Chapter 1 - No regrets

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The hot summer day had long since come to an end, everything was cooling down and giving way to the long-awaited coolness of the night. As was the asphalt, on which a thin man with short dark hair was walking briskly. In spite of his young appearance, his eyes showed his real age - he was already over thirty.

An outside observer might have wondered why he was wandering along a poorly lit highway late at night. A quick glance at the man immediately gave the answer - his rucksack and rolled-up camping mat easily gave him away as a hitchhiker, which the roads were full of at this time of year. For a man on a dark deserted road in the middle of nowhere, he looked too relaxed and content with life. Clouds were gathering and it was supposed to start raining soon, but he seemed happy?

The man apparently didn't really care about all these possible questions on other people's minds as he walked along the side of the road.

🎶 Finished with my woman 'cause
She couldn't help me with my mind 🎶

He smiled as he listened to the music, oblivious to the occasional rolls of thunder somewhere in the distance. His gaze stares ahead to the horizon where the night merges with the vast sky.

His backpack and foam pad are his faithful and only companions to share this moment with him. The chill of the night envelops his body and he relishes the sensation. He felt more free than ever.

***

A group of thestrals and unicorns gathered around an altar in an ominous temple lost among the dark trees. A temple was perhaps too loud a name for the roofless old ruins, covered in moss and all sorts of plants growing through the cracks in the surviving walls. Nevertheless, the entire space in front of the altar was carefully cleared and filled with thousands of runes, forming a kind of system or array, as unicorns would correct you.

The air was saturated with magic and anxiety.

Silver horns glowed with a pale light, creating an eerie sight in the darkness of the night. They were dressed in black robes adorned with symbols of the moon and stars, and their eyes blazed with bottomless determination.

"We must free the Mistress," Midnight Veil the eldest of the cultists spoke, his voice sounding hoarse and grim.

"Our Queen is suffering on the moon, and we must throw off the shackles of harmony and fate itself."

The unicorn looked around his subordinates with a solemn gaze and continued.

"You all know the prophecy: in four years the seal will fall and our Mother will be freed from her imprisonment. However, her great triumph will be spoiled by our eternal enemies, the lackeys of the notorious "harmony" - the Elements of Harmony," Midnight said the last part with particular contempt.

The mention of the Elements of Harmony immediately caused a disgruntled rumble among those present.

The crowd split into those cursing harmony and its guardians, and those exalting their mistress, the Mother of the Night, Queen of Dreams and Stars, also known, among the less faithful ponies, as Nightmare Moon.

"Let's kill those bastards!"

"Curse the false harmony!"

"We control our own fates!"

"Our Lady shall be free!"

"Praise the Mother of the Night!"

The cheers continued for a while before Midnight raised a hoof and the crowd fell silent, waiting for further words from their leader.

"Your faith is strong, the Mother will be pleased with you," Midnight said with a warm smile and displayed an orb glowing with a pale blue light. "Our Mistress, who possesses infinite wisdom, has foreseen such an outcome and has left some preparations, an artifact containing a portion of her great power. With it, we will break the vicious chains of harmony and destroy her scheme against our Mother!"

The crowd roared with a chorus of cheering voices, and some particularly fanatical ones seemed to enter a religious trance, whispering prayers known only to them.

"Good, good, good. I see you're getting impatient," Midnight laughed, and turned his head to the unicorn mare standing next to him. "Have you finished checking the array?"

"Yes, we checked several times as you ordered, Primas," Silent Shade replied respectfully.

"Excellent. It is time. Our new beginning will be the end of their harmony!", Midnight exclaimed, turning to the crowd. "Bring in the sacrifices, they have a great honor today."

The rest of the followers nodded, their gazes full of devotion and madness.

***

Night shrouded the land with its blanket, and the deserted road stretched out before the man like a bridge to an unknown world.

He took the backpack off his shoulders and set it down carefully by the trunk of a tree on the side of the road. The headphones paired with his phone flopped on top of the backpack. Sighing with relief, he proceeded to warm up his tired body, enjoying the coolness and the views of the night sky. His eyes reflected a contented smile, and his ears were permeated with the sounds of insects chirping and other nighttime melodies.

However, this harmony was soon broken by a mysterious sound he had never heard before. Even stranger was the fact that the sound was coming from inside his head. At least it seemed that way to him. He was distracted from thoughts of a possible stroke by a flash of light above his head.

Raising his eyes to the sky, he saw a sphere shining with a bright blue light. The sphere was rapidly approaching and suddenly accelerated and crashed into the ground in a small clearing nearby. There was no impact, no sound of explosion, only a slight dusting, and a strange rippling in the neighborhood, as if space itself were rippling.

The man, feeling the irresistible force of curiosity, slowly approached the place where the sphere had fallen.

His gaze fixed on something amazing - an oval portal glowed in the middle of a small crater, revealing amazing pictures of the other side. A forest, illuminated by the bright daylight, spread out before him, offering views of plants and birds he had never seen on Earth.

But a far more mesmerizing sight was the border of the portal - constant ripples formed cracks that instantly closed, only for many new ones to appear.
It looked like someone was scribbling furiously with a pencil on paper at breakneck speed while another erased those scribbles with an eraser. The difference was that it was all happening to space.

This view created a special sense of unease mixed with an inability to take one's eyes off this universal mystery.
Could this be what the chaos separating the universes looked like?

The man froze in place a few meters away from the portal, his face remained calm, but there was a real storm going on in his mind. The portal represented an opportunity he could not ignore. His brain was working at the speed of light, analyzing the situation and weighing all the possible risks and benefits.

***

"What's going on?!" - shouted Midnight Veil, his worried voice penetrating to the very depths of his fellow souls.

"The ritual is out of control! We've lost contact with the artifact!" - Silent Shade shrieked, her voice sounding hysterical. "Something is distorting our arrays!"

The magical symbols on the floor began to flicker unpredictably, creating spatial distortions. The ritual that was supposed to bring freedom to their Mistress had turned into a source of chaos and destruction. Quite ironic, considering her plans for the future. Unfortunately, the cultists didn't have the time or proper self-irony to appreciate the humor of the situation.

"We need to stop this!" - Nightfall shouted, his voice sounding terrified. "We can't let this continue, it's too dangerous!"

The panic was only getting worse. Their horns had long since stopped glowing, cutting off the ritual array from magical energy. This had no expected result - thousands of flickering runes began to spread out in all directions like maddening flames.

The air was filled with loud crackling and explosions, and spatial rips began to appear everywhere.

"What is this?!" - Midnight shrieked, his voice drowning in the noise of chaos.

"Wormholes! They come out of nowhere!" - Silent screamed, her voice sounding desperate.

Many tried to take cover from magical explosions and spatial anomalies, but the portals sucked them into their abysses, grinding them into meat paste in the process.
Others, the lucky ones, stumbled into less stable wormholes - instantly turning to dust without special effects ended their grandiose ambitions.

One by one, the unicorns vanished, leaving only emptiness.
The last of the cultists was left in front of the altar, having miraculously lived to this moment.

"We failed," Midnight whispered, his voice sounding weak and desperate. "Why? Why..."

He was prevented from finishing his question by a crack that erupted nearby, twisting him into a meat ball the size of a seed and then pulling him inside.

The portals continued to appear and disappear, consuming and annihilating everything around them. More and more frequently, two or more wormholes collided, accompanied by even larger spatial bursts.

Finally, three unstable ruptures appeared at a single point, formerly the core of the runic array, but the expected explosion did not follow. Everything happened instantly and silently, more like an illusion or mirage - everything within a hundred meters of the point of contact disappeared. On the ground, where the ruins of the ancient temple had been, there was now a huge hole in the shape of a hemisphere.

For a moment there was absolute silence, as if the whole world had frozen, and then there was a loud pop as the air filled the space again.
Immediately after the air, another element - the earth - followed, as if it had caught up. The edges of the pit began to collapse and roll down.

Nature immediately went to work.

***

The man stood in front of the portal, deep in thought. His mind buzzed with thoughts of the world beyond the portal. His true desire, previously buried in the depths of his mind, was now shining brightly again, fueling his ambition.

Why had it been previously forgotten and buried? Was he another man who had given up? Not really.

Some things, no matter how hard you try, were simply impossible to obtain on Earth. Reality is so beautiful in its cruelty. He didn't suffer from depression or think the world was a bad place. There were plenty of things he enjoyed, but none of it was the same. A cheap substitute, nothing more.

But what about the other world? What if his opportunity lay on the other side of the portal?

Of course, there was another possibility after using the portal - instant death, but he didn't care about that. How long do humans live? Eighty or maybe a hundred years?
That was as illusory as a dream ending in an instant. He didn't want to die, but he didn't fear death either.

He stood near the portal for only a few seconds, but those seconds stretched into eternity.

He was brought out of his thoughts by the sudden realization of the changes that had occurred to the portal during that time. Originally, the portal had been quite impressive: about four meters high and two wide. Now it was shrinking and, while the man was fuming in his doubts, it had already lost a noticeable part of its size. And all this happened in a matter of seconds.

How much longer could he hold on? Half a minute at most, a little longer and it would be impossible to enter.

The man stood still for a moment, completely stunned. Then his whole body tensed. Time was running out, a decision had to be made. Whatever decision he made would have a huge impact on the rest of his life.

Should he enter the portal? Wouldn't it be better to stay here? It's safe, and there will always be chances.

Does what he passionately desires really exist on the other side? Does it exist at all?

Is he as fearless as he previously thought? It's easy to say you're not afraid of death, but things change drastically when it's right in front of you. The body is paralyzed with fear. The primal instinct of self-preservation screams inside, obviously against the whole portal thing.

We lived somehow before, didn’t we? Do you really need all this?

All the tension and indecision suddenly disappeared from the face of the man about to make the most important decision of his life. Then the man laughed. He laughed at himself, at life and at the whole world.

"How long has it been since I felt so alive?" he thought. "Ha ha ha, a truly exciting feeling!"

His lips stretched in a grin, and his green eyes sparkled with something completely new. Without any more hesitation, he rushed into the portal.

Chapter 2 - Brave New World

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Gravity. It was this force that the man felt with every part of his body. His body was subjected to an unrelenting pressure, as if every cell in his body was being squeezed. Blood flowed from his nose, eyes, and ears, and his bones began to crack under this incredible strain.

But to his luck, all this agony did not last long. Suddenly another gravitational force grabbed him and pulled him to the other side. He flew several meters through the air before he slammed into some trees and lost consciousness. Darkness engulfed his mind.

This was how the mysterious world welcomed its new inhabitant.

***

The man slowly opened his eyes, feeling consciousness return to him. The brief loss of consciousness left behind a sensation of aching pain that pierced his body. The sun was still shining all around him. It seemed like not much time had passed, which was no surprise. Only characters in movies or books faint for hours. In reality, you can lose consciousness for a couple of minutes at most, or forever. Of course, there are exceptions, when fainting lasts up to half an hour, but let's not talk about that.

The man tried to concentrate to analyze the state of his body. No fractures showed up, but the cuts on his skin spoke of a hard collision with a tree. The headache was an unpleasant reminder of what he had just experienced. Flicking a finger near his ear, the man found to his relief that his eardrums had somehow survived this interdimensional jaunt. There were some extraneous noises and the sound came through a layer of absorbent cotton, but that was something he could work with.

Feeling a throbbing in his temples, the man decided to check his memories for possible amnesia. The check began with a name.

"Alexei. My name is Alexei," the man mumbled. "What about the rest of it?"

He remembered his age, his past life, and the reason he had decided to go to this new world in the first place. Everything was in place, his memory had not failed him. Brushing the blood off his face with his hand, he looked up and began to look around.

He was in a small clearing surrounded by a dense forest. The trees rose to the sky like guardians of this mysterious place. Their branches intertwined, creating a green roof that let in only rare rays of sunlight. The air was permeated with the smell of damp earth and wild vegetation.

Alexei turned his attention to the plants that surrounded him. They were completely unlike anything he had seen before. Strange flowers with bright petals grew here, as if they were painted with magical colors. Lianas wove around the trunks of the trees, like living creatures striving for freedom. The leaves had unusual shapes and shades, ranging from bright green to deep purple.

He stood up, hissing in pain, and began to walk cautiously through the clearing, studying each unusual flower and plant. Standing out among the flowers were strange plants that resembled tongues of fire or stars. Some of them emitted a faint light, as if they were some kind of natural lamps. But what attracted the most attention were the distinctly special plants that surrounded the clearing. Their stems and leaves glowed with bright colors: blue, purple, pink, and even gold. They emitted a gentle glow, as if they lit up glowing dots in this mysterious forest.

Alexei tried not to get too close to them, fearing their unusual nature.

He clearly realized that he had entered a world where nature had distinctly different laws, and peculiar wonders. He felt that an uncharted territory, full of dangers and possibilities, spread out before him. His heart raced with anticipation - he was ready to take on the challenges of this new world.

***

Canterlot, a city of white stone, towered over all of Equestria as its majestic capital. The architecture of the place, remotely reminiscent of Earth's mixture of baroque and classicism, created a special appeal. But the real natural beauty of Canterlot was given by its many waterfalls and rivers flowing through its streets. This harmony between nature and sentient beings brought to mind the forest elves.

Above the entire city stood a grandiose structure, the heart of this city - the Royal Palace. On the top floor of the palace, in a spacious office decorated with gold, there were sounds of quill creaking and parchment rustling.

Who is this unfortunate soul buried in paperwork?

Her name is Celestia, but that's only to her friends. In the eyes of everyone else, she is Princess Celestia, the Ruler of the Sun, the Sovereign of Day and Night, the permanent ruler of Equestria, and one of the most powerful beings in the world.

No, she is not a wood elf, as one might think because of the name and the harmony with nature that reigned in the city. Celestia is a pony, just like most of the inhabitants of Equestria.

Among her subjects, Celestia stood out for her appearance: a tall white pony with a long horn and huge wings. Her mane and tail glistened with the colors of the northern lights, which, as if by magic, fluttered even without a touch of wind. As an alicorn, a special kind of pony, she combined all the advantages of the other three races: strength, stamina, speed, magical power, and longevity.

It was this powerful pony that was currently bogged down in a swamp of bureaucracy. But a sudden knock on the door interrupted her agony. Celestia ordered entry, and a slender unicorn with a thick blue mane and shiny snow-white fur entered the office. His eyes sparkled with wisdom and his horn emitted a powerful magical energy.

"Good afternoon, Arcane," Celestia greeted. "I have been waiting for your report. There is no time for formalities. Tell me what you managed to find out."

Arcane bowed quickly, opened his notebook and began to report: "Your Majesty, as you know, there was a powerful spatial anomaly in the Everfree Forest this morning. The energy fluctuations spread to dozens and even hundreds of kilometers around. Fortunately, the epicenter was deep within Everfree, so only a slight ripple reached us. Several villages near Everfree reported interference with magical equipment, a few ponies went to the hospital complaining of headaches, but that's about it. As far as we know - there are no casualties among the citizens of Equestria."

"That's good news," Celestia smiled.

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Arcane continued. "Previously, we had assumed the emergence of a stream of beasts scared by the energy fluctuations, and sent suppression squads to the settlements adjacent to the forest. However, that did not happen. Pegasus scouts report no unusual activity among the fauna of the Everfree Forest at this time."

"It's Everfree. It's another completely normal day for the local wildlife," Celestia sighed, obvious relief audible in her voice. "Nevertheless, caution is never unnecessary. Move on to the part related to your specialty."

"As you command," Arcane nodded. "We've done some preliminary research and found that there were two sources of the anomaly. Of course, we'll need additional time to analyze the waves in more detail, but..."

"Two?" clarified Celestia, interrupting the unicorn's report.

"That is correct, Your Majesty," Arcane continued calmly. "There were two surges at the same time, but in two different locations. Because of their similar nature, and the Everfree's distortions, we originally thought of only one source. However, they are different. The first, and most powerful, source is almost entirely spatial in nature, with a small amount of mental energy. The second source carried faint spatial fluctuations, but an extremely powerful burst of mental energy."

Celestia listened intently, her gaze frowning slightly.

"My department has already done a partial analysis of this energy, but found no known correspondences. We can only theorize," Arcane said, telekinesis pulling several sheets of diagrams and a bunch of numbers out of his notebook. "Please take a look."

"And which theory do you think is most likely?" asked Celestia, scrutinizing the data.

"We believe the energy belongs to a pony with abilities in the field of Dream Magic. It would have to be either an extremely powerful unicorn or...," Arcane swallowed, but immediately continued. "Or, more likely, an alicorn."

Celestia looked up and gazed intently at the unicorn standing before her.

"Were you able to establish coordinates?", Celestia asked calmly, seeming to completely ignore the alicorn part of the report.

"We're still working on it, but... It's safe to say by now that it's impossible," followed the unicorn's annoyed reply. "Due to Everfree's distortions, all the waves have different wavelengths and frequencies. Even if we collect data from all the instruments around the entire Everfree - we can't determine the coordinates of the source of the radiation. The only option is to scour the Everfree forest and hope for luck."

"I understand," Celestia replied in an even voice. "Thank you for your work, Arcane."

"I was merely performing my duties, Your Majesty," the white unicorn replied with a bow, waiting for further words from his princess. His silver voice sounded soft and admiring, as if worship was his natural state.

There were no words. Celestia rose from her seat and made her way to the window, looking out into the distance. Her face, swathed in an ephemeral mane of colorful curls, expressed nothing.

Alicorns live a long, long time. The princess's eyes reflected infinite wisdom and experience accumulated over millennia. In that time, she had long ago learned to control her emotions. Then lost them. Then regained them again, recreating them on her own as masks for any situation.

After a few moments of thought, the princess turned back to the unicorn patiently awaiting instructions.

"All information relating to the anomaly must be classified. Mental energy samples to be destroyed. All personnel involved must take an extended vow of silence. The official version is that there was an explosion of a crystal mine, which mixed with Everfree's magic to produce this effect," Celestia gave out clear orders. "You may leave."

"As you command, Your Majesty," the unicorn replied, bowed his head in respect, and left the room.

Celestia remained in silent contemplation for a while, immersed in her thoughts.

"The fourth and final star has finally arrived," she finally muttered. "Your foresight is commendable, sister, but it is not yet time for us to meet."

"Now I'll have to visit the cause of my incessant headache," Celestia thought glumly.

***

Celestia slowly descended the stone steps leading down into the depths of the dungeon. Everything around her was covered in intricate runes radiating magical energy. The light from her horn reflected off the walls, creating a disturbing shadow play.

Finally, she reached the center hall, where there was a statue made up of different animal parts. A pony, a deer, a goat, a lion, an eagle, a bat, a lizard, and a snake. All in all, the list was solid, befitting the authority and stature of the creature this statue was made from.

Celestia did not seem to be a connoisseur of fine art - the entire statue was sheathed in two tarnished chains created from an unknown metal. There were no runes on the chains, there was no need for them, and they looked extremely plain, even a little ragged. The chains reeked of antiquity. Not the kind of antiquity you'd see in any museum, but a different kind of antiquity, an antiquity filled with blood, death, and wild, untamed magic.

Celestia stepped closer and looked at the statue with undisguised irritation.

"What have you done, Discord?" she spat out angrily, addressing the statue.

Usually statues aren't very talkative, but this one was definitely special - the answer followed immediately.

"What are you talking about, Celly? I haven't done anything. I'm as motionless as a statue," came from the statue sarcastically.

The statue's voice sounded chaotic, consisting of different tones and ages.It was gentle and rough at the same time; then fast, then slow; then quiet, then loud, creating a strangely annoying effect. It could really give even an alicorn a headache. The voice belonged to Discord, the draconequus, local spirit of Chaos and Lord of Madness.

Why is he in this fully shielded dungeon, covered in all sorts of protective runes and restrictions? Where else would he be? If some madman left a sealed creature with semi-divine powers in, say, the Royal Garden - Discord would have to bow down and hand over his crown and title to him. Even he wasn't that crazy.

"You know exactly what we're talking about!", Celestia exclaimed.

"Three times these fanatics have found the vessels of energy left behind by my sister and tried to break the seal on Nightmare Moon. And each time, we've found your trace!"

"Today was the fourth. What will we find this time? A mystery indeed," Celestia said wryly.

"Someone found one of my discarded toys, like a book or something, and you're already raising a howl accusing me of all sins," the Chaos spirit snorted.

"You're such an annoying old nag, Tia. If it weren't for your, I must say truly royal, butt and free popcorn - I'd have had enough and left a long time ago."

"Just give up already, Discord. That was the fourth and final vessel and the seal is still intact" Celestia replied, regaining her composure. This was far from her first, nor would it be her last, conversation with this annoying creature.

"You're not going to make it. There will be no chaos, everything will go on as it should. You won't be able to use this opportunity to break out of here. You'll stay here until the end of time."

"I can't break out? I wasn't going to!" laughed Discord wildly.

“Who knows, Celly? I think one day you'll come to me and voluntarily open this cage. We'll have tea together, and talk about the magic of friendship, and hugging and all that."

Somehow Celestia felt that this utterly delusional statement sounded prophetic. A chill ran down her back. Waving away the strange feeling, she exhaled a cloud of vapor, turned around, and headed for the exit of the dungeon. She could clearly sense that she wasn't going to hear anything useful from Discord today.

The insane laughter of the restrained Chaos spirit echoed throughout the dungeon and hit her in the back. Shivering slightly she continued on her way.

"Magic of friendship," Celestia snorted mentally. "What nonsense."

***

Alexei had been continuing his way through the dense forest for several hours now. Earlier, having climbed a tall tree, he surveyed the surrounding forest. Tall was a rather mild term for this giant. The man, after roughly estimating the height, agreed on a figure of 80-90 meters. And it was far from being the tallest tree in this forest!

There was a carpet of green all around him, but to one side the trees were gradually thinning and some open space was vaguely visible. Despite the fact that he had climbed to a great height and should have been able to see for many dozens of kilometers ahead - the light fog that hovered above the trees limited his vision. He decided to move in that direction, expecting to leave the potentially dangerous forest before dark.

As he moved, the forest did indeed begin to thin, confirming that he had not lost his way. Listening to the surrounding sounds and trying not to make too much noise, Alexei thought over his future plans.

Shelter, food and water. These are the three basic things that any human in the wilderness had to think about. Shelter and food were not so relevant at the moment. The weather was hot, but he was saved from overheating by the green canopy over his head.

One of the streams he came across shared water with him a couple of hours ago. The water was crystal clear, and the crayfish and small fish swimming in it convinced the man that it was safe. Too bad he didn't have any bottle to take some with him.

In fact, there was a fourth problem: wild animals. What kind of monsters could be found in a forest from another universe? So far, the strangest thing he had seen was a two-headed snake and some kind of animal that looked vaguely like a squirrel with huge ears.

But now he decided to take a little breather and take a break from the strenuous journey. In his hand was a fruit plucked from a branch nearby, its pleasant sweet smell filling the air. Outwardly, the fruit strongly resembled persimmons, which the man couldn't stand, but there was some hope for food from another world.

He cut it open and dripped some of the juice onto the skin on the inside of his forearm, waiting for a reaction. This was a way to check for poison and a possible allergic reaction. Once, he had watched some show about a naked bald man surviving in the wilderness. Now that information has been put to good use. Thank you, bald man!

While he waited for the body to respond, he took another look at his gear. He was dressed in dark blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and brown sneakers. A wooden bracelet, received as a gift from one of the drivers, was placed on his left arm. A leather belt adorned his waist, on it hung a folding knife, his most valuable asset in this situation. In his pockets he had his keys, a bank card, a couple bills and a few coins - everything he'd had on him when he'd crossed through the portal.

But there were some new items as well: a crude wooden spear and two hares tied by their legs with vines to a stick. The hares, by the way, were quite ordinary, no different from those on Earth. Everything was more or less clear with the spear - the knife easily solved this trivial problem. Where did the hares come from? Well, it's a funny story.

Initially scrutinizing the clearing where he was thrown out of the portal - he found a lot of bodies scattered on the ground.

Insects. Birds. Rodents. Hares. They weren't dead. Even now he could feel the heartbeat of the hares.

All the creatures were as if they were in a coma or deep sleep from which there was no way to awaken. He tried yelling in the hare's ear, braking it, slapping it, and even making it bleed - there was no response. Now he had two small live hares that he could eat or even, at the very least, drink their blood. There were even more questions.

He wondered about possible reasons for this strange phenomenon. Perhaps the portal he had crossed through had some effect on the local wildlife. Or, more disturbingly, he himself had brought with him some virus from his world that was causing this daze.

"I could cause the extinction of an entire planet," Alexei thought to himself. "That would be a little embarrassing."

Still, he was leaning toward the portal version - only the creatures in a radius of about thirty meters around the clearing had fallen into a coma.

However, he had another thought - what if it was local viruses or diseases that could infect him? He had already thought about that possibility before he had even crossed through the portal. Without any immunity, they would progress extremely quickly. At any moment he could start vomiting blood and his story would be over.

Alexei sighed and pushed those thoughts away. There was no point in thinking about it. He had chosen this path for himself. As long as he did his best for his goal - he would have no regrets, even if he died. That was what he had decided back on Earth, standing in front of that portal.

Five minutes had already passed, but there was no reaction on the skin. The fruit could be eaten. Taking a small bite, the man immediately spit it out. Instead of the expected sweet taste of fruit pulp, he felt the disgusting taste of rotten meat and swamp jelly. An unpleasant taste spread inside his mouth that made him disgusted and nauseous.

"Fuck!" the man swore, spitting furiously, but there was no way he could get rid of that taste in his mouth.

He was somewhat disappointed and outraged at this deception.

***

Half an hour of persistent walking through the thinning forest brought Alexei to its edge. Ahead, in the azure distance, stretched a vast plain. He stopped to regain his breath and look at his surroundings. Looking around, Alexei didn't see anything dangerous or threatening. He decided to continue on his way and get out of the forest.

But suddenly, in the distance, a startled squeal and maniacal laughter reached his ears. His heart sank and he carefully moved towards the sounds, leaving his prey - the hares - on the ground. Cautiously and silently, he approached the source of the noise, hiding behind tree trunks.

After a minute he came out onto the open plain and saw what was the source of those sounds. A small zebra was rushing across the plain toward the forest, desperately fighting for its life, chased by something that looked like a hyena. The hyena-like creature must have been the source of the laughter.

The man watched silently, not intending to interfere. He was already thinking of quietly leaving when a new sound was heard.

"Msaada! Msaada!", the little zebra yelped.

Alexei froze, abandoning the idea of retreating into the forest. Albeit unknown to him, it was clearly some language of an intelligent creature. He squinted his eyes to examine the creature more closely.

Indeed, what he had mistaken for a zebra was far from the classic appearance of that animal. It bore only a superficial resemblance to a zebra, and the new details only confirmed his doubts. The creature's large eyes glowed with worry and fear. Its skull was flattened, and its muzzle was blunted and less long than a normal zebra's. The mane and tail, bicolored and intertwined, created a strange and unusual look.

Things were taking an interesting turn.

"So, we have a talking zebra here," Alexei thought, and then dubiously shifted his eyes to the hyena chasing it. "Was that a hyena's laughter or was that the laughter of an intelligent creature?"

"What's the difference?" - he shook his head. "Life and death are the law of nature. All living beings are equal, and everyone has the right to survive and be killed."

His heart hammered harder as he snatched the knife from his belt and wrapped the belt around his forearm, creating a temporary defense. The spear, now held firmly and confidently, ready for battle, was his weapon and support.

He didn't hesitate as he rushed towards this mysterious pair.

Chapter 3 - A glimmer of hope

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The man's heart beat loudly as he ran up to the pair of creatures, gesturing for the zebra to hide behind him. The zebra, though somewhat surprised by the new creature's appearance, realized that she had better obey and follow directions. She had no other options anyway.

The hyena stopped, laughing excitedly. Her eyes glittered with hunger and greed. She eyed the spear in the man's hands warily, but she wasn't about to back down. Quickly and nimbly she ran around, trying to snatch the zebra, but staying at a safe distance.

Alexei stood still, constantly circling, keeping the hyena between himself and the zebra, and looking for an opportunity to attack. He knew his opponent was experienced and cunning, the hyena's reaction to the spear spoke of that. Apparently, this was not the first time it had fought with a creature armed with a sharp stick, but the man was not going to give up.

And so the opportunity presented itself. The hyena was too greedy, getting closer to the zebra. The man did not hesitate. He swung his spear towards the hyena, aiming for its eye, but it deftly dodged, avoiding serious damage. The spear struck her shoulder and slid off without doing any tangible damage. Her hide was surprisingly tough.

The hyena grew bolder and bolder in her attacks. Her attacks became more and more aggressive, opening up new opportunities for counterattacks. But the man did not panic.

He struck again, but the hyena was ready. With the agility and strength of a beast, she grabbed the spear with her teeth and pulled sharply, wrenching it from the man's hands. Her neck, surrounded by powerful muscles, gave an impression of primal might.

"She seems pleased with herself," the man smirked as he watched the hyena shake the spear violently, savoring her small victory.

"Then let's move on to plan B," Alexei smiled, pulling out a knife and clutching it tightly in his right hand.

The hyena wasn't particularly impressed with the knife and spitting the stick aside, it was already preparing for its next attack.

The man crouched down a bit and spread his arms slightly, as if preparing for a dash, but in fact he wanted to show the hyena his exposed neck. It may have had some experience, but it was still a beast. Instincts deeply engraved in her brain instantly gave an order that the beast could not ignore. The hyena, immediately realizing that she had received an excellent opportunity to strike a decisive blow, rushed forward, aiming directly at the man's throat.

Alexei was ready. At the last moment he raised his left arm, wrapped in a leather belt, and let the beast bite it.

The belt, though it offered some protection, proved insufficiently reliable. One of the hyena's fangs slipped between the layers of the belt and sank into the man's flesh. Immediately the hyena began to twist its head violently, trying to tear off a piece of meat. But the man ignored the pain and with unrelenting determination plunged his knife into the beast's neck and then twisted the blade. The hyena let out a shrill shriek, let go of his hand and bounced away. In the process, the knife handle peeled the skin and nearly dislocated several of the man's fingers. But he still held the knife in his grip.

Now the hyena was thrashing about frantically, driving its paws over his neck as if trying to wipe away the wound. The man was no expert in anatomy, so he didn't know the exact location of the artery, but he was confident in his knife. Scarlet blood spurted out of the wound onto the withered ground in a pulsating stream.

A puddle was quickly forming around the hyena.

Yes, now he was sure he had hit an artery.The man stood motionless, not averting his gaze, waiting for further action from the wounded beast.

However, the hyena seemed to begin to weaken and consider the possibility of retreating.

He had no intention of letting her go. The moment she turned around and was about to flee, the man jumped up to her and kicked her forcefully in the right side, turning the beast around with the impact. The hyena growled, trying to bite him, but the man nimbly bounced away, avoiding the danger.Their roles reversed, he became the hunter and she became the prey.

The man made dangerous swings of his knife, which now clearly frightened the beast, but it was all just a farce. He was just stalling for time. The hyena tried to run away again, but the man quickly rushed towards her, giving her no chance of escape. The more she panicked, the harder her heart pounded, and the more blood flowed out of her.

The hyena bounced to the side, avoiding the imaginary blow of his knife. Alexei wasn't going to hit, it was all just another trick.

The hyena began to stagger, her movements becoming unsteady. After a few seconds it finally fell silently, resigning itself to its inevitable fate.

The hyena's side slowly rose and fell in time with her fading breath. The last glimmers of life were leaving her exhausted body, and finally her eyes closed forever. The man sighed and put the knife away. Cleaning the blade could be taken care of later. He turned away from the dead beast and focused his attention on his hand.

Pulling off his belt, he began to survey the damage that the fight with the hyena had left behind. His gaze flickered to the zebra that had frozen some distance away. He wasn't going to let her go either, but for a different reason. First things first, the wounds.

Two wounds were clearly visible on his arm: one the size of a fingertip, oval and bleeding, left by hyena fangs that had penetrated deep into his flesh; and a smaller one. The rest of the injuries were minor, a few bruises and bruises. The man pressed his lips to the wound, sucked in the blood, and spat. He then began to lick the wound, knowing that the human's saliva contained an antiseptic. He wasn't sure how much it would help him, but he figured it certainly wouldn't make it worse. Continuing to treat his wound with improvised methods, he turned to the zebra.

The little zebra was still breathing heavily, clearly in a state of shock, keeping his eyes on the already dead hyena.

Slowly and cautiously the man approached the zebra, careful not to frighten her. He had no desire to chase the creature across the plain. The little zebra seemed to ignore him until he came quite close.

Her gaze slid down his torso until finally their eyes met. The zebra's pupils had narrowed to the size of needles, and her body trembled slightly. It was unclear whether she was paralyzed with fear or simply exhausted after the long chase. The man's tall stature obviously made the zebra nervous and was subconsciously associated with threat.

The man slowly lowered himself to the ground in front of the zebra, carefully crossing his legs, trying to avoid any sudden movements. The zebra continued to watch his every move without making a sound.

“Ты, очевидно, разумное создание (You are obviously a sentient creature),” he said in a soft, calming voice. "Ты меня понимаешь? (You understand me?)"

To think that the zebra understood Russian was perhaps too optimistic, but the man wanted to explore every possibility. The zebra only blinked in response, but seemed less frightened already, soothed by his affectionate tone. The male decided to try other options.

"Can you understand me?"

"Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"

The zebra perked up, started making squeaky noises and gibbering something in her own language.

"Really? Did she recognize German?" the man thought. His knowledge of German had already ended at one phrase, but he had no right to complain. His musings were interrupted by a small foal.

"Name," the zebra said, pointing with a hoof at himself. "Itanya."

The name and tone of voice gave a hint that the zebra he'd rescued was most likely a female.

"Name," he repeated automatically, pointing to himself. "Alexei."

More importantly, the zebra knew English!

***

The zebra didn't know English. Her knowledge of English was even worse than his in German.

After long and awkward minutes of facial expressions, gestures, and diagrams drawn on the ground, the man was finally able to establish a semblance of communication with the zebra.

First of all, Itanya was incredibly grateful for the rescue. However, she would have been even more grateful if the man had agreed to carry her home. Walking on her own was something she was incapable of doing and evening was already setting in. Her request matched the man's plans.

Secondly, Itanya had informed him that there was some sort of settlement of other zebras nearby. She had even drawn a small map on the ground. The man was about to set off when he remembered something else.

He started drawing on the ground, trying to explain to the zebra that he needed to step back into the forest for a while. Itanya was frightened by the idea, and interestingly enough, her fear was specifically related to the forest.

"What's wrong with it?" thought Alexei. "Maybe she's just afraid of being alone?"

He insisted, however, and headed in the direction of the forest, glancing at the zebra from time to time.

After walking about a hundred meters, he stopped and found a suitable spot. Pulling out the contents of his pockets, he buried it as deep as he could, covering it with earth and covering it with leaves. The knife and clothes could still be explained, but the plastic and money, if found, would certainly raise questions.

With some sadness in his heart, he turned around to look at the forgotten hares and sighed. He couldn't take them with him either. It would be somewhat embarrassing if they turned out to be some sacred animals to the locals. Not to mention the whole meat-eating thing. As he chatted with Itanya, he didn't notice any fangs on her. Looks like the local zebras followed a regular vegetarian diet after all.

Returning to the zebra, he gently picked her up and laid her on his shoulders, ignoring her disgruntled squeaks. The zebra was almost the same size and weight as a normal dog. Picking up his spear, he headed in the direction the zebra had indicated.

***

An hour of the trip flew by. The zebra, who called herself Itanya, kept telling him something, repeating his name, but he only smiled back.

The settlement stretched out clearly before him, and it seemed that the inhabitants had noticed his approach. A group of zebras armed with spears approached him swiftly, their leather armor gleaming on their bodies.

One of the warriors stood out for his power and commanding appearance. His leather armor was adorned with massive metal plates, giving the impression of being unyielding. He had silver earrings in his ears, shimmering against his black mane. The bodies of many zebras were decorated with scarlet tattoos, mostly animals and some strange patterns.
Behind them ran a lone zebra without weapons.

Finally, they surrounded him and pointed their spears at him. The spears were real spears with metal tips, unlike his pathetic stick. The zebras had secured their weapons to their flanks as they ran, but now they held the shaft deftly in their hoof.

The man scrutinized each zebra, remaining calm. His gaze paused on an unarmed zebra, who looked anxiously at Itanya who was on his shoulders.

"A relative?" he thought.

Finally, the warrior he had spotted earlier emerged from the crowd, apparently the leader among them. The moment of first contact with the sentient race of zebras had arrived.

"Acha mtoto aende, mnyama," the leader said sternly, swinging his spear.

Given that Itanya was showing a reaction to English, the man decided to communicate in it.

"I do not understand your language. I am a friend. I saved Itanya from the beast," he said calmly.

The leader was a little surprised, but immediately replied already in English, "First let the foal go. We'll talk later."

"All right, all right. Take it easy. I'm a friend," the man reassured him.

Carefully lifting Itanya off his shoulders, he released her and she instantly rushed to the lone figure behind the warriors. They embraced and began touchingly rubbing against each other, expressing their joy at meeting. Then Itanya broke from the embrace and began to gibber furiously in her language, pointing at the man.

"Only good things, I hope," the man thought, still searching for gaps for a possible escape.

Itanya's words proved effective. The leader said something, and the zebras lowered their spears.

"Follow me," the leader said simply, turning and heading towards a nearby settlement.

"Where are you taking me?" - The man asked.

"To the chief. He will decide your fate," replied the leader.

***

"We ask the questions - you answer. Is that clear?" came the voice of a zebra clad in gold jewelry. It was the chief of the tribe, whose power and authority was reflected in his every movement. A zebra with an abundance of jewelry looked somewhat unusual, but even stranger was the old zebra to the left of the chief.

The zebra's head was adorned with the skull of a horned creature, and its body was wrapped in a net studded with feathers, black crystals, gold coins, and various bones. The presence of this zebra gave Alexei a very strange feeling. It was as if thin claws were scratching the back of his head while sending a cold breeze down his back. The man felt like he was facing something supernatural. Instead of the expected fear, he felt anticipation. The word "shaman" came up in the zebras' conversations as he waited in the chief's tent. And, indeed, this zebra clearly resembled a shaman in his appearance.

"Yes," Alexei replied briefly.

A feeling had arisen in his soul that it was not proper to lie. But what was a lie and what was the truth?

"You saved a foal from a hyena?"

"Yes."

"How exactly?"

"Killed the hyena."

"Why did you decide to save it?"

"Heard it calling for help," the man shrugged.

"What's your name?"

"Alexei."

"Where did you come from?"

"From the forest."

"How did you get there?"

"I was walking along the road at the edge of the forest, there was a bright light and pressure, then a blow, I lost consciousness, woke up here. I don't know where I am now."

"Where is your homeland?"

"In the south."

"Are you from a tribe of monkeys?"

"Yes," Alexei replied, feeling somewhat amused, but he didn't show it.

"What do you know about the explosion in the forest this morning?"

"The explosion? What's he talking about? Is he about the whole portal thing? Did they sense something even here?" the man's mind flashed.

"There was an explosion? All I saw was light, and then I blacked out. When I woke up, I found several dead small animals nearby."

The chief silently shifted his gaze to the zebra shaman, who only nodded in response.

"We never thanked you for saving our young," the chief spoke with gratitude in his voice. "Tell me, what do you wish?"

The man hesitated, weariness reflected on his face.

"May I answer later?" he finally uttered, raising his gaze to the chief of the zebras. "I am wounded, exhausted, and hungry."

The zebra chief smiled, nodding his head.

"So be it," he replied. "There is an empty hut at the edge of the settlement, you can sleep there and recuperate."

The man felt a sense of relief. It seemed the interrogation was over for the day.

"There is a mare waiting for you before you enter," the chief continued. "She will take care of your wounds and hunger and show you the way. Go."

"What mare?" the man thought confusedly.

Noticing his bewilderment, the chief laughed.

"You have already seen Imani," said the chief. "You saved her sister."

Alexei made a short bow, deeming it appropriate, and walked out of the hut. Two armed zebras flanked the entrance, watching his every move.

A little in the distance stood the aforementioned mare. Her head barely reached the man's chest, and the look in her eyes was full of respect and gratitude. She quickly ran up to the man, stood on her hind legs and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you. Thank you!" - sobbing, the mare whispered. "I wouldn't know what to do if I lost her."

The touching moment was interrupted by a rumbling in the man's stomach, reminding of his hunger. The mare released him from her embrace, brushed away tears, and smiled.

"Let's go," she said vigorously and led him toward a certain shack. "I won't let my sister's savior starve! But first your arm must be patched up."

The man's attention was drawn to the surrounding zebras, who cast a few grim glances at him. One in particular stood out, if he had gotten it right, a tightly built stallion looking at him with obvious malice.

"Why do they stare like that?" he addressed his companion, leaning in close to her ear.

Zebra sighed and seemed to gather her thoughts to formulate a suitable answer.

"I'll be honest," she finally spoke in a quiet voice. "You are not from here. You're an outsider. And you came at the wrong time. The tribe faced a beast raid in the morning. And here you are. Many see you as a herald of new troubles."

"I understand. Thank you for your honesty," the man murmured thoughtfully.

Finally, they came to Imani's hut.

Inside the wooden shack, there was an atmosphere of warmth and modest comfort. In the center of the only room was a small table covered with colorful pieces of cloth, beads, feathers, and shiny stones. On either side of the room were low shelves stacked with a variety of things. The ones on the right were filled with spools of brightly colored thread, bags of colorful beads, and other materials for jewelry. On the shelves to the left were ceramic pots of herbs and roots, bundles of dried flowers and herbs, and several small flasks. At the back of the room lay two stuffed sacks of coarse cloth, apparently serving as bedding for the residents.

Itanya, Imani's younger sister, was also present in the shack. As soon as she saw the man, she ran up to him and hugged his legs, repeating his name. Imani smiled and said something to her sister, whereupon she left the shack with some reluctance.

Imani sat the man down on the sack and began running around the room, bringing in a variety of pots and jars. While the zebra tended to his wounds, the man decided to find out what had been bothering him since his encounter with the chief.

"Can you explain something to me, Imani?" he began cautiously.

The zebra simply nodded, not taking her eyes off of applying some sort of herbal ointment to the wound.

"During my meeting with the shaman, I had some sort of strange sensation. I felt cold and something else. What was it?"

Zebra looked up and gave the man a perplexed look, as if he had just admitted he was an alien.

"Ancestral spirits. Who else could it be?" she said, looking at the man questioningly. "You've never met a shaman?"

The man felt as if he'd been electrocuted.

Spirits! There really were supernatural powers in this world! It was not in vain that he had come to this world! Perhaps it was here that he would find what he longed for.

He looked at Imani, and the zebra backed away slightly from his gaze, filled with obsession mixed with the flames of ambition.

"Can you answer a few questions?" the man said in a gentle voice, smiling at the zebra.

***

"What did the spirits say?" the chief asked.

"He hasn't lied once, but he's not telling us much," the shaman replied.

"Is he dangerous?" the chief clarified.

"I do not sense any magical powers from him. If there are any, they are extremely weak," the shaman shook his head.

"His appearance is suspicious. Is he connected to that explosion?" the chief continued to question.

"Not likely. He has no such powers and he told the truth, spirits don't make mistakes," the shaman replied indifferently. "He's probably another victim of the explosion, just like us. That would also explain his memory loss."

The chief remained silent, thinking deeply about the shaman's words.

"Look, if you dislike him so much, just kick him out or kill him. Or are you not a chief anymore?" the shaman asked caustically.

"You spend too much time with spirits, old friend," laughed the chief. "He saved one of our own. If we don't reward him properly, what will the other tribes think? In the future, if members of my tribe run into trouble, who will help them? You know better than I do how quickly news travels around here."

The shaman just shrugged, remaining indifferent after the chief’s passionate speech. He cared little for the affairs of the living.

"It is decided. The outsider will receive his reward," the chief concluded.

***

They talked until late into the night. Alexei had finally gotten a general sense of the world, cloaked in the isolation of his homeland and slight memory loss.

Spirits! Magic! Alchemy! Thousand-year-old creatures!

This world was filled with all sorts of riddles and mysteries. Almost every creature in this world could use magic in one form or another. Zebras had a special innate sensitivity and could interact with spirits, also thanks to this sense they were the best alchemists. Gryphons who controlled lightning. Pegasi who conquered the wind. Earth ponies that manipulated plants and the earth.

Unicorns stood out the most. They had no innate talent in any particular area, but they could use any magic once trained. And their ruler?

Alicorn, who had lived for thousands of years and, he still somewhat doubted, ruled the celestials. The man remembered the name of this being well - Celestia. To him, she was like the unreachable sun.

He found out from Imani that in addition to the shaman he already knew, the tribe also had a zebra-alchemist. He immediately wanted to become their apprentice. He wasn't sure about the shaman - he didn't have any of the necessary sensitivity - but alchemy was available to everyone.

Imani immediately crushed his naive dreams. Neither shaman nor alchemist would share their secrets with an outsider. The shaman already had an apprentice, and he was always the only one. That option immediately fell away. The only hope was alchemy. If it didn't work out, he would leave this tribe and head for Equestria, ruled by the very same Celestia.

Imani also sincerely advised him to ask the chief to make him a friend of the tribe. According to her this status was difficult to obtain normally, but he had the advantage of having the chief's promise. After becoming a friend of the tribe, he could ask the alchemist to make him his apprentice.

Now he was standing in front of the entrance to his hut, still coming to his senses. Imani was not with him. He had convinced the zebra, clearly tired of his onslaught, that he would find his way just fine on his own. He wanted to be alone. The brief directions were enough to keep him from getting lost.

The man raised his head and looked up at the starry sky. He remembered his life on Earth, its limitations and vanity. Why had he come to this world through that portal? What had driven him when he had risked his life without hesitation? What did he so passionately desire?

Eternal life.

He didn't care about the wealth, fame, or high position that the people of Earth chased after. They all live in a fake world with made-up rules, comparing each other's lives.

In his eyes, everything that would die sooner or later was equal. If you can't live forever, is there any difference between a king and a pile of shit? There is only immortality, only eternal life was the goal he wanted to pursue. There was no way to express such an aspiration to others, but Alexei wasn't looking for understanding.

On Earth one could only dream of something like this, but here? A glimmer of hope appeared.

He stood like that for a while, lost in his thoughts, and his gaze, previously blazing, grew colder and colder.

Chapter 4 - Shameless

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"Isn't this what you wanted, Siwazuri? I'm offering an opportunity," said a male voice belonging to a middle-aged zebra. "Why do you hesitate?"

"How do you know what I want?" replied Siwazuri in a harsh tone.

"Don't sass me, brat!" the stallion flashed back, slapping his hoof on the ground.

After a few moments, he regained his composure and continued: "So you're not interested in Imani anymore? Have you seen that monkey hovering around her? They seem to be getting closer and closer..."

"Trying to play on my affection, old fart?" snorted Siwazuri. "She gave a clear answer, she's not interested in me."

"You!" the stallion gritted his teeth, but continued in an already calm voice. "And you are satisfied with that?"

"What can I do? How will killing a monkey help me conquer Imani?", Siwazuri replied melancholically. "You're delusional, if you think I'm going to be a part of that."

"Heh heh heh. Don't lie to me. I know you well, my sweet nephew," the stallion said in a faux affectionate tone. "It's not about the monkey at all, is it? You just want to hurt her, don't you?"

Siwazuri looked at his uncle glumly, but didn't answer - the old man was right, and he couldn't deny it. There was a flicker of jealousy in his eyes, and an undercurrent of anger that he tried to hide. He sank into thought, mulling over his feelings. His uncle was silent, not interrupting his thoughts.

If Alexei were here - he would have recognized Siwazuri as the same stallion that had cast baleful glances at him as the man walked to Imani's hut.

"What do you propose?", Siwazuri finally asked.

"You will accuse him of desecrating your father's memory and demand a trial by duel," replied his uncle in an even voice.

"The chief will not agree to that," Siwazuri replied, frowning slightly at the mention of his father.

"You don't need to worry about that. He'll authorize the duel, I'll take care of it," the stallion assured him.

"What if the monkey refuses? The charges alone aren't enough to make it serious. He'll have a choice," Siwazuri said doubtfully.

"Hehehe, he'll definitely say yes," his uncle said mockingly. "You don't know it yet, but the monkey wants to become a friend of the tribe. If this matter is not settled-he can only give up the venture. And who said it would be mere accusations? It's going to be all natural."

"You want me to become a desecrator?!" roared Siwazuri, fixing his gaze on the stallion.

"Hush, hush, hush. Don't get so hot-headed. It's just a performance," his uncle said soothingly. "You don't have to do anything."

His uncle's words had the effect of dispelling the spunky stallion's worries.

"Why do you even want him dead?", Siwazuri asked, looking intently at the stallion across from him.

"Because it would be best for the tribe," the stallion replied gravely.

The answer and righteous tone didn't seem to impress Siwazuri enough - he began to laugh wildly, lurching sideways.

"What nonsense!", Siwazuri said with a laugh. "You think I don't realize whose reputation you want to undermine?"

"Are you up to your games again? One day the chief will cut off your head, my dear uncle."

"Mind your own business," the stallion snorted irritably. "All you're doing is killing the monkey like you wanted to. The rest is none of your business."

"I agree," Siwazuri nodded.

***

Alexei wandered along the edge of the forest, gathering anything remotely edible into a wicker basket. He dared not go deeper into the forest. Imani had told him in detail of all the terrors that lurked in the green depths.

He had been lucky to reach the plains alive. That flash of mental energy had killed all the small animals in a certain radius and frightened the larger ones. The beasts rushed in all directions from that clearing, creating chaos and fighting each other. Some of those beasts had attacked the tribe's camp that morning.

It had been three days since that momentous night.

The next morning he went straight to the chief and declared his desire to become a friend of the tribe. But nothing in life happens so easily. Bureaucracy had crept into these lands as well. He still had to pass some sort of test. The chief needed to consult with a shaman. The shaman needed to consult the spirits. And the spirits probably needed to consult with someone, too. All he had to do was wait for an answer.

But yesterday, another trouble had arisen - he had run into an insolent stallion who had been going through his belongings. The conflict did not turn into a fight, it was limited to the stallion's provocations and mutual glances.

However, this morning he was summoned by the chief and told that he had been accused of desecrating some altar of the deceased. There were even witnesses who had seen him leave the stallion's hut. Of course, it was all utter nonsense, but what could he do? He had no support.

He had learned all the rules and traditions of the tribe, and now he faced two options: refuse the duel and forget about joining the tribe, or accept the challenge. If he won, he would be accepted without further delay.

But the key word here was "if". The duel was not a simple performance. There was the option to surrender, but more often than not they ended in the death of one of the opponents. No outsider had the right to interfere in the fight, it was considered a serious insult to the tribe.

He had seen the abilities of other warriors of this tribe before, and they were no joke. Those red tattoos he had noticed earlier were actually special runes specific to zebras.
Unlike normal runes, the zebras' technique allowed them to be applied directly on the body, and utilize special abilities.

Runes and tattoos could be used by all sentient beings. How? Very simple - you had to inject your magical energy, mixed with mental energy, into the rune or tattoo.

Alexei laughed at that moment.

Well, sure. There was no way he could access magic so easily.

Tonight, before sunset, he had to give an answer to the chieftain. It was a dangerous situation, but also an opportunity. Alexei had previously found out through Imani the identity of the alchemist. The old zebra called Jiona was arrogant and selfish. Although she came from a tribe, she had spent most of her life in a major city. It was rumored that she was banished from there because of her questionable experiments. Upon returning to the tribe - she was ostracized by everyone, her character not improved in the slightest.

Alexei, picking up another fruit, smiled at his thoughts. He had already started to form some ideas for the upcoming fight.

***

"Are you really going to fight?", Imani asked for the tenth time that evening.

"Yes," Alexei answered calmly, not taking his eyes off his work.

He was now finishing the creation of a leather shield. It was essentially a hide stretched over a twisted branch. He connected the sides of the circle with more twigs and tied them together with the hemp rope he had taken from Imani. He didn't have high hopes for his makeshift defense, but even that was better than nothing.

Technically, armor was forbidden in the court of combat. But zebras never used shields and nothing in the rules said anything about it. After some bickering with the chief, the man managed to convince him that it wasn't armor, but a traditional weapon of the ancient apes.

"Refuse," the zebra continued his entreaties. "All of this happened because of me. Even if you don't become part of the tribe - I can take care of you.

"It won't stop with me. One day, your sister might get hurt,'' the man said in a determined tone as he looked at the sleepy filly in the back of the hut. Imani could discern tenderness and warmth in his gaze. I will put an end to this."

"You..." the zebra was clearly touched by his words.

"You don't have to say anything," the man interrupted her, raising his palm. "You've done a lot for me."

The zebra stiffened, not knowing what to say, but then, as if realizing, ran to the other side of the room and returned with a roll-up.

Unfolding it, the man's face brightened. In his hands was an iron tip with an elongated leaf-shaped blade. The blade was about twenty centimeters long, and the entire tip was about thirty.

"Where did you get the iron from?", Alexei asked with interest.

"We trade with the capital," Imani shrugged. "Also, trade caravans from Equestria pass through here a couple times a year. You're out of luck - they left a week before you arrived."

The man simply nodded and continued to examine the tip. A handle and a semblance of a garde could be made by wrapping strips of leather around it. Now he had an acceptable weapon for a duel. His opponent relied on speed and maneuverability, and it would be extremely foolish to use a full-fledged spear. His folding knife also no longer met his requirements.

It didn't take much time for that to happen and here he was already saying goodbye to his sisters. Imani hugged him tightly one last time and the man stroked her mane with a soft smile.

Walking out of the hut Alexei's face relaxed. All the warmth shown earlier disappeared and its place was taken by the usual expression of indifference. Without turning around, he walked through the deserted camp to his shack.

***

Morning enveloped the zebra settlement with its quiet breath. In the middle of the circle, a man and a stallion stood facing each other.

Alexei held his leather shield in his left hand, while the sharp tip of his spear gleamed in his right. Siwazuri, for his part, held in his teeth a hilt with two curved blades.

Looking at the zebra in front of him, the man for some reason remembered the deer beetle.

A crowd of zebra zebras gathered around them, eager to see the deadly duel.

"Are you ready?" came the voice of a zebra from the side.

The man and stallion nodded silently, not wanting to waste unnecessary words. A tense silence reigned around them.

"Remember, you are being watched by our ancestors. Begin!" the zebra shouted, breaking the silence.

The man, though ready, could only see a scarlet flash on the side of his opponent when he was already in front of him. He managed to put up his shield and was sent flying when he felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder. Before he could recover from his fall, he barely had time to react to the movement above him. Quickly rolling to the side, he avoided a dangerous blow that could have split his skull - a hoof was in place of his head.

Siwazuri despised the ape and thought him a weakling, but he wasn't arrogant. Arrogant zebras were plentiful. And almost all of them were already dead. He was going to give it his best shot.

The man jumped to his feet and put his shield in front of him again. A glimpse of his left shoulder and he could clearly see the bone. He dared not take his eyes off his opponent and ignored it completely.

After the initial onslaught, the stallion was in no hurry to attack again. The man knew the reason - the tattoos were 'overheating', they couldn't be used without stopping.

The man and the zebra slowly circled around each other. The human was wary of the second, unknown to him, tattoo, and the zebra just didn't want to take any chances.

After a few seconds, the zebra's side flashed red light again, and Alexei was ready. Rushing forward, he managed to stop the momentum of the stallion's charge with his shield, inflicting a neck wound. More wounds appeared on his left arm. The leather shield barely protected him from the zebra's attacks.

Siwazuri frowned and lunged at the man. Avoiding the shield, he slashed at the man's leg and with a sudden burst of speed, he bounced sideways, avoiding a counterattack. Such movements were simply impossible for a zebra.

The second tattoo's ability was finally revealed.

Vertical and horizontal charges might seem like very simple abilities, without the extra special effects usually attributed to magic. But they were quite effective. The bleeding man was proof of that.

