge crater remained.

Team One after some time woke up in their new avatars on their ship. Saying almost no words and making rare sighs, they activated the ASI, gave it all the data what they could save for processing, launched the growing of new set of avatars and only then left the ship. They returned to Ponyville after midnight and immediately fell asleep. At the next day they woke up late and spent remnants of their free time having relaxing rest. They had to recover after those events.

But their act of self-annihilation couldn’t remain unnoticed. Light dome above Everfree Forrst was seen with the naked eye even from Canterlot. This sight alarmed and frightened hundreds of ponies. No one could even suppose what happened there. So representatives of all military and secret services of Equestria came there as fast as they could. Ponies from Second Department of Special Service were one of the first.

“Holy… Oh my goodness!” uttered Dim Silhouette, Grace and Cloudbreaker when they reached the place. In front of them was incredibly deep two-thirds-of-a-mile-wide crater, at the bottom of which a small lake of dirty water had already formed.
“Unbelievable…” spelled Razor Edge.
“What happened here?” uttered Grace. “Thousand ponies saw dome of light, but didn’t hear a sound! And here we have this giant hole! How there can be an explosion without a thunderous noise?”
“And absolutely without fragments and other remains?” added Cloudbreaker.
“Yes!”
“It wasn’t a simple explosion…” said Hidden Path.
“Then… It was some kind of magic manifestation?” supposed Dim Silhouette. “But I can’t remember any natural phenomena that looked like this…”
“If so, then who could do this?” wondered Grace.
“Well… all known free magicians able for something like this are our princesses, Discord and soldiers of Special Unicorn Battalion of Canterlot guard,” said Cloudbreaker. “All other are in jails or in Tartarus or destroyed. The only exception is queen Chrysalis, but I don’t think that she could do something like that, it’s not her way.”
“It wasn’t magic,” suddenly said Razor Edge.
“What?” exclaimed Dim Silhouette, Grace and Cloudbreaker.
“I scanned the surrounding for traces of magic. But I felt only typical background of Everfree.”

Dim Silhouette, not believing her colleague, casted a scanning spell herself and examined some things from near the crater. And soon got frightened: Razor Edge was completely right.

“It’s true. No signs of magic,” she uttered.
“But… How?” exclaimed Cloudbreaker.
“Magic always manifests itself gently and a bit blurry, no matter how dark and strong it is,” explained Razor Edge. “In most cases, and especially when it comes to powerful manifestations, the edges of its zone of influence are always diffuse and imprecise. Yes, magic can be perfectly focused, but still one can feel the aura. Here there are absolutely no traces of magic.”
“And look at this!” exclaimed Dim Silhouette, holding a part of a stone that she picked right from the edge of crater. “It looks like they were cut! And branches of the trees too!” she pointed to them.
“So there can be only one explanation of that event,” spelled Razor Edge.
“Technology?” guessed Grace.

Unicorn nodded.

“But that is the problem,” said Hidden Path. “Such technologies aren’t known to anyone in the world.”
“Unknown?” surprised others.
“Yep,” stallion nodded. “I’m familiar with all latest achievements of other nations and all the materials that our intelligence service brings. I know what technologies each country possesses. We have energy cannons and prototype artillery, europonians have crystal-based bombs and artillery, ponies of Eastern Kingdoms – self-propelled machines and devices that cause earthquakes, volcano eruptions and terrible storms, griffins of Empire – artillery and explosive devices which they call thermobaric bombs, minotaurs – self-propelled armored vehicles, zebras, camels, elephants, antelope, dogs and cats – firearms, alpacas and llamas together with zebras and antelope have grenades, marsupial ones – biogenic war gases and other poisons, also alpacas and llamas, together with cats and dogs have inorganic war gases, deer – poisons and mutagens of immediate action, dragons of southern continents – electromagnetic guns and bombs based on crystals. Here we have giant crater of perfect hemispherical shape with absolutely no remains. The only thing that left such traces is annihilation. But it can be created only by magic.”
“But… Is it possible to create such technology at all?” said Cloudbreaker. “We arrested some maniacs, who had devices that no pony has ever seen before.”
“It isn’t possible. There is no even a hypothesis that could explain how to initiate annihilation with technical sources.”

His colleagues silently gulped.

“We can only guess who or what it was,” spelled Hidden Path.
“You think it was those nine?” supposed Grace.
“It’s impossible to say, there was no pony around for miles. But I sincerely hope that it was not them.”
“Why?”
“Because thing which was able to do this couldn’t come from our world.”

Having finished, Hidden Path sighed. Pegasi and unicorns shuddered.

They were silently looking at the crater for some more minutes, then slowly went to help other groups of agents, guards and policeponies that arrived to the place. They’ll have a long investigation.

13. Taking a Changeling

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Some members of the Team sat in the main laboratory of their ship and discontentedly rapped claws on the arms of their chairs.

“It’s only third our taking, but again our group can’t gather in time!” grumbled Oma. “We can’t keep the “patient” for whole night and day!”
“Well, they have good reasons for being late,” minded Karin. “Edez is finishing the processing of materials about magic, and Affi, since he’s busy, receives reports from other Teams.”
“And Max also is finishing to process the data,” added Bluve.
“I agree, it’s good reasons, but, dammit, we sit here for five supramoments!”
“Have a little more patience,” said Sheim. “They’ll come soon.”
“Are you sure?”
“After eleven decades of working together I can tell how much time different tasks take you. So now, knowing when they started… Yep, they’ll come quite soon.”
“If you say so…”

They waited a little more, and Sheim’s prediction began to come true: soon doors to one of the minor laboratories opened, and Edez came from there.

“You were right,” said Oma, looking at the curator who approached them.
“Like I said,” gladly smiled Sheim.
“Well, how are the results?” asked Kor. “Did you finally draft the total scheme of how locals can do magic?”
“Now I can say yes with confidence,” answered master researcher. “After supramoments of continuous painstaking work and insentient doses of stimulants, I did it.”
“And?” wondered Karin.
“Well, original hypothesis has become the theory without any significant clarifications. But still I’d better tell you everything in detail. Since I’m not a physiologist, Bluve, if I’ll be wrong, correct me, please. So… The basic premise of ability of energy flux control is that their nerves and ETS, as we already know, are closely intertwined. Their brain has direct connection with the main battery or, as they say, magic heart, and thus with all the channels of ETS. If they want, both systems can work as a single block – this needs minimal concentration. Each creature here can perfectly control energy fluxes in own body, and unicorns, having good and quite powerful antenna, can also influence the fluxes and areas of energy concentration that surround them. And what about the process of control itself… Well, it has two components: regulation of the fluxes and areas of concentration and creation of disturbances. Through their nerves – which, I must admit, also have much greater conducting than average for sentients of Known Space – they can influence the fluxes in battery and channels, regulate them as they need and give any order they want. Speaking about the second component, it’s inherent primarily to creatures able for open manifestations, like unicorns, so-called spirits and some other. Knowing the effect what each disturbance has, they just “pull the necessary energy strings”, give very exact and structured commands, and here you go. And thanks to the features of local perfect mix, its composition, power and intensity, locals can create things from pure energy, teleport along the lines of force and do many other things. Skillful combination of two these processes will allow you to cast any spell, using local terminology.”
“Wow, Edez! Everything was absolutely correct!” smiled Bluve. “It was very good for an one who studied biology more than thousand years ago.”
“Thank you.”
“Hm… Now I can understand a lot of stuff that seemed crazy for us,” said Oma.
“And some things that happened to us,” added Sheim
“Yeah, and this too.”
“I wonder…” Karin rubbed her chin. “What about Discord? He is a spirit of chaos, after all – or, well, he’s known as spirit of chaos. We all saw how random he and his magic are. Does he also have to structure his energy to cast the spells? Because it sounds contradictory and quite unlikely.”
“I checked with the data of other Teams, especially Teams Five and Eight, who studied creatures like Discord, and judging by them, structuring of the inner energy fluxes is the only possible way, no matter what peculiarities manifested magic has,” answered Edez. “There are great number of ways of structuring the energy, but it’s still structuring. They have to do it not only for casting the spells, but for maintenance of their lives. It’s biology, and no one can go against it.”
“Oh yeah,” nodded Bluve.
“Discord may prefer chaos, but for making it he has to put his magic in order.”
“Karin was right: you can’t even imagine how contradictory it sounds,” said Oma.
“And does Discord know about this?” asked Zet’rar.

Edez just shrugged and spread his forelimbs.

“I don’t know,” he said.

And right after his words Max came into the room of main laboratory.

“We replenish our ranks!” smiled Bluve.
“Good evening to you too,” Max gave her a nod.
“And what you have been doing?” asked Oma. “Why you are late?”
“I’m sorry for that. You see, I found one very important thing just in seven supramoments before the beginning and I just have to complete it. It wasn’t connected with the current task, but it’s very significant for many other purposes.”
“And what was that thing?”
“I finally figured out correct taxonomy of ponies.”
“Ehm… Pardon me, but I thought that we determined how they taxonomically relate to each other,” said Zet’rar.
“Oh, my friend, we didn’t. There were some serious problems. We couldn’t determine are four kinds of ponies different species or subspecies – results of scans and genome analyses are still processing. We weren’t sure about this until now. You see, analyses provided by ASIs contain only main information, so additional data researcher should get himself. Studying genomes of earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns and seeing how much common they have, I decided to find the exact degree of similarity. It turned out to be incredibly high, but it’s not the thing. I was matching genes looking for different ones, and when I reached the ones that determine development of horn, I found them in genomes of all three kinds.”
“What?”
“Earth ones and pegasi have them too?” exclaimed Bluve.
“Yes! That was the very thing we missed during previous studies,” continued Max. “I don’t know how we could miss it looking for even slightest traces, but… And that’s not all! The same situation is with their wings. The thing is that these genes can be active or not. If both genes are blocked – you are an earth pony, if only one of them is blocked – you are pegasus or unicorn. And, as I think, if all these genes aren’t blocked, you are…”
“An alicorn,” continued Bluve.
“Right. But it’s only a hypothesis now, we still have to confirm it. After this I did some more matching and soon got sure enough to make the statement: degree of similarity is sufficient only for the category of races of one species.”
“Well, Max, this is worth publishing in the Annals of the Institute,” said Edez.
“And I have to wait only eighty seven years for this,” spelled Max.
“Don’t complain. I waited one and a half centuries for my first publication since I became a senior.”
“As you say… So, can we start the procedure?”
“Wait,” said Oma. “Affi hasn’t come yet.”
“Why? I’m here!” they heard a voice and turned to it. Their second curator returned from the ship’s bridge.
“Well, what other Teams are talking about?” asked Edez with a smile.
“Oh, about a lot of things. On some of them I didn’t even try to focus – there were too many topics…”
“Really? I thought that telepathists notice everything!” exclaimed Kor.
“Yes, we do. That’s why I shielded my mind on purpose. These conferences are spontaneous and chaotic, they have no organization. For a telepathist it’s real madhouse.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah… Anyway, there were some really interesting and significant things. I won’t talk about minor tasks and questions that were the greatest part of the conference – if you want, you can look for yourself. Well, during the latest decade there were two major discoveries. First: all sapient creatures of this world can use magic, influence the energy environment. One shouldn’t have an “antenna” like unicorns to manifest it. All other species – dragons, zebras, deer, minotaurs, antelopes, camels, giraffes, elephants, cats, dogs – know their own ways: rituals, effects of places of the highest concentration of energy, special techniques and so on.”
“Well, now it’ll be possible to understand how do they do it,” said Karin.
“Excuse me?”
“Edez drafted the total scheme of how this magic works.”
“Structuring of the energy fluxes and creation of special disturbances in the environment – I’ll explain it to you in detail later,” said senior planetologist.
“Okay,” said Affi. “And the second discovery… Well, it’s quite specific. Some Teams, especially Five and Eight, having analyzed materials from their takings, found that features of the energy environment of this planet can help different creatures successfully hybridize with each other.”
“What?”
“Yes, representatives of different species of this planet, even if they aren’t biologically close to each other, can have common babies. The mechanism is still studied, but the fact is that perfect energy mix can help mix different genes, and makes it perfectly. Great number of local monsters, for example, has parents from different species.”

After these words there was a silence for a moment.

“Fucking great!” swore Zet’rar. “We worked on genome integration technology for friggin four million years, and they can have it right here and have no need to think about it!”
“Well, we had to combine genes of representatives of different planets, and these guys are people of one planet, after all.”
“I know. But still, dammit, I can’t understand how different species of this planet, like giraffes and elephants, can have common babies?”
“It puzzles me too, but it’s the fact. Even the weirdest hybridization isn’t a problem here.”
“Interesting news, I must say,” spelled Sheim.
“Yeah,” nodded Max. “The Annals of this year will be much thicker and much more amazing and bizarre than usual.”
“L-let’s better pass to our current task,” offered Bluve.

Her friends and colleagues agreed, and they approached the chamber where tall thin black pony-like creature with membranous wings, curved horn and long green mane was lying.

Max and Bluve together with Zet’rar initiated the process. Once again eight manipulators with extra precise particle scanners appeared from the floor and began their odd dance.

“Remind me, please, why we took her instead of an usual member of the hive?” asked Affi, looking at the figure of queen behind the field barrier.
“Well, it was easier to adjust the biological beacon on her,” said Edez, looked at Kor and grinned. “Thanks to some souvenirs…”
“And, by the way, go big or go home!” added Bluve.

Manipulators meanwhile continued to execute the scanning program. Soon researchers started to get the data – at first general views, but with every second scan became more and more precise. In a couple of supramoments they will know the location of each particle in the queen’s body, and they can explore her species in detail. But first some general features.

And the first glance even at initial low-resolution scan revealed strange and significant characteristics.

“Well I’ll be damned…” spelled Max.
“Heh…” nervously grinned Bluve.
“I know that in the field of biology I don’t understand shit,” said Kor, “but I know that such structure is atypical.”
“Jeez, they look more like some creatures Teams Five and Eight are dealing with,” said Affi.
“I’d say that they are insects outside, but ponies inside,” uttered Max. “Just look at this! They have both endo- and exoskeletons! Structure of their joints almost identical to arthropods, their epithelial tissues are chitin – well, not entirely: greater part of their epithelium is so-called quasi-chitin, something average between usual chitin and usual skin and that’s why, by the way, queen has hair – their wings are the same that insects have… But their internal organs are identical to ponies: they have lungs, not tracheae, four-chamber heart, stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, pancreas… And they also have ETS absolutely similar to ponies’.”
“They are like a combination of insects and ponies,” said Bluve.
“Hm… Well, it does match with the legend,” said Karin.
“Pardon me, what legend?”
“There is a story about genesis of changelings. According it, they came from murky rotten swamp where only flies and mosquitoes lived and a lot of ponies died every year. Then something generated a spark of dark magic, and this caused the appearing of these creatures. Unfortunately, where was this swamp no one can tell.”
“Well, all of us saw that places of high energy concentration here can do great wonders…” said Edez. “I think that this legend is true.”
“All the evidences favor this version,” said Max. “We can’t find that swamp, so…”
“Why? We can,” objected Affi. “It’s known that she has been leading all the changelings since the very beginning, and if so, I can get inside her memory and find the location of the swamp.”
“And then we’ll be able to send a probe there,” continued Zet’rar.
“Probe? Is it safe?”
“Yeah. Teams Two and Three had already executed some explorations with probes, and they were successful: no one noticed the devices, and they got all the data what they wanted. So, just a couple of shields and fields, and here you go!”
“And where were our brains before?.. If so, then we can send all the probes to distant parts of the country, where we’ll never be able to get,” offered Sheim. “We can cover all the area!”
“Why it hadn’t been done before?” wondered Oma.
“Well, organizers of the expedition were afraid that locals might find the probes, so they didn’t include this into original program,” explained Edez. “But now, having successful experiences, I think that the Institute will allow it.”
“Then it’s great!”

Suddenly Bluve stood up and went to one of the refrigerators.

“What are you going to do?” Max asked her.
“Oh, I just wonder what makes queen so different from regular changelings,” she answered. “So I decided to compare her genome with genomes of her subordinates. Luckily, now we have some samples…”

She took one container and put it into built-it scanner of main terminal of the laboratory. Then junior medic initiated the scanning and selective comparing of the genes. The main scanner has already begun the determination of locations of the particles in queen’s body, so in two thirds of supramoment both procedures will define all the genes – comparison itself is a matter of a couple of moments. They just have to wait.

And meanwhile they could focus on other problems.

“I wonder…” uttered Sheim. “Why do they need these holes on legs and wings, and how such thing could develop?”
“If I had such legs, I’d use them for whistling,” said Zet’rar.
“Well, that’s you. I wonder about them.”
“I read in one book about how changelings got them,” said Karin.
“Wait, got their holes?”
“Yes. Originally they haven’t any. Their wings and legs were solid when they… appeared. They got holes after one incident which happened nine hundred and sixteen years ago. They attacked the city of Trot, but princess Celestia came to rescue. She used one incredibly powerful spell on changelings, and it just pierced them through in some places. Since then they had these holes.”
“So, they are remnants of former wounds?” said Kor.
“Well, turns out that yes.”
“And these damages caused some changes in their organisms. They adapted,” said Bluve. “Look!” she pointed to the first, low-resolution scanogram. “They have not finger bones. Probably they were damaged so greatly that after some time they just atrophied.”
“Yes…” nodded Max. “Almost half of their legs have only an exoskeleton. But thanks to muscles that remain they preserved former mobility of the limbs.”
“They adapted rather quickly, don’t you think?” said Kor.
“Well, probably they cured themselves, and perfect mix had its effect.”

They had no more questions for the moment, so they just ceased talking and began to wait. Some time they spent in relative silence, which was disturbed only with rare signals of different devices. Researchers just looked at the holoscreens of scanners and studied the materials. Eventually the term had passed, and another signal annunciated that the genome scanning and comparison are finished. New holoscreen with information about the results appeared above the main control panel. Team One focused on it.

“Well…” spelled Bluve when she looked through the data. “It’s not what I expected.”
“Me too,” said Max. “Almost all selected genes of queen and regular changeling turned out to be absolutely identical! She is different only because some rare additional ones.”
“Well, there are some creatures in Known Space different from each other only thanks to additional genes,” noticed Affi.
“Yes, but it’s strange to see this mechanism here. It’s not typical for this planet as I know. There were only few reports about such phenomena from other Teams, and it was inherent only to small and low-developed creatures.”
“They are partly insects, after all,” said Zet’rar.
“Maybe, maybe… Wait a little…”
“What’s wrong?” worried Bluve.
“Algorithm also selected for comparison the group of genes responsible for formation and development of the eyes. For queen and regular changelings they are identical too!”
“What? How?” exclaimed Sheim and Kor.
“Eyes of queen and average ones are absolutely different, we all saw it!” exclaimed Karin. “How these genes can be identical?”
“I don’t kno… Wait…” Max paused and looked closer at the data. He read it for a while and then, suddenly for others, just sat down with opened mouth. “No way,” he spelled.
“What did you find?” asked Edez.
“According to the genetic code… Entirely blue eyes aren’t typical for changelings.”
“What?”
“Their natural color of the eyes is similar to their queen. And, that means, to ponies – I remember some characteristic markers, and there is great number of similar ones for both species.”
“You mean regular changeling should have eyes similar to average pony?” said Kor.
“Yes.”
“Then why the color is different?” wondered Zet’rar.
“I have no idea. I can only assume that the reason is some admixture that we haven’t noticed. We should explore an average changeling for confirmation.”
“So… we’ll execute another taking?”
“It’ll be better to try some observation from the side first. Then, if it won’t help, we’ll take a changeling for brief exploration.”

One more signal sounded throughout the laboratory.

“Ah!” exclaimed Bluve. “The main scanner has finished its work.”
“Good.”
“I remembered what we forgot,” suddenly said Oma.
“And what is it?”
“We were so busy with the surface and minor tasks that we forgot about the main feature of changelings: how do they consume love?”
“Right! So… ehm… where to start?”
“I read that these guys literally “drink” love. I think it means that absorption occurs through the mouth.”
“Okay,” said Max, magnified the scanogram of queen’s head and rotated it.
“Aha! Here’s the reason!” exclaimed Bluve and pointed to relatively small formation near the tonsils. “They have a cluster of ETS cells here. It’s much bigger for a typical channel. It looks more like… additional battery.”
“Agree. It’s like a minor copy of the main organ.”
“Hm… Max, can you display the energy spectrum of this organ?” said Edez.
“Yes. And I think I understand what you are looking for…”

He typed the command, and soon information about the spectrum appeared on new holoscreen.

“And here’s your reason,” curator said. “This “additional battery” has negative polarity. And, knowing that ETS is closely connected to nerves, I can safely say that they can easily increase the potential difference, adjust the power, kind, particle and wave parameters and, thus, suck any energy what they want.”
“You think that love… is just an energy?” surprised Oma.
“Team Two reported once that they find that emotional reaction of locals can strongly influence their energetic state and state of the environment, so… Love is not an energy, but it creates a lot of it.”
“No wonder then energy-consuming creatures like changelings had appeared here. Nature tends to use all the possible sources of energy,” said Max.
“Yeah.”
“Eh…” sighed Affi. “Oddities and oddities.”
“Yep, but that’s the thing what makes this world so awesome!”
“Well, you’re right about that.”
“Ehm, pardon me, but what time is it?” a bit shyly asked Sheim. “Because I have a feeling that soon we’ll have to go for our official work.”
“Let’s see…” said Zet’rar. “Yep, dude, you are right. We have to be in the castle in five supramoments.”
“Okay,” said Affi. “Then let’s wind up and bring our patient to her home before she wa…”

And at this moment changeling queen suddenly started to move.

“Oh dammit! She’s waking!”
“I’ll handle it,” said Kor and approached the chamber of the main scanner.

He turned the field barrier off and leaned over the lying queen. She moved again, then heavily rolled onto her back and began to open her eyes. She slowly lifted her eyelids, and her and Kor’s eyes met. All the rest happened in a second. Officer of Team One instantly opened his mouth and his lifetaking fang shot out from his palate. White thorn hit changeling’s neck and pierced through the chitin. Queen twitched, wheezed and in a moment fainted. Kor sucked forces from her for some more seconds, then removed and hided his weapon.

“Done,” he said.
“And how long she’ll be in way out?” asked Max.
“Ehm… Half of a day. Likely.”
“And aren’t you worried about what her subordinates will think about such long royal “sleep” and this wound on her neck?” asked Oma.
“What her subordinates will think is not important. And what about the wound… Bluve, give her some X-127. In a dozen of moments it’ll look just like another spot on her chitin.”
“You know, it’s the second time when you hurt her…” said Edez, rubbing his chin.
“It just happened so! And, by the way, she’s a local villain.”
“And, by the way, how does evil energy taste?” grinned Zet’rar.
“I’m not impressed.”
“Okay, she’s sleeping again, let’s teleport her back to her chambers before other changelings find that she was gone,” said Affi.

Other researchers gave a nod, Zet’rar and Edez came to the control panel and soon changeling queen was brought back to her hive.

“Well, it’s senseless to go to sleep now, so we have some free time,” said Max. “What shall we do?”
“I have an idea,” uttered Sheim. “There is…” he turned and looked at the holoscreens of cameras and scanners of external observation “… no one in two migrograds around, so… After that incident in Everfree Forest we lost all the things what we took in the Castle. So I thought that now we could teleport some stuff from there instead.”
“I like this idea!” grinned Edez.
“Who would doubt that…” sighed Affi.
“Wait! I understand that now we can turn all the shields off, but we need detailed coordinates for this!” said Karin.
“I have them,” answered Sheim.
“And I have detailed panoramic shot of that armory,” added Kor. “We can choose the stuff!”
“Wow, that’s great, dude!”
“I knew that I wouldn’t be alone when it’ll come to this.”
“If so, then awesome!” smiled Karin.
“Okay,” said Oma and Bluve.
“So…” Sheim rubbed his hooves. “Let’s rob then?”

His friends nodded and, having switched off all the instruments in the laboratory, they went to the major teleportation chambers. Some equipping and playing with serious adult’s stuff after long night of work would be exactly what they needed.

14. Exploring Dodge City and Its Surroundings

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Late spring is a wonderful time. It is time of sunny and already warm days, fresh greenery, bird songs and lots of flowers. The reigning atmosphere is delightful: it’s so calm, peaceful and relaxing… You can enjoy it forever. Especially if you are in the countryside.

Ponyville was one of the best places in whole Equestria – no, in the whole world during those days. Team One couldn’t agree more: everything and everyone in the town was so leisure and quiet that it seemed to be the universal paradise, and their work as castle servants and as the researchers became significantly less stressful and exhausting. It was so nice that they wanted these days to have no end.

It was afternoon of another beautiful day. Sheim slowly weeded flowerbeds around the Castle, Oma and Zet’rar together read a novel at the reception stand, lone Edez kept watch near the main entrance, Max slept somewhere in the attic, Bluve cooked lunch, Affi and Karin cleaned corridors on the third floor. There were no visitors, so princess with her assistant worked in the library all the day. It was their little oasis of peace and quiet.

Zet’rar finished another chapter and raised his head. He looked around and noticed Twilight and Spike coming down to them. Little dragon had a scroll in his paws. After them slowly went Affi, Karin and Max. Technician quietly coughed and, thus, distracted Oma from reading and Edez from thinking. They also noticed ponies and dragon descending to them and went to meet them.

“What’s the matter, princess?” asked Edez.
“We have just received this letter,” said Twilight, and Spike showed the scroll. “Princesses Celestia and Luna say that now they can help me resolve all the issues with personnel for this castle.”

Researchers shuddered when they heard that.

“You mean…” began Karin.
“Well, we were hired here for a temporary job, after all,” said Edez, sighing.
“What? No, no!” Twilight raised her foreleg and shook her head. “I’m not going to fire you!”
“You aren’t?”
“Of course not! I’ve never thought about that! And princesses Celestia and Luna haven’t thought too: their only offer was to send here some more guards and servants if there will be any difficulties, that’s all. During these three months I learned what ponies you are. You became not only our servants and guards, but our partners and friends!”
“And very good friends,” added Spike.
“We’ll never replace you with somepony else! There were some problems with your status and your salary, but now they’re solved! Ladies and gentlecolts, you are full members of the Castle of Friendship staff now! And citizens of Equestria too.”

Researchers looked at each other, then smiled and simultaneously exclaimed and bowed:

“Vielen dank!”
“Efcharisto!”
“Ačiū!”
“Graize!”
“Tack!”
“Met dank!”

Twilight and Spike smiled.

“I love you,” said little dragon.
“You are our favorite europonians!” said Twilight.

Princess with her assistant and researchers gave each other a nod, and then alicorn and little dragon went up, back to the library. Team One saw them off, and when they got out of sight, Affi spelled:

“They are just wonderful.”
“Yeah,” nodded Karin and Zet’rar.
“So kind and grateful!” smiled Oma.
“And believing,” added Max.
“Yes… Well, my friends, congratulations!” smiled Edez.
“Yay!”
“Yeah…” Max spelled and yawned. “Well, if anybody will need me, yell. I’m going back to the attic…”

His colleagues laughed and shook their heads. Max smiled in response, snorted a bit and went to the stairs. Other, after a nod, decided to return to their occupations. Affi and Karin followed plodding Max, but just in a couple of seconds, when they reached the first step and Edez stood near the entrance, main doors opened. Researchers looked there and saw their colleague Kor.

“And where have you been?” they asked him.
“You should have come three supramoments ago!” said Karin.
“Pardon me, it’s because of one little incident,” he answered. “But I made very interesting and important discovery. I found why regular changelings have blue eyes!”
“What? Really?”
“Wait!” said Edez. “How did you do it?”
“Well,” Kor began, “I was running near the forest edge in the park, warmed up like I always do now in the mornings. But today when I ran there I saw a changeling. He sat under a tree, ate this,” he showed small pouch full of brown powder of fine grinding, “and his eyes glowed blue!”
“Ehm, how you got it?” asked Oma, pointing to the pouch.
“I crept up to him and hit him in the noodle.”
“…and that’s all?”
“Well, not exactly. When I knocked that one out, two other changelings jumped on me from bushes. One of them screamed ‘For Reverend Mother-Queen!’, and other shouted something about tatzlwurm or tatz-hulud – I don’t remember exactly – of vengeance. I hit them in the noodles too and put all three in shade behind bushes where no one will find them. Then I took this pouch and went to our hq to find what this powder can be.”
“And?”
“I got nothing. Absolutely no results.”

Kor sighed, and then, suddenly, something pink and jumpy flew into the room through the opened window above the door and landed in a couple of steps from the group of researchers. Something turned to them, widely smiled and gibbered:

“Hiya, Berg, Anti Al, Erő, Didi, Pippi and Zicht!”
“Hi, Pinkie!” answered researchers with tranquil expressions.

During these three months they got used to Pinkie’s eccentric and unpredictable behavior and her ability to screw laws of the universe, so now they didn’t surprise and dash aside. They even managed to discover why this pony with curly voluminous mane was like this. Max with his sensory organs and Zet’rar with his miniature scanners found that her battery organ was too large even for a unicorn, and energy concentration in her ETS was two and a half times higher than average. And such huge amounts of energy with almost no way out just couldn’t have no effects on her. So she turned out jaunty, hyperactive and cheerful.

“Do you know where Twilight is?” asked Pinkie.
“She’s in library together with Spike,” answered Affi.
“Oka… Ooooo!” she focused on the pouch what Kor held in his hooves, and in a second appeared right in front of him. “Where did ya get this?”
“You know what it is?” surprised Kor.
“It’s legendary desert mélange! Incredibly rare and expensive spice, which can be found only in one place in the world, the desert island of Arrachis! Even a pinch of it can turn a dish into firework of tastes!”
“Wow…”
“So where did you get it?”
“Ehm… You’ll never believe: I just found it on the street. I guess somepony just lost this treasure.”
“Unlucky one…” sighed Pinkie, but then smiled again, said “See ya!” to researchers and hopped away to the second floor.

Researchers saw her off too.

“Well, now we know the changeling’s secret,” Edez summed up.

His colleagues nodded, and they continued their work. Max, Affi and Karin went up, Edez, Zet’rar and Oma took their places, and Kor went to put his armor on. Soon he was ready so joined Edez to keep the day watch.

Then there was calm again. The only thing what happened during the following minutes was the returning of Sheim – he finished all his jobs outside and now was free. He brought tools back to the closet, put off the uniform and went upstairs to find place for napping.

He went away, but soon after him some figures appeared on the stairs again. Now it was Twilight, Spike and Pinkie Pie. Princess and her assistant looked ashamed like after many excuses for refusal to do something for request, Ponyville party organizer was sad – she even lost some volume of her mane and tail.

“I’m very sorry, Pinkie,” Twilight said, “but I can’t go with you. If this visit was just for one this day, I would come. But you are planning to return here tomorrow by morning train, and I have to be in Canterlot at that time. And I can’t send Spike with you – after that incident I can’t let him travel alone.”
“Hey, it wasn’t that bad!” objected little dragon.
“Still I can’t allow it to you,” continued Twilight and addressed Pinkie. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh…” sighed Pinkie Pie. “Rarity and Applejack are too busy, Rainbow Dash is in Cloudsdale, Fluttershy is in Yellowstone Park… Whom have I come with then?”
“I don’t kn… Wait, we can ask guys!” she ran down from the stairs and addressed researchers. “Can some of you make a company for Pinkie for her visit to Dodge City?”

Members of Team One looked at each other, nodded, and Edez said:

“Yes.”
“Really?” smiled Pinkie Pie. Her mane puffed up and regain its volume.
“Yes, but at first we have to decide who will come with you.”

Edez cleaned his throat and shouted:

“Komm her!”

In a dozen of seconds all other researchers were in the hall.

“Pourquoi vous êtes à crier?” grumbled Sheim, walking down the stairs.
“Our dearest friend Pinkie Pie needs a company for her visit,” answered Edez and turned to bearers of the Elements and Spike. “Now excuse us for a moment…”

Team One gathered near the foot of the staircase, stood in a circle and began to chat. Pinkie Pie leaned forward to listen but got nothing: researchers spoke in their “native” languages and did it very quickly.

“I should talk more often with tourists,” she whispered.

Researchers meanwhile quickly finished their discussion, turned to waiting ponies and little dragon and announced their verdict:

“Well, miss Pie, you’ll have two companions,” said Edez.
“It’s us!” said Sheim, pointing to himself and Affi.
“Yeah, we can take a break for a day or two,” confirmed Affi.
“Oh, thank you!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, jumped right to planetologist and telepathist and hugged them.
“Jeez, we haven’t done anything yet!” said Sheim.
“Still thank you,” said Pinkie Pie.

Green stallion just smiled a bit and rolled his eyes.

“So, when we should start to pack our things?” asked Affi.
“Oh,” Pinkie Pie released researchers. “Well, the train to Dodge City leaves in an hour.”
“Then we have to be quick!”
“Right!” said Pinkie Pie and run away. “We’ll meet at the train station!” she shouted when she was already at the opposite end of the street.
“Antilipsi, Lierre, god luck to you!” said Twilight.

Spike gave them a nod, and then he together with Twilight went back.

“Well, looks like we are going to explore another location of Equestria,” said Edez and addressed Affi and Sheim. “Don’t forget to install additional recording modules!”

Planetologist and telepathist winced and shuddered after these words.

“Okay, okay,” said Affi.
“Wonderful. And hurry up – the train leaves soon.”
“We’ll be waiting for you to hear what this Dodge City is,” said Oma.
“Got it and thank you!” Sheim and Affi said goodbye to their friends and rushed home.

In forty five minutes they were at the platform of train station. Saddlebags were packed with things and tools what can be useful during the journey. Self-installing devices had already reached their places and fixed themselves. Now there was no more pain, so they could act as usual, be typical ponies-migrants.

The train had already arrived, so now they just waited for Pinkie Pie. And soon she showed herself. She jumped to the platform from behind the corner of building and cheerfully hopped towards researchers. She had no saddlebags – instead them she had a suitcase. Three dozens of big balloons were attached to it, so it just floated behind its owner – Pinkie tied a rope to its handle, and other its end tied to her left foreleg. Sheim and Affi looked at it with the only thought: “Typical Pinkie Pie…”

“I am ready!” chirped Pinkie Pie. “And you?”
“We? Yep, we are.”
“Good!” she smiled, brought the suitcase to the ground, opened it and crammed all the balloons inside it. Researchers raised their eyebrows – it was first time in last four weeks when Pinkie Pie could surprised them. “Let’s go then!”

She took the handle of suitcase into her mouth and trotted inside the car. Affi and Sheim followed her.

They put their luggage on the shelves and took their places, researchers sat opposite to Pinkie Pie. Soon the last ponies got aboard, and stationmaster announced the departure of the train. The engine was started, locomotive gave the first “choo-choo” and wheels began to move. The train started to move and slowly gain speed.

“Excuse me, but when we’ll arrive there?” wondered Sheim.
“Oh, Dodge City is quite near to Ponyville. We’ll be there in less than three hours,” answered Pinkie Pie. “It situated at the opposite to Ponyville end of Everfree forest. I can tell you everything about it!”
“Well, if we are going there, it will be good for us to learn some information about it,” said Affi.
“Great!” smiled Pinkie Pie. “So, Dodge City, or simply DC, as we call it, is quite big town – um, approximately three times bigger than Ponyville. And it’s very different from Ponyville. I don’t wanna say that it’s bad, no. It’s just… different. But it’s also very nice. DC is my favorite town! Just as Ponyville! And Canterlot, and Manehattan… I like DC since my foalhood, but then I liked Ponyville too… Oh… I can’t decide what city I like the most!”
“Let’s say that Dodge City was the first town that you really liked,” intervened Affi.
“Yeah, right!” Pinkie Pie nodded. “Oh, good old DC has its own charm, you will see! Buildings there are mostly wooden, just like in Ponyville, but their architecture is different – they are simpler and… eh, I don’t know the word… um, well, industrial? ‘cause DC is industrial town. But there are some stone buildings too – like local hospital, school and city hall. There are no so many trees in DC, but it surrounded with dense forest. Ponies of DC use edges of the forest as their town park. And, by the way, ponies in DC are nice too! They… may seem to be a bit self-contained, but they are kind and always ready to help! And they are very, very hard-working! I’ve already told that DC is industrial town, right? Well, there are a lot of different enterprises there, a lot of factories and manufactures – surroundings of DC are rich in wood and stone. There is sawmill, furniture factory, match factory, brickyard, cement factory, plant for the production of coating materials… oh! And a lot of workshops, where ponies do different beautiful and fancy stuff from wood and stone.”
“Ehm… I can understand where ponies of Dodge City get wood, but where do they get stone?” wondered Affi.
“I haven’t mentioned it?” surprised Pinkie Pie. “Oopsie! My bad! Well, there are some mines near the city, and, of course, a lot of rock farms!”
“Speaking about rock farms…” spelled Sheim. “I do not quite understand what are these.”
“You haven’t rock farms in Europonia?”
“You know, Europonia is land of mines and miners.”
“Well, rock farms arise in special, magical places, where rocks just appear on the surface themselves. I don’t know exactly how it works, but everything looks like rocks become alive and creep out from under the ground! Then we collect these rocks, sort them and sell! Or we break them to find gemstones.”
“Hm…” Sheim rubbed his chin. He had already made a hypothesis about how does it really happen: probably rocks and ground there have different energetic properties and thanks to influence of perfect mix these difference only become higher, so the ground just extrudes “foreign” bodies. And, by the way, other Teams proved that there can be incredible number of manifestations of energy environment influence, so appearing of rocks from under the ground is just a minor one. “Now I get it.”
“Wait a minute!” suddenly exclaimed Pinkie Pie and looked at planetologist. “Lierre, you are geologist, right?”
“Ehm yes.”
“Oooh! My parents and sisters would be so glad to see you!”
“Wait, your parents and sisters?”
“Yeah, they are owners of one of the rock farms near the city. We are going to DC to visit them!”
“You didn’t mention this.”
“I didn’t? Oh, sorry! He-he.”
“It doesn’t matter now. Well, we’ll do our best to impress them!”
“They will be already impressed when I say that I brought another geologist with me!”
“Pinkie, if we are going to visit your family, can you tell us about them then?” asked Affi.
“Sure!” chirped Pinkie Pie. “I have dad, Igneous Rock, mom, Cloudy Quartz, two older sisters, Maud Pie and Limestone Pie and one little sister, Marble Pie. They are wonderful ponies! They are benevolent and very industrious, like many other ponies of DC. But they also never mind to have some fun! I remember the first party what I threw – at first they were so surprised, I’d say even shocked, because, well, we had never before had parties at our rock farm, but then they came to enjoy! I love them all so much! And I regularly come to visit them! And… you know, they’ll be very happy to see you! My family hasn’t been far away from DC – as long as I remember, my parents and sisters were only in Trottingham, Hoofington, Chicoltgo, Denmare and one time in Ponyville. Oh, and Maud once was together with me in Canterlot! So, it will be such pleasure for them to see ponies from another part of the world! They’ll probably ask you a zillion of questions! Especially to you, Lierre – they’ll be very eager to learn about europonian rock stuff.”
“Ehm… I don’t think that I’ll be able to speak several hours about rocks only,” said Sheim.
“And you do not have to!” smiled Pinkie Pie. “Yeah, my parents and sisters can speak about rocks for hours, but they are interested not only in then. My father, for example, very interested in exploration geology, my mother – in gems, Marble – in sculpture, Lime – in management, and Maud – in… um, petrography, yeah, that’s how it’s called, petrography.”
“Well, it changes the matter a bit,” Sheim said and forced a smile.

Pinkie Pie was going to continue to speak, but suddenly stood still and sniffed.

“Oooh!” she rejoiced. “They’ve already started to sell snacks! I’m hungry! And you? Do you want some?”
“Well…” Sheim began.
“Oh, yes, we’d like to have some!” intervened Affi.
“Good! And what do you want?”
“We aren’t so choosy. Take what do you want.”
“Okie-dokie-lokie!” chirped Pinkie Pie and hopped away.

She quickly left the car, and when she went away, Affi turned to Sheim. Her expression made geologist shudder: Affi’s face showed mix of deep shock, stun, perplexity and desire to break own neck.

“Holy… What happened?” Sheim got worried.
“I’ve just made her complete mind scan…” quietly gnashed Affi. “She is live random number generator, uncertainty in the cube… Her thoughts are even more chaotic than Discord’s! I won’t be able to bear it for the whole day! And I can’t control her all this time, it’s a torture!”
“Then what do you offer?”
“I don’t know!” she grabbed Shiem with her hooves and lifted him. “If I will ask you to shoot me with your spikes, do it.”
“What? Are you nutz?”
“Aaaghh!” Affi released him grabbed her head. “Pinkie is very nice pony, really, but she is total nightmare for a telepathist!”
“Listen, I can imagine what you feel now, but there should be another way out!”
“I can’t even think about… Wait a moment! I know what to do!” she turned to her fried. “Do you have a bottle with that fruit drink?”
“Yes, and so what?”
“Give it to me.”

Sheim stood on hind legs, reached the shelf and opened his saddlebag. He took out the bottle and gave it to Affi.

“Wonderful!” she said and stood up to get something from her saddlebags. After short searches she found what she needed and sat back. She held a little jar of pills. She opened the bottle, then opened the jar and put one pill into the drink.

“X-551?” surprised Sheim.
“Yes,” nodded Affi. “At least, it should provide us calm and quiet way to the city,” she closed the bottle and put it on the seats between herself and Sheim.

Pinkie Pie returned soon after this.

“And here I am with the snaaacks!” she sang when she came back into the car. Somehow she held a tower from three full plates, bottle of mineral water, some bread and set of cutlery on her head.
“Snacks? It’s a complete meal you have here!” said Sheim when Pinkie Pie distributed the plates and cutlery.
“And, by the way, what is this?” asked Affi, looking at maroon porridge-like mix that was the dish.
“Oh, it’s DC’s traditional: beans with onion and carrot in tomato sauce!”
“Hm, looks like fine nosh,” said Sheim.
“It is! Best bean dished are cooked only in DC!”

Pinkie Pie sat back on her place, and they began to eat. During the meal Pinkie Pie told a couple of Dodge City local jokes. They weren’t so funny, but still they almost made Affi and Sheim choke – laughter with full mouth is quite dangerous. Pinkie Pie meanwhile continued to eat like nothing happened and like speaking didn’t even bother her meal, so she was first one who finished her dish. She put her fork on the plate, put it aside and looked at her companions. And she noticed bottle that stood between them.

“I see you brought your own drinks?” she said.
“Yep,” nodded Sheim. “It’s orangina.”
“Orangina?”
“Citrus-flavored carbonated drink. You want to taste it?”
“Yeah!”
“Then here you go. You can drink all of it, if you want. We have more of it!”
“Thank you!” chirped Pinkie Pie, opened the bottle and with a single gulp emptied it. “Mmmmm! Tasty! But I can’t define what fruits were used…”
“It’s a mix of oranges, lemons and mandarins.”
“Wonderful combination!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie and widely smiled, but then her expression and mood rapidly changed. She leaned back, half-closed her eyes and yawned. “Well…” she spelled. “As they say, after hearty lunch one should take a nap!” and she immediately fell asleep and snored.
“Great!” grinned Affi.

Now she could breathe easily, and together with Sheim enjoy the silence. They brought plates and cutlery back to the dining car and just started to look out the window – they had no want and no need to chat. But the train had already reached the edge of the forest, so now there were thickets on both sides. There were no settlements and other stations until very Dodge City, so this monotonous green landscape will be the only thing what they be able to see during next hours. There was absolutely no interest to watch it, so Affi and Sheim decided to follow Pinkie’s example and have some nap. The only difference between them and their younger friend was that they regularly opened their eyes to check if they are already close to the destination.

When they opened their eyes for the seventh time, they noticed silhouettes of the buildings on the horizon. Dodge City was near.

“Wake up, Pinkie! We’re almost there!” Sheim shook Pinkie’s shoulder.
“Wha… huh?” she instantly opened her eyes. “We are in DC?”
“We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
“Great! Let’s take our luggage then!” she smiled again, stood up, took her suitcase and hopped to the doors.
“Well I’ll be…” whispered Affi and for a moment froze with opened mouth. “Even ones of the oldest civilizations are sleepy at least for twelve supramoments after a pill of X-551, and she’s wide awake only after five!”
“She’s much stronger than she looks…” responded Sheim.

In a minute train stopped at the city’s station. “Dodge City, terminal station!” conductor pronounced through the loudspeaker. Doors opened, and passengers began to left the cars. Pink curly pony jumped away from one of the doors and stopped in the middle of the platform. She put her suitcase on the ground, opened it and got balloons out from it. Then she quickly tied them to the handle, and fixed floating suitcase to her left forelimb with rope. Sheim and Affi, with saddlebags on their backs, slowly went behind her.

“Come on!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “I want to give you a little tour around DC before we went to my parent’s rock farm!”
“That’s very kind of you,” said Sheim.

Pinkie Pie waved her hoof, and researchers followed her. They went down from the platform, walked round the station building and appeared at the big forecourt. The railway station was situated on elevation on the outskirts of the city, so almost all settlement was visible from that improvised square.

Indeed, Dodge City was more like a town than Ponyville: it occupied larger area and was densely built. Because of this it looked like one big brown spot from that hill – almost all buildings in the city were constructed from wood and weren’t painted. Single- and two-storied houses, dwellings, stores and workshops, lined up in rows along straight streets. Dodge City was built according to checkerboard layout. The only exception from it was the city’s industrial zone, which was situated left of them: cluster of factories, big wooden buildings with metal roofs and high metal chimneys, was built so as to achieve the convenience for the work – along the railroad. The only structures that disturbed the monotony of the wood were city hall, school and hospital – three- and four-storied buildings of gray, beige and white colors that towered over the city.

They descended from the hill and went along one of the city’s streets. Pinkie Pie started her excursion, Affi and Sheim listened to her and looked around. Dodge City had some features which made it close to Ponyville: it also had a lot of small shops on the ground floors, and it also was full of activity. The main difference was the environment – Dodge City looked more strict and brutal comparing to Ponyville. Ponies there weren’t eager to meet passers with elation, they rarely smiled to each other and usually limit themselves with respectful nods. Yes, Dodge City was true town of workers.

“…and here you can see famous Sweet Crisp’s confectionery!” continued Pinkie Pie. Now she pointed to one of rare in Dodge City painted buildings, white and orange blockhouse. “We always came here for some candy after the school! Also she makes wonderful pudding and marmalade! Oh! And here’s our Central Square!” she pointed again. “This gray building is our city hall, that beige – school (I went there when I was a filly), and that white one what you can see farther – hospital!”

Researchers looked at only stone structures in Dodge City. City hall, school and hospital, though they had different colors, weren’t painted – the reason of the difference was the material what they were built from. They were massive and quite old: their rough walls were weather-beaten, they experienced a lot of heavy rains and scorching days. Looking at them, researchers remembered memories of traders which Team Two sent them – architecture of these buildings was very close to europonian structures of Epoch of Many States.

“They look ancient,” spelled Affi.
“Yeah, they are quite old. DC was found about four hundred years ago,” answered Pinkie Pie.
“You know, they look just like some old buildings in Europonia,” said Sheim.
“Really? Wow, I didn’t even know it! Maybe they were built by some europonians?”

Sheim just shrugged.

“Well, it’ll be very interesting to learn. I didn’t know that europonians came to Equestria at such ancient times.”
“You’ll be surprised, but europonians think that they were not only visiting Equestria in ancient times, but they were the ones who found it,” said Affi.
“What???”
“Yes. Europonian legend says that those lands where three pony nations originally lived were Europonia. Then, when Little Ice Age came – you call it windego incursion – some ponies left their homes. But because spirits followed migrants, some other decided to stay. They survived the cold, and when it was gone, they repopulate the lands again. Migrants found Equestria, and the remained ones found countries of Europonia. There were several groups of survived, and each of them found their own state. Later, when they spread wider, they found each other, but, unfortunately, it was too late to unite again – their cultures became too different. That’s how all regions of our land originated.”
“Wow… You want to say that my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-and-so-on-grandparents were europonians?”
“Well, yes.”
“That’s awesome!”
“But it happened long time ago. You, equestrians, are separate culture now.”
“But still it’s awesome! I’m partly europonian! And all other ponies of our land too! We have to celebrate it! Oh, and I even know how we’ll do it!”
“Oh, relax, my friend…”
“No! This is worth celebration! Unfortunately, I can’t throw a party it right now – I didn’t even take my party cannon with me – but we should do something in honor of it. So, Anti, Lierre, let’s visit old missis Sweet Crisp!”

Sheim and Affi sighed. From bearers of the Elements they learned that it’s absolutely useless to resist Pinkie Pie. Ponyville party organizer was a compelling force, and she officially was considered as serious reason of lateness and other things.

They turned back and soon entered the small confectionery. It was a weekday, so there were only few visitors. Researchers and Pinkie Pie took the table near the door, and soon olive aged unicorn mare with short light green mane and tail come to them.

“Good day!” she said. “What will you… Oh my! Pinkie Pie, is that you?”
“Yep, that’s me!” she chirped in response. “Good to see you too, missis Crisp! How are you doing?”
“Oh, still working, as you see. My sweets are still in demand!”
“I’m so happy for you!”
“And what brought you here? And who are you companions?”
“These are my friends Lierre and Antilipsi, they are from Europonia. I came to visit my parents and sisters and they are keeping company to me,” Pinkie Pie turned to researchers and introduced the owner of the shop to them. “Anti, Lierre, this is missis Sweet Crisp, the best confectioner in whole DC!”
“Oh, Pinkie!” she turned to researchers. “That’s because I’m the only confectioner in the town.”
“Oh, don’t downplay, missis Crisp! Your sweets are famous far away from DC!”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” missis Crisp smiled. “So, what will you order, my friends?”
“We’re celebrating, so we need something grand!”
“And what you are celebrating?”
“I’ve just learned that my ancestors were europonians, and that DC was found by them! And, by the way, europonians were you ancestors too!”
“What?”
“Oh, missis Crisp, we are sorry,” said Affi. “We just said that city hall, school and hospital in your city look like some old buildings of our homelands, and what about the other thing – well, we just told her one our legend.”
“About foundation of Europonia,” précised Sheim.
“Oh… okay than.”
“So, what do you have?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“Well, my menu hasn’t changed so much after your graduation from our school,” answered Sweet Crisp. “Chocolate sweets, caramel, vanilla, chocolate and lemon pudding, fruit muffins and cupcakes and, of course, juicy marmalade! And Dodge City’s special!”
“Dodge City’s special?” wondered researchers.
“That’s our specialty of the house!”
“We are celebrating great event, so, missis Crisp, please, three DC’s special!”
“As you wish,” smiled old mare and, when Pinkie Pie, Sheim and Affi paid the order, went to the kitchen.
“Well,” spelled Sheim, “now I can safely say that I’m not alone.”
“What?” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “But, Lierre, you’ve never been alone!”
“That’s not what I meant, Pinkie. I meant… Well, I studied Ponyville inside and out and it turned out so that there I am the only green as a pickle pony. But here I’ve already seen four absolutely green ponies just like me!”
“Oh, that’s what…” said Pinkie Pie and laughed. Affi smiled too.

Soon Sweet Crisp returned and brought the dishes. Pinkie Pie and researchers took them, thanked the cook and began to eat. The dessert turned out to be very and very tasty – after the very first bit expressions of Affi and Sheim changed. They became very glad and, although they had good snack only three hours ago, they ate everything.

“Wow. That was amazing!” said Sheim, having eaten the last crumb. “It’s incredibly tasty!”
“Yes!” nodded Affi. “Simply wonderful! But… I couldn’t define the ingredients. So, can you tell us what it is, please?”
“Sure!” said Sweet Crisp. “This dish is made from DC’s traditional food – beans!”
“Oh… That was… unexpected.”
“Well, it always surprises tourists.”
“We can imagine.”

They thanked Sweet Crisp once again and left the confectionery. Now they directed their steps to Pinkie’s parents’ rock farm.

“Oh! I forgot to tell ya one more thing. When we’ll arrive, my parents prepare dinner, so get ready!”
“Dinner?” said Affi. “I don’t think that I’ll be able to eat something else after these snacks!”
“Aawww! Please! They’ll get very upset if you won’t eat!”
“Uh, fine,” sighed Sheim. “But there should be no beans!”
“Why?”
“Because if I eat even one more bean dish, my “exhaust” will be so strong that I reach escape velocity for sure.”

Pinkie Pie fell down on the ground and burst out laughing.

“Ahhhahahahahahaaa! That was great! Hahahahaha! It’s one of the best jokes about bean food that I’ve ever heard!” and she hysterically laughed again.
“Alright!” said Affi who barely managed not to burst out laughing too. “Pinkie, stand up. Your parents won’t like their daughter being dirty.”
“What? They’re owners of rock farm! We all get dirty there when we work!”
“Well, as you say.”
“But you are right, I have to stand up! We don’t want to be late, right?”

And they continued their walk. Soon they passed the narrow woodland belt that separated Dodge City from the area of rock farms and appeared in deserted terrain with few distant buildings here and there. Although there were bunches of herbs and trees around them, the ground mostly was bare. Gray soil and dark stones – this sight spread for miles. Quite dull and grim landscape. Pinkie Pie waved her free forelimb, and researchers followed her to one of the nearest buildings.

In dozen minutes they approached it. It was a barn similar to one at Sweet Apple Acres, but this wasn’t so bright. Architecture was strict, but it was visible that ponies cared about it. Pinkie Pie came to the door and knocked on it.

Some seconds of silence – and then the door lock clicked. The door opened, and two ponies appeared on the porch: aged brown stallion in hat and aged gray mare with shawl and glasses.

“Mom! Dad!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie and jumped to embrace her parents.

Her parents’ reaction wasn’t so cheerful, but they were happy to see their daughter: they smiled and hugged her too.

“Oh, I’m so happy to see you!” said Pinkie Pie.
“We are happy that you came too, Pinkie,” said Cloudy Quartz.
“I missed you so much! I felt that I was away from you forever!”
“Oh, it was only six weeks,” spelled Igneous Rock.
“But still it was too long!”

Three more ponies came out from the door.

“Hi, Pinkie!” they said.
“Maud! Marble! Limestone!” rejoiced Pinkie Pie.
“Good to see you here,” said Maud Pie.
“I’m glad that you all here too!” Pinkie Pie turned to researchers. “Guys, meet my family! My father Igneous Rock, my mother Cloudy Quartz and my sisters Maud Pie,” she pointed to gray mare with purple mane, “Marble Pie,” she pointed to light gray mare with gray-asparagus striped mane, “and Limestone Pie!” she pointed to light purple mare with light gray mane. Then she turned to her family. “Mom, dad, Maud, Lime, Marble, these are my friends Antilipsi and Lierre!”

Researchers bowed.

“You are europonians, right?” asked Igneous Rock.
“Yes,” nodded Affi.
“Nice to meet you and, please, come inside!” said Cloudy Quartz.

Pie family went inside the house, and Sheim with Affi followed them. They went through the hall and appeared in the living room. It wasn’t big and was modestly furnished: wooden walls, a table between two couches, fireplace, three cupboards and chandelier. The only elements of decorations were several pictures on the walls and little stone sculptures on the shelves.

“Sit, please!” said Cloudy Quartz.

Researchers nodded and together with Pinkie Pie took the smallest couch. All other members of Pie family took the largest one.

“I know that you are very outgoing, Pinkie, but still how did you get acquainted with guys from another part of the world?” asked Limestone Pie.
“They came to Ponyville three month ago, and I met them then! I told you about their arrival during my last visit, didn’t I?”
“Oh, pardon us, Pinkie,” said Igneous Rock. “We could forget.”
“Ah, it’s okay, dad!”
“And what do you do there, miss Antilipsi and mister Lierre?” asked Cloudy Quartz.
“Please, just Antilipsi and Lierre. We are working in the Castle of Friendship,” answered Affi.
“I’m a gardener, and my friend is a maid,” added Sheim.

Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz winced.

“I would never thought that princess Twilight could hire a punk,” said Cloudy Quartz.
“Punk?” surprised Sheim. “Oh, this… Well, my mane just grows like that. You see, one of my great-grandfathers was a zebra.”
“Zebra?”
“Yeah. They all are with mohawks, you know. And it’s a hereditary trait. So my father was also a punk, and grandfather too.”
“Oh, then pardon us, please.”
“Don’t bother about that.”
“You didn’t tell that one of your great-grandfathers was a zebra!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Well, you didn’t ask about that.”
“Why did you leave Europonia and come here?” asked Maud Pie.
“I think you might hear that there are some problems with vacancies in Europonia. There are a lot of ponies who want to work, but number and choice of vacant places is quite limited. Even if you have the most brilliant higher education, it doesn’t change the matter. We didn’t find job at our home, so we moved there.”
“Higher education?” surprised Marble Pie and Limestone Pie.
“Yeah!” said Pinkie Pie. “Anti and Lierre and the rest of the gang – Berg, Al, Didi, Calma, Erő, Pippi and Zicht – all of them are smarty pants. Anti is a psychologist, and Lierre is a geologist!”
“Geologist?” a little spark appeared in eyes of all members of Pie family.
“Yeah,” weakly smiled Sheim. “I also deal with rocks.”
“If you have higher education, why you work as servants?” wondered Limestone Pie.
“We are team of nine close friends, and we wanted to keep together, so we searched for a place that could provide workplaces for all of us at the same time,” said Affi. “And the Castle of Friendship turned out to be the only place with such offer. Yes, there is no need in our education now, but we are together, and, by the way, these jobs are more well-paid than many others.”
“And, also, our places of work make us the only and first for six hundred years europonians at the royal court!” added Sheim.
“They have a point,” said Igneous Rock, rubbing his chin.
“And what field of geology did you study?” Limestone Pie asked Sheim.
“Your father will be glad, miss Pie,” answered Sheim. “Exploration geology.”
“Pardon me, but can I ask you one thing then?” asked Igneous Rock.
“Sure, mister Rock.”
“Some ponies from city’s cement factory, knowing that I am quite a specialist in exploration geology and my daughter Maud Pie has PhD in general geology, addressed us and asked about help with finding a marl deposits in our vicinity. We told them that they won’t find any significant here, but they didn’t believe us. Can you confirm my words, Lierre?”
“Well, you are living in hilly terrain, which, as far as I can see, was formed as result of glaciation. These hills are moraines. So they can find significant deposits – if they exist, of course – only at great depth. If they want deposits at small depth – well, they can find only fragments, blocks of marl. Yeah, they may be big as five dozens of Dodge City’s city halls put together, but still they are only fragments, surrounded by sand and gravel.”
“Thank you, and could you write it down? I think that the opinion of the independent expert will have an effect.”
“Sure.”
“And how were you?” Cloudy Quartz asked Pinkie Pie. “What new happened during these weeks?”
“Oh, a lot of things happened!” Pinkie Pie began to tell. “We celebrated Twilight’s and Applejack’s birthdays – I threw such parties for them! We were at Flower Festival in Mountain Meadow…”
“Flower Festival?” surprised Marble Pie and Limestone Pie.
“Yeah! It was amazing! I’ve never seen so many flowers in one place! Whole village was just buried in them! And they made such awesome parade and firework! That was what I call the event! Also I helped mister and missis Cake to cook – last week I baked eighteen special orders, two more than my previous record! Also I helped watch Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. They became quite gamine foals, but they are cute. My friend Rarity took part in Trottingham Fashion Week. She was so nervous but she made the best collection! Also my friend Fluttershy kept a whole pack of wolves for three days in her cottage. Together with a bear and a couple of cougars!”
“She’s a brave pony,” said Cloudy Quartz.
“She just knew how to handle with all the animals. Oh, and our europonian friends prevented the changeling invasion in Ponyville and protected the Castle! They all fought for it!”
“Is it true?” surprised Pinkie Pie’s parents.
“Yes. We have some experience,” said Sheim.
“And, by the way, we all had to,” added Affi. “They outnumbered us.”
“And they won!” continued Pinkie Pie. “They even beat queen Chrysalis! Their friend Erő bit off a piece of her wing!”
“What?”
“Erő is severe guy,” just said Sheim. “Very severe.”
“Oh…”
“Yes, he’s a… Ah! A! Aaaaaaaachoooooo!” Affi closed her eyes and loudly sneezed. “Excuse me,” she said and opened her eyes.

And when she did it, all Pies – except Maud Pie, but she also got surprised – dashed back, almost having tumbled down the coach with this.

“What… is that?” shuddered Cloudy Quartz and Limestone Pie.
“Oh… My eyes changed their colors again, right?” spelled Affi.
“Yeah,” nodded Sheim.
“I’m sorry for that,” she blinked and soon returned her “normal” color. “It happens sometime.”
“But why?”
“That’s what can happen to you if you are near to powerful pure magic explosion.”
“Sounds hard,” said Maud Pie.
“In fact it was so hard, after all. You just felt shock like from lightning and, of course, you go deaf for some time. But then you get better and everything got cured – well, almost everything…”
“Well, would our guests like to dine with us?” asked Cloudy Quartz.
“You know, you daughter fed us two times already…” said Affi and looked at Pinkie Pie, who made big apologetic smile. “But we would not mind to have a little additional snack.”
“Girls, bring us the dinner, please,” said Igneous Rock.

Younger Pies gave a nod and went to the kitchen. Researchers remained alone with seniors.

“You know, feeding, especially with sweets, is the second thing after throwing parties what Pinkie Pie loves the most,” said Igneous Rock.
“Oh yes,” responded Sheim.
“Want it or not, you’ll have to adapt when you are dealing with Pinkie Pie,” said Affi.
“Yes, that’s our Pinkie.”
“And, by the way, missis Quartz, what is for dinner?” wondered Sheim.
“Beans. Don’t you mind?” she answered.

Researchers looked at each other and then back on senior Pies.

“We friggin’ love beans!” said Affi with big forced smile.

Meanwhile younger Pies returned with the dishes – boiled beans with some fresh green onion – and cutlery. They put the first set in front of their parents and researchers and then brought sets for themselves. After this Pinkie Pie quickly ran to the kitchen again and brought glasses and carafe with crystal clear water. When she returned and sat down, they began to eat.

The conversation continued.

“Antilipsi, can you tell what kind of psychology did you study?” wondered Cloudy Quartz.
“Behavioral psychology of different species,” she answered. “Patterns of behavior, reasons of different kinds and changes of behavior, what effects it may have, how to help other with their problems and… how to influence it.”
“You studied psychology of griffins, zebras, minotaurs and dragons too?” surprised Limestone Pie.
“Well, I didn’t study psychology of minotaurs – there are not so many of them in Europonia, after all – but psychology of other races you mentioned – yes, and, also, psychology of deer and bisons.”
“Wow. Heh, I’d like to know how other creatures think!”
“Believe me, it’s better not to do that. Studying of how other creatures think completely breaks your picture of the universe.”
“Is it really so bad?”
“Did you know that dragons collect jewels and other stuff not because they are greedy by nature, but because it’s their instinct need? They are absolute omnivores, so these materials are necessary for their organisms, and the need in them isn’t constant. They may live without them for century, but then they’ll have to consume tons of the stuff during weeks. They don’t know when the need will strike, so they solve it with the simplest way: they always keep a stock!”
“I didn’t know that!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Well, now you do.”
“You said that you learned how to influence ponies’ behavior…” spelled Cloudy Quartz, leaned forward to Affi and quietly said. “Then tell us, please… Are you using your tricks on Pinkie? Because now she is calmer than usual.”
“Heh… I have to say that sometimes I do…”
“Now Pinkie is almost as calm as her sisters,” gladly whispered Igneous Rock. “It looks so that I am ready to believe that you mentally control her!”
“NO!!!” shouted Affi. Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz shuddered and dashed back from her. “I mean… That’s just effects of the tricks! They are super effective!”
“As you say…”
“Oh, and can you tell us anything about zebra’s psychology?” having finally found some courage, asked Marble Pie.
“Well…” spelled Affi and began to share knowledge what she got from Team Eleven.

Meanwhile Sheim faced with another problem, which was called Maud Pie. Usually quite passive, imperturbable and calm like a well-fed boa mare got interested when she learned that green stallion is a geologist. So she started to ask him questions about rocks and everything what was connected with them. A lot of questions.

“Do you like petrography?” asked Maud Pie.
“Well, I’m actually more into mineralogy,” answered Sheim.
“Hm. Then may I ask you one thing? The only gems what we find here are emeralds, aquamarines, heliodors, cloudy and smoky quartz. I’m not sure that we can find something else, but is there such possibility at all?”
“Well, judging by the list of gems that you mentioned, you may find here also some topaz, tourmaline, goshenite and red emeralds.”
“And have you ever been at rock farm before?”
“Uh, no. Only at mines.”

And this lasted for fifty more minutes. Maud Pie kept asking her questions. Rocks, rocks, rock farms, rocks, mines, rock farms, rocks and again rocks and rock farms with mines. Sheim loved geology, he loved mineralogy and petrography, but he wasn’t able to understand how it was possible to ask about such narrow-topic thing for almost two supramoments! He slowly began to get mad. And with every new question degree of his madness and irritability grew. It grew and grew and, eventually, reached the point.

“What do you think about the boulder that stands in front of our door?” Maud Pie asked another question.

Sheim was ready to boil up, but he managed to hold himself and outpour everything accumulated with another way.

“What do I think about it?” he said in response. “I’ve never before seen such beautiful rock! It’s wonderful! Amazing! Gorgeous! Such smooth lines, good shape – why, it’s perfect! I’m ready to fall on my knees, embrace and kiss that rock, so beautiful it is! Just look at its cleavage! Perfect rhombohedrons! Mmmmm! And what about the lustre? It’s dazzling! So charming! And look how hard it is! We all love ‘em hard, aren’t we? And, you know, this rock is very, very erratic, if you know what I mean.”

Members of Pie family and Affi just dropped their jaws and they almost hit the table, their faces were distorted. They were, to put it mildly, in deep shock. For whole three minutes they just stared at Sheim, unable to utter a word. Then Affi and older Pies started to slowly came to their senses, and at that moment… Face of Maud Pie began to distort again. At first it was hard to define what happened to her, but a bit later everyone noticed that corners of her mouth move upwards. She suddenly made a wheezing sound, then snickered, after this wheezed and snickered again and… after all hysterically laughed.

Seeing this, Affi, which appeared to be the first one who recovered completely, turned to Sheim and said:

“Syncharitiria! Tha tis espase.”
“Maud?..” said her worrying sisters.

Maud Pie stopped for a moment, looked at them with perfectly calm expression, but then burst out laughing again.

Igneous Rock, Cloudy Quartz, Limestone Pie, Marble Pie and Pinkie Pie just watched how their daughter and sister, the standard of tranquility, nickered like mad. It was the first time when they saw her like this. Maud Pie split her sides for a couple more minutes, but eventually she stopped. She wiped a tear, sat up straight, and then all other noticed that she changed: her mane and tail puffed up a bit and became more curled, and now there were sparks in her eyes.

“That was… The funniest thing that I’ve ever heard!” she said.
“Well, I’m glad to try,” weakly smiled Sheim.
“You are wonderful!” she smiled.
“Maud, are you all right?” asked Limestone Pie.
“I’m more than fine!” answered Maud Pie.
“Well then… Happy to hear,” said Igneous Rock and made nervous smile.
“Oh, just look at this!” Pinkie Pie suddenly said.
“What?” worried other.
“We’ve finished our dinner already!..”
“Oh…”
“…and I don’t know what to do now!”
“Well, you can give our guests short tour around the farm!” offered Igneous Rock.
“Yes, farm is beautiful in evening light,” added Cloudy Quartz.
“Can I join?” asked Maud Pie.
“Sure!” chirped Pinkie Pie.

Maud Pie smiled. It was the second time for the last two minutes. It was strange. And suspicious.

“We’ll clean the table,” said Marble Pie and Limestone Pie.
“Thank you!” responded Pinkie Pie and turned to researchers. “Come on!” She jumped from the couch and hopped to the hall. Affi and Sheim together with Maud Pie followed her.

Cloudy Quartz was right: the rays of setting sun made the landscape of the farm much more beautiful. Illuminated from beneath clouds, pink and orange below and dark blue up, closed part of sunlight and formed amazing bright tracks in the sky. The heavenly dome gradually changed its colors from light purple to bright orange. Because of low-hanging sun rock of the farm casted long shadows. Their stripes alternated with each other and formed complex pattern something similar to coat of a zebra. Shadows of rare trees made the total picture more diverse. Though there were not so much things to look at around the farm, the sight has its own beauty.

But absence of sightseeings didn’t stop Pinkie Pie.

“…and behind these rocks we played hide-and-seek when we were fillies!” she told and pointed to another pile of rocks. “Remember this, Maud?”
“Oh yes,” answered Maud Pie.
“And this… I don’t remember this rock!”
“It appeared soon after your last visit.”
“Yeah? It was fast!” Pinkie Pie looked closer at the rock. “Well, it’s quite a big one!”
“Indeed. Wait a second…” Maud Pie looked closer at the rock too. “It’s a pegmatite!”
“So what?”
“I think Maud wants to say that there can be gems in it,” said Sheim.

Maud Pie smiled again.

“Yes!”
“Then let’s break it!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Wait, break?” surprised Affi. “How? We don’t have any tools!”
“We don’t need them,” said Maud Pie.

Researchers raised their eyebrows and prepared to object, but Maud Pie meanwhile aimed a blow and hit the rock with all power of her foreleg. A loud crackling sound came, and rock split into dozens of small pieces.

Affi just silently sat on her croup with widely opened mouth. Sheim with distorted face spelled:

“Que je sois damné!”
“Awesome, Maud!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.

Maud Pie just silently bowed.

“Let’s look what was inside of it,” she said.

The dust has settled, and they came closer. They expected to find some small beryls or quartz crystals, but what they really found was just stupefying. Judging by the remnants of the rock, once it was drilled through – there was one big “channel” filled with various sediments, and a lot of small cracklings that spread from it. Some parts of the stone were melted and solidified again. And in the middle of all this was one of the strangest things what they’ve seen: a huge metal nugget, covered with sediments with surprisingly accurate geometrically correct shape of heptahedral column, one end of which was sharpen.

“What’s that?” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“I… don’t know,” said Maud Pie. “It looks like a nugget, but I’ve never seen such strange nuggets before.”
“And what do you think, guys?” Pinkie Pie addressed researchers.

“You think it’s artificial?” Affi telepathically asked Sheim.
“Yes.” he mentally answered.
“It’s… ours or not?”
“I can’t say. I’ve never faced with such things before.”

“Um, guys?” Pinkie Pie waved her hooves in front of researchers.
“Ah, what? Oh, forgive us,” said Sheim. “This… finding was quite a surprise.”
“Yeah,” nodded Affi.
“Do you know what it could be?” asked Maud Pie.
“Well, it looks like solid piece of metal, so it should be a nugget, but its shape and these traces of melting… They confuse me,” said Sheim. “I’ve never before seen anything like this, so I can only guess.”
“Then tell us what do you guess!” demanded Maud Pie.
“Yeah! Tell us!” added Pinkie Pie.
“You see… I read about similar findings before. Ponies found modern things in rocks which were millions of years old. For example, a golden chainlet in piece of coal, or a key in granite… But I’m doubting that this thing is similar stuff. And, by the way, we can see the way of its penetration in this rock.”
“Yes, that’s odd,” agreed Maud Pie.
“I can’t tell anything now. But if I take it, then I’ll probably be able to find something. Will you allow me to take it?”
“Well, okay.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll bring the bag!” gibbered Pinkie Pie and run away. Soon she returned with huge pink sack with varicolored balloons on it. It was big enough not only for the finding itself, but for all the pieces of the rock where the thing was. “Mom and dad are so surprised!” she said when she came back. “They say that no pony here have ever found things like this!”
“You… had time for conversation with your parents?” surprised Affi.
“Yeah,” Pinkie Pie nodded with such expression like it was absolutely nothing special in it.
“Okay…”
“Please, help a little,” asked Sheim.

He took the finding and lifted it. Affi and Pinkie Pie took the sack and opened it. Geologist put the column into it, and then slung the sack over his shoulder.

“The sun has touched the horizon already…” said Affi. “Let’s get back.”
“Okay,” said younger Pies and went home.

They directed their steps to the barn and got into when the sun left the sky. Sheim left the sack into the hall, near the closet with work clothes. Pinkie Pie jumped to her parents and told them about how she planned to return to Ponyville: the next train there will leave only at 5:40 a.m. so, as they need place to stay, they’ll sleep here. Cloudy Quartz and Igneous Rock answered that they would be glad to shelter the guests, but there is one problem: the family is big and the barn isn’t so large, so there are no free rooms. Researchers said that they aren’t fastidious, so couches in the living room will be perfect place to sleep.

After this they had one more little conversation just right before going to bed. They spoke about strange finding. Older and younger Pies shared their guesses with researchers. After short dispute they agreed that it’s probably unique phenomenon – a mass of pure molten metal, probably a volcanic bomb, pierced through rock, having left the channel, then ran into refractory crystal and somehow replaced it, that’s why there were all these strange traces. Sheim and Affi did their best to distract Pies from probable artificial nature of the object. When they finished, seniors said that it’s better to go to bed – tomorrow they’ll have another long working day, and guests have to return to their town. Researchers settled on the couches. Limestone Pie and Marble Pie gave them pillows and blankets and one old alarm clock. Sheim and Affi thanked then and wished everypony good night. Pies wished them good night too and went to their rooms – Pinkie Pie together with sisters went their old room. Senior Pies turned lights off and barn got plunged into darkness. Researchers got comfortable and soon fell asleep.

Tomorrow, when even the first roosters were sleeping, they woke up. Igneous Rock, Cloudy Quartz, Maud Pie, Marble Pie and Limestone Pie started to prepare for work, and Pinkie Pie together with Sheim and Affi quickly brought themselves up and, having said goodbye – Maud’s and Sheim’s goodbye was especially long – rushed to the Dodge City’s train station.

They ran through area of rock farms and then Dodge City and in a minute before departure reached the train. They gave the conductor their tickets, got into the car, took their seats and put their luggage on the next ones – no pony wanted to travel at such early hour, so the train was almost empty: thus, they were only ponies in whole that car.

Conductor announced the departure, and the train began to move. Now there will be only three hours of road to Ponyville, so they could have a rest. So, having unanimously agreed, they decided to continue their sleep. But before that Pinkie Pie decided to learn one thing and asked Sheim about it. Unlucky for Rarity, Tom turned out to be an erratic too.

The train quickly gathered speed and rushed along the edge of Everfree forest. Researchers and Pinkie Pie dozed off almost immediately and napped until the very arrival to Ponyville – they woke up only after whistle which driver made after entering the town. Soon the train stopped at the station, they took their belongings and finding and went to the exit.

In a minute they were on the forecourt of the station building. Pinkie Pie sincerely thanked researchers for making company to her, Affi and Sheim said that they were very happy to see her family and Dodge City. They hugged each other, said goodbye and then separated. Pinkie Pie hopped to Sugarcube Corner, and researchers quickly went to their headquarters. If they’ll be lucky, they meet their friends there.

Soon they were on the place. Affi opened the door, and they went inside. A company of Edez, Oma, Zet’rar and Max met then.

“Look who’ve arrived!” exclaimed Edez and smiled.
“Hiya everyone!” smiled Affi and Sheim.
“Oh, it’s clearly evident whom you spent your time with,” grinned Zet’rar.
“Why, Pinkie is great and nice pony!” objected Affi. “Very hyperactive, but still.”
“Say, and why you are here?” asked Sheim. “You are supposed to watch the castle while princess is absent!”
“Yes, we are, but we are waiting for others, as you may see,” answered Max.
“By the way, where are Karin, Kor and Bluve?” asked Affi.
“Oh, Karin and Kor still have their “evening with continuation” at restaurant and hotel,” answered Edez.
“Oh… Well, we’re happy for them! But that’s quite quick.”
“Yeah, they turned out to be faster than us,” spelled Zet’rar and looked at Oma.

Oma gave a nod and said:

“And what about Bluve… Well, she’s walking somewhere around – she tries to calm herself down.”
“What happened to her?”
“Oh, you see, she decided to try her luck with one of those newcomers, that gray stallion in coat. You know, that guys who live near the castle. She learned that he regularly walks early in the morning, went to meet him and make an offer.”
“Oh… And?”
“Well, she received an unsure answer.”
“We see.”
“And what about you? How was Dodge City?” asked Edez.
“Well, it’s was brutal – true industrial town of workers. Everything there proves it,” answered Affi. “We’ll show you the records later. But we didn’t spend all the time in Dodge City – the greatest part of it we spent at one of the rock farms which surround the town. We were at Pinkie’s home! And met her family.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They are complete opposites of her. It looks like all the liveliness of whole that family concentrated in Pinkie. Her parents and sisters are quite calm and quiet ponies – only Limestone Pie is some exception. And they also true hard workers. They gave us a shelter for the night and fed us with good dinner, though it was beans… Pinkie and her sister Maud gave us a small tour around their farm. And during that tour we made one amazing finding.”
“What finding?’
“This!” said Sheim and put the sack down. “We are lost in conjectures what is it, but you’ll like it!” and he took metal column from it.

Zet’rar, Oma and Max looked at it with interest, but Edez… Edez got very pale, and his face turned to stone.

“Gsenp’tlarafiim doemnavate ro edekhe az-malizuuru…” [absolutely untranslatable expression of pure daze and surprise] he spelled. “You… found that on their rock farm?”
“Yes,” nodded Sheim. “It was in a pegmatite rock, typical glacial boulder. It seems that once it pierced a rock far away from here, and then was torn off and brought here… Wait, you know what it is?”

Edez didn’t respond. He slowly approached Shiem, took the column and then hit the floor with its blunt end. Suddenly for everyone it quietly clanged, and blunt end fell off. Edez looked at what was inside, then showed it to his friends. There was a small bas-relief: a bowl with fire on background of mountain ridge under three moons.

“Holy crap of the universe…” spelled Oma.
“Please, tell what is it?” shouted Zet’rar.
“It’s coat of arms of Ad’Deigoro clan…” Edez began. “Only we have heptahedral one. And this thing is our claiming beacon.”
“What?”
“About three million and two hundred thousand years ago, when Dreketani wasn’t an empire, but when we successfully mastered technologies of interstellar jumps, all clans of the planet sent autonomous ships to other systems. Their aim was to find other planets and, if they weren’t already colonized or inhabited, claim them as lands of the clan. They didn’t send information to us – their courses were almost straight lines, so we just followed them and looked for beacons. The mission had no research purposes. When we got enough planets, we just stopped to follow them. But they continued to work. And one of them, as it turned out, reached this system…”
“But that’s not all,” said Oma.
“What do you mean?”
“According to ancient dreketanian law which is still valid and accepted in the Union,” Edez began to explain, “the first representative of the clan who set foot on the claimed planed should become its owner.”

Max, Zet’rar, Affi and Sheim choked.

“What???”
“You want to say that… de jure, now you are owner of this planet?” spelled Affi.

Senior planetologist gave a nod.

“Wow, just wow!” exclaimed Zet’rar.
“Wait a moment…” said Max. “You told that your ships should claim only the uninhabited planets, right? Then how did this beacon appear here?”
“Yes, it was their primary directive…” said Edez. “Well, the only possible variant is that during the visit of our starship this planet wasn’t inhabited with species which our systems could detect as sapient.”
“Great…” uttered Oma. “You sent ships for claiming the planets, forgot about them, and now we found one of their “presents” in millions of light years from your space and after dozens of Epochs!”
“Yep, that’s a precedent,” said Affi.
“Well, I’ll have to spend some time discussing this with the administration of the Institute and the Council of the Union,” spelled Edez.
“Council of the Union?” surprised Sheim and Max.
“Claiming of the planets it’s their business.”
“Well then… Congratulation and our regards, Lord Emperor of newfound land of Gaia Edez Ad’Deigoro!” Oma and Zet’rar parodied official imperial greeting of Dreketani.

Edez gave them a frown.

“Wait, Gaia?” surprised Sheim.
“Yeah, that’s how locals call their home planet,” said Zet’rar. “Gosh, where have you been if you still didn’t learn the name of the planet? And you call yourself a planetologist!”
“Sorry.”
“Well, I think I call other Teams now,” grinned Edez. “Let them see the first sentient of this planet!”

Meanwhile at the Ponyville headquarters of Second Department of Special Service of Equestria another act occurred.

Razor Edge, Grace, Cloudbreaker and Dim Silhouette were having rest after hearty breakfast when Hidden Path with loud slam broke into the room. He panted, and his face rapidly changed its expressions and colors.

“Hid?” surprised Razor Edge.
“Sir?” worried Cloudbreaker and Dim Silhouette.
“What happened to you?” asked Grace.

Hidden Path opened his mouth like he was going to say, but couldn’t utter a word. Only after some seconds he finally managed to start the phrase.

“I… met that turquoise mare… from the group of castle workers…”
“What did she do?” asked Razor Edge.
“It was something terrible?” said Dim Silhouette.
“She… she decided to take me out for a date!”

All his colleagues got taken aback and froze.

“And you?” quietly asked Grace.
“I didn’t know what to do! What to say! I could give ourselves away! I just got lost!”
“You told her that you don’t know?”
“Yes!”

Grace, Razor Edge and Dim Silhouette shook their heads but then, in a second, laughed. Cloudbreaker just looked nowhere with big eyes and raised his eyebrows.

“What are you laughing at?” shouted Hidden Path.
“The girls just wanted to go on a little date with you!” said Razor Edge.
“She’s one of our objects of observation!”
“And so what?”
“Similar situations were described at some of our lectures…” said Cloudbreaker still being in his isolated wave.
“What?” exclaimed Hidden Path. He began to feel embarrassed.
“Don’t tell me that you have no experience in this field,” said Grace.
“I’m not a spy, I’m a detective!” objected Hidden Path. “I was taught how to watch, notice things and solve mysteries, not how to seduce girls!”

Grace sighed and uttered “Hard case…”

“Listen…” she began. “Yes, she is one of our objects of observation, but it doesn’t change anything! She just wanted to spend some time with you, so give it to her! If she invited you herself, then she doesn’t know who you really are! Just stop think about the work all the time at once and have some nice time! Just be yourself and don’t speak about our true aims!”
“But what if it’s their secret plan to detect us?” objected Hidden Path.
“How did she behave?”
“Well, she was quiet and shy, just like bearer of the Element of kindness.”
“Then I can tell you with one hundred percent confidence that she doesn’t know who we really are. She just wanted to date you!”
“Yeah, next time just agree,” said Razor Edge. “Just… Wait, how long ago it had happened?”
“What?”
“Her attempt to invite you.”
“Well, about half of an hour ago,” Hidden Path looked at the wall clock.
“Dammit, dude! Run and find her and tell that you agree!”
“What? But she’s…”
“Think about it like about a date with a zebra, or a deer, or an antelope,” offered Dim Silhouette.
“Well… I’ll do it,” said Hidden Path and left the room. Soon his colleagues heard the sound of a gallop.

Cloudbreaker, Grace, Dim Silhouette and Razor Edge looked at each other.

“You think it was good idea?” asked Cloudbreaker.
“Yes,” nodded Grace with a smile. “He had to have some good time with a girl long ago.”
“We can only wish him well,” said Dim Silhouette.
“And, by the way, this date may turn out into significant event, and our Hidden Path may become historical figure,” grinned Razor Edge.
“Why?”
“First stallion who dated an alien!”

All other smiled too.

“Yeah…”

15. Dark News

View Online

Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were walking down the streets of Ponyville towards the Castle.

“…and she was absent for the whole day!” said surprised Rainbow Dash. “Cakes said that they hadn’t seen her since she left. But what’s the most strange is that absolutely nothing happened during this time!”
“Wow. That’s… not like Pinkie, especially knowing that she was together with Cheese Sandwich,” noticed Applejack.
“Yeah. So I decided to find what they are up to,” continued Rainbow Dash. “I flew away and started to look.”
“And?”
“I barely found them! And you know what? They weren’t preparing a celebration or even a party, they weren’t doing something like that at all! They were in the town park, walking away from local café and chatting!”
“Oh…” Rarity froze for a moment, but then gave a bit slyly smile. “Well, who would have thought!”
“What do you mean?” wondered Rainbow Dash.
“Don’t you see? Oh, it’s so obvious!”
“Not for me.”
“They have a relationship!”
“What?” exclaimed Applejack. “Ya think Pinkie and Cheese have a romance?”
“Well, they do behave like a couple,” said Rarity. “They were in a café, then walked together and chatted… They did thing typical for enamored!”
“Our Pinkie? Really? Nah,” Rainbow Dash refused to believe. “What do you think about it, Twilight?”
“Well…” Twilight paused for a moment. “It’s a moot point.”
“But what do you feel?” asked Rarity.
“Ehm… Well, they really became very close to each other. And I feel that they become more than friends.”
“Heh-heh…” Applejack nervously grinned. “The first one among us who got a coltfriend is Pinkie Pie…”
“I still can’t believe it…” uttered Rainbow Dash looking nowhere.
“Hey, we’re almost there!” suddenly exclaimed Spike.
“Huh?” surprised girls, stopped and looked up. Indeed, crystal walls of the castle towered above the roofs of surrounding houses.
“Yup,” nodded Applejack. “Just a few seconds, and we’ll be in there!”
“Let’s hurry up th… Wait, do you hear it?” said Rainbow Dash.
“Yes, somepony is singing!” agreed Rarity.

They got interested and decided to find who it was. They came closer and found out that the sound came from one of the decorative bushes near the castle. The voice was low, deep and a bit hoarse, and since the first seconds it seemed to all the friends that they know this stallion. Ponies and little dragon carefully passed by flowerbeds and approached the bush. Spike looked through the leafage and branches, young mares stood on hind legs to look from the above. And they saw Sheim, who was slowly weeding one of the new alpine hills and, meanwhile, sang his gruff voice, which surprisingly sounded very melodically. He was focused on the work, so didn’t notice bearers of the Elements and little dragon.

“…The colors of the rainbow…” he sang, “so pretty… in the sky,
Are also on the faces… of ponies going by…
I see friends shaking hooves… saying… how do you do,
They’re really saying… I love you…
I hear foals cry… I watch them grow…
They’ll learn much more… than I’ve ever know.
And I think to myself… what a wonderful world…
Oh, and I think to myself… what a wonderful… world…”

He stopped and closed his eyes. Spike, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were amazed. They didn’t know that he can sing so beautifully. For a couple of seconds they stood still, then they just applauded.

Sheim, having heard the applause, shuddered and jumped on the spot.

“Oh, we are sorry!” apologized Rarity.
“We didn’t want to scare you!” said Twilight.
“We just… came to listen,” uttered Applejack with a weak smile of awkwardness.
“Listen to me?” surprised Sheim.
“Yeah. You sang very good,” said Rainbow Dash.
“It was awesome!” added Spike.
“Yes, this song is just for your voice,” noticed Rarity.
“Well, thank you, miss Rarity, and all of you,” nodded Sheim.
“You’re welcome.”
“Well, since we already know that you can sing like this, then, maybe, you’ll join us for one of the parties or celebrations?” asked Spike.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Very well. So, excuse us once again, Lierre, for the interruption. We won’t bother you now,” said Twilight.
“Do not apologize, everything is fine,” answered Sheim.

Friends gave him a nod and went away. They left the garden and came to the main entrance. Twilight opened the doors with her magic, and they went into the hall.

And, for their own surprise, they found that now it was almost empty. But it wasn’t the most surprising: there was only Oma, and she… also sang – she repeated right after the current radio broadcast. And, moreover, she was selflessly dancing in the middle of the hall.

“…Defied my mind,
My body is still curious.
So won’t you show me all there is to know?
I know I shouldn’t call,
But something makes me crave the heat.
Your love is bittersweet.
The fire in your touch,
I always find so hard to beat.
Your love is bittersweet…”
“A-khem…” Twilight politely coughed.

Oma immediately stopped.

“Oh, excuse me, please” she apologized.
“Why do you sing too?” surprised Rainbow Dash.
“What?”
“Rainbow, how can she know about this?” said Spike.
“Oh, right…”
“Looks like somepony is enjoying her free time!” smiled Applejack.
“Well, if you have some of it, then why not use it for what you like to do?” shaky reasoned Oma.
“So, you like to sing and dance?”
“Um… Yes.”
“Well, my dear, you were gorgeous!” said Rarity.
“Thank you.”
“By the way, where are Berg and Erő?” asked Twilight.
“Well, Berg’s patrolling the upper floors, and Erő… honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t seen him for three hours. But he didn’t leave the Castle, this I can say for sure.”
“Thanks.”
“You may continue,” grinned Rainbow Dash.
“Eh, the song is over,” answered Oma.
“It’s a pity.”

Ponies and dragon left the hall and moved to the second floor.

“Well, since we are here, would you like to see one of the most interesting my latest findings?” asked Twilight.
“What finding?” wondered Rarity and Applejack.
“You gonna love it,” smiled Spike.
“Yes!” nodded Twilight.
“What so unusual did you find?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“I think I found the way how to get round the limit of working time of magic mirror in Crystal Empire!”
“No way!”
“It’s true! I don’t know whose recordings it is, but they say that with some magic gems I’ll be able to open the portal at any time!”
“Wow, that’s… really impressive!” said Rarity.
“Indeed, but, unfortunately, there are no concrete words about what gems are necessary.”

And at that moment they heard another singing voice.

“Again?” said Rainbow Dash.

Friends turned the next corner and saw Karin, pulling a cart with mops, brushes, buckets and other cleaning equipment, and, at the same time, making dancing movements and cheerfully singing:

“…A little party never killed nobody,
So we gonna dance until we drop, drop.
A little party never killed nobody,
Right here, right now’s all we got…”
“You too…” sighed Applejack.
“What?” surprised Karin.
“You all are singing, guys, when we meet you,” said Spike. “And this happens for the third time already!”
“Well, if the mood is good, then why not sing a little?”
“Uh, have it your way,” said little dragon, and together with bearers of the Elements went farther.
“Only one more thing,” Rainbow Dash suddenly turned and flew to Karin. “Don’t sing this song when Pinkie Pie is near.”
“Well, okay. But… why?”
“Believe me, it will be better this way.”

Rainbow Dash gave Karin a nod and flew away.

“But still, Ah don…t exactly uderstand why?” asked Applejack when they returned to their route.
“Because if Pinkie will hear it, she make it her own motto.”
“Oh…” Applejack realized all the gravity of the situation.
“Eeeeexcuse me,” said Spike and left the group. “I have to take one thing from my room. It’s right here, so, please, wait for me!”

He ran to one of the nearest doors and opened it. But only he got ready to make the first step inside, he froze in stun: Affi was in his room, she was cleaning the dust, but – just like all other workers of the castle what they’ve met – she combined her work with dancing and singing.

“…When you call on me…” she sang, whirling and brushing away the things around her.
“When I hear you breathe,
I get wings to fly,
I feel that I’m alive.
When you look at me
I can tough the sky.
I know that I’m alive…”
“Seriously?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“Pardon me, but it looks like you have conspired,” said Rarity.

Affi blankly stared at them.

“Ya guys got sung away today,” uttered Applejack.
“Or somepony unfairly refers to her work!” menacingly said Twilight, but it was clear that she wasn’t serious.
“What?” surprised Affi. “Why, I’m just combining business with pleasure!”
“But still it doesn’t explain why you all sing when we meet you,” said Spike.
“And such attitude to work,” added Twilight.
“Well, such attitude is quite normal, you know,” said Affi. “When you have become finally and absolutely accustomed to your job, you allow yourself doing some other things while you are making the main task. It’s typical. I’m sure that you sometimes croon or dance a little doing your chores too.”
“She’s got a point,” said Applejack, addressing her friends.
“True, but… why all of you and now?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“I can’t say,” Affi shrugged. “It can be only a bizarre coincidence.”
“Coincidence?” said Rainbow Dash, not believing these words.
“The other possible explanation is telepathy, but as far as I know, we, ponies, don’t have it.”
“Well, Ah have no more questions,” said Applejack.

