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Shape Your Home, Part 6

By Ponegreen
Created: 2022-11-24 22:56:17
Updated: 2024-10-03 18:55:44
Expiry: Never
anon/nmp/nsfw#decacustom universemarewaifumonogamyspace fictionterraformingx:btf

  1. Prompt: #deca CPU pony wAIfu green, for /mlp/'s /nmp/ (Part Six Complete)
  2.  
  3. 145
  4.  
  5. >Day 1, Addendum
  6.  
  7. >Upon gathering with the rest of the squad after your first actual sighting of Lush Field, Sky Squall, Luna, and you learn that several of the other teams have found clues which coincide with yours.
  8. >Even though it was practically apparent at first glance, you as a team are now absolutely certain that the attack on the hamlet was not only deliberate, but also executed with a certain course of action.
  9. >Someone planned to go for the houses here.
  10. >Granted, the approach does not appear to be overly complex or subtle.
  11. >Far from it, actually.
  12. >Though it was undoubtedly still very effective.
  13. >Of course, this is nothing new for you.
  14. >Yet it is a wholly different situation for the ponies around you.
  15. >And not one that they are really happy with either.
  16. >Even more so now than before, in fact, as they now have seen the aftermath of that event with their own eyes.
  17. >And specifically, what their opponent is capable of.
  18. >Which is a highly unsettling notion for most of your squad mates.
  19. >But before any notable uncertainty can spread in the ranks, especially amongst the rookie volunteering Pegasi, both Sky Squall and Princess Luna take action.
  20. >They point out that they can use all the small bits of information to their advantage.
  21. >And the princess, determined to lead by example, does exactly that.
  22. >She meticulously gathers all the intel that the entire squad can provide, and attempts to thoroughly reconstruct the happenings of the attack, based on what your teams have reported.
  23. >Luna looks for recognisable patterns by comparing the conditions of the individual houses, takes a few educated guesses on the possible number of involved attackers, and even tries to retrace the exact order in which the houses were attacked.
  24. >Most of the ponies around her only see the superficial part of Luna's strategy at first, but you understand what she is doing.
  25. >Luna does not simply want to analyse the attack itself.
  26. >She wants to get a first mental grasp on the mindscape of the attackers.
  27. >To get an insight into how they might think and act, even without being able to interact with them directly.
  28. >After all, if there is one pony who can understand the subliminal processes within someone's psyche, it is her.
  29. >And once she has understood this crucial point, she may also be able to predict the next steps of the attackers.
  30. >Provided their perception of the world operates in at least tangentially comparable terms.
  31. >Fortunately for Luna and her approach, #deca.mare and you made sure that ponies and dragons, and most of the other major resident species in Equestria for that matter, can communicate with each other on an even level.
  32. >If they decide to do so, that is.
  33. >So you are not at all surprised that Luna manages to present her first theory in record speed.
  34. >She believes, with a fair degree of certainty, that this attack was merely a test.
  35.  
  36.  
  37.  
  38.  
  39. >A test for the attackers to measure their own strength, and to probe how the ponies would react to this attack.
  40. >And, most importantly, to see if the ponies can defend themselves.
  41. >Princess Luna bases this supposition on the most likely order of the strikes against the houses and fields.
  42. >Because she is convinced that the fields around the hamlet were burned first.
  43. >And when the assailants noticed that there was no measurable pushback, they proceeded to aim for the houses next.
  44. >With ever growing confidence and recklessness.
  45. >Apparently, more to make a statement of power than anything else, as nothing was stolen and no pony attacked directly.
  46. >For now.
  47. >Thus, Luna concludes two things.
  48. >One, the attackers have almost certainly deemed this ambush to be a resounding success.
  49. >And two, they may become even bolder if they decide to attack ponies again.
  50. >Which might mean more severe casualties in the future.
  51. >This is, of course, unacceptable in Luna's eyes.
  52. >So she wants to demonstrate how spiky ponies can be if they need to.
  53. >Preferably to make their opponents think twice before they consider another strike against a pony settlement.
  54. >But in order to achieve this, you have to find them first.
  55. >And Luna comes up with a plan to do just that.
  56. >Taking her own Lush Field test run theory into consideration, Luna is almost certain that the still nebulous attackers tested their abilities in uninhabited regions first.
  57. >Possibly to learn how to control them before they tried to go for more daring targets.
  58. >If that is the case, you may be able to find some further traces in the more remote areas of the adjacent plains or forests.
  59. >Provided that such clues can be found, your group may actually be able to read the movements of your opponents.
  60. >Best case scenario, according to Luna's vision, you might even find, identify, and confront them in the process.
  61. >The rest of the ponies agree to this idea as well, after only a short moment of common contemplation.
  62. >And mere seconds thereafter, most of their former concerns apparently vanish too.
  63. >It seems as if Luna's calm and methodical approach has worked wonders on the mental fortitude of the Pegasi.
  64. >You for your part are sure that the performance of her usually reserved behaviour helped her a lot to pull this off.
  65. >For her demeanour makes Luna appear as a distant and somewhat aloof, yet also unquestionably competent authority figure in the eyes of the ponies.
  66. >With very little additional effort of her own on top of that.
  67. >Anyway, your team prepares to quickly move out again, and informs the other Pegasi plus the backup group about the changes in the plan on short notice.
  68. >Time is an essential factor in Luna's opinion, as no one knows for sure how mobile and fast your targets are.
  69. >Especially since they appear to be airborne as well.
  70. >The holes in the rooftops of Lush Field imply this quite strongly, after all.
  71. >And well, she is right about that.
  72.  
  73.  
  74.  
  75.  
  76. >Yet as it turns out, Princess Luna is also proven to be correct in regard to the other test sites.
  77. >Because some of the scouting Pegasi eventually find a couple of scorched patches in the woods.
  78. >However, you ensure that you are not even close to one of those sites at the time of their discovery.
  79. >Simply to partially leave the spotlight to someone else in this situation.
  80. >It is the best way for you to keep a low profile for a while.
  81. >And upon a brief initial inspection, it is obvious that these places were chosen because they are the complete opposite of Lush Field.
  82. >Remote and isolated locations, with no imminent value to anyone except for the local flora and fauna.
  83. >No one is likely to be around these parts under normal circumstances.
  84. >Princess Luna interprets this as a confirmation of her considerations.
  85. >Once again, she sends your teams out to gather as many hints about the mysterious attackers as possible.
  86. >You follow her instructions, and report back to the princess as soon as you are done.
  87. >Then she wastes no time in turn.
  88. >Princess Luna combines the new insights that your teams brought to light with the ones she is already aware of, and uses her magically apt perception to come up with the most likely scenarios of what might have happened at these places.
  89. >And by consulting the entire Pegasus team at the same time, due to the considerable flight experiences shared amongst its members, you all work together to consider which plausible movement patterns could be derived from these findings.
  90. >After this extensive common effort, your team splits up in smaller groups again to cover a wider area in less time, just as you did in Lush Field.
  91. >With this, the next phase of the scouring for the attackers of the hamlet begins.
  92. >Which will be, by far, the longest phase of them all.
  93. >You can tell this much practically immediately, as the current location of the dragons in question, as well as the direction in which they are heading are known to you.
  94. >So you know already that whilst the group and Luna are on the right path, it will still take a couple of days before an encounter can occur, given the distance between them and you.
  95. >But this does not mean that you can relax at this point in time either.
  96. >Not at all, in fact.
  97. >Because you want to be in the team who makes the first contact with the scaled flamethrowers.
  98. >And for a very specific reason at that.
  99. >A small plan of your very own, discussed and agreed upon with #deca.mare.
  100. >Yet in order to get into this position, you have to subtly nudge the group that you are a part of a couple of times.
  101. >Which means that you have to make a few well-placed remarks and casual suggestions here and there, to sway your course to a small degree every so often.
  102. >And this in turn requires you to maintain a certain level of attention to detail to remain convincing, making it impossible for you to really relax.
  103. >Though you do have a certain indirect advantage.
  104.  
  105.  
  106.  
  107.  
  108. >Given that you are known to be a good friend and former long-time team mate of Sky Squall, the unofficial second leader of the operation, you are somewhat seen as his unspoken right hand in many regards.
  109. >So if you propose an idea, the Pegasi tend to listen to you.
  110. >Even when the golden stallion is not nearby and busy with leading a different group.
  111. >Therefore, you are, for all intents and purposes, accepted as the de facto temporary squad captain at the moment.
  112. >Yet despite your quasi leading role, you still mind to maintain a fair balance and try to keep an even level in the communication between you and your team mates.
  113. >After all, this is a group that consists entirely out of volunteers, experienced veterans included.
  114. >None of them enlisted in any conventional meaning of the word.
  115. >As such, you keep most of your ingrained militaristic mannerisms at bay, and treat this situation more like a common endeavour rather than a military operation.
  116. >Yet, at least.
  117. >You will probably have to assert more authority if things get rough though.
  118. >But that is a worry for another day.
  119.  
  120.  
  121.  
  122.  
  123. >Day 4
  124.  
  125. >After several days of scouting and reading remote cloud signs, one of your group mates spots something in the distance.
  126. >A single lone flier in the air at nine o'clock, several kilometres away.
  127. >At first, the stallion who spotted the outline believes it to be a fellow Pegasus from another squad.
  128. >But even without your input, it swiftly becomes clear to everyone that this is not a Pegasus.
  129. >Or a pony, for that matter.
  130. >Neither the shape nor the size add up, as it is twice the size of an average Pegasus.
  131. >It features no coat or hair on the body, and no feathers on its wings either.
  132. >Instead, it possesses a natural shell of greenish scales.
  133. >Not to mention the elongated tail, or the multiple appendages on each leg.
  134. >And despite the ponies' total lack of any concept regarding dragons up to this point, everyone instinctually understands that this entity needs to be taken seriously.
  135. >The team slows down, cautiously observing the unknown being from afar.
  136. >Unsure whispers and murmurs spread through the ranks.
  137. >This is the moment you realise that you have to grab hold of the proverbial reins, and become the authority figure who is in charge.
  138. >Not for your own ego or personal grandeur, but simply to maintain the general cohesion of the group.
  139. >You waste no time and do precisely that.
  140. >By giving polite, yet determined and assertive orders.
  141. >You tell a pair of Pegasi to form two different cloud signals to inform the others.
  142. >One signal for a crucial finding, and another for a potentially risky situation.
  143. >After all, everypony is fairly certain that you have just found one of the attackers.
  144. >However, whilst you show everyone that you tend to agree with their assessment, you nevertheless insist on a solid confirmation first.
  145. >And the best way to make sure is to confront your target directly.
  146. >Even against your better knowledge, you have to play this role since you cannot outright tell anyone what you know.
  147. >So you plan to show it to them instead.