The man rushed towards the zebra. Both tattoos were recharging and Siwazuri had no choice but to fight back with his own strength.

Suddenly, the man opened his mouth and spat out phlegm directly into the zebra's face. Siwazuri was dumbfounded by such an insult for a moment and missed the blow. A deep cut was now visible on his neck.

Multiple screams erupted from the crowd, scornful of the meanness of a certain ape.

The zebra's eyes filled with blood. He had been spit in the face in front of the entire tribe! He was even more annoyed by the condescending smile that appeared on the man's face.

He used his tattoo and lunged at the man again. But Alexei was ready and once again stopped his dash with his shield.

The battle continued with varying success, each showing their strength and determination. Alexei increasingly preferred to dodge - his left arm was getting weaker and weaker.

This infuriated zebra even more.

"Stop dancing, monkey, do you have any dignity left? Fight me like a true warrior!" - Siwazuri roared, holding up his weapon with his hoof.

Alexei looked at him with interest and smiled: "You consider yourself a true warrior?"

"Alright, let's finish this fight without all the tricks and magic. Just you, me, and our bodies," he said, tossing his shield aside.

Siwazuri snorted, but nodded to the man, acknowledging his choice.

The two began to slowly approach each other.

When they were within two meters of each other, the human's foot swung up and sent a cloud of sand into the zebra's face. The blinded Siwazuri began to shake his head furiously, expecting the human's attack, but it didn't hit anyone.

Suddenly he felt a strong sense of danger, but it was too late. A firm grip closed on his mane and pulled upward, and then something sharp slashed his throat. Pushing his attacker aside, he used both tattoos and, spitting the weapon out, finally wiped his eyes. Seeing the waterfall of blood beneath him he finally gave up.

"I-I *gurgh* surren..." the stallion wheezed, but was interrupted by a powerful kick to the stomach, knocking the air out of him.

The man was already at his side.

The last thing Siwazuri saw was the glint of metal as the blade stabbed into his eye, instantly reaching his brain. His legs gave out and the stallion collapsed to the ground.

He was dead.

There was dead silence for a moment, but then the crowd exploded with shouts.

"Disgusting!"

"Monkey bastard!"

"You fought unfairly!"

"Despicable creature!"

Alexei stood motionless, listening to this torrent of ridicule and condemnation. He even seemed to be enjoying it.

Suddenly, he burst into laughter, silencing everyone with surprise.

"You're right! All of you are right! What I did was despicable and I don't deserve to win. I'm ashamed," he said as he leaned over the stallion's body and patted his head. "You won."

The crowd was beyond furious.

It seemed as if they were about to tear the man to pieces, but Alexei knew that wouldn't happen. They were restrained by the same rules that had forced him to accept the duel.
All they could do was shout insults and criticize his personality.

Every being born into the world becomes a prisoner of societal norms and morals that are indoctrinated into them from birth. This is the nature of any organization that seeks to manage and control every step and thought of an individual. The saddest part is that many even use the collar put on them as a symbol of pride.

He organized this performance not to impress the zebras, but to gain a certain reputation. A reputation as a ruthless madman who disregarded all norms and rules. His position in the tribe was extremely precarious. Siwazuri, that stallion, was only one of his problems, and far from the last. He had already received explicit threats before.

Why do people have a fear of psychopaths and lunatics? Because they pose a danger? No.

The reason is that these people can easily cross a line that is considered taboo for everyone else. Their unrestraint causes terror in the hearts of ordinary people. How many will dare to seek trouble with him now?

Alexei brushed his thoughts away and looked questioningly at the chief, who looked at him with a complicated gaze. Then the chief simply nodded.

The man began to walk away. The previously infuriated crowd began to part, letting the bloodied man pass.

Imani ran out of the crowd and began anxiously circling around him, saying something. But Alexei paid no attention to it, concentrating only on one thought - to reach the hut. He was already dizzy from the loss of blood.

When he reached the hut, he collapsed on the floor and just lay there, smiling at the ceiling, watching the worried zebra running around him with potions and medicines.

***

The alchemist's hut where Alexei stood was modest in appearance, but full of mysterious items and artifacts. The walls were covered with shelves that held vials of unknown liquids, ingredients of all kinds, scrolls and ancient books with tattered covers. In the corner of the room stood a hand-painted table on which various tools and alchemical mixtures were laid. In the center was a black metal cauldron from which spiraling puffs of steam rose from the potion bubbling inside.

The air was filled with the smells of herbs and essential oils, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere.

"What a show you put on yesterday, outsider," the old zebra said cheerfully. "You disregarded all norms and caused the hatred of the entire tribe. I can see that you're well prepared, having studied my backstory."

"You overestimate me," the man said with a smile. "All of this happened by accident."

Zebra gave him a dubious look, but remained silent, mulling something over. A hint of determination flashed in her eyes.

"I know why you're here," Jiona finally said. "And I say yes. You will be my apprentice."

Chapter 5 - Path

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Alexei, sitting on a tree branch, watched the pack of needle-skinned wolves slowly move away.Their backs and sides were covered with sharp needles, capable of striking a target at a considerable distance. If he found himself surrounded by these wolves, they wouldn't even need to use their claws and teeth - a single fire would be enough to take his life.

If it wasn't for the need for resources - there was no way he would have returned to this forest.

The zebra alchemist, Jiona, had revealed to him one advantage of his body - the low concentration of magical energy. Most of the creatures in the forest had a high sensitivity to magic and he was like a dead tree to them.

Of course, that didn't mean he was invisible to them.

The beasts had the same hearing, sense of smell and sight as the beasts from Earth. At least he was hard to detect if he hid his scent, hid and stayed quiet. It gave him a sort of confidence as he wandered through the forest alone.

The alchemist, judging by her reaction, either didn't notice the complete lack of magic or didn't think it was something extremely strange. Both options were fine with Alexei.

In addition to the ingredients for his own training, he also had to pay the alchemist. Although she accepted him as an apprentice, that didn't mean the training would be free.
Most of her attention was focused on her main apprentice, and Alexei was accepted rather to annoy the others.

The alchemist's relationship with the tribe was complicated. She couldn't be replaced or kicked out, but the whole exile and return thing had riddled her reputation. There were many unpleasant rumors about her. The zebra herself was already living out her last years and all she wanted was to pass on her knowledge to her apprentice and piss off the arrogant zebras. It was her peculiar form of protest.

Alexei was sure that it was Jiona who had spread those rumors that she had accepted him as an apprentice only because of the chief's promise. Zebra clearly enjoyed stirring up petty conflicts.

Speaking of conflicts: several more zebras had challenged him, but he had refused all of them - he had already achieved his goal and needed no further battles. More and more humiliating rumors circulated around the tribe, but he didn't care.

Only a superficial person would be angry over insults and happy over praise. It's just a passerby's view of you.

When the wolves finally moved away, Alexei climbed down from the branch and began picking up anything that had any value in his eyes. The beast's many body parts and internal organs could also serve as ingredients for potions, but he dared not even think about that. At least not right now.

The man's gaze slid carefully through the forest cover, he hoped to find a magic crystal. Crystals were essentially crystallized magical energy and occurred in places of high concentration. They could even grow on the corpse of a strong enough magical beast.

Depending on the environment, crystals could have different elements in them, but they were mostly of neutral magical energy.
They were used for a wide variety of purposes, from an ingredient for creating potions and magical artifacts to serving as a form of currency in this world of magic.

But luck did not smile on Alexei this time either. Gathering what he could into his bag, he headed back to the village, leaving behind a forest full of mystery and danger.

***

Returning to the tribe the man came across Imani, who only snorted contemptuously and turned away. Alexei could only smile bitterly.

Recently there had been a furious argument between the two, audible to the entire tribe as the zebra accused the man of all sins and condemned his rotten nature.

It was all just another show put on by the man. He was already an outcast and he couldn't let his bond with the zebra drag her down after him. She was his only connection to the tribe and one of the few people he could turn to for help.

Imani, of course, figured he was doing this for her own good and took an even greater liking to him. He was already beginning to notice the first telltale signs of her forming affection. All this was most unfortunate. He would have preferred a friendly or brother-sister relationship.

Alexei had no extra time for a zebra in love at all!

His daily routine was strictly planned and left no room for personal relationships.

In the morning he would go to the forest, gathering ingredients he knew for potions and anything that was good for food.

From lunch until evening, he would spend time in the alchemist's hut, where he would listen to her explanations and diligently practice processing ingredients and creating potions. He was not allowed to study with another apprentice and this was the only time available.

Alexei devoted the evening and part of the night to reading. He studied zebra script, studied ingredients, memorized potion recipes by heart and read all available books in the common language of the tribe. Thankfully, the alchemist had found a few foal books that became his textbooks.

Sometimes he would sneak in at night to Imani and ask her about the state of affairs in the tribe or ask for help with his studies.

Otherwise, each day blended into a monotonous mass, but Alexei felt no boredom.

Alchemy!

It was something unimaginable. He had already experienced its power to the fullest - those terrible wounds he had received during the battle with Sivazuri were healing quickly. The day after the battle, he could walk freely. The pain hadn't gone anywhere, but Alexei was starting to get used to it.

Regeneration. Blood regeneration. Strength. Speed. Poisons. Fire blasts.

The list was endless. As long as you had the right recipe and ingredients - alchemy was as good as unicorn magic.

The only thing that troubled Alexei was his lack of a sense of magical energy. It was not about the special sensitivity of zebras, but about the sense of magic inherent in any creature.

Everyone around him had that sense, but he didn't. Anyone could sense that he had weak magic. Anyone could feel the energy of a magic crystal within a certain radius.

Anyone but him.

In this world where everything was saturated with magical energy, this was a serious disadvantage. Right now, he was only mastering the "zero" level of alchemy and making the simplest potions. He made up for his lack of magical flair with persistence and following the recipe exactly. But he knew it wouldn't last long.

Without a sense of magic, further path in alchemy was closed to him.

Thus, four months flew by unnoticed for Alexei, absorbed in his aspirations and hard work.

***

Alexei stood in the alchemist's hut, filled with the smell of herbs and magical ingredients. Light streamed through the small windows, creating a play of shadows on the walls. In the center of the room was an old wooden tabletop, covered in stains and marks from previous experiments. Behind it stood Jiona, a zebra with wise eyes and a serious expression.

"I have mastered all the necessary knowledge as you instructed," Alexei said, bowing to the zebra. "Please teach me basic alchemy."

"I've already told you a hundred times that it's useless," Jiona muttered glumly. "I don't know what happened to you in that explosion, but you no longer have the sense of magic. You can't brew any entry level potions without it."

"I understand, but I still want to try," the man replied firmly. "I'll bring you three times as many ingredients as before."

The zebra looked at him carefully and sighed. Then a few more.

"Listen, Alexei," she finally spoke. "Speaking of perseverance - you're my best student. I admire your perseverance, but... I just can't."

"Why?" the man asked in a calm voice.

"I've been forbidden," Jiona replied through clenched teeth.

"Forbidden? You? And you obeyed?" said Alexei in surprise.

"Don't make fun of the old zebra," Jiona replied sadly. "You see, I have my own difficulties."

"I understand," Alexei retorted emotionlessly and was about to leave, but was stopped by the zebra.

"Wait," the zebra muttered, turning its head to the left and as if looking out for something in the empty space. "If you're really determined - there is one way, but the price will be appropriate."

"What way?" the man perked up.

"You can make a deal with a spirit," Jiona replied, still looking at the seemingly empty space. "The shaman doesn't care about reputation and other conventions, he won't refuse you because of your status."

"What is the nature of the deal? What's the price?", Alexei asked.

"If you can make a deal with the alchemist spirit - she will share all her knowledge with you and can help you with her sense of magic," the zebra shrugged. "As for the price - your life."

"Life? What do you mean?" the man said confused.

"Your life energy. In other words - lifespan," Jiona explained. "You'll have to bargain well, the spirits are greedy for the world of the living."

"How does the bargaining take place? Is there some sort of contract? How many years do the spirits demand?"," Alexei started to barrage the alchemist with questions, but was interrupted.

"You'd better ask all these questions to the shaman, if he agrees to your request," the zebra said. "You can trust him. At least where spirits are concerned."

Alexei considered for a few moments and then nodded to himself.

"Thank you for your guidance," the man said with a bow. "I will not forget your kindness."

"Go already," the zebra sighed. "I hope you find what you so ardently desire."

The man's lips stretched in a smile as he turned and walked out of the alchemist's hut.

When he reached his humble hovel, he stepped inside, sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. A heavy sigh escaped his chest.

"Again. Once again someone has appeared to interfere with me," he thought coldly. "The chief? Someone at the top of the tribe? The family of that dead zebra? It doesn't matter. I don't regret my choice."

"The main problem is myself," Alexei continued to ponder, feeling slightly irritated. "I'm too weak."

On Earth, one man's strength was limited, but in this world filled with magic? As long as you're strong enough - you can do whatever you want.

The only thing he could count on was his own strength, and without strength, freedom was only an illusion.

The man's eyes filled with determination, and after gathering his things, he left the hut.

Then quietly crept over to Imani, his faithful zebra companion, from whom he kept all his most precious possessions. After a brief conversation, he headed towards the shaman's hut, ready to make a deal even with the very embodiment of evil.

***

"I see your sincerity," the shaman nodded, examining the crystals before him. "But I can only summon the spirits. It is up to them to decide who to contract with."

"I agree," Alexei replied briefly, maintaining his resolve.

"Good, then... Hmm. You have quite an interesting bracelet," the shaman murmured thoughtfully, examining the man's hand.

Alexei inwardly rolled his eyes at the zebra's greed, but only smiled and held out his wooden bracelet to the shaman.

"Please accept this humble gift, Honorable Shaman," he said with a smile.

"Well, if you so insist. The spirits will like your generosity," the shaman smiled. "Come back at night."

Nodding, Alexei bowed to the shaman and left the hut.

Back in his cozy hut, he ate a meal of fruit and began to ponder the upcoming deal.

How clever were the spirits?

He needed to think through every detail of the future contract. He might have seemed reckless, but he carefully thought and planned his every move.

Time flew by unnoticed, and night fell.

Alexey quickly stretched his muscles, which were stiff from sitting and headed back to the shaman's hut.

Once inside, he noticed that in the center of the room stood a bowl with smoking embers, and next to it lay a scroll.

"There you are," the shaman smiled. "Sit down in front of the embers and let us begin."

Alexei nodded and sat down on the floor in front of the bowl. The shaman threw something into the embers, and a smell reminiscent of tar and forest herbs began to spread through the hut.

The shaman closed his eyes, standing still as if transforming into a mystical statue.

Alexei honestly expected the shaman to start singing, dancing, or beating a drum. It was rather difficult to get rid of certain associations. But nothing of the sort was happening.

Time stretched slowly, and Alexei began to doubt whether the shaman had really summoned a spirit.

Finally, the shaman opened his eyes.

"Your request has been answered by a spirit," he said with a mysterious smile. "You may discuss terms."

Alexei looked around, but saw no visible presence of the spirit.

"A spirit? Where is he?" - He asked, twisting his head around.

"I'm right here, you silly biped," came a female voice in his head. "So, what do you have to offer?"

The negotiations began.

***

"I swear I will skin you, drink every last drop of blood, and feed the corpse to the hyenas!" roared the zebra in the man's head.

"Please don't be angry, great spirit, my offer is quite generous," Alexei replied mentally, smiling.

"Sixteen years of your pathetic monkey life for all the experience I've gained in a hundred and eighty years?!" the zebra continued to yell. "What am I, a harbor whore to you?!"

"In fact, I was suggesting nine, but I'm willing to go along with you - ten years," the man replied still mentally. "And let's not talk about one hundred and eighty years. Why do I need your experience of senile marasmus?"

"Bastard! I'll gut you right now!" the zebra howled.

Alexei was really starting to feel the scratching all over his body, but he was still smiling.

"Ten is the limit of my generosity, or I refuse," he retorted.

"Twenty and not a month less. You refuse? Who else wants to deal with you?" the zebra chuckled.

"I don't see a line of willing people in front of you either," the man snorted. "Are you just going to dust in the crypt?"

"Now you've really crossed the line!" the zebra hissed.

The negotiation went on for over two hours.

The man and the zebra took turns cursing each other and bargaining for every day of his life. And all this in absolute silence, under the understanding gaze of the shaman. It looked really awkward.

Finally, the parties came to an agreement.

"One day I'll piss on your grave, son of a fleabag whore," the zebra muttered. "All right! I'll settle for fourteen."

The man smiled and reached for a scroll, writing down all the terms of the contract with a piece of charcoal.

"Your name, spirit?" he finally spoke.

"Saada," it sounded in his head.

Alexei wrote her name down on the scroll, and to complete the transaction, he cut his finger and dripped his blood on the parchment. At the same moment, a second stain appeared next to his blood, brown and ugly, reminiscent of decay and decomposition.

Alexei then handed the scroll to the shaman, who threw it into the embers. The scroll burned instantly, and the ash flew up and split into two currents, flowing into Alexei and the, now visible, spirit beside him.

"I think we'll work together," the dead zebra smirked.

***

By the time Alexei returned to his hut, it was deep into the night. But he didn't feel tired, and he wasn't going to rest. There were too many important questions swirling around in his head, and finally he had a reliable source of information, for which he had paid the price of fourteen years of his life. Though, of course, not right away.

One of the conditions he had fought so desperately for was the gradual transfer of life. After all, what would happen if the spirit was destroyed by someone? The man would be left with absolutely nothing.

The terms of the contract were clear - eight years of training and full assistance from the zebra, in exchange for Alexei's lifespan. However, the contract could be terminated at any time if both parties mutually agreed, but if he chose to end the bond early, he would have to give up all fourteen years at once.

Alexei thought about adding a mutual non-aggression clause to the contract, but the shaman assured him that it wasn't necessary. As long as the contract was in effect, they could not intentionally harm each other. Mild breaches of the contract caused only minor retaliation, and serious ones caused death.

Another important condition of the contract was complete confidentiality. Saada had no right to tell or give anyone information about him, but Alexei had no such restrictions.

So he didn't have to hide anything from Saada. He decided to share his whole story with her, not even hiding his alien origin.

"Your life is really funny, human," Saada laughed.

"So how do I use magic? Share your one hundred and eighty years of experience with me," Alexei grinned.

"You don't. You don't meet two basic requirements," the zebra chuckled.

"The first requirement is having magical energy?" he asked, frowning. "What about the second?"

"You don't have a soul!" the zebra chuckled.

"What?!" Alexei stupefied.

"Exactly! I don't understand it either. You're alive, but you don't have a soul," the zebra replied cheerfully.

"What is a soul anyway?" Alexei asked, frowning even more.

"Well, no one knows exactly. Research in this area is progressing very slowly," Saada spoke thoughtfully. "When a creature is born, the magical energy in its forming brain mixes with thoughts to form a soul."

"The soul generates and stores mental energy. That's all I know," the zebra added.

Alexei sank deeper and deeper into thought, contemplating his situation.

"Maybe I had a soul but lost it in the mental explosion?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"No, I would have noticed, and you wouldn't be running around so briskly after destroying your soul either. You just don't have one. Ever since you were born," the zebra replied. "You belong to a rather interesting species. I wish I could dissect you."

"Wait. If the soul generates the mental energy needed for thoughts, then how do thoughts appear in the forming brain when the soul isn't there yet?" Alexei asked suspiciously. "And how were the experiments conducted?"

"That's right! No one has ever figured out where that first spark comes from," exclaimed the zebra. "On animals, mostly. Yes, they have souls too, though somewhat different. Doing mass experiments on intelligent pregnant creatures is quite problematic. Well, you understand."

Alexei understood. He'd already heard the summary of Saada's life. Similar questionable experiments had gotten her killed.

"What about tattoos or runes? Can I use them with your help?" the man asked with some hope.

"I'm dead, remember? Ghosts have almost no magical energy. I can only activate a small rune, nothing else," Saada said. "You could use an outside energy source, like a crystal, but there's a high risk of me being burned by the backlash."

"What about magical artifacts?", Alexei asked already hopelessly.

"Do you have any idea what those are?" the zebra laughed. "Any artifact is a complex combination of alchemical processes, dense runic inscriptions, and a multitude of materials. How are you going to control all of that? You're just going to perish."

"Then what's left? Stretch your memory and find all the options available to me," the man sighed.

Zebra fell silent, immersed in her memories.

"There are two options I can offer you," she finally spoke.

"The first option is two tattoos you can use with my help," the zebra continued. "One of them will increase your speed, and it will need blood instead of magical energy to activate. The ingredients for it are fairly easy to get. The second tattoo has a permanent effect, boosting your body's regeneration. It will give impressive results without any side effects, but the ingredients for it will be quite expensive."

Alexei listened intently, catching every detail. The first option seemed realistic enough, but his mind was already reaching for the second option.

"The second option is a ritual inspired by chimerization experiments," the zebra continued. "The effect of this ritual is hard to predict, especially in your case, but by design it should give the creature magical talent. I found this ritual in an abandoned laboratory, but I have never used it. The ingredients for this ritual are extremely rare and difficult to obtain. And I must tell you something else: according to the records, all attempts have ended in either death or insanity of the subject. If you risk the second option - you'll have to do a bunch of experiments, making adjustments and correcting the defects that cause insanity."

Zebra transmitted all the additional information directly into the man's brain and his face grew serious.

This was what he was looking for - two options, two opportunities to change his fate. The first option was the more accessible one, and the second... The second evoked a mixture of anxiety and excitement in him.

The ritual itself wasn't a huge problem. He could catch some unicorn and, through methods of advanced diplomacy, convince it to help him. The ingredients, that was the difficulty.

Essence of darkness? Phoenix tears? Alicorn blood? And a bunch of other names he wasn't familiar with.

He didn't know about the power of the phoenix, but even he had heard of alicorns. Get the blood of an alicorn? An ant had a better chance against an elephant.

Of course, the man wasn't going to give up. He was already used to the difficulties and obstacles in his way.

For the first time since coming to this world, he had a clear direction, and he was ready to follow it, no matter what. Of course, everything could change in the next second, but there was nothing he could do about it.

The world was hard to predict, but that's what made it so interesting.

"I see you've already made your decision," the zebra said and chuckled. "I wasn't wrong about you. Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"

Chapter 6 - Matters of love

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Headaches. It was now an essential part of Alexei's life.

Zebra needed to give him over forty years of her memories in an eight-year contract, meaning the man had to receive five days of her memories every day. He couldn't afford to wait eight years, so he offered to triple Saada's daily portion. The price for this was a constant throbbing pain in his head, but he didn't complain. With some supportive elixirs, his brain would be fine. At least that's what Saada claimed.

Alexei spent most of his time digesting information and conducting mental experiments. The phrase took on a new meaning as the zebra was capable of transmitting visual images to him.

Massaging his temples, Alexei took a deep breath and reached for the bowl of scarlet liquid. He was in his hut, ready to get a tattoo that would increase his speed when activated.

Just like Saada had said - the ingredients for this tattoo were easy to obtain. Some of them he had purchased from Jiona, and the rest he had gathered himself.

Taking off his pants, he made himself comfortable and laid the sketch in front of him. The drawing was like an abstract depiction of sharp gusts of wind, detailed and full of curlicues. There was a lot of work to do.

Alexei decided to get the tattoo on the inside of his thigh, since it was more or less a protected spot and he could reach it easily. Though he would have preferred to get it on his back so that it wouldn't be lightly visible when activated, but that presented some difficulties. Saada was quite capable of interacting with the material world, but she was already exhausted from relaying tons of information to him every day. It would take too much time.

Dipping a pointed sliver of a bamboo-like plant into the bowl, he began to pierce the skin. He had no artistic talent, but with the zebra's prompting, his hands moved with surgical precision.

He started just after noon and finished by nightfall. Wiping the blood off the drawing, he reached for the restorative potion and signaled to the zebra.

The tattoo flashed with scarlet light, activating. Alexei felt as if hot oil had been poured on his skin. The first activation was always painful - the tattoo was embedded in his flesh - but it was normal. He splashed the potion on the drawing and grimaced at the new flare of pain.

Finally, it was over. The wind pattern shone on his skin and the inflammation was fading.

He didn't have time to feel the effects of the tattoo, distracted by the pain, but that could be put aside for later. There were more important things to do.

Alexei wiped the blood and potion residue from his leg, dressed, and quietly walked out of his hut into the cool of the night.

Following Saada's clues, he confidently avoided random passersby and a few spirits, making his way deep into the camp toward a specific hut.
Waiting for Saada's confirmation, he carefully pulled back the canopy and stepped inside.

The interior of the hut of a young stallion, adventurous by nature, opened up before him. The walls were decorated with paintings depicting the lush landscapes of this magical world. On the floor was a carpet chaotically strewn with all sorts of patterns. In the center of the room stood a wooden table covered in dust, on which were scattered a few scrolls, pieces of charcoal, and some utensils. Several saddlebags lay nearby. Above the table hung a map of the plains and part of the forest, with various places and paths marked on it, indicating his experience and knowledge of the area. The man looked at the map, memorizing all the useful information.

That's right, the man now had night vision. Well, not exactly he had. Saada could see in the dark and silently shared what she saw with Alexei. While this was somewhat unusual, he was used to it and recognized that without the zebra's help, his path would have been much more difficult.

In the corner of the room, on a soft mattress, the owner of the hut himself was sleeping peacefully, his face expressing satisfaction. He must have been dreaming something good.

The man's eyes flashed with sinister intent.

"On the left, behind that canvas," Saada's voice sounded in his head.

Step by step, Alexei approached the cloth and carefully pulled it away, revealing a neatly folded cloth that resembled a wide handmade scarf. He looked at it questioningly, turning mentally to Saada.

"Is this it?" he asked.

Receiving confirmation from Saada, Alexei turned without further ado and quietly left the stallion's hut, heading back to his hideout.

***

The sun's rays filtered through the thick foliage and lit the way for the two travelers, stallion and human.

"Have I told you how much I hate you?" the stallion said in a tired voice.

"Yes, many times," Alexei replied, smiling at him. "Don't get so upset, my friend. Life goes on."

"I hate you," the stallion said with some sort of conclusion, casting a frown at the man.

Tamu, Alexei's new friend, was the same stallion whose hut he had broken into the night before. Earlier, he had encountered a couple of zebras engaged in carnal pleasures on the edge of the forest while collecting ingredients to pay Jiona's tuition. He immediately recognized one of them as the chief's daughter, and through Imani, found out the stallion's identity and the rest of the information. It appeared that the stallion, secretly from the chief and the entire tribe, was dating the mare. It wouldn't have been anything special if it wasn't for the identity of this mare.

Alexei had previously been busy with alchemy and had only memorized the story behind these zebras, but now he saw their relationship to his own benefit.

The cloth he had stolen in the night was a traditional gift for lovers in the tribe. The mare herself wove this cloth and chose the pattern for embroidery. This scarf, or hood if necessary, was a practical and meaningful gift.

But how could zebras weave? Alexei didn't fully understand their amazing agility and the property of hoofkinesis that allowed them to attract and hold anything in their hooves.

And what did it mean to use magic? Residual energy. The cloth was saturated with the mare's energy, which was undeniable proof. The stallion obviously wore this scarf often, as Saada detected his energy on the fabric as well. Even if the energy dissipated over time - the man still had a witness in the form of Saada.

After visiting the stallion in the morning, he began to blackmail him shamelessly and extort crystals.

He needed to collect a lot of crystals before the caravan from Equestria arrived soon. The man had nothing more to do in the tribe, now it was more like a cage. He planned to bribe the chief and get a recommendation to join the caravan. It was too dangerous to travel alone, but the caravan could provide him with some safety.

The most important element of blackmail was Tamu himself, or rather the fate mark on his side. It was another strange quirk of this world, but all ponies and zebras had marks expressing their special talent. Tamu had a scrap of map with a cross in the center, signifying his talent for finding valuable items.

Such a talent could indeed attract other people's envy and greed. Perhaps that was why the stallion led an extremely humble life, hiding the true capabilities of his mark.

If the stallion had been less cowardly and more determined - he would have already made a fortune. Previously, he had only occasionally visited the forest with the tribe's warriors, but that had all changed now.

"Stop," the man's order suddenly sounded.

"What is it? I wanted to get back to the tribe before tonight," the stallion began to complain.

"Shut up," came the man's short reply.

Tamu was about to start to get indignant, but stopped when he saw the man's frown as he looked around the surrounding forest. The man pulled out his customary spearhead, and his left hand reached for the pouch on his belt.

"What have you got?" he mentally asked Saada.

"Nothing," came the reply. "I can fly down and take a look around."

"No. Stay close," Alexei declined the offer. "Be ready to activate the tattoo."

All of this was somewhat unsettling. The unknown threat was always the scariest.

For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then, at the edge of the man's vision, something dark and extremely fast flashed.

Saada did not fail and activated the tattoo in the same instant. With a sudden increase in speed, the man jumped aside, avoiding the attack. He barely had time to see his attacker, a huge black cat with dark purple spots, when it disappeared back into the bushes.

"Dark leopard," Saada confirmed his thoughts.

"Disable the tattoo," the man said.

"Are you sure? I might not make it in time, these leopards are quite fast," the zebra said doubtfully.

"I'll run out of blood quickly if it's active all the time," the human grinned.

This tattoo passively increased his speed and reaction while it was activated, sucking his blood in return. Unlike active ability tattoos, it didn't overheat - it could be turned on and off at will. Having run tests earlier, Alexei had found out that his limit was two minutes. Then he would begin to lose consciousness.

"What was that?!" the shocked stallion finally shouted.

"Shut up," followed the man's cold reply. "Hide in the roots of the tree behind you."

The man's words brought the stallion to his senses, and he quickly ducked under the protection of the roots.

Tamu, his hen laying golden eggs, was quite an asset to the human. This cat had picked the wrong zebra for a snack.

These predators were not only fast, but also possessed a distinctly magical stealth, easily hiding in the shadows, making them even more dangerous. But the man was not about to relent.

The man continued to stand still, his heart beating harder and his hand clutching a clay vial with a wooden stopper.

Suddenly, he saw a flickering shadow and reflexively dodged, throwing a vial at his attacker. The clay vial shattered on the ground, causing a bright explosion that enveloped the leopard in flames. The predator quickly disappeared into the bushes, but a trail of sparse drops of blood testified to its wounds.

Nodding, the man turned around and walked towards the hidden stallion, running his hand into another pouch.

"Where are you going? They're very territorial and vengeful, he's not gone yet," Saada spoke hurriedly.

"Activate tattoo and watch my rear," came the reply from the man who continued walking.

Ten meters later, the man felt a signal from the zebra noticing the drops of blood as the leopard appeared behind him, preparing to jump. Turning sharply, Alexei threw the vial right into the muzzle of the beast, which had no time to react and was engulfed in flames.

Squinting, the man tensed, expecting the most fierce counterattack of the beast, but it did not follow. The smoke dispersed, revealing the body of a dark leopard lying lifeless on the ground.

Alexei examined it carefully, then exhaled and signaled Saada to disable the tattoo.

The man froze for a moment, contemplating his circumstances. He had fought a pitiful hyena earlier and had even sustained some injuries. Now he had easily killed a much more dangerous dark leopard and from the injuries he had only light blood loss, and that only because of the tattoo.

Alexei felt pleasure - his strength was growing. The stronger he became, the more freedom and chances he had to reach his goal. It was only a young leopard from the edge of the forest and the man dared not become overconfident, but it was still a pleasant victory.

With a glimpse of the stallion climbing out of the roots, the man began to examine the corpse of the leopard. The eyes were completely destroyed, but the heart and fangs were intact, they could be used to create potions. Using a sharp blade, the man quickly extracted the parts of the leopard he needed and wrapped it in a cloth and stowed it in his bag.

Looking at the slightly dazed Tamu, who had been standing silently nearby the whole time, the man grinned. Today, thanks to this lucky stallion, he had collected a whole bag of crystals.

Time to head back to camp.

***

Back in his humble hut, Alexei felt a pleasant sense of coziness. He was exhausted after defeating the dark leopard and getting some crystals, but it was not time to rest. He had one more potion to prepare before going to bed. Tomorrow he, along with his new partner, planned to venture deeper into the forest, but some preparation was needed.

Unfortunately, he didn't have a cauldron, so he had to improvise.

Earlier, he had built a small support for the pot by gathering rocks from the forest stream. Underneath the pot was an oil lamp. But oil was not the most efficient option, so Saada suggested replacing it with a more flammable liquid, providing the necessary recipe. It turned out rather primitive, but it couldn't be helped. Food in the tribe was mostly cooked over campfires. Though some had clay ovens, but not in his hut.

The man poured water into the pot, then he carefully placed the pot on the stone support, checking that everything was stable and secure. Using a spark from two stones, he ignited the pipe and carefully lit the lamp. While the water heated, he began preparing the ingredients.

Saada hovered beside him, ready to assist and suggest the proper steps. Alexei took a mortar and carefully placed the leopard fangs in it. Dropping a liquid from a vial nearby, he began to grind them with slow and rhythmic movements. The previously hard fangs now turned into a fine mushy substance resembling a cloud of dark dust.

Alexei then took the flowers he had collected during his travels through the forest. He carefully crushed them in a mortar to isolate the aromatic oil that would become the second key component of the potion. With each movement, he inhaled the sweet and spicy odor that filled his nostrils and dispelled his fatigue.

Now it was his turn to add some roots and herbs that had magical properties. Alexei grinded them with passion in a mortar, creating a thick paste. Through Saada, he could feel the energy and power present in each plant combine and meld together.

Alexei checked the temperature of the liquid in the pot and began adding ingredients. Under the heat, the potion began to slowly heat up.

The man continued to carefully stir the liquid and add the last ingredients, paying close attention to each movement. He could feel the potion gaining new properties and strength, as if it were coming to life under his hands. There was an atmosphere of mystery and boundless possibilities around him, which penetrated every cell of his body.

Gradually the potion acquired the desired color and consistency.

Alexei looked at the result of his labor with satisfaction - it was a potion capable of hiding the radiation of magical energy. Of course, the potion was intended for his partner; the man had no need for it.

Saada, who had been watching the process all this time, made a soft and approving sound, as if congratulating the man on the successful completion of his work.

While the potion cooled, they continued his training - the man wasn't going to waste a second of his time.

After a couple hours, he carefully poured the liquid into several vials and corked the lid. With this potion, their trek tomorrow should be much safer.

And with that thought, he went to bed, preparing for the new challenges that awaited him the next day.

***

At the edge of the forest stood a man looking off into the distance, waiting for his partner, a stallion named Tamu, to approach.

Tamu's face was an expression of fatigue and discontent. Yesterday they had narrowly escaped death after an encounter with a leopard, and now Alexei was leading him into this cursed forest again.

The stallion felt that his life was in danger. And there was nothing he could do about it!

If his liaison with the mare became known to the chief, he would be finished. Or perhaps his end would come here in this gloomy forest. Tamu didn't know which end would be less painful.

"Here, drink this," Alexei said, handing the stallion an already opened vial of potion.

"What is it?" asked Tamu suspiciously, he wasn't expecting anything good from this strange ape.

"A potion that conceals magic," the man replied. "It will make it easier for us to avoid dangerous beasts."

The stallion looked thoughtfully at the vial, sighed, and drank the contents. He listened to his sensations for a few moments, and then calmed down - Alexei had not cheated, the potion really did hide his energy.

Alexei gave him another potion and explained that it should be poured on his fur and rubbed in to hide his scent from the beasts.

"So where are we going today?" asked Tamu in an already more satisfied tone.

"Remember that lake on your map?" asked Alexei cheerfully. "That's where we're headed."

"ARE YOU NUTS?!" the stallion yelled, stunned by the answer. "You want me dead! It's too dangerous out there!"

"Where there is danger, there is opportunity, my friend," Alexei smiled. "Calm down. I've already been there several times. As you can see, I'm fine."

"I'm not going," Tamu flatly refused. "I like being alive, thank you."

"Oh, really?" asked Alexei, looking at the stallion intently. "Then you should definitely go."

"Damn you," the surrendered stallion growled.

Alexei didn't reply, but simply turned and headed deep into the forest. Tamu followed him with a doomed look.

The path to the lake was not a short one, and every step required vigilance.

Alexei and Tamu moved cautiously, trying not to attract attention. They hid in the dense vegetation, using every cover to avoid encounters with magical beasts. Sometimes they heard all sorts of disturbing sounds in the distance - the roar of beasts, the noise of falling trees, and the bizarre melodies of unknown creatures that created an atmosphere of tension and danger.

They saw strange magical beasts lurking among the trees. One of them was a huge bird with feathers of multicolored hues, its wings glistening with sparks as if its inner magic was ignited. Another was a creature with the head of a lion and the body of a huge snake that glittered with golden scales.

They skirted around these strange creatures, making a huge detour but not risking attracting their attention. Alexei and Tamu moved silently, as if they were ghosts. Saada was especially good at it. They hid in the shadows of the trees, listening for every sound, every rustle.

Finally, after many hours of advance, they reached the top of the hill. And there, in the distance, they had a view of the lake. Its water glistened in the morning sun like liquid silver. They stopped, mesmerized by the natural beauty.

In the distance, on the other shore, they noticed a majestic waterfall that created a rhythmic chant that filled the air with magical sounds.

The stallion and the man decided to make a brief stop on a hill to rest before continuing their journey. The stallion was clearly panicking. His previously admiring gaze at the beauty of the lake was replaced by anxiety. He was already thinking of fleeing, but knew he couldn't make it back alive on his own.

"Are you really going to the lake?", Tamu asked with obvious anxiety in his voice.

"No, of course not. It's too dangerous there. I'm not that crazy," the man snorted. "We're only exploring the vicinity of that hill."

The stallion let out a sigh of relief. This man was really driving him crazy.

"Why are you like this?" the stallion asked suddenly, looking at the man thoughtfully.

"Be more specific," the man replied indifferently, resting against a tree as Saada surveyed surroundings.

"Evil. Why are you so evil?" Tamu replied.

"What makes you think I'm evil?" the man replied with a snort. "I don't think I am."

"Then what are you? Siwazuri wanted to surrender, but you killed him," the stallion said sadly. "Now you're risking my life for your own gain."

"Hehe. Then what about you, Tamu? Aren't you the greatest sinner of the tribe?" the man replied snidely.

"What do you mean?" the stallion asked perplexed. "Don't bring my love for Aisha into this."

"Exactly," Alexei replied smiling. "She was destined to enter into a political marriage with a young chief of a neighboring tribe, but that's where you came in. Unification would strengthen your tribe, which would consequently increase its chances of survival. You suffered greatly from that beast raid. Will it be the last?

"Your selfish desires will ruin everything, and your and Aisha's story will end in tragedy.

"You will be the cause of the extermination of the entire tribe. So what are you if not a great sinner?"

The stallion was completely stunned by the man's monologue. He had never thought of it in that way before.

Yes, he knew the chief would not be pleased with their bond, but he believed it was all the fault of his low status. He still cherished the hope of changing that by working diligently for the good of the tribe.

But now Alexei said he was leading his tribe to extermination.

And deep down, he knew the man was right. But even so - he didn't want to give up his love for Aisha!

"If I still want to follow my selfish desires... am I evil?" the stallion muttered, shocked by the new realization.

He shuddered at the sudden burst of laughter. The man laughed heartily, eyeing the stallion.

"What is good? What is evil?" the man said with a chuckle. "These are all just made-up concepts that don't exist in reality. As long as you follow your heart's call - you will feel no regrets.

"You can be both the demise of a tribe and a new hope for it, Tamu. It all depends on you. Your talent could be the key to the tribe's prosperity.

"Would the chief then dare say anything against your union? He would become a sinner of the tribe himself by forbidding you to love Aisha!

"All you need is a little determination. You were only cowardly hiding before, but now look where you are? Wandering through a deadly forest.

"You still have hope."

Tears came to the stallion's eyes. Besides his parents and Aisha, no one had ever said such sweet words to him. He did feel hope, subtle and fragile, but it was still there.

"Thank you," Tamu said sincerely, looking at the man.

"You're welcome," the man smiled. "Now, get your shit together. We must finish the job and return alive to the tribe. She's waiting for you there, remember?"

The stallion nodded decisively.

Alexei mentally slapped Saada, who was laughing hysterically in his head, and started to get up from the ground. There was a lot of work ahead.

Chapter 7 - Throwing off the shackles

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Early morning was enveloping the camp located in the picturesque savannah. The atmosphere was imbued with tranquility and harmony, in which the zebras found their place.

Alexei had just finished breakfast and was now scrutinizing the sacks that had been left overnight to dry. For the past two days he had saturated them with a special compound suggested by Saada. Zebra had outdone herself by perfecting the recipe and changing some of the ingredients. Alexei also contributed as much as he could, offering a few ideas. He progressed rapidly and was soon to reach intermediate level alchemy.

The main component of the potion was now human blood. Being an entity without a single drop of magic, his blood did an excellent job of hiding magic radiation. However, this compound was only suitable for processing objects, so Alexei still had to gather ingredients for the potion he used to feed Tama.

Alexei smirked, thinking of his partner.

Tamu had undergone an incredible change lately. Previously cowardly and hesitant, he had become literally obsessed with his daily forays into the forest. The conversation on the hill was deeply ingrained in his soul, and the stallion tried his best to collect as many magic crystals as possible.

Now Alexei was giving him a portion of the spoils, but it did not cause him losses. On the contrary, his profits had tripled!

Tamu glowed with hope and turned into a hound with burning eyes. It was just as the man had planned. He even pretended not to notice Tamu hiding some of the crystals he had found from him. As long as the stallion didn't cross a certain line, Alexei wouldn't suppress it.

Of course, he knew that sooner or later Tamu would get cocky, but that was the nature of all sentient beings, be they human or zebra. But the human didn't care about that. By then he would be leaving the tribe and traveling with the caravan to Equestria.

He quickly transferred the crystals from the bags into two sacks and looked out of the hut, looking around. The tribe was just waking up, and aside from a few sentries there was no one in sight.

Taking one sack, Alexei quietly snuck over to Imani, who was just waking her sister. He decided to leave one of the bags with her and hide the other in his hut.

He couldn't risk leaving the crystals in the forest, after all, the beasts had much keener senses and his shielding bags wouldn't fool them. To many beasts, the crystals were like delicious and extremely nutritious cookies, and he didn't want to lose all of his prey.

Imani wished the man would stay for breakfast, but only sighed when she saw him hurrying off.

Noticing the sadness on her face, Alexei leaned over, wrapped his arms around her face and kissed her passionately. A quiet giggle came from the right side of the long awake filly, but the man ignored it.

Finally pulling away from the flushed zebra, Alexei straightened up.

"I'll stop by at night," he winked at Imani, further embarrassing her, and got ready to leave.

"Please be careful," the zebra said in a quiet voice.

"I will," the man replied with a smile as he walked out of the hut.

Alexei sighed as he pondered his bond with Imani. He constantly had to consider a lot of factors and worry about a bunch of things.

Earlier, he could no longer ignore the zebra's increasingly obvious hints and flirtations. The man wasn't sure how she would take rejection, so he didn't take any chances and now they were in a relationship. He didn't care one bit about her obviously exotic appearance by human standards, but he had no real feelings for her either.

"Poor thing doesn't realize she's harboring a snake. It makes my heart bleed," Saada said with feigned sadness, interrupting the man's musings.

"You don't have a heart," Alexei snorted in response, walking briskly toward his hut to the displeased grunts of the zebra.

Returning to the hut, he hid the sack in the hole he had dug earlier, filling everything with earth and covering it with all sorts of trash.

Quickly gathering himself, he headed towards the forest, where his highly motivated partner, Tamu, should already be waiting for him.

***

"What's taking so long? I've been waiting for half an hour already," Tamu grumbled unhappily, his eyes expressing impatience and determination. He was standing near a tree, waiting for Alexei, who had just approached him.

"Sorry-sorry, had some business to attend to," the man replied nonchalantly, he was pleased with the stallion's attitude.

As usual after giving the stallion two potions, Alexei leaned against an old tree and began to contemplate the route they were about to take

They stood at the edge of the forest, preparing to set off. Today they planned to get deeper into the forest, and they might even have to spend the night in its dense thickets. Alexei didn't really want to do that, though - he knew that the forest was an even more dangerous place at night.

The outskirts of the forest were relatively safe during the day, but that all changed as darkness fell.

The deeper parts of the forest were even more dangerous and unpredictable. A human could probably survive by relying on their stealth and experience, but a stallion would definitely not survive the night. Unless they found a safe haven, but was that easy?

The man was well prepared for this journey - he had packed everything he needed in his bag. He even took a supply of food for a few days, including dried meat that he had cooked himself. Although it was tough and not particularly tasty, it didn't bother Alexei.

Previously, to replenish his protein supply, he had eaten maggots, frogs, snakes, and robbed birds' nests. The dried meat was truly a royal meal compared to his former diet.

Tamu was also well prepared. He had two saddlebags filled with items he found useful - ropes, potions, dry rations, and more. Mounted on his chest was a double blade, which he had chosen instead of the standard spear. In the woods, weapons of this type proved more comfortable and maneuverable, especially when crawling through ravines and some of the larger burrows. These blades had already tasted blood - Tamu had fought alongside a human against several storm wolves.

The route they had chosen was fairly safe. The foot of the mountain they were headed to was a relatively desolate area, indicating a low concentration of magical energy. The local zebras didn't go there, preferring busier areas. Alexei wouldn't have gone there himself, but now he had his talented searching partner, and he decided to comb the place thoroughly.

Finishing their preparations, they moved forward, traversing the dense thickets of the forest.

As they passed through the magical forest, they looked around carefully. The trees with curved branches and lush foliage created a mysterious atmosphere. The air was saturated with the smell of wild magic and strange energy, which made their skin covered with goosebumps

Gradually, and most importantly without incident, they reached the foot of the mountain. Here the air was cool and fresh, and the forest was receding, giving way to bare earth and rocks.

Tamu and Alexei stopped to survey their surroundings. They began to look closely at every corner of the foot of the mountain. Alexei squatted down, examining every rock and crevice.

Tamu, for his part, looked around, looking for any unusual signs or tracks, listening for his fate mark. From time to time he even stopped and sniffed the air.

Several hours of strenuous searching passed when they came upon a small waterfall.

The water flowed down from the heights, forming a noisy stream and creating a majestic sight. Tamu and Alexei stopped to enjoy this moment of nature, but the man's attention was caught by something behind the waterfall.

Climbing up the wet rocks, he discovered an opening in the rock hidden behind the waterfall. Tamu followed him cautiously, his tail swaying slightly with impatience and curiosity. Alexei raised his eyebrows, sensing that this could be something promising. Or extremely dangerous.

Alexei moved forward warily, accompanied by Tamu.

Inside, they found a narrow passage that led them down into the bowels of the mountain. The stallion used his tattoo, capable of creating a ball of light above his head, to illuminate the path in front of them. The man relied on Saada's night vision, already used to it after many night hikes.

Tamu and Alexei exchanged glances full of excitement and anticipation.

They moved deeper and deeper inside the passage, carefully skirting the stalactites and stalagmites that hung from the ceiling and grew from the floor. Suddenly, a flock of bats flew out of the darkness, crashing into their figures and creating noise and confusion. Tamu was startled and recoiled, but the man reassured him and they continued on their way.

Finally, a cave opened up before them, its walls covered in moss and mushrooms glowing with a pale blue light. The babbling of a flowing brook filled the air with the music of nature. It was an amazing sight, as if they were in a fairy tale world.

But most importantly, on one of the walls was an entire area covered in black crystals. They glittered like drops of night and emitted powerful energy.

These were magic crystals with the element of darkness. And judging from the radiation, they were of high quality. Crystals of darkness were in demand by alchemists, shamans, dark mages, necromancers, and many other dubious individuals. There wasn't a lot of them - only a small sack, but even that would be enough to buy a house in luxurious Canterlot.

The stallion's eyes glittered with greed. He was well aware of the value of these crystals.

"This is my greatest luck!" flashed through his mind. "If I collect them and return to the tribe - I can change my fate! I could marry Aisha or we could even run away from the tribe...

"Stop. I almost forgot. I've also got that monkey with me.

"He'll take most of it for himself. Why should I share with him? It was my talent that brought us here!"

"I'll kill him. Only by killing him can I finally change my life," the stallion's hoof reached for the blades, but he immediately stopped. "No, no. First I must calm him down and lie that the crystals belong to him. I'll put his guard down and stab him in the back. I could push him onto the sharp rocks and then finish him off.

"This place is so hidden, even if I kill him, no one will know."

All of these thoughts passed quickly through the stallion's mind, though in reality only a few seconds had passed.

Finally, Tamu came up with a plan and pulled on his best fake smile, preparing to speak.

He slowly turned to Alexei, but before he could utter a word, the blade of a spear flashed toward his face.

The stallion's pupils narrowed to the size of a pinhead. It happened too fast, and he didn't have time to react when the blade pierced his head.

A second or two later, Tamu's body fell to the floor of the cave with a thud.

"You were over thinking it," Alexei shook his head, glancing at the corpse lying on the ground.

He had seen the stallion reach for the blade perfectly well. He also couldn't let him inform the tribe of this find. The naive stallion didn't understand how society worked. The chief or shaman would simply take everything away from them.

The man's gaze was about to head toward the wall of crystals when an unexpected event occurred - something abruptly flew out of the stallion's corpse and rushed toward the exit.

"What was that?" he asked Saada.

"A guardian spirit," the zebra replied somewhat guiltily.

"And why am I only finding out about this now?" Alexei asked irritably.

"I swear I didn't feel a thing!" Saada replied. "It was hiding inside his body the whole time."

Alexei nodded, accepting the explanation. Saada did the same thing, hiding inside the man's body all the time.

The spirit would be sure to tell the shaman everything. He could no longer return to the tribe. All of his accumulated crystals were also lost, but it was still worth it.

Returning to the stallion's body, he began to search it thoroughly, not wanting any more unpleasant surprises. Tamu had nothing of interest, but he did find a hidden pocket in one of the bags. Slitting it open, he found a scrap of parchment with an image of a map and frayed words in a language he didn't recognize. The map also marked a certain point.

"What does it say?" he asked Saada curiously.

"Hmm, you can't make out the words, but it's definitely the language of the griffins," the zebra replied after a few moments. "There are many mercenaries among them, this must be some sort of stash of their junk."

Alexei could only sigh - he wasn't interested in gold, but it was still worth checking.

After collecting all the crystals, the man put all his things away and was about to leave.

His gaze stopped on the corpse of the stallion - the second sentient creature killed by his hands. He did not look for excuses for what he had done. He was being honest with himself.

He didn't want to kill him, but unfortunately, Tamu had become an obstacle in his path. If that was the case, he would trample on the obstacle and keep moving forward.

The man's thoughts traveled to the very beginning of his journey - the portal.

Somewhere out there, in another world, was his family. He had abandoned them, pursuing his ambitions in this world. Perhaps he had been buried long ago and no one remembered him.

He wasn't dating anyone, so there was no one to mourn his lover.

A certain mare came to Alexei's mind - Imani. Her company was quite pleasant...

Perhaps he could fall in love with her in the future. He had plenty of money now. They could escape the wrath of the tribe, buy a house somewhere in Equestria, and live a long happy life.

But would he want that? Would he be satisfied with such a life? Alexei looked into the deepest parts of his mind for an answer.

His lips stretched into a smile when he finally found the answer - no, he would regret every second of it. Only by chasing his dream was his life given meaning. He enjoyed the journey itself and felt no regrets.

"Even if I can't reach my goal at the end, so what?"

"Even if eternal life doesn't exist, so what?"

"I still want to do it!"

"That's how I want to live!"

"That's how I can find meaning in my life!"

Coming to this realization, the man began to laugh maniacally - he was happier than ever.

"You know, sometimes you scare even me," Saada murmured thoughtfully.

The human didn't reply. Stepping over the corpse of the stallion, he headed for the exit of the cave, feeling that nothing was weighing him down anymore.

***

As he emerged from the depths of the river, Alexei felt his lungs fill with long-awaited air. Coughing and breathing heavily, he looked around with a certain amount of fear.

A swarm of huge bees circled over the water on the opposite bank. These bees were not only different from their Earth version in size, they were five times larger than normal bees. Their steel stingers easily pierced the wood, and Alexei's body was now covered with bleeding holes left by these insects.

Earlier, he had come across a ruined hive of these bees. Seeing the remains of the honeycomb, he was about to eat them, but suddenly the owners returned.

Who knew that at that time they were killing an impudent individual who had dared to attack their hive?

"Could it have been that bear?" wondered Alexei.

Yesterday he had fought with a huge black bear, but he had been unable to pierce its hide with his blade, and the potions had not done much damage to it. The bear had also failed to wound the agile man, and finally they had simply parted ways, realizing that the battle would bring them nothing but loss of energy.

After breathing and eating a few medicinal herbs that should help stop the bleeding, Alexei shook himself off and continued on his way.

It was already the fifth day of his rapid journey. He almost never stopped, trying to get as far away from the tribe as possible. At night he hid in the trees, and Saada gave him a chance to get some sleep. Often he was awakened by all sorts of night noises and the roar of beasts, reminding him of the restless forest he was in.

The end point of his journey was what was presumably the griffins' cache.

The man was not interested in the jewels and riches that might be hidden there. He needed only one thing, an iron cauldron or any other pot.

He had nearly exhausted his supply of potions, and the ability to cook them in the forest was limited. Some trees could withstand fire, but were not suitable for brewing potions. Alexei could make simple pottery, but he didn't have time for that right now. He was a decent alchemist, but without the help of Saada, who shared her sense of magic with him, much of his knowledge would be useless.

Alexei thought eagerly of the moment when he would be able to get magic in his own hands. What bliss that would be!

Pondering the twists of fate, he finally reached the area marked on the map.

Alexei explored the entire surrounding area looking for any sign of a hiding place.

After a couple hours of persistent searching, he finally found something interesting. On the slope of one of the hills, hidden beneath the grass and earth, was a double-leaf wooden door covered in scarlet runes.

"Those are blood runes," the zebra said in surprise, touching the door with a hoof. "They're already inactive, don't worry."

Carefully opening the flaps, Alexei suddenly felt a horrifying stench hit him in the face.

He warily picked up a few clods of earth and tossed them inside, checking for traps. Once he was sure everything was in order, he entered a room hidden inside the hill. Before him was a view of a large room filled with rusty tools lying on dust-covered tables.

There was no doubt about it - these were instruments of torture.

Cabinets along the walls hid their dark secrets, and the bones of various creatures were scattered across the floor. Next to the table lay the skeleton of a griffin, stripped of several claws and ribs.

Alexei noticed a ragged book lying on the table, covered in dark stains and bound by hand.

"How interesting," the man muttered, licking his lips.

Taking another careful look around he made his way over to the table. Carefully taking the book in his hands, he began to leaf through it. The book was written in a language he didn't recognize, but a few pages caught his eye. They showed a circle filled with many symbols and lines.

"What's this?" Alexei asked the zebra that was hovering above his head.

"Hehe, that griffin is quite the fetishist. Had to come up with that," laughed the zebra. "These are blood magic spells."

The man immediately lost interest. After the contract, he found out that he couldn't use magic, even with the help of a spirit. Perhaps these spells would be useful to him in the future or as a reference, but right now, he had more important things to do.

"Why such a cold reaction? Didn't you want to learn magic?" the zebra asked cheerfully.

"What good are spells if I can't use them?" Alexei brushed it off, continuing to rummage through the things on the shelves.

"But you can use them! With my help, of course," was the zebra's immediate reply.

The man froze in front of the half-opened cupboard.

"Translate to me what it says there," he said in an even voice.

When he got the information he needed, Alexei was stunned with surprise. Zebra was right - the griffin was a real fetishist. A masochist, to be more precise.

Blood magic was one of the varieties of magic available to everyone. It used life force or blood as part of the fuel for spells. But this gryphon went even further. Its spells required no magical energy at all, only mental energy and the sacrifice of the caster himself.