Others agreed. Spike took what he wanted – small box with his snack gemstones – and together with his friends moved farther.

Their destination, the library, was not far away from their current location. They just needed to make some turns, go through a couple of corridors and they’ll get on the place – big beautiful entrance hall. Being eager to see their friend’s finding, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack quickly went forward. Twilight and Spike tried to keep up with them, so when they reached the hall, they entered it together. And when they did it, they stood startled. Before they met only lone singing ponies, now they faced with a whole band: sleepy Max played a guitar, relaxed Zet’rar had some empty plastic bottles and jerricans which he used as drums, and Kor had a keytar. They sat at one of the benches near the main entrance to the library and performed one simple song.

“…Nna-naa-na-na-na,” sang Max and Zet’rar together.
“Nna-naa-na-na-na.”
“Life,” joined Kor.
“Nna-naa-na-na-na.”
“Life is life.”
“Nna-naa-na-na-na.”
“Labadab dab dab life.”
“Nna-naa-na-na-na.”
“Liiiiiiiife.”
“Nna-naa-na-na-na.”

After this they sang together.

“When we all give the power
We all give the best,
Every minute of an hour
Don’t think about the rest,
And you all get the power,
You all get the best,
When everyone gets everything
And every song everybody sings…”
“And it’s life,” Kor began to sing solo again.
“Nna-naa-na-na-na.”
“That’s it!” shouted Twilight – though she was the calmest one among them all, but this sight filled up the cup.
“Uh?” lads stopped to play and looked at her.
“Call the others and gather in the main hall. I want all of you to be there in a minute!”

Lads looked at each other, shrugged, put the instruments aside and went away.

In a minute, as it was ordered, Team One was gathered in the main hall and stood in a row. Twilight together with friends descended to them, stopped in front of them, paused a little, looking at them, and then exclaimed:

“What happened to all of you today?”

Researchers just blankly looked at her and awkwardly shrugged.

“You have conspired this or what?” continued Twilight. “Why you were singing all the time?”
“What? I wasn’t singing!” objected Edez.
“Me too!” added Bluve. “Well… Maybe a little.”
“Aaargh!!!” groaned Twilight. “That’s it! That’s the limit! Guys, do you understand how it looked for us?”
“We do,” answered Affi.
“We’re sorry,” quietly uttered Zet’rar, Oma and Karin.
“Oh…” Twilight shook her head. “How such thing could happen?”

Members of Team One just shrugged again.

“Fine…” she sighed. “You are free for the rest of the day. Come back tomorrow with proper attitude and without these weirdnesses!”
“Yes, ma’am!” said researchers, turned round and walked to their closets.

Soon they were on the way to their headquarters.

“Jeez…” Affi was thinking out loud. “Seriously, how could such thing happen? Eight of us sing at the same time? Really, how?”
“I didn’t know that you were singing,” said Karin.
“None of us knew!” exclaimed Oma. “And couldn’t know! We couldn’t hear each other!”
“Affi, you really did nothing?” asked Kor.
“Yes, I swear!”
“Well then I have no idea what could be the reason.”
“Me too.”
“Well, it looks like it will remain a mystery,” said Edez. “But now… let’s enjoy our sudden day off!”

They came to the house and only got ready to open the door when sudden sound signal made them shudder. It wasn’t loud, but was heavy, harsh and monotonously continuous. Researchers gulped and turned pale. It was the sound of type eleven messages. And it meant that the worst possible thing had happened…

Researchers quickly got into the house, slammed the door and ran to the living room to the main communicator which was disguised as ordinary box for small things. Zet’rar answered the call. A big communication hologram of captain of “Kelkerdez-Unaad” and his first assistant appeared under the ceiling.

They understood why they were calling, they understood what happened. They had only one question.

“Who?”
“Ga’ke and jyaxee,” captain gave the answer.
“What?”
“No, no! Not them!” wailed Bluve and Oma.
“Lifeless and imitators learned about our mission?” exclaimed Kor. “Don’t tell that two the most dreadful groups of whole Known Space got information about this place!”
“But they did it,” said first assistant. “And they have succeeded in this .”
“Yes,” captain sighed and nodded with somber expression. “They got all the data about this system what we knew before the start of expedition, and even some information what have been already transmitted to Ateir.”
“How they could pass all the security systems?” wondered Zet’rar.
“We don’t know yet. Ministries of Defense, Environment and Government Affairs have only started the investigation. But it’s not the most horrendous thing. Even the first inspections showed that they stole the information not once, and it began to happen long time ago.”
“Not once?” exclaimed Affi.
“Investigative bureau found that there were eighteen successful attempts,” said first assistant.
“How long ago did it start?” asked Edez.
“About two decades ago.”
“I can’t believe it…” uttered Kor. “All the information about the mission is encrypted with our most difficult and advanced methods and devices! Only several dozens of sentients from trillions know how to use it! How could they hack our databases?”
“Or they might intercept our messages…” added Max.
“It’s unknown,” said captain. “But we’ve learned about their attack before they started any actions, and it’s good.”
“What?”
“Councils of the Institute and the Unity afraid that now, knowing the coordinates, jyaxee and ga’ke may come here.”
“Oh no…”
“How are we supposed to fight these monsters?” exclaimed Sheim. “Yes, we have some powerful cannons, but this won’t be enough if thousands of them come!”
“Councils had already undertaken some measures,” answered captain. “They sent a support – a group of nehfayans with their class three ship. They’ll arrive in four days.”
“Well, that’s makes the matter a bit easier,” said Edez.
“At least now we’ll be able to resist!” spelled Karin.
“But still, nehfayans’ support doesn’t mean that everything is safe. Our enemies, especially ga’ke, can do anything. They may sneak through our networks of observations, so you all have to be on the alert.”
“Be extremely watchful,” added first assistant. “If they’ll organize a secret, hidden mission, you, research Teams, will be the only ones who can found them.”
“So prepare yourselves and be ready to act,” finished captain.
“We understand,” said researchers.

Captain and first assistant gave them a nod and stopped the connection. The hologram vanished, and the box closed itself.

“Shit. Damned fucking shit!” swore Max.
“Fucking bastards…” growled Kor. “They’ll destroy everyone here!”
“And we can’t even say when they’ll come,” said Oma.
“Or they are already here!” added Bluve.
“And what now?” quietly said Sheim.
“We have no choice, my friends,” sighed Edez. “Captain and mate were clear. Lifeless’ and imitators knew about Gaia. And they are coming, probably right now. So from now on we should become not only researchers, but also defenders of this world and these creatures.”
“Yes,” said Affi. “They don’t know about terrors what they may face. And it will be our job to protect them.”

Edez nodded.

“We already have scanners and recording devices installed in us,” he said. “But it isn’t enough even for observation. We need arms and precise detecting devices, and we have to become invulnerable again. So, prepare Sets 11, 5 and 9 everyone…”

Researchers silently agreed.

The rest of the day they spent preparing themselves, installing additional devices and equipping themselves. Their mission wasn’t calm and peaceful now. Now they have to watch and be ready to face with the greatest terrors of Known Space, and protect unsuspecting and innocent creatures of this world from them.

Now everything will be different.

Far beyond the orbit of the last planet of the system a spark lightened the cosmos. Instant, weak, almost absolutely unnoticeable flash gave birth to fast meteor. It shot forth millions of kilometers, but then, suddenly, rapidly started to slow down. Its velocity dropped to zero just in dozen of seconds. The light and glow dispersed and showed minor-type spacecraft. Smaller than smallest asteroids visible in a telescope, it had shape of perfect arrow head and had perfectly smooth surface with no edges, windows, antennas and hatches. It looked like she was made from solid piece of mat dark gray metal. It was invisible in the surrounding darkness.

It slowly turned towards the sun of the system. There it was the brightest spot on the sky, but it was only a bit brighter than the greatest neighbor stars. In seventeen billions kilometers there was its aim, a small planet, populated with primitive, but wonderful creatures, which can be the best thing what they’ve ever found. But now it’s dangerous to fly to the planet – there is an enemy’s ship near it that constantly scans the space. Thanks to the sizes, shields and distance he is insensible for them now, but only he dares to come closer, he may get detected.

He won’t be able to fight with the enemy – they also have one spacecraft, but it’s gigantic comparing to him. He won’t have a chance. But, luckily, there is one way how to get round this titan.

Small ship activated its mightiest scanner and directed it to the target planet. Several glances on it, and soon the necessary object was found: a powerful thunderstorm on the night side of the planet. Perfect! Now he has only wait a little, to the moment when enemy disappear behind the planet. Although they spent five million years improving their detectors, they still work better only when nothing significant hides the scanned area.

Some more time of waiting, and after a supramoment his patience was rewarded: enemy’s titanic spacecraft flew round the planet and hid behind it. A couple more moments – and now its scanners and detectors were no threat for him. Small ship activated the far teleportation system and prepared for jump. Its smooth surface waved, covered with incredible strong perturbations, and in a moment vessel disappeared in a flash.

It took him a split second to get to the planet. Small ship swept through distorted subdimension and materialized right in the middle of the thundercloud. A burst of energy accompanied the exit from the teleportation jump, but thanks to the environment it was sensed just like a powerful lightning, one of the last manifestations of power of dying thunderstorm.

He was there. The main danger has passed. Now he’ll be safe. Now he’ll be able to begin his work.

Small spacecraft turned insensibility shield on and slowly moved out from the thunderstorm. He descended and soon left the cloud. He was flying over a vast forest – there were trees from horizon to horizon, but near the edge of his scope there was a tear in the green cover, a settlement.

He flew towards it. Only there he could find what he needed. He slowly approached the sleeping city when the necessary place appeared right under him – the city cemetery. The vessel stopped. Now it was possible to start the preparations.

Sets of new minor scanners activated and began to comb. Invisible rays of particles pierced the nasty soil, looking for the necessary among scary dark trees and tombstones. Several flashes, and it was found. Quite fresh, but already forgotten grave. The body inside had started to decompose, but still preserved its structure – and that meant it will be possible to reconstruct it. He stopped the searches and began the extraction of the body. The coordinates were entered, and teleportation system of the spacecraft began to work. Piece by piece it brought the remains on board, to the main laboratory. There medical equipment joined them, implemented the first step of reconstruction. Advanced technologies were quick, so the body was ready for the procedures just in a minute.

Before the start he looked at the bode that will become his host for next decades or even years. A brown earth pony stallion with short shaggy mane and tail, rather ungainly one: tall, thin and with long legs. Not young, but far from old. His traumas said that he died because of an accident. Total degree of suitability for use – the highest.

He gladly grinned in his mind and began the reconstruction. Medical systems of the spacecraft activated. Dozens of needles and cables stuck in the body, and lots of little manipulators began to cut, join, delete, insert, install, melt and sew together. Blood, lymph, bile and other liquids were completely replaced – they were pumped out, scanned and then, using the acquired data, special surrogate was made and pumped in. Internal organs slowly became to get functioning again. Bones became solid again. Nerves and blood vessels got knitted and alive again. Muscles and skin together with hair were regenerated. Brain was replaced with the vessel of the host. At the same time the body was filled with additional devices: scanners, detectors, memory blocks, hidden chambers of compressed space – toolboxes, armories and empty storages, supporting and strengthening systems. Right eye was completely replaced with artificial biomechanical one. All space between brain and palate was replaced with the device of direct contact. Additional chambers of compressed space in the form of bracelets were installed in the forelegs. Head was separated from the body, rotating device was added, and then they were joined back. Pigmentation of the stallion was changed too: from brown and beige he became gray and blue-black. When all this was done, the body was filled with nanites. And then the last step was made: the consciousness of the host was downloaded, and, simultaneously, biochemical starters were injected in the body. Physiological processes were started, consciousness integrated in the new body. The reconstruction was finished.

He opened his new eyes, stood up from the surgical table and approached the main panel. He switched on the camera and then looked at himself on holoscreen. The look wasn’t the best: ragged ears, shaggy mane, different eyes, scars everywhere. Not likable appearance, but, knowing the aims, it will serve him well.

Now he has the look of locals, now the only thing he needs is their knowledge. He moved to the control cabin and directed the ship towards the nearest dwelling house – the lonely hut of cemetery keeper. He stopped the vessel right above the house and quickly found the keeper by his biosignature. Then he activated the mind scanner. Powerful ray pierced through shingle and boards and hit the sleeping old stallion. He woke up because of sharp pain, screamed, but then, in a second, fainted and fell down. All his knowledge were copied and transmitted to the spacecraft’s ASI, and then, already processed – into the mind of the host. Soon the procedure was finished. Keeper remained unconscious in his bed, the host was ready to begin.

He withdrew his spacecraft from the city borders and landed on one of the local swamps, right on the water. Small vessel quickly submerged into the dirt and slime and hid under meters of liquid – now no one will find it. He gladly smiled, now for real, and prepared to leave the ship. Using on-board matter generators he created an old-looking cape and saddlebag for himself and a dozen of small diamonds – he had no samples of local currency, but these things were able to replace it. He took some devices, some other things, put all this in the bags, then put on the cape and activated the teleportation system of the ship for the last time.

Another flash – and he was near the road near the city limits, hidden in the bushes from prying eyes. He took a deep breathe, closed his right eye, pretending that it’s blind, and left his hideout. He stepped on the road and went to the city. First houses were only in four hundred steps from him. He quickly approached them, stood and looked up to the signs that adorned their walls. “Welcome to Dodge City!” they said. He stared at them for some time, then silently continued his walk.

It was late at night. The city was sleeping for several hours already. There were no lights in the windows – only rare streetlights didn’t allow this place to submerge into total darkness. He slowly walked through the wet streets and looked around. Absolutely no signs of life. But, suddenly, he noticed some lights in the windows at one of the small streets. The building didn’t look like a house, it was bigger. He came closer and saw the signboard. “Wood’s Inn”. One of the small city’s hotels, quiet and inconspicuous place. Just what he needs.

He shook himself and went in.

“Oh my…” said the receptionist. He immediately put aside the newspaper that he had been reading when he saw the visitor. He became still for a second, being affected, but then put on polite expression. “What brings you here at such late hour?”
“I haven’t timed,” he answered.
“Oh, and what about that dreadful thunderstorm which had just passed? How did you manage to shelter from it?”
“Luckily, I found a big tree with dense crown.”
“I see… So, you’d like to stay, eh?”
“Yes. I’d like to have a simple room for one. Do you have those?”
“Yep, there are a couple of variants… Room 24 on the second floor and room 33 on the third.”
“I’ll take the last one…” he said, put his foreleg under the cape and took one diamond. “I have no bits, so… Will that be enough to pay for?” He put the diamond on the counter.
“Why, of course! That’ll be enough to pay for four weeks!”
“Good.”
“Here’s your key… Oh, and one more thing: what’s your name, sir?”
“Name is… Quasi.”
“Okay…” receptionist made a record. “Have a nice rest after your trip, mister Quasi!”

Quasi gave him a nod, took the key and went upstairs.

He had settled. Now it was possible to start the implementation of the main part of the mission. One has to wait just a half of an year, and this rich, wonderful world will be the brilliant in the constellation of worlds of ga’ke…

16. Official Meeting

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It was morning of another calm and peaceful day in Ponyville. Lunchtime was approaching, so the town and its citizens slowly immersed into siesta. Streets began to get deserted, Ponyville gradually became boring. The same happened in the Castle of Friendship. Most members of Team One were having nap or rest – only three of them were busy now: Kor helped Zet’rar with some repair of furniture, and lone Edez kept the watch near the main entrance. He had been alone for two hours already, so, having no one to speak with, he just started to faff around. At the moment he was ticking out Dreketanian Imperial March with his hooves. He was about to finish when the doors opened. Spike, Twilight and Fluttershy went in.

“Good day!” Edez greeted them.
“Hello!” responded Fluttershy. Twilight and Spike gave him a nod.

Edez was going to close the doors behind them when he noticed one more pony walking towards the entrance. It was Affi, but then Edez could have sworn that it was antediluvian biomech disguised as her: her moves were unnaturally clumsy and in general it looked as if she moved exceptionally by inertia, her eyes were aspiring to nowhere. Her detached expression showed that she was in state of deep prostration and shock.

“Um… Hey, Anti?” Edez waved her.

But Affi didn’t respond. She walked past him and hosts of the castle and went to the personal chambers of researchers.

When she entered the rooms, Edez turned to ponies and dragon and asked in troublous voice:

“What happened to her?”
“Well…” timidly started Fluttershy, “You know that Antilipsi agreed to help me with accommodation of new animals today, right?”
“Yes, she told about this.”
“When we had already started to work, Discord showed up. As it turned out, he also could help. Having his assistance, we did everything, except one matter, in a couple of hours. In the end we still needed to accommodate ferrets and martens, but there was only one free animal house. Ferrets and martens often confront with each other. Any partition has no effect – they just ruin it and start to fight again. The easiest way was to build one more house, but we didn’t have enough materials, and even Discord can create only temporary things. We had been thinking for quite a long time, and then Antilipsi came up with idea: she offered to make the last house two-storied, with separate entrances for each storey on opposite sides. It could be the solution what we needed, and, as it turned out later, it really worked. We were very happy. Discord, to thank her, took her up and kissed. And… since that moment Antilipsi was like that.”
“Discord… kissed her?” uttered Edez.
“Yes,” Fluttershy nodded.

In a moment researcher burst out laughing.

“Ehm… What’s so funny?” wondered ponies and little dragon.
“You know…” spelled Edez, wiping a tear, “our dear Anti has quite a crush on your spirit friend.”
“Really?” sincerely surprised Fluttershy.
“And… How serious it is?” asked Spike.

Edez spread his forelimbs apart.

“That big,” he said.

Spike gave a whistle, Fluttershy muttered “Oh my…”

“…okay,” spelled Twilight. “Um… and where is Erő?”
“He’s helping Allegro to repair some furniture… Oh, here it is!” said Edez and looked at his colleague who was descending the stairs.
“Good day,” Kor greeted hosts of the castle.
“So, you’ve finished?”
“Yep.”
“Pardon me, but what was broken?” asked Twilight.
“Oh, nothing serious: we just replaced some attachments of shelves with more durable ones.”
“I see.”

Hosts of the castle gave their guards a nod and went upstairs. Edez and Kor started to keep the watch together.

After some time Fluttershy left the castle, Oma and Zet’rar, who went with her, took their places at the reception counter.

Clock hands were about to come together to mark the noon, when big shadow flew behind windows. Soon researchers heard sound of big landing object. Edez and Kor opened the doors and saw that there was royal chariot. Eight pegasi guards pulled it, but there was only one passenger, princess Celestia. She left the chariot and went to the entrance. Researchers quickly gathered near doors, and in a moment Twilight, who also saw the chariot arriving, flew down from the second floor and landed near them. Members of Team One bowed when Celestia came in, Twilight trotted to her teacher.

“Princess Celestia!” purple alicorn smiled.
“Hello, princess Twilight,” responded Celestia.
“I’m very happy to see you, but I didn’t expect you to come today. What brings you here?”
“I’m very glad to see you too. Unfortunately, I came to you not for a friendly visit. I have big request to you. But we need to discuss it alone.”
“Sure. Follow me, please.”

Twilight gave researchers a nod, and they stood up. Princesses climbed up to the second floor and went to the library. There purple alicorn told her assistant to wait for her in his room, and soon both princesses remained alone. Twilight closed the door with her magic, turned to her teacher and got surprised and worried: Celestia suddenly drooped and lowered her head.

“What happened, princess?” she exclaimed. “This problem is so serious?”
“Oh, Twilight…” Celestia sighed. “The problem isn’t so serious, it’s just… specific. But I feel so uncomfortable and awkward asking you about it…”
“Tell me about it, please.”

Celestia made one more sigh and then started:

“Tomorrow we will receive ambassadorial delegation from Griffin Empire. The visit itself is not something extraordinary – people of Empire came to us almost every year. But there is one circumstance: griffins of Empire are strong-willed and authoritarian and even more proud than griffins of Griffonstone. They recognize only the strong. You have to show them your power if you want to have successful negotiations and achieve results that suit both sides. You have to impress them, and they don’t get impressed with the same thing twice. So… after two thousand years of diplomatic relations we simply ran out of ideas.”
“But…” Twilight got puzzled. “You and princess Luna are mightiest magicians in the world! You know incredible number of spells! It just can’t be that you have nothing to impress those griffins!”
“Griffins of Empire had discovered how to avoid any magic influence even before my sister turned into Nightmare Moon, twelve centuries ago. There are no magic tricks able to impress them now. We have to organize military parades, exhibitions, performances for them. We have tried almost everything. We don’t see almost any options now.”
“I… I don’t know how I can help you!”
“I have been thinking about possible solutions for a long time, and I came up with only one idea… Twilight, I need Berg and Erő to work as my guards for next two days.”
“Berg and Erő… as your guards?” Twilight was at a loss.
“Well, they look more impressive and even frightening than average Canterlot guards, agree,” said Celestia with expression of light awkwardness.
“Y-yes,” Twilight gave a weak nod after a pause. “I think I understand your point now.”
“I’m sorry that I need to ask you about such thing. It’s so awkward…”
“Please, princess. If it is necessary for Equestria’s needs, we’ll do it.”
“Thank you,” Celestia gave her student a nod.

Princesses stood up and left the library. Twilight called Spike, and soon they descended back to the main hall and approached Kor and Edez. Researchers, seeing alicorns coming to them, stood at attention.

“At ease!” Twilight said them. “Guys, princess Celestia has something to tell you.”
“Mister Berg, mister Erő, I need you to become my guards for next two days,” said Celestia.

Eyebrows of giants seemed to get higher than tops of their heads. Oma and Zet’rar, who was behind princesses, silently dropped their jaws.

“Your… guards?” spelled Kor.
“Ehm… Who will replace us then?” asked Edez.
“Yes,” nodded Twilight. “There is one specific issue which requires you for its solution. You will get the explanations later, now you have to go to Canterlot. What about the replacement… I suppose mister Zicht will have to work another shift.”
“Of course, Your Highnesses,” bowed Edez and Kor. “We’ll quickly pack our things and take the first train to Canterlot.”
“You will fly to Canterlot with me,” said Celestia.

Researchers choked.

“With… you?” spelled Edez.
“On… your chariot?” spelled Kor.
“Yes,” Celestia gave a nod. “We can’t waste time.”
“W-we understand that it’s the fastest way, but…” muttered Edez.
“It’s kinda awkward for us,” said Kor.
“Don’t worry about that, guys!” said one of the guards who pulled the chariot.
“Yeah, we don’t mind to buff up a bit,” added the second.
“A-as you say,” said Edez and Kor.

Celestia gave them three minutes to pack all what they needed. Researchers ran to their chambers and quickly packed standard set: personal hygiene items, some clothes, money, books and entertainment stuff. They didn’t take any self-installing devices – since they received grim message from headquarters, they already had full set of searchers and self-defense devices installed in themselves.

Soon they, with full bags, stood near Celestia and reported that they are ready. Princess said “Good” and asked them to follow her to the chariot. She got in, Edez and Kor put their bags on seats, but then they suddenly addressed the nearest guards:

“Pardon us, but have you ever carried all the princesses and prince Shining Armor and Spike at the same time?”
“Um, no… Wait, you want to say that you are so heavy???” they surprised.
“Well… yeah.”

Pegasi just turned and looked forward with dumbfound petrified expressions without any words. Researchers, also without words, got into the chariot and sat behind princess.

Guards took a deep breath, spread their wings and began to flitter. Soon the chariot took off. Pegasi noted for themselves that it wasn’t so hard as they imagined after researchers’ words, but also they noted that those guys weren’t overestimating their weight – now it seemed that there were four ponies like Celestia in the chariot at least. Soon they gained altitude and started to turn into small dot in the sky. Twilight, surprised Oma and Zet’rar and grieved Max saw them off.

After a couple of minutes they rose above the clouds. Ponyville remained below and behind, in front of them silhouettes of Canterlot gradually began to take shape.

“We will be in the castle in thirty minutes,” said Celestia. “Now I would like to explain you…”

She turned back and got very surprised: Kor and Edez turned pale, pressed themselves into seats and grabbed a stranglehold over the boards of the chariot, barely managing not to show their claws.

“You have never flown before?” princess surprised.
“Only by dirigibles, Your Highness,” researchers quietly said.
“Oh… You have nothing to fear! Nothing will happen to you while you are here.”

Researchers gave a weak nod and loosened the grip.

“Mister Berg, mister Erő, I asked you to come with me because we have one specific issue with delegation that arrives tomorrow,” Celestia started to explain. “It’s an ambassadorial mission from Griffin Empire. I believe you met people of Empire before, right?”

Kor and Edez nodded “Regularly, Your Highness.”

“Then you should know that they recognize only the strong,” continued Celestia. “We maintain diplomatic relations for two thousand years already, and we have to impress them all the time if we want them to treat us as equals. But after all these years we simply ran out of variants how to do this. Now another delegation arrives, and, as I hope, when they will see you as my guards, they get the necessary impression.”
“We understand, Your Highness. But what exactly is required of us?” asked Berg.
“Nothing extraordinary. You just have to accompany me in their presence, look imperturbable, instilling and threateningly. Just act like ordinary disciplined guards.”
“Certainly, Your Highness,” researchers said.
“Good. And, please, don’t call me ‘Your Highness’ so often.”
“As you say.”
“When we arrive, you’ll need to be certified to become official Canterlot guards. It’s just a formality, but it’s very necessary. We must have proof that you are real guards, not just actors.”
“We understand.”
“First we’ll find you some armors because their production takes some quite long time. Then, before the end of the day, you’ll have to pass the certification. After this you may be free until 11:30 A.M. of tomorrow – griffin delegation arrives at noon.”
“We’ll do our best!”

Celestia smiled.

In a few minutes they arrived to Canterlot. The chariot glided above roofs of the city and walls of the palace and landed right in the center of castle yard. Pegasi guards removed harnesses and stretched themselves after complicated flight. Celestia stepped down from the chariot, Edez and Kor put their bags on and left the transport after princess.

“Follow me, please,” Celestia said, and researchers went after the diarch.

They entered the castle through doors of one terrace and started to go down long corridors. Using telepathic transmitters, researchers quickly agreed on the division of responsibilities: Edez will have to plot the map of the palace, Kor will have to record everything what he can notice. And there were a lot of things to look at: first part of the path ran through main great halls. Splendid and richly and brightly decorated with paintings, panels, statuettes and antiques, full of different ponies – guards, maids, aristocrats, officials – they were incredible sight, radically different from halls of old Castle of Two Sisters. But they didn’t spend a lot of time there – after another turn they appeared in dense network of tunnels, almost absolutely identical to basements of old castle. They were among storerooms, utility rooms and workshops. Researchers, though they had no problems with orientation in any kind of space and were excellent with maps, got a bit lost, wandering along these corridors. But Celestia seemed to know perfectly every inch of all the tunnels as she led them without any stops.

After several sharp turns they appeared near one massive door. Celestia lifted the massive knocker with her magic and gently let it go. In a moment it hit the door, and thunderous sound swept throughout the tunnels. When the echoes subsided, the door opened without a sound, and black as anthracite, short stocky unicorn stallion in blacksmith uniform appeared on the sill.

“Good day, mister Steel,” Celestia greeted him.
“Your Highness,” blacksmith bowed.
“Mister Berg, mister Erő, this is Blued Steel, royal master of armor,” Celestia told Edez and Kor. Researchers bowed to blacksmith, princess continued. “Mister Steel, these gentlecolts need new armors for tomorrow’s event.”
“Hm… I see…” spelled Blued Steel and rubbed his chin. “Come in!” he waved his hoof.

Researchers entered the large, but extremely filled with different tools, racks and stacks of metal room. Celestia also went in, but remained near the entrance. Blued Steel approached rich exposition of new armors and looked at it.

“You know,” he said, “I don’t have armors that will suit your size. I do not even remember doing anything suitable for somepony big as you. And I just won’t have time to make even one new armor, it’s not a matter of one day. But… there is one way out. They need armors only for the event, am I right, Your Highness?”
“Yes,” Celestia nodded.
“Then I’ll just take ordinary armors and temporary enlarge them with magic,” continued Blued Steel. “I just need to know exactly what figures you have.”

He came to researchers and started to examine them. Blued Steel slowly walked around Edez and Kor and then levitated himself to look on researchers from above. He quickly made the examination he needed and landed.

“In general, normal proportions except broad back,” he said looking at Edez, then he turned to Kor. “Broad shoulders, thoracic spine is higher than lumbar… I think I have armors for such figures.”

He returned to his collection and after a little search took two armors that combined features of old and new equestrian armors – they had not so many components and “additional elements”, but pony wearing them would look quite fearsome. He raised them into the air and casted quick enlarging spell. One bright flash – and metal suites got almost twice bigger.

“Here,” Blued Steel gave the armors to researchers. “Try them.”

Kor and Edez gave a nod and quickly put the armors on.

“Well?” blacksmith asked.
“Very comfortable and movable, looks cool… We like them!” answered Edez.
“Yeah, they are very good,” nodded Kor.
“Wonderful!” smiled Blued Steel. “By the end of the day I’ll make the enlargement spell to work for two days, polish them and… you can have brand new armors!”
“Thank you,” said researchers.

They put armors off, and blacksmith began his work. Celestia with Edez and kor left the workshop.

Then the wandering along the corridors continued. They got out from basements and in few minutes reached opposite part of the castle, the barracks of royal guard. Near the main entrance there was a small group, waiting for them: tall white unicorn with violet mane and indigo eyes who wore uniform of senior officer; rather small grey unicorn with silver mane and silver eyes, he was quite aged, and he also was in uniform of senior officer; and there were three subalterns – brown unicorn with black mane and green eyes, smoke pegasus with cobalt mane and yellow eyes and black thestral with violet mane and blood-red eyes. They approached this company and stopped in a couple of steps in front of them. Researchers bowed, greeting the guards, guards bowed, greeting the princess and her guests, Celestia responded with slow respectful nod.

“Sirs, this is mister Berg and mister Erő,” she said to the officers, “who will play the role of my personal guards during the tomorrow’s ceremony. Gentlecolts,” she addressed researchers, “this is colonel Obsidian Glaive, deputy commander of castle guard,” she gently pointed at tall unicorn, “major Silver Veil, head of recruit training service,” she pointed at aged gray stallion, “and captains Avalanche, Thundershock and Ares,” she alternately introduced brown unicorn, pegasus and thestral to researchers. “They will be your examiners, and since now until the end of the ceremony – your commanders.”
“We are honored to meet you,” Edez and Kor bowed to guards again.
“We are honored too,” answered Obsidian Glaive.
“Now I have to leave you,” said Celestia. “Good luck to you all!”

She gave them all a nod and went away. Soon she disappeared behind a corner, and castle guards looked at researchers.

“Well, are you ready for the examination?” asked Silver Veil.
“Always ready!” answered Kor and Edez.
“Wonderful! Let’s start then!” he with a gesture said to follow him. Guards went down the corridor, and researchers went after them.
“Pardon us, but what exactly our certification will include?” asked Edez.
“Yes,” Kor gave a nod. “We still don’t know all the differences between equestrian and europonian programs.”
“Certification program is standard,” explained Silver Veil. “It includes three parts: interview, my part, drill check – Obsidian Glaive will be your examiner then – and military training – this will be Avalanche’s Thundershock’s and Ares’ part.”
“We see. Almost no differences from europonian program.”
“They are the same everywhere, I think.”
“So… Berg, you are from Waldland, and Erő, you are from Pusztia, right?” asked Avalanche.
“Indeed,” answered Edez.
“I wonder if big ponies like you is common thing in your regions?”
“No, we are overgrown by all standards, but, yes, tall ponies are more widespread in Europonia than here.”
“You know, you have quite a long tail even for a mare,” noted Thundershock, addressing Kor.
“I know, but…” Kor stopped and with his tail took a coin accidentally dropped by pegasus captain. “You can always use extra limb.” He smiled and gave the coin to Thundershock.
“Really impressive,” he said.
“It’s still a trifle,” said Edez. “Just to let you know, usually, when there are no visitors, he uses his tail to hold fork and spoon, brush his teeth and shave.”

Subalterns and even senior officers got very surprised. Kor made a smug smile.

“Well… I hope that it’s not all your talents,” said Silver Veil.
“You won’t be disappointed, sir,” answered researchers.

Soon they confirmed their words. Silver Veil promptly and deeply interviewed them, after this Obsidian Glaive thoroughly drilled researchers for entire hour. Edez and Kor followed all their instructions and did everything what senior officers told them. They didn’t show results which they could be praised for, but they showed the main: discipline and ability to clearly execute any orders. Examiners found nothing at what it was possible to carp. They had revised their attitude to these “europonians” and now weren’t angry with princess for her choice – guards of princess Twilight were perfect candidates.

But examiners from among subalterns still were disgruntled and didn’t hide it. How could princess Celestia choose these mercenaries? There were no worthy candidates in whole Canterlot? They couldn’t believe it. Well… Now they will be the examiners. They will give these upstarts what-for.

After short break they met on the ground of castle guards corps. Whitish-grey walls with only several embrasures around all the square, empty tribunes, and, except themselves and some training dummies, no one around.

“Welcome again,” said Ares, greeting the researchers.

Kor and Edez responded with respectful nod.

“You have passed two first stages of certification,” thestral captain continued. “Now let’s see how good you are in reality.”
“We’ll give each of you one task, and you should do it as good as you can, understand?” said Thundershock.
“Yes,” answered researchers.
“But first…” uttered Avalanche. “You, guys, are big and impressive, but are you strong and tough enough?”

Researchers said nothing in response. They looked at the subalterns, then gazed around the ground and stopped at one of the dummies.

“Can we take it?” asked Edez, pointing to the nearest, quite new dummy.
“Ehm, sure,” answered Avalanche.
“Thank you.”

Edez came to the dummy, took it and dragged to where the examiners were standing. Subalterns looked at the dummy, then at Edez. Researcher grinned, grabbed the head of the dummy with his hooves and… in a second with loud crash distance between his hooves decreased to nil. Then he passed the dummy to his colleague. Kor gave a nod, took the dummy, lifted it above his head and soon, after another loud crashing sound, dummy’s shoulders and rump touched each other.

The dummy was broken, so Kor threw it away. Subalterns silently gulped. These two have just broken solid piece of Everfree iron wood without any significant difficulties, the very wood which was as hard as dragon bones.

“Well… We see your point,” said Avalanche. “But still, being a Canterlot guard is not only everyday patrols and still standing on the watch. You should be ready to protect princesses at any time, you should be ready to fight.”
“Yes,” continued Thundershock. “We have to see how good you are in combat. So let’s pass to the main test then.”

Kor raised an eyebrow.

“You have to take part in a training battle,” answered Ares.
“That doesn’t sound so hard,” said Edez.
“…where each one of you will fight alone against a small group,” thestral captain finished.

Researchers looked at him in surprise.

“These are our rules,” said Thundershock. “You aren’t worthy to be a Canterlot guard if you aren’t able to confront several ones at the same time.”
“Yeah,” nodded Avalanche.
“Each of you must fight with two pegasi guards and two unicorn guards at the same time,” Ares began to explain the essence of the test. “You’ll pass the test only if you win.”
“Well… As you say, as you say…” researchers spelled and started to prepare for fight.

For the first round, Kor opposed Thundershock and best warriors of his company. As the adversaries had nothing to shield themselves, Canterlot guards put on light armors instead of usual ones to even the odds – if it was possible to be called so. On the other hand, researchers had powerful healing implants, but now they had to switch them off to avoid any suspicions. Opponents stood on the opposite sides of the ground, waiting for the signal from Ares.

Thestral guard looked at Thundershock and his team, then at Kor and gave go-ahead. Fighters attacked each other. Canterlot guards decided to defeat their opponent quickly with joint attack. Unicorns bowed their heads and brought down heavy fire of magic blasts on Kor. Thundershock’s assistant dashed forward to hit the researcher with all his might. Kor darted to the side, dodging the blasts, but that pegasus still was aiming at him. He won’t be able to dodge all the attacks, he has to take down at least one of the opponents, and quickly. He noticed with corner of his eye where the pegasus was, sharply turned around and ran towards him. He accelerated as much as it was possible and rose with a spring. In a moment he collided with the pegasus. Although winged guard has higher speed and armor, he had no chances against living battering ram. First opponent was defeated, but other three were ready to fight, and they didn’t waste time: three blasts hit Kor when he was in air and burned his back. He managed to land on his hooves somehow, but his legs were shaking. Thundershock dashed towards researcher to deliver the final blow. Suddenly Kor raised his head, growled and ran towards unicorns. Guards fired again, but Kor now didn’t even try to dodge – one blast hit his shoulder, another burned his forehead, but he didn’t stop. In a couple of seconds he reached the unicorns and hit one of them in the chest. He was thrown back on three meters. Other guard dodged, but it was not enough: Kor grabbed his head with own tail, pulled towards himself and knocked out with hind leg. Thundershock, who was just in dozen of meters from there, dropped his jaw – that europonian finished his best unicorn guards in one fell swoop! He stopped sharply, roared and soared up high. He was going to level his mercenary to the ground literally. Thundershock quickly reached one thousand steps height and then flounced down, gathering even greater speed. He put forth his forelegs, preparing to crash and flatten the opponent, but when he was just in one second from his aim, helmet of his subordinate appeared right in front of his face. Kor, seeing what Thundershock was going to do, decided to prevent it with the simplest way out – to shoot the attacker down. He threw the helmet of one of unicorn guards in Thundershock, it hit his head and successfully knocked him out. Thundershock fell down like a stone, but Kor managed to catch him – the drop height was small. He put pegasus on the ground, looked at Ares, then at Edez and said his colleague:

“Next.”

Then he left the ground, limping.

Avalanche with Ares took the defeated fellow guards to the first-aid post and returned to the ground. Kor passed the test, now it was Edez’s turn. He had to fight Avalanche with his subordinates. Just as the fighters of the first round, they stood on the opposite sides of the ground, Ares gazed at them and gave go-ahead.

As the first team, Avalanche with his guards decided to bring their opponent down with joint attack: unicorns started heavy fire, and both pegasi dashed towards researcher to nail him to the ground. Thus, there was only one way out for Edez, just as it was for Kor: to stop at least one as quickly as possible. But, unlike his colleague, master researcher decided to take down the unicorns, the main attacking force, first. He ran towards them, dodging the magic fire. Unicorns, seeing this, jumped to different sides. Edez understood that in spite of his size he won’t be able to reach both of them at the same time. He had to choose, and he chose Avalanche’s assistant because his fire was more intense. In a second young unicorn guard was hit in the shoulder and thrown back on four meters. Edez defeated the first opponent, but at the same time opened himself for the second, the most skilled unicorn. Avalanche sent two precise blasts in Edez’s nape, and this almost knocked the researcher down. Pegasi guards, seeing this, stopped. Edez staggered, and Avalanche pounced on him, aiming to defeat him with one powerful last blast. But he underestimated his opponent: researcher saw his jump, sharply turned, and his saucer-sized hoof hit Avalanche in the jaw. Commander of the company was knocked out. Pegasi guards silently gasped, but soon their anger prevailed over surprise, they growled and dashed forward together, aiming to hit Edez in the head. Researcher tracked their moves, so when they appeared near he successfully dodged their attack and carried out his own one: while pegasi was sweeping over him, Edez quickly turned round, stood on hind legs and in the last moment grabbed both guards by their legs and with all his might pulled them towards each other. Pegasi collided with their back and napes, lost consciousness for a moment and fell down. They were defeated.

Edez won too. The training battle was over. Ares froze with bulging eyes and his jaw hung open. Very few of all the guards were able to pass this test so quickly. And none of them was an earth pony.

“That’s it…” spelled Edez and turned to thestral. “Did we pass?”

Ares gave a weak hesitant nod “Y-yeah…”

“Good. Erő,” master researcher addressed his colleague, “let’s take these ones to the hospital.”
“Agree,” nodded Kor and came to Edez, who had already started to put defeated guards on his own back.
“Wait, you need medical help too!” exclaimed Ares. “You can barely walk, and these terrible burns!”
“We aren’t arguing,” researchers answered. “But the help is more necessary to these guys, than us,” Edez helped his colleague to put the last beaten guard on his back. “Now, where was the hospital?”

Thestral said with glad expression “I’ll show you. Follow me.”

They went to the first-aid post. Obsidian Glaive and Silver Veil, who watched the battle through an embrasure, saw them off.

“Well, what do you think?” Obsidian Glaive asked his colleague.
“They showed that they are disciplined, responsible and capable and that they can be obedient,” answered Silver Veil. “Now we have seen that they are skilled, trained and strong. Yes, they are perfect candidates. Except for one thing.”
“What thing?”
“They are hardened trolls. You know what they told me when I asked them to describe themselves in a few words? Berg said ‘I’m 34 and I’m bearded,’ Erő said ‘I like persimmons, damask blades and to sleep.”
“Heh… You know, half of Ares’ company is like this. It doesn’t matter. They deserve to be guards.”
“Yes.”

Meanwhile Ares led Edez and Kor to the first-aid post. The sight of wounded researchers, carrying their opponents, greatly surprised Thundershock and guys from his subordinates, who had been almost completely healed already. Kor and Edez insisted that Avalanche and his partners should be healed first because their wounds are more serious. Researchers themselves waited patiently until doctors and nurses finished their job. When former Edez’s opponents were brought round and told about who carried them here, they got surprised. After this they looked at researchers, who finally started to get treatment, in a different way.

Thundershock, Avalanche and Ares realized everything. They were wrong, and princess was right, choosing them for the most important role of tomorrow’s ceremony. They were worthy candidates and, more importantly, just good guys. Subalterns also revised their attitude to Edez and Kor. They waited for researchers, and they left the first-aid post together as good fellows. And an hour later they became real friends.

They quickly got to talking when they found that there are many topics of interest to all of them. Guards and researchers spoke about common and different in equestrian and europonian military systems, about their experience being a soldier, they shared their life stories. Now they were free, so Ares, Thundershock and Avalanche showed Edez and Kor the whole castle – from the barracks and kitchens to royal museum and throne room. Researchers were very impressed: the castle was huge, elegant and astonishing, but at the same time its layout was very elaborated and practical. Expression of amazement almost never left their faces – and this, the sight of mighty giants getting surprised like little colts with every little thing, provided great fun for the guides – but they didn’t forget about their exploration mission and continued to record and plot.

They wandered around the palace complex for several hours, and they would wander around until midnight if Avalanche hadn’t remember that evening meal time is coming. So, by the offer of subalterns, Edez and Kor agreed to eat together in the barrack canteen.

In a dozen of minutes they got to the place and stood in the line to receive their portions. Most of the guards had already finished their meal, so waiting time was not long, and they easily found free table.

When they sat up and started to fill their stomachs, they were silent, but soon, after several comments of Edez and Kor on food in equestrian army canteens, they resumed their conversation and quickly returned to telling stories from their lives.

“…and, finally, running from angered keeper of the Tower, he stuck in the ventilation shaft, and wasn’t able to move,” Avalanche told. “We managed to get him out of there only at next day.”
“Really?” researchers sincerely surprised.
“Yep, this is all true,” nodded Ares. “We can confirm it.”
“You want to say that devastation of whole quarter of royal garden, total mess in seventeen rooms, disintegration of more than a hundred of antiquities and prevented by a miracle destruction of Stargazer Tower were result of attempt of this guy to hit on a maid?” Kor was taken aback.
“Yes,” subalters nodded.

Edez’s hoof collided with his face. Kor took a deep breath, shook his head and spelled:

“Incredible unfortunate… and fabled dunce.”
“That’s the most appropriate term,” noticed Thundershock.
“And here we have this merry life,” said Ares.
“Yeah, such things you’ll never forget,” nodded Edez.
“Well, and what about you?” asked Ares. “Have you ever had epic occasions?”
“Hm… Well, this case is not so “grand” as your, but it became almost legendary,” said Edez and started to alter one real story from his life. “It happened when I studied in Waldland Military Academy. We had another exercises, but not ordinary ones – these were exercises for the whole year, and that time we had lieutenant general, deputy commander of Waldland army, checking how good we are. All the students knew about the arrival of general, so we obviously were very worried. And we remained like this until the beginning of the training battle.
“So, D-day had come, the exercises began, we took our positions, and our senior officers prepared to watch. The honor to give the signal to start was given to the deputy commander. He looked around the battlefield and gave the signal. And immediately after this my friend Stahl Schild jumped, ran towards the “enemy”, screaming at the top of his lungs ‘Kartoffelpüree’ – that means “mashed potatoes” – instead of ‘Hurra’… It was possible to understand – poor lad got so worried that mixed battle cries. But… when everypony heard it, they laughed like crazy, tearing their stomachs. Absolutely no pony after this was able to fight. Exercises were disrupted. We could start again only in two days. But the most surprising was that the general later found Schild and thanked him, saying that he hadn’t laughed so hard for very long time.”
“Good one!” Ares and Thundershock said, laughing.
“Verbal weapon of mass destruction…” uttered Avalanche.
“Indeed,” said Edez.
“Oh… And you, Erő?” asked Ares.
“Well, I haven’t had a chance to be witness of really epic events, but there was one really impressive thing from my student years…” said Kor. “Um, have everypony finished their meals?”
“Ehm, yeah,” said Ares. “Why you’re asking this?”
“It’s not the most suitable story for dinner, to be honest. But it doesn’t reduce its coolness. Well, during my years in Military Academy I had some practice in police department. Pusztia is small land and has small regular army, so students of the Academy, if they want to get some experience, often take hour job in police. So, in the department, where I worked, there was one detective who interrogated with absolute efficiency. How did he do it? Well, he came to the criminal, sat in front of him and said ‘I give you two options. You tell us everything and I guarantee that you’ll be absolutely safe, or else I’ll shove a soldering iron into your butthole.’ Criminals usually treated it with derision. Detective, seeing such attitude, asked his assistants to hold the criminal, and then… he shoved a soldering iron into criminal’s butthole and turned the tool on. Criminal felt warmth inside and spilled all the beans in seconds. Soldering iron was old, so warmed up for quite a long time and caused no injuries, but it did its job. This method always worked.”
“That’s harsh,” noted Ares.
“Yep, but also incredibly effective.”
“True, true.”
“And now, please, excuse me, I have to lighten the heavy burden of my existence,” said Kor, stood up and went to the toilet.

He closed the unadorned door of canteen bathroom behind himself, and just in few seconds after this his loud shout sounded throughout the room:

“Bazmeg!!!”

In a moment the bathroom door swung open and crashed into the wall and enraged Kor appeared on the sill.

“Why does somepony not know how to flush toilet after they’ve had a shit?!” he roared.

Shocked guards and cooks at first didn’t know how to respond to this, what to say. Soon, however, all of them decided to pretend that they hadn’t heard anything. Kor gazed at them, growled and went back to his friends.

“Dammit, Erő, what’s wrong with you?” hissed Edez. “Shout like mad because of piece of crap.”
“PIECE of crap???” resented Kor. “There was not a piece, there were fucking great pyramids of Anugypt!”

Dumbfounded Thundershock, Ares and Avalanche silently looked at each other.

“But still why it was necessary to shout?” growled Edez.
“Eh… Such things just make me mad…” Kor said and sat back. “Excuse me.”
“Let’s better forget it,” said Ares.
“Agree,” said other guards.

They carried the trays with empty plates to the kitchen and left the canteen. After short discussion they decided to walk around the castle a little more and went to the exit from barrack wing. When they almost got there, they met Silver Veil. Old unicorn came to Edez and Kor and shook their hooves.

“Congratulations!” he said. “You are officially taken to the Canterlot guard!”
“Thank you,” researchers bowed.
“You earned it. But I came to tell you not only this. You see… because of your sizes we didn’t find any places where we could accommodate you.”
“Well, princesses’ chambers could fit,” quietly proposed Avalanche.
“Princess Luna’s bed still will be small, and princess Celestia has only one bed,” said Ares.
“I have to agree,” sighed Silver Veil.
“Just find four mattresses, two pillows and enough place on the floor of any room or even corridor,” said Kor.
“Yeah, we aren’t choosy,” added Edez.
“Well, as you say.”
“Ehm… pillows?” wondered Thundershock.
“We can do without blankets, but not without pillows,” answered Kor.
“Okay.”
“We’ll provide you place to sleep,” said Silver Veil.

Researchers gave him a nod and together with their new friends went for an evening walk. Silver Veil ordered the servants to prepare beds for Kor and Edez and went about his business.

Edez and Kor were glad: they were accepted and now they were having deserved rest. But in such situations as the one in which they were everything can’t be good. Although Obsidian Glaive told everypony about Edez and Kor and results of their certification, some guards still were disgruntled. And one of them was very angry.

“Damned fucking mercenaries…” he cussed but continued the execution of the given order and cleaned and prepared the standards. “Why them? There were no worthy ponies among castle guards? In whole Equestria? Why princess asked these damned europonians to help?”
“Jeez, calm down, Bolide!” his friend, who was busy with the same thing, said him.
“Calm down? I can’t, Blaze, I just can’t! I can’t accept the fact that they will be playing roles of Celestia’s personal guards, and we, one of elite platoons, are preparing the standards! It’s just a mockery of us!”
“Agree, it’s offensive, but they showed the best results! During the training battles each of them defeated all four opponents in one and a half minutes! Commanders can take you in elite units if you can defeat three opponents in two minutes. And they are earth ponies! Yes, they are big and strong, but still they are earth ones!”
“So what? It doesn’t negate the fact that they are just upstarts! Presumptuous upstarts! And I won’t let them get off so easily!”
“And what you are going to do? Frame them up? Use your magic to give them a dusting? You’ll face the tribunal for such things.”
“Oh, I won’t. I have something in my mind that’ll teach them a good lesson…”

Night has come, and all the guards returned to the barracks. As there were no enough space in occupied rooms, Edez and Kor got places to sleep in an empty one. Command “lights out” was given, and all the guards went to sleep.

At next day, after hearty breakfast and short conversation with Ares, Thundershock and Avalanche, researchers went to Blued Steel to put on their armors. When they got there, they got surprised: royal blacksmith not only enlarged the armors, but added some details that made new Kor’s and Edez’s uniform even more impressive. He did amazing job. Researchers sincerely thanked him, put the armors on and went to the throne room to prepare for the ceremony.

They were an incredible sight now: two giant stallions in strong mat armors consisting of massive steel shields, great helmets with spikes, composite protective elements for legs, neck and tail. These were not formal uniforms, these were real battle suits. All ponies around admitted that they looked really fearsome and threatening. Ares, Avalanche and Thundershock, when they saw them, gave a whistle and said that they are really envy now because none of them had never looked so cool. Kor and Edez thanked them and said “We hope griffins will think the same.”

Preparations in the throne room were almost finished. Musicians were ready to start at any minute, platoons of elite guards were on their places and raised the standards of Griffin Empire and its provinces, diplomats and other officials were waiting for princess. Researchers took a deep breath, entered it and went to the throne. They found themselves in the sights again, but now there were more eyes looking at them, and they felt how intense these sights were. They climbed the stairs of elevation and stood near the throne – Kor on the left, Edez on the right.

Soon princess Celestia came. When she entered, all ponies in the room bowed to her. Princess responded with gentle nod and proceeded to her throne. She sedately climbed the elevation and looked at researchers.

“You look very effective,” she said.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” bowed Edez and Kor.

Celestia smiled and sat on the throne. Diplomats gathered near the elevation, guards raised all the standards and stood at attention. Just in a couple of seconds after castle clock struck noon, and the ceremony had begun.

Two guards opened massive doors of the throne room, and delegates from Griffin Empire started to went in. Aged black griffin in coat with incredibly rich embroidery, the new ambassador, was leading the way. Twelve other officials, representatives of provinces, translators and traders, followed him. They also were wearing traditional coats of Empire diplomats, but their clothes had absolutely no decorations. Officials were escorted by platoon of soldiers in rich, shining battle armors. Celestia stood up. Griffins waited until the last of them entered the room and then the ambassador briefly, but with great respect greeted the princess in equestrian, and all griffins bowed to her. Celestia bowed to them and welcomed the guests. Having received the formal invitation, griffins raised their heads and continued their way to the throne elevation.

Ambassador was just in forty steps from the throne elevation, when one of his assistants suddenly shouted:

“Who dared?”

All ponies and lot of delegates got shocked.

“What caused your anger, distinguished representative?” asked Celestia, showing no emotions.
“The standard of Northern Mountains is hung out upside down!” assistant said and pointed at it.

Other griffins and all the ponies looked at it. The standard of northern Mountains of Griffin Empire was just a white symbol on dark gray-bluish background, but it has one particular feature: except several minor elements, it looked like it had perfect vertical and horizontal symmetry. It was very easy to mix up its parts, so castle workers put special little mark to avoid it. But now it was deliberately ignored.

“Bolide, you bastard…” Blaze quietly cussed.

Griffins started to express their indignation.

“Insolence!”
“Impudence!”
“It’s disrespectful to us!”

Ambassador turned to his companions and raised his forepaw, saying them to fall silent. Other griffins immediately stopped to resent, and old griffin addressed the princess:

“Your Highness, we understand that it could be a mistake of young inexperienced guard, but still he must be brought to account for his actions. You know our traditions and rules. Tell us who did it, or you will have to redeem yourselves in battle.”

Ponies murmured. Almost nopony knew and even had no clue about who was responsible for this. Blaze silently growled as he hesitated. For the good of future relations between Equestria and Empire he had to tell, but he didn’t want to lose his friend, so he just kept silence. Bolide gladly smiled behind everypony.

There was no answer. The situation became critical. Researchers, seeing that all ponies around have no idea, decided to take resolute step.

“Your Highness, choose the battle,” quietly said Edez, having slightly leaned towards Celestia.
“What?” she whispered.
“All ponies here haven’t even a clue. If you don’t give an answer now, everything will only get worse,” said Kor.
“But… are you sure?”
“Trust us,” said Edez.

Celestia sighed and said:

“It seems I have no other choice… We have to fight.”
“Well, you made your decision,” ambassador said. “I see you have two warriors by your side, so we shall delegate two warriors too. Conditions will be simple: if you win, we shall forgive you, if we win, well, our nations will have to start to build diplomatic relations from the very beginning again. In case of tied score we repeat the fight.”

Celestia quietly gulped, but said:

“We accept your conditions.”
“Good,” ambassador said. “Now, let’s clear the battle place.”

Ponies stepped back to the walls, clearing the space and forming rectangular area, and soon center of the throne room was empty. Researchers looked at princess, then at each other. They gave each other a nod, and Edez stepped forward. He went down the stairs and stood in front of griffins. Citizens of Empire made way for the first warrior of their side. Tall, muscled gray-white griffin in silver-steel armor. He stood in front of researcher and opened out his wings – griffins always did it before the battle to make an impression on their opponents. Edez responded with preparation for pounce. Griffin growled and got ready to attack too. Warriors gazed at each other and darted off. Griffin ran like hungry angry big cat aiming to cling to the throat of his victim, but Edez just accelerated like he was going to ram the opponent. The distance between them rapidly decreased, clash was matter of the nearest seconds. They were just in a couple steps from each other, when Edez shifted to the side with lightning speed. In a moment his right foreleg appeared on the griffin’s back, and warrior of Empire was literally nailed to the floor. Griffin wheezed badly as almost all air was knocked out from his lungs. He couldn’t move.

All spectators dropped their jaws. The only exception was Kor, but he also got surprised: he had never seen his curator in action, and it turned out to be awesome. Delegates from Empire were just shocked: one of the best soldiers of Imperial guard was defeated at one blow! For some time they just refused to believe this. But their eyes weren’t deceiving.

The first fight was over. Griffin soldiers rushed to help their companion. Edez stepped back, allowing them to take away the beaten friend, looked at the delegates and went back to his post near princess.

He got up, and Kor came down. Imperials delegated the second warrior – brown, a bit disheveled griffin, smaller than first one, but very tough. Researcher and guard got ready, looked at each other and rushed to fight. But now griffin immediately soared up and darted down at Kor. Researcher managed to dodge the attack, but griffin had already started the second one. He understood that because of the size and strength his opponent had distinct advantage on the ground, and he will be finished in seconds if he gets caught. There was only one way out: quick and frequent attacks to wear his opponent down and then one powerful strike to finish him. So griffin started to pounce Kor just like a raven attack any large predator getting to its nest.

Kor had to flounce around whole battle area, dodging the onslaughts. His opponent gave him virtually no possibilities for counter attack, and even when he had a chance, he couldn’t catch the griffin or hit him – Imperial guard was too fast. Researcher guessed the tactics of his opponent, he knew how he could confront, but there was big problem: he couldn’t use these methods. He couldn’t accelerate, jump and take down the griffin like he did with pegasus guard during the training fight – the battle area was small, and there were a lot of ponies and griffins around. Somebody might get hurt. He also couldn’t throw anything in griffin to take him down. He had only wait until the moment when he will be able to catch the griffin and bring him to the ground, only then he can do something. But for now…

Griffin soldier continued to dart down on Kor and hit him in the back and in the head. He even tried to tear out parts of researcher’s armor, but they were firmly fixed. Delegates from Empire were glad: now the advantage was on their side. Best soldier of Celestia was just dodging and running away. Yes, it could take quite a long time, but still it was obvious who will win this time.

Imperial guard continued his attacks, Kor continued to dodge. Researcher was badly hit several times, a couple of times he barely remained conscious, but he continued to wait. His opponent, trying to wear him off, also got tired. So he just should expose himself even for several seconds soon. In two minutes Kor got a chance. Griffin started another onslaught, but now he was flying a bit slower than before. It gave the researcher time to predict whole move and dodge it. And this, in turn, gave him possibility to counter attack. Using own tail like a whip, Kor grabbed the griffin by forepaw and with all his might brought Imperial guard on the ground. While the griffin was disoriented, researcher quickly turned around and headbutted him. Both of warriors were in helmets, but Kor’s avatar preserved incredibly hard verekan skull, and now he had two-kilogram metal device in the place where usual ponies have brain. There were no chances to griffin to remain conscious.

It was the end of the battle. Researchers won both its rounds.

Imperials were shocked. They could hardly take it in: their best warriors were defeated without any difficulties, and defeated not by pegasi or unicorns, but by earth ponies, the ones with the most limited fighting possibilities! But it happened. They lost. So, as people of honor, they conceded.

“Well…” ambassador said to princess Celestia. “We recognize our defeat. You have proven that you are stronger. We shall forget about the incident and continue our diplomatic mission as before.”
“Thank you, mister ambassador,” Celestia nodded, “We pay our respects to you. But let me assure you that this misdemeanor will not go unpunished. We will find who had done it, and this pony will bear full responsibility for his actions. Mister Obsidian Glaive,” she addressed the deputy commander of the guard, “I entrust you to find the culprit of the incident. When you find him, bring him to me and mister ambassador.”
“Will be done, Your Highness,” answered Obsidian Glaive.
“Thank you,” ambassador bowed.
“There is no need in it, mister ambassador,” said Celestia. “It is our duty. But for now, let’s get down to the negotiations.”

Griffins gave a nod. Celestia stood up and went down from the elevation, Edez and Kor followed her.

Equestrian officials who were in the throne room together with some guards escorted delegates and princess to the main conference hall. Diplomats sat at the table, servants brought documents, food and drinks, guards stood at their posts, and negotiations had begun.

These negotiations turned out to be one of the most successful in the history. Celestia couldn’t remember such productive dialogues with people of Empire. Usually proud, arrogant and stubborn griffins were unnaturally accommodating, diplomats of both nations managed to made a lot of cooperation agreements and commercial treaties – presence of Edez and Kor near Celestia did miracles. Within princess’ recollection, these europonians were first ponies after Star Swirl able to shush a griffin in one look.

In six hours they had discussed almost all items of agenda and dealt with today’s incident. Half of hour before the end of the meeting Obsidian Glaive came to the conference hall and brought the culprit. Bolide wasn’t angry, rather just a bit discontented. He had been hauled over the coals already, so got the realization of what he had done. He apologized to everyone and said that he will accept any punishment. Celestia and Obsidian Glaive and griffin officials discussed how he should be punished, but before they brought in their verdict, they addressed researchers. After all, Bolide did this to set them up. Kor and Edez exchanged a few words and said that for such misdemeanor he must be punished, but he managed to become an elite guard, and it will be a great regret to lose a good soldier. He should be given a new start. Thus princess, deputy commander of the guard and ambassador of Empire made their decision: Bolide remain in the guard, but will be demoted from lieutenant to sergeant.

Soon after this negotiations were over. Equestrian and Imperial officials stood up and bowed to each other. Princess Celestia thanked everybody for their cooperation, mutual respect and productive work, then she addressed to servants and guards:

“You can be free, and you, Berg, Erő,” she turned to researchers, “I ask to stay.”

Surprised researchers responded with a nod. Delegates, officials, servants and guards meanwhile started to leave the hall. Soon Celestia, Kor and Edez were alone.

The hall doors closed. Researchers turned to princess to learn why she asked them to stay, but when they did it, they saw something what was difficult to believe in: diarch of Equestria, majestic, noble and calm pony, was smiling from ear to ear and literally shone with happiness.

“Oh, Berg, Erő, I don’t know how can I thank you!” she said. “You saved this day!”
“Eh… Thank you very much, Your Highness,” spelled Edez, “but we didn’t deserve such gratitude.”
“We just did our job,” said Kor.
“Don’t underestimate yourselves! You defended honor of our country, and you acted nobly with Bolide. You made griffins accommodating like never before! It’s just amazing!”
“Well, generosity, forgiveness, determination and courage when necessary are one of the traits that everypony should have, as we think,” said Edez. “And what about griffins… It was just physical implementation of simple psychological method.”
“If you put a show-off on his place, he will be very calm and obedient, at least for some time,” said Kor. “The same was here.”
“So there is nothing special in it,” said Edez.
“Still thank you!” exclaimed Celestia and… pulled researchers towards herself and kissed both of them – Edez first, then Kor.

World turned upside down for Kor and Edez. They had no idea that such thing could happen. But it happened, and now they were in the deepest stun. Kor just dropped out of reality. Edez managed not to fall into a trance, recovered in several seconds and started to raise his foreleg – he was going to interrupt. But overjoyed Celestia understood it differently and kissed him the second time. So he also got serious need in brain reboot.

After some time they finally came to their senses. Celestia still was smiling, but calmed herself down a bit.

“Thank you very much again,” she said. “You are heroes of this day and did amazing job. You deserved a good rest.”
“Thank you,” nodded Kor and looked at his colleague. “Well, let’s return to Ponyville then.”
“Agree,” said Edez.
“Go. Good luck!” said Celestia.
“Goodbye!” said researchers.

Kor and Edez went to the doors. When they were already near, curator stopped, turned to princess and said:

“Eure Hoheit, das war fantastisch!”

Celestia got surprised when she heard it, but then lowered her head a bit and smiled, like saying “let it be our secret”. She stood up, and researchers opened the door before her. They left the hall, gave each other the last nods and went away.

Edez and Kor returned enchanted armors to Blued Steel, said goodbye to their new friends and left the castle. In half of an hour they got to Canterlot train station and took the last train to Ponyville.

It was late evening already, so there were not so many passengers. In their car they were the only ones, and they will be alone for next three hours until the very arrival to Ponyville – there were no stops on the route. There was no need to hide, so they were themselves.

“Well, that was something!” Edez broke the silence when train left Canterlot.
“Yeah…” nodded Kor. “I don’t remember such things in all two and a half centuries of service!”
“And I – for whole millennium… But it was awesome, agree? We saw and explored the greatest building in this country, became official guards of another royal residence, met amazing guys and became friends with them, defended the honor of the country and… got kissed by the monarch.”
“I don’t know how I’ll justify myself in front of Karin now…”
“…the most magnificent, astonishing and lovely pony.”
“You really liked her, I see?”
“Oh yeah… She’s very wise and intelligent, calm, generous and gentle, and that… moment showed that she’s also kind-hearted, bright and vivid, and in general she is absolutely adorable! And she’s incredibly beautiful.”
“We definitely got used to guises of ponies.”
“Not only because of that. She is very graceful, has bright eyes, splendid manecut, small waist but wide hips – everything that dreketanian men value!”
“And what about spike on the neck and beard?”
“Well, everything can’t be the way we want… By the way, I’ve been wondering, how are you doing with Karin? I understand that you match each other because both of you are quite a rebels, and both of you are perky, but… your difference in size!”
“Well… That’s an issue, but it makes our relationship more interesting! And, by the way, with such girl as Karin I have everything at my fingertips.”
“Oh, you…”
“Oh yeah… Well, what we are going to do? We’ll be on the road for six more supramoments, and having only conversation is just boring.”
“I have a suggestion.”
“Yes?”
“Particularities.”
“Eh, I know only several parts – it won’t be enough even for three supramoments.”
“Don’t worry, I know all of them.”
“WHAT??? All 17946 quatrains?”
“Yes.”
“You are monster.”
“If you have a century of free time, it’s the least you can do because of idleness. So, let’s start then?”

Kor gave a nod, and they began to sing:

“Akda, stel-cejgrem, shu fattid taari,
Nva tejmae khordue madi shtenari…”
[And now, dear friend, allow me to tell
How you should please different alien belles…]

In evening Dodge City one gray stallion in shabby cape, clomping, turned off the street into a driveway, sat in a shadow, growled and grabbed his head with his hooves.

“Khedag torku…” [Damned body…] he swore and growled again.

They made the greatest improvement of body regeneration technology for last two millennia for this mission, but it still failed. Even the most advanced system couldn’t completely adapt an alien body for existence without life construct the first time. All the stimulants what they got haven’t sufficient power, organism still needed the energy of life for maintenance of its integrity. Without it the body decayed. He was rotting alive, shuddering in incredible pain.

The life construct has one particular feature – it can’t be completely reproduced artificially. Even the eldest civilizations haven’t mastered such technology. So, to stop these torments, there was only one way out.

“E-excuse me, sir, are you all right?” a stallion voice came from the street.

Quasi stopped to growl, but didn’t respond.

“What happened to you? Are you injured?” asked the stallion, coming closer. “Is there anything I can help you?”
“Yes…” Quasi spelled and sharply stood up.

With corner of his left eye he scanned the surroundings and, having seen no one around for many yards, turned to the passer, looked at him with both his eyes and opened his mouth.

Device of direct contact was activated, and in a second existence of the stallion was terminated. A dozen of metal tentacles with spikes on their ends shooting out from Quasi’s mouth were the last thing he saw in his life. Tentacles dug into stallion’s mouth and deeply pierced the flesh. Seven spikes reached the brain, three ones pierced the back of his throat and dug into spinal cord, the last two pierced the tongue and trachea and reached main blood vessels, and then the taking was started. Just in two minutes Quasi sucked out stallion’s life forces, transferred his mind into own memory blocks and put it into hibernation – such a sample shouldn’t be lost.

When everything was done, Quasi deactivated the device of direct contact. Tentacles hid inside his palate, stallion’s dead body fell down. Now he won’t have need in additional sustenance for two weeks. He shall look for necessary information in the taken mind later, now, since he took someone’s life, it was necessary to leave a deterrent. Quasi dragged the body behind dumpsters and piles of boards and bricks and, having released his metal fingers-claws, tore stallion’s head from the body. He looked at the results, grinned and threw the remains on the ground. It is time to begin the main phase…

Grace, Razor Edge, Cloudbreaker and Dim Silhouette lie on couches or sat in armchairs in the living room of their Ponyville headquarters and waited for the chief. Today something very important has to happen to him, and they wanted to know how it would be.

They looked at the clock again, and right at this moment a sound of opening door came. It meant only one thing.

“Hiya, Hid!” said Grace, “How was it?”
“Yeah, tell it to the suffering public!” added Razor Edge.
“Well…” spelled Hidden Path, walking to the center of the room. “You were right, guys. A little date was exactly what I needed.”
“That means everything was well, right?” asked Dim Silhouette.
“Yep.”
“So, what did you do?” asked Grace.
“Nothing special. We just walked around the town and visited the park together, chatted, had a lunch in a café, then had a dance… I gave her a bouquet and plushie… That’s all. But it was wonderful. Calma was wonderful.”
“Well, if you started to call our suspected by their real names, is says a lot,” grinned Cloudbreaker.
“You really liked her, right?” asked Grace.
“Yes,” Hidden Path smiled. “She’s sweet, lovely, smart mare with beautiful color of coat, very rare for her homeland… Those her scars? Half of my body covered with scars, and so what? It doesn’t matter! And… I don’t know how to explain this, but she had special effect on me. During the date we kissed twice, and all the times when her lips touched mine, I felt as if I fall into paralysis. For a couple of seconds I was completely stunned.”
“Well, that sounds like the spark ignited in you,” noted Dim Silhouette.
“Maybe. She likes me very much, and I started to like her…”

At this very moment they heard loud signal of their telephone from the cabinet.

“I’ll pick up!” said Hidden Path and run to the cabinet.

He was absent just a minute, but when he returned to the living room, he was absolutely different stallion – grim and dismal, all his joy completely vanished.

“Pack your field sets. We have to go to Dodge City,” he said.
“What happened?” his colleagues worried.
“There has been a brutal murder. Local police have no idea who could do it.”
“But why do they need us?” asked Cloudbreaker.
“They say that this murder couldn’t have been committed by any known creature.”

Unicorns and pegasi silently gulped.

“No…”

17. Preparing New Generation

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In the Castle of Friendship serious battle had been flaring up. All the bearers of the Elements sat around the table in the main hall and glared daggers at each other. Intensity of hostility and total level of stress were so high it seemed that one more second, and ponies will start shoot lightnings literally. Thunder rumbled in the hall already.

“You’ll be annihilated with no mercy!” shouted Rarity.
“I’ll destroy all of you!” roared Fluttershy.
“Ah’ll flatten ya like elephant flattens a gnat!” growled Applejack.
“There will be no mercy for you!” thundered Pinkie Pie.
“I’ll turn all of you into ashes!” shouted Twilight.
“I’ll tear you in pieces!” roared Rainbow Dash.

Members of Team One and Spike meanwhile watched them from galleries of second floor and silently became astounded.

“Bearers of the Elements of Harmony…” spelled Affi.
“Embodiments of forces of good…” added Edez.
“They are much more dangerous than Elements that they possess,” said Max.
“Now you know how it was living with them?” Spike addressed researchers.
“Yes,” said Oma, looking at the ponies, still in deep shock.
“We feel for you,” said Kor and put his hoof on little dragon’s shoulder.
“And all this happens just because of foal’s board game,” uttered Karin.
“And that’s the most horrifying,” said Zet’rar.
“Exactly.”

One floor below intensity of emotions almost reached the limit. Players made the last move and… Rarity jumped up screaming “Yeah!!!” almost like Bulk Biceps, other growled with anger. Applejack and Pinkie Pie hit the table with their hooves. Fluttershy was about to flip the table, but in the last moment remembered that it was, in fact, part of floor.

“I won for the third time! And won in the overall standings!” Rarity rejoiced. “In your face! In! Your! Face!”
“We got it! We got it!” snapped Rainbow Dash.
“I demand a rematch!” thundered Pinkie Pie.

Some other ponies were ready to support her, but suddenly Twilight stopped them all.

“We should stop it, really,” she uttered after a sigh. “And cool ourselves down.”
“Ah agree with ya as never before,” responded Applejack.
“All right, girls! That’s enough of “Treasure hunters” for today,” purple alicorn said and quickly packed the game up.

Her friends took a deep breath and calmed down, blowing off their steam.

“We really ran mad after it,” spelled Fluttershy.
“Yeah, this was too much…” said Rainbow Dash. “Well, shall we continue it next…”
“Um, I’m not disturbing?” a voice from the side came.

Hosts of the Castle turned to its source and saw Ponyville school teacher standing in the doors.

“Oh, no, miss Cheerilee,” said Twilight. “Please, come in!”

Cheerilee gave a nod and came closer.

“What brings you here?” wondered Fluttershy.
“It’s our sisters again?” asked Applejack and Rarity.
“What did they get up to this time?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, no, no!” Cheerilee shook her head. “They were diligent pupils lately. I came here, um, with a request to your new friends who work here.”
“What?” bearers of the Elements surprised.
“Well, I heard that they are university graduates, and, you know, education given in Europonia values everywhere, so… I wonder whether it will be possible to invite them to hold some lections.”
“Whoa!” exclaimed Applejack.
“That’s… quite unexpected offer,” Rarity noticed.
“Yeah,” nodded Pinkie Pie.
“What so special they can give to our youngsters?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Well, europonians are the most advanced in the fields of science and technology nation in the world, and they learn all the latest discoveries in their colleagues and universities,” answered Cheerilee.
“It’s so,” confirmed Twilight.
“So I was hoping they might share some of their knowledge.”
“Well, you should ask not us, but them,” said Twilight and called the researchers.

Members of Team One, having heard her, went downstairs together with Spike.

“Yes?” said Edez when they entered the hall.
“Guys, this is miss Cheerilee, our school teacher,” Twilight introduced the Ponyville educator. “She has a big request to you…”
“Wait, where is Lierre?” suddenly asked Pinkie Pie, counting them.
“He’s on the roof, photosynthesizes,” said Max.

Spike burst out laughing. “Good one!” he said through tears. Bearers of the Elements smiled too.

“Um, pardon me?” uttered Cheerilee.
“Lierre’s just completely green,” explained Twilight.
“Oh.”
“I’ll call him,” said Edez.
“Pardon me, Berg, but I’ll do it faster,” said Rainbow Dash. “No offense?”
“None taken.”

Blue pegasus smiled and flew out through one of the opened windows of the hall. Just in few seconds she returned, and soon Sheim joined the rest of the Team.

“What would you like to ask us, miss Cheerilee?” said Edez.
“Well,” violet pony started a bit shaky, “I heard a lot about how good europonian education is, so, please, could you give our students some lections?”
“Well… It’s very unusual task, and we have no experience of teaching, but…” researchers exchanged glances and after short meditation gave each other a nod, “I guess, we can tell them about some things.”
“Really?”
“If our young ladies have no jobs for us…”

Bearers of the Elements shook their heads, Twilight said “No.”

“…then we’ll be happy to help you!” continued Edez.
“Just give us some time for preparations,” added Affi, “Only some of us had pedagogy courses, and it was quite a long time ago.”
“Sure! Thank you!” happily exclaimed Cheerilee.

Researchers and educator left the hall to discuss the program of the classes. Following Cheerilee’s recommendations, Team One created own plan, which teacher of Ponyville school accepted with almost no corrections. They agreed on that each of them will hold one class on the field of own specialization; Kor will have to hold physical education class as his theoretical knowledge weren’t appropriate for elementary school students, but his experience in physical training can be used. Classes were scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

After when they shook hooves, Cheerilee gave Team One list of her students to know whom they’ll have to deal with and left the Castle, having said that she’s waiting for upcoming classes. Researchers saw her off and then returned to their duties. They cleaned the Castle, cooked food for several days, made final check of Castle’s security system and did the last task from Twilight: hide all board games in the Castle somewhere where no pony will be able to find them. In the evening everything was done.

Working time was over, they were released for two days, so now it was possible to focus on the request of miss Cheerilee. Researchers spent next day intensively studying all materials about Europonia and europonians what they got or received from Team Two, selecting appropriate for equestrian civilization knowledge and making plans. They finished the preparations before the moonrise.

Finally, the day of, probably, the most difficult test of researchers’ abilities came. At the appointed time Team One with all necessary equipment arrived to the school. Cheerilee was already there. She greeted researchers and quickly showed them the schoolyard.

“There’s our sportsground, there’s our playground, and here is school gazebo,” she pointed.

Researchers followed her, examining the area. They didn’t focus for too long on the objects around, but some things caught their attention. Zet’rar stopped, looking at one of the playground’s attractions: small annular tube, entrance and exit of which were right in front of each other. He nudged Kor who stood near and quietly uttered, pointing at the tube:

“Small Foal Collider.”
“Yeah,” agreed Kor.
“Yes?” Cheerilee wondered, having heard them.
“Oh, nothing, nothing!”
“Then let’s come in!” educator smiled and with a gesture said to follow her.

She stood on the small school porch and opened the door. Researchers went in after her. They appeared in simply decorated short corridor, where only four doors and stairs to the basement, attic and belfry were. Ponyville elementary school had rather small building: it had only two classrooms; other two doors in the corridor led to teachers’ and storeroom. Cheerilee opened the door of her class and invited researchers in. They gave her a nod and entered.

Students of her class were already there. As all normal pupils, in absence of their teacher they were bored or chatted, but when researchers started to enter, they fell silent. Without a single word they watched how temporary teachers went in and stood in a row. Members of Team One gradually took all the space from wall to wall near the blackboard. Cheerilee entered the last and, having seen surprised faces of her pupils, smiled.

“Don’t worry, my little ponies,” she said, “these gentlecolts and ladies are our guests, which I spoke about yesterday. This is mister Berg, miss Antilipsi, mister Erő, miss Didinga, mister Allegro, miss Pippi, mister Zicht, miss Calma and mister Lierre. They will be your teachers for today. Please, give them a warm welcome!”

Foals stood up and greeted them. They still acted a bit timidly, but after encouragement from their teacher they weren’t still, shivering in shyness or trembling in awe.

“Thank you,” Edez and his colleagues bowed. “Miss Cheerilee asked us to provide you a glimpse about education in our homeland, so today you will have Europonia-style lessons. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that, since there are nine of us, you will have nine lessons.”
“But your classes will be shorter today,” Affi continued right after her colleague, “and we’ll do our best to make them interesting.”
“Well, what do you think?” asked Allegro.

Foals looked at each other, then Apple Bloom, Pipsqueak and Rumble shrugged a bit and said “Well… Why not?”

“Excellent!” researchers smiled. “Now, let’s start the classes.”

Cheerilee went to the back rows. Today she is taking a break from teaching, today she will be just another listener. Edez took off the saddlebags from his back and came closer to the students. His colleagues left the class – they will wait for their turn in the teachers’.

Foals raised their heads to look at arsenic giant. Their faces showed no irrepressible expectation, but there were sparks of interest in their eyes. It was a good sign. Edez smiled and sat down.

“Put your textbooks and pencils aside. You can forget about them for today,” he said.
“What?” foals surprised. What they had just heard sounded wrong – teachers should not say such thing!
“The aim of every lesson is to give students knowledge,” researcher continued. “It can be done well only if students are interested in getting them. Writing a synopsis, solving problems from textbooks and so on perfect for training and reinforcement of material studied, but these are not the best methods for getting knowledge. Rare pupil is really fond of them. Getting knowledge should be interesting for everypony. So, today… let’s just have a conversation. Let’s find out what is interesting for you. Ask questions, and we will try to answer them. Ask anything, ask what really you want to know, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of being wrong and to ask silly questions. As if there was not mentioned in that joke, there are such things as silly questions. But all this is the integral part of the learning process. No one in the whole world can do without this. So, again, don’t be shy and be afraid.
“So, are you ready?”
“Yes!” foals answered.
“Wonderful!”
“Um, mister Berg?” Rumble raised his hoof.
“Yes?”
“What joke you spoke about?”
“Yeah!” added Scootaloo.
“Well… Professor says introductory word to the students. He finishes his speech with the phrase ‘And remember: there is no such thing as silly questions, there are only silly answers.’ One of the students raises his hoof. Professor says ‘Yes?’ and student asks ‘What will happen if I put roller skates on my legs, stand on rails and grab a wire with my tail? I’ll start to move like a tram?’”

Foals and Cherilee laughed. Edez waited until they calm down and then continued:

“My area of specialization is physics, so, if you have questions about how nature works, ask!”
“Mister Berg!” First Base raised his hoof.

Edez turned to him.

“My uncle Spike-Nail once told that ‘one europonian’ helped him finish the job when he and his crew lacked some materials,” colt said. “He said that this europonian used cardboard to replace wood. And it worked perfectly. I… just can’t believe it! How such thing was possible?”
“Well… I guess you should ask mister Allegro about this, since, as I suppose, he’s responsible for this,” answered Edez. “But I can explain you how it was possible.”

Researcher stood up, approached the teacher’s table and took three sheets of paper from the top drawer. Holding one of the sheets, he began to explain:

“Paper seems to be one of the most fragile and delicate materials. It takes almost no efforts to crumple it or tear apart. It seems that it will not stand even the smallest weight. Unless you do this.”

He quickly cut the paper into strips and then accordion-folded them. When he finished, he put strips on the edge on the floor and, in front of astonished foals, stood on them. Paper strips didn’t crumple under his weight.

“See?” he looked at students. “That’s how it was done,” he stepped off the strips. “Accordion-folding makes sheets of any materials stronger. Edges of a sheet may seem impalpable, but they have surface area. It is miserable, but it exists. Folding increases total surface area of material per, for example, a square inch. It’s much easier to stand on the top of 30-inch wide wall than 5-inch wide one, agree?”

Foals gave a nod.

“The same is here,” continued Edez. “Also folds are the elements that provide additional strength – they act just like columns of buildings. Paper between these “columns” acts like minor support elements. Also, paper consists of cellulose, an organic fibrous material. Many organic fibers are quite strong and tough materials: they are fragile in form of sheets, but may be as hard as steel in form of bars.”
“Wow,” spelled First Base.
“Well, now you get it?” Edez asked the colt.
“Yes! That was so simple… but awesome!”
“I’m happy for you. So,” he rubbed his hooves, “more questions?”

Rumble raised his hoof again.

“My brother works in weather patrol,” he said, “It’s not an easy job, but he spends only three-four hours on it. He usually works at greater height than other pegasi, but that is no reason to shirk! And when I ask him he just says that I ‘don’t understand the thing’. Why so? What “thing” I do not understand?”
“Well, Rumble, I must say that your brother really is a lazybones, but he is rather smart,” answered Edez.
“Smart?”
“Yes. He perfectly mastered one of the basic laws of atmospheric physics: the higher a body is, the greater impact it can have. All the air is one continuous mass, everything in it connected. Upper layers have their effect on lower and vice versa. Manipulating air currents at higher levels, one can achieve the necessary results making less effort.”
“Oh… I think I begin to understand,” spelled Rumble.
“I’m not!” said Sweetie Belle.
“Eh… I don’t know how to show this clearly here…” researcher said and took a thought for a second. “Okay, go to the playground. I’ll explain it to you there.”

Young ponies got surprised, but did what researcher said. They – together with their teacher, who also was wondering – they went to playground. Soon after them Edez came there too together with Zet’rar. Researchers brought a barrel and long metal pipe. Physicist and technician quickly joined the pipe to the barrel where bunghole was. After this Zet’rar returned to the teachers’, and Edez put the barrel pipe up. Lonely column of bizarre construction towered above the playground. While surprised foals started at the pipe, master researcher took fire hose, joined it to hydrant and gave the loose end to Rumble with words:

“Put it into the top of the pipe.”

Little pegasus looked at the researcher, then at pipe uncomprehendingly, but did what Edez said. When loose end was in the pipe, researcher turned water supply on and said all the pegasi to watch the water level in pipe. Young winged ones flew up and gathered near the top of the construction. Meanwhile Edez said other ponies to watch the barrel.

A minute passed, then two, and… Suddenly, for everypony’s surprise, the barrel cracked from the inside, and several narrow water threads shot out from it. Edez closed the tap.

“What is the level?” he asked.
“Three steps below the top, approximately,” answered Rumble.
“That’s what I talked about,” said Edez, approaching the pupils. “Water mass in the pipe was only slightly greater than in the barrel, but because it was above, it created pressure so high that it just crackled the barrel! That’s the effect.”
“Oh… Now I get it!” said Sweetie Belle.
“It’s a modified principle of the lever, in fact,” continued Edez. “The same effect can be demonstrated if I sit on a seesaw near the pivot point, and one of you sit on the opposite side on the seat.”

Then he showed it in reality. Astonished foals watched how giant Edez and little Pipsqueak balanced each other.

“Well, here’s the principle,” researcher said, getting down from the seesaw. “Now, please, return to classroom. I’ll come back soon, when I dismantle this thing,” and he went to the barrel.

Students returned to school and sat down on their desks. Their temporary teacher soon joined back.

“Well?” he said.
“Oh!” Scootaloo raised her hoof.
“Yes?”
“Mister Berg, can you explain me one thing? Once I was moving through the town on my scooter, as usual, when it fell apart right under me! With no reason! Handlebar just fell off! It just started to totter and then – bam! I’m on the ground.”
“That’s because you are embodiment of destruction,” said Silver Spoon with contemptuous smile.
“Very funny,” Scootaloo snorted in response.
“Well…” Edez said, having glanced on Silver Spoon, “I think there was a reason. Did handlebar of your scooter totter before?”
“Um, yeah. Just a little, but for last month for sure.”
“Then you just became a victim of the incident caused by fatigue of material. It’s a phenomenon of weakening of materials under severe loads. Each shake that happened to your scooter weakened it, and after another strong shake just broke it. It was something like this…”

He took a small sheet of aluminum from his bag and started to bend and unbend it. After several moves he stopped and gave the piece of metal to Scootaloo.

“Now try to tear it apart,” he said.
“What?” young pegasus surprised.
“Just try.”
“Uh, okay…”

She gulped and made a try. And she did it. She tore the metal sheet. Eyes of Silver Spoon became much bigger.

“H-how?” Scootaloo muttered. “It was so easy…”
“That’s what fatigue of materials does,” said Edez. “Even metals become so weak because of it that even a baby can break them.”
“Wow.”
“Next time just go to a workshop if you find even the slightest trace of problem, okay?”
“Sure!”

Apple Bloom raised her hoof and started to tell:

“One winter Ah left mah pickaxe on ice cube in our icehouse. Just forgot it there. But when Ah remembered and came back, Ah found it frozen into ice! How such thing could happen?”
“It’s a phenomenon called regelation,” Edez started to explain. “Because of temperature difference ice crystals melt then froze again. Pickaxe, when you left it in the icehouse, was relatively warm, so it started to melt ice. Metal tool is heavier than ice, so ice melted under it, and the tool moved down. Pickaxe pushed melted mass up, and there it froze again. Thus, gradually, your pickaxe appeared in the ice cube, until it cooled to the ice temperature.”
“Oh… Ah think ah got it!”
“Wonderful! Well, more questions?”

Edez answered five more questions and his time was over. Students went for ten-minute break to have some rest before the second lesson. However, they weren’t tired: the format chosen for the classes gave almost no loads, and illustrative examples made them very interesting.

While foals were disporting, Karin got ready for her lesson. Because of features of her subject she had no examples to show, like Edez, for amazement of the foals, so she hoped that the topic itself will be interesting for youngsters.

Soon the break was over, and pupils returned to the class. When they saw Karin… They were at a little loss: after giant Edez their teacher was a miniature mare. It was so contrasting that first question Karin was asked sounded like:

“Ehm… Are you a teenager?”
“No,” she smiled. “I’m just anything but tall.”
“Is it even normal for europonians to have such differences in size?” asked Diamond Tiara.
“Well, if you want to know, I’m the one who you need,” said Karin. “My specialization is ethnography of Europonia. I can tell you everything about this land and its citizens. I think you heard quite a lot about Europonia, and many of you want to visit it, so, if you want know what to see and how to behave and react on things, ask!”

After a short pause Dinky Doo asked the first question:

“How many countries there are in Europonia at all?”
“Sixty seven,” answered Karin. “And, I should clarify, now it’s correct to call them “regions”, since Europonia is a federation at present.”
“So now only Centropolis has the power, right?” asked Diamond Tiara.
“Yep. That’s our only center now.”
“Oh, Centropolis…” Boysenberry smiled dreamily. “I’ve always wanted to go there! I love its architecture and I love how people of so many different nations live there in peace!”
“Well, if you want to see all the diversity of our world, Centropolis is the best place to come, really. But, in general, in my honest opinion, this city is a madhouse.”
“Why?”
“First of all, it’s the people who live there. Yes, they all live in peace, but there are just too many of them, and they all are very different. Centropolis resembles one huge bazaar of Camel Sultanate. Also, there is a point about its architecture. Yes, the oldest part of the city built in one ensemble is wonderful. But other districts… Centropolis was built in Tschielia, the land of mountains. The central part of city lies in the valley, but outskirts stand on hillsides. There was not so much land suitable for construction, so everyone just built according to principle ‘I build what I can and how I can’, so… Outskirts of Centropolis are quite… bizarre places.”
“I love bizarre places!”
“Then Centropolis is the place for you.”
“I heard that there are alicorns in Europonia too,” said Ruby Pinch. “Is it true?”
“Yes, it is,” Karin gave a nod. “And, furthermore, there are hundreds of them there.”
“What?” foals surprised.
“H-how?” some students muttered.
“…But europonian alicorns are different from princesses of Equestria. Alicorns of our homeland are, in fact, just unicorns with wings. They don’t possess any great powers. And they appeared relatively recently.”
“But why there are so many of them?” Ruby Pinch wondered.
“Well…” Karin faltered. “The reason is the greatest magic disaster in history, Polynovy Jar accident.
“One hundred and three years ago three europonean – at that time – countries, Dregova, Stepchyna and Dolia, decided to establish the greatest magic research institute in the world. Europonian always were the most technically and scientifically advanced nation in the world, but then they decided to become also the most magically advanced. These three countries created a joint institute, which was placed in small town of Polynovy Jar in Stepchyna, near the point where borders of all the countries-founders converge. Just in a couple of years Polynovy Jar Institute became the most significant center of magic studies in the world. Every day its workers created dozen of new spells, every week they made a discovery, and every half-year – a fundamental discovery. People still use many of their achievements. However, scientists there worked not only with good magic, they studied all its kinds. They carried out dangerous experiments. Including so-called high-energy manipulations… Ninety one year ago one of these experiments got out of control. And led to the magic burst that affected all Europonia. Dregova and Stepchyna and one more country, Liguwia, were hit the most. There were almost no victims, but soon after this many ponies and other citizens of Europonia started to mutate. “Alicornism” was one of the most widespread mutations. Sometimes it took whimsical forms, especially if parents of changed one were from different species… Thus, Europonia now is the only place where you can see a thestral alicorn, for example! Just like unicorn zebras, winged deer, horned griffins and so on… And it still continues.
“By the way, difference in size between me and Berg and Erő is a distant effect of that event. We are mutants.”
“But, still, why so many?” Ruby Pinch asked again.
“This is a question from the field of biology. I can’t explain it to you properly, Ruby,” answered Karin. “Wait for the lesson of my friend Zicht, ask him, and he’ll explain it to you in detail, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Miss Pippi,” Twist raised her hoof, “you were talking about ‘ponies and other citizens of Europonia’, you and your friends used terms that don’t apply to ponies… Why? There are so many comers from other countries in Europonia?”
“It’s so,” researcher answered. “Although the land is called ‘Europonia’, ponies are only two-thirds of its total population. North and center are also widely populated with deer, east – with bisons, south-east – with camels and antelope, south and west – with zebras, south-west and west – with griffins, and all lands except south – with dragons and hogs. In some regions ponies are not the majority of population. That’s why we use such terms, suitable for all the species. And, by the way, ponies weren’t the only first inhabitants of that land – we shared it with deer, hogs, bisons and dragons.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that,” said Twist.
“And…” Boysenberry was about to ask additional question.
“…how many other species are in Centropolis?” Karin guessed what she wanted to ask. “Ponies are minority of its population – only 42%.”
“What?”
“Well, it just happened so: capital of Europonia is not a pony city at all… Probably that’s how other races take revenge on us for the fact that whole continent was named in honor of us.”
“That’s really strange.”
“I do not doubt.”
“Europonians all are strange,” said Snips. “I heard that stallions there wear skirts too.”
“It’s so, but it’s called “kilt”, not “skirt”,” responded Karin. “And it’s traditional only for one region, Fuarbeinnfonn.”
“But, still, it’s weird.”
“You know, kilts recognized as the best clothes that do not constrain movements even here, in Equestria.”
“Oh…”
“We know that not all the species are vegetarian like us, ponies,” Blade Runner began, “But I heard that not all the ponies in Europonia are vegetarian. Is it true?”
“It’s true,” answered Karin.

Some foals gasped in shock.