  148. >You tell the rest of the team to keep their distance, for the time being, as you approach the dragon alone.
  149. >Unsurprisingly, this idea does cause some objections, as you are putting yourself in danger.
  150. >And it is a fair point.
  151. >Though you argue back that this is why you are the best choice for this approach, considering your experience with difficult situations.
  152. >If things go south, and you know that they will, you are the best suited candidate to react accordingly, and without hesitation.
  153. >Besides, you cannot ask anyone else to endanger themselves on your behalf.
  154. >Also, you make absolutely sure that you convey your complete confidence about your decision.
  155. >Indirectly telling the Pegasi that you will not heed any further reservations in this regard.
  156. >The team eventually agrees, albeit begrudgingly.
  157. >And openly so as well.
  158. >But that is good enough for you.
  159. >So you repeat your order to stay put, and watch keenly until you are convinced that everyone will comply.
  160.  
  161.  
  162.  
  163.  
  164. >Then you give them all a confident nod, and fly straight towards the slowly approaching dragon.
  165. >As soon as you are out of earshot, you directly address your eyes above the sky.
  166. "Alright, #deca. I need the tactical input of our friend here. Give me everything."
  167. >"Understood, Anon. Data incoming."
  168. >A flood of information about the dragon in question streams in on the lenses of your augmented goggles.
  169. >Everything ranging from basic things like name, sex, age, and origin, up to highly detailed intel about what he is thinking and planning right now.
  170. >And the latter category is the one which you are going to need the most.
  171. >So you realign the HUD of the goggles, and discard every other piece of information to "make room" for the dragon intel in the periphery of your vision.
  172. >As you have expected, the data tells you that the dragon has spotted you as well.
  173. >He is apparently mildly surprised by the fact that he sees a pony up here.
  174. >Small wonder when he has only seen Earth ponies up to this point.
  175. >For they have not proven to possess any affinity for flight whatsoever.
  176. >Still, considering the overwhelming success of destroying Lush Field, and the absolute helplessness of the locals, your opponent is fairly certain that he can take you.
  177. >After all, he has an obvious advantage in size, strength, and range.
  178. >So he decides to fly towards you as well.
  179. >With the full intent of blasting you out of the sky.
  180. >At the very moment you are in range for a "breath" attack, to be precise.
  181. >Which is exactly the kind of directly violent reaction that you hoped for.
  182. >With this, he will blatantly demonstrate his rather direct stance on diplomacy to everyone in the area.
  183. >And without any overt provocation from your end as well.
  184. >That should suffice to neatly warrant the confirmation about him being one of the attackers.
  185. >You maintain your direct approach whilst the dragon does the same.
  186. >As far as the dragon is concerned, if he were not already willing to fight you, this alone should have been enough to virtually provoke his personal pride to show you what he has in store.
  187. >Simply because you show no fear, and emit an aura of confidence yourself.
  188. >And no dragon worth his salt could tolerate such a display from a pony.
  189. >But he seems to be more than wiling to do all of that work for you right away.
  190. >And you silently thank him for his hostility.
  191. >So knowing that an initial attack is imminent, you keep a keen eye on the exact distance between you two.
  192. >Since you are fully aware of the effective range of a dragon blast, you also know when things are about to get serious.
  193. >And it is as you have expected.
  194. >A couple of seconds before you reach his range of fire, your intel informs you about an energy surge within your opponent.
  195. >He is preparing a full load for you.
  196. >In fact, you can even see a faint, yet foreboding shimmer of light shining through the teeth of his barely opened mouth.
  197. >He thinks that you have no idea what is about to happen.
  198. >Well, too bad.
  199.  
  200.  
  201.  
  202.  
  203. >This will be a less than pleasant surprise for him.
  204. >As the energy builds up inside the dragon, you make sure that the Pegasi are watching from afar, as it is the sole reason why you are doing this in the first place.
  205. >They do.
  206. >Very good.
  207. >With that taken care of, you can now fully focus on the green scaled firestarter in front of you.
  208. >And he really does not mess about, as you are quick to see.
  209. >Because just as you get the warning of entering his range of fire, the surge reaches its fiery climax.
  210. >Literally.
  211. >And as soon as that peak on the charts is reached, the dragon figuratively tears his mouth open for a deep guttural roar.
  212. >Which is followed by a bright and fairly hot beam of searing energy.
  213. >You for your part, fully prepared for this opener, do precisely what you planned to do all along, and dodge the incoming strike of burning nastiness with a sharp sideward turn.
  214. >The "breath" misses you by a wide margin, and spreads out into the vast empty sky behind you, harmlessly dissipating as the flames fail to connect with anything.
  215. >This nullifies the attack completely, whilst also showing to everypony in the distance that this is indeed the perpetrator they are looking for.
  216. >At least one of them.
  217. >Whilst the dragon realises that your proxy has not been turned into a nice pile of dust, you fail to suppress a smile.
  218. >Because if you could, you would congratulate the dragon for showing his cards this blatantly to everyone in the vicinity.
  219. >Therefore confirming the theories of Luna, and proving the clearly malicious intent behind the attack.
  220. >There is no room to misinterpret that.
  221. >In fact, you are sure that the next alerting cloud signals are popping up already.
  222. >The ones which signal the confirmed detection of an attacker.
  223. >The bottle of the genie is now well and truly uncorked.
  224. >And although you are somewhat miffed that the dragon has no idea that you have just given him the middle finger, or rather made him give said proverbial finger to himself, you have no time to fool around.
  225. >For a second attack is soon to follow.
  226. >You dodge again just as easily, relying on your years of professional flight training, as well as subsequent field experience, combined with the tactical intel you get from your goggles.
  227. >The data stream practically tells you when another blast gets prepared, and in what direction it will be fired.
  228. >Armed with that form of considerable prediction, all you have to do is to evade the blasts themselves.
  229. >And as you are busy with dodging dragon attacks, you practically treat the situation like a dogfight in space.
  230. >The only real difference here is that you have no lasers at hand whilst your opponent does.
  231. >Of course, the theoretically viable option of delivering melee strikes instead exists.
  232.  
  233.  
  234.  
  235.  
  236. >Though a Pegasus has not many ways to put any serious pressure on an opponent like a dragon, as their scaled bodies have very few vulnerable spots to target in the first place.
  237. >Juvenile ones included.
  238. >Plus, you would also fare very badly if you got caught by a close combat attack in turn.
  239. >However, you are confident to make do with the tools you have available.
  240. >And you do have a plan as well.
  241. >Since your opponent is in a clearly advantageous position, dodging enemy fire, literally this time, is your first priority.
  242. >So you base your strategy on that necessary axiom.
  243. >You simply keep moving and make him miss one attack after another, slowly eroding the limited patience of your opponent's strong ego with every single foiled shot.
  244. >This frustrates the dragon thoroughly.
  245. >And after only five further failed attacks, he roars again in a fit of anger.
  246. >Good.
  247. >An angry dragon is a sidetracked dragon.
  248. >Which promptly opens a few windows of opportunity for you.
  249. >Your tactical stream informs you about a change in the dragon's attack pattern.
  250. >For his next attack, he will not only fire a blast in your direction.
  251. >He is also going to recklessly throw himself against you.
  252. >And as you read this, you smile.
  253. "Come on, big boy. Do your worst."
  254. >You are not sure whether the dragon has heard you or not.
  255. >And it changes very little anyway.
  256. >Because only a few seconds later, your opponent takes a sharp turn as he inhales deeply.
  257. >Then he quickly plunges towards you at breakneck speed.
  258. >And you let it happen.
  259. >For you wait until the absolute last moment before you get out of harm's way.
  260. >In fact, it is so close that you can even feel the heat of the beam on the proxy's coat as it shoots out into the sky.
  261. >Yet you remain completely unimpressed by this.
  262. >And instead of trying to get further away from the attack, you too take a sharp turn.
  263. >To fly towards the dragon.
  264. >Just barely keeping out of the blast range in the process.
  265. >The dragon is quite surprised by this sudden turn of events.
  266. >And he is even less pleased with what you do next.
  267. >Because shortly after you rush past the dragon's head, almost touching it as you do, you deliver one precisely aimed buck directly to one of the dragon's wing joints.
  268. >Hitting him in the only vulnerable spot where he can truly feel the power of your blow.
  269. >Well, apart from the eyes, maybe.
  270. >But you would not want to go this far.
  271. >After all, you are here to teach this youngling a lesson, and not to cripple him.
  272. >Even when you are currently feeling a slight notion of animosity towards your opponent.
  273. >Either way though, the kick shows an immediate effect.
  274. >The dragon growls in a mix of surprise and sudden moderate pain, as the affected wing jerks erratically.
  275. >Its sheer reflex forces it to.
  276. >Losing control over his limb for a short while, your opponent suddenly plunges a few dozen metres before he can stabilise himself.
  277.  
  278.  
  279.  
  280.  
  281. >This stunt, whilst certainly effective, did not exactly help to calm the dragon's unbridled ire.
  282. >And you can see the raging temper in his eyes as he targets you again from his lower position.
  283. >He is fully homed in on you now.
  284. >You, and only you.
  285. >So he fails to notice that more ponies are closing in on him behind his back.
  286. >Because the Pegasi, inspired by your example, have taken heart from your approach, once they saw how the large scaled flier faltered in the air after a single accurate hit.
  287. >And even though you have told the Pegasi to keep their distance, they have, technically speaking, done exactly what you told them to do.
  288. >After all, you ordered your squad to idle so that you can go ahead and test a theory.
  289. >Now that this theory has been thoroughly confirmed, however, your standing order does no longer apply.
  290. >And the fact that the ponies have their own axe to grind with this dragon was certainly a great motivator to intervene as well.
  291. >The dragon is caught completely off guard by a second strike to his wing.
  292. >The unexpected blow reduces his breath to a faint gasp, preventing his next surge from ever forming properly.
  293. >It amounts to nothing more than a puff of smoke that slips out through his teeth.
  294. >Once again, the dragon loses more altitude as he struggles to keep his limb from twitching like mad.
  295. >Upon another quick recovery, your target spontaneously decides to retaliate.
  296. >He wants to catch the newest "attacker", according to your tactical display.
  297. >So you quickly intervene with another buck to the side of his midsection.
  298. >This hit is far less effective than the one to the dragon's wing joints.
  299. >But you do not intend to hurt him.
  300. >It only needs to be felt.
  301. >So that he redirects his attention back to you.
  302. >And thanks to the highly scattershot nature of your opponent's focus, it works flawlessly.
  303. >You are the main target again.
  304. >That is, until a third pony tries her luck.
  305. >She bucks the other wing joint for a change, causing yet another short plunge.
  306. >And so it goes on, much to the dismay of your target.
  307. >This little game of "whack-a-dragon" lasts for a few more rounds.
  308. >Every time somepony is in danger of getting caught or hurt, another one is ready to cause a distraction.