Nails, teeth, bones, eyes, skin, limbs, and even internal organs were all used in seven spells. Of course, all of these parts had to belong to the caster himself.
Four of these were attacking, two restraining, and one defensive.

Many might find this book extremely disturbing, but Alexei's eyes were already sparkling at the possibilities before him.

***

Bright daylight filtered through the thick tree branches of the midday forest.

In its depths, among the variegated foliage, the entrance arch of the cave was hidden. The whole cave was pierced by the rays of the sun, penetrating through several holes in the ceiling. The rocks covered in moss and lichen made it feel as if nature itself had reached inside the cave to leave its mark.

"Are you sure?" Saada asked doubtfully. "Even for you, it's too much."

Alexei, sitting completely naked on a rag spread out on the cold floor of the cave, paid no attention to her words.

"If I'm stopped by such a petty thing, my ambitions are worthless," the man said indifferently. "Just make sure I won't pass out."

A cup of steaming liquid stood before him, holding the already rust-cleaned tools he had found in the griffin's hideout. Alexei was now carefully treating his right side with a special potion. Taking a belt folded several times, he bit it in his teeth and took a razor-sharp blade out of the cup.

Methodically, he began to cut his flesh around his ribs, opening one of them completely. Working his way down to his sternum, he freed the rib from the cartilage.

Removing the blade, Alexei put his thumb under the rib at his side, holding it firmly, preparing the breaking point. Then, clenching his teeth and pulling sharply, he broke off the rib.

The belt clenched in his mouth muffled the man's scream that would have pierced the deafest of ears. His entire body shook, cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and air rushed violently from his flared nostrils.

"Merge the edges," the man mentally relayed to Saada. Immediately he felt his flesh fuse together, hiding the rest of the rib.

Grabbing the potion standing nearby, Alexei poured it over the fresh wound. A stifled groan came from his mouth, muffled by the belt.

Gradually, the flesh began to heal, forming new tissue and bringing new agony to the man. Finally, all that remained on his side was a crusted scar.

Spitting the belt out of his mouth, Alexei picked up another vial and greedily drank the healing potion. Then he simply collapsed to the floor of the cave, broken and exhausted.

Glancing down at the bloody rib in his left hand, his lips stretched into a grin.

Chapter 8 - The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on

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Early morning enveloped the forest with its mysterious atmosphere. The sun's rays penetrated through the dense foliage, creating a play of light and shadow on the ground. The air was saturated with the smell of damp earth and blooming flowers, and the singing of birds provided a melodious backdrop to the natural symphony of nature.

Among the thick bushes, hidden from view, sat a lone man. In his hands lay a rib, already dried and processed, ready for the next stage. After carefully inspecting its surface, he nodded - everything was in order. All that remained was to carve the runes and dye them with his own blood mixed with some ingredients.

Opening the griffin's book, the man placed it in front of him and began to carefully carve the runes into the surface of the rib. Each movement required extreme caution, for even the slightest mistake could lead to irreversible consequences. If he made a serious mistake, he would have to tear out another rib and start all over again.

Of course, all these manipulations could be done at the table or at least in a cozy cave, but he specifically chose this hidden corner of the forest.

During his search for ingredients and food, he had come across several snares and traps that had piqued his curiosity.Now he sat there, some distance away from the traps, while Saada flew around, exploring the surrounding area.

Not to waste any time, he continued to carve runes into the rib.

Hours of painstaking work flew by, and finally all the runes were ready. He didn't make a single mistake, remembering the painful procedure he had to go through and not wanting to repeat it again.

Kneading his fingers and back, the man looked around. There was nothing else to do.

"If no one shows up before noon, I'll go prepare the dye for the runes," Alexei thought, stretching lazily.

Taking the gryphon's book, he opened it to the page with the drawing of the first spell and began scrutinizing each line, testing his memory.

It turned out that magic was far from as simple as it was described in fantasy novels. To successfully use a spell, one had to meet three basic aspects: formula, comprehension, and energy. The formula was the same circle from the book, filled with symbols and lines.

Saada had explained to him that there was no universal standard for all magical formulas. Each race - ponies, zebras, griffins, minotaurs, and many others - had their own unique magical school and method of writing formulas.

A formula could look like a mathematical equation or like a multitude of abstract shapes intertwined with each other.
But they all reflected the same laws of magic, though they had different ways of recording them. Saada assured her that it was enough to learn one method to have a superficial understanding of the others.

Unicorns and alicorns are, of course, the primary spellcasters. Their horn, directly connected to their brains, serves as a focal point for utilizing any magic with formulas. They can wield absolutely any element or type of magic.

For the other races, this was an unattainable level and they had to limit themselves to their innate talent for a particular element or type of magic. They could use their magic intuitively without the need for formulas, but it still required training and practice.

However, there are a few types of magic whose formulas are available for all races to use. Blood magic is one of them.

Thanks to the gryphon's book, Alexei had a detailed description of the creation process and sources of inspiration for each part of the formula.

Comprehension of the spell meant that you couldn't just memorize the formula and start hurling fireballs. To successfully use a spell, one had to fully understand its essence and the processes that took place within.

For example, if he wanted to use a fire spell, he had to have at least a basic understanding of what fire was and how it functioned. He also had to understand the method of recording the formula he was using.

The deeper the comprehension, the less chance of failure and the easier it was to use the spell.

Failing a spell was not some kind of joke. A backlash could kill the caster, seriously injure them, rob them of their mind, or, sometimes, anything at all could happen. Within the energy put into the formula, of course.

The path of magic was covered with the corpses of negligent spellcasters.

As far as energy was concerned, it was simple. Activating a spell required mental energy and magical energy as fuel.

To use a spell, the mage had to recreate the formula in his mind and then infuse it with energy. Most spells required only magical energy, but some required certain ingredients or even sacrifices, as in the case of the masochistic griffin spells. Everything had a price.

Alexei was a diligent and persistent student, but he had already experienced the backlash of a failed spell. His whole body was still sore from the explosion that had literally driven him into the ground.

The first spell he had learned was fairly simple, and Saada had easily shared all the knowledge he needed. However, visualizing the entire formula in his mind with as much precision as required proved to be a challenge.

He could not rely solely on Saada's memory in this matter. He had to perfectly recreate the formula in his mind, then Saada activated it with mental energy. After that, the man had to pull out a fingernail, which, after a rapid flight, exploded with a bright scarlet light.

According to Saada, the explosion matched the upper bar of spells of the same level of unicorns in terms of power. The gryphon had created something truly powerful, albeit problematic to use. It took Alexei seventeen nails to master this spell. Good thing his fingernails grew back quickly under the influence of potions.

He practiced using the spell not only while standing still, but also in combat. He mastered the activation on the second try, but using it in combat was much more difficult. It was difficult to concentrate on the formula in combat, and it required cohesive teamwork with the zebra.

Magic proved to be a difficult and dangerous craft, but Alexei wasn't complaining - he could finally use a few spells, even if only with Saada's help.

Suddenly, he was torn from his book by Saada's signal. Alexei looked out of the bushes, squinted his eyes, and began to wait.

Soon, a bipedal figure covered in fur appeared near the trap.

"A diamond dog?" the man immediately identified it.

Diamond dogs were one of the races that inhabited this world. Their innate magic increased their strength and regeneration, which somewhat paled in comparison to the other races. They often enslaved members of other races, dug deep dens, and loved snacks like magic crystals.

Signaling to Saada, the man drank the potion and with cautious steps he began to sneak up on the dog, who was busy freeing a hare from a snare.

Hearing a noise in the bushes in front of him, the dog picked up the club previously leaning against a tree and perked his ears.

Nothing was happening, but the dog kept his guard up.

Suddenly, the ghost of a zebra slowly floated out of the bush.

"A zebra? Is there a troop of them around here somewhere?" the dog thought, becoming even more wary and sniffing.

However, he didn't detect any suspicious movements or extraneous odors, and calmed down slightly.

"Greetings, brave hunter," the ghost spoke suddenly. "I died in this forest, but in my lifetime I left a cache full of crystals. I have no more need of them. If you help me get rid of my obsession, I'll give it all to you."

"Go on," the dog said, licking his lips.

"In my lifetime, I was a dancer that delighted the audience with graceful movements and curvy shapes," the zebra continued. "I died without ever performing the most important dance of my life.

"I regret it.

"If only you could give me one last dance... I'd give you everything I've accumulated in my life."

"A dance I can do," the diamond dog replied, intrigued by the offer. "How would you..."

The next moment, something grabbed him from behind, pinning both of his paws to his torso, and the limb clasped his neck tightly in a lock.

Diamond dog began to struggle wildly, trying to break free of the grip, but the grip on him seemed like steel. He scratched furiously with his claws and tried to twist around to bite, but he was held tightly.

After a while his mind began to cloud over and he lost consciousness.

"Obsession, huh?" the man muttered thoughtfully, pulling the rope out of his pocket. "You haven't told me yet how ghosts even appear."

"What is a ghost anyway? Can anyone become one?" the man began to barrage the zebra with questions. "You call yourself a ghost, but other zebras call you spirits? What's the difference?"

"Zebras call all non-material entities spirits," Saada replied as she watched the human bind the diamond dog tightly. "There are fire spirits, water spirits, ghosts called ancestral spirits, etc.

"No, not all of them. It takes strong mental energy, spiritual affinity, possession, and the right conditions. These criteria are best met by zebras. You're unlikely to encounter ghosts of other races."

"As to the nature of ghosts..." the zebra pondered, choosing her words. "A mixture of mental, magical, and death energy fused together by obsession. You could say a ghost is the garbage of the soul, but don't quote me on that in front of other zebras."

"So what is your obsession, Saada?" the man asked, finishing tying up the dog.

"I wanted to become the first zebra alicorn," the zebra replied with some hesitation.

***

"Where's Rarg hanging around? I'm hungry," the diamond dog whined pitifully, standing in front of the cave entrance.

"Stop whining like a bitch," snorted his companion, dressed in rags and a few hides. "You're only making me hungrier."

"But he's already hours late!" the first dog said indignantly.

"Maybe he's hiding from something dangerous," shrugged the second. "Or maybe he's already been eaten."

"Then I'll surely stay hungry," muttered the diamond dog sadly.

Suddenly, a strange hairless creature in clothes, with a wild look and a small sack in his hand, jumped out of the bushes in front of them. His left hand was tightly wrapped in bandages and blood dripped from his fingertips.

Upon noticing the dogs, the creature's eyes went wide and it froze in place. Swallowing, the creature began to slowly back away.

"Freeze!" the two dogs roared, picking up their clubs and rushing towards the creature.

Surprisingly, the creature actually obeyed their command. The others usually ran away.

"Please don't kill me!" the creature whimpered, falling to its knees. "I have the crystals! Take them! There are more! I'll tell you everything! Just don't kill me!"

The dogs snatched the pouch from the creature's hands and peered inside, immediately their faces blurred into a satisfied grin.

"Where's the rest of it? Speak. You will live," the diamond dog growled.

"Take me to your leader and I'll tell you everything," the creature said with a pleading tone in its voice. "If you do, I'll keep one secret just for the two of you."

The two dogs looked at each other. They would have to report everything to the pack leader anyway. Of course, he would take most of it for himself, but their share would be good too. After all, they caught the creature.

And one part just for the two of them... That sounds good.

"You cheat, I'll skin you," the dog growled and shifted his gaze to his partner. "Go ahead and search him."

"Why it's always me?" the other dog snarled, but obeyed and began groping the creature that had risen from its knees.

The dog's gaze stopped on the creature's strange claws, which were half torn off and bleeding. It looked somewhat unpleasant.

"He's got nothing," the dog finally said.

"Come on, move it," ordered the other, pushing the creature in the back with a club.

Once inside the cave, the creature looked at its surroundings with interest.

Several torches illuminated the surroundings, and here and there sat diamond dogs. Including the attendants, six males and ten females could be counted. One male was busy with his equipment, the others were eating or having fun with the females. The entire cave was littered with furniture that these diamond dogs were definitely not capable of creating. At a table in the center of the room sat a tightly built diamond dog, served by several females, bringing him food and drink. He clearly looked like a pack leader.

Noticing the approaching trio, the dog broke away from his meal and looked them over.

"What's that thing you brought?" he asked with a dose of displeasure, gesturing for the females to step back.

"Caught it out front," one of the dogs replied cheerfully, patting the creature on the back. "Says he has a lot of crystals."

"Is that true? How many? Where?" the big dog asked doubtfully, scrutinizing the unknown creature. "And what are you anyway?"

"Human," the creature replied, looking around and untying the bandage on his arm. "Are you the pack leader?"

"I am!" the dog growled, he already didn't like the creature's attitude. "I asked a question."

The man didn't answer.

Grabbing one nail, already half torn off, the blood from his fingers disappeared and the nail flew sharply at the pack leader's head. There was a massive explosion, accompanied by terrified screams.

The pack leader's body flew aside, his head was half split open, and blood splattered on the walls of the cave. But the man didn't see it - he was already busy with other things.

Pulling a dagger he had borrowed from the griffin from his bandage, he plunged it into the head of the dog beside him. With a sharp pull of the blade, the man dodged the blow from the club, and easily killed the second diamond dog.

It all happened so quickly that the other dogs were just beginning to realize what was happening. The female diamond dogs fled deep into the cave or scrambled into corners, while the three males grabbed their weapons and began to surround the man.

Another nail flew whistling towards the two dogs standing nearby, seriously injuring them and throwing them back against the walls.

The man turned toward the last diamond dog, deftly intercepting the dagger in his hand. But the dog apparently had no desire to continue fighting this strange creature that had wiped out half of his pack in one fell swoop.

"I give up. You are pack leader," he said, throwing aside his club. "I obey."

"Mhm, good," the man muttered contentedly, slowly approaching the dog. "Can you explain something to me?"

"Of course, pack leader," the dog replied cheerfully, relaxing. "Just ask."

"What is this?" Alexei asked, pointing at something to the right of the dog.

The dog turned his head, but didn't see anything special. He only had time to feel a slight puff of wind as his consciousness was instantly extinguished.

Pulling the dagger out of the dog's body, the man finished off the two remaining diamond dogs that had been seriously injured by the explosion earlier.

"Seven males in total. Just like that dog said," Alexei thought as he looked over the corpses.

His gaze moved to a few females pressed against the wall.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Call the others," the man said, frowning slightly when there was no response. "Don't keep me waiting."

The dogs quickly jumped up and ran deeper into the cave, returning a few minutes later with all the remaining females. They huddled together, peering at the bloodied man standing in the center of the room with obvious anxiety.

"I am the new pack leader," the man said with a warm smile as he looked around at the new arrivals. "I hope we get along well."

***

The man sat in a spacious room, lit by the bright light of torches. In front of him was a bowl of red liquid into which he dipped a thin twig with a disheveled tip. Carefully staining the runes carved into the rib, he concentrated on his task.

Only a noise coming from another part of the cave broke the silence. It was the female diamond dogs, busy cleaning up the aftermath of the battle he had set up.

After finishing coloring one of the runes, the man carefully placed the rib to the side to let it dry. This rib was used to activate the fourth attack spell from the gryphon's book. He already knew exactly where he would be able to fully utilize it. While the rune was drying, his thoughts drifted to the pack of diamond dogs he had become pack leader of.

That dog he had interrogated earlier had given him all the information he needed. There had been a conflict in the large pack of diamond dogs over pack leader status and the defeated dog had been forced to flee. Several of his supporters followed him and ten females were just kidnapped. The former pack leader wanted to create a new pack.

It must be said, they had traveled quite far - it was about two months' journey to their previous den.

The man was just looking for a suitable base to settle down and finally do some experiments.

He had crystals of darkness with which to replace the essence of darkness. Alicorn blood, phoenix tears, and other rare ingredients could also be replaced with simpler analogs.

Of course, in such a case, the ritual lost all its power and did not give any abilities. But that was not the man's goal at the moment. He wanted to investigate the process and find out the cause of insanity and mutations among the subjects.

He had originally planned to stay at the griffin's hideout, but he had stumbled upon a pack of these dogs, which was quite fortunate. He could concentrate fully on his experiments, letting his new followers handle minor household matters in his stead.

Some might have thought him crazy - to expect loyalty from dogs whose kin he had just killed in a bloody massacre? But Alexei understood perfectly well how life worked.

The females might be unhappy with the situation and dislike him, but all that would soon change. They were deep in a dangerous forest where they faced predators and other dangers. Under external pressure, they would have no choice but to accept the man and compromise with their conscience. Everyone wanted to continue living.

The weak always followed the strong, as strength increased the chances of survival. This is a common trait of all living beings.

Man had no need to intimidate or suppress them; soon they would begin to gather around him.

Besides, they had been brought here by force, so they were unlikely to have warm feelings for the past pack leader and his underlings. The man decided to slaughter all the males - he was going to stay here for a long time and didn't want to leave any potential threats behind.

After working late into the night, he finally finished coloring all the runes. The rib was ready for use.

However, his musings were interrupted by a rustle as two naked female diamond dogs entered the room, avoiding direct gaze.

"Um," one of them began hesitantly. "We've come to offer our company. For a night out."

The man chuckled inwardly - something he had expected, but not on the first night. These dogs had realized their situation much quicker than he had expected. He understood exactly why they had come. They must have been sent by the older female to test the waters and establish a relationship with the human.

The man looked around at the figures of the female diamond dogs. Considering his long abstinence - they looked quite good.

"Really? I have to look at this?", Saada's disgruntled voice echoed in his head.

The man snorted and shook his head. It wasn't the right time for all of this - all his thoughts were occupied with the upcoming daring plan.

Perhaps another time.

"Today I don't want to," he replied, waving off the diamond dogs. "You can leave."

Nodding, they turned and silently walked away.

***

"Everfree has been increasingly restless lately," the stallion, walking in a group ahead of the wagon, muttered thoughtfully. "This is the last time I'll be accompanying a merchant to Equestria."

"What makes you think the forest is to blame?" the mare next to him asked. "Probably some gang of griffins."

"All the merchants that disappeared were carrying either food or alchemical ingredients with high radiation," the stallion shook his head. "Gryphons would have attacked merchants carrying jewelry. It's more likely to be some beasts attracted by the smell."

"Can't griffons sell the ingredients?" the mare asked doubtfully. "Why are you so adamant that it's beasts specifically?"

"Have you seen many alchemists among the gryphons? Half the ingredients would be ruined in their claws before they could sell them," the stallion snorted. "At least they have the sense to admit it."

"Then what about the zebra gang?" the mare continued on the offensive, but was interrupted when she saw the stallion's tense gaze.

Shifting her gaze to the road ahead, she noticed the body of a creature lying on the side of the road. Squinting, she saw that it was clearly a bipedal creature, and its entire body was covered in thick black hair. The face couldn't be seen, its head was turned sideways.

What makes it more alarming was that the ground beneath it was drenched in blood.

"Diamond dog?" she asked doubtfully to the stallion beside her.

"Doesn't look like it. The legs are different and the fur is weird," the stallion replied glumly, signaling for everyone to stop. "Shard, what are you sensing?"

"Magic energy is almost nonexistent. Definitely a corpse," the unicorn replied. "Nothing out of the ordinary in the surrounding area either. Should we go check it out?".

"No. Let's not split up. Maintain the scanning spell," came the reply from the stallion, apparently the leader of the squad. "Everyone prepare for battle. Keep moving."

The group continued on their way, but the tension in the air became perceptible. They were alert, ready for any possible enemy.

Looking around carefully, the group approached the body.

"Well, it's definitely not a diamond dog," the mare muttered, examining the corpse from some distance. "What is it? An overly hairy mutant minotaur?"

"I have no idea," the leader replied irritably, examining the bloody footprints stretching deep into the forest. "Shard?"

"Nothing at all. Whatever killed him is already gone," the unicorn replied. "Wait. Where's the blood coming from anyway? I don't see any wounds on the corpse."

The leader froze and shifted his gaze to the body. To his surprise, the supposed corpse's hand suddenly surged upward and stuck some bone in its leg.

At that moment, the leader felt his world crumbling.

Agony gripped every cell of his body, and he was utterly powerless before this unbearable pain. A scream erupted from his mouth that pierced the silence of the forest, and his legs gave out, nearly rendering him unconscious from this outburst of pain. Trying his hardest to stay conscious, he gritted his teeth and wriggled on the ground. All of his comrades were doing the same thing - screaming and rolling on the ground.

While they suffered agonizingly, the hairy creature, staggering slightly, began to rise. The stallion could see the twitching muscles on its face and clenched teeth. It seemed that whatever the creature was doing, the effect was mutual.

Using all the willpower he had, the stallion tried to get up, but was immediately knocked out by a powerful leg kick.

The unknown hairy creature was of course a human who had drunk a potion that temporarily covered him with thick hair. A simple but quite effective disguise for unexpected situations.

The man slipped his hand into his pocket and extracted an orb neatly wrapped in cloth. Squeezing it tightly in his palm, green smoke violently poured out of the ball. The man immediately threw it at the wagon and everything around him quickly began to fill with clouds of smoke.

Seeing that the unicorn's horn was beginning to glow - the man pulled out and stuck the rib into his leg again. A second wave of pain followed.

Half the squad had already passed out from the pain as they continued to inhale the green smoke.

The man just stood there with his teeth clenched, waiting for the smoke to take effect. The smoke itself didn't bother him - he had already taken care of it by putting a filter in his nostrils and drinking the antidote beforehand.

Finally, things quieted down and the smoke began to clear, revealing the zebras and ponies asleep on the ground. Exhaling, the man pulled the rib out of his leg and walked limping towards the wagon.

Inside, in a pool of his own urine, lay a unicorn, apparently the very merchant.

After examining the contents of the crates the man's face brightened - he had finally gathered everything he needed. Now he could create an ink for the tattoo that would grant him permanent regeneration.

Stepping out of the wagon, the man took a deep breath and whistled shrilly.

A few minutes later, eight diamond dogs with curved grins came running out of the forest.

"Put them all in the wagon and let's go back," the man ordered.

"Can't we just kill them? They're heavy," one of the females complained.

"No, I need them alive," the man refused. He had plans for them. Experiments required the subject to still be alive. At least in the beginning.

The man's wandering gaze stopped at a certain point in the forest. Somewhere out there, far, far away, was Equestria, ruled by the majestic Celestia.

He had plans for her, too. But first things first.

Chapter 9 - A demon on the loose

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...For you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is in fact Nightmare Moon, and she's about to return to Equestria, and bring with her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true...

Celestia smiled as she gave a quick read of her apprentice Twilight Sparkle's letter.

"She's a smart mare, but she lacks wisdom," the princess sighed, reaching for a scroll for a reply letter. "She really thinks she stumbled upon part of a secret prophecy quite by accident."

"Hmm. Dusty books and celebration preparations. That'll do," Celestia decided as she sent the letter.

She sank down on her pillow, looking off into the distance, immersed in thought.

"Now the Elements are all in," she whispered under her breath. "It's so hard to deal with these prophecies. Too vague and fragile..."

Celestia was limited in what she could do. She couldn't just walk up to Twilight and tell her that she was an Element of Magic and explain the further plan. That could ruin everything and lead to unpredictable consequences. Celestia only had to teach Twilight, give "accidental" hints and nudge her in the right direction.

The prophecy only hinted at the Element of Magic and a city that didn't exist at the time - Ponyville. However, Celestia had long ago figured out the identities of all the other Elements. She really hoped that she wouldn't need their help at all.

The cage for Nightmare Moon was ready and had been tested thousands of times. She was confident in her ability to handle it.

All that remained was to wait.

"It won't be long now, sister," Celestia murmured, smiling sadly.

***

The main hall of the ruined old castle was shrouded in an atmosphere of antiquity and magic. The walls, covered in runes, seemed to tell their own story, and the floor was covered in a mosaic of symbols and signs. Around the center of the hall rise eight stone pillars on which crystal spheres float, their glowing rays piercing the darkness and giving the impression of small suns. The hall was filled with warlike unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies ready to challenge the returning darkness. Ahead of everyone stood Celestia, her eyes intently watching the moon through the holes in the roof as if looking for a sign.

And then, the dark silhouette of an alicorn on the surface of the moon flashed and disappeared.

Suddenly, swirls of black smoke began to appear in the middle of the hall, which took the form of an eerie black alicorn mare with burning turquoise eyes. Her presence filled the hall with coldness and anxiety.

"A thousand years later...," the black mare said solemnly. "I roam the lands of mortals once again!"

The spheres suddenly erupted and released rays that enveloped the black mare, trapping her in a transparent sphere. The thin walls of the sphere resembled a soap bubble, but everyone in the room could feel the immense power centered in this unremarkable shell.

"Your walk is over, Nightmare Moon," Celestia replied calmly, turning to the group of unicorns controlling the rune array. "Begin."

"Good spell," Nightmare said satisfactorily, poking at the barrier with her hoof. "But I'd rather destroy the world than let the world destroy me."

Celestia frowned, trying to figure out what the crazy mare was talking about, but didn't have time to respond.

"Praise the Lady!" several ponies roared and rushed to attack the unicorns in charge of the rune array.

Instantly, many unicorns died from this sudden attack, but the attackers had no intention of stopping. In the next moment, their bodies bulged with veins, and then, with a powerful surge of energy, exploded.

Celestia, as if in slow motion, saw cracks appear in several spheres and light tearing furiously outward. She only had time to shield herself and the nearest ponies.

A powerful explosion pierced the air, shattering the ruins of the castle to pieces. Rocks and dust flew into the air, creating an image of grandiose chaos and destruction.

Toward a stunned Celestia, the figure of a smiling black mare emerged from the smoke.

Nightmare made several strokes in the air with her glowing turquoise horn, and all the ponies that had survived Celestia's barrier fell to the ground. Their faces contorted as if they were having nightmares, and black smoke began to pour from their bodies. The smoke, completely ignoring Celestia's barrier, began to be drawn into the black mare's body.

"Long time no see, sister," Nightmare Moon smiled. "Shall we get started?"

***

Twilight stood in the main square of Ponyville, her eyes fixed on the direction of the Everfree Forest, where a huge column of smoke and fire was rising from. The ponies around her were running around in panic, shouting something about the end of the world, and the mayor was trying unsuccessfully to restore order.

But none of that mattered to Twilight. Her thoughts were preoccupied with something else.

"Mentor?" she muttered, keeping her eyes on the smoke. "Just now... Was that your energy?"

Though Princess Celestia had brushed off her concerns, Twilight wasn't going to just accept it. She spent the entire night watching the moon and checking her instruments. And then she saw something surprising.

The silhouette of an alicorn on the moon appeared and disappeared, and shortly after, there was an explosion that even the citizens of Ponyville felt. But what was most disturbing was that this explosion carried the energy of her mentor that was so familiar.

"No, no, no. It can't be," Twilight whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You couldn't have sacrificed yourself, could you? It can't be!"

Twilight's gaze filled with determination as she lit her horn and instantly teleported to the stage standing in the middle of the city.

"SILENCE!" she shrilled, amplifying her voice with magic.

All the ponies around froze, stunned by the flash and the loud order.

"Gather in front of the stage. I have an important announcement to make," Twilight said dryly.

The ponies looked at each other and began to pull up to the stage, awaiting the words of the princess' apprentice.

"Something terrible has happened. Princess Celestia may be in danger," she announced, sliding her gaze over the whispering ponies in front of her. "I can't do this alone. I need volunteers."

"And what do you need volunteers for?" a pony asked from the crowd.

"We're going to Everfree and rescue the princess," Twilight replied firmly.

"Are you out of your mind?! You saw the sign! Mare in the Moon is back!", they shouted from the crowd. "What can you do to an alicorn?"

"Anything I can," Twilight replied firmly.

The crowd erupted into shouts and debate. It seemed no one was ready to go into the forest and fight the ancient evil alicorn.

Twilight could only watch the clamoring crowd sadly.

"I'll go," came the sudden loud voice of an orange mare who stepped forward. "Princess has done much for my family, and we always repay our debts."

The crowd fell silent, looking perplexed at the earth pony from the Apple family.

"I'll go t-too," came the quiet voice of the yellow pegasus. "The Crown has always been generous in helping the animal shelter."

Twilight looked at Fluttershy in surprise, not expecting such a decision from this fearful mare. Fluttershy apparently hadn't expected this from herself either and now stood there, trembling.

Three other mares came out right behind her, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie.

"Are we going to stand like this?" the blue pegasus asked impatiently.

Twilight took one more look at the five volunteers and determinedly headed towards the forest.

***

In the air above the Everfree Forest, an epic battle broke out between two powerful alicorns. Nightmare Moon and Celestia, both beautiful and majestic, clashed in a battle that engulfed the sky in its fierce flames.

Nightmare Moon, with her horn emitting an evil turquoise light, was determined to prevail. Her spells of darkness and ice created dark forces that surrounded her around.

"It's been quite peaceful for a thousand years," Nightmare smirked, gathering energy in her horn. "Hasn't it, sister?!"

A portal appeared in front of her, into which she fired an endless volley of turquoise beams. Hundreds of small portals appeared around Celestia, surrounding her on all sides. A stream of rays flew out of the portals and hit Celestia, creating a massive explosion.

With a flash of light, Celestia appeared a hundred meters away from the explosion - she was almost unhurt, having managed to teleport away in time.

In this battle, the sky witnessed their confrontation.

Their gazes sparkled with fierce determination. Swirls of magic and light surrounded the battle, creating a beautiful but dangerous spectacle. The wings of the alicorns beat the air with extraordinary power, leaving trails of light and darkness behind them. The forest beneath them trembled with the power of their magic, and the sounds of battle penetrated to the very depths of the dense grove.

Nightmare Moon attacked with an unrelenting rhythm, unleashing streams of turquoise rays that tore through the air. Celestia responded with powerful blasts of light and fire, creating golden flashes and swirls of magic.

But as the battle continued, it became clear that Nightmare Moon was proving to be stronger.

Celestia wasn't giving up, but she was beginning to tire. Her glowing golden aura faded, and her eyes lost their luster. She tried to counterattack, but her magical powers were weakened. Nightmare Moon continued to attack mercilessly, leaving her no chance to recover.

"You know, I've imagined this moment so often that now I feel disappointed," Nightmare uttered as she lazily bombarded Celestia with her spells. "You are weak, sister. You only won last time because of the Elements of Harmony.

"So how do I get you to fight for real?"

"Oh! I got it," the black mare smiled, stepping back and lighting her horn.

Suddenly, Nightmare Moon disappeared in a dark flash of teleportation.

Celestia frowned and flew over to where Nightmare had just been and began tracking the coordinates. Her heart sank when she found her destination, the center of Canterlot. With a wave of her horn, she disappeared in a flash and appeared in the sky above Canterlot's main square.

The ponies on the ground screamed in surprise and consternation.

"Well, at last," came a snide voice from behind.

Celestia looked around and saw a black mare with a sparkling horn emitting powerful magical energy. Celestia instantly raised a magical shield around herself, ready to repel any attack.

However, to her surprise, Nightmare did not direct her magic at her. Instead, she released a giant dark blue beam that struck the center of the square.

"NO!", Celestia screamed, trying to block the spell, but it was too late.

The beam crashed to the ground, turning into a wave of cold and darkness that spread throughout the area.

The ponies in the affected area instantly froze, turning into ice statues that immediately crumbled under the corrosive darkness. Thousands of lives were extinguished in an instant before they even realized what was happening. Buildings began to collapse, and the air was filled with the aura of death.

"The castle is beautiful," Nightmare's voice pierced the dead silence. "I won't destroy it."

Celestia didn't answer. She just stared blankly at the icy wasteland before her, and flames began to run through her mane.

"Oops. I think I pissed you off," the black mare laughed. "I hope you stop being such a disappointment now."

***

Celestia cursed her failure as she tried to get up off the ground. Her body was exhausted from the battle and every movement caused sharp pain. Blood flowed from her wounds, staining her white fur a bright red. Celestia's eyes dimmed, lacking their usual glow.

Nightmare Moon, standing above her, felt the pleasure of her victory. Her black fur glistened against the blazing horn and her eyes sparkled with triumph.

She used her magic to lift Celestia's head with telekinesis, demonstrating her ruthlessness. Nightmare's horn flashed with a dark glow and Celestia instantly fell into a deep sleep.

Nightmare stood over her, watching the sleeping white alicorn. Her eyes showed a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

"An apprentice? Elements of Harmony? They've been in the castle all this time!" Nightmare exclaimed, scrutinizing the sleeping Celestia. "You're crazy! What are you planning?"

There was no reply.

Nightmare frowned, trying to get deeper into Celestia's mind, but she resisted by sheer force of will.

"If the Elements of Harmony had already found their Keepers, they should have attacked me long ago," Nightmare pondered. "But the future isn't set yet. I must hurry."

Nightmare's gaze returned to the white alicorn who was still in her magical grip.

"Don't think we're done, sister," Nightmare hissed. "I'll be back soon and we'll continue."

The black mare's horn flashed, and Celestia disappeared in a dark beam of magic.

Nightmare did another teleportation and found herself on the border of the Everfree Forest. She knew that teleporting within the forest was no easy task due to the constant distortion of coordinates by the magic of this wild place.

With a flap of her wings, Nightmare dashed forward, heading towards the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters.

***

The ruins of the castle that had once been a place of pride and grandeur long ago was now a pitiful sight of devastation and desolation. The explosion that had occurred earlier had left its traces in every corner and crevice. Chunks of stone and fragments of columns scattered on the ground, creating a sad spectacle of destruction.

The smoke and ash that rose into the air after the explosion created a gloomy cloud that reflected the moonlight like an ominous phantom.

"Princess Celestia?!" Twilight shouted, running through the smoking ruins. "Where are you?!"

Her companions, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack, stood some distance away, watching the nervous unicorn sadly and helplessly.

The entire area was searched, but not a single sign of life was found. Everything was engulfed in devastation and silence.

"I refuse to believe this!" Twilight shrieked, throwing a piece of the ruined column away with force.

Her voice sounded a mixture of despair and hope for a miracle.

Applejack, an earth pony with bright orange fur and green eyes, slowly approached Twilight.

"Look, Twilight..." Applejack began hesitantly. "We've already searched everything we can. We'd better get back to Ponyville and prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

"Twilight?" the earth pony called out again.

Twilight didn't answer.

Her gaze was fixed on the iron door of the trapdoor that was beneath the ruined column she had tossed earlier. The door bore her own destiny mark, surrounded by five other indistinguishable designs.

It was amazing that this door had survived the explosion at all.

Twilight's horn lit up with a bright purple light as she tried to open the door with her telekinesis. But the hatch remained stationary, defying her efforts.

Twilight frowned, lighting her horn even brighter and putting all her strength into trying to open the door. But there was no response.

Stopping, Twilight took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her troubled mind.

"Anger clouds the mind," she remembered her mentor's words. "This can't be a mere coincidence."

The ponies watching her moved closer, sensing that something unusual was happening.

Twilight muttered to herself as she pondered the mystery.

"Five and I'm sixth... Wait..." she muttered, suddenly realizing something. "The Elements of Harmony! They were mentioned in the story of Mare in the Moon!"

"That can't be! Did she plan it all?" Twilight's mind raced as she pieced all the fragments together.

Her worry for her teacher was replaced with confusion. She felt like she was participating in something grand, and her role was not yet finished. Her mentor must be alive.

"Girls, help me with this door," Twilight said excitedly, turning to her friends. "On the count of three, inject your magic into it."

The ponies looked at each other and nodded approvingly. Questions could be asked later. They were also beginning to sense that something momentous was happening.

"One... Two... Three!" Twilight counted down, activating her magic.

All six markings on the door flashed, and the door began to slowly rise, revealing a stone stairway down.

Twilight swung her horn and the staircase in front of her lit up with light. A bright beam penetrated downward, illuminating each step.

The other ponies followed her, treading carefully on the lighted stairs. They sensed that this path was leading them to something important and mystical.

At the bottom of the castle basement was an ancient stone monument covered in runes and moss. It looked like a sacred place where ancient wisdom was kept. The monument consisted of six stone pillars, on top of which were placed stone spheres with certain symbols. In the center of the monument, like a heart, there was an unfathomable energy that made the ponies' hearts beat harder.

"These are the Elements of Harmony? I wonder..." Twilight muttered, but suddenly realized. "Nightmare Moon! We haven't met her yet. We have to hurry."

"And how do these things work?" the blue pegasus said impatiently, circling the monument.

"They're sealed," Twilight muttered thoughtfully, touching the stone spheres with her magic. "Give me a few minutes."

Twilight delved into her memory, recalling those rare snippets of ancient history related to the Elements.

"Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, Laughter, and... Magic!" exclaimed Twilight, looking stunned at the ponies standing nearby. "That's literally us!"

The solemnity of the moment was interrupted by the quiet pounding of hooves.

"Indeed," came a cold voice from behind. "Now die."

All six mares turned around and saw before them the epitome of a nightmare - Nightmare Moon.

Her eyes expressed coldness and ruthlessness, and her horn was already gathering colossal energy. She wasn't going to waste her time - she could give a pathos speech to their cold corpses.

But suddenly, thousands of threads burst from the cellar walls, as if woven from the flames themselves. The threads bound Nightmare tightly, holding her in place and especially carefully wrapping around her horn.

"Sister!" roared Nightmare, tensing every muscle in her body.

The threads snapped, but so far they were able to withstand the pressure of the infuriated alicorn.

"What do we do?!" Rarity shouted worriedly, turning to Twilight.

"Just a minute! I'm thinking!" Twilight's brain was working at full speed as realization came to her. "Hurry up! Put your hooves on the spheres!"

The ponies obeyed her and raised their front legs, gently touching the symbols on the spheres.

"Concentrate. Think about what you care about most.

"Think about what makes you who you are!"

The mares closed their eyes, concentrating on feeling their inner selves.

The monument trembled, and the stone spheres began to soften like melting ice. Dust flew around like a cloud of vapor.

In a flash of light, necklaces with stones embodying their destiny marks appeared around the necks of the five mares. And on Twilight's head shone a tiara with the stone that corresponded to her mark.

Nightmare roared and began to thrash even harder. Each of her movements tore dozens of strings, but there were still too many of them.

The five mares, surrounded by streaming light, began to lift off the ground, but they didn't even seem to realize it as they were focused on their inner world.

Twilight opened her eyes, and a powerful light burst from them. It was as if she had become an integral part of the world, that she had become the very embodiment of Magic.

The light coming from her was so bright and powerful that it blinded Nightmare Moon.

"I HATE YOU!" roared Nightmare Moon as a thin beam of light, as if woven from a myriad of colors, struck her.

Suddenly, her dark shell began to crumble. The black mass dripped off her body, forming puddles of bubbling slurry on the floor.

Soon a blue alicorn mare appeared beneath her, weak and haggard. She staggered and collapsed to the floor, separated from the last remnants of Nightmare Moon.

A tiny beam of light burst from her body and soared into the sky as if trying to reach the sun.

All the ponies stood stunned, looking at what had happened. It was quiet, only their breathing could be heard in this tense atmosphere.

And then, in this lingering silence, one of them finally broke the silence.

"Did we win?" Twilight asked, breathing heavily, looking around at her comrades. "This alicorn... I think I've seen her before."

"This is my sister, Luna," came a soft voice from the side of the steps.

The ponies jumped with fright. They had been sneaked up on too many times today.

With a quiet clatter, Princess Celestia descended the steps. Her eyes were tired and her body was covered in wounds and dried blood. A guilty smile flashed across her face as her gaze met Twilight's.

"Mentor!" Twilight screamed, unable to contain her emotions, and rushed over to Celestia.

In that moment, she completely forgot that before her stood the princess reigning over the entire country. She hugged her teacher tightly, as if afraid to let go.

Tears flowed from Twilight's eyes, but Celestia just smiled and stroked her head affectionately.

***

A lone man sat in front of the cave entrance and looked up at the night sky. His appearance hadn't changed much in three and a half years, though there were a few wrinkles and a few gray hairs.

The years of life Saada had taken from him had only shortened his maximum lifespan, otherwise he would have looked like a graying old man by now.

Of course, there were ways to prolong life. Saada herself had lived to be one hundred and eighty and might have lived another seventy if she hadn't been killed. But was it really so easy to gain longevity? Of course not.

The most noticeable change was in his gaze - the dark green eyes had become like bottomless wells, full of indifference to the world and contempt for life.

"All for nothing," Alexei muttered, crossing his arms behind his head and pressing himself against the still warm stone.

His experiments had completely failed.

Though he quickly found the cause of the insanity and mutations, there was no way to fix or avoid them. The problem was the extremely high doses of dark energy that was the basis of the ritual. Dark energy had an uncanny ability to infiltrate and alter, allowing different energies to be combined into one body. It was on this feature that the ritual was built.

The creator of the ritual came up with something incredible in theory, but unfortunately, in practice everything ended in failure.

Three years were spent trying to fix or circumvent the problem, but to no avail.

Although he was able to find out that he was not in danger of insanity from dark magic due to the lack of a soul, the problem of mutations remained unsolved.

The lack of a soul was the main obstacle. Even if he successfully performed the ritual and avoided death from mutations, he still wouldn't have a soul. He had never found a way to create an artificial soul through alchemy.

Alexei sighed, but his face expressed nothing. He had faced despair too many times over the years. Many times he had found himself on the brink of death, whether it was during attacks on merchants or encounters with the monsters of the Everfree Forest. He needed rare ingredients for his experiments, and he risked his life to obtain them.

"Time to go to Equestria," the man thought. "Perhaps in the secret archives of Canterlot there is an answer to my question."

Over the years, he had gathered many books on unicorn magic into his hands - some by looting, some through trade with the help of diamond dogs. Though he found nothing of interest, there was some hope for the capital of Equestria.

The man's gaze shifted to the moon.

Something crazy had happened an hour ago - an alicorn silhouette had flashed and disappeared on the moon, and waves of strange energy had swept across the area. Saada informed him that this energy resembled the one from the explosion four years ago.

She also told him the myth of Nightmare Moon. Well, now the myth had become reality.

The man had many theories and guesses as to how that portal was connected to Nightmare Moon, but right now something else was on his mind.

A major battle between the two giants was coming to Canterlot.

Conflicts were always a disaster for some and an opportunity for others. The man was not about to miss this opportunity.

Traveling to Equestria was more dangerous than living in this crazy forest. At least for him.

He was going to encounter beings that on Earth could be called gods. He was going to brazenly slip past them and snatch the tastiest piece for himself.

The power of the alicorns seemed as limitless as the night sky he was looking up at.

Compared to them, he was so insignificant.

Going against the gods?

"Interesting," Alexei thought, smiling.

Chapter 10 - City of light, city of magic

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"Here comes Ponyville," the unicorn said, adjusting the ropes on the crates floating above him like balloons. "Are you going to stay here, or are you going to move on?"

"Undecided for now," Alexei replied politely, looking around the small town in front of him. "I think I'll check out the local sights."

"Ha! What sights are there in this village?" the unicorn snorted. "Elements of Harmony except for that."

"Maybe I can get an autograph?" smiled Alexei. "I'm a huge fan of theirs."

"Maybe you can before they get too proud of themselves," the unicorn laughed. "When you're about to leave, don't go to the pegasi. They charge a hefty price. Feathered fuckers enjoy the monopoly."

Alexei's lips quivered at the mention of monopoly. It was funny to hear it from a unicorn.

"Then what would you advise me?", Alexei asked.

"A teleportation array, of course, but Canterlot is still recovering from that battle," the stallion said sadly. "There are a lot of aid wagons being sent to Canterlot right now. You could make a deal and buy yourself a seat."

"Then that's what I'll do. Thank you," Alexei replied gratefully. "I wish I could use the array this time. The unicorns' mastery is truly astounding..."

"It is! You'll be awed when you see the grandeur of Canterlot," the unicorn began enthusiastically, but stammered. "Damn it! I'd tell you more, but I'm already running out of time as it is."

"Here, take this," he continued, handing Alexei a round bronze token. "When you arrive in Canterlot, be sure to stop by our office. They'll let you in with the token, no questions asked."

"Thank you very much," Alexei said gratefully, taking a slight bow.

"I'll see you in Canterlot then, friend," the unicorn smiled, turning toward the wagon loading area.

"Have a safe journey, friend," Alexei waved a hand at the departing stallion.

"Oh, ancestors. This is why I hate unicorns," Saada said in a tired voice. "Two days of listening to that smug bastard. Just a little more and I would have killed him myself."

"And when did you become so bloodthirsty?" smiled Alexei, examining a token with a drawing of a unicorn on a hill surrounded by flowers. "Getting into Canterlot will be easier with this thing."

The man looked around and approached a light green mare tending to the flowerbeds in front of the house.

"Excuse me, miss? I'm looking for the center square. Can you point me in the direction?", Alexei asked, slightly startling the immersed mare.

"The square is that way," the mare pointed, looking surprised at the strange creature wrapped in roughly sewn and ragged clothes in dark colors.

"Thank you," the man smiled, heading in the direction indicated.

Arriving at the plaza, Alexei noticed a purple unicorn standing behind a desk and directing the ponies bustling around.

"These crates are ready to be sent out. You may take them away," Twilight pronounced as she went through the papers on the table.

She felt someone's gaze on her and turned her head to see an unknown creature examining her.

Their gazes met.

Earlier, Twilight had already seen the anger and despair in the pony's eyes. She had looked into the hate-filled eyes of Nightmare Moon and didn't flinch. But the creature's gaze was something else.

She felt a gasp as she looked into those eyes.

The indifferent gaze, like a bottomless dark sea, drew her into its impenetrable depths. But she could swear that somewhere in that darkness there was something shining as brightly as the sun.

Her destiny mark began to tingle, responding to the presence of this creature.

Twilight blinked, trying to get rid of the unpleasant sensation.

However, the creature had already turned away and slowly left the square. Twilight stared after it, trying to sort out her thoughts.

"Twilight?" the voice of a white earth pony interrupted her thoughts. "We have delivered all the medical supplies as listed. Would you please confirm?"

"Ah? Yes, of course," Twilight responded, shifting her gaze to the paper-cluttered desk.

She checked the list once more and made sure all the medications were placed and sealed in the boxes. The strange creature had already left her thoughts. The most important thing now was to help the ponies affected during the crisis that had engulfed Canterlot.

"What do you think?" the human asked mentally.

"She's incredible," Saada's simple reply rang out. "She hides most of her magical energy, but even so you can roughly understand her power. Don't even think of messing with her. She'll atomize you in a split second."

"Am I some kind of maniac in your eyes?" the man shook his head, peering out at the wagons ahead. "Killing is just one way of solving problems."

The man headed towards several massive wagons that were being loaded with all sorts of goods.

Alexei's gaze stopped at the strange sight unfolding before him.

The wagons were pulled by unusual magical monsters - huge, bus-sized black beetles with armor-covered bodies and huge claws. Their eyes glowed with an ominous orange light, and their chitinous armor emitted magical energy. The beetles' bodies were covered in a thin layer of glowing spots, creating a unique effect as if they had been magically painted on.

These creatures, although they looked terrifying, were actually quite peaceful.

"A magical world indeed," the man laughed, looking at the beetles with some interest.

Previously, he had only encountered small merchants and had always avoided large trade caravans.

"What did you expect? Horses?" the zebra asked snidely, already familiar with some of Earth's features.

Approaching the leader of the wagons, the man pulled a token from his pocket and raised it into the air. The gleam of metal caught the attention of the leader, who scrutinized the token. After a short amount of haggling and negotiation, the man was able to get a seat on one of the wagons.

***

Noon cast its rays upon the city of Canterlot, which towered over all of Equestria like a crown on the head of the land. The city, gracefully woven of white stone, attracted the eye with its majestic architecture.

The streets of Canterlot pulsed with life, filled with a variety of intelligent beings. Unicorns and earth ponies strolled the sidewalk, discussing the latest news and business deals. While pegasi, easily defying gravity, parted the sky above the ponies' heads. Their wings, like canvases of the most delicate clouds, created magnificent patterns in the air.

Griffins and minotaurs, somewhat rare in these parts, could occasionally be seen, whose powerful figures attracted the attention of passersby.

Majestic fountains and waterfalls flowed through the streets of the city, creating a pleasant rustling sound. The water adorned the city with its vibrancy and brightness. Curious ponies watched the playful fish hiding in the depths of the clear waters.

Stores and artisan stores decorated with floral arrangements and window displays drew the eyes of passersby. Ponies with a variety of talents and skills offered their services, from creating magical items to making unique clothing.

Canterlot was a living and breathing city where sentient beings enjoyed their unique abilities and interacted with each other in harmony. This city was not only the capital of Equestria, but also a symbol of unity and diversity, where magic and peace merged into one.

In the corner of a quiet city cafe, amidst the hustle and bustle, a lone man was enjoying a hot coffee and flipping through the pages of a newspaper. The dark circles under his eyes testified to the lack of sleep that had become an integral part of his life after meeting a unicorn collecting specimens in the forest. This unicorn had shared with him the latest news of the events that had taken place in Canterlot. The alicorns battle that was being talked about so much right now had long since come to an end.

The man only sighed upon hearing this. No matter how many plans he made, half of them always fell apart when faced with reality.

The other news caused him to have mixed feelings. Princess Luna, Celestia's sister, had returned after a long absence. According to the Crown's claim, she had sacrificed herself a thousand years ago to seal Nightmare Moon.

The unicorns immediately plunged into investigations, scouring through family archives for information on this mysterious princess.

But it's not just about her return. Her ability to enter other people's dreams made one wary.

After all, if someone could peek into his mind or dreams, his fate would be decided - he would either be sent to the dungeon or simply be beheaded. The man didn't know exactly how the death penalty was carried out in Canterlot, but he was sure that he would be thoroughly studied and experimented on.

That was why, after learning of Luna's ability, he began to train in conscious dreaming with the help of his companion, Saada. Zebra, thanks to the connection through the contract, could see his dreams and send him visual images, but had no way to manipulate his dreams.

So Alexei worked out a simple plan: Saada monitored his dreams and periodically sent images that were supposed to gradually make the man doubt the reality of the dream. The constantly changing weather outside the window, the clock hands not moving, the different inscriptions on his hand - all this was part of this plan.

Now his nights went like this - he would fall asleep and Saada would try to let him know he was asleep. Then she would wake him up and it would start all over again.

Each night his progress became more noticeable. He began to realize himself in his sleep almost without Saada's prompting. Though the zebra himself had claimed that Luna was unlikely to be able to enter his dreams due to his lack of soul and magic, he wasn't about to take any chances on such an important matter.

Underneath the man's clothes, hidden from the pony's prying eyes, a black rat named Alice was nestled comfortably, greedily eating a bun.

The rat was one of the byproducts of man's experiments to create an artificial soul. Although he had failed to create a soul, in the process he had obtained a powder that could increase intelligence in animals. It had no effect on already sentient beings and was extremely unstable on its own. After a while, the animals would start to go insane and attack the man with wild rage. He used to have a large wolf that he rode most of the way, but on the seventh day it lost its mind and he had to kill it.

This recipe alone was enough for a life sentence in the dungeons of Canterlot - he used the souls of unicorns to create this powder.

"Can't you change your rags for something more decent already?" Saada asked, distracting him from the newspaper. "You're already getting a bad look from the waitresses."

"Later. Those rags will still play their part," the man smiled, returning to his reading. "Look, the local unicorns also linked the explosion from four years ago to the return of the Luna. That's spawned even more rumors."

"What's so surprising about that?" the zebra asked perplexed. "Anyone with a bit of intelligence and a sober memory would have connected the two incidents."

"Hehe, isn't that my lucky ticket to the royal palace?" the man smirked, folding up the newspaper and rising from his seat.

Saada knew immediately that he was up to no good again.

Arriving in Canterlot under the cover of night, the man stayed at one of the inns. But at first light he was already on his feet, heading for the griffin quarter. There he began actively gathering and buying up information about everything related to the palace. He was most interested in the behavior of the new princess.

Princess Luna had become a hot topic of talk in Canterlot's criminal circles. An alicorn capable of invading other people's dreams!

To ordinary ponies Nightmare Moon was a nightmare in the flesh, but to criminals, and many nobles, the nightmare was Luna. Were it not for her status as a princess, the power of an alicorn, and the palace's strong defenses, Luna would have been on the brink by now - too many people wanted her dead.

The gossip and rumors circulating through the city added fuel to the fire. The newspapers competed with each other to find new details. Speculation about Luna's connection to Nightmare Moon grew more and more heated.

The man understood very clearly who was sponsoring these rumors and stirring up public hatred - a bunch of nobles and businessmen were clearly involved in all sorts of dirty deeds.

The returning Princess of Night had become the number one outcast in Equestria in an instant.

The man's thoughts drifted to Celestia as he walked towards the palace. She sat at the top of the social ladder and wielded supreme power, but that same power had become a heavy chain for her. Always striving to maintain the image of a good and fair ruler, she could not brute force to suppress the nobles and stop rumors from spreading.

She must be trying to strike a deal with the nobles now, but the man doubted it would be that easy. The nobility would take full advantage of this opportunity.

"What a pity," the man shook his head, remembering his past awe for this creature.

Upon reaching the plaza, the man looked around the place where one of the most epic battles of the two alicorns had broken out.

The debris had already been cleared away, and construction workers were hard at work finishing rebuilding the destroyed buildings. Along the edges of the square lay flowers and all sorts of items left in memory of those who had died in that battle.

The man's attention was drawn to the crowd of ponies in front of the palace, held back by the royal guard.

On a crude platform stood a unicorn, looking like a common laborer, and riled up the crowd with his fiery speech. Behind him stood two similarly humble unicorns, clearly acting as his assistants. The crowd shouted loudly, calling for the princess to be held accountable and to stop deceiving ordinary ponies.

Alexei stepped closer, watching the crowd with an indifferent look. His gaze fell on the speaker and his assistants, and he squinted his eyes, studying them closely. A chuckle flashed across his lips, but none of the others, lost among the noisy crowd, took any notice.

"What's so funny?" Saada asked, not understanding the man's reaction.

"Look at his helpers," the man said cheerfully.

"What's wrong with them? They look like ordinary laborers," the zebra replied perplexed.

"Wrong," the human interrupted her. "Look at their hooves. They look unkempt and chipped, but that's only at first glance. Look closely. Don't you think they're damaged a little too neatly and methodically?".

"Hmm. You're right. The hue is also healthy, indicating good nutrition," the zebra pondered as realization came to her. "Are these minor nobles sent to control the protest?".

"Maybe, or maybe someone on the business side," the man shrugged, turning around and leaving the plaza. "The important thing is that it's all in my best interest."

"I must say modern ponies have a lot more freedoms. Celestia allows them a lot," Saada muttered thoughtfully. "It was different in my day."

"Most people don't want freedom. They fear it," the man shook his head. "Truly free people are terrifying to them even.

"All they need are illusions.

"The illusion of freedom. The illusion of control. The illusion of truth."

"And I'll give them what they want," the man smiled as he stood in front of the entrance to a luxurious building adorned with a sign featuring a newspaper and a feather.

***

...Sensation! New details of an incident four years ago! The sole survivor, kidnapped by Nightmare Moon's associates, has given an exclusive interview! Everything he said has been independently verified through a truth spell!...

Holding the newspaper in her telekinetic grip, Celestia looked at the article and the photo attached to it with surprise and bewilderment. In the photo, she saw a creature without fur, dressed in rags, who was blowing a tear, and beside him was a gray unicorn touchingly soothing him. It was an image that evoked sympathy and compassion.

Quickly reading the entire article, Celestia's face frowned even more. She knew that some of the information was obvious fiction, but the creature pointed out details that had never been reported to the public. Either the creature really was the only survivor, or it had some inside information.

"Raven," Celestia called out, setting the paper aside. "Have you started gathering information yet?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied the white unicorn mare with black mane and tail. "Right after the article was published this morning, I sent some ponies out to find out all the details."

Celestia sighed, examining the humble afternoon snack on the table in front of her. This morning had been particularly crazy. She had just managed to enjoy a rare moment of peace when she was interrupted by this article.

"What has been found out?" the princess asked, massaging her temples.