“Yes, some ponies of my homeland aren’t vegetarian, they are omnivores,” researcher continued. “But that’s not because of savagery or something as you think. It had objective reasons. For example, ponies of Iceland. Now they can grow whatever they want in greenhouses, but before, when that island had been populating, greenhouses weren’t invented. Ponies that arrived there had only moss, lichen, withered grass, some berries and some barley, rye and oats if weather was favorable to grow them. Having just this they barely survived in that cold land. So, in order not to starve to death, they started to fish. It was the only way out. In some other places ponies had to live among dragons. They were minority, so had to adapt to dragons’ customs. And, as you know, all dragons are absolute omnivores.”
“And… have you ever tasted meat?” Blade Runner asked quietly.
“I had to spend some time in Iceland, so, yes. I tasted fish. Some dishes.”
“Even hákarl?” surprised Twist.
“…yeah.”
“And… How was it?”
“Don’t ask.
“Let’s better change the topic, agree?”
“Agree.”

Aura raised her hoof.

“I’ve been wondering…” she said. “What do Europoneans worship?”
“Well, the history of this issue is quite complex,” said Karin. “Europonia have never had such patrons and defenders as princesses Celestia and Luna. Its citizens could rely only on themselves and… supernatural forces. That’s why there are so many stories about spirits in Europonia. That’s what people of my homeland worship. But among all the legends one has the greatest impact – the legend about the creation of the world. It says that everything what we can see was made by four entities: Geneir, the creator, Perdeir, the destroyer, Devlopir, the developer, and Salvumir, the keeper. They exist since the beginning of time, they built this world and they keep maintain it now. Everything what happens is their job. They are the main spirits. They are the ones whom we bow.”
“Can you tell us more about them?” asked Apple Bloom.
“And tell some other Europonean legends?” added Scootaloo. “They are so cool!”
“With pleasure,” Karin smiled.

Until the end of the lesson she told the foals stories of Europonia. Young ponies hung on her words – even the breachiest ones. Then the bell rang, Karin finished the last legend and thanked everypony for attention. Foals went for a break, and next temporary teacher started to prepare for his lesson.

When students returned to the class, they saw that their new teacher was bronze stallion with scars on his face. Max waited until when all foals sat down and said:

“Hello, my little friends. On your third lesson I’ll tell you a couple of things about anatomy. But before it I’d like to make an announcement. I understand that this topic may be interesting not to all of you, so… If you are bored, you can sleep right here. Really. You can take a pillow, a plaid and doze off. I’m absolutely fine with this, just do not snore, please. But I don’t tolerate chatter in the classroom. Lection is not the time to talk about trifles. Please, be quiet.
“Now, let’s start.”
“Why did you choose this science?” asked Pipsqueak.
“Many sentient beings have tendency to look for answers everywhere around,” researcher said. “But often the answer they seek they can find only in themselves. The very reason of a thing can be connected with specific features of your mind or your body. I became a doctor to find such answers for myself and help others with the same. Also… being a medical researcher is a great way to help others, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” Pipsqueak nodded. “Doctors really are everyday heroes!”
“Indeed, it’s difficult, but noble profession,” said Max. “Now, please, excuse me…”

He slowly went to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who had been actively chatting at the moment. Fillies were so busy with their conversation that noticed Max only when he stood right behind them. Young ponies remembered about what their temporary teacher told them, fell silent and looked at him. Max didn’t say a word, looked at fillies, then… quickly poked Diamond Tiara in the neck. Filly closed her eyes and dropped her head on the desk. In a second he did the same with Silver Spoon. Eyes of other foals widened. Cheerilee was shocked. She was about to resent, when Max turned to her and said:

“Don’t worry, miss Cheerilee, they are absolutely fine, just sound asleep. They’ll wake up right before the start of the fourth lesson.”

Cheerilee listened to fillies and for her own surprise found that researcher was right: happy sniffing confirmed that they were sleeping. Max meanwhile returned to the teacher’s table.

“How did you do that?” exclaimed Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“It’s very simple if you know how body is organized. You just need some practice,” Max said. “And it’s just one small thing from all the diversity of possible tricks.”
“We want to know everything about it!”
“Well, if you want to know everything you need many years of studying, but I can teach you some stuff. Are you ready?”
“Yes!”
“Then ask what you want to know.”

Ruby Pinch raised her hoof.

“Mister Zicht!” she said. “Your friend miss Pippi said you can tell us why there are so many alicorns in Europonia.”
“Yes, she told me about your request, Ruby. Well, the reason is the following: each pony has two so-called internal trigger mechanisms. One of them is responsible for formation of wings, other – for formation of horn. Usually only one or none of them can be active. If none of them is active, you are an earth pony, if the first one is active – you are a pegasus, if the second – you are an unicorn. But incident in Polynovy Jar caused activation of both mechanisms among some ponies. So they got both wings and horn. That’s why “europonean alicornism” is so spread.”
“Miss Pippi also said that they aren’t powerful as princesses of Equestria,” noticed Aura. “But… they are identical!”
“Active trigger mechanisms are not the only reason. There are several other differences. Some time ago princess Celestia gathered scientists from all over the world to find at least some reasons of differences between her and ordinary ponies. And they found few ones: intensity of metabolism, specific features of magic heart… It’s not so easy.”
“Features of magic heart?”
“Yes. It’s believed to be the main reason. Princess Celestia was X-rayed totally for this research, but only things what scientists got were that her magic heart is huge and has very difficult structure which almost impossible to understand.
“By the way, features of magic heart regularly affect ponies. It was called “heart” not without reason. For example, particularities of magic heart entirely explain behavior of Pinkie Pie.”
“What?” surprised Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
“How such things can be connected?” wondered Sweetie Belle.
“You just haven’t seen her X-ray,” smiled Max. “But the reason is very simple. Answer me, who, as you think, has the largest magic heart among all the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?”
“Twilight, of course!” Apple Bloom said.
“Well, that’s quite obvious. And now tell who has the second largest magic heart among them.”

Foals faltered.

“Can’t be… Pinkie Pie?” spelled Scootaloo.
“Exactly. Her magic heart is 2.7 times larger than average unicorn’s! She just can’t be not-hyperactive, having so much energy inside without horn as way out.”
“Heh…”
“Yeah.”
“Um, mister Zicht?” Sweetie Belle raised her hoof. “Can you explain then why foals of mister and missis Cake are pegasus and unicorn, though their parents are earth ponies?”
“The reason is almost identical to the cause of “europonian alicornism”,” answered Max. “Activation of trigger mechanisms doesn’t entirely depend on appearance of parents. All combinations are possible, just their probability is rather low.”
“So that’s not because some their relatives were pegasi and unicorns?”
“To be honest, it’s just a not the best guess.”
“Oh, can you show more of those tricks?” asked Snails.
“Yeah!” some other colts and fillies supported him.
“Sure,” researcher responded. “But I need some volunteers.”

He immediately got full class of them.

“Well then let’s start the show,” said Max. “Um, Blade Runner, First Base, can you come here?”

In a second colts stood in front of him.

“First, some self-defense. Now decide who will be the potential attacker and who – potential victim.”
“I’ll be the attacker!” declared First Base.
“Fine,” uttered Blade Runner.
“Now, First Base, slightly hit Blade Runner here,” Max pointed to the area where vertebral column joins the skull, “like this,” and he demonstrated.

Yellow colt repeated after researcher.

“Now, Blade, try to move,” said Max.

Blade Runner rolled his eyes, but then… his face displayed shock.

“I… can’t!”
“Temporary paralysis,” researcher explained. “Works only for several minutes, but it can give you chance to run away. Useful, isn’t it?”

Watchers gave a nod.

“Now, let me fix you,” said Max and with couple of moves returned Blade Runner’s mobility. “Next?”

Boysenberry and Aura were already near him.

“How to mute an annoying interlocutor,” announced Max and showed the move.

Aura repeated it and then tested it on volunteer victim Boysenberry. And young pony completely lost her voice. She couldn’t even wheeze. Max quickly fixed her and passed to the next trick.

Before the end of the lesson he showed some more impressive techniques: how to cure a cramp in a second, how to kill the pain, how to increase magic powers for some minutes, how to make yourself hardier, how to take revenge on older brothers and sisters for mockeries with tickling of some points that makes every pony to laugh hysterically. Foals also asked him to show how he sent Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to sleep, but they didn’t manage to coax the researcher.

Students persuaded researcher for three minutes before the bell rang, and they went for a break. Max quietly breathed with relief and passed the baton to Affi. As he promised, arrogant fillies woke up right before the fourth lesson. They were very disgruntled.

Another ring marked the beginning of lesson. Affi entered the classroom right before it and greeted foals again:

“Good day, dear friends. Your next lesson will be devoted to fairly difficult subject: psychology. Yes, this field is unknown country for many ponies, but it’s very interesting and allows to find answers on many questions.
“Before me my colleague and friend Zicht told you about how important is to look for answers in yourself first and told about probable physiological reasons. Now I will tell you about mental reasons. So, please!”
“Pardon me, but you say that if externals have no effect on things that happen around,” said Twist.
“The impact of circumstances is very great, but it depend only on us how we respond to them,” answered Affi. “For instance, why, do you think, many griffins are greedy and cruel?”
“Um… I don’t know.”
“Well, the reason is that long time ago, before they found their states, griffins were poor. Their homeland has very little easily accessible resources. This was the external, which made them to choose. Because of this lack, all kinds of property were very valuable for them, and thus their greed was born. They could solve problem of the lack with two ways: make great efforts to obtain these resources or take resources from others. They chose the second way and thus became cruel as warriors. Only years later they managed to solve the lack problem with own powers, but their typical character was formed already.”
“Oh.”
“It applies to all the nations. You have no need to go far for another example: did you know that all equestrian youngster’s favorite night actually have been celebrating for more than three thousand years?”
“What?” foals surprised.
“Wait! Everypony knows that it’s connected with Nightmare Moon!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.
“True,” Affi gave a nod. “But originally celebration of “night of fear” came from some small backcountries of Equestria. Ponies there believed that at some night all the evil spirits rage. It was necessary to drive them off somehow. After some thinking ponies decided that if you are dealing with evil spirits, the only possible way that gives some effect is fighting fire with fire. So they started to dress in spooky costumes to scare the spirits away. After the appearance of Nightmare Moon this custom became widespread – ponies were afraid that Nightmare Moon might return, and… just came up with the similar thinking pattern. That’s how this tradition was born.”
“Wow… I didn’t even know that,” spelled Rumble.
“Me too,” added Scootallo.
“Those were examples of reactions common for many ones,” continued Affi, “but for practical psychology individual reactions are more interesting since there are more subjects to review and because they provide incredible variety. I bet you can remember a couple of examples of strange reactions of your friends or relatives.”
“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle nodded. “I can think of one case. About a year ago I decided to make a surprise applique for Rarity when she was out and show it to her when she comes back. She returned with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. And… Well, I can understand why Rarity got shocked and angry – I used some of her gems. Applejack was surprised, but Pinkie Pie laughed. I still can’t understand why she laughed.”
“Hm… What picture did you make on that applique?”
“Nothing strange, just me and Rarity playing together.”
“Then it’s because they focused on different things when they saw you work. Applejack, as I suppose, noticed the picture itself first so got surprised. Rarity noticed that it was made from gems first so got shocked. And what about Pinkie Pie… Knowing her, I guess she also noticed that your applique had some Rarity’s gems, then noticed Rarity’s reaction and after this laughed.”
“Oh.”
“The degree of surprise also has its effect. If surprise is really strong, reaction may take odd forms. For instance, one story that my colleague and friend Erő told once. Once, when he was studying in Military Academy, he and his friend Szikladarab got the task to clean one small building. They did it quickly, so got bored and decided to bet for fun. Erő said to Szikladarab ‘Hide, and if I won’t find you in thirty minutes, I’ll give you my stipend for this month.’ They shook hooves, and Szikladarab went to hide. It is necessary to mention that his guy was only an inch lower Erő and was even more broad-shouldered. Erő waited a minute and started to search. But he couldn’t find Szikladarab for twenty five minutes. Erő started to worry. And right at this moment commander of their subdivision came there. He was angry, shouted loudly, accusing them in unfair work. After when he shouted that they didn’t even use detergent, he hit one of the nearest nightstands in fit of anger. Its door opened, and… showed Szikladarab. I think no one is able to explain how he got in it. Commander was completely shocked, but quietly asked Szikladarab what he was doing there. Szikladarab, who obviously didn’t expect to see the commander, blurted that he’s looking for detergent. After that commander just closed the door and went away. The surprise was so great that he just couldn’t accept it. He just denied what he had seen.”
“Heh…” some students nervously smiled.
“You mean my brain just can deny things what I see?” surprised First Base.
“Only if it’s incredibly strange, beyond your perception. It’s just a protective mechanism, though it’s odd,” explained Affi.

A short pause followed, then Blade Runner raised his hoof.

“Miss Antilipsi?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been wondering… I heard about several such cases, but I don’t understand how it can be. How somepony can suddenly became incredibly brave when minutes ago he was scared, when all ponies around are scared?”
“It’s a good question, Blade. The reason of such actions is very specific. You see, in moments of really strong fear you can get so scared you become absolutely indifferent about what will happen to you. You think that your fate is sealed, that you are doomed, that it’s the last moment of your life. You are in desperation. And you think – or, to be precise, use one of the patterns of actions – ‘If so, then nothing will change if I risk, sacrifice myself – at least I’ll spend my life not in vain, somepony will remember me.’ And you do incredibly brave act. Everypony think that you are a daredevil, but really you are week in knees.”
“Fear can make me bold?”
“Yes. Sounds absurdly, but it is so. Yes?” Affi turned to Dinky Doo when she saw that filly raised her hoof.
“Miss Antilipsi, you told about why griffins are greedy and cruel, but why they are so harsh even when everything is fine?”
“Everyone feels comfortable when he or she is dealing with equal. But ways to achieve equality are different for different species. Ponies’ way is to be polite with interlocutor. We don’t show ourselves immediately to avoid any difficulties and awkwardness. Griffins, in their turn, intend to find how strong and tough their interlocutors are. A griffin wants to know that his interlocutor is also powerful to work on an equal footing. That both of them are equally strong. That’s why griffins usually are so cocky.”
“I see…”

After this Affi addressed to all students:

“Now, when we started to talk about individual issues, what do you think about some “group therapy”? If you have problems, I’ll try to solve them. If you don’t want to speak about this, tell me, and we’ll continue our lesson in the same way as it was. If you agree, gave a nod.”

Foals looked at each other.

“We can try, I think,” said Rumble.
“Worth a shot,” said Apple Bloom.

Majority of students agreed.

“Thank you,” Affi bowed. “Now, anypony want to address?”

A pause followed. Foals hesitated. No pony dared for quite a long time, but then lone trembling hoof was raised. It was Scootaloo.

“Yes?” Affi came closer to her.

Little pegasus gulped and began to speak in faltering voice:

“Well… My problem is… I can not learn how to fly. Doctors say I don’t have any disabilities that create obstacles. I… just don’t know what may be the reason!”
“Hm…” Affi rubbed her chin. “Did something happen to you when you started to learn?”
“Wh-what? I don’t understand what you are talking about.”
“Did you have serious mishaps during your first trainings?”

Scootaloo faltered again.

“I… Ehm… Oh… During one of the first trainings I fell from a great height. I badly bruised my back and broke two legs.”
“Then that is your problem.”
“Huh?”
“After bad happenings we start to avoid situations that may lead to the same consequences. This is a mental mechanism, it happens subconsciously. You were hurt when you were learning to fly, so you started to unconsciously avoid it because you afraid that you may get hurt again.”
“I… afraid?”
“Scootaloo’s afraid to fly?” surprised Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.
“Yes,” researcher nodded. “There’s nothing shameful in it. It’s just an instinct reaction. But it can be cured,” she turned to orange pegasus. “I hold you some therapy sessions and, I guarantee, you can reach the sky very soon.”
“Really?” Scootaloo’s eyes shimmered with hope.
“Just let’s agree for the time suitable for both of us.”
“Sure! Thank you!”

Affi smiled and gave her a nod. After Scootaloo Apple Bloom raised her hoof.

“Pardon me, miss Antilipsi, but Ah want to ask ya a question about mah sister and her friends,” she said.
“Well, what in them bothers you?”
“Ah spent quite a lot of time with them and… They are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but sometimes they act just like they represent absolutely opposite things! Ah just can’t understand why.”
“If you have detailed theoretical description, you may get good explanation for a thing. But if you want to master something perfectly, it’s impossible without learning of its opposite. Honesty is impossible without lies, generosity – without greed, loyalty – without treachery, kindness – without malice, laughter – without sadness, magic – without absolute void. Your sister and her friends couldn’t be the bearers if they didn’t know about opposites of their Elements.”

Apple Bloom gave a weak nod of understanding, and almost immediately after this Diamond Tiara asked her question:

“Can you explain one thing, please? Me and Silver Spoon can coax other ponies without difficulties, but Silver Spoon manages to do it without playing scenes and throwing a fit, and I can’t. Why?”

Affi smiled.

“You know, I’ve read some of your files before this lesson,” she said. “And, I must say, your friend is quite talented pony,” researcher looked at Silver Spoon. “She mastered one simple rule that we call “the law of impudence”.”
“The law of impudence?”
“Become brazen so that others won’t notice you.”

Diamond Tiara was stunned. She slowly turned and looked at her friend. Silver Spoon only shrugged awkwardly in response.

They dealt with two more problems before the bell rang. Foals rejoiced and quickly left the classroom: next hour they will spent outside, they will have physical education, which have never been difficult. Only Scootaloo, Affi and Cheerilee remained. Little pegasus agreed with researcher about session time and hurried up to join her friends. Mares left the room the last.

After their deserved ten minutes of rest students gathered on the sportsground. There the next temporary teacher had been waiting for them.

“Hello again!” said Kor. “You’ve spent quite a lot of time in the classroom today already, so let’s take a break and warm up a bit. I’m a graduate of Military Academy, so I know a couple of things about physical training. So, if you want to improve your abilities and strength, I can show you some necessary exercises. Do you agree with this?”
“Yeah!” foals answered.
“Good. And, before we start… maybe somepony want to ask some question for clarification?”
“Um, why your tail is so long?” asked Snails and Snips.

Kor looked at them, saying “Really?” with his expression, but then sighed and gave sarcastic answer:

“To play possum!”
“Huh?”

Researcher approached the nearest tree, stood on forelegs and grabbed a branch with own tail. When he got convinced in the strength of the grip, he removed forelegs and remained hanging upside down. Finally, he spread forelegs like saying “Tada!”

Students looked at him in surprise, then Snips and Snails got two sticks from somewhere and exclaimed:

“Piñata!”

Other foals unanimously supported this offer.

“Wait!” exclaimed Kor, loosened his grip and because of this fell down right on the back of his neck, so barely managed not to lose consciousness. “Ow…” he spelled, rubbing his neck. “Okay, stop fool around and let’s back to lesson.”

Soon young ponies stood in a row near the edge of the sportsground, and Kor gave them some instructions.

“If you want your trainings to be successful, you must define their purpose. Proper physical education should be aimed not only at making you stronger. Strength has no use if don’t know how to apply it, can’t stand for long time and get tired quickly. If you are not a sportpony and don’t need any special trainings, first aim of your exercises should be increase of stamina. Only then improvement of strength stands, together with improvement of dexterity.”
“What we should do for this?” asked Blade Runner.
“Stamina can be increased with simple ways, making baby steps,” said Kor. “For example, just walk or fly more and do chores that require significant physical efforts. Try to do more of these every new day. And soon you’ll see the results.”
“Sounds too easy,” Carrot Crunch said.
“Indeed, but that’s the thing: the easiest way gives really good results.
“Now you got the idea, so let’s switch to the second phase. All of you, as I think, has own plans and wants, so let me help you to pick the best exercises to achieve your goal. So, who wants to be the first?”
“M-me!” Piña Colada quietly said.
“Come!” Kor with a gesture said her to come closer. She slowly approached him, and researcher asked again “So, what’s your goal?”
“Well, I want to become more graceful,” Piña Colada answered shyly. “But… I’m not the most careful pony.”
“What do you like to do?”
“Huh? P-pardon me, but I don’t understand what you want.”
“Exercises should be interesting. You are motivated under such condition and, thus, able to achieve your goal. And easiest way to make exercises interesting is combine them with what you like to do.”
“Well, I like dances.”
“Then dance! Dances are the most perfect exercises for development of grace, especially ones that needs you to be focused.”
“Like what?”
“Hm… Well, you can try log dance, popular among europonian dragons nowadays.”
“A dragon dance?”
“Yes, but don’t be afraid! It’s suitable for all the creatures… with legs. And you don’t even need a log – just make a straight line on ground and here you go.”
“But… how does it look like?”
“I’ll show you.”

Kor stood at the line that separates racetracks and started to dance. Simple rhythmical moves, nothing special, but with one condition: step only at the line. It looked quite odd, but at the same time… it has its own charm.

Researcher stopped after half of a minute and addressed Piña Colada again:

“You shouldn’t perform any special dances – just move like you want. Only don’t step away from the line.”
“I got it! Thank you!” filly smiled.

Immediately after her two more fillies wished to get an advice.

“Mister Erő, what you can recommend in addition to increase the stamina?” asked Aura.
“Yeah!” added her friend Boysenberry.
“Pardon me, but let me ask why you need this?” Kor was surprised.
“Well, we want to take part in the Running of the Leaves this fall, and we want to show ourselves there!”
“Okay, what you usually like to do?”
“Um, I don’t know… Maybe walk, hang around together?” spelled Aura.
“Then continue to walk together, but alternate it with running and some simple exercises, like push-ups and squats, and do it for an hour at least every day, but in the beginning limit yourself with forty minutes. Then you may increase the training time.”
“Got it!”
“Mister Erő, and what you can recommend to become more agile?” asked First Base.
“I wonder too!” added Blade Runner. “We like,” he pointed to himself and First Base, “well, scurry around?”
“Well, start with short obstacle races and gradually, I repeat, gradually, with baby steps, switch to parkour. Parkour is the very thing for you, but you should come to it after some time. Thus you gain experience, remain safe, and… will be able to do something like this…” and giant Kor right before eyes of amazed foals skipped over the tribune in one fell swoop, “…without difficulties!”
“Wow…” uttered Blade Runner.
“Awesome!” exclaimed First Base. “Blade, we should train!”
“Agree!”
“Mister Erő, what can I do to build wing muscles if I can’t do wing push-ups well?” asked Rumble.
“In general, you can fly well?” Kor wondered. “And do you like it?”
“Yeah, and I like to fly.”
“Then use the way of dragons of southern continents: put on a bag, put some weight in it and then fly for some time. You just have to increase the weight gradually, and in three-four month you’ll see the results.”
“Um, mister Erő?” little pink filly with eggplant mane asked quietly.
“Yes?”
“What can I do to control my strength?”
“Control your strength?” Kor heard from miss Cheerilee that this filly, Lily Longsocks, is incredibly gifted with physical power, but he barely believed this. “But… how strong you can be?”

Lily in slow gawky gait approached the tribune without a word and… lifted whole construction with one foreleg.

“Hűha…” Kor spelled. “Well… ain’t that something! Indeed, this is quite a problem.”
“You don’t know what to do?” Lily got worried.
“No, there is a way out for you. I just have to choose the best variant… Hm… Do you like to spend time quietly, for example, just sit or lie on the ground, being relaxed?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Then, I think, some techniques from Eastern Kingdoms may help you. You know, relaxing exercises, meditation. I can show you some basic ones now, and some after school, but that’s all I know. I’m not the expert on this part.”
“Still, thank you! Show me, please!”
“Well, as you wish,” said Kor.

He showed her a couple simple exercises. Lily turned out to be very easy and quickly educable filly: she learned the exercise after only two or three repeats, and achieved good results after the first training – she managed to shake a hoof of other foal without causing him any pain.

Researcher agree with Lily about time of next session and helped four more students to create their own training programs before the lesson was over. Foals, when they heard miss Cheerilee saying that the bell rang, sighed: now they have to return to the classroom. The only thing that made them at least a little glad was that now they will have long lunch break.

So, after a snack, young ponies returned to the lessons with renewed vigor.

The bell rang, and right after it the next temporary teacher entered the classroom. Young colts with bated breathes looked at her when miss Cheerilee presented researchers – now, when she was alone, they just couldn’t look away from this gorgeous tall silver mare with long cardinal mane. At those minutes many of them formed their ideals of mare’s beauty.

“Good day, kids,” meanwhile said Oma. “I’m very happy to see all of you. Today I shall introduce you, probably, one of the most interesting subjects of sociology: differences between societies and their origination. This theme strongly resonates with ethnography – it’s possible to say that both sciences are just like twin sisters here – but they still differ. Ethnography in this field aims to study the phenomenon itself, sociology, in its turn, aims to study the reason of difference, and, secondly, aims to study particular features. I know that many features of other societies look strange for you, and you would like to know how they could form. So, please, ask!”

Indeed, students of miss Cheerilee really wanted to know why other nations differ from equestrians, since many hooves were raised.

“Yes?” Oma addressed Twist who was the nearest to her – she without a second thought decided to move forward from first rows to last.
“Pardon me, miss Didinga,” filly said, “I do not want to offend you, but… europonians are known as quite conflicted ponies in Equestria. What can you say about this?”
“Well, europonians indeed are less peaceable ones. We put the end to our conflicts only one hundred and eleven years ago. So, our nation just haven’t gotten used to true peace yet. This originates from particular features of development of europonian civilization. Equestria was formed as single, unified society, Europonia, in turn, was formed from number of societies that were isolated from each other for some time. Miss Pippi told you how many of them exist.”
“Yes, sixty seven.”
“Because of isolation each society wasn’t like other and has its own interests. So no wonder they started to conflict when they met. Although ‘United with differences’ is europonian national motto now, it took us more than three thousand years to reconcile with these differences.”

Twist gave nod of understanding.

“Yes, Ruby Pinch,” researcher addressed the next student.
“You can tell the reason of differences between all the societies?”
“Yes.”
“Well, many ponies can’t remember any city of Griffin Empire except Praesidium. It looks like there are no cities in Griffin Empire except the capital at all!”
“Indeed, Praesidium is the only big city in Empire. There are only several towns like Ponyville except it. Absolute majority of griffins lives in villages.”
“But why so?”
“The reason of this lies in prehistoric times. You know, griffins are predators originally, and, as miss Antilipsi had already told you, their homeland is poor. So, in order to survive, they started to gather in packs. They had been living like this for millennia. And old habits and traditions tend to persist for very long time. It is one of the main laws of psychology and sociology, and, I bet, you noticed such examples. Griffins preferred to live in their packs even when they formed their civilization. Pack is rather small group, not more than two or three hundreds – just as many as in an average village. Thus, with the passage of time, when griffins settled down, their packs transformed in villages.”
“But, still, why griffins usually so harsh?” asked Dinky Doo. “Miss Antilipsi told us that it’s because they were poor, but it can’t be just that!”
“Harsh land creates severe people. Many ones think that place where you grew is not important, but, in practice, we see that natural environment always has its effect, though it may be little. If you decide to go to university in the equinities, you’ll learn about such thing as geographical determinism. Not all the differences can be explained by this hypothesis, but it has little grain of truth.”
“I know that dragons also have no big cities,” said Rumble. “It is for the same reason that griffins have?”
“And why they are rude and rough?” added Silver Spoon.
“Llamas and alpacas also have no cities!” intervened Apple Bloom. “Why? They ain’t predators!”
“Well, Rumble, dragons do have big cities, and not only in the lands where they are the majority of population – for example, Ževojt city in Dregova. But, yeah, usually they don’t live in cities and towns. However, the reason here is different. Unlike griffins, dragons are loners. It has objective reason: dragons are huge creatures, and it is simply hard to subsist if there are several such creatures near all the time. In order to have enough food for everyone they live separately from each other, each one on his or her own land, and gather together only to create a family and for big events. And reason of dragon’s rudeness is similar to griffin’s: they had to protect their food from others, so regularly conflicted with each other, and thus got harsh character.”
“And why do they migrate?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Again, everything depends on amount of food available. When dragons eat everything what they could, they migrate. They prefer to act simply.
“Speaking about llamas and alpacas, they have no big cities because they simply have no places where to build them: most of their homeland is mountains and dense forests with trees of two hundred steps height. You just can’t build a big city in small narrow valley or on swampy ground. In their case environment was the reason that entirely formed the habit to live in small settlements.
“Now, what do you want to ask, Blade Runner?”
“Um, well…” colt faltered when Oma addressed him. “Miss Didinga, can you tell how and why these cats’ games appeared?”
“Ah, the legendary Battle Royale of Felia! Well, reasons of this lie in some traits of character typical for all cats. First of all, cats are mavericks and because of this – loners, so they don’t tend to gather in large groups and they aren’t the most friendly creatures. They always compete and fight with each other – for territory, for resources, to establish themselves on high places in society. At the same time, they are very curious. They always eager to look at something interesting for them. Thus, when some cats started to fight, other started to gather to watch the show. They kept doing it for centuries, so when they started to create their states, they just regularized those fights. Gradually it turned into large-scale event with hundreds of thousands watchers, where everyone can show and prove their power and prowess. So now we have the greatest fighting championship in the world,” Oma finished the explanation and turned to the next student. “Yes, Carrot Crunch.”
“My great grandfather once visited Cania. When he returned, he told that dogs are very calm and pacific nation. But everypony knows that army of Cania is one of the fiercest in the world! How can this be?”
“Well, dogs were united since ancient times, and they have always loved their homeland and their nation. Also, dogs are loyal and honest, they always try to behave with dignity. They are friendly with each other and with guests from other lands, but if someone encroaches on their homeland, they fight back with no mercy.
“Yes, Aura?”
“Well, ponies say that zebras are usually harsher than us, but we all know Zecora, she’s a zebra, and she is nice!” filly wondered.
“I don’t want to upset you, but zebras indeed are tough usually. You see, here, in Equestria, you have Everfree forest, the place where monsters live. You avoid it and live in other regions. But there are no such region in zebras’ homeland – all their lands are like one big Everfree forest. They had to live among monster, and you have to be tough if you want to survive.”
“Oh…”

Before the bell rang, researcher explained the reasons of main particular features of all great societies of the world, which significantly differ from equestrian norms and traditions. Foals got surprised with many things, but thanks to Oma’s explanations they realized one thing: if something looks strange to you, it doesn’t mean that it is wrong, and it often has understandable reasons.

Another break, then another lesson. After stretching their legs on the playground, foals returned to the classroom and met tall thin green stallion.

“Hello, kids!” Sheim greeted the students. “Before we start, I’d like to make an announcement. I’m going to teach you a couple of things about geology and geography in general, but… sitting in the classroom and talking about rocks, water and atmosphere is not the best way to learn about nature. So let’s then go outside and see how nature works in reality!”

Unanimous loud “Yay!” and “Yeah!” showed that colts and fillies support this offer.

“Okay, class, follow me!” said Sheim and led foals outside. Cheerilee went with them, remaining behind.

They left the school, and researcher told students how he is going to hold the lesson:

“Okay, here’s the plan. We just walk near the school, and meanwhile I shall explain you some interesting things and phenomena. If you have your own questions – ask, don’t be afraid. If you’ll find something interesting during the walk and want to learn about it – ask. The more you ask the more you know, and the more you know the more doors to the great future you have. So, please!”
“So who are you exactly?” asked Twist.
“I’m a geologist.”
“You know Maud Pie?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Eeeeee-yep. But let’s not about this now.”
“What’s so interesting can be in stones?” wondered Snips.
“A great many things, my friend. Knowing about rocks you can define where and how to build houses, find water even in the driest desert, take a look at distant past… become rich.”
“That’s interesting…” spelled Diamond Tiara.
“…but you have to learn a lot to achieve these goals, to be true specialist,” continued Sheim. “How much should you learn? Well, for instance, exam on elementary geology in my university looked like this: profs took us to rocky road, and there we should define minerals and rocks that made it. We could pass only if we defined all fifty samples correctly.”
“Aren’t rocks and minerals the same stuff?” wondered Scootallo.
“Not quite,” answered Sheim. “If you have a boulder that consists of only one substance, it is called a mineral. Mineral, in fact, is a sample of a substance that can be found in the ground. If boulder consists of several substances, it is called a rock.”
“Oh, I see now.”
“And do ya still can name all the rocks that ya can see?” asked Apple Bloom.
“You want to test it? Be my guests!” Sheim answered with expression that said that he accepts the challenge.

Foals immediately scattered in all directions to grab a little rock or some pebbles and then returned to researcher. They showed the samples, and he began to name the rocks:

“Granite, andesite, gabbro, peridot, feldspar, diorite, tuff, granite, quartz, tuff, limestone, sandstone, sandstone, marble, feldspar…” and so on. He named all of them instantly. Foals, however, weren’t completely satisfied with this.

“You said both of these is granite?” wondered Aura and Piña Colada, holding pinkish and fulvous pebbles. “But they are absolutely different!”
“Granite is a rock, not mineral, and may consist of several number of substances, my little friends,” researcher explained. “It’s an igneous rock, and how to call it depends on two things: place of origin and content of quartz – silicon dioxide. Pebbles you hold suit the definition of granite: intrusion rock with 30 percent of quartz approximately.”
“How difficult this geology is…” sighed Aura.
“And how such knowledge can help us?” wondered Diamond Tiara.
“Well, let me show you one thing,” Sheim addressed Dinky who held small pegmatite boulder with her magic. “Can I take your stone?”
“Oh, sure!” she said.
“Thank you. Now, step back.”

Foals surprised, but did what Sheim said, and then researcher threw the boulder to the nearest big rock. Piece of pegmatite hit the massive and crackled. Sheim came to the rock, took a piece of broken boulder and showed it to foals.

“Look here,” he said, pointing to the piece. “See little bright red spots?”
“Yeah,” students nodded.
“It’s garnet. A gemstone.”
“What?”
“It’s just grains, but they can be found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks. A little more knowledge and practice will help you find bigger ones. And… well, you always will be with full wallets.”

This demonstration finally convinced foals that geology is cool science. They wanted to learn more, so actively started to look for interesting and weird things.

“Mister Lierre, what’s this?” asked Ruby Pinch, holding small yellowish stone with greasy luster. “It crumbles…”
“Ah!” researcher smiled and took the stone from filly. “It’s vermiculite, one of the micas. All minerals of this group easily crumple because they have layered structure. It is very good insulating material. And… it has one very interesting property. Um, kids, does anyone of you know the flame creation spell?”
“I know,” said Dinky Doo.
“Excellent. Now we need some brushwood.”

In couple of seconds Snails and Snips brought big dry stump. Where these colts could find it among small bushes was a mystery, and Sheim together with many others decided not to ask about it. Nevertheless, they had firewood. It was possible to lit fire.

Dinky casted the spell, and stump turned into giant torch. Researcher told foals to wait for some time, then, when the flame got stronger, he threw the vermiculite stone in fire.

“Now, don’t be afraid!” he said.

Foals – and miss Cheerilee – were surprised, bet soon they understood why researcher said so: with loud hissing and crackling real fire snake was crawling out from flames. They just stood in awe. Meanwhile Sheim extinguished the stump with sand from the track.

“Wh-what was that?!” exclaimed Silver Spoon.
“Vermiculite significantly increases in volume when it is heated enough,” explained Sheim. “It’s believed that legends of fire snakes appeared because of this. Impressive sight, isn’t it?” he approached the expanded piece of vermiculite and gently touched it. Heated rock turned to dust.
“Yeah… Cool!” exclaimed some foals and ran to stock up some vermiculite.

They continued their walk and searches, and soon loud joyful scream of Diamond Tiara showed that another interesting finding was made. Teachers and other pupils gathered near her to look at it, but pink filly didn’t show what she found.

“So what did ya find?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Nothing! None of your business,” snapped Diamond Tiara.
“Diamond Tiara, show, please,” asked Cheerilee.

Filly sighed and showed. Other foals gasped: she held a piece of gold! However, Sheim was skeptical.

“Can I take it?” he asked.

Diamond Tiara didn’t want to part with her new precious, but she was asked by teacher, so she had to deal with it. She gave the finding to researcher. Sheim thanked her, weighed the piece on his hoof, looked at it closer and returned the rock to Diamond Tiara.

“Well, you can keep it for yourself,” he said. “It can be good decorative element.”
“What???” filly exclaimed.
“It’s not gold, Diamond Tiara, it’s pyrite. Real gold is three times heavier.”
“Pyrite… Oh, I know!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “Fool’s gold!”

Other foals chuckled. Face of Diamond Tiara turned into standard of red color.

Sheim didn’t comment on this incident and just said to go further. They continued the walk, and soon another student came to researcher with his finding.

“It looks like glass, though it’s black!” said First Base when he was giving the stone to Sheim.
“Well, you are right,” researcher responded when he looked at it closer. “It’s volcanic glass, obsidian.”
“Wait, volcanic? There are no volcanoes here! Where it could come from?”
“From there,” Sheim answered, pointing at… Canterlot mountain.
“What?” students exclaimed.
“There are no volcanoes here now, but they were here in past. And Canterlot mountain… Well, it has column-like mass of quite fresh igneous rocks right in its center, all gem deposits of Canterlot are vein-like and stretch from the center of the mountain – all this and some other signs show that Canterlot mountain is a volcano. Dormant one.”
“No… way!”
“But it’s so.”

He paused to give students some time to accept this information. After some more explanations Sheim managed to calm foals down, and they realized that they have nothing to fear.

Soon researcher was asked again: Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle wanted to learn about their findings. Scootaloo wondered why black stone what she found shone with all colors of rainbow.

“This phenomenon is called iridescence,” Sheim explained. “It happens because of microscopic differences of surface structure. The smallest crystals are not oriented in the same direction, so they reflect light differently. Because of reflection some characteristics of light change, and, thus, you have your own little rainbow.
“And what do you have, Sweetie Belle?”
“Well, I found this transparent crystal, but it’s not quartz or any gem,” she said, giving the pebble to Sheim. “I saw many different gems spending time with Rarity and I haven’t seen something like that.”
“Hm…” researcher took the crystal, examined it for some time, but everything got clear when he looked through it. “It is Iceland spar. Not the rarest mineral, but very specific.”
“Why it is special?”
“Look through it,” Sheim answered, giving pebble back to filly.

Little unicorn held the crystal with her magic, did what teacher told her and gasped.

“Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo worried.
“Everything doubles when I look through it!” agitated filly responded.
“It’s called birefringence. It makes Iceland spar very valuable for optics,” said Sheim.
“Cool!” exclaimed orange pegasus when she looked through the crystal too.
“Um, mister Lierre?” researcher heard a voice, turned to its source and saw Piña Colada. She looked very bemused.
“What happened?” Sheim asked.
“I found a rock shell near the track,” filly said, showing her finding.

Indeed, it was a clamshell: elliptical form, corrugated surface, but it was made of solid piece of limestone.

“Well, congratulations, Piña Colada!” researcher smiled. “You found a fossil!”
“Fossil?” she and some other foals who heard them surprised.
“Yes, a fine example. A shell of an ancient clam.”
“W-wait, clam?” surprised Twist. “The nearest sea is in thousand miles away!”
“It is now. But few million years ago it was here. And this fossil is the proof.”
“How can it be?”
“Come here, kids,” researcher spelled and with gesture said to sit near him. “I’ll tell you about distant past of your homeland or, speaking the language of science, paleogeography. The continent where Equestria is had formed an incredible number of years ago: approximately four billion,” foals gasped. “But in those times it looked absolutely differently. It was an archipelago of mountainous and volcanic islands. When the earth crust formed, it started to move because of active internal forces of our planet. The crust crumpled, and thus mountains formed. In the process of time they got bigger, formed islands, and those islands merged with each other. So, gradually, whole continent was formed. After this active mountain formation stopped, and peaks began to disappear. They denuded. Their height reduced, their tops became flat, and after few hundred million years there was a plain instead of mountains, the land mass was a solid craton. It took approximately one and a half billion years. After this for two point three billion years it was relatively stable. From time to time it sank down and got flooded with ocean waters and turned into shallow sea. There were six such epochs, during which different parts of the continent were touched. But two hundred million years ago everything changed. Intensive mountain formation began in our, Europonian and Eastern Kingdoms’ Great Land continent. It significantly affected Equestria continent and initiated new epoch of mountain formation here. Because of strong tectonic moves of Great Land Equestria continent just broke into several parts, sub-cratons. They collided with each other and thus formed all the mountains that you know now. Together with mountains volcanoes appeared again. Sub-cratons moved not only horizontally, but also vertically: some of them became plateau, other – sea bottom. Only two dozen million years ago they relatively stabilized, and last sub-craton got free from ocean. Speaking about Ponyville area, the last sea left it approximately fifty million years ago. All this is called Hyppoic orogeny, in honor of Hyppoic range where Canterlot stands. Tectonic moves gradually fade nowadays, but from time to time they remind of themselves. That’s how shapes of your homeland formed.”

Foals were fascinated with this. Researcher’s story sounded like a legend, like a fairy tale, but it was all true. However, after it students asked great number of questions about how such information was obtained. Sheim had to tell them all what he knew about difficult paleogeographic methods in the simplest way to make it understandable to students of elementary school. He was doing it until the end of the lesson.

They returned to the school right before the break began and met Bluve near the entrance.

“Don’t go anywhere!” she said to foals. “After the break we will gather here and go for another stroll!”

Kids had nothing against it – they were glad to spend time outdoors, away from desks, backboards and textbooks. So, when they had their rest, they came to the school porch. Bluve greeted them again, and they went to the town park.

“Well, kids, I know that you’ve already had a biology lesson,” researcher said. “However, my friend Zicht spoke primarily about pony anatomy, I’ll tell you about other fields of biological science – zoology and botany. If you have questions about how live nature works – feel free to ask!”

Apple Bloom was the first.

“Ah do not quite understand this, but… why many trees shed their leaves in the fall, and some of them not?”
“Good question. This phenomenon has several reasons. First, trees shed their leaves in order to protect themselves from water deficit, since water loss occurs primarily through leaves during all the season. Second, leaves – except flowers – are the gentlest organs of plants and can be easily damaged by frost, so plants just get rid of them to avoid greater damages. Third, via leaf fall plants get rid of the excess minerals. Also, photosynthesis is impossible during winter because plants need liquid water for it. Why some trees don’t shed their leaves – well, their leaves have wax coating that protects them from frost and reduces water loss. All first plants were evergreen – leaf fall mechanism appeared later as better regulator of metabolism.”
“And why do they turn yellow?”
“Leaves are green because of chlorophyll, the very substance responsible for photosynthesis. Intensity of photosynthesis decreases in the fall because of low temperatures and lack of sunlight, so chlorophyll becomes just unnecessary. It turns into other substances that have other colors. If there is no chlorophyll in leaves, then they are not green.”
“Oh, now Ah get it!”
“Miss Calma!” asked Aura. “I’ve been always wondering how it’s possible to breathe underwater.”
“Well, water is great solvent which can dissolve almost all the substances, including air and oxygen in it. There are many oxygen molecules in the water, so… Sounds silly, but water creatures have air to breathe, in fact. But they need to absorb it from water. They have gills for this purpose. Gills are the organs with tissues that have incredible amount of microscopic pores, just the right size to absorb oxygen particles. Many water creatures have gills connected with oral cavity, so they swallow water and flow it through gills for filtration to breathe. Other creatures filtrate oxygen from water directly, because their gills aren’t connected with mouth.”
“Miss Calma, can you tell why birds fly to the south every fall and how do they carry out such flights?” asked Rumble.
“The main reason of bird’s migration is the same that reason of dragon’s: food. Many birds just have no food suitable for them during winter, so they fly to the places where they can find it. The second reason is that these birds usually do not tolerate cold weather. And how do they do it – well, many birds have so-called “built-in compass” that helps them to orientate by magnetic poles. Also, they do the same things that you, pegasi: remember noticeable and easy recognizable objects and use them as additional landmarks.”
“Then why do they go astray sometimes?”
“Well, you can always lose a landmark, and compasses do not always work well. Especially near places with strong electromagnetic field.”
“Why do some animals hibernate? And how they can sleep for months?” asked Lily Longsocks. She was bothered why she can’t see and be with her pet hedgehogs during winters.
“Living beings hibernate because of one reason: lack of subsistence in winter. Unlike birds, land animals have rather limited possibilities for seasonal migration. They had to solve the problem of shortage of food in winter with another way. Hibernation was perfect way out. How animals can spend several months like this? Well, it is possible because of one feature of all creatures. It sounds horrible, but our organisms consume themselves if there is no other subsistence available. It’s a survival mechanism, and organism aims to survive at any cost. So, some animals developed the following pattern of actions using this feature: they eat as much as they want when there’s enough food, accumulate additional weight that organism can consume without any harm, and when there is no food, they slow down their metabolism, go to sleep and exist like this until they can get enough food again. Some creatures like us, ponies, can find food during all the seasons, so they have no need in hibernation. Well, something like this.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Miss Calma!” Twist asked. “Can you tell why hydra and some more creatures like it have many heads?”
“Well…” Bluve faltered. It was a problematic issue: almost all physiological properties of local creatures could be explained by regularities known for terran living beings since they were very close, but to answer this question she had to use information from research carried out on another planets, as there were no many-headed by nature beings on Terra. She had to be very, very careful choosing and processing the information. “Creatures usually develop few heads on one body for the following reasons: very large body or lack of limbs. If creature has very large body, one head often is simply not enough to look around and check what’s going on with its body. Thus more heads develop. Another case if creature has small number of limbs. Then heads – usually on long necks – play role of additional limbs. Like earth ponies and pegasi use their mouths to write. Knowing that hydras have only two legs, and they have five brains – one in each head and “main controller” in the body – I guess the second reason is more applicable.”
“Reasons are not so difficult, as it turned out.”
“The most rational ways usually are the simplest.”

Before the stroll ended, Bluve told students why some fruits are sweet while other are sour, how creatures can orientate at great depth without any sunlight, how creatures can live in such great depth at all, how can some fishes be faster than fastest ships and boats and how ants can lift things ten times heavier than themselves without difficulties and any harm.

When they returned to the school, foals ran to the playground. Cheerilee reminded them that they have one more lesson, so no pony should go away. Fillies and colts sighed, but obeyed – at least, they have to wait not for long.

The penultimate bell rang, marking the beginning of the last lesson. Foals returned to the classroom. There the last temporary teacher greeted them.

“Hello, kids!” said Zet’rar. “I know that I’m the last obstacle on your way to long-awaited freedom, but, please, be patient and wait a little more.
“I’m an engineer, so, if you have questions about how things are made, ask! I can explain large part of all technical processes.”

Several students raised their hooves. Foals were tired after so many lessons, but they still wanted to learn more. It made researcher happy.

“I don’t exactly understand how locomotives can move. Can you tell more about this?” asked First Base.
“Sure. It would be better if I explain this with a scheme,” researcher said, put on special hoof bracelet with a mount for a writing utensil, took a chalk and started to draw. He made the scheme in half of a minute. When it was done, he started to explain, pointing at corresponding parts of the drawing. “Well, that’s how it works. Here we have the combustion chamber. This is the part that needs coal and that makes smoke. It produces heat that warms water tank here to boiling. Steam flows through the tubes in this cylinder with piston. All substances expand when they are heated, but volume of tank and pipes is limited. This creates very high pressure in all parts of the system, and gradually it reaches the cylinder. Piston is a movable part, so excessive pressure makes it move. And this, via the transmission system here, drives the wheels of the locomotive. Steam that made piston move gets cold. Because of inertia piston moves backwards and push the cooled vapor away, but now – to this tube, which leads to the tank. Some steam loses because piston is not sealed, but greatest part returns to the tank. Then the cycle repeats, and so on and so on. That’s how locomotives move.”
“Oh, I see…”
“And what about self-propelled machines of minotaurs and ponies of Eastern Kingdoms?” asked Blade Runner.
“They are driven through a similar principle,” answered Zet’rar. “There is just one difference in engine structure. Steam machines are external combustion engines, because steam is the thing that creates movement, the working mass. Fuel is used just to create steam. But ponies of Easter Kingdoms and minotaurs thought ‘Why do we need steam, if we can use the fuel itself as working mass and thus make the engine more compact?’ And they did it. They built engines where gas or liquid fuel is burned right in the cylinders. The scheme is similar: ignited fuel expands, moves the piston and this makes whole vehicle to move via the transmission system. You can forget about huge tank and bulky tubes. Since fuel is the working mass here, such engines are called internal combustion engines.”
“If it’s so simple, then why we don’t use it?”
“Equestrians and europonians don’t use these engines because fuel what they need is rather harmful for environment. Coal is just a stone, but fuel for internal combustion engines is toxic. However, smoke from coal and that fuel are equally dangerous…”
“Mister Allegro, and how do speakers work?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Any sound is a wave that spreads through air or other environment. More simply, it’s a vibration of matter. So any sound can be made with corresponding vibration. It’s just a matter of frequency, amplitude and other wave parameters. That’s how it works.”
“All the sound are simple vibrations?” little unicorn was very surprised.
“Well, yes. But what a variety they can create!”
“Mister Allegro, can you tell how batteries work?” asked Dinky Doo. “I just can’t understand how they can produce electricity!”
“Well, you know what atom is and what it is made of, right?”

Dinky gave a nod.

“Electricity is just set of phenomena caused by movements and changes of state of some parts of atoms, electrons. All this can be caused by chemical reactions. Some reactions are so strong that they produce intense flow of electrons and, thus, quite significant amount of electricity. Knowing about this property, we created electrochemical cells. Their structure is simple,” Zet’rar made small drawing on the side of engine scheme. “There are two electrodes, cathode and anode. Cathode is in the center, it is made of substance that accepts electrons. The cylinder of anode, the source of electrons, surrounds it. They are separated with dielectric, a substance that doesn’t conduct electricity, but all this system is placed in electrolyte, a liquid that conducts electricity. Usually cathode is made of metal oxides, and anodes – from pure metals. All this, put in a shell, is a battery. Environment in batteries is favorable for chemical reaction that results in formation of significant electron flow, so you get some voltage. That’s the secret.”
“Oh, I understand now. Thank you!”
“Can you tell how legendary armor dresses of Eastern Kingdoms are made?” wondered Silver Spoon.
“There are two secrets. First, these dresses consist of several layers of fabric, and each layer made of threads thoroughly intertwined with each other. Such structure makes fabric much more durable. Second, these dresses are made of threads of spider web, which is very durable material itself. For example, cable made of spider web can withstand greater weight than steel cable of the same diameter.”
“Spider web? But its threads are so thin!”
“You know, Eastern Kingdoms have some really big spiders.”
“How big are they?” asked Diamond Tiara.
“You can easily ride on their backs.”
“What?”
“Ew! Gross!” Silver Spoon winced.
“Easter Kingdoms border with lands of monsters of Great Land, don’t forget about this.”
“Um, mister Allegro, can you explain building technologies?” asked Piña Colada.
“Sure. What do you want to ask, Piña Colada?”
“Well, I’m fascinated by Road of Peace between Cania and Felia, and I always wanted to know how it was built,” she said.

Road of Peace and history and technology of its construction were one of the first things that researchers learned from their colleagues from Teams Fifteen and Sixteen. It was absolutely incredible, one hundred and forty kilometers long, transport system that joined two continents through four straits and three islands. It was a real miracle for civilization of this level, to build sixty five kilometers long tunnel under water and suspension bridge with five kilometers long main span. They amazed people all around the world and made citizens of Felia and Cania very respected.

“You mean how they could build Bone Strait Tunnel and Two Towers Bridge?”
“Yes!”
“Well, they could do it because they used the latest technologies. They didn’t build the tunnel like they – and we – usually do, piercing through rock mass. They used so-called immerse tubes. Using special mechanisms called dredgers they dug a trench on the strait’s bottom, then they sank already finished sealed sections of the tunnel one by one. When next section was in the right place in front of previous, they cut the sealing partitions and joined the sections. After all they just put some sand on the tunnel tube for better isolation. They also built four evacuation and ventilation platforms throughout the tunnel. Their construction wasn’t something special – they used ordinary caissons. The sea there is shallow. What about Two Tower Bridge, its construction became possible because of one of latest achievements of cats and dogs: creation of graphite threads, as they call it. Turned out that if you heat graphite with some particular magic gems, you can get the most durable and strong fiber in the world,” in reality, adding of gems caused intense formation of nanotubes in graphite somehow, but Zet’rar didn’t tell this because no one on this planet knew what carbon nanotubes are. “Also these threads are relatively light. Having such wonderful material, it was possible to improve significantly the construction of suspension bridges: new light and extremely durable threads replaced heavy steel. Both cats and dogs have enough graphite and gems in their lands to make these threads, they had no problems with making them. The only problem was that they had to increase proportionally the height of pylons, the towers that support the cable, but it was solved with help of dragons of southern continent which know how to make heavy-duty concrete – the main secret ingredients are volcanic ash and inorganic resin – and have experience in super-high construction. Because, well, ordinary multi-storey building for dragons turns into super-high construction since average dragons are huge.”
“Wow… Thank you!”
“Um, mister Allegro?” asked Twist. “What you can say about legendary elephant moving statues?”
“Ah, kusonga sanamu! Indeed, it is true legend, the finest example of elephants’ craftsmanship, and greatest mystery for very long time. But now the main secret of kusonga sanamu is known, and students in Europonia and some other countries study it. You see, moving statues have no engine. There was no such technology when first ones were built. Kusonga sanamu use another mechanism to move. Its main part is bimetallic spring. Bimetallic means this spring consists of two metal strips joined together. As I told you, all materials expand when they are heated, but degree of this expansion is different for different materials. Thus, bimetallic spring moves when it gets heated or cooled. Elephants developed very complex transmission mechanism to turn moves of springs into moves of limbs. And they equipped each part of statues with its own propeller. Using magic gems they control temperature and thus make statues move like they need. There is only one mystery now: composition of alloys that elephants use for springs. None of known ones ain’t that effective.”

Zet’rar told about how llamas and alpacas learned to make any wood plastic like clay without any magic and how marsupials created device that allows jump on two hundred steps before the last bell rang. The experimental lessons day was over. Researchers thanked students for warm welcome, interest and patience, Cheerilee thanked Team One for assistance once again, foals thanked them for incredibly interesting and easy school day and said that they will be happy to have more such lessons. To hear these words was the best gratitude for a mentor.

School day was over. Foals grabbed their bags and rushed home. Researchers and Cheerilee left the school after them, and teacher closed empty building. They exchanged thanks again – Cheerilee for a break in hard teacher’s weekdays, researchers for a free day from castle works – said good bye to each other and went home to have deserved rest.

“Well, that was very curious experience,” said Affi, when school remained behind the first turn.
“Indeed,” Edez agreed. “Almost thousand years have passed since the last time I gave some lessons in schools.”
“Teaching practice?” wondered Bluve.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t remember when someone listened to me so attentively,” said Max.
“Me too,” Zet’rar added.
“I also was watched with utmost attention,” noted Oma.
“Oma, it’s impossible for a male pony not to watch you with utmost attention,” said Zet’rar. “Unless if this pony is two years old.”
“True,” Oma agreed after slight sigh.
“I guess we motived many foals to be scientists today,” said Sheim.
“And that’s wonderful!” Edez and Affi smiled.
“Dang!” Karin suddenly exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” surprised Kor.
“I remembered that I forgot some my notes in the Castle,” she answered. “I’ll run there to take them. Go, don’t wait for me.”
“Okay.”

She rushed to the residence of princess of friendship, other researchers continued their walk to the home.

Karin quickly ran along town streets, and soon crystal towers of the Castle were in front of her. She jumped on the pedestal of the main staircase, opened the door and ran to the second floor. The Castle was empty – probably Twilight and Spike were at one of their friends’ place. Karin swept through the corridor and got to where she left her notes, the room reserved for little private talks. She put them into her bag and went to the main hall. But now she heard a sigh, moving to the exit. Researcher stopped and stepped to the side to find who it was. She made a turn and got to the corridor that led to the main balcony. There she saw Spike sitting on a small couch. He was saddened, his head was lowered, and his eyes fell on a picture of white unicorn mare with violet mane.

Karin immediately guessed the reason of his sadness. Poor little guy… Unrequited feelings are terrible thing. Researcher breathed a little and went to him. She couldn’t leave him like that, she wanted to help him – at least, give some reassurance and comfort.

“Spike?” she quietly said.
“Huh?” little dragon surprised when he heard a voice. “Oh, it’s you, Pippi. What are you doing here?”
“Taking some my notes what I forgot about,” Karin answered. “And what are you doing? Where’s Twilight?”
“Twilight is helping Applejack with organization of Sisterhooves social. And I… just sit here.”
“Being despondent?”

Spike surprised again, but then noticed that Karin with her glance pointed at the picture of Rarity in his paws. Little dragon sighed heavily.

“Bad luck again?” researcher tried to guess.
“No,” Spike shook his head. “I just carried some things to my room, found it among other stuff, looked at it, dreamed… but then remembered about my attempts and what results they had and…”

He lowered his head again. Karin put hoof on his shoulder and was about to say something comforting, but suddenly a spark ignited in her eyes and her lips formed a smile.

“You know… You should not cease. Continue and try something new.”
“But… what?” Spike was surprised with researcher’s sudden suggestion.
“I’ll tell you one little secret. Each girl likes to be happy, even if she hides it. And one of the best ways to make a girl happy is a pleasant surprise. Just do something unexpected that make her happy, and you’ll win her favor.”
“I see, but… I have no idea what can I do to surprise Rarity!”
“Hm…” Karin rubbed her chin. “I think I have one. Spike, invite her to dance.”
“Invite… to dance?” Spike was taken aback with Karin’s idea. “But… I don’t know how, and I’m short…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. I will be perfect partner for you now since I’m short too. If you learn how to dance with me, you’ll easily adapt to dance with normal mare. Just be sure and do not doubt.”
“I-I’m ready!”
“Wonderful! Come here. Take my left hoof with your right paw, and put your left paw on my waist…”

Karin took off the saddlebag and stood on hind legs. Spike did what she said, researcher put her right hoof on Spike’s shoulder, and they began to learn.

Researcher told him how to move his paws, how he should step. Then they took first try. Slowly, carefully circling, they repeated simple pas’. Spike understood everything from the first time, but because of worrying made some mistakes. However, after two or three repeats he became more confident and did everything right. After basic moves they passed to more difficult ones.

“Um… Spike, can you do a carry?” Karin asked when she taught Spike another move.
“After working as a porter for Rarity – no problem,” little dragon answered.
“As you say.”

And she showed how to do it, continuing the training. It wasn’t any specific dance. Karin showed Spike elements of waltz, tango and some other dances. Nothing extraordinary – just the basis. However, considering the aim of training, it was enough for a beginner.

After eighty minutes of training, when all main elements were repeated, Karin said:

“Well, let’s see what you learned today.”
“Okay,” responded Spike.

And they tried a real dance. Just a minute of slow circling with some gentle elements, but… Although Spike had only one lesson, he did everything perfectly. He tried very hard. Watching each step, circling, making the carry… It was admirable.

“Did I make it out?” Spike asked when they finished.
“Absolutely,” Karin answered, smiling, and then kissed little dragon on the forehead, making him blush with it. “You are ready. Go for it!”
“Thank you!”
“Thank you too. Bye!” Karin took her saddlebag and, waving to Spike went away.

She left the Castle smiling. Now Spike must be lucky.

Meanwhile in Dodge City another alien was busy with his occupation. After getting sufficient energy-information nourishment Quasi wondered what material food can suit him. So he went to one of the city’s bars to taste different dishes and drinks.

He sat at the edge of the bar and made small orders from time to time. He did it for thirty minutes, for an hour, for two… He didn’t watch the time. He was taking rest before the start of the implementation of main task of the mission – it was possible to allow such thing. A couple of times other ponies addressed him. He exchanges some words with them, but then conversations usually stopped. Quasi wasn’t interested in other ponies now, and other ponies weren’t interested in him. So he just focused on bar’s menu.

Amazing. Local food could satisfy even a dead stomach. Very good. And it would be the best if majority of all the dishes weren’t made from beans. Drinks here also were good. Especially the ones called “brandy” and “whiskey”. Nice little mental effect. Wonderful biofuel. People of ga’ke appreciate it when this world will be annexed.

Time passed, and situation around had changed. After another glass of whiskey Quasi looked around and found that he was the only pony in the bar. He looked at the nearest clock. Seven minutes before the saloon closes. Time to go. He put his hoof in the pocket to take some bits to pay when he heard a laugh. He turned his head and saw barpony returning from storeroom after leave-talking with his colleague. Barpony, still with tears of laughter in his eyes, came to Quasi and said:

“Hey, want to hear a joke? I bet ya’ll laugh so hard ya drop yer jaw!”
“Like this?” Quasi responded, moved his jaw and… In front of surprised barpony visitor’s mandible separated from the head and fell on the table.

Shocked barpony looked at mandible, then at gaping hole on Quasi’s head, rolled his eyes and with quiet “Ooohhhhh…” fell down unconscious. Quasi looked at him, joined the mandible back as if nothing has happened and said:

“Weakling.”

And, having left the bits for food and drinks on the table, he left the bar.

The job starts tomorrow…

Five ponies descended to dark basement of Dodge City hospital, following one of the doctors. They entered the narrow damp badly-lit corridor and stopped near gray door with small nameplate on it. “Room 8. Morgue.” was written on it. Doctor opened the door and with a gesture said to come in. Ponies of Second Department gave a nod and walked in.

“Here he is,” autopsist said, coming to one of the cameras and opening it.

Intelligence officers came closer. Autopsist removed the covering from the body. When they saw it, even Hidden Path shuddered. All what remained from victim’s neck was just two big lacerations.

“What did you find?” Hidden Path asked.
“Well, he died not because of decapitation. His head was torn off when he was already dead,” autopsist answered.
“Then what was the reason of death?” Dim Silhouette asked.

Doctor said “Prepare yourselves,” and opened the mouth of victim with his magic and illuminated the oral cavity with flashlight. Intelligence officers shuddered again: oral cavity was disfigured with huge punctures.

“But even this was not the cause. These wounds weren’t able to cause immediate death. He died because all processes in his brain and magic heart immediately stopped for some reason. They were just… devastated. Like someone stole his magic, life and mind. We have no idea who or what could do such thing.”
“Honestly, neither do I,” spelled Hidden Path. “None of known monsters is capable of it.”
“Hm…” Grace leaned over the head of victim. “That’s strange.”
“What’s strange?” Razor Edge surprised.
“These bruises have already been there when you found the body?” she asked autopsist, pointing to small hematomas near the ears and angle of mandible.
“Uhm, yes,” doctor answered.
“These bruises are too small even for deer’s hooves. Head of this stallion was grabbed by fingers.”
“But only creatures with such big paws are dragons and constellation beasts! None of them was spotted near the town.”
“They are arranged symmetrically,” Dim Silhouette spelled, looking at the hematomas. “Just like this… being had cargo grab instead of a paw!”
“Razor, collect the dust from his head,” Cloudbreaker said to Razor Edge.

Unicorn gave a nod and closed his eyes. His broken horn and head of victim covered with gleam. Razor Edge focused, and the smallest particles started to lift from the head. In a minute of careful work Razor Edge managed to create a little sphere of dust. When it was done, Cloudbreaker approached the sphere and sniffed the dust.

“Well?” Hidden Path said.
“He was grabbed by something metal,” Cloudbreaker spelled in response.
“What?”
“No… No!” uttered Dim Silhouette.
“What’s happening?” autopsist asked quietly.
“The something that killed this stallion was artificial,” answered Hidden Path. “There are no beats with metal claws in nature. Among all other creatures, it could be done only by small dragons or minotaurs or natives of Lands of Monsters in armor, but police report that there were only two ordinary dragons in three miles away from the city. So it’s not them too.”
“But… you can find who did it?”
“We can only guess. For now.”

18. Exploring Cloudsdale

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Twilight and Spike were returning to the Castle from morning shopping at Ponyville market. Purple alicorn levitated two paper bags full of vegetables in front of herself, singing a simple melody meanwhile. Spike walked behind, holding large bag with grocery. Little dragon could easily hide inside this bag, so it looked like the bag was moving by itself on small paws.

“Spike, isn’t it heavy to you?” Twilight asked, being concerned.
“Nah,” little dragon responded. “It’s only fifteen pounds. I used to carry things much heavier.”
“Oh, right…” alicorn made a little smile, remembering how her assistant carried all the bags of their fashionista friend.
“But thanks for your concern.”

Twilight looked at Spike and smiled again. They walked further and suddenly appeared under huge shadow.

“We came home!” little dragon said, trying to look at the Castle from above of the bag.
“Indeed,” spelled Twilight.

They climbed the stairs, and princess of friendship opened the doors with her magic. But only a little gap had been made, alicorn and her assistant heard thunderous angry voice:

“You call this junk hardware? These are pieces of crap! And nothing more!”
“But…” a weak voice tried to explain.
“Don’t tell me that these are the best you have! I’m a mechanic, I know how hardware should look like! Not mentioning that half items you brought are wrong!”
“But I thought…”
“I don’t want to hear anything! Take this junk back and bring me REAL hardware, or I’ll shove a brace in your butt and keep spin it until I reach your friggin’ diaphragm, understand?”
“Y-yes…”
“Good. Get the heck out of here!”

And assistant seller of Ponyville hardware store shot out from the Castle. Shocked Twilight and Spike entered the hall and saw Zet’rar muttering swearwords.

“…faery idiot…”
“What was that?” alicorn exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m sorry, miss Twilight,” technician apologized. “I’ve got angry and run out of patience.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” noted Spike.
“This lad did very stupid thing, and I barely tolerate stupidity.”
“But why it was necessary to yell?”
“I wish there was another was to deal with stupidity. Tolerate it all the time is not a way out.”
“Well… It is so,” Twilight agreed. “Oh, by the way, where are Berg and Erő?”
“Anti ordered them to move some furniture. They will return soon.”

In few seconds, just like in confirmation of his words, guards returned to their posts. At the same time Bluve came to the hall to greet the hosts of the Castle and take the food they bought.

“No, Calma,” Twilight responded to Bluve’s words. “You may take Spike’s bag, but I will bring mine myself. You won’t be able to walk if you take all the bags!”
“Don’t worry, miss Twilight,” biologist said. “I can handle it.”
“Well…”

Suddenly they heard a knock. Edez and Kor opened the doors, and two mares walked in. It was Rainbow Dash and Maud Pie.

“Hi, guys!” blue pegasus greeted everybody.
“Good day,” said Maud Pie with her usual imperturbability.
“Rainbow! Maud! Hello! What brings you here?” asked Twilight.
“And why you are together?” wondered Spike.
“We’ve just met near the entrance,” answered Rainbow Dash.
“Oh.”
“What brings me here?” pegasus turned to Twilight. “Well, I’m going to Cloudsdale to settle some matters, and I’m looking for a company. Does anypony wants to come there with me?”

Researchers quickly exchanged glances, and Edez and Bluve raised their hooves.

“Awesome!” Rainbow Dash smiled. “Wait… You are earth ponies, guys! Eh… Okay, we’ll go there by airship. I do not hurry. Let’s meet in two hours at the town’s airship station, okay?”
“Got it!” Edez and Bluve responded.
“Great! And don’t forget to enchant yourselves to be able to walk on clouds!” pegasus said, darted off and flew away through one of the opened windows.

When she was gone, Twilight addressed Maud Pie.

“I… came here to talk with Lierre,” gray pony answered. “Can you tell where he is now?”
“Hm… Last time I saw him he was in the garden behind the Castle,” answered Allegro.
“Thank you,” Maud Pie made a small smile and nodded.

Then she left too. Princess and her assistant gave Bluve the bags and went to the second floor. Biologist returned to the kitchen.

“Call Affi and Bluve and warn the others,” Edez told Zet’rar.
“Shouldn’t I call everyone?” technician responded.
“If we continue to discuss who will go each time when they offer us, it’ll start to look rather… unnatural.”
“True,” Kor agreed.
“Okay,” said Zet’rar and did what he was told.

Soon other researchers were informed, Bluve returned to the main hall and Affi descended there. Edez, Kor and Bluve explained her the situation. Second curator rubbed her chin and spelled:

“Hm… You did it on purpose?”
“What? No!” Edez shook his head.
“We just thought about possibility to leave,” said Bluve. “What made you think like this?”
“Well…” Affi said. “You know that the greatest technological mystery of this civilization is weather control. And Coudsdale is the very place where it is carried out. If we go there, we can take some samples and learn everything about it!”
“Take samples?”
“Well, you two are the most perfect candidates: you, Edez, know how to rob, and you, bluve, know how to smuggle.”

Researchers rewarded her with sour faces and scathing looks.

“She’s right,” said Kor.
“Fine…” spelled Edez and Bluve after a sigh.
“So, go equip yourselves, my dears,” Affi said them with a smug smile.

First curator and physiologist looked at each other and went to pack their bags and, later, ask Twilight to do the cloud-walking spell.

In an hour and a half researchers got to the airship station. They purchased the tickets, climbed on the platform and looked around for pony who offered then to come. Soon rainbow meteor hit the ground near them.

“You’re already here!” blue pegasus smiled. “Awesome!” she climbed on the platform too.
“You don’t need a ticket?” wondered Edez.
“I purchased it hour ago.”
“Oh.”
“Let me ask what exactly you are coming to Cloudsdale for?” asked Bluve.
“Ah, just some instructions from main weather bureau,” Rainbow Dash answered. “It’s a matter of a couple of hours in the worst case.”
“You needed a company for a two-hour-long visit?” Edez was surprised.
“Well, I just wanted to hang around my home city for a while, before the instructions start. And, since you will be new there… Well… Walk around the city together. I can show you some places!”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“Oh, come on! We’re friends now! It’s not necessary.”
“As you say…”

Meanwhile the airship had arrived. Large oblong balloon painted in purple and gold like dragon skin with several steering crests attached to its top and bottom parts, relatively small nacelle – only for 30 passengers – decorated with wood, brass plates and lots of metal rivets. In short, it was a triumph of steampunk style. Very good-looking.

It slowly landed near the platform, and workers of the station anchored it with cables. Then they opened the nacelle’s doors, and ponies started to get in. Now there were not so many passengers – six tickets for this flight remained unsold. A small setback for the company, but, at least, passengers will fly with more comfort.

“By the way, how long the flight is?” asked Edez when they took their seats.
“These airships are rather fast,” said Rainbow Dash. “Usually it takes a little more than an hour.”
“Indeed, quite fast.”
“It will be your first visit to a cloud city?”
“Well, yeah,” said Bluve.
“There are no such places in Europonia?”
“Why, there are towns and cities, but our pegasi usually prefer to settle on the tops of the mountains. Or the tops of the biggest trees.”
“I see. They prefer solid ground under their hooves.”
“Yes.”
“Everypony’s up?” airship pilot asked loudly.
“Yes!” passengers responded.
“Good! We take off!”

The doors were closed, cables were unhooked. Pilot started the engine, and airship began to soar up. Very soon it already was above the clouds and lay on the course to Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash looked out the window, researchers sat in a sprawl on big comfortable benches, being absolutely relaxed.

“You look very relaxed for ponies flying for the first time,” blue pegasus noticed.
“Why, we have flown a lot before,” said Bluve.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Airships is the fastest transport available, we regularly used them in Europonia.”
“Moreover, me and Calma parachuted several times,” added Edez.
“You too?” surprised Rainbow Dash looked at Bluve, hardly believing in what she had just heard.
“It’s so,” Bluve smiled. “Berg trained to be not only a hoof-soldier, but a landing trooper. And I… Well, all medics in Europonia should pass emergency cases trainings, and parachuting is one of their parts.”
“Why?”
“In case of situations when the only way to get to the victims is by air, and there are not enough doctors among pegasi.”
“Oh… Hey!” bearer of the Element of loyalty turned to Edez. “Erő told me that when you were in Celestia’s chariot, you all were still and terrified!”
“Without parachutes on back and having only low board separating us from open air – I think many earth ponies would be still and terrified,” responded Edez.
“Well, yeah… But still, it sounds contradictory to me.”
“Well, if you had no w…”

Suddenly the airship shuddered.

“What was that?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash and some other passengers.
“I don’t know!” responded others.
“We are losing altitude!” screamed one mare who looked in the window and noticed that clouds got closer.
“What?” other passengers exclaimed and soon panicked.
“I’ll go to the board technician,” said Edez to Bluve. “You – calm everyone down!”
“Got it!”

Edez rushed to the engines of the ship, Bluve stood up on the bench and loudly said:

“Calm down, everypony, please!”

There was no response.

“Please, calm down! The problem will be solved soon!” biologist tried again.
“We have no time!” one of the passengers shouted.
“We’re still losing altitude!” somepony exclaimed.
“We are doomed!” one mare wailed.

And new wave of panic had begun. Bluve sighed, shook her head, but made the third attempt.

“Calm down, everypony! Don’t worry!” she said very loudly. “We all will die.”
“WHAT???” all the passengers turned to her.
“At last, no panic,” Bluve smiled gladly.
“Eh?”

At that moment airship shuddered again, and soon it started to gain altitude.

“What happened?”

Slam of the door of engine compartment marked the returning of Edez.

“Don’t worry, people!” he said. “The problem is solved, but we’ll arrive to Cloudsdale about ten minutes later.”
“What was the problem?” asked Rainbow Dash and Bluve.
“One of the propellers jammed, and we had to stop it. Nothing serious.”
“I see.”

The flight continued in normal mode – other three propellers were enough to maintain sufficient speed. Passengers calmed down and sat back on their seats. Researchers and Rainbow Dash resumed their conversation and soon changed the topic from flights to central city of equestrian pegasi.

As it was said, the airship arrived to the Cloudsdale airship station with ten-minute delay. It docked with the “pier”, workers fixed the anchor cables, adjusted the gangway and passengers began to get out from the cabin. Bluve and Edez left the airship the last. They slowly descended the gangway and carefully stood on the cloud, like it was made of glass.

“Well, how is it, to walk on the clouds?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Quite… unusual,” answered Edez.
“You’re doing well, I must say. Well, come on! We have lot of places to visit!”

They left the station, and researchers followed Rainbow Dash to the bustling center of the city.

The impression city made on researchers was double. On the one hand, Cloudsdale was fairly compact city, so lot of places was crowded. It hadn’t permanent location and constantly cruised around Canterlot mountains, Hyppoic range, so in order to make the cruise easier, it was built small. On the other hand, architecture of the city was aerial, in every sense of the word. Main buildings were large, grandiose and richly decorated in ancient style. Although all their beauty a pony could see only from air, they were real pleasure for one’s sight even from the ground.

Rainbow Dash, hovering in couple of steps from the “ground”, toured researchers around the center and briefly told about the sightseeing and what episodes of her life are connected with these places. Honestly, blue pegasus wasn’t the best guide: usually she only told about how awesome or boring the place is, and she often switched from speaking about the place itself to speaking about her past or what other cloudsdalers think of them. Bur, still, it was possible to get quite a lot of information from her tale, so Edez and Bluve listened attentively and regularly asked questions.

Arena, watchtowers, amphitheater, aqueducts for rainwater and liquid rainbow, Forum… Cloudsdale preserved all the elements of ancient city, when it was the second capital of Equestria together with Manehattan. Rainbow Dash showed Edez and Bluve all of them. Looking at these buildings, it was hard to believe that they are actually more than two thousand years old. However, the solution was simple: they were made of clouds, which have never been durable material. Citizens of Cloudsdale had to renew the buildings regularly – that’s why they looked like have been just built.

Rainbow Dash even managed to show researchers the flight camp, which was situated on the outskirts of the city. She afraid that her new friends could only watch it from a distance, but researchers showed that they are able to take a close look at it even if they have no wings: by jumping from cloud to cloud. Edez and Bluve managed to surprise their guide greatly by this, since average distance between clouds was about fifteen steps. So they examined the camp. Until Edez was found by camp keepers and asked to leave since each his jump caused a cloudquake.

Considering master researcher’s weigh, it was indeed the case, so they had to leave the camp and return to the city.

“Well, what next?” Edez asked when they reached city limits.
“Hm… We have two more hours, so… Let’s have a snack and go to the Museum then!” answered Rainbow Dash.
“Museum?”
“What?” surprised pegasus when she saw researchers’ reaction.
“P-pardon me, but…” Bluve uttered. “You don’t look like a pony who is so into museums.”
“Well, it’s the Pegasi History Museum, the most awesome in the world!” Rainbow Dash answered, widely smiling. “It has the best collection of pegasi artifacts! And, the best part, you can tough the exhibits!”

“That’s the argument for you…” thought researchers.

“Well, let’s go then!” responded Edez.
“Awesome! Come! There’s one little café in three hundred steps. They have amazing air muffins!”

Edez and Bluve trotted forward, following Rainbow Dash, when suddenly…

Wooden panel fell right behind Bluve. It landed with a loud splat, which made the timid researcher freeze in horror. Edez and Rainbow Dash saw what happened, so rushed to help her, but just a few seconds later a potted flower stuck into cloud “ground” in half of a step in front of Bluve. Now Edez and Rainbow Dash got shocked too. However, they quickly recovered and finally managed to help their friend.

“Calma! You hear us?” said Rainbow Dash in worrying voice.
“Calma, dear!” Edez took her in his hooves. “Wake up! Speak to us!”

He gently shook her.

“Wha…” physiologist muttered.
“How are you?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Awa… Ama… I’m… fine. Will be.”
“Should we take you to a doctor?” Edez worried.
“N-no! I’ll be fine… Just… give me some time…”

Edez put Bluve down. She took several deep breaths and looked up at the nearest building. There, on one of the balconies of the third floor, four loaders were.

“Excuse us! We’re sorry!” they tried to apologize.

Bluve managed to stand firmly and addressed her friends:

“Give me a minute.”
“Eh, okay,” neither Rainbow Dash, nor Edez knew why she asked this.

Biologist meanwhile entered the building, and soon her friends heard quite clatter – she was climbing up the stairs. And one more minute later… They heard terrible sound, which barely resembled to gentle and soft Bluve’s voice:

“You assholes! Safety rules aren’t written for you, dammit? Why the fucking area was not enclosed? Answer!”

Workers only trembled and babbled in response.

“Immediately enclose the area!” Bluve growled. “Fucking idiots…” she turned and went away.

Soon she returned to her friends.

“Holy… Calma!” Rainbow Dash was shocked.
“That… was something,” said Edez. Though he knew her well, he didn’t expect such gush of anger.
“Oh…” Bluve sighed. “Excuse me. I lost my temper. Usually I control myself…”
“You served them right!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “It was their fault! They didn’t warn anypony! And you even was lenient with them! If I was you, I’d punch them all in faces!”
“…okay,” Calma didn’t know what else to say.
“Well, I think we all should cool ourselves a bit,” Edez said. “So, where’s that café?”
“Oh, it’s right here!” pegasus pointed.

They came to the place, took a table on the terrace and made an order: six air muffins, ten air ice creams and three big glasses of soda. Cold fresh desserts helped them to chill, but they had to ask for supplements. Air muffins and air ice creams were named like this not without reason: they were very bubbly, so, in fact, there was not so much to eat.

After providing some good revenue for café owners, Rainbow Dash, Bluve and Edez finally went to the Pegasi History Museum.

The Museum turned out to be old large classical building with impressive colonnades and massive portico. As the rest of Cloudsdale’s constructions, it was snow-white, but thanks to cornices, columns, bas-reliefs and other decorative elements that made bizarre figured shadows it looked differently. Even the first impression said that it was the perfect museum, which seemed to be as good as the best Europonian ones.

Bearer of the Element and researchers went in the large entrance hall of the building, bought the tickets and began the visit. They entered the first exhibit hall and… researchers didn’t know where to look. There were many so wonderful things, so many descriptions…They wanted to look at all of them. They were excited like little kids. Seeing grown-up ponies being like this made Rainbow Dash giggle.

“Come on!” she said to researchers, smiling. “I’ll show you the place.”

Bluve and Edez nodded and, having calmed themselves a bit, followed their guide. The exposition turned out to be arranged very cleverly: a visitor did not lose the interest when he moved forward, from one place to another. No matter how much time he spent in the Museum, he wanted to learn more – until all the exhibits will be seen.

The Museum was divided into three sections: right wing represented social history of pegasi, left wing – history of their everyday life, and the main, central section was devoted to military history. In the section of social history a visitor could see old law books of pegasi and other official documents, dioramas of the most important events and objects of cultural heritage, like paintings, cloud and ice sculptures, models of famous cloud buildings and ancient cities. Sections of everyday history was more interesting, since there were more exhibits that one could examine directly – to put it simply, touch them. To look at old furniture, clothes and utensils wasn’t so interesting, but there were many small surprises. For example, researchers got very puzzled when they saw the plate with description “Special flying suits” under some dummies dressed in something more similar to fish costumed for Nightmare Night. Turned out that these “fish suits” made flying easier and gave greater mobility thanks to their “fins”.

And then there was the centerpiece of whole exposition: section of military history. It took the largest halls, contained the most impressive exhibits and had the most interesting excursion programs. There one could find full set of weapons pegasi used during the history, incredible variety of uniforms – not only from Equestria, but other countries too – huge layouts of the greatest battles of the past and lot of old military equipment. All of the exhibits visitors could examine directly, and, in case of uniforms, even try them out. It was one big educational attraction, full of happy foals and glad adults.

By the offer of Rainbow Dash researchers took part in the fun too. Since Edez was too big even for an earth pony, he could only hold some weapons. Bluve and Rainbow Dash, in their turn, have all the possibilities to try out different uniforms. And they used them fully. Thanks to similarity of appearance researcher and bearer of the Element, when they dressed up, made perfect couple of mare officers. Some other visitors even photographed them.

“That was great!” pegasus smiled, putting off the armor. “Let’s move to the modern age hall!”
“Agree!” researcher supported her.

They put the armors back and went to the necessary hall, when everybody head sound of breaking glass. Rainbow Dash and researchers turned to its source and saw brown pegasus holding ancient golden shield, escaping from curators. He swept above the heads of visitors, flew through the hall entrance and rushed to the exit.

Everything happened in a couple of seconds. Edez dashed forward and broke through the wall between two stands. The thief flew to the hall where they had already been, so researcher foresaw the escaping path of the scoundrel. Having broken the wall, he appeared just in twelve steps in front of the brown pegasus. He had no possibilities neither to fly round the researcher, nor to slow down.

With one move Edez punted the shield from the thief, with another – sprawled him on the floor. Then he caught the shield and carefully put it down.

Soon curators of the museum ran to the place. The sight of the thief already served for the police surprised them, but when they saw who did it, everything fell into place.

“Thank you,” curators bowed to master researcher. “You saved the Golden Thunder Shield!”
“Well… It’s a duty of every responsible citizen…” Edez responded “…especially former guards, like me, to resist evil.”
“Still, thank you very much.”
“What can we do for you in return?” another curator asked.
“Sixteen free tickets for us and our friends would be wonderful.”

Curators and researcher shook their hooves, and Edez, Bluve and Rainbow Dash got the right to visit Pegasi History Museum next time for free.

Soon the visit was finished, and they left the Museum. Rainbow Dash, when they got outside, looked at the clock on the small tower near the main entrance and gasped.

“Oh! The meeting starts in six minutes!” she exclaimed and turned to researchers. “Guys, I gotta go. Hang around, while I’ll be absent, okay?”
“Sure, but…” Bluve spelled. “We have already visited most of the places.”
“Yeah… Oh, right! You may go to the city’s Weather Factory! They regularly tour visitors around the complex! And it’ll take you just two hours!”
“Sounds good,” Edez said.
“Yeah,” Bluve agreed.
“So where should we go?”
“Go down Wind Street until it ends,” Rainbow Dash pointed the direction. “There it will be.”
“Got it.”
“Meet near the airship station, okay?”
“Sure.”
“See ya!” blue pegasus smiled and darted off.

Researchers saw her off, then looked at each other and went to the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. In a couple of minutes they got there and asked about the nearest tour. Turned out that the nearest one will start just in several minutes. So Bluve and Edez quickly bought the tickets and hastened to join the tourist group.

About thirty ponies, mostly young pegasi, gathered near the main entrance. Soon the guide, snow white for gray hair pegasus stallion, greeted them, and the excursion had started.

Security guards opened the doors, and old stallion led everyone in. They walked down the long corridor, the Factory’s history hall. Walls of this room weren’t visible because of numerous portraits, pictures and shelves with awards. Weather Factory had great and glorious history, and their guide managed to tell everything about it in twenty minutes. He gibbered like an auctioneer – he could easily compete even with Pinkie Pie. Nevertheless, his speech was structured and very informative – he had many years of practice.

After the review of the Factory’s past they passed to the its shops. They climbed up and appeared at one of the galleries above the facilities. The guide told that since Factory never stops, they will have to watch how it works from these galleries in order not to interrupt workers.

This made researchers upset. Yes, it was possible to get a lot of information by usual tour, but they needed more. And it was impossible to get samples walking along these galleries.

Edez and Bluve had no choices but use their criminal talents.

“We have to leave the group,” master researcher whispered to biologist. “And faster. We have only two and a half SM’s.”
“Yeah, but… it’ll be fine with me, but everyone will notice that you are absent!” she responded.
“Well… There is one little trick. Prepare to activate HLSII’s.”

Bluve gave a nod. Researchers slowed down and let other visitors to come forward. When they appeared behind everyone, Bluve took two hard-light sub-intellectual imitators from her bag and activated them. Meanwhile Edez bowed like he was going to lift a coin dropped by accident. Small metal cylinders hovered above the floor and flashed. Two hard-light holograms of Edez and Bluve were formed in a moment. And real master researcher, when no one looked, grabbed his friend and instantly hided in one of the side service passes.

Now these hard-light dummies will replace them, playing the role of silent tourists. Edez and Bluve will have their own excursion around the Factory.

If they want to learn everything about the Factory, they have no need to examine every shop – they just have to find the main control center. Then, using one of unfalizan’s instant particle scanners, they will “take a panoramic shot” – later it will be possible to reconstruct everything what they want. After this their only job will be to take the samples.

Researchers activated their holographic invisibility shields and went in search. Near the stairs from gallery to shop floor they found the Factory plan and, thus, found where the main control center was. Two floors below, two turns to the right, one to the left. Approximately in two thirds of milligrad from them.

Edez and Bluve descended to the place and stood near the necessary door. Biologist took the life energy detector and scanned the room.

“Dammit…” she cussed quietly.
“What’s wrong?” Edez wondered.
“There are seven ponies in it.”
“Hmmm… Follow me. I have an idea.”

Master researcher went to the nearest storeroom. He quickly broke the lock by melting some of its parts with own energy and got in. Bluve followed him. When she closed the door, she saw that Edez stood near the wall and put his hoof to it.

“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Gimme a moment…” Edez answered.

Bluve was confused. What is her curator up to? A moment had passed, then another, then third… And, suddenly, white smoke started to come from under Edez’s hoof, and area around it changed its color to reddish. Now she understood master researcher’s plan.

Soon fire alarm sounded throughout whole building. Researchers quickly escaped from the storeroom and hid behind a corner to watch what ponies in the main control center will do. As expected, disciplined pegasi followed all the instructions: they quickly left the room and rushed to the safe place.

Perfect. Now they have some moments before workers realize that alarm was false. Researchers rushed to the center, took the device, switched it on and left the room. They closed the door, and in a second scanner flashed, making the shot.

First step had been done. Now they can pass to the second phase.

“Grab the scanner and go,” Edez told Bluve.

She gave a nod, ran into the room and took the device. But when she turned to the exit, she froze, looking at one of the walls.

“What are you doing?” hissed Edez.
“Just a moment!..” she replied. “Got it!”
“Got what?”
“Where the storage of laboratory equipment is!”
“Great! Lead us!”
“Okay.”

And they went there. The storage was not so far from the main control center: in the adjacent shop building, less than in one milligrad. However, to get there was quite an adventure: after fire alarm corridors were full of ponies, so researchers had to crawl, tip-toe and freeze regularly to let other pass by. Some places where so crowded that even Bluve under invisibility shield barely could hide. And Edez… somehow he managed to remain unnoticed, but during those minutes he sincerely wished to have abilities to hover and to press own ribs into own body.

Nevertheless, after twenty minutes of some inconveniences and running out of swearwords in seven languages researchers reached the place. But there they faced with a problem: three security guards were in the side corridor that led to the storage, carefully watching the entrance. Some ponies had already returned to their posts, having learned that fire alarm was false.

“Dang,” spelled Edez.
“You can’t take them down?” Bluve wondered.
“Without significant harm – no. Probably two, but not three.”
“Hmmm… Eh… Oh! Edez, I think I know what to do…”

She whispered her plan to master researcher. He attentively listened and agreed without any objections, having said that it is wonderful idea. Researchers gave each other a nod and started the implementation of the plan.

Suddenly marine-colored mare run into the corridor, panting.

“What are you doing there?” guards grew wary.
“Oh, excuse me,” Bluve said. “I… I’ve lagged behind my group, lost the way, and…”
“Okay. Don’t worry, miss,” said the guard in the center. “I’ll take you to your group.”
“Thank you!”

He approached Bluve, and suddenly she turned to him.

“You know, I’ve never met stallions so handsome…” she spelled. “I want to kiss you right now!”

She embraced him and did what she has just said before guard managed to do anything. Meanwhile Edez with lightning speed jerked forward from behind the corner and zapped two other guards. Bluve released her victim, which fell down like a rag-doll – even a small dose of her venom was enough.

“I don’t know what was worse: my neurotoxin or your electroshock,” said Bluve, looking at the defeated guards.
“Yeah, that was pretty rough…” Edez responded. “Say…” he looked at Bluve’s victim. Pegasus was unconscious for sure, but had wide silly smile on his happy face. “Having such abilities, why you are not popular?”
“Well, probably because only few ones saw what I’m able for… Wait… Quit it, Edez! We have work to do!”
“Agree.”

Edez sat near the door, released his claws and started to break the lock, but suddenly he paused in the middle of the process.

“What’s wrong?” Bluve asked.
“When I’ll open the door, don’t go in,” curator responded.

He continued the break-in, and soon the door could be opened. Master researcher gently pushed it, but Bluve, as he ordered, didn’t move. Edez stood up, focused and in few seconds physiologist felt quick, but perceptible shock – her curator released electromagnetic pulse.

“Now it is safe,” he said with small smile of gladness.
“Why it was necessary?” Bluve wondered.
“Security spells,” Edez explained. “Very powerful and susceptible, but quick EMP can switch them off for some time.”
“Then let’s not waste a moment!”

Researchers rushed in and began the sampling. Bluve started to walk along the shelves and look for equipment that was widespread, but unknown for them. Turned out that pegasi used the simplest tools for weather creation: scales, mixers, measuring utensils, burners, presses, hoof tools and the like. Details for complicated machines, like cloud- and rainbow-makers could be successfully replaced with components of typical mixing machines, ventilators and pumps. There was nothing special – among all those things Bluve took just several strange-shaped mechanism units because she couldn’t guess what they are used for. But the storage contained not only spare parts and tools – the other its half was the storage of chemicals. And it was the place full of surprises: liquid rainbows, magic powders, cloud samples… The only “normal” things there were jars with water, snow and ice. Rows of identical flasks and banks marked with a code and several words – names of places where they were taken. They all looked absolutely the same, but Bluve still took one flask from each place just in case. They don’t know the reasons of all the secrets. Probably local features are the key.

Meanwhile Edez methodically broke cabinets and safes. Contrary to all the expectations, here, in the Weather Factory, it was rather boring. To deal with stratagems of security codes was really amusing, but results were disappointing. Turned out that Factory employees used safes and locked cabinets only for the most expensive equipment already known for researchers. There was nothing surprising. Edez just quietly sighed and hoped that soon the situation will change.

Eventually, he looked in all the safes except the last, the largest one. Before start of its “processing”, master researcher took a little break. He took a deep breath and looked at how his friend was doing. And he learned why anxaimans were one of the most successful smugglers: he saw Bluve in action. Having chosen the next sample, another jar with chemical, she stood on hind legs to reach it, took it and then… with a little effort opened the “scar” on her belly and shoved the jar inside. The sample disappeared in silver-blue veil of transformation surface of warped space block, which Bluve put there before the trip started.