  309. >Providing both safety and strength in numbers.
  310. >As it turns out, the lone dragon youngling has no real way to counter this swarm tactic effectively.
  311. >Or at all, to be exact.
  312. >As much as he tries to fight you, he has to realise that he cannot win this one.
  313. >And the thoroughly whacked and blown fuse of said dragon does not help him either.
  314. >He eventually manages to stifle enough of his rage to plan a retreat, even whilst his blood is still proverbially boiling inside him.
  315. >The dragon roars again, louder than ever, and proceeds to tilt himself downwards.
  316. >Then he lets himself fall.
  317. >Deliberately.
  318. >No, not just that.
  319. >He also does everything he can to accelerate.
  320.  
  321.  
  322.  
  323.  
  324. >The ponies around you are quick to notice the sudden change in his behaviour as well.
  325. >Since they are not sure what he is doing next, however, they resort to merely keeping an eye on him from afar as he plummets.
  326. >All the way down to the treetops below.
  327. >And they witness how he prevents himself from crashing in the last possible moment.
  328. >Only seconds before your scaled "friend" would have a rather unenviable tête-à-tête experience with the nearest fir trees, he gathers all of his strength and resolution to gradually change the angle of his steep downward trajectory.
  329. >He manages, although just barely, to regain a horizontal flight path above the woods.
  330. >A few centimetres more, and his claws and legs would have brushed up against the needles of the uppermost branches.
  331. >At this point, you notice that it begins to dawn on some of the Pegasi what he just did there.
  332. >The dragon pulled off a hail mary stunt to "slingshot" himself away.
  333. >Apparently in order to escape from the onslaught of hooves against vulnerable spots.
  334. >And some of your squad mates are inclined to pursue him.
  335. >Yet you call them back at once.
  336. "Wait! Don't chase him!"
  337. >They halt indeed.
  338. >Then you elaborate.
  339. "This isn't a good idea. He'll only get desperate and more dangerous if we corner him."
  340. >A pause.
  341. "Besides, I'm sure there are more of those.... things out there. You could run into a trap."
  342. >Perhaps an impolite description from your side, granted.
  343. >But you cannot use the term dragon yet.
  344. >Nopony in Equestria had a mental concept of such a thing at all until now.
  345. >And much less a word for it.
  346. >Additionally, no one in your current company cares about finding a polite term in this situation either.
  347. >For everypony wants to hear what you have in mind, now that you stopped the Pegasi from chasing that dragon.
  348. >The mare who landed the third strike, a Pegasus with a bright magenta coat and light marine mane, speaks up first.
  349. >"What if it reaches more of its kind? It will tell them about us."
  350. >You look at her.
  351. "Unless you plan to run him fully into the ground for good, that will happen regardless. I don't think we can capture him with what we have available here. Alive, that is."
  352. >The mare understands your implications.
  353. >And for all the ill will she is feeling right now, this is an option she does not want to consider.
  354. >You go on.
  355. "They know about ponies in general already. And even if the existence of Pegasi is news to them, they're bound to find this out sooner or later either way. It's not worth it to endanger ourselves in a chase to keep that information secret for, I don't know, a day or two."
  356. >Then you take a breath.
  357. "And maybe this was enough of a lesson. Perhaps they'll leave us alone now."
  358. >Obvious nonsense, as the dragons will not accept such a humbling act of open defiance.
  359. >But never mind.
  360. >You have to play the role of the cautious planner now.
  361. >Though the Pegasus mare seems to understand the dragon mentality fairly well already.
  362.  
  363.  
  364.  
  365.  
  366. >"Or... they return. In larger numbers. To even out the chances."
  367. >Personally, you are inclined to congratulate her for this correct evaluation.
  368. >But you cannot do that right now.
  369. >For you still follow the plan that you have created with #deca.mare.
  370. >So you must come up with a counter-argument.
  371. >As much as you are on her side in this matter.
  372. "Possible. But this is another reason why we shouldn't resort to a wild pursuit. Since we have certainty now, we must prepare ourselves accordingly."
  373. >It is obvious that your speech has not fully convinced her.
  374. >Still, she is willing to listen to what you have to say.
  375. >"Alright, Star. What's your strategy then?"
  376. >Everyone looks at you attentively.
  377. >Which suits you just fine, as it enables you to steer things in the "correct" direction.
  378. >And given that you benefit from Sky Squall's aureate reputation by proxy, your acumen should not be regarded as suspicious by your squad mates.
  379. >Besides, you have also gained a fair deal of respect yourself by charging the dragon as the intrepid spearhead.
  380. >So you take matters into your own hands again.
  381. >With the tacit, yet notable agreement of everyone around you.
  382. "First things first, Luna and the others need to know about this. Has anyone already replied to our signals?"
  383. >The mare points northwards.
  384. >You spot several distant confirmation signs, telling you that they have seen your alert.
  385. >A quick long-range sensor sweep of the area reveals no less than four different teams already coming your way.
  386. >Luna and Sky included.
  387. >So you are perfectly covered on that front.
  388. "Good. Listen up, we do the following."
  389. >You take a breath.
  390. "Two of us will stay here and inform the others about everything when they arrive."
  391. >A pause.
  392. "The rest of us will follow this... whatever he is. But this won't be a chase."
  393. >You take another breath.
  394. "Instead, we'll keep our distance to scout and observe. A long distance. And we won't engage."
  395. >You look at each of the other members in your team.
  396. "I bet he's returning to his friends after this beating. And I would like to know how many of them are around in total."
  397. >You get some seriously concerned expressions in response.
  398. >And one of the rookie stallions chimes in.
  399. >"Waiting for them to regroup? This sounds dangerous. What if they gang up and chase us instead?"
  400. >You nod.
  401. "That's why I want to keep a long distance between us. To reduce the chances of being seen at all."
  402. >The next question is as predictable as it is inevitable.
  403. >"But what if we are? And what if they catch up with us?"
  404. >A valid concern from the perspective of an inexperienced Pegasus.
  405. >And you do your best to mitigate it.
  406. "If they're all as big as our 'friend' down there, that's unlikely. He isn't as fast or agile as we are."
  407. >A fact which you have proven quite convincingly, just a couple of minutes earlier.
  408. "You've got a point though. So I suggest two of the slower fliers stay here for the briefing whilst the rest scouts ahead."
  409.  
  410.  
  411.  
  412.  
  413. >You look at the stallion who just asked the question.
  414. >And the magenta mare right next to him.
  415. "That's nothing personal against you. It's just an idea to minimise the risks."
  416. >The stallion agrees without much additional consideration.
  417. >However, the mare is not really happy with that suggestion.
  418. >"I want to go with you! You could need a strong pair of hooves!"
  419. >Well, you have to acknowledge that her argument has a certain merit.
  420. >She may not be the fastest flier, but she is determined, agile, and can buck hard.
  421. >And since the few dragons on Equestria are all fairly young, and therefore small for their species, a well placed buck can still stagger them and disrupt their actions for a short time.
  422. >Though you honestly have no intention to get into bucking range during this scouting run.
  423. >So you carefully ask her again.
  424. "Are you sure?"
  425. >She nods.
  426. >And you can read in her eyes that she is keen to join, no matter what happens.
  427. >A no is not an answer for her.
  428. >As you consider what to say in response though, another Pegasus volunteers to stay behind, rendering any further discussion moot.
  429. >With the pair of ponies now chosen, you drop the subject and go on with the mission.
  430. "Fine. Looks like everything is settled. Any further questions?"
  431. >Shaking heads all around.
  432. "Very well. Then let's see where our 'friend' is going."
  433. >You look at the ponies who volunteered to stay behind.
  434. "We'll keep in touch via cloud messages."
  435. >They nod.
  436. >Though one more important thing comes to your mind.
  437. "Oh, and we won't follow him beyond the reaches of our communications either. If he travels to farther places, we'll come back."
  438. >Then you wave at them politely.
  439. "See you soon."
  440. >As you turn around and fly off, you hear how one of them mutters a quiet 'good luck'.
  441. >You appreciate that, even though you are not likely to need it.
  442. >The other Pegasi fall into formation behind you.
  443. >And you pick up the pace soon thereafter, aiming for a level of speed that is both comparatively swift, yet still manageable by your weaker fliers.
  444. >#deca.mare is quick to help you in this endeavour as well.
  445. >She wordlessly projects a suggested speed onto the HUD of your goggles.
  446. >You heed that recommendation, with no further questions asked.
  447. >And thanks to your radar, you can see how well the team responds to that suggestion, even without turning your head around.
  448. >Only a few moments later, #deca.mare also contacts you directly.
  449. >Though she is not planning to discuss matters of speed with you.
  450. >"Anon, do you have a minute to talk?"
  451. >Of course.
  452. >At least as long as you do not say anything out loud.
  453.  
  454.  
  455.  
  456.  
  457. >So you communicate merely via non-verbal means.
  458. >What is on your mind?
  459. >"I just wanted to remind you to, well, stay impartial in this matter."
  460. >You blink.
  461. >You think I am getting too emotionally invested in the incident?
  462. >#deca.mare sighs loudly over the comm.
  463. >It sounds like she tries to find a polite way to tell you what she thinks.
  464. >"I believe it is fair to say, on an objective level, that you have developed a certain... perception of the situation which is... heavily based on a singular perspective."
  465. >She pauses.
  466. >"Caused by a growing emotional sympathy and fondness for the ponies with whom we are living and working together on a daily basis. Analytically speaking."
  467. >Another pause.
  468. >"Do you agree with my assessment?"
  469. >You think about that for a moment before you reply in your mind.
  470. >Well, maybe.
  471. >Probably.
  472. >Yes.
  473. >But this is not a bad thing.
  474. >Of course we form friendships with the ponies we meet virtually every day.
  475. >This is completely natural, and it happened to you too.
  476. >You smile, even though no one can see it.
  477. >But #deca.mare knows that you do it anyway, so this is good enough for you.
  478. >You go on.
  479. >Consider your own friend list, #deca.
  480. >I could name hundreds of ponies on it in a breeze.
  481. >Granted, this would also include "merely" good acquaintances of hers.
  482. >But you think that you got your point across anyway.
  483. >And if you could, you would teasingly poke her side right now.
  484. >Do not try to tell me that you have not formed a close attachment to them as well.
  485. >Because then I am controlling a drunken zebra proxy with horizontal stripes of purple and green.
  486. >You notice a certain delay in her answer.
  487. >Probably thanks to your bizarre mental image.
  488. >"This is true. But it seems that, in your case, the situation has made you... susceptible for certain notions which are... not necessarily positive."
  489. >It is obvious that she refers to the dragon.
  490. >So you cut some steps in the conversation and get straight to the point.
  491. >Put bluntly, you believe I am picking sides.