"The origin of the creature is unknown. We were able to trace its movements back to Everfree, but where it came from in the first place is a mystery," Raven replied quickly. "He arrived in Canterlot the day before yesterday and is staying at the Gryphon's Feather Inn, which is near the gryphon quarter."

"Have the nobility tried to contact him yet?" Celestia asked, picking out a few pastries.

"Yes. Lots of them. A whole line since this morning," the mare replied. "He turned everyone down."

"What?" Celestia asked, frozen with a chocolate cake hanging over her plate.

"He refuses everyone and won't let anyone in," Raven said in a calm voice. "He doesn't answer questions from reporters either."

Celestia hesitated, shifting her gaze again to the picture in the paper.

She had expected it to be just another pawn of the nobles, but it looked like that wasn't the case. She had also assumed that this creature would be enjoying his moment of fame, chattering left and right. But this Alexei, as mentioned in the article, was behaving completely differently.

Suddenly, Celestia laughed as she realized this creature's motives.

"Cheeky brat," she smiled, scrutinizing the photo closely. "You've got a lot of nerve."

The unicorn mare Raven stood silently with an indifferent face, waiting for her princess to finish her musings.

"Raven, send a group of guardsmen in civvies to this Alexei. Have them invite him to dinner at the palace," Celestia ordered. "Send the picture and all the information you've gathered to Intelligence. I want to know everything about him by tonight.

"And cancel all my appointments for that time."

"As you command, Your Majesty," Raven bowed and quickly left the room.

Celestia sighed, feeling the fatigue that seemed to be creeping into her bones. She reached for the table where a variety of cakes lay, intending to finally get some rest.

After eating a few of the cakes, Celestia shuddered and looked in a certain direction. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the many walls of the palace with ease.
Celestia's gaze settled on Luna, who was slowly walking down the hallway.

Dark circles shone under Princess Luna's eyes, and her eyes were bloodshot. She hadn't been sleeping well lately.

Everything around her seemed to be plunged into darkness, reflecting Princess Luna's gloomy mood. The rare maids scattered into side corridors, and the guards huddled against the walls, trying even harder to look like motionless statues.

Luna paid no attention to this atmosphere of tension and fear - she was absorbed in her thoughts.

A thousand years were like a blur, but recent memories of Nightmare Moon returning from her imprisonment were slowly coming back to her. The Elements of Harmony seemed to want her to remember what she had done earlier.

Luna had tried to kill her sister, killed thousands of ponies, and nearly destroyed Canterlot.

She couldn't hide from herself that her own desires were part of this nightmare as well. There were dark thoughts and feelings lurking in the back of her mind that Nightmare Moon simply pulled out and began to carry out.

Any other mortal, faced with such guilt and terror of themselves, would have gone insane long ago. But Luna was no mortal.

She had lived for over a thousand years, having known every possible joy and suffering of this world.

She had personally executed deserters, bathed in the blood of Equestria's enemies, faced betrayal and betrayed others herself. She had known love and hate, and experienced almost everything this world had to offer.

Her mind was tempered like steel. What to a mortal would be the most horrific event of their life, to her was just an extremely shitty Monday.

Luna wasn't about to drown in self-pity. After crying for a few days, she picked herself up on her hooves and promised that she would right her mistakes.

She couldn't bring the dead back to life, but she could do her best for the living.

Maybe that would atone for her sins. She didn't know if she even wanted forgiveness, but she knew she had to keep moving forward.

Something strange had happened tonight that kept Luna uneasy and occupied all her thoughts at the moment. After regaining some strength, she decided to go to the Dreamworld, seeking the usual solace for her troubled mind there. Upon entering Dreamscape, she felt something wrong and puzzling. Heading towards the place that had attracted her senses, she discovered a dream.

This dream was unusual and mysterious. Luna tried to enter it, but the boundaries of this dream seemed impenetrable, as if made of steel. She tried many times, but she was never able to break through this barrier. Sometimes, the dream seemed to become ethereal and she couldn't interact with it at all.

However, the most puzzling thing was that Luna could feel a familiar energy in this dream - her own mental energy. It was faint and barely perceptible, but it was still present.

Luna mused on speculation as to who this dream belonged to and how it related to her. If it had been any other dream, she might have been able to determine the approximate location of the owner in the real world, but not in this case.

All she managed to see was a fleeting glimpse of the dream owner's appearance before he disappeared after noticing her presence.

Luna had never seen a creature like him before. And that made her even more curious and eager to solve this mystery. She got up earlier than usual to grab a quick snack and head to the library.

With these thoughts, she entered the dining hall and greeted her sister, Celestia. Her voice sounded a little tired, but there was determination and eagerness for change.

"You haven't been sleeping well," Celestia stated the obvious, examining her sister closely.

"I'm fine," Luna replied simply, taking a seat at the table.

"Why don't you get some help? I know some good..." Celestia started to say, but was interrupted when she noticed the glazed look in her sister's eyes as she stared at the paper on the table.

Luna lit the horn and grabbed the newspaper, scrutinizing the picture.

"Did you miss the paper that much?" Celestia asked cheerfully. "Or did you take a liking to that brat?"

The next moment, she regretted her joke when Luna gave her a wild look.

Celestia reflexively squinted and spread her wings, taking a fighting stance.

"I'm sorry, sister," Luna said in a sad voice, lowering her gaze.

Celestia sighed, folded her wings and stepped closer.

"It's okay," she said, hugging Luna with her wings. "It was just an accident."

Luna answered her with a look that clearly showed she didn't believe a word she said.

"So what were you so interested in the paper?" Celestia tried to change the dangerous topic.

"That creature. What is it?" the Princess of Night asked.

"I don't know myself. Some brat who thinks he can play games with me," Celestia shrugged. "I have a meeting with him tonight."

"I want to be at that meeting," Luna said firmly, looking into her sister's eyes.

***

The man moved the rook chess piece and leaned back in his chair, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.

Across from him was Saada, with whom he was playing the Equestrian equivalent of chess. The rules were essentially the same, it was just that the pieces looked and were called differently.

This strange game of chess was watched by a rat named Alice, crunching some small nuts that the man had stolen from the inn's counter. He had spent quite a bit of time training her, teaching her many complex commands. With Saada's help in transmitting images into the rat's mind, they were making good progress.

"It'll be evening soon. Do you think someone will come from the palace?" Saada asked, eyeing the chessboard thoughtfully.

"Of course they'll come," the man smiled, resting with his eyes closed. "I've already shown Celestia my attitude. She'll be sure to contact me."

"We've been sitting here all day and all we've done is chase off those pesky nobleman's lackeys," the zebra muttered, rubbing her cheek.

The man didn't reply, but reached out and scratched a finger behind the rat's ear, causing it to rumble contentedly.

Alice was an important part of his emergency plan should he suddenly find himself in Canterlot's prison. He hoped it wouldn't come to that, but he always prepared for the worst. That was why he was still alive and free.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, interrupting the man's rest. Gesturing for Saada to return to his body, the man walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Standing in front of the door were five very ordinary looking unicorns, but their faces gave them away as military men.

The man smiled as he opened the door.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, peering at the unicorns through the gap. "I don't do interviews or host guests."

"We're here on an errand. I think you understand from whom," the unicorn in front replied in an even voice. "May we come in?"

"I'm naked. Wait a moment," the man replied, closing the door.

"Are they using magic now?" he mentally asked Saada and receiving a negative answer walked over to the table and picked up the rat.

Whispering something in its ear, he opened the cabinet under the sink and let the rat crawl into the gap in the wall leading outside.

Pulling two black pills out of his pocket, the man popped them into his mouth and swallowed them quickly.

Now everything was ready. All that remained was to go on stage.

"I hope she remembers all the instructions and stash locations," the man mentally sighed as he walked back to the door.

"Please come in," he smiled, letting the group of unicorns inside.

The unicorns entered, taking a quick look around and using several spells on the door and the entire room.

"These are anti-surveillance spells," the leader explained. "We represent the Crown and Princess Celestia personally. She wishes to meet you for dinner at the palace."

"Good. I'm ready to go even now," the human agreed.

The unicorn nodded and turned to the two unicorns behind him. Those took out a huge parchment covered with many runes from their bag and taped it to the wall. Reacting to the energy injected by the unicorns, the runes began to glow and seemed to merge with each other.

Soon, a portal shone in place of the wall, revealing the palace's luxurious decorations.

"I love portals," the man mentally grinned. "So far, they've only brought good things."

"Come on in. We'll stay here and make sure no one enters your room," the leader said. "If necessary, another portal will be created for you to bring you back."

Nodding, the man walked through the portal and out into the large living room. The portal behind him began to close with a quiet hiss, leaving him in new, uncharted territory.

"There you are," came a soft voice from his right, making the man flinch slightly.

Turning around, he saw a white and dark blue alicorn sitting on an exquisite couch. Celestia and Luna, the princesses of Equestria, greeted him with their divine presence.

He had seen Celestia before when she spoke before the people, but up close it was a very different experience. There was a flicker of admiration in the man's eyes that the princesses couldn't help but notice.

"Good evening, Your Majesties," the man said, bowing low before the princesses. "Princess Celestia. Princess Luna."

"You may raise your head," Celestia said with a smile on her face.

The man obeyed and stood up, looking at the princesses and waiting for their words.

"Hmm, how interesting," Celestia said cheerfully as her sister Luna scrutinized the man. "How did that happen?"

"I'm not quite sure what you mean, Your Majesty," the man smiled politely.

"Where is your soul, wanderer from another world?" Celestia continued in the same cheerful tone.

The princess could see how the pupils of the creature in front of her dilated with shock, and his left hand began to tremble.

"So you know," the man smiled bitterly, growing increasingly nervous. "What's going to happen to me now?"

"Depends on your answers," Celestia started to say, but she was interrupted by Luna.

"What's your connection to the Nightmare Moon cult?" Luna asked, eyeing the man suspiciously.

"No connection at all," the man replied simply. "I saw a portal appear in my world and entered it. That's how I ended up in the Everfree forest. That's all."

"Tell the full story," Celestia ordered briefly.

The man launched into an explanation, recounting everything that had happened to him in those four years.

Well, almost everything. Some things the alicorns clearly didn't need to hear. Many things.

"So you ended up here because of me?" Luna muttered silently, casting the man a sad look.

"Interesting story," Celestia hummed, pulling out a rolled up flyer. "What do you think of this?"

The human looked at the flyer in Princess Celestia's telekinetic grip.

It was a flyer with a bounty on his head. His own face was depicted on it. Squinting, he read that he was wanted by a tribe of zebras for killing their tribesman.

"It did happen," the man sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "However, that stallion reached for his weapon and was about to kill me. It was only self-defense!"

"Really? Then what about..." Celestia started to say, but she was interrupted again by Luna.

"Stop pressuring him, sister," Luna said coldly. "You heard about his situation in the tribe. He was an outcast, the tribe just found a scapegoat."

"As if it wasn't his own fault," Celestia muttered, but fell silent under her sister's gaze.

Celestia shifted her gaze to the man, who was extremely nervous and sweating, and his gaze seemed to be filled with pure distilled fear. Even from the couch, the sisters could hear the sound of the man's furious heartbeat.

"He's turning out to be more timid than I imagined," Celestia thought to herself. "Just a little longer and he'll have a panic attack."

"Good. Let's forget about it," Celestia sighed, realizing that further questioning would not lead to a positive result. "So why did you put on this whole show, getting our attention?"

"I heard rumors of a connection between that incident and the return of Princess Luna. I... I wanted to meet her," the man said loosening his collar. "Though, right now, I can't remember what I wanted to say."

"Calm down. We're not going to execute or imprison you," Celestia said, trying to calm his nerves, but the man didn't seem much calmed by it.

"We'll end it there today, sister. He can stay here and rest," Luna said, shifting her gaze to the man. "I guarantee your safety, Alexei."

"Thank you, Princess Luna," the man smiled warmly, looking at her gratefully.

Celestia sighed and lit her horn. A few seconds later, two maids entered the room.

"Take him to the guest room and provide him with everything he needs," Celestia ordered.

Bowing deeply once more, the man followed the maids. All the way he stared at the floor and breathed heavily.

The maids looked at him with interest, but dared not speak to him first.

When he reached the guest room, he thanked the maids and sent them away, saying he needed nothing, and closed the door.

Collapsing on the bed, the man curled up and lay staring at one point. He looked so pathetic and vulnerable.

"Boy, you are something!" the zebra in his head laughed wildly. "Mad, crazy bastard, but still something!"

"The easy part of the plan is complete," the man mentally replied, maintaining his previous fetal pose. "If it weren't for the fact that unicorn magic can't read my mind due to the lack of a soul - things would be much more complicated."

"Why do you keep acting?" the zebra asked. "Do you think they're still watching you? I don't feel any magic."

"Of course they're watching," Alexei snorted mentally. "They'll definitely want to see how I act when I think no one's watching."

The man planned to infiltrate the palace, separate the sisters, and meet with Luna alone. So far, everything was going according to plan.

Rolling over onto his back, the man inhaled and exhaled deeply, massaging his face with his hands.

"Luna..." the man's thoughts shifted to a certain princess. "We're going to be best friends soon."

Chapter 11 - Kind heart

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"And that's a short version of the story," Luna finished with a sigh, shifting her gaze to the man. "I think you have a right to know."

The man answered nothing, gazing thoughtfully at the night sky.

They were sitting on a bench in the Royal Garden, surrounded by majestic trees and flowering plants. Luna was enjoying the coolness of the night, and her ethereal mane swayed in the light breeze. The sound of a fountain could be heard in the distance, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

"May I ask a question, Princess Luna?" the man finally spoke.

"Of course," the Princess of Night replied easily. "As long as we are in private - there is no need for titles and formalities. Just call me Luna."

"Okay, Luna," the man smiled, then looked at the princess seriously. "You and Nightmare Moon are the same being?".

Luna flinched as if his words had pierced her heart and looked the man in the eye.

The man looked into her eyes and felt the pressure of thousands of years.

Blood, death, resentment, anger, hatred, despair, hope, betrayal, triumph and happiness. All of these things were circling like sharks in Princess Luna's bottomless gaze.

Such concentrated feelings could drive a mortal to a nervous breakdown.

Alexei allowed it all to pass through him, but his gaze remained as calm as the ocean's smooth surface.

"Yes," Luna replied briefly, breaking her gaze and examining some random flower. "You're here because of my selfish desires. Do you hate me?".

"Why should I hate you, Luna?" the man asked with a smile.

"Your family, your friends, your lover. You will never see them again. There is no way to bring you back to your world," Luna continued in an increasingly somber voice. "So tell me, why don't you hate me!"

The man regarded the princess in silence, sinking into increasingly dark thoughts. Her very presence seemed to absorb the light, plunging everything around her into darkness. It was a mesmerizing sight, bearing a certain beauty.

The man stood up resolutely and approached the princess. She didn't even seem to notice the movement, buried in her thoughts. Given the height of the bench, their faces were on the same level.

Luna flinched when she felt a hug, pulling her out of her dark thoughts.

"I don't hate you," the man's whisper sounded, blowing hot breath against her ear. "And I forgive you, Luna."

Princess Luna's pupils dilated slightly in surprise, but she immediately picked herself up on her hooves.

After a few moments, the man broke the embrace and smilingly looked into her eyes.

"Of course, you'll have to compensate me for this," the man began in a serious voice, but there was amusement evident in it. "Have I told you yet that I have a sweet tooth?".

Luna snorted and laughed a tinkling, bell-like laugh.

"Who let you touch the princess anyway?" she began in a feignedly displeased tone. "I'll buy you all the cakes in Canterlot."

The man laughed and plopped back on the bench, the previously gloomy atmosphere completely obliterated.

"Actually, I was planning on bestowing a noble title on you," Luna murmured thoughtfully, looking at the man cheerfully. "Now I don't know what to think."

"I don't need a noble title," the man replied nonchalantly.

The playful expression on Luna's face disappeared as she looked at the man perplexed.

"Why? You can firmly establish yourself in society," the princess replied confidently. "Nobles have many privileges. You can live carefree and enjoy all that Canterlot has to offer."

"And yet, my answer is no," the man smiled, finding the princess' bewilderment amusing.

Perhaps she thought it was a good offer, but the man didn't think so.

By gaining a noble title, he would integrate into society and become a member of this "organization" called Equestria. By becoming part of the system he could gain a bunch of advantages, but the suppression would also become stronger. The man preferred to act without any restrictions.

"I don't understand, but I won't insist," Luna said with a sigh. "I can't bring you home, but I can give you a new home. I'll buy you a house in Canterlot anyway."

"You don't need the title. Gold then? I can provide for you for life."

"I don't need gold," the man replied with a chuckle.

"Then what do you wish? Just tell me!", the princess said, deciding not to beat around the bush.

The man thought for a moment, his eyes staring off into the distance as if searching for an answer in the vast expanse. Then he looked at the princess with sincerity in his eyes.

"I don't need anything," the man replied simply.

Princess Luna squinted her eyes as she considered the man. She wanted to compensate him for all the trouble he had caused, but he dared to refuse. What an impudent man!

"I won't accept such an answer," the princess flatly refused, staring resolutely at the man.

The man thought deeply, scratching his cheek.

"As you already know, there is no magic in my world," he began after some thought. "I would like to use magic. Is there a way?".

"I'll be honest with you," Luna sighed after some hesitation. "I know of several ways, but all of them are terrible."

"The chances of success are extremely slim, and in your case, close to zero. If you don't die right away - you'll be wishing you were dead."

"Not to mention the unethical nature of some of these methods. Trust me, you don't want to mess with dark magic."

The man listened silently, not reacting in any way.

He asked the question more for confirmation. He didn't expect the princess to have a convenient spell that could make him a mage. Her options were no different from the ritual Saada had suggested.

There was no point in even asking about eternal life. How many close friends and lovers had the princesses had during their lifetime? And where were they now?

"I understand," the man replied indifferently, shifting his gaze back to the sky.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing that can be done," the princess said sadly, watching the man's reaction. "Maybe there's something else?"

The man fell silent, looking extremely pensive and immersed in his thoughts.

"Can you teach me how to dreamwalk?" he finally replied, smiling at the princess. "I'm very interested in dream magic."

Princess Luna thought for a moment. Dreamwalking was one of her specialties, and she knew it was inaccessible to someone without a soul. But in his eyes, she saw genuine desire and curiosity.

"You realize you'll never be able to use it, don't you?" the princess asked, looking at the man perplexed.

"I realize perfectly well. And yet it is my wish," the man replied firmly.

The princess's eyebrows raised slightly as a certain thought crossed her mind - she remembered her sister's apprentice.

"He wants to become my apprentice to... cheer me up?", Luna thought in surprise.

"Good," she replied briefly, some warmth flashing in her eyes. "I don't have much free time, so you'll have to learn from my journals and books. Of course, I'm always available to answer your questions."

"Sounds good," the man replied, smiling at the Princess of Night.

***

A week had passed since that momentous night, and now the human was enjoying his morning coffee in his new house.

They had nearly fought with the princess recently while they were choosing the right house for him. Luna had insisted on buying a giant mansion, but Alexei was more modestly inclined. He only wanted a simple house with a securely shielded basement where he could do his experiments in alchemy.

After much debate, he convinced Luna that a simple dwelling was enough for him. Although Luna looked slightly displeased, Alexei reassured her by promising that perhaps in the future he would need rare ingredients that she could acquire for him.

This answer satisfied the princess. She was impressed by the passion and perseverance with which the man was learning the art of alchemy.

However, all these little things around the house and the ingredients did not bother Alexei. At the moment, his attention was completely focused on two things: dream magic and his relationship with Luna.

As soon as the man heard the princess' story, he was immediately interested and wanted to learn all about dream magic. And who could be a better teacher than the Princess of Night herself?

Alexei was extremely cautious about bringing up the subject of learning, pretending that he was only mildly curious and just wanted to spend more time in Luna's company.

In reality, he was deeply intrigued.

Nightmares in particular caught his attention - creatures composed of dense mental energy, capable of using any form of magic, just like unicorns. Unlike the latter, nightmares possessed neither magical energy nor a soul.

They used their extremely powerful mental energy as fuel for spells, and they simply didn't need a soul. In addition, they could take over other creatures by taking over their bodies. Nightmares resembled viruses with their behavior.

Alexei seriously considered the possibility of turning into one of them. To him, the human body was just a sack for a mind made of flesh and bones. If it would get him closer to his goal, he was willing to easily discard his humanity.

Although Alexei did not possess the ability to use dream magic, he could partially mimic it through alchemy. He realized that he would have to create recipes from scratch, and so he needed all the information available about dream magic.

For the past week he had burrowed into the library in the princess's room, absorbing every book and entry on the subject.
It was a good thing that she rarely had anyone in there, otherwise there would be rumors about a man who never left the princess's room.

But now his thoughts were not on the books, but on Luna herself.

He had previously believed her to be in complete isolation, according to information acquired from the griffins. His plans had been to slowly establish a relationship with the princess.

All of those plans instantly collapsed - Luna was not in isolation.

Several clans of thestrals returned to Equestria and swore allegiance to Luna. Thestrals, a mix of ponies and bats, had a long connection to the princess. This turn of events did not suit Alexei, and he began to wonder how this might affect his plans.

What resources do thestrals have? What actions will thestrals take?

Would they be able to negotiate with the nobles by stopping the bullying of Luna? Or will they use more extreme methods?

None of this suited the man - he wanted to be everything to Luna, and thestrals were pulling the blanket over him.

While Luna had agreed to share some information with him, she was clearly hiding the most interesting, and dangerous, aspects of dream magic. He and Luna were still far from being considered close. Which was why the man was trying to constantly improve his relationship with the princess.

Getting close to someone and creating a good relationship was both easy and difficult.
The main thing was simply to lower one's status and satisfy the other party's desires.

"What do you desire, Luna?" he wondered, stepping out of his house and heading towards the palace. "Forgiveness. Even though you don't want to admit it. It's easy, but what else?".

"She's a warrior and a commander, values loyalty and sacrifice," the man continued to ponder. "She wants to be appreciated. She also cares about other people's opinions, even if she hides it. Otherwise, there wouldn't be the whole rebellion thing."

"There are many dark thoughts in the back of her mind. And she secretly enjoys them, even if she regrets crossing a certain line."

"Let's not forget the inferiority complex," the man thought as he bought some hot apple-filled pies. "She wants to outdo her sister in anything."

"If you put all her desires together, what would my plan be?".

"There's another important point. Princesses aren't stupid at all. Sooner or later they will uncover my disguise and begin to suspect something. Perhaps they already suspect me."

"I need to take the initiative and reveal some things. Let them think they can see right through me and control everything."

"Hehe, those alicorns are pretty arrogant."

The man walked towards the palace and chewed apple pie, his mind buzzing with all sorts of plots and intrigues.

At the entrance, he ran into several nobles who cast dirty looks at him.

Alexei, as usual, ignored it and continued on his way, but suddenly froze. His head slowly turned towards the nobles and his face spread into a smile.

"Nice day today, isn't it?" the man asked the unicorns and without waiting for an answer, he entered the palace.

He had just gotten a great idea.

***

"Are you serious now?", Luna asked in a tired voice, her eyes expressing disbelief and questioning the man's sanity.

She was exhausted after a sleepless night and was going to meet with the nobles in an hour. Returning to the political life of the country required her utmost concentration and energy. And now there stood before her a man with some crazy idea.

"I am always serious," he replied with a smile.

"I was wrong to tell you all this," Luna said in a doomed voice. "Now you come and say you want to go to the head conspirator among the nobles and convince him to back down."

"Am I understanding this correctly? I haven't missed anything?"

"Yes, all correct," the man replied with the same smile, despite her skeptical look.

"You're nuts," Luna summarized. "You must have overdone your studies and damaged your mind. Take a couple days off."

"I'm not kidding, Luna," the man replied seriously. "Is there anything I can do to make this already dire situation worse? No."

"So why don't you trust me and give me a chance?"

Luna gave him a certain look that showed her whole attitude toward his naivete.

Alexei responded with a determined look, glowing with hope.

"All right, all right. Just don't look at me like that," the princess sighed. "I'll arrange for you to meet the Marquis at noon."

"Now go away and let me wash in peace."

"You won't regret it," the man smiled. "Ah yes, may I borrow one of your maids?"

"I did assign you a personal maid, though," the princess said perplexed. "Moonlight has been hanging around idle for a week now."

"Hmm, right," the man frowned, actually remembering that he had a maid. "I'll see you later, then. Good luck with your meeting."

The man turned around and walked out of the princess' room to her heartbreaking sigh. He headed to his room in the castle and found the gray mare of thestrals who, by the looks of her, had just slept.

"Moonlight, eh?" he asked as he approached her. "I have two errands for you."

The mare nodded silently, she was glad to finally get down to business after a week of downtime.

"Do you have any day ponies outside of the Royal Palace in mind that you can trust?" the man asked, pulling a few costumes out of the closet.

"I think there are a couple of trustworthy ponies," Moonlight replied after some thought.

The man nodded satisfied, leaned over to her and began whispering something in her ear.

"Got it all memorized?" the man asked, finally completing his instructions. "And of course, the source wished to remain unknown."

"I will fulfill your assignment, Friend of the Night," Moonlight nodded confidently and quickly left the room. Her graceful footsteps resounded in the silence, reflecting the determination and ruthlessness she felt for those who stood in Princess Luna's way.

"You're not going to attack the Marquis, are you?" came the zebra's voice, interrupting the man busy with his costume. "I hope you realize there's a bunch of armed guards out there?"

"Attacking a nobleman?", Alexei asked shocked. "What scary things you say, Saada. We'll just talk."

His face expressed unwavering confidence, as if he was convinced of his ability to sway the marquis to his side.

Zebra only rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

Taking his costume, the man returned home and began brewing the potions that were necessary to carry out his plan.

Time flew by quickly, and now it was time for the meeting.

Alexei drank two potions, walked out of his house and headed towards the Marquis' mansion.

His name was Radiant Rose, and according to the Crown's information, he was the mastermind behind the campaign against the princess.

Quickly reaching the mansion, Alexei gave his name to the guards and after a thorough search, he entered the mansion accompanied by two impressive unicorns. Their gazes were filled with determination and vigilance, as if they were ready to protect their master at all costs.

The man really didn't have anything with him.

Although, the guards should have discovered the tattoo on his left leg, but it hadn't been there for a long time. Earlier, after obtaining the ingredients for the regeneration-giving tattoo, he destroyed the speed tattoo and chose another place to place them.

He removed the skin from his back, carefully applied the tattoos on the inside and put the skin back in place. These tattoos were extremely important to him, and now discovering or damaging them was extremely problematic.

As they walked down the corridor, Alexei discreetly removed the flower from his chest, pinned with a needle, and tucked it into his pocket. He hid the needle between his fingers.

Knocking on the door of the Marquis' office, the guards waited for an answer and let Alexei in, closing the door from the outside.

The man took a quick glance around the room.

To the right hung a painting of a majestic unicorn that seemed to come to life against the bright green of the forest.

Cabinets filled with books took up an entire wall, and a large desk by the window was covered with stacks of papers and writing pens.

Two impressive unicorns stood to the sides of the door, watching intently.

"Good afternoon, Marquis Rose," the man said with a smile as he greeted the unicorn behind the desk.

"Good afternoon to you as well, Alexei," the marquis said, raising his gaze to the man. Curiosity flashed in his eyes. "I confess, I don't quite understand the purpose of your visit."

"It's just a friendly visit," the man smiled warmly at the unicorn. "I would like to talk about some disturbing things in Canterlot."

"Disturbing? Then you'd better contact the royal guard," the marquis replied perplexed. "I'm not sure I can help you."

The man did not answer, pacing around the room as if he were in his own home.

His gaze was drawn to a set of writing pens on a cabinet shelf and a knife for sharpening them lying nearby. The fine knife with a small silver handle decorated with gems was immediately eye-catching to anyone. The handle was rather decorative - unicorns didn't need them.
The man walked over to the shelf and began to examine it, then took it in his hands.

"A very beautiful piece, Marquis," the man said in satisfaction as he admired the knife. "You have good taste."

"Please don't touch anything," the unicorn said with a polite smile, telekinetically snatching the knife from the man's hands. He had to make some effort - the man clung to the knife like a tick.

"Oh, please forgive me. I seem to have gotten carried away," the man smiled guiltily and then immediately grew serious. "I came to talk about Princess Luna."

The unicorn frowned upon hearing the princess' name and put the knife back on the shelf.

"And what exactly do you wish to discuss?" the unicorn asked, scrutinizing the man.

The human didn't answer. Putting his hands behind his back he began pacing back and forth as if gathering his thoughts.

"Surely you must have heard all those unpleasant rumors about the princess that have been floating around Canterlot?" the man asked, finally stopping near a shelf of feathers.

"I think I've heard something vaguely," the unicorn replied indifferently. "But what does it have to do with me?"

The man turned to the picture of the unicorn hanging on the wall to the right and took a step back, closer to the shelf, as if trying to get a better look at the image.

"Who is that, Marquis? Your ancestor?" the man suddenly changed the subject, nodding at the painting.

"Yes, he is the founder of our family," the unicorn replied turning his head. There was a flicker of pride in his eyes.

Neither the unicorn nor the guards noticed the man's hand hidden behind his back grabbing the knife and stashing it in his pocket.

"There is an opinion that rumors are spread by some nobles," the man said thoughtfully, discreetly pricking his finger with the needle. "Do you think your ancestor would have approved of such actions?".

"Is it just me, or are you accusing me of something, Alexei?" Marquis Rose squinted, gazing into the face of the man who wandered into his office. The Marquis' gaze was perceptive, as if he was trying to read his guest's mind.

"No, no, not at all," the man replied calmly as he continued his slow steps across the room. Each step he took left a trail of blood drops on the luxurious carpet.

"It just really hurts me to watch the princess suffer, and I want all these rumors to stop."

"I share your sentiments," the Marquis said with bitterness in his voice. "My family has always been loyal to the Crown. If I find out who is behind these slanderous rumors, I will immediately report it to the palace."

"You are truly a paragon of virtue, Marquis Rose," the man smiled, looking at the unicorn appreciatively. "Those are exactly the words I wanted to hear."

"You overpraise me," the Marquis replied, smiling again. "It is my duty as a noblepony."

"Then this visit was not in vain," the man continued to smile, taking a bow to the unicorn. "I dare not waste any more of your time, Marquis."

"If it concerns the Crown, you may come anytime," the Marquis replied politely, shifting his gaze to the guards standing at the door. "Please escort my guest out."

Bowing once more, the man left the office.

The two unicorns serving as guards led him back to the entrance.

"The meeting ended somehow poorly," the zebra snorted in his head.

"What do you mean? The meeting hasn't even started yet," the human replied with a smile. "Quick, check the surroundings for magic and creatures."

"There's a room behind us, packed with guards. There are guards in front of the entrance as well. No one else," the zebra relayed after a moment. "There is no one watching us. Marquis seems to be trying to contact someone."

With a satisfied nod, the man raised his hands and struck the unicorns' heads with force, knocking them out. The soft carpet in the hallway muffled the sound of their bodies falling.

Raising an eyebrow, Saada watched as the man pulled a knife out of his pocket and began furiously cutting up his body. He didn't even spare his face, methodically making deep cuts. Blood slowly streamed down his body, falling to the carpet. Not even a minute later, it already felt like the man had survived an attack from a wild beast.

"Keep wounds open," the man mentally relayed to Saada, frowning slightly.

He had previously drunk a regeneration-suppressing potion, but it didn't seem to be enough - the blood was stopping too quickly. The tattoo was indeed of excellent quality.

The unicorns on the floor groaned, beginning to regain consciousness.

Stabbing the knife into his right shoulder, the man left a few bloody prints on the wall and rushed for the exit.

Meanwhile, in a neighboring street, very close to the Marquis' mansion, a squad of royal guards were fighting off pesky journalists.

"I say again, we have no idea what you're talking about," the squad leader said irritably, trying to keep the crowd of journalists at bay. "We're here for a routine check."

"Are you saying that...," the pegasus reporter began, but was interrupted by a shrill scream.

All eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
The pegasi among the reporters immediately leapt into the air and rushed in the direction of the shout.

A squad of royal guards, pushing the remaining reporters away, ran towards the scene.

Quickly reaching the right place, the leader's pupils dilated with shock for a moment. Before him appeared a sight that could only be seen in nightmares.

A bipedal creature leaped out of the Marquis' mansion, torn to shreds and bleeding. The creature stumbled and fell, but immediately continued to crawl desperately on the ground, leaving a trail of blood. Its eyes were full of terror and despair.

The guards immediately recognized the creature as a human who had been frequenting the palace recently.

After a second of shock, the squad rushed toward the wounded man.

"Everypony back!" the squad leader roared, shoving away the omnipresent reporters and approaching the man.

Taking a quick look at the wounds, the unicorn used several first aid spells to stop the bleeding.

"Can you speak?" he asked worriedly, trying to catch the man's gaze. "What happened, sir?".

It had indeed been a crazy day for his squad.

First they got news of an upcoming riot in a certain area. Next, reporters had appeared from somewhere accusing them of all sins. Now it's a bloody mess.

"Marquis Rose..." the man said in a trembling voice, looking back at the manor with horror. "He's a monster!"

***

"This is all rather disturbing, Marquis Rose," Celestia said thoughtfully, examining the unicorn across the room.

Sitting beside Celestia on the couch was Luna, and next to her, on a chair, sat a man. His entire body was wrapped in bloody bandages. Actually, his wounds had long since healed and even his scars were fading, but a certain image had to be maintained.

"I had nothing to do with this," the Marquis hissed through clenched teeth.

"There are traces of blood in your office. The corridor and the walls are drenched in blood. And it all belongs to a human," Celestia continued in a calm voice. "The weapon of crime has yours, and only yours, magical energy on it."

"Can you explain all of that?"

Marquis Rose remained silent, gritting his teeth and drilling his gaze to the floor. He knew the princesses wouldn't be able to imprison him for long. However, they could definitely ruin his life.

Taking a deep breath, the Marquis' face relaxed. It was time to let go. This time, they had fucked him.

"I'm listening," Marquis finally replied in a steady voice.

Celestia smiled and shifted her gaze to the man, waiting for his words. She was a little curious as to what he would say.

"As I said before Marquis, my heart aches from all the bullying directed at Princess Luna," the man said with a sigh. "That pain is probably what caused this whole misunderstanding."

"Maybe there's something you could do?"

The unicorn licked his lips and stared at the human. Oh, how he wanted to tear this insolent man apart.

"I'll do my best," the marquis squeezed out with a strained smile.

"You have a kind heart, Marquis Rose," the man smiled warmly. "I suffered an explosion when I broke your late father's precious artifact and said some unnecessary things."

"However, you are still concerned about my feelings."

"I will make a statement and clarify the situation."

Everyone in the room was well aware that all of this was utter nonsense, but no one even turned a deaf ear. Including the Marquis, who had just yesterday received a letter from his father, who was enjoying a vacation in retirement.

"I'm very glad we were able to clear up that misunderstanding," the unicorn replied with the same strained smile, shifting his gaze to Celestia.

"You may go, Marquis Rose," followed the princess' reply.

Bowing, the unicorn left the room, leaving the two alicorns and the human alone.

The two princesses immediately stared at the human.

Celestia's face expressed nothing, though there was a flicker of some thoughtfulness in her eyes.

Luna's gaze was complicated, but in it they could discern appreciation and a hint of... respect?

"So," Celestia began slowly, breaking the silence. "What was that?"

"Advanced diplomacy?" the man suggested, smiling innocently at the princess.

Chapter 12 - Blood and tears

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The man stood at the window, gazing up into the sky where Princess Luna was interacting with the moon with her magic.

He knew now that the story of the moon rising and lowering was just a myth. The moon and the sun moved according to their own laws, needing almost no help from the princesses.

The sisters, Princesses Celestia and Luna, became guardians of the celestial bodies because of a magical cataclysm that happened long before they were born. This cataclysm disrupted the normal movement of the sun and moon, and at first the task of correcting the trajectories was taken on by groups of unicorns.

However, when the princesses came into the world, they began to protect and guide the celestial bodies with their magic.

The story of the magical disaster was not something confidential - all nobles and common ponies knew about it.

Each of them had their own opinion about it.

Some believed in the divine nature of princesses, considering them untouchable and omnipotent. Others considered it all fiction, myths created to embellish reality.

The sisters never answered these questions directly, preferring to keep the intrigue and mystery surrounding their destiny and magical powers.

Many nobles from the old families knew the real story, which was now heard by man as well.

With each passing day, the sun and moon returned to their normal motion.

Perhaps one day the sisters would no longer be needed?

"Beautiful, as always," the man praised as he gazed at the night sky.

Princess Luna, finishing her work, turned to the man with a smile.

Usually, he stayed at the princess' place late, but tonight he had to go.

"Good night, Luna," Alexei smiled warmly as he said goodbye to the princess.

"Leaving already? It's still only evening," the princess grumbled unhappily.

"You need to get your sleep routine back on track," Alexei flatly retorted, not giving in to the princess's pleas.

"You dare order a princess around?", Luna asked in a playful voice, trying to bring a smile to Alexei's face.

"I dare," Alexei smirked, walking up close to the princess.

They drilled each other with glances for a while, and then laughed in sync.

Princess Luna rose on her hind hooves and hugged Alexei tightly. Her hug was gentle and full of gratitude.

"Alright," Luna said in a quiet voice, savoring the warmth that came from Alexei. "And thank you again."

"You're welcome," Alexei replied easily and added sincerely. "I'm very happy to see you in a good mood."

Finally breaking the embrace, they said their goodbyes and the man left the room, leaving behind a smiling princess.

Her mood had really improved lately - Alexei had done his best.

He mentally rolled his eyes, remembering a certain conversation with Luna. The princess had paid a generous compensation to all the dead and attended the funeral procession, but that was all. She hardly advertised her deed.

Alexei quickly corrected this assumption. He gave several interviews, wrote a touching speech for the princess and held a press conference to reveal all the good deeds Luna had done.

In her speech, Luna bowed her head and apologized to all of Canterlot for her weakness.

Ah, if only she had been stronger - she would have been able to stop the escaped Nightmare Moon...

Technically, it was all true, but it still took Alexei a long time to convince Luna to say exactly that.

Immediately after temporarily arresting the Marquis, Alexei visited a bunch of minor nobles. He didn't even have to make a scene - his words, confidence, and a bit of threat were convincing in themselves.

He took advantage of their panic, due to the lack of information, and, with a little scare, forced them to make statements in support of Princess Luna. Now, even knowing the truth, they could only grit their teeth.

Wherever it was possible - Alexei trumpeted the heroic story of Princess Luna.

Judging by the conversations in the city, the people took the new information quite well. Slowly but steadily, Princess Luna's reputation was improving.

She was still feared, and there were still many doubters, but that was already a good thing. Alexei knew that every step in the right direction would improve the princess's standing.
And the more stable the princess' position, the better for the man.

On the way out of the palace, Alexei ran into a group of nobles whispering among themselves, casting glances of hatred and despise at him.

The man ignored them completely. All these foolish nobles were boasting of their status and thought they were somehow better than others.

To Alexei, all these titles meant nothing.

A common pony, a baron or a marquis? What was the difference?

Without real strength, a title was just an empty sound.

Marquis Rose, for example. Did he realize that Alexei might as well have killed him that day?

"At this rate, one day all of Canterlot will hate you," Saada said cheerfully.

"So what?" laughed Alexei carelessly. "Even if I offend every living creature, so what?".

These words reflected his philosophical attitude toward life.

Alexei was a human being, a mortal being.

Sooner or later he would die. Sooner or later this universe would die too.

Everything he'd done, everything he'd felt, would crumble away like an illusion, leaving no trace of his existence.

So why should he care?

That's why man strove so fiercely for eternal life.

He was looking for ways to preserve his existence, to make his life real.

But Alexei was not limited by these usual human existential fears. He had long ago accepted his death and lived every moment, enjoying the journey to his goal.

Would he achieve what he so desired? Who knows.

Only one thing the man was sure of - he would have no regrets.

Saada fell silent, pondering his words and feeling the strong emotions pulsing through the man's mind.

Her gaze reflected some confusion as she always tried to peer into the depths of his thoughts. But with each passing day it became more and more difficult for her to get into his mind, forcing her to only guess at what was going on in his head.

Within days of the pact, the man had already figured out a way to hide some of his thoughts from her, drowning them out with a lot of chaotic information.
As time went on, he got better and better at it.

Recently, Princess Luna had taught him a new trick: mind splitting.

It allowed him to think of two things at once, which was useful in both dream magic and alchemy.
But Saada didn't like it. She couldn't read his mind at all now, and he didn't share many of his plans with her, as if playing with her curiosity.

"Whatever," the zebra finally said and added in a slightly annoyed voice. "So what are our plans for today?".

"Hmm?" came the reply from the human, lost in his thoughts. "We're going to stop by the house first, and then we're going for a walk."

Alexei ignored the zebra's follow-up questions, completely immersed in his own thoughts.

He thought about his previous plans to become a nightmare, and knew they had been overly ambitious. Reading Luna's books on dream magic had led him to realize that his scheme was doomed to fail. In order to become a nightmare, he needed ingredients from the depths of the Dreamworld.

But how to get into that world and take out the necessary ingredients from there? That question remained unanswered.

He could enter someone else's dream using alchemy, but there was no way to enter the Dreamworld itself. Taking the ingredients outside was also impossible for him.

It could be done by Luna, but there was a problem here as well.

Dreamworld was a parallel world where the dreams of all living beings in the universe floated. But this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Dreamworld also had deeper layers. He happened to come across a passing mention of it in one of Luna's books.

The princess' gaze filled with horror when he asked her about it, but then she quickly regained her composure and refused to answer most of his questions.

All she said was that it was a very dark and dangerous place where, already insane as it was, the laws of the Dreamworld turned into complete absurdity. She also warned him against trying to interact with it.

Alexei came up with a new plan - to create his own nightmare.

Earlier, back when he was still living in the forest, he had already worked on the idea of destroying the spirits' minds and binding them to himself, mimicking the effect of the contract with Saada. Back then he had only thought of elemental beings and ghosts, but now the alternative - nightmares - had opened up before him.

Alexei snorted as his thoughts turned to Luna again. The image of Nightmare Moon appeared before him, a grim example of such a failed interaction with the Dreamworld.

Alexei was confident in his venture, however, for several reasons.

Nightmares, he knew, fed off negative emotions - fear, anger, hatred, envy, and all that. And he, Alexei, had no negative feelings for anyone. His heart was filled with nothing but perseverance and determination to achieve his goal.

Even if Nightmare Moon herself targeted him, she would have to go hungry, for he would provide no food for her dark appetites.

Alexei didn't know the full backstory of Nightmare Moon, but he guessed that she was an expression of all the negativity that had accumulated in Luna. He didn't know if Nightmare Moon was a natural nightmare nurtured by Luna's desires, or if Luna herself had created her.

The questions he wanted to ask the princess remained unanswered. He realized that these questions might arouse suspicion and draw unwanted attention to him.

Another reason Alexei was confident in his plan was that he wanted to create a nightmare with an empty mind that would become a part of himself. Essentially, he would have an artificial soul in the form of a nightmare.

In the future, he could become one with it, turning into a nightmare himself, but that was still a long way off.

Back at home, Alexei changed from his usual clothes to loose-fitting hooded clothes. He stepped outside, plunging into the darkness of the night.

***

"Did you enjoy the fireworks, Blossom?" the unicorn said with a note of excitement in his voice, turning to his pegasus companion. "Of course, its beauty pales before yours."

"Quite," the mare replied politely. "'Thanks, Jade."

"Shall we continue on to the restaurant?" the unicorn suggested with a smile. "I know a great place that matches you."

"I think I'd like to end the evening there," the pegasus declined, maintaining her polite smile. "I have to get up early tomorrow."

"A date tomorrow night then?" the unicorn asked, hoping for a positive answer. "You're new to Canterlot, so I'd like to help you get settled here."

"I'm not sure about my schedule," the pegasus replied, unfurling her wings. "I'll write to you."

"Wait!" the unicorn countered, unwilling to let the pegasus go. "Let me at least take you home."

"Canterlot can be dangerous at night."

"I'll make it in a few minutes," the pegasus smiled awkwardly, taking off into the air.

Suddenly, she turned her head, peering into the street to her left. It seemed to her that something had just flashed there.

"Probably some random pony," Ice Blossom thought indifferently as she flew towards her house.

The unicorn could only sigh as he watched the mare fly away. Lowering his head, he headed towards his home, replaying his date with the mare in his head.

"So why are you so indifferent to me, Blossom?" the unicorn muttered sadly, pushing some pebble in the road.

"Because you're acting too nice, like a pathetic suck-up," a voice behind him kindly suggested.

The unicorn frowned and turned to explain to the insolent one where he would shove his opinion. However, he immediately received a powerful punch to the jaw and passed out, falling to the sidewalk.

The hooded figure approached the unicorn and poured some potion into his mouth.

"Four-legged ones are hard to sneak up on," the man mentally sighed. "You have to call out every time to get them to turn around."

Covering the unicorn's body with a rag, the man pulled some powder from his pocket and walked back down the couple's trail, sprinkling it all around.

"You think they won't look for him?" the zebra asked, watching the man's actions.

"Have you forgotten what he peddles on the streets? Those go missing all the time," the man shrugged. "They'll write it off as a dealer showdown."

"The pegasus won't be looking for him, either."

Returning to the unicorn, the man wrapped him in a cloth and slung him over his shoulders. The horn was still sticking out, but at least from afar it was hard to tell what exactly he was carrying.

"Go ahead and turn your radar up to maximum,'" the man said mentally to Saada. "I don't want to run into any guards."

The man made his way around all the busy neighborhoods, slowly but surely approaching his home. Sometimes he would stop and wait for random passersby to pass, hiding in the shadows or behind others' fences. It was about a half hour walk to his house at a brisk pace, but now he'd been getting there for over four hours, looping all over the city.

Alexei returned to his cozy home, carrying the smell of fresh parchment and magical ingredients. Carefully, he placed the sleeping unicorn on the soft carpet and made his way to the massive cabinet that held many of his belongings.

Among them was a ring with a gemstone that he had slipped onto the unicorn's horn. This ring was special - it had the ability to suppress magic.

The man smiled slightly as he remembered the backstory of these rings - he had bought this ring from a sex shop in the unicorn section.

Originally, the ring was extremely weak and wasn't capable of restraining a unicorn for long. But who was the man? He had already become a master in alchemy after gaining all of Saada's knowledge.

Quickly figuring out the ring's device, he easily modified it, turning the sex toy into a reliable restraint tool.

Finishing his preparations, he hoisted the unicorn onto his shoulders and headed to the basement of the house, lit by magical lamps. There, four unicorns chained to the wall - three mares and one stallion - were already waiting for him. They widened their eyes fearfully at the sight of Alexei, but did not make a sound - they knew he appreciated silence.

A rat sat in the center of the room, vigilantly watching their every move and keeping them awake. It would be very embarrassing if Luna stumbled upon their dreams, so the human only allowed them to sleep during the day.

With a sad glance at the rat, the human chained the sleeping unicorn to the wall.

Alice didn't have long to live - the first signs of insanity were already starting to appear. He had been feeding her a lot of expensive potions, but he couldn't completely suppress the process. Three more weeks, maybe four, and she would go insane.

Finished with the unicorn, Alexei climbed the stairs and headed for his alchemy table, littered with a pile of vials and tools. At the edge, on a magical stove, stood a brand new cauldron. All of this he had acquired, just after moving into the house.

The man had been robbing merchants for three years. Of course, he had a lot of money.

But money was not his goal; he spent it only on ingredients and books, maintaining an ascetic lifestyle.

Alexei rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling the fatigue coming on. But he knew he had a long and sleepless night ahead of him.

***

Alexei finished his work when the sun had already reached its peak in the sky.

Three transparent crystals lay on the table in front of him, their brilliance reflected in his eyes. Next to them were four potions, each holding the dream magic.

Taking two of the crystals, Alexei headed towards the massive wooden shelves, created in a rough natural style, on which stood many books.

Removing the books and pulling one of the shelves out of its frame, the man turned it around to face him. There was nothing appealing to the eye and the shelf looked like a rough piece of wood with cracks in it. Hooking the crack with a curved awl, the man slowly pulled out a hidden drawer.

Inside, in the notches in the wood, lay many of the same transparent crystals, but something black floated within them.
As if noticing the man, these black blotches shrank and tried to look as inconspicuous as possible.

The man grinned as he looked at the crystals. They were all nightmares he had caught.

After hiding the two empty crystals, Alexei put everything back in its place and headed to the basement.

There he woke one of the mares, unchained her, and led her upstairs. The mare was trembling with fear, but did not try to resist or run away. Some had already tried it - it didn't end well.

Taking two potions from the table, Alexei led the mare to the couch. He laid her down on it and made her drink the potions.

Watching her, he watched as her eyes began to slip until she fell asleep. He made her comfortable on the couch and sat next to her himself, placing his hand on her neck, near her artery.

An hour flew by while Alexei pondered the diagram of the rune array in his hands.

He and Saada worked diligently, reworking the ritual to suit their needs. They used the old ritual as a basis, but made some changes and modifications to it. The essence of the ritual was to fuse different energies. Replacing the magical energy with mental energy was not a big problem.

Despite the fact that everything was ready, Alexei did not stop checking every detail. He couldn't afford to make even the slightest mistake. He realized that there was no point in testing the ritual on other creatures, as their physiology was too different from his own.

The first test subject was to be himself.

The ritual had been altered, and now he did not need the essence of darkness. Instead, he used nightmares and crystals of darkness. But he still needed phoenix tears and alicorn blood.

He glanced thoughtfully towards the palace, knowing that the phoenix tears were in the treasury.

As for the blood of an alicorn...

After the change of plan - any alicorn blood was no longer suitable. He needed the blood of a specific alicorn - the blood of the Luna.

Alexei realized that he couldn't handle the alicorns with his own power. They were too powerful. Even if he raised a hundred unicorns to rebel - the alicorns would easily escape.

Who could handle an alicorn? Another alicorn, of course.

Originally, his plans included pitting the sisters against each other, playing on Luna's weaknesses and complexes. But now things have changed.

He went through a series of intrigues to get closer to Luna, and surprisingly everything went smoothly.

Even Alexei himself couldn't believe what he was about to do - just walk up to Luna and ask her for blood.

Blood was widely used in alchemy, so there was nothing too strange about the request and given their relationship, Luna was unlikely to refuse him. Not that he needed liters of her blood - a vial or two would suffice.

But if she did refuse, he'd have to go back to his old plans. He hoped that wouldn't happen. This whole thing was too much of a hassle.

He could also get the phoenix tears through Luna - she promised to get him any ingredient he wanted.

The man frowned harder and harder as he pondered over this situation.

But suddenly his face relaxed, and a carefree laugh broke the silence of the room.

"I've faced failure and despair so many times that I can't believe in success," he thought smiling. "My own efforts have brought me here. I've done a good job."

Alexei was about to return to analyzing the array when he felt the mare's heart begin to pound frantically. He turned and saw that her face was contorted with fear. It seemed the mare was having a nightmare.

Without hesitation, he quickly took two potions from the table next to him and drank them in a gulp. Then he carefully tied the cloth-wrapped crystal to the mare's head.

Soon his eyes began to slip and he fell into a deep sleep next to the mare.

***

"Quite cliché," Alexei shook his head, looking at the abandoned hospital building.

"I think it's a little creepy," Saada replied lazily, looking quite alive and real, flesh and blood. Even more eye-catching was the zebra's wings and horns.

All because they were in a dream.

The man shrugged and walked slowly down the blood-stained hospital corridor, listening carefully to everything around him.

Because of the potion's specificity, every injury he received in this dream would manifest on his body in reality. He could easily die in this dream by stumbling into an overly intense nightmare. Even worse was the fact that he couldn't wake up on his own ahead of time. Zebra needed to come out of the dream and wake him up in reality. In that time, a strong nightmare could already turn him into mincemeat.

But Alexei had no other options anyway.

At least this rule did not apply to dream owners - otherwise a man would have to look for a new unicorn after every nightmare.

Hearing screams from a certain part of the hospital, Alexei and Saada looked at each other and headed that way, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors.

When they reached the operating room, they opened the doors and entered.

Inside, they saw a scene straight out of a horror movie. The operating room was flooded with scarlet light, and on the iron table was firmly fixed a screaming mare - the owner of the dream. A bipedal figure hovered over her with a scalpel in his hand.

Hearing footsteps, the figure turned.

Alexei sighed, examining his own copy in a medical gown.

Every time, in every dream, the nightmare was always him.

"Oh, I'm going to have so much fun tonight," Saada smirked, starting to circle the nightmare to the left.

Alexei mentally rolled his eyes upon hearing the zebra's words.

She took a certain pleasure in tearing apart his copy in the form of a nightmare, getting back at him for his sarcastic behavior.

If it helped her relieve stress - he had nothing against it.
Their job was to beat the nightmare to a pulp, after which the crystal would retract and seal it.

The man raised his hand and his familiar dagger materialized in it. The man began to circle the nightmare from the right.

The nightmare squinted and suddenly lunged at him, aiming the scalpel at his neck.

But Alexei was quick and agile, he easily intercepted the nightmare's arm and pulled him to him, delivering a hard headbutt to his face. The blade of the dagger swept down, slicing through his neck. This was followed by a powerful kick with his foot, sending the nightmare into the side of the zebra.

The nightmare's head, completely severed by the previous attack, instantly grew back.
Nightmares were not material beings, and the concept of heads was foreign to them.

Saada joyfully began firing beams at the nightmare from her horn, clearly enjoying the battle.

The man only shook his head. Sure, in a dream he could also shoot all sorts of rays with lots of special effects, but all that stuff was tiring to the mind. He could do just fine with a single dagger.

Nightmare, who was furiously fending off the zebra's attacks, hissed and suddenly turned into a black cloud, taking his true form.

The nightmare trembled as if drawing in air, and the man, seeing this, immediately rushed behind the surgery table.

In the same second thousands of black slimy threads pierced all around.

Several holes appeared on Alexei's body. His left leg, which he hadn't managed to hide, was especially affected, and it was literally shredded.

Saada, who didn't have time to react, was also covered in dozens of holes, though she didn't care much, because she was an immaterial entity. However, her energy was still not limitless.

This was a good time to counterattack, so the man jumped out from behind the table towards the nightmare. However, the nightmare wasn't done yet.

Suddenly, the nightmare's body stretched apart, revealing a pulsating white sphere inside.

Alexei's eyes widened in surprise, and his body tensed, preparing to dodge.

At that moment, his injured leg finally snapped, and he barely kept his balance, barely avoiding a fall. This gave nightmare the perfect opportunity to strike.

A powerful beam of energy pierced through Alexei's body, smashing him into the wall of the surgery.

The zebra roared, engaging and blocking further attacks from the nightmare.

"Are you still alive, fucker?" shouted Saada, turning to the man. "Should I wake you up?".

"Alive," the rising man wheezed, a huge charred crater visible on his chest. "No, it'll kill me in that time."

Saada roared even louder, continuing her battle with the nightmare. The battle had long since ceased to be fun.

If Alexei died, Saada would not get the rest of her contract payment. He owed her another seven years of his lifespan.

The nightmare, realizing their desperate situation, attacked the wounded man with increasing frequency. Sometimes the man managed to dodge, but more often he had to rely on Saada's help.

Several times she blocked the nightmare's attacks with her own body, taking many wounds and even beginning to revert back to her translucent form.

Finally, the nightmare had taken enough damage and was dragged to the floor.

Zebra and human breathed a sigh of relief. This was the hardest battle they had ever fought together.

The zebra looked at the human with a wild look and silently disappeared.

After a few seconds, Alexei woke up to reality and began coughing violently. Coughing up blood from his nose that had gotten into his airways, he looked under his shirt and saw charred flesh. But he paid no attention to it. He knew it would heal in time.

"What are you doing, motherfucker?!" the zebra roared, glaring at him.

"Don't yell like that," the man grumbled, feeling his head still hurt. "You saw for yourself that it proved too strong."