“That’s pretty disgusting,” Edez noticed.
“Eh, I know…” Bluve responded. “But nothing can be done if we want to get more samples.”
“By the way, how many did you already take?”
“Hmmm… About 370 or so.”
“Wait, you have Mark 16 space block there?” surprised Edez pointed to her belly.
“Mark 19. My bag is almost twice bigger that average anxaiman’s.”
“Oh… Wow.”

Edez shook his head and slowly turned to continue the break-in of the last safe. Three moments of painstaking work, and the job was done. He opened the massive door and… finally, found something different. The largest safe had thirty shelves full of little jars of white or grayish powder or sand-like substance. Master researcher gently took one jar and opened it. Bluve noticed it, stopped the sampling and came closer. Edez looked closer at the substance in jar and then smelled it.

“That’s it!” he gladly smiled.
“What?” Bluve surprised.
“Remember what I said about the reason of “higher palpability” of clouds for pegasi?”
“Yeah, salts are the secret… It’s them?”
“Yes,” he looked at the shelves. “Probably it’s the most valuable thing for us here… Bluve, have you finished?”
“A dozen more – and, yes, I’ll finish.”
“Then come here and take one jar of each substance, and we are moving out. I’ll check one more place meanwhile.”
“What place?”
“I noticed one door when I broke in the safes. I think it’s additional storage.”
“Okay.”

Researchers gave each other a nod and proceeded. Bluve finished with ordinary shelves and moved to the safe. Edez went to the door what he spoke about and quickly broke it. He opened it and…

“Holy!..”
“What’s there?” Bluve asked.
“That’s… something! One moment, I’ll be quick.”

He ran into the room. While he was absent, Bluve took all the necessary samples from the large safe. Then she came closer to the opened room, and soon Edez returned, holding some jars with… lightnings. Or, to be precise, glowing something crystal-likes that had shapes of lightnings.

“What’s that?” Bluve exclaimed.
“I don’t know! I don’t even have an idea! We should take them.”
“Okay.”

Physiologist quickly put the jars into warped space block.

“Okay, now let’s go,” said Edez.
“Wait!” Bluve suddenly exclaimed. “What about the mess we made here! When those guards wake up, they’ll raise the alarm!”
“They won’t,” master researcher responded and took small device that looked like metal Rubik’s cube from his saddle bag.
“Is that…”
“Yeah, it is. The Reconstructor.”
“Oh, you sly rascal,” Bluve slowly shook her head, smiling. Her curator took everything into account and brought the dreketanian criminal genius masterpiece, which helped villains of this race eliminate all the traces.
“I am. Our pegasi friends will notice only small shortage some time later,” Edez activated the device, they put on their invisibility shields and run out of the room.

In three moments the countdown ended, and the Reconstructor started to do its job. Incredible amount of energy and information constructs was released. It spread across the room of storage, scanning the atoms and learning about their previous states. Then, using energy released, the last long existed state was reconstructed. Just in couple of seconds.

After several minutes security guards woke up with terrible headaches and fragmentary memories for last half of an hour before fainting. The first thing they thought about was that they were knocked out by robbers. So they rushed to the door, but it was locked. Guards surprised. There was no robbery? Nevertheless, they looked in the storage. Everything seemed to be fine. Guards looked at each other, shrugged and closed the door. They continued to do their job, guessing about what had happened.

Edez and Bluve meanwhile took the bearings on the HLSII’s and went there. The tourist group was about to finish the excursion already. Researchers commanded devices to slow down and rushed forth.

In few minutes they reached the group. Although now their hard-light holograms were behind everybody, they had to wait a little more to show real themselves. Remaining under the invisibility shields, they followed the tourists till the first sharp turn. Then they, when other ponies had already made the turn, so no one watched, quickly switched off the holograms and deactivated the shields. Then they accelerated and caught up with others near the very end of the route.

“Well, that’s our Cloudsdale Weather Factory,” old guide summed up. “You liked it?”

Other tourists gave a nod and exclaimed “Yeah!”, “Yes!”

“Indeed…” researchers quietly spelled with sly smiles.
“Wonderful! Well, that’s all, folks! It was nice to see you!”

They said goodbye to the guide and left the Factory. The mission was completed.

“Well, what now?” Bluve asked Edez.
“Let’s go to the airship station,” curator answered, looking at the clock above the entrance to the Factory. “We have eleven minutes left.”

They slowly went there and were about to hide at the bottom of one of small streets, when city’s notification system activated. Few seconds of metal rasp, then beautiful, but loud mare’s voice announced:

“Approaching Ponyville.”
“We are near…” Bluve was about to ask. “Oh, right! The city is moving!”
“This gave me an idea,” Edez smiled. “Come, Bluve. We have to find one special shop…”

Rainbow Dash flew to the airship station right at the agreed time, but researchers hadn’t come yet, and pegasus couldn’t see them anywhere around. She shook her head and started to walk around, waiting for researchers. One minute had passed, then second… Rainbow Dash wasn’t a patient pony, so after fifth minute she was very angry already:

“Where the heck they are?” she growled.

She was about to soar up and start to look for her companions, when she felt the trembling of the “ground”.

“Finally,” Rainbow Dash breathed with relief.

In few seconds Edez and Bluve, panting, were in front of her.

“We are sorry for being late,” they said between inhales and exhales.
“The visit was long?” Rainbow Dash guessed.
“No,” Edez shook his head. “We’ve heard that Ponyville is near now, so…”
“Ponyville is near?” she turned and looked down from the floating foundation of Cloudsdale. Thatches of Ponyville were visible already in the gaps between the clouds. “Oh, excuse me,” Rainbow Dash turned back to researchers. “So, what you were going to say?”
“We heard that Ponuville is near now, so thought that in such case we can save some money, forget about the tickets and go right there!” Edez finished.
“What do you mean?”

Bluve and Edez smiled and turned sideways to her to show parachute bags on their backs.

“You want to jump there?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Yeah!” Bluve confirmed. “We can do it together.”
“I understand that you’ve parachuted before, but… Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, you don’t have to tell me again,” Rainbow Dash smiled and flew up.
“Let’s do this then!” smiled Edez.

Researchers checked the parachutes again, just to be sure. Then Rainbow Dash, Bluve and Edez, walking together, approached the edge of cloud mass and stepped into the void.

However, Rainbow Dash still thought that her friends went insane. Jump from Cloudsdale to Ponyville, three miles below and about five miles to the side – even considering that they had parachuted before – was madness. The distance was too great. And aren’t they afraid, after years without practice?

Pegasus looked at her friends and… Couldn’t believe her eyes: they were smiling with joy.

“Are you… okay?” she muttered.
“Absolutely!” responded Edez.
“We’re just fine!” smiled Bluve.

They were sincere. The joy of their faces, sparks of their eyes… They were enjoying, were happy indeed. They even managed to do simple tricks during falling down: revolutions, somersaults… Looking at this, Rainbow Dash made sure. Now she wasn’t worrying about them.

And soon her attitude changed to the opposite.

“Hey, is that everything you can do?” she asked researchers challengingly.

Edez and Bluve looked at each other.

“Watch!” Bluve grinned and performed complicated series of somersaults.
“Wow!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She was glad. “And what about you?” she addressed Edez.

Researcher grinned and… In less than no time grabbed both Bluve and Rainbow Dash. He pulled them to himself and dived down.

Just in half of a minute they accelerated almost twice. They pierced through cloud layers and appeared in the open air less than in a mile from the ground.

“Whaaaaaaaaa!” girls screamed.
“Yeeeeeee-hooooooo!” Edez rejoiced.

In few more seconds he finally released them. Rainbow Dash immediately spread her wings and slowed down. Bluve made several flips, but then managed to remain in stable position. The ground was already near, so researchers pulled the rings. A snatch, then mighty jerk behind, and parachutes were opened.

“Well, how was that?” Edez asked, still grinning.
“You were the first pony who scared me when flying for the last year,” Rainbow Dash said. “It speaks for itself.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Hey, we are approaching Ponyville!” Bluve exclaimed.
“The wind is favorable,” curator said, having made a check.
“Then we’ll be near the town in no time!” Rainbow Dash said.

The rest of the way was calm. Edez, Bluve and Rainbow Dash slowly descended, having flown above the farms surrounding the town, admiring the sight of the setting Sun, and landed on the edge of the town park.

“That was awesome!” said Rainbow Dash when they already were on the ground. “Though you have no wings, you can fly, and fly well!”
“Thank you,” researchers responded.
“We should do this again someday.”
“Agree.”
“Oh, and do other have such experience?”
“Well, among us only Lierre and Antilipsi hadn’t parachuted before,” answered Bluve.
“Then we’ll teach them!” blue pegasus grinned.
“They will not mind.”
“Heh, okay… Again, thank you for making me a company.”
“Thank you for awesome visit!” researchers responded together.
“You’re welcome! See ya!”
“Goodbye!”

Rainbow Dash soared up and flew away. Researchers packed the parachutes and went to the town.

Before going home, they decided to visit the Castle and check are their friends still there and how young masters are doing.

The Sun had disappeared under the horizon, and the sky had become golden and red, when they climbed the front stairs and knocked on the door. It began to open slowly. If so, then it was Kor.

Soon the doors were opened wide enough, and researchers went in. As they expected, they met their big brown colleague near the entrance. But, except him, there was no one around.

“Good evening,” Edez and Bluve greeted their friend.
“You too,” Kor responded. “How was your trip?”
“Amazing!” Bluve widely smiled.
“Cloudsdale indeed is very interesting place to see,” said Edez.
“And…”
“We brought the samples,” Edez interrupted Kor, having understood what he was going to ask.
“Entire hundredweight of samples,” added Bluve.
“Well, ain’t that something!” Kor smiled.
“Yeah, now we have everything to understand their weather control mechanism!” said Edez.
“Say, where are the others? And where are miss Twilight and Spike?” Bluve asked.
“Others are already home, preparing for the Event. Our young masters are in the library. They told me that we may go, but I decided to stay here if you decided to look in.”
“Oh, and how Sheim was?” Edez wondered, smiling slyly and maliciously.
“Sheim…” Kor suddenly paused. “Dammit! Right! We’ve forgot to get him out of the chest!”
“You what?!”
“What happened to him?” Bluve was terrified.
“Well, turned out that Maud Pie fell head over heels in love with our Sheim and decided not to hide her feelings,” Kor explained. “We don’t know exactly what she did to him, but after the dinner Sheim, all foamy, ran there and asked us to hide him somewhere where Maud won’t be able to find him. We hid him in the chest in our storeroom. Later Maud came here, looking for Sheim. We had to do our best to rescue our friend and say that we haven’t seen him. Maud attentively listened, then just sighed, looked around like she was scanning, said “Okay then” and went away.”
“Jeez.”
“Eh… Is it even safe to get him out now?” suddenly Edez asked.
“I dunno,” Kor shrugged. “But as far as I remember, Pinkie Pie said that her parents and sisters on the farm go to bed early.”
“Okay… Let’s help him.”

And they went to the storeroom.

Some time earlier, in one of the hotel rooms in Dodge City…

“Hey, what is this letter?” asked Cloubreaker, seeing that Dim Silhouette returns from the reception holding an envelope with her magic.
“It’s from Headquarters,” she answered.
“I have a bad feeling about it,” uttered Razor Edge. “If they sent a letter to us here… Definitely more bad things happened.”
“Or they wanted to inform us about something very important,” Hidden Path supposed. “Dim, open it.”

Gray mare nodded, got out the letter from the envelope and quickly looked through it.

“What do they say?” asked Grace.
“They want to inform us about mysterious observation made at Steedpeak Observatory. Astronomers there reported on two strange supernovas they saw two weeks before.”
“And what so strange was about them?”
“Astronomers say that they just call them “supernovas”, what it was exactly they have no idea. They registered two flashes between Aphrodite and Ares, short, but rather powerful, in the area where there were no visible stars. There were no fiery tails like meteors have. And those flashes happened at the same time.”
“What?” Grace and Razor Edge exclaimed.
“This is pure madness!” terrified Cloudbreaker shook his head. “Ponies with abilities that no other equines have, then artificial annihilators, then that murder, and now this! What’s going on here?”
“I-I don’t know…” spelled Grace. “But all these things are connected, definitely!”
“What should we do?” uttered Razor Edge.
“Learn more,” Hidden Path said.
“What? Learn more?”
“We still have only facts set, and, looking at them, our logic says that all these things are connected. It looks obvious. But we have no proof of those connections. To do something about it, we must find the confirmation.”
“But… where?” Dim Silhouette asked.
“Hmmm… We must split. I’ll return to Ponyville with Dim. You’ll have to watch our strange friends and inform us about their moves,” he said to gray mare. “I’ll check Calma’s reaction on some of the latest news. You,” he turned to others, “stay here and investigate that murder thoroughly. Grace, you’ll be in charge. If you won’t find anything, return to Ponyville HQ.”
“Got it.”
“There’s something really scale happening out there. And it can be far beyond our imagination…”

Quasi sat still on the bed in his hotel room, eyes closed, breath and metabolism slowed down. Lights were off, windows were curtained. Whole room was plunged into darkness. It seemed that time stopped inside the room. But, in fact, Quasi was active as never before. His mind flashed through lands around and far away from Dodge City. He was scanning. Scanning everything.

Having spent several days in city’s library, he learned everything what he needed for now. There was no one here able to resist ga’ke, except for five very special being, which could become a problem. He estimated the possibilities for Coming, now he had to prepare the planet – eliminate all possible obstacles.

Let’s see… Beyond the forests, huge white castle on the mountain, two beings, incredibly powerful. Five hundred and seventeen milligrads away. Beyond the forest, on the other side, small town, two beings, the most and the least powerful ones. Three hundred and forty eight milligrads away. Far away, among snow and ice, crystal palace, one being, not the most powerful. Three thousand one hundred and nine milligrads away. All five gather from time to time in that white castle, the capital residence. If so, then it should be the place where he must go. Departure – in the morning.

Quasi focused one more time, and images of the beings were obtained.

“Aims are taken,” he said and opened his eyes.

19. Taking an Alicorn

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Team One stood around the camera of the main scanner in the ship’s laboratory. They were hesitating.

“Guys…” Max muttered after a gulp. “I’m chickening out.”
“You are not alone,” said Bluve.
“Is it really necessary?” asked Oma.
“They are the most mysterious ponies, after all,” Edez responded. “We… just have to do it.”
“I can understand this, but… Why her?”
“Go big or go home,” Affi said, shrugging.
“Oh…”
“Okay,” Edez stepped forward. “We can’t stand here and think to be or not to be till the end of the night. This is our job, our duty. Start the scanning.”
“Okay,” Max and Bluve nodded, looked at the white alicorn behind the transparent barrier once more and began the procedure.

As it happened before, eight hatchets on the floor opened and freed robotic tentacles, which immediately started their intricate dance around the taken. Holographic screens with first results appeared above the main control panel.

“We have some materials about her biology, aren’t we?” asked Karin.
“Yes, the results of research performed by local scientists some years ago,” Max answered. “But they have little information. We only know that their general organism structure is identical to ordinary ponies’ and that we should pay attention to their ETS if we want to find reasons of the anomalies.”
“You think that their longevity, power, sizes, are just consequences of development features of their ETS?”
“This is hard to believe in, but everything points to it.”
“How long it will take?” wondered Sheim.
“It shouldn’t be much longer than usual,” Zet’rar answered. “After all, particles everywhere are the same.”
“Yes, but we have to perform not only particle scan,” Affi said. “It’s necessary to carry out one more mind research.”
“Why?” Zet’rar, Kor and Karin wondered. “You had explored her mind already!”
“I made only general portrait. It’s not enough to solve the mysteries we are aiming at. I want to learn details, and first of all – about their origins.”
“Ehm… There will be problems with it,” Bluve uttered.
“What problems?”
“To scan her you need her to be unconscious, right? Well… Recently we have learned about one feature of ponies’ organisms, experimenting with samples of their tissues. Their ETS works as additional immune mechanism that helps to destroy viruses and foreign substances. This effect is quite strong among even earth ponies. Knowing that her ETS is much more complicated… All our drugs and virus-based treatments may be useless. And gene-rebuilding treatments may be lethal for her.”
“There are no other ways to put her into the no-thoughts condition?”
“Well, there is one,” Max said, looking at his colleagues. “But you will not like it.”
“What is it? Tell us!”
“Four kisses technique.”
“What?” others were confused, but Bluve’s face turned crimson red.
“That?” she exclaimed. “You… tkaledraahi!” [approximate translation “wicked pervert”]
“Eh?!” others got even more confused.
“What’s wrong with this thing?” Karin asked.
“Four kisses technique is a way to put a sentient in absolutely unconscious state by using special abilities of four races: dreketanian, anxaiman, yedeizan and verekan,” Max began to explain. “A dreketanian should shock the sentient with burst of energy, then an anxaiman should paralyze him with venom, then an yedeizan should suck out the air from sentient’s lungs, and in final a verekan must shock the sentient again by abrupt taking of some life energy. Everything should be performed as quickly as possible.”

Oma’s and Kor’s faces turned red too. Edez tilted his head and looked quite bemused.

Then, having realized one thing, officer slowly turned to Karin, and senior sociologist turned to Zet’rar. Technician and regular sociologist looked at their lovers, then looked at Max and asked:

“Is it really necessary?”
“Considering what Bluve had already mentioned, I see no other options,” he answered, shrugging.

Karin and Zet’rar turned to Oma and Kor, looked at them and shrugged too.

“Well, for example, Edez does not mind,” Max spelled.

First curator became the fourth crimson-faced sentient in the laboratory.

“Max!..” he was ready to growl. “If we were not here, I would fire you this instant and kicked you the heck out by throwing out the window… On the two hundredth floor in the best case for you.”
“I’m very grateful.”
“Well, it seems that we have no other choice…” Bluve uttered.
“Hey, what’s this?” Sheim suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the highlighted in orange message on one of the side screens.

It was a bad sign. “Orange messages” meant serious health problems like organ failures or incurable diseases.

“What?” others exclaimed when they saw it.
“What health problems such powerful creatures may have?” Oma wondered.
“No idea,” physiologists said.

They ran to the control panel and started to look through the data.

“No serious cell damage,” Bluve said, having made the first check.
“Then where’s the problem?” Sheim and Kor surprised.
“It’s her ETS…” Max spelled.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Dunno… One moment…”

Senior biologist gave the command to create holographic projection of the alicorn’s ETS already scanned. Screens moved to the sides, and contours of the body of the taken began to take shape. Then ASI showed the ETS. And when it happened, researchers gasped.

It looked like whole alicorn’s body had been woven from the threads of energy transportation system. From the main channels thick as the largest bones until microscopic fibers thinner than even capillary. They enmeshed each organ, each muscle, each bone, each nerve – all parts of the body. It was real organism inside another one.

“Blimey…” researchers uttered.
“No wonder those scientists got lost,” Max spelled. “Her ETS is whole new world!”
“ETS is her primal transportation system,” Bluve said. To recover, she looked at the screens with data and began to read.
“What do you mean by that?” Karin wondered.
“For ordinary ponies circulatory and nervous systems are the primal ones since they play the most important role in their physiology. ETS is additional supporting mechanism, in fact. But for her… It seems to be the main maintaining means.”
“In case of ordinary pony, ETS just stimulates physiological processes,” Max said, looking at the screens. “In her case ETS is as important for energy supply as respiration and nutrition. She… seems to absorb energy from environment, convert it and then use it for own needs.”
“Wow…”
“It’s amazing, but… where’s the problem?” Affi asked.
“One moment!” Max raised a claw and looked through more data. “Hal ini tidak bisa!!!”
“What is it?” others shuddered.

Max slowly turned to his colleagues. His face was a mask of shock.

“Her ETS is on the limit of stability,” he said.
“Eh?” even Bluve was surprised.
“The degree of development of ETS in her organism is absolute natural maximum. If it grow large even on one thousandth part, energy fluxes will unbalance and then whole system will self-destruct. All the energy contained in her organism will be released instantly and… It will be an explosion of two hundred megaton power at least.”
“What?”
“Yes… Alicorns pay for their power by becoming, in fact, live bombs. And the trigger is minor. You just have to stimulate the ETS growth.”
“You mean…” Bluve began to guess. “Genetically they are the most vulnerable creatures in this world?”

Max gave a nod.

“And, considering that locals develop quickly, and genetics is one of the most rapidly progressing sciences… Maybe, less in a century someone will find this weakness of princesses. And no spells will be able to save them.”
“Oh my…”
“It’s horrible!” Oma exclaimed.
“We have to do something!” Edez worried. “Is it possible?”
“Well, yeah,” Max nodded after some thinking. “We can create gene and subgene blocking mechanism that prevents the growth. We need samples, and it’ll take about eighty days. But… Edez, are we even allowed to act so?”
“Yeah, as sentients we have to do it, but will it be a violation of the rules?” added Bluve.
“As far as I remember, we can save locals in critical situations,” Affi answered. “But with one condition: we must leave no traces of our actions.”
“Oh, phew!” biologists breather with relief.
“Then we shall do it,” Max said.

He gave the scanning device the command to take samples of hair, skin, muscle and blood when the main procedure will be finished. For now, it was the last what they could do, so they took a pause and began to wait.

After some time, when they got more information, they passed to the looking for the reasons of another alicorn’s anomaly: their longevity. Studying the DNA chains and comparing it with DNA of other pony races, physiologists found that princesses are able to live for centuries because their organisms have very effective mechanism of decomposition and removal of old and damaged cells and replacing them with healthy good ones. It was even more effective because of abundant energy supply from ETS. They even managed to estimate princess’ life expectancy. The number was impressive even for the oldest civilizations: 21700 years.

An hour later, the total scanning was finished. Recording manipulators hided in their hatchets, and four sampling manipulators appeared. They rose above the alicorn, leaned to her and then four needle-like devices shot forward and pierced in the body. Quick non-pharmacological anesthesia, and in a couple of seconds samples were taken. Pieces of flesh were packed in special containers, and then sampling manipulators hided under the floor too.

Now it was possible to do the last part of the research: mind scan. But before this it was necessary to prepare the patient.

Max and Zet’rar opened the chamber of the main scanner. Edez, Bluve, Oma and Kor gulped, looked at each other and then slowly approached the pedestal where white alicorn was lying. First curator carefully leaned over the taken and kissed the sleeping beauty, sending an energy pulse to her. Because of shock princess woke up. Hers and Edez’s eyes met and… Before she realized anything, Bluve replaced Edez and gave white alicorn her paralyzing kiss. Immediately after her Oma did her part, left almost no air in princess’ lungs by modified yedeizan passion kiss. White alicorn was on the verge of fainting after this, but it was not enough. When Oma finished, Kor replaced her and gave the princess the verekan death kiss. A two-day period of white alicorn’s life was taken in a moment, paralyzed ETS couldn’t handle it and failed for several seconds. Princess fainted.

Immediately after this Max checked the brain activity of the taken. All the reading showed that she was unconscious for sure. The preparation was successful.

The barriers protecting the memories and the hidden thoughts were removed. They could act.

Affi approached the white alicorn, closed her eyes and focused. Appendages raised up from her mane, forming some kind of a crown on her head, and began to tremble. She immersed herself into princess’ mind, and soon she got to the aim.

“It happened so long ago that I’m starting to forget,” telepathist began to speak, reading the memories. “I can’t even remember the year when it happened… 3147 or 3146 years ago… I don’t know… A lot of things is blurred for me now. But some things I still remember perfectly, like it was yesterday. I still remember the house where we lived when we were kids… That lonely hut in the woods… Stone oven in the center, three simple beds, two wooden tables, chests where we kept all our things… Oh, today a pony would never use such a house even as a shed, but we lived there for many years… And we were happy! I still remember how mother and father took us for a picnic in the woods for the first time. We made fire, roasted chestnuts, admired the stars… Mother and father told us stories and fairy tales… I remember how fire danced and how it illuminated us. Mother and father looked like fairy creatures, even more than usual… Descendants of different races, they were strange for everyone… That’s why they settled in the depth of the forest… But for us they were the most beautiful and amazing! Father’s leathery wings, scaly legs, striped back… Mother’s thin legs, branched antlers and soft feathers on her neck… Others were afraid of them, but… It didn’t matter. They loved us, cared about us, protected us… They were one of a kind, the best parents in the whole world… Oh, how happy they were when it turned out that we aren’t so much different from ordinary ponies! They were so hoping that we can have normal life!.. How happy they were… And how wrong they turned out to be… They grew old, and we almost didn’t change. Seventy years they cared about us, until their lives ended, and we still were blank-flank fillies… Seventy years we were happy, and then everything was gone, vanished… We were grief-stricken, despaired, we didn’t know what to do… We wanted to run far away where no one will be able to find us… But we still were fillies. We were weak. We still needed protection, so we had no other choice. Thus, we moved to the capital, Greenmount… You remember, what happened later, Luna? King and Queen accepted us and made Star Swirl our teacher… We grew stronger… and bigger, became the defenders of Greenmount… Star Swirl taught us until his very old age, then he performed Phoenix Spell and managed to live for almost two thousand years… How citizens of Equestria made us the rulers of the country in gratitude for everything what we had done… Mother and father wished us good and bright future, normal life… Oh, how happy they would be if they could see what we have achieved!.. It’s beyond all their dreams!.. Beyond all our dreams when we were little…”

Researchers were amazed. What they had just head was incredible. Fantastic story, which one could hardly believe in, but it gave the keys to many mysteries. Simply amazing. Team One just stood still and looked at their telepathists.

Suddenly she paused, but then suddenly opened her eyes and made strangled cry.

“What happened?” researchers worried.
“I’ve just saw the true reason of their conflict with Discord…” Affi muttered.
“And what is it?” Edez asked.
“Yes, Discord tried to usurp the power in Equestria and bring eternal chaos, and Celestia and Luna opposed him, but the reason was more than just that,” telepathist slowly turned to her colleagues. “Discord is their second cousin.”
“What?” the last Affi’s words were unbelievable.
“It was also a conflict of relatives. Celestia and Luna met him during their first years as Greenmount guards. They became friends and were on good terms for a long time. Discord even helped them sometimes. But when Celestia and Luna became princesses… Discord got offended because what he had done was not considered. And, thus, rioted. During his riot he went too far, and princesses, who wanted to agree with him first, had no other choice but use the Elements of Harmony. That’s the true story.”
“No… way!” Karin and Shiem spelled. Other remained silent with their jaws hung open.
“Exactly,” Affi gave a weak nod.

After some more time researchers managed to recover.

“Ehm… Returning to their origin question…” Max muttered. “What you said means…”
“Yes,” Affi nodded. “Their parents were hybrids, and they were born in the place with incredibly high energy concentration level. They are mutants.”
“A…” Bluve raised a claw.
“The same is with Discord,” telepathist guessed what biologist wanted to ask.
“Real X-ponies,” Zet’rar muttered.
“Yeah,” Oma agreed.
“Well, in that case, let’s pass to the main,” said Edez.
“What?” researchers surprised.
“How the heck they control celestial bodies here Observers from the orbital base have reported about great number of anomalies already.”
“Oh, this,” Affi said. “That’s because they control the rotation of this planet primarily.”
“What?”
“Yes, that’s the thing. Luna has some power over the movement of the Moon in its orbit and its rotation. She’s able to create meteor rains and fake stars with small asteroids on geosynchronous orbit. Celestia has some power over the Sun’s rotation and activity. but that’s all what they can do with other celestial bodies. They contorl day and night length here by regulating the rotation of the planet.”
“Oh… Okay… We got it. Well… have you finished the procedures?” Edez asked the biologists.
“Yes,” Max answered. “Now we only have to wait until the ASI finish the processing of the scan data.”
“Okay. Well, we got what we needed. Let’s bring her back.”
“One moment!” Bluve exclaimed. “Before this, allow to take some more samples.”
“Why?”
“Well, Max, you tell them.”
“Uhg… Fine,” senior physiologist sighed. “We thought about it before, and… Please, understand us. Samples taken from alicorns can help create new longevity treatment.”
“Incredibly effective treatment,” Bluve added. “Now, when we saw the first results of the scan… Probably, we can increase life expectancy twice! Or even threefold!”

Other researchers surprised. They looked at the biologists, then at each other. Then curators gave each other a nod and said:

“Fine. Do it.”

Max and Bluve nodded and repeated the sampling procedure. When it was done, they injected princess special drug that brought her from unconscious state to deep sleep. Now she was all right, so Zet’rar teleported her back to Canterlot.

Soon princess appeared in her bed, dreaming about her foalhood. And researchers buckled down to work. The night will be very long…

20. Exporing Fillydelphia

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“Bluve, Oma, you should not be allowed to shop,” Max panted, carrying about two dozens of bags on his back.
“I have to agree,” Zet’rar, equally loaded, wheezed.
“Why?” girls surprised.
“Because it feels like I’m carrying both Edez and Kor right now on my back!”
“Yeah! Even Rarity doesn’t go so far!”
“And what else I could do if pantries were almost empty?” Bluve shrugged.
“Indeed,” Oma supported her friend. “So, please, be patient, boys. We’ll come back to the Castle soon.”
“We have been patient for three hour already,” boys responded.
“Then be patient a little longer!”

Girls vigorously trotted forward, guys trailed behind them, quietly muttering curses.

They walked down two more streets and, finally, got to the place. The last effort – and they were in the main Castle hall. Max and Zet’rar fell down and sprawled under the weight of the bags.

“You couldn’t bring them to our rooms?” Oma and Bluve asked discontentedly.

Some more quiet curses came from under the bag piles, then Zet’rar said:

“Oma… This evening you shall learn how relentless I can be.”

Oma gulped. If unfalizan said something like this, then he’ll do it. And considering that he is her lover… Senior sociologist put her tail between her legs.

“Bluve…” Max spelled. “Your game console will be mine for next dekad.”

Bluve was so terrified like she was losing her precious One Ring forever.

Meanwhile bag piles moved and slowly rose from the floor.

“Okay, we’ll take these bags of yours to the room,” guys said. “And our work will be over. Sorting them out will be your job.”

Girls gave a quick nod, and they went to their chambers. Researchers were approaching the common room, when they heard strange sounds. A mix of sobbing, groaning, hissing and some more undefined weird noises. They came from their locker room. Max and Zet’rar quickly dropped the bags in the common room and together with girls rushed to the source of sounds. When they opened the locker room door, they saw Affi and Edez. Curators sat with their backs to the door, their heads were lowered, they trembled.

“Masters!” Oma and Bluve worried.
“What happened?” Zet’rara and Max exclaimed.

They ran to them and got surprised. Edez and Affi sad like this not because they weren’t mourning someone, it was because they tried not to laugh. Those strange noises were just a consequence.

“Eh?!” senior physiologist and technician were stunned.
“M-masters?” Oma quietly spelled. “Wh-what’s wrong?”
“This,” Edez gently pushed the tablet which lied between him and Affi.

Researchers took it with claws.

“What is it?” Zet’rar and Bluve asked when they looked at the screen.
“General report for the last five dekads,” Affi spelled, barely managing not to laugh.
“See the incidents chapter,” added Edez.

Oma, Zet’rar, Bluve and Max found the necessary chapter, looked through it and…

Their “WHAT???” could be heard even from Sweet Apple Acres.

“And this is just the beginning,” said Edez. “Reading it, it’s impossible to believe that we are representatives of nine million years old civilization…”
“Yeah…” Affi nodded. “You think that there are no idiots like this in nature, but they do exist.”
“Max, Zet, that plasma bomb explosion you made in Appleloosa is not as mad as most of the cases described here.”
“Just look at this!” Affi turned to her colleagues, took the tablet and scrolled forward a bit. “Girls from Team Eleven invited their local friends, but didn’t tell the guys about it. Team Eleven men learned about it only when guests literally were on the doorsteps. Guys were at a loss, and girls, paying no attention to their state, tell them to bring food. So guys brought all what they got. Including fresh, full of blood, meat. Yeah, to llamas and alpacas… Or this: Team Thirteen geophysicist, Ta’Uim, went to look at the most famous anomalous zones of Land of Southern Dragons. When he got to “The traveler’s plate” and listened to what the guide told, he decided to “enlighten” the incognizant locals and told them about Gyimenaa-Khownn theory of spontaneous large-scale teleportation… Or this: Team Five biologist, Hadri, managed to save female lamia, harpy and centaur from some bad guys, and just a day later – save female slime, arachne and mermaid from a landslide. He became a hero for those girls, so they fell head over heels in love with him, and now Hadri doesn’t know what to do – girls just don’t let him go. Or this: knowing that locals have “seven-league boots”, Team Fourteen technician, Kui, decided to make own ones. He made them, and obviously, there was a need to test them. But he chose own backyard as the test area. He didn’t want to risk own health, so he decided to ask one of the colleagues. He went to the house and soon met – as he thought – their geologist, Gudra. He told him what to do, put the boots on him and said to jump. He jumped. And landed in a micrograd away. Kui’s settings were incorrect, and, moreover, Gudra wasn’t the one who jumped – it was their neighbor. Yeah, they are veeeeery similar: one is yellow, other is brown… Or this: during shopping at a market, one local annoyed Team Three officer Maderz. His patience ran out and, eventually, he punched the kibitzer in face. And sent him in flight above all the market to the neighboring district. Now they call him “One Punch Stallion”.”
“You shouldn’t tell Kor about it,” noticed Max.
“Too late,” Edez sighed. “Kor found us reading the report right at the moment when we read about Maderz’s case. He read it too and… Well, we had to send Karin and Sheim to calm him down. It was about a supramoment ago.”
“Oh…”
“Well,” Affi finally managed to suppress laughter, “We have had enough of this madness today,” Edez nodded. “We have to get back to work. Enjoy,” she gave the tablet to Oma, Bluve, Zet’rar and Max.

Regular researchers remained in the room to read the report and get gobsmacked, curators went to the main hall. There they saw that Sheim and Karin came back already. They were talking with Fluttershy.

“Good day, Fluttershy!” curators greeted the bearer of the Element of kindness.
“Hello!” she responded.
“What you are chatting about?” asked Edez.
“Well, I was invited to the nature lovers’ conference that will be held in Fillydelphia tomorrow, and I asked Pippi and Lierre to join me, because… um… I’m a little afraid to go alone,” the last sentence yellow pegasus said in very quiet voice.
“You will not mind if we be out of town for a couple of days?” asked regular researchers.
“Nope,” curators answered.
“You can go even for a week,” Affi added.
“Thank you!” Karin and Sheim smiled. “Fluttershy, we are coming with you!”
“Oh, it’s great!” she smiled.
“By the way, where’s Erő?” asked Edez.
“…let’s say he got better,” answered Karin.
“He lies about under the jasmine bush, chilling,” added Sheim.
“Goodness! Is something bad happened to him?” Fluttershy worried.
“No, no! It’s just the opposite!”
“Oh… Really?”
“He’s just exhausted after good laughter.”
“So, when should we come to the station?” Karin asked.
“At ten or fifteen minutes to three in the afternoon,” Fluttershy answered. “We must have some time to buy the tickets.”
“Got it!”

Fluttershy smiled and after kindly “See you!” left the Castle. Researchers went about their business.

Lunchtime had passed, and time to go had come. Researchers packed their things and went to the Ponyville station. Near its entrance they met Fluttershy.

“You are here!” yellow pegasus smiled. “Okay, let’s go!”

Sheim and Karin gave a nod, and they went to the ticket window. Luckily, there was no queue, so they quickly bought the tickets and took their places in the train.

A couple more minutes, and conductor shouts “All aboard!”, driver gives the last choo-choo, and train begins to move. Speed gradually increases, and soon Ponyville train satation, then Ponyville itself was left behind. Now there will be only road to the east.

“Hey, Fluttershy,” Sheim asked, “How long it takes to get to Fillydelphia?”
“Um, about five hours.”
“I see.”

Ponyville disappeared behind flat hills covered with fields and orchards, train reached its full speed. This was an express train, so because of rather short time of travel there was no buffet car or any food selling services and there weren’t any entertainments. They have five spare hours, and they have to find an occupation for this time.

There researchers faced with a little problem. Knowing their companion, the best variant will be a simple conversation, but she is very timid pony and, thus, has difficulties with starting. But they are friends, and it isn’t good just to sit in front of each other and play dumb.

Karin and Sheim hesitated for some time, but, finally, decided to make an attempt. It wasn’t good, but it had effect: Fluttershy responded, and they could use it as a start. Phrase after phrase, and they were speaking with each other.

Since they were going to the conference of nature lovers, the topic of conversation was obvious. They were experts in different fields, but, nevertheless, they could find many common things which they could talk about – especially, considering that Fluttershy could tell a lot of funny stories about her fosterlings, and Sheim and Karin could share many occasions from their past.

Train raced forward, and they continued to talk. Fluttershy passed through amazing metamorphosis: though she knew researchers for four months already, she still was shy and discreet talking with them. But now she gradually opened more and more. She became ordinary pony enjoying friendly chat, and when they arrived to Fillydelphia, she was vividly and happily chirping almost like her friend Pinkie Pie. Conversation with a friend on your favorite topic really does wonders.

“Well, where should we go?” asked Sheim when they were walking down the stairs of main entrance of Central Station.
“To “Yggdrasil” hotel, it’s in the center of the city, near Star Square,” Fluttershy responded. “As conferees, we have a room reserved for us there. However, we don’t need to hurry – check in will continue until 11 p.m.”
“If so…” Karin smiled. “Then let’s go and enjoy the beauty of evening city!”
“Agree!” Sheim supported her.
“Wait!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “It’s dangerous to walk around big cities at night!”
“Don’t worry, Fluttershy, we can fight back,” Sheim reassured her.

And then, as if it was planned by higher powers, two hefty stallions decided to attack them. Those hoodlums thought that it would be easy to rob two weak and short mares and one stallion-wimp, but no. Researchers allowed the criminals to come closer, and then stroke. Taking advantage of her short stature and concentrating telekinetic energy on her hoof, Karin punched one of the hoodlums in stomach. Sheim hit other in neck at lightning speed. Criminals wheezed and dropped like cut down tree.

“Told you! We can fight back!” researchers turned to Fluttershy.

This, though strongly impressed and shocked her at first, was clear demonstration. She got reassured and gave a nod. The proposal was supported, and they went to see the city.

Fillydelphia was the third largest city in Equestria by territory, so walk around whole city was impossible even in two days, not to speak of hours. But such spatial expansion was due to the development features of the city. Fillydelphia was like old bird’s nest: long time ago first couple made it, and then during the subsequent years next generations built the nest up. As a result, it turned into monstrous conglomeration of branches, leaves, feathers and garbage which could be as heavy as average pony’s shed. So was the city: downtown and historic center, rather small primordial nest, and the vast belt of suburbs, all the increments which were made. Thus, since suburbs hadn’t anything notable, for an ordinary tourist it was possible to see the main sights in a couple of hours.

Impression from this city was ambiguous. On the one hand, Fillydelphia was large industrial megalopolis populated with the appropriate contingent. When they were approaching the city, they saw a lot of factories. Large floors built of metal and red bricks with rattling machines inside, high chimney-stalks, injecting smoke into the sky… “Everything that is done, is done in Fillydelphia” equestrian ponies said. It had some truth: local factories made everything – from bricks and pots to locomotives and mine equipment. Many citizens of Fillydelphia worked at these factories, and not the easiest work day after day had its effect: fillydelphians were known as the grumpiest ponies in whole Equestria. On the other hand, Fillydelphia was great ancient city. Before Manehattan rose, it was the most influential city in the country. When rulers of Equestria decided to concentrate all the government offices in one city, Fillydelphia was the likeliest candidate. Some offices had been already built before the decision was made. But the Senate and kings decided to move closer to the center of the country, in small town of Greenmount, summer residence of the monarchs, so Government house was given to the city council, and Court House – to the city court.

Generally, Fillydelphia has the largest amount of old and historical buildings in Equestria – speaking about it, even great Manehattan and magnificent Canterlot are not match for the capital of equestrian workers. However, many of these buildings are simple apartment houses and shops, but it doesn’t change the general atmosphere: all old buildings have some decorations, and good gentle backlighting turns them into pieces of art. Walking along the streets delighting all this is real pleasure. Fillydelphia had no grandeur of Canterlot, greatness of Manehattan and brilliancy of Las Pegasus and Applewood, but citizens of the city could turn it really pleasant place.

Evening Fillydelphia, as every large city, was replete with variety of colors and lights. Neon signboards and billboards, backlights, street lights… But all this wasn’t so eye-hurting like in Las Pegasus or Manehattan, it was gentle like in Canterlot. It made simple-looking Fillydelphia true gemstone which one could admire forever.

But not only this made Fillydelphia so interesting. Although it was city of factories, there were lot of parks and gardens. Residential quarters in suburbs were buried in verdure, almost all streets in downtown had green spaces. To meet a squirrel or a jay in the center of the city was not surprising. That’s why nature lover’s conferences were often held there. And, of course, famous Dragon Town. Its architecture made it look absolutely alien. To visit it was like visit another planet.

Fluttershy, Karin and Sheim slowly walked down the main streets of historic center and downtown and, finally, after two hours stopped near “Yggdrasil”. The hotel was old, but surprisingly airy tower, richly decorated with molding: stone vines twined the building from base to roof. It was situated right opposite to massive domed structure – Fillydelphia conference center, the very place where the event will be held. Ponies looked around for the last time and entered the hotel. Conference begins at ten o’clock, so they must have enough sleep to look good at it.

They registered as the conferees, got the keys and went to the room. Soon they were having sweet dreams.

Tomorrow, right at the appointed time, they were in the conference center. Researchers didn’t do anything special for the event: they just freshen themselves up and put the badges on. But Fluttershy… She came to the conference dressed like a ranger of national parks of Land of Marsupials. Sheim and Karin, when they saw her, could just ask “Why so?” Yellow pegasus answered that “it better fits the local atmosphere”. Researchers just shrugged, and they began the visit.

The nature lover’s conference was neither like a scientific conference with its presentations and poster sessions, nor like a convention with its numerous specialized corners and mass entertainment event. This conference was the place where ponies could gather and talk on their favorite topic. Nature explorers prepared some short lectures for this conference, but any conferee could get up on the stage and speak. Also, there were ponies which came there not only to talk with like-minded persons, but to acquaint others with their pets.

“It looks more like a rally,” said Karin, looking around.
“Well, it is so,” Fluttershy agreed. “Honestly, the event was called “conference” only because some scientists come here to give public lections.”
“I see.”

They reached the end of the first passageway and when they only began to make a turn, they ran into another pony. It was a green mare with red dreadlocks, who wore a bandana.

“Treehugger!” Fluttershy exclaimed happily.
“Fluttershy, hello!” green mare smiled. Her actions looked unnaturally slow.
“Lierre, Pippi,” yellow pegasus turned to researchers. “This is my friend Treehugger. She is the president of White Pine nature lovers’ club. We met at one of the previous conferences.”
“Hi, dudes!” Treehugger spelled. “You have fancy names, I must say.”
“Oh, we are Europonians,” responded Sheim.
“Europonians? Cool! You come here to tell some amazing stuff about nature of your homeland?”
“Actually, we are here just to support Fluttershy,” said Karin.
“You are good friends,” said Treehugger and, suddenly, intently looked at Sheim. “Hmmm…”
“Ehmm… Miss Treehugger?” worried researcher asked.
“Lierre, my friend, I don’t know why, but… something makes me want to hug you.”

Sheim and Fluttershy surprised. Karin suppressed a snicker.

“Um, Treehugger, Lierre is just green,” Fluttershy said.
“I dunno, Fluttershy,” Treehugger responded. “But something tells me that it’s more than just this… Lieree, my friend, let me hug you!”
“Uh… Okay!”

And green mare hugged green stallion.

“Wow!” Treehugger smiled. “Such amazing sensation! Like, out of this world!”

After these words both researchers tensed up.

“…Maybe it’s because you are from Europonia,” continued Treehugger. She let Sheim go.
“Yeah, right!” Sheim and Karin intensively nodded.
“Oh!” Fluttershy smiled. “Since we met, let’s spend the rest of the day together!”
“Well, we agree,” researchers said.
“Righteous!” Treehugger smiled. “Oh, Fluttershy?”
“Yes?”
“I just remember… I heard that they are planning to ask almost each president of local nature lover’s clubs to give a speech.”

Fluttershy, the president of Ponyville nature lovers’ club, silently gulped.

It took some time to help yellow pegasus to find courage and to assure her. Eventually, Fluttershy agreed to give a short speech – she said it with all the confidence what she could find.

The speech session of presidents of local nature lover’s clubs was scheduled for 3 p.m., so now they had some free time. Together they slowly walked along the passageways, meeting with other ponies – and griffins and dragons – and sharing impressions. Fluttershy and Treehugger spoke with other conferees about different nature lovers’ club businesses, Sheim and Karin, as it was during the trip to this city, told adapted stories from the times when they were students and freshmen workers. It was quite popular.

In short, it was ordinary pleasant friendly meeting. However, wherever researchers were, knowing their luck, thing just couldn’t go as they should.

One of the conferees brought his faithful friend, giant Southern Badlands’ coyote. These representatives of Canidae family were smart and patient creatures – some desert citizens kept them instead of ordinary dogs because of this – but there were some trifles that could easily drive them mad. This coyote quietly sat near his owner, but then one inconsiderate conferee occasionally stepped on canid’s tail. And obedient and good-natured big guy turned into mad beast. He growled, got off the leash and ran away.

Visitors panicked. Angry beast because of ponies running around didn’t know where to go.

This could end up very bad if Karin hadn’t intervened. She stood right on the coyote’s path, put forth her hoof and loudly said in steel voice:

“Stop!”

And the coyote stopped. Not because he was impressed and shocked by small mare’s actions, but because something seemed to attach his paws to the floor. Ferocious canid immediately turned into startled canid.

“Sit!” Karin commanded.

Coyote sat down.

“Good boy!” researcher smiled.

Coyote gave a weak nod.

Meanwhile canid’s owner ran. Together with Karin, Fluttershy and some other conferees, they calmed the coyote down. Soon, after some treatments, he was just like before the accident: a good big guy.

“That was something,” Karin said when everything remained behind.
“What made him so angry?” Fluttershy wondered.
“I dunno,” spelled Treehugger. “But, I guess, likely, somepony stepped on his tail.”

The incident was over, but it was only the beginning of adventures.

Wandering around the conference hall, friends met old stallion, famous in Fillydelphia for his compassions to squirrels. Here he was together with half-dozen of his grateful wards. Fluttershy and Treehugger started to speak to him, and meanwhile they noticed that squirrels tried to reach Sheim.

“Hey, dude, they want to climb you!” Treehugger spelled.
“They really think that you are a tree!” Fluttershy smiled.

Sheim sighed and looked at Karin, like asking “What should I do?” Sociologist just shrugged, trying not to snicker again, saying with it “I have nothing to do with this”. Planetologists sighed again and said:

“Fine.”

And old stallion let his squirrels to get on Sheim. Little critters got delighted, jumped on researcher and started climb him up and down. Researcher stood still and courageously endured the tickling. Fluttershy and Treehugger looked at him and said how adorable he looks, regularly mentioning that it looks just like in nature, when squirrels climbed small trees. They had no idea how close to the truth they were.

Squirrels explored Sheim for some time, and then one critter sniffed something familiar. The source of the smell was on the researcher’s head. Critter climbed it, found the exact source, Sheim’s mohawk, and… began to gnaw it. Understandable reaction followed then: when filled with quasinerves tissues got damaged, Sheim fell down paralyzed.

“Lierre!” girls exclaimed and rushed to help him.
“Ow…” he spelled.
“What happened to you?” asked Fluttershy.
“It’s just… a spasm. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine in a couple of hours.”

Soon the medical team arrived, and Sheim was taken to the first aid post.

“Don’t worry,” Karin said Fluttershy and Treehugger. “He’ll be fine, really. This has already happened with him.”
“I hope you are right,” yellow pegasus responded.
“Hey, it’s already a quarter to three,” said Treehhugger after a look at the nearest wall clock.
“WHAT? Nonononononononono!” Fluttershy panicked.
“Calm down!” Karin stopped her. “We agreed that you’ll give that speech!”
“Yeah, there’s nothing terrible with it!” Treehugger added.
“Uh, okay.”

They came to the stage allotted to the speeches for presidents of local nature lovers’ clubs, and soon the head of Equestrian association of nature lovers announced the order of speeches. Treehugger turned out to be the fourteenth, Fluttershy – the nineteenth.

After this the speech session itself began. Ponies, griffins and dragons started to get up on the stage and tell about how the things stand in their clubs. The speakers were absolutely different ponies: vets, rangers, scientists, artists, clerks… It was the evidence that everyone can be a nature lover, it doesn’t depend on your job or status. And as different the speakers were, so different were their speeches. Some of them were brief: speakers only told about the general state and mention the main achievements. Other presented detailed analyses, during which visitors sometimes fell asleep.

One and a half hours had passed, and Treehugger’s turn came. She slowly got up on the stage, came to the microphone and began her speech.

Well, it wasn’t a speech, technically: first half of it she greeted other conferees and said how awesome they are, then she told that White Pine club doesn’t live high, but has no needs, they develop, have new members, and in general everything is all right. Listeners applauded, and Treehugger with her usual expression, like she was seeing something far beyond everyone and was glad with it, bowed and left the stage.

Forty more minutes, and the hour H came. Fluttershy’s turn. Yellow pegasus gulped, but her friends encouraged her. She came to the stage, climbed it and stood in front of the visitors.

“Um… H-hello! I-I’m Flutterhy, president of Ponyville club…” she said and lost the courage. Trying not to show her anxiety, she looked around.

Luckily, there were two prompters in the first row. Karin with gestures tried to say Fluttershy that she must be brave and go ahead. Treehugger with her gestures said “Be calm and everything will be righteous!”

Fluttershy gulped again and ventured to continue. Her friends lay themselves out for her!

“Our c-club is small, comparing with clubs of other towns and cities, but we have some things to be proud of. This year we got seven new members, organized three charity events and organized additional classes in town’s elementary school…” she looked at her friends again. Teehugger continued the remote reassurance, Karin started to gesticulate more intensively. “W-we continue to help and save animals from surrounding areas, including Everfree Forest… Y-yes, Everfree Forest is infamous, but animal that live there are just like in other places of Equestria. They just… more adapted… We learned this from our observations…” Fluttershy paused as she realized that she blurted out too much. She looked again on the prompters, calmed herself and continued. “I mean, besides nature protection activities we do some research, mostly observations of Everfree Forest nature. We keep a journal of those observations. We receive some help from princess Twilight Sparkle to continue this… Also thanks to her we now have no financial difficulties…” she gulped. Karin, trying to show Fluttershy what she must do barely managed not to show her claws. “Well, um, in general the state of our club is good. We will be happy to see everypony in Ponyville in our small amicable club! Thank you!”

She quickly bowed and left the stage. Listeners applauded. Exhausted Karin with wide smile of satisfaction fell down.

“You did well, Fluttershy!” Treehugger said when her friend came to her.
“Thank you! That was hard!” she responded.
“Yeah, but I saw ponies who took it even harder.”

After her words yellow pegasus looked at Karin. Researcher still was lying on the floor and only began to make weak first attempts to stand up. Eventually, she got up and joined Treehugger and fluttershy. Together they listened to the rest of presidents of local clubs. Before the last president finished her speech, Sheim returned. As he said, he was fine. Fluttershy and Treehugger sighed with a relief.

Speech session took almost three hours. That meant there was only an hour before the end on the conference. Practically no time to do anything significant. Some conferees already started to leave. So Sheim, Karin, Fluttershy and Treehugger decided to leave too. They said goodbye to their old and new friends and went away. Soon they were around evening lights of Fillydelphia, just like yesterday.

“Well, what now?” asked Sheim.
“I have one idea,” Karin said. “There is a café right behind this corner,” she pointed to the nearest turn. “Let’s go there and dine together!”
“Wonderful idea!” Fluttershy smiled.
“They say that it’s a good one…” Treehugger spelled. “I agree!”

Soon they were having their meals in small old, but comfortable eatery. The conference was already over, but they continued their little gathering of nature lovers. Four almost completely different ponies, united by common topic. Quite a motley company, but that’s was the very thing that made the meeting interesting. When each one is polite, but has own point of view and temper, it is possible to talk forever. And presidents of nature lovers’ clubs and researchers would talk forever, but café didn’t work all day and night.

They said goodbye to each other only in the hotel, when they went up on the elevator – it was already 11 p.m., and they just had to have some sleep before their trains leave. They waved goodbye, and then elevator doors separated them. Treehugger went to her room, Fluttershy and researchers – to their.

Rough industrial city turned out to be really nice place. It will be sad to leave this city. But they will remember forever its simple beauty and hospitality.

Quasi plodded along semi-abandoned trail near the edge of the Everfree Forest. Black shadow with lowered head, hidden under a cape. He left Dodge City three days ago, and still there were one hundred and fifty milligrads to Canterlot. But this didn’t bother the lifeless. There was no need to hurry: those ones from the Union don’t even know where they should look, locals also know nothing and frightened. Everything goes just according to plan… And, by the way, the walk itself now was quite enjoyable: late evening when stars only began strew the sky, warm air and moderate wind that flutters the cape and makes leaves rustle, comfortable darkness…

Suddenly several voices came from behind the nearest bushes. Quasi stopped. Voices gradually became louder, and soon lifeless saw who it was. Three teenagers, one strong unicorn colt and two fillies, unicorn and pegasus. Some youngsters of Foalshire, the nearest settlements, decided to test their courage or bet with contemporaries. When they saw dark figure in the cape, they got surprised. Quasi also was surprised a little, but quickly got rid of that sensation.

Fillies pressed themselves against their friend. He, as true young gentlecolt, assured them that everything will be fine, he will defend them in case of danger. Quasi heard that and grinned under the hood.

“Hey, kids…” he spelled. “Have you been told that it is dangerous to walk in this forest at night?”
“Oh, it’s old wives’ tales!” pegasus filly said.
“Yeah, there’s nothing scary in this forest!” unicorn filly supported her friend. “It’s just dark and… eerie.”
“Indeed!” colt nodded. “And anyway, who are you, mister?”

Quasi chuckled. Mechanisms and implants in his body reported that there is some place for excess energy.

“I just tried to warn you…” he said. “But, since you don’t want to believe me, it seems that I have to teach you a lesson…”

He raised his head.

His eye full of darkness was the last thing young ponies had seen.

“Hello, Grace!” Hidden Path phoned to his colleague in Dodge City. “I met with Calma and “accidentally interviewed” her during the conversation. Turned out that she knows only about the incident in the Everfree Forest. She says with genuine horror that “she saw it and it terrified her”. It’s hard to believe in, but it seems that she and her friends are clear. Or involved only to that incident. However, we need more proofs. What about you? Got any news?”
“Just a few, sir,” she responded. “We examined photos and X-rays of the victim’s body and found nothing new. Examination of the crime scene also did not give anything new – after the murder local utility services removed garbage from that dump for two times already. We found only barely noticeable traces of victim’s blood. Its examination showed that the murder happened late in the evening, so… We tried, but found no witnesses. Nopony heard anything. That’s all about this case, but…”
“But what?”
“There was another case. As you know, there are several shelters of migratory dragons near Dodge City. They live separately from everypony, so don’t cause any problems. But yesterday… Uhm… One dragon, which lived in the northeast from the city, was found dead in the woods. Someone… ripped his stomach.”
“What? Someone?”
“Yes. Only living being could do such thing. It seems that this… creature jumped and stroke, making one long cut. A cut with perfectly aligned edges. It was… like a sword strike, but it was even more accurate than incision made with a scalpel. And… Razor Edge and Cloudbreaker found some traces of metal in the wound. Cloudbreaker says that… that it is identical to what we found during examination of the first victim.”
“Goodness…”
“We are dealing with a true monster, sir. If it could slay a dragon…”
“It is moving to Canterlot…”
“What?”
“Two hours ago I received a message from Foalshire police department. Three teenagers were murdered there. Something turned their palates and brains into a mash and then dissected bodies from nose to tail. And the incision was perfect.”
“N-no… Can’t be…”
“Yes. Both murders were committed by the same scheme. Both times – perfect incisions. Mutilated palates, just like it did with the first victim… Foalshire is in northeast from Dodge City, between it and Canterlot. This monster is heading to our capital!”
“We have to warn them!”
“I’ll do it. You – go to Canterlot as fast as you can. We’ll reunite there.”
“Got it.”
“May the heavens help us…”

21. How to Celebrate Local Festivals

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“What?” Hidden Path could not believe in what he has just heard. The chief of Special Service came here himself to say this? “Mister Shadow, sir, having such a threat approaching our capital we can’t stay here!” he exclaimed.

Gray Shadow, old but tall and strong smoky stallion, sighed.

“I am fully aware of the degree of danger, Hid,” he said. “But, still, we need you to stay here, in Ponyville. According to your materials, we have full-scale invasion, and Ponyville is its very center. So you have to stay in the town and stop the invasion here – this one “agent” of them is the minor problem right now.”
“Sir,” Grace stepped forward. “This being was able to slay an adult dragon in one strike. It’s a murderer with monstrous power!”
“I know. That’s why I ordered two dozens of our agents constantly patrol the city. We’ll find him, be sure.”

Ponies of Second Department looked at each other, then slowly bowed to the chief.

“Yes, sir.”

Meanwhile researchers had just started to wake up. They thought that it will be usual calm day off, but their friends had other plans…

“WAKE UP!!!” loud high-pitched voice sounded throughout the house.

Researchers jumped out from their beds. Fear and shock made some of them levitate for several moments and others smash into the ceiling. It was very impressive results, considering that the room height was about ten steps and that they jumped from a prone position.

They fell down and, alarmed, run downstairs – just in time to meet 350 mm caliber cannon aiming in their faces.

“Surprise!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie and fired the confetti. Researchers got sprinkled from top to hooves.
“Eh?” they wondered.
“What does this mean?” exclaimed Affi.
“You don’t know?” surprised Pinkie Pie. “It’s First Harvest Day!”
“Oh…”

Being happy that they got a day off in the middle of the week, they completely forgot about its reason: Ponyville harvest festival, the second greatest holiday of the season after Summer Wrap-up. They had not even thought about this!

“Right!” Edez uttered. “Gosh, we completely forgot to keep track of time!”
“If so, then you must have a good calendar!” Pinkie Pie said. “I can recommend you some places where you can buy one!”
“Ehm, thank you!”
“You’re welcome! So,” she looked at all of the researchers, “are you ready for fun?”
“Sure!” Team One responded.
“Wonderful! Festival starts in forty minutes! See ya there!”

She put her party cannon back into the obscurity of another dimension that serves her as a store and merrily hopped away.

“Well, I guess we should forget about our plans for this day,” said Sheim and looked at his friends. “What now?”
“Let’s do what Pinkie said,” smiled Kor. “Let’s have fun! Today everyone in town will be celebrating and why we should not join?”
“Indeed!” Zet’rar, Bluve and Max supported him.
“If you think so…” Edez smiled. “Let’s have fun then!”
“Wait,” Karin raised her hoof and looked at Oma. “This is the first such social event that we see, shouldn’t we, I dunno, take notes?”
“You know,” senior sociologist said after short pause, “we already have all the necessary information – history and folklore books are more than enough. Don’t worry about that.”
“Just make some shots or records,” Affi offered. “It will be good factual material for the reports.”
“Okay.”

Thus, they didn’t manage to spend the entire day without a work, but it doesn’t bother them. Making a record is quick job: just walk back and forth across the festival area and look around. Implants will to the thing. A couple of hours – and you will be free for the rest of the day.

Researchers quickly did their usual morning rituals and left their house. There was a new day ahead, new wonderful day, full of adventures and thrills.

However, they didn’t expect that there adventures will start just in few seconds after when they crossed the doorsteps.

“Maud!” Sheim nervously smiled when he saw familiar gray mare from rock farm. “I didn’t know you were coming!”
“Oh, do I need a reason to spend some time with my dearest Lierre?” she dreamily sighed and made the most enchanting smile she was able for. It made her really beautiful and attractive, but, considering that she did it as she usually does things – slowly – the whole process itself looked quite creepy.
“W-well, I’m glad to see you!”
“So do I. Well, let’s enjoy the holiday together then?” she turned to Sheim’s friends. “Do you mind if I take him?”

They looked at each other, then looked at Sheim and helplessly shrugged.

“I promise, he will be just fine. He is in good hooves,” Maus said and looked at the planetologist. “Let’s go!”
“Sure!” he responded and turned to his friends. His eyes were the eyes of sentient sentenced to eternal separation of mind and body with destruction of the last. “Bye!” he weakly spelled.
“Bye!” quietly responded his colleagues.

Maud Pie took Sheim away and soon they disappeared behind the corner of the nearest house. Kor, Zet’rar, Max, Bluve and Karin slowly made the sign of the star.

“I hope we won’t see him on the Other Side…” said Kor. Other researchers gave a weak nod.

Soon, however, researchers for their own surprise found that Sheim, though he was terrified at first, now was having some good time with Maud Pie. Well, in that case they do not have to worry for him and can focus on their own recreation.

They went to the Central Square of the town, the heart of today’s celebrations, and separated. Karin and Oma began to wander around and take video records, other researchers went to look for an occupation for themselves.

Although it was called First Harvest Day, in reality it was a grand carnival that connected not only farmers, but all other citizens of town and its surroundings. Snack stalls, gist shops, attractions were everywhere in the center of the town. Streets turned into one huge arena of celebration and now were busier than ever before. Now everything in the town was made for entertainment. One pony would never have been able to take part in all the events and visit all the places during this day.

No wonder it took researchers quite a time to choose. Sometimes they followed their own desires, in other cases it was the work of the happening.

Max was walking down one of the greatest amusement alley, trying to find something suitable for his changeable mood, when he saw Spike near one prize throwing stands. He had already used two attempts, now it was his last chance. He took the last ball, took a deep breath, concentrated, threw and… failed. Large structure made of wooden bars shook a little but remained intact.

“Oh come on!” Spike exclaimed. “How can I knock this thing down?”
“Sorry, pal, can’t help,” said the owner of the stall. “Wanna try again?”

Spike sighed and took his pouch. But now, when he put his paw into it, he found no coins.

“No bits?” stall owner said. “I’m sorry. I guess, it’s not your lucky day.”

Little dragon became even gloomier, but then…

“One bit for three attempts, I suppose?” they heard a voice.

Spike raised his head and saw Max.

“Zicht?”
“Hi, Spike,” Max responded. “Want to get something special?”
“Well, y-yeah…” little dragon nodded and pointed to small beautifully decorated wooden statuette of a dancing pony.
“It’s for your “precious gem”, right?”
“What? N-no! It’s…”
“Don’t worry. I know your problem. You will get it,” and researcher put a coin on the counter.

Owner of the stall took it and gave Max three small balls.

“Are you sure?” he grinned, pointing to the wooden construction with his eyes.
“Quite sure,” responded Max, took one ball and pushed the rest aside.

He aimed a blow, then threw and… in front of stunned stall owner and little dragon the tower collapsed like it was a house of cards. Hail of wooden bars fell on the floor.

“Here you go,” Max said and turned to the owner. “Now, if you would be so kind, I’d like to take this statuette as my prize.”

Stall owner, still surprised with the fact that his tower was ruined so easily, shook his head, took the statuette with his shaky forelegs and gave it to the researcher.

“Wow, Zicht! You made it in one attempt!” exclaimed Spike. “It took me twelve just to shake it!”
“You know,” Max said, “being a military doctor can teach you some skills.”
“Wow.”
“Oh yeah… Here,” researcher gave Spike the statuette. “After that incident at the magic show I had to repay you.”
“Th-thank you.”
“You are welcome. Good luck, my friend.”

Spike gave a nod and run away. Max smiled and, after some thinking, decided to deprive the prize throwing stall of some more stuff.

Meanwhile Bluve was studying the range of the snack stalls. Light breakfast wasn’t enough for her, so now she was looking for some additive. Luckily, since it was harvest festival, there was a great choice.

“Hey, Calma!” she heard familiar voice. She looked around and saw Applejack, waving to her, near the huge stand of Apple Family.

Biologist smiled and approached her.

“Hello, Applejack!”
“Nice to see ya here,” orange pony said. “Enjoyin’ the festival?”
“Yeah, it’s fantastic. This holiday is like a carnival in Colinia… I really like it, but…”
“But what?” surprised Applejack.

Bluve was about to say, but growling stomach treacherously betrayed her. Shy researcher immediately turned red.

“Ah see,” Applejack smiled. “Come on! There’s no better place for a hungry pony than the Apple Family stand!”
“Thank you,” Bluve smiled in response and followed her friend.

The stand consisted of some simple entertainments and large counter with different apple dishes. Although there was just one main ingredient, total diversity was impressive.

“Well, here it is!” Applejack pointed at the counter. “We have apple fritters, candy apples, apple jam and nineteen kinds of apple pies! There’re some good apple juice and cider too. Or, if ya want to have some fun, ya can catch yer meal!” she pointed at six small wooden tubs with fresh sweet apples near the counter. Several ponies has been already trying to catch themselves a fruit.

“Hmm…” Bluve rubbed her chin. “I think I’d prefer the catch game.”
“Heh, good luck then.”

Physiologist approached the nearest tub and looked in. There still were five apples, floating on the water. Perfect.

She leaned over the tub and in just few seconds stood up with an apple in her mouth. Other catchers got surprised: that mare did it without putting any efforts! Bluve, in her turn, continued, like nothing special happened. In a minute the tub was empty.

“Well, Applejack, thank you!” she said. “That was some really delicious apples!”
“How could ya do is so fast?” exclaimed surprised farmer.
“Remember the trick I showed during Trixie’s performance?”

Applejack gave a nod.

“The same is here.”
“Oh… Y’know, Calma, ya have to teach me this trick!”
“Prepare the apples then, my friend.”

Applejack smiled and brought a basket of fresh fruits. She was ready to train, and Bluve gladly taught her.

At the same time, Oma and Karin had almost finished their job: events of three fourth of the festival area were recorded, and now they had only to register the main attractions of the fair. From Central Square down the amusement alleys they went to the town park, where the greatest entertainments were organized.

Place of relaxation most days, now it was the liveliest and nosiest place in the town. Both youngsters and adult had fun, playing games, trying various attractions, taking part in different competitions or just hanging around. Ponies arrived there from the town and all its surroundings, so not rarely passages were overcrowded. And near some attractions there were not only queues of ponies who wanted to have a try, but groups of fans too.

The biggest crowd gathered near the strength test machine. A great show had been expected: two strongest stallions of Ponyville, Big Macintosh and Bulk Biceps, decided to find who is the best.

When Oma saw this, a spark of idea flashed in her mind, and wide grin formed on her face.

“Karin!” she addressed to her friend. “I’ve just had an awesome idea, and I so much want to try it, so, please, finish the work for me!”
“Why I should work while you will be idling about?” Karin resented.
“Instead I will fulfill any your request!”

Karin squinted at Oma, but then grinned and said “Deal. Go do your thing.”

“Thank you!” senior sociologist hugger her friend and ran to implement her idea.

The show had already begun. Bulk Biceps was the first. He approached the machine, warmed up a bit and bucked the target. Lead weight flew up like a rocket and almost reached the ring – only two scale marks remained before the top. White pegasus made a smug smile and looked at Big Mac. Red stallion just gave a hum and made his try. Now one scale mark remained before the ring. Smugness moved from Bulk’s face to Mac’s. White pegasus growled and demanded another round, but then gentle voice from the side made him stop.

“Excuse me, please!”

Ponies stepped aside, making way for Oma. She slowly bowed in gratitude and came closer to competitors.

“Don’t you mind if I also have a try?” she asked.

Confused stallions looked at each other, then at Oma.

“Ehm… sure!” said Bulk Biceps and together with Big Mac welcomed her.

Oma nodded and approached the machine. She carefully stretched her hind legs and then sharply bucked the target with all her might.

In a moment a loud clang came. Bilk Biceps and Big Mac dropped their jaws. Oma looked at them, wiggled her eyebrows and proudly went away.

When she almost disappeared behind the nearest stalls, one of the spectators said “Incredibly beautiful and dangerous… I like it!” And then the crowd cheered.

The holiday continued, and soon the lunchtime came. Researchers decided to gather and have a snack together. They chose the place, but it turned out that only Affi, Bluve, Karin, Oma and Zet’rar could come there in time. Why Sheim did not come was possible to understand: Maud will keep him busy for all this day. But why Edez, Kor and Max weren’t here? Researchers waited a little more and then went to look for their missing colleagues.

It seemed easy to find such giants as Kor or Edez, but in the overcrowded maze of the festival it became quite difficult to do. However, the problem was immediately solved when they heard non-equestrian speaking from the side of snack stalls.

Girls and Zet’rar found Edez, Max and Kor sitting at one of the free tables and drinking together with two mottled unicorns. These new guys looked quite odd and, at the same time, interesting: first, because of their spots they resembled Dalmatians or king cheetahs, second, they were broad-shouldered and only a few inches lower than Kor and Edez and, third, they had huge curved sharp horns, larger than even Celestia’s. Presence of researchers and loud discordant singing of europonian songs made the total sight the most peculiar thing around the festival area.

“Tu-tu-turysty, avanturysty,
“Usio pryjemna, usio karysna!
“Tu-tu-turysty, avanturysty,
“Marskija vyspy, Buena Vista!”
“What are you doing?” surprised Affi broke in.
“Oh, hi, girls, Allegro,” smiled Edez. “Meet our fellow europonians, Tryviež and Čarnabor!” he introduced the unicorns and turned to them “Guys, there are our friends, Antilipsi, Didinga, Allegro, Calma and Pippi.”
“We are glad to see you,” Tryviež, the one with longer mane and figure of three towers as a cutie mark, and Čarnabor, the tallest one and with a figure of three pines as a cutie mark, stood up and bowed.

Girls were pleasantly surprised: despite their rough and strange appearance, these guys behaved like true gentlecolts.

“We too,” girls said.
“It’s quite unexpected to see other europonians here,” said Allegro.
“For us, this is also a surprise,” said Tryviež. “And the fact that europonians managed to become a part of local royal court… That’s something incredible!”
“You know, great need for employment makes you do crazy things,” said Karin.
“True, true,” unicorns agreed.
“And how did you get here, so far from usual tourist Meccas?”
“Well,” Čarnabor began after short pause. “It all started when our chiefs ordered us to go on vacation – we had been working for seven years without any breaks, so we accumulated quite a term of free days. Seeing this, our chiefs said us ‘Go on vacation and don’t come back in the nearest six months.’ We decided to go to Equestria. We had already visited all main sightseeing, so now we are just wandering.”
“What kind of job you have then?” Oma surprised.
“We are from Dregovian Monster Control Department.”
“What?” girls exclaimed. From Team Two they knew a lot about similar organizations and their importance: an employee of such Department on vacation in Equestria sounded as shocking as a Canterlot royal guard shirking his watch.
“Yeah… Peculiarities of the national labor legislation.”
“Hey, why just about us?” Tryviež broke in and looked at the girls and Allegro. “Let’s hear about you too!”
“Fair,” said Karin and Affi.
“I suppose our boys had already told you that we all work at princess Twilight’s court?” telepathist asked.

Dregovians gave a nod.

“Well, me and Pippi are the castle maids,” she continued.
“I am the royal cook,” said Bluve.
“I am the receptionist, and my dear Allegro is the repairpony,” said Oma, embracing Zet’rar with her foreleg.

This greatly surprised Tryviež and Čarnabor.

“How you?..” they uttered, stammering.
“Had been trying for quite a time and finally reached my goal,” technician answered.

Without any words, unicorns shook Zet’rar’s hoof. Their expressions showed the highest degree of respect.

“Oh, another friend of ours is at this festival too, but…” said Kor, “he’s busy with his the most ardent admirer.”

Dregovians gave a nod of understanding and put their hooves on the hearts. But when they did it, a strange sound came from under their hooves.

“P-pardon me,” said Bluve. “But… why your rib cage is clanging?”
“Oh…” Čarnabor and Tryviež faltered. “You see… Thirty percent of our bones now are made of metal.”
“What?”
“We have a pretty dangerous job, and these are the consequences.”
“Oh…”

Meanwhile Affi had been already finishing the quick mind scan of dregovians. Turned out that they were skilled, smart and resolute fighters, the very material for Monster Control Departments, but at the same time good-temperate guys with great sense of humor and thirst for adventures. She also noted the things, which her friends had already told the new guests. They said quite a lot, but did not mention one episode. It was a good possibility to make her fellow curator a little vile thing for fun.

“Hey, Tryviež, Čarnabor, hadn’t Berg told you that he and Erő are not only princess Twilight’s personal guards, but also fill-fledged members of the Royal Canterlot Guard now too?” she said.

Dregovians chocked on their cider and looked at Edez and Kor.

“Really?” Tryviež exclaimed.
“Ehmmnyeah…” master researcher and officer muttered.
“How did it happen?” Čarnabor wondered.
“Princess Celestia asked us…” Kor began, but dregovians broke him off.
“Sviatyja padpachi galoŭnakamandujučych! Da vy zdziekvajecesia!”* they exclaimed in their native language.
“What?” researchers surprised.
“That… That’s worth drinking to!” they smiled.

Tryviež created new glasses for girls and Allegro with his magic, Čarnabor took the cider keg and started to pour sparkling gold beverage to everyone. Soon they all have full glasses, but the main vessel…

“Damn, it’s empty!” Čarnabor growled a little when he looked into the keg.
“We’ll find more later, now – for the first europonians in the Royal Canterlot Guard for many years!” smiled Tryviež and they all drank the cider.
“So, where we can find more of the stuff?” dregovians asked.
“We’ll show you,” Edez, Max and Kor answered, stood up and led the guests.

While they were going for another keg, girls decided to ask their new friends some more questions.

“Pardon me, but you are brothers, right?” asked Bluve.
“Almost. Cousins,” Čarnabor answered.
“Say, are all the members of your department so big and mighty?” wondered Karin.
“Well, you should be skilled and powerful to be a monster fighter, not just big,” Tryviež said. “But, I should admit, we are not only giants there.”
“Yep,” his friend nodded. “Our commanders, Grom and Zmrok, for example. They both are half a meter taller than we.”
“Really?”
“Yes, they are the biggest ponies in Dregova. And our four-winged are quite small…”
“Four-winged?”
“Polynovy Jar made a lot of dregovians odd,” said Čarnabor. “Our Department, for example, almost entirely consists of such ones.”
“Yeah,” Tryviež nodded. “We have seven regular alicorns, five thestral alicorns, two zebra alicorns, three horned zebras, able for magic, one zebra pegasus, three two-horned ponies, four four-winged pegasi, three winged deer, five griffins able for magic, eight dragons able for magic, three bisons able for magic, two deer able for magic…”
“… and other four are two superstrong four-winged dragons and we, mutants with huge magic hearts, which make us the strongest magic fighters in the team except our commanders.”
“Wow…”

Researchers knew that Polynovy Jar incident caused a lot of strange and peculiar things, but that strange and peculiar?..

While girls were quietly freaking out, lads found a cider sellers’ stall. Unfortunately, the sellers turned out to be the ponies they did not want to meet.

“Flim? Flam? What are you doing here?” researchers exclaimed when they saw two swindlers.
“You know these guys?” Tryviež and Čarnabor surprised.
“Yep,” Affi nodded. “They are the most unscrupulous entrepreneurs in Equestria.”
“Why so harsh?” unicorn brothers put on the masks of feigned offense. “Yes, we weren’t always honest with our customers, but not today!”
“What do you mean?” Karin wondered.
“We mean that today we are here just to sell cider and earn some money,” Flim answered.
“Yes,” Flam confirmed. “Ordinary apple cider without any additives, made by traditional methods.”

Dregovians rubbed their chins, and then Čarnabor asked “Can I try some?”

“Sure, my friend!” Flim smiled and gave him a full mug.

Čarnabor took it with his magic, took a sip and then, suddenly, winced.

“Byrla!” he exclaimed.
“Byrla?” Tryviež and researchers surprised.
“Byrla,” Čarnabor nodded.
“Byrla!” Tryviež shrugged, looking at Kor, Edez and Max.
“Tady da Epplaŭ,” Max said in Dregovian, and they went to the Apple Family stand.

Dumbfounded Flim and Flam looked at each other and muttered “Byrla?”

“That’s a Dregovian slang word,” Oma explained. “It means bad alcoholic beverage, usually made of fruits.”

And then girls left the stall too.

At the Apple Family stand lads bought three more kegs of cider. Although girls were very angry with them, master researcher, officer and senior physiologist, saying that they need a lot of the stuff since they are big, continued the fuelling together with Čarnabor and Tryviež.

Thus, girls and Zet’rar remained alone. Seeing this, Oma decided to follow Maud’s example, grabbed her lover and ran away to have some personal fun. Affi, Karin and Bluve, however, didn’t get upset because of this – when only three of them remained, they decided not to waste time and give it large. And they did.

The sun passed through the zenith and began to descend to the mountains. The evening was coming, and together with it – the main event of the festival, the music show.

The First Harvest Day Music Festival was a unique event: from the very foundation of the Festival it was stated that every pony is free to participate and could play any kinds of music. Such freedom made it attractive not only for ponyvillers, but for citizens of all Equestria. Thus, since there were many gifted ponies, it was long concert of good music.

It had started at 3 p.m. and soon greatest part of the townsfolk gathered near the stage at the Central Square. Ponies listened, enjoyed and rejoiced. There was music for all tastes: classic, country, rock, pop, techno, instrumental… Every volunteer and guest musician felt free to play his or her favorite song. However, the loudest and longest applauses got the favorite Ponyville musicians: Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, Lyra and Ponytones.

Ponytones sang a lot and managed to leave the stage only when the Sun had already touched the mountains. Musicians were tired, but glad. Their friends ran to congratulate them with successful performance. Zet’rar, Oma, Affi, Karin, Bluve and Sheim with Maud came to say some compliments too.

“You were awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Great job y’all!” smiled Applejack.
“For your first time, you were great, Fluttershy!” Twilight cheered her humble friend.
“Yeah!” added Pinkie Pie. “It was amazing!”
“Thank you,” musicians said. Pink-maned pegasus shyly smiled.
“It was real pleasure to listen to you,” said Affi.
“Indeed,” Sheim and Oma nodeed.
“You were here too?” bearers of the Elements surprised when they saw the researchers.
“Almost since the beginning of the show,” answered Zet’rar. “We just stood at the far end of the square.”
“Oh, we see.”
“The folk’s still applauding to ya,” Applejack said, looking at the cheering audience.
“No more songs!” Rarity protested. “We are already tired! Just look at Big Mac!” she pointed at red stallion, who was heavily breathing now. He gave a nod as a sign of confirmation.
“Oh!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed and raised her hoof. “Guys!” she turned to researchers. “Why don’t you have a try and come up on the stage?”
“What?” members of Team One were shocked and confused by this unexpected offering.
“Hey, this is really a good idea!” Rainbow Dash supported her friend. “Come on, guys! Let everypony hear some europonian music!”
“Well… Some of us can play music instruments and sing, but…” researchers uttered, but then all other started to encourage them.

They could not bear all these pleas and persuasions and soon gave up.

“Okay, we will!” they said. Ponies got happy, especially Maud Pie.
“But first we have to find Berg, Erő and Zicht,” said Oma.
“I’ll do it!” Affi said and ran to look for her colleagues.

She found the lads just in few minutes. For her own surprise, they still were drinking at the same place.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed when she saw nine empty bottles of apple brandy and full glasses in lads’ hooves.
“We are carrying out a very important scientific research!” said Edez.
“Yeah!” Max nodded. “We are trying to find can we get really drunk consuming local alcoholic beverages.”
“What?!”
“Calm down, my dear,” the first curator said. “Everything is fine.”
“And where are Tryviež and Čarnabor?”
“After the seventh bottle they said that all their chakras are opened now and went in the direction of Everfree Forest.”

After these words telepathist was barely able to say anything.

“What could we do? They are extremely powerful battle mages!”

Affi could no longer bear any more seconds of this, so just forced herself to spell “Come! We have a request,” and made lads follow her.

When she returned to the square, her friends were still talking with musicians and bearers of the Elements.

“Several songs?” Karin and Bluve surprised. “Well… We don’t know.”
“I do not mind,” said Oma.
“Please!” Pinkie Pie pleaded.
“If we will be really greatly asked…” Zet’rar spelled. Sheim gave a nod, and then all other agreed.
“Oh, here’re Berg, Zicht and Erő,” Applejack noticed that Affi returned with the rest of the team.
“So, what’s the problem?” asked Kor.
“Oh, we just want you to play some europonean music,” answered Rainbow Dash.
“Piece of cake.”
“Great!”
“Good luck!” said ponyvillers and went away.

Oma, Karin and Bluve approached their colleagues to ask where they have been all this time, but before they did it, they smelled eerily familiar pong.

“Wait, you are drunk?” Karin exclaimed.
“Don’t worry my dear!” Kor hastened to assure her. “Though we are thoroughly alcoholized now, we have retained the clarity of thoughts and good coordination!”
“True,” Max confirmed.
“Damn…” Oma winced. “You know that you smell like stinking drunkards?”
“That’s putting it mild,” added Bluve.
“No one will able to smell us from the stage,” Edez said.

Girls just rolled their eyes.

“Can you even play being in such condition?” Bluve asked.
“I’ll forget for sure how to play when I get sober,” answered Kor.

Biologist refrained from any comments.

So, researchers gathered and discussed what they will do. Bluve offered to split into three groups of three sentients and perform one song per group. Her friends supported this idea: it allowed everybody to show their talents and didn’t take too much time. It was perfect. Now they had to decide what songs each of them will play.

After some arguing they divided as follows: Zet’rar, Oma and Affi, Kor, Edez and Karin, Sheim, Bluve and Max. It was decided that first group will be playing house, second – modern instrumental music and third – dance pop. However, with the last item there was some problems: according to it, Bluve had to sing, so other researchers spent quite a time persuading their shy friend. Finally, Bluve agreed, and they were ready.

Researchers told about this to Twilight and Spike and they, in turn, told it to Ivory Scroll, who now was the master of ceremonies.

“And now, ladies and gentlecolts, let’s enjoy music what our europonean friends prepared for us!” mayor mare said and turned to the entrance to the stage. “Please!”

Zet’rar, Oma and Affi took a deep breath and went on the stage. Affi stood at the synthesizer, Oma – at the DJ mixer. Zet’rar addressed to the audience:

“Hello, dear friends. Today we are going to play to some songs that you probably have never heard before. The one what we will be play now was written by one awesome champian band, it is called “One more time”…”

He stood near the microphone and girls started to play. Short exclusively instrumental entrance part followed, and only then Zet’rar began to sing.

It was simple, repeating melody. Its lyrics were the simplest and had no significant sense – it was part of the rhythm, in fact. But together they created something, able to make everyone dance. Ponies of all ages, when they heard that, felt an urge to move. Combination of fantastic sounds of synthesizers and autotuned voice did miracles. This melody had been made for one ultimate aim: make you dance. And with proper performance by the researchers, this aim was achieved.

The dance euphoria lasted for five minutes. When the song eventually ended, audience was exhausted, but very glad. When Oma, Affi and Zet’rar were leaving the stage, all thousand ponies that stood on the Square applauded them.

Karin, Kor and Edez were next. As Oma before, Karin stood at the DJ mixer, but guys just took a saxophone and guitar and sat on the floor.

“Dear friends, now you will hear one famous europonean composition,” Edez said. “It is called “Lily was here”. Don’t worry, my dear, it’s just a title,” he smiled to one of the flower ponies, who greatly surprised when she heard her name. Then master researcher gave a nod to Karin, and they started.

Karin put on some usual instrumental music, and then, after some time, guys came into: at first Kor played a part on the guitar, then Edez repeated it on the saxophone. At some moments Kor stopped and Edez played solo. However, those repetitions formed the greatest part of the song. The rhythm was simple, but was very pleasant to the ear. It formed quite a contrast with previous song, but it did not spoil the general impression. In fact, it was even good to relax after the dancing and just enjoy the music.

They played for four minutes and finished with attenuation that soon turned into silence. Then the applause came. Researchers bowed to the audience and went away.

Then the last trio got up on the stage. Bluve stood in the center, Max was to her left, Sheim – to her right. Biologist nervously gulped, but forced herself to say:

“H-Hello, it’s nice to see you… The song you’ll hear now is called “Ordinary World”…” then she just bowed awkwardly and stood near the microphone. Sheim took place at the DJ mixer, Max took the guitar and sat on the floor.

The song started with instrumental part where Max and Sheim played together, Bluve came into later. This composition surprised ponyvillers: Bluve’s song was more like a ballad, but it was accompanied by modern dance rhythms primarily – only Max from time to time played short guitar solos. It sounded strange and unusual, but, at the same time, harmoniously. Intense rhythm formed surprisingly good combination with the ballad lyrics.

Audience remained very impressed and rewarded the musicians with loud applause. Max and Sheim bowed in gratitude like many other musicians before them, but poor timid Bluve was confused with such reaction. She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know what was worse: this or total fiasco. But her friends came to rescue: they lifted her up, portraying celebration of success, and took her behind the curtains under the cheers of the audience.

The mission was accomplished, and it was quite a success: they received almost as much cheers as already famous Ponyville musicians. And this excluding the cheers what they received from their friends when they left the stage.

Some mutual gratitude, and after Rainbow Dash’s “Come, guys! Or we’ll miss the next song!” bearers of the Elements and Spike return to the audience. Researchers were about to do it too, but Karin stopped everyone.

“Before you come back, I’d like to do one thing…” she said and turned to Oma, giving her the smile which doesn’t bode anything good. “Today you said that you’ll fulfill one my request, right?” Senior sociologist gulped. “Well, here it is,” she gave her friend a list. “I know that you worked as a DJ in your university for a while, so, I’d like you to play these soundtracks.”
“Sandstorm,” “Alphabeat,” “Derezzed,” “Greyhound,” “The game has changed,” “Arguru”… Oh!..” Oma looked through the list and wailed.
“Say, where are Max, Kor and Edez?” Bluve wondered when she noticed that lads disappeared when no one was looking.
“I guess they continue their “experiment”…” Affi snorted.
“Oh…”

There was no getting away from it for Oma. She gave her word, so she had to do it. Thus, the following two hours townsfolk enjoyed brand new rhythms from DJ PON-3 and DJ D.D.

In the late evening, when the celebration finally had ended, researchers slowly went home. Sheim said goodbye to Maud Pie, which somehow turned in long and dramatic scene, and, for his own surprise, felt that he is actually missing this obstinate mare when she left. Zet’rar helped his dearest Oma to walk after long DJ session. This day was long and full of different events, they got tired, but, despite this, they were glad.

“Say, why Spike was so grateful to you, Karin?” second curator suddenly asked sociologist.
“Yeah, what did you do to him that he was ready to kiss you?” Oma wondered.
“Well…” Karin hesitated. It was awkward. When the concert ended, little dragon came to her and sincerely thanked: when the Sun touched the mountains, he mustered up all his courage and invited Rarity to dance floor, and thanks to Max’s gift and her lessons managed to win her favor – and even more. “I just… taught him some dances.”
“Oooh…” her friends smiled.
“Now I know why Rarity started to praise Spike’s abilities so much,” Oma said.
“Our Spike is one lucky lad now,” smiled Zet’rar.
“Indeed,” Sheim gave a nod.
“We were lucky too to have such day,” Bluve said.
“Oh yeah.”
“Wait,” Sheim suddenly stopped. “What about Edez, Max and Kor?”
“They will come. Eventually,” answered Affi.

Soon they got to their house. Their imagination drew pictures of hearty supped and good nap, but when they opened the door, they dropped their jaws: huge distiller stood on the table in the middle of the living room, the floor was littered with number of empty bottles, and Kor, Max and Edez sat around the table. Their attention, however, was focused on the last element of the apparatus: burette with sparkling clear liquid and small glass under it. Kor poured some liquid in the glass, chugged it at one gulp and immediately nosedived into the table after it. Edez, seeing this, just uttered “Weakling” and prepared portion for himself. He chugged it and then collapsed too.

“What are you doing?” exclaimed Affi, finally managing to come to her senses.
“Titratin’!” cheerfully answered Max, poured some liquid for himself and soon completed the raw of the fallen.
“I’m not going to carry them!” Karin stated.
“I’ll do it,” said Zet’rar and turned to Sheim. “Help Oma get to her room.”

Planetologist gave a nod, and senior sociologist leaned on him. Zet’rar meanwhile released his dorsal limbs and grabbed his drunk colleagues by the hind legs.

“You are going to drag them?” Bluve surprised.
“Do you think they’ll be able to feel anything?” technician responded.
“Ehm… Yeah, you are right.”

And so Zet’rar dragged Kor, Edez and Max to their rooms, Sheim began to dismantle the distiller, and Bluve, Karin and Affi – cook the long-awaited supper.

Meanwhile ponies of the Second Department were returning to their Ponyville headquarters.

“Well, ladies and gentlecolts,” Hidden Path said, “we finally started to get proofs.”
“Yeah,” Cloudbreaker gave a nod. He still was surprised. “No pony is able to overdrink eastern europoneans. No pony.”
“And those three continued to booze for three more hours…” Razor Edge spelled.
“Not only that…” the leader of the group said. “The repairpony… He sang in autotune. Ponies are not able to do this without casting the special spell – if not to use magic, only changelings can do it.”
“True,” Dim Silhouette confirmed.
“And he is not a changeling, that’s for sure… And the receptionist… For such slim pony she is incredibly strong… This is suspicious.”
“Should we inform the Center?” Grace asked.
“No. This amount of proofs is not enough. We need more materials to estimate the total scale of the invasion. We have to wait.”

* – “Holy armpits of (our) commanders-in-chief! You are (friggin’) kidding!”

22. Taking an Alicorn. Again

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“Mmmmm… New cologne?” Affi smiled when Edez, Kor and Max entered the laboratory and wonderful aroma of mountain meadows filled the air.
“Aren’t this too harsh for your sensitive smelling?” Karin asked Kor with wide snide grin on her face.
“What else could I do if my reek of alcohol can be used as biological weapon?” officer answered.

Frowning Edez ordered everybody to fall silent with a gesture and turned to his fellow curator.

“We had already explored the features of alicorns,” he said. “We took Celestia, the best possible choice. Why do we need her sister?”
“Sorry to interfere, but…” Max broke in. “But does anyone know what happened to Tryviež and Čarnabor? I’m kinda worrying.”
“They are fine,” Affi answered.
“More than fine,” Oma added. “I heard when they returned from the forest they brought five tons of firewood to Sweet Apple Acres. This firewood was made of timberwolves.”
“And then they had been selling necklaces and amulets made of teeth and talons of manticores, cockatrices and hydras.”
“And rheumatism therapeutic belts made of lupi’s fur,” added Sheim.
“They earned lot of bits and decided to celebrate this dancing on the roof of the town’s mill and singing “I like to moo-moo” and… a-khem… “Golden balls”,” Bluve finished. “Probably they still are sleeping in its attic.”
“Oh…”
“Returning to where we started…” Affi broke in. “I ordered to execute another taking to find the reason of the anomaly of the structure of her mind.”
“What anomaly?” other researchers surprised.
“For sentients of the same level of development the oldest have the greatest total volume of the mind,” telepathist began to explain. “But Luna’s mind somehow is much greater than Celestia’s. Many parts in conscious block and memory block are not active. At first I didn’t pay too much attention to it – knowing her past, I thought these are fragments she wants to forget. But now, when I started to explore the scan more carefully, I noticed that these inactive parts are not just additional material, which can be easily deleted, they are imbedded and sealed. I have never seen anything like this, so I want to learn what it is.”
“So, you are going to scan her on the deep-level mind reader?” Zet’rar asked to precise.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you able to hack these seals yourself?” Sheim wondered.
“There is high probability of rebound effect,” Affi answered. “I don’t want to risk.”
“Well, then do it,” said Edez.