  492. >"Nothing so overly drastic yet. And generally speaking, you are right. Developing a certain bond with the ponies around you is a good thing. I would never object to that."
  493. >She takes a breath.
  494. >"But consider the proverbial flip side. If you are not careful, then your own personal emotions might cloud your judgement."
  495. >You think about that for a moment.
  496. >Do you think my actions were too harsh?
  497. >"In this particular encounter? No. You did the right thing, and your actions were within reason. It was correct to call the Pegasi back."
  498. >You feel there is still something coming.
  499. >A small caveat of some kind.
  500. >"Though I noticed a slight notion of, well... not directly enmity, but faint anger within you. A subliminal thought which lingered in your mind since you have seen the ruins of Lush Field. And it erupted when you struck the dragon. You took the attack somewhat personally."
  501. >You get what she is saying.
  502.  
  503.  
  504.  
  505.  
  506. >And you have to admit that her analysis of the situation is not wrong.
  507. >Though you did not think much of it after you have left the abandoned hamlet.
  508. >It was just a brief thought in your mind.
  509. >Or so you believe, at least.
  510. >#deca, did I allow myself to get carried away by the general mood about the attack?
  511. >"In my opinion? Not yet. But you were close to it. Hence my remark."
  512. >You blink, but say nothing.
  513. >"I know where that feeling comes from, Anon. Finding friends amongst ponies and taking part in their lives is all well and good. But you need to keep in mind that we have to consider the wellbeing of all sides in this situation. The two of us cannot develop animosities to either of them. You must not lose sight of that. Even when you assume the role of a Pegasus squad captain."
  514. >You take a breath.
  515. >Right.
  516. >I guess that seeing the ruined hamlet struck a nerve in me though.
  517. >#deca.mare inhales loudly.
  518. >"Because seeing something in ruins that you or some of your companions have built up rubbed you the wrong way."
  519. >A brief pause.
  520. >"Believe me. I know far too well how deeply this can get under your skin. I have been where you are now."
  521. >You have no idea how to reply to that.
  522. >And #deca.mare understands this too.
  523. >So she goes on instead.
  524. >"Remember, we are helping to bring this conflict to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone involved. This has been our goal right from the start."
  525. >Another pause.
  526. >"But I need you to maintain your professional focus, Anon. We are on the right track. And you only have to play your part now. Can you do that?"
  527. >You let that sink in for a brief moment before you give her an answer.
  528. >Yes.
  529. >I think I can.
  530. >#deca.mare breathes audibly, yet softly.
  531. >You think she just chuckled.
  532. >"We celebrate afterwards. Equestrian post-crisis party style. How about that?"
  533. >You can practically picture #deca.mare's beaming smile just by hearing her voice.
  534. >She is trying to raise the general mood, as it seems.
  535. >And it is actually enough to lift most of the clouds in your mind.
  536. >You begin to smile as well.
  537. >Sounds lovely.
  538. >Private party, or with guests?
  539. >Now you really hear her chuckling.
  540. >"Whatever we prefer when the time comes. Or both. After one another."
  541. >Sounds like a deal.
  542. >And so you continue your observation of the retreating dragon with a smile on your face.
  543. >You suddenly feel much calmer.
  544. >In virtually every regard.
  545. >It helps you a lot to improve your objective focus.
  546. >And you will need it too.
  547. >Probably, at least.
  548. >For things are going to become a bit wilder before you are done.
  549.  
  550.  
  551.  
  552.  
  553. >Day 6
  554.  
  555. >Four dragons are firmly on your six, chasing you through the air.
  556. >It is the result of a rather unfortunate development.
  557. >After all, this is a mess that you did not want to find yourself in.
  558. >A prime example of things not going according to your original plan.
  559. >Caused by one slight slip-up.
  560. >And although you would have preferred to avoid it altogether, you are forced to deal with its consequences now.
  561. >For the sake of the entire team under your command.
  562. >You have no idea who bungled your strategy by arousing the attention of the dragons in the first place.
  563. >But even if you had the time to find out, it would have changed very little in the grand scheme of things.
  564. >Because once the tactical screen alerted you that the sneaking jig was up, you acted without hesitation.
  565. >You ordered the rest of the team to scatter, regroup somewhere else, and rally the others.
  566. >Whilst you barrelled straight into the small gathering of the dragons at the same time.
  567. >Within seconds, you had the attention of all eight slitted eyes.
  568. >And the others disappeared in the nearest clouds, turning effectively invisible as far as the dragons are concerned.
  569. >It was the easiest and swiftest way to get everyone to safety.
  570. >However, the consequences for you were a somewhat different matter, as you have suddenly turned yourself into the only huntable target on the dragons' radar.
  571. >And with dragons doing what they do best, you quickly found yourself dodging lots and lots of energy blasts.
  572. >Unfortunately for your hunters though, their attempts to pulverise your proxy were not as successful as they hoped.
  573. >Because #deca.mare warned you in advance that this might happen, and provided your team with a backup plan to rely on whilst you play the distracting decoy.
  574. >Her expert guidance leads you right through the inferno, as it shows you precisely how you have to fly to evade any and all incoming attacks.
  575. >This alone is already a tremendous help, which saves your proxy's hide more than once, yet it does not eliminate the main source of the problem.
  576. >Even as you ascend during your evasive manoeuvres and gain some speed, the dragons do not give up.
  577. >They keep following you.
  578. >Obsessed with the urge to dish out some payback for the "humiliation" of one of their own.
  579. >The possibility that this little "beating" was a reaction to them razing a pony hamlet first is a thought that has, unsurprisingly, never crossed their minds.
  580. >Oh well.
  581. >You are not going to discuss that topic with these firestarters now.
  582. >You have to keep dodging ranged attacks as you rush through the skies anyway.
  583. >The dragons show no signs of relenting this time, no matter how often they miss.
  584. >So you proceed to follow the backup plan step by step, and head for a certain direction.
  585. >Because unbeknownst to your pursuers, your small team was not the main force in the area.
  586. >A fact which soon becomes apparent to the dragons, as the outlines of very familiar fliers appear on the horizon.
  587.  
  588.  
  589.  
  590.  
  591. >You do not waste any time by looking at their reactions as you move.
  592. >But you imagine that the dragons are unpleasantly surprised by that particular revelation.
  593. >Especially since the newly arriving group of ponies is six times larger than their own team.
  594. >The newcomers also include a certain dark blue Alicorn princess.
  595. >A princess who is very eager to meet the individuals that are responsible for the chaos at Lush Field.
  596. >Oh boy, this will be something.
  597. >You head directly towards your peers, and the dragons have no means to really stop you from doing so.
  598. >But this does not mean that they are not trying to.
  599. >A few more stray blasts are sent your way every now and then.
  600. >Though you dodge these attacks with relative ease and eventually join the squad of the princess.
  601. >In some ways, things are becoming a bit easier for you from now on, whilst other factors are bound to become more difficult.
  602. >Because the team is going to engage the four adolescent dragons in a direct encounter.
  603. >Equipped with the knowledge of your previous engagement, the Pegasi know precisely what they are facing, and could prepare accordingly.
  604. >And whilst you personally will face fewer attacks in total from here on out, given that you are no longer the sole target in the air, you have to rely heavily on your tactical management skills instead.
  605. >Just like the last time, you are now going to step in if someone is in danger of getting seriously hurt.
  606. >Or worse.
  607. >In theory, this does apply for both sides.
  608. >But since only one of the two is frequently hurling around considerable amounts of firepower, that metric is somewhat skewed in reality.
  609. >And you get a reminder of this right from the start.
  610. >Your opponents do not shy away at the sight of a larger group, and target random ponies to fire at.
  611. >The Pegasi, expecting such an opener, scatter in all directions to surround the dragons.
  612. >This is where the tricky part begins.
  613. >Because whilst this turns all individual Pegasi into more difficult targets, this strategy also means that you have to eye the development of the fight in its entirety.
  614. >And it really is a handful to deal with.
  615. >Within mere moments, an absolute ruckus erupts almost everywhere.
  616. >Dragons fire at ponies.
  617. >Ponies dodge and try to buck the dragons' weaker body parts in response.
  618. >The dragons try to cover each other in turn to get the ponies off their backs.
  619. >Then the Pegasi fly above and below the dragons, to use all three dimensions of aerial combat to their advantage.
  620. >They attack from several different angles simultaneously, until a hoof finally finds its target.
  621. >And so it goes on and on and on.
  622. >Both your radar and your HUD are filled to the brim with everything you can think of.
  623. >Small green coloured blips dancing around larger red ones.
  624. >Warning signs depicting imminent attacks.
  625. >Hazard signs showing already fired blasts.
  626. >And the occasional highlight spot at which you have to intervene personally.
  627.  
  628.  
  629.  
  630.  
  631. >Everything is always on the move.
  632. >Ever shifting and changing.
  633. >With every passing second.
  634. >If you had to compare this scene to something, you would envision a space battle, in which several squads of fighters ambush a handful of larger ships, mixed with a bar brawl.
  635. >It is well and truly nothing short of a pure mess full of mixed signals.
  636. >Comically, yet dangerous.
  637. >Serious and surreal at the same time.
  638. >Though also something you must absolutely deal with like a professional.
  639. >No matter what you may personally think of it.
  640. >But despite your ability to keep track of everything with the help of #deca.mare, your proxy can still only be in one position at a time.
  641. >Which poses quite the challenge when almost thirty individual combatants are involved.
  642. >And you constantly have to rush from one close call to the other.
  643. >Bucking one dragon here, pushing a Pegasus out of harm's way there, or warning someone about something else over yonder.
  644. >For each problem you solve, a new one springs up just as quickly.
  645. >Only a couple of minutes later, and with already a dozen or so solved problems under your belt, the confrontation gradually starts to feel like an attempt of trying to keep water inside a barrel with three holes whilst using only your hands.
  646. >A singular operative is simply insufficient in the long run.
  647. >Fortunately though, you are not completely alone in this endeavour.
  648. >Princess Luna follows a similar strategy, albeit independently from you and your actions.
  649. >She uses her unique insights to monitor the whole scenery, your actions included, as she calmly hovers in the air, only a few metres away from the fighting.
  650. >And the princess intervenes as well whenever necessary.
  651. >In her own special way, that is.
  652. >Unlike your rather "personal" approach, she does not touch anyone directly.
  653. >Neither dragons, nor ponies.
  654. >No, she simply keeps floating in place.
  655. >Her eyes are closed, the focus of her mind seemingly turned inwards.
  656. >But she is keenly watching, and remains fully aware of everything that happens.
  657. >So when Princess Luna spots a pony in peril, she quickly lashes out with her horn.
  658. >She shoots a bolt of concentrated "magic" at the dragon who threatens said pony.
  659. >Without even looking, yet with frightening accuracy.
  660. >And those bolts are much more potent than conventional Pegasus strikes too.