"Yes, I admit it. I was careless, and it was able to catch me. Are you satisfied?".

"No," the zebra replied irritably. "I saved your pathetic ass and you owe me. I need potions to restore a spiritual body."

"Okay, okay," the man said tiredly. "There will be potions for you. Just let me catch my breath."

The zebra only snorted and dived into his body, slipping into slumber to preserve as much energy as possible.

Alexei sighed and leaned back on the back of the couch. A few minutes of rest was all he needed.

Chapter 13 - Betrayal

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Alexei gazed in awe at the glass vial of blood, covered with mysterious runes, in his hand. Even without Saada's clues, he could sense that this blood contained something unfathomable. If one looked closely at the blood, one could see the stars within seem to twinkle and disappear.

Saada's voice trembled as she shared with Alexei her sensations of the magical energy that pulsed through the blood. Alexei's pupils dilated, he had never encountered such a powerful and dense energy before.

It was as if the man was facing a natural disaster, ready to descend upon him with unstoppable force. If it weren't for the restraining and concealing runes on the vial, half of the palace would have shown up by now.

There were two more vials in his bag, one with the blood of an alicorn and the other, tiny, with a clear liquid - the tears of a phoenix. Alexei still couldn't believe that he had managed to get them so easily.

Luna had no problem getting the phoenix tears for him, but her look when he asked for her blood was odd.

There was something strange about it, something Alexei couldn't quite figure out.
Anxiety? Nostalgia? Sadness? Or were all these feelings mixed together in her eyes?

The man felt that Luna had clearly guessed that he wasn't going to give up and still wanted to get his hands on the magic. But she didn't stop him.

That was why he respected Princess Luna. They were just like each other. They were willing to make sacrifices for their desires. Luna tried to kill her sister to achieve her goal, and Alexei was willing to do even worse things.

Of course, Luna was only guessing about his experiments in alchemy. If she knew what he was going to do, he wouldn't be able to leave the palace.

Alexei shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. There was no time to ponder that now.

He had all the ingredients he needed, the rune array had long since been completed, and he was ready to depart. It was time to leave Canterlot - he couldn't risk undertaking such a ritual within the city.

But he would surely return. He had many other plans for this city.

Leaving the palace, Alexei headed straight to the alchemist's shop. He purchased three of the best vials protected by magical runes. True, they weren't as high quality as the ones Luna had given him, but he could fix that on his own.

When he returned home, he poured the blood and tears into the new vials, and carefully buried the old ones in a pot with some flower he had bought along the way. The pot itself he placed on the windowsill outside the house.

Alexei took out some pre-made ink and began to carefully add runes to the surface of the vials.

"Did you find anything?" the man asked without taking his eyes off his work.

"I didn't find any tracking runes," the returning zebra replied. "But a precaution wouldn't hurt."

The man nodded - he was fully agreeing with that.

After finishing his work with the runes, Alexei left his house and headed for the paddocks where a wagon awaited him.

He had purchased a covered wagon and an unusual emerald lizard beforehand. It looked like a mixture of a varan and an iguana, but Alexei wasn't too familiar with reptiles to accurately identify its species. The lizard was gigantic in size, almost comparable to a car, and its body was covered in sharp spikes.

Although these lizards did not have high speed or a large carrying capacity, they had incredible stamina and regeneration. They were usually used for traveling to dangerous or poisonous areas.

But Alexei had other plans. He was going to drug the lizard with a huge amount of stimulants. With its stamina and regeneration, it had to be able to withstand this stress. Thus, he planned to reach his hideout in the Everfree at top speed without stopping.

Previously, when Alexei had lived with a pack of diamond dogs, he had created several hideouts throughout Everfree that only he and Saada knew about.

Remembering the dogs, Alexei thought for a moment about how they were doing now. He had originally planned to get rid of all the witnesses, but later changed his plans. The dogs that had been with him all these three and a half years had become his faithful followers.

There was nothing surprising about that. The man treated them well, protected them, and generously shared the spoils. He was only interested in alchemical ingredients, test subjects, and a little bit of Equestrian gold. Everything else he gave to the dogs.

Although he didn't allow them to be present during his experiments, they still understood everything thanks to their excellent hearing and sniffing. But all this didn't bother them much.

Maybe some city dweller would have been horrified by what was happening, but in the forest, survival always came first. It was a pity, but several diamond dogs had died in the encounter with the forest monsters and there were seven of them left.

Right now they were to hide and wait for further instructions from the man. They were one of his backup plans in case of danger. Saada could contact them and they would come to the rescue. He had also left many caches of gold and potions throughout the city for both rat and dogs to use.

Alexei warned Princess Luna that he would be traveling to Everfree in a few days to get the items he needed. Luna didn't object, but insisted that he be accompanied by several bodyguards. They both knew that once he left the city, he would easily become a target for nobles who wanted him dead.

Of course, that didn't suit the man. So even though he had agreed to Luna's terms, he was going to leave the city right now.

The princess had a rather busy day today, so she probably didn't have time to alert the guards and inform her thestrals yet.
After gathering all the necessary items, Alexei went down to the basement of his house. It was only noon, so all the unicorns were asleep.

Alexei took out a sleepy rat from his pocket, which was an exact copy of his trusty companion named Alice. Alice herself was sleeping somewhere upstairs in his clothes, unaware of what was going on downstairs.

Setting the rat down in the middle of the room, Alexei began to wake the unicorns. As they woke up, five pairs of frightened eyes stared up at him.

He smiled at them and walked over to the rat, executing a precise strike with his dagger. Life left the small body and Alexei kicked its corpse, tucking the dagger behind his belt.

He then released each unicorn, removing the rings from their horns that restrained their magic.

Soon there were five unicorns standing before him, held back by nothing. They could very well have torn the man apart by attacking him together.

However, the man smiled nonchalantly as he looked at the unicorns, and they only looked away and didn't even try to move without orders.

Alexei didn't use any magical potions or mind control spells. He didn't need to, and he couldn't use them anyway.

But the man had something better than magic and potions - intelligence and an understanding of psychology.

After going through so many realistic nightmares, the unicorns doubted reality more and more. They weren't sure if they were awake now or still asleep. They often had nightmares where they were granted freedom, only for things to end extremely sadly.

At some point, they stopped all attempts to escape. They even started attacking those who tried to rescue them or get them out of the basement.

Alexei had already freed some of them several times and walked around the city with them. They didn't try to escape, they just didn't believe in their freedom and in the reality of what was happening.

The rat killing scene was just another show for them.

Why would he kill his favorite rat? Why would he want to free them?

They were definitely having a nightmare!

"Impressive," Saada said with some admiration, then snorted. "You'd make a great nightmare, you sick bastard."

The human mentally rolled his eyes at that comment. Zebra had done far worse things and, unlike him, clearly had sadistic tendencies, but it wasn't like he was judging her.

Turning to the unicorns, Alexei ordered them to clean the room and remove the chains from the walls. They complied with his instructions without hesitation.

Having finished cleaning, Alexei went up to the living room with the unicorns. Several large crates filled with straw were already standing there.

He ordered the unicorns to climb inside the crates and sit quietly. They climbed into the crates without question or hesitation. Alexei closed them and sealed them, making sure nothing would give away their presence.

He drank a potion that increased his strength and began loading the crates into the wagon. Finally, the last crate containing chains and other compromising items was in the wagon.

Leaving the envelope with the message for Princess Luna on the table, Alexei closed the house and got into his wagon.

He left the house and headed out of town, ready to head to one of the hideouts in Everfree.

***

"What's the rush, Valiant?" Celestia asked, looking at the panting unicorn in her office.

"We finally caught them, Your Highness!" an excited Valiant reported. His voice sounded strained from the excitement battle experienced.

"Report properly," Celestia frowned, not sure what this unicorn was babbling about.

"We captured the gang behind the attacks on caravans that began about four years ago," Valiant replied, then his voice grew somewhat sadder. "But we have suffered some casualties."

"Put them in custody," Celestia shrugged, still not sure why she had been informed of this. "What are the losses?".

"As you command Your Highness," the unicorn replied. "We lost six soldiers."

Celestia raised her eyes in surprise, looking at the white unicorn in front of her. This gang was considered small, but the squad had still lost six. It seemed she should think about tightening up training with the military.

"How many were there? Who was in the gang? Were you ambushed?" Celestia began to ask a multitude of questions.

"Seven. Seven diamond dogs," Valiant said with a gulp. "No, we stumbled upon them completely by accident."

"Did I seem to mishear?" Celestia asked perplexed. "Your squad was crushed by seven dogs?".

"They were too strong, Your Highness!", Valiant began to justify himself. "Blood magic. Runes. Potions. We did not expect such an onslaught from mere dogs."

Princess Celestia's face grew darker and darker with every word Valiant said.

Blood magic and dark magic had always been the most troublesome.
These two types of magic could be used by absolutely anyone.

These mages had always been outcasts and persecuted in most countries. It wasn't about the cruelty of such practices at all - many countries were secretly researching such types of magic.

The problem was their high efficiency.

Blood magic was one of the most powerful types of magic, and its spells had low requirements for the caster's magical energy.

For example, to gain access to powerful spells in Equestria, ponies had three options.

If they were lucky enough to be born into a noble family, they could easily gain the necessary knowledge. Everyone else had to either do their own research or join one of the government agencies.

Many unicorns only joined the royal guard for access to high-level spells.

Blood magic and dark magic broke such a balance. Seven unicorn dogs were able to resist a perfectly equipped capture squad and killed six of them.

Every time there was turmoil in any country - these mages would come out like mushrooms after the rain.

"How many did you capture alive?" Princess Celestia finally asked. "What about the leader?".

"We were only able to capture three alive," Valiant replied. "The leader doesn't seem to be with them."

"We have tried to access their memories, but they are resisting skillfully."

"Bring them here," the princess replied glumly. "I will personally interrogate them."

***

"Take away the front shield!" the man shouted, overlapping the crackle of lightning and the rolls of thunder.

The unicorn standing nearby nodded in understanding and easily opened the passage for the man. The man instantly jumped out of the wagon, landing on the back of the injured lizard. In his hands were several syringes, which he quickly stuck into the lizard's exposed flesh, injecting the local analog of adrenaline directly into its bloodstream.

The lizard roared, its eyes glistening and it sped up even more. Even with all the chaos and noise surrounding them, the human could hear her heart pounding furiously.

The man then took out some potions from his pocket and began to deal with the lizard's wounds. Even the lizard's amazing regeneration ability couldn't handle the hailstorm of attacks that were raining down on it.

Hearing Saada's warning, the man ripped off a fingernail and fired it behind him. The exploding nail stopped the ball of lightning, creating an even more powerful explosion accompanied by energy fluctuations.

The lizard continued running towards the forest, dodging multiple lightning bolts and razor-sharp wind gusts.

"There's a blood mage among them!" one of the griffins flying above them shouted.

At this time, several pegasi were already working as a team, creating a huge tornado, about to tear down their shield in one fell swoop.

The man frowned as he looked at the flying griffins and pegasi. Shortly after leaving Canterlot, his wagon had been ambushed by some bandits. He didn't believe in such coincidences, realizing that nobles were clearly involved.

Looking into the wagon, the man ordered the unicorns to clench their teeth and remove their shield. He then jumped out onto the roof of the wagon, pulled a rib out of his pocket, and stuck it into his leg. Waves of pain began to spread around, and the groans of the unicorns being hit echoed from the wagon.

This spell was supposed to be extremely effective against flying opponents. But it wasn't this time.

The man's pupils widened in surprise when he saw that the spell had no effect on the opponents. Only the amulets on their necks began to flicker.

The man instantly retracted his rib, stopping the spell, and went back inside. A few moments later, the shield surrounded the wagon again.

"Did they take into account my connection to Luna and protect themselves from mental attacks?" a thought flashed through the man's mind.

He was now fully convinced that these were no ordinary bandits. The situation was getting more and more dire.

The unicorns in the wagon were not fighters, they could only maintain a shield, barely holding back the barrage of attacks. The man realized he had to go out against fifteen griffins and pegasi alone.

"The wheels can't take the pressure!" one of the unicorns shouted, interrupting his musings.

"Cover them with a shield and reinforce them with telekinesis," the man immediately replied.

At other times he would have shaken his head - all these unicorns could do incredible things with magic, but they lacked imagination and ingenuity.

Suddenly, the man laughed wildly, attracting the unicorns' attention. Aside from the battle with the griffins, he had to keep an eye on the psychological state of the unicorns, supporting their belief that this was all just a dream with a certain scenario.

But the man really did have a plan.

He hurriedly rummaged through the crates, pulling out a bag filled with magic crystals and handed it to the unicorns. Into his pockets went several potions, ready to be used.

"Charge them until they start to crackle," the man ordered with confidence in his voice. "Don't worry about the shield. Just charge the crystals, okay?"

The unicorns nodded, immersing themselves in the process of charging the crystals with their magical energy.

Their horns glowed with a bright radiance, sparks flying around, giving the impression of a magical dance.

The man quickly climbed to the roof of the wagon.

The unicorns were busy charging, so he would have to become a shield protecting them all.

One by one, his fingernails collided with the ball lightning bolts, blocking them in advance.

At one point his hand moved towards his left eye, but he stopped. There was one interesting spell from the gryphon's book that could help him in this situation, but he couldn't afford to lose his binocular vision right now.

Soon, the man pulled out his pliers and skillfully began pulling out his toenails. In between spells, he tossed explosive potions, blocking the constant gunfire.

"Done!" came a voice from inside the wagon.

The man quickly jumped off the roof and stepped inside the wagon. Soon a shield reappeared around it, protecting it from enemy attacks.

"When I say so, you will remove the shield and then begin to push the entire wagon forward with telekinesis," the man began to explain. "I need full power, even if only for a few seconds. Is that clear?"

The unicorns nodded, their horns continuing to glow, filling the surrounding air with magical energy.

While they prepared themselves, the man took a bag of sparkling crystals that also contained several potions, tied it tightly, and looked out of the wagon.

The pegasi were pushing their tornado, coming closer and closer.

The man's lips stretched into a mad grin as he signaled the unicorns to remove their shield.

With all his might, he swung the bag straight into the tornado. A powerful explosion followed a moment later, but the tornado was not about to dissipate.
The released energy began to flow into the vortex, increasing its size and creating a strong pulling field that drew everything around it to its center.

The gryphons and pegasi instantly sensed the danger and tried to fly away, but the man was ready for them. He cut off several fingers and threw them in front of the feathered creatures, blocking their escape route. A wave of powerful explosions threw them back.

It was another spell from the gryphon's book that he had learned. The effect was the same as the nail sacrifice, but the power was multiplied.

At this time, the tornado absorbed all the energy around it, reaching impressive sizes.

The pegasi and griffins were still trying to fly away or use their spells, but the man bombarded them with potions, cutting off all escape routes. Soon several were pulled inside by the tornado, tearing them apart.

The wagon rattled as it began to be pulled towards the tornado. The lizard roared exhaustedly, digging its claws into the ground and trying to keep going.

The man beckoned to the unicorns, and soon a telekinetic field enveloped the entire wagon. The lizard roared happily, accelerating quickly and rushing to leave this dangerous area.

The man watched the tornado pull in all the remaining mercenaries as his, rather beaten up, wagon rapidly approached the forest.

His eyes shone with a gleam of mad joy as he laughed happily.

He was exhausted, bleeding and in pain, but he was still savoring this moment.

He felt so alive in this moment!

"This world is really interesting," the man muttered smiling as he returned to the wagon.

***

Inside the cave was completely silent, only the faint whisper of echoes echoing off the stone walls. Its walls, floor, and ceiling were covered with thousands of runes, twisting into complex patterns like living creatures holding ancient secrets of magic. Several magical lamps hung along the ceiling, creating a play of light and shadow, giving the cave a special atmosphere.

Alexei and Saada, for the third day, had been working on a complex rune array. Thousands of runes were carefully inscribed on the walls of the cave, each of them carried a piece of magic and power.

Finally, the work was complete.

The hiding place they were in was known only to the two of them. Alexei had never allowed the thought of performing the ritual with the help of a pack of diamond dogs. He would be extremely vulnerable and defenseless during the ritual. Even though the dogs were loyal to him - he truly trusted no one.

In the center of the array, on the floor, was a black crystal, the size of an orange. This crystal was the quintessence of nightmares, and it was to be the basis of the ritual.

Alexei, warming up his muscles, checked the accuracy of the runes for the tenth time. He was sure he hadn't made a single mistake.

Tired from the hard work, Alexei sat down on the floor and leaned against the cool wall of the cave. The night was warm, though autumn was already taking hold. He tried to relax and calm his mind to be ready for the upcoming ritual.

Many scenes that he had experienced in this world flashed before his mind's eye.

Memories of the portal, meeting Imani, dueling, killing, and wild life in the forest. He remembered Canterlot and Luna, and now he was here in this cave. This could be his last day in this world, but Alexei wasn't going to back down. He couldn't betray himself and give up on his dream. All he had to do was keep moving forward.

Sighing, Alexei stood up and his eyes shone with determination.

"Ready?" Saada asked as she flew up to him.

The man only nodded in response and went to wake the unicorns. He slipped into their dreams several times, convincing them that they were still dreaming.

Soon this charade would be over.

After waking the unicorns, Alexei ordered them to take certain positions and start filling the runes with energy. The unicorns obeyed his order without hesitation. Slowly but surely, the runes began to absorb the magical energy emitted by the unicorns.

Suddenly, the unicorns' faces contorted in pain. They tried to break the connection, but to no avail. Their hooves stuck to the runes on the floor, and the array continued to absorb their life energy, flesh and blood. They twitched and screamed furiously, but nothing could free them from the array's deadly embrace.

Soon the five mummified bodies fell to the floor of the cave.

The runes of the array flashed for a moment and extinguished, as if taking a breath before finally awakening. Then the runes slowly began to light up one by one, approaching the black crystal in the center.

Alexei and Saada had set up the ritual so that it would only activate after a while.

He still had to break the contract and complete all the preparations. He couldn't go through the ritual while having a mental link to Saada. It could lead to unpredictable consequences for both of them.

"I, Alexei, offer the rest of my lifespan, according to the terms of the contract, and propose to complete it," Alexei said, looking at the zebra in front of him.

"I, Saada, agree to these terms," the zebra nodded, touching the man's chest with her hoof.

Two streams of ash burst from their bodies and intertwined in the air, disappearing into nothingness.

"Good, now it's done," Alexei muttered, looking at the zebra in front of him. He could still see her, even though the contract was over. The long bond had given him the ability to see Saada, but only her.

Suddenly the zebra disappeared from his sight and appeared already at another point in the array. Her hoof touched certain runes and they flashed, adding dozens more new symbols to the array.

Transparent chains burst from the runes and bound Alexei securely, depriving him of the ability to move. The man's pupils widened in surprise and he tried to break the chains, but they proved to be extremely strong and immovable.

In the silence of the cave, echoing off the walls was the joyous zebra's laughter.

"Heh heh heh, you don't even need to try," Saada grinned. "They're very strong, and you don't have any magic now."

The man looked up and stared fiercely at the zebra hovering in front of him. The man's teeth were clenched in anger and the muscles of his face twitched slightly, hiding the rage raging inside.

Saada had betrayed him!

"You're finally losing it!" the zebra chuckled, moving in close and watching the human's reaction. "First time I've seen such a storm of emotion on your blank face."

Alexei could barely contain his rage, but he would not allow himself to show weakness in front of this zebra who seemed to be enjoying his suffering. A glint flashed in his eyes as he asked the question that burned on his lips.

"Why?" the man asked in a low voice.

Saada couldn't hide her pleasure at the situation. Her smile grew even wider and her gaze became sharp and mocking.

"Oh, nothing personal," she replied, emphasizing each word. "It's been nice to spend time with you, but I need something from you."

"What do you want? More lifespan?" the excited man asked. "We can make a deal."

"No, no, I want your body," the zebra smiled, savoring the flash of fear in the human's eyes.

"I can get you the body of any unicorn you wish," the human began to bargain. "Why would you want my useless body?".

"You see, it's very difficult for ghosts to possess someone permanently because of the rejection of different energies," the zebra muttered thoughtfully, peering at the flaring runes approaching the crystal.

"You, however, are a different story. You have nothing. All that's left is to destroy your mind and the perfect vessel is ready."

"I have to thank you. You did a great job gathering all the ingredients. All I have to do is make a few changes to the ritual."

The zebra's words pierced Alexei's heart. He felt the doom and hopelessness of his situation. A sad smile slipped across his lips, and he looked away, trying to hide his weakness.

But in the next moment, again seized by rage, he rushed forward, trying to break the chains that bound him. No matter how hard Alexei tried, however, nothing happened. The chains remained unshakable.

Saada's triumphant laughter echoed throughout the cave.

Chapter 14 - Loyalty

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"So you planned this from the beginning?" the already calmed man asked.

"Of course," the zebra grinned, waiting for the ritual to activate. "You think fourteen years of your lifespan is enough to gain all my knowledge? Dream on."

The man nodded upon hearing this.

There was no point in asking about the rest. He already understood how she'd pulled it all off.

Under the terms of the contract, she couldn't lie to him or hurt him.

Zebra hadn't lied. The ritual worked exactly as she'd described it four years ago. He had personally verified it when he finished his training in rune inscription. On top of that, they had worked together to create the final version.

Then, while he was out of sight, she applied some additional runes modifying the ritual on top of the array. Zebra did not break any conditions, activating the runes after the contract was already complete.

The man could recall many recipes for rune inks that only manifested after an infusion of mental energy. She must have prepared the ink back in Canterlot while he was asleep.

The man sighed as he watched the flashing runes getting closer and closer to the center. The ritual would begin as soon as the runes touched the crystal.

"What do you feel?" the zebra asked suddenly. "Do you hate me? Despise me?"

The man looked at her and shook his head.

"No," he answered briefly. "I can understand why you did that."

Zebra scrutinized his face and finally nodded satisfied.

"That's exactly why I respect you," Saada said seriously.

Her attention turned to the runes flashing near the crystal. The ritual was about to begin.

"Farewell, Alexei," Saada smiled. "That was... really fun."

The man answered nothing, watching hopelessly as the last rune lit up.

The crystal began to hum as the runes touched it.

Suddenly, a multitude of runes appeared on the surface of the crystal, and Saada was pulled inside the crystal.

The entire array flashed and went out.

Then the runes began to light up again one by one, moving closer to the center. The countdown began anew.

The ritual reset, and the additional runes left behind by the zebra disappeared.

The chains that had held Alexei down scattered into the air.

Alexei stretched lazily, feeling a lightness in his body. He looked indifferently at the shocked Saada, trapped in the crystal like an insect in amber.

A slight smile slid across his lips, but he didn't say a word as he headed for the potion bags. He needed to prepare for the real ritual.

"Impossible!" Saada finally shouted. "I've been watching you the whole time! How did you do it?"

"Have you forgotten already?" the man shrugged. "Luna taught me that mind-splitting trick."

"Even if you hid your thoughts - I always kept an eye on surroundings," Saada didn't believe it. "Who helped you? Did you conspire with Luna?"

The man only smiled, continuing to rummage through his bags.

"Wait... something's wrong," the zebra muttered, quickly analyzing the last four years.

There had only been one brief period of time when she had been weakened by injuries and her attention had worsened - the battle with the nightmare in the surgery room.

The zebra's eyes widened with shock when a certain possibility crossed her mind.

"Motherfucker!" Saada roared, staring fiercely at the human. "You set yourself up for that attack on purpose!"

The human's grin grew even wider, confirming the zebra's suspicions.

The whole picture formed in Saada's mind.

The human had set himself up for a nightmare attack and manipulated her, knowing she wouldn't want him to die until he paid everything on the contract. His desperate battle with the nightmare, his seeming weakness, it was all just part of the show the man had put on. Then, while she slumbered, he took advantage of her weakened vigilance and applied runes to the crystal.

The zebra could only stare fiercely at the human. She had already tried to break free - it didn't work. These crystals held nightmares easily, surely they would hold the ghost as well.

"How long have you been planning this?" Saada asked in a cold tone, thinking about the terms of the contract.

When they had made the contract - the man had fiercely defended the point that he would transfer the lifespan gradually. His demands had seemed reasonable then, but now she was growing suspicious.

"To kill you?" the man replied, drinking a few potions. "From the beginning. You know too much."

Saada frowned and was silent for a while, putting her mind in order. Now was not the time for anger. She needed to bargain for her life.

"We can make a contract for a hundred years," she finally suggested. "You'd get confidentiality and all the rest of my knowledge."

"I haven't told you about many secrets outside of alchemy."

"It's a good deal."

"A good deal indeed," Alexei smiled, looking at Saada. "But my plans have changed since I found out about the nightmares."

"I already have everything I need."

The zebra shuddered as the meaning of the man's words came to her.

Nightmares and ghosts were similar in essence - entities composed of mental energy. Zebra and the human had spent a lot of time together, and she fed off his lifespan - there was already a certain compatibility between them.

The human was going to use her as an ingredient to increase the chances of merging with the nightmare!

Saada wanted to say something several times, but stopped herself each time. She realized there was no point in bargaining, begging for mercy, or cursing. The man didn't care about any of that.

"How ironic," the zebra laughed sadly, finally giving up. "We are indeed alike. From the very beginning, we planned the betrayal."

"You're wrong," the human shook his head. "We were both loyal."

"What?" the zebra asked incomprehensibly, sometimes the human said strange things.

"Don't you know?" the human laughed, his laughter sounding shrill and cold, like a winter wind. "Loyalty to others is betrayal to oneself."

"Betraying others is loyalty to yourself."

Saada's pupils dilated with shock.

What kind of logic is that? How could betrayal and loyalty be considered the same thing?

Looking at the man, her body began to tremble as she finally came to a realization.

The scariest thing about the man was not his intelligence, cunning, or strength.
The scariest thing about him was his mindset.

A demon. A true demon stood before her!

Looking at the shocked zebra, the man only grinned.

He quickly threw off his clothes, then taking the knife in his hand, headed towards the center of the array.

Sitting down in a circle of runes in front of the crystal, the man began ruthlessly making cuts all over his body. Blood trickled down his skin, but he paid no attention to it. His non-magical nature was constantly getting him into trouble.

The runes began to approach the crystal and the man looked up, looking at the zebra.

Finally, the crystal rumbled. The black haze surrounding Saada released a multitude of tentacles that began to consume her.

All this time, Saada did not utter a word, stubbornly looking into the man's eyes.

The entire array glowed and shook, and the cave was filled with a powerful overwhelming force. Columns of black smoke began to pour from the crystal, which, obeying the runes, moved towards the man. The smoke, finding the least resistance, penetrated the cuts on his body.

The man clenched his teeth, feeling a surging wave of pain tearing him from the inside out. The smoke seemed endless, relentless in its quest to fill all space.

With each passing second, the effect on the man's mind grew. He felt that his consciousness was on the verge of destruction. This smoke possessed a huge amount of mental energy, it was the energy that was causing this unbearable pressure.

But the man did not give up, he continued to endure. Soon, the smoke filled the entire cave and kept on coming. All this smoke, obeying the array of runes, was drawn into the man, as if trying to unite with his essence.

The man's head began dizzy as he approached his limit.

Finally, unable to bear it, he lost consciousness, sinking into a world of darkness and pain.

***

With his eyes wide open, Alexei gazed at the landscape that appeared before him.

He was standing on a plain, completely naked, surrounded by rolling hills, with huge mountains looming over him in the distance, and a lake not far away.

However, these views were strikingly different from the usual natural scenery.

The entire land was covered in rotting flesh and organs, as if it was one large piece of decaying meat.

The hills protruding around it were a jelly of rotting meat and incomprehensible remains, creating a gloomy and disgusting sight. Huge bones stuck out of them, covered in mucus and rot. Their surface was covered with bumps and growths, as if they were afflicted with some disease.

Every movement, every step across these lands evoked a sense of abomination and the piercing odor of decay.

Not far away was a lake of blood and pus, gurgling with bubbles and emitting vile miasmas. Every wave that rolled onto its shores was like a cascade of rotting flesh. Bloody scraps and pieces of flesh floated on the surface, creating a gruesome sight.

The whole air, soaked with the disgusting odor of rot and decay, would make most people vomit from just one breath.

However, what struck Alexei was not the disgusting sight before him, but the amount of information coming at him with unexpected force.

He was sensing the world around him on a completely different level!

"This is... mental energy?" the man muttered. "So the ritual was successful?"

"If I succeeded, where the fuck am I anyway? Are these the depths of the Dream World?"

"Why am I here? Is it just my mind that got here, or did my physical body get here too?"

"Could it be that I'm just hallucinating or have nightmares consumed me?"

"Is all this real or not?"

Many thoughts went through his head as he tried to comprehend the new sensations. It was strange and unfamiliar. It was as if he had a sixth sense, opening up a world invisible to ordinary people.

Now he understood what the other creatures felt. He had been blind compared to them, but now everything was changed.

"All that's left is to figure out how to get out of here," Alexei chuckled, pushing the negative thoughts away.

He bent down to the ground and picked up something resembling intestines to look and listen to his new sensations.

"This isn't real flesh," he finally concluded, then shook his head. "No. It's real, but it's filled with mental energy instead of magical energy."

"What's even real and what isn't?"

He felt that his body was also filled with mental energy. Was this the result of the ritual or was it just his mind here? He couldn't figure it out.

Alexei concentrated and the dagger he used in nightmares appeared in his hand. The man looked at the dagger and it disappeared. All of this only added more questions.

Tossing the intestines away, the man rubbed his temples.

"There's no point in thinking about it," Alexei finally decided. "My past life could also have been an illusion, so what? All that matters is what I feel."

"Perhaps I don't have much time - I need to hurry."

He froze, immersed in his thoughts. Not knowing what to do next, he was left with only theories and guesses.

Suddenly, a loud slurping sound broke the surrounding silence. Alexei turned his head and his heart sank.

He had just had time to notice a semi-transparent thing crawling out from behind a mountain of flesh in the distance when his mind instantly collapsed.

He fell to his knees, laughing uncontrollably, and blood flowed from his eyes, nostrils, and ears. The next instant he vomited, but he could not close his eyes or take his sight away from this gigantic creature.

The man couldn't even see it clearly - he could only see a translucent writhing mass.

The only thought left in his mind commanded his body and the man slapped himself violently across the face, breaking visual contact.

Falling to the ground, he immediately crawled away on all fours, hiding behind a pile of rotting innards.

"What the fuck is that?!" the man's mind screamed, filling his head with anxious thoughts.

Breathing heavily, Alexei was trying to get his mind in order when his gaze fell on the his hand. The man's pupils dilated as he examined his body and saw the signs of decay that covered his flesh.

"Calm down," the man ordered himself, biting his lip. "Perhaps this is all just a nightmare. I won't give them any food."

Every hair on his body perked up as a certain thought entered his mind.

Concentrating, Alexei began to listen to his senses. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief - that thing paid no attention to him and was crawling away somewhere to the side.

Looking around carefully, the man calmed down a bit and began to think.
He needed a plan that took into account all options. There was an urgent need to escape from this place.

"Mental energy," Alexei muttered, coming to a realization. "I need mental energy."

"Nightmare or reality, it doesn't matter. I can push myself out of here by getting enough of it."

"I can't really absorb mental energy like nightmares do, but I can force it into myself."

"It'll be enough to get me kicked out of here."

Looking at the rotting flesh around him, the man shook his head - it was clearly contaminated. He would go insane if he started eating it.

"Scavengers!" the man suddenly had an insight. "There definitely must be scavengers here."

Ducking low to the ground, Alexei began running from one hill of rotting meat to another, looking for scavengers.

Eventually, he spotted one strange creature with black tentacles digging through a pile of innards. He squinted, scrutinizing the tentacle and assessing its strength. He realized that he could handle this creature.

Creating a new dagger, Alexei lunged at the creature and severed the tentacle. Picking it up, he bounced back and began to eat it.

The owner of the tentacle hissed and jumped out. The creature was like a flattened jellyfish, about the size of a pony, with a shell and had many tentacles like an octopus.

Alexei continued chewing on the tentacle, looking at the strange creature with interest.

With a wave of its tentacles, the creature jumped at him.

Alexei snorted, ducked under it and slashed with his dagger, cutting the soft flesh in two. At this place, the only thing that matters was the amount of mental energy.

Without wasting a second, Alexei pounced on the creature, not giving it a chance to recover, and began gutting and greedily devouring it.

Soon he felt his body fill with energy. It didn't belong to him and was quickly leaving his body, but all he needed was an external push.

The world around him began to ripple as darkness enveloped his mind.

***

Alexei woke up and found himself lying on the cold stone floor. Listening to his senses, he felt a magical energy around him that filled the air. This was without a doubt the real world.

The man had no magical energy of his own - the ritual he had undertaken had only targeted mental energy. But now he could feel that energy just like all the other inhabitants of this strange world. From now on, the man could create potions and use a few spells on his own.

Rising from the floor and guided by his senses, Alexei walked over to one of the spare lamps and lit it. The bright light illuminated the cave, revealing the corroded walls and ceiling.

Alexei frowned at the sight and began to examine his body. There was nothing wrong with his body, he felt better than ever.
Taking the knife, the man examined his face in the reflection of the blade.

All the wrinkles and gray hair were gone, he looked young and vigorous again, as if he was only twenty years old. By killing Saada and consuming her, he had regained seven years of life that she hadn't had time to digest. But that wasn't the point - the phoenix tears he used had rejuvenating properties, even if it was only a side effect of the ritual. Unfortunately, it could only be used once in a lifetime.

However, his musings were interrupted by a rumbling in his stomach and a sharp pain that made him crouch down. Suddenly, he was vomited out a mass of black tentacles that began wriggling on the floor of the cave. But in the next moment, they scattered in black smoke and disappeared.

Alexei quickly put a hand to his stomach, listening to his sensations. He breathed a sigh of relief - there were no more surprises in his body.

Glancing at the spot where the tentacles had just been, he shifted his gaze to the corroded walls of the cave. Alexei's eyes twitched, but he tried to remain calm.

"It's best not to think about it," he muttered in a tired voice. "Nothing surprises me anymore."

Alexei still had no idea what had actually happened to him. He assumed it was the depths of the Dream World, but whether he was there with just his mind or whether his physical body was also present, he didn't know.

Pushing aside all these pointless thoughts, Alexei concentrated and black smoke began to rise from his body, taking the shape of a man. It was his own nightmare. Alexei blinked at the new sensation - he was looking at himself through the eyes of a nightmare.

The man and the nightmare looked at each other and smiled in sync. After scrutinizing the nightmare once more, Alexei pulled the smoke back into his body. The nightmare was a part of himself, and he could easily manipulate it as if it were his own hand. The nightmare had no consciousness of its own, it was completely filled with the will of the man.

"Now for the final test," Alexei thought, looking around for a suitable object.

His gaze fell on a small stone lying on the floor of a cave in the distance. He reached out his hand as if trying to grab the stone.

The stone began to bounce on the ground and after a moment, threw straight into Alexei's hand.

A wide smile appeared on his face. Telekinesis was the primary ability of all beings based on mental energy, and now he too could utilize that power.

"I will find a good use for this ability," thought a happy Alexei. His mind was buzzing with the many possibilities that were now open to him.

However, the man shook his head, interrupting the flow of thoughts. First, he needed to leave this cave. The burst of energy he had created could attract unwanted attention. It was too dangerous to stay here.

Quickly dressing, gathering the necessities and destroying the evidence, Alexei left the cave.

He had barely taken three steps away from the cave when the air hit him in the face and two alicorns, Princesses Celestia and Luna, as well as all six Elements of Harmony, appeared in front of him with a flash of teleportation.

The man reacted instantly, reaching for his rune rib, but a golden light enveloped him and blocked his movements.

He tried to open his mouth, but the light squeezed it, preventing him from uttering a word.

"You don't have to," Celestia said in a cold tone. "We've had enough of you."

The looks cast at the human by the ponies were quite different. From Elements' puzzled looks to the anger glowing in Celestia's eyes. Luna's gaze was particularly complex - it reflected resentment, anger, concern, and understanding, all of these emotions intertwined with each other.

Celestia's horn flashed, and the man was stripped of his dagger, his rune rib, his potion bags, and all other items. Celestia snorted, examined the rib and soon it all burned in a flash of flame.

At that moment she teleported a furiously squeaking rat right in front of him.

"Is this abomination your work too?" Celestia asked, her voice sounding furious.

The man recognized her as Alice at a glance. She was supposed to stay in Canterlot, but apparently she had been discovered.

The rat was engulfed in fierce flames and instantly turned to ash.

A startled squeak from a certain pegasus was heard behind.

All this time Luna looked at the human, but didn't utter a word.

"Stay here," Celestia ordered Elements while she and her sister headed into the cave.

All the while the man hovered in the golden light, trying to use his mental power. But all his efforts were in vain, it was as if he was struggling against an unstoppable wall. He couldn't even summon his nightmare.

After a few minutes, the alicorns returned and cast harsh glances at him.

"Use the Elements of Harmony," Celestia ordered without further ado.

The six ponies nodded, and light began to surround them. The man's eyes widened with shock - he knew the power of the Elements.

Was this really the end of him? He knew it was, but his mind remained calm.

"I tried my best," the man mentally sighed. "I have nothing to regret."

In the next moment, he was enveloped by a ray of light that penetrated the very depths of his being.

***

Consciousness floated in an empty space flooded with bright light. A multitude of questions tormented his mind.

"Who am I? Where am I?"

"I don't know."

"Does it matter?"

"I guess it doesn't? Otherwise I'd know, right?"

"Then what's important?"

The consciousness went into deep thought, trying to find some answers.

"Nothing is important."

"Then I'll invent what's important on my own."

"But what do I want?"

Consciousness looked around the empty space, which had nothing but light in it.

"I want to see interesting things."

"So I need to go on a path?"

"The path... Why do I feel it's important?"

The space around him began to fluctuate violently, but consciousness was immersed in its thoughts and didn't notice it.

"I think I was going somewhere... But where?"

"The path... I... I want to..."

There was a cracking sound as a rift appeared in the space in front of the consciousness. In that rift, it saw a small bipedal figure composed of black smoke that was being violently burned by the light.

The consciousness, without knowing why, rushed towards the figure and held it tightly against itself, protecting it from the light. Somehow this seemed important.

Everything around it began to crack and rip at the seams as the consciousness' thoughts cleared. Space collapsed in the same second.

"I want to live forever!" the burnt man roared, rising from the ground.

All the surrounding ponies were at a loss for words as they looked at the staggering man covered in burns. He was weak and barely on his feet, but his eyes were as blazing as ever.

Celestia squinted and imprisoned Alexei in the golden light again, holding him in place.

"Why didn't it work?" Twilight asked perplexed. "Why is he burned?"

"He's a creature from another world," Celestia replied, quickly realizing the situation. "The Elements of Harmony only bring things from our world into order."

"However, he is already tightly entwined with the energies of our world through his vile ritual."

"The Elements wanted to remove the nightmare, but they failed. Hence the burns."

Celestia frowned, scrutinizing the man staring steadily into her eyes.

Suddenly, Celestia felt a touch and turned, looking into Luna's eyes.

It took Celestia a moment to realize that look, and she sighed.
She understood what her sister was thinking. This man's path was very similar to Luna's. Luna saw him as herself and her redemption. If she could fix him, it would be good for her.

"Okay," Celestia thought, nodding to her sister. "If she wants to play with him so badly, let her play with him, but he stays in the dungeon."

"There is another option," Luna broke the silence. "The Tree of Harmony."

Celestia looked at her in surprise and thought for a moment. Indeed, that option could work. Finally, she nodded to Luna, agreeing with her decision.

"Then I'm off to the Tree," Luna said firmly. "We'll have to create a portal, a human cannot be teleported."

"Heal his wounds, sister."

Spreading her wings, Luna took off and began teleporting short distances time after time, heading in a certain direction with tremendous speed.

Celestia sighed as she looked her way. This was all getting too complicated.

Glancing disdainfully at the immobilized man, she was about to use a healing spell, but stopped when she noticed that he had already recovered on his own.

With a snort, Celestia teleported shackles of shiny black metal covered in runes onto each of Alexei's limbs. A similar headband appeared on his head.

Taking the man out of sight, Celestia made herself comfortable, watching the arguing Elements.

After a while, Celestia felt a signal from Luna. She instantly stood up and lit her horn, emitting a bright light. In the air, she began to create intricate strokes that slowly morphed into a future portal.

The small dot expanded until a full-fledged passage was formed. Beyond the portal, a picture opened up that Celestia had seen before - Luna was standing in front of a huge tree.

Celestia picked Alexei up and let the rest of the ponies pass ahead, then walked through the portal herself, which closed with a hiss, leaving them inside the cave.

It was a huge space filled with streams and waterfalls that made a melodious noise. In the center of the cave was a huge meadow covered in greenery, and above it towered the Tree of Harmony. Every branch and leaf was imbued with magic, radiating warmth and tranquility.

The eight ponies and Alexei, hovering in a telekinetic grip, quickly approached the Tree.

"What do we have to do?" asked Twilight. She still didn't fully understand what was going on, but she trusted her mentor.

"You already have a connection to the Tree of Harmony," Celestia said, addressing the Elements. "All you have to do is wish."

"Wish for it to help a human," Luna added, looking at the Tree thoughtfully.

The Elements looked amongst themselves and approached the Tree. Closing their eyes, they focused on their wishes. Suddenly, the tiara and the five amulets shone brightly and soared into the air, hanging on the branches like fruits.

However, nothing happened. The Elements looked at the princesses in bewilderment, waiting for an explanation. But suddenly there was a rumbling sound. Thin vines burst out of the ground and began to rapidly approach Alexei. They embraced his body and dragged him somewhere deep into the Tree.

Alexei fiercely resisted, but the shackles that still encompassed his limbs suppressed all his new abilities. He gritted his teeth, feeling something trying to invade his mind. Blood streamed from his nose as he struggled hard against the Tree.

But the forces were not equal. Everything began to blur in front of Alexei's eyes as he fell into darkness, enveloped by the giant roots of the Tree.

***

The man found himself standing barefoot on a path of stones in front of a huge tree in a small meadow. Aside from the meadow and the path, there was nothing but bare ground.

The man frowned at the Tree in front of him. For the first time since arriving in this world, he was actually angry at something. This was the second time this thing had messed with his head.

Closing his eyes, the man inhaled and exhaled, calming his mind. When he opened his eyes, his indifferent gaze settled on the Tree in front of him.

However, something had changed - there was a pale blue sphere floating in front of the Tree, with streams of energy bursting out of it. The man raised an eyebrow, feeling the Tree's mind connect with his own.

What surprised him even more was the Tree's offer - it was willing to provide him with a soul and magical power along with it. The Tree demanded nothing in return.

The man looked at the Tree with disdain. By accepting this soul, he would lose his freedom and become obedient to the rules of Harmony. He didn't even want to imagine what this Harmony would do to his personality if he merged with this soul.

Hearing a sound behind him, the man turned around and saw the ground swallowing up the path as if it had never existed.

"Strange," the man thought, not understanding the Tree's actions.

The land around him seemed endless. The presence or absence of the stone path made no difference.

The man examined the land around him and, finding nothing strange, stepped off the path.

Suddenly his foot fell through the mud and the man cried out in pain as his flesh was torn by the thorns hidden at the bottom.

Not only did they cause physical pain, but they attacked the man's mind as if tearing it to pieces. Even for him, who was used to severe hardships, it was something unimaginable.

The path continued to disappear behind him, as if pushing him towards the Tree. The man felt the pressure building on his mind from this mysterious and powerful tree. He resisted this pressure with all his being, but it grew stronger and stronger.

"Forcing me?" the man said contemptuously, glaring at the Tree, and then he laughed.

Gritting his teeth, the man stepped off the path and began to walk through the mud, moving away from the Tree. Each step attacked his mind with waves of pain, but he endured and persevered, continuing forward.

All he saw in front of him was an endless swamp of mud with no end in sight. Such a scenery brought on hopelessness. There was nothing but despair and pain ahead.

The man only snorted at the thought of it. Tree was deeply mistaken if it thought it could surprise him with just that. Ever since his arrival in this world, he had been in constant despair and pain. Nothing had changed even now.

It was hard to go his own path.

Clearing his mind of unnecessary thoughts, the man concentrated on one thing - to keep going.
And so he walked, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

Seconds. Minutes. Hours. The man began to lose track of time, but he kept going.

He had already realized that this was going to be a battle of endurance between him and the Tree. After moving a fair distance away from the Tree, he was already trying to stop and take a break. However, as soon as he stopped, the mud began to pull him down like a swamp, unwilling to let him go.

He couldn't stop. His mental abilities were blocked by the Tree. All he could do was keep going.

For a moment the man frowned, sensing the change. A mist was rapidly forming around him, soon swallowing him whole.

***

"Wake up, please wake up," some female voice wailed pitifully, bringing the man back to consciousness.

The pain in his head forced him to open his eyes and an incredible sight appeared before him - a purple unicorn.

The creature's eyes widened with joy and it jumped up, hugging the man who was lying on the bed.

The man froze in shock, contemplating the situation. The hug was certainly nice, but this was a freaking talking unicorn! What the hell was going on in this world?

"Wait. Where am I anyway?" the man thought confusedly. "What's my name?"

The man pulled the unicorn away from him and examined the creature closely. It didn't look like a costume. A real unicorn indeed. A talking one, also purple in color. How strange.

"Who are you?" the man muttered, looking perplexedly into the unicorn's face.

It seemed to be the wrong question. Tears came to the creature's eyes and it ran out of the room, nearly knocking the orange pony at the door.

Sighing, the pony walked over to the man and began her story. Her name was Applejack, and she told him the incredible news.

His name was Victor, and two years ago he had come to this world by pure accident. Twilight, the same one who had just run away, was his girlfriend. The man fell into a stupor, trying to comprehend all these events and his personal life.

Next, the orange pony gave out even stranger information. The man was one of the Elements of Harmony, the Element of Determination. According to Applejack, he was the strongest of all the Elements.

But the most shocking news was that a chaos god named Discord had broken free and taken over Equestria, the land where the ponies lived. It was in a past fight with him that the man had been injured and lost his memory.

Applejack continued to give him all the details until she finally left him to rest. Exhausted by all this information, the man fell asleep.

His body recovered from his injuries for three days, with Twilight by his side, caring for him.

As time passed, the man's memory really began to come back to him. He remembered everything Applejack had said.

He remembered his feelings for Twilight, their first kiss, and how sweetly embarrassed she was when he showed his feelings. The only thing that remained a blur was his past life before arriving in Equestria.

But did that matter now? Saving Equestria was his main goal, and he was determined to do it.

Once the man recovered, despite Twilight's protests, he began to train hard to regain his strength.

The Element of Determination really suited him. As long as he had enough determination, he could ignore even death and keep moving forward. His physical abilities surpassed his wildest fantasies. He felt like a superhero, and together with his friends, they were invincible. But their opponent, Discord, was also incredibly strong.

Responding to his determination, his friends also began to train with him.

After regaining their strength, they once again engaged in battle against the forces of Chaos. The battles went on for months, then years - the god of Chaos had many minions - but the man was not discouraged. Each difficulty only strengthened his determination. He grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, the Elements of Harmony faced the god of Chaos himself in Canterlot.

The entire city was shaking from this epic battle. If it wasn't for the man - the Elements would have lost long ago. He shared his endless determination with all his friends, increasing their strength.

The Lord of Chaos had infinite power, but the man's infinite determination was not inferior in the slightest!

The battle continued throughout the day, and finally, at sunset, the Elements of Harmony gained victory and destroyed the malevolent spirit of Chaos forever.

The entire city erupted in joy and admiration, singing of the heroes who had saved Equestria from Discord.

Princesses Celestia and Luna, realizing their overwhelming fatigue and desire to enjoy peace, decided to pass the crown to a new worthy ruler, Twilight.

They planned the wedding of Twilight and Victor, who was now to become the Prince of Equestria.

At this moment, the man stood on the balcony of the royal bedroom, his eyes fixed on the singing crowd gathered below. The man could hear the cheers and songs addressed to him, but in the back of his mind he felt a kind of dissatisfaction.

"We're getting married tomorrow, dear," Twilight said lovingly, hugging him from behind. "Are you happy? I'm definitely happy!"

"Yeah, I guess so," the man mumbled thoughtfully, his gaze still fixed intently on the crowd.

"Hey! What's with the uncertainty?" laughed Twilight, but turned serious when she saw the look in the man's eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"It's just all this..." the man frowned, mulling over his feelings. "No, nothing."

"You can tell me," Twilight replied, stroking his shoulder affectionately.

The man didn't answer, sinking into deep thought as Twilight waited patiently for her lover's words.

"I feel empty inside," he finally said.

"Emptiness? What do you mean?" Twilight wondered sincerely. "Look how much everyone loves you!"

"Love me?" the man laughed, but his gaze turned cold. "They love my power, status, and wealth."

"They love a convenient hero who will solve all their problems instead of them."

"Honey? Are you all right?" Twilight asked with a shudder. "Your words worry me a little."

The man turned his head and looked at her seriously.

Swallowing, Twilight started to stare back, his gaze worrying her.

But the man ignored it and continued to gaze into her face. He really did love her, but something was keeping him off balance.

The man remembered all the time he had spent in this world and his face frowned even more.

"What am I doing here?" the man asked, looking over his royal robes. "What have I even been doing all this time?"

He looked at the crowd, his gaze filled with despise.

"Was it all just for this?" the man asked perplexed, turning to a terrified Twilight.

In that moment, the whole world collapsed.

***

"Go on. Just go," Twilight said, unlocking the dungeon. "Leave Equestria and don't come back."

"Settle down somewhere, have a family, and live happily ever after."

"Don't try to get revenge. You're no match for her."

"You know I can't just move on," the man growled. "Not after everything she's done to me!"

Twilight sighed and held out a backpack to him.

"I kept all your things as you asked," she said in a calm voice. "There's only so much I can do."

"The choice is yours."

Alexei picked up the backpack and looked inside. His eyes sparkled when he saw the revolver. Checking the drum, he found three rounds in it.

The man's lips curled into a smirk. This revolver had been his faithful companion since the beginning of his adventures in this world, and no one still knew its secret.

He had been dragged into this world by the local Chaos god, Discord. He also fell at the hands of a man.

This revolver could kill a god. Wasn't it capable of killing some alicorn?

"Go," Twilight repeated tiredly. "There's a wagon waiting for you outside, they'll take you out of the city."

"Thank you," Alexei replied sincerely, looking at the unicorn in front of him.

Alexei followed Twilight's instructions and left Canterlot.

All the while, he was replaying the memories of the past five years in his head, fueling the hatred in his heart.

Upon arriving in this world, he encountered Discord, who decided to play with him. Alexei killed him.

After wandering through the forest, he finally stumbled upon Ponyville. He expected the worst, but he was warmly welcomed. He stayed with Twilight and told her that he was from another world. She promised to find a way to bring the man back to his family. Alexei felt hope, but everything changed when Princess Celestia learned of his existence.

Feeling threatened, she threw him into the dungeon. They were never able to get inside his mind, so they used more down-to-earth methods - torture.

Celestia firmly believed that Alexei was an alien spy and that his people would soon attack Equestria. With all her might she tried to get this information out of Alexei. She refused to admit that he didn't know anything. She only called him a liar and the torture continued.

He spent over four years in the dungeon until Twilight took the opportunity of the princess' absence and freed him.

He craved revenge on Celestia, and realized that to do so he would need not only a revolver, but allies and powerful artifacts.

And so his dangerous game began. Alexei gathered and united those disgruntled with Celestia, eliminating anyone who stood in his way. Mountains of corpses were left behind him, but he paid no attention to it, continuing his path forward.

He and his supporters went in search of ancient ruins where they hoped to find artifacts and weapons. It was there that he met a unicorn named Luminous Nova. Luminous was one of the archaeologists involved in the exploration of the temple they had entered.

It could have ended in bloodshed, but thanks to Luminous they were able to avoid that.

Was it love at first sight? Of course it wasn't.

They met at a few more excavations and gradually grew closer.

Luminous won his heart with her kindness and understanding. They spent more and more time together, even though Alexei had to hide his other life from her.

Sometimes doubts flashed through his mind, and he considered giving up on revenge and just being with Luminous.

But he chased those thoughts away - he couldn't forgive Celestia.

Why couldn't he have everything? He was going to kill Celestia and finally be happy with Luminous.

That's exactly how it was going to be!

Alexei continued to gather supporters, and finally he was ready. Of course, Luminous didn't know about his plans.

Having invaded Canterlot, Alexei and his companions infiltrated the palace, starting a real massacre on the way to the main hall. However, Alexei barely participated in this bloody battle, conserving his strength - he had the most important role.

He had spent one bullet in all these years, and now he only had two left. He only had the right to make one mistake.

Bursting into the throne room, a squad of guards appeared in front of them, holding up a powerful shield. Behind the guards stood Twilight, looking sadly at Alexei. And sitting on the throne was Celestia herself, eyeing him contemptuously.

"A futile attempt," Celestia said indifferently, rising from her throne and stepping forward.

Alexei smirked, the princess was arrogant and he had expected just such a reaction. From his pocket he pulled out a worn crystal sphere covered in patterns and smashed it on the floor.

Instantly, an invisible force enveloped the entire hall. The unicorns' shield collapsed, and no one in the palace could move or even turn their head.

Alexei, however, could move freely. He was not a magical being, and it was magic that this artifact attacked. He had a limited amount of time, but those five minutes were quite enough.

"Let's see if you can dodge it now," Alexei smiled coldly as he took out his revolver.

Celestia frowned upon seeing the revolver. This thing was giving her an unsettling feeling.

Suddenly her eyes widened as she noticed a familiar figure hidden under the hood.

"So you've dragged my daughter into your revenge as well," Celestia laughed sadly. "I admit, I didn't expect that."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Alexei asked perplexed, following her gaze.

As he approached the figure, he ripped off her hood and was stunned. Standing before him was his beloved, Luminous Nova.

"I wanted to find out what you were hiding, so I followed you," Luminous replied, averting her gaze. "Forgive me."

"Are you really Celestia's daughter?" the man asked calmly, his voice sounding tired but a storm of emotions raging inside him.

"Yes," Luminous replied briefly, looking up. "I just didn't know how to tell you this."

Disappointment and pain flashed in the man's eyes.

"So you've been toying with me all this time?" the man asked coldly. "Your feelings for me are just fake?"

"No!" Luminous screamed, and her eyes filled with tears. "I love you!"

"I knew nothing of the enmity between you and my mother!"

"I was afraid to tell you who my mother was because I thought you would treat me differently!"

The man gazed intently into her eyes, trying to discern the truth of her words. He was experienced enough, able to recognize a lie, and there was sincerity in her voice.

Luminous really did love him.

"I was wrong about you," came Celestia's voice from behind him. "I admit my mistake and sincerely apologize."

"I will not harm my daughter's lover."

"Let's make a fresh start."

"Don't believe her!" his fellows shouted. "Kill that vile bitch!"

The man's face frowned at those words. He hadn't forgotten that they had all suffered at the hands of Celestia as well as himself. That was why they had followed him. Together they had become loyal companions, united by a common desire to avenge their pain and suffering.

Hearing a sob, the man turned and looked into the pleading eyes of Luminous.

If he killed her mother - it would be over between them. How could he kill her mother?

But how could he not kill her? It was Celestia who was the source of his pain and the suffering of his companions. He would never get that chance again.

"Kill her!" his fellows chanted, looking hopefully at the man.

Luminous was crying, and Twilight was looking at the man tensely.

The man felt dizzy.

Love and hate, selfishness and duty, all these feelings mixed in his mind, tearing him apart. He felt the pain in his heart as the opposites collided within him and tore him apart with contradictions.

"Please stop," Luminous pleaded.

"Kill Celestia!" the crowd chanted. "Why are you hesitating?"

Time was running out. The man had a decision to make. But which one? He was on the verge of madness.

Suddenly, all the struggle and indecision vanished from the man's face. He looked around at everyone and laughed.