Affi stood at the main control panel and started to give the commands. First one activated the gravitational capture mechanism, and dark-blue alicorn slowly floated to the mind reader – big device that looked like ordinary medical tomograph – and put her in it. Second command activated the reader. Parts of the machine began to move, but unlike similar devices created by locals, it made almost no sounds. Then Affi activated the identification program. Myriads of fluxes of the smallest particles pierced alicorn’s head and began to capture the sealed fragments. When the scanning finished, the fragment was reproduced in the ASI’s memory, and only then hacking subprograms began to do their job.

The process was difficult and, thus, even hacking of the smallest sealed parts took considerable amount of time. And, nevertheless, it was only the beginning.

After five supramoments first results were finally showed: ASI displayed them on the large holoscreen right above the main control panel. Researchers looked through them and shuddered with terror.

“Oh no…”

It was princess’ memories of being Nightmare Moon.

Soon identification program managed to hack some behavior algorithms. Patterns uncovered could belong only to ruthless, insidious, cruel and obsessed person. Person like Nightmare Moon.

“…how?” Kor uttered when he came to his senses.
“Nightmare Moon is still in her?” shocked Bluve exclaimed. “I thought Elements of harmony destroyed this entity!”
“They can’t,” said Oma. “From ancient books we learned that Elements are not a weapon. Their magic influence isn’t able to kill anyone, no matter how powerful the influence is.”
“That means…” Max began to think aloud. “That means sealing was the only way how they could defeat Nightmare Moon… And Nightmare Moon was fully formed personality!”
“It’s one-and-a-half soul syndrome…” Affi spelled.
“What? This?” other researchers surprised.
“It can’t be!” Zet’rar exclaimed. “This can be caused only by primitive unsuccessful teleportations, but the ways equestrians use doesn’t have such drawbacks!”
“Not only by this,” telepathist responded. “This syndrome can be a result of failed telepathic experiments. But here…” she suddenly turned to her colleagues. “Think of her past. For very long time she had been angry with her sister and envied her. She had been trying to cope with this for decades! And, knowing that all this happened with incredibly powerful being… I can’t even imagine how big and severe the storm of her emotions was. One day the limit was reached, it caused massive burst in her ETS, emergency mechanisms of the organism were triggered and… the rest you know from the legends.”
“Goodness.”
“Okay, we got it, but what we should do now?” Kor wondered. “It’s the First Level Threat, according to our set of rules we have to intervene, but we can’t just go and say ‘You have to do something with your princess because Nightmare Moon is still in her!’ We can’t let everyone know about the mission!”

Researchers fall silent.

“It is impossible,” said Edez.
“What?” Kor and other researchers were ready to protest, but curator continued.
“It is impossible to do something without letting everyone know about the mission and our true identities. Our technologies able only to diagnose the syndrome – in order to cure it we have to take princess to Soul Architects, but, I suppose, they will reconstruct and complement both souls. It will take a dekad at least! Just imagine what will happen here if princess suddenly disappear for such long term!”
“We could set something up,” Karin offered.
“What about replicant?” asked Zet’rar.
“There is a special group that watches royalties all the time to make sure that they are all right. Even with all our technologies, it will be damnably hard to deceive them. And replicants will not work – those guys identify princesses by their magic signatures, and we can’t imitate them now. It may take twelve years to create exact imitator.”
“So…”
“Yes. In order to save the princess in shortest terms, we have to reveal ourselves and our mission.”

Affi sighed and gave a nod. Other researchers looked at each other and said no words.

“There are no other ways?” Bluve quietly asked.

Edez shook his head.

“Zet, bring her back in the castle,” curator ordered the technician. Then he turned to Max “When the alicorn’s remedy will be ready?”
“If nothing will interfere us – in forty three days.”
“Good. Now get ready, my friends. We are going to have a long talk with the HQ.”

23. Exploring Manehattan

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Kor and Karin sat on the sofa in the staff’s common room, enjoying their privacy and discussing the plans for the evening.

“How about “Le Grand”?” offered Kor.
“Nah, too fancy,” Karin responded. “I’d like something simpler.”
“Under the lindens”?”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“And then?..” Kor looked at his special pony and smiled.
“Then, I think, we both deserve a reward…” Karin said and smiled too.

They looked at each other’s eyes, smiling, sharing passion and tenderness, and Kor leaned towards Karin. They were about to merge in a kiss, when suddenly they heard loud Affi’s scream.

“YAHOO-HOO! I did it! I did it!!!”

Karin froze. Scared Kor fell down from the sofa. However, soon they came to their senses and rushed to the corridor. Their curator was still exulting.

“What did you do?” Kor and Karin wondered.
“Oh,” Affi surprised a bit when she saw her colleagues. “I’m sorry, but… Finally, after all these years… I managed not to faint examining intimate thoughts.”
“Well, congra… Wait, WHAT?” Kor exclaimed.
“You read our thoughts?” Karin resented.
“I’m very sorry, but… I badly needed someone whom I could test my abilities on,” telepathist began to explain herself. “And you were the best possibility at the moment!”

Researchers growled but then just sighed.

“Okay, forget it,” said Kor.

Karin gave a nod. The moment was ruined for sure, so officer and sociologist decided to return to the work and speak about the date plans later. Researchers and their curator went away from the staff’s chambers. Near the entrance to the main hall they met Spike.

“Oh, hi, guys!” little dragon greeted researchers.
“Howdy, Spike!” they responded.
“Can you tell me where Berg is?”
“Berg?” Kor scratched his chin. “He went with Allegro to fix the door in Emerald Bedroom, if I’m not mistaken. And why you are asking?”
“It’s just… I’ve just received a letter from princess Celestia, and it is addressed to Berg.”
“Crap!” was the only thought researchers had at that moment.
“You mean… Princess sent him a private letter?” supposed Affi, still being shocked.
“It turns out that yes.”
“Oh…”
“Okay then, I’m going to the Emerald Bedroom. Thank you!” said Spike and ran upstairs.

Meanwhile Max went into the hall. He saw Spike running towards bedroom wing and his colleagues in a state of stupor and got confused. He came closer and asked his friends what happened. After a little pause Kor finally managed to recover to say something, but before he opened his mouth Rarity broke into the main hall. Her mane was completely disheveled and her face showed great anxiety mixed with urge to kill.

“Girls!!! I need you!!!” she shouted in loud hoarse voice, and before anyone realized what’s going on, she grabbed Karin and Affi with her magic, pulled out Oma from reception table and Bluve from kitchen and, magically holding all four in the air, ran away.

Kor and Max silently watched them disappearing behind the nearest houses. Then, finally, mind reboot was over and they synchronously screamed:

“WHAAAAAT???”
“No, seriously, what the heck was that?” Max exclaimed.

Kor, still under influence of previous shocks, just shrugged.

Suddenly they heard a sound of gallop from somewhere on the second floor. Max and Kor turned to the stairs and saw Zet’rar running towards them. The technician looked extremely worried.

“What happened, Zet?” asked Max.
“It’s Edez! He is in a deep shock!” Zet’rar said.

Kor immediately realized that there could be only one reason of this. Swearing in his native, he ran upstairs. Surprised Zet’rar and Max followed him.

When they ran to the Emerald Bedroom, they saw Edez sitting on the floor near the entrance of the room. He looked into the letter with glassy eyes, his face froze in the expression of shock and disbelief.

“Edez, Edez!” Max shouted, meanwhile starting to shake curator’s shoulder, trying to bring him to life.
“Uh… Huh?” master researcher finally managed to recover.
“Are you all right?”
“I… Yeah, I’m fine, fine… It’s just… this letter, princess…”
“What’s wrong with it?” asked Kor.
“She…” Edez looked into the letter. “She says that after the meeting with ambassadors of Griffin Empire she had been thinking about me, and then, after one night when she dreamed about me kissing her…” master researcher raised his head and, looking into the void, spelled. “After that night she decided to invite me on a date…”

It seemed that Zet’rar’s “WHAT???” was possible to hear even in the very depth of Everfree Forest. Refusing to believe in it, he ran to Edez to read the letter himself to make sure that it is true. Max grabbed his head with his forelegs and began to murmur “Sialan semesta sialan saya!” Kor after another great shock for such short time just fainted.

“It is so…” confused technician spelled when he finished the reading.
“You mean, princess Celestia herself invites our Edez for a date?” exclaimed Max. “…and she mistook that act of sedation for a dream?”
“It turns out that… yeah.”
“Oh, great!”
“I… I don’t know what to do!” said Edez in trembling voice. He had hundreds of years of experience of behavior in various situations, but now he was at a loss. Life had not prepared him for an invitation for a date from princess of faraway planet which he was ordered to explore. “Oh, what I’ve gotten myself into!..”
“Dude…” Max suddenly turned to Edez and look at him. Physiologist looked like he just had had the greatest insight ever. “It’s a chance!”
“What chance?”
“A chance for you to make an informal contact with one of the most important ponies in the country and have a good time!”
“I don’t know, Max… It’s… It’s way too much…”
“Edez, the most awesome mare in whole this country invites YOU for a date! And you want to refuse?”
“Max is right…” Zet’rar spelled. “Edez, it is a great possibility for you to know each other better and, finally, have some rest! You deserve it!”
“Agree,” said Kor, standing up. “Have fun, just don’t speak about current work.”
“Ah, you’re all right!” Max smiled, looking at Kor.
“I hope so…” officer responded.
“Well…” Edez gulped. “If you think so… I’ll do it!”
“Great!” Zet’rar smiled. “Oh, by the way, what time Celestia is planning the date for?”
“Um…” Edez looked into the letter. “For tomorrow night.”
“Damn! Max, call Sheim, we have to start planning immediately!..”

So researchers began to help their curator to get ready for the big day.

And meanwhile, in Carousel Boutique…

“So…” Affi tried to sum up what she had just heard. “Since too many designers participate in Manehattan Fashion Week in this year, there are not enough models to show all the clothes they made, so you are asking us to come with you to be your models?”
“Yes!” Rarity nodded. “Since I present three new collections there, I need as many ponies as possible! I asked my friends, but… Twilight is a princess, and being a regular model is not a job for a princess! Pinkie Pie… I don’t want to hurt her, but she’ll turn the show into a circus for sure! Rainbow Dash refuses…” white unicorn glared at her winged friend.
“Sorry, Rarity, but I told you: it’s not a job for a pony like me!” blue pegasus explained herself.
“I barely managed to persuade Fluttershy and Applejack…” Rarity continues.
“Ah still don’t know how you made me to agree for this,” murmured angry Applejack.
“So I begging you,” Rarity looked at researchers, “please, help me!”
“Eh… We’d be happy to help you, but are you sure that we are good candidates?” asked Bluve, pointing to her scars. Karin, who stood near her, emphasized her short stature.
“And what’s wrong with you?” asked Rainbow Dash, looking at Affi and Oma.
“Even you, Didinga?” exclaimed Fluttershy.

Affi turned back to others and showed big scar under her mane (the very one where her appendages hided). Oma meanwhile smiled broadly, showing her eight big fangs.

“Jeez…” spelled Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Surprised Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hoof.
“You know…” Rarity said after short pause, “Models with non-standard appearance are very popular today. Pippi, your stature can actually become an advantage! Didnga, Antilipsi, your… features can be easily covered! The same is with you, Calma! Just don’t wear low-cut dresses, and nopony will see your scars! Girls, you are perfect models for my collections!”
“So, I guess, we are coming, right?” Affi said, looking at her friends and Rarity.

Other researchers gave a nod. Rarity, with tears of happiness in her eyes, was ready to beam literally.

“Okay, when we should go?” asked Karin.
“Well, the show will start tomorrow night, so we have to leave as soon as possible to have enough time for all the preparations,” answered Rarity.
“We have to inform the guys then!” said Bluve.
“Rainbow,” white unicorn turned to her friend. “Please, tell boys where we are going and why.”
“Roger!” blue pegasus responded and flew away.
“Okay, ladies, we’ll meet in an hour at the train station!” Rarity smiled.

Girls left the Boutique and went home to pack things for their short trip, which, however, promised to be eventful. The packing didn’t take too much time, so they got to the train station pretty soon. Fluttershy and Applejack arrived few minutes later, right on time. The pony who appointed the time, however, came with a thirty-minute delay. As always, with a luggage twice bigger than other girls’ stuff put together. She briefly and quickly apologized and ran to buy the tickets – train to Manehattan had to leave in fifteen minutes.

Luckily, the queue in the ticket office was small, so they quickly paid for the trip, loaded the luggage car – axles bore the weight – and took their places. Train gave the departure signal and began its way to the largest city of Equestria.

It was an ordinary train, which stopped at all the station on the route, so they’ll have to spend about seven hours on the road. Thus, they will arrive to Manehattan right before sunset. There will be enough time to check in to the hotel and have a supper in a café. And while they were on their way to the place, girls entertained themselves with chatting and telling stories – each of them had many different own adventures, so they could tell each other a lot.

When the sun was already about to touch the sea surface, the train reached Manehattan Strait Bridge. Girls sat closer to windows and looked at the panorama. Bridge spans rose sixty meters above the water, so travelers could see the city in all its beauty. Indeed, Manehattan was a very big city – Ponyville, comparing to it, looked like a poor hamlet. Densely built, with skyscrapers higher than some mountains, with long straight thoroughfares, always full of life – it was the very definition of city. Researchers were impressed. Although they spent great part of their lives in planet-sized city of Ateir, after all these month in Ponyville this city looked fantastic. Ponies of Equestria managed not only to construct 100-story buildings, but made them elegant and perfectly decorated. Truly, Manehattan was architectural marvel as great as the royal residence.

Train passed the Bridge and appeared on the long narrow trestle, which led to the Central Station of Manehattan. Skyscrapers surrounded the road, closing great part of the sky – it seemed that they are driving along the bottom of a canyon now. Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy breather with relief: the long trip will be over soon. They closed their eyes and made themselves comfortable to have a little rest before they went to the hotel. Researchers meanwhile looked around and enjoyed the view.

The very thing that defined the landscape of the city was the fact that it was built on an island. Because of this there was permanent shortage of free area, so city planners had to adapt to it: they start to build taller constructions and old buildings gradually got replaced by new ones. It made Manehattan very eclectic city: it was impossible to tell now which parts of the city are old and which are new. Architects, knowing that they are making buildings for the economic capital of the country, its richest city, created amazing constructions, each more beautiful than the last. But shortage of free area for construction often made impossible the creation of ensembles. As a result, all the streets in Manehattan now were galleries of various architectural styles. Location on an island also defined what sectors of economy developed here. Manehattan was logistics center of the global scale, it was the largest port in Equestria, but there was a little number of factories – there simply was not enough area for them. Thus, all the industry concentrated in the suburbs, and city became the center of the service sector. Financial services, logistics, mass media, education and culture – that’s what made Manehattan the way it is.

The trestle ended under the huge dome of Central Station and soon train stopped. The trip was over.

Girls took their luggage and left the station. Oma and Affi went forward to catch some taxis – since there were seven of them, and considering all the Rarity’s luggage… They needed three cabs at least. Surprisingly, it wasn’t so hard – they easily found enough cars and cabbies didn’t even demand explanations why they need so much transportation.

In a few minutes they were near the hotel, “Astra”. It was one of old, huge, but luxury hotels of Manehattan with comfortable rooms, various entertainments and lots of good feedbacks of grateful clients. Girls stopped for a moment near the entrance, admiring architecture and height of the building and went in – only to see even more amazing work of decorative art, the hotel’s lobby.

However, two big mottled figures with huge horns, which appeared from nowhere right in front of them, broke their admiration of design masterpiece.

“Tryviež? Čarnabor?” researchers surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s you!” Europonian tourists exclaimed “Thank gods!”
“You know these guys?” Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack surprised.
“Girls, this is Čarnabor and Tryviež, tourists from Dregovia,” Karin explained “We got acquainted during the Harvest Day in Ponyville.”
“Please, help us!” unicorns begged meanwhile.
“What happened?” Bluve worried.
“We lost all our diamonds, so we have nothing to pay for a room!” Čarnabor answered.
“So could you give us piece of wood or paper what you don’t need now, please?” Tryviež added.
“Ehm… Why?” surprised Applejack and Rarity.
“To make new diamonds,” Dregovians answered.
“What?” Rarity exclaimed. “How can you make a diamond from piece of wood or paper? It’s impossible!”
“Diamonds consist of carbon, and wood or paper consists of substances with high carbon content. If you’ll create sufficient pressure and heat, you can make a diamond!”
“Um… Huh?”
“Oh, we’ll better show you…”

Bluve went through her saddlebag, found an empty notebook and gave it to the lads. They thanked her and began to cast the spell.

They crossed their horns, and soon notebook shone with a bright light. Čarnabor and Tryviež concentrated and, after a deep breath, released great amount of magic. A popping sound came, and all ponies in the lobby felt a gentle heat wave. Dregovians dropped the light curtain from the notebook and… surprised girls found a dark shiny diamond instead of it.

“Et voila!” lads smiled.
“What tha…” Applejack muttered.
“Oh, we forgot to mention: these guys are extremely powerful battle mages,” said Karin.

Applejack did not respond. Only Fluttershy made a weak nervous chuckle.

“Thank you, miss Calma!” Tryviež and Čarnabor bowed to Bluve and went to the reception.
“Here our payment for the room!” Čarnabor put the diamond on the table.
“Oh…” receptionist spelled. “Okay… But, sirs, it’s…”
“Leave the change for these ladies,” Tryviež said, pointing at researchers and their friends. “After all, the feedstock belongs to them.”
“Huh, they are quite a gentlecolts…” Rarity said.
“Yep,” Oma nodded. “They look strange and a bit scary, but they actually are nice guys.”
“Thank you once again,” unicorns said. “Have a good time! Bye!” and they went to the elevator.
“E-excuse me!” Applejack raised her hoof and came to the reception. “Can ya tell us, how much change our friends left?”
“Ehm, one moment!” receptionist said and took an abacus. “Well, it’s three hundred and eighty seven bits!”
“Goodness! It’s more than enough to pay for our rooms!”
“We pay for four nights and breakfast and dinner for each of us in your amazing café!” Rarity broke in.
“Okay,” receptionist said and wrote down the order. “Anything else?”
“Wait, we still have some of these money?” Bluve exclaimed in surprise.

Girls received the keys from their rooms, showed the porters where their – or, to be precise, mostly Rarity’s – luggage was and went to their temporary apartment. Soon they settled in and were making themselves comfortable. In twenty minutes or so the caravan with luggage finally arrived, and soon a neat ziggurat of suitcases was built in the white unicorn’s room. Porters got their tips and went away. Girls helped Rarity to unpack the clothes she made and – after a quick make-up – went to the café to have the late dinner.

They stayed there until the closing time, enjoying the company of each other and delights of smorgasbord of delicious dishes. Preparations for the show began at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, until that time they all were free. So, they could afford to stay in the café for such long time and have all the sleep what they want tomorrow. Moreover, even after this they will have some time. In order to spend it with pleasure and have some rest before the show, girls decided to take a walk through the city.

When the majority of hotel guests have been already sleeping, bearers of the Elements and researchers returned to their room to meet, at last, warm embrace of their beds. Tiredness, accumulated during the day, did its job and soon girls entered into domain of princess Luna.

Good sufficient beauty sleep does miracles, so tomorrow at 10:30 girls were already awake, well-rested and vigorous. They still had time, not that much, but enough for a relaxing stroll. They had a quick breakfast and, after when Rarity agreed with porters and cabbies about delivering the clothes she made to the Fashion Center, they went to the city.

The walking tour strengthened researcher’s impressions gained during the arriving to the city. Manehattan was great, but inharmonious city – except for the street network and Central Park, there were no urban ensembles and systems. And just as colorful was the city’s architecture, so heterogeneous was the population. Seriously, one could meet ponies from all places of the world here, and they were many such visitors. No one here surprised when they saw a pony in a robe or in a turban. However, other species except ponies were quite rare there, and, speaking about griffins and dragons, there were only few representatives in the whole two-million-city. With all the problems which city already had it was very difficult to adapt it also for non-equine-like creatures. Thus, only griffins and dragons here were trade agents or ambassadors.

Labyrinth of the city’s streets was full of life and often quite crowded, but it was nice to walk along it. Rarity enjoyed grandeur and luxury of the city, Applejack, though she still had not got used to some urban rules and customs and thus got irritated sometimes, felt happy, remembering the time she spent with Orange family, Fluttershy looked around and studied the faces of passers, and researchers just let their souls to rest, feeling familiar atmosphere of huge city.

They were lone ponyvillers, slowly moving along the streets and avenues of big unfamiliar city, far from their home, but… No matter how big the Universe is and how far you are, you’ll never know when you meet someone well-known. Girls, for their own surprise, met there two good friends. Walking down the Broadway, they met Trixie, drinking a cup of coffee in a café. It turned out that now she was performing in one of the small theaters here – her “Tricky challenge” show was very popular, so one theater owner from Manehattan asked her to come with him. Since that day she became popular artist with a good contract. The second one was Time Turner – girls bumped into him right in the middle of a street. Timekeeper of Ponyville looked extremely stressed and even frightened. He constantly muttered something about moving gargoyles in this city and how fast and dangerous they are. Unfortunately, girls could not do anything to help him, and after a short conversation they had to leave him.

Soon main city clock struck one. It was about time to return to job, so girls went to the Fashion Center. Luckily, it was not situated far from their current location.

However, when they were already in few minutes from it, they met an obstacle: a cab stood right on the sidewalk. Unharnessed cabby stood near it, looking around and leisurely chewing a straw. Ponies in order to get round it had to squeeze themselves into narrow corridor between the cab and the nearest building or step on the carriageway. The cabby, however, paid no attention on this.

Despite the inherent to equestrians care for each other girls had already seen not a few examples of insolent and nihilistic behavior of ponies, but this was beyond even understandable actions.

“Excuse me, but ponies are walking here!” Applejack resented.
“Indeed!” Rarity supported her friend. “There were no other parking spaces?”
“Pardon me, but I’m waiting for a client here,” cabby responded.
“He’s standing here like this for two hours already!” said old stallion from second floor of the nearest building.
“Yes!” his upstairs neighbor confirmed.
“So what? He’s late!” cabby said.

Girls began to argue with the impudent lad, but he paid no attention to their comments or just was rude. Nothing changed even when some other ponies stood on the girls’ side. Seeing the uselessness of these attempts, Affi, Oma and Karin realized that they have to use other method to give this stubborn cool fish a good lesson. Karin was first who took an action.

While others were arguing, she came closer to the cab, and suddenly…

“Stop!” she exclaimed. When all other fell silent, she addressed the pony from the third floor. “You! Call the police!” then she turned to the old stallion from the second floor. “And you – watch this guy! Don’t let him run away!”
“What the heck ye are doing?” cabby exclaimed.
“Well, we have a gross violation of parking regulations here, so it would be better if road police will take care of this.”
“Oh you little…” the angry stallion growled, quickly harnessed himself into the cab, but when he pulled, cab did not move.
“What?” he exclaimed with some other ponies.
“Nu-uh, you are not going anywhere,” Karin smiled. “But we are,” she waved. “Come on, girls! Let the police deal with this guy.”

Other researchers and bearers of Elements followed her and soon they disappeared behind a corner.

“What did ya do?” Applejack wondered.

Karin smiled and took a small bottle of glue from her saddlebag.

“You glued his cab?!”
“Yup. It’s so-called “desert glue”, very strong one, but it dissolves in water.”
“So…”
“Policeponies know about this stuff, they’ll free this guy very quickly, but he, or, at least, his cab, will remain there until the arrival of officers.”
“Heh, nice!”
“Um, Pippi, and how did you manage to do this so quickly?” Fluttershy asked.
“A sleight of hoof and a little fraud, my friend.”

Soon they finally got to the Fashion Center. It was a huge thirty-storey ultramodern building from steel, concrete and glass, true masterpiece of hi-tech style. And, despite all its sizes, luxury and functionality, it served only for fashion shows and event connected with them. You can talk about waste of usable space here, but these shows were important part of cultural activities and provided significant part of revenues among all the events, so it was not in vain.

When the girls went into the building, they froze in amazement: they appeared in the large atrium, one of the biggest and the most beautiful what they have ever seen. An empty space of irregular shape stretched to the twenty-seventh floor, was simply, but very stylishly decorated and had wonderful lighting. Rarity and Fluttershy had been there before, so they did not surprise so much, but other girls needed some time to come into senses.

“Our hall is on fourteenth floor,” Rarity said. “The dresses will be delivered soon, so let’s go!”

Researchers and bearers of the Elements followed her, and soon they got to the place.

“Here we are, gi…” Rarity was about to open the door to models’ rooms, when Oma interrupted her.
“Wait, where’s Calma?” she exclaimed.
“I’m here!” they heard Bluve’s voice. Girls turned to where it came from and saw her friend with two stallions-helpers.
“Excuse me, please,” physiologist said. “I just had to help these two gentlecolts.”
“Don’t diminish what you did, miss!” one of the helpers said. “We won’t be able to deliver this wardrobe without you!”
“Wait, what wardrobe?” Applejack surprised.
“This kind young lady helped us to carry one huge wardrobe to the eleventh floor!” the second helper smiled.

Bearers of the Elements stared at Bluve with dumbfound expressions.

“What?” Bluve surprised. “I am quite strong.”
“And how strong ya are?” Applejack wondered.
“Excuse me,” biologist said to the helper who stood to the left from her and then in a twinkling grabbed him by a collar and lifted him above the floor. With one hoof.
“Wow!” surprised worker exclaimed.

Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack dropped their jaws. Bluve meanwhile put the stallion back on the floor.

“You know, among all of us only Pippi, Berg and Erő are able to beat her in hoofwrestling,” Oma said.
“I see…” Rarity and Applejack said.

Helpers thanked Bluve again and returned to their work. Rarity calmed herself and finally introduced her friends to the world of backstage of Manehattan’s fashion show.

When the doors opened, girls appeared in completely different world. From calm and accurate place they got somewhere which seemed to be a rather noisy and crowded bazaar. Lot of different ponies: models, stylists, designers, makeup artists, stage-hooves scurried around, the backstage of fashion show looked more like an interior of an anthill.

“Oh dear…” even Rarity was surprised. “W-well, our rooms are 26 and 27, let’s go!”

Following the white unicorn, girls went in and began to make the way to their rooms through the crowd.

It took quite an effort for everyone: to make a step without hitting other pony was a true art. However, when others were busy with making the way, Affi, who was in the center of the group, could afford to implement professional duties. New place full of new minds was a treasure for a telepathist.

Well, considering what they were dealing with now, it was no wonder that majority of the thoughts she heard was about work. Stylists and designers bothered about the best possible presentations of clothes they made, makeup artists and models got ready for very intense work, and stage ponies were intensively working right now. Just in a couple of minutes Affi managed to learn everything about modern fashion trends in Equestria. Nevertheless, there were some ponies which weren’t busy. They were sharing expressions and expectations, calmed each other or discussed their plans for the hours after the show.

Among the last group Affi noticed two mares which stood aside from everyone, in the dark end of a service corridor. They spoke a little, but they were smiling to each other, and their mental activity was very high. Affi decided to look deeper.

It was a big mistake.

She successfully tested her resistance against dirty thoughts of single sentients and heterosexual couples, but not against homosexual couples. And those two mares now were thinking about what fun in the bed they will have after the show. So, as it happened many times before, Affi fainted.

It alarmed all the ponies in the models’ rooms.

“What happened to her?” worried designers and models asked.
“I don’t now!” Rarity and Applejack answered. “She just fell down with no reason!”
“She probably fainted,” researchers started to guess what happened to their friend.

But before they gave Affi first aid, Fluttershy stepped in. And she did what researchers could only see in their worst nightmares: she put her ear to Affi’s chest.

“Her heart is not beating!” exclaimed terrified pegasus.
“Whaaaaat???” other ponies exclaimed.
“Shiiiiiiit!!!” researchers screamed in their souls.

Their exposure was a matter of seconds now. They had to undertake something immediately.

“Step aside!” Karin exclaimed and, when Fluttershy stepped back, she fell on her knees and hit Affi’s chest with both her forelegs. Affi awfully wheezed and coughed, but waked for sure.
“Ti sto diaolo?” telepathist exclaimed, wheezing.
“Oh, she’s all right!” her friends breathed with relief.
“Why you hit me?”
“It was necessary to bring you to life,” Karin said.
“Oh, re…” Affi was about to say, but then she looked into her friend’s mind and realized what happened. “Oh… I fainted again. Damn.”
“Jeez, Anti, it is a serious problem,” Applejack said.
“Indeed,” Fluttershy nodded. “You have to speak with a doctor about it.”
“Doctors had already helped me to recover after that explosion incident,” telepathist responded. “All the rest depends on me.”

The fainted pony was awake now, so others calmed and returned to their work. Soon after it a caravan with Rarity’s collections arrived, and girls had begun to prepare.

Within only five hours they had to put all the clothes on hangers, put on a good makeup and, of course, rehearse the performance and possible situations. So girls had to work in total crisis mode. In order to perform well, Fluttershy, Applejack, Affi, Oma, Karin and Bluve had to master at least the basis of the art of defile and learn how change their clothes even faster than soldiers and preserve a good look after this. Since they weren’t professional models, they had a lot of problems with the rapid learning. It was very hard for Applejack and researchers to get used to light and graceful model gait – years of fieldwork and field studies are not helping to develop such a skill. And Fluttershy had a problem with dressing: knowing that she has a little time, she got very worried and because of this became very clumsy. She had to make a great effort to calm herself and act properly.

Finally, after several chewed hooves and pulled out bunches of hair, they were ready. Now it was makeup artists’ and hair stylists’ turn to show what they can do.

Meanwhile spectators gathered in the hall. Soon clock struck seven, and the fashion show was declared open. Designers and stylists gathered behind the walls that separated podium from the backstage and crossed their hooves, and models began to demonstrate the first lines of clothes for today.

Beautiful mares in amazing dresses began to step on the podium one by one. Bearers of the Elements and researchers were among the first ones. It was evident that they are far from other models on this show, they lacked skills and professionalism, but there was one thing they had which other girls lacked: they were memorable. They were more natural, and each of them was unique: Applejack with her simple beauty, Fluttershy with her adorable meekness, Oma with her majesty, Affi with her charm of crystal pony (even if wasn’t real), Karin in her character of little mischief and Bluve, who seemed to be the most mysterious person on the show because of the necessity to wear long high-necked dresses only. They were out of standards in a good way, and that’s why they attracted the glances.

The first presentation successfully finished. Now girls had a fifteen-minute break before the show continues. In order to present other lines of clothes more stylishly many models went to change their manecut and put on new makeup, and our heroines were among them.

“I’ll make you look stunning!” Affi’s hair stylist smiled.
“Thank you, but… don’t experiment too much, please,” telepathist responded.
“Why?”
“Well, if you look deeper, you will find a scar on my nape.”
“Oh my…” stylist found it and turned pale.
“Oh yeah…”
“I’ll consider it!..”

And meanwhile in other corner of the dressing room…

“Oh my, you have absolutely gorgeous mane!” Oma’s hair stylist admired.
“I’ve got a very good gift from Mother Nature,” senior sociologist smiled.
“A good gift isn’t a word! You hair is so thick and silky… It’s a real precious! To do something with it sounds like a sacrilege!”
“Oh, don’t worry dear! I totally trust you and your sense of style! Feel free to do any manecut you want!”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course!”
“Oh, thank you!”

Oma gave stylist a nod, made herself comfortable and closed her eyes. Stylist began to create.

It was a big mistake.

“Ow!” Oma opened her eyes and exclaimed when she felt discomfort.
“Oh, I did something wrong?” the hairdresser worried.
“N-no, it’s fine! It’s fine!”

Stylist just shrugged and continued her job. However, Oma began to get more and more stressed since that moment, but she didn’t show that.

A great problem was brewing.

Finally, the hairdresser finished the manecut, Oma put on another dress and went to the exit to the podium.

“Oh, Didinga, you look absolutely gorgeous!” Rarity said when she saw Oma.

Other girls turned to her too. And they gasped in amazement: their friend looked simply divine. Hair stylist created a true masterpiece, astonishing complicated manecut, worth the greatest of galas and balls. It could be admired forever.

Bearers of the Elements and Karin and Bluve were very impressed by Oma’s new look, they even were not able to find the words sometimes, but Affi felt that something happened to her friend. She took a closer look and got horrified. If what she had seen is true, then it is time to sound the alarm and evacuate.

When others let Oma go, trembling Affi came closer and asked her quietly. She wanted to prove herself that she was wrong this time.

“Hey, Oma, excuse me, but…” telepathist whispered. “Are you, well… “triggered?”

Oma growled a bit and said “Yes”.

“What?” Affi exclaimed.
“Quiet!” sociologist hissed. “Yes, I am, but I can handle it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! Just be quiet.”

Bluve and Karin heard the exclamation of their curator.

“Uh-oh,” Bluve started to guess what happened, looking at Oma.
“What’s wrong?” Karin worried.

Without any words biologist grabbed her by hoof and dragged to Affi.

“Is she… you know?” Bluve asked.
“Yes,” Affi responded, she still was shivering.
“Tell me what’s going on!” demanded Karin.
“You saw Oma’s new haircut?” Bluve said. “Well… It seems that the hairdresser “triggered” Oma while making it.”
“WHAT???”
“Quiet!” Affi hissed.
“We have to do something!.. She needs to change the haircut!”
“We know, but… we can’t!” Bluve wailed. “If she asks this it will look at least odd. We have already almost messed up!”
“So…”
“Yes,” Affi gave a weak nod with expression of a doomed. “We can only wait and hope for the best.”
“Oh, may the Universe help us!”

And now it is time to explain what’s going on. Oma is a Yedeizan, and all Yedeizans have no hair, but have two big appendages on the head and one on the back. They are very moveable and full of nerve cells. During the creation of avatar Oma’s these parts of her body were transformed, and now they were her mane and tail. And there is one thing with these appendages of Yedeizans. This thing is… well, let’s not beat around the bush and say it right: appendages are their erogenous zone. Very sensitive one, by the way, especially to squeezing. The hairdresser squeezed Oma’s transformed appendages for multiple times and, moreover, left some of them squeezed by now, and Oma felt it perfectly. The effect wasn’t so strong as with normal appendages, however, but it presented.

But there was one more circumstance which made the situation worse: the more stimulated a Yedeizan got, the less controllable his or her passion urges became and the more indifferent he or she became when choosing a partner. And it was not only about appearance, but also about sex.

So now you know why Affi, Karin and Bluve felt the urge to leave the planet as soon as possible.

Meanwhile the second presentation started. Everything continued as usual for Rarity, Flutterhy and Applejack, but researchers stepped into their own little hell. Oma got terrible and bizarre permanently working torture device on her head, and her colleagues felt like before the execution. They tried to hide their stresses and worries, but still they were noticeable. Bluve, Karin and Affi began to walk slowly, their moves seemed to become mechanical or reflex. Oma’s gait became heavy, and she almost stopped to pose. She pressed each her step against the floor of the podium.

Somehow they managed to make it to the break. Now researchers had the last chance to prevent the disaster, but… Oma disappeared! Her stress reached the point when she lost the ability to think clearly, so instead of changing the manecut, the source of the problem, she ran away to hide in some deserted place and try to cope with the stress by herself. Affi tried to find her, looking for the traces of her mind in the building, but it turned out that extremely triggered Yedeizans possess incredibly powerful anti-telepathic ability. It also was difficult to find her using communication implants – because of Oma’s stress level they simply didn’t work well. And there was no time for trying to find her by “good old methods”.

Disappearance of Oma worried bearers of the Elements too: the break was short, and time was running out. However, senior sociologist returned right before the start of the last presentation. She looked like a hungry dragon, but with changeling’s lust in her eyes. It was so scary that researchers remembered ancient prayers of their long-forgotten religions. Nevertheless, senior sociologist wasn’t attacking other ponies and still had strength to control herself.

It was reassuring, but Karin’s, Affi’s and Bluve’s knees still trembled.

Finally, the last presentation started. Oma’s gait became even heavier, her muscles were tense. And her colleagues… they put off dresses soaked in cold sweats, and they looked at their friend with fright in the eyes.

Oma’s stress continued to grow. Affi, Bluve and Karin counted down the last seconds before disaster. Meanwhile the events ran their own course. Presentations were over soon, and time to name the best clothing line had come. Designers and their models went up to the podium and gathered at its beginning. Worrying, but hoping for the best, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack stood in the first line, and behind them were trembling Bluve, Affi and Karin and Oma who was about to go berserk sexually. Soon the host of the show went up too and, finally, delivered the verdict of the critics. And it turned out that they considered one of the Rarity’s lines the best!

White unicorn was delighted, surprised and confused at the same time. Among all the masters who took part in this show critics chose her! But she won. Encouraged by her friends, Rarity stepped forward. Host of the show gave her the award, she thanked him, her friends for the support and all the ponies in the hall for this amazing show. She bowed to everypony and returned to her friends.

At that moment Oma reached the point when she could not suppress the urge.

“Congratulations!” she exclaimed before everyone, took the unicorn in her embrace and gave her yedeizan passion kiss. A short but complete one.

However, it wasn’t enough to reduce her stress, so she moved to other her friends. Applejack and Fluttershy fell victims too, and then she turned to her colleagues.

“Oma, no…” they begged in quiet trembling voice.
“Sorry!” Oma said and did what she planned to do.

Bearers of the Elements were very surprised.

“Well, now Ah know why Allegro love ya so much…” Applejack finally spelled. Oma blushed.

Now, after when she blew off some steam, her mind cleared and she finally changed the manecut. With nothing squeezing her hair she became calm as usual.

Her friends had shown true miracles of ingenuity and somehow managed to explain Oma’s sudden impulse of passion with overabundance of emotions caused by worrying. The case was covered up, and they could focus on the main: they won the prize! It was worth celebrating.

Thus, when the organizational issues had been resolved, girls moved to the café of the “Astra” hotel.

Meanwhile three other ponies were returning to their hotel from the fashion show.

“Well, that was quite a sight,” Hidden Path said.
“Yep,” Razor Edge agreed. “A sight for any taste… Especially what this tall girl, Didinga, did.”
“Yeah, that was something,” Grace grinned. “I wonder, what could cause such an urge?”
“It all started after when she changed her manecut,” Hidden Path responded.
“Really?”
“Yes. Haven’t you noticed how her gait changed when she got new manecut? She was perfectly calm during the first presentation, but she became totally stressed during the second and third ones. Changes of clothes didn’t cause her reaction, so the manecut was the only possible reason.”
“I can’t even imagine what connection can be between this sudden passion and change of manecut.”
“If you aren’t able to guess, then no one else is able.”
“So, we still have no hard evidence, just expanded our “List of oddities of those supposedly Europoneans”, right?” Razor Edge said.
“Right,” Hidden Path said.
“Boys, let’s not talk about the oppressing, okay?” Grace said. “Say, how did you like the show itself?”
“Well, if you say so… I liked it, really,” Razor Edge said and smiled. “So many beautiful mares at one place…”
“Hey, what’s wrong with me and Dim?” Grace resented.
“You and Dim are very beautiful, bet there are only two of you. Here I was able to see a lot more girls!”

Grace growled angrily but did not answer. She turned to Hidden Path.

“And what about you, Hid?”
“Well… It was good, really. And I… I did not expect Calma to take part in it. Knowing how shy she is… But she was amazing!”
“Oh, you totally fell into her!”
“What? I…”
“Please, Hid. We know you. You can hide all your emotions but this one.”
“Oh…”
“By the way, I heard one thing about Calma before the show started,” Razor Edge said. “Designers and models said that she helped some workers to carry a very heavy wardrobe. It turns out that your special pony is quite strong.”
“Oh my…” Hidden Path said.
“Able to stun with a single kiss and strong as a dragon… You’ve gotten yourself into quite a situation, my friend.”

Hidden Path gulped, his friends laughed. Their investigation was going slowly, but became very and very interesting and thrilling.

And meanwhile in Ponyville…

It was quiet in the Castle of Friendship. Twilight and Spike had been already sleeping, and only the night guards kept their watch. Well, it wasn’t exactly right to call this group the night guards since it consisted of all the lads working in the Castle except Edez, and “kept their watch also” were not the words – because they were playing poker in the throne room most of the time. They waited for their curator to hear about how was that truly historic event.

Finally, twelve minutes before midnight, a bright white light flashed in the hall. Edez came back.

His friends quickly went downstairs to ask him.

“Well, how was it?” Zet’rar wondered. “How does it feel now?”
“To be honest, a bit awkward,” Edez said.
“Why?”
“Well, I took her to her home, as it should be, and then she teleported me here – in fact, she brought me home too. So I’m a bit confused now.”
“That’s the small details,” Max waved. “Tell us about what happened before!”
“What happened before… Well, our… date was not like how I imagined. There was nothing grandiose or extraordinary, there was no even a hint of all this royal stuff… It turned out that there is completely different pony behind the mask of great Day Princess. She is kind, curious and talkative, she likes to act simple and even be silly a bit… She loves to laugh and likes to fool around. I have spent six hours with her and had been only getting more and more interested in her… What we were doing all this time?.. Well, we strolled through the garden, had a dinner in a restaurant, in the private corner, after this just spoke to each other, listened music, danced… Man, I didn’t even know that equines are able for such moves! Later, when it was night already, we walked down the empty streets of Canterlot, and then returned to the royal garden… and there we played, like a little kids! Hide-and-seek, tag… Hahaha!.. Two thousand-year-old sentients… And then we went home.”
“You seem to have really unforgettable time,” Kor said.
“Yes, it was the best time I’ve had for centuries…” Edez sighed and smiled. “She is incredibly beautiful, absolutely adorable and had a character of gold.”
“Well, the diagnosis is clear,” Max smiled.
“What?”
“You fell in love, deeply and seriously.”

Edez could only shrug.

“Oh yeah,” Zet’rar gave a nod.
“There’s nothing wrong with it!” said Kor. “However, we gonna need to write several… dozen explanatories and deal with the council.”
“True,” Edez spelled. “But it’s not the problem! We have been through even more complicated things!”
“Right! Though not in the latest centuries…”

A tall figure in a dark cloak approached the low Waterfall Gates of Canterlot. Two lone guards who watched those gates were surprised to see a stranger in the middle of the night here. Probably it was just a tramp, but still they had to deal with him.

“Stop! Who goes there?” guards asked.
“Oh, I’m just a wandered,” the figure responded. “Came to see the capital at last.”
“We see, but, pardon me, sir, why you are still walking, in such hour?” one of the soldiers asked.
“I hoped to get to the city by day, but I’m no longer young, my legs are slow. But I have insomnia, so I can walk at night, hehe.”
“Okay, and, please, tell us again, why you came to Canterlot?” the second guard asked.
“I have never been in the capital, so I just came to see it. And don’t worry, I won’t poor around and panhandle: I collect gems from old mines, so I have some money.”
“Well, if you say so… Good luck then, sir!”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, one more thing!” first guard said. “Can you tell us your name? Just for the record.”
“Oh, sure,” the figure gave a weak nod. “It’s Quasi, just Quasi…”

24. Some Little Pranks

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“Okay, folks, that’s all for today!” Spike said to ponies who gathered in the hall. “No more appointments for today!”

Groans of discontent came from the crowd. But little dragon was right: it was seven o’clock in the evening, and princess of friendship was a pony too, she needed her rest. They sighed with regret and went to the exit.

“Phew!” Twilight breathed with relief when Edez and Kor closed the doors after the last petitioner. “Finally! Being a princess is so exhausting sometimes!”
“Well, that’s what you get for being a royalty!” Spike grinned.
“I guess you are right…”

Suddenly someone knocked the door. Twilight groaned, but before she did anything, her assistant said “I’ll deal with it!” and ran to the door.

“Appointments are over for…” he was about to say to the late petitioner, but then he saw who this “petitioner” was and exclaimed:

“Princess Luna!”

Edez and Kor hurried to open the door, and princess of the night proudly stepped into the hall.

“Good evening, princess Luna! What brings you here?” surprised Twilight said.
“Greetings, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna responded. “We apologize for the late visit, but it is of utmost importance. We require help of your guard Zicht and artisan Allegro.”
“Us?” Zet’rar and Max jumped from the receptionist corner when they heard their names.
“Yes,” princess confirmed.
“Pardon me, princess, but… why?” Twilight asked.
“To solve several personal issues. Mister Zicht and mister Allegro have the very talents we need for the solution.”
“Oh…”
“It is not for long: we promise that your guard and artisan will come back before the next night.”
“Well… I suppose they can go, since the main working time is over,” Twilight said and turned to Max and Zet’rar. “You can go with princess Luna now, right?”

Technician and biologist looked at Edez out of the corners of their eyes and saw that curator gives a nod. Then they looked at princesses and shrugged, like saying “Do we have any options?”

“Wonderful!” Luna smiled. “Mister Allegro, mister Zicht, come with us!”

She trotted to the entrance and researchers followed her.

“Oh, one more thing!” Luna suddenly said, stopped and looked at Edez.

She approached him and… gave him a slap in the face. A very strong slap – Edez barely managed not to fell down because of it.

Everyone gasped. Shocked Edez, rubbing his red cheek, exclaimed in surprised and, at the same time, frightened voice “Your Highness, why?”

“That’s for our sister!” Luna hissed with weak but noticeable anger.
“Pardon me, princess, but what harm he has done?” Kor asked.
“Thanks to your friend our sister now walks around in T-shirt with the inscription ‘Normal ponies wake up in the morning, I rise from the oblivion’ and annoys everyone!”

Several thuds came right after this. These were other researchers and Spike falling on the floor because of laughter. And Twilight… She was so startled it was painful to look at her. Her picture of the world was hit by a huge battering ram and got serious – and probably irreparable – damages.

“Okay, we don’t have so much time! Let’s go!” Luna said, goading Zet’rar and Max.

Researchers stopped to laugh, stood up and hurried up. They left the Castle, and Luna began to get ready for long-distance teleportation.

In a second before disappearance in a flash Max and Allegro heard Twilight screaming in the hall “You did what to my teacher???”

A moment later princess and researchers materialized on the balcony of Observatory Tower of the palace. Luna gracefully shook herself – after major teleportations mane and fur often become quite a mess – turned to researchers and gasped: Max and Zet’rar looked like they had spent whole day on a centrifuge which was set on fire.

“Oh my!” alicorn exclaimed. “Please, forgive me! I didn’t know that it will affect you so much!”
“Pls, dn’t wrry, Yer Highness…” Max muttered, trying to stand up straight.
“Ye, we jst aren’t used to travl by tleportation…” Zet’rar added.

After a couple of minutes researchers finally managed to recover.

“Phew! That was some shaking up!” Max spelled. “Well, can you tell why asked us to come, Your Highness?”

For some reason Luna suddenly blushed.

“Err… princess?”
“Well… You see… The matter is… Ugh!” she groaned and covered her face with her hooves. “This is so awkward…”
“…awkward?” researchers got puzzled.
“What do you mean?” Zet’rar wondered.
“The reason I asked you to come with me is to gain an advantage in a competition with my sister,” Luna finally confessed.
“What competition, Your Highness?”
“Whose prank is the best.”

Researchers got totally dumbfounded. They stared at blushing princess Luna, who hid her eyes behind her mane and wings, without a word for a minute. Then they looked at each other.

“De grootste die hebben hun eigen grillen,” Max finally said, shrugging.
“Sì,” Zet’rar gave a nod.
“You are right,” Luna said, sobbing a bit.
“Huh?” researchers surprised.
“You know Bloemlandian and Giardinian?” exclaimed Max.
“Both me and my sister know all major Europonian and Eastern Kingdoms’ languages,” princess answered. “Since usually we are the main negotiators, we have to.”
“Oh…”
“Um, pardon me, Your Highness, but can I ask you a question?” Zet’rar said.
“Yes?”
“When you came to the Castle of Friendship, you referred to yourself as “we”, and now you suddenly stopped it. Why?”
“Well, let’s say I have to maintain the reputation I got.”
“I see…”
“Come in!” princess waved her hoof. “I’ll explain everything in detail to you in the observatory.”

They proceeded to the main hall of the Tower. There, in cozy atmosphere of old-time observatory, where space flights seems to be just dreams of distant future, among telescopes, armillas, astrographs, ancient manuscripts and scrolls, maps and catalogs, they discussed the aim of arrival and the agenda.

“I… understand why you began to compete,” Zet’rar said when Luna finished the explanation. “But… why us? I bet there are a lot of good candidates among your guards, Your Highness!”
“Yes,” Max gave a nod.
“Indeed, there are many talented stallions and mares among the night guard,” Luna said, “and many of them would be very happy to get even with day guards for what they did or even with Celestia herself, but there is one little problem. All night guards are thestrals, and thestrals have… quite distinctive look. And, thus, they are easily recognizable. If they do something not in the darkness, soon all day guards will know who it was, and my subjects may have problems.”
“So you called us to take the rap for them?” researchers thought.

However, they said something completely different.

“Um, Your Highness, I afraid we have even more distinctive look than your guards,” Max said, pointing to his scars and Zet’rar’s hump.
“Well, yeah,” Luna squirmed, “but no one among day guards know you!”
“Well, some of them were with you when you came to check us after when princess Twilight hired us,” Zet’rar said.
“Oh, I bet they completely forgot about it!” princess waved. “You will look like some ponies from forgotten mining town from back of beyond!”
“Really? Is it even a common feature among some those ponies?”
“Well, speaking about scars, absolute majority of ponies at such places have them. And they even are proud of this!”
“Oh…”
“But, still,” Max broke in, “why us?”
“Because you are one of the most talented,” Luna answered. “I know how you solved the buffalo’s problem in Appleloosa and I know what you did on that magic show, Discord told me. And I made my conclusions. Zicht, you are master of scary, and you, Allegro, are the master of funny. Working together we can achieve great results!”

Researchers got quite surprised after what she said. And a bit confused: in fact, princess Luna herself have just complimented them.

“So, are you with me?” Luna asked.

Zet’rar and Max looked at each other and then turned to alicorn.

“Yes, Your Highness!”
“That’s a fighting spirit!” Luna smiled. “Oh, and for the future, call me just ‘princess’, it’ll be much easier. Or even ‘Luna’, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Err… as you say,” confused Max spelled.
“Beh, questo intensificato rapidamente,” Zet’rar said.
“O si!” Luna responded.

They left the Observatory and went to the central part of the palace.

“So, how many ponies do you want to prank, princess?” Max asked.
“Not so many,” she responded. “In fact, there are only five groups of day guards who did most of the pranks on my subjects. I want to take revenge on them. Luckily, they all patrol the palace tonight and I know where they are.”
“Well, lead us, princess!”

Luna and researchers descended from the highest tower to the “stylobate” of the palace, where almost all service spaces, utility rooms, storerooms and staff offices were situated. There was their first aim – a group of two white unicorn guards, tall and short ones, and one white pegasus, patrolling the long hallway that joined offices of castlekeepers. Princess used the invisibility spell, so they could look around without being noticed.

They were in long, curving, dark corridor with many doors, small windows and very low amount of furniture and decorations. The space for action seemed to be small, but Max saw a great possibility. He gave his friend and princess a sign and they hid in one of the offices before guards arrived.

“You have a plan?” Luna asked.
“Oh yes!” Max smiled. “Just one question: can you create a… well… some kind of space behind a mirror surface, princess?”
“Yes, such spell is not so difficult… Wait, what are you planning to do?”
“Oh, you’ll see these white guys turning pale, I swear!” researcher grinned like a villain and looked at his friend. “Okay, Al, punch me in the face!”
“Err… what? Why?” Zet’rar was surprised. Princess Luna was too.
“You know, a strong punch may cause my scars to open again. And with blood on my body I’ll look much scarier!”
“Can we use a spell or, at least, some kind of substitute?” shocked Luna said.
“Everything for the realism, princess!”
“Em, Zicht, won’t you…” Zet’rar was about to ask.
“Yep, it’ll be painful, but I get over this soon. So, come on, do it!”
“Okay,” said technician and punched Max in the face with all his might. Luna, for her own surprise, noted that for a humpbacked one Zet’rar was very fast and strong.

Max fell down like a rag doll and for some seconds looked completely lifeless. However, soon he stood up. Zet’rar and Luna shuddered when they saw him.

“You look awful,” technician said.
“Indeed,” alicorn gave a nod.
“Perfect!” physiologist grinned. “Okay, princess, do the spell!”

Luna gulped and started to cast it. Her horn glowed, and soon the same aura appeared around Max. In ten seconds magic warped his body and… he appeared behind a mirror in the hallway!

Perfect! Now the only thing he has to do is to wait.

Soon three day guards appeared from behind a corner. They actively talked about their own guys’ business, but at the same time they all looked quite tired and sleepy.

“Well, let’s shake them up!” Max thought and began to act.

Suddenly guards heard a thud.

“What was that?” pegasus exclaimed.
“I… don’t know,” short unicorn spelled quietly.
“It sounded like somepony hit something…” tall unicorn added.

The thud repeated.

“Again!” short unicorn exclaimed.
“Strange…” pegasus spelled.
“What’s strange?”
“This thud… it sounded like somepony knocked on glass!”

Guards looked on the windows, but there was no one in them – only remote lights of the city shone below. They gulped and looked at the other glass things in the hallway, mirrors. And right at this moment the thud repeated again, and one of the mirrors twitched.

“You saw that?” pegasus exclaimed.
“What the… No, it can’t be!” short unicorn said. “All these mirrors are not magical!”

Something invisible hit the mirror again, but now it was a series of strokes.

“A-a-y tell you something tries to get out from there!” short unicorn exclaimed.
“Nonsense!” tall one said. “Probably it’s just a trick. Let’s find out!”

They stepped closer. The mirror didn’t stop to shudder while they were approaching. Pegasus and short unicorn felt that the closer they get the weaker in their knees they become.

“Alright, prankster, let’s…” tall unicorn said, standing just in few steps from the mirror, when something really scary happened.

The mirror turned black and its surface crackled.

Guards froze in shock and fear. Meanwhile monster from behind the mirror, like feeling that escape is near, roared and started to smash harder. Crackles began to spread quickly. Soon guards saw the monster in the darkness. He has hooves, and these hooves were covered in blood.

Pegasus and unicorns were completely paralyzed. The fear was so strong they couldn’t even scream. But the scariest thing was only about to happen.

The monster hit the mirror the last time, and it fell apart. Monster growled, feeling freedom, and rushed forward. Now guards could see that it is a stallion, but with terrible wounds and soaked in blood. His eyes were eyes of a psycho, and he growled like a mad wolverine. It was a true beast in a body of pony.

That was the limit of scary. Guards got frightened so much they finally overcame the paralysis, screamed and run away with a rocket speed – only clouds of dust remained behind.

“That was really impressive,” Luna said, leaving the hiding room.
“Thank you, princess.”
“But it was creepy as Tartarus too.”
“So, what’s next?” Zet’rar asked.
“There is another patrol in the wing of ministers’ offices, four floors above us.”
“Well, Al, now it is up to you. I need some time for the full recovering,” Max said.
“Okay.”

Luna teleported everyone to the place and technician began the preparation for the prank.

Now everything was way simpler, but, as it turned out, also super effective. A group of unicorn guards walked down a richly decorated hallway, when one stallion said:

“Hey, I don’t remember this bust!”

The hallways of the ministers’ offices wings were full of sculptures or paintings of famous political figures of the past. There were hundreds of them placed along the corridors, but guards remembered them all – if you work in castle, you have to; besides, walking past them every second week you’ll remember them even if you don’t want to. Other guards looked at the suspicious sculpture and agreed that it was something strange in it. This ancient politician was too shaggy for a high society stallion that lived centuries ago.

Guards came closer, intending to explore the bust, when the statue turned to them and with a face of happy maniac exclaimed:

“Duuuuuuuuuudeeess!”

Unicorns, who, obviously, did not expect this, screamed in fear and soon disappeared with frightened neighing and some obscene exclamations.

“Brilliant. Just brilliant,” Luna said, removing the invisibility spell.
“Thank you, princess,” Zet’rar bowed when he got out from the fake plinth. “Are you fine?” he asked Max.
“Yes.”
“Move on then!” Luna smiled and teleported researchers to the next place.

Now it was the surroundings of the royal kitchen. It was perfect place for a prank, but there was one little problem: all guards in this patrol were mares.

“Damn,” Zet’rar muttered.
“What’s the matter?” princess wondered.
“Well, these guards are mares, and we just can’t prank girls as we pranked those guys before!”
“Oh…”
“They are quite a gentlecolts…” Luna thought and said “Okay, what do you suggest?”
“I have an idea, princess,” Max said.
“Yes?”
“What do you think of absurd humor?”

In a couple minutes later girls-guards heard a clanging sound. It was like somebody occasionally hit some pans, and it seemed to happen in the nearest kitchen. It was suspicious: usually all kitchens are closed at such hour, and because of the spells there are no pests in the castle. Maybe some servant decided to have a midnight snack? Probably. But, still, they have to check it out.

So girls went to the kitchen. The leader of the group opened the door with her magic and…

What they saw there raped their picture of the world and common sense with no mercy and then kicked them like an enraged bull.

They saw a stallion sitting at the desk. Usually it is very typical sight, but now the desk and the chair were put on an oven. The oven was on, thus, some parts of furniture were already on fire. But this didn’t bother the stallion who kept the most serious face. With his scars it made him especially brutal. The fact that he was dressed in a business suit and a bridal veil made the whole picture even more surreal.

Guards stared at him dumbfoundedly. Meanwhile the stallion cleaned his throat and said “And now for something completely different!” and pointed at one of the tables aside from him. Guards turned there and saw princess Luna dressed in some kind of mix of chef and coach suits fiercely whistling and scolding Zet’rar who was in dozen layers of lather already. And the reason why she yelled at him was that he… was making an omelet in a wrong way!

“You’ve set the temperature too high! Lower it! Lower!!! Nooo!!! Now it’s too low! Increase it! Increase it dammit!!! Good! Stop!!! Nom mix the eggs! Mix them properly! Properly I said!!! Now salt! Noooo!!! That is too much!”

…and so on.

Girls-guards without a word looked at this for a minute, then, still silently, closed the door and went away with empty expressions.

Luna and Zet’rar immediately stopped. Max jumped from the desk – just right before it got completely covered with fire – and princess extinguished the furniture.

“Well, that was interesting one,” she finally said. “But I’m worrying for mental health of these girls…”
“Don’t be afraid, princess!” Max responded. “Yes, they were shocked, but it would not affect them so much! In fact, I think they will completely forget what they have seen here in a few minutes!”
“You think so?”
“It’s one of the greatest mind tricks. If you see something so weird that it just can’t be explained, your brain will erase this memory in order to protect itself from mental damages.”
“It is really effective method!” Zet’rar added.

Indeed, absurd actions were one of the most reliable methods that the more developed civilizations used when they visited their “brothers in mind” who haven’t discovered technologies of interstellar flights yet. When someone noticed the expeditionists, they started to do weird things. And it worked! People forgot what they have seen, and even if they didn’t… Well, who will believe you if you say that you saw an insectoid alien milking your cow with his lower arms and playing banjo with his upper ones? Only psychiatrists, who will surely send you to a room with soft walls.

“I see… Great!” alicorn smiled, but then, suddenly, she shuddered a little like after shock. “Da… donuts!” she muttered.
“What’s wrong?” researchers worried.
“The last two groups patrol the living quarters and guest rooms,” Luna said. “But I completely forgot to consider other groups there!”
“Other groups?”
“Yes. There are fourteen other groups of guards patrolling those wings. We might get noticed.”
“Yep, it is a problem,” Zet’rar muttered.
“Hmm… Agree, but there is a way out!” Max said.
“What is it?”
“The same method we used for the last prank.”
“Are you sure?” Luna was surprised.
“I’m pretty sure, princess. We just have to do it quickly.”
“Well… okay!”

And then princess teleported herself and researchers to the next target. She aimed to the place where prank victims would not notice them, but, as it turned out, it wasn’t the best choice: when they finally materialized, they saw four shadows of another group of guards approaching them from the side corridor.

“Oh c… What now?” Luna nervously whispered.
“Err… A-ha!” Zet’rar raised a hoof. “Max – you’ll be a MC, I’ll be a DJ, and you, princess, will be a backup dancer.”
“Got it!” Max said.
“Backup dancer?” alicorn resented.
“We don’t have time for arguing! Just listen to the rhythm and dance!”

Luna growled but muttered barely audible “Okay.” Meanwhile guards were about to turn into the corridor. Researchers began to act and…

When the patrolling group went in the corridor, they saw something what was very hard to explain. Princess of the night together with two random stallions was partying hard in the middle of a corridor in pale moonlight. Taller stallion set the rhythm, singing in deep brutal voice:

“…Dup dep dup ta da dup tup tup! Ta pup dep dup ta da dup tup tup! Sofia, Sofia, I like it loud! Sofia, Sofia, I like it loud! Sofia, Sofia, I like it LOUD!!!…”* and so on.

Meanwhile shorter stallion was beatboxing – it sounded so incompatible, but it was what he did – techno. And he did it excellently! And princess Luna… She was dancing like a party animal. She shook and spun her head so intensively that her full of stars mane spired, forming a whole galaxy. Because of powerful “moonquake” the same happened with her tail.

Guards with no words left in ten seconds – they sensibly decided that watching this for longer period of time would be fatal for their minds. Even what they had already seen had huge effect – their memory for the last two hour was completely wiped out.

“I must admit, it really incredibly effective!” Luna said when the last shadow disappeared.
“Thank you, princess,” Zet’rar bowed.
“Your dance was amazing!” Max added.
“Thanks,” princess responded. “You were wonderful too! Allegro, you have incredible vocal abilities. And you, Zicht… you have the very voice for a rave music.”
“Uh, thank you…” surprised Max spelled. Zet’rar was flabbergasted too. They couldn’t even imagine that diarchs, the elders of this world, may listen something like this.
“Okay, moving on!” Luna commanded and researchers followed her.

Moving on tiphooves, they started to sneak to the next target. They successfully got past two other groups without letting them to notice anything, but when only two turns of the corridors remained between them and the target, princess suddenly ordered researchers to stop. She concentrated, and her horn enlightened.

“What happened?” Zet’rar wondered.

A sinister smile was the princess’ answer.

“Excellent!’ she spelled.
“Err… Your Highness?” researchers got worried because of such expression of hers.
“What? Oh, my apologies… You see, I’ve just sensed that our next victims went to check the Rosewood Apartments. This place is known to be haunted among ponies that live or work in the castle. Of course, it’s just a myth, but many ponies do believe in it.”
“Oh…”
“You know, what I mean.”
“Of course, princess!”
“Come on! I’ll lead you to the secret corridor!”

Luna took researchers to one of the nearest janitor rooms. There she pulled four secret switches at the same time with her magic, and the second from the entrance right shelving moved to the side, opening long dark narrow corridor. Princess casted a light spell and led researchers to the hidden depth of the palace.

After some turns they appeared right behind the Rosewood Apartments. From behind the wall they heard weak clip-clop. That meat guards still were inside.

Luna smiled and with a playful gesture “invited” Zet’rar onstage. Technician bowed and stepped forward. He quietly coughed and announced the tonight’s performance:

“The Aria of sinners from Tartrarus.”

Max and Luna applauded, mimicking aristocrats in a theater. Zet’rar bowed again and then began to sing. Or, to be precise, howl, wail, growl, groan, snarl and bellow. Truly hellish sounds. They were so terrifying they could scare even a real undead. Max and Luna’ thought they know what to expect, still were shocked. Physiologist turned much paler. Princess nervously gulped, and cold sweat began to flow down on her back. And guards… they all screamed like a little fillies and very soon teleported themselves away. Thus, Zet’rar’s performance wasn’t too long.

“Dude, that was really creepy,” Max spelled.
“I can’t believe that it was an improvisation! It was like you had visited Tartarus by yourself and heard it all!” Luna said. “Where did you learn this?”
“Well, let’s say after all these Europonian horror stories I got some experience,” Zet’rar responded.

The fact is he once dealt with legacy of the rotula civilization, the deadrisers. Working with the results of their works one can know all hell just in a couple of days.

“Uh-oh,” Luna suddenly muttered.
“What happened?”
“I sensed that one of the patrol groups is approaching… They heard the screams and now are coming here! Wait… This is the last “target group”!”
“Target group?”
“Yes! Oh… They’ll be here less in a minute!”
“I have an idea!” Zet’rar exclaimed. “Princess, is it difficult to cast an illusion spell on yourself?..”

Meanwhile the guards were approaching. The screams they heard came from the wing where cursed Rosewood Apartments were situated, no pony wanted to go there, but there were their comrades, and they were in trouble. Thus, fighting own fears, they ran to the place. When they made the last turn before the entrance to the Apartments, they saw that the door is still open.

“Probably they are still there!” some of them exclaimed and they ran faster.

However, when they were just about to run in, something really dreadful came from the darkness of the room.

It was Nightmare Moon. Usually it is more than enough to make even a brave one to produce bricks with his rectum, but now the situation was even worse. This Nightmare Moon has traces of decay and putrefaction all over her body. She was a zombie!

The nightmare monster groaned – this sound spread throughout the corridors, making blood of every one who hears it to freeze – and lashed out at guards.

The choice of actions guards made wasn’t extraordinary, it was pretty predictable and obvious – since it was, in fact, instinctive – but in situation like this it barely could help them to save themselves. In short, guards fainted.

Luna dispelled the illusion. Max and Zet’rar came out from the room.

“These guys are too superstitious,” biologist said.
“Agree,” technician gave a nod and turned to Luna. “Well, it was the last group. What now?”

Princess of the night made an evil smile, her pupils shrunk, but eyes lit up. Literally.

“And now it’s my sister’s turn…” and gave a short laugh of evil overlord.

Researchers gulped.

“But first we’ll have to sneak into the royal apartments,” princess continued with absolutely imperturbable expression.
“Sneak in?” Max surprised. “You mean you can’t teleport us?”
“Unfortunately, not. The royal apartments are protected by anti-teleportation barrier at night and it is very powerful. Even I and my sister aren’t able to pass through it. Also, there are some anti-magic barriers as well, so we have to get to the place by stealth.”
“Well, by stealth then.”
“But be watchful and careful! The royal apartments are filled with patrols.”
“Got it.”

Researchers gave Luna a nod and princess led them to the place. They had to cover about half a mile distance. It didn’t seem too much. But, taking into account elite guards patrols every three hundred steps, labyrinth-like structure of hallways and rooms and various cunning magical traps, this task became quite a quest. Princess and researchers had to move as quiet as owls fly, remain in shadows and avoid all possible meetings with guards. Without any strong magic it was hard to implement all points at the same time. From time to time one of them occasionally hit furniture or stepped on a creaky floorboard. At such moments they froze to listen if guards are coming. If they were not coming, they moved forward. But if they were coming… Luckily, royal apartments have big windows and these big windows have large curtains – a pony can easily hide in its folds and remain unnoticed. In result, they lost time, but remained safe.

They carefully calculated all their moves and kept an eye on everything around. It took great efforts, but it was necessary. However, even the most careful calculation doesn’t guarantee absolute safety.

When they were about halfway to the royal apartments, they almost ran into a patrol group – one of the officers changed his plans and led his team to check another hallway. This time curtains saved princess and researchers – who were fast enough – again. They swore to be more attentive next time, but is it possible to predict when another crazy thought hit the brain of another person? Not even gods may be able for this.

Thus, Luna, Max and Zet’rar, when they had only three corridors to pass before getting into bedroom section, almost ran into a patrol group again – when they heard hoofsteps, guards’ shadows were already visible from around the corner. Researchers gulped – the corridor they were in had no windows and no curtains. They can’t hide! They were about to panic. Luna, however, kept her head cold – sometimes experience of hundreds of years of stressful situations becomes really useful – and preserved her reaction. She noticed a cleaning equipment closet in several steps behind her, opened it, grabbed researchers with her magic and pressed them into the closet and then jumped in herself. She closed the door right before guards went into the corridor.

The closet was small even for two petite maids to hide in, now there were three ponies, and each of them was larger than average one. So it wasn’t very comfortable inside.

“Quiet!” Luna hissed on researchers who tried to find a position that could allow them to breathe. “Or they’ll notice us!”
“Okay…”

A sound of hoofsteps came from corridor. Princess and researchers took a deep – as much as they could – breath and froze. Sounds got louder, indicating that guards are approaching, and soon their source appeared right in front of the closet. Luna, Zet’rar and Max were in cold sweat, but kept silence. Hoofsteps then began to quiet down. Nevertheless, it was too early to breathe with relief, but…

“Umm, princess?” Max whispered.
“What?” Luna hissed.
“I don’t want to insult or offend you, but… You are very, very attractive mare, but you are pushing me in the area below navel with your hip and you are wiggling at the same time… And it causes relevant physiological reaction.”

After these words Luna paused and felt what he was talking about. Literally, with her skin. Her face started to gain red color.

“The same here,” Zet’rar wheezed quietly. “Excuse me, princess, but your tail is between my hind legs…”

Luna’s face was just in one step from glowing like a nightlight. Luckily, the patrol walked away meanwhile, so they could get away from the closet. Immediately after it Max and Zet’rar got some strong hits upside the head.

“Ouch!” researchers whined, scratching their napes.
“You are absolutely discourteous!” Luna said and stomped. Her face still was red.
“Excuse us,” Max spelled. “But… It was physiology! We couldn’t do anything with it!”
“Argh!.. Fine! Let’s go!”

Princess ran forward and researchers followed her. Soon they appeared near big wide dark door. Luna came closer to it, her horn lit up, and the door began to rumble and rattle, like there was giant lock mechanism inside it.

“What is this room?” Zet’rar asked and at this moment the door opened.
“My apartments,” princess responded.
“WHA…” before researchers exclaimed Luna shut their mouths with her hooves, pushed them inside the room and quickly closed the door.
“Stay here for a while,” she said. “I have to make sure that Celestia is awake.”
“Err… Okay…” technician muttered.
“Princess, are you sure about such decision?” surprised Max asked.
“What decision? To leave two stallions alone in my room? Please! It’s not the first time when I do something like this.”
“Oh…”
“Make yourself comfortable! You can walk and look around, if you want. But don’t open the closets!” Luna said and went away.

Surprised researchers remained alone in the bedroom of one of the diarchs of Equestria.

“Well, that’ll be unusual experience…” Max muttered after a pause.
“Oma will surely kill me,” Zet’rar gulped.

After some more time they finally put themselves together and looked around. Well, they surely were in a room of a royalty: large, high-ceilinged, with rich and exquisite decorations. And, at the same time, there were no unnecessary things: for instance, here, in a living room, there were only two sofas with pillows, three armchairs, two big bookshelves which also served as a souvenir and gift exposition, a coffee table and, of course, a fireplace. Everything was made in dark or semi-dark and blue colors, making the room a little but comfortable domain of the night.

From the living room researchers moved to the cabinet. Luna’s personal workplace turned out to be a big table filled with papers and books among huge bookshelves – quite typical for a theorist magician. It seemed to be surprising, but princesses of Equestria were not fastidious ponies, so…

The next room was the sanctum – or, to be precise, the royal bedroom. And again there was nothing extra in it: bed, two nightstands, three wardrobes and several paintings as a decoration. Everything was made in truly royal style, elegant but practical, and size. Especially the bed.

“That’s some f-drome,” Max said, looking at it.
“You don’t say,” Zet’rar responded.

And, finally, they decided to take a peek into the bathroom. Well, despite the sizes it was usual bathroom except one thing: there was an easel with a blank canvas in one of the corners of the room. Why it was there? Well, it wasn’t possible to answer this question straight away. Probably princess was going to practice in drawing, but then changed her mind and since she was too lazy to disassemble it, she just put it where it won’t cause any troubles. But, still… Great ones have their own oddities.

“An easel. In a bathroom,” Max spelled. “Nice!”
“Unusual place to practice in drawing,” Zet’rar said.
“I’d say specific.”
“Maybe… Hey! It gave me an idea!”
“What idea?”
“Watch this!” technician said and took a brush.

Meanwhile Luna returned from her mission. As she hoped, Celestia went to the kitchen for a midnight snack, so they may act. But researchers were absent in the living room.

“So they decided to take a look then,” Luna smiled and went for her helpers.

She found them in the most unexpected place.

“Hey, what are you doing in my bathr…” she was about to exclaim, but then noticed that lads – who now looked like little guilty colts – put a fine example of calligraphy on canvas. She came closer to read it. It was a quatrain. The text was the following:

Don’t you dare to drink from toilet!
Water there is bad and spoiled!
Flush the water, clean the sink,
Blow the foam, and you can drink!

“Great!” she exclaimed and laughed. “Just great! You wrote it by yourselves?”
“Well, it’s a translation of one humorous Europonian quatrain,” Zet’rar specified.
“Still, it’s great! I’ll put it in the Tia’s bathroom!”
“By the way, about your sister,” Max intervened. “Can we act and what’s the plan?”
“Oh, well, she woke up and went to the kitchen for her midnight snack now, but what about the plan… Honestly, I didn’t think about it!”
“Hmm… This is a pr… Wait! I have an idea! Princess, is there an elevator on Celestia’s way?”
“Well, yes.”
“Great! Come on! I’ll explain everything in detail on the way!”

Twenty minutes later full and happy princess Celestia was returning to her bedroom. Five cherry and lemon muffins at 2:30 a.m. weren’t the best thing for health, but is one pound overweight such a problem when you get joy and gladness in result? Besides, a sleep is always better after a good snack.

Well, she almost had come to the place – the elevator that joined apartment floors and kitchen floors. Yawning, princess pushed the button. Mechanisms activated and elevator’s doors began to open. White alicorn made a step forward but then froze and her somnolence began to vanish quickly: music sounds came from inside of the elevator.

Meanwhile the doors opened fully and when it happened the remains of princess’ somnolence were immediately blown away together with some parts of her sanity: there were two stallions in the elevator. One of them danced while standing on his hind legs and keeping crazy expression. Another was lying on his stomach on the floor between legs of the first one, unlike his partner his expression was pretty serious and brutal – partly because of the shades – and he sang:

“Naneun sana-i
Jeomjanha boijiman nol ttaen noneun sana-i
Ttae-ga dwehmyeon wahnjeon michyeobeorineun sana-i
Keunyukboda sasangi ul-tungbul-tung-han sana-i
Keureon sana-i!”

Princess Celestia was struck dumb. She wasn’t able neither to say anything, nor to move. She just stared at the madness in her elevator before the doors closed and elevator itself moved downwards somewhere in the utility rooms. Only then she finally managed to put herself together, and when she did it, she had no choice but exclaim:

“What the heck was that???”

At the same time researchers quickly left the elevator and ran to Luna’s hiding place. When they arrived, princess of the night was laughing hysterically.

“Priceless!” she said through laughter. “Brilliant! Ha ha ha ha!!! I’ll never forget that expression of hers!”
“It’s our pleasure to be of service,” Max and Zet’rar responded.
“Say, I didn’t expect you to know so much about modern music of Easter Kingdoms. It was from Cowrea, right?”
“Some of our friends moved there in searches of a job and we maintain the contact, so we know something about what happens there. And, yes, you are right, it was one of the biggest Cowrean hits of the last years.”
“I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, but it’s very catchy.”
“Oh yes it is.”
“Well, gentlecolts, we have completed our mission. Thank you very much for your help and… please, follow me.”
“Umm, why?”
“You deserved a reward for what you did. So, come on!” Luna waved and opened the entrance of another secret corridor with her magic.

A couple of minutes of wandering along narrow corridors and climbing steep stairs and, finally, Luna opened the exit secret door. She stepped into the room and turned the lights on. When it happened, researchers who just were about to leave the corridor too froze in surprise: they returned to princess’ apartments.

“I don’t understand… Princess, why you brought us back here?” Max sincerely wondered, staring at the interior of princess’ living room.
“Well, I can’t teleport you home until the barriers will be deactivated,” Luna explained. “And it will happen only in three hours when Celestia finally wake up. You have to spend this time somewhere, and my apartments are the safest place for you now. This is the least I can do for you.”
“Thank you very much!”
“Please, don’t. It is I who must thank you, thank for your help and ideas. You are really full of surprises, mister Zicht and mister Allegro. And amazing. It seemed for me tonight that you are able to make a plan in short terms under any conditions!”
“Thank you, princess, but it would be an exaggeration,” Zet’rar said.
“No, I really think so! It was you who planned almost all of our pranks this night!”
“Well, yeah, but…”
“Don’t underestimate yourselves!”
“We don’t know…”
“Okay… As a diarch of Equestria I demand you to create me a plan of how to prank my sister without leaving my apartments at current time this instant!”
“Wha-what???” researchers exclaimed.
“You heard the order.”
“You aren’t playing fair, princess!”
“I have a right, so obey.”

Max and Zet’rar growled but soon gave in – what could they do against mighty alicorn princess? They sat on the floor and began to think.

“Well, I think there is one method…” Max said after three minutes of cogitation.
“Yes? I’m listening,” Luna smiled.
“There is a way to release a part of magic energy in form of poltergeist, partially controlled poltergeist. You can set approximate area of its activity and – if you are lucky and strong enough – even choose some forms of its activity.”
“Poltergeist?”
“Yes. In Europonia we often deal with various forms of devilry and managed to study them a bit.”
“Interesting… There is a special spell for that?”
“Yes, there is, but I don’t know it – I didn’t learn it since I’m an earth pony after all. But the same could be achieved by special massage and I know how to do it.”
“Excellent! Can you show it?”
“If you insist, princess…”
“I insist!”
“Well then come to a sofa and lie down on your back.”

Princess came to the biggest sofa in the room which was near the fireplace and lay down on it. Max followed her. He stretched his forelegs and began the massage.

“Oh!..” Luna suddenly exclaimed with a smile on her face. “Mister Zicht… You do miracles with your hooves! This is simply divine!”
“Thanks, princess.”
“Oh… Wow! Amazing massage!.. If it’s how you usually do it then, I swear, I’ll take you from Twilight’s Castle and make you my personal masseur!”
“Err… This flatters me.”
“Mmmmm! Wonderful!”

After two more minutes of massage researcher said:

“Princes, get ready. The release won’t be powerful but still you will feel a bit uncomfortable.”
“That’s a pity. I don’t want this bliss to stop!”
“It’s just a demonstration, remember!”
“Oh, okay…”
“Now, for a moment it’ll be very painful, but not for long.”
“WHAT?”
“Cowabunga!”

And Max did the last move – to push acutely the point right below the sternum. Luna gasped, her horn flashed and… For a dozen seconds a true nightmare spread across the whole room. Bookshelves shook like because of powerful earthquake. Fireplace seemed to turn into angry dragon’s mouth and spewed huge flames. Sofas, armchairs and coffee table few up in the air. Some paper sheets and a quill caught on fire and in a second turned into ashes. A little crackle appeared on the wall near fireplace and water started to flow from it. Zet’rar suddenly fell down like something pushed him. All this finished abruptly when princess’ horn stopped to glow. Furniture stood still, fire calmed down.

“Indeed, indescribable feeling…” Luna muttered with a silly smile on her face and dozed off.

Researchers managed to wake her up after some time and Max apologized for what he did. For his own surprise, princess said that he has nothing to ask for forgiveness since now she has powerful weapon against Celestia in their prank battle. Also princess forgave researcher for the crackled wall because it was easy to repair with magic, which she did right after.

And, as it was promised, researchers were richly rewarded – not financially, however, but still it was generous: a princess’ kiss worth a lot.

But life is not all beer and skittles and in case of Max with reward he got a responsibility. Responsibility of the secret masseur of the night diarch. Once a week.

Some time later, in the office of the Second Department of Secret Service of Equestria…

“Hmm… Despite the fact that their humor sometimes was quite specific, I don’t see anything suspicious,” Razor Edge said, looking through the latest file.
“Wait, what about this “controlled poltergeist” thing?” Cloudbreaker surprised. “I have never heard about it! Even the craziest Equestrian villains haven’t thought about it!”
“Well, Europonians do have some materials about poltergeist, about its causes and about how to affect it,” Dim Silhouette responded. “Because, well, such things – “devilry” as they call them – are more widespread in their lands and they had some serious studies on the topic.”
“You mean, they could just learn about this from such materials?”
“Yes.”
“You are right, Dim, but there is one circumstance,” Hidden Path said.
“What circumstance?” unicorn surprised.
“Great part of these materials is secret military research – only relatively small part is freely available.”
“Oh…”
“I know, some of them are from military academies, but still there is a question: where they could learn such things?..”

In old part of Canterlot, in the evening before Luna’s, Max’s and Zet’rar’s prank adventure…

“I’ve always said ‘never judge a book by its cover’!” said old unicorn-homeowner, leading the new tenant to his apartments. “And you prove it as no pony else, mister Quasi. I haven’t met such a gentlecolt for a long time!”
“Thank you ma’am,” the new tenant responded.
“You are really nice young stallion. But, pardon me, your cloak is more suitable as a costume for Nightmare Night than as everyday clothes.”
“I see. But, you know, it’s just a part of an image!”
“Image of a tramp?”
“Let’s say image of a poor wanderer.”

Old unicorn smiled.

“You are really nice pony. Well, here are your keys,” she said and gave them to the new tenant with her magic.
“Thank you.”
“And one more question: for how long you are planning to say here, mister Quasi?”
“I don’t know exactly. About two months, maybe.”
“I see. Well, good luck then! Have a good time!”
“I hope that it will be so, ma’am. I hope so…”

* since ponies have quite specific methodology of choosing the names, “Maria”, as it is in the original version, is not a good option, so I replaced it with a consonant word (from Greek).

25. Particular Process

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The greatest adventures, epoch-making events and scientific breakthroughs tend to begin with insignificant things and right out of the blue. The story of how scientists of Team One made first detailed description of formation of cutie marks of ponies of Gaia was one of them.

It started at ordinary workday afternoon. Oma and Karin have nothing to do at the moment, so they were looking through fashion magazines together with Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy. Edez and Kor, as always, were on their phlegmatic duty. Sheim’s cheerful singing and water gurgling were coming through opened windows. Rasping sounds came from the second floor of the Castle from time to time, indicating that Twilight ordered Zet’rar to rearrange the furniture in the library again. Everything was as usual, when suddenly a bright white flash lit the hall.

“Thank for the lift, darling!” Affi’s voice came.
“No problem, my dear!” followed Discord’s voice. Meanwhile light vanished, showing the ones to whom these voices belonged. “It’s my pleasure to serve such charming and talented lady!”
“Oh, you old flatterer!” Affi smiled and gave Discord an air kiss. “Antio!”
“Antio!” Spirit of Chaos bowed to her like a knight and then teleported away with beatific smile.

Curator researcher watched him off and was about to trot to the second floor to get back to work, when she felt something strange. She looked around and saw that everyone in the hall were staring at her. Kor and Edez even dropped their weapons. And there was Sheim’s surprised face in one of the windows. The window was five meters above the ground, by the way.

“Emm… Huh?” Affi sincerely surprised.
“Well, that was something,” finally Edez managed to say some words.
“How in Equestria did ya manage to win his favor?” sincerely surprised Applejack.
“What did you do to make Discord so happy?” Fluttershy wondered.
“Um… I sang to him,” Affi answered.
“Oh…”
“I see you decided to use your trump card without delays?” Oma grinned.
“Well… Yeah!”
“I’m still amazed with the result, though.”
“Congratulations!” lads bowed to her.
“Hey, stop it!..”

Revolutionary breakthrough in the relationship of Affi and Discord was sudden, even for the telepathist and the spirit themselves. However, it wasn’t the event that started the new adventure.

Excitement and surprise hadn’t appeased yet, when another intrusion happened. It turned out to be much more devastating than Dicrord’s, though intruders possessed miserable magic powers in comparison with the spirit. The main doors swung open and group of three fillies without saying hello rushed towards the receptionist’s table. Despite the low number, these little ponies almost knocked Edez and Kor down. Neither sizes and strength of stallions, nor their heavy armors could help them. Seeing this and realizing that the receptionist’s table is about to become a crash site, Bearers of the Elements and researchers got ready to evacuate instantly from there, but juggernaut filly squad stopped right in front of it.

“ApplejackRaritycomewithuspleaseweneedyourhelpitisurgently!” the squad exclaimed in one shot.

Applejack and Rarity sighed, feeling that something what they’ll regret later is about to happen.

“First, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, it’s rude and extremely impolite to break in like that,” Rarity began. “And, second, why do you need our help right now?”
“We need an adult pony to assist us in another crusade!” fillies responded.
“Ugh…” Rarity and Applejack sighed for the second time.
“Why don’t ya ask somepony else?” wondered Applejack.
“Well, Pinkie is busy with baking at the moment…” Apple Bloom said.
“…and we couldn’t find Rainbow Dash anywhere,” Scootaloo continued.
“Grrr… She’s probably sleepin’ in mah orchards again!” Applejack growled.
“I guess so,” spelled Fluttershy.
“Umm, what’s this “crusade” thing?” Oma wondered.
“That’s how they call their attempts to get cutie marks,” Applejack explained. “They call themselves Cutie Mark Crusaders, after all.”
“So, you can’t go?” Sweetie Belle asked her sister.
“Sweetie, dear, I know you want us to spend more time together, but we are tired and active recreation is not the best option for us now,” Rarity said.
“Oh…”
“Wait a minute!” Apple Bloom suddenly exclaimed. “That’s it! Ask somepony else!” and then she turned to Oma, Affi and Karin. “Miss Didinga, miss Antilipsi, miss Pippi, could you help us?”
“Huuuh???” not only researchers were surprised by this request.
“Right! Oh, we can also ask them and their friends how to get our cutie marks in sciences and foreign languages!” Sweetie Belle supported her friend’s idea.
“Sweetie Belle, you are genius!” Scootaloo smiled.
“Wa-wait a minute!” Karin broke in. “What was that? What are you talking about, girls? What kind of help do you need?”
“Well, we were going to try get our cutie marks in synchronized swimming, so we need somepony to judge us,” Apple Bloom explained.
“And watch us if something happens…” Sweetie Belle added quietly.
“And if we won’t succeed, could you help us to get our cutie marks in sciences or foreign languages?” Scootaloo finished.
“Okay… But don’t you think that synchronized swimming and foreign languages are a bit different things?” Karin wondered.
“Well, yeah, but we keep trying everything in order to find our true talents!” Scootaloo said.
“You must be desperate to get your cutie marks if you keep acting like this,” Affi said.
“You don’t know how much you’re right,” Rarity and Applejack said with gloomy faces. Because of this, their younger sisters rewarded them with intense glares.
“Okay… And who exactly you want to see as your helpers?”
“If all of you could assist, we would be very grateful,” Sweetie Belle answered.
“I see… We have to discuss it,” Affi said and exclaimed. “Calma! Zicht! Lierre! Come here!”

Her loud voice was super effective and soon Bluve, covered in flour, Sheim, covered in dust, and sleepy Max were in the hall. Affi said them “We got a case” and asked all her friends to stand in circle.

For the purpose of secrecy, they switched to the least understandable for equestrians Europonian language – Pusztian.

“Here’s the deal: we have three little fillies asking us to help them get their cutie marks. What should we do?” Affi asked.
“Wait, asking to help get cutie marks?” Max said. Telepathist’s words immediately banished his drowsiness.
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
“Well, there have been several studies on cutie marks conducted by our Team and Teams Two and Three, but there were no detailed studies on how do they appear. Exact physiological, biophysical and biochemical mechanisms are still unknown.”
“Especially considering that our own “marks” are nothing more but pigment spots,” added Bluve. “Besides, appearance of cutie mark seems to have strong sociopsychological context.”
“Indeed,” Karin and Oma agreed.
“So, you think we should help them and, at the same time, make these little fillies objects of study?”
“In this situation we have no other option.”
“Okay, and what about HOW we should help them?” Karin asked. “Because assist them in all the activities they can think of is madness!”
“Agree,” Edez said. “Thus, I offer from-actions method.”
“It’s pretty easy technique. Do you think that it will be effective now?” wondered Affi.
“Simple ways are often the best.”
“They asked us to help with sciences and foreign languages. What about this?” Kor asked.
“Well, these girls look like they had already tried to get their cutie marks in sciences what we taught them once, so… I think they just want to try again, “do the thing properly”, so to speak.”
“Right…” Affi gave a nod. “Well, it’s settled then.”

Researchers broke the circle, Affi turned to Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Okay, girls, we will help you,” she said. Crusaders rejoiced, but Affi interrupted them right in the middle of their “YAY” “However, we also tell you that our help will be different from what you expect.”
“Huh?”
“Whaddya mean?” surprised Apple Bloom.
“Well, try everything what you can think of is not the best way to find your talent and cutie mark, don’t you agree?”
“And, speaking about helping with science and foreign language cutie marks, we are pretty sure that you have already tried this. Isn’t it true?” Edez grinned.
“And, as far as I remember, cutie mark should appear immediately after finding “your” thing, right?” Bluve added.
“Right,” fillies sighed and looked down.
“Then what do you suggest us to do?” wondered Scootaloo.
“There is one method that allows make quite detailed description of person’s character and preferences basing on his or her behavior,” Affi began to explain. “Using this description a psychologist can select the thing which can become person’s destiny. In your particular case, the thing you can get your cutie marks for.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Wait! How ya gonna make these descriptions?” Apple Bloom wondered.
“Simple: we’ll be watching you,” said Karin.
“What?”
“You can’t make an observation without looking at the object, right? But do not worry: it will take only a day and you will not notice our presence. Act like you usually do.”
“Only one more thing,” Oma intervened. “Try to spend less time “crusading”, okay? Otherwise the results of observations wouldn’t be truly objective, and we may have to watch you for more than one day.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Um, pardon me, but how are you going to perform the observations without taking break from your duties in the Castle?” asked Fluttershy.
“We’ll be watching them one by one and take over for each other,” explained Sheim. “Thus, at least six of us will be in the Castle at any moment.”
“Heh, that may actually work out!..” Applejack smiled.
“Okay, so, when you’ll start your observations?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Sorry, dear, but it’s a secret!” Oma responded.
“What? Why?”
“To make sure that you will act naturally. We can only tell that it will happen soon, but when exactly – sorry!”
“Okay…”
“So, do you accept our conditions?” Affi asked the Crusaders.

Fillies looked at each other and simultaneously nodded “Yes!”

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle left the Castle, and researchers and Bearers of the Elements returned to what they had been doing. Meanwhile they began the preparations for their “combined study”.

Comparing to many previous surveys this one was quite easy. However, there were some issues.

In the evening of that day, when Twilight and Spike had already gone to bed, Max, who came to the staff chambers to see off his friends before the beginning of his shift, suddenly distracted from everything around, sat on a sofa and took a deep thought.

“What’s wrong, Max?” Bluve worried.
“I’ve just realized…” he spelled. “How exactly we are supposed to make observations and records?”
“How? Well, it’s…” Oma was about to start.
“No, I’m not talking about observations as a whole, I’m talking about physiological records. In order to understand the process we need detailed continuous scanogram, but how we should make it?”
“Umm, can you specify for a profane?”
“Look, there are only two ways of how to get the continuous scanogram of particle resolution: by ray scanners and by nanite detectors. However, each way has a catch: if you use the scanner, you must be near the object of observation all the time (and the maximum distance is limited), if you use the nanites, well… nanites must be IN the object of observation. No other options.”
“Wait, you mean?..”
“Yep, we have to either act as creeps who watch little fillies and risk to get bad reputation or stuff the fillies with micromachines.”
“Jeez…”
“Umm, there is really no other options?” Karin wondered.
“Nope. And that’s a problem. What should we do?”
“What do you offer?” Affi asked.
“I tend to apply nanites. Girls might get weak for a couple of day when we’ll finish, but we avoid any suspicions.”
“So… how do you plan to do it?”
“Stuff some sweets with nanites, then let the fillies eat these sweets two or three days prior to start. There’s nothing difficult, but… the ethical side is what bothering me.”
“Well, if there is no other variants,” Edez spelled and looked at Bluve. She shook her head. “…then do it.”
“Okay…”

The issue had been settled, and researchers began to wait for the weekend – only in Saturday and Sunday they had enough time for observations, and Crusaders had the best possibilities to express themselves.

But first they had to provide the examinees with the necessary tools.