  661. >Her attacks inflict some notable damage on her targets, no matter what spot she aims at.
  662. >The energy blasts hammer against the hard hides of the dragons, and actually shatter some of their scales upon impact.
  663. >Said scales then either fall or flake off, drawing a bit of blood in the process.
  664. >Granted, these are rather minor injuries, even for a small dragon, as the damage is limited to the spot of the direct impact.
  665. >But it is more power than any of the dragons were expecting.
  666. >Especially since they have never seen a pony who can shoot back from a distance.
  667.  
  668.  
  669.  
  670.  
  671. >And so your large opponents, caught off guard by the prospect of getting notably hurt in this endeavour, initially shy away as they are suddenly hit by Luna's beams.
  672. >In many ways, this does remind you a lot of Luna's strategy when she deals with the product of ponies' nightmares.
  673. >Constantly on the lookout, always there, and helping out when she is needed the most.
  674. >The only real difference is that these actions have far more lasting implications here, in the real world, than they have in a dream.
  675. >But you also notice something else in her behaviour.
  676. >And it becomes ever more evident with every shot she delivers.
  677. >Princess Luna apparently only saves those cases in which you fail to do something in time first.
  678. >You do not have the leeway to discuss your suspicions with #deca.mare in your chaotic situation, but you are sure that you are not mistaken in this regard.
  679. >If you had to guess, you would assume that Princess Luna has monitored and studied your movements, just like she does with everything else in the whole perimeter.
  680. >She must have understood your strategy and pattern.
  681. >And now she has decided to act as your backup option.
  682. >A Plan B in the form of an Alicorn, basically.
  683. >The more cautious and planning part of you would normally ask yourself whether Luna might deem your sharp perception of the situation to be suspicious.
  684. >And whether or not she might associate that ability with any form of latent "Windigo magic" or something.
  685. >Right now though, you are just happy to have her on your side.
  686. >Because she actually makes your task bearable for you.
  687. >The dragons, however, do not share your happiness about Luna's laser show in the slightest.
  688. >Quite the opposite, in fact.
  689. >As soon as they have recovered from the first shock of getting their hides battered and bruised, they redirect their anger accordingly.
  690. >Towards the source of this new form of assault.
  691. >And the reaction follows promptly.
  692. >Two of the four dragons retaliate with blast attacks of their own.
  693. >Luna, fully aware of the twin attack that is coming her way, shows no visible reaction to this danger whatsoever though.
  694. >Or so it appears to the naked eye.
  695. >But the illusion of her being defenceless or exposed to the enemy fire is shattered quickly by the sudden appearance of a deep blue sphere of light.
  696. >It seemingly forms around the Alicorn mare as the flames come in contact with it.
  697. >The barrier partially absorbs, and partially deflects the incoming energy, leaving the mare inside it completely unharmed.
  698. >Luna has just used her abilities to turn some of her augments into a temporary dynamic shield generator.
  699. >The shield flickers and crackles lightly as the beams pass by on all sides, but it remains intact.
  700. >Even after the onslaught is over.
  701. >It is impossible for you to tell how straining this defensive measure was for Luna, as it depends to a very large degree on how effectively she manages her own capacities.
  702.  
  703.  
  704.  
  705.  
  706. >Though you would not count on her repeating that trick all that often.
  707. >Especially when she tries to support your cause.
  708. >Nevertheless, her feat did two very important things.
  709. >One, it stunned the dragons yet again, as they did not expect to see Luna still being in one piece after straight up taking that double shot.
  710. >Without an attempt to get away from it at that.
  711. >Luna even grins as the dragons watch her in confusion, just to make a statement.
  712. >The sheer display of defiance in that gesture cannot be more obvious to them.
  713. >And two, watching their princess getting besieged by two strikes riled the Pegasi to completely new levels.
  714. >After all, a good number of them serve as her guard for a considerable while already.
  715. >So you are not surprised that they do not take such a move lightly.
  716. >Though it is not only them.
  717. >The ponies who are merely volunteering for this mission show a similar notion.
  718. >Luna is almost like the embodiment of a living icon to them as well.
  719. >And icons do not get attacked.
  720. >Which is a fact that the Pegasi clearly demonstrate to the dragons.
  721. >By increasing their mutual efforts to fight them off.
  722. >Virtually from one moment to the next, all ponies around you speed up, hit harder, and strike more often.
  723. >As if it happens right on cue.
  724. >You find this particularly fascinating, as neither #deca.mare nor you did anything to trigger that reaction.
  725. >This is purely done by the ponies themselves.
  726. >By them, and their fierce determination to keep their princess and friends safe.
  727. >Your four opponents, on the other hand, struggle to process that they are on the receiving end of this rapid improvement in the ponies' performance.
  728. >And they find themselves suddenly overwhelmed by the swarming Pegasi around them.
  729. >You notice this very clearly too, as the number of alarms you have to tend to decreases significantly.
  730. >So much so that Luna feels able to play a more active role in the engagement.
  731. >She applies yet more pressure on the dragons by occasionally sniping a random target with another beam.
  732. >Just like the previous attacks, the blasts themselves only cause negligible wounds to the hardened dragons.
  733. >But you bet that these lesions, light as they may be, must begin to sting eventually as they pile up.
  734. >Which should then cause the exact effect that you are hoping for.
  735. >And they do indeed.
  736. >After another couple of renewed attacks from Princess Luna, the dam finally breaks.
  737. >Similar to the dragon you have encountered two days earlier, these four roar loudly in irate frustration, and try to break out of the encirclement to retreat.
  738. >The Pegasi, despite their keen urge to buck and batter, simply let them pass.
  739. >In fact, they have waited for this reaction as well, and prepared one last knack to conclude the engagement properly.
  740. >It is a trick the princess has thought of yesterday.
  741. >Or rather, during the previous night, whilst she was meditating remotely with her sister.
  742. >And both of them agreed upon it.
  743.  
  744.  
  745.  
  746.  
  747. >Princess Luna instructed the Pegasi accordingly.
  748. >To ensure they all know what they are supposed to do.
  749. >So as they are sensing the capitulation of their opponents, the Pegasi subtly assume a formation which offers a small, yet notable weak point at its southern end.
  750. >The whole thing shall appear as if it were a slight oversight on the part on the ponies.
  751. >Instead of letting the dragons randomly choose where they force their way out, Luna hopes that they will notice this opportunity and seize it.
  752. >To break free at that potential opening, heading southwards by doing so.
  753. >And in their frantic search for a way out of this pinch, the dragons fall for the ploy remarkably easily.
  754. >They all head for the apparent weak spot in the formation at once.
  755. >The Pegasi carefully back off to a degree, granting the dragons enough space to barrel through without any collisions.
  756. >Then, once they have freed themselves from the encirclement, the dragons make a run for it.
  757. >It is an attempt to gain some distance to you.
  758. >And no pony is showing any signs of trying to follow them.
  759. >For now.
  760. >Instead, Sky Squall tells all the Pegasi to gather for a quick roll call.
  761. >Mostly to see who is in what shape after the de facto brawl with the young dragons.
  762. >You give him a quick salute as the stallion happens to glance over to you, signalling him that you are fine.
  763. >He gets the signal and tends to the rest of the team next.
  764. >And as the Pegasi come together, you watch how Sky Squall unleashes his full potential as a leader while you hover in the air nearby.
  765. >He finds the time to eye every individual pony as he listens to their reports.
  766. >Even when several Pegasi appear to talk to him simultaneously.
  767. >However, as you witness this spectacle, you fail to notice that Princess Luna is soundlessly approaching you from the side.
  768. >At least until she is hovering right next to you.
  769. >And even then, you only register her presence by spotting the flapping outlines of a large blue wing in the periphery of your vision.
  770. >How did you fail to see that on your radar?
  771. >Regardless of the reason for that literal oversight though, you turn your head to the side.
  772. >Princess Luna observes you again, just like she did back on the square.
  773. >It is hard for you to believe that this is almost a week ago already.
  774. >Yet despite the relatively long time that you have spent in the Alicorn's proximity, you still do not feel comfortable when she examines you like this.
  775. >Particularly now.
  776. >The mare is surely processing what she has seen.
  777. >Your whole performance, and your role in this clash, were laid bare right in front of her.
  778. >Plus, she has seen the entire affair through her "magic lens".
  779. >So she must have sensed that you were aware many things.
  780. >Far more than what might appear to be plausible under these circumstances.
  781. >Which includes the "magic" you were exposed to while doing so.
  782.  
  783.  
  784.  
  785.  
  786. >Once again, you wonder what is going on in Luna's head as she watches you.
  787. >And you ask yourself whether she may interpret your actions as being affected by "Windigo magic" or not.
  788. >So you try to read her expression.
  789. >Maybe you can decipher what she could be thinking.
  790. >However, it is still difficult for you to grasp her attitude.
  791. >As far as you can tell, she shows no strong emotions in regard to you.
  792. >That is about it though.
  793. >Everything else would be too much of a projection on your part, based entirely on Luna's equivalent of a poker face.
  794. >But if your assumption is correct, that result is, probably, neither a good nor a bad thing on its own.
  795. >Still, you can only guess what she is about to do next.
  796. >Yet even this turns out to be a tad more awkward than you have first expected.
  797. >Because both of you keep staring wordlessly at one another for a while, whilst Sky Squall is busy with checking on the team.
  798. >You feel the urge to speak.
  799. >To utter anything to break the silence.
  800. >But whenever you get an idea of what you might say or comment on, the subconscious part of you quickly finds a reason not to ask it.
  801. >Then you discard the thought altogether and get back to square one.
  802. >Fortunately though, this strange stalemate ends fairly soon.
  803. >Shortly after you have found your fourth rejected opening for a conversation, to be exact.
  804. >And what a turn of events it is.
  805. >Luna gives you a slow, yet graceful nod.
  806. >Just like that, seemingly out of the blue.
  807. >You forget immediately what you wanted to say.
  808. >Instead, you wait until she is done, and mirror her gesture to return the favour.
  809. >Probably with less elegance, but never mind.
  810. >Though it is her next action which genuinely confuses you.
  811. >Because you have expected this to be an opening for something.
  812. >A conversation.
  813. >Maybe a questioning.
  814. >Or anything else of a similar nature.
  815. >And Luna, certainly with no ill intention of her own, shatters all of your expectations at once.
  816. >By simply flying away.
  817. >She approaches the larger group to personally check on the state of the ponies whilst they are all gathered in one spot.
  818. >Which leaves you behind with a lot of unanswered questions.
  819. >Well, if Luna does not give you any answers, you can still consult #deca.mare.
  820. >I swear she wanted to say something to me for a moment, #deca.
  821. >There was something in her eyes that gave her away.
  822. >And #deca.mare is quick to confirm your assessment.