"What's so funny?" frowned Celestia.

Had the man lost his mind under the pressure of the situation?

The man didn't answer. Pulling the trigger, he shot Twilight in the head, another shot and Luminous collapsed to the floor.

There was dead silence in the throne room.

"Love and hate, friendship and enmity," the man said, looking at Celestia mockingly. "It's all so boring, don't you think?"

The whole world has collapsed.

***

"What's on your mind, Andrei?" the mare asked affectionately, stroking the man's palm.

The man blinked as he looked at the mare in front of him, with whom they were sitting at a table in the cafe.

A smile slid across his lips as he reached out his hands and began to caress the mare's cheeks, which purred with pleasure.

"My name is Alexei," the man said coldly as he snapped her neck.

There was momentary silence in the café, and then the ponies leapt from their seats in horror and scattered with shrieks.

"What this time? A romantic comedy?" Alexei grinned, glancing around the holiday Canterlot. "I don't like that genre."

He concentrated and tensed, feeling the power surging through his body. Soon his familiar dagger appeared in his hand, flashing. Alexei laughed and dashed after the fleeing ponies, unleashing chaos and death in his path.

Every time the Tree touched his mind - the man touched the Tree's mind. Over time, his restraints loosened.

With a sweep of his dagger, Alexei grabbed and killed a unicorn that ran past. The man's eyes glittered with cruelty and indifference.

Soon there were only corpses around.

Alexei marched through the streets of Canterlot, destroying everything in his path. He killed everyone indiscriminately, ignoring their pleas for mercy.

At one point he found himself in the middle of a lake of blood in the main square of the city, littered with corpses. After finishing off the last survivor, he turned his gaze to the mountain of corpses, from which black smoke began to ooze.

A wide smile appeared on Alexei's face as he felt the familiar sensation of world collapse.

The next second, he stepped out of the fog, finding himself on a familiar plain of gray mud. The fog dissipated quickly, and soon disappeared.

Alexei rubbed his temples - all the memories from the illusions hit his mind at once. He had lived decades of false lives, but now he was free of them.

Turning back around, Alexei saw a trail of his blood begin to erode the mud.

A slight smile appeared on his face as he looked at the giant tree that had reappeared in front of him. The Tree was trying to change his personality, fix him and win him over to its side, throwing him into all these fake lives.

"No matter how many times you try, it won't work," Alexei said mockingly. "I have lived and will continue to live according to my true feelings."

"I am true to my nature."

"I am a true person."

Thunder rumbled in the sky and the tree branches swayed.

"Are you mad?" Alexei asked with a smile.

***

The eight shocked ponies looked at what was happening in front of them with horror and bewilderment.

Luna, skilled in dream magic, had created a powerful screen that gave them access to the inside of Tree's mind. They could see everything that was happening to the human inside.

Suddenly, the branches of the Tree trembled, a shrill screech was heard, and black smoke poured from beneath its roots. Several roots twisted and threw the man outward, as if spitting out something vile and disgusting.

Eight pairs of eyes turned, watching the rising man. He staggered, but still managed to get to his feet.

His eyes showed defiance as he took a few steps toward the alicorns. He felt no fear of them. What could they do to him? Kill him?

The alicorns flinched and spread their wings, their horns blazing with magical energy.

However, in the next moment, the man collapsed to the ground unconscious. He had already surpassed his limits several times today. It was truly a crazy day for him.

Celestia relaxed and looked at her sister. Seeing the expression on Luna's face, Celestia sighed. Even after seeing all of this - Luna still wanted to fix him.

"Just another headache I don't need," Celestia thought gloomily.

Meanwhile, deep beneath Canterlot, a small crack appeared on Discord's statue, from which a small copy of the Chaos spirit crawled out. The crack instantly closed.

"Well, at last," Discord grinned, looking in a certain direction.

He looked at his statue, covered in chains, and sighed. His main body was still sealed, but it wouldn't be for long.

With a wave of his claws, transparent symbols appeared in the air and swiftly flew towards the runes on the wall. Soon, a small passage between the protective runes appeared.

With a flick of his claws, Discord turned into gray smoke and dove into this passage.

The passage slowly disappeared and the dungeon fell back into silence.

Chapter 15 - Insignificant characters

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"What has become of you, Alexei?" murmured Luna, looking through the window in the dungeon door.

She observed a man dressed in a simple linen shirt and stained pants. The man's overgrown hair and beard were messed up, giving him a wild appearance. Runic shackles were attached to his arms and legs, and a runic headband gleamed on his forehead.

The man was sitting on the stone floor of the dungeon, spreading bread crumbs in front of him in a strange order that only he could understand. Several rats ran around him, trying to grab the bread crumbs, but he drove them away by flicking them on the nose.

Hearing the princess' words, the man perked up and looked up at her.

"Alexei? There he is running around down there," the man said cheerfully, pointing to a particular rat. "Catch him and he'll tell you everything."

Seeing that there was no response from the princess, the man jumped up on all fours and began chasing the rat all over the dungeon.

Finally, he caught it and with a wide smile, he brought the squeaking rat towards the princess. The rat bit and gnawed furiously at the man's fingers, but he didn't seem to mind it.

"Alexei is you," Luna spoke in a tired voice.

"Yes, I'm Alexei," the man agreed easily and immediately lost interest in the conversation.

Stepping aside, he stared at a certain section of the wall for a while. The rat, taking advantage of his distraction, broke free of his grip and ran deep into the chamber.

The man ran his fingers gently along the wall, and then anger flashed across his face and he began to scratch furiously at the wall with his fingernails. Soon his nails came off and he continued to wipe his fingers against the wall, leaving bloody marks.

Luna sighed and turned away from the window, heading towards the exit of the dungeon.

Several times they tried to bind the man, but it only made him worse. Thanks to his regeneration, he couldn't do permanent damage to himself, though he tried.

The man had been in this state for six months now. His mind could not stand the challenge and he went insane.

After the ritual he underwent that gave him mental energy, his mind became vulnerable to being invaded by spells. Luna entered his mind several times, but only chaos reigned there. The man still had no soul, so Luna could not look into his memories.

All this time she tried to find a way to help him, but to no avail. With ponies and other intelligent creatures in this world, the cause of insanity usually lay in the soul. But what about a man without a soul?

Somewhere in the back of his mind still lurked a nightmare, but she couldn't push his mind too hard in fear that it would completely break down.

She had made little progress on the problem in these six months, but she wasn't giving up.
She wanted to heal the man. Then give him a good kicking and ask him a lot of questions.

Nodding to the bowing guards, Luna stepped outside and teleported into the castle, heading straight for Celestia's room.

Celestia sighed as she saw her sister enter - she already knew what the conversation would be about.

"Alexei can't stay in the dungeon any longer," Luna said, looking Celestia in the eye. "He needs to be transferred to a mental hospital."

"No," Celestia flatly refused. "I've already made concessions to you, removed his chains and moved him to a more comfortable cell."

"The man will remain in the dungeon, end of story."

"But why?" asked Luna incomprehensibly. "He has lost his mind, and the shackles completely block his abilities."

"I still suspect he's faking it," Celestia replied with a frown. "I'm not going to risk my ponies sending him to the hospital."

"He's already been seen by a psychiatrist, hasn't he?"

"He's not faking it," Luna shook her head. "You've read the reports from the guards, haven't you?"

"How could such a proud man, sink to such a thing?"

Celestia grimaced, remembering some of the reports. Indeed, the man had not an ounce of dignity left.

Celestia remembered that look filled with defiance that he had thrown at her at the Tree of Harmony.

Such a proud and arrogant man could not be so degrading. He had definitely lost his mind. That was why she had made some concessions, but she wasn't going to take any chances.

"No," Celestia refused again. "He'll stay in the dungeon. There's no point in moving him to the hospital."

"Besides, he won't have his little friends there with him."

Luna frowned when she heard that - Celestia was talking about rats.

The human really liked messing around with them.

Originally, Luna was going to order them all to be captured and their burrows patched up, but then she changed her mind. The man became more and more restless when the rats started disappearing. He already had few positive things in his life, Luna didn't want to deprive him of his last joy.

Luna was about to say something, but stopped herself. She understood her sister's fears.

They had learned some truly frightening things from the memory of the diamond dogs. But she could also understand the human. She too had done some equally horrible things in her time.

She even felt a certain envy. Unlike her, Alexei had nothing, but he still succeeded.

And yet he had such a sad ending for him.

Sighing, Luna said goodbye to her sister and headed to her chambers where she continued her research.

***

"Dinner time, fucker," came a gruff voice from behind the massive wooden door as three unicorns entered the chamber.

The man sitting on the cold stone floor looked up and froze in surprise for a moment, as if he didn't recognize any of them.

"Come on, get him up," the unicorn smiled, nodding to the other guard.

A magical aura enveloped the man's wrists, lifting his arms to the ceiling and holding them in the air. Then another aura easily removed the shirt over his head and tossed it aside.

With a crunch of its neck, the unicorn approached the man and swung a hoof into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. A series of swift blows to his sides followed, leaving a trail of hoof prints on the man's torso.

Despite the pain, the man chuckled and dangled in the grip as if enjoying it.

"Ugh, really relaxing," the sweating unicorn smiled and looked at the human. "And what would we do without you?"

"Played out?" the second guard joined the conversation. "Let's get him up against the wall. I want to test out a new spell."

"Maybe take his pants off?" the third guard asked uncertainly. "It heals like a dog on him, but it'll be bad if it leaves marks on his clothes."

"Don't," the unicorn waved it off lazily. "I'm sharp, and besides, I don't want to see his bare butt."

"I would," the first unicorn muttered quietly.

But his words were heard by all.

The other two unicorns stared at him in disgust.

"Don't even fucking think about it," the second guard looked at him sternly. "He's self-injuring and doesn't react in any way to the pain, but no sexual assault."

"If something clicks in his head because of this and Luna finds out about it, we're all fucked."

"I fucking get it," the first unicorn blurted out. "We've already agreed on all of this. You think I'm stupid?"

"I think you're a horny motherfucker turned exotic," the second unicorn replied with a challenging look in his eyes. "So keep your junk to yourself."

The first guard gritted his teeth in response, but looked away after a few moments.

"Finished measuring dicks?" the third guard asked, pulling the man back against the wall. "Let's make this quick. I want to finish reading the article."

The second unicorn snorted and lit his horn.

Soon several lightning spheres appeared in front of him and instantly flew towards the man. There was a hissing sound and the smell of burning flesh, and the man's body twitched from the electrical shock.

"Ooooh," the man exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the smoke rising from his burnt flesh.

"Not bad," the unicorn muttered. "He has no magical energy, but his resistance to magic is still impressive."

"He has mental energy," the third guard said lazily. "It, just like magical energy, can resist the effects of other's energy."

"What did you even learn in school?"

"I know," the second unicorn snarled. "Just surprised."

"Are we done?" the first guard asked, looking at his companions. "I'm thirsty."

The third unicorn glanced at the second and received an affirmative nod. He let go of the man, who collapsed to the floor in surprise.

"Here's your lunch," the first unicorn snorted, tossing the plate of food onto the dirty stone floor.

The three unicorns then turned and walked out of the cell, closing the massive door behind them.

They peered through the window and saw rats scurrying around the man, beginning to bite off the burnt flesh. The man didn't mind, as if this was a regular occurrence for him.

The unicorns grimaced at the sight. They had seen the man feed his flesh and blood to these rodents several times before.

"Fucking lunatic," the third unicorn shook his head and headed for the guard room.

The other two unicorns nodded in agreement and followed him.

***

"Twilight, I'm going to bed," Spike said, looking sadly at the purple unicorn with the disheveled mane. "Maybe you'll finish reading tomorrow already?"

He didn't understand what was going on with Twilight lately. She used to love learning and exploring magic, but now it was as if she had become obsessed with books.

"I'll be there soon," Twilight smiled tiredly, looking away from the page she had just been reading. "Good night, Spike."

Spike went upstairs and headed for his bed. His thoughts were filled with worry. Wrapped in the blanket, he stared at the ceiling for a long time before sleep finally overcame him.

Time passed quickly, and deep night engulfed the Golden Oak Library.

The entrance to the library was in the trunk of a tree, but the Golden Oak was an unusual tree. Its trunk and branches formed an ornate system of corridors and rooms, like a labyrinth where each turn revealed new book treasures.

The bookshelves, stacked with volumes on a variety of subjects, seemed to come alive in the darkness, opening their pages to those who were ready to immerse themselves in the world of knowledge. The subdued light of the moon shone through the windows, creating a play of light and shadow on the polished oak floor.

The scent of antiquity and magic hung in the air like the breath of the library itself.

Twilight sat at the desk, surrounded by the stacks of books she had already gone through. She gazed intently at each page, as if hoping that the answers to her questions would appear before her like magic.

But so far it was all in vain.

As she finished reading another book, Twilight looked at it with a blank stare. Anger flashed in her eyes, and she flung the book off the table. Her sides bulged with frequent breathing.

"There's nothing," Twilight muttered doomily. "Why is there nothing!!!"

The events at the Tree of Harmony had changed her life forever.

The words of the man she heard that day never left her mind.

"I want to live forever!"

That cry echoed in her mind, making her seriously think about death.

She hadn't thought about it before, immersed in her studies, in all the silly worries and trying to earn her teacher's recognition.

Twilight knew that with magic power like hers, she would live a long time. Perhaps even a few centuries.

She remembered the story of her nanny, Cadence, becoming an alicorn. It was something incredible, as if fate had chosen her for it.

Alicorns were eternally young beings, capable of living for a very long time.

Twilight suspected that with her power and the mark of Magic itself, she had a good chance of becoming an alicorn. The prophecy about Nightmare Moon, her training with Princess Celestia, and her teacher's reticence all added more suspicion.

However, the thought made her uneasy. What would happen to her family, to Spike and her friends?

Even if she didn't become an alicorn - she would outlive all her loved ones.

She didn't want that to happen. She wanted them to stay with her. Forever.

Twilight studied every source of information available to her, but nowhere could she find an answer to her question. No clues, no guidance.

"What should I do?" thought Twilight, feeling herself sinking into a swamp of gloomy thoughts.

A certain scene she had seen at the Tree of Harmony came into her mind.

A man walking through a swamp of despair and pain, with no hope of escape, but still continuing on his way. It seemed he could keep going forever.

Twilight despised the man, and felt nothing but disgust and horror for him. After hearing his brief history, she was at a loss for words - a heartless monster, no different. She knew that the worst things had been kept from her, but that was enough for her.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a certain admiration. She was ashamed to admit it - how could one admire such a monster, and yet she did.

His perseverance and fortitude had made a lasting impression on her. Now she was constantly comparing herself to him.

He had nothing and yet he had accomplished the impossible time after time.

Twilight thought back to her life and chuckled bitterly. Everyone idolized her as a genius and even she herself believed it. However, everyone had forgotten how much of that was due to luck.

Rich noble parents, the destiny mark of Magic itself, the best school for unicorns, learning from Princess Celestia.

How many of her successes were truly her own?

"It doesn't matter," Twilight shook her head. "I've run into one difficulty and I'm already on the verge of despair."

"That's the difference between us."

Twilight felt disgusted with herself at that moment.

The man kept going forward no matter what. Why couldn't she as well?

Why couldn't all her loved ones be with her forever? Why couldn't they all be happy together?

Because it's against the laws of nature and Harmony itself? Because it doesn't allow it, I can't do it?

Twilight frowned harder and harder as she pondered these limitations. Images of those she cared for flashed before her eyes.

She hadn't even asked their opinion yet, too afraid of the answer. It was all just her selfish desire. And yet...

"What am I willing to do for my desires?" Twilight thought, plunging into the depths of her mind.

She didn't like some of the answers she found.

***

Night shrouded Canterlot in its darkness, and dawn was only hours away.

A man sat in the center of his chamber, head bowed and staring at one point, muttering to himself.

A rat slipped out of a small gap in the wall, which was not surprising, for there were many of them here. However, there was something strange about the rat. It was holding a vial of mysterious liquid in its paws. It was followed by another rat, also carrying a vial. Then another. And another.

After glancing around their surroundings, they ran up to the seated man, who idly stretched his legs out in front of him. Several rats jumped on top of his head and began climbing all over him. The man paid no attention to this and continued to mutter to himself.

The little rodents ripped out the plugs with their teeth and began pouring the contents of the vials onto the shackles that bound the man's legs. The rats on his head did the same with the headband. The metal began to sizzle and melt under the influence of the unknown liquid, and drops of acid fell on the man's flesh, causing burns. But the man remained indifferent to what was happening.

Soon the shackles and hoop fell to the floor, and the sound was absorbed by the straw on the floor.

The man stood still for a moment, stopped muttering, and listened to the sounds around him.

Then he placed his hand on the floor and slammed his knee down on it with force, dislocating his thumb. The blocking obstacle disappeared and he easily removed the shackles. Putting the thumb back in place, the man repeated the same with the other hand.

All traces of madness vanished from his face, replaced by his usual expression of indifference.

Rising from the floor, he went to the door and tapped quietly with his finger. A muffled squeak and the scratching of claws on wood came from outside. A few moments later there was the sound of a key turning.

The man pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway. On the other side of the door, several rats were hanging on the key, trying to climb down.

Alexei smiled as he watched this amusing sight.

He had been feeding these rats his flesh and blood, now filled with mental energy and nightmare fragments, for months. Many of them showed no change, others lost their minds, but some were able to adapt and their intelligence improved.

It took a few more months to train them.

They were now his loyal assistants, stealing potions from alchemy shops from all over the city.

Unlike Alice, these rats showed no signs of insanity. They gathered around the man, squeaking and jumping, happy for his freedom.

"Time to leave this place," the man smiled, glancing at the chamber behind him. "I've had enough of this crazy man role."

He headed for the exit, taking his small pack of rats with him.

Meanwhile, a few yawning unicorns sat around the table trying to kill time.

"Should I make some more coffee?" a unicorn muttered thoughtfully, swinging a cup on the table.

"Make me some too," the other unicorn perked up, taking a break from his journal. "I still have to go to the clerk's office after my shift."

"When are thestrals going to take over the night shifts already?" a third unicorn asked unhappily.

"They're still integrating," the unicorn replied, picking up cups and getting up from the table. "Not everyone is happy about it."

"What do you think, brainy?"

"I don't care," the unicorn with the magazine replied indifferently. "If it gets rid of my night shifts, I'm all for it."

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the direction of the chambers and the unicorns turned sharply at the sound.

Their eyes widened with shock - a man was approaching them with a smile on his face. He wasn't wearing any shackles and a small pack of rats were happily galloping around him.

The unicorns reacted instantly - the protocol for dealing with such situations was hardwired into their heads. One of them began to create a shield, another was about to send out an alarm, and a third lit a horn, ready for battle.

However, as soon as their horns were lit, a sharp pain pierced their bodies and they collapsed to the floor before they could finish a single spell. They tried again and the result was the same. As soon as they used a lot of magical energy - their bodies were pierced with pain and the energy went out of control.

"What the..." one of the unicorns hissed, trying to get up.

"It's poison," the human prompted, calmly entering the room.

The man's hand stretched out towards the weapons rack and immediately a spear leapt into his hand.

"No! Wait!" the unicorn screamed with fear looking at the man.

Immediately his skull was pierced by the spear. The others tried to crawl away or beg for mercy, but it was all a futile attempt - they met the same fate.

Alexei cast aside the more unnecessary spear and looked at the corpses, listening to his feelings.

After a moment, he nodded satisfied. Even though they had tormented him all this time - he felt no hatred for them. There were still the guards from the other shifts, the alicorns and the Elements that had gotten him here.

He wasn't going to take revenge on anyone. He already had a heavy burden on his shoulders, he didn't want to carry these senseless things on his back.

The longer he walked, the more unnecessary things he discarded. He knew that one day he would discard his humanity as well.

A few rats dragged a pouch of powder and a large vial of potion from somewhere in the burrows. Seeing the potion, the man smiled - he couldn't use transformation potions before, but after the ritual, everything had changed. Things would become much easier now.

Suddenly, the man felt something outside and frowned, concentrating on his sensations. His eyebrows rose in surprise - he already knew who was behind the door now.

A few seconds later, the door swung open and a diamond dog with a huge charred hole in her chest burst inside. The man already knew they had been captured earlier, but there was no way he expected to see one of them, Vatia, here.

Seeing the man, a wide smile appeared on the dog's face, his eyes sparkling with joy like two diamonds.

She rushed toward him, but her legs failed her and she almost collapsed to the floor. The man managed to pick her up, however, and despite her protests, laid her gently on the floor, examined her wound, and sighed. Vatia was doomed.

Even with Canterlot's best healers sitting in the next room, she would still be dead. All that sustained her now was the Diamond Dogs' innate ability to regenerate, but even it couldn't save her from this mortal wound.

"Don't," Vatia waved the man away, her smile weak but genuine. "I know I'm going to die."

"I thought I could free you, but it seems you did just fine on your own."

"I'm just glad I was able to see you."

"I'm glad to see you too," the human smiled back, stroking the soft fur on her face.

"Hehe, don't lie to me," Vatia laughed sadly. "What am I to you? Just a minor character?"

The man didn't answer.

"But you know what?" Vatia grinned. "We're all main characters, but we're also minor characters at the same time."

"I know you want to ascend above the alicorns."

"How insignificant are we all compared to them?"

"I'm the only one who made it here, the rest are dead."

"Will you fulfill my selfish request?"

"I'm listening," Alexei said seriously.

"Live for me," Vatia smiled widely. "Keep living, keep persevering."

"There is no point in crying for us insignificant characters - no one will hear our cries."

"We can only persevere until we become someone significant."

"It's either that or death."

"Keep persevering, Alexei."

The man's body trembled with emotion - he was truly moved at this moment.

Looking Vatia in the eyes, Alexei nodded. Words were of no use here - she could see everything in his eyes.

Vatia smiled and tried to say something, but her strength left her. Her gaze unfocused, and then she died with a smile on her face.

The man stared blankly at Vatia's body. His face was completely unreadable - no one could tell what he was thinking right now.

Alexei was brought out of his trance by the squeak of rats.

Blinking, the man picked up the vial of potion and stood up. Taking off his clothes, he drank the potion.

After a few moments, his skin began to swell with lumps and his bones began to crack. The man collapsed to the ground and began to peel off his peeling skin.

In all this time, he did not make a sound.

While the man was squirming on the ground, the rats ran around and scattered powder from the pouch.

After a few minutes, an earth pony without a destiny mark rose uncertainly to his feet. The pony closed his eyes, concentrating, and after a moment his aura changed dramatically. The same magical energy began to radiate from him as it did from all the creatures in this world.

At least, that's how it seemed if one didn't examine this pony too closely.

Taking a few tentative steps, he headed for the door and the rats followed.

Once outside, he looked around and stared intently at one of the lamps. In the same instant the lamp fell to the floor and the scattered powder burst into a fierce flame. The flames illuminated the pony's face, reflecting in his eyes.

Turning around, the lone figure wandered down the street.

There was almost no snow left in the city, and it was getting warmer by the day.

Spring had come to Canterlot.

Chapter 16 - New Hope

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"Well, that's pretty good," the unicorn muttered, raising his gaze to the gray pony in front of him. "There are a few rough edges, but the editor will deal with that. I like the idea. We'll publish your story."

The stallion's green eyes sparkled with joy upon hearing this. The unicorn only grinned seeing this - it was good to be young.

"Thank you, Mr. Ivory!" the pony said with deep gratitude. "It really means a lot to me."

"No thanks necessary," the unicorn smiled, but his serious look softened a bit. "How much do you want for your work?"

"I'll trust you on that one," the earth pony replied easily. "I am more interested in experience first and foremost than money."

Ivory looked at the pony carefully and nodded satisfied - he liked this young stallion's attitude. Even though he looked rather poor - he wasn't obsessed with money.

"Standard pay, then," Ivory nodded. "If the readers like your story - we'll come back to the matter. What's your name again?"

"Flint Dustcloud, sir," the pony replied politely.

"Good, then... come back on Tuesday," Ivory thoughtfully coaxed. "We'll see how your story is received."

"Thank you, sir," the earth pony thanked again, bowing to the unicorn.

Saying goodbye to Ivory, Flint left the magazine's office. With a satisfied smile, he walked briskly toward his home on Grape Street.
His story was indeed going to be published. The horror genre was not very popular in Canterlot - the nobles preferred novels - but Flint wanted to write horror.

Besides, the genre had become quite hot lately.
Recently there was a big fire in one of the dungeons. Immediately someone leaked information revealing what happened. According to rumors, Princess Luna's bipedal friend turned out to be a terrible monster who kidnapped ponies and conducted terrible experiments on them. It was for this he had been imprisoned in a dungeon.

The human had indeed not been seen in the city for over half a year, which matched the information. However, the Crown rejected all these rumors and repeated its version - the human had died during an expedition to the Everfree Forest.But few people believed this official statement. This whole fire story looked too suspicious. Whether it was a human or some other monster was only of concern to the nobles who were once again pouncing on Princess Luna. The main thing was that no one knew if it had survived the fire.

The monster might be roaming around Canterlot right now. The guards had searched the town several times, but found nothing. It was rumored that they were now setting up posts around Canterlot, expecting the monster to move back to Everfree.

Flint's story was precisely about this very human monster. He even hoped that one day he could publish his collection of short stories that would make readers shiver with fear.

Upon reaching home, Flint saw Silver Breeze, from whom he rented a room, carrying a load of bags. The light lavender unicorn mare was always cheerful and energetic despite her age. Quickly running up to her, Flint took all the bags away from her despite her grumbling.

"Why didn't you tell me you were going shopping?" he said grudgingly, looking at the mare.

"I'm perfectly capable of going to the store myself," Silver muttered. "Not falling apart yet."

Grinning, Flint opened the door and carried the bags inside, quickly running around the kitchen and arranging the groceries in the cupboards. Looking at him, Silver couldn't help but smile. Contrary to her grumbling, she was already starting to subconsciously treat him like the own grandchild she didn't have. Flint was a real hard worker. He did all the household chores, worked in the garden, and repaired almost everything that needed fixing. But most importantly, he never complained. He asked nothing in return, but only, as he said, repaid her kindness and trust. She liked this respectful and hardworking stallion.

And not just her. He made friends easily with all the neighbors, even the grumpy nag from across the street. Silver remembered her first doubts when Flint had answered the ad for a room. But now all doubts had completely dissipated. He had taken on so much work that Silver felt so energized lately.

Even her sleep had improved.

"How did it go?" asked Silver, looking around the cupboards.

"My story is getting published," Flint replied cheerfully. "It doesn't pay much, but I'll write more soon."

Silver only shook her head, smiling. She wouldn't kick him out even if he stopped paying rent. And of course, he would never agree to such a thing.

"Then we're celebrating tonight," Silver smiled sincerely. "There'll be pancakes for lunch. You need to eat more, you look more like a unicorn than an earth pony."

"I'll try to eat as much as I can," Flint smiled widely.

"And when are you going to get your mane in order already?" the mare rebuked, examining his shaggy black mane. "You'll never find a mare if you're like this."

"I've already found a beautiful mare," Flint replied, winking at Silver.

"Flatterer," the mare snorted, turning to the cabinets. "Now get out of here before you get a cup on your forehead. You know how I can be when I'm cooking."

Chuckling, Flint headed for his room. Taking off his bag, he sat down at his desk and began looking through his papers.

After a while, a black rat jumped out from behind the bedside table. It looked around and quickly ran towards Flint. It jumped on his shoulder and began to squeak something in his ear. A smile appeared on the pony's face as the rat finished its report.

"Tonight is going to be fun," Alexei thought, stretching.

He was still getting used to his new pony body, finding it not very comfortable. But it was a great disguise. The transformation didn't give him any of the abilities of earth ponies, he was still human inside. If he had been scanned with a spell or blood drawn for analysis, the results would have shown him to be human. It was only his appearance that had changed. Thanks to a spell that made it seem like there was magical energy, the man was easily lost in Canterlot while being searched outside the city.

This spell was of his own design. It utilized mental energy like all nightmare spells. In the six months he had spent in the dungeon, he had only been able to create this simple spell. He couldn't test spells while wearing those shackles. Even one spell was already a great result. Although it could be revealed with a scanning spell, Alexei didn't worry about that.

No one walked around Canterlot throwing scanning spells in all directions.

Each mage had their own unique methods and secrets. They were something sacred and untouchable. They were one's strength, confidence, and effort - no one would like it if someone tried to pry them out. What if someone with bad intentions found out their secrets? Other mages could come up with countermeasures to suppress them completely. Each spell could be blocked or neutralized with another spell. Just like how the griffins and pegasi had easily countered his pain spell earlier. Though they had been very lucky.

The man could refine his spell and bypass the griffins' defenses. And so on ad infinitum.

In Equestria, as elsewhere, such actions were considered an attack. Anyone exposed to such a spell had the right to self-defense. It was not uncommon for the overly curious to be killed, but that was considered excessive self-defense. Of course, everything depended on the status and strength of the opponents, but in general it was like this.

The royal guards could stop, arrest and interrogate using scanning spells. However, they needed at least some reason to do so, and they didn't scan everyone.

Alexei was distracted from his thoughts of the night ahead when Silver Breeze's voice came from the kitchen.

"All set!" she called out.

Alexei smiled, thinking about his relationship with Silver. She treated him like a grandson, even though he was technically twice her age. He'd lived fourteen false lives inside Tree's mind before he'd managed to free himself by slaughtering Canterlot. He had over seventy years of memories, and his mental age had already passed a hundred. It was a pity, but most of those memories were useless. If one added Saada's memories from his alchemy training, the number was impressive.

By connecting with the nightmare, his mental capabilities had improved noticeably. Without it, he wouldn't be able to withstand so many memories at once. However, he was still barely on his feet when he came back to reality.

The Tree wanted to change him, but in the end, the man was even more firmly established in his life path.

"Coming!" he exclaimed joyfully as he rose from the table.

At that time, the black rat stealthily disappeared behind the nightstand.

***

The flapping of wings pulled Twilight away from her book, and she looked up to see an owl flying away to hunt. The pony's gaze shifted to the sky, which had already turned into a dark canvas studded with stars.

"Is it night already?" Twilight thought in surprise as she saw the owl off with a glance. "Have a good hunt."

She set the book aside and stretched lazily. Her mood had improved noticeably lately. She was still puzzling over the problem set before her, but she wasn't about to give up all the joys of life. She was even ashamed of the outbreak of obsession into which she had sunk for several months. If she kept it up, she would end up as a human. The human wasn't obsessed with his desire, though. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the path to the goal itself.

Twilight frowned, thinking about the human. She couldn't understand him - he had too extreme a personality. Which of the things he showed were true and which were false? He managed to fool even the princesses by pretending to be a lunatic. Now he's escaped and roamed free. Though no trace of him had been found so far, Twilight was sure he was alive. He had definitely survived.

The princesses seemed to think the same, having put guards on her. Twilight thought it unnecessary, but she didn't argue. Ponyville was also patrolled by several squads. Shaking her head, Twilight pushed the thoughts of the human away - she didn't want to spoil her mood.

A smile slid across her lips as she remembered the fun they'd had at the Grand Galloping Gala. The happy faces of her friends flashed before her, and immediately she felt a pang of conscience.

She never got to talk to them.

Twilight sighed. Perhaps she was unnecessarily rushing things and falling back into obsession. Her habit of planning was playing tricks on her now. She wanted to talk to them and get a concrete answer she could work with. On the other hand, she was afraid of hearing rejection. She also realized that she was in too much of a hurry, but it was hard to break old habits.

"Calm down," Twilight told herself. "We have plenty of time. There's no reason to rush."

One day she would talk to them.

Her thoughts drifted to her conversation with Princess Celestia after the holiday night. There was so much she wanted to learn from her about the Elements. She had more and more questions lately.

What is Kindness? Kindness comes in many forms and can be contradictory.

What about Loyalty? It comes in different forms too.

Isn't it all subjective?

Then who defines the Elements they use? Themselves or Harmony?

They talked for a long time, but she never got concrete answers to many of her questions. The princess insisted that some things she had to figure out on her own, and for others it wasn't time yet.

Twilight sighed and looked at her Magic mark. Had she gotten it because she liked magic or was she into magic because she was fated to get the mark of Magic?

What is fate?

Her gaze shifted to the night sky and she sat like that for a while, looking up at the stars.

"Why do we live?" Twilight asked the sky.

***

The two unicorns stood in front of an abandoned building, inspecting their surroundings carefully. Noticing several approaching figures their horns shone brightly, preparing for a possible battle.

"Who is it?" one of the unicorns called out.

Anxiety swept over them when there was no answer to their question.

They were about to raise the alarm when figures stepped into the light - just a few beggars without fate marks, which immediately relaxed the sentries.

Such ponies were commonplace in these slums. Ponies without fate marks often became outcasts, or if they were unlucky enough, ended up on the streets. Homeless, hookers, addicts - there were plenty of ponies among them who were unlucky enough to be without a mark.

"Just a few coins, kind sirs," one of the beggars smiled ingratiatingly. "Very hungry."

The unicorns' faces wrinkled in disgust. They couldn't stand all those beggars. What annoyed them even more was that the three beggars were also unicorns. Their kind had sunk to such a low level. It would be better if they died and didn't defile this city with their existence.

"Get out of here before I break your legs," one of the unicorn sentries replied irritably.

He was eager for the end of his watch and perhaps a meeting with the mare afterward, but certainly not a conversation with this trash.

The beggars only smiled sadly and, bowing, turned around.

In the next instant, however, they attacked the sentries.

One of them died instantly, but the other one managed to put up a shield and resisted the barrage of attacks.

He was much stronger than these beggars, but there were three of them. Not even a couple seconds later, the shield collapsed. The unicorn gritted his teeth and blood dripped from his nose - the interrupted spell had backfired and hit his body. He tried to create a new shield to protect himself from repeated attacks, but he didn't have time. Something glinted in the air and pierced his head. The unicorn collapsed to the ground, dead.

A group of dirty ponies without fate marks were quickly approaching the building. Leading the way was a gray earth pony with several hatless nails hovering around him.

Four ponies standing in the distance on four sides of the building activated rune wands. A transparent shield enveloped the entire area around the building, blocking sound and the spread of magical fluctuations.

Several unicorns jumped out of the building, but they were quickly driven back inside by a barrage of fire.

"Begin," Alexei said, and the ponies scattered into position.

Several unicorns surrounded the building, ready to follow any command.

Meanwhile, Alexei pulled a pouch from his bag and headed towards the building while his comrades covered him, firing through the windows. Tossing the pouch inside the building, a moment later a massive explosion rang out, blasting out the rest of the windows.

After receiving the signal, the unicorns created a shield around the building. At the same time, acrid purple smoke began to pour from several crevices inside the building as the rats worked off their food. The shield kept the smoke inside, preventing it from dispersing. Of course, the unicorns inside could block it with their shields, but the explosion should have destroyed their shields, so they definitely got a few breaths of smoke.

A few ponies and griffons ran out of the building, but they couldn't break through the shield and soon fell to the ground.

Alexei waited for a while and signaled. The three stallions and the mare drank the potion and put on their masks.

"Let's go in," the man said briefly, nodding to the unicorns maintaining the shield.

An opening formed in the shield, through which the four ponies quickly slipped and ran into the building, spreading out. The opening in the shield instantly closed.

Immediately, all sorts of magical projectiles flew at them, revealing the three surviving unicorns hiding under the shield. The unicorns created their own shields, and Alexei chose to dodge.

Finally the stream of attacks ended and it was time for the beggars to attack. The beggars didn't need to keep maintaining their shield to protect themselves from the smoke, so they went on the attack completely. Alexei was waiting for a good opportunity at this time. It soon appeared. A small crack formed on the surface of the shield. At the same second, a nail flew into the crack. By some miracle, the unicorn managed to dodge the fatal blow - the nail only slid across his skull. It was enough to make him lose his concentration. An instant later, the shield collapsed.

Immediately, electric spells flew at the trio of unicorns. Two, already unconscious, were thrown back into the wall, while the third was writhing convulsively on the ground.

"Who the fuck are you?" the unicorn hissed, trying to blare a horn.

"Newcomers," Alexei replied, telekinesis disrupting the forming spell. "But with potential."

Taking a cloth ball from his bag, Alexei squeezed it and quite ordinary black smoke poured from it. Mixing with the violet smoke, it reacted with it, causing all the smoke to begin to rapidly shrink towards the ceiling, and soon spilled a slightly murky water.The shield that surrounded the building disappeared, and behind them they heard the stomping of all the other ponies rushing into the building.

The gray pony's eyebrow rose as he saw the change previously hidden by the smoke. Where the unicorn that had dodged his nail should have been lying now lay a strange hybrid of pony and insect.

"A changeling?" thought Alexei in surprise. "What's he even doing here?"

He had heard about this race, capable of taking on any form, from Saada.

However, changelings were very secretive and not much was known about them. They lived somewhere in hives underground, could camouflage themselves well, kidnapped intelligent beings and fed on love. Alexei didn't even know if they fed exclusively on love or if it was just some supplement they needed. He was open to the possibility of meeting the changeling in some brothel, but what was he doing in this drug-dealing gang?

"I'll find out later," thought the slightly interested man.

Walking over to the changeling, he poured a sedative into his mouth.

"Kill everyone but these two," Alexei said, nodding at the leader and the changeling.

His companions immediately set about carrying out his order, twisted smirks appearing on their faces.

While the others went about their business, Alexei and a few ponies began searching the den.

Finally, they found the room the leader was using. In the center of the room was a vault covered in a web of runes. A square with many interconnected runes decorated the front wall of the vault. Alexei knew that activating the runes in the wrong order could trigger a trap or destroy the contents of the vault.

Back in the main hall, Alexei used his powers to telekinetically grab the swearing unicorn and drag it to the vault.

"Password?" Alexei asked, turning to the unicorn.

"Fuck you," came the brief reply.

Alexei mentally sighed. Was all of this really necessary? Couldn't they just tell him what he needed to know? He looked toward the door, and it closed with a slight creak. Black smoke poured from Alexei's body. The unicorn's eyes widened in horror as the smoke rushed towards him and entered his nostrils.

After a minute and a half, the unicorn graciously agreed to provide the information Alexei was interested in.

"F-fourth, twelfth, seventh, ninth, second and fifth!" the unicorn spat out, foaming at the mouth. "Kill... kill me... please!"

"A little later," Alexei nodded, approaching the vault. "I still have a few more questions."

The unicorn first tried to trick the man by slipping in a false sequence, but soon realized his mistake.

"Do me a favor and pour energy into the array,'" Alexei said, turning to the unicorn. "But no funny stuff, okay?"

A flicker of incomprehension flashed in the unicorn's eyes, but he obediently lit his horn and began to transfer energy into the array.

Gradually, activating the runes in the right sequence, Alexei opened the safe. There was a pile of gold inside, but it wasn't the money that interested him. He pulled out some tattered ledgers and began to look through them. A smile appeared on the man's face when he discovered the list of business partners coded in those books. There were definitely nobles and some entrepreneurs among them.

The man was interested in some form of cooperation with them. He wanted to set up a charity organization for the homeless, and through the nobles he could launder money.
Right now, he was a bit broke. Previously, he had left several stashes of gold all over Canterlot, but after Alice's capture, he didn't even dare to go near them.

He still had to come up with a name and symbol for the future organization. Alexei didn't care about such trivialities, but he understood the point. The name and symbol increased the feeling of belonging, which increased the loyalty and engagement level among the members of the organization. One day they would wear the symbol proudly.

Wiping away the blood dripping from his nose, he only sighed - the nightmare's rejection process had recently begun. He knew time was working against him, but he wasn't about to give up. Alexei drank a bunch of supporting potions and fed the nightmare to its fullest, delaying the inevitable. For now, he had time, which he used to find a solution.

Calling a few ponies over, they put the gold into bags and together returned to the main hall, where they found a cart loaded with sacks.

"Look what we found, Flint," the green earth pony announced cheerfully.

"Destroy it all," Alexei shook his head.

He didn't want to deal with this. It was all too problematic. Alexei had created the organization for two reasons: spreading rumors and gathering information. He was going to use his own hands, or rather hooves, to create an urban legend about a horrible human monster and become a bogeyman for the locals. His nightmare, unlike the others, could not roam freely throughout the Dreamworld. There was a certain range. So he was going to turn Canterlot into his hunting grounds.

Of course, doing this under the nose of the Dream Princess was a bit brazen, but in essence, it didn't change anything. She was free to roam the entire planet's Dreamworld, even though she was only helping ponies with nightmares.

There was also a problem with Luna. After the ritual, she could enter his dreams, so he couldn't sleep at night anymore. The worst part was that if his nightmare was destroyed, he would lose all his abilities.

So he had to target only those who slept during the day.

"Why don't we keep some for ourselves?" the green pony suggested.

The man glared coldly at the pony, and the pony backed away, swallowing fearfully.

"Remind me the rules of our humble organization," Alexei said, looking intently at everyone present.

The beggars looked at the green pony with displeasure. He should have pissed off their boss.

"Be sober," came a chorus of voices. "You want a drink, drink at home.

"You want a mare, make a house call.

"Don't attract attention.

"Keep your mouth shut."

Alexei nodded contentedly. He would have preferred to ban alcohol altogether, but they needed to relieve stress too. Let them drink, but only within the confines of their headquarters.

"I hope you are also mindful about consequences for breaking the rules," the gray pony smiled as he watched the reactions of those gathered.

Oh yes, they remembered perfectly well.

"Now let's get to the pleasantries," Alexei said as he opened the bag of gold.

A wide smile spread across his face as he saw the gleam in the beggars' eyes.

Many people thought these mark-less beggars were complete wretches, but he saw great potential in them. Success in life was not determined by any abilities, but by one's mindset. These ponies had the right personalities for his purposes. Angry and rejected, poor and deprived. He gave them more than gold, food and a roof over their heads. He gave them hope.

The man grinned, remembering a story. It seems to have been during the Roman Empire.

There were captured slaves laboring in a mine. Conditions were terrible, the food was poor, and the work was dangerous - dozens died every day. Of course, riots broke out all the time.

Then the mine manager disguised some newly arrived overseers as slaves and sent them into the mine. They began to tell the slaves stories that a certain great general was coming here on a war and freeing all the slaves along the way. Soon he would free them too.

Immediately all the riots stopped. Having been given hope - the people already had something to lose, and they didn't want to take any chances.

And so they continued to die daily.

"New Hope," Alexei finally decided on a name. "That's what our organization will be called."

Chapter 17 - Love and purity

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With a slurping sound, the last piece of chitin separated, revealing the changeling's brain before Alexei's eyes. The man, using telekinesis, carefully lifted the brain and began to scrutinize its structure. An unusually large cerebellum immediately caught his eye.

"About like that of a pegasus?" the man speculated, but his attention quickly shifted to another part of the brain. "Is this it?"

Alexei had already performed autopsies on various creatures of this world and had some experience in studying their anatomy. Earlier, he had even tried to compare the structure of a pony's brain to that of a human's, but he had quickly abandoned that idea. Even though he had seen a human brain in live - he had no medical education, so his observations were quite amateurish.

Speaking of the unicorn's brain, apart from its slightly different shape, the main difference was the frontal lobe. The circle standing out against the rest of the brain's surface caught his attention. This was where the horn connected to the brain through connective and neural tissue.

Seeing it for the first time, the comparison to the third eye immediately came to the man's mind. He had once read about Tibetan monks making a hole in the skull at the forehead to gain the gift of clairvoyance and achieve enlightenment.

He had expected to see something similar on the changeling, but found a small spherical bulge. It was from here that he felt the response when he scanned the still living changeling with his mental energy.

"So their telepathic connection comes through physiology rather than magic?" the man muttered thoughtfully.

Licking his lips, Alexei picked up the scalpel with his telekinesis and began separating the hemispheres.

Dropping a potion from several vials on the mysterious bulge, he reactivated his mental scan.

He soon confirmed what he already knew - it was this part of the changeling's brain that was responsible for the "hive mind".

Of course, it would be better to run such tests on a still-living changeling for more accurate results, but the man feared that he might send a signal to one of his kin. Alexei was unsure of his methods of blocking mental energy against a creature he had never dealt with.

Sighing, Alexei stepped away from the table and slowly lowered himself to the floor, leaning against the cold wall that seemed to be his only support at this moment. His mind was busy thinking about how to get out of this messed up situation that fate had put him in.

Despite all his attempts to interrogate the changeling, Alexei never managed to extract any valuable information from him. It was not about the man's persuasion skills, but about the changeling himself, whose memory had been skillfully distorted by someone else. He didn't remember why he had joined the gang, didn't know their plans, didn't remember past encounters with other changelings, and his own name had been lost somewhere along the way.

The only thing at his disposal was the task of gathering information and waiting for instructions on the next meeting. Surely he had other tasks, like promoting that drug they'd found in the bags, but all those memories were already drowned in the currents of oblivion.

There was no way to get anything out of him, and the man dared not even think of trying to enter his mind with a nightmare. The telepathy abilities inherent in these creatures from birth made them part of the collective consciousness.

What would happen if a changeling tapped into this network while the human was poking around in his head?

The nightmare would be instantly destroyed and a counter-attack ensued. Good if it only ended in the loss of the nightmare - coma, dementia, or death were more likely outcomes. Though, during the entire interrogation, the changeling hadn't tried to send any signals - the man was still wary.

He understood that the changeling was being cautious for fear of exposing the others, but how would he behave if the man got inside his head?

He shouldn't exclude possible traps and protection spells left on the changeling by whoever had edited his memory. All in all, the changeling's interrogation had failed.

The idea of using the changeling's blood for a transformation potion to leave Canterlot with their help now seemed impossible. The transformation potion did not grant the magical abilities of the creature being transformed into, but it did copy its physiology down to the smallest detail. That meant that Alexei's brain would be altered as well, which was unacceptable.

By turning into a changeling - he would immediately unconsciously tap into their telepathic network and be instantly exposed. There were some ideas about deliberately damaging that part of the brain, but even for Alexei that was already beyond insane. The plan to disguise himself as a changeling had also failed.

He had another idea, to use the changeling's blood for a potion to suppress the nightmare's rejection. Given the innate changeling's magic built around alteration and transformation, the idea sounded reasonable.

However, after a few tests, the man realized that nothing would work. At most, what such a potion would be able to do was temporarily slow down the rejection. And the blood of a regular changeling wouldn't work. He used the Luna's blood in the ritual, so the changeling's blood would have to match. He needed the blood of an alpha changeling, a royal.

Were there alicorns or something similar among changelings? The human didn't know.

Even if he found a royal, what next? He didn't have time for a long preparation and it wouldn't be as easy as what he had pulled off with Luna.
It was all just impossible dreams.

And that was what the man needed most right now - time and a safe way to leave Canterlot. He couldn't stay here any longer. His grand plans had fallen apart in just one day.

Security measures in Canterlot had increased dramatically. A bunch of guards with some kind of analyzing artifacts roamed the streets and took samples of magical energy from anyone suspicious. If there were any problems with the result of the analysis - they were immediately scanned.

The locals didn't have any problems passing the energy analysis, so no additional scanning was required and there was no particular discontent.

The human would fail the first test - he had no magical energy whatsoever.

The only good news for him was that it looked like they weren't looking for him specifically.

At other times, he might have just laid low and waited for the storm to clear, but the circumstances were different now. In the current situation, such behavior seemed like suicide. His body was rejecting the nightmare, and the matter was getting worse by the day.

Previously, he had planned to sow the seeds of fear in Canterlot, gather enough energy within himself, and then forcibly merge with the nightmare. It was far from an ideal solution, but he had no other options.

In the history of this world, no one had ever attempted such a symbiosis with a nightmare. At least, the human had never heard of such a thing. The story of Luna and Nightmare Moon was a mere obsession, but not an interdependence. For the native beings, such a ritual would be mostly pointless - they already possessed both types of energy from birth. So why would they do it?

The lack of predecessors meant that humans had to forge a path on their own. Rough fusion was the only way he had at the moment. That plan had also collapsed

He could not expand his organization now because of the heightened security measures in the city. His literary plan collapsed next - arriving at the publisher's office with a new story, he found that someone was already waiting for him.

Most likely it wasn't an ambush on him specifically, but someone sent from the palace to convince him to delay publishing stories about the human. Perhaps they were only suspicious. Alexei preferred not to take any chances and stopped showing up there.

His main task now was to escape from Canterlot, and that was very difficult. He hadn't left the city after escaping from the prison not only because of a daring plan to merge with the nightmare under the noses of the alicorns - he simply couldn't leave it. All entrances and exits of the city became tightly controlled. Of course, spatial magic was also controlled - otherwise he would have escaped through the portal long ago.

"Celestia still hasn't taken me seriously because I'm sitting quietly," the man pondered. "Also, she doesn't want to make a fuss and set her sister up, so she's acting carefully. She really has nowhere to rush - I can't escape the city, but I'll become reckless if I'm cornered. She has some insight into my personality. She must also have noticed the disappearance of the drug gangs. I didn't attack any common ponies or touch any honest businesses. I specifically targeted the gangs exclusively.

"Knowing her character - she should be pleased that I killed them. There's even a possibility that she's already anticipated my actions and is waiting for me to contact the nobles to dispose of them. One thing I know for sure is that she is preparing something to find me and capture in an instant."

The comfortable life with Silver Breeze also had to be abandoned - Flint Dustcloud's identity had been compromised.

He now lived in the basement of a dilapidated building in the slums of Canterlot. The beggars knew his name and it was only because of an unfortunate coincidence - one of them had seen him with Silver when they were shopping. However, they didn't know the identity of the mare, the address of their home and his visits to the publisher - the man had checked that out thoroughly.

He could give up a comfortable life for his safety, but he didn't want to give up his newly formed gang - they were too important to his plans.

Celestia also began to suppress all the rumors that his friendly company of beggars and strays were spreading. Or perhaps it was Luna?

The gray pony's face frowned at the thought of their last encounter with Luna. It had happened a while ago. In the Dreamworld.

Luna had already guessed he was alive and hiding from her, avoiding sleep at night. Luna started changing her sleep schedule and sleeping at random times to catch him off guard.

That's how she stumbled into a unicorn waiter's dream, falling asleep after a night shift in which the man had thrown his own banquet. He'd managed to slip away from her, but it had been very close.

"If I hadn't been so vigilant, and she had already fully recovered - it would have ended very badly," the man hummed.

Just another instance where he'd nearly lost everything. Things like this hadn't touched the man's heart in a long time - he was constantly walking a tightrope.

Right now, he was watching all his plans in Canterlot crumble and there was nothing he could do about it.

It didn't work? He would just try again, ten, a hundred, or a thousand times. Not a thousand or a million failures could derail him from his path. It wasn't just about the goal of his path, or even about perseverance.

How could he give up his path if only in this world, he felt so alive? He finally felt like he belonged.

There were no doubts, no regrets - he was on the right path. He would keep moving forward no matter what.

He could no longer go back to his past life - it made no sense to him.

There was no going back for him, and most importantly, he didn't want to go back.

***

Celestia lay on a blanket in a secluded corner of the Royal Garden, enjoying the rays of sunlight that played on her white fur like dancing stars. Her multicolored mane shimmered with all sorts of hues, reminiscent of the northern lights, and her violet eyes sparkled with a mysterious light.

Usually she spent this time with her sister, but today Celestia wanted to be alone, to take a break from the usual rush and enjoy a moment in solitude.

No meetings in the morning, no plans for the evening, and just her alone in this park. Needless to say, her mood was just great?

If it weren't for all the pre-holiday hustle and bustle that she would have to immerse herself into again tomorrow, her mood would be even better.

It was not a small matter - she had to present the new alicorn in front of the whole country, and all this during the wedding of this very alicorn. Preparations for the event were held under the strictest secrecy - only a chosen few knew what was being prepared in Canterlot.

"Cadence knows how to be persistent," Celestia said thoughtfully, her voice sounding quiet in the silence of the park, but a smile played on her lips. "As befits an alicorn of Love."

Though she didn't think Cadence was ready to go out into the world yet, she couldn't postpone the wedding date again - love could be quite reckless and crazy.

As soon as Cadence ascended - she immediately disappeared from all radars, and only a few ponies knew that she had become an alicorn. It couldn't have been otherwise.

Upon learning of the young alicorn's appearance, there would be plenty of those who would want to take advantage of her. The intrigues of nobles and kidnapping for ransom were just the tip of the iceberg of possible problems.

Magical experiments, breeding experiments, alchemy - every part of an alicorn's body was considered a high-end magical ingredient - and various rituals.

Celestia didn't even want to think about what might happen to a young alicorn captured by a rather curious unicorn devoid of moral restraints.

Celestia frowned slightly as the face of a certain creature that had already taken advantage of the alicorn flashed through her mind. She took a deep breath in and exhaled, regaining her composure - this was the second time she had been slapped by that arrogant creature.

"I promised Luna," Celestia repeated to herself, taking another deep breath.

Luna wanted to capture the human with her own efforts, and Celestia had promised not to interfere.

Earlier, she had expected the human to be a convenient tool to heal Luna's soul, but things had gotten out of control at some point.

Besides the obsession with the idea, all those little sister's old complexes came back.

They aren't fillies anymore. Why couldn't they just work together? What and who did she want to prove?

"Luna slept through this entire thousand years of imprisonment," Celestia reminded herself. "To her, it all happened as if it were yesterday. She's already doing the best she can. I shouldn't put any pressure on her.

"But this can't go on any longer."

Finding a non-magical creature in Canterlot without major search operations was proving to be quite a problem. They even had samples of human flesh and blood, but it was all useless. All matter in this world was filled with magical energy, and spells interacted with it as they were used.

How to search for a creature living outside the usual laws of magic?

There were some powerful large-scale scanning spells that might yield some results...

But after that, she would have to fight off a pack of nobles howling about their privacy being violated.

And yet magic remained a flexible and powerful tool, capable of warping reality at the mage's will. The problem was not the magic, but the spellcasters who could not figure out how to use the tool in this situation - after all, non-magical creatures had never existed on Equus.

Coming up with a search spell specifically for humans was only a matter of time.

Arcane had already found a way out of this situation. He had created a unique blood magic spell capable of tracking a human's location in Canterlot. Although it was only a prototype with a limited range for now, Arcane assured that he would soon complete the final version capable of covering the entire city.

The best part of the new spell was its hidden nature - it only worked with the target's life energy. In densely populated Canterlot, no one would notice such minor fluctuations in life force, making it the perfect tool for stealthy searching.

Celestia rose from her blanket and carefully looked around the park around her. With a faint smile, she created an impenetrable shield, shielding this part of the park from prying eyes.

Then she fell onto her side and began rolling around in the grass, sinking into childhood memories.

Bursts of joy and carelessness filled her heart as she recalled her adventures. She loved running away from her parents into the woods, where she had many secret glades hidden in the dense thicket. Of course, they always knew where she was, but sometimes pretended they couldn't find her, playing along with their daughter's amusement.

Relaxing on the grass, Celestia spent some time reminiscing, letting the light spring breeze play with her mane. But soon she opened her eyes and snapped back to reality.

"Periodically giving in to your impulsive urges is the basis of good mood and mental health," Celestia quoted the man as saying. "Your advice really does work. You know, I can teach you something too.

"In the face of absolute power, any crafty scheming is useless."

With a glance at the sun, Celestia felt it was time for her to head back to the palace. But she still had a little time left.

"If Luna finds you before the spell is ready, so be it, she will decide your fate," Celestia thought nonchalantly, looking up at the sky. "Otherwise, I'll come after you myself.

"I want to see your face when a little sun bursts inside you."

***

A gurgling sound coming from the half-rotten table interrupted the man's thoughts as he contemplated his escape from Canterlot.

Several working plans were swirling around in his mind, but all of them were quite extreme in its methods. The odds were not in his favor. Even worse: by doing so, he wouldn't just provoke Celestia - she'd be truly furious and personally go after his head.

He walked over to the table and stared into the bowl of blood, in which floated a tangle of pale red creatures that looked like thin leeches or worms, but had rows of sharp teeth that made them horrifying to look at. It was one of his side projects.