In order to do it, researchers used a little trick: they learned when Crusaders would come to the Castle next time, and by this term Bluve prepared some biscuits to treat fillies. She hadn’t such confectioner’s skills like Mr. and Mrs. Cake or Bon Bon, but when it came to biscuits she could be quite a rival for them. In order to hide the metallic taste she made the biscuits extremely sweet, but Crusaders had nothing against it. Moreover, they said it was very tasty and then ran away being even more active. Bluve saw them off, hoping that increased by sugar metabolic rate will help them to assimilate the nanites without difficulties.

Her prediction turned out to be right: nine hours later that day Zet’rar and Max managed to connect successfully with the nanites assimilated by Crusaders. Now they had to do only one thing: to distribute their responsibilities of observers. They agreed that Edez, Bluve and Max would watch Scootaloo, Affi, Oma and Kor – watch Sweetie Belle, Zet’rar, Sheim and Karin – watch Apple Bloom.

The next day was Saturday. It was possible to begin the survey, so Edez, Oma and Sheim went to make notes.

Field observations may seem boring, but in special conditions they can become quite an adventure. Here, having the most eager for new experiences fillies, it became true.

Scootaloo from the very first minutes of her day showed that she’s into healthy lifestyle: right after making her bed she began to do some exercises. From simple sit-ups and push-ups to acrobatic movements. It impressed Edez a lot: such skill at such age! However, soon he changed his mind. After all, Scootaloo was a very young pegasus, she still had to learn more and work on some difficult exercises. Because while she was doing another somersault, she hit one of her figurines of comic book heroes. It flew out from the window of her room and hit Edez right between eyes. The figurine was made of wood, so it ricocheted from researcher’s forehead without a scratch right back into filly’s room. Researcher fell into dense green fence. This coincidence helped him to remain unnoticed, but, at the same time, his observations had twenty-minute gap because of this.

When Edez finally recovered, Scootaloo – probably – had already finished her breakfast and had been preparing to earn some pocket money – by delivering newspapers. She went to the post office, took a pile of papers and magazines from postpony on duty and started to bring the orders to the subscribers. She had to drive across the whole town, but it took her only an hour and a half to make all the deliveries – combined use of both wings and legs for propelling a scooter gave her great advantage.

Having earner her deserver twenty five bits, Scootaloo went to the Sweet Apple Acres. There she found Big Mac and asked him a permission to use one of their sheds. Red stallion allowed her to do what she want without asking any questions. He might know well why she’s asking it, but for Edez such behavior was unusual. Thus, he followed Scootaloo to the farm. And, as it turned out, little pegasus used the shed as a training ground: she climbed on the roof and then jumped down on a haystack, trying to force herself to fly. She was very persistent, but all her attempts weren’t really successful – she managed to hover in the air for some seconds, but then fell on the haystack. After an hour she got tired and decided to take a pause in physical activities and go home. And Edez passed the observer’s post to Bluve.

Meanwhile Oma had been watching Sweetie Belle. Little unicorn was active since the early morning – which, however, had started at 9:30 for her – and began her day just like ponies in Easter Europonia say – “rise and sing”! Yeah, it’s possible to understand that you are ready to sing and dance if you are in good mood, but when your sister is exhausted and angry after an all-nighter, it’s not the best thing to do. In this particular case, little unicorn had to hide from her enraged sister for thirty minutes.

Eventually Rarity calmed down and Sweetie Belle asked for forgiveness. Rarity forgave her and even allowed her sister to make breakfast – although she limited the number of ingredients, allowing Sweetie Belle to use only cereals. Nevertheless, young unicorn managed to show her cooking abilities even in such strict conditions and made tasty breakfast by adding honey and cinnamon in milk. Rarity appreciated it. However, she also complained that such high-calorie breakfast isn’t good for one’s figure.

After the breakfast Rarity proceeded to dress-making, and Sweetie Belle went to her room and start to draw. She had been doing it for two hours at least, but Oma didn’t manage to see what young pony was drawing. She found it only when Sweetie Belle brought a pack of her drawings to Rarity. Turned out that all of them were designs of dresses. Childishly tacky and fantastic, but, still, with some charm. By the Rarity’s expression it was obvious to say that it’s not the first time when she receives “creative support” from her sister, however she still has difficulties with how to response to this. Finally, she thanked Sweetie Belle and asked her for a little help: to deliver some orders in Ponyville and to buy some vegetables on a marked. Sweetie Belle gladly agreed and, after receiving the list with necessary addresses and items to buy, went away. Meanwhile Rarity took the drawings Sweetie Belle gave her and put them into a closet to a column of other works of her sister. The column was about two meters high. Well, maybe Sweetie Belle and Rarity don’t get along all the times, but still they love each other.

So next hours Sweetie Belle spent walking down the streets of Ponyville, singing quietly some simple melodies and running errands Rarity gave her. Despite a couple of moments, when Oma had difficulties with hiding due to her height and some young stallions who wanted to hit on her, nothing special happened during these hours. When Sweetie Belle returned home, she passed the observer’s post to Kor.

They say that there is no better sight than watching other people working while you are having your rest. If it is so, then Sheim had been enjoying all the time of his observations: watching Apple Bloom, he watched all the Apple family working in the fields and orchards. As many farm workers, they all get up very early and immediately start to do various chores. Since Apple Bloom was little, her sister and brother gave her the easiest tasks, like bring water to chickens and pigs or pick some vegetables in the kitchen-garden for lunch. Such tasks didn’t require great efforts, but due to the fact that they also required less time, the number of things Apple Bloom had done was greater that the same number for Applejack and Big Mac. Generally, it was possible to say that she worked as hard as others.

However, the work hadn’t been continuous, and within the pauses Apple Bloom showed her curious and playful nature. She made tiny boats from leaves filled with grain and left them in the bowls of water for chickens. She played king of the hill on a haystack. She even managed to give Scootaloo some advices when she came to Sweet Apple Acres for training. But none of these could compare with the time when she decided to test a potion she made according to the instructions from Twilight and Zecora. At first Sheim couldn’t tell what kind of potion it was exactly, but, judging by its bad smell, it was some kind of a fertilizer. The test itself was simple: Apple Bloom dug a hole, put some maize seeds in it, watered them and dripped the potion. The result was extremely surprising and unexpected. Probably, she put a little more of some crucial ingredients, since in result she got twelve-meter maize plants with meter-long ears. It grew literally in a couple of seconds and when it reached the top height, it fell down because of the heaviness of the ears. Apple Bloom and Applejack and Big Mac who were unlucky to be within the strike radius of the plant, had to run for their lives. The plant fell on bare ground, causing minimal damage. Despite this, Apple Bloom’s punishment was very severe: she was prohibited from any other dishes until she ate all the maize. Nevertheless, little filly managed to drive away the chagrin and was cheerful again.

And this was the last thing Sheim recorded, because right after it he was busted. Not by Apples – by Maud Pie. She came to meet Sheim again (and again without warning), and managed to find him even when he was in perfect hiding position. So, when the change in face of Zet’rar arrived, he saw his friend being dragged away by pony who eagerly spoke about something called “fun cave”.

Now let’s return to how Scootaloo had been doing. Bluve recorded that she returned home just to have lunch. After it little pegasus came back to Sweet Apple Acres. There she teamed up with Apple Bloom, who had just finished her chores, and together they went for adventures. Thus, Bluve went to Zet’rar, and together they followed young ponies to find what adventures little ones were looking for.

Adventures found them very soon.

While both fillies were going to the place of actions, Apple Bloom complained about her upcoming whole-maize diet and received an unexpected response. “I heard about your problem, my little friend!” a thunderous voice roared, causing both Crusaders and researchers clutching at their hearts, and soon the host of the voice, Discord, appeared. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo greeted him and wondered why he came here, right after the remark about not being so sudden next time. The spirit said that he came to have some fun with his good friends, but now, knowing about Apple Bloom’s “corny problem”, he decided to help her. “How?” sincerely wondered young earth pony. Discord just said “Give me a minute,” and snapped his fingers.

One bright flash – and surprised fillies found themselves at a small meadow on the outskirts of the orchards, sitting on comfortable chairs in front of big cinema screen. There were also several rows of chairs behind them. Discord were sitting behind all the rows, holding a film projector with his magic. Another snap – and rows were filled with surprised ponies from town. One more snap – and Apple Bloom’s experimental maize appeared right above the spectators and immediately turned into popcorn. Each pony got a good portion of it – grains of this maize were huge, so in popped form some of them were as big as a pony’s head. When all the spectators were provided with snacks, Discord turned on the projector. At first sudden spectators complained about being interrupted from their work, but soon calmed down and even start to enjoy the comedy movie spirit showed them. Eventually, when the movie ended, they even thanked Discord. And, speaking about the maize, almost all the grains had been eaten during the movie. Apple Bloom was so happy that she almost strangled Discord in her embrace. The only unpleasant moment was when a sudden nasty noise came from somewhere in the orchards, but it didn’t affect so much on the general mood.

However, the story behind this sudden noise was very interesting.

While Bluve and Zet’rar had been watching comedy from “Discord Pictures” studio, Kor witnessed events, which were worth a fine thriller movie.

After when Sweetie Belle returned home, she and Rarity had lunch. Then Rarity took a break from sewing and went to the SPA with Fluttershy and Twilight. Only she closed the door of boutique, the thriller started. Sweetie Belle rushed to the kitchen and began to go through lockers, grabbing various jars, bags and sachets. When she collected about thirty items, she also took a bag of flour and half of dozen of eggs. Then she start to mix everything. It was obvious that she was cooking something… specific, but what exactly – it was impossible to tell: even Kor with sensitive smelling could tell that it is some kind of dessert and nothing more, because smell were mixing. When the cooking process was finished, the matter hadn’t cleared: the result looked like dappled brick. However, Sweetie Belle wrapped this “brick” into paper, put on a cloak, hat and shades, hid the “brick” under the coat and left the house. Kor followed her. In ten minutes, he found little filly in a dark dead end, where she had been meeting with… Pinkie Pie, dressed the same way. Sweetie Belle took the “brick” from under her cloak and gave to Pinkie. Pinkie unwrapped small part of the “brick” smelled it and said “Good. In twenty minutes, in the bushes behind the boutique.” Then both ponies left the dead end. In twenty minutes, as it was promised, Pinkie brought the payment for the “brick” in bushes behind the boutique. The payment was… a trolley with an amplifier, a microphone and two subwoofers. It surprised Kor a lot. Meanwhile Sweetie Belle left the house to check the “payment”. When she saw the items, a smile of gladness appeared on her face. She came back to the house, closed it, and then, having taken the trolley, went to Sweet Apple Acres. There she asked Big Mac for permission to use the same shed what Scootaloo used as training ground. Imperturbable stallion gave his permission without asking any questions. Sweetie Belle thanked him and went to the shed. In a couple of minutes she turned it into a true sound recording studio. Subwoofers and amplifier were turned on and microphone was connected to the amplifier. Volume and overdrive were set to maximum. Subwoofers began to hum threateningly. Sweetie Belle approached the microphone and gently toughed it. Subwoofers produced a thud. Little unicorn smiled and took a deep breath before starting to sing.

The way she did it was a big mistake.

You make sounds not only when you exhale, but when you inhale as well. An inhale can be loud too. Sweetie Belle was inhaling loudly, and she was doing it right in front of the microphone, connected with the overpowered subwoofers. So no wonder that the resulting sound could be heard five miles away from the source, ponies at Discord’s cinema got annoyed, Sweetie Belle was thrown out from the shed by the sound “shockwave” through the door, and Kor was deafened and fainted.

When researcher finally recovered, he saw Sweetie Belle feverishly cleaning the mess in the shed she caused and then running away with all the equipment. After it Kor went to the Castle, where he resigned from observer’s post and went home to heal himself.

Meanwhile the next shift of observers began to make their records. When film screening was over, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo did not separate, they went to Sweetie Belle’s house and asked her to join for another “crusade”. After the incident in the shed little unicorn tried to do her best to pretend that nothing happened, but she wasn’t convincing. So she kept being asked various questions about what happened, and with each new answer she became more and more unconvincing. Luckily for her, soon her friends decided to stop asking in order not to make their friend nervous. And so, three young ponies went for another crusade for their cutie marks.

Today’s crusade list included three kinds of activities, but they had to reduce it, since one of them was composing of electronic music, and Sweetie Belle for some reason was afraid to come closed to all kinds of speakers and amplifiers. So, after notifying Vinyl Scratch about changes of plans, all three proceeded to the quests.

First of them was rope walking. In order to make it safe, they set up the rope between two supporting columns of the Sweet Apple Acres’ barn above thick layer of hay. Then they began to try. They showed some good skills for this trick, especially Scootaloo, but they weren’t very successful and from time to time fell down. Cutie marks hadn’t appeared, so they passed to the second activity: catching fireflies.

It was evening already, so it was possible to do such thing. It seemed easy to get such cutie mark, but Crusaders, when they got to the place where fireflies lived, couldn’t help themselves but forget about catching glowing bugs and start to play with them. And so, they kept playing with fireflies until the very sundown. Then, having realized that is already late, they said goodbye to each other and rushed home.

The observation was completed. Max, Affi and Karin returned to the Castle, other researchers gave them the records they made, and Affi together with Karin and Oma proceeded to analyzing.

It took them about half of the night to make detailed psychological portraits of the fillies. Now they could gave Crusaders the hint and got the key for the discovery.

At next day Zet’rar, Bluve and Sheim went to Crusaders to tell them that the observation was completed. When Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle learned about it, they got very surprised, even scared, but then, when researchers told them that they now can learn the activities which may really help them get their cutie marks, little ponies forgot about anything and rushed to the Castle.

Affi, Oma and Karin got very surprised when three overexcited fillies appeared right in front of them.

“So what is it? What is it?” they asked, vying with each other.
“Please, girls, calm down!” Affi said. “I understand that you are dying to learn. I’ll tell you everything, but one thing at a time, okay?”
“Okay.”
“So, we are glad to inform you that additional observations are not required, and you can learn everything you want right now…”
“YAY!!!”
“…and, also, we will be able to answer your questions if you have any. So, without further ado, allow me to name the activities, which may help you to get your cutie marks, finally. Apple Bloom, according to our observations your forte is agricultural engineering, various its kinds – from usual field tests of varieties of crops to advanced application of methods of magic in agriculture. The last looks the most preferable,” little earth pony exclaimed joyfully again. “Scootaloo, you have all the qualities for becoming a good stuntpony. You have good skills for aerial stunts and for on-ground stunts,” young pegasus became proud and said that she will make Rainbow Dash be proud of her. “And Sweetie Belle, the best activity for you is music. Singing, song-writing, composing of music – you can become excellent in all of these fields.”
“Oooh! Thank you, miss Antilipsi!” little unicorn said.
“So, are you happy now?”
“Thank ya all a lot,” Apple Bloom said, “it’s really helpful, but…”
“But what?” wondered Affi and Oma.
“Are not happy with this, girls?” Karin surprised.
“Well, you see…” Scootaloo spelled. “We have always been crusading together, and have been doing it for a long time, so it would be hard for us to looking for cutie marks separately from each other.”
“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle gave a nod. “We can’t even imagine now how it will be: to look for a cutie mark just by your own, alone.”
“Oh…” researchers did not expect such reaction.
“Is there sumthin’ we all share? Things we’ll be able to do together?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Well…” Affi began to flip through the notes. “Ehmm… According to our observations and analysis… The main traits common to you are… concentration on cutie mark issues and… taking care of others and helping other ponies.”
“And that’s all?” Crusaders wondered.
“These are the main traits I can name right now. Other things are not so significant.”
“Oh… We see,” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo said.
“Ah suppose we have to do some hard thinkin’ about this,” Apple Bloom said. “But still, thank ya a lot!”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle thanked researchers too and then went away. Team One could only see them off.

Crusaders had been thinking for the rest of the day. What conclusions did they come to? No one could tell – young ones hadn’t spoken with adults about it. It was a mystery.

However, a dim light in the end of the tunnel had appeared.

The next day, when fillies were discussing the next “crusade”, their friend Pipsqueak came to their club house asking for help: he announced his candidacy for president of the Ponyville Elementary School and needed support. Crusaders helped him and organized impressive campaign, but it became the very reason of conflict with one ambitious filly, Diamond Tiara, who also decided to run for presidency. The conflict was getting more and more intense and had reached the critical point when Pipsqueak won the election. However, the situation changed when Crusaders saw Tiara in despair, when she didn’t know what to do. At this moment, they remembered what researchers told them and decided to help her. Not everything went well in the beginning, but they eventually managed to help Tiara to realize her true specialty and even help her to change the way she looked at others. Seeing their former enemy being so happy and keeping the words of researchers in mind, Crusaders changed own views as well, especially about cutie marks. And that became the turning point of the events. The award found its heroes – Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle finally got their cutie marks, after three long years.

One couldn’t express how happy the fillies were, and others were happy for them. And they had full right to act so: Crusaders became famous in whole town for their quests for cutie marks, and when they finally get them was truly an epoch-making event. So no wonder that it turned into full-scale celebration soon.

Researchers congratulated Crusaders with the achievement too and received great thanks for guidance. However, they didn’t take active part in the celebrations – after all, it were Crusaders who helped themselves. They just showed the direction. Besides, there was one thing they still had to do…

Some hours later, in the middle of the night in Team One’s headquarters in Ponyville…

“…and yes!” Max exclaimed, looking at the holoscreen. “The analysis is completed!”
“So, the mystery of appearance of cutie marks is finally solved?” wondered Edez.
“Yes,” physiologists confirmed.
“So what is it?”
“Well, turns out that mark is a pigment spot after all, but with some specific features. We already know that density of ETS in the area of cutie mark is quite high, and ETS is closely connected with the nervous system. Thus, cutie mark is directly connected with pony’s brain. Scans show that cells in the area are filled with pigments from the very birth of a pony, but these pigments are, well, “encapsulated”, hidden. They appear after the corresponding signal, strong and complex. In short, when pony finally realizes his or her true destiny on conscious and subconscious levels, it triggers instinctive reaction: the signal spreads throughout nervous system and then ETS, finally reaching the area of cutie mark. There it “activates” the encapsulated pigments – and voila! You have a cutie mark.”
“So, the appearance of mark itself is primarily subconscious process?” asked Kor and Sheim.
“Yes.”
“But there is one thing,” Bluve stepped in. “Increased concentration of ETS cells in the area of cutie mark is natural, it developed by itself – probably for additional sensitivity. But pigments of cutie marks are artificial.”
“What?”
“Yes, they are artificial. It seems that cutie marks were created long time ago as a source of distinction and specialization.”
“One question: how?” surprised Kor. “Because it is hard to believe that they could achieve this only thanks to their magic.”
“Well, this is the only possible variant,” answered Max.
“Besides, according their historical sources, they had already possessed strong energy and information manipulation abilities thousands of years ago,” added Karin.
“Oh…”
“…and how did they manage to give marks to all the ponies? Such job should take incredible amount of power,” wondered Oma.
“Probably it was a long-term project,” Max said. “Maybe they gave marks to several groups of ponies around the world, but made the marks dominant heritable trait. In such case, after several generations all the ponies will have them.”
“That sounds quite possible.”
“Well, I guess we got the discovery we sought for, right?” Affi asked.
“Oh yeah. It’ll make an excellent research paper,” Bluve said. “But while we got answers, we got new questions too. And they are much harder.”
“Indeed… Who had the power to alter the entire species?..”

There was no answer.

“They helped these three fillies, who have been seeking for cutie marks for years, to finally get them. That’s quite an accomplishment,” said Grace.
“Indeed. And they did it only by simple observations and analysis!” surprised Dim Silhouette.
“This is advanced psychology, I must say,” said Cloudbreaker.
“But this can’t be the proof,” added Razor Edge.
“Right. This shows only that they are talented,” Hidden Path summed up. “Well, ladies and gentlecolts, again we have no option but wait…”

In a cheap hostel in Canterlot gray stallion in a cloak was sitting on his bed and looking at a flyer. The only lights in the room were two dim candles, but it was enough for the stallion. He kept re-reading the text on the list. “ 300th Beginning of Winter Festival in Canterlot”. “In honor of this even Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor and Princess Twilight Sparkle will take part in the traditional Snow Parade. Special guest and provider of effects: Discord, the Spirit of Chaos.”

The most powerful individuals of this world, the greatest local rulers will gather here in a couple of months. They’ll be here together, in one place, in one time. It’s perfect. Just perfect!

“Everyone in one fell swoop…” stallion grinned and opened his artificial black eye. “Excellent! Excellent! In ninety four local days this planet will be ours…”

26. Exploring Applewood

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“…so, there are no other ways to solve this problem?” wondered young turquoise earth pony, who had been sitting in front of the receptionist’s table.
“No,” Oma shook her head. “Excessive anxiety isn’t a thing which can be completely cured by medicine or magic only. They can only dull the sensations. If you want to worry not so much about various stuff, you have to work on yourself.”
“Oh… So, just make it less? But what…”
“Listen, Minty, you want to become less anxious, right?” Karin intervened.
“Umm, yes,” Minty responded.
“Then there are only two ways: work on yourself or do the following. First, grab your head like this,” said Karin and grabbed the top of her head with left foreleg and her chin with the right, “and then turn it until it clicks.”

Oma shuddered, Minty nervously gulped and became pale.

“Okay, I see. I shall do my best working on myself!” Minty gibbered and after quick “Bye!” left the Castle.

“Very severe, but effective,” Oma spelled.
“Yep. In all the ways,” Karin said gloomily.
“You don’t say. Phew! Being a consultant in the castle of Princess of Friendship isn’t an easy thing!”

Karin gave a nod, then asked:

“Should I call the next one?”
“Bring it,” courageously said Oma.
“Okay,” responded Karin, approached the main doors and opened them. “Nex… Oh, hi, Rainbow!” she smiled when she saw that the only remained visitor was the bearer of the Element of Loyalty.
“Hiya, Pippi!” responded blue pegasus. “How are you doing?”
“We’re fine. Come in!”

Rainbow Dash nodded and walked in.

“I see you are consulting again,” she said, looking at the receptionist’s table.
“Yep, alleviating the fate of the Princess of Friendship,” Oma spelled.
“Haha! You speak just like a theater actress!”
“Having such a job, you must entertain yourself somehow, after all.”
“I see.”
“So, what brings you here?” Karin wondered. “Need a consultation?”
“No, I don’t! I came here to ask you for a favor.”
“We are listening.”
“Well, I’ve already asked you, guys, to come with me on a trip once, and I would like to ask you to do it again. But this time things are different! There’s gonna be big Wonderbolts’ Rally in Applewood in two days. It will be a huge event, and all Wonderbolts and cadets gonna be there.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah, so… since it’s a general meeting, I’d like to make an impression with my arrival, you know, to show everyone my awesomeness.”
“We see,” Karin and Oma gave a nod. They were not surprised – if you know Rainbow Dash, such asks sound pretty obvious.
“And after some thinking I’ve decided that the best way to impress everyone there would be to appear in a really awesome company. To come with somepony who is totally badass. So… Can I go with Berg and Erő?”
“Well, I don’t think that it is possible,” said Oma.
“What? Why?”
“Well, according to the rules, the Castle should be constantly patrolled, and at least one guard should be present in the Castle at any moment of time. Zicht can’t handle both day and night shifts alone.”
“Hey, they both were absent when princess Celestia asked them to come with her!”
“Yeah, but your wish and matters of diplomatic emergency are a bit different thing. Besides, when Erő and Berg were in Canterlot, two royal guards replaced them here. Sorry, but you can go either with Berg only, or with Erő only.”
“Damn! If I come to the Rally with just one, the effect would be different… And other Wonderbolts might consider him to be my coltfriend! I don’t want that! It would be embarrassing! For both him and me!”
“If you want a company so much, then how about the following option: you come with either Berg or Erő and… me! My schedule for the upcoming days is relatively free, so I could go with you.”
“Errr… With you?”
“Why not? Or you have something against?”
“No, no! It’s just… You ARE impressive, but in another way… I wanted to come with somepony… brutal, strong, fearsome… or something like this.”
“Rainbow,” Karin intervened, “allow me to remind one thing. Do you remember what happened during the First Harvest Day, when Big Mac and Bulk Biceps decided to find out who is the strongest? They were beaten by her!” and she pointed to Oma.
“Really?” Rainbow couldn’t believe it.
“The strength test machine clanged one time at that day, and it was because of her! You need strong? She is strong. And fearsome. When other see how strong she really is.”
“I get it! Well then… great! I agree to come with you, Didi and… Erő. I’ve already been on a trip with Berg, so I would like to know other ponies from your gang better.”
“Great! Then I’ll go tell Erő and others about it,” Oma said. “When we have to meet?”
“Tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the station,” Rainbow Dash answered.
“Got it!”
“See ya then!” pegasus waved and flew away.

Oma and Karin saw her off, and then senior sociologists went to inform her friends, Twilight and Spike about the Rainbow Dash’s visit and decision they made. Princess and her assistant didn’t mind the absence of some staff members, and other researchers – surprisingly for Oma, who didn’t think that her colleagues would approve her self-will – supported her. Kor was happy to learn about the possibility to get a rest from daily routine, and curators gave their allowance for the mission. “See the city and have a good time! And don’t worry, we’ll take care of things here!” they said sociologist and officer as parting wishes.

Oma and Kor thanked them and began to prepare for the research trip. They expected a lot from it: famous city, warm weather, good beaches, exciting event, beautiful public and other interesting things.

However, the history showed that it was even moreinteresting than they expected.

First, there were no direct trains from Ponyville to Applewood – the only option was train from Canterlot, which went through the town. It was a popular route, so, despite the fact that Ponyville was the next stop after Canterlot, there were not so many free places. Thus, when our heroes asked for tickets, they learned that the only way to travel together was so-called type C compartment for three. That means the compartment has a small bench barely suitable as a bed-place on one side and vast sofa where even Kor and Oma sitting together would have plenty of space on another. Waiting for the next train meant be late for half of a day at least, so, having no other suitable variants, Rainbow Dash and researchers took tickets to this compartment.

The train arrived in few minutes. Our heroes got aboard and started to make themselves comfortable. Very soon they found that the bench is absolutely unfit even for sitting, not to mentions sleeping, so when the train left the Ponyville station, researchers and Rainbow Dash found themselves on the same sofa. Blue pegasus was lying between Oma and Kor.

Such position… it wasn’t uncomfortable – the sofa was soft and had enough space for everyone – but pretty embarrassing. For everyone: for Kor – because of the fact that he might spend a whole night with two mares, and none of them was his girlfriend, for Oma – because of being too close to another mare, for Rainbow Dash – because of being surrounded by ponies who were much bigger than she. So, for some time our heroes were silent – only sounds of train’s wheels were hearable in the compartment – but, eventually, Kor found willpower to say something.

“So, Rainbow, what is this Rally you spoke about?”
“Huh? Oh… Well, nothing special, in fact,” blue pegasus began to tell. “We just gather to discuss the schedule of shows and events, to train a bit and to have some rest for couple of days.”
“So, the Rally is going to be something like a conference meeting?” Oma asked to precise for herself.
“Yeah, something like that!”
“I see.”
“Um, Rainbow, may I ask one more question?” said Kor.
“Sure, ask!”
“If the Rally takes some days, where are we going to stay then?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that! There gonna be some tents near the Applewood flying field, so we’ll have a place to stay.”
“So, field conditions then? I do not mind.”
“I hoped for something more… all-inclusive, but if it is just for a couple of days… Well, fine then,” said Oma.
“Don’t underestimate Wonderbolts, Didi! We use cloud mattresses and blankets – they are so soft and cozy it’s possible to sleep everywhere if you have them!”
“Is that so? Hmm… Sounds interesting.”
“I tell you: just wait, and you’ll see how awesome the Rally is!”
“We hope so,” replied Kor. “No doubt you’re going to be one of the brightest stars there!”
“Yeah, thanks, Erő…” Rainbow Dash spelled and suddenly fell silent. She became meditative, but a bit confused at the same time.
“Um, Rainbow? Is something wrong?” Oma worried.
“Oh, nothing! It’s just…” she looked at Oma, then at Kor, “I’ve just realized… If came with you to the Rally like this… It would look like you are my bodyguards!”
“And what’s wrong with it?” surprised Kor.
“What’s wrong? Maybe I’m just a reserve now, but I’m a Wonderbolt! We always can stand for ourselves! We are the ones who help!”
“But, agree, sometimes you need help too.”
“Well, yeah, but… Argh! Stop! It’s so uncool to speak about such things!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed and pouted.

Kor looked at his angry pegasus companion and slyly winked to Oma. She immediately guessed what he was up to.

“Oh, don’t be so sharp, my dear!” Oma smiled and leant to Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah, don’t worry! You are under the best protection!”
“Indeed! We’ll save you from everything, no matter what!”

… and in a second blue – well, at the current moment, light-crimson – pegasus was wrapped in two long fluffy tails.

“Guys, stop it!” yelled Rainbow Dash and tried to break out from the “tail chains”.
“Carefully! Calm down, Rainbow!” Oma worried. “Or else we end tied up together.”
“Seriously?” pegasus was so surprised that she even forgot about her resentment. “Although… Yeah, with such a length it’s pretty easy.”
“Indeed…” Kor and Oma nodded, recalling the first passionate cuddling with their lovers in these bodies. The experience was very awkward.

Eventually, researchers freed Rainbow Dash and were forgiven for the teasing. Soon after the late supper was delivered, and the atmosphere in the compartment changed. Our heroes replenished their strengths – especially Rainbow Dash, who, despite her petite stature, ate more than everyone – and thus animated. They felt free, and this emancipation did a little wonder. Researchers and Rainbow knew each other just for several months, but now they were like good old friends: chatting, telling jokes, being silly, having fun. They kept their cheerful conversation up to very late at night, and then fell asleep one by one, snuggling to each other.

So no wonder that when thy woke up tomorrow morning the first thing they felt was embarrassment, because each of them either hugged the one who was near or used him or her as a pillow. They complained for inconvenient design of the compartment – another time – and asked each other for forgiveness. Being friends, to receive forgiveness was not a problem. However, their cheeks were still red for quite a time after this.

Quick breakfast, a little chat – and they heard train driver giving a signal. They were arriving to Applewood.

“The Rally starts at 1:00 p.m., so… Let’s walk around the city, while we have some free time!” suggested Rainbow Dash.
“Sure. Why not?” researchers replied. They did not have so much luggage – only saddlebags – so it would not be a constraint.

In seven minutes train reached its final stop, North Applewood station. It was large building in Mediterranean style, simple but elegant. And, which was also important, not overcrowded. Our heroes passed through the great halls of the station and soon got to vast terrace in the entrance.

From there one could observe a great view on the city. Its center seemed to be densely built, but the suburbs were broad and had plenty of free space. The tallest buildings were twenty floors maximum and usually – from three to five. Applewood shone with whiteness or provided a true delight to the eyes with gentle pastel shades. The streets were full of trees, primarily evergreens. In general, it seemed to be pretty comfortable place to live.

“Shall we go?” asked Rainbow Dash and smiled.
“Lead the way, friend!” researchers smiled in response.

Blue pegasus gave a nod and with a wave of a hoof signaled to follow her. They descended from the terrace and moved slowly towards the flying field. They had enough time, they had no need in hurrying.

Rainbow Dash had been in the city before, on former Rallies, so she knew the city well and could make her way through the net of streets. She leisurely flew ahead, Oma and Kor followed her and looked around.

Well, researchers hadn’t changed the first impression of city’s architecture and style they got while they were walking. Nice to look at, pretty and simple, and, although building density was high, thanks to their low height, wide streets and lots of greenery one didn’t felt uncomfortable and lacking space. The city planning was well designed – Applewood was a new city, it developed when narrow winding streets and chaotic constructions were already out of trend, so architects could use modern rational concepts.

Applewood, being significantly smaller than Manehattan and only a bit larger than Canterlot, being much younger than both of those cities, seemed not to pretend to be great. However, it has greatness, and it could compete with economic and cultural capitals of Equestria. But this greatness was different. In Manehattan and Canterlot everything seemed to emanate greatness. All structures around, ponies walking by – everything and everyone were impressive. In Applewood there was almost no great structures. Its greatness was based on ponies who lived there. Warm climate, wonderful landscape and, not the least, well-developed entertainment infrastructure of a resort and relatively cheap real estate in the beginning became the strongest attraction for various artists, actors and other creative persons. In few decades, ordinary resort became the city of celebrities. In modern Applewood it was possible to notice at least one famous person anywhere and anytime. And ponies, who wanted to become famous, continued to arrive, as well as ones who wanted to show off. Stunningly beautiful mares, handsome stallions in couture clothes regularly passed by. Some of them could make significant competition for Oma – who, by the way, felt nervous. On the other hand, Kor really enjoyed seeing so many beautiful girls in one place.

In three hours they crossed the center of the city and were approaching the flying field, which was situated right between the city and suburbs. Buildings around became lower – it was a true sign that the field is near.

“Well, fifteen minutes, and we’ll be there!” cheerfully reported Rainbow Dash.
“Glad to hear that,” said Oma.
“When we come there, stick to me for some time, okay?”
“To impress everypony as you want? We’ll do it.”
“Yeah, that and one more thing: I’ll acquaint you with other Wonderbolts and show you the place. After this feel free to do whatever you want.”
“Got it… And thank you.”
“Ah, it’s nothing… Oh, damn… Please, forgive me, I forgot to warn you about one thing.”
“What thing?” researchers surprised.
“You see, there is a bad district near the field. So we might run into a pickpocket…”

And a couple seconds later, as if in confirmation of her words, a young stallion jumped from behind the nearest corner, aiming to snatch a saddlebag from a lady.

Among local pickpockets this colt was considered to be one of the most successful since he was fast and agile, but, unluckily for him, now he decided to rob girls whose companion was Kor. And Kor, despite his sizes, was very fast.

Thus, less than in one second, the pickpocket was literally nailed to the nearest wall with Kor’s hoof. The robber badly wheezed – officer’s hoof was on his chest, after all – and coughed. Kor moved away his foreleg, and pickpocket fell down with all his legs twitching.

“Holy!.. That was damn fast!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “And harsh!”
“That’s called crime and punishment. An immediate punishment.”
“Should we call police?” Oma worried. “And do something with this guy?”
“Nah!” Kor waved off. “The spine is fine so he’ll get over this. Also, if he calls the police…” officer leaned over the pickpocket who suddenly stopped to twitch and nervously gulped, “…then the next punch will be made with full strength.”

And he went away. Rainbow Dash and Oma looked at each other and decided that it would be better to follow Kor. And pickpocket meanwhile wisely retreated.

In five minutes our heroes finally arrived to the flying field.

“Get ready to be amazed!” smiled Rainbow Dash.
“We’re looking forward!” researchers responded and entered the field after pegasus.

Arrival to the Rally was like passing through a portal. Moment ago you were in Applewood, now you got to Little Cloudsdale. Everything around was white, bluish or rainbow-colored, light and cloudy. It created unique and very comfortable atmosphere. And this was the very thing that made it great – it was a training camp, where ponies usually spend time working hard, but it was so atmospheric it was impossible not to get into this.

Another thing, which made the Rally look like miniature copy of sky city, was its “population” – almost all the camp occupants were pegasi. Looking around, researchers found only three unicorns and two earth ponies – who were from field’s operating personnel, judging by their uniforms – among two hundred pegasi. Because of this, the walk around the Rally camp really felt like a tour to Cloudsdale, for which, however, one shouldn’t fly two kilometers up to the sky.

“Well, well, what we have here?” low female voice with gentle hoarseness came from a side.

Researchers turned around and saw a group of pegasi, led by fiery yellow mare, heading towards them. They were dressed casually, but some of them wore similar leather jackets. It indicated that they were from the same group.

“Hiya guys!” Rainbow Dash smiled.
“Good to see you, Dash!” fiery mare said.
“Ya even managed not to be late?” grinned turquoise mare with white mane.
“Hey!”
“I see you didn’t come alone?” light-blue stallion gently asked Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, right! Sorry” blue pegasus smiled guiltily. “Allow me to introduce you to each other! Guys,” she turned to newcomers, “this is Didinga and Erő, my friends from Ponyville.”
“Excuse me, that Erő?” suddenly asked Soarin’.
“Ehm, what do you mean?” Kor surprised.
“Who once helped Princess Celestia and Canterlot guards when griffin delegation arrived?”
“Well, yes?..”
“Wait, you know each other?” surprised Rainbow Dash.
“I’ve heard about you friend from my cousin, who serves in Canterlot,” said Soarin’.
“Oh… Well then, let’s continue!.. Didi, Erő, say hello to the Wonderbolts!” and, before Kor and Oma even gave a nod, Rainbow Dash proceeded to introducing each member of the squad. “This is Spitfire, our captain, this is Soarin’, this bad pony is Fleetfoot…”
“Hey!” Fleetfoot resented.

Rainbow Dash, however, continued like nothing had happened.

“… this is High Winds, this is Misty Fly, this is Fire Streak, this is his brother Lightning Streak, this is Sun Chaser, this is Wave Chill, this is Silver Zoom and this humble pony is Surprise!”

Surprise gently waved after when she was introduced.

Researchers finally got the possibility to greet the Wonderbolts properly.

“We are very glad to meet you!” they said and bowed.
“Friends of our friends are welcomed here too!” Spitfire smiled and waved. “Come!”
“They’ve already accepted you!” Rainbow Dash turned to researchers and smiled. “Oh, this gonna be so awesome!..”

And our heroes followed the Wonderblots.

“So, you are from Europonia, right?” High Winds asked researchers.
“Yes. It is our names that give us away?” responded Oma.
“Yeah… And light accent.”
“And where are you from?” asked Wave Chill. “I know that there is a lot of regions in Europonia, but I’m not versed in geography…”
“Oh, I’m from Upelia,” said Didinga.
“And I’m from Pusztia,” Said Kor.
“And where these regions exactly are?”
“Upelia is northeastern Europonia, and Pusztia is central,” explained Oma.
“I see.”
“You’re tall, I must say…” Fleetfoot spelled, looking at researchers.
“Well, average Europonian is bigger than average Equestrian, and it applies to both stallions and mares, and to other species as well,” said Oma.
“However, there are exceptions,” continued Kor. “For instance, I’m too big even for Europonian, and our friend Pippi is as high as Equestrian teenager, although she is from Fjordenland, the region known for the height of its citizens.”
“And what do you usually do?” wondered Lightning Streak.
“They are Twilight’s Castle squad!” grinned Rainbow Dash.
“Really?”
“Well, I’m one of the day guards, and Didi is a Castle receptionist,” explained Kor.
“You must be a pretty good guard…” spelled Misty Fly, smiling.
“You don’t say,” sighed Soarin’. “My cousin told me what he and his friend are capable of. It was hard to believe in.”
“Um, like what?” Surprise wondered.
“He was able to shoot down a really tough pegasus by throwing a helmet at him.”
“What? Seriously?” other Wonderbolts barely could believe it.
“Well, there was such case,” Kor confirmed it.
“Heh, nicey…”
“Yeah. Now I have no doubt in the anti-airsquad defense of princess Twilight’s castle,” said Soarin’.
“Thank you,” Kor bowed to him.
“You’re welcome.”
“Well, here we are!” Spitfire said, pointing to the complex of tents. “Our “temporary base”. Make yourselves comfortable and relax! Oh, and Erő, Didinga, feel free to ask anypony if you need help.”
“Sure.”
“Dash, your tent is #12. And your companions… they might settle in the guest tent #5, I guess.”
“Pardon me, ma’am, but can we live somewhere together?” wondered Rainbow Dash. “I kinda worrying for my friends since they are new here.”
“Sorry, Dash, but here it is not possible. Our Wonderbolt’s tents are small, each of them is just for one pony. Guest tents are designed for three ponies, but… Pardon me, but your companions are so big it might be cramped even for two of them.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Don’t worry, Rainbow!” Kor cheered her up. “Tents are near each other, the field is not vast – I don’t think we can get lost here.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Great!” Spitfire smiled. “Dash, get ready to the first training. Your companions may explore the area meanwhile.”

Rainbow Dash and researchers gave a nod and began to settle down. A half of an hour – and their tents were tuned in comfortable temporary dwellings. Now they had some time of rest before the main activity of the Rally will start.

And, as it happened many times before, adventures began to meet our heroes from the very beginning.

While Rainbow Dash in company of researchers and some fellow Wonderbolt was walking to a snack stand, Fire Streak couldn’t help notice that blue pegasus standing between Kor and Oma looks just like a superstar with her bodyguards. Rainbow Dash, obviously, resented. Very actively. However, for her greater frustration, other Wonderbolts supported Fire Streak. But few ones, like Lightning Streak, – with a minor qualification: they said that Oma is too beautiful to be a bodyguard. A bit later the issue would resolve by itself, but, unfortunately, Kor entered the conversation. He said that in case of Oma looks can be deceiving and gave an example: once she broke down the door he couldn’t. Wonderbolts couldn’t believe it: how this graceful slender mare can possess such immense strength? Oma, hearing what others spoke about her, felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable and decided to intervene and clarify. It caused a turmoil among the ponies and soon the events took absolutely unpredictable turn.

“How did it end up like this?” sincerely wondered Lightning Streak, looking at how his old and new friends had been making litter from straw in front of him and at Oma, who now was very intimidating.
“Well, you’ve asked for it yourself, in fact,” said Kor. “You wanted the proof of that Didi can be a guard, and now you’re going to have it.”

Lightning Streak cursed himself for being so mouthy.

Meanwhile the creation of litter was finished, and Spitfire, who was appointed the judge, declared: “Ladies and gentlecolts, we gathered here to find out is our new friend Didinga able to be a bodyguard. In order to prove it both Didinga and doubting subject Lighning Streak will be given several tasks. Lightning Streak, your task will be flying around the litter ten to fifteen steps above ground. You may fly as fast as you can and do all the tricks you want. Didnga, your task will be to catch Lightning Streak.”
“Got it,” spelled Oma.

Lightning Streak nervously gulped.

“Wonderful! Let’s start then!”

Yellow-haired pegasus gulped again and slowly flew up. He was given an order from his captain, he had no other options. So he took a deep breath and flew towards his own doom.

At first he was very hesitating. Later, however, he found some courage and thought “If I will fly as fast as possible doing tricks all the time, she wouldn’t be able to catch me!” and rushed forward. He accelerated tenfold and made his flight path extremely difficult. Turns, loops, zigzags… Watching him one might get dizzy. Wonderbolts began to doubt that Oma will be able to catch Lightning Streak.

“Are you sure you can do this?” Rainbow Dash asked her friend.
“Just give me some time…” Oma responded, continuing watch the pegasus.

She gradually got ready to pounce: lifted her front, bent her hind legs… Lightning Streak flew above her like overpowered tipsy fly. It seemed that he barely controlled his own flight. But he was permanently aware and kept the maximum allowed altitude.

But, as history showed later, it didn’t help him. Making another turn and getting ready for a dash, he distracted for a moment – just one moment – and didn’t find Oma at the place she was. He looked forward and saw the mare right in front of him, fourteen steps above the ground. He was about to make a sharp turn, but it was too late: Oma grabbed him with her long forelegs, and together they fell down on straw.

“Yay, you did it!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Congratulations, miss Didinga!” smiled Spitfire and Soarin’.
“Thank you,” responded Oma.
“Um, miss Didinga, I apologize for what I’ve said and admit that you are not just beautiful, but very skilled and strong too. So… I beg you, please, release me!” uttered Lightning Streak.
“You know, what… No. I never let my prey go,” said Oma

Lightning Streak felt doomed for sure, but a bit awkward at the same time too. The mare who held him was stunning, but, also, was bigger and stronger than him, and now she was giving him her best predatory smile.

“Didi, release the poor pony. Be a good girl,” Kor said to her friend.
“Fine,” Oma muttered, blushing, and let Lightning Streak go. If she refused, Kor would continue, and, knowing how much of a manipulating troll he can be, it would be extremely awkward for her.

The case was eventually closed, and Wonderbolts admitted that both Oma and Kor can be good bodyguards. Again, for Rainbow Dash’s great resentment.

After this they finally got their snacks and had a late lunch. When it was finished, ponies separated. Male Wonderbolts flew away to get everything ready for the first training, girls of the squad went away with Didinga to chat about their girly business, and Kor remained alone. He slowly finished his coffee and decided to have a little walk.

However, he didn’t get far from the snack stand – he felt something odd and stopped. It was like someone watched him. He turned around and saw Misty Fly looking at him.

“Umm, miss Fly? Do you… need some help?” he spelled.
“Oh yes, I do need help,” she smiled dreamily. “With one… particular thing.”
“What thing?”
“You know, mister Erő, that you are a pony who makes strong impression at the very first sight?”
“Well, I must admit that it is so. A giant like me surely impresses many ponies.”
“Indeed. Especially mares…”

Kor began to guess what kind of “help” Misty Fly needed.

“Errr, miss Fly?”
“Oh, call me Misty, my dear Erő. My dear, incredible Erő… So tall, so muscular, so tough… You are like a living dream for a mare…”
“Eh???”
“So, would you like to come to my tent, #7, this night and “help” me?”
“Miss Fly, I think… you’re just jumping to conclusions.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You see… When it comes to romance… I’m actually very bad at it.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“I often don’t watch what I’m saying, and can actually offend the person I’m talking with. And, also… I’m a cynic, and it doesn’t help to be romantic.”
“Oh, those are minor details… It is not important.”

A really critical situation was brewing.

“Madam! I’m an old soldier! I don’t know words of love!” Kor exclaimed. He just didn’t know what else to say.
“Huh?” surprised Misty Fly.
“Um, Misty?” suddenly both pegasus are researcher heard the voice of Rainbow Dash. “You know, Erő actually has a marefriend.”
“What?” exclaimed Misty Fly and looked at Rainbow Dash, than at Kor. Kor nodded intensively.
“Aawww!” yellow pegasus sighed. “Why every time when I meet a good stallion, he already has a marefriend? Me and my ill luck…”
“Don’t be upset, Misty, you’ll find your happiness some day!” Rainbow Dash assured her friend.
“I hope so… Well, thanks… And… Excuse me, mister Erő, please!” and she flew away.

Rainbow Dash looked at Kor.

“Why didn’t ya tell her that ya already have a marefriend?” she exclaimed.
“I tried to be gentle!” Kor tried to explain himself.
“Ugh!” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Europonians and their etiquette… And what was that ‘I’m an old soldier!’ You are only eight years older than me!”

“Actually, 463 years older,” Kor said to himself, but told nothing to Rainbow Dash. He just looked down.
“Erő, Erő…” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Come on!” she waved. “The training will start in twenty minutes!”

Kor gave a nod and followed her. At the training field Rainbow Dash joined the rest of the Wonderbolts, and Kor with Oma joined the group of spectators.

The training began soon. It was a mere practice, a warm-up, but Wonderbolts wouldn’t be themselves if even a training wouldn’t look like an entire show. Maybe it wasn’t so spectacular and grand, but, in some moments, watching a training was better than watching a show. First, if you are a fan, watching the training you have an opportunity to see your idols for much longer. Second, while Wonderbolts usually show each trick only once per show, at the training one could see each trick for several times and notice all the nuances. Wonderbolts usually alternate the tricks they practiced, so it was not boring – neither for spectator, nor for flyers.

They have been practicing for five hours. In the end all members of the squad were tired, but glad: they honed their skills, so now there would be no problems during performances. Now it was possible to have some rest. And our heroes immediately proceeded to it. They gathered behind Wonderbolts’ tent site, made a fire, sat around it and began to tell stories, play music, sing and roast marshmallows and toasts.

It was simple open-air little party, which even seemed to be quite monotonous, but it was very atmospheric and comfortable. It didn’t even matter that the party itself gradually transformed into the best tale contest, because none of all the stories told was boring. Each pony in the group has rich experience and could share quite a number of occasions from his or her life, which were able to made even the gloomiest person smile. Academy time stories from both Wonderbolts and researchers were a huge success – one could hear their laughter from all corners of the flying field. Just sitting and listening was very interesting, and no one wanted this joy to end.

However, another day of training and the first important discussion awaited, so it was necessary to be well-rested and full of strength before they start. Thus, in a couple of hours after the sunset Wonderbolts thanked everyone for great time, chocked the fire and went to their tents to have some sleep. Researchers saw everypony off, and, after quick cleaning of the site, went to bed too. It was a good day, and they hoped to have another such one after peaceful calm night.

But, as it turned out, their hopes were not destined to come true.

In an hour after when they fell asleep, their communicator activated.

“Kor, Oma, wake up!” Edez – in the form of holographic projection – exclaimed.
“Huh? Wha? What?” surprised and frightened researchers immediately woke up.
“Edez? What happened?” worried Kor.
“Something really, really bad. Ktaumea have learned about our mission.”
“WHAT???”
“Quiet!” Edez hissed. “And, moreover, they have sent significant task force here.”
“Damned isomorphs…” Kor swore.
“When are they going to arrive?” Oma asked.
“As the Headquarters expects… less than in one supramoment.”
“Oh dear…”
“They expect the battle will take place in space, but some spacecrafts might be hit and fell on the planet. We are moving to the ship in order to teleport to crash sites immediately after. But, since you are not present, and we cannot teleport you back… Surroundings of Applewood would become your area of responsibility.”
“Got it.”
“Brace yourselves, my friends. It’s gonna be a hell of a night…”

An hour later, in Canterlot…

Princess Celestia was walking down the gallery which led to the tower she lived. It was a hard day, full of stresses, so now she dreamt only about soft bed and good healthy slumber. From time to time she looked at the sky through high and wide windows of the gallery. Altitude of the Castle allowed to have the best view on the star placers of the galaxy. It was truly marvelous sight, the source of inspiration for hundreds of artists and the very thing for her dearest sister to be proud of.

And, speaking about Night Princess, it turned out so that she was near: when Celestia was already approaching the entrance to her tower, she found Luna watching the sky far above Everfree Forest through an opened window in one of the side corridors. Blue alicorn seemed to be completely preoccupied by the observation. Celestia smiled and decided to sneak up to her sister. She stood behind Luna and looked at what she had been watching. A first it seemed that she watched an ordinary part of the night skies, but then a dim arrow of light pierced the heavens. A meteor. In a couple of seconds another, brighter one appeared. Right after it – one more arrow of light… “Luna made a meteor shower!” white alicorn thought. She smiled again and decided to watch the creation of her sister for some time to appreciate it.

Meteors continued to fall. White arrows streaked across the sky, leaving fading tracks of light. Some of them were dim, other were bright as the largest stars. Few ones seemed to be bigger than other, so they exploded in the atmosphere with tiny fireworks. It was truly magnificent. Celestia was proud of Luna for such incredible creation.

“You surpassed yourself, my dear sister,” Celestia said. “It’s one of the most beautiful meteor showers I have ever seen in my life!”

But Luna didn’t move or even say a word.

“It is not me,” she spelled after a long pause. “And it is not a meteor shower.”
“What? I don’t understand you, Luna,” Celestia worried.
“Look closer to those “meteors”, sister.”
“Why?”
“Just look,” she insisted and after some time asked. “See?”
“Umm, what?”
“A meteor shower has only one radiant in almost all the cases. These “meteors” have about twelve radiants. And some of them fly from one radiant to another.”

Celestia looked closer. And shuddered. Luna was right.

“Oh goodness!” Day Princess uttered. “What is it? What can it be? It’s… just incomprehensible!”
“I do not know, sister. I do not know…”

Meanwhile in the central part of Caterlot…

Gray stallion woke up from his slumber and looked around his dark and poorly decorated room. He had no need in sleep, actually – it was just a measure for energy saving – but it felt good to have some rest. He got up from his bed and slowly walked towards the window, like he did many times before in previous nights. He looked at the sky and saw exploding meteors. He watched them, how bright they were and where did they fly, for some time. Then he quietly spelled:

“I guess I’ll have to hurry…”

He lifted his foreleg and tried to clench it. It barely cooperated.

“…and find some recharge,” he added, looking at his limb.

Tomorrow, before everyone woke up, researchers returned to the Rally site. The night was tough indeed. The base ship had to stand against dozen of Ktaumea battle cruisers. Myriads of drones from both sides fought to death. Watching it was extremely stressful: you could see your comrades fighting with fierce enemy in the sky, but you couldn’t do anything to help them, and, at the same time, you had to keep your eyes open for spacecrafts which might be shot down.

Luckily, during the battle only four crafts fell on the planet surface. Teams all over the world could find the crash sites and eliminate enemies quickly.

One of the Ktaumea spacecrafts fell in Equestria, twenty miles away from Applewood. Thanks to the base ship’s observation systems, it was possible to calculate trajectory of the downed vessel and define the exact area where it hit the ground. Because of this Oma and Kor we able to arrive to the place just a couple of minutes after the crash. They pretended to be local citizens, who just were wondering what happened, and when two pilots finally got out from their ship… Kor ripped aliens’s throat with his jaws, and Oma stomped on another one and broke his spine and ribcage. After this, researchers activated the self-destruction device of the ship and run away. Less in a minute annihilative shell turned the site into two-hundred-meter-wide crater.

Researchers were completely exhausted after all this, so, when Wonderbolts woke up and saw them, they said that didn’t sleep well, so they are going to take a nap now and will miss the training. Wonderbolts said that they understand them and do not mind. Researchers thanked the flyers and went to bed.

They managed to calm themselves down and have some rest in the first half of the day. Then they finally joined Rainbow Dash and her teammates again. They weren’t allowed to participate in discussion, but it did not matter – they could have a good dinner and supper with new friends, have a good time like they did yesterday.

The night was awful, but the day brought brightness and long-awaited peace.

When members of the Second Department of the Special Service of Equestria came to their headquarters, they found the leader of their group sitting at his workplace. He was extremely pale and looked very frightened.

“Chief! What happened?” worried Cloudbreaker and Dim Silhouette.
“Have you heard about what happened the last night?” Hidden Path uttered after a pause.
“Umm.. and what happened last night?” wondered Grace.
“Ponies could witness quite specific meteor shower. Some of meteors exploded. The shower has several radiants, and many meteors were flying from one radiant to another.”
“What? But… it’s just not possible!” exclaimed Razor Edge.
“Indeed. Because it was not a meteor shower at all.”
“Huh?”
“Just look at this: a trace of light appears at one point and then comes to another, where it vanishes or explodes. Then the same trace appears in the second point and flies to the first. What do you think it is? It’s a firefight, where energy cannons are used, that’s what!”
“It can’t be…” mares uttered.
“Can’t be? Huge crater in the Everfree Forest, strange murders, strange behavior of ponies who seem to be ordinary… Something out of this world is on Gaia, it is evident! And now those meteors! Now it has no doubts! Our world has been invaded, dammit! And we still cannot connect everything with each other…”
“So… what should we do now?” Dim Silhouette asked in trembling voice.
“Oh… Grace, go to the Castle and tell princesses about results of our investigations and our suspicions on that all the events might be connected. Don’t tell them that we suspect princess Twilight’s castle staff.”
“Got it!” Grace nodded.
“Cloudbreaker, you and I will return to Ponyville. We’ll find the proof that those nine are not from this world…”
“Understood,” pegasus replied.
“And you,” Hidden Path turned to unicorns, “you’ll have to make an agreement with the Castle Defense Service.”
“Um, agreement on what, sir?” asked Razor Edge.
“Agreement on installation of additional spell in the defense system of the Castle. Something tells me that it might come in handy…”

27. The Greatest Night

View Online

Sheim and Max were lying on the roof of the Castle of Friendship. Sheim enjoyed the last days of good photosynthetic conditions before long cloudy late autumn and winter, Max have been just having rest after his shift.

Suddenly, Sheim turned to his colleague.

“Hey, Max…”

“Huh?” physiologists responded.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. Bring it on.”

“Okay, then… Why princess Luna comes every Thursday to the Castle when your shift begins?”

Max shuddered.

“What? How did you find it?..”

“Well, I’ve stayed late in garden, working, for three weeks in a row, and noticed how she teleports in the rose bushes and then goes to the back entrance.”

“Oh… Well… Remember the time when Zet’rar and I went with princess to help her to prank her sister? Well, it turned out so that I had to apply my massage skills on Her Highness. And… She liked it. Liked a lot. And made me her personal secret masseur.”

“Heh, not bad, not bad… You won a jackpot!”

“Yeah, it would be really great, if only Her Majesty wasn’t so demanding.”

Suddenly they heard a loud shout “YYYAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZ’!!!” from the side of the town park.

“What was that?” Sheim jumped up.

“Oh, it’s just Tryviež and Čarnabor, they’re fishing. And, as I think, they have just caught something big,” said Max, who didn’t even moved his ear.

“I hope they didn’t catch Steven. And… they’ve actually returned to Ponyville?”

“Speaking about Steven, he is not even there – he’s visiting his relatives in the West Sea. And speaking about our Dregovian friends, yes, came back two days ago. I’ve learned it from Zecora this night. You know, the weather was awful back then, so she had spent entire night in the Castle before she could return home?”

“I remember it.”

“Well, I’ve spent the whole night chatting with her. Amazing mare. I haven’t met such smart person for years.”

“I see…”

“And, speaking about Zecora, I must take the order from her.”

“What order?”

“You know what’s gonna be this night? Nightmare Night! So I ordered some transformation potions as an addition to costumes. One of them is for you. Trust me, when you use it, you’ll be scary as hell.”

“Well, I’m looking forward”

“But for now, let’s gather our comrades and ask princess for permission to leave earlier.”

“Right!”

Stallions stretched themselves after long lying and returned to the corridors of the castle. Very soon they found the rest of their crew and went to Twilight with their little collective petition.

Researchers found princess of friendship in her library. She was with Spike and Rarity.

“Oh, guys?” Twilight smiled when she noticed servants entering the room. “What brings you here?”

“Princess,” Edez stepped forward as the leader of the group. “Considering today’s night celebration, can we have your permission to leave earlier?”

“Why, yes, of course!” princess responded. “You are going to celebrate too?”

“Yes.”

“I see. If you want to have great holiday, you have to prepare for it well.”

“Yeah, making a costume takes quite a time,” Zet’rar said.

“You make costumes?” Rarity exclaimed. “By your own? Oh, you could tell me what you want to have, I would be glad to make them for you!”

“We appreciate your kindness and generosity, miss Rarity,” Affi said. “Buuut… We’d like to add some “special details” to our costumes, and we don’t think that there would be enough time for you to add them to all our costumes.”

“Um, what special details?”

“As you may know, in Europonia ponies sometimes add simple – or not – mechanisms to their carnival costumes to make them more realistic and impressive. We want to do the same with our Nightmare Night costumes here.”

“Ooh… That would be interesting to see. I’m looking forward. But remember” I will be a strict judge!”

“Understood. So… we go?”

“Sure!” Twilight said. “See you!”

Researchers bowed to her and left the room.

Soon after they were outside on the way to their home.

“Is everybody ready to have fun?” Edez asked his colleagues, smiling.

“Oh yeah!” they responded.

“Ah, it’s so wonderful!” Oma smiled. “We could not hide our body features from others and have fun without anyone suspecting us! Nightmare Night is the greatest holiday! And that was amazing idea, Bluve!”

“Thanks,” biologist said. “You know, for a four-armed being having only few hours in a day to spend without sticking arms one to another is a torture. Even one more hour for normal arm position would be a blessing.”

“Yes, I would have no need to hide what my hair can do,” Oma said.

“And I would have no need to hide my dorsal limbs!” Zet’rar added.

“And I would have no need to hide my teeth!” Kor added.

“Yep, that would be great!” Edea summed up. “But first, let’s make sure that everything would be OK.”

His teammates agreed, so when they came back to their town’s headquarters, they immediately began the preparations. They have many things to do: finish the costumes, apply make-up, add the hiding devices and other details and accessories… It was near work and, sometimes, risky. Sometimes painful. But, nevertheless, it was exciting. Researchers spent hours to create the perfect images, and now they were ready to impress the townsfolk. So, when the Sun hid behind the mountains and darkness filled the streets, they went out and headed to the epicenter of celebration, the Main Square.

Their friends were already there, managing the entertainments or just having fun. Princess Luna was in Ponyville too – after the night when Twilight and friends introduced the holiday to her, she came to the town for each celebration.

“All folks are there,” Affi said when she finished scanning. “Ready to surprise everyone?”

“We sure are!” her friends responded.

“Let’s go then!”

And Team One walked to the Square.

“Oh… my… goodness…” that were the only words of dozens of ponies when they saw researchers in their costumes. Nine servants were an amazing sight, impressive and fearsome. Even shy Calma and tiny Pippi looked pretty scary.

Ponies stopped what they were doing just to look at researchers. Edez as a ghost of a stylish noble, Kor as a nightmare beast, Affi as a psychopathic murderer, Oma as superviallain Mane-iac, Zet’rar as a post-apocalyptic warrior with mechanic insect limbs on his back, Karin as some evil spirit, Calma as cyborg, Max as a tribal warrior and Sheim the leech (or another kind of final boss in a dungeon). Team One sure put a lot of efforts in creation of those images.

“Wow… That’s some cool costumes!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Jeez, Zicht, what’s with those scars?” Applejack exclaimed. “Ah know ya had them in tha first place, but now it’s look like ya cut yer face again! And ya too, Anti!”

“I’ve just highlighted my scars with make-up,” Max rushed to clear up. The truth was that those were his sensor organs in maximum activity mode. Obviously, he couldn’t tell it, so he has to make up something really fast.

“And I just used a lot of make-up,” Affi said. She was calm because what she said was true.

“Oh my… Lierre, my dear, what did you do to yourself?” Rarity worried when she saw the gardener.

“Oh, this is just some rags, moss, lichen, powder aaand… a tiny bottle of bone growing potion from Zecora,” Sheim pointed to his protruding ribs and joints, “and tropicamide,” he pointed to his eyes, which are now were entirely black as a moonless night in the depth of a forest.

“Tropicamide?” ponies surprised.

“Yep. Just add few drops more, and you’ll get such eyes as mine now.”

“You mean these are… your pupils?” Rarity surprised.

“Right. The result is impressive, but it makes your eyes very sensitive to light. That’s a flaw.”

“Still, it is sooo cool! I want to try it!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“You really want it?” Sheim responded. “It might be very dangerous for a flyer.”

“I don’t mind it! I can handle it! So, do the thing!”

“Hold your horses, not so fast! First, you have to prepare your eyes! Wash them with cool water and spend some time adapting for dim lights.”

“Got it!” blue pegasus said and flew away right before he was about to add some more details.

“Ah, never mind.”

“Gosh, Lierre, your costume is great! And your too, guys! I’ve never seen so many amazing costumes at once!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “They are really scary! Right, Fluttershy?”

Poor yellow pegasus who was afraid of Nightmare Night celebration since the very fillyhood and who haven’t a slightest idea of how she agreed to join her friends this year, now was just shocked.

“See? She’s so impressed she even can’t talk!” Pinkie Pie continues.

“I think that there’s another reason for this…” said Oma.

“Seriously, your costumes are the best!”

“Um, Pinkie…” Affi gently tapped pink pony on shoulder and with no word pointed somewhere behind her.

“What?..” Pinkie surprised and looked where telepathist pointed. “Uh-oh…”

There was Rarity. When she heard that her precious costumes that she worked on for weeks were not called the best, she froze. It was shock, but, at the same time, she felt rage and urge to do some painful things. So now, despite having elegant – and even attractive – costume and make-up, because of her gaze and dark aura she was scarier than a dozen of Nightmare Moons.

“I didn’t mean to! Your costumes are also great! Oh, dang, yiiip! I mean your costumes ARE great! Amazing! One of a kind!” pink pony gibbered when she realized what she has done.

“Okay…” that was the only thing white unicorn said, and then she walked away.

“That was a close call,” Spike breathed deeply.

“Yeah,” other bearers of the Elements agreed.

“… but ya really did a huge job making those costumes,” Applejack said. “Ah guess that’s for the costume contest?”

“You bet,” Kor and Pippi agreed.

“Your costumes are amazing, true, but…” Twilight said, “Zicht, your costume looks simpler comparing to your friends’ outfits. Don’t you want to win a get a present from princess Luna?”

“… there are reasons for my unwillingness,” Max responded.

“Hmm, I see that Didinga is Mane-iac, but what about other your costumes?” wondered Spike. “Is it a depiction of certain characters, or is it just an image?”

“Actually, both variants are right,” Affi answered. “Some of us cosplay certain characters from fiction or mythology, other are just represent an image.”

“So… who is who?”

“Why wouldn’t you try to guess?” telepathist asked and looked at Spike and youngsters that gathered near their group.

Little fillies and colts actively participated in this improvised quiz.

Since there were no such characters in Equestrian culture, in the beginning many foals guessed that the rest of Team One just represents some certain images, types of characters. Researchers kept their mouths shut, but eventually Zet’rar, Max, Affi and Calma confessed that their current outfits are images. Karin said that her costume can be described as a representation of image, but only partially. Edez, Kor and Sheim said that they represent certain characters.

And that was the problem.

“Okay, okay, we’ll tell you what our characters are,” said Edez, seeing how even the smartest ponies failed to guess. “I’m a… Ghost from one popular Europonian comic book.”

“What Ghost?” youngsters wondered.

“Just Ghost… From the comic “Mystery of Skulls”.”

“Never heard about it.”

“It’s a new comic, already popular in Europonia, but unknown here.”

“Oh… Still, your costume is cool!”

Unlike the team leader, Sheim refused to tell right away about what character he represents.

“I thought somepony would be able to guess who I am now,” he said and turned to the princess. “Personally, I was hoping for you, miss Twilight. Considering how much folklore research books you have, including ones from Europonia…”

“Wait, you are representing one of Europonian mystical creatures?” alicorn surprised.

“Yes, and. Moreover, it’s a Champian creature. It’s believed that northwestern regions of my homeland is the place it lives.”

“Northeaster Champia… Champia… Oh… Dear Celestia… I-is it Ankou?”

“Correct, Your Highness.”

“What is this Ankou?” some youngsters wondered.

Sheim leaned to the foals and spelled:

“The spirit of Death itself,” and make a creepy smile.

Young ones yipped and rushed to hide behind the nearest adults. Sheim smiled again, but now he tried to make less creepy expression to assure foals that he isn’t a threat.

“And what about you, Erő?” Pinkie Pie wondered.

“Oh, this time I’m supporting my friend Lierre and also “cosplay” one of Champian mystical beings.”

“And what being?”

“The legendary Beast of Gévaudan!”

“Oh dear…” Twilight shuddered.

“Huh? Is it really so terrible?” Applejack and Rarity were surprised by Twilight’s reaction.

“The Beast of Gévaudan was awful pony-eating monster, who killed dozens of villagers!” alicorn said. “Moreover, there is a lot of evidences proving that it was real.”

“What?”

“Hmm… It doesn’t look scary to me,” Pinkie Pie said, examining Kor. “You look more like a hairy pony with long fluffy tail to me.”

“Well, and what about now?” Kor said and made a wide grin.

This moment Pinkie turned pale – stallion’s mouth was full of huge razor-sharp teeth! As a verekan, he has two rows of teeth, but now they were modified: one row was a set of typical pony teeth, and second row was row of verekan predator teeth, and he could hide one of the rows for certain time. This time Kor just switched his set of teeth to more appropriate one.

“Oh my…” other ponies who saw this shuddered as well.

“Do I look like a beast now?” Kor asked, continuing to smile.

“Definitely.”

Kor managed to scare everyone around but Spike. However, that was not because little dragon was so brave, Spike just was distracted – he looked at Oma. She cosplayed a character from his favorite comic, so he, as a true admirer, he couldn’t just pass by and not to examine the costume.

“Hmm, you know, Didinga, you really succeeded in creating attractive supervillain character,” Spike said, “however, there is one little thing.”

“What thing?” Oma wondered.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m looking for faults on purpose, but I think that your image lacks some realism.”

“Why?”

“You see… Mane-iac’s mane form ten or twelve… well… hair tentacles, and tail form about five or six such ones. Your mane form only four, and your tail form only three.”

“Well, I agree that this is a flaw, but… The thing I – and my friends too – care about the most is the functionality, and not the exact external match,” senior sociologist smiled and… using one of her hair tentacles, she grabbed a caramel candy from little dragon’s basket and put it into her mouth.

Other witnesses were surprised as well.

“See? Maybe I don’t look exactly like Mane-iac, but the functional match is one hundred percent!”

“How did you do that?” many ponies asked, but Twilight’s question was the loudest.

“That’s a secret!”

“… wow… Just wow,” it was the only thing Spike could say at that moment.

“That’s how we make costumes in Europonia: external match matters, but functional match is more important,” Kor said.

“I se… Holy cow, Erő! What’s with your teeth?” Spike exclaimed when he looked at Kor.

“You’ve finally noticed?” officer spelled. “Do they make me scarier?”

“I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to scare even timbervolves now.”

“And… all your costumes are the same?” Rarity asked in slightly trembling words.

As a response, mechanic insect legs attached to Zet’rar’s back moved. At the same time, Bluve raised her right foreleg, and with a clicking sound a blade appeared from her cyborg armor.

“Oh my…”

“Damn…”

“Don’t ya think that it’s an overkill?” Applejack sincerely wondered.

“No. This is the pursuit of excellence,” Bluve gave resolute answer.

“Okay, have it yer way…”

Ponyvillers learned what they wanted, so they returned to what they were doing before Team One arrived. Now researchers could join the celebration and have free time.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Twilight asked.

“I dunno… Maybe we’ll just hang around a bit and entertain ourselves and some townsfolk,” Affi said, and many of her colleagues supported her.

“Well, I have two things to do this night,” Sheim said. “First, help Rainbow Dash to get black eyes just like mine, and second is to find Maud.”

“Ehm, why do you need my sister?” Pinkie Pie sincerely wondered.

Sheim lowered his head and spelled:

“After our visit to Dodge City she just doesn’t give me a moment’s peace…” he was trembling. “But this night I’m gonna get even!”

“Oh my…” some bearers of the elements spelled.

“I’d better warn Maud,” Pinkie Pie said and was about to run away, but Sheim stopped her.

“I’d not recommend to do this now…” he said with steel in his voice. “Besides, I have to help Rainbow Dash first…”

“Who was talking about me?” voice of the blue pegasus came from above, and in a moment the pony landed near the company.

“You’ve finished all the preparations?” Rarity and Spike surprised.

“Yep!” Rainbow Dash smiled and turned to Sheim. “Lierre, do your thing!”

“As you wish, my friend, as you wish…”

And he did the procedure – drip about seven drops of tropicamide into each eye of a pegasus. What came right after it was one of the loudest and horrendous screams Ponyville ever heard. It sounded like a yell of a being tortured for hundreds of years. Even researchers were horrified. But, eventually, everything ended well: Rainbow Dash rolled on the ground, covering her eyes and wailing for a couple of minutes, then the pain gone away. She stood up, looked at her friends and asked:

“How do I look?”

“Well, yer eyes are just like Lierre’s,” Applejack responded honestly.

“Really?” pegasus exclaimed and ran to the nearest mirror she could spot. “Aw yeah! Awesome! Like a true monster!”

“Indeed,” some of researchers agreed.

“Thanks, Lierre! Now I’ll be able to scare anypony!” blue pegasus smiled and flew away, waving to Sheim.

Now it’s necessary to mention that Rainbow’s screams worried all ponies in the town, and many of them ran to see what happened. Everything was over when most of townsfolk finally came to the place of incident, but Sheim didn’t pay so much attention to it. The most important thing was that Maud Pie was among the worried ones. Planetologist spotted gray mare dressed as a member of geological expedition working in the deer lands northeast of Europonia, and quickly approached her.

“Oh, who do I see?” Sheim said and looked in the mare’s eyes.

“L-Lierre?” Maud surprised. “I-is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me, mon chéri,” he spelled and made the creepiest smile he was able to.

“Y-you look scary.”

“I am. But don’t you worry, mon chéri, no scary monsters will come close to you this Night, because the most dreadful of them is now at your service.”

“Uh-huh…”

“So let’s enjoy this night together!” Sheim spelled and before Maud Pie said anything researcher dragged her away.

Pinkie Pie could only pray silently for her sister.

The incident was over, so ponies slowly returned to their regular tasks. However, for others this is was the beginning of the Nightmare Night’s adventures.

“Um, miss Calma!” Bluve felt somepony touching her foreleg and turned her head. There she saw Sweetie Belle, who was also wearing a cyborg costume.

“Oh, Sweetie, it’s you,” Bluve said. “What do you need?”

“Well, you see…” little unicorn spelled timidly. “Your costume, miss Calma.”

“… and what’s with it?”

“Well, I’ve already been everywhere in the town, and you are the only pony except me wearing the cyborg costume! So, please, could you join me for trick-or-treating?”

“Um, honestly, I don’t know, but…” … and right at this moment Bluve’s stomach treacherously growled.

Everyone standing near fell silent. Sweetie Belle, who was right next to Bluve, was just blinking in confusion. Eventually, in few seconds Edez broke the silence and addressed Bluve, who was now beet-red.

“Well, if you need it, I guess you can go,” he said.

Bluve just gave a nod and touched Sweetie Belles’s shoulder, quietly saying “Let’s go.” Young unicorn had finally come to her senses after it, and cheerfully responded. Soon after both ponies disappeared behind the corner of one narrow street.

Researcher’s company thinned out, so others decide do separate. Zet’rar and Oma decided to spend some time together, Affi and Edez said that they would just walk around the street for some time, and Kor, Karin and Max went to the food and entertainment stands to take part in some contests. Bearers of the Elements did the same: Rainbow Dash flew away to scare townspeople, Rarity remembered about some unfinished tasks and went to her boutique together with Spike, Fluttershy said that she had enough of Nightmare Night for now and went home in company of Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Twilight decided to hand out for a bit and later return to the Castle.

However, before coming back to the Castle, Twilight wanted to ask Edez some questions, so she ran to catch up with him.

“Um, Berg, excuse me, but I wanted to ask you about the character you represent,” princess of friendship said when she reached the researcher.

“Sure, princess,” Edez responded.

“It’s just… knowing how much Europonians care about their traditions, it’s very unusual to see such dandy ghost character from them. I mean, it’s more like that some artists from Eastern Kingdoms would rather create such character.”

“I see. Well, to be honest, the comic book where my character appears for the first time was inspired by Easter Kingdoms’ comic books. We, Europonians, follow traditions, but we also keep eye on the modern trends, so… don’t be so surprised, Your Highness.”

“Oh, I understand now. But, still, the character you represent looks amazing, it’s really impressive image of supernatural being, however identify it as a ghost is hard. I mean, it is so unlike other ghosts!”

“It’s so, and even in the comic book this character was mistook for a demon for few times, but… Nevertheless, it’s a ghost. And you know, why? Because when it’s the time, he might just disappear…”

Edez twitched unnaturally, and the next thing Twilight remembered was a powerful gust of wind that raised clouds of dust. Alicorn was disoriented, but she quickly pulled herself together and dispersed the dust clouds. Everything happened in few seconds, but now Edez was gone. Huge stallion just vanished – there was no trace of him on the street. Twilight turned around, looking for him, but saw nothing.

“Wow…” was the only thing she could say at that moment. She knew that this pony is very fast for his sizes, but this fast?.. It was unbelievable.

“How could he…” Twilight was about to say, but suddenly another dusty gust of wind came.

“As I said,” she heard Edez’s voice, “this character could disappear an appear from nowhere, which is typical for ghost, so… he is a true ghost.”

“Heh, I see you chose the character that fits you for one hundred percent.”

“Thank you, princess. So, what would you like to do now?”

“Hmm, maybe just hang around a little, eat some snacks, see how my friends are doing, and then return to the Castle.”

“Then would you let me accompany you for this time?”

“Sure! Let’s go, my friend.”

Meanwhile somewhere among the rows of stands on the market square…

“I’m sorry for causing inconveniences, but I leave you alone as soon as I will be sure about being far from Luna,” Max said to Kor and Karin.

“Fine, but… What’s all the fuss about? I don’t understand. Why you avoid princess Luna?” wondered Karin.

“You know about the situation between Sheim and Maud? Well, in case of me and Luna things might become very similar or even worse.”

“What? Seriously? Geez, what princess found in such creepy guy…”

“Oh, isn’t that famous servants of the Castle of Friendship?” sudden stallion’s voice came from a side.

Researchers turned to the source of sound and found five ponies: earth pony stallion dressed as an adventurer escaped from a death trap, huge pegasus stallion dressed as a legionary, tall pegasus mare dressed as an ancient goddess, small unicorn mare dressed as a fairy and tall unicorn stallion with a broken horn dressed as a post-apocalyptic raider.

“Ehm, do we know you?” Max and Karin asked.

“I don’t think so,” earth pony said, “but one of your friend, Calma does.”

“Wait… You’re that group of policeponies that came here for vacations?” Kor surprised.

“Yes, we are,” earth pony nodded. “Allow us to introduce ourselves: I am Hidden Path, and there are my friends and colleagues, Cloudbreaker, Razor Edge, Grace and Dim Silhouette.”

“You know, your vacation is longer than usual one,” Karin said.

“Well, if you don’t take one for several years, one time you might just get kicked out for six or seven month from your workplace,” Razor Edge responded.

“Oh… Well, we know some such “examples”,” researchers spelled. “Still, it’s nice to meet you. And we are…”

“Lemme guess,” Cloudbreaker broke in. “You’re Erő, Zicht and Pippi, right?” he named all three correctly.

“You know it from Calma?” Kor asked.

“Calma told me, and I once told my friends about you,” Hidden Path said.

“So, what brings you here?” Max asked.

“Well, I just wanted to see friends of my special pony…” Hidden Path began.

“… and he dragged us with him,” Grace added.

“Thank you,” Hidden Path hissed at her and turned back to researchers. “Well, you are enjoying the celebration, I see?”

“Yep, quite so,” Karin and Kor responded, but then they pointed at Max and said “But he doesn’t.”

“Why so?” Dim Silhouette and Grace surprised.

“Well, there are some objective reasons,” Max said.

Suddenly Hidden Path made a few big steps towards Max.

“Hmm, perhaps this is the first time I see a pony who could not be ashamed of his appearance only one day in a year and use this flaw,” he said, looking at physiologist’s face.

“Same here,” Max responded. “and, I guess, it’s hard to tell whose case is worse. I mean, I have some big scars on my face, but you…”

“And I have much bigger ones all over my body except face and hooves,” Hidden Path said.

“Well, at least now I can see why Calma like you so much.”

“Huh?”

“She had some hard times, because of which she got several big wounds. I see that something similar happened to you, but you keep standing. You’re like her, and you’re strong. You see, Calma is strong girl, but she need protection and consolation. So take care of her.”

“Thank you. I will.”

“Um, pardon me, mister Zicht, but why you are aiming to avoid the celebration?” Dim Silhouette wondered.

“Well, you se… Oh, verdorie!*” [* “Oh, damn it!” (Dutch)]

“My dear Zicht, here you are!” Canterlot voice thundered above all eight, and then the pony it belonged to landed right between them. This pony was a dark blue alicorn dressed as queen of an Amazon tribe.

“Princes Luna?!” surprised Karin, Kor, Cloudbreaker and Razor Edge.

“My dear Zicht?” Dim Silhouette and Grace exclaimed.

“Oh, good to see you, miss Pippi and mister Erő,” princess of the night greeted the researchers and then turned to the ponies of the Second Department. “Oh, major Path, I didn’t expect to see you there!”

“MAJOR Path?” researchers surprised.

“Yes, this brave stallion is one of the most dedicated officers that Equestria has ever seen!” princess Luna said and turned to the female subordinates of major Path. “Oh, and I heard that you were surprised by me calling mister Zicht “my dear”?”

“Yes!” Grace and dim Silhouette exclaimed. “For what merits?!”

“My dears, you just don’t know all his talents! He is so good!”

“Excuse me, princess, but it sounded quite ambiguously,” Max said.

“Oh, it’s nothing! There are more important things right now!” princess of the night said and came closer to Max. “You remember about the special service we talked about?” she whispered.

Biologist had no other options. He just sighed and gave a nod.

“Great! Then let’s go!” princess Luna smiled and lifted Max above the ground with her magic.

“Vaarvel, vrienden! Denk niet ziek van mij! Onthoud me!” [Farewell, friends! Don’t think ill of me! Remember me!] Max said while Luna was carrying him away.

“Vi kommer komma ihåg dig!” [We will remember you!] Karin said and lowered her head.

Kor let a single tear to fall from his eye.

“Jeez, what’s the business with him and princess?” Cloudbreaker wondered.

“Well, once princess Luna forced him and another our friend, Allegro, help her with some private business, and somehow Luna really liked Zicht, especially his skills as a masseur,” Kor explained.

“Massage skills?” officers of Second Department could not believe it.

“That’s what they said. Well, Zicht could not avoid contact with princess Luna, so we’d better hide somewhere. He’d be very mad when he find us.”

“Agree,” Karin nodded and looked at the officers of the Second Department. “See you!”

And researchers run away.

“Wait!” Hidden Path exclaimed, but it was too late.

“Oh, now I won’t be able to hug Erő!” Dim Silhouette said in disappointed voice.

“Say what?” pegasi surprised.

“Haven’t you seen how fluffy he was? Oh, it would be a pure bliss to hug someone so fluffy!..”

“Um, I do not want to upset you, Dim, but mister Erő represented the Beast of Gévaudan, legendary pony-eating monster,” Razor Edge said.

“What??? Oh… I’m hopeless…” Dim Silhouette sat on the ground and cover her face with hooves.

Other members of the group came closer to comfort her, but suddenly they heard a surprised voice.

“Hidden?” the voice sounded familiar. Hidden Path recognized it.

“Calma?” he responded and turned to the speaker. His guessing was right: there was Calma together with white unicorn filly. Both of them were dressed as cyborgs.

“Wow!” Hidden Path surprised. “I didn’t expect you to wear such costume.”

“Well, I actually like robots,” Bluve responded – and it was absolute truth.

“And who is the young lady with you?”

“Her name is Sweetie Belle, she is a sister of one my friend. Our costumes are similar to each other, so we teamed up to support each other.”

“It makes trick-or-treating way more effective!” Sweetie Belle said.

“Really?” Hidden Path surprised.

“Just look at this!” young unicorn said and showed the officer her basket, which was almost full. “And we’ve only started!”

“I see. So, have fun then!”

“Thank you!”

“See you!” Bluve said, and Hidden Path waved to her.

“Cyborgs” walked only twelve meters or so when Sweetie Belle suddenly turned to Bluve and said:

“You know, miss Calma, you and mister Hidden would be a cute couple!”

Researcher’s and officer’s “WHAT???” could be heard everywhere in Ponyville.

“Young one gets right to the point,” Cloudbreaker spelled when echo of boss’ scream had finally faded.

Hidden Path just hit his subordinate and led everyone to remote part of festive area.

Bluve managed to calm herself down, so she could continue helping Sweetie Belle to get free candy. However, her face still was a bit reddish.

Cyborg duo was quite successful, but then it happened so that they met… some not the nicest ponies: arch-nemeses of the CMC, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

“Huh?” young earth ponies surprised when they finally noticed two “cyborgs” standing near them. “What are you doing there?”

“Hello to you too,” Sweetie Belle responded emotionlessly.

“Why you aren’t with your sister?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“Is this Calma from the Castle of Friendship?” Silver Spoon wondered. Bluve just gave a weak nod.

Sweetie Belle was about to respond to Tiara, but pink earth pony stopped her.

“Wait! I know the reason! It’s because your robot costume is sooooo lame!” she said.

“Hey!” little unicorn resented. “They’re not lame! And we’re cyborgs!’

“Your costume is so awful your sister just couldn’t stand it! So she just ran away!”

“Yes! Yes!” Silver Spoon agreed. “Lame and outdated! When robots were a thing? When we were in a kindergarten?”

“Yes! Or even earlier!” Diamond Tiara supported.

“It’s not true!.. Stop it!” Sweetie Belle cried. Those two were so irritating that she was about to yell insults at them. However, before she did anything, Bluve stepped forward.

“Um, you want something, miss?..” rich fillies wondered – the adult’s behavior was odd.

And then… Saying no words, Bluve stood on hind legs and spread her forelegs. She shook the spread limbs, and in a second each foreleg separated in two.

At this moment all three fillies barely managed to keep their jaws in place.

“Well, what would you say about “robot suits” now?” physiologist grinned, the “lower pair” of her forelimbs was fold on her chest, the upper left limb was on her side, and with her upper right limb she pointed to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

“Wow! That’s so cool! How did you do that?” exclaimed white unicorn.

“… h-how?..” was the only thing rich fillies could say.

“That’s a secret,” Bluve responded and looked at her young comrade. “Let’s go, Sweetie! We have many other things to do!” she put her forelegs in “proper” position and stood back on all four.

“Sure!” Sweetie Belle chirped and ran forward together with Bluve, leaving dumbfounded rich fillies behind.

Meanwhile at another part of festive area Affi noticed familiar silhouettes of two huge spotted unicorns wearing quaint uniforms – something average between fantasy armor and uniform of an officer of Victorian times. She decided to prank them. Using her telepathy skills, she sneaked right between two stallions and then she said:

“Hey, why so serious, guys?”

“Akchtyzh!..” giants exclaimed and, finally, noticed a mare standing between them. “Stop… Anti?..”

“Correct!” telepathist smiled.

“Geez, that’s not how you treat others!” Čarnabor said.

“But it was good one, isn’t it?” Affi smiled again.

“Yeah… You look really scary,” Tryviež said.

“Thank you. I worked on this image for quite a time. And… I see, you are enjoying the Night as well? Honesty, I’m surprised that you chose Ponyville as the place to be during the celebration.”

“Well, if princess of the night comes here, then this town would fit such simple ponies as we,” Tryviež responded.

“I wouldn’t call you, guys, simple ones,” Affi thought. “Say, those suits of yours… are you representing some mythological character, or is it just an image?”

“To be honest, these are our ceremonial uniforms,” Čarnabor said.

“Ceremonial uniforms?”

“It’s problematic to find something for our sizes. And to order a costume is quite expensive.”

“I see… You know, other guys from our gang hang around there too. Didn’t you see them?”

“I think we saw Calma…” Tryviež responded. “A blue mare in cyborg suit, together with a filly in the same costume. They were running around, exclaiming ‘We are Borg, resistance is futile!’”

“Oh, then it’s definitely was Calma.”

“I didn’t know she like such things.”

“Well, now you know.”

“So… Ehm, wanna drink with us?” Čcarnabor offered.

“If you ask… and pay for me… then yes,” Affi responded.

Unicorns looked at each other and grinned.

“Deal,” they said.

And, thus, a company of Europonians went to beverage stalls.

Zet’rar and Oma aimed to spend some time alone, enjoying company of each other, but what they could do with their “costumes” attracted a lot of attention, so now they just couldn’t get away from groups of kids that attacked them from everywhere.

“Do something cool!” they all begged.

Researchers tried some simple tricks they could do with their “additional limbs”, but the number of those tricks wasn’t infinite, and kids get bored and tend to ask more if you repeat the same trick. Thus, Oma and Zet’rar were at an impasse now.

“Do something cool! Please!” young fillies and colts continued to beg.

“Okay, here goes nothing…” Zet’rar muttered, made a deep sigh and continued. “Hey, kiddies, how about to do something else instead of cool? Like, SHOCKING!”

“Huh?” young ones surprised.

“You know, in school and kindergarten, sometimes, you read and learn short poems, rhymes that help you to understand language better. They often have no significant meaning, they are simple, cheerful and kind. Well, how about nightmare version of those poems?”

“Riiiiight!” Oma understood Zet’rar’s plan. “The evil parodies of foals’ rhymes! In some regions of Europonia they are pretty popular.”

“Really?” kids surprised.

“Wanna hear some?” Oma asked.

Foals looked at each other and dared to listen. Oma made a villainous smile and gave Zet’rar a nod.

“Well, here goes the first one…” technician said.

“A young colt played at the site of construction,

But the building’s formwork was prone to destruction…

There was no scream or even a tweet –

Only colt’s hooves stick out from concrete.”

Some foals became paler.

“That’s creepy,” some of them said.

“It looks more like sadistic rhymes to me,” said the colt in mad scientist costume.

“These rhymes are also known as sadistic rhymes, so…” Oma said. “Well, my turn!

One little colt thought that night snack is a breeze,

But one clumsy move, and he was locked in deep freeze.

His tiny weak body soon turned in ice.

But he stopped night-eating, and this is nice.”

“I’ll tell one more!” Zet’rar said.

“One little foal went for a swimming abroad.

The water was nice, but he haven’t noticed a boat…

Well, now we all have the most wonderful sight:

Half-foal to the left, half-foal to the right!”

“Shocking, isn’t it?” Oma asked, her villainous grin became even scarier.

“Y-yeah…”

“Uh, I think I have to go!” one foal said, and all his friends somehow suddenly remembered that they have other things to do. Thus, they all quickly left researchers alone.

Zet’rar and Oma were finally happy to remain alone, but now, after working as entertainers for kids, they were tired. Neither Oma, nor Zet’rar wanted to do anything.

“Those kids exhausted me,” Oma said. “Indeed, young ones are cute and nice only when there are few of them.”

“Agree. I’ve lost all ardor,” Zet’rar complained. “What shall we do now?”

“I dunno… The only thing that comes to my mind is to return to the Castle and relax on some of its sofas.”

“Well, sounds good to me. Maybe if we lay down on the same sofa together, I’ll regain my strength and we will have fun?”

“You’re perv!.. What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Oma grinned and ran forward.

“And you are calling me dirty?” Zet’rar laughed and ran after Oma.

Soon they were in the Castle. The huge crystal building was now dark and empty – all ponies and dragons that lived and worked there were on the celebration. So now all this palace with dozens of luxurious rooms belonged to them. They could do anything and anywhere.

But…

As soon as Oma and Zet’rar entered the main hall, they heard moans and groans. It seemed that whet researcher had in their excited minds has been already happening somewhere in the Castle, and they weren’t part of this fun.

Researchers were surprised. They were outraged. Who was those lovebirds? They decided to find out. In a minute, they found that the source of the sound was on the second floor, somewhere in guest bedrooms. When Zet’rar and Oma got to the place, they saw that one of the doors was opened. Near it pieces of clothing were visible in bright moonlight. Researchers looked closer and shuddered: those were part of princess’ Luna’s costume. If so, than she and Max have already?.. Faces of both turned red in a second. Researchers couldn’t believe that. It was so embarrassing and shocking, but they couldn’t help looking in the opened room.

They silently approached the door, took a deep breath, slowly peeked…

… and what do you think?

Indeed, there were Luna and Max. Both of them were on a bed, and Luna was moaning, and it was because of Max. However, the reason of Her Highness’ moans was the massage – which, judging by expressions of both ponies, has been continuing for quite a time.

Zet’rar and Oma were so surprised they just froze, standing in the doorway. Max noticed them. He was shocked, but then his expression changed. With some simple gestures he said “Get out, you didn’t see anything.” Oma and Zet’rar understood the hint and left them.

“Well, now the only thing I can do is to cite our Dregovian friends,” Zet’rar smiled. “Max, ay maladets!” [approximate translation “great, dude!”]

Oma smiled as well.

Luckily, there was more guest bedrooms on the fourth floor, at the opposite side of the Castle.

“… well, I guess it’s time to remind those creatures what is nightmare,” Quasi said, wiping his mouth and looking in the poorly lit dead end behind him. “It’s Nightmare Night, after all…”

Two decapitated pony bodies lying there were still bleeding. What were their heads was now pulverized on the paving stones and the walls. Everywhere around were pieces of rag, which were once costumes of the victims.

Quasi looked at them and then turned to brightly and colorfully illuminated mount of the Canterlot Castle. He grinned and said “Well, I guess it’s time to start the main preparations.”

28. Secret Operation

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“What?” workers of the Second Department couldn’t believe in what their chief had just said.

“Two teenagers were brutally murdered almost in the center of Canterlot, and no one haven’t seen it?” Grace exclaimed.

“I know, it’s shocking, but it’s not the main problem now,” Hidden Path said. “Look at the way those two were killed.”