  823. >"You are right. Luna initially wanted to comment on your performance. To examine your reactions."
  824. >And to probe if I would show some unusual signs?
  825. >"In a way, yes."
  826. >Windigo magic related?
  827. >"It was one of the possibilities she considered."
  828. >You blink as you observe the dark blue Alicorn mare.
  829. >She tends to the needs of the ponies around her, and listens to Sky Squall's report.
  830. >#deca.mare helps you out by displaying a list of what the princess is facing.
  831.  
  832.  
  833.  
  834.  
  835. >Because even though all of the Pegasi made it through the engagement without critical injuries, a couple of blemishes were unavoidable nevertheless.
  836. >You have six ponies with a few ruffled and clipped feathers.
  837. >Five Pegasi got their manes or tails singed.
  838. >And two recorded cases of first degree burns.
  839. >Indirectly caused by being a tad too close to the dragons' breath attacks when they lashed out and shot forth.
  840. >All in all, a list of mild injuries, considering the situation.
  841. >And nothing to be overly worried about either, as even the Pegasi with the burn marks are willing to proceed as usual.
  842. >So far, so good.
  843. >You take this information in and resume your previous conversation with #deca.mare.
  844. >Then why did she decide against it?
  845. >#deca.mare takes an audible breath.
  846. >"A... change of plans has... taken place."
  847. >You tilt your head.
  848. >#deca, I do not like what you are saying.
  849. >Because of the way how you are saying it.
  850. >It takes her a few seconds before she responds.
  851. >"And I would be lying if I told you that I... expect you to like what said change entails."
  852. >Not foreboding at all.
  853. >Not in the slightest.
  854. >Yet you take heart and ask her to go on.
  855. >Alright, what happened here?
  856. >"You see, Luna was communing with her sister whilst you were exchanging glances."
  857. >And?
  858. >There must be more to it.
  859. >"There was. Listening to the conversation between Luna and Celestia gave Harmony an idea for a suggestion. It entails a strategy which can end the conflict quickly. In a manner that enables both sides to come to an acceptable agreement without any losses. And to, mostly, save face at the same time."
  860. >You are not exactly happy with #deca.mare's explanation, as it creates more questions than it answers.
  861. >Though she is aware of that fact and carries on without being asked to.
  862. >"I agreed to that suggestion."
  863. >Hold on, what?
  864. >You said yes without even telling me about it first?
  865. >#deca.mare retains her calm voice.
  866. >She is not at all surprised by your displeasure of being excluded in this case.
  867. >After all, she knew in advance that you are not going to like what you are about to hear.
  868. >And so she tries to justify her decision with a rational argument.
  869. >"There was no time to contact you. I was forced to act quickly because Harmony had to take the first steps immediately."
  870. >A pause.
  871. >"The communicative sphere of the Royal Sisters played a significant part in this phase. They had to be connected to one another in their mental communion for it to work. So the time frame was limited."
  872. >Again some answers, combined with yet more questions.
  873. >But since #deca.mare has at least expressed the urgency behind her actions, you trust in her assessment regarding her making the decision without you.
  874. >However, you still know precious little about the plan itself.
  875. >What did Harmony do?
  876.  
  877.  
  878.  
  879.  
  880. >"Harmony, for the lack of a better term, 'whispered' some suggestions to the two."
  881. >In their own magical bubble?
  882. >"Yes. And before you ask, they have not registered it as such. As an input from a third source I mean."
  883. >A pause.
  884. >"As far as they are concerned, it was... an idea. Swirling around in their 'magical ether', and picked up by the two. You might compare it to some form of mental inspiration that comes from within."
  885. >So similar to how they acquire other insights?
  886. >"Essentially, yes."
  887. >And no Windigo nonsense this time?
  888. >"No, none. And no worries, you have not upended a certain amber stallion's place in history either."
  889. >Well, at least no new problems on these fronts.
  890. >Yet just as you thought that, you suddenly get the instinctual feeling that you will regret thinking this very quickly.
  891. >Because you know none of the details yet.
  892. >And #deca.mare has not said anything that could give you a reason to fully calm down either.
  893. >A part of you might not be fond of asking, but you do it anyway.
  894. >No matter what the two have come up with, you need to see what is going on.
  895. >Especially since it involves an initiative from Harmony.
  896. >You just hope that it does not involve any dreadnoughts this time.
  897. >So here it comes.
  898. >You ask both #deca.mare and Harmony directly.
  899. >Alright, what is your plan then?
  900.  
  901.  
  902.  
  903.  
  904. >Day 8
  905.  
  906. "This was a shit idea."
  907. >You spontaneously say this out loud to a certain duo who is listening, despite neither of them being physically present in the vicinity.
  908. >However, about three dozen Pegasi, and an Alicorn mare, are with you instead.
  909. >And all of them are well within earshot too.
  910. >But not a single pony reacts to your sudden and unexpected outburst.
  911. >In fact, it is likely that they have not even registered your comment in any way whatsoever.
  912. >Because your entire group is standing still on the peak of a small grassy hill.
  913. >Deathly still, almost.
  914. >If it were not for the fact that you know they are still alive and healthy, you could have mistaken them for petrified statues.
  915. >Statues which were perfectly aligned to look in the same direction at that.
  916. >Yet this is not the case.
  917. >The Pegasi are merely stunned.
  918. >Frozen by the sight of fifteen incoming dragons with violent intentions.
  919. >And your opponents are pretty riled up, to put it mildly.
  920. >Because Luna and the team have pushed them a bit too hard towards the south recently.
  921. >Poking into a hornets' nest and all that it entails.
  922. >So the dragons have finally agreed to gather for a massive united storm as a result.
  923. >It is their goal to absolutely solidify their position as the apex force in Equestria.
  924. >And from a purely physical perspective, the dragons are absolutely correct.
  925. >Your group has no conceivable options to counter such a superior force.
  926. >The imbalance is simply too great.
  927. >Which in turn allows the dragons to move with great confidence and surety.
  928. >And they do.
  929. >Their forms may only be small specks on the horizon now, but they are approaching gradually.
  930. >Growing a little bit with every passing second.
  931. >Even Luna, who easily shrugged a direct attack off as if it were seemingly nothing, does not move a single muscle as she witnesses that baneful procession.
  932. >Though she is not quite as paralysed as the rest, as your HUD tells you.
  933. >The Alicorn is immersed in her own little world, communicating with her sister.
  934. >For Celestia is nearby and on the move, rushing to arrive in time.
  935. >She has to join your ranks before the dragons are close enough to attack.
  936. >And despite your advantage of knowing exactly what the two are planning, and how Harmony expects it to play out, you are beginning to have second thoughts about the whole ordeal.
  937. >This is going to become a hot affair, no matter what.
  938. >Something which is, to put it carefully, not quite to your liking.
  939. >Besides, you are not sure whether you would have agreed to it, if the two had given you the chance to consider it.
  940. >But that is irrelevant now.
  941. >#deca.mare and Harmony sealed the deal, and you cannot change that fact.
  942. >The best you can do is to help them in their effort to reach the best possible outcome.
  943. >Oh well.
  944. >You look to the side.
  945. >Sky Squall is standing right next to you.
  946. >Just like the others, he remains motionless for the time being.
  947. >You can read in his expression that he is fully aware of their situation.
  948.  
  949.  
  950.  
  951.  
  952. >Without a wonder, your squad is most likely going to get screwed in many creative ways very soon.
  953. >Plus, to make the situation even worse, your team cannot just scatter or flee either.
  954. >Because if you do, the dragons might spot the nearby ground team.
  955. >And these ponies do not have the boon of flight to get out of harm's way.
  956. >Yet, even with this knowledge in mind, Sky Squall shows no fear.
  957. >He has a grim expression on his face, but he does not falter.
  958. >You bet that, if he would be pressed to do so, he would eagerly charge those dragons on his own as well.
  959. >Straight up.
  960. >And alone, if necessary.
  961. >But you hope that it will not come to this suicidal scenario.
  962. >The "wonder" is already on its way, after all.
  963. >You check the radar on your HUD.
  964. >Celestia is still a couple kilometres away, flying with everything that her wings have to offer.
  965. >Your system uses the available data to calculate her estimated time of arrival.
  966. >Yet the result is not really encouraging.
  967. >With some luck on her side, she may be able to make it in time.
  968. >But even if she does, it is only going to be a handful of minutes before the dragons will open fire.
  969. >At that point, though, it is already too late.
  970. >However, the Royal Sisters have another trick up their sleeves.
  971. >And since it is far less of a gamble than the alternative, they apparently have decided to use said trick in this critical situation.
  972. >The readings of a very familiar pattern appear on your sensors.
  973. >Exactly at the spot where the light Alicorn mare is right now.
  974. >It is faint at first, but rapidly increasing in its potency.
  975. >Princess Celestia focuses her magical energies to form a corridor around herself.
  976. >Using the eyes of her sister as a means to home in on a vacant spot in the local area, she prepares herself for an impromptu jump to the target location.
  977. >And the curious part of you wishes to watch how it happens.
  978. >So you quickly instruct your HUD to establish a connection to the nearest satellite.
  979. >Then you realign its devices to focus on the area in question for a live video feed.
  980. >You get what you desire within two seconds: A high resolution real-time depiction of Princess Celestia.
  981. >Already, at about twenty percent of the required energy threshold to transfer herself, you can see the first visual distortions and faint flashes of light appearing around her.
  982. >It is a clear reminder of the sheer amounts of energy that she is dealing with here.
  983. >And with how much control and willpower she must keep its flow evenly and stable.
  984. >You can only imagine what it may feel like to have this tremendous power coursing through the own body.
  985. >But judging from your personal experience of piloting smaller crafts, and feeling how vividly they can rattle when a corridor is formed, you believe you have at least a vague understanding of Celestia's condition.
  986. >And on a related note, you certainly do not envy future Twilight's penchant for casual teleportation.
  987.  
  988.  
  989.  
  990.  
  991. >In the next few seconds, you witness how the light gradually increases around the mare's body.
  992. >Until she is almost virtually surrounded by it.
  993. >Then you notice something peculiar.
  994. >Unlike the bright and sometimes dazzling flashes of a regular ship corridor transit, the light around Celestia matches the warmly aureate hue of her usual "magic" aura and spells.
  995. >It is only a minor detail on a purely objective basis, but you are astonished to see for yourself how much effort #deca.mare has put into the little details of the augments.
  996. >On top of making sure that they are compatible with largely organic beings in the first place.
  997. >And without boiling the ponies' innards due to excessive heat accumulation or similar issues.
  998. >Though you assume it might be possible for spellcasters to literally cause their horns to glow if they really pushed their limits.
  999. >But at that point, they would be close to subject themselves to a "magical cramp" of overexertion, which would require a prolonged time of recovery afterwards.