After making sure the creatures were fine, Alexei smiled satisfied and dipped his foreleg into the bowl. The leeches immediately burrowed into his skin, beginning to chew their way inside his body. Soon they disappeared inside him, and his wounds healed.

It was a blood magic spell based on alchemy that he created himself. The leeches could reproduce inside his body by feeding on his blood. He could command them to jump out and burrow into his opponent. After drinking other's blood, they would return, digesting it into life energy and speeding up the host's regeneration process.

The spell was a side part of his research into the possibility of converting one energy into another.

The effect sounded fearsome, but in reality it was very pale.

The leeches were fragile, and their attack power was negligible - they couldn't even get through the shield of a four-year-old unicorn. They needed time to digest the blood. The regeneration effect was unimpressive and was just the cherry on the cake for someone who not only possessed a regeneration tattoo, but had greatly improved this aspect after the ritual. The same phoenix tears should be thanked for that.

Many would say it's a pretty crappy spell, but the man didn't see it that way. And not because he was its creator.

There was no such thing as the strongest spell, only the strongest spellcaster.

The leeches had one very nice characteristic - they consisted of his blood and were concealed perfectly in his body. They were almost impossible to detect. Even if he was completely scanned - the leeches would remain undetected.

They could be used not only to collect other's blood, but also to store small items - leeches had rather large and stretchable stomachs. A few balls of poison would easily fit inside a leech. And no, he wouldn't get intoxicated by his own poison - they could provide a high level of containment. The items were also difficult to detect while they were in the leeches' stomachs.

Finished with the leeches, the man took the potion from the table and drank it. There was a hissing sound and his fur began to change color. Black smoke billowed out of his body and he glanced at himself from the side - a pony with white fur, dark blue mane and tail, and blue eyes.

The city was full of unicorns with such colors and he, with his physique, could very well impersonate the son of some unicorn and an earth pony.

He could turn into a unicorn, even if only in appearance, and blend in completely with the crowd, but the man didn't think that was a good idea.

Didn't the ones the royal guards were looking for think the same way? According to the information from the beggars and his rats, it was the unicorns that were checked most often.

Taking a pair of small bags with potions, the man put on a tattered scarf that hid a rib.

Finished with his preparations, the man left his temporary dwelling and headed towards the center of town - he needed to restock his ingredients and visit the bookstore.

Carefully looking around and listening to his senses, Alexei, in the guise of a white earth pony, deftly maneuvered through the streets of the city, avoiding encounters with patrols of royal guards and heading towards the shopping districts.

An alchemy store owned by a gryphon appeared in front of him. A rather odd choice of profession for a griffin, but it didn't bother the man - he liked dealing with griffins. They didn't ask unnecessary questions, and the human didn't ask about the origin of the goods in the store.

"Please stop for a moment, sir," came a voice from behind him.

Alexei flinched slightly - he hadn't felt anyone approach him. That was a bad sign. A very bad sign.

Turning around slowly, he saw two unremarkable unicorns with a tired look. Outwardly, they looked like ordinary clerks who had skipped their morning coffee, but their gazes told him that the conversation was going to be anything but ordinary.

"Lost, guys?" said Alexei with a smile. "Where are you from? Manehattan? Tell me where you need to go and I'll guide you. I won't take much. I swear."

"We're here for work," one of the unicorns replied dryly, pulling a token out of his bag.

Alexei looked at the token with Celestia's insignia radiating solar energy and the smile disappeared from his face.

"'Oh. Did I violate something?" he asked worriedly. "I was just on my way to buy some healing herbs. Gryphons are quite the hustlers, sure, but their prices..."

"No, no," the other unicorn shook his head denyingly. "You haven't violated anything. Just a formal inspection."

His partner had noticed the white pony, finding his gait and body language somewhat odd. He hadn't noticed anything of the sort himself, but he trusted his friend's opinion.

Meanwhile, the second unicorn retrieved a golden plate with runes from his bag and held it out to Alexei, holding it by telekinesis by the corner without the runes.

"Put your magical energy into it," the unicorn said demandingly.

The white earth pony relaxed somewhat and smiled again, reaching out a hoof towards the plate. The hoof touched the plate and the unicorn shifted his gaze to the runes on it.

In the next second, he screamed in pain.

The pony, with a bone sticking out of its neck, spun around sharply and delivered a powerful kick with its hind legs at the unicorns, throwing them back into the wall.

There were shouts of Canterlot citizens rolling around in agony, but Alexei paid no attention to them. He rushed toward a familiar alleyway to the left of the store.

Suddenly something hit him in the back, the fur on his body hissed and began to change color rapidly - the effect of the potion had been destroyed.

Glancing back, he saw that the unicorns were already rising to their feet, and one of them was signaling an alarm.

Without stopping any longer, Alexei ran into the alley. But after a few meters, he felt his body begin to itch and his muscles began to cramp. He could feel his disguise starting to fall apart and he would soon revert back to the human form.

"It destroyed both potions?!", Alexei exclaimed mentally and put all his mental energy into action, trying to counteract the effects of the spell.

The reverse transformation slowed down, but he couldn't stop the process completely.

Visualizing a map of the area in his mind, Alexei rushed towards the city canal. There were several entrances to the sewers there. He just had to make it in time.

After running a few blocks, the man heard the flapping of wings somewhere behind him. A moment later, four pegasi in light metal armor appeared above him.

The man activated the rune bone again, but it had no effect on the pegasi, only their armor glittered, blocking the man's spell.

Grabbing a few vials from his bag, he was about to throw them at the pegasi when a sharp pain pierced his mind and his telekinesis was interrupted. The rejection came at the worst possible moment.

Gritting his teeth, the man forcibly activated his telekinesis, picked up the falling vials and threw them at the pegasi.

One of the pegasi flapped his wings, creating a powerful blade of wind that scattered the explosion to the sides. None of the pegasi were hit by the blast.

The human didn't react in any way, continuing to run while the erupting flames provided cover for a few moments.

Alexei's body took a hit after the failed telekinesis, he was feeling dizzy and unable to use spells in such a state.

"Thirty... no, twenty seconds will be enough," the man thought as he ran out of the alley into the street and looked around the surroundings.

When he saw the window of a house, the man ran full speed toward it and smashed through the glass, flying headlong into someone's house.

When he got up, he looked around the living room and saw that the owners were also there.

There were two unicorns hugging each other on the couch, looking at the unexpected guest with wide-open eyes. The guest's appearance was matching - torn ears, shredded face, blood streaming from its nose, and a wild look.

"Hostages?" a thought flashed through Alexei's mind, but he dismissed it immediately.

He had a chance to escape as long as he kept his pace. Getting stuck with them here was just delaying his death.

The unicorns, meanwhile, made no sound and, as if paralyzed, continued to stare at him with unblinking eyes.

The man, too, remained silent and still, unwilling to bring them out of the shock they were in.

A drop of blood from his face fell to the floor, breaking the silence. In the same moment, the unicorns screamed in unison, and the stallion lit his horn and covered himself and the mare with the shield.

After standing for a few more seconds, the man listened to his senses and nodded in satisfaction, rushing across the living room to the opposite window. Once out of the house, he was immediately confronted by the pegasi, bringing the full force of the wind down on his head.

Wiggling in all directions and dodging spells, the man pretended not to notice he was being surrounded.

Waiting until all the pegasi were in range, the man telekinetically ripped out his left eye and threw it into the air. The eye glowed red and spun in the air as if looking around. In the same second, the pegasi's bodies were covered in scarlet light and they collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

The scarlet light collided with the armor and it sparked violently, but the armor couldn't seem to completely offset the effect of the spell.

"Should last about a minute," the man quickly estimated, already rushing away. "Good it worked at all."

Opening his bag, he pulled out a vial and took a sip on the go. After a few moments, his heart pounded furiously and he sped up. He caught a glimpse of the fur peeling off his legs and sped up even faster. He had no time at all.

Feeling bursts of teleportation-like energy somewhere a few blocks to his left, the man abruptly changed course and took a detour.

"Now the housing blocks will end and I'll come to the main street," the man thought, checking the mental map. "It won't be too far to the canal there."

Once he reached the street, he jumped over the café tables, causing a commotion and screams among the customers. Across the street, a unicorn standing outside a store lit its horn and rushed towards him. Perhaps he wasn't part of the guards, but only wanted to help.

But Alexei didn't have time to sort out the details. Grabbing the flower vase with telekinesis, he threw it at the unicorn's face and instantly rushed into the alley.

Rushing through the narrow alleyways like a whirlwind, Alexei was already at the exit to the street where the canal flowed when he suddenly froze.

Between him and the saving water, a group of royal guards appeared in a flash of teleportation. They were mostly unicorns, but there were some earth ponies among them. One of the unicorns held a metal net with runes in its telekinetic grip, the mere sight of which made the man frown.

The stomping of hooves and metal clanking somewhere behind only added to the tension.

"Stop," the leader of the guards spoke in a steady voice. "You are surrounded and there is no..."

The unicorn didn't have time to finish his sentence.

The gray pony's eyes twinkled and his left foreleg flashed with scarlet veins. In the next moment, his leg disintegrated into scarlet energy, which streaked towards the unicorns after being drawn into a sphere.

It happened so quickly that only a few of them had time to raise their shields.

There was a powerful explosion that threw the guards aside and made way for Alexei, who rushed toward the water on three legs.

"Ugh, fuck," the unicorn mumbled, unconscious for a few seconds, and tried to get up, but to no avail.

He had been hit hard by the blast, and was also covered in rubble from the collapsed building wall. Had it not been for the magic shield built into his armor, he might never have gotten up.

Concentrating, he looked around and made sure that all of his teammates were alive.

Some lay unconscious, but most were already regaining consciousness. The two earth ponies in his squad didn't seem to be impressed by the blast at all - they weren't hurt at all.

Now, using their innate earth magic, they were quickly getting everyone out of the wreckage, keeping an eye on Alexei. They might not have been hurt thanks to the unicorns' shields, but the magic shown by this gray pony was quite worrying.

What if he sacrificed his entire body at once? They weren't going to attack him without the unicorns' support. It was already a matter of more than just their safety.

Squinting his eyes, the unicorn looked towards the culprit who was now standing right by the water.

Some sort of red worm had emerged from the gray pony's neck, from which he extracted something and added it to the potion vial. Shaking it up, he tossed the vial across the canal into the iron grate. The liquid that hit the metal began to hiss and melt the bars.

Gritting teeth, the unicorn began to rise to his hooves.

The man, meanwhile, jumped into the canal and swam towards the bars.

Actually, there were several grates leading to the sewers on this side of the canal, but all of them were reinforced with runes. He had marked this one, which had not been repaired in a long time, and had memorized it for just such occasions. He didn't want to lose another limb by breaking the rune grating with brute force.

When he reached the other side of the canal, he kicked a few of the acid-damaged bars with his hoof and pulled himself up and began to crawl inside.

Suddenly, he felt something behind him and rushed in, but not in time - something stabbed him in the right hind leg.

With a hiss of pain, the man crawled away from the entrance. After moving a dozen meters forward, the man was able to rise to his feet and look at his leg, where a thorn of some plant was sticking out. Plucking the thorn out and throwing it away, he was about to continue his escape when he saw something disturbing - the veins in his leg were swollen and green.

"Poisonous plant, earth pony magic," the man immediately recognized it.

There were no antidotes in his bag. And judging by the speed of the poison's spread, regeneration would not save him. The situation seemed hopeless.

"There are no hopeless situations, only people in despair," the man thought coldly as he looked at the pegasi hovering in front of the entrance.

A smirk slid across his lips as the veins on his poisoned leg glowed red.

The following explosion shattered the entrance to the sewers, cutting him off from his pursuers.

Losing his balance due to the loss of another limb, the man fell to the ground and continued crawling. After a couple minutes of movement, his skin began to peel off and his hooves split open, preparing to transform back into arms.

His whole body itched and scratched, his muscles cramped, but the man continued to crawl.

***

"Honey, are you all right?" the mare asked worriedly, fanning the sweating unicorn with a napkin. "Should I get you some water?"

"No need, I'm just... a little stressed out," the unicorn tried to grin casually, but no one would believe his bravado.

Brave Heart, despite his name, had been horrified by the sight of blood since childhood. The bloody pony that had swept by earlier, bringing with it a primal brutality and violence, had driven him into a panic attack. He was still recovering, and his eyes were still rippling in front of him.

Good thing he had his understanding mare, Misty Aurora, by his side, who had always been a support to him.

"Did you suffer an attack, sir?" the azure stallion was asked by a guard who approached.

"No, it's just..." Brave looked even more confused.

"My husband has a big and kind heart," Misty joined the conversation. "After seeing such mayhem and the destruction that followed, he can't stop worrying about the lives of the common citizens of Canterlot."

"We are doing everything we can to catch the culprit, ma'am," the unicorn frowned slightly, sensing an implicit jab at the competence of the royal guards.

"I'm not accusing you of anything," the mare smiled sincerely. "We're just a little worried. But I believe that soon, through your efforts, the culprit will be brought to justice."

"You can rest assured that he will, ma'am," the guard replied seriously, and then pulled two gold plates from his bag. "I need to analyze your magical energy."

"Why test random witnesses?", Brave asked incomprehensibly.

"It's part of formal procedures, sir," the guard spat out the standard phrase.

"Seems like a waste of time," Brave Heart continued indignantly. "Aren't you supposed to be looking for the criminal? Do you need me to point out where he ran off to?"

He didn't actually remember where Alexei had run off to - the unicorn was so scared he didn't even remember what he looked like. He just wanted to drown out his embarrassment with passive aggression.

"Stop it, Brave," Misty said sternly, touching the plate with her magic. "He's just doing his job. You should apologize."

"I don't..." Brave started to say, but stumbled under his wife's gaze. "I apologize, officer. I didn't mean any of that, it was all nerves."

Nodding silently, the guard handed him another plate.

After checking the results, which showed that the couple was fine, the guard thanked them for their cooperation and went to the other ponies.

"Going back home?", Misty asked her husband.

"Didn't you want to go to the museum today?", Brave asked perplexed.

He didn't want to go anywhere anymore, but for his wife's sake, he might as well be patient.

"So much has happened," Misty shook her head. "Let's put it off for another time."

Brave looked gratefully at the mare and energetically nodded his head.

The couple headed for their home, a quick fifteen-minute walk from the cafe.

To Brave's delight, the journey home was uneventful.

"What should I make for dinner?" Misty asked as she closed the front door and headed for the kitchen.

"Your choice," the unicorn shrugged, plopping down on the living room couch.

Even though they hadn't had time to eat at the café - he didn't have much of an appetite.

"I'll make something up," the mare sang out, returning from the kitchen with a glass of orange juice.

Brave gratefully accepted the cold drink and drank it in a volley.

"Rest up," the mare said gently, taking the empty glass. "I'll be in the kitchen."

Brave nodded and made himself comfortable on the couch. After the adrenaline had left his body, he felt a little drowsy.

"Why not take a nap?" the unicorn thought. "Misty will wake me up when everything is ready."

Closing his eyes, he relaxed and unexpectedly quickly fell into sleep.

A few minutes later, Misty appeared from the kitchen, looking at her sleeping husband. A smile spread across her face and she headed to the basement of the house where they kept pickles and stuff.

Turning on the magic lamps, Misty walked past the shelves and made her way to the farthest corner.

On the cold basement floor lay a bound, snow-white unicorn mare with a light green mane and tail. Her mouth was glued shut with some green slime and her horn was broken off.

The sharp light and hoofsteps had woken her, and now she stared in horror at the mare before her. It was an exact copy of her.

"Wake up already?" Misty smiled. "Such a rush, we didn't have time to finish."

In a flash of green light, a halberd appeared in the air.

The dark wood shaft was adorned with two curved blades on the sides of the tip, and two smaller blades twisted in the opposite direction. Such a design resembled the silhouette of some sort of beetle.

The material of the blades looked a lot like bone. Here and there, the blades were covered with cracks and jagged edges, and the end of the shaft was tied with several strings of beads.

The weapon looked extremely primitive and decrepit, but Misty didn't seem to care. She gazed lovingly at the halberd in her telekinetic grip. A certain moment from the past flashed before her eyes, and her smile grew even wider - her arrogant mother had been struck down by that very halberd.

Turning her gaze to the mare weeping on the floor, Misty's eyes squinted, and the halberd swung, piercing the helpless captive.

Not a single drop of blood fell to the floor as the halberd vibrated and, like a ravenous beast, began to suck the life force out of the mare.

A few moments later, the dry mummified remains with the halberd sticking out of her chest were lying on the floor.

At the owner's wish, the halberd returned and pressed its shaft against her side. The mare's back arched and she moaned in pleasure as all the energy gathered by the halberd rushed into her body.

"Ah, wonderful as always," Misty exhaled, throwing her head back and savoring the moment. "You never disappoint me. No sex or drugs ever came close to this feeling."

It was a feeling of progress, a feeling of her growing strength.

What could be better than this? Nothing.

Even though she'd killed her mother, it was only because of this beautiful weapon - she still had room to grow.

"And with a little help from one pink alicorn, I will transcend the species," Misty thought with a smirk. "You never even dreamed of that, did you, mother?"

Breaking away from her pleasant thoughts of the future, she glanced at the mummified corpse.

Misty thought of a couple options on how she could dispose of the body. Not that it was such a problem, but there were guards around, and she had to be careful. Excessive cautiousness had never failed her before.

The creatures' bone and flesh contained magical energy, and it would take effort to destroy them. Turning a corpse to ash with a powerful burst of flame was easy, but it could attract attention. Thinking of a suitable method, Misty picked up the corpse with her telekinesis and dragged it upstairs.

Brave awoke to the pleasant smell of stewed vegetables hitting his nose. Stretching sweetly, he rose from the couch and headed for the kitchen. A pot of cooking lunch was bubbling on the stove, but Misty wasn't in the kitchen.

Brave sighed - he wanted to stealthily walk over to her and give her a surprise hug.

Suddenly his nose smelled something else. The odor was very subtle and almost imperceptible, but Brave always had an excellent sense of smell.

"What does it smell like?" the sniffing unicorn thought incomprehensibly. "Like damp and mold, but there's something else. What is it?"

Stepping out of the kitchen, Brave sucked in air a few times and began tracking down the source of the odor. Investigation led him to the bathroom.

As he approached the door, it suddenly swung open and Misty stepped out of there.

"Oh, you're awake already, honey," Misty smiled, kissing her husband on the cheek. "Lunch is almost ready. Did you dream anything good?"

"I dreamed some meaningless nonsense," Brave hummed. "Something about a kingdom of giant mice worshipping a cat that lives on the moon."

"Mouse kingdom?" Misty laughed heartily. "You can tell me about it at lunch. Will you help me set the table?"

"Sure," Brave replied and was about to turn around when he remembered why he'd come here in the first place. "Honey, what's that strange smell? I think it's coming from the bathroom?"

"Huh?", Misty tilted her head in wonder, but then her eyes sparkled with understanding. "I bought a new cleaner made from natural ingredients."

"Is it that good?" the stallion asked doubtfully. "The smell is really weird..."

"Very good," Misty nodded seriously. "It doesn't leave a trace of dirt."

Shrugging, Brave turned around and headed for the kitchen - his wife was smart enough not to fall for some bullshit marketing trick.

Misty turned around and looked at the tub, where brown liquid was bubbling beneath the green foam.

Throwing a glance at the melting hoof sticking out of the water, she closed the door and headed for the kitchen, purring some clingy Canterlot motif.

Chapter 18 - Indifference of stars

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Pushing aside a few small rocks with her telekinesis, Luna stepped into the passage leading into the gloomy sewer. She was followed by a thestral mare with a scattering of stars on her side. Each star was adorned with strange markings that, when viewed from a distance, formed a hoofprint. It was her talent for finding tracks and stalking. Her coworkers didn't understand what the stars on the mark had to do with the mare being a bounty hunter in the first place.

Star Seeker was not going to satisfy the curiosity of her colleagues and mocked them, giving out a lot of philosophical nonsense, which had already become her trademark. There was even a kind of tradition - to send a newcomer to her and compare her explanations with the previous ones. Star Seeker never once repeated herself. But everyone waited for it to happen and placed bets. The mare only snorted at the stupidity of these fools - she was secretly betting too. One day, she would ruin them to the last bit.

She was actually an astronomer, but it turned out there was a much better price on the heads of criminals. When she learned of Princess Luna's return, she traveled to Equestria and joined the Intelligence Corps. And she didn't regret it one bit. She had found the star she had been looking for all her life.

What she didn't like was where her princess was headed now.

The Lady of the Night, soiling herself with the stench of those day ponies' shit? To Star, it was blasphemy and a defilement of the sacred. But she dared not speak of it aloud - her princess knew better what to do. The only thing that reassured her was the presence of a shield around the entrance. The last thing she needed was for those unicorns to start spreading unflattering rumors about her goddess.

Wrinkling her nose at the smell, Star looked around carefully, searching for any non-obvious details that might have been missed earlier.

The passage to the sewers was narrow and dark, the walls lined with rough stone, and the ceiling covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs. A strange odor of rot and dampness hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of pressing mustiness.

"This is where he lost his leg," Luna muttered, examining the bloody stain on the floor of the passageway. "Begin, Star."

Thestral nodded and, after looking over the stain, followed the stretching bloody streaks.

Soon the trail of blood began to break off, which surprised thestral somewhat.

"Did he use a potion or a healing spell?" Star pondered as she continued down the tunnel. "Then why didn't he use it right away? More like his natural regeneration. If that's the case, it's quite good."

These thoughts swirled in her head as they emerged into the main part of the sewers.

There were grates stretching along the corridor, with murky water flowing out from underneath, making squelching sounds. A wide channel ran down the center of the sewer, through which the sewage water flowed leisurely, reflecting the light from the flickering magical lamps hanging on the walls. The light from the lamps was pale and uneven, illuminating only part of the corridor.

But that light was enough - it didn't take a tracker to spot the trail of someone crawling across the stone floor.

Still, Star took the matter seriously and went completely into work mode, even forgetting that the princess was walking behind her.

Luna didn't mind at all. Once they were out of the lamp-lit area, she lit her horn, illuminating Star's path, and silently followed her. Thestral navigated perfectly in the dark, but only because of their innate talent for sound magic. Their night vision wasn't all that impressive.

After about a hundred meters, Star's path was blocked by a side stream of sewage flowing into the main stream. The trail went off to the right, to a stone bridge over the flow. Star crossed the bridge and followed the trail, which curved to the left, returning to the main flow.

After walking a few kilometers, she began to wonder how much longer this was going to go on? Wasn't this creature on its last breath? Just when she thought to fly up and accelerate, she noticed a chaotic scene in front of her.

Many huge five-toed and four-toed footprints could be seen on the floor, and everything around it was splattered with scarlet blood. Here and there were scattered pieces of wood, which Star identified as the fragments of a crate left behind by the workers.

"What happened here?" came Luna's cold voice, causing Star to flinch in surprise.

Bowing quickly to the princess, Star began to look around.

"There are five toes on the back paws and four toes on the front paws," thestral concluded. "And what is that?".

She had tracked and hunted ponies and griffins, sometimes diamond dogs and minotaurs, but not some monsters from the sewers. All her knowledge of magical monsters was limited to which ones she should run away immediately and which ones she shouldn't be afraid of. Well, and the prices for body parts of rare monsters.

Carefully looking over the tracks, she roughly estimated the weight of the creature and its center of gravity. A portrait of the supposed monster began to emerge in her mind. It appeared to be some sort of huge frog or toad. Stark vaguely remembered that toads seemed to live on land. A frog, then?

Walking to the edge, the mare lay on her belly and stretched her wing toward the water. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her senses, and circles followed the surface of the water. After a few seconds, she stood up and, raising her head, screamed. At least that's what it looked like. There was no sound at all. The mare stood like that with her head up, immersed in her thoughts, occasionally shaking her wings as if probing for something invisible in the air.

"Nothing," thestral thought with a frown. "No monster or human within a kilometer."

And as luck would have it, the man's trail ended here. Either he had covered his tracks skillfully, which Star doubted very much, or he had been eaten by that toad. Considering the man's condition, that was the expected outcome.

With a flap of her wings, Star flew further down the corridor, hoping to find some clues. The mare was followed by a sparkling ball of light, illuminating everything around her with a pale blue glow.

A few minutes later, Star returned with empty hooves - there was nothing.

"So?" Luna asked, pulling a red jagged crystal from under her wing.

The princess' horn lit up and the crystal began to emit waves of scarlet light. Reacting to the light, some of the blood on the floor and walls began to glisten. Star easily determined the nature of the spell - blood mages were frequent guests on the wanted flyers. Glancing at the glistening blood spatter on the wall, she immediately realized the effect of the spell - it showed whose blood belonged to the human. Hence, the crystal the spell was applied to was also made of human blood.

"I couldn't find anything, Mother," Star said in an even voice, bowing her head and exposing her neck. "I will accept any punishment."

Luna cast a quick glance at thestral and mentally sighed. Even in ancient times, they didn't punish such things with death. Well, except sometimes.

"That's unnecessary, Star," Luna said as she continued to use one spell after another on the traces of the battle. "Tell me what happened here."

Thestral raised her head, admiration and devotion sparkling in her eyes. Her goddess was generous and merciful. Not only did she not punish Star, but she gave her a chance to show her worth. Even though her princess probably already understood everything, she still asked.

"The beast jumped out of the water here," Star began to recount, pointing to a certain spot. "You can tell from the tracks that it was something like a huge frog weighing about eight hundred kilograms. I am not familiar with this type of beast, Mother, so I..."

"A toad," Luna corrected her, causing thestral to blink in surprise. "They also lay eggs in water and sometimes make their way into the sewers. Go on."

"Beast and human fought here, but the outcome of the fight is unclear," Star continued, trying to deliver dry facts. "There's a lot of blood, but the tracks break off here. There are no bodies in the area."

"Your opinion?" asked Luna, breaking away from the bloody picture.

"The man was in no condition to pose a threat to the beast," thestral began to ponder aloud. "After being wounded - the beast would have been enraged and wouldn't have let him go. Even if he miraculously won - where is the beast's body? Without two limbs, he wouldn't be able to swim away. This whole thing..."

Star faltered when she saw Princess Luna's cold stare. She clearly needed to be more succinct.

"I think the human was devoured," Star said with a gulp.

Luna only shook her head upon hearing that. Even if everything pointed to that - there was no way she would believe the man was dead.

"He's too crafty," Luna thought as she looked at the man's blood on the wall. "They say you can't cheat death, but he probably could."

The man's cunning had been bugging her lately. He understood her too well and played easily on the strings of her soul. She had been somewhat confused since her release from confinement, and his deception could have been blamed on her weakened vigilance. But he had deceived her twice.

She had even considered the possibility that he had been influenced by Nightmare Moon or had gotten a piece of her memory.

Those spheres, one of which had brought him to this world, had been made by her when she was already under Nightmare Moon's influence. They could very well contain echoes of the nightmare. However, after carefully considering this possibility, she realized she was simply looking for an excuse for her naivety.

If he could already interact with mental energy, how did he survive that outburst? If there really were echoes of the nightmare there, why would they stay in the sphere for a thousand years? Most likely, the echoes of Nightmare Moon had immediately gotten out and started affecting the remnants of the cult in an attempt to save the main body.

The princess didn't completely dismiss the possibility, but recognized that it was highly unlikely. Still, the thought was a little unsettling. The echoes of the nightmare didn't frighten her, but a human having a piece of Nightmare Moon's memory...

Luna really wouldn't want them to get to Celestia. Some things were better left in the past. Only after she caught the human and thoroughly searched his entire memory could the matter be put to rest.

If the man had known about Luna's thoughts, he probably would have laughed. Nightmare Moon's memory? If he had even a scrap of knowledge of the powerful nightmare - would he be in this situation right now?

He had considered the question of being affected a long time ago, when he had first made a deal with Saada. The flash of mental energy had definitely affected him, but it had been a tiny change. Back then, he was too foreign to this world. Only after the constant influence of the world, the long interaction with the ghost, and the ritual - he could barely touch the mental energy. Even now, he still felt inferior compared to the other inhabitants of this world. Magical energy wasn't worth talking about - it was all blank there whatsoever.

"I can scour the entire sewers," came Star's voice, noticing that her princess' face was frowning more and more. "There might be some traces to be found."

Hearing that, Luna only shook her head. Star must be kidding. The sewers ran through the entirety of Canterlot. It may have been incomparable to the city's size, but it was very close.

"No need for it. Even with his regeneration - it'll take him a month to recover," Luna replied. "The wedding is in three days and you have enough work to do. We'll continue the search after it."

Thestral bowed silently, accepting her princess's will. Surprisingly, her Mother thought, the human was still alive. Most importantly, she was still going to rely on her skills!

A slight smile slid across Luna's lips - the joy of thestral did not escape her gaze. The princess wasn't actually relying on her. Luna was working on her spell to find the man. And she had a huge advantage. The man was a non-magical being, but now he had a connection to the Dreamworld. Logically, as the self-proclaimed Queen of the Dreamworld, she should have been able to find him easily. Her sister, who had no experience in dream magic, thought that Luna was simply weakened and needed time to recover. That was only part of the truth.

Luna had spent all those thousand years in nightmares, though she didn't remember most of them. At first, Nightmare Moon tried to use her to influence the creatures of Equus through the Dreamworld to break free from her imprisonment. However, she quickly discovered that this was impossible. Even though the power of Harmony couldn't completely cut off their dreams from the rest of the Dreamworld - it was able to suppress any interaction with it, creating strange interference.

When Nightmare Moon's plan failed - she began systematically destroying and distorting Luna's memories, wanting to get rid of potential internal threats. Of course, Luna fought back desperately and Nightmare was only able to destroy bits and pieces of her memory. Realizing that the blunt approach was ineffective - Nightmare changed tactics and began distorting and shuffling her memories. She attacked everything related to dream magic especially fiercely.

In the end, Luna was still trying to unravel the tangle of her memories. She was very glad when a human wanted to learn dream magic. Because she could study with him without arousing her sister's suspicions. She didn't want Celestia to know about it. Not only did it put her in a vulnerable position, there was also the matter of Celestia's reaction if she found out that Nightmare Moon had gotten so deep into her head. Could Celestia be sure that her sister was even in front of her? No, no, all of this should remain forgotten. It was worth it to answer the man's endless questions.

It had to be said, sometimes the human asked such tricky questions that she herself was unsure of her answers. The most important qualities for dream magic were: willpower, imagination, flexible thinking, understanding of psychology and the amount of mental energy. His last point was zero, but in all the others he probably surpassed even her.

"Did he intend all of this originally or was he driven by desperation after hearing my negative answer?" Luna pondered.

It wasn't that there weren't options for the man at all - she could find them or create them personally. Magic was very flexible and there was always a way out. It was just that she realized she would have to experiment on the human as the only suitable test subject, so she turned him down. Who could have known that he would turn out to be so crazy that he would experiment on himself? Surprisingly, he ended up succeeding. Luna wasn't sure if it was pure luck or the man's talent.

"There's no point in thinking about it now," Luna shook her head, beckoning Star to teleport away. "In fact, there's no point in my chasing after him either. Perhaps Sombra really was right."

***

"Her father is just horrible," the pink pony sighed, tossing the book aside. "How could he do that to them?"

"Well, he had his reasons, Cadance," the white unicorn lounging on the couch next to her stretched out thoughtfully. "The political climate was rather unstable and it could have provoked..."

"So you're on his side, Shiny?" said Cadance in a voice full of disbelief. "He has separated lovers! There is no forgiveness for him! How can you justify him? You trait..."

Snorting, Shining slapped Cadance in the face with a pillow, interrupting her feigned angry tirade. Cadance wasn't timid either and retaliated. The situation was quickly escalating and threatened to spill over into the other half of the huge living room.

Sighing, Celestia watched the local conflict with pillows and some dirty spells that should have been declared illegal.

"I'm actually trying to work," Celestia thought doomfully, lazily batting away a few random projectiles. "Well, it's better than listening to endless talk about love."

The only thing that pleased her was that it was only temporary. Eventually Cadance would calm down. Celestia, back in her day, also chattered nonstop about the sun.

Celestia stretched and decided to take a short walk around the palace, checking on the preparations for the ceremony. With another glance at the heated up local conflict, Celestia smiled and left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, a multitude of runes erupted. Adding a few more spells just in case, the princess headed towards the throne room. Her room was one of the most protected places in the castle. Even if Discord showed up in his peak state, it would take him some time to get in.

Cadance's safety and secrecy was her number one priority. Aside from Celestia, Luna, and Shining Armor, no one even knew she was already in the castle. Cadance had spent the last few years in a remote, carefully hidden and shielded part of Equestria. The coordinates of this place were known only to Celestia. She had arrived here through a dimensional gateway placed in the princess's chambers. Celestia had listened to Cadance's complaints a thousand times, but it was necessary.

It wasn't that Cadance was isolated. She had been visited by many teachers, and yes, she had met with Shining often. Of course, the teachers' memories were later edited.

Bumping into one of the maids in the hallway, Celestia remembered it was the end of the day and nonchalantly wished her a pleasant evening.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty," the maid bowed low.

After waiting for the princess to leave, the maid raised her head and went back to work - she had a few more small errands to finish.

After taking care of the chores, the maid neatly put away her uniform and left the castle.

Upon reaching a certain apartment building in the center of Canterlot, the maid froze at the door. After a moment, the door opened slightly and an orange pegasus peeked out of the house. The pegasus and unicorn looked at each other in silence for a few moments, as if communicating telepathically, and then the pegasus stepped aside, opening the way.

The maid made her way deep into the house and reached the living room, where a large table littered with all sorts of diagrams and blueprints was occupied by a motley group of individuals. Pegasus, thestral, griffin, earth ponies, unicorns, and even one minotaur.

At the head of the table sat a snow-white mare with a light green mane. She was known as Misty Aurora in Canterlot, but here she was referred to exclusively as Queen Chrysalis.

"There you are," Chrysalis nodded in satisfaction. "What kept you?"

"Celestia's nephew made a mistake with a spell, my queen," the maid replied in an even tone, bowing. "I volunteered to help the other maids, following the usual behavior of the original owner of the identity."

"Blueblood? Is it something serious?" Chrysalis asked with a raised eyebrow.

Not that she cared one bit about his health, but she was used to considering the smallest details.

"Localized smoke and light damage to the interior, my queen," the maid reported. "Blueblood himself was unharmed thanks to a defensive artifact. Judging by the distorted parts of the interior - he was trying to learn a teleportation spell."

Chrysalis nodded, brushing aside the unnecessary details - this incident didn't deserve her close attention.

"Screw formalities," Chrysalis waved her hoof, pointing to a vacant seat. "What about the room? You've been near her chambers more often than any of us."

"Impenetrable," the maid replied simply, settling into a chair. "Even if you destroy the entire castle - Celestia's chambers remain untouched. The space is locked, and only she has access - Luna was only able to enter after she was let in."

"Well, nothing new," Chrysalis summarized, not the least bit upset.

Of course, it would be nice if some sort of breach was discovered so they could directly take Cadance and leave Equestria, but that was only a wishful thinking.
They already had a plan ready and the presence or absence of a breach didn't change anything.

However, the wealth of Equestria surprised Chrysalis somewhat. Celestia's chambers alone must be worth as much as the entire castle. The treasury was a separate story altogether. It wasn't their target, so they didn't gather information purposefully, but even the pieces were enough to surprise Chrysalis.

There was no treasury in the castle. There was only a gate that, when activated, led to an isolated piece of space compressed into a point where the treasury was located. The gate itself was made of some alloy unknown to her and reinforced to the highest possible limits. Her subject had been right: even if the entire castle was wiped to dust, the gate and Celestia's chambers would remain unharmed. It wasn't that space-expanded artifacts were that rare, but this was a whole different scale. The treasury was clearly much larger than a room.

But the precautions at Canterlot didn't impress Chrysalis at all. Magical analysis, scanning spells, mental vibration detectors - it all seemed like child's play to her. Equestria had lived in her world for too long without seeing the real threat. The changelings, on the other hand, never stopped refining and improving their methods, under constant external pressure.

No methods available to the unicorns could reveal their disguise. Whether it be scanning spells or blood testing.

Many high ranking changelings even had protection on their souls and minds. Basically their mind had multiple layers. If someone were to go into their memories, all they would stumble upon was a fake identity. It probably wouldn't stop Celestia or Luna, but it would fool any unicorn.

It still wasn't without some unexpected situations, though. Several regular changelings sent to local gangs died and there were some rough patches with getting into the palace. One died due to an accident, two others fell into the clutches of a now dead dark mage. The fourth, however, had died at the hands of a human.

The changelings had only just gotten on the trail of his gang when the man was caught by the royal guards. Chrysalis had known of him before, back when he had arrived in Canterlot and made a fuss. She was even aware that he was not from this world. He didn't really interest her or matter to her plans, but it was still a creature from another world - she wanted to dissect and study him.

However, the timing wasn't right - the man was constantly hanging around the alicorns, and she didn't want to ruin all the preparations with one careless action. Now she could capture him too - the changelings had already infiltrated the beggar gang and were waiting patiently for the man's return. They would leave Canterlot after the wedding, and she didn't care how much noise they made here.

But this human-made poison really surprised Chrysalis. Its effects caused mental confusion and severe damage to internal magical energy. A changeling exposed to this poison must have had a seizure and instinctively dropped its disguise. Such poisons were quite rare. The reason for this was simple: an alchemist creating such a poison would be highly likely to suffer damage himself.

A human with no magical energy didn't care about it, of course. Neither was his subordinates' health.

She was also aware that the man had captured the changeling alive and interrogated him. But the changeling didn't have any important information, and it couldn't shake her plans.

"What about the Elements?" Chrysalis asked the brown earth pony, putting the human out of her mind.

"We're watching their every move," the perturbed pony replied. "We can capture or kill them at any moment. You only need to give the order."

"Happiness is truly in ignorance," Chrysalis mentally grinned, but her face immediately frowned. "If any of the Elements die - that damned thing might wake up."

Chrysalis looked at a certain point on the wall, but her eyes seemed to be looking much farther away. Chrysalis' gaze gradually filled with pure distilled hatred, and the surrounding changelings glanced around, afraid to make an extra movement.

Soon, Chrysalis' rage disappeared, but her gaze expressed deep thoughtfulness. The changelings remained still, unmoving, afraid to interrupt her musings.

"Your rule would lead us into a dead end, foolish mother," Chrysalis thought with some sadness. "By merging with the alicorn of Love, we will transcend Their design. Then we can escape from this shitty world."

***

Night fell on Canterlot, enveloping the city in its gloom like a blanket of darkness. The narrow streets turned into ominous corridors, and the starry sky shone bright like diamonds on black velvet.

A man's head appeared between the bars hiding the entrance to the sewers. His remaining eye was staring outward, carefully scanning his surroundings. A small puff of smoke crawled out from his body, which instantly turned into a black butterfly that left the hiding place. The man waited patiently inside.

Soon, the butterfly returned and fused with his body. After a moment of thinking, the man began to climb out. Unlike the previous ones, these bars were old type and, albeit with difficulty, the man was still able to squeeze through. Standing on one leg, Alexei jumped up and grabbed the edge of the canal with his hand. Tensing his muscles, the man began to pull his body up. Even though he was in good shape on Earth, he would not have been able to pull himself up with one arm. But that was all on Earth.

After a long life in the forest, endless battles, a lot of strengthening potions and rituals, his body had already risen to the level of professional athletes, and his regeneration had far surpassed human limits.

Following him, several rats appeared from behind the bars and crawled upward, clinging to the stones.

He looked around and crawled toward the abandoned building. Rats were scurrying around him, feeling anxious for their master. Alexei slipped through the trash and made his way inside the building.

After hiding from prying eyes, the man fell on his back - he was very tired. But even now he could not rest - loud music and drunken shouts from the neighboring street disturbed his peace. There was nothing surprising about it - there were tons of entertainment venues around. But he couldn't blame them, he'd chosen this place on purpose - thestrals would get a migraine if they flew here too often.

The rats circled around and rubbed against him, sensing his exhaustion and trying to cheer him up, but he paid no attention to them. His gaze settled on the starry sky through the holey roof, as if searching for answers to his inner questions.

"Fuck!" the man growled suddenly, hitting the floor with force.

Shards of shingles flew in all directions and the rats scattered frightened.

Ignoring this, the man stared fiercely at the night sky as if it were his sworn enemy. His sides rose and fell with suppressed anger, but there was no more action - this punch had drained him of his last strength.

First an escape from the guards, then he'd crawled several kilometers through the sewers, then he'd stumbled upon that damn toad.

Jumping out of the sewers, it had taken him by surprise and judging by the throbbing appendage at the bottom of his abdomen, the toad appeared to be a male. It didn't particularly want to eat the human, but it was interested in getting to know him intimately. The human was not happy with such a relationship. It eventually ended in violence.

After a short fight, the man stuck a piece of wood in the toad's eye and, while the toad was trying to pull it out, he jumped into the canal and retreated. There were a few planks from crates destroyed by the toad's attack floating around, on which he could drift through the flow of sewage.

Such creatures in the water were the reason he had persisted in crawling on land. But now he had no choice - he had lost too much time thanks to the toad.

Apart from a few minor skirmishes nothing else happened and he even met almost all of his rats along the way, but right near his destination some chameleon lizard with a spiky tongue pounced on him.

Five rats sacrificed themselves so he could escape. Given his past losses - he was left with eleven rats. He couldn't subdue them indefinitely. The maximum he could have was twenty rats. Not to mention the fact that it took quite a bit of time to train them.

Now he only had half of them left.

But it wasn't the death of the rats or even the loss of limbs that irritated the man.

Restoring limbs wasn't that big of a problem. He had lost his right arm in the forest after an encounter with a manticore, but had been able to regenerate it in a few months. With his current regeneration, even without potions, his limbs would regrow in a month. There were ways to speed up the process, but a high price would have to be paid.

The reason for Alexei's anger was something else.

He had been chased around Canterlot like a rabid dog, beaten to a pulp, and then crawled through shit for several kilometers. His own weakness was pissing the man off: reality had slapped him in the face again, showing him his place. And it wasn't just about today.

He had been in this world for almost five years now, and all he had been doing was groveling before the powerful and hiding.

He hoped that at least in this world he could be himself, but he constantly had to wear many masks and pretend to be someone else.

He suppressed all these feelings and ignored his pride - it was necessary for survival. But still, he was a man - he couldn't help but feel irritated. His stress was constantly building up.

Celestia was arrogant? The man was even more arrogant.
The alicorns and this whole world in the man's eyes were nothing more than a stepping stone to his goal. And his goal was even higher, and even he recognized that it was hardly even attainable.

But he still intended to keep going towards it. Of course, he was arrogant.

Suddenly, unrestrained laughter erupted throughout the building. History was repeating itself - the man was once again laughing at himself, at life, and at the world.

"I'm really pathetic, huh?" the man asked the sky, still laughing. "But who isn't?"

The starry sky answered nothing.

"Then witness my words," the man's firm voice rang out. "I swear. This is the last time anyone will make me struggle with death for my life. From this day forward, I will be the cause of others' struggles."

Chapter 19 - Royal wedding (1/???)

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With a deep sigh, Alexei opened his eyes and slowly stretched his neck, feeling very tired.

“That's it,” the man thought contentedly, looking up at the stone ceiling of the sewer.

He had just finished removing the last bit of unnecessary memories. For the past month, every time he had a free moment, he had been erasing the unnecessary memories he had acquired in those illusory worlds within the Tree. Initially, Alexei had some hopes for those memories, but gradually he realized their uselessness. They were filled with nonsense incompatible with his own life and reality.

Even the combat experience he could have drawn from these memories was untenable. Most of his previous selves had been righteous heroes acting according to some fictional rules. To Alexei, who was used to fight without restraint, their fighting style seemed simply ridiculous and completely ineffective.

Alexei realized that these memories could do more harm than good. He destroyed most of them, keeping only a few useful fragments.

They had to be destroyed, otherwise one day, at a crucial moment, he might make a mistake that would cost him his life.

If it weren't for the fear of exposing himself to Luna - he would have deleted them long ago. They were still useful, though - he'd hidden his memory deep inside, and put all that jumbled nonsense outside. Luna didn't dare to push his mind too hard for fear of breaking it, and could only poke around on the surface.

Making himself comfortable on the cool surface, the man closed his eyes and let his mind rest for a while. His method of removing unnecessary memories didn't require much mental energy, but it did strain his mind.

“Things would be so much easier if my nightmare had a core,” he thought, grinning at the thought. “I'm too greedy. The fact that it hasn't collapsed yet is already a good thing.”

Every creature in this world was born with energy distributed throughout their bodies that allowed them to use spells or innate abilities.

However, the real journey in magic began with forming a core. Only after that the energy became of high enough quality to use complex spells. In addition, their maximum possible energy reserve increased.

There was another advantage to having a core. Creatures without a core restored their energy solely by absorbing it from the outside: nightmares fed on fear, ponies breathed air and ate food filled with magical energy, like all matter in this world.

Creatures with a core, in addition to absorbing from external sources, could produce energy on their own. In addition to increasing their energy recovery rate, they became independent of their environment.

For example, what would happen to a pony without a core if he came to Earth? After a while, he would lose all magical energy and be unable to use magic. Even here on Equus, it was still an advantage - there were some desolate places with low levels of magical energy.

The only ones that broke out of the general logic were magical beasts. They were born with strong and sturdy bodies that could withstand the pressure of magical energy. Their energy increased and condensed on its own as they lived. Everyone else had to develop with the help of the core. The benefits of being magical beasts were so appealing that human had once even considered options for chimerization - Saada's research was exactly in this area. Unfortunately, this venture had failed.

The requirements for creating a core were quite simple - one had to reach a certain level of energy, whether by training or expensive potions, and then compress it into a single point. After that, a crystallized energy the size of a small grain would appear inside the body, producing high quality energy - the core.

But the process itself was by no means simple. All available energy was used in the compression, and if an ambitious mage failed to control it during the formation of the core, everything ended sadly. If he was very lucky, he would never be able to use magic again, but it usually ended in death. Of course, there were some ways to make it easier - rare artifacts or the support of a strong mage. But how many people had that luxury? Mages were dying like flies.

The situation was even worse in the early days of magic, when mages were just figuring out methods of development and experimenting on themselves. The path of magic was littered with corpses and soaked in blood.

After forming a core, the creature would continue to train, increasing its energy until at some point it condensed it back into a core, increasing its quality and moving on to the next level.

Training methods were not only different for each species, but varied even within the same race. There were thousands of them, though there was a common pattern. For example, earth ponies meditated on nature, pegasi had a special dance with the wind, and unicorns turned to their minds while using complex chains of spells. The human called this “magical reflection” when he first heard unicorns practicing. All of these methods of development also carried some danger, but it was inadequate to what a mage went through when forming or improving a core.

Though a few simple and commonly available methods were known to the man, he wasn't particularly interested in the subject. These methods of development were not suitable for a nightmare at all. Even using them for inspiration was questionable - all of these methods were for developing magical energy. Saada had strong innate mental energy, as all zebras did, but went the route of magical energy. There were a few simple methods in her memory, but they didn't fit as well.

The mental energy of nightmares, and some other creatures, was different from the rest. The mental energy of nightmares was much more powerful and carried the attribute of fear. Due to this qualitative difference, nightmares could use any magic, just like unicorns. This was why Alexei was so interested in nightmares.

The core could be created from either magical energy, the standard way of mages, or mental energy, but one couldn't have both due to the conflict of energies.

Though mental energy was used during the use of magic energy based spells, it was a fairly small proportion of it. It didn't cause any problems when one of the energies in the body was dominant, but if one developed two at once, things would end sadly.

Of course, this wasn't some ironclad rule. Magic was extremely flexible, and the world was filled with geniuses.

The man knew that Luna had both a magical and mental core, and she had no conflicts - she had told him so herself. Alexei had played dumb then and asked how she did it, to which he had gotten a certain look. Luna had warned him never to ask such questions of other mages.

Every mage pursued the truth. Whether earth pony or unicorn, they all learned the world around them in their own ways. Prying into other people's secrets was the quickest way to die.

Pushing the unnecessary thoughts away, the man opened his eyes and examined his hand. It had already grown to the wrist and the fingers were about to start growing back. The leg was lagging a little behind and the eye had already fully recovered.

The red worms darted back and forth, diving into the toad's body and then into the man's, bringing a new dose of life energy. At this moment, the human was just lying on the belly of a huge toad that was in a coma. Considering the circumstances, it was even surprising - there was a steel rod sticking out of the toad's head. This toad's vitality was unbelievable. It was the same toad that had tried to rape him earlier. It wasn't that Alexei wanted revenge - it was just that the blood of the beast was still on him, and the sniffing of rats was no worse than that of dogs. Tracking down this particular toad was much easier.

Now the man had a huge supply of blood, which was digested by a pack of worms, constantly speeding up his regeneration. Many worms were constantly dying from overload, and new ones were born from the man's blood and took their place. If it wasn't for the potions restoring blood loss, he would have turned into a mummy by now. Even now, he was occasionally dizzy.

Not only the worms were suffering from the overload, but also the human body - Alexei was absorbing a huge amount of life energy, forcibly accelerating his regeneration. His body was unable to absorb so much energy in such a short time and was balancing on the verge of collapse. A few support potions and the help of the regeneration tattoo allowed him to survive the experience. Even so, he would still have to pay a price for it - his lifespan would be shortened.

“I want to live forever, but this is the second time I've shortened my life,” the man mentally sighed, closing his eyes again.

At another time he would have ironized the situation, but now he didn't have the strength to even move. He felt as if every muscle in his body had been torn to shreds.

Spending lifespan was easy, but increasing it was extremely difficult. He didn't like it, but he had no other options. If he had magical energy, he would use one of Saada's methods, which were far more effective than his crude methods.

He had been in this state for the second day. All this time, the rats gave him water and fed him what they found in the garbage cans. Mostly baked goods.

The comfort level was poor to say the least, but the man didn't complain. Sure, he still had a gang of beggars, but he had no intention of going back there. Once his identity was revealed, there was a high probability that someone was already waiting for him there.

He had the idea of sending a pair of trusted individuals a note through the rats, stating specific actions they were to take - procuring certain ingredients, contacting certain individuals, etc. It all seemed innocuous, but it was bound to attract the attention of the city guard, which would take the pressure off the hiding man.

He eventually gave up on the idea. Alice had already been caught once, and he didn't want to risk it for a paltry advantage. He completely severed all ties with the beggars and wasn't going to have any more contact with them.

Besides feeding the human, the rats had another important task: they were running through all the stashes and collecting hidden items. Gold could be neglected, but potions and ingredients were essential. He doubted he had the strength to brew new potions, but even the raw ingredients could be used.

He had almost everything he needed: poisons, explosives, all sorts of battle potions, acid, and a few transformation potions. He had even made a few transformation potions from changeling blood earlier. Just in case. He had one idea that could help him avoid being exposed by the changelings, but it bordered on insanity. Alexei would rather not do that.

All of these items would be useful to him very soon.

Recently, the rats had brought him some interesting news: the entire Canterlot was preparing for a grand event - a royal-level wedding. Celestia had personally announced it, and the whole town was in a fever of preparation. The groom was the captain of the city guard, Shining Armor, but the identity of the bride remained a mystery, fueling speculation and conjecture among the residents.

The most popular version was that the bride would be Princess Luna, sparking noisy talk of political intrigue and clashing nobility. Shining Armor came from a noble family with a deep military background, and even ordinary ponies already knew about Luna's conflict with the nobility. Marrying for political reasons was common, so the version looked logical.

However, Alexei only laughed as he imagined Luna in such a role. Considering her character, she would rather massacre the top of Canterlot than make concessions. Perhaps she lacked Celestia's diplomatic flexibility.

Speaking of the Sun Princess: some had the audacity to suggest that Celestia herself was getting married. They were usually beaten up - Celestia had a powerful personality cult. Fights broke out here and there as tipsy ponies discussed gossip and analyzed the political situation in Canterlot.

The whole town was buzzing with life and preparing for the ceremony, and all manner of cooks, decorators, and tailors were scurrying about like rabbits trying to get something done on such short notice.

The man was also preparing.

***

The grand throne room of Canterlot sparkled with luxury and sophistication. Perched on a pedestal, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the embodiment of the sun and moon, shone with their divine beauty.

The entire throne room was filled with members of Canterlot's high society in elaborate outfits and eye-catching jewelry. At the threshold of the wedding, the air was filled with anticipation and excitement.

“I swear to Celestia, if you do anything funny again...” came Applejack's stern voice, her gaze sliding over the trio before her. “You won't be able to sit for a week, Applebloom.”

“Why do I have to take the fall for everyone?” snorting perplexedly, the aforementioned filly resented. “It's not fair!”

“Don't worry,” Applejack said holding back a smile. “Rarity and Dash will ensure that justice is done.”

“It'll be fine, Aunt Applejack,” the white unicorn filly smiled. “We promise we'll stick to the plan.”

Applejack sighed and gave the trio a look full of doubt.

“Sweetie Belle is the most sensible of them all,” Applejack pondered. “She's telling the truth, so... It's going to be okay, right?”

Though she was strict with Applebloom, this was the Royal Wedding! She was no longer a simple farmer from a backwoods village - she was the Element of Honesty. She was being watched and her every action was being evaluated. She couldn't embarrass herself, much less embarrass her family.

“So, let's go over the plan again,” Applejack spoke again, causing heartbreaking sighs from the trio. “All you have to do is take out the pillow with the flowers, give them to the newlyweds, and go back in. No pranks, no explosions, no demon summo...”

“You're losing it, Applejack,” the orange pegasus interrupted her with a bored look. “We remember everything perfectly well.”

“I certainly hope so, Scootaloo,” Applejack said sternly, but her face softened. “Alright, have fun for now. Just don't go too far away.”

The trio happily galloped off into the crowd of guests, leaving a pensive Applejack behind.

Something was scrambling at the back of her mind, not giving her peace. Something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out what it was. That unsettling feeling had her repeating the plan of action over and over again.

“Maybe I got the anxiety from Twilight?” hummed Applejack thought. - “Or maybe I'm just not used to Canterlot.”

Applejack rose on her hind hooves and looked around the crowd, searching for her friends.

Twilight was talking to some skinny unicorn, but she didn't seem to care much about the conversation - her thoughts were elsewhere. Earlier, Applejack had accidentally witnessed her emotional conversation with Shining Armor, and Twilight was definitely not cooled off yet.

Fluttershy stood near the window, staring at the floor as if trying to hide from all the commotion.

Rarity, gesticulating vigorously, was chatting with a group of eccentrically dressed ponies.

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were nowhere to be seen.

“Pinkie should be in the kitchen, but where could Dash be?” wondered Applejack. “Well, if she misses the Wonderbolts' performance, that's her loss.”

She was about to go over to Fluttershy when a unicorn burst into the hall. His eyes sparkled with excitement and his breathing was heavy from running. Running up to the princesses, he said something to them and, receiving a nod, walked off in the direction of the musicians.

Applejack, watching from the sidelines, crossed her hooves thoughtfully.

“Looks like the ceremony is about to begin,” flashed through her mind and she began to search the trio of mares with her gaze.

However, her fears were unnecessary - Applebloom waved her hoof as the whole trio headed for the entrance to the hall. They were to enter with Cadance, so they were already waiting outside with the necessary props - a velvet pillow with two flowers on it.

It was an ancient tradition among unicorns. They would find the flower that reflected them best and then pour massive amounts of magical energy into it for months. The flower should have literally crystallized from that amount of energy, but thanks to the unicorns' painstaking work and special methods, it remained alive. If the unicorn who created the flower would periodically replenish the energy - the flower would stay that way forever.

Twilight enlightened her that husband and wife replenish the flower's energy every anniversary, and then give it back to each other again.

Modern unicorns, mostly, had abandoned this tradition and were exchanging rings. They could talk all they wanted about the aesthetics of jewelry and how times were different now, but you didn't have to be an Element of Honesty to realize they were talking crap.