“… Dear Gods, it’s…” Dim Silhouette spelled in trembling voice. “Their injuries are almost like the injuries of the dragon killed near Dodge City weeks ago!”

“Yes. Now you understand? The thing able to kill a dragon without any serious efforts is now in Canterlot. And, judging by the facts, it is disguised as a pony.”

“You think it was our suspects?” Cloudbreaker surprised. “But we saw that all nine of them were in Ponyville that night!”

“Yes!” Razor Edge supported. “We’ve personally checked for it!”

“It is true, so… Considering this circumstance, there are only two possible explanations: first, the suspects have subordinates, and their group is larger than we thought, second, we have two or even more groups of invaders here.”

“What? Several groups? More invaders?”

“These are the only possible logical explanations.”

“Each of them only makes the situation worse,” Grace shuddered.

“And it’s getting even worse – the Diarchs learned about those murders and the incidents near Dodge City,” Hidden Path said. “They demand answers. We have no other choice, we need to find out what stands behind all this as fast as we can. We have to do it for the sake of our homeland.”

Meanwhile, in the Team One hidden base…

“Have you finished it?” Edez asked Max.

“Finally, yes,” biologist responded. “It took a while after when we received that information from other Teams, but… Bluve and I have managed to create the treatment for everyone!”

“That’s good… It was pretty unexpected to learn that the powerful spirits and leaders of the shape-shifters can be affected by the same condition as alicorns…”

“Yeah.”

“Still, it’s unusual that we help local bad guys too.”

“According to Team Two, even the worst acts of shape-shifters might be not as harmful as the consequences of the condition when the leaders reach their magic power peak.”

“A live bomb of extreme power… Damn, even in the history of all the Union there were not so much of such things.”

“Nevertheless, Edez, the most important issue now is who would “give” those six the treatment. To make it work it has to be injected in the body. There’s no other option but sneak in the royal apartments just to do it. We have to form a team! Or several teams to do it!”

“Indeed. Let’s see… Well, there is one option to optimize it. In two days there will be a festival in the Canterlot Castle. There would be princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadance. And, considering that the festival program contains lots of various performances, Discord would probably be there too. Thus, we can make four injections in one expedition. Affi and Bluve would be the best candidates for the job. They have specific experience, so it would be easier for them.”

“And what about princess Twilight and Chrysalis?”

“I’ll be the one to make Chrysalis the injection. However, to sneak in the Hive would be a difficult job even for me, so I’ll ask Kor for support. And what about our princess… I suppose you are the one for this job.”

“I guess so… Well, we all will start at the same time?”

“Yes. In two days, in the evening.”

Five ponies, two mares and three stallions, gathered in a dark room. Four of them were in high-tech camouflage suits, the fifth was wearing an ordinary guard’s uniform.

“Everyone know the plan?” asked the leader, huge arsenic stallion.

“Yes,” other ponies responded.

“Teleport to the Castle and remain undercover with invisibility shield on. Find Discord, distract him, stun and make the injection. Then wait until all princesses went to sleep, sneak in and make the injections,” the yellow mare said.

Her marine-colored comrade gave a nod and said “Yes.”

“Teleport in the Hive, sneak in her bedroom while she’ll be sleeping. I stun her, you prick her,” big brown stallion said.

“Wait until she’ll be sound asleep doing the regular job, then sneak in and inject,” bronze stallion with scars on his face said.

“Good. Well, activate the teleportation. May the luck be with us.”

“Right!”

Tall stallions and mares typed a short command on their on-hoof support computed devices and disappeared in dim flashed of light. The last stallion saluted them before they were completely gone and then with a murky smile on his face left the room.

Soon after this he was in the Castle of Friendship. He went to see the princess to tell her that the time of his watch had come. Princess greeted him and told him that she might stay up longer than usual since she wants to finish one project. The bronze stallion said that he understands and left the room in order to start patrolling.

In four hours, princess still was working. The night guard had already checked all the Castle from basement to attic for two times, took extremely tired princess’s assistant to his bedroom and helped him with some bedtime preparations, prepared some stuff for his colleagues who will arrive there in the morning. Eventually, princess finished her job and slowly went to her bedroom, yawning on her way. The night guard wished her good night and continued his go-round.

When the third round of the patrol was complete, he checked the princess’s bedroom. He gently opened the door and saw that purple alicorn has been sound asleep. She was very tired, so her sleep was really deep – it seemed that now she would not react even on a cannon shot. Still, one should be careful.

The night guard silently approached the sleeping alicorn and stood near the headboard. He took quiet, but deep breath and began the operation. From under his armor he took a small plastic bottle, opened it and brought it to princess’s face. She smelled the substance in the bottle, fidgeted, but then suddenly went limp, just like a ragdoll. Bronze stallion closed the bottle, put it back under the armor and took an injector. He put the device to alicorn’s neck and pressed the button. One weak muffled sound – and a dose of special support treatment was in the pony’s circulatory system. Very soon the treatment would spread across all the organism and penetrate all the cells. Fluxes of magic energy would be stabilized, and no one would ever worry about probable dangerous conditions.

“Excuse me, Your Highness,” the night guard whispered, “but, I suppose, you will oversleep no matter what happens.”

And he left the bedroom quietly.

Meanwhile two huge pony-like figures in cybernetic suits were approaching the chambers of queen Chrysalis. They faced with a problem: they planned to get to the necessary place from the outside of the Hive, but it turned out that the habitation of changelings constantly rebuilds itself: doorways open and close in mere minutes, bridges and corridors appear and fall apart. It made the orientation within the structure extremely difficult – the only anchor point researchers could use were the queen’s chambers, because they were among few places coordinates of which remained constant. Thus, stallions could lead the way, but they had to adjust it all the time.

The patrols of changelings’ guard were everywhere. If not the suits, researchers would be detected in no time. Invisibility shield, sound and vibration suppressing, local-scale gravitation distorters to enable them to walk on walls and ceiling and levitate for short periods of time – they had to use all kinds of tools that were built in the suits.

After three hours, stallions finally reached the entrance to the chambers. It was heavily guarded: about eighty mighty soldiers watched the queen’s rest. And, no doubt, there were magic traps. Hard task, but not impossible. Absolute suppression and invisibility would make them imperceptible even for the most precisely adjusted traps. The only thing they need was time: they had to move slowly and quietly so that not a single trace would be left. Their sizes made it even more difficult, but both of them had dozens of years of military practice. Moving carefully and watching each step, they passed by all the guards and left all the traps untouched.

Surprisingly, there were no doors on the way – only some veils, which, by the way, researchers passed without any problems thanks to visual distortions caused by absolute suppression field and invisibility. Well, either doors were only for emergencies, or queen preferred to sleep in places with thorough ventilation. Nevertheless, it made their task easier.

Finally, they were in the royal bedroom. It was a huge dark room with many various things and decorations. Queen’s bed was in the center. Big and oval-shaped, it was a vast plain for average pony or changeling, but it has the perfect sizes for the queen, which – and now it was the most important – made it easier to reach her.

One of the stallions switched the absolute suppression off and released his claws. He slowly approached the bed, touched queen’s neck and froze in this pose. He stood like this for three or four minutes, then he gave his colleague a sign. He switched off the absolute suppression too and took the injector. He approached the sleeping queen too and with a swift move injected her the treatment. Chrysalis made loud snorting sound and twitched. The changeling guards alarmed. Something bad might be happening to the queen right now. About fifty of them ran in the bedroom. Stallions heard the clatter and stepped aside from the bed. When guards ran into the room, they saw how two huge figures in dark metal costumes appear from nowhere and in a moment vanish in flash of dim light. Surprisingly, queen hasn’t woken up: she till was twitching, but all the noise didn’t seem to affect her. Eventually, she calmed down. Guards quietly left the room and start to look for the mysterious dark giants. But they have never found them…

At the same time in Canterlot Bluve and Affi were doing the most important part of the operation. Three princesses and one spirit should receive the treatment. All the circumstances and the need to remain undercover caused serious limitations, which couldn’t be avoided. It would be the greatest test for their skills and will require them to show what they mastered and what they are able to do.

While the sun hasn’t disappeared behind the mountains yet, researchers arrived in Canterlot. The city was full of bright colors and various noises: it was the Fall Farewell festival, the last warm days of autumn before heavy cold rains and then snowfalls start. The celebration was in full swing: ponies in costumes, decorations and installations were everywhere. The whole city was turned in one giant fair. The main festive area were the Gardens of the Castle. Today the marvel of the art of landscaping was opened for everyone: one could met nobles from rich and known from ancient times families, farmers from small villages surrounding the capital or even a minotaur tourists from another continent. All creatures were friendly to each other, since everyone wanted to have good time before cold winter with its long nights. Incredible variety of everything and everyone.

… which made it easier to blend in a crowd.

First, researchers had to make injection to Discord. After the end of the celebration it would be practically impossible to track him, so they and to find and lure him out now. To find the spirit was the easiest part – everyone could spot large varicolored noodle floating above everyone. To lure him was way more laborious task. And there was only one pony who could do it better than anyone…

“Anti?” the spirit surprised when he saw familiar yellow mare in the crowd. “What a coincidence! I didn’t expect you to show up in Canterlot.”

“Hello, Discord,” yellow pony responded. “Well, I didn’t plan to go here, but princess Twilight required some magic items for her research, and capital is the only place near Ponyville where it’s possible to buy them.”

“I see.”

“So I bought the necessary items and decided to use free time before my train to walk around the city and enjoy the festival. And, to be honest, I didn’t expect you to be there too.”

“Well, how I can resist the possibility to freak out so many creatures, especially foreigners, in mere few hours?”

“Well, you wouldn’t be yourself if you gave another answer…”

“Exactly! I see you understand me better and better each new day… I like it!”

“Well, thanks…” Affi blushed.

“Oh, and snacks here are good too. Especially the odd ones that tourists bring.”

“Speaking about the snacks… I saw one stall with food of my homeland near this site. Do you want to go there with me?”

“Why, of course! It would be great!”

“Then follow me!”

They moved towards the entrance, but then Affi suddenly turned to Discord and said:

“You know, I feel a bit uncomfortable with so many creatures around… Maybe we can go somewhere closer to the hedge, where it’s quieter, so we could chat freely?”

“Well, this way we’d make a long detour, but I don’t mind. Let’s go!”

Researcher and spirit headed to the outskirts of the Gardens, and in few minutes they were alone among the greenery. Crowd’s noises came from the side, but they were relatively quiet and distinguishable. Thanks to the trees and bushes around no one could hear them as well.

And see them too.

Affi seized the moment and stunned Discord with mental pressure attack. Discord fainted and fell on the bushes. Right after this Bluve, who waited in this remote area of the park, turned off the invisibility shield and injected spirit the treatment. “In three supramoments in the Castle,” Affi said to the biologist before she put the shield on.

In few minutes Discord woke up.

“What was that?” he exclaimed.

“Um, I’m sorry, but…” Affi muttered, “… but that’s because an old raven’s nest fell on your head.”

“What? Raven’s nest?”

Saying no words, Affi just pointed to large bunch of sticks, feathers and rubbish near the spirit’s legs, which supposed to be the nest.

“Oh…” Discord spelled and sighed. “How embarrassing…” he covered his face with his paws.

“Don’t worry! Everything might happen! Besides, no other creatures saw it.”

“Still, it’s embarrassing.”

“I wouldn’t say…”

“There’s no need to hide it. It was ridiculous and funny, right?”

“… I’d say unusual and bizarre.”

“You are very polite pony.”

“Thanks. Well, shall we head to the snack stall?”

“Right!”

Eventually, they left the Gardens and got to the food court Affi was talking about. They had some healthy but nutritious snacks, and then Discord took Affi to the railway station. They parted near the entrance. The spirit returned to the Gardens, and researcher rushed to hide in some back alleys near the station. From there she teleported to the Castle at the appointed time.

Now the only thing they had to do is wait.

Five hours had passed. The festival had finished, and ponies went to their homes. Princesses of Equestria were no exception. After the celebration they were very tired, so Celestia and Cadance went to bed almost right after the end of festival. Luna had some work to do, and couldn’t have the rest he needed now.

However, for researcher there were no problems.

While princess of the night was heading to her chambers, a strange thing happened: a pony dressed in dark armor-like suite appeared from thin air right in front of the alicorn, then took a gun-shaped device and put it to the alicorn’s chest. The pony in suit pressed the trigger button, and princess fainted. She fell on the floor, and strange pony vanished.

Luna woke up in few minutes. She barely remembered what happened, but for some reason she felt even more tired. Nevertheless, she managed to do the work she planned and get the deserver rest after it.

To deal with other two princesses was even easier: royal bedrooms were protected by no guards, but few magic traps. With absolute suppression field, invisibility shield and gravitation distorters to get around them was simple. The only thing that – just like in case of Edez and Kor – it required some time. However, in twenty minutes Affi was standing near sleeping Celestia, and Bluve – near sleeping Cadance. In mere seconds princess of the day was stunned by the mighty mental pressure attack. Bluve, in turn, used the same trick as Max. The last two princesses were practically unconscious, so researchers quickly made them injections and teleported away.

“The mission is completed,” Affi messaged to Max, standing with Bluve on the top of a rock above the city. “All princesses and Discord have received the treatment.”

“Very well. And thank you. You may return to the base. Edez and Kor are already here.”

“Understood. We’ll be there in a moment.”

“Good. Well, one reason for worrying less…”

29. Exploring Crystal Empire

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The beginning of that day was marked by unusual behavior of the princess of friendship.

“Yaa-hoooo!” she screamed in joy, circling and whirling in the Main Hall. “Yes! YEEES!”
“What happened, Your Highness?” researchers exclaimed when they rushed in.
“Oh, hi, guys,” Spike responded melancholically. “What happened? Well, she has received a letter from Crystal Empire.”
“A letter from Crystal Empire?”
“Oh, you are here!” Twilight finally noticed the researchers and flew down.
“So… What’s the deal, princess?” Zet’rar asked.
“I’ve just received a letter from Shining Armor and Cadance. They are inviting all of us to the Crystal Palace for this weekend!”
“What? Seriously?” researchers surprised.
“Wait, ALL of us?” Kor asked to clarify.
“Yes!” Twilight nodded. “Is there any problem?”
“Well… If we all go, who will watch over the Castle? I mean, we cannot just lock it! There are some really valuable magic artifacts here.”
“It is so, but don’t worry!” princess of friendship smiled. “Shining Armor said that he ordered one squad of elite Empire’s guards to replace you for these three days.”
“Oh… That’s… unexpected.”
“Well, yeah, but it’s also amazing! And, judging by what my brother says in this letter, the squad would arrive soon!”

And right at this moment someone knocked the door.

Spike ran to the entrance to see who it was. Researchers and Twilight could only hear how the door opened, and then there was silence. In a minute Spike came back to the Main Hall. With twenty tough-looking crystal ponies in bright sparkling armors.

“Well, the temporary Castle defense squad has arrived,” little dragon said.
“At your service, Your Highness!” the leader of the squad, tall snow-white stallion in silver armor, saluted.
“Oh… That was really fast,” Twilight was surprised.
“Our commander asked us to come here as fast as possible since he and Her Highness want you to visit them really bad,” the squad commander said.
“I see. That’s actually very nice of them,” princess said.
“Well, Empire’s guards have arrived, and we have nothing significant to do today, so… shall we start to pack our things?” Spike asked.
“I guess you are right, Spike,” Twilight responded. “The road to Empire is pretty long, so if we want to get there without spending the entire night in the train, we should start to do it now.”
“Before you go, can we ask you a favor?” one of the guards meekly asked.
“Who, me?” Twilight surprised.
“Excuse me, princess, but…”
“Oh boy…” Spike sighed as he guessed what the guard want to say.
“… but… we want to ask your friend, the Savior of the Empire,” the guard finished what he wanted to say.
“Yes! Could you, please, sign some stuff for us?” another guard said.
“I’d be glad to, guys, but now I gotta help princess Twilight to pack her things!” Spike gibbered, grabbed Twilight by the foreleg and started to drag her away.
“What are you doing?” alicorn exclaimed.
“Just play along!” young dragon hissed.

Twilight sighed.

“Oh, guys!” Twilight suddenly stopped and turned to researchers. “Could you show our friends the Castle so that they were aware of everything necessary?”
“Sure, princess, but in such case it would take us more time to prepare,” Edez responded.
“Well, I thing we have about three hours before the train to the Empire leaves. Would it be enough for you?”
“Three hours? I guess, it might be.”
“Great! Then we’ll meet you at the train station!” Twilight smiled and together with Spike went upstairs.

Edez turned to his colleagues and said:

“Ich werde ihnen das Schloss zeigen. Ihr zwei werdet das Haus putzen,” he pointed at Oma and Zet’rar. “Der Rest von euch wird alles hier putzen.” [“I will show them the Castle. You two will clean the house. The rest of you will clean everything here.”]
“Jawohl!” [“Yes, sir!”] other researchers responded.

Edez gave a nod and turned to the guards.

“Greetings, colleagues!” he smiled. “My name is Berg, I am one of the day guards here and also the senior of whole our little service team. I will show you everything you need to know about this place.”
“Excuse me, mister Berg, only you?” the squad commander surprised.
“Yes, sir. Your arrival was sudden, and we had to time to prepare or even finish what we have planned for today. So my friends would be pretty busy now. But one pony would be enough to show you the Castle. After all, it’s not as big as Canterlot, in an hour or two you will know everything about it.”
“Okay. Well then, show us the palace, mister Berg, sir!”
“With pleasure! Follow me.”

Edez led the guards away, and his colleagues began their feverish preparations.

They have been in the Castle for several months already, so no wonder that significant part of the research they did there. Watching ponies visiting the palace, exploring the strange crystal-organic organism, which the Castle was, doing some field experiments and, of course, completing everything they haven’t finished in their home headquarters. In order to do everything mentioned above – and to provide proper cover – they secretly brought a lot of equipment in the Castle. Computers, analyzers, scanners… There was enough equipment for a large university laboratory. And not everything from this equipment was properly hidden. Twilight and Spike trusted them, so they didn’t use any elaborated devices for making their tools invisible and unnoticeable – princess and her assistant have just never checked researchers’ belongings. Members of Team One could just leave the device under a cushion and put it somewhere in an old pile of papers and took it later from the very place they’ve left it. It would never get touched by anyone. But these guys from the Empire might be very different. Sure, they were under command of Shining Armor, but it did not guarantee the inviolability of their tools. Orders of the Diarchs were superior, and there were also secret services, which could make the commander to give the order they need.

Researchers knew that the country they were living now has secret services. One of the lessons great explorers of the past had learned from their numerous expeditions is that no matter how peaceful the civilization is it always has some kind of secret service. If there is no official one, there are people whose job is to watch over others and report about everything to the superior ones, at least in form of rumors. And it’s always better be safe than sorry.

Still, there was one problem: researchers have left small devices all over the Castle, so they had to took them away or put better cover on them. And there was a lot of them. Edez had to tour the guards around the Castle and its surroundings for two hours just to let others hide all traces.

While Karin, Bluve, Affi, Sheim, Kor and Max were busy in the palace, Zet’rar and Oma had actually not so much to do: they equipped their “home headquarters” with complex security system, so they had just to switch the system on and took the largest devices to the necessary places. All the rest has been done automatically. All things that might look suspicious were hidden with invisibility and insensibility fields, traps were set, and Oma and Zet’rar rushed back to the Castle to help their friends. With their help other researchers managed to hide everything from guards’ eyes and got themselves and hour to pack their things and get to the station.

Right in three hours they were at the Ponyville railway station. Ponies have been already boarding. Team One quickly scanned the platform, spotted Twilight and Spike and ran to them.

“Jeez, guys, you literally came in a nick of time!” said Twilight.
“We are sorry, princess,” Edez apologized. “We had too much things to do.”
“I see. Well, let’s board then. The train will leave less in a minute.”
“Yes, ma’am!”

Researchers followed the princess of friendship and her assistant to their seat in the train’s car.

In a few minutes Ponyville has been left behind. The train gradually accelerated, making its way to the northern borders of Equestria.

“Um, excuse me, miss Twilight, but can I ask you a question?” Oma addressed the alicorn.
“Yes, Didinga. What do you want to ask?” Twilight responded.
“Why prince and princess of Crystal Empire asked all of us to come? Because, well, I don’t see any particular reason to do so.”
“Yes!” Karin supported her. “Why should we go too.”
“… and leave the Castle under the protection of outsiders?” added Kor.
“Um, technically, you are more outsiders than all other guards in Equestria,” Spike noted.
“Oh…” Kor realized that he blurted out too much. “Sorry.”
“Hmm…” Twilight paused before she gave the answer. She looked quite puzzled. “I… don’t see the reason as well. The invitation letter was written by both Shining Armor and Cadance, but the only thing that is clear from it is that my brother was asking me and Spike to come for a visit since we haven’t seen each other for months. But what about the rest… It’s unclear.”
“So… No guesswork?”
“Yeah. I have no idea neither about whose idea was to invite you, nor about what motives they had.”
“… then, I guess, this visit would be a big surprise for us,” Max said.
“Yeah, but look on the bright side! What person in his or her right mind would decline the chance of having an extra day off?” Zet’rar smiled.

Other researcher unanimously supported him. Twilight and Spike smiled as well.

The positive mood was set, so now there were no worries about boringness during the trip. The fact that they would spend more than thirteen hours on the rails and pass through the coldest region of the country in midnight wasn’t bothering anymore. Twilight, Spike and researchers were sure that the journey would be interesting and very fun.

And it was so. Because when there are several smart persons around, they always will find something to talk about or the way to entertain themselves.

While princess’s and researchers’ train was running at full sped through thick coniferous forests, somewhere north of their current location, in a high crystal palace the following conversation has been happening:

“Ugh…” the stallion sighed. “Why? Why you did this?”
“Well… I have my own reasons,” the mare answered.
“Seriously? Was it so necessary to invite all of them? We had to send there a whole replacement troop so that the Castle wound be under protection! You know how much it costs? Even if there were only few ones left, we should let them stay there and watch over the Castle!”
“… there is one problem with this. You see, among all of them I don’t have any particular questions to two of them, and they are not guards. They are a gardener and a cook. Don’t you think that it’s unwise to leave the whole Castle under the protection of a gardener and a cook?”

Stallion sighed again.

“Do you realize that we actually need only two of them? Only the ones versed in mineralogy?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be enough for you just to ask them?”
“Definitely no! They both are stallions, so they don’t know everything about what I want to hear! I want to ask some girls questions as well!”
“One of them is their leader.”
“It doesn’t change everything.”
“Oh… Again, was it necessary to ask so much ponies to come?”
“Of course! Three of them managed to win the favor of the most powerful beings of this land, and it’s my duty as the princess of love to investigate! To find the reason how they did it! And also… among the rest there are two very interesting couples. One of them is the embodiment of beauty and the beast trope, and the second one is the perfect illustration for the size difference fetish! It’s not the thing I’m into, buuut… still, it’s very interesting and intriguing!”
“Oh…” the stallion shook his head.
“Now I really understand why they say that pregnant mare’s mind is an enigma even to other mares…” he thought.
“Well, whatever you say…”
“You are the best, darling! Oh, by the way, didn’t Twilight report on when they arrive?”
“I’ve received the telegram that they took the afternoon train to the Empire. It means they will be there around 1 a.m.”
“So late?”
“Yep. So be ready to meet them!”
“Me too?”
“I don’t have enough skill to cast the teleportation spell for a group this big.”
“Is it really necessary to do so?”
“They all will be staying in the palace, right?”
“Um… yeah.”
“Well, when they arrive here, they will be very tired, so they might fell asleep on the way to the palace. Don’t you think that it would be the worst possible greeting?”
“Oh… You’re absolutely right! My bad.”
“Good. Be ready for an eleven-person teleportation then, my dear!”

Thus, in 1 a.m. prince and princess of Crystal Empire were at the Empire’s capital railway station. The train they were waiting for arrived in few minutes. Cadance and Shining Armor easily spotted Twilight, Spike and researchers – Kor and Edez were towering above everyone as beacons over broken water. Royals of the Empire greeted their guests and then princess Cadance teleported everyone to the palace. Since it was already late, the first thing Shining Armor and Canadce did was to show the guests their rooms. Prince and princess of Crystal Empire told their guests to have good rest after a long trip first. Proper greeting will happen before the breakfast, then everyone would be introduced to the “short entertainment program”, as Cadance said. Twilight, Spike and researchers thanked the royal couple and went to have some sleep.

Tomorrow before the morning meal, as it was said, guests were properly greeted. Cadance and Shining Armor welcomed Twilight and Spike warmly and treated researchers as their good friends. Then they all had a hearty breakfast. However, it the beginning everything wasn’t so smooth. When the first dishes were brought, researchers discovered that in Crystal Empire even food is made of crystals. Or, to be precise, mineral-like organic matter. It took them certain time to realize and accept that things they see on their plates are edible, they just have strange unusual form. Oma and Sheim faced with another kind of problem: they were used to consume minerals, so crystal food wasn’t a big surprise for them – the real deal was to get the same reaction as their friends.

Nevertheless, the breakfast eventually finished and Twilight, Spike and researchers have gotten ready to hear what royal couple of the Empire prepared for them.

However…

There wasn’t such thing as a “short entertainment program”.

“What?” Spike and Twilight exclaimed in surprise.
“We didn’t mean to cause you, guys, any problems,” Shining Armor said. “Especially to you. Please, forgive us,” he bowed before researchers as an apology.
“Oh…” some of researchers muttered.
“We… Uh, Your Highness, you don’t need to apologize, really,” Affi said. “Just… tell us why exactly you invited us, please. We just want to clarify what’s happening.”

Shining Armor looked at his wife. He saw big kind eyes full of plea and supplication. “Please, help me! Let’s make it so that we asked them all to come for that matter!” those eyes were saying. Prince sighed again and…

“That was Cadance’s initiative,” he said.
“Shining!” princess of love exclaimed in resentment.
“The thing is that we wanted only four of you to come,” he continued, pretending that he didn’t hear his wife. “I wanted to spend some time with Twilight and Spike since we haven’t seen each other for several months, and we needed you, mister Berg and mister Lierre, to come since we need your knowledge.”
“Our knowledge?” Edez and Sheim surprised. “Why?”
“Recently we’ve started the renovation of the palace and faced with a problem that requires experience of professional mineralogist in order to be solved.”
“Um, what kind of problem, sir?”
“To determine the exact compound of certain type of crystals. We’ll explain you everything in detail later. For now, let’s have some rest… And I’ll let my wife explain why she summoned all of you,” said Shining Armor and looked at Cadance.

Pink alicorn pouted and huffed.

“Thank you, my ungrateful husband!” princess retorted. “Well, it is true what Shining said that we needed only assistance of mister Berg and mister Lierre for our little business matter, but there are some questions that I’d like to ask you personally.”
“Um, what do you mean, Your Highness?” Edez surprised.
“Let’s say that it’s connected with my personal area of interest…” Cadance responded “… and it’s part of my job as well.”
“Your job?” Affi spelled. “You mean?..”
“Indeed, my friend! My job as a princess of love.”
“Ehm, what princess of love has got in such ponies as we?” Max asked in a bit trembling voice. Few sweat droplets appeared on his fur.
“Oh, believe me, I saw a lot in you! Well, not in all of you. To be honest, there are only wo among you who I have nothing to ask about. I could do as Shining offered and ask only the ponies I’m interested in to come, but… don’t you think that it’s unwise to leave a whole Castle under the protection of only two ponies?”
“Well, it’s true…”
“Excuse me, but… where is prince Shining Armor?” Karin raised a hoof.

Cadance surprised and turned to the side where her husband was standing. There were no one. And there were no traces of prince in the entire room. He used the opportunity and quickly evaporated from the hall together with Twilight and Spike.

When she realized that she was left alone with the researchers, Cadance roared:

“You unscrupulous scoundrel!!!” thundered throughout the palace.

Researchers froze in fear and awe. Any demonstration of the Royal Canterlot voice was a sight to behold.

“Oh, excuse me,” Cadance apologized when she saw the looks on researchers’ faces. “Well, that’s the deal. Now, miss Calma, mister Lierre, miss Didinga, mister Allegro, miss Pippi, Mister Erő, you may go. Miss Antilipsi, mister Zicht, mister Berg, please, follow me. I’d like to ask you the first.”

Edez, Max and Affi looked at each other and at their friends and gulped. They understood what princess Cadance was going to ask them and they didn’t want to talk much about this, but… you cannot escape from a submarine if it has already submerged. Thus, three of them had to go with the princess. Their friends wished them luck and hurried to leave them alone.

Princess Cadance led Edez, Affi and Max to a small salon near the dining hall. When researchers went in, pink alicorn gently offered them to take a seat and when they approached the cushions and sofas, she closed the door. Heads of Team One and senior physiologist realized how serious the situation is. In a moment princess sat opposite to them.

Researchers gulped again. All of them were rapidly getting covered in cold sweat.

“Okay, let’s get straight to the point,” princes stated. Researchers shuddered. “How did you manage it?”
“Um… manage what?” Max and Edez were confused.
“Win the favor of the most powerful and ancient beings in Equestria!”
“Huh?”
“Is it… really what you want to know, princess?” Affi surprised.
“Yes! I am the princess of love, so I have to know what you did to make my aunts and Discord show such affection. Well, aunt Luna and Discord were imprisoned for thousand years or even more, but aunt Celestia… From what I know, the last time she got such attitude towards somepony was two hundred and fifty years ago!..”

At that moment Edez was about to scream “I haven’t been so close to any female for almost the same term!” but somehow managed to keep himself from doing so.

“… and, believe me, there were a lot of ponies who wanted to win their favor!” Cadance continued. “But it was you who got the best results! So I have to know what you did to achieve this!” princess suddenly turned to Edez. “Berg. How did you manage to make Celestia like you so much?”
“Ehm… Oh… I… don’t even know what to say, where to start,” he muttered.
“Where to start? I suppose it started when you served in Canterlot temporarily.”
“Well… Maybe it is so.”
“What happened back then?”
“Well, princess Celestia just came to princess Twilight and asked her to “lend” me and Erő for assistance with the reception of the delegation from the Griffin Empire. Because… well, we are bigger than average guards and… “look more intimidating” as she said. We were supposed to act just as scarecrows during the ceremony, but then an incident happened, and… we had to fight with soldiers from the Empire. We won. And… that’s it. I can’t remember anything special besides what I’ve already mentioned.”
“What do you mean ‘that’s it’? It cannot be like this! There should be more!”
“I apologize, princess, but that’s how it was, honestly. Except for the fight, we haven’t done anything special. We just were diligent, kind and polite as we could.”
“Really?”
“That’s all, Your Highness, I swear!”
“There should be more! Haven’t you shown any initiative?”
“Initiative? Hmm… Come to think of it… Princess Celestia showed it first.”
“What???”
“When the reception ended, she kissed both of us in gratitude. And I dared to say that it was fantastic. After this you know what happened.”
“So… that was the trigger?” Cadence muttered and dropped her head. “You are scaring me, auntie… A-khem!” she turned to Max. “And what about you, mister Zicht? What did you do to make princess Luna like you so much?”
“It’s just because of my massage skills,” he replied.
“Huh?”
“Princess Twilight have probably told you that princess Luna once took me and Allegro to help her with pranking her sister, right? Well, a lot of things happened that night, I don’t want to recall… too embarrassing… but the matter is that I had to give princess a massage. I just applied what I remembered from my medicine classes, but… as it turned out, princess liked it a LOT.”
“A lot?”
“After that night she comes to the Castle every week and makes me to give her an hour-long massage.”

Edez and Affi looked at him with big round eyes.

“What?” Max responded.
“That’s… daring,” Edez said. Affi nodded.
“It wasn’t my initiative. You know the princess, guys. You cannot argue with her, you are unable to persuade her, because she is an irresistible force, dammit! Only Pinkie Pie can surpass her!”
“Well, you are right about that trait of aunt Luna,” Cadance spelled.

Max just sighed.

“I feel for you,” princess said quietly and looked at Affi. “Well, miss Antilipsi, you are the last. Please, tell me what did you do to make Discord like you so much?”
“Well, there wasn’t anything special in the beginning,” Affi began her explanation. “I’ve happened to help him a few times, we spoke to each other, found some things we both are interested in… We just felt comfortable in the company of each other from time to time.”
“Basically, you were friends?”
“Yes. But when he heard me singing everything changed. He started to say that now he wants to hear me singing all the time and be with me all the time!”
“… just because of singing?”
“Princess, our Anti has truly divine voice,” Edez confirmed.
“Divine?”

Affi decided to give a short performance as a response and sang a fragment from old Equestrian ballad.

Her Highness was overwhelmed.

“You know…” she spelled when she finally came to her senses, “If I wasn’t married or even in a relationship… I might fall for you…”

Team One’s telepathist shuddered. Edez and Max pressed themselves into the back of the sofa.

“… Your Highness???” researchers exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m sorry! So sorry!.. So embarrassing… Nevertheless, I understand now why Discord like you so much. Your voice is incredibly charming. You were right describing it as a divine.”

Researchers just nodded.

“Well, I’ve learned what I wanted. Thank you, my friends, and sorry for all the inconveniences caused to you. You can go now.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” researchers said and left the salon.

After this, they hurried to separate and reach the farthest places in the palace.

In a few minutes, Cadance left the salon as well.

“Phew!” she breathed with relief. “At least this veil of mystery has opened a bit. Now… let’s see what other do!” she grinned and went to look for them.

It happened so that the first ones she met were Sheim and Bluve. Since they still have been together, it got princess interested. She decided to stop and watch over them a little. However, when she listened closely to what they had been talking about, she realized they are just good friends and colleagues – they were discussing their own business matters. Thus, princess just watched them walking away and continued her search.

After a little while, she managed to find her objectives. By coincidence, they were at the same place, the palace’s atrium, but on the different floors. Zet’rar and Oma, Karin and Kor were just walking down the long passages. They chatted and admired the view. After all, the very purpose of the atrium was to give the dwellers and the visitors of the palace chance to see the whole building in its shining and sparkling beauty.

Cadance was very glad. She could watch over all her targets at the same time! She smiled and rushed to the top floor of the atrium from which she could observe everyone. She casted one of “spy’s aid” spells to create an easily accessible panoramic view. If you are princess of love, and you are very and very curious, you might have some unexpected skills and learn quite surprising tricks…

The display was set, and princess Cadance began her observations. She was very interested in learning how researchers’ relationships looked like, so she watched carefully. And she gradually was getting more and more surprised.

An hour after the beginning of observation, both couples were still in the atrium. They alternated slow walks with chatting while sitting on the nearest sofas or benches or standing near banisters and looking around the whole atrium space. They always were beside each other. It was quite unusual even for them, so they guessed that it happens so because of the presence of princess of love in the palace, making one purple alicorn spy very proud. They were cuddling. They were kissing.

It was clear that they really loved each other. The way each of them looked in partner’s eyes. The way they spoke to each other. The way they treated each other. Everything indicated that their feelings were true and deep.

It made princess very happy and excited. So contrasting, but so replete! It was wonderful. She could watch it forever.

But…

It could be so, but Cadance suddenly felt an urge to experiment in order to learn more. “If they are already in love, them what if I give them a little push to make the affection even greater?” she thought.

So she casted a love-strengthening spell on the researchers. What happened next was… to put it mildly, unusual and not for a young audience. When princess’s magic has finally reached the researchers, it stunned them. They were literally standing still for a whole minute and staring into a void. It made Cadance very worried: what if she messed up with the spell? What should she do now? And then…

Researchers seemed to come to their senses, looked at each other… and in a moment Karin kissed Kor and Oma kissed Zet’rar with all the passion they had.

“Huh?” was the only Cadance’s reaction.

Both couples merged in long kisses, which were broken only when all of them ran out of breath. Girls looked at their partners with passion, guys smiled and whispered something in their ears. After this, Zet’ara literally dragged Oma to the nearest room, and Kor did practically the same: he grabbed Karin with one hoof and in a moment disappeared behind one of the doors that were around. What happened later… The sounds were relatively weak and muffled, but they were clear indicators that foals under eighteen should not enter there.

“Oh my…” Cadance whispered when she saw how researchers closed the doors. “Too much…” Then she hurried to leave the place, hiding her face that was getting redder and redder.

In two hours, Cadance checked the atrium again. There were no traces of Kor, Karin, Zet’rar and Oma, but some bedrooms were locked. The last circumstance made Cadance even more worried and at the same time flustered.

Meeting on the business issue was scheduled for 4 a.m. in the palace’s library. There was plenty of time before it, so everyone could have a good rest and enjoy some idleness and come to the library in time. Since most of researchers and royals and Spike were doing just the same, they came to the library before time and were about to start the discussion earlier, but Twilight suggested to wait for everyone so that everyone could listen and give a piece of advice just in case. Princess Cadance came few minutes later than them and look tired. Shining Armor and Twilight worried about her state and asked what happened, but princess of love did not give a detailed response. And what about the “lovebirds”, they… were late. Very late. They came only in 4:15, 35 minutes later than their friends and colleagues. When they’ve finally arrived, their friends got quite surprised and puzzled. Oma, Zet’rar, Karin and Kor were very and very happy, but at the same time they have been in a hurry and looked like they have just run to Yakyakistan for an afternoon snack.

“Guys, what happened to you?” Affi worried.
“Huh?” Kor surprised. “Um, well… A lot of things happened.”
“Personal things,” added Karin.
“Very personal,” added Oma.

Researchers looked at each other and decided not to ask any more questions. Shining Armor looked at his wife at this moment. She was extremely anxious. He had a hunch about what happened, but, as he learned later, he underestimated the scale of events.

“Well, what is the issue we can help you with?” Edez addressed to Shining Armor.
“Oh, of course,” the prince gave a nod. “A-khem! Well, as I have already said, we started the renovation of the palace. When we examined some remote parts of the palace, we discovered several cracks in the walls. They are no threat to the structural integrity of the building, but still they are quite large and make us worried. The Empire’s architects suggested to fix the walls by replacing the damaged fragments. And that’s where we have faced with a problem: the palace is built from unique material. Its composition is so complex that we simply cannot define it! During the imprisonment of king Sombra a lot of unique knowledge was lost. Composition of the crystals that were used in the construction of the palace was among this knowledge. Our archivist managed to find some information about how those crystals were made, or, to be precise, grown, but… there wasn’t a single word about the composition! The only thing we are sure about is that the crystals used in the process should be extremely tiny. That’s all. So, as you can see, we have no possibilities to continue the work.”
“We see,” Edez responded. “Well, we’ll try to help you, but I don’t know would our knowledge and experience be enough.”
“Still, thank you.”
“Your Highness, can we ask for some tools?” Sheim asked.
“Sure, just tell what you need.”
“Hammer, chisel, forceps, microscope or magnifying glasses.”
“Okay,” said the prince and ordered to bring the tools and samples of the material.

Palace’s servants quickly brought everything necessary and Edez with Sheim began to work.

“Indeed, it’s artificial crystals,” Sheim said after a cursory examination. “The chip surface is uneven. It’s practically impossible to define the cleavage of these crystals. The crystals’ shine is not homogenous. It resembles some kind of… speckles?”
“Well, that explains why this technology required small crystals. This one seems to be made of numerous microscopic crystals of other minerals mashed together,” Edez said. “The strange thing is that the crystal looks like it’s made not of tiny crystal grains, but dust.”
“So?..” Spike wondered.
“We have to grind it.”
“I can help you with this!” Cadance said. “I know the spell that effectively turns rocks into dust.”
“Really? It would help us a lot, princess!” Sheim smiled.

Cadance smiled in response and did the spell. A short white flash, and one of the sample crystals turns into a pile of dust. Researchers stirred it a bit and then took some dust and put it on the microscope stage. However, it turned out to be insufficient, so they used one of magnifying glasses to reach clearer picture.

“Better, but…” Edez whispered, looking in the eyepiece. “Particles still look like they are mashed together. Your Highness, could you repeat the spell?”
“Repeat?”
“Yes. It seems that ancient people of the Empire used the finest possible grinding.”
“Well, if you say so…” and she did the spell again.

Researchers now were very careful. Now they were dealing with the finest dust, so even a slightest move could blow particles away. They slowly adjusted the microscope and magnifying glass, looked in the eyepiece again, and…

“That’s it!” Sheim smiled. “There are… Nine different minerals.”
“Indeed. Now let’s separate the particles.”

The separation meant slow and precise work with the forceps. They needed at least 10 milligrams of substance to define it, so it would take quite a time, but Twilight wished to help them, so in a few minutes, researchers got several micro piles of crystals.

While they were working, Spike got curious and toyed a little with the remained magnifying glasses and samples of dust. He was wondering how would tiny crystals look, and what he has seen satisfied him. However… when he looked closer again, he noticed something strange.

“Um… Berg, Lierre?” he addressed the researchers. “There is some liquid… mixed with the dust.”
“Liquid?” Sheim surprised.
“How does it look?” Edez asked.
“It looked… like colorless oil, I guess?”
“Colorless oil?” researchers puzzled. “Show us.”

Spike showed them. Indeed, there were several tiny oily droplets mixed with the dust. Planetologists looked at each other, then Sheim took one droplet with the forceps and tasted it.

“What is it?” Royals of the Empire wondered.
“It’s not water, it’s antarcticite,” Sheim stated.
“Anta… what?” Spike surprised.
“A specific mineral that can exist in solid form only under certain conditions, when conditions are normal, it decays and might become liquid-like during the process.”
“So… there are ten minerals then?” Twilight said.
“Yep.”

After series of tests researchers managed to define the solid crystals. As it turned out, besides small fraction of antarcticite, the building material of the palace was made of corundum, skutterudite, beryl, olivine, graphite, diamond, magnetite, jadeite and quartz. The finest crystals of these ten minerals fused together by high temperatures, pressure and magic created strong material with incredible durability. Buildings made of such crystals could stand for millennia are preserve their solidity.

However, as it turns out, even if the building can survive for eons, it still can be damaged in great incidents.

“Hmm… So those cracks remained after the battle with king Sombra?” Spike took a guess.
“It seems so,” Twilight responded.
“Well, then it proves how powerful he really was…”
“Thank you very much!” royal couple of the Empire bowed to researches.
“We were glad to help,” Sheim and Edez responded.
“Now we have all the elements to start the renovation!” Cadance and Shining Armor smiled.
“Not only that! You have regained great technology, so now we all can use it!” Twilight added.
“Right!” Spike supported her.
“Such achievement deserves to be celebrated!” Cadance said. “We should invite al scientists and archivists who worked on this project and throw a feast!”
“Of course!” Shining Armor smiled. “Oh!” he turned to Twilight, Spike and researchers. “Don’t you mind to stay a little longer?”
“Of course we will stay!” Spike said.
“We don’t mind, sir!” researchers responded.
“Great!”

And so the rest of the day was fun, replete and thrilling.

30. Suspicions

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While princess of friendship, her assistant and the researchers were having great time in the Crystal Empire, there were two peculiar meetings happening far from there. One of those meetings took place in a hidden cave on the deserted side of the Canterlot mountain, the second one was happening, in fact, right behind the researchers’ Ponyville headquarters.

Princess Celestia and princess Luna walked in the largest chamber of the cave, hidden beneath half of a mile of rock. Their horns were glowing, pouring dim lights on the chamber’s walls.

“We know that you are here already,” Celestia said. “Come out!”

Two emerald lights lit up in the dark part of a chamber.

“And I thought I’ll take you by surprise…” the lights said, and then they showed who they really were. Tall insect-like mare walked in the lights and casted a lantern spell too.

“You are alone?” Luna asked, carefully inspecting the surroundings and listening to every weak noise.
“Yes,” Chrysalis answered. “There’s only me and you.”
“Really?”
“You think I don’t know who I’m dealing with?”
“We also know who we are dealing with,” Celestia said. “You would not come unless you have some strong backup.”

Saying no words, Chysalis casted another spell, and in a moment massive ancient silver amulet appeared on her neck.

“Instant teleportation amulet?” Luna surprised.
“It wasn’t easy to come up with reliable backup without support of my drones.”
“That’s interesting, however, we came here not because of this,” Celestia said. “We are here because we have something to ask each other, right?”
“Yes…” Chrysalis hissed. “There’s something I’d want to know from you…”
“So do we,” Luna said. “However, since you are in the minority, we will allow you to ask first.”
“How fortunate!” Chrysalis made a mocking smile. “Well, if you are so kind…”
“Quit it.”
“How rude! Well, if you allow such behavior, I wouldn’t be surprised if you already know that there were some cases of intrusions in our Hive.”
“Some cases?” both princesses surprised.
“Don’t pretend that you hear it for the first time!” Chrysalis growled so that dreadful echo spread across the cave. “You know the location of the Hive! No matter how we hide it or where we move it, your secret services manage to uncover us. You have mages powerful enough to sneak in.”
“But…”
“And don’t tell me that it was someone else’s doing! Throughout the history, we have only few conflicts with dragons, griffins and other creatures, but number of conflicts between your people is in the hundreds! Other states and races do not have anything to do with us now. They don’t have reasons to attack us. And they don’t have enough power and sources to do it. It could be only you.”
“You are right, but it applies only to few elements,” Celestia said. “Yes, we are the nation you conflicted the most, and thanks to our secret services we know where your Hive is. Some agents observe your activities, but the observation is not permanent. This information is classified, so only forty ponies have access to it. Oh, and Discord knows it too.”
“This buffoon? How?”
“Don’t ask. Even after hundreds of years, you cannot tell how and where he learns about everything.”
“Right…”
“What about those intrusions you mentioned…” Luna said. “We are aware only about one case.”
“Only one?” Chrysalis looked doubting. “Which one? And when you learned about it?”
“About two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks ago? That was the second intrusion. The first one happened four and a half months ago.”
“Hmm… That was before those strange things happened to us, sister,” Luna said.
“Yes,” Celestia nodded.
“You were also affected?” chrysalis wondered.
“Yes. There were few strange incidents…” Celestia said.
“And about two weeks ago there was intrusion in the Canterlot Castle,” Luna added.
“What? You were attacked too? It can’t be!”
“We are not lying. However, I would not call this intrusion an attack. It seems that intruders had another reason to do it. But what reason – we cannot tell.”
“If there was an intrusion in your castle, then tell me how did the intruders look?”
“Why won’t you tell us first?”
“I’m not going to give you everything right away. The principle is simple: I share a piece of my information, then you share yours.”

Luna looked at Celestia.

“Tell her,” the Sun princess said.
“Okay…” the Moon princess spelled. “You said “intruders”? In Canterlot Castle there was only one. It definitely was a pony. An earth pony. He… or she? It was impossible to tell the gender since the intruder was in dark metal armor that looked like a futuristic space suit from sci-fi comics and novels.”
“Oh… What’s more?” Chrysalis said.
“The intruder appeared from a thin air right in front of me and then… It was like he or she pierced me with a huge needle, but I did not feel any pain. I immediately fainted and woke up only some minutes after. However, when it happened, the intruder vanished.”
“So… There was only one intruder, and… it attacked only you?”
“Truth be told, we are not completely sure. Luna was only one who got under attack, but…” Celestia paused. “After the same night, the castle servants barely managed to wake me and Cadance up.”
“And what’s strange about that?” Chrysalis wondered.
“It’s strange because I always wake up easily in the morning. Even if the last night was a long and intense party. It’s, well, a pleasant bonus for being the princess of the day. It has been so for years, hundreds of years. What happened back then – I have no idea. But something tells me that there was some kind of connection between those events.”
“I see.”
“And what about you, Your Majesty?” Luna asked.
“There were two intruders,” Chrysalis responded. “They were ponies, but what kind of – I cannot tell. I didn’t have a chance to have a look, and my guards cannot specify. And… They were looking like the one who attacked you, Luna.”
“What?”
“Yes. When you mentioned dark armor that look like something from a sci-fi picture… My guards described the attackers just like that. So now I understand that we have faced with the same threat.”
“… we see,” princesses uttered.
“And what about the another intrusion?” Luna asked.
“I think it’s your turn now,” Chrysalis responded.
“Comparing to the previous exchange, you shared a tiny bit of information now,” Celestia said. “You have to share more.”
“Ugh, fine!” changeling queen growled. “The first intrusion was… I don’t know how to call it, because, well, I don’t remember much about, but I definitely can tell that I wasn’t in the Hive.”
“So… abduction?” Celestia suggested.
“You know, probably it’s the best variant.”
“What happened during that abduction?”
“I don’t remember exactly. That is the thing. Like someone or something erased my memories about that entire night. I can remember only two things: first, I wasn’t in the Hive, but somewhere else. In some vast hall without walls, ceilings and distinguishable lights. Second, a dreadful creature. It looked like a hybrid between a pony and some predatory creature from Tartarus. I remember its glowing eyes and razor-sharp teeth.”
“That beast… Did it do something to you?” Celestia asked.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“From what I remember… the beast opened its mouth, and then… a sharp needle shot out from there and hit me in the neck. After this my memories are blank.”
“Jeez… That’s creepy,” Luna shuddered.
“Could it be just a bad dream?” Celetia suggested.

Instead of the answer, Chrysalis pointed at one of the bright spots on her neck.

“I wish it was so, but… The spot I’m pointing at… it wasn’t there before that night. That’s for sure.”
“Is it… a mark? A scar?”
“Maybe. Maybe… Well, I shared my piece of information, now it’s your turn. What were those strange things that happened to you after I was… left with this mark?”
“Well, in my case it isn’t something truly remarkable, but…” Luna spelled. “My main job is to guard pony’s dreams. In order to do it I have to be asleep too, but instead of ordinary ponies I always preserve memories about what I’ve seen in the dream world. But about two months ago, there was a night that hasn’t left any memories. It doesn’t feel like the memories were erased, no… It’s just blank, like there was nothing at all from the very beginning.”
“Hmm, sounds similar to my case, but not entirely. And what about you, Celestia?”
“Well, my case, in fact, is just like yours. I also remember a large hall with no walls and ceiling, but… the pony I saw in this… “dream”, kissed me.”
“What?”
“I saw how tall and quite handsome stallion kissed me. I remember the look on his face, but… the details are missing. I cannot recall them.”
“Haven’t you told me that when you look at Berg, you recall that stallion from your dream?” Luna asked her sister.
“Yes! Now when you mentioned it… that stallion’s posture seems similar to mister Berg’s.”
“Mister Berg?” Chrysalis wondered. “Who is that?”
“He is a Europonian who arrived in Equestria to find a job. He serves as princess Twilight’s guard now.”
“Her guard? Oh… Oh! Now I remember… This huge arsenic pony. He and his friends are fierce… Wait! Oh my…”
“What?”
“I’ve just realized… There’s another stallion, who serves together with him as a guard. Huge and brown. What’s his name?”
“Um, Erő, as far as I remember,” Luna said.
“Erő! Well, the beast I saw in my night vision looked similar to him. And it gives me chills…”
“Why?”
“Because this damned “guard” bit off part of my wing!”
“What? How that’s possible?” Luna exclaimed.
“Don’t tell me… You tried to attack Twilight’s Castle!”
“Yes, and before you accuse me of more things, let me say that the attack was a huge failure. Despite the numerical superiority and superiority in magic, we were beaten. Those nine ponies fought like beasts and left us no chances. We lost.”
“Well, you got what you deserve.”
“That’s an insult, Your Highness.”
“An insult?”
“Yes. However, I might forgive you, if you give me some explanations.”
“What explanations?”
“You see, there are few more things I’d like to know about. It’s not related to… let’s say, our common problem. These things are mostly rumors, but if you… know more than average being, it makes you worried.”
“Well, what do you want to ask about?” Celestia said.
“My first question I’d like to address to Luna,” Chrysalis said. “About six weeks ago my guards, who patrolled the surroundings of the Hive in the night, witnessed incredibly beautiful meteor shower. Usually I admire such events and I would praise you as a master artist, Your Highness, really, buuut… I have some astronomical knowledge, so I can tell for sure that meteor shower shouldn’t has numerous radiants, and meteors should not fly from one radiant to another. What was that, Your Highness?”
“I cannot tell since it wasn’t my work,” Luna responded.
“It wasn’t? Then… Who is responsible for this? Don’t tell me that it was something out of this world! It cannot be so!”
“I will not tell you that the reason of this was out of this world. We don’t have enough knowledge to make such conclusions. The only thing we are sure about is that it wasn’t connected to any magic manifestations caused by ponies in Equestria.”
“…you know, it sounds very suspicious.”
“Don’t think that you are the only one puzzled,” Luna said.
“Okay,” Chrysalis waved her hoof. “The second thing I’d like to ask you… There’s a rumor that dead adult dragon was found nearby the Everfree Forest borders. And he was murdered. Brutally murdered.”
“It is true,” Celestia said. “Our agents found that dragon about three month ago.”
“Really? Then how exactly this dragon was killed.”
“Investigation still continues, but we haven’t found any traces of the murderer. However, some agents working on the case start to believe that it was something… supernatural. This thing cut dragon’s scales and turned his head into a piece of bones, blood and muscles.”

Chrysalis shuddered.

“How… such thing can exist?” she muttered.
“That’s not all. Starting from five months ago, several ponies were found murdered the same or similar way,” Luna added.
“What?”
“It all started near Dodge City, then this unknown murderer started to move towards Canterlot. Where it is now, no pony knows.”
“Oh my…” queen of changelings was terrified.
“You heard what you wanted,” Celestia said. “Now we want you to give an answer to one our question.”
“…yes?” Chrysalis said after a short pause, when she was making a deep breath.
“Have any of your subjects been in the Everfree Forest four months and eleven days ago?”
“Hmm… Yes, they were,” said the queen. “However, they were there only during the daytime. They were in the Hive before the nightfall.”
“I see. Thank you. Now we can be sure that none from your Hive is involved.”
“Pardon me, but why you are asking that? Did something happened in the Forest back then?”
“Yes,” Luna said. “There was one event that resulted in formation of 900 yard wide crater.”
“What?”
“It wasn’t an explosion, but… everything showed that it was an annihilation.”
“Annihilation of such scale? It’s impossible!”
“Really?” Luna doubted. “I thought you are powerful enough.”
“In this entire world only you and Discord could do something like this.”
“Well then who was it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know…”

And so the meeting ended. Princesses and queen learned what they wanted, but they still have no exact answers. However, now they have a kind of non-aggression pact, and the reason of this was that they knew that now they all have a common enemy.

At the same time, something strange was happening in the backyard of one of Ponyville’s rental houses. There was a gust of wind, and then twenty small circles of trampled grass formed on it. The wind calmed, and in a moment five ponies appeared from a thin air right on the places where circles were. They quickly gazed around, trying to spot anything suspicious, but everything around was calm, and there were no traces of anyone.

“No pony around, sir,” Cloudbreaker reported quietly.
“Are you sure?” Hidden Path asked.
“Definitely.”
“And there’s no traps here,” Dim Silhouette added. “I don’t feel any magic or presence of living beings.”
“So… it’s safe?” Grace spelled.
“Yes.”
“Clear,” Razor Edge confirmed.
“Razor, Dim, thanks,” Hidden Path whispered. “Now let’s go.”

They moved forward to the back door. Dim Silhouette and Razor Edge scanned it for one more time. When the absence of traps was confirmed, they slowly opened the sliding door. Nothing happened. It caused a double feeling: on the one hand, it meant that they are safe now, but on the other, it was alarming. What if those strangers knew that their house will be searched so they set the traps only where it was really necessary? They couldn’t tell. Nevertheless, there was no way back now, so they stepped into the room.

At first glance, it was an ordinary living room. Modest decorations, but quite big and with enough furniture to accommodate a large group. There was some soot on the fireplace, upholstery of sofas and chairs looked worn and crumpled, and there were few spots on the table that stood in the middle of the room. All this made obvious that the room was used quite often. However, there was nothing suspicious. No strange-looking things, no traces of magic. No traps. Absolutely nothing. This circumstance puzzled officers a bit, but at the same time gave them certain assurance. In few minutes they stopped the investigation of the living rooms and moved further.

From the living room they got to the main hall. The hall was the central intersection of the whole building: there was number of doors and stairs to the second floor. The house’s architecture implied that the rooms behind those doors were the tenants’ bedrooms. After a short discussion, agents of the Second Department decide to inspect them first. In order to save time doing this, they separated: Grace, Cloudbreaker and Razor Edge went to the second floor, and Hidden Path together with Dim Silhouette remained on the first.

They managed to finish the inspection very quickly – tenants’ bedrooms were as modestly decorated as the living room, or even were pieces of pure minimalism. There wasn’t anything suspicious, because there wasn’t anything at all. Those rare items that were in the rooms were neat and tidy. No clue, no leads. However, on the other hand, such minimalism was suspicious by itself.

“There’s absolutely nothing in their rooms! Nothing!” Grace resented. “As if they knew that somepony might come to their place!”
“Yeah,” Cloudbreaked agreed with her. “They are servants in princess Twilight’s castle, it’s a job for many years. They should know it and should have settled down already!”
“You are right, this look very suspicious,” Hidden Path said. “It’s not just minimalistic décor, it looks like they just have no intention to stop here!”
“Now, when you’ve mentioned that’ sir… It looks like ponies living there have spent significant time of their lives on the road. In such circumstances ponies usually tend to use as less things as possible.”
“Yeah, right…” Razor Edge and Cloudbreaker nodded.
“Wait!” Grace raised her hoof. “If they have spent a lot of time on the road, as you say, and they have no intention to settle down as if they are here only for certain amount of time… It looks like they are on some kind of research mission!”
“What?”
“Wait! You mean… our suspects are alien research team?” Razor Edge exclaimed.
“Well, when you summarize the evidences, it looks like this!”
“Damn…”
“If they are researchers, then why they murder other creatures?” Cloudbreaker said.
“I don’t know! I have no idea what kind of experiments they want to do!”
“… we need to look further,” Hidden Path said. “We haven’t been in the kitchen yet. And there’re other rooms too.”

His subordinates agreed. They took a deep breath and went there.

The kitchen turned out to be large and modestly decorated, just like the living room. Nevertheless, all the appliances necessary to cook various kind of food were present. There were many traces on tables, which indicated that they were regularly used and cleaned. Some of the chairs left noticeable scratches on the floor. In general, it was typical kitchen of a house inhabited by a large group. It seemed that there is nothing suspicious there until the agents looked in the fridge.

“There’s fish here!” Dim Silhouette exclaimed.
“Yeah…” Razor Edge spelled. “And there’s a lot of it.”
“Um… It’s it true that Europonians sometimes consume fish and meat?” Cloudbreaker said.
“Well, yeah, but they eat it SOMETIMES,” Hidden Path emphasized. “Here a quarter of all the food is fish. It can mean only one thing: they – or some of them – eat this fish regularly.”
“Hey, what’s this?” Grace wondered.
“What?”

The pegasus mare pointed at jars filled with strange substance.

“Hmm…” Dim Silhouette hummed and came closer. She took three jars with her magic and looked at them. Then she opened the jars and inspected them closer. She sniffed the contents and…

“It’s clay,” she said with confused look on her face.
“What?” her colleagues surprised.
“I can understand fish as a meal, but clay?” Grace shuddered. “What pony in her or his sane mind would eat clay as a main dish?”
“No pony,” Cloudbreaker replied.
“These nine are definitely not from this world…” Razor Edge spelled.

Finding in the fridge were frightening and troubling. Agents of the Second Department felt the real fear for the first time since they have started the investigation of mysterious incidents in Ponyville. Nevertheless, these findings aroused greater curiosity. They opened the curtain of mystery a bit, but they didn’t give the full explanations, so they have to search for more evidences. And there were storerooms, which agents haven’t inspected yet. So they moved there without hesitating.

And they faced with something scary when they got to the very first one.

“Wait!” Dim Silhouette warned everyone. “Don’t open it!”
“What’s the matter?” her colleagues wondered.
“I sense great energy behind this door.”
“What kind of energy?” Hidden Path asked.
“I’m not entirely sure…”
“Yeah, you’re right, Dim… And it’s definitely not magic,” Razor Edge said. “Looks more like… electricity? No… something else…”
“So… you cannot define it?” Grace spelled.
“Well… yeah. However, one thing I can say for sure: the energy is focused not in the door itself, but behind it.”
“You mean, it’s safe to open it, but not enter?” Cloudbreaker summarized.
“Right.”

And thus they opened the door. What they saw inside was an ordinary storage room: rows of shelves filled with cardboard boxes, paper bags and jars. Nothing suspicious or just noticeable except for thin metal bars right behind the doorjamb. Those bars were on the floor, on the sides and on the top so that they formed a closed figure. The bottom bar was bigger than other ones.

It puzzles the agents.

“So… this is the trap?” Cloudbreaker surprised. “It doesn’t look like one.”
“Maybe so, but the energy Dim and I talked about is coming right from these bars.”
“I can’t even imagine what they could possibly do,” Grace said.
“Let’s test then,” Hidden Path spelled.

Then he took a coin from one of his jacket’s pockets. It was a common souvenir from Trottingham historical site, an imitation of old local currency made of brass. A cheap bauble, which, however, was perfect trap detector, since it was small, but pretty heavy and durable.

Hidden Path threw the coin through the door. The coin flipped for two or three times, reached the space between the bars, and then… its trajectory instantly changed. Invisible force pulled it down and pressed it into the bottom bar. Less that in a second the coin was turned into flat deformed pancake.

Dim Silhouette screamed. Cloudbreaker and Grace shuddered.

“What kind of devilry is this?” Razor Edge muttered in trembling voice.

Hidden Path wasn’t able to do anything. He looked at the coin he just threw and felt nothing but shock.

“H-how… How?” Cloudbreaker exclaimed.
“I-I’ll try to pull it back,” Razor Edge said. His broken horn glowed, he concentrated and put an effort, but… it was useless.
“I can’t move it!” he exclaimed. “It’s like this damned coin weights ten tons!”
“Gravity…” Hidden Path muttered.
“Um, what, sir?’ his subordinates asked to clarify.
“These bars generate gravitation,” he said louder. “Somehow… they create force hundreds of times stronger than the gravitation of Gaia.”
“What?”
“But creation of such gravity is practically impossible without powerful magic!” Dim Silhouette said.
“But you said that there’s no magic here!” Hidden Path said.
“Yes! Wait… You mean…”
“Exactly,” hidden Path spelled. “No civilization on this planet know how to create gravity without using magic. It is a solid proof of the fact that these nine are not from this world!”
“If it is so, then… what kind of traps we might find next?”

Hidden Path looked around.

“Here!” he pointed at another closet door. “Dim, Razor, inspect it!”

Unicorns gave a nod and performed a quick search spell for traces of magic.

“Um… No traces of magic, sir,” Dim Silhouette reported. “and no traces of any energy either.”
“Then it’s safe to open it?”
“Probably so.”
“Okay, Cloudbreaker, do it.”

Big pegasus approached the door and grabbed the doorknob with both hooves. He pulled it, but the door hasn’t moved. Like it was a fake, a part of a wall. He pulled again, now with all the strength he had, but still with no results. The door didn’t move or make a sound.

Agents of the Second Department were shocked, especially Razor Edge. He refused to believe in what he has just seen. He approached the door too and made a short inspection: he knocked on the door and on the wall near it. The sounds were different: when he knocked on the wall, the sound was more sonorous, like it usually is when knocking on something made of rock or bricks, but when he knocked on the door, the sound was no different from knocking on ordinary wooden door.

“Huh?” Grace got shocked too when Razor Edge knocked on the door. “Don’t tell me that it’s just an ordinary door!”
“But it seems so!” Cloudbreaker exclaimed. “It’s wooden and the doorknob is metal… But it just won’t open!”
“If it was just strong, Cloudbreaker would be able to move it somehow at least!” Dim Silhouette said. “But there was nothing. No moves, no sounds. There can be only two options: magic seal or a force field incorporated into the door. But I don’t feel any magic or even energy!”
“I hate to say it, sir, but… I’m scared,” Razor Edge said honestly.
“Y-you aren’t the only one,” Grace added.
“What should we do?” Cloudbreaker said.

Hidden Path didn’t response at once.

“I… I think we have seen enough,” he said eventually. “We should leave. Now. We’ll report on what we have seen here and then counter them today, when they come back from Crystal Empire.”
“What?” his subordinates exclaimed.
“Excuse me, sir, but don’t you think that countering them now is unwise?” Grace said.
“You saw what they have here. Judging by all the evidences, they have enormous power. And we have no idea what they are still hiding. As you can see, if you want to apprehend them, you need massive backup. And what if they decide to fight? There might be too many casualties. We cannot let this happen. In order to do this, we have to face them ourselves. Tell them that we know everything. We’ll may not come back alive, but… This way, they’ll be forced to leave.”
“Or they wipe out us entirely,” Razor Edge said.
“We don’t know it yet. Thus, we have to do something, and quick.”

31. Revealing

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Late train from Crystal Empire has finally reached its final destination, Ponyville. It slowed down to minimum, and its brakes soon made the last screech before stopping. Cars’ doors opened, and few remained passengers have left the train.

“Finally! I’m home!” Spike groaned.
“Oh, Spike, it wasn’t that hard!” Twilight said.
“Speak for yourself! Unlike some purple alicorns, I’m not used to spend entire night doing something and then be satisfied with three or four hours of sleeping! I need my rightful nine hours of rest!”
“Okay, fine! You may be free until tomorrow afternoon. Thus, it leaves you more than ten hours of sleeping. You happy now?”
“Yes.”
“Well, my friends,” princess turned to researchers. “Thank you for coming with me. Get some good rest before tomorrow!”
“Um, excuse me, shouldn’t I come with you?” Max asked to clarify.
“No, mister Zicht, no. If you go now, then you’ll have only few hours of sleep in two days. It’s not good for pony’s health.”
“You know, I don’t mind it. While being a student, I have only four hours of sleep in three days before the hardest exams.”
“Don’t mention it…” Bluve, Oma and Zet’rara whispered.
“Still, I insist on proper rest. Besides, one night won’t change anything, right?” Twilight smiled.
“Well, maybe you are right, princess.”
“See you tomorrow then!”

Twilight, Spike and researchers waved to each other and left the station. Twilight put Spike on her back, and they flew to the Castle of Friendship, researchers headed to their headquarters.

Ponyville has been under the veil of the night already. Since it was quiet small town, night life in it wasn’t developed well and was usually connected with certain celebrations. Thus, there wasn’t many ponies outside at this hour, and as a result, not all the streets had lights. Small lanes and alleys, where only few living houses were situated, usually haven’t lights at all: ponies who lived there usually returned home before the nightfall, and even if they came late, there were lanterns near the house’s porch to guide them and tell whose house it is. When it happened that somepony had to stay outside at night, they usually walked the illuminated streets. However, if they knew the town well, they could go anywhere they wanted. Having spent more than half of a year in the town, researchers learned everything about it and now they were able to navigate around it just like locals. So they rushed to their house through alleys without hesitating.

“Man, I’m so tired!” Sheim said.
“No wonder. First, you did some serious work, then we all partied almost until the sunrise and left the Empire right after it!” Bluve responded.
“Yeah. It was rather eventful trip,” Affi said.

Her friends and colleagues agreed, but Kor, Karin, Oma and Zet’rar preferred to refrain from answering.

“Oh, five more minutes, and we’ll be home!” Kor said.
“You are tired too?” Oma surprised. “I though you, verekans, are steadfast guys!”
“Well, yeah, but I don’t handle well the sleep deficiency. It’s a hereditary issue in my family.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Still, it would be nice to get to the bed and have a rest in the place you are used to,” Zet’rar said.

Other agreed. There was nothing better than a good quiet rest after a long journey.

However, researchers didn’t know that they wouldn’t be able to have any rest this night.

When they were literally in one turn from their headquarters, walking down dark alley with no windows and few back entrances, five ponies blocked the way out of the ally they walked. They stood in a line without saying a word. Their faces were not visible, however their poses indicated that they were full of determination. It alerted researchers, but nevertheless they decided to act like normal pony would.

“Um… What happened? Can we help you?” Edez said.

Blockers haven’t responded.

“…do you have any business with us?” Affi guessed.
“Yes,” the earth pony stallion, who stood in the middle, said. “We have.”
“What business?”
“Confess.”
“What?” researchers surprised.
“We’ve been working on it for months… Collecting evidences, observing, analyzing… There was a lot of… strange things, connected with you. Strange behavior, strange knowledge… Well, you are not from Equestria, so all this might seem strange to us just because we aren’t used to them, but… Now we’ve seen something that proves that you are not just foreigners… something that proves that you are not from this world!..”

Researchers shuddered when they heard it. “How did they know it?” they silently asked themselves. Meanwhile the stallion continued.

“…and I hate that pony I’m going out with are among them!” he raised his head.
“Hidden?” Bluve exclaimed.

Subordinates of Hidden Path raised their heads as well.

“Grace, Cloudbreaker, Dim, Razor?” Max and Karin surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“It doesn’t matter now. Who are you?” Edez asked.
“We are agents of the Second Department of Secret Service of Equestria,” Hidden Path said. “I’m major Hidden Path, and they are my subordinates: lieutenant Grace, sergeants Dim Silhouette, Cloudbreaker and Razor Edge.”
“We investigate strange events and phenomena that started soon after your arrival,” Grace added. “There were quite a lot of evidences.”

Researchers looked at each other.

“Evidences? They might be subjective. What solid proofs do you have?” Affi asked.

This time, agents exchanged looks.

“We’ve searched your house…” Grace spelled.
“What?” researchers exclaimed.
“… and found technologies that surpass our, like creation of gravity or making things absolutely impenetrable, which you used as traps.”

Then there was silence. Agents stared at researchers, but made it clear that they are ready to undertake all kinds of measures in case of any possible threat. Researchers realized that now there was no escape for them.

“The saying was right…” Max grinned. “There are way more eyes and ears in small towns than in big cities…”
“It was a mistake…” Sheim uttered.
“Admit it. Admit that you are not from this world,” Hidden Path insisted.

Researchers didn’t hurry with the answer. Agents alerted. This act meant that they are preparing for something. They instinctively leaned closer to the ground and got ready to defend themselves.

They were ready for any offense, but what happened next was among the least things they expected.

Their suspects quickly exchanged glances, and then villainous grins crossed their faces. Intimidating lights sparkled in their eyes, and then… They released claws from their hooves and eight of them stood on hind legs. They did it quickly and easily like they were bipedal from the very beginning. Then even more terrifying things happened. scars on Max’s face opened and turned into huge gaping wounds. Scars near Bluve’s neck opened too and start to move like they were some kind of gills. Moreover, she separated each her foreleg into two. Horn-like appendages rose from Affi’s hair and start to rattle. Kor opened his mouth, and right before the eyes of the agents he changed his set on teeth on the predator ones. Oma’s mane and tail formed seven tentacles, which start to move slightly. The hump on Zet’rar’s back burst, releasing six dorsal limbs.

Agents were shocked. The truth they sought turned out to be even more terrifying than they expected. Hidden Path was the most shocked – the girl he liked turned out to be less pony-like from all the suspects.

“Well, you’ve managed to find who we really are,” Edez said. “Yes, we aren’t from Gaia, and as you may guess by our looks, we came here from different places of space. We have advanced technologies comparing to you and we don’t have your “magic”. Now you have the answer. Thus, I’d like to ask you one thing: what you are going to do with this?”
“We’ll report to the headquarters and princess…” Cloudbreaker was about to say, but Kor interrupted him:
“Oh? You think we’ll let you go like nothing happened?”
“No, we’ve expected something like this,” Hidden Path responded.
“Good,” Edez grinned again. “If so, then I highly recommend you to stay at your places and do not do anything.”
“Huh?” Grace resented. “What gives you the right to command us?”
“It’s just a wise decision. Since, well, any of us is able to kill you all in an instant.”
“What?”
“Some of us have battle experience greater than all you lives combined,” Kor said. “Consider this.”

Agents gulped. However, they didn’t move – no step forward and no step backward.

“Oh, I see you are understanding folk,” Affi said. “That’s good…”
“What you are going to do with us?” Dim silhouette asked.
“We want to clarify what you already know,” Edez said. “It’s reasonable to let the suspects know what they are accused of, don’t you think?”

Agents didn’t say anything. The alien was right about this part.

“Well?” researchers asked.
“List as the charges, please,” Affi said. “And, besides, we may provide you some explanations you want to hear…”

The last surprised the agents. “Please”? It’s a rare thing to hear from villain, especially when it’s said in such tone… And offering the explanations…

“Well…”
“Um, excuse me, but how we should address you now?” Razor Edge said. “ ‘cause, well, the names we know aren’t the real ones, right?”
“Use the ones you know,” Affi said. “We are used to them.”
“If you say so…” Grace spelled with slightly confused look on her face. “Berg, there are evidences of you demonstrating speed and strength beyond pony’s abilities…”

Edez frowned.

“My blunder,” he said. “Well, I agree with that. Great speed and strength are characteristic traces of my race.”
“Okay… Mister Erő, we have evidences of you demonstrating strength above pony’s abilities too. Also, some ponies said that you don’t like pony cuisine…”
“I belong to carnivorous species,” he said. “And, yes, we are strong.”

Grace – and other agents – gulped.

“Ehm… excuse me, but…” Razor edge uttered, “… but why you are standing like this now?”
“I am the only quadruped one from the beginning.”
“Miss Antilipsi,” Grace continued. “There are evidences suggesting that you are able to manipulate other creatures…”
“I’m a telepathist. Very strong one.”
“Okay,” Grace shuddered. “Mister Zicht, the evidences we have suggest that your senses and abilities connected with that are way above average pony’s.”
“Artificial sensor organs,” he said, pointing at his scars. “Very sensitive.”
“… how sensitive?” Cloudbreaker asked.
“You want me to tell your pulse?” physiologist looked at him. “Or you want me to tell that cereal you ate this morning were more than stale?”
“What? How?..”

Grace and some other agents looked at him.

“Don’t pay attention to that. He haven’t noticed the expiration date when he ate them,” Affi said.

Agents weren’t able to say anything. Cloudbreaked felt extremely humiliated.

“W-well…” Grace eventually managed to force herself to continue. “Miss Didinga, mister Lierre, we have evidences of you consuming non-organic matter in amounts unnatural to ponies…”
“I belong to chemosynthetic species,” Oma replied.
“And my race is plant-like,” Sheim said. “We cannot survive without mineral nutrition.”
“Okay… Miss Pippi, there are evidences that you possess some kind of controlled poltergeist…”
“I wish that it was controlled poltergeist… But what I possess is an ordinary telekinesis,” she replied.
“You want to possess poltergeist?” Razor Edge surprised.
“Yeah. It’s more powerful than average telekinesis.”
“Oh…”
“… miss Calma, we have some evidences of you diving for extremely long periods of time…”
“I was careless…” she spelled. “Well, that’s because I’m from semi-aquatic race.”
“Semi-aquatic?” Hidden Path surprised. “Then…”
“You want to learn about this?” Blive pointed to her “gills”. “Well, those are not gills, they are universal respiratory organs. They act like both lungs and gills.”
“Oh…”
“And mister Allegro… There’s practically no evidences of your extraordinary abilities except for how you made your Nightmare Night costume work, but now we see the reason… However, there is another count. You demonstrated knowledge unknown in Equestria – and as we learned later – in other parts of the world, more than anyone else.”
“Well, I’m the responsible for equipment in the team… and I’m quite altruistic guy. If I see that someone need help, I will help if I can.”
“To assist local in available ways is one of the main principles of the exoplanet researcher,” Edez said.
“Assistance in the ways that wouldn’t expose you,” Affi clarified. “Well, I guess we weren’t able to follow this rule.”

At this moment, agents felt surprise and uncertainty. Altruism? Assistance? Research? These guys are just a group of scientist who came for exploration mission and nothing else? If it is so, what’s the reason behind other incidents?

“Anything else?” Affi asked.
“Well, there’s number of other demonstrations of extraordinary abilities and knowledge…” Grace continued. “And… Oh… Well… presumably, abduction of some ponies. Including princesses Celestia and Luna. And, according by some other reports… Abduction of queen Chrysalis.”
“Um…”
“What?” Hidden Path exclaimed. The first reaction of the researchers made it obvious for him that they really did it. “You have abducted both Diarchs and Chrysalis?”
“Yes,” Edez confessed. “We did.”
“We had to explore all the sapient races that inhabit this planet,” Max said.
“But why princesses?” Dim Silhouette exclaimed.
“We needed the most characteristic representatives of the race.”
“So… During all this time… you’ve abducted more citizens of Equestria?” Cloudbreaker suggested.
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Few more. But it doesn’t matter. The research abduction, as you may call it, last only for one night, and we make sure that the patient won’t remember anything.”
“Well, in case of princesses and Chrysalis it failed.”
“I guess they are too strong mentally, so few fragments might preserve.”
“Well, there are some more things…” Grace continued. “There was an incident in the Everfree Forest that led to formation of huge crater. The investigation showed that it was annihilation that wasn’t caused by magic.”
“Yes, we are responsible for it,” Edez admitted. “We went to the Forest in order to explore it closer, however when the night fell we were attacked by a pack of Constellation Beasts, as you call these creatures. We couldn’t teleport from there, so we used the annihilation device for extreme situations.”
“Wait, stop!” Razor Edge exclaimed. “This annihilation should have killed you too! How did you manage to survive?”
“Well, who told you that these are our real bodies?” Max said.
“Huh?”
“First, what you see now are artificial bodies, so-called avatars, created using samples of your special and ours. Second, we have technology that allow us to transplant, store and copy our minds and souls. So, as you can guess, all this makes possible survival in such situation.”
“Oh…”
“What else?”
“What about that strange meteor shower?” Cloudbreaker said.
“What meteor shower?” researchers surprised.
“The one with several radiants, which happened one moon and eighteen days ago.”
“This…”
“You are responsible for it?”
“Not exactly,” Edez said.
“We came here in order to explore the entire planet, not only your land,” Kor began to explain. “We have missions sent to each large land mass or separate region populated with specific species. It’s a large expedition, and we tried to keep it in secret. However, our opponents learned about it and organized an attack. What you had seen was a battle between ships we arrived on and their vehicles.”
“Space… battle?” agents couldn’t believe in what they’ve just heard.
“Yes.”
“Wait!” Hidden Path suddenly exclaimed. “We’ve forgotten about the most important one.”
“What?” Grace wondered.
“The murders.”
“What murders?” researchers worried.
“What? You don’t know about them?” Cloudbreaker surprised.
“Nothing!” Zet’rar said.
“Wait, what made you thought we are responsible for some murders?” Oma exclaimed.

Suddenly, Kor stomped loudly, making everyone shut up.

“Tell us who was killed, where and how,” he demanded.
“Well, there was one pony murdered near Dodge City, one adult dragon murdered near the edge of the Everfree Forest… and a group of youngsters murdered on the road from Dodge City to Canterlot…” Grace said.
“And there were few reports on ponies went missing in the area without a trace, but I don’t know if it’s connected with the case,” Razor Edge added.
“How they were killed?” researchers continued to press.
“The young ponies we’ve mentioned were slayed in the way like the murderer tried to show them the power he or she possesses,” Hidden Path clarified. “But the first victims… The most terrible thing that their heads were literally minced.”
“Minced?”
“Yes. Like something broke into their mouths, destroyed the palate and turned brains into mash.”

When they heard it, researchers froze. With expressions of unimaginable shock on their faces.

“Um… guys?” Dim Silhouette worried.
“I don’t like where it’s going…” Cloudbreaker uttered.

And then, a loud scream shook the night town.

“GHYYYYAAAAAA!” Edez, Bluve and Oma screeched.
“GRRAAAAHHHHHHH!!” Kor and Sheim roared.
“How in this fucking world it happened?” Karin yelled.
“HOIRAAAAA!” Affi and Zet’rar swore. [“SHIIIIT!”]
“Hoyra ta enaa! Hoyra ta enaaaaa!!!” Max yelled. [approximate meaning: “Shit of the universe”]
“What?” agents were terrified.
“You don’t know what you are dealing with…” Edez and Kor spelled.
“You are lucky that you are still alive…” Affi said.
“What are you talking about?” Cloudbreaker exclaimed, although he was hesitant.
“The signs you’ve mentioned… They can mean only one thing: Ga’ke are here,” Affi said.
“Ga… ke? Who are they?” Grace wondered.
“The strongest and the most terrible creatures in the Universe we know.”
“W-what?..”
“Explain!” Hidden Path demanded.
“You know, each civilization that exist in the Universe, has basically only three objectives: survive, develop, spread,” Edez said. “Some of those civilizations are ready to go to great lengths in order to achieve them… Well, Ga’Ke were a group of sapient creatures whose aim was to become invulnerable and dominant, and they managed to achieve this by depriving themselves of the life. Becoming literally Lifeless.”
“Wait, you mean, like zombies?” Cloudbreaker wondered.
“It’s not that simple,” Bluve said. “Explanation of what life actually is would take too much time, so you have to know only two things: first, life is non-material structure identical for all creatures in the Universe, second, it is one of the main pillars of the Universe, its most important part and principle, so to get rid of it while preserving your personality is incredibly difficult.”
“Nevertheless, the important thing is that they are not alive,” Max continued. “So, as you may guess, what isn’t alive, cannot be killed.”
“You mean…”
“To destroy even one of them is incredibly difficult. Since they aren’t bounded by life, they can freely and quickly transport their souls and minds to any bodies they want. However, being lifeless has one major disadvantage: Ga’Ke are unable to reproduce like ordinary creatures. They have to make artificial bodies and fill them with altered copies of minds and souls they already have. And they need a lot of raw material to do it.”
“Raw material?” Hidden Path spelled and then, when he realized it, he shuddered.
“Yes. They are going to use you as the source of their new bodies and souls.”
“No…”
“And it would be a disaster,” Oma said.
“How… serious?” Dim Silhouette forced herself to say.
“Well, now there are about 250 billion of them… If they conquer you… then in fifty years there will be about 400 billion of them,” Bluve said.
“And we don’t think that we’ll be able to confront them in this case,” Kor finished.
“Goodness, no…” uttered female agents.
“There… there has to be a way out!” Razor Edge exclaimed.

Researchers looked at each other.

“Initialize Plan seventy three,” Edez ordered.
“What?” agents surprised.
“You’ll come with us,” leader of Team One explained. “We need all information you have in order to create the plan of actions. We have to destroy that thing.”
“I’ll call them and request the teleportation,” Kor said.
“Good. Affi, implant them the language knowledge,” Edez said to telepathist.
“Yes.”
“What? Wait, what do you mean by “implant the knowledge”?” Grace worried.
“Stand still,” Affi said to them. “It’ll hurt, but just for a bit.”

The appendages on her head began to rattle, and in a moment all five agents felt piercing headache. They fainted and fell down. However, they came to their senses pretty quickly and stood up.

“So painful…” Dim Silhouette whined.
“Worse than all hangovers in my life combined…” Cloudbreaker uttered.
“I see you are ready. Good,” they heard Edez’s voice.

Ponies of the Second Department looked at him. The leader of Team One held small device in his hoof. He and other researchers were full of determination.

“Here we go,” he said and pushed small button on the device.

There was a dim flash, and in a moment all fourteen vanished from the alley.

32. Emergency Meeting

View Online

Before they realized it, Hidden Path, Grace, Cloudbreaker, Dim Silhouette and Razor Edge were ten thousand miles above the surface of the planet. The place where they stood was spacious round hall made of metal, glass and plastic. The hall was full of various devices and filled with numerous holographic screens, but they and researchers were the only living being in it.

“What?” Grace exclaimed. “Where are we?”
“What just happened?” Cloudbreaker muttered.
“Welcome to the Union’s research starship Kelkerdez-Unaad!” Edez smiled. “We are in one of the teleportation stations.”
“WHAT?” agents exclaimed.
“Wait, we are on your ship?” Hidden Path exclaimed. “In the space?!”
“And… have you just say that in your language?” Grace added.
“Both times yep,” researchers confirmed.
“Knowledge implantation was successful,” Affi smiled.
“You… teleported us?” Dim Silhouette was shivering. “How… far away we are from home?”
“Using your units… ten thousand two hundred sixty three miles above the surface of Gaia,” Zet’rar responded.

Equestrians were so shocked they couldn’t say a word.

“Okay, we don’t have much time, and we all have to return to Ponyville in the morning, so let’s get the protection measures done faster,” Mas said.
“What protection measures?” Razor Edge and Dim Silhouette wondered.
“Your environment is alien to us, and we don’t have time to figure how our species would react on the viruses and germs you have, so we gotta have your bacilli sealed for our sake, okay?”
“Um… okay.”
“Good. Bluve, prepare the injections!”
“Already did!” junior physiologist said, holding four relatively large syringes filled with something that resembled liquid metal in her hands.
“Nice,” Max smiled and went to take the last injection.
“Excuse me, but what is this… medicine?” Cloudbreaker worried. “It awfully resembles mercury…”
“Oh, it’s… well, you would describe it as microscopic machines,” Bluve responded.
“Microscopic… machines?”
“Wait, you mean you’re going to fill our bodies with tiny robots?” Razor Edge exclaimed.
“Exactly.”
“I object!”
“Don’t worry!” Zet’rar intervened. “It’s 100 percent safe and very effective. The only thing that causes discomfort is injection itself.”
“It’s painful, when machines spread throughout your body, but it lasts only for few minutes,” Oma said. “After it you just feel tired, but it usually stops in two or three hours.”
“Actually, each of us have about three or four pound of this stuff in our bodies,” Max added.
“Really?” officers surprised.
“Yeah, so just bear with it, okay?”
“Well, okay. Do it.”

Bluve and Max injected the agents the nanite treatment. The next thing equestrians felt was sharp pain, which eventually began to fade, and in five minutes, as it was said, the only sensation remained was tiredness.

“Well, the procedure is complete!” Max smiled. “You are biologically safe now. Let’s go!”
“Oh, one more thing!” Affi said. “Since we are here, no one will use cover names to address us, so we should re-introduce ourselves so that you were aware of who is who.”
“Right!” her colleagues agreed.
“Well, my actual name is Affi Mana-tosu, I’m the second curator and the master telepathist of the team. Belong to jokhrian race.”
“Edez Ad’Deigoro,” the leader of the Team introduced himself. “First curator of the research team and senior planetologist. Belong to dreketanians.”
“Max Sudarmono,” master physiologist bowed. “Senior biologist. Terran.”
“Bluve K’oishea,” his colleague smiled. “Regular biologist. I’m from anxaiman race.”
“Sheim Tat-Doil,” planetologist waved. “I’m regular planetologist here. Of rugartarians.”
“Oma Kiegekko” master sociologist smiled. “I’m the senior sociologist of the Team. Belong to yedeizan race.”
“Karin Axelsson,” her colleague waved. “Regular sociologist. I’m Terran, like Max.”
“Zet’rar Dou,” Team’s technician smiled. “You already know my position in the Team, and… I’m an unfalizan.”
“Kor Ndtal-Emai,” officer bowed. “Security officer. Verekan.”
“…Th-thank you,” agents bowed.
“We’ll lead you to the conference hall,” Edez said. “Just follow us… and, please, don’t surprise all the time.”
“Why should we act like…” Cloudbreaker was about to said, but right at this moment Kor opened the doors from the teleportation station.

What was behind the doors was spacious corridor, the opposite wall of with was huge floor-to-ceiling window. Behind it was the endless darkness of space with countless sparkles of stars… and relative small blue-green sphere covered in white spots and stripes and tiny gray ball orbiting it.

Agents froze on where they stood and their jaws dropped.

“Already…” Edez sighed.
“Is it… Gaia?” Grace muttered.
“It is,” Affi said. “Yes, it is very beautiful, but we don’t have time for the admiration now. We have to hurry. We’ll let you enjoy the views before we leave.”
“Well, okay…”
“And one more thing. When you’ll decide to ask something, just think about it and I’ll give you the answer telepathically. Or I’ll connect you with the one who knows the answer.”
“Th-thanks…”
“Gosh, that’s weird,” Dim Silhouette spelled and shuddered.
“You don’t say…” Razor Edge sighed.
“And, guys, if you are going to keep it like this, we’ll miss the meeting!” Zet’rar added.
“Why?” agents wondered.
“Because now you gonna see who inhabits the space and what they can do.”

Edez waved, like saying to follow him. Other members of Team One and secret service agents went after him, and very soon they were in one of the ship’s central corridors, vast pedestrian avenue with high roof and simple yet elegant futuristic decorations.

And it was full of creatures that no Equestrian has never seen before.

Dozens, no, hundreds of creatures of various kinds. They resembled all kinds of living beings that inhabit Gaia and even more. Some of them were hard to describe since equestrians – despite facing different monstrous creatures – haven’t seen something like this. They couldn’t tell if what they see is living being or not.

The shock they experienced surpassed even the sight of their home planet from ten-thousand-mile height. No monster sanctuary on Gaia hasn’t such diversity. Secret agents barely managed to cope with the shock – only after series of nudges from the researchers they managed to make themselves move. Thus, they followed the researchers to the conference hall, while observing everything and everyone around them.

Everything around was made of metal, glass, and various kinds of plastic and ceramics. There was practically nothing made of wood and stone – if there was something, it was just a decoration, and sometimes it was easier to find someone made of stone or wood than find something made of those materials. And holograms. Holograms everywhere. Screens of different sizes and forms, floating around everywhere or attached to surfaces… They appeared and vanished in an instant. What was the most amazing is that the starship crew used these screens not only to read the information, but also as a keyboard. In Equerstria only the most skillful and powerful mages could do something like this, and here it was usual thing that required no magic at all…

Agents regularly checked what was on those screens. Thanks to the knowledge that Affi implanted them they could understand the inscriptions, but they could understand only small part of the texts since they didn’t know the terms. What made these inscriptions even more alien, was the writing and calculating systems. The artificial language created in the Union as the source of international communication consisted of three hundred forty seven syllables, digraphs and trigraphs, all of which were represented as symbols consisting of four hatches. The calculation system was duodecimal and, again, numerals were four-hatch symbols.

However, it was nothing comparing to who surrounded them. Hundreds of species. It was hard to spot representatives of the same race. Creatures around them have different colors, different sizes, different forms. Some of them had wings, but they didn’t fly. Equestrians thought that it’s because they wingspan is too big, and it would rather obstruct the movement than aid it. Some creatures had four limbs, just like animals on Gaia, other had six, eight, or even more… What was the most surprising for ponies is that there were creatures with odd number of limbs. In Equestria it was characteristic only to certain monsters, here they could see entire races having such feature. Some creatures were wearing devices that resembled gas masks. Some of those deices made hissing noises. Some of the creatures were wearing suits that resembled ones used for diving. And many creatures they saw were cyborgs. That was the most shocking. Creatures that had limbs or even greater part of their bodies replaced with metal and plastic parts… it looked even more fantastic than many sci-fi stories described. Having so much cyborgs and creatures wearing suits, sometimes it was hard to tell if it is a living being or it is a robot. Yes, there were robots, and there were numerous. All shapes and kinds, these mechanic assistants helped everyone around in various tasks. “That’s how future should look!” agents thought, looking at them. However, that was one feature that seems a little strange t them: robots were numerous, but only few of them were shaped like living beings. That was the only thing that didn’t correspond with equestrians’ conception of future.

All of those creatures looked calm and diligent. Despite the look, which could be scary for an equestrian, starship crew seemed to be friendly. There was only one feature that disturbed the ponies: their race seemed to be below the average size of sapient creatures in the Universe. Absolute majority of creatures they saw consisted of beings taller, longer or just bulkier than they were. Because of this, agents felt like kindergarteners among adults.

And while they examined the fantastic-looking creatures around them, the fantastic creatures inspected them as well. Not like some animals in a zoo, there was something else in the way they looked at them. It seemed that they have already knew how sapient creatures of Gaia look, but they knew it only from pictures, so seeing a real equestrian was new for them. Thus, agents couldn’t help but feel being watched all the time. Some of the creatures addressed them, but usually all they wanted to ask was to confirm is that they are eyewitnesses that Team One brought here. Other creatures addressed only to researchers. Obviously, they were their friends and acquaintances, since these aliens regularly joked about how researchers look now.

Considering all this, no wonder that Affi didn’t have a minute without a question. Since when agents made sure that the telepathic connection really works, they asked the curator non-stop.