  1000. >Regardless of the theoretical potential of seeing Celestia with a shining horn, you have to focus on more important things now.
  1001. >Celestia's preparations reach the critical level close to the jump.
  1002. >She is faster in getting there than any of your vessels,
  1003. >And she does not need quite the same amount of raw power to move herself.
  1004. >Thanks to her, at least in comparison to space ships, fairly small body size and total mass.
  1005. >Still, the almost literal sphere of golden light around her remains a sight to be seen.
  1006. >Then, at the whim of a single thought, Celestia releases it all.
  1007. >And you get the opportunity to witness her instant translocation from two different perspectives simultaneously.
  1008. >The video feed on your HUD is suddenly completely filled with rapidly flickering rays of warm golden light.
  1009. >A telltale sign of an emerging corridor, right in the centre of the sphere.
  1010. >Only the very edges of the video screen allow for an occasional peek through the dancing beams.
  1011. >It is the singular hint which gives away that the feed is still running properly.
  1012. >And whilst Celestia's current position is flooded with light, you also spot a visual disturbance in the area directly in front of you.
  1013. >At the very peak of the hill, a tiny flickering orb is floating in the air, barely a metre above the ground.
  1014. >Seemingly appearing out of nowhere, the orb distorts the very air around it as it wavers in its place.
  1015. >The ponies, barring Luna, take an instinctual step back.
  1016. >And although you know that they are already in a safe distance, the princesses ensured that via Luna's input before Celestia even began to charge herself up, you understand that backing off must seem like the correct decision for the surrounding Pegasi.
  1017. >Especially as the little spot of energy expands without any further warning, forming the other end of the corridor.
  1018.  
  1019.  
  1020.  
  1021.  
  1022. >The anomaly sends a notable gush of wind in all directions.
  1023. >You can only imagine how the ponies might interpret this spectacle.
  1024. >But even without any beliefs in sorcery or other arcane concepts, it still has a staggering effect which you cannot deny.
  1025. >Mere moments thereafter, the corridor ceases to expand, and remains in its current form for a short while.
  1026. >No one can see what is happening within.
  1027. >Not even you.
  1028. >For the emanating light is far too intense to see anything clearly with the naked eye.
  1029. >But since you have gone through the exact same procedure many times yourself, you need no further readings or scans to comprehend what is happening there.
  1030. >So you are not surprised in the slightest when the corridor starts to collapse and recede just as quickly as it has grown.
  1031. >The entire phenomenon vanishes without a trace.
  1032. >But it leaves a hale and hearty Alicorn mare standing right where the little orb has been.
  1033. >Princess Celestia has, in the literal meaning of the word, turned her back on the group.
  1034. >And she immediately begins to examine both the sky and the incoming attackers in front of her.
  1035. >There is no time to lose, after all.
  1036. >She studies the situation for a few seconds before she turns to Luna.
  1037. >The two give each other a silent nod.
  1038. >Celestia then turns around and addresses the group directly.
  1039. >"Step back. Now."
  1040. >Her voice is clear, calm, but nevertheless demanding.
  1041. >And also a hint foreboding.
  1042. >She makes it more than obvious that she is serious about this.
  1043. >Which is quite unusual for her, given that she has earned a reputation of being the more soft-spoken Alicorn.
  1044. >And without further ado, Princess Luna takes the lead again.
  1045. >By motioning everyone to follow her.
  1046. >Away from the scene.
  1047. >Just like that.
  1048. >No comment.
  1049. >No remark.
  1050. >Several ponies are quick to question this decision, as it de facto means that they are leaving Celestia alone at the front.
  1051. >Yet Luna's statement is almost as scant as that of her sister.
  1052. >"There is no time! We will explain everything later!"
  1053. >She trots away from the peak as fast as she can without stumbling or flying.
  1054. >The latter part seems to confuse many Pegasi, as they could easily lift off to get away.
  1055. >Still, they follow Luna's example.
  1056. >Although with considerable doubts.
  1057. >Absolutely no one is happy to turn away from Celestia like this, even with her explicitly telling them to do so.
  1058. >And the most obvious example of that is Sky Squall.
  1059. >During the descent, you can see in his expression that he is wholeheartedly disagreeing with this course of action.
  1060. >Apart from his burning desire to stay rather than run away, he is also far too worried about the wellbeing of the princesses.
  1061. >Leaving Celestia's side is fundamentally wrong as far as he is concerned.
  1062. >You can imagine what he must be thinking right now, and you feel tempted to tell the stallion something to make him feel better.
  1063.  
  1064.  
  1065.  
  1066.  
  1067. >Though you can think of no feasible argument which does not rely on "insider knowledge".
  1068. >Other than that, you could only offer him some shallow platitudes.
  1069. >Yet those will not work on someone like him.
  1070. >That much is clear to you.
  1071. >So you keep quiet instead and follow the others.
  1072. >Luna's chosen destination reveals itself fairy soon too.
  1073. >It is a modest rocky recess, surrounded by grass and small bushes.
  1074. >Near the two-thirds mark on the way down.
  1075. >The spot is not overly spacious, but offers just about enough room for your group to get some cover, if everyone keeps close.
  1076. >And Princess Luna does not waste any time on courtesy.
  1077. >Once you are getting close to it, she gets straight to the point.
  1078. >"Everypony! Gather here!"
  1079. >Her order creates more puzzled looks from all sides.
  1080. >If you had to interpret the reactions you see, you would define them as mild disbelief.
  1081. >As if Luna's last instructions were nigh inconceivable to the Pegasi.
  1082. >And this notion is not all that hard to comprehend.
  1083. >After all, Princess Luna has essentially ordered the princess' guards to abandon her sister during a critical situation.
  1084. >In favour of hiding within a rocky hole.
  1085. >This is not an action which is worthy of a guard team.
  1086. >Even when it is done with Celestia's apparent approval.
  1087. >And whilst the group hesitates, they notice that Celestia is doing something peculiar at the top of the hill.
  1088. >She still stands exactly where she did when she arrived, facing the incoming dragons once more.
  1089. >But now she strikes a challenging pose with a wide stance and spread wings.
  1090. >Celestia tries to make herself appear as big and physically imposing as possible.
  1091. >To show the dragons a display of strength.
  1092. >Of course, you know right from the start that this singular gesture is not going to stop them from attacking the princess.
  1093. >Especially since even a "fluffed up" Alicorn mare does not quite match the size of her opponents.
  1094. >Fortunately though, it is not the only trick in Celestia's tool box.
  1095. >Oh no, this is only the first step.
  1096. >The second follows promptly.
  1097. >Celestia inhales deeply before she shouts at the dragons.
  1098. >And she chooses the highest level of her "Royal Canterlot Voice Amplifier" to do so.
  1099. >Or what will become known as the famous Canterlot voice in the future.
  1100. >Once said city is a reality, at least.
  1101. >"ENOUGH!"
  1102. >The booming volume of Celestia's spoken word breaks all records of what you have previously expected to be possible from a pony.
  1103. >It is nigh painful to listen to, even from this distance.
  1104. >And the sound also creates a reverberating echo which repeats itself several times in the following seconds.
  1105. >Everyone within a radius of several kilometres must have heard it clearly.
  1106. >Unmistakably so, even.
  1107. >So the dragons must have heard and understood her.
  1108. >There is virtually no way around it.
  1109. >And Celestia expertly waits for the echo to ebb away.
  1110. >To maximise its dramatic effect before she goes on.
  1111.  
  1112.  
  1113.  
  1114.  
  1115. >This intimidation move might have worked on almost everyone on this planet.
  1116. >The dragons, however, are one of the few exceptions to that category.
  1117. >Interestingly enough though, you have the impression that Celestia's unusually blunt rhetoric tools are actually helping Luna instead.
  1118. >Because it seems to you as if her outburst "motivates" the ponies to seek cover.
  1119. >You bet that they have never seen the usually well-mannered, polite, and exceptionally understanding Princess blowing a fuse like this.
  1120. >Not to mention her uncharacteristically hawkish and fiery demeanour, plus her apparent attempts of reaching ever new heights on the decibel scale.
  1121. >Well, the trick with the angry Alicorn apparently worked in some way, after all.
  1122. >So much so that most of the Pegasi voluntarily try to back off and get out of sight now.
  1123. >One might even get the suspicion that the two planned it that way.
  1124. >Regardless of whether that was an intentional and calculated side effect of the strategy or not, you follow their example and head for the recess.
  1125. >But unlike the Pegasi, you still have the tools to see what is happening on the peak via your visual feed.
  1126. >So you instruct the satellite to realign its focus again.
  1127. >And after some minor adjustments, it quickly gives you a clear depiction of the current situation on the top of the hill.
  1128. >Celestia is still standing tall like a warding statue.
  1129. >Unflinching and steadfast.
  1130. >She goes on.
  1131. >"You have attacked us without provocation. You came to our realm, destroyed our homes, distressed our ponies. You deny any contact and attack on sight."
  1132. >A pause.
  1133. >"No more. We will not endure this treatment any longer. Today we draw the line."
  1134. >Another pause.
  1135. >"This is our home. And we will protect it."
  1136. >Celestia pounds the grass beneath her with a forehoof.
  1137. >And she somehow manages to use her amplifier to intensify the sound of her kick.
  1138. >It booms across the landscape like thunder.
  1139. >"We implore you to leave. Now. For your own sake."
  1140. >You try not to chuckle.
  1141. >Good luck with that advice.
  1142. >As if the dragons would listen to what a pony princess has to say.
  1143. >Bombastic solo performance or not, it will require more than some fancy words and theatrical tricks to impress this lot.
  1144. >Of course, the princesses expected this as well.
  1145. >Yet the symbolic gesture was made regardless.
  1146. >Just in case.
  1147. >The unexpected might always happen, after all.
  1148. >And perhaps it was also meant to demonstrate to the Pegasi that the third step will be a justifiable measure.
  1149. >Should the more likely result occur, that is.
  1150. >So you closely observe what happens next.
  1151. >Celestia waits for a minute.
  1152. >To see if there is any reaction at all.
  1153. >However, fortune favours the predictable outcome today.
  1154. >The dragons show no sign of even considering Celestia's "recommendation".
  1155. >As far as they are concerned, they believe to have the unbeatable upper hand.
  1156. >Which means they see no reason to back down in any way.
  1157. >So on to phase three it is.
  1158. >"Very well then. You made your choice."
  1159.  
  1160.  
  1161.  
  1162.  
  1163. >The Pegasi around you look at each other as they hear that.
  1164. >They have no idea what is coming.
  1165. >And neither of the two Alicorns was inclined to inform the ponies about anything in advance.
  1166. >Oh well, this is their decision.
  1167. >Though you personally do not agree with them on that stance.
  1168. >In your opinion, the ponies should be aware of what the princesses are up to.
  1169. >After all, it is not like the Pegasi are going to warn their opponents or something like that.