It was all about difficulty.

The creation process could take up to a year, and the slightest mistake would result in the flower being destroyed and having to start all over again. Not to mention that many unicorns were not even qualified for such delicate manipulations.

Applejack listened to Twilight's story with interest - she really enjoyed the tradition. The unicorns were literally exchanging a piece of each other with their beloved. It was much more sincere than some soulless metal studded with stones. Besides, the earth ponies had a similar tradition. Applejack's opinion of unicorns had improved somewhat.

Applejack, immersed in her own thoughts, didn't notice that the music had abruptly changed its tone, filling the hall with a powerful rhythm.

The melody pierced the air like a magic spell, and a wave of goosebumps ran down Applejack's back. Her imagination came alive, conjuring up a thousand images of unicorns in shining armor, marching in formation toward the majestic castle.

And then the hall doors swung open, letting in one of the main culprits of the ceremony, Shining Armor.

To his right walked a stallion in military uniform with an impenetrable face, and to his left walked a smiling mare with a sharp gaze - his parents.

“What are their names anyway?” thought Applejack confusedly, trying to remember the conversation with Twilight. “I think... Night Light and Twilight Velvet?”

Her ear twitched as she heard familiar voices. Turning her head, she saw Pinkie and Dash making their way through the crowd towards Fluttershy.

“So everything's okay here,” Applejack thought with relief as she headed after them. “Then why do I still feel like something's wrong?”

A powerful burst of magic caught Applejack's attention and she looked toward its source, the altar. Princess Celestia's horn blazed and the next moment she disappeared in a teleportation flash.

Applejack's ears twitched as the music changed, as if transporting her to a magical spring forest. In the imaginary surroundings of birdsong and the sound of babbling brooks, she momentarily forgot her thoughts until a petal fell on her nose. When she looked up, she found pink petals floating all around the room, as if guided by their own will.

Frozen in place, absorbed in this beauty, Applejack suddenly heard the door creak open.
Cadance entered the hall with her wings open, dressed in a rather simple, to the local unicorns' tastes, nature-themed dress. Next to her walked a smiling Princess Celestia, followed by a trio of fillies carrying a pillow with two flowers.

The entire hall fell silent in surprise, only the music continued to play, filling the space with its melodies. The nobles and other notable ponies couldn't take their eyes off the bride, the new alicorn.

Celestia and Cadance headed down the altar, but Applejack didn't see it - she was too busy looking at the previously pompous unicorns frozen with open mouths and goggle eyes.

“This scene couldn't be better,” Applejack mentally giggled, savoring the moment. “Just perfect.”

Suddenly the smile vanished from Applejack's face. Celestia had already escorted the bride down the altar and began her speech, but the princess' words didn't reach Applejack's ears - she had an epiphany.

“Nobles!” she exclaimed to herself. “They are the cause of this feeling.”

She began to recall all of the few conversations she had in Canterlot this morning. The nobles, aware of her ability to sense lies, had avoided her questions or given vague answers. It was all within Applejack's expectations - she was just amusing herself by causing them embarrassment. But there was something else that she realized only now.

“They were too perfect,” Applejack came to a realization. “They gave exactly as many lies and truths as they needed to appear natural. Even the flaws they showed were presented perfectly and at just the right moment.”

The more she thought about it, the more she felt a shiver run down her spine.
She used to find the game of embarrassing nobles amusing, but now they made her horrified.

“That's what kept me uneasy,” Applejack thought. “Everything about them is one big lie!”

“Now exchange flowers,” came Celestia's voice, interrupting Applejack's anxious musings.

“Damn, I missed Applebloom's appearance,” Applejack muttered mentally, shifting her gaze to the altar. “Huh? What's she doing?”

The flowers were to be personally taken by the bride and groom. Other unicorns, especially the weaker ones, might not even have been able to lift them by telekinesis - there was a gigantic amount of energy in the flowers that would resist foreign energy. Although the flowers seemed light, their magical mass was enormous.

And yet, Sweetie Belle easily held them in her telekinesis.

Suddenly, the flowers flew swiftly towards the princesses and exploded without a sound or flash. The alicorns' horns flashed, but before they could do anything, a spatial fluctuation spread throughout the hall and both princesses disappeared. Where Princess Celestia had stood, only pale green runes remained, flickering on the floor.

The unicorns from the front rows immediately unleashed a torrent of spells on Cadance and Shining. Both had managed to put up protective shields and withstood the attack of dozens of unicorns.

Shining felt dread when he saw his parents unconscious on the ground - they were attacked at the same time as him. Suddenly, he felt the touch of a wing, and then his vision blurred for a moment - just like when teleporting.

However, when his vision cleared, he found himself in the same hall, only a step to the left - teleportation outside the hall had been blocked.

Applejack experienced the same sensation - just now she had been among the guests in the crowd, and now she found herself in a corner of the hall, surrounded by her friends.

“Elements! Quick!” shouted Twilight in a voice filled with panic.

Her horn sparked furiously - she was the one who had teleported everyone to her. Almost everyone. The teleportation had been successful, but not everyone was around. This was the second cause of the nervousness that clutched Princess Celestia's young apprentice's heart.

Whether it was Twilight's strained voice or the teleportation acted like cold water, but her friends immediately awoke from their shock and summoned the Elements of Harmony. They were Guardians and Incarnations of the Elements - of course, they could summon the artifacts at any time.

White light began to gather around the six friends, enveloping them in a noble glow. The gazes of everyone present turned to them and their eyes glittered green.

And then happened a thing that made Twilight's will shake - unicorns emerged from the crowd, holding certain ponies, and not only ponies, in telekinesis.

Among them were Twilight's parents, her faithful friend Spike, and three fillies.

Each of them had curved black blades at their throats, bringing to mind mantis scythes.

“Turn off your light show,” came a mocking voice belonging to Sweetie Belle. “Or do you like them headless better?”

Twilight clenched her teeth, biting her lip until it bled, but obediently stopped. The light began to dissipate.

Sweetie Belle laughed, and green flames ran up her body, bringing back her true appearance. In the next instant, Queen Chrysalis stood before everyone, stretching her wings.

Her body, slender and graceful, resembled a pony, but with unusual features. A curved horn on her forehead emphasized her power, and her black chitin glistened like the most precious gem. Chrysalis had dragonfly-like insect wings, each one seeming to play in the light. The turquoise mane and tail contrasted with the chitin, giving the image a mysterious and alluring quality. Dark green eyes with large feline pupils glittered with a mysterious light, emphasizing the predatory beauty of their owner.

“Oh, that's much better,” Chrysalis sighed contentedly, turning to the two newlyweds still holding the shield.

Despair flashed in Cadance's eyes as she saw the halberd appear in a flash of green light. Grabbing the amulet with her teeth, she threw it at Shining, who disappeared in a golden flash of teleportation.

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, surprised at the artifact's ability to overcome the teleportation lock. But confidence soon returned to her - Shining was teleported next to the castle.

“Such love,” Chrysalis smiled, thrusting her halberd into the crackling shield. “Too bad he couldn't get far. Wait, they'll bring his head now.”

Cadance's gaze flickered and she lost her concentration, which Chrysalis immediately took advantage of, shattering the shield into pieces. The young alicorn's shield wouldn't withstand even one spell from Chrysalis, but why waste energy? She could win with a few words.

Cadance was hit with a barrage of paralyzing spells and collapsed to the ground. But immediately tried to get up, demonstrating the alicorn's resilience. With a snort, Chrysalis knocked her out with the shaft of her halberd.

A crowd of changelings, still in disguise, ran up and began to tear off their jewels and throw them at the wall.
The gems and metals seemed to come to life under their influence, intertwining in complex patterns on the castle wall.

With a glimpse of the preparations to create a long-range portal, Chrysalis shifted her gaze to the Elements. They were already shackled in magic-suppressing chains, stripped of their artifacts, and themselves in a deep sleep.

“What orders do you have for Shining Armor, Queen?” one of the changelings asked through telepathy.

“Catch and sedate him, as you did the others,” replied Chrysalis. “Top priority: they must all be alive. Protect them even at the cost of your own life.”

The changeling nodded and ran out of the hall, going to relay orders to the other squads. The changelings had already interfered with Canterlot's security system and now the entire city was permeated with disturbances preventing teleportation and message transmission. This interference was hindering even the changelings themselves, but it was still worth it.

Chrysalis sighed, glancing at the sleeping Elements. She was annoyed with the whole situation - she would have preferred to feed them all to her halberd.

But she couldn't!

“These kids' psyches are as fragile as crystal,” Chrysalis thought irritably. “If someone close to them dies, they might break and that damned wooden thing will feel it right away.”

Of course, there were many ways to deal with the Elements without killing them. Put them in a coma, break their spine, destroy all magic and senses, drag them to the Hive and put them in a capsule. There were many options, and none of them satisfied Chrysalis. She wasn't sure if these actions would go unnoticed. The Elements of Harmony were just a joke in her eyes, but she was scared to the point of shuddering at what was behind them.

“I don't care,” Chrysalis waved her thoughts away. “Anything as long as that thing keeps sleeping.”

Her ear twitched at the hissing sound of a forming portal. A green-lit cave was visible on the other side, a temporary changeling's camp a thousand kilometers from Equestria. Even if the coordinates of the portal were traced - which was nearly impossible - their Hive would not be detected.

Handing Cadance over to the squad on the other side of the portal, the changelings closed it, then unleashed a hail of spells on the wall, destroying all traces of their presence.

“The main part is done,” Chrysalis relayed through telepathy to everyone in the hall. “Proceed to the secondary tasks.”

The changelings nodded and, picking up the sleeping Elements, began to leave the hall.

In addition to kidnapping Cadance, they had many tasks to complete, including thefts, pony kidnappings, murders, and break-ins. It would be strange not to take advantage of the situation since they had broken into Canterlot and kidnapped the princess.

The changelings also needed real combat experience. The weak would die and the strong would become even stronger.

Their identities as high-ranking nobles and military officers would help them perfectly in creating chaos in Canterlot. The nobles themselves were alive, of course. However, they were trapped and would be there until tonight. Most of the nobles understood how the world worked and spared no resources to increase their personal strength. Guards and bodyguards were a quick way to increase power, but only fools relied on others. It wasn't easy to kill them, especially without causing a ruckus, but Chrysalis didn't want to.

All these nobles weren't particularly happy about the appearance of a new alicorn strengthening the princess's power. After the changelings escape from Canterlot, the nobles would definitely start putting sticks in the wheels of the princesses' search operation. This was what Chrysalis wanted. That was why she wasn't going to touch their possessions, targeting the royal palace exclusively.

Soon, only Chrysalis was left in the throne room, twirling her halberd in her telekinesis.

“What's taking so long?” muttered Chrysalis irritably. “You wouldn't run away, would you, Celestia?”

Chrysalis waited to meet Celestia with a mixture of impatience and anticipation. Ever since she was a filly, she had heard legends of the Sun Princess' might and power, and now was the moment to test their veracity. She was eager to test herself to see how much she had grown and become stronger over the years.

Luna had been sent to an unknown location on the opposite end of Equus. Even Chrysalis didn't know the exact coordinates, that was the drawback of this method of teleportation. Perhaps she could have ended up in a wall or even inside a volcano, but neither of those things would have been able to destroy the alicorn.

Celestia, though, was teleported not far away, as intended. She should have been back in Canterlot by now. And as that thought raced through Chrysalis' mind, she sensed a new presence in the city.

With a smirk on her face, she pointed her horn at the green runes left where Celestia had disappeared. A gigantic amount of magical energy began to gather around Chrysalis, shrinking into one small dot at the tip of her horn.

A few seconds later, right on top of the runes, Celestia appeared in a flash of teleportation.
Actually, she was going to appear in the air, but something interfered with her teleportation.

“Well, hello there,” grinned Chrysalis, unleashing the spell.

***

A lone griffin sat on a bench in the center of Canterlot, biting off chunks of roasted meat strung on a wooden stick. It was probably for this reason that many passing ponies cast dirty looks at him. Though they consumed some protein, they were still herbivores - a scene like this made them feel uneasy. But the griffin cared little for their feelings. He was greedily gulping down chunks of meat and was already reaching for his plate for the next portion.

“Life is good,” he thought contentedly as he looked around at the ponies. “Gryphons really are the best.”

These clever fellows quickly smelled gold and set up several street stalls, selling everything from toys and trinkets to food and ice cream. They were mostly pony-oriented, but a few griffons were grilling kebabs, which he was eating now. It was unlikely that even half of them had a permit to trade, but the Canterlot guards were clearly not interested in them right now.

The zebras were keeping up with the griffins, too, trading potions and talismans, fortune-telling and street performances. He could even swear he saw two zebras with a hookah. However, he did not approach them - if anyone could tell that something was wrong with him, it was the zebras with their keen senses. Under the guise of a griffin was a man, and the corpse of the real owner of this identity was already being eaten somewhere in the sewers.

Now Alexei looked like a griffin with an ordinary appearance - white plumage on his head and around his neck, yellowish-brown fur and golden eyes. What was unremarkable about him was the ragged blue scaled bag hanging around his neck. Despite its modest appearance, it was a low-grade spatial artifact. The inside of the bag was much larger than it appeared from the outside, having roughly a cubic meter of space. In addition, there were enchantments placed on it that reduced the weight of the contents.

It was only a lower class artifact and yet, Alexei had spent almost all of his gold on this bag. And that was despite the fact that he had bought it from some rather murky griffins and it was clearly stolen. But the man was still very satisfied - he had long lacked such a thing. As an alchemist, he used a bunch of potions all the time, but he couldn't fight while being weighed down by dozens of bags. Things would be different now.

He had also come up with a solution to the problem with those scanning tablets - otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to be so relaxed right in the center of Canterlot. He had several worms inside his body with the blood of a dead griffin mixed with a certain potion. If a guard approached him, he would take a tablet and the worm that came out of his claw would spit out that blood and it would be sucked into the tablet. He was confident that he could fool their magical analysis with this method. It was only necessary to slightly divert the guards' attention from his claws.

Based on this method, he created another one that could fool the weak unicorn's scanning. At least the chances were pretty good. The downside was the short duration. If he got stuck on a scan or if he came across a strong unicorn, he would be immediately exposed, but Alexei didn't rely on this method alone. He defined three points for a potential breakthrough, prepared a few distractions and thought of escape routes.

He had plenty of time to think while he lay in the sewers, but the rats did most of the work. They were still running around like mad, spreading explosives and poisons to specific locations in Canterlot. They've been doing it for the last two days. As soon as the wedding was over and the evening festivities began, he would make his move. For now, he would rest and observe the situation in Canterlot.

“Hmm?” Alexei's claws froze over his plate as he felt something strange.

Raising his head he saw something from afar hurtling at breakneck speed towards the royal palace. Squinting his eyes, thankful that he now had eagle eyesight, he saw some flashes of flame. A second later, the flames flashed high in the sky above him and disappeared.

However, he was able to make out the creature that had just teleported away - Celestia. The man immediately shifted his gaze to the royal palace. His intuition screamed that something was about to happen.

The next instant, a massive explosion rang out, and an entire chunk of the palace wall was destroyed by a giant dark green beam. All the ponies around froze with shock and turned their heads to see a smoking hole in the castle wall.

A few pieces of the wall flew even here, falling and injuring several ponies.
The crowd screamed and rushed away from the palace. Several unicorns instinctively tried to teleport, but their spells failed. One was even slammed into the wall of the building and fell to the sidewalk from three meters high. This further fueled the fire of panic.

Alexei, meanwhile, pushed himself off the bench and jumped onto the wall of a neighboring building. Clawing at the wooden elements, he quickly climbed to the roof, mentally thanking the griffins for such a practical body. Even though he couldn't fly, he could help himself with his wings and glide. Even without wings, claws were far more practical than hooves.

Looking at the royal palace once again, he saw a changeling flying out of a hole in the wall. Thanks to the griffin's eyes, he could perfectly see the changeling, which was clearly a female. Due to the distance, it was hard to judge the size, but he was still sure of something.

“Alpha changeling,” Alexei squinted, memorizing her image.

From the top of the building, he could see part of the square in front of the palace. There had clearly been a lot more casualties there, and right now the crowd of distraught ponies who had come to hear Celestia's speech after the wedding were scattering in all directions, away from the dangerous palace.

The lucky ones were the pegasi and griffins - they could just fly away. A few pegasi were helping the wounded, and the griffins were assessing the situation from afar, as was he.

Suddenly flames erupted, and Celestia appeared next to the alpha changeling. Her fur was blackened in a few places, but overall she didn't look injured.

“I would have been atomized by that beam,” Alexei mentally sighed, and his muscles tensed in preparation for further developments.

The changeling immediately attacked Celestia, firing multiple beams and attacking with her halberd. The few beams that didn't hit Celestia hit the city below, causing massive destruction. A sphere of light erupted from Celestia's body, and both mares disappeared to reappear several kilometers above. Immediately, fierce flames erupted and Celestia launched a counterattack.

“They're just testing each other's strength,” Alexei thought as he watched the burning sky. “When they start fighting for real - the city beneath them is clearly going to suffer. And where is Luna anyway?”

Judging by Celestia's appearance - the alpha changeling had sent both of them somewhere. The question is when Luna will return to Canterlot.

Taking advantage of their battle, he could easily leave the city. He knew that the situation would become more dangerous and chaotic by the minute. The royal guards would clearly have no time for inspections.

But he didn't want to leave the city right now. Where there was chaos, there were opportunities. Even if he left the city, so what? He still didn't have a way to solve the nightmare rejection problem.

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, Alexei began to move closer to the palace.

The streets below him were in complete chaos.
A crowd of ponies were fleeing away from the palace, using every method available to them. Some were trampled, and others were hurt by the spells of others seeking to create an escape route for themselves. Alexei kept his cool, keeping a close eye on his surroundings - he had a certain goal in mind. He was most interested in the alpha changeling's blood, which he could use to slow the rejection, but if the situation allowed, he could also break into the palace.

His dreams crumbled as soon as he fully saw the royal palace. There were changelings flying everywhere, attacking squads of royal guards.

“Why are there so few of them?” thought the man, hiding on one of the rooftops. “There should be many more guards. Did the changelings do something?”

His hunch was correct - the changelings had switched the identities of multiple squad leaders and were able to scatter forces throughout Canterlot. Now, with the lack of communication, the royal guards were in chaos, and many of them didn't understand what was going on at all. They were clearly unprepared for such events and had no real combat experience. All the units that had such experience were guarding the borders of Equestria.

Suddenly something struck a nearby building, and the man was nearly blown off the roof by the blast wave. Moving his gaze to the sky, the man saw Celestia flying at the alpha changeling in a rage.

While he was looking at the situation around the royal palace, he missed a certain event: Celestia, seeing that her opponent was equal to her strength, tried to return to the palace and rescue the hostages. Of course, Chrysalis didn't let her do that - she immediately started attacking the city and civilians. Celestia had no choice but to return and continue the fight.

The man, realizing that it was getting too dangerous around, was about to leave the square when something else happened. Several changelings flew over the square, dropping smoking packages on the remaining ponies. As they fell to the ground, purple smoke poured out of them. Alexei watched the situation, and his face grew increasingly grim.

Several ponies that had inhaled the smoke fell to the ground and began twitching in seizures.

“It's my poison,” Alexei confirmed definitively.

There was a small stockpile left at his former gang's headquarters for emergencies. Apparently the changelings had gotten to it as well.

Mentally cursing those bugs, he jumped off the roof and rushed to the source of the smoke.

This whole thing was a serious problem!

This poison could be considered the calling card of his former gang. Canterlot was clearly not going to fall - the ponies would soon reorganize and kick out the changelings, and after that the investigation would begin. When the poison is discovered, the man will be immediately linked to the changelings and hunted with triple the force, and not just by ponies.

Jumping over the few ponies hurrying to leave the square, the man reached the source of the smoke. Grabbing a few orbs from his bag, he squeezed them and deftly tossed them at the three centers of smoke, helping himself with telekinesis.

One of the support squads of the royal guards, noticing the griffin's strange actions, rushed towards him, assuming his connection to the changelings. But after a few seconds, their fervor faded somewhat: whatever the griffin had done was clearly destroying the purple smoke.

They had already tried several spells, but the smoke was surprisingly resistant to magic. Which wasn't surprising, given its properties. From the griffin's methods, however, the smoke began to disappear, spilling a murky liquid onto the ground.

“What did you do?” the squad leader asked, running up to the griffon.

“You shouldn't give a fuck,” snarled the coughing griffon. “Where's my thanks for saving your pony asses?”

The unicorn frowned slightly at such an attitude. Though he was used to the rudeness of griffons, it was still annoying. However, given the circumstances, he would be more suspicious of those who were excessively nice. Scanning spells were useless - they couldn't detect changelings. Determining who was a comrade and who was an enemy became overly difficult.

“You want to save them?” the griffon asked, nodding at the twitching ponies on the ground. “Then drag them all to me.”

“You have an antidote?” the unicorn asked in surprise.

He didn't have the right skills, and was about to give the order to evacuate.

“Yeah, I'm a fucking alchemist. Satisfied?” replied the griffon sarcastically, pulling all sorts of vials out of his bag. “And tell your guys to put up a shield. I don't want to get my ass fried.”

Nodding, the unicorn began handing out orders. Soon a shield was created around the gryphon, and several guards began dragging in injured ponies. The gryphon quickly assessed their condition and measured out the right dose. The amount of antidote he had was limited, and the healing potions he had were not going to waste at all. At least it should be enough to break down and remove the poison from these ponies. Let the local doctors deal with the after effects of the poison.

Even if he missed something and the poison was discovered, he now had an solid alibi. The identity of the mysterious griffin alchemist who, by a lucky coincidence, had the antidote for the rare poison would definitely be linked to a human. So what? He had already shown his attitude by eliminating the poison and saving the ponies.

While he was treating the ponies, he looked around. It wasn't just that he didn't trust his safety to these unicorns - he was looking for the poison leftovers.

“See that purple powder on the ground?” the griffon asked, pointing to several areas. “It needs to be destroyed. Send in a couple guys skilled in fire spells.”

“We can deal with the aftermath later,” the unicorn shook his head, denying the man. “Focus on healing the victims.”

“Do you even know what the fuck this poison is?!” raged the griffon, casting a furious glare at the unicorn. “Do you know what happens if it reacts with certain spells? No, you don't fucking know. So why the fuck are you arguing with me? Because of you fuckers, I got myself inhaled and won't be able to fly for a week, and this is what I get in return?”

The unicorn was slightly taken aback by the griffon's onslaught, but after pondering the situation for a few seconds, he still gave orders to the suited unicorns to deal with the poison. The gryphon was right - he knew nothing about this poison. Seeing the poison-stricken ponies come to their senses, he had some credibility with the brute.

Alexei watched contentedly as the unicorns destroyed the evidence, finishing off the last casualty. Everyone he had already given the antidote to was evacuated from the shield. The changelings were crushing the royal guards and they had to retreat, soon they would reach this place as well.

Alexei raised his head and looked up at the blazing sky over the central part of Canterlot. While he was dealing with his own poison, the battle of the two titans had already moved there. This was clearly the idea of that changeling queen.

“Come, we'll evacuate you,” came the unicorn's voice, interrupting Alexei's thoughts.

Nodding, the man stuffed the rest of the potions into his bag and ran with the squad to exit the square.

When they were almost to the street, there was a sudden roar filled with pain, despair, helplessness and... duty? Immediately, the entire central district was covered by a magical shield.

Alexei frowned - this was the exact area he was about headed to right now, and now it was blocked off. Glancing at the reaction of the unicorns, who clearly recognized the owner of the roar, the man matched that to the power of the shield and easily realized whose horn it was - Shining Armor.

“Why is he roaming free?” thought Alexei perplexedly. “What are changelings doing?”

Taking advantage of the distraction of the unicorns trying to determine their captain's coordinates, the griffon climbed the wall to the roof and raced toward the central district. Behind him he could hear the shouts of the squad leader, but it was hard to make out anything when explosions were constantly going off all around him.

After a while, he finally reached the edge of the shield. Finding a suitable flat roof where several pegasus corpses were lying, Alexei soaked himself in blood and lay down between them, covering himself with their wings. Cloaked, he shifted his gaze to the battle and began to wait patiently. Sooner or later that shield would collapse under the pressure of two rampaging mares, or Shining Armor would be discovered and killed by the changelings.

It was a shame, but the man wasn't even qualified to watch this battle. All he saw was a sea of flames, a dark green mist, and constant explosions going off all over the city. After a while, he had to look away - all the flashes were starting to cut his eyes.

As he heard a piercing scream, he looked down. A mare with a foal on her back was running down the street, being chased by a changeling. Judging by the fact that he wasn't flying, his wings were damaged. Alexei was about to turn away when a new event happened - a unicorn jumped out of the building and blocked the path of the changeling. The mare didn't even seem to notice his interference and kept running.

The unicorn tried to attack the changeling, but very soon he had to use his shield and go into a deep defense. It took the changeling a few spells to break the shield, and so the corpse of the unicorn fell to the sidewalk, with his head smashed in half.

Regaining his breath, the changeling continued his chase.

“It's just like on Earth,” Alexei mentally sighed, shaking his head.

A woman just needs to be, and she is already valuable to society. A man needs to act and gain respect so that his life is of value to someone other than himself. A man's value depends on how useful he is to society, and the most meaningful usefulness of a man, according to society, is to value women and children above himself.

Heroic self-sacrifice is praised and exalted everywhere from movies to the news. Was this unicorn another victim of imposed morality or did he just think he was a hero? Who knows.

Whether the unicorn became a hero or not is no longer important. He's just a piece of dead meat now. That mare didn't even notice him, and the only witnesses to his act were the human and the changeling that killed him. In a few minutes, they too would forget he existed.

Perhaps the unicorn truly believed that the strong should protect the weak. All these principles were spread by the weak who wanted the whole world to believe this nonsense. Alexei was weak and admitted it, so he behaved as befits the weak: hiding from the strong and devouring those even weaker than him.

If you dig into your moral values, you'll find that most of them aren't “right” but simply favorable to others. Leaders elevate values and morals, but these are merely tools to maintain their power. And yet, it works beautifully.

In the eyes of society, this unicorn was a hero and a worthy stallion, while the man was a madman with dangerous beliefs, a defective product that should be gotten rid of - a villain.

“These fools, restrained by emotion and morality, are everywhere,” Alexei thought indifferently. “They deserve to be used and manipulated. The sad thing is that when they see others not restraining themselves, they jump out and criticize, trying to instill that morality in people, not allowing others to have more freedom than they have. They even enjoy that ridiculous sense of moral superiority.”

He was distracted from the musings he had spent his wait with by a powerful magical fluctuation. Alexei raised his head and tensed, preparing to dodge.

The next second, something broke through the shield and crashed down, destroying a small house. The man squinted, trying to see who it was, but everything was covered in smoke. A moment later, a figure covered in green mist darted overhead, shouting a stream of unflattering things in Celestia's direction. The shield seems to have angered the changeling queen a little, and she swung her buzzing halberd, smashing a huge hole in it. Immediately the entire shield collapsed, and the furious battle in the sky continued.

The man looked around and jumped off the roof, gliding to the opposite side of the street. Once he landed, he immediately ran towards where the alpha changeling had fallen, sharpening his senses to the max - he was now approaching one of the most dangerous places in Canterlot.

When he reached the ruined house, he looked up once more and breathed a sigh of relief - the two mares had shifted slightly again and were no longer directly over his head.

He could feel the powerful energy and purposefully kicked the debris away, heading towards it. Soon he found two small pools of blood of a completely normal red color.

The insects had no blood at all. So changelings, although they had some insect-like features, were still not insects. The changelings also had a skeleton, which the man had already confirmed earlier, so their species identity was still in question.

But these subtleties were of little concern to the man as he quickly collected blood into several rune-enhanced vials. Three small vials were collected, which was not bad.

Looking out of the building, the man saw the changelings approaching from afar. Their advance was blocked by several squads of royal guards, but the odds were clearly not even. It was only a matter of time before the changelings got here.

“They shouldn't have spotted me,” Alexei pondered, hiding behind the wall. “Did they come for Shining Armor? He must be unconscious right now after his shield was destroyed.”

Putting the vials into his bag, he was about to leave when a certain idea flashed through his mind.

“I could...” the man pondered, but soon shook his head. “It's too dangerous. I've already gotten what I want. I need to flee the city.”

But the idea had already taken root in his mind and continued to affect him.

“If I succeed, the benefits will be huge,” Alexei's eyes glittered, but the next moment he shook his head again. “If there is the slightest miscalculation in this plan - my fate will be even worse than falling into the clutches of the alicorns.”

The gryphon began to strut around the ruins, and his gaze grew more and more thoughtful and deep. Suddenly he snorted and stopped.

“An opportunity right in front of me, but I'm too scared to grab it,” Alexei laughed and reached for his bag. “Grand success or miserable death? Hehe, life is one big gamble.”

Pulling out two vials of the changeling queen's blood, he shoved them down his throat, and a few worms helped him and took them down his stomach. Taking out a tiny ball of poison that the changelings had used earlier, he squeezed it and threw it into a corner. After drinking one of the transformation potions, he took a third vial, poured it on his forearm and stuck the limb into the poisonous smoke. The skin immediately began to melt under the influence of the changeling queen's blood, but the poison slightly weakened the destructive power by attacking the magical energy in the blood.

The gryphon, meanwhile, began to transform into something else. Feathers and fur fused together to form chitin, and the eagle wings began to turn into insect wings.

Summoning the nightmare, Alexei ripped a piece of it off and merged it with the hissing blood of the royal changeling on his limb. This piece of nightmare was an important part of the plan - it held a certain mental message. Craning his neck, he ripped off the already formed changeling's wings and tossed it aside. Taking a few steps back, he turned towards the purple smoke and began to watch his transformation.

Moments before the transformation was complete, the nightmare flew into his nose and Alexei dashed into the smoke, hitting the rest of the wall. The wall couldn't hold and collapsed on top of him, burying him under the debris.

Half a minute later, the changeling, whimpering in pain, began to climb out of the debris.

Coughing up smoke, he sensed something in the sky and cried out, hiding behind the opposite wall. As he looked up at the battle of the titans unfolding in the sky, the changeling froze with shock.

“What's going on?!” his mind screamed as the changeling wrinkled his nose at the throbbing headache.

He couldn't remember anything at all. Not how he ended up here, nor his name, much less what was going on.

He began feeling himself start to panic, but suddenly a voice sounded in his head. The changeling's eyes widened in surprise and he shifted his gaze to the burn on his left front leg.

After a few seconds, his gaze came back into focus and picking up his bag, he rushed towards the royal palace.

“I will fulfill this mission, Mother!” vowed the changeling, and his eyes shone with fanaticism.

Chapter 20 - Royal wedding (2/???)

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The skies above Canterlot erupted in bright light, ominous energy bursts lighting up the area as Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis clashed in their battle. Celestia's fiery spear and Chrysalis' halberd, shrouded in magical charges, met in a blaze of sparks and flames.

Celestia, holding her flaming spear in telekinesis, aptly hurled it towards Chrysalis. She brilliantly intercepted the blow with her halberd, avoiding the flaming strike. With a powerful thrust, Chrysalis attacked, trying to pierce Celestia's defenses, but she dodged at the last moment, answering with her spear.

While Celestia tried to keep Chrysalis at a distance with her spear, the queen deftly maneuvered, trying to penetrate her defenses with her halberd. They spun in a whirlwind of combat, each trying to overpower the other, sparks flying in all directions from the clash of their weapons.

Feeling her stamina beginning to drain, Celestia decided to use magic spells to retake the initiative. She summoned her star attack, creating a meteor shower that swirled around the queen and created an opportunity for another attack. Huge rocks sparked in the air, exploding around Chrysalis, forcing her to go on the defensive.

In response, Chrysalis fired a green poison beam from her horn in an attempt to weaken the princess. Celestia used her flame shield to repel the attack, but Chrysalis, not giving up, activated her Mist of Confusion spell, which began to envelop Celestia in a dark green cloud, confusing her and slowing her reactions.

As they continued their deadly skirmish in the whirlwind of battle, the magical forces warped the sky over Canterlot. They both maneuvered masterfully, using their weapons and spells in an effort to overpower their opponent. But just when Celestia thought she was beginning to overwhelm Chrysalis, the latter suddenly turned around and focused a powerful spell.

A fog of Confusion thickened around Celestia, slowing her reactions and breaking her concentration. At the same time, Chrysalis released her next strike - a multitude of sharp dark green needles surged out of the mist, piercing the princess's body. She felt a sharp pain as blood began to flow from the wounds. The sharp needles released by Chrysalis pierced not only Celestia's body but also her will, paralyzing the princess and cutting off her ability to move.

With accelerated force accompanied by a deafening crack, Celestia's body crashed into the hard ground of the royal gardens. The ground beneath her bent and cracked from the force of the collision, flowers and plants were crushed and torn, and clouds of dust and smoke billowed around.

Chrysalis concentrated a huge amount of energy at the tip of her horn, squeezing it to its limit. A giant dark green beam of energy erupted from that dot, aimed directly at Celestia. The power of the spell was unimaginable. When the dark green beam hit Celestia's defenseless body, most of her body simply vaporized. Only the alicorn's hind legs remained on the ground.

Meanwhile, the beam of energy continued its destructive motion, penetrating deep into the ground beneath her. Where the beam struck, a huge hole formed, from which puffs of smoke and dust rose.

Chrysalis landed on the ground, trying to regain her breath after two powerful spells that had taken her considerable effort. Fatigue enveloped her, but a smirk flashed across her face as she looked at Celestia's remains. With a few spells, she destroyed Celestia's remains so that no trace of her existence remained.

Suddenly, a powerful wave of energy enveloped Canterlot, making the air shake. It was as if this energy was alive, carrying the cries of many beasts and heralding the approach of something dark and sinister. But amidst all this beastly noise, one thing stood out clearly: the triumphant roar of a dragon.

“Hmm?” thought Chrysalis, shifting her gaze to the hole in the ground. “What kind of beast does Celestia keep under the garden?”

She tried to use a spell to look under ground, but suddenly her body was paralyzed. It wasn't the effects of magic; it was instinctive fear - Chrysalis felt that someone was looking at her, and she would die in the next second. Biting her lip and causing pain, Chrysalis tried to use a teleportation spell and escape, but it wasn't that easy - every cell in her body was frozen with terror. She was still alive, but her body thought it was already dead.

However, in the next moment, the roar fell silent and the pressure disappeared, as if it was all just an illusion.

Stubbornly snorting, Chrysalis channeled magic into the depths of the earth, scanning the space beneath the garden. Deep below, she found a cave, its walls covered in a multitude of runes.

But there was no horrible beast, only shards and a rusty chain.

***

“Stop,” sounded in the changeling's head, but he continued running toward the palace. “I commanded you to fucking stop!”

A powerful pressure followed, pinning the changeling to the ground. He started to lunge, but froze when two changelings in scaly armor that blended into the chitin landed in front of him. The changeling's green eyes flashed with joy when he saw his kin.

“It's good to have you here,” the changeling exclaimed excitedly. “I need to get to the palace right away, I have an important assignment from Her!”

The changelings in armor glanced around. The entire Canterlot was filled with interference, and communication at long distances was impossible, but up close, telepathy worked perfectly. However, the changeling said it all out loud.

“State your name, rank, and code phrase,” it sounded again in the wingless changeling's head. “Who is your squad leader? What sector do you belong to? What were you doing in that zone?”

“What?” muttered the questioned changeling perplexedly.

The questioning soldier frowned and directly used telepathy to get inside his head and find the information he needed.

What he found was... nothing.

The wingless changeling was like a blank page. He didn't even know how to use telepathy. However, what he did find in his head was a message and a set of encrypted information, presumably from Queen Chrysalis. He was given orders to head to the royal palace and join the group searching Princess Luna's chambers. The information detailed the layout of Princess Luna's chambers, and the encrypted part appeared to contain methods to break the runic defenses and priority items.

The soldier shifted his gaze to the massive burn with dried blood on the leg of the held changeling. Sure enough, he easily recognized his queen's magical energy. He also saw a bit of purple coating on the changeling's body, which he recognized as the poison the queen had used in the square. Slamming his telekinesis on the changeling's back, he shook off the coating and used many scanning spells.

The scans went through with some interference - the changeling's lungs were literally soaked in purple smoke. Normally, with so much poison in its lungs, this changeling should have stopped breathing by now - the soldier had heard about the high efficiency of this poison. But in the changeling's body, he could feel two weak sources of magical energy belonging to Queen Chrysalis near his ribs. He couldn't determine more precisely because of the interference from the poison, but one thing was clear: the queen could easily save this changeling from the poison.

“Queen Chrysalis is fighting in the sky,” the soldier finally transmitted through telepathy. “There's no way you could have met her. You're lying. You are detained until all the circumstances are clarified. Do not resist.”

As he relayed the message, he carefully watched the reactions and emotions of the held changeling. Sure enough, the soldier saw that earlier Chrysalis had missed a hit and collapsed to the ground. And the changeling had come from exactly where the queen had fallen. The queen could very well have found out some secrets during the battle with Celestia and sent this changeling with the information she had gotten. It was all entirely possible. As was the memory loss. He just wanted to see the changeling's reaction. It would be especially suspicious if he suddenly remembered something and tried to explain himself.

Hearing the queen's name made the changeling flash with pride and adoration, but the part about being detained made him furious.

“Then you'd better kill me,” hissed the changeling, trying to get up off the ground. “Because I will resist until I do Her will.”

The two soldiers watched the changeling try to resist their spell pinning him to the ground. He was unable to use magic due to the poison in his body and resisted with physical strength alone. The effort was clearly futile - the changeling was only hurting himself. The chitin cracked in several places and blood began to drip onto the ground, but the changeling paid no attention to it - clenching his teeth, he tried to get up. Suddenly, the pressure from his back began to disappear, allowing him to slowly stand up, and he squinted at the soldiers.

“Calm down, brother,” smiling, the soldier transmitted through telepathy. 'We'll get you to the palace, but first you'll have to meet the captain.

“Where is this captain?” the changeling asked doubtfully, eyeing the soldiers. “Is he in the palace?”

“Yes,” replied one of the soldiers, taking the bag from him. “And this will stay with us for now.”

Looking into the bag, the soldier saw many vials and ingredients, a cauldron, a knife, a plaid, several cups, and other things one would see in a traveler's bag. His partner had already shared this changeling's memory with him and according to his memories, he had taken the bag from the corpse of a griffin lying in the ruins. The bag was more fitting for some zebra trader who had come to Canterlot to sell his potions. So the soldier assumed the gryphon had taken it off someone's corpse as well.

“Then I agree,” nodded the changeling, not particularly worried about losing the bag.

With a hum, one of the soldiers wrapped his legs around the changeling and flew off, while the other created a shield around all three of them and they all flew towards the palace together. In this part of Canterlot, the changelings had won an absolute victory, but there was still fighting going on all around, so the shield was necessary.

The changelings also realized that although they were able to disperse the main forces of Canterlot, it couldn't last forever. Soon they would regroup and overwhelm the changelings. But they still had about an hour and they were fine with that. The main objectives had already been accomplished and now they were getting combat experience, using the royal guards as training dummies. Danger sharpened senses and only between life and death a creature could unleash its full potential. Queen Chrysalis often repeated this phrase.

The palace was spacious enough inside, so after flying into one of the broken windows, the changelings continued their flight through the corridors. There were no problems with the guards - telepathy allowed the changelings to quickly confirm their identities. Soon they flew into a room where a middle-aged changeling was leaning over a map of Canterlot, with many colored lights hovering over it, reflecting the position of the troops. Several guards stood at his sides, scrutinizing the arrivals.

“Captain, we...” began one of the soldiers, but was interrupted by a raised hoof.

The captain stood for a few seconds, continuing to look at the map, and then nodded to himself. His horn blazed and a multitude of blue dragonflies sprang up around him and immediately burst from the room, carrying the necessary instructions to the squads under his command.

“I'm listening,” the captain transmitted through telepathy, casting a brief glance at the entrants. “What do you have? Quickly.”

“Captain, there is new information on the security measures in Luna's chambers,” the soldier reported, pointing to the wingless changeling. “He has a detailed description of...”

“Then send him to Jade,” the captain interrupted him irritably. “She's in charge of the capture and break-in on that floor.”

“Ahem, the situation is a bit complicated,” the soldier said cautiously, beginning to quickly relay all the available information to the captain.

A flicker of irritation flashed across his face as the flood of information rushed through his already busy mind, but soon the irritation was replaced by a frown.

Looking up, he scrutinized the delivered changeling. It was the changeling's dark green eyes that seemed to catch his attention the most. The captain's horn lit up as he applied several scanning spells. The wingless changeling blinked and winced at the pain in its eyes - one of the spells had been aimed directly at its eyes. Finishing his inspection, the captain confirmed that the changeling in front of him was indeed a changeling.

Changing appearance or size was easy enough, but pretending to be someone of another race was a bit of a problem. Usually, at least among unicorns, illusions were used in such cases, which could be easily detected by scanning.

As for transformation spells and potions - they had a certain disadvantage, which Alexei had already experienced several times. Physiology changed, but magical energy did not. No matter how many times he transformed into ponies, unicorns, or griffins - he did not gain any abilities or magical energy. If an earth pony transformed into a griffin, the situation would be the same. It would be a griffin with the magical energy of a pony, an innate talent for earth magic, and no ability to fly. Of course, the magical energy could be disguised as the energy of another race, but it was quite difficult to do and easy to detect.

But there were exceptions - changelings who could freely convert their energy when transforming. They didn't have an innate talent for a particular element when they transformed, but their disguise was perfect. And talent was just a matter of practice.

Of course, there were also high-level transformation spells that could completely copy all the physical features of the target. But the captain hadn't even considered such a possibility. If the changeling in front of him was a spy capable of such spells, why would he need a disguise at all? His power should be at the level of Queen Chrysalis. While Celestia and Chrysalis are busy fighting, he could do whatever he wants in the palace.

“The situation is really sensitive,” the captain thought, taking another look at the changeling's eyes.

The soldiers paid no attention to it, but he knew some secrets - Queen Chrysalis had children. The society of changelings was fundamentally different from that of ponies, though they spoke the same language. No one got anything by birthright. A changeling had to achieve everything through his own efforts.

Even Queen Chrysalis started at the bottom of the ladder. Right after she was born, her mother disguised her and secretly gave her to an orphanage. No one but her mother knew of Chrysalis' origins. Chrysalis had nothing and yet she climbed to the top. Only after Chrysalis reached the limit, broke it and evolved into a Royal changeling - did her mother meet with her and reveal her origins.
Chrysalis' entire journey was described in her biography and the book was a bestseller among changelings. Most changelings genuinely respected Chrysalis. Not for being a queen, but for being able to become a queen.

Chrysalis did the same with her children. The captain didn't know their identities, but he was sure that some of them were fighting outside the palace right now. And right now, Chrysalis' son was most likely standing in front of him.

The captain might have had some doubts about the body because of the anti-magic poison, but the eye color was real. He was absolutely certain of that. And who else could have dark green eyes? Changelings usually had blue, yellow, orange, and rarely purple eyes. The dark green color belonged to the current royal family.

If Alexei had heard the captain's thoughts - he would have laughed and slightly embarrassed. He had miscalculated a bit and ran into the smoke before the time, because of which the transformation was not fully completed and he was left with his natural eye color.

The captain, meanwhile, was thinking about how to handle the situation. Naturally, he was not going to help Chrysalis' supposed son. If the queen found out about it, and she would, the captain would be punished. The children were to achieve everything by their own efforts.

But if he harmed her child or treated him unfairly, he could lose his head - in case of any problem, the queen would personally deal with the case. There was another side of the coin - if he succeeded, he might get a promotion. The situation was clearly out of instructions and the captain had to make the most correct and reasonable decision possible.

“There are a few odd points, but everything can be explained,” the captain thought, shifting his gaze once again to the trio in front of him. “I've seen stranger situations. I think I'll send these two with him as support. Two is enough, right? It's not much, but it's not insignificant either. The queen should be pleased with my decision.”

“Escort him to Luna's chambers and provide support until he reaches the portal,” the captain relayed to the two soldiers. “And return his bag.”

Aside from the items requested by Chrysalis, all other items belonged to those who had obtained them. Even Chrysalis couldn't claim this changeling for his loot. For each task completed, including the items obtained, changelings received merit points. After completing an operation, this changeling would have to give this bag to the common loot, but he could take it back after spending his merit points. Plus, he'll have priority on a few items he personally looted. This whole system was done so that all changelings could get something after this raid. Some were now filling bags with jewels and carrying them into portals, while others were fighting ponies. But in the end, everyone would be able to get the things they needed according to their contribution to the operation, be it money, ingredients, artifacts, or weapons.

Nodding, the two changelings picked up the third and left the room. Flying up once more, they headed towards Princess Luna's chambers. Compared to the rest of the palace, there was almost no one in this wing. The thestrals, at the moment, were assaulting the interference crystals in Canterlot, hoping to contact their Princess, and the changelings weren't particularly interested in this part of the palace.

Luna's return had alarmed Chrysalis somewhat - she knew little about her, and even less about the limits of her abilities. And given that her abilities were related to dreams and mind - Chrysalis had ordered all changelings to stay away from her, not wanting to risk the entire operation for the sake of a few advantages. So the changelings didn't disguise themselves as thestrals close to the princess, and didn't even know what her chambers looked like from the inside. Everything more or less valuable that was in plain sight had already been taken away, and there was no point in even messing with the hiding places created by the alicorn.

Without any information, they might take a month to crack it and get nowhere. And even if they did break into such a cache, it could be candy, a bottle of wine, or some other small thing that had been given divine-level protection by an alicorn's will. Not to mention that the alicorns clearly had spatial artifacts and carried everything of value with them. They couldn't even get into Celestia's chambers, and Luna's modestly furnished chambers weren't anything interesting. Most had chosen other more profitable places to loot, and Luna's chambers only had two changelings studying the runes on the wall, who were here only because of a command.

The creak of the door drew them away from the wall and they turned, looking at the trio that had entered.

“Reinforcements have arrived, boys,” smirked a soldier, greeting them through telepathy. “We have someone who can help you. He doesn't remember how to use telepathy, though.”

The changelings only looked at the soldiers perplexed. A help? From someone who forgot basic things even children know? Is this some kind of stupid soldier's joke?

They were peacefully engaged in deciphering the runes, which was the job of their research department. Why did those armored idiots come here? Did they have nothing better to do?

But they didn't have time to express their doubts - a powerful pressure hit the room and all the changelings fell to the floor, shaking with instinctive terror as the beastly roar filled their ears.

All this went on for a few seconds, after which the pressure disappeared as abruptly as it had appeared. But the changelings were unlikely to ever forget these moments.

“What... was that?” hissed the wingless changeling, trying to get up.

“It wasn't in the plan,” replied the soldier dryly, heading for the balcony.

Once outside, he was faced with the expected sight of many changelings and royal guard ponies trying to get up. The battle had been temporarily interrupted.

The changeling frowned as he saw that Chrysalis and Celestia had disappeared somewhere. Canterlot was in total chaos, with the interference distorting everything, and the air still humming with the pressure of that terrifying energy. Reconnaissance spells were out of the question.

According to Queen Chrysalis' plan, in addition to the main part with the alicorn, they were to grab what they could and leave through the portal after the queen's signal when she was done fighting Celestia. Chrysalis, on the other hand, would leave Canterlot on her own.

None of their portals would be able to withstand Chrysalis's magical power and collapse immediately. Besides, there's a pissed off Celestia on her tail. The changelings certainly believed in their queen, but was killing the Princess of the Sun really that easy? Chrysalis shared these thoughts and planned to leave by her own methods. There was no signal yet, but it was clearly worth hurrying.

''We must hurry,'' the soldier said briefly as he returned to the chambers. “After this, we will leave at once.”

“Do we have escape routes?” the wingless changeling asked the question that had suddenly arisen in his mind. “I can't even fly. How am I going to make it out?”

“We have several dozen portals beyond Equestria,” the soldier replied, sitting down in the center of the room. “Come on, do your part.”

The wingless changeling nodded and, to everyone's surprise, ignored the runes on the wall and headed for a massive bookshelf. Standing in front of it, he began to probe the air near one of the shelves.

“Behind the runes on the wall are only memorabilia and the lock is too complicated,” he answered the silent question as he continued to probe the air. “The most valuable things should be here.”

“And where did you get this information from?” one of the researchers asked.

“From Queen Chrysalis,” replied the changeling proudly, poking a hoof at a specific spot in the air.

A ripple spread in front of the shelf and a multitude of silvery runes appeared, forming patterns like frost on glass.

Looking around, the changeling grabbed a silver feather knife and began diligently carving runes into the wall of the bookshelf.

“Can't we just look at the image in his mind?” the researcher perplexedly asked the soldiers.

“Well, try,” snorted a soldier, scrutinizing a picture of a black tree with no leaves, with the moon shining behind it. The multitude of thin bare branches against the pale celestial body brought associations with the veins piercing the moon.

The researcher actually tried it. The changeling easily allowed him to invade his mind, but as soon as the intruder got to the important information - he wrinkled his nose and turned off telepathy. Everything swam in front of his eyes, and the images of the runes that allowed him to open the cache intertwined in his mind, forming chaotic shapes.

“You could have just said there was a defense on the message,” the still-blinking scholar said grudgingly.

“Would you have believed it until you saw for yourself?” chuckled the second soldier standing by the door.

The researcher only shook his head - this was exactly why they pissed him off.
The wingless changeling, meanwhile, finished carving the runes and called the two scholars over to him. There were four extremely complex runes carved on the rack, with many intricate patterns. And from the looks of it, these four were parts of a single rune. None of the changelings knew these runes in detail, but they were able to determine that they belonged to the dream runes. Which was logical, considering the personality of the chambers' owner.

“Well, that's a bit of a problem,” one of the researchers muttered thoughtfully. “They have to be activated one at a time and then merged together, right?”

Receiving an affirmative nod from the changeling, the researchers frowned.

Activate four runes and then merge them altogether? That meant they needed to think of four things at once. They were capable of two at most, but not in this case - each of the four runes was extremely complex. And the changeling that brought the information was poisoned and unable to use magic at all.

“We need your help,” the scholar sighed, calling out to the soldiers. “Otherwise we'll be here till nightfall.”

Ignoring the soldiers' condescending smiles, the researchers began to explain the activation procedure to them, transmitting images of the runes via telepathy. After doing a few test activations, they made sure there would be no problems.

“Ready?” asked the scholar in charge of the first rune.

After receiving an affirmative nod from the others, he lit the horn and soon a silvery rune emitting mist hovered in the air in front of him. Following him, two soldiers activated the second and third runes. Finally, another scholar activated the fourth rune.

Coordinating through telepathy, the four began to merge the runes into one. After a few minutes, they succeeded and a giant rune, shaped like a butterfly, hovered in front of the shelf. Without relaxing, all four of them directed this rune towards the defense mechanism. The rune flashed and retracted inside, but nothing happened - the defense was still in place.

The changelings looked around perplexed, trying to figure out where they had gone wrong, when suddenly four runes flew out of the shelf and hit them in the heads. Immediately their eyes rolled back and they collapsed to the ground. Judging from the sniffling, they were in a deep sleep.

The remaining changeling looked at the situation in shock. Had they made a mistake? What should he do now?

Something caught the changeling's attention, and it began to back away in fear - the changelings' bodies were rapidly aging, and their energy was being greedily absorbed by the shelf. Luna was clearly not the type to let others pry into her secrets.

Suddenly, the changeling felt dizzy and spread his legs wide, trying to keep his balance. The whole room blurred before his eyes, and the sharp ringing in his ears, accompanied by a severe headache, made him scream and the next second he collapsed to the floor unconscious.

A moment later, thick black smoke billowed from his body, taking the shape of a human.

***

It was unlikely that Chrysalis had expected that her attack that tore apart Celestia's body would cause far more serious consequences.

The huge beam that struck Celestia went deep into the ground, and reached the cave with a certain prisoner. Weakened, during the time of sinking into the ground, the beam could not destroy the rune fortified cave, but still left a crack in it. And that crack, along with the chaos going on in Canterlot, was enough.

Within moments, the statue of Discord began to crack and collapse, revealing the creature inside. A magical pressure came over the entire Canterlot, sounding like the screams of all sorts wild beasts with a distinctly dragon roar. Discord didn't do this on purpose, he preferred to stay in the shadows and act stealthily. It was just that he couldn't control his energy right now and that was its natural state.

The last pieces fell off his head and Discord blinked, took a deep breath and looked around - a few kilometers of ground wasn't a problem for him.

“What the fuck?” he thought grimly, looking at the changeling queen and the remains of Celestia. “It's too early.”

He had planned his breakout long ago and now his plan was crumbling before his eyes. He was to remain imprisoned until a certain event occurred. It would be bad if he showed up right now.

Discord squinted his eyes and his dragon pupils sank into Chrysalis, the cause of his bad mood.

“I hope you last at least a minute,” Discord muttered and the air around him vibrated. “Otherwise I won't be satisfied.”

But suddenly, several beams flew out of the dust and shards of the statue, piercing Discord. Immediately, golden symbols and words in an ancient language began to appear on his body, forming into bizarre patterns. With each new symbol, he could feel the pressure building on him. Discord frowned and tried to remove the symbols, but they only grew larger.

“Fuck, when did she pull that off?” mentally scolded Discord, teleporting out of the cave. “Even managed to interfere with the Elements seal, too.”

Appearing in a deep part of the Everfree Forest, Discord began to quickly burrow underground. After going a dozen kilometers deep, he flicked his claws and the tunnel closed.

"Please don't disappoint me, Sombra," thought Discord, curling up into a ball and falling asleep. The golden symbols faded a bit and their spreading speed decreased.

Meanwhile, Chrysalis was resting in the Royal Garden, not even realizing that Celestia had just saved her life. She didn't leave the garden for one reason: the battle wasn't over yet. Didn't alicorns have defensive methods? Creatures of that level could be defeated or made to flee, but killing them was a different story. Even Chrysalis had a way to resurrect herself, albeit with harsh conditions to use, let alone Celestia.

After a while, Chrysalis felt a pulse from the sun and looked over at the remains of the princess as flames slowly flared up. Flying into the air, Chrysalis watched what was happening, analyzing Celestia's method. It was pointless to try to intervene and interrupt the resurrection, as Celestia had obviously foreseen it, so she could only watch.

More and more flames broke out and soon a giant fire was raging in the middle of the royal gardens. The flames began to swirl and formed a fiery tornado. After a moment, all the flames were drawn into the center and Princess Celestia appeared completely unharmed in the air.

“She's stronger now,” Chrysalis remarked in surprise, feeling Celestia's energy. “Did she have injuries after the battle with Nightmare Moon? Then why didn't she reborn sooner?”

There was only one possible answer - the method had some recharging time and Celestia preferred to recover slowly, not risking losing her trump card. Comparing her observations with the pulse from the sun, Chrysalis concluded that the condition for revival was a full sun rotation around Equus, which meant the recharge was one year.

Meanwhile, Celestia stared blankly at the hole in the ground, or rather at the cave beneath it. After a moment, an image of the sun appeared behind her and she shifted her gaze to the changeling queen.

The temperature began to rise rapidly.

A True Person

by Serene Wish

Chapter 1 - No regrets

Chapter 2 - Brave New World

Chapter 3 - A glimmer of hope

Chapter 4 - Shameless

Chapter 5 - Path

Chapter 6 - Matters of love

Chapter 7 - Throwing off the shackles

Chapter 8 - The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on

Chapter 9 - A demon on the loose

Chapter 10 - City of light, city of magic

Chapter 11 - Kind heart

Chapter 12 - Blood and tears

Chapter 13 - Betrayal

Chapter 14 - Loyalty

Chapter 15 - Insignificant characters

Chapter 16 - New Hope

Chapter 17 - Love and purity

Chapter 18 - Indifference of stars

Chapter 19 - Royal wedding (1/???)

Chapter 20 - Royal wedding (2/???)