“Your alphabet has so many symbols… It’s like the writing system of the Eastern Kingdoms! So inconvenient…”
“This Universe has so many languages you cannot even imagine. And only some of them are verbal. These three hundred and forty seven symbols are just the necessary minimum representing all the variety of sounds.”
“The same can be said about your calculation system. Is twelve numerals better than ten?”
“Of course! Ten could be divided only by five, two and one, twelve can be divided by six, four, three, two and one. It’s way more convenient than decimal system and widespread. Just try to count like this, and you’ll see the difference.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but… some of your… teammates look like they are made of wood or stone. How is it possible without magic?”
“Well, the essence of life is the same in all parts of the Universe, but it can take various forms. Some of the races that make the Union are closer to plants, other are closer to animals… For instance, your scientists would describe Sheim’s race as plant species, and in case of Oma… they would probably classify her species as highly organized prokaryote.”
“What?”
“That’s right. Prokaryote. Yedeizans are chemosynthetic race.”
“The Universe is very strange place…”
“You don’t say…”
“There are so many cyborgs around… Considering the level of your medicine, couldn’t you… dunno… grow back the lost limbs?”
“It is possible, but, speaking about mechanic prosthetics, there are two things: first, mechanic ones are usually cheaper, and, second, they are often more functional. Because of this quite often various sentients replace healthy ones with mechanic ones.”
“That’s madness!”
“That’s practicality. By the way, you are cyborg too now.”
“What?”
“You mean… having those micromachines…”
“Yes, it makes you a cyborg.”
“My world won’t be the same again…”
“Speaking about robots… We have already seen a lot of different ones, but there’s one thing that bothers me: why only few of them are shaped like sapient creatures?”
“Ehm… That’s a long story. Long ago, there was such trend…”
“Pardon me for interruption, but… “long ago”… How many years you mean by this?”
“Depending on the civilization… In some cases it’s even before your ancestors evolved as a sapient species.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah. Really LONG ago… But let’s back to what I was saying. Many years ago races that make the Union now regularly created robots that looked like them and provided these robots with highly advanced control system, which you may call an artificial intelligence.”
“…artificial intelligence?”
“Yes. Sentients continued to do so, making their robots more and more advanced and capable, giving them more and more complicated artificial intelligence systems, which in some aspects even surpassed their own minds…”
“Wow.”
“And… What happened next?”
“Those robots realized their superiority and thought: why should we obey those organic lifeforms? Then there was a conflict, which usually evolved into full-scale war.”
“Goodness!”
“Those wars were long and severe. The greatest of those wars lasted for almost six millennia and ended with extermination of the robots, two hundred billion casualties in the Union and about thirteen thousand devastated planets.”
“Six… thousand… years… of war?”
“Two hundred… billion dead?”
“The Universe is a cruel place, you know. All civilizations in it try to reach the same goals: survive, develop, spread, but the ways they choose are different, and it becomes the reason of conflicts. For a race that have just discovered the way to the stars… it’s very hard to find a friend among them. There’s even a grim joke that there are six the most probable outcomes of a contact with alien civilization: first, you’ll be robbed, second, you’ll be enslaved, third, you’ll be used as a raw material, fourth, you’ll be annihilated, fifth, you’ll be eaten, sixth, you’ll be raped.”
“Wait… Eaten? Raped?”
“The space is filled with different groups of fanatics, and in the past their numbers were way greater. Some of them were real sick fucks.”
“Dear mommy, please let me get back in your tummy!”
“Too late…”
“You told us such… strange and dreadful things… We see now how dangerous the universe can be. But… those scary things… you didn’t do something like that, right?”
“Oh…”
“Oh?”
“Throughout our history, we, jokhrians, are responsible for detonation of seventy nine stars in different wars.”
“What? Detonation of a star? How?..”
“There’s such technology. Well, dreketanians established an interstellar empire that took over four galaxies. They ruled it for one million and four hundred thousand years, and they were very aggressive. Verekans… They belonged to so-called Lifetakers, who were one of the strongest and merciless enemies of the Union. Yedeizans enslaved about sixty different alien races. Rugartarians once were like locusts, they took over uninhabited planets and deprive them of all the resources. They turned more than four hundred planets into lifeless deserts. Anxaimans are responsible for total genocide of three races. Unfalizans provoked wars between different races in order to sell their weapons to both sides and make huge money. Terrans once started one of the bloodiest wars in the history of the Union. Remember what I said about how many people died in that conflict with robots? Well, in the war between the Union and Terrans about three hundred and eighty billions were killed. Terrans created a powerful weapon that could kill all inhabitants of one planed. And they used it on Ateir, our capital, which was populated with one hundred and thirty billion creatures at that time.”

After this, agents could barely say something.

However, eventually they came to their senses. In order to change the mood, ponies asked Affi about how people of their races look in reality. She managed to find some representatives of their races and describe their main features. Equestrians were impressed. But, at the same time, bothered, especially when fellow dreketanian and verekan came to greet Edez and Kor. Considering how big Edez’s and Kor’s avatars were, it was obvious to expect that people of their races are big, but equestrians didn’t expect them to be THIS huge. Seriously, average verekan or dreketanian was able to grab all five of them with a single hand. Thus, when researchers, friends addressed them, they couldn’t say a word because of fear.

Eventually, they reached the conference hall. Many members of the starship team were already in it, and the rest were on the way. Team One and agents rushed to get in, but near the entrance one alien stopped them.

This alien resembled a warrior of rumored cruel ruler of the southern lands, Storm King, but he was way thinner and was slouching. Fnd he looked very, very old.

“Sir Im’Dazi!” researchers bowed, when they saw him.

The old alien gave a nod and raised his hand, like saying “That’s enough.”

Ponies bowed as well – obviously, he was important figure – but they wanted to know who he is.

“Um…”
“My friends, this is Admiral Sir Kaydd Im’Dazi, the commander of the research fleet of our mission,” Edez introduced the alien to equestrians.
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” Hidden Path bowed again.
“It’s an honor to meet people of Gaia on our ships,” he responded. “It’s a pity that it happens under such circumstances.”
“W-we see… Th-thanks…”
“We hope that you will help to save the people of this planet,” Oma said.
“Well, it depends on how much our guests can tell. If there’s enough information, then we’ll create a plan.”

Equestrians were a bit surprised.

“Sir Im’Dazi is very experienced and talented. If someone knows how to fight Ga’Ke and win, it’s him,” Affi said.
“After twenty thousand years of battling with them, you start to understand them well,” the warlord spelled.
“Twenty… thousand… years?” Razor Edge couldn’t believe in what he has just heard.
“Excuse me, sir Im’Dazi, but how old are you?” Grace asked.
“By your standards, 72354 years old.”
“EEEEEEHHHHHHH?”
“Sir Im’Dazi belongs to Beytu race. They can live for millennia.”
“If your home planet doesn’t have much resources, making a tenacious creature that can live for extremely long time, but reproduces rarely, is quite efficient strategy of survival,” Sir Im’Dazi said. “But that’s enough of astrobiology for now, we have some more urgent issues.”
“Right!”

And Team One with agents followed the admiral to the conference hall.

When they entered it, equestrians froze: practically all the aliens they had seen in the corridors were here now. And they were looking at them. Thousands of eyes, that scanned them, and they couldn’t tell what are the intentions and thoughts behind those eyes.

Several nudges from the researchers brought them back to senses, and they proceeded to the places reserved for them. As it turned out, their places were near the most important people.

“Dear Sirs, Madam, allow me to introduce you the eyewitnesses from Gaia,” Edez bowed to the three aliens sitting at the highest table in the center of the hall. “This is major Hidden Path, lieutenant Grace, sergeants Cloudbreaker, Dim Silhouette and Razor Edge of the secret service of the Kingdom of Equestria.”

Ponies, who did their best to suppress or hide the shivering, bowed.

“My friends,” Edez turned to agents, “allow me to introduce you the heads of our research mission. This is Madam Yii ko Taa te Neze, scientific supervisor of the mission, Sir Dekk Nnoysse, captain on this ship, and Admiral Sir Elokorumvattunai, commander of the defense and support forces of this mission.”
“Um… miss Affi, pardon me, but how we should address Madam scientific supervisor? Her name… doesn’t resemble anything from our world. and Sir commander of the defense forces… does he have only one name?”
“You should address the scientific supervisor as Madam Yii. Particles “ko” and “te” are just signs on her parents’ names. She is the senior official here. And, yes, Sir commander of the defense and support forces have only one name. And you’d better remember it.”
“Got it.”

Meanwhile Edez introduced equestrians to the heads of other fifteen research teams. That was a bit of surprise for the ponies: they all arrived there in their avatars, so it was quite unusual to see gaian creatures among all these aliens. Dragons, griffins, zebras, camels, deer, bison, sea serpents… All gaian sapient races. And what was the most surprising, other ponies beside Team One. All of them were just technically gaians, well, half gaians, but still it was pleasant to see something that reminded them of their home, it calmed the agents and gave them certain confidence.

However, there was something in appearance of the members of the research teams that agents hadn’t noticed at first sight. Only some time later they noticed that all the avatars of the researchers were creatures that are not able to use magic. Well, it seemed logical: if you don’t know how to use it, don’t try to use it in your cover. But, at the same time, such feature looked a bit suspicious and might actually be a good lead.

“Well, I suppose everyone who should come is already here, so we may begin, Madam Yii?” Sir Nnoysse turned to the scientific supervisor.
“Yes, Sir Nnoysse. Please, proceed,” she responded.
“Everyone! Now we all have gathered here, so let’s start the meeting,” Sir Nnoysse said. People on the tribunes immediately went silent. “As you already know, Ga’Ke presence was spotted on the planet Gaia we are currently studying. It a danger not only to the inhabitants of the planet, but to the Union as well due to extreme biodiversity of this planet. We must prevent this from happening. However, we don’t have much information about what is really happening on the planet. Thus, we have to use extraordinary circumstances protocols and ask local people for help.” He stood up and pointed with his arm to the ponies. “These five sentients are citizens of the gaian Kingdom of Equestria, and they serve for the local army. They were ones that investigated mysterious cases, which, as we presume, are connected with Ga’Ke activity. We kindly asking them to share the information they have in order to develop a plan of further actions.” He turned to the ponies and said quieter “Please, tell us everything you know so that we could help you.”

Agents looked at each other, and then Hidden Path stepped forward.

“Um… My name is… Hidden Path, I’m the head of this squad, so… I will respond to your questions. We will tell you everything we know about the cases…”

And he told it. He told everything the entire Equestrian government knew about the incidents, which might be caused by Ga’Ke. About murders, about slaughtered dragon, about mysterious disappearances, about the ways all mentioned above was done. Aliens listened to him without making a noise. Some of them were making notes on holographic screens. They all were attentive, especially Sir Im’Dazi and Sir Elokorumvattunai. The warlords were grim and even angry, but they remained immovable and attentive.

It took Hidden Path about fifteen minutes to tell all the details and even suspicions and thoughts. He responded to all the questions heads of the mission asked him.

“You don’t have anything else to tell us, mister Path?” Madam Yii addressed the major.
“No, Madam Yii,” Hidden Path said. “I told you everything I know. I don’t have any more information.”
“Thank you, mister Path. You may be free for now.”

Hidden Path bowed and returned to his colleagues. Meanwhile aliens began the discussion of the plan.

“No we have enough proofs of the presence of Ga’Ke on Gaia and sufficient information on their activity,” Madam Yii said. “However, there some essential things that me are missing. How many of them are actually there? Where did they hid the ship? Where are they now and what they are going to do?”
“Sir Im’Dazi, what do you think about it?” Sir Nnoysse addressed the old Beytu.
“Hm… Considering the information major Path provided us with…” he spelled. “I think there is just one Ga’Ke.”
“Just one?”
“What makes you think that way?” curator of one of the research teams wondered.
“I know what you trying to tell,” Sir Im’Dazi responded. “Yes, usually they send a small group for reconnaissance missions, however it is only applicable to civilizations of interstellar level. People of Gaia haven’t reach cosmic level of development yet. And, despite havening the “magic”, they basically have nothing to fight a Ga’Ke.”
“Huh?” equestrians surprised.
“Excuse me, Sir Im’Dazi, but could you specify it?” Grace asked.
“I understand your disagreement. I’ve read the reports and I know what kind of destruction power your “magic” can be. With such power a skilled one could easily destroy body of this being. However, there is once circumstance that would probably make all your efforts go to waste. I suppose scientists of the Team One informed you about the technology of mind and soul transfer we have?”

Ponies nodded.

“Well, comparing to our technology, their devices are way more advanced.”
“To put it simply,” Sir Elokorumvattunai intervened, “their soul/mind transfer devices surpass ours in terms of quality only a little bit, but when it comes to the speed of transfer, our devices are no match for theirs. Practically all Ga’Ke have incredible speed of reaction, so when you only start to destroy their bodies, they transfer their very essence back to the ship and then return with a new body.”
“That brings us to the second question: where they hid the ship? Considering the information our guests shared with us and Sir Im’Dazi’s suggestions, if there is only one Ga’Ke, then they used small vessel, they could sneak through our blockade, especially when it was only establishing. It was said that first incidents have occurred near the place called “Dodge City”… Could you tell me what kind of terrain is there?”
“Well, the terrain of surroundings of Dodge City is pretty complicated,” Dim Silhouette said. “Rocks of various shapes and sizes alternate with hollows. Some of the hollows are filled with sediments, so they are just flat areas, other filled with lakes or swamps. And all the area is heavily forested due to uneven terrain. The amount of field areas is low, and those fields are, in fact, a kind of open-cast mines.”
“Ga’Ke are creatures that wouldn’t waste energy without real need,” Sir Im’Dazi said. “However, leaving no races – if intimidation isn’t their aim – is very important to them.”
“So… swamp?” Madam Yii suggested.
“Very likely. Immersion in a swamp doesn’t require any teleportation and replacement of material, and it’s easy to hide traces: nature would do the greatest part of work by itself!”
“Excuse me, but there is one circumstance worth mentioning,” Edez intervened. “Swamps near Dodge City are relatively small, but numerous. It would take time to find the right one. Our guests can confirm it.”
“Yes,” Dim Silhouette nodded.
“Then we should put more efforts into it,” Sir Nnoysse said and turned to researchers of Team One. “Do you have a map of the region?”
“Yes,” Edez said and gave Kor a nod. Officer closed his eyes and tapped his temple twice.
“Got it. Thank you.”
“What was that?” equestrians were surprised.
“Well, verekans are race that have their brains not in their heads, but under their shoulder blades,” Affi responded.
“What?”
“Yeah, that’s it. When Kor’s avatar was created, we noticed that his skull was practically empty. So we decided to make him the data keeper and put memory devices in his head.”

After this, agents weren’t able to say anything for a while.

“How much it would take you to scan all these swamps?” Madam Yii asked Sir Elokorumvattunai.
“About three days,” he responded.
“Hmm… Quite a large term. Ga’Ke might make a big move while we are looking for the ship.”
“Big move…” Sir Im’Dazi thought out loud. Then he suddenly turned to the agents. “Excuse me, but… where, did you say, you’ve lost the track of Ga’Ke?”
“He left traces on the way to Canterlot, but right near the capital all traces vanished,” Cloudbreaker responded.
“Then it is already in your capital, and probably has been there for a long time.”
“What?”
“What makes you think that way?” some of the team leaders wondered.
“From what I’ve learned from the reports, this Canterlot city is the place where two the most powerful creatures of that continent – and probably this entire world – live. I don’t think they would be able to obliterate Ga’Ke, but they are powerful enough to cause serious damage to them. Thus, it would try to destroy this “obstacle”.”
“You mean… the goals of this creature is… to kill princesses?” equestrians shuddered.
“However, I’m surprised a bit,” Sir Im’Dazi spelled.
“Why?”
“Considering what major Path said, Ga’Ke has been in the city for about a hundred days or even more. But it didn’t make a move. Why it is waiting? What it is waiting?”

It made all creatures that gathered in the hall to fall silent and think. If Ga’Ke’s goal is to kill local rulers, why it didn’t do it? Agents thought about it as well. From what they’ve learned about those aliens, it’s very unlike them. Then why?..

Suddenly, Hidden Path turned pale and shuddered.

“Hid?” his colleagues worried.
“What’s wrong, major Path?” Sir Nnoysse asked.
“There would be… a festival in our capital… where all four princesses will gather… and another powerful creature, known as the Spirit of Chaos,” he spelled.
“What?” this time even aliens exclaimed.
“So that’s its aim… kill all powerful ones in one fell swoop!” Sir Im’Dazi growled.
“How soon this festival would occur?” Sir Elokorumvattunai asked.
“In four days,” Grace responded.
“Then we have time!”

And all aliens in the hall hurried and hustled. Sir Elokorumvattunai immediately ordered his subordinates to start the scanning. They rushed to do it, all the rest began to think about how defeat the lifeless monster.

Such activity amazed the agents. They were happy to see such dedication and will to save their planet, but, at the same time, all this hustle simple let no space for them. They couldn’t even hope that their words would be heard. So they could only watch, listen and wait if someone need their help.

“…how many people should be involved in the operation?”
“The less the better. If we’ll start to make such big moves, Ga’Ke would immediately guess what we are up to.”
“I’m worrying if it could send information about Gaia to their main forces…”
“Chances are very low. It seems that Ga’Ke sneaked on the planet literally in few supramoments before we’ve established the blockade, so it wasn’t able to transmit much.”
“Do you have any materials to make artificial signatures?” madam Yii addressed Edez.
“Yes, we have samples of all five beings,” he responded. “It’s enough to create biological and mental signatures.”
“Good…”

And so on.

“Are we… just left behind?” ponies wondered.
“You shouldn’t think like this,” Affi responded. “The matter is… different. Your princesses and spirits might defeat one Ga’Ke or few of them, but if you do it, then a whole fleet will come. And their fleet is millions of such creatures. You wouldn’t stand a chance. Besides… Because of our activity Ga’Ke learned about the existence of your planet, so we are responsible for bringing such threat to your home. And I’s our job to free you from them.”
“But…”
“Please, don’t worry about us. Just… hope and believe.”
“Okay…”
“Um, miss Affi, there is one thing I’d want to ask you for a while now…” Razor Edge addressed the telepathist.
“Yes?”
“Sir Im’Dazi said that he is 72354 years old. Even though he said that was the way of evolution on his home planet… I don’t believe that one can live for such a long time! You must have done something to achieve this! And if so, then… how old are you?”
“Well, yeah, all races in the Union has extended their lifespan with various artificial sources. However, how big this extension is, depends on the level of development of the race and its biological features. For example, Beytu can live for 120–150 thousand years, but they have extended their lifespan only eightfold, and they are practically reaching their limit. Dreketanians, a younger race comparing to Beytu, managed to extend their lifespan almost fortyfold, and now can live for 6–7 thousand years.”
“6–7 thousand years? Then… how old is Edez?”
“In your units, he is 1426 years old.”
“And…”
“I’m 937 years old. Kor is 634. Sheim is 708. Oma is 622. Zet’rar is 597. Max is 538. Karin is 474. Bluve is 412.”
“Wait… Bluve is… 412 years old?” Hidden Path couldn’t believe.
“Yes, but it’s only the calendar age. Speaking about biological age… The oldest of us, Edez, is only about 34. Bluve is the youngest, and she is about 24.”
“What is this biological age?”
“Well, think about is as a kind of percentage of the total lifespan.”
“Okay…”

Hidden Path couldn’t respond. He was so shocked that the girl he loved is actually older than his entire family.

“Um… can I ask you some more questions?” Grace addressed Affi.
“Yes?”
“Well, I’ve been watching the discussion, and noticed few strange things. First… The curator of Team Thirteen. He communicates with others using sign language. Why? Considering your level of development, it would be easy to cure him!”
“Oh, this… Well, the matter isn’t that easy. You see, he belongs to Nebe race, and they just have no biological predispositions for verbal communication.”
“What?”
“They can hear sounds, but practically have no vocal folds, and it’s hard for them to distinguish complex sounds like speech. You see, their primal way of communication is using radio waves. Comparing to verbal communication, it has more advantages, so… the nature chose the most efficient way. And because of his it’s easier to them communicate with gestures, than trying to define all the sounds.”
“I see. But… I hear that some of… people here use some kind of artificial voices…”
“They are primarily aquatic species. They use it just to make the sound louder and better.”
“Oh…”

…and so on.

Meanwhile aliens continued to discuss the plan. They thought over each step, so that the enemy wouldn’t feel any suspicions when the time to take actions will come. Because of that it took them about three hours to choose the best options and to complete it.

When it was over, Madam Yii announced the plan.

“Now, we have agreed on the following,” she began. “Only members of Team One would be involved in combat. Affi Mana-tosu, Oma Kiegekko, Bluve K’oishea, Karin Axelsson and Sheim Tat-Doil would become baits. Biological and mental signatures of princesses and spirit would be implanted into them, and they will take the hit of Ga’Ke weapons.”
“Yes, ma’am,” researchers responded.
“What?” agents surprised.
“Max Sudarmono and Zet’rar Dou would be responsible for cleaning the area after this,” Madam Yii continued.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Kor Ndtal-Emai would fight the Ga’Ke. Your objective would be to destroy its body.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Edez Ad’Deigoro, you will be sent to the location of the enemy’s ship. Your goal would be to damage it and destroy before Ga’Ke make a move.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Wait!” Grace intervened. “This your plan? To sacrifice the entire Team?”
“This is the most efficient way,” Madam Yii responded. “Otherwise the fake signatures might be ineffective.”
“We won’t die. Besides, we agreed to do it,” researchers of Team One said.
“What?”
“But… It’s wrong! It’s just wrong!” Dim Silhouette exclaimed.
“Aren’t we able to assist you?” Cloudbreker added.
“Yeah!” Razor Edge supported him.
“No, you can’t. You aren’t powerful enough, and it is too dangerous. We won’t be able to resurrect you if you die.”
“But…”
“Making a copy of someone’s mind takes significant amount of time. If you’ll be absent for it, it would be very suspicious. Your colleagues might guess what’s happening, and, in result, it would alert the Ga’Ke and it will take serious and unexpected measures. We cannot allow this to happen.”
“But we would still know about everything!” Hidden Path exclaimed.
“Mister Sudarmono, do nanites you implanted our guests have the neuroblock function?” Sir Nnoysse addressed the senior biologist of the Team One.
“Yes, certainly.”
“What? What is this “neuroblocking”?” ponies surprised.
“To put it simply, a feature that will make you unable to discuss what happened here now with other people of your planet by blocking some of your actions and causing selective partial amnesia,” Max explained.
“What?”
“You’ve tricked us!” Cloudbreaker, Grace and Hidden Path yelled.
“We did what is right for your protection.”
“Mister Ad’Deigoro, what time is it now in Ponyville?” Sir Elokorumvattunai asked Edez.
“5:46 a.m.” he responded.
“Then, I guess, we should bring them back.”
“Agree.”
“Wait! You…”

But before they did anything, bright white light flashed right in front of them, and the world around ceased to exist.

Meanwhile in Canterlot one lifeless being whose body was made out of a corpse stood up from its bed, shook itself and grinned.

“Well, I guess it’s time to take some action…”

33. Attack

View Online

Hidden Path, Cloudbreaker, Grace, Dim Silhouette and Razor Edge came into their senses in morning’s Ponyville. The Sun was about to appear from the horizon, so it was still a bit dark, and there was practically no pony on the streets.

What happened this night… Meeting with aliens, abduction, discovery of the incredible and extremely dangerous threat, the discussion… All memories about it were blurred. Or all this was just a dream? They couldn’t tell. Their heads ached. It was… just too much for a pony to comprehend.

“What… happened to us?” Razor Edge muttered.
“I don’t know…” Cloudbreaker responded.
“All memories… are blurred,” Dim Silhouette added.

All of them barely managed to stand on their own legs. But suddenly Hidden Path shuddered, turned to Razor Edge and started to look for something in his mane.

“Boss, what are you doing?” unicorn got scared.

Bur Hidden Path did not respond. He was focused on the search. Other agents couldn’t do anything too since they were shocked as well. In a few moments Hidden Path exclaimed “A-ha!” and asked his colleagues to come closer.

“See?” he pointed at a spot on Razor Edge’s skin. “It proves what we’ve seen was real.”

Pegasi and Dim Silhouette looked closer and surprised again: the spot on Razor Edge’s skin was definitely a mark that remains after an injection.

“All of us must have these too!” Hidden Path said. “Look for them!”

They examined each other. Turned out they all had the same marks at the same places on their necks.

“That means… We’ve been there?” Grace shuddered. “All of this… was real?”
“Yes!” Hidden Path exclaimed. “But that’s not the most important thing now! Princesses are in danger! We have to warn them!”
“Right!” his subordinates agreed.

And they ran to the Castle of Friendship.

However, when they were in three or four hundred yards from the Castle, something strange and scary happened. Just in one moment, all five ponies froze. It was like some unknown force made their muscles to contract and thus absolutely unable to move.

“What’s… happening?” Cloudbreaker forced himself to utter.
“Dunno…” Grace whispered.

And then…

“You are not allowed to approach this sitecurrently,” all agents heard a voice in their heads.
“What?”
“You are… those tiny robots put into us by those bastards?” Hidden Path asked.
“Correct. But we would kindly ask you not to call people who want to save you ‘bastards.’ It’s not very polite.”
“What? You damned little shits…”
“You won’t let us tell princess Twilight about it?” Grace asked.
“Yes. We also won’t allow you to tell about what you have seen to other people who might tell princess Twilight and other princesses about it as well.”
“What?”
“You think you can take complete control over our bodies?” Cloudbreaker angered.
“Mostly. It’s possible for you to overpower us and make your body move, but we wouldn’t recommend you to do so.”
“Why?”
“Because in such case we must damage your organism so that you couldn’t talk or move.”
“What?”
“Oh my…”
“Well, we’ll see about that,” Hidden Path angered.

He forced himself to move and made few steps backward. The paralysis faded.

“Boss?” Cloudbreaker surprised.
“Do few steps backward,” major said. “Then they’ll free you.”

Other agents did what their boss told them. And, yes, they were able to move again.

“What should we do now?” Dim Silhouette was in despair.
“I have a plan,” Hidden Path responded. “Just… do what I’ll tell you and don’t talk too much.”
“Yes, sir.”

Hidden Path ordered everyone to follow him. Agents went after their leader. In few minutes they got to the railway station, and there they took the first train to Canterlot. Grace, Razor Edge, Dim Silhouette and Cloudbreaker began to guess what their boss has in mind. They returned to the secret service headquarters. Hidden Path wanted to warn everyone, but… how? They could only guess.

At around midday the train has reached its final stop. Agents, just like other passengers, unhurriedly left the cars. They left the central station of the capital and mixed with a crowd. Among ordinary clerks, who were going to the work, they went to their main workplace.

From the relatively new part of the city with its big beautiful buildings and wide streets they got to the old town, which was built more like ordinary medieval city. Although the road network there didn’t resemble a spider web, like in many other places, but the streets still were narrow, and new pony or a tourist might get lost there. That’s why the secret service headquarters were placed there. After a series of turns, climbs and descends, they sneaked in one small yard, which was situated in few hundred meters from the walls of the Royal Castle. They opened an ordinary-looking door, which looked just like average door of an old apartment house, and… they were at the very place. The headquarters. It took entire three blocks – the secret service was a large structure, and it needed a lot of space. Houses in the old town were small, but thanks to that they were built near each other it was possible to unite them into single structure: the only thing to do was to remove a wall. Thus, those three block were completely reconstructed, and the only thing left untouched were the facades.

“Hm… nothing prevents us from going there,” Cloudbreaker whispered.
“That’s good!” Grace smiled. “It proves those things cannot read our minds!”
“Or they are just waiting before something else…” Razor Edge uttered.
“Maybe, maybe…” Hidden Path responded. “We won’t find out without if we don’t try.”
“Right.”

Through the network of corridors Hidden Path led his crew to the office of the Chief of Staff, General Sir Black Thunder.

“Oh, major Path? And all of the Second Department?” Chief’s secretary, Fire Dawn, smiled when she saw agents entering the room.
“Good day, miss Dawn,” Hidden Path greeted her.
“To what do we owe your visit? You need as appointment to Sir Black Thunder?”
“Not exactly. I’d like to make a written report and pass it right to him.”
“Oh, so you are making progress with your investigation?”
“Well… yeah, there is certain progress.”
“Glad to hear that. Well, wait a moment, I’ll get the forms you need…“

She turned to the large cabinet that stood right behind her and took several paper sheets with her magic.

“Here. Fill them, and I’ll bring them right to the General,” Fire Dawn said, giving the papers to Hidden Path.
“Thank you,” major was about to take the papers when something terrifying happened to him: he froze for a moment and then his entire body distorted. He fell on the floor, twitching and shuddering badly, like he was having severe epileptic attack.
“Major?” Fire Dawn worried.
“Sir!” his subordinates rushed to help him, but only they made a step, the same fit happened to them.

This time Fire Dawn screamed in horror. Right in front of her five strong ponies were writhing in pain for no reason, and their fits were so severe it seemed that some invisible force tried to kill them.

“Help!” she screamed. “I need help! There’re ponies having a fit! Please, help!”

In a moment everyone who was near ran into the office. Other agents, office workers, even General himself. No one could tell what was happening to agents of Second Department, but it didn’t matter then. They rushed to help. Other agents tried to stop the fist, but nothing helped. “Epileptic attack” that Hidden Path, Grace, Dim Silhouette, Cloudbreaker and Razor Edge were having, became more and more intense, and in a few seconds left them unconscious.

“Take them to the hospital!” these words of General Black Thunder were the last thing agents heard before fainting.

“What did you do to us?..”
“You have just experienced the shock of the entire nervous system.”
“Why?..”
“It was necessary to prevent you harming yourself and other creatures. Your actions might led to the failure of the mission. It’s dangerous. We had to disable you for a time. You will recover in five days…”
“No…”

Three days later…

The doors of the Castle of Friendship opened and purple alicorn with her little dragon assistant went outside.

“Well, my friends, we have to go,” alicorn said to the servants and guards of the Castle, who were standing in the doorway.
“Good luck!” the servants and guards smiled to her.
“It’s a pity you can’t go with us!” Spike sighed. “The festival is going to be fantastic!”
“We understand, but… if we go with you, who will protect the Castle?” Affi wondered.
“You are right…” Twilight said with a sad smile on her face.
“Cheer up, princess, Spike!” Karin smiled. “It’s not the last time when all princesses gather at one place.”
“Well, yeah, there’s gonna be another festival, but… in a year.”
“See, there is a chance!”
“In case of expansion of staff, it’s 100%,” Edez added.
“Right!”
“Well, have a good time!” researchers smiled and waved to princess and her assistant.
“Bye!” Twilight and spike waved to them.
“See you!”

Alicorn and dragon smiled and went to the station. Researchers saw them off and closed the doors.

Smiles disappeared from their faces.

“Have you finished to set the traps?” Edez asked Zet’rar, Max, Kor, Karin and Bluve.
“Yes,” technician nodded. “No one won’t be able to enter the Castle.”
“Autoresponse holobots are be ready?”
“Yes,” Oma and Affi said. “We have downloaded in our holobots templates and algorithms for response to any possible question.”
“They won’t let anyone to go farther than this hall,” Affi added.
“Good,” Edez turned to Zet’rar. “Switch off the mind control.”

Zet’rar gave a nod and in a moment bodies of researchers vaporized. What remained after were metal “skeletons”, which looked like poorly made stick figures with many spikes. Awkward stick figures moved away from the door and lay down on the floor, waiting for a command.

Meanwhile twenty miles away lone nine earth ponies woke up from their deep slumber – eight is Canterlot express and one in the train to Dodge City. It was about time: they were close to terminal stations.

In Dodge City passengers quickly left the train and disappeared among numerous wooden buildings of the city – they hurried to their work. But one passenger was different. Giant arsenic stallion left the train among the last. Unlike other ponies, he didn’t hurry to leave the platform – he remained there and did a short warm-up. Some stretching, cracked few joints, and only then moved away. But not to the city – he ran across the railways, passed by storehouses and depots and disappeared in the forest. When station could not be seen behind the trees and bushes, he stopped. The stallion touched his right foreleg and neck, and in a moment large metal bracelet and necklace appear on them.

“Are you ready now?” a voice came from the necklace.
“Ready,” the stallion responded. “Have you finished the searches?”
“Yeah. We’ve determined the exact coordinates.”
“Lead the way then,” arsenic pony smiled and rushed forward as fast as representatives of his race can.

The Canterlot team acted completely differently: from the very beginning they formed a close group and mingled with the crowd. It was pretty easy since visitors of the capital of Equestria were rather motley public, and even such giants as Kor could become unnoticeable among them. Especially easy it was easy to do at the Central Station, when visitors left it in a tight flow.

“The main procession with princesses and Discord would move along the Royal Boulevard, right?” Sheim asked Affi in Upelian. They decided to pretend to be Oma’s compatriots, since the chances that they would find someone from this region of Europonia were minimal, so they could communicate openly without any risks.
“Right, but we won’t go there except for Kor,” Affi responded. “We’ll head to the Undercliff district of the Old Town. Kor, you keep closer to the Boulevard.”
“Got it,” officer nodded.
“I understand that it’s to ensure the safety of princesses and spirit, but…” Oma said. “Why the poorest part of the Old Town?”
“Because it would be the emptiest part during the entire Festival. Nevertheless, even being there, we, “targets”, would stand two blocks away from each other. It’ll lower the detection rick. And… Max, Zet, you’d better be very fast.”
“Got it,” Max responded.
“Don’t worry about that!” Zet’rar smiled.
“And, Kor, do you remember to activate the Ga’Ke searcher few moments after the launch?” Affi said to the officer.
“I do. I remember that these bastards are very sensitive to them,” Kor responded. “I’ll wait until it gets distracted.”
“Are you sure that you’ll be able to defeat it?” Karin worried.
“You know, I’ve fought Ga’Ke before once. Although I wasn’t able to use my special abilities, I’ve defeated three of them and was alive after that.”
“But this one is stronger.”
“Probably it is so. But… My task is to destroy its body, right? I’ll do it.”
“Well, I hope you don’t lie about this,” Affi said to her friends. “We are approaching the Old Town, so get ready to separate.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they responded.
“Good luck to you all.”
“Good luck to all of us!”

They went in different directions and soon hid in narrow dead ends of Canterlot’s Undercliff.

Meanwhile it the beginning of the Royal Boulevard ponies were getting ready to start the parade.

“Oh gosh…” Twilight nervously walked back and forth. She has reached the state when excitement gets so high it gradually transforms into anxiety. “I’m so nervous!”
“Relax, Twi!” Rainbow Dash smiled to her.
“But it’s the first time when I take part in the Crown’s Day parade!”
“Isn’t it supposed to be fun and exciting?” Pinkie Pie wondered.
“It is so, but… I can’t help myself! I’m always worrying!”
“Let’s think logically,” Spike stepped in. “It’s not the first mass event which you take part is a royalty, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
“And it’s not the first time when you are at such even with other princesses, right?”
“Right.”
“Then what are you worrying about? You’ve already had similar experience!”
“Spike is right!” Applejack said. “It’s sumthin’ you’ve already done before! Nothin’ different! You’ve already attended some entertainment events with princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadance. There’s nothin’ to worry about!”
“Umm… This time Discord takes part in the parade too,” Fluttershy said.
“… and how does this affect the situation?” Rainbow Dash wondered.
“Discord may play a joke on ponies at the parade?” Pinkie Pie suggested.
“He could, but… I don’t think he will do it for real, since all princesses would be there,” Rarity suggested.
“See? Nothing to worry about!” Spike summed up.
“I guess you all are right,” purple alicorn smiled.
“Twilight!” they heard the voice of the mentor of princess of friendship.
“Yes!” Twilight turned around and saw white alicorn approaching to her. “I’m coming, princess!”
“Do not hurry, there is some time left before the start,” princess Celestia said. She looked at her former student. “I see you are worrying.”
“Yes,” Twilight confirmed. “I know that I’ve already done something similar before, but… this is the first time I’m participating in this parade, so… yeah, I’m a bit nervous.”
“You know, this parade is one of the easiest duties of Equestrian royalty. All you have to do is be friendly. Just smile and wave! Smile and wave!.. Oh, and be adorable.”
“Um… be adorable?” Twilight was confused.
“Yes. Ponies love it.”
“I’m not entirely sure about this part…”
“I know you can do it! I remember how you tried to make me forgive you for being late again due to the fact that you’ve read too much at night.”
“What?!” Twilight’s face immediately turned crimson red. Her friends giggled.
“You can do it!” Applejack cheered her friend up.
“Yeah! It’ll be easy!” Rainbow Dash added.
“We all believe in you!” Fluttershy smiled.
“Thank you all,” Twilight smiled at them and turned to Celestia. “I’m ready!”
“Let’s go then, Twilight!” princess smiled, and two alicorns went to the platforms.

In few minutes the parade procession left from the Royal Castle.

At the same time, a lonely gray stallion in a cloak climbed on the roof of one tall office buildings that were situated near the Royal Boulevard. He shook himself and looked down at the avenue filled with celebrating ponies. Then he looked at the Castle, where the platforms had only begun to move.

“I guess I have to wait a few moments,” he thought out loud and lay down on the roof. The decorative merlons were good hiding spot, so no one could spot him from down the street, and he could watch the event with both his eyes.

Quasi patiently waited when the platform approach closer. His targets have no advanced technologies, so there was no need in expensive long-range missiles. And there is a lot of time in his hands. So at the moment he just lay and watched.

“It’s kinda beautiful in its own way…” he thought to himself. “I guess I’ll make a record for archives…” he closed his normal eye and began to film the event with his artificial one.

In ten minutes, the parade procession had approached his hideout. Quasi smiled.

“It’s time…”

He activated the invisibility shield, stood up and threw the cloak away. Long scar-looking spot on his back burst, releasing five pulse-type missiles.

“Ti Ga’Ke nnaiza!” [“For the glory of Ga’Ke!”] he spelled and missiles soared in the sky.

Total suppression shield erased the presence of the weapons for anyone without special devices. No pony could see them. Even the most powerful ones. They would never expect such kind of danger. Quasi with undisguised pleasure on his face looked at how his missiles fell down on the heads of the most powerful ones. Nine, eight, seven, six…

“Keedi…” [“Goodbye…”] he smiled.

But in three seconds missiles suddenly changed their trajectory. They soared up again and rushed to the edge of the city.

“Yakh? Yakh?” [“What? What?”] Quasi was shocked. “Ent kivu’hood!” [“It shouldn’t be like this!”] A sudden guess flashed in his mind. “Ndi peeva!” [“They have learned!”] He looked backwards, and at this very moment something crashed the shingles. Total suppression shield was deactivated, and Quasi saw huge brown beast with long tail and sharp teeth and talons, pouncing at him.

Five mighty explosions shook the Undercliff district. All ponies on the Boulevard felt the shockwaves and were stunned by them. The parade immediately stopped. Citizens panicked.

Max and Zet’rar used this situation and rushed to clean the explosion sites. There were five of them, and that means everything worked well. Princesses and Discord are safe. Kor is probably fighting the Ga’Ke villain now, so they have to hurry. Researchers turned the total suppression shields on and rushed to the places where their colleagues were.

When they arrived, they saw how powerful Ga’Ke missiles really were: they literally sprayed their friends’ bodies over the pavement and walls. Nothing but huge spots of blood and minced flesh. There was only one way to clean such mess quickly: spray X-104 chemical over them. X-104 could instantly erode any carbon-based organic matter, so it was perfect source for destruction of all possible clues, even if it could damage buildings in case they were built from limestone – now the prior task was to leave nothing that could help others detect them. In two minutes, before first citizens and guards arrived, Zet’rar and Max destroyed all the traces, so when ponies came to the sites of explosions, they could see nothing but surprisingly clean areas with few damages on walls and pavement.

Kor happened to be close to Quasi’s hideout, so he could attack just few seconds after the launch. He immediately activated suppression shield, released his claws and climbed the building on the roof of which Ga’Ke was hiding. When he saw the foe, he pounced. Ga’Ke has noticed Kor only when he was already in the air making a swing to punch lifeless’ alien face. A moment later all Kor’s might came down on Ga’Ke. Nasty cracking of crashed bones and metal parts came from under officer’s hoof. It threw Quasi back for almost four yards, but he immediately stood up. His nose and jaw were turned into mash, thick brown liquid was dripping from his wounds. But his eyes were unharmed, and now they pierced Kor with seething anger.

“Damned Unionists, they’ve found out,” Quasi thought. He appeared in extremely disadvantageous situation: there was entire Union’s fleet here, and he was the only Ga’Ke. He had no chances for escape from the planet, so he had to transmit the data he collected.

Ga’Ke activated the teleportation device.

“Oh no you don’t!” Kor screamed and rushed forward. In a meter from the Lifeless he sharply turned around and bucked Quasi. He was thrown back again and hit a merlon. The decorative construction cracked.

Quasi got serious damages, but he stood up again. All his right ribs were broken, and he barely felt his left foreleg – Kor purposely aimed there, since he knew that Ga’Ke often place teleport activator there. The device was damaged. It became risky to use it. Quasi lost his chance for quick escape. Damn, those Union bastards won’t let him go without a fight. Well… If so, then has to make them regret such decision.

Lifeless alien connected to all energy reserves he had.

Ga’Ke rushed forward. Kor barely had enough time to blink before Quasi appeared right in from of him. It was like all his wounds were immediately healed. Officer saw how Ga’Ke released huge “fingers” from his right foreleg, and next thing he remembered was that he was twelve meters above the roof. Quasi jumped up, leaving lots of crashed shingles. He swung back for a punch, something flashed on his left hoof… And in a moment Kor’s head was pierced with a massive blade.

“That would stop you,” Quasi thought out loud.

He was about to hide the blade back, when he saw how Kor’s eyes moved. And before he realized, researched embraced him in bear hug.

Quasi screamed. It was like Kor tried to press his spine into his body. All joints of his left foreleg were dislocated and broken. Ribs of the left side were crashed too.

They fell back on the roof. Kor managed to turn while they were falling, so now Quasi was buried under his big body. It broke more of his bones and built-in devices, but he still was conscious.

“Fuck, a Verekan!” Quasi swore. “The avatar preserved the brain location!”

Ga’Ke concentrated and moved “fingers” of his right foreleg. Kor noticed this. He made an effort and sharply turned his head, tearing the blade up from Quasi’s hoof, but his enemy has made his move: Lifeless transformed tips of his “fingers” into blades, stuck them into Kor’s arm and twisted them.

Kor growled. Ga’Ke cut his muscles, nerves and veins. He loosened his grip, Quasi escaped and immediately attacked. With his transformed “fingers” and nerve drain device, hidden in his head, he began to prick officer’s body, trying to pierce through his brain.

Researcher tried to cover himself, but it was useless. Quasi was very fast and strong, so his blades easily pierced Kor’s limbs and reached his body. Every second a needle-like blade plunged into him. His liver was practically minced. His lungs and stomach received numerous damages and were rapidly filling with blood. He won’t last even for five minutes with such damages, healing nanites weren’t so fast. He has only one option: put all the strengths remained into last strike.

By his mental order nanites released the stimulators they stored. Still under massive attack, Kor jerked up. Quasi jumped back and stopped plunging. Kor made use of this pause. He quickly pulled out Quasi’s blade from his head and cut Ga’Ke’s right foreleg off. Quasi recoiled, but fell down. He lost all his forelegs, so he tried to shoot the researcher with blaster hidden in his chest. But before he activated it, Kor plunged the baled in it.

Quasi coughed badly. Shit, despite the wounds, his opponent was still standing and now got all the chances to win. The leftovers of his energy reserves might not be enough to wound the researcher mortally. Thus, Quasi decided to try to escape again. Even if it might destroy his body. He made an effort to connect with the teleportation device and powered it with leftover energy.

Kor noticed that Ga’Ke is trying to escape again and rushed forward to prevent it. He tried to crush the device with his claws. Quasi screamed, but then…

A dim flash came, and both of them appeared half-mile above the city.

“You bastard!” Kor swore. Quasi laughed and tried to push officer away with his hind legs and tentacles of nerve drain device.

Kor understood that his opponent tries to remain alone for the next teleportation, even if it might bring him to absolutely unexpected location. He could not allow this to happen. He tucked and dived down to catch Quasi. In few moments Kor seized Ga’Ke again. Lifeless screamed and tried to activate the teleport devoice again.

Another dim flash, and they were above the roof of Underhill. The device literally threw them away from the former location, so now they were flying like cannonballs over the Old Town of Canterlot. Kor appeared below Quasi, and Ga’Ke used this. He released some energy from his artificial spinal cord so that he could kick officer in the stomach. Kor was disoriented, so wasn’t able to prevent this. Quasi’s hooves plunged into Kor’s flesh. Researcher wheezed. His wounded guts probably tore. Ga’Ke grinned and pushed even stronger. Pain made officer arch, and when it happened, he saw that they were heading right on the roofs. Kor realized what Ga’Ke’s intentions were. He made an effort, grabbed Quasi’s hooves and clenched his claws with the rest of his might.

Ga’Ke felt his bones being crushed, screamed and activated teleport device again. This jump threw them away from the city. When the teleportation finished, the city’s Sky Promenade was right in front of Kor and Quasi, and below them was three-kilometer deep abyss.

When he saw where they appeared, Quasi tried to teleport again, but Kor did not let it happen. He grabbed Quasi’s left foreleg and tore it away. Ga’Ke screamed, and Kor started to beat him up while falling down.

Quasi growled in anger and pain. Without the teleportation device there are no chances for his body to survive. Well, if this Unionist bastard did it to him, then he must take him to Oblivion.

Ga’Ke made an effort and kicked Kor in the stomach again. Because of sharp pain officer barely remained conscious, and Quasi made use of it. He released some energy from his spine again and pressed Kor to the cliff with his hind legs. Some bones were broken, but limbs were functional, and that was the thing that mattered.

Researcher screamed. They kept falling, so now, being pressed towards the cliff, sharp rocks were tearing out skin and flesh from his back. The cliff got painted in red.

“I’ll take you with me!” Quasi yelled.

Kor growled. The pain was blurring his mind, but he could still see his opponent. He saw how he was grinning at him. He was sure that he’ll be the last one to survive, that he’ll complete his mission and inform his people about this planet.

It made Kor mad. “I’m not gonna die here because of some Ga’Ke shit!!!” He made the last effort, grabbed Quasi’s hooves and made a sharp turn. Before he realized, Quasi became the one pressed towards the cliff. With his head.

He screamed, but Kor muted him by pressing his head stronger towards the rocks. A stripe of thick brown liquid stretched down the cliff.

Quasi tried to free himself, but Kor kept pressing his head stronger and closer to cliff. Because of rough rocks Ga’Ke’s head had been literally erasing with blood substitute splattering around and awful grinding of metal parts. Density of the rocks, speed of falling and Kor’s force left no chances for remaining functional even for then. Skin, muscles, bones, eyes, implanted devices – all this was destroyed. Despite this, Quasi still tried to escape, but the less remained from his head, the weaker he became. Eventually, when his entire head and neck were whittled down to shoulders, his body stopped to move and went lump. It was the sign of that Ga’Ke had transferred his mind back to his base ship.

“Well, now it’s up to you, Edez,” Kor released dead body. He prepared to hit the ground, which was about five hundred meters below.

Suddenly he heard a voice.

“… daif… kean… ” [… eight… seven…]

It came from the Ga’Ke’s body.

“Self-destruction… I really hate those guys!”

In a moment mighty explosion shook the bottom of Canterlot cliff.

Meanwhile Quasi recovered and adapted to the state in which he hasn’t been since arrival – in the state of pure mind connected to on-board computer of a starship.

He made a quick check of the main systems. Everything seemed fine. Thus, he began activation of secondary systems. Additional power transmission, shunting engines, inner and outer observation systems… Wait, what’s this?

When the on-board cameras activated, Quasi saw big arsenic stallion sitting in the main control room.

“Oh, I see you transported your mind here?” Edez said. “Well then I think I can congratulate Kor… And what are you trying to do?” he looked around, noting the activation of various systems. “Send an emergency signal? Or transport your mind again? That won’t work. I have damaged all possible transmitters on this ship.” A growl full of anger came from the speakers. “Damn, since you’ve drowned your ship in a swamp, it took me quite a time to find all of them! And I was hard to get in as well!” Edez continued as nothing happened. “You’ve become real pain in the ass for us, you know?” he looked at one of the cameras. “Well, it doesn’t matter now. Everything ends here. For you. But!.. Since you’ve managed to hide for such a long time and done so much to make locals afraid… I will honor you and say the last words you can hear in your language… Zema kau-ro’i cassa-se teneiyu-se, gerkchelle!” [May your death be long and painful, you shitspawn!]

And he pressed the detonator button.

There was a shriek from the speakers and then… Mighty thud sounded throughout the swamp, its surface heaved up and bubbled, releasing gas and dirty machine liquid. Then the mass of muddy water and gley fell down, and everything went quiet.

…

“Madam Yii, ma’am, Sudarmono and Dou report on the task. Ga’Ke and its ship have been destroyed. All sites are cleaned. The mission was successful.”
“Glad to hear it. Help your friends to recover and you may take your rest now.”
“Thank you, ma’am…”

34. The Fog Is Dispersing

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Five angry ponies, two unicorns, two pegasi and one earth pony, were approaching the Castle of Friendship, where the lonely and sleepy soldier, huge arsenic stallion, was guarding the entrance. Surprisingly, this time nothing prevented them from approaching closer.

“Oh, good morning, officers,” Edez greeted the visitors. “What brings you here?”
“Berg… or should I call you Edez?..” Hidden Path barely managed to keep himself from snapping.
“Well, princess Twilight, her assistant and their friends are far from here, so it doesn’t matter. You can use both variants.”
“Do you even realize what you’ve done?” Grace got angry. “All Canterlot is in a mess now! Everypony heard explosions, but there are only minor damages and no traces of what exploded! Some citizens swear that they have seen earth ponies fighting in the air! And there are several roofs that need immediate repair!”
“But no one got harmed, right?”
“Well, it is so…”
“What’s the problem then? Everyone is safe, Ga’Ke is destroyed… Nothing threatens your planet now! You should relax and enjoy the peace.”
“How we can be sure that we are safe?” Hidden Path yelled.
“Believe me, it is so. Ga’Ke won’t come here. Other evil guys won’t be such a problem.”
“They will not take revenge?” Razor Edge surprised.
“Yes. You know, Ga’Ke can feel the destruction of a fellow being, even if there are light years between them. When we killed this one, they felt it and sent a fleet of nine ships and one hundred thirty thousand soldiers. But… we’ve gotten one more support ship on our side, and it wiped their fleet completely.”
“One ship wiped out nine?” Cloudbreaker surprised. “What kind of mechanic monster is it?”
“A planet-class destroyer. One of few our starships that Ga’Ke really fear.”
“Planet… class?”
“Well… using your units, it’s twenty-eight-mile-long vessel, which is, in fact, a set of cannons with reactors attached to them.”
“Twenty-eight… mile long?” Dim Silhouette was scared.
“Such huge thing would be noticed for sure! It’s bigger than many asteroids!” Razor Edge exclaimed.
“True. That’s why we hid it behind your Moon.”
“Oh…”
“You have the weapon that can destroy our entire planet…” Hidden Path spelled. “How do you even expect us to feel safe knowing this?”
“You think we will attack you? Relax, major Path, if we wanted to take this planet, we would already own it. It’s not that difficult, you know.”
“What?”
“Remember what Affi told you when we were on Kelkerdez Unaad? About the war between Terrans and the Union? Well, that weapons Terrans used on Ateir was mass neurodestruction system. Incredibly effective. You just place a bunch of satellites in the points of a regular net, activate them and in a moment all creatures with developed higher nervous activity die.”
“Goodness…”
“That’s… horrible!” Dim Silhouette exclaimed.
“It is. But you see for yourselves: we have been there for several months already and we haven’t used weapons only if it was self-defense. So just relax and take a good rest,” Edez said.
“After the Canterlot incident more ponies and other creatures may become aware of what is really happening on this planet,” Grace said. “What are you going to do now? Cease you research program? Leave? Or stay here? Show yourselves?”
“Well… It’s not that easy. Probably, we’ll continue our research for few months more and then… declare our presence.”
“What? Really?”
“Why?” Hidden Path asked the main question.
“Because of your princesses and some other powerful creatures of this world,” Edez responded.
“Huh?”
“I don’t understand,” major was surprised.
“Let’s say that they have health problems you won’t be able to cure even in a millennium. It’s especially true in Luna’s case,” Edez said.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve already shared enough information with you, so… pardon me…” Edez spelled and then an awful mix of shrieks, screeches, clicks, snarls and growls came out from researcher’s mouth.
“What the heck was that?” Grace shuddered.
“I’ve just gave your nanites the order not to disclose information about our plans and reasons to stay here,” Edez responded.
“What? How? With those shrieks and snarls?” Cloudbreaker surprised.
“Yup. Ordinary verbal command. In the language of developers of the nanites.”

Officers were angry, but they weren’t able to do anything. These aliens had complete control over them. Nevertheless… Despite what they did, they weren’t a threat. On the contrary, they were offering to help. Probably they are good guys?..

“Speaking about those… nanites you put into us. What will you do with them?” Grace asked.
“We’ll remove them after out declaration of presence.”
“And… what’s next?” Dim Silhouette wondered.
“You… consider us as friends?” Razor Edge suggested.
“Yes,” Edez conformed.
“If so… would you share some of your technologies with us?”
“Seriously?” researcher’s face was a clear indicator of how annoyed he was. “Just… get out!”

Officers looked at the researcher for one more time and went away.

“Damn you, Razor, and your dumb questions!” Grace hissed at him.
“Hey, I just was curi… Ouch!” Cloudbreaker gave him a cuff on the nape.
“Oh, shut up!” Hidden Path growled.
“Yes, sir!”

And they left the Castle site without a word.

Few hours later, in a dark cave beneath Canterlot, three powerful beings met again. This time one side brought additional member.

“Great…” Chrysalis retorted. “Why did you bring him?” she pointed at tall spirit standing near princess Celestia.
“Excuse me, but I was affected by this as well!” Discord replied. “I was with all the princesses at the very place when all this happened!”
“Exactly,” Luna confirmed.
“Grrrr… Well… You wanted to see are we responsible for all the incidents that happened earlier? You got it!”
“Chrysalis, let us…” Celestia was about to say, but changeling queen interrupted her.
“Oh no! I read about what happened on the parade. Five big explosions in the old part of your capital, but there were serious damages on a building right near the parade route. It can mean only one thing: something tried to kill you there back then, but something went wrong. And this something tried to kill you without any magic.”
“Hold on! How can you tell this?” Luna objected.
“I know that after our invasion in Canterlot you have strengthened your defense: installed advanced indicators everywhere, developed new spells and so on. How many changelings have you detected in Canterlot after this? Zero. “That’s because you didn’t even think about trying to do it!” you might say… You think we haven’t tried? Oh no! We’ve tried! For many times! No one was able to pass through your detectors.”
“And what this have to do with anything?” Celestia asked.
“I mean if it was us, you would detect it. You’d feel any magic. If not you, then this absurdist,” she pointed at Discord. “But no one haven’t felt anything. Not your guards, not you. That could mean only one thing: magic weren’t applied. And, besides… I’ve heard that some citizens of your city reported on seeing earth ponies fighting in the air. We would never do something like this! It’s just ridiculous!”
“I agree that it’s ridiculous,” Celestia said. “And we are not suspecting you. On this part, we have trusted you since first meeting.”
“And, yes, our defense system hasn’t detected any creatures using powerful magic back then,” Luna added.
“Ugh!” Chrysalis sighed.
“But it’s disturbing,” Celestia continued. “Someone managed to do such dreadful thing, in fact, right in front of us! We cannot leave things like this. Thus, we’ve initiated the investigation.”
“Our Secret Service is working on it, and…” Luna said, “… they are about to give us the preliminary report. They have collected all the materials on the case and analyzed them. When we see it, we’ll might learn who stand behind all this.”
“General Sir Black Thunder might come to my study by any minute, so… I apologize, but I must go,” Celestia said. “I’ll return in few minutes,” and she teleported away from the cave.

The three creatures that remained in the cave waited for her return in silence.

In about twelve minutes, the day princess teleported back to the meeting spot. She was holding quite a pile of papers with her magic.

“Well?” Chrysalis asked.
“Let’s see…” Celestia spelled, looking through the papers.
“It will take a lot of time looking through all this,” Luna said.
“Allow me to help you,” Discord said.

He took the report with his magic and made all the lists float in the air. Then he snapped his fingers, and all sheets flashed, as well as Celestia’s horn. Princess of the day staggered and barely managed to keep standing.

“Sister!” Luna worried.
“What have you done with her?” Chrysalis surprised.
“Just put all the information from the report to her memory,” Discord explained.
“I’m… fine, Luna! Just a little dizzy!..” Celestia said to clam her sister. “Gosh… Next time warn before doing something like this!” white alicorn hissed on Discord.
“Sure,” the spirit replied.

Celestia recovered quite soon. She managed to stand straight, shook herself and focused.

“Hmm…” she carefully analyzed the information Discord put into her memory and suddenly…
“Celestia!” Luna worried again when her sister froze with expression of a shock on her face.
“No… It can’t be!” white alicorn exclaimed and started to look through the sheets that still were floating in the air.
“What are you doing? Did you find something?” Chrysalis asked.
“I think so… But I hope that I’m wrong…” Celestia replied. A moment later, she grabbed few papers with her magic. “Here!” she showed them to others.
“What’s this?” Chrysalis surprised.
“It was marked as “supposedly connected with the previously mentioned events”, but… considering the information you shared with us… Look!” Celestia pointed at one of the paragraphs. “Three days before the parade incident something strange happened right in the headquarters of the Secret Service. Five ponies came to general Black Thunder to report on something, but slipped into coma right near his office after serious epileptic seizure. Moreover, they slipped into coma at the same time. No one from them was prone to epilepsy! They all woke up few hours after the parade incident. They learned about what happened and… they are still in the state of deep shock.”
“Well, it is strange, but what it has to do with our problem?” Chrysalis wondered.
“It’s the thing they investigated,” Celestia continued. “You see… they suspected that nine ponies Twilight hired to serve as her servants and guards are… well, not ponies at all.”
“Not ponies at all? I guess so. They fought like monsters!” Chrysalis said snidely.
“What?” Discord exclaimed. “I can’t believe that my dearest Anti, my second best friend after Fluttershy, is a monster!”
“You too?” Chrysalis was shocked. “Geez…”
“So… what did they suspect?” Luna wondered.
“They suspected that they might be responsible for strange murders that happened near Dodge City, but they haven’t found any proofs. But… they found many evidences of how these nine showed extraordinary abilities and knowledge.”
“Well, there are some extraordinary ponies among Equestrians,” Luna said, “and special abilities does not depend on the race. It’s not that suspicious.”
“Maybe, but… they have also checked the knowledge they demonstrated and compared it with information about achievements of Europonians that were published. And… These agents proved that servants of Twilight, although they claimed to be Europonians, show knowledge that surpass the declared achievements.”
“Um… maybe they were part of research groups?” Discord suggested.
“They said they came here trying to find a job, but researcher is well-paid job in Europonia,” Celestia responded. “If they were part of a research group, they would have no need to migrate here.”
“Spies?” Luna suggested.
“It might be a suitable explanation, but… there is one thing. Those agents of Secret Service, trying to find a proof, secretly searched the house those nine rent. Other agents found this out while searching for any clues for mysterious coma in major’s Path papers. They found a draft of a report, where all five agents claimed to witness a gravity trap that used no magic at all!”
“What?” Chrysalis and Discord exclaimed.
“Maybe there were some well-hidden magic gems? You know, used as power source,” Luna suggested.
“No. Unicorns who work for major Path are highly skilled and able to sense even the slightest manifestations of magic,” Celestia said. “Europonia maybe the most technologically advanced society, but we are the most advanced society in magic. Our Secret Service has developed detection techniques that allow to find any devices that run on magic power. The problem is… no one in this world knows how to create artificial gravity without using magic!”
“Well… if servants of Twilight are not ponies… than who are they?” Chrysalis asked.
“The hypothesis that those agents suggested seems way too fantastic, but… it might be an explanation. They thought that guards and servants of the Castle of Friendship did not come from this world,” Celestia said.
“Wait, not from this world?” Luna was shocked.
“… and what did they exactly mean by “not from this world”?” Discord wondered. “Because, you know, these words can mean quite a number of things that differ from each other a lot.”
“I don’t know… And there is no information about this in the report,” Celestia said. “Nevertheless… All these weird things, strange observations, explosions with almost no traces… And your words about that you have seen one of them in your dream… We have to find out everything! We must know if they are spies, or… are they what those secret agents suggested.”
“I see… we are going to Ponyville!” Luna exclaimed.
“Yes, but not right now,” Celestia said. “We should not raise any suspicions, and, besides, we need some time to prepare. But you may go whenever you want, just be sure to say undercover,” princess of the day said to Discord and Chrysalis.
“Yeah, thanks, but I have duties too, you know?” changeling queen resented.
“I do not mind,” Discord said. “After all, Ponyville is good place to hang out.”
“We’ll try to finish our duties as soon as possible and come to Ponyville tomorrow morning,” Celestia stated. “We are expecting to meet you all there.”
“We’ll find who or what stands behind all these mysteries,” Luna added.
“Okay,” Discord said.
“Well… I agree,” Chrysalis spelled. “After all, I also want to put end on all this mess.”
“Really?” chaos spirit grinned snidely.
“I hate to be in the dark! And, besides, it is me who ponies should be feared of!”
“Well, you are right about this. It’s easier when you deal with something that you are used to…”

Then they all left the cave in silence.

Next hours were clam and peaceful, as it usually is in Equestria. A day full of pleasant bustling and interesting activities, relaxing evening and calm night. The only thing that spoiled the impression was a fog that vanished only when the sun was already high up above horizon. Nothing special – such things happen from time to time. But… for Ponyville, even considering that it was autumn, such long-lasting fogs were a rare thing. Someone might consider this as a sign that something will happen very soon…

Team One was going to the Castle of Friendship to start another workday and let their friend Max have some rest after the night shift. Everything was calm and peaceful, as it usually was here. Early risers rushed to their works, first workshops, stores and cafés were opening. Typical morning sight, typical ponyvillers with their adorable peculiar traits.

Researchers had already gotten used to them, so they didn’t pay attention to the Flower Trio, who were overactive as usual. This time, Daisy and Lily were trying to calm their friend Rose down, who seemed to see something scary. Flower sellers were permanently overdramatic and could behave like apocalypse in inevitable in the nearest hour only after seeing a mere spider. That’s why researchers just passed by. However… something caught Bluve’s eye. She looked closer at Rose. Cream-colored mare was shocked. She was trembling, and she was very pale. She barely listened to what her friends were saying. This… was troubling. No life being can become so pale on purpose. She wasn’t overacting, she really saw something scary.

“Excuse me, but could you tell me what happened to your friend?” Bluve approached Daisy and Lily.
“Oh, Rose have just seen a creature from Everfree Forest,” Daisy explained.
“It was far away from her, so we try to assure her that it wasn’t a threat,” Lily added.
“It was a monster!” Rose came to her senses and turned to Bluve.
“A monster?” Bluve surprised. Other researchers heard the conversation and came closer too.
“Yes! And I don’t think that it was from the Forest! It was an abomination from Tatrtarus!”
“How did this monster look like?”
“It was like a big cockroach! Huge cockroach! But it looked like it was made of metal knives! Disgusting and scary!”
“A cockroach… made of knives?” Bluve spelled.
“Oh shit…” Edez, Kor, Karin and Zet’rar swore and all researchers ran away.
“Um… what?” were the last words they herd from the Flower Trio.
“Cockroach made of knives!” Zet’rar exclaimed. “It’s friggin’ symbiont robot of Ga’Ke!”
“When did this bastard release it? When???” Kor swore.
“We have to find it!” Oma exclaimed.
“But where? It can be everywhere in the town or near it,” Zet’rar said.
“Call Max!” Edez said to Affi.
“Yes!” she responded and sent the telepathic signal to the biologist. “He’ll come in a minute.”
“Good.”
“Should we separate and start to look?” Karin asked.
“I can’t say,” Kor responded. “Symbiont robots of Ga’Ke are pretty strong, and they can destroy you. It would be bad if it’ll happen in front of many ponies.”
“Right…”
“Where we have to look for it?” Sheim exclaimed. “And now?”

And then…

“You heard the news?” researchers heard a passer-by.
“What news?” his friend responded.
“Princesses Celestia and Luna come to Ponyville today!”
“What?!” researchers exclaimed together with the other passer-by.
“I haven’t heard any announcements!” the second passer-by continued.
“There wasn’t any, it’s a surprise visit.”
“Oh…”
“Come! They’ll land on the Central Square in any minute!”
“Sure!”
“Daaaamn!” researchers swore again.
“Affi! Send…” Edez was about to give the telepathist another order.
“Already! I told Max about it!”
“Then run to the Central Square!”

A minute later, they were there, at a round square near the city hall. Max had run there a moment ago. He ran closer to the rest of the team, when two large shadows appeared in the sky. Ponies on the land and in the air applauded. Princesses Luna and Celestia descended gracefully flapping their large wings. They gradually slowed down. They were getting ready to touch the ground. Crowd’s applause was getting louder and louder. Shapes of the alicorns became clearly visible in the morning sunlight. They were only twenty meters above the ground when…

There was sharp and very loud slam, and thatched roof of the house that stood right in front of the city hall exploded. Then everything was like in slow-motion. All the thatch turned into dense dust cloud. The cloud spitted numerous pieces of hard jagged wood in all directions. Pegasi in the air tried to dodge or fly away. They were pretty far from the site, and the explosion was not that powerful, so they managed to save themselves. But princesses… they were the closet to the explosion site. In front of everyone, two huge splints flied right to them. Princesses have no time to react.

With a nasty sound splints pierced into the bodies of alicorns. Into Luna’s stomach and Celestia’s chest. Alicorns twitched in the air and fell down.

No one was able to say everything. All ponies on the Square were shocked and stunned by the explosion. They just couldn’t believe that something like that actually happened. Without any sounds, they watched how their princesses, who seemed to be almighty, fall down injured. Only when they heard the thud of fallen bodies, they screamed in horror.

35. The Doors Are Opened

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“No!” researchers screamed, but their voices got lost in the screams of the crowd.

They had to do something. “This is our fault! It happened because we failed! We missed this!..” these thoughts flashed in their heads.

But there was no time – would the princesses be alive or not was a matter of minutes or even seconds, and there was huge risk. They could save them, but, in this case, all Equestria would learn about who they really are. The mission would be failed. But if they won’t intervene, then… princesses will die. Equestrians would never leave it like this and would never forgive. Eventually they will find the real reason, and then will start to consider all alien beings as their enemies. And since they have incredible potential for rapid technological development… having strong enemy equipped with both technology and magic would be problematic.

They cannot allow to lose this world. They cannot allow to lose the ones whom they got attached to. Whom they liked and loved.

Researchers rushed forward, pushing all other ponies away.

“Affi! Bluve and I would operate her… But we need help! You, Edez and Zet should come with us!” Max made Affi to sense his telepathic signal.
“Got it!” she responded and sent the message to everyone. “Then Kor, Karin, Oma and Sheim, protect us!”
“Will do!” other researchers responded.

In dozen seconds, they got to the wounded alicorns. Right on the way Bluve extracted medical kits and portable shield generator from store block placed in her stomach. Sheim, Oma, Kor and Karin re-activated their nanites. Massive dose on stimulators was injected into their bloodstreams, and they were ready to fight. Bluve threw the shield generator to Edez, and curator activated in less in a second. In a moment, opaque veil hid the five aliens that leaned over the princesses, and the remained four surrounded new-formed dome, ready to fight off any attacks.

All ponies around were shocked.

“What happened?”
“What is this?”
“What are you doing?”
“… who are you?”

The crowd was scared. The crowd was at a loss. Right now, ponies who claimed to be servants and guards of princess Twilight, isolated princesses from others, and the means that they used… they didn’t seem to be magical at all. … and why those four “guards” stand on their hind legs?

“Let us to the princesses!” ponies demanded.
“No, we would not let you approach,” Kor responded.
“You won’t be able to help them,” Karin continued. “But we can.”
“What are you doing to them? Let us see immediately!” the most resolute demanded.
“No.”
“Why you!..” they stepped forward.

A moment later ground exploded right under the hooves of the bravest.

“What the?..”

They looked at researchers and saw that Sheim was pointing at them. There was a hole on his sole.

“What have just done?” the brave ponies asked.
“I shot, so don’t come any closer,” researcher replied. “Or else the next spike will hit your head.”
“What?”

Ponies were resenting, but none of them dared to make a step forward. Now they were afraid.

Meanwhile under the dome other researchers fought for princesses’ lives.

“Are you gonna operate them right on the ground?” Zet’rar surprised when he saw how Max and Bluve prepared instruments and medicine.
“Yes,” senior physiologist responded. “We don’t have time for making the site sterile, so we’ll just inject them some nanites, and they will provide them the immunity. But for now… Zet, come here! You have many limbs, so you’ll be giving us stuff.”
“And why are we for?” Affi wondered.
“The only reliable way to support their lives now is using someone else’s life powers,” Bluve explained. “And you…”
“… and we have more of them than any other member of the team,” Edez continued for her. “I understand. Connect us.”

Affi looked at him, then looked at Bluve and gave a nod. Bluve immediately began the preparation of life support system. Meanwhile Max was putting alicorns into quasi-stasis.

“Bluve, operate Celestia,” he said when he finished.
“Why?”
“You’ll do it faster.”
“What? It’s… Oh… I see.” She shook herself and separated her forelegs.
“Zet, light!” Max commanded.
“Right!” technician responded.
“I’ll connect you with the princesses in a moment…” Bluve said to Edez and Affi. “Put your hands on their heads.”

Curators did what she said, and a moment later, they felt strange impulse, which was followed by endless falling. They became one with the organisms of alicorns.

Bluve and Max began the operation.

On the other side of the dome, the situation had been getting more heated. As it turned out, princesses came to Ponyvile with some guards as reinforcement. And town’s police arrived there as well. On top of that, Bearesr of the Elements and Spike learned about what happened and ran to the Square too.

“Guys?..” seven friends could not believe in what they saw. They were shocked and frightened.
“Release the princesses!” the chief officers demanded.
“No,” Kor responded. “You won’t be able to help them.”
“We are sure that no one here knows spells powerful enough to heal them,” Oma added.
“What?”
“But Twilight…” Spike was about to object, but he was interrupted.
“I understand what you mean,” Karin said. “Her Highness princess Twilight Sparkle is very talented and powerful magician. However… How would she remove those logs from bodies of princesses Celestia and Luna?”
“There are plenty of options!” Spike resented. “Like turning back time!..”
“… or boosting up ordinary healing!” Rarity suggested.
“Oooh… Well… Then ask princess Twilight Sparkle just one question: what is the most important rule of casting magic for alicorns?” Oma said.
“What do you mean?” Twilight’s friends turned to her.
“They are right…” purple alicorn muttered.
“Huh?”
“The rule is… alicorns are not allowed to cast extremely powerful spells on themselves and other alicorns when they are wounded!”
“What? Why? I don’t get it!” Spike, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy surprised.
“There might be numerous negative effects, which are not studied yet.”
“See? Unless you are using powerful artifacts, you may put princesses’ lives into even greater danger by using magic!” Kor said. “And I don’t think that you have strong healing artifact within walking distance. Besides, our colleagues are already operating them.”

The crowd went quiet. They had no arguments against them. These four were right. But… Are they really helping? That’s what some of them thought. There were no proofs that intentions of these… ponies are the same as they describe. They needed confirmation.

“Show us the princesses,” some of the officers demanded again. “We must see them!”
“No,” Kor responded. “We can’t interrupt the surgery.”
“What? Why you…”
“And what if we will fight ya?” Applejack and Rainbow Dash found strength to oppose.
“We do not want to harm you,” Sheim said. “But you better not to challenge us…”

Then right in front of everyone planetologist strained his forelegs and stretched them forward to let everyone see that he is ready to shoot at any moment. Clouds of dust raised near Karin, although there was no wind around. Oma’s mane separated into four tentacles, and her tail into three. Kor right in front of everyone changed his regular “teeth set” to original Verekan one. Ponies shuddered. They were horrified.

“Who are you?..” Twilight uttered in trembling voice.
“That’s… Doesn’t look Europonian…” Pinkie Pie spelled.
“Indeed,” a familiar voice came from behind the crowd.
“Damn…” researchers whispered.

Two tall spotted unicorns came from the crowd and stepped forward.

“I’ve seen many creatures with strange appearance, but… I’ve never seen a pony with such teeth or a pony able to shoot things from his own hooves,” Tryviež said.
“And a mare with tentacles as her hair… That’s something from comic books!” Čarnabor added.
“Who are you?” unicorns demanded.
“I’ll tell you,” another voice came from behind, and then… Someone who no one expected to appear here showed up. Green flames flashed behind the crowd, and tall dark gray insect-like pony stepped forward.
“Chrysalis!” ponyvillers exclaimed.
“What are you doing here?!” Twilight yelled.
“Relax, everypony! She won’t hurt you! I promise!” there was one more voice from a side, and then the being whom it belonged to showed up: the spirit of chaos appeared in the air from a dim flash of white light. “I vouch for her!”
“Discord?” ponies surprised even more.
“I… don’t understand!” Twilight was at a loss. “What’s going on here?”
“Well, something strange has been happening in Equestria for several months, but it affected not only ponies, but changelings as well, so… in order to find out the real cause of all these problems, we – I mean princesses too – kinda teamed up.”
“Teamed… up?” Twilight got even more confused.
“Yes…” Chrysalis confirmed. “But now… You wanted to know who those… creatures really are? Well, they are monsters!”
“Monsters?” other ponies, especially Tryviež and Čarnabor, got alarmed.
“What? Why do you think so?” one of the officers asked.
“This… being,” Chrysalis pointed at Kor, “bit off a piece of my wing!”
“What?”
“Damn, that’s really crazy thing to do!” Dregovians exclaimed.

Kor said nothing.

“Yeah, they are like monsters…” Discord spelled. “And from what I see, I understand that those five ponies were right…”

The spirit snapped his fingers, and five officers of the Second Department of the Secret Service materialized in front of him.

“What?” almost all the ponies who gathered there surprised.
“What?” Cloudbreaker exclaimed. “We’ve just been in the hospital!”
“What the?..” Hidden Path looked around and saw all creatures gathered, a force field shield and four researchers protecting it. “Oh no…”
“These five officers investigated the strange events and concluded that servants and guards of princess Twilight didn’t come from this world,” Discord continued.
“What?” ponies exclaimed. It was almost impossible to believer in what Discord had just said.
“Does what you see here confirms your assumption?”
“We… cannot tell,” Grace said.
“What? Why?” Discord and Chrysalis surprised.
“Because… the servants of the Castle of Friendship made it impossible to speak about it,” Razor Edge said.
“I don’t understand… how?” Twilight surprised.
“Because we might die if we’ll say it.”
“What?”
“What kind of curse you put on them?” Bearers of the Elements yelled at researchers.
“It’s… not magic!” Dim Silhouette said. “They don’t know any magic!”
“If it’s not magic… then can we remove this… block with our powers?” Discord asked.
“In that case we’ll probably die as well.”
“Well… in that case… I see no other option than to force our friends from another world to remove the block,” Discord said and looked at researchers.

“Damn!” guardian researcher thought. It seems that they won’t avoid a fight. In such case, they also have no other option.

“Karin!” Kor screamed.

In a moment, the smallest among researchers released her claws and clenched them. An invisible force made everyone shudder, but then… the spirit of chaos coughed and wheezed badly. He twitched in the air, like something was trying to suffocate him. He grabbed his neck, but there weren’t any signs of force application. His face turned violet, his eyes rolled up, and in few seconds the mighty spirit fell down unconscious.

Ponies got terrified. Many ran away. Some of them fainted. Some of them, like the officers of the Second Department and many soldiers, froze and were unable to move or say anything. But other… they got infuriated. And attacked. Several dozens on four. Powerful magic users against technologically advanced beings…

Sheim fired his spikes with all his might. Less than in few seconds he knocked down or injured many officers and Chrysalis. Oma strained and exhaled large cloud of green-colored mist that paralyzed all the Bearers of the Elements, Spike and part of policeponies. Karin dealt with the remained officers. Kor counter-attacked Tryviež and Čarnabor. He jerked forward, grabbed unicorns by their horns before they casted powerful spell and applied his power of Lifetaker. Mighty mages, monster hunters screamed in severe pain and in a few seconds passed down.

It was over. Researchers were exhausted, but now there was on one who could do anything to them.

“Wh-why?” Chrysalis forced herself.
“We didn’t want to do it, but you made us,” Kor said.
“As we mentioned, we have no intention of harming your princess,” Oma said. “If you want a confirmation, wait,” and she pointed at the dome.

Ponies and changeling didn’t say anything. Kor, Sheiam, Karin and Oma, although looked tired, were ready to use their powers again if they have to. Equestrians had no other option, so they waited.

A minute passed in silence, then two, three, five, seven… Defeated Equestrians started to came to their senses. Some of them were trying to continue the fight, but their comrades stopped them.

Ten minutes passed, twelve, fifteen… Everyone began to worry, but then…

On the seventeenth minute, the dome broke up. The shield vanished. Both princesses had large bondages on their bodies and small ones on their heads, but, except this, they looked fine. Max, Bluve and Zet’rar were sitting between them, and they were soaked in sweat. They were exhausted. Edez and Affi sat near the heads of princesses and they barely had enough strength to support their own bodies. Seeing this, Max crawled to his colleagues and made them few injections. After this, senior researchers felt a bit better.

“I guess it’s time to wake them up,” Max said.

Bluve gave a nod and gently shook the alicorns. And a miracle happened: princesses opened their eyes. They felt extremely weak, but they were alive. Surprisingly, they found strength to stand up.

Equestrians couldn’t believe their eyes. The princesses were alive! The strangers said truth! They really helped them!

Crying the tears of happiness, Equestrians ran to felicitate the alicorns. Luna and Celestia were confused. Few moments ago, they saw an explosion, and they were severely, practically mortally wounded, but now they felt although weak but relatively safe, and dozens of ponies surrounded and congratulated them.

Researchers stepped to the side in order not to interfere. After all, it’s good that everything ended well.

Suddenly Discord, Chrysalis, Spike, Bearers of the Elements and some other ponies turned to researchers.

“I guess we have to apologize,” Applejack said together with Rainbow Dash and Rarity. “After all, you really were trying to save the princesses!”
“Thank you!” Equestrians bowed.
“We… don’t know exactly what is going on here, but… if you are the ones who saved us… We are immensely grateful to you!” Celestia said.
“We owe you a life!” Luna added and bowed.
“Yeah, I guess I’ll thank you too for saving them…” Chrysalis said. “But the question still stands: who are you?”

Researchers looked at the ponies in front of them and then they noticed officers of the Second Department who were standing near.

“Well, all the conspiracy is useless now, so I guess we’ll allow the ponies who found out our identities first explain everything,” Edez said and then a series of clicks, snarls, cracks and other weird sounds came from his throat.

“What was that?” Equestrians surprised.
“Did you?..” Grace uttered.
“Yeah. I removed the neuroblocking. You can freely speak about everything,” Edez said. “Nothing will affect you now.”
“Major Path, what in the world is all this?” confused princess of the night demanded.
“Your Highnesses… Fellow Equestrians… These nine creatures who are in front of you now are actually aliens,” Hidden Path said.
“Wait, aliens?” ponies were confused.
“Aliens? You mean not from this planet?” Spike exclaimed.
“You mean from hundreds of light years from here?” Discord exclaimed.
“Actually… millions of light years,” Zet’rar specified.
“What???”
“They are one of research teams that came here to explore the planet,” Grace continued. “Actually, they have similar teams sent to each continent!”
“And they are not responsible for those terrible events,” Cloudbreaker added. “Well, aren’t responsible for most of them.”
“That giant crater in the Everfree Forest is our fault,” Affi said. “We tried to escape from a pack of those Constellation beasts, but got surrounded. So we exploded a bomb.”
“… so that’s why their population reduced…” a voice came from behind the crowd.
“Then how did you escaped?” Luna wondered.
“In fact, we didn’t,” Max said.
“What?”
“Your Highness, the thing is…” Hidden Path began the explanation, “what you see right now are not their real bodies. In fact, they can change bodies as they want.”
“What???” Equestrians exclaimed. Discord and Chrysalis were especially loud.
“Than… how really you do look like?” Celestia and Twilight asked.
“Please, don’t ask, Your Highnesses!” Hidden Path said. “It’s a sight not for weak-hearted ones. This guy is, in fact, a walking plant,” he pointed a Sheim, “she is an amphibian,” he pointed at Bluve, “she… her race cannot be classified by our scholars at all,” he pointed at Oma, “he is a huge predator beast,” he pointed at Kor, “and he… his race is so huge I bet in his real body he can carry you under his arm like a cat!”

Shocked Celestia looked at Edez. He was already almost as tall as her. But… his real form is even larger?

“… and as you might already guess, “Berg”, “Didinga”, “Zicht” and so on are not their real names,” Hidden Path continued.
“Well then, re-introduce them to us!” Twilight said.
“This is Edez Ad’Deigoro, geographer and the first curator of this research team,” Hidden Path began the introduction of the real identities of alien guests, “this is Affi Mana-tosu, the second curator. Oh, be the way, she is telepathist…”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Discord interrupted him. “Telepathist? You mean she might use this power of hers on me?”
“Oh no, my dear, I haven’t used my powers for such purpose!” Affi responded. “It’s your fault that you fell for my voice!”

The spirit didn’t say anything, blushed a bit and turned away.

“… this is Oma Kiegekko and Karin Axelsson, sociologists,” Hidden Path continued the introduction. “Sheim Tat-Doil, a geographer, Zet’rar Dou, responsible for technology, Kor Ndtal-Emai, the security officer, and… Max Sudarmono and Bluve K’oishea. They are biologists and medics of the team. And… from what I’ve seen… these two operated you and took out pieces of wood from your bodies.”
“So… it is you who we must thank for our salvation?” Celestia looked at biologists.
“You should thank others as well, Your Highness,” Max responded. “Thank Edez and Affi for sacrificing their life powers in order to sustain yours, Zet’rar for helping us to work faster, and Karin, Kor, Oma and Sheim for making the surgery possible.”
“Thank you!” alicorns bowed to researchers again.
“Excuse me, but… you have mentioned that you were not responsible for all the strange events that happened recently,” Rarity said. “Then… what was the cause?”
“Well, they were not the only aliens that came to this planet,” Grace said. “It happened so that some other groups learned about the existence of our planet as well. So they sent their… forces too.”
“Those dreadful events were caused by one alien from… how do you call them?” Razor Edge said and looked at researchers.
“Ga’Ke,” Kor responded.
“Yes! Ga’Ke. And those guys are not friendly. They came here to study us too, but their ultimate goal was to use us as raw material.”
“Wait! Use living beings… as raw material?” Twilight exclaimed.
“They are unable to reproduce as our species, so… Ah! It’s too long to explain, we’ll tell you later,” Zet’rar said.
“And what about that strange meteor shower… Actually, it was a fight between us and another alien group,” Kor said.
“You mean… those “meteors”…” Luna uttered, “were actually a volley fire?
“In general, yes.”
“Well, that explains numerous radiants…”
“Wait! They came here with a research mission, but armed?” Chrysalis surprised. “Then they might occupy us too!”
“They won’t do it,” Hidden Path said to her.
“Why are you so sure about this?”
“Because if they wanted, they would already do it.”
“Huh?”
“Your Majesty, they have weapons that can destroy stars and kill all sapient being on entire planet in mere seconds!” Razor Edge exclaimed.
“What???”
“Then how powerful are you?” it was the only thing that Celestia and Luna was able to say.
“They are the interstellar Union that exists for millions of years and spreads across multiple galaxies,” Grace said.

Equestrians couldn’t say a word. Everyone understood that they are dealing with something really big and serious now.

“Um… There is one more thing we have to apologize for,” Edez said. “The abductions.”
“Abductions?”
“In order to study your physiology we… teleported some of you to our base while you were sleeping,” Max explained.
“What???”
“And how often did you do that?” Celestia asked.
“For several times. We would like to ask you for forgiveness, mister Big Macintosh, miss Rainbow Dash, miss Rarity, Your Highness, princess Celestia, Your Highness, princess Luna and Your Majesty, queen Chrysalis,” Max continued and all researchers bowed.
“So it was your doing?!” Chrysalis got angry.
“Yes, but…”
“It was intentional harm!”
“What are you talking about?” Spike and Twilight surprised.
“After they abducted me, they left a trace on my chitin! And… wait… wait! Now I understand!” she glared at Edez and Kor and yelled. “You were the ones who intruded my Hive back then!”
“What?”
“Yes, it was us, but that time we intruded not to cause harm,” Edez said.
“And back then we… well, I had to use radical methods since you woke up, and it was an emergency for us,” Kor added.
“What?” Chrysalis exclaimed.
“If you have any complaints, please, state them in any record form, and we’ll compensate you the harm according your local and international law of the Union,” Oma interfered.
“Wait, compensate?” changeling queen surprised.
“We don’t have any magical artifacts, and we won’t share our technologies, but all other options are available,” Karin added.
“Oh…”
“… and I was the one who infiltrated the Canterlot Castle,” Affi confessed.
“It was you? Alone?” diarchs surprised.
“Yes. I am very sorry for all the inconveniences, Your Highnesses.”
“But!..” Max interfered. “We can redeem ourselves!”
“How?” both pony and changeling royals asked.
“By trying to cure the state that limits you when you have to cast powerful spell on yourselves.”
“What?”
“How did you find it?” Luna surprised.
“We had total examination of your bodies and minds while we abducted you, so we found that you were overflowing with magic powers, which practically turned you into living bombs. Thus, we worked on cure for this state. We found it, and… those infiltrations were the only way available to inject them to you. I injected the cure to princess Twilight. Sorry, Your Highness, for hiding it,” Max bowed to surprised purple alicorn, “Affi did it to princesses Celestia. Luna and Cadance… and she did it to Discord too.”
“Me too?” the spirit surprised.
“Yes,” Affi said. “I’m sorry, it was the only time when I applied telepathy on you. I stunned you and made the injection.”
“Oh…”
“… and Edez and Kor infiltrated the Hive in order to give queen Chrysalis the injection.”
“So… the second time… you actually tried to help me?” changeling queen was surprised.
“Yes.”

Chrysalis couldn’t say anything. Those aliens were not making any differences between whom they must help. Strange ones…

“I don’t get it!” Cloudbreaker interfered. “You sent two strongest guys to make a single injection to queen Chrysalis, but one lady to make four injections in Canterlot? Why?”
“Well, it’s because the Hive has complex security system, which is pretty hard to pass even using advanced technologies,” Kor said.
“And I kinda have some experience in such things,” Affi explained.
“What?” agents surprised.
“You aren’t the only spies here, you know?”
“Oh…”
“You are a spy?” alicorns surprised.
“I was one.”
“We see…”
“And this incident… it’s also might be considered as our fault,” Edez said.
“What? Why?” Equestrians surprised.
“Because the thing that caused this explosion… was actually a symbiont robot of Ga’Ke.”
“What?” this time Secret Service officers exclaimed.
“We haven’t predicted that this one released it before taking any actions in Canterlot,” Kor said. “We only learned it when miss Rose said that she saw a huge cockroach that seemed to be made of knives.”
“So, please, forgive us!” researchers bowed to all Equestrians.
“You should not apologize!” Celestia said. “It seems that this event was practically impossible to predict, so you should not blame yourselves for something impossible.”
“And you saved us,” Luna added.
“Saving you was the least we could do to you in exchange for our inattentiveness,” Max said.
“No, it wasn’t inattentiveness, but absolutely unpredicted accident. No one should blame themselves for such things.”
“Thank you.”

Then there was a short pause.

“So… what will happen next?” Luna asked.
“Yeah! And with all other those… research teams?!” Tryviež and Čarnabor added.

Researchers looked at each other, then Edez activated his hidden communicator.

“Kaite Edez Ad’Deigoro,” he said. “Seu-kii retsneklaad agayi-gev. Seda nakuuzhesh tomaraim. Seu llatragehi nmento. Beeh-saumittapana metuu az sedi pilik. Faskiim hentu-gev uonnameum. Bih slaanddat ei.”
“Um… what did he just say?” Twilight wondered.
“He messaged their headquarters that they have to reveal themselves,” Hidden Path said.
“Wait, you know their language?” ponies surprised.
“Yes. You see… When we decided to face them and tell about our suspicions, it turned out so that they might know the actual reason behind all this, so they took us with them to their base. And to make sure that we’ll understand what they say, they implanted us the knowledge of their language.”
“Implanted the knowledge?”
“Miss Mana-tosu is very power telepathist. It took her only few seconds to implant us this knowledge.”
“So… she can do this to us as well?” Čarnabor suggested.
“Yes, but I would not advise you to do so.”
“Why?”
“Their language is artificial and so complex… It combines the difficulty of writing of Eastern Kingdoms and complicated grammar of ancient languages of Europonia.”
“Oh…”
“Well, our native language is pretty difficult by itself, so…” Tryviež spelled.
“If you are willing to, then you are welcomed. But don’t complain later on a headache.”
“So… You will reveal your presence… around the entire globe?” Luna said.
“Yes,” Edez gave a nod. “In few days everyone on this planet will know about our mission and will be aware of the fact that the universe is actually way bigger that they imagined, you will gain great prospects…”
“… and we’ll get reprimanded very severely for causing this mess…” Max sighed.

Equestrians laughed.

“And what are these great prospects you talked about?” Celestia wondered.
“Well, for now we’ll remain here in order to protect you and continue the exploration,” Edez said. “And we will be watching you. We would be very glad to see you in the Union, but… you have to earn the right to join us.”
“What we have to do to earn this right?” Luna asked.
“You have to make a series of inventions that would be useful for people of the Union and you have to develop your own technology of interstellar travels.”
“Wow!”
“That’s… way too drastic!” Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie said.
“You know, it’s not that difficult,” Zet’rar said. “If you work hard, less than in ten years you will be able to send a pony into space with your own technologies. And, to be honest, the way of how you magic transportation spells work and how our devices work are not that different. You may have functioning vessel for interstellar travels in seventy years!”
“Seventy years!” officers of the Secret Service exclaimed.
“It’s too long!” Grace exclaimed. “We can’t live for centuries like you!”
“Still, make a way to other stars in seventy years… That sounds like an amazing prospect!” Luna smiled.
“It is,” Edez said. “The doors to the Universe are opened for you now.”
“And it’s amazing! Thank you!” royals of Equestria said.

They all looked at the clear skies above the town, where elongated dark shade of a starship began to form.

Their world has changed. It would never be the same, as they knew it. And it’s great!

THE END

Exploring Equestria

by A_guy_from_Earth

1. Discovery

2. Way to the New World

3. Setting Up

4. Getting Acquainted

5. The Visit

6. Taking a Pegasus

7. Odd methods

8. Exploring Appleloosa

9. Taking a Unicorn

10. First Bad Signs

11. Learning Magic

12. Exploring Everfree Forest

13. Taking a Changeling

14. Exploring Dodge City and Its Surroundings

15. Dark News

16. Official Meeting

17. Preparing New Generation

18. Exploring Cloudsdale

19. Taking an Alicorn

20. Exporing Fillydelphia

21. How to Celebrate Local Festivals

22. Taking an Alicorn. Again

23. Exploring Manehattan

24. Some Little Pranks

25. Particular Process

26. Exploring Applewood

27. The Greatest Night

28. Secret Operation

29. Exploring Crystal Empire

30. Suspicions

31. Revealing

32. Emergency Meeting

33. Attack

34. The Fog Is Dispersing

35. The Doors Are Opened