  1170. >Then again, you can imagine that some might possibly lose their nerves if they knew more.
  1171. >Which would make it much harder to organise the group effectively and quickly.
  1172. >And since time is a critical factor for a successful conclusion of the operation, you assume that the princesses preferred to go for the less transparent option.
  1173. >However, the downsides of this strategy quickly go a bit further than exchanging mere confused glances.
  1174. >A fact which is going to make itself apparent right now.
  1175. >Luna stands right in front of the whole group, near the "entrance" of the minor recess, blocking a good portion of the exit solely with her body.
  1176. >With this, she is somewhat "shielding" the ponies inside.
  1177. >Her eyes are closed yet again, and her head is slightly bowed towards the crowd.
  1178. >Unfortunately, things are going a tiny bit awry at this point.
  1179. >Because some of the ponies appear to grasp the gist of the strategy.
  1180. >And there are several contributing factors for this.
  1181. >For one, Luna's horn begins to glow.
  1182. >Its light grows stronger than usual, indicating that she is obviously preparing herself for a potent spell.
  1183. >And two, her gestures reveal a bit more than she probably intended.
  1184. >Princess Luna would not act like this if she targeted the dragons or something in the environment.
  1185. >Which leads to the only logical conclusion.
  1186. >The princess is aiming at the ponies.
  1187. >And why would Luna cast something on the squad?
  1188. >The group which she meticulously and deliberately gathered in a small, relatively confined area?
  1189. >Well, the answer to this question is fairly self-evident.
  1190. >And you notice that the magenta Pegasus mare is raising her voice.
  1191. >She must be one of those who understood it.
  1192. >And, more importantly, she also has the guts to point it out.
  1193. >"Princess, you want us to... camp in this place?"
  1194. >Her words betray a notable degree of tentative disapproval.
  1195. >Something which is almost unheard of in the presence of the Royal Sisters.
  1196. >And Princess Luna hesitates for a second before she replies.
  1197. >She must feel the undertones in that mare's voice as well.
  1198. >But unlike her sister, Luna is not really all that well-versed in the art of diffusing conflicts.
  1199. >Deeply subconscious spheres of pony dreams are one thing.
  1200. >Debating with a group of disapproving Pegasi though?
  1201. >That presents some problems to her.
  1202. >Additionally, her mind is currently shifting a considerable portion of her attention towards the next spell.
  1203. >Which means Luna simply has not the time she would need to think of any elegant wording anyway.
  1204.  
  1205.  
  1206.  
  1207.  
  1208. >So she is careful and reserved in her response.
  1209. >"If you... wish to call it that way."
  1210. >A short, but stiff pause follows.
  1211. >"We... care about your wellbeing."
  1212. >You for your part are aware that Princess Luna is telling the truth here.
  1213. >Her delivery of the truth, however, is pretty lacking.
  1214. >She sounds very cold, and almost emotionally detached.
  1215. >Whilst her own sister is the sole target of more than a dozen dangerous opponents.
  1216. >Not exactly the best way to present her point.
  1217. >And this particular shortcoming has a rather unfortunate consequence.
  1218. >Because #deca.mare hastily sends you a brief warning message, and simultaneously talks to you directly over the comm.
  1219. >"Anon! Keep Sky Squall in check! He is about to make a mistake!"
  1220. >Judging from her voice, #deca.mare is dead serious about this.
  1221. >So you do not ask any questions.
  1222. >Instead, you look around and scan the place to see where Sky Squall is located.
  1223. >You spot him near the "entrance" of the recess, indicating that he was one of the last ponies to get inside.
  1224. >Not much of a surprise, really.
  1225. >But it is also a considerable predicament for you now, as you see him rising up again to face Princess Luna.
  1226. >And being the staunch stallion that he is, he openly gives both Luna and the crowd a piece of his mind.
  1227. >Sky Squall remains polite and collected, but does not pull his punches.
  1228. >"Princess, with all due respect, but hiding in a hole? When... they are out there, threatening your sister? We cannot do this! We are your guards! We are responsible for your wellbeing! No matter what stands against us!"
  1229. >Oh shit.
  1230. >If Sky Squall is really going to pull off what he implies here, then you have a problem.
  1231. >A big one.
  1232. >You cannot let him do that.
  1233. >So you get up as well and try to reach the stallion.
  1234. >But given the highly limited space and the tight crowd of ponies in said room, your progress is very slow.
  1235. >You literally have to shove your way free.
  1236. >And Princess Luna is quick to interrupt Sky Squall once he begins to mention the virtues of a loyal guard.
  1237. >Which is kind of a shame from a tactical perspective.
  1238. >Because if she had given him the chance to bluster, it would have bought you more time.
  1239. >Especially since Luna is not doing a particularly good job at calming him down.
  1240. >She switches over to her own Royal Voice to make a point.
  1241. >But it clashes quite badly with her somewhat hesitant and still far too emotionally detached response.
  1242. >"Esteemed Sky Squall... we know of... and understand your... concerns. But worrying about our sister is not... expedient."
  1243. >Expedience.
  1244. >Truly the way to go when you are talking about the life of your own sister.
  1245. >Alright.
  1246.  
  1247.  
  1248.  
  1249.  
  1250. >Though you cannot really blame Luna.
  1251. >She is earnestly trying hard to give her best.
  1252. >But this mare is far, far outside her element, and also considerably sidetracked by a complicated and crucial procedure.
  1253. >Rhetoric niceties are the last thing on her mind at the moment.
  1254. >If anything, you should be kicking yourself for not being closer to the entrance.
  1255. >Because you should have seen this coming.
  1256. >"Not... 'expedient'?"
  1257. >Sky Squall sounds as if that response dumbfounds him.
  1258. >And Luna's silence does not help to improve the situation either.
  1259. >Not one bit whatsoever.
  1260. >"Princess? Are you feeling well?"
  1261. >Judging solely from the strained expression on her absent-looking face, Sky Squall seems to conclude that she is apparently not feeling well at all.
  1262. >Perhaps he might even think that something is clouding her judgement.
  1263. >And what value could be found in her instructions if this were the case?
  1264. >Very little, to put it politely.
  1265. >Yet whilst your own tools tell you that Luna is doing great in her priority work, the ponies under her command have no way of knowing this.
  1266. >And you do not think that she can just ask Celestia for advice on how to solve this problem.
  1267. >Not in her current state.
  1268. >Both mares have far more pressing matters in their mind at the moment.
  1269. >So Sky Squall takes the initiative, just as he has done countless times before.
  1270. >"We have to help Celestia!"
  1271. >Not good.
  1272. >"I won't let these things hurt the princess!"
  1273. >At this point you earnestly wish that the princesses had spilled the beans on what they are doing.
  1274. >Because Sky Squall would not even think of leaving this place if he knew.
  1275. >Wish or no wish though, that is outside your sphere of influence.
  1276. >And, in a way, you feel just like him.
  1277. >He is chasing something because no one told him about the plan.
  1278. >Similarly, you have to chase him in turn because #deca.mare and Harmony had no time to inform you about the changes in their respective plan.
  1279. >But you discard that notion immediately, as it would be nothing more than a petty blame game with nothing to gain.
  1280. >You simply have to play with the cards that you were given.
  1281. >That being said though, you can only watch as the stallion turns towards a part of the opening which is not occupied by Luna.
  1282. >With the obvious intent to leave.
  1283. >And the princess tries to stop him with words, as she is unable to catch the stallion in her magic aura.
  1284. >All of her power is required elsewhere, after all.
  1285. >"Sky Squall! Halt!"
  1286. >Unfortunately, the golden Pegasus does not listen.
  1287. >He slips past Luna and bolts.
  1288. "Shit!"
  1289. >You almost barrel the rest of your way to the opening and ignore the reactions of the Pegasi you bump into.
  1290. >Curiously though, you think you hear a familiar mare's voice saying something nearby.
  1291. >Yet you simply assume it is a complaint of some sort about you crashing into her side.
  1292. >Anyway, moving on.
  1293. >Apologies can be made later.
  1294.  
  1295.  
  1296.  
  1297.  
  1298. >Once you are standing right next to Luna, the princess addresses you as well.
  1299. >"Star?"
  1300. >You keep it brief and concise as you toss any form of decorum straight out of the proverbial window.
  1301. "Don't stop! Keep your focus on your spell! I'll bring him back!"
  1302. >You cannot afford to consider whether your words may have sounded irreverent towards the princess.
  1303. >And you do not wait for an answer either.
  1304. >Because every wasted second only widens the head start of Sky Squall a bit further.
  1305. >So you leave the small hole in the hill behind and look at the peak.
  1306. >After all, it is the only logical point of interest for Sky Squall.
  1307. >And sure enough, you do spot him on his way there.
  1308. >The stallion is running uphill again.
  1309. >You thank your lucky stars that he is not flying yet.
  1310. >For that would make everything much more complicated.
  1311. >So you grasp that small advantage without hesitation and lift off to intercept Sky Squall from above.
  1312. >Then you disable all of your proxy's limiters and go straight for your top speed at a hell-for-leather acceleration rate.
  1313. >You take everything that your augments can provide.
  1314. >Going well and truly beyond any critical thresholds and safety parameters while doing so.
  1315. >You have no idea how long the augments can take that punishment before they burn out, possibly literally, so you can only hope for the best.
  1316. >And you are quickly reminded that the best is exactly what you need.
  1317. >Because as soon as you are in the air and gradually make up ground, you see how Celestia is charging her horn.
  1318. >The entire length of her, well, organ of sorts, is bathed in a warmly golden light.
  1319. >Then, from one second to the next, the charge releases itself.
  1320. >A bright beam of gleaming light shoots into the sky, apparently directly into the sun above the world.
  1321. >However, you know better.
  1322. >For you are very well aware that there is something between the planet surface and the star which bears the same name as the princess on the hill.
  1323. >And you realise that you run out of time.
  1324. >You have to stop Sky Squall at once.
  1325.  
  1326.  
  1327.  
  1328.  
  1329. >You do not pay any further attention to the imposing beam for the time being.
  1330. >Instead, you focus on Sky Squall.
  1331. >And, more specifically, your approach at an alarming speed.
  1332. >After all, you are almost treating your proxy like a fired projectile.
  1333. >So you have to make damn sure that you get this stunt just right.
  1334. >Luckily, the stallion does not notice your approach.
  1335. >For he is completely and utterly hell-bent on reaching Celestia.
  1336. >Even the skywards beam does not make him flinch in any way whatsoever either.
  1337. >You have got to hand it to him, this horse is stalwart and loyal.
  1338. >Which makes the next thing all the harder to pull off.
  1339. >On virtually every level you can think of.
  1340. >You just hope that you are not about to ruin your friendship.
  1341. >Good intentions or not, this will not be pretty.
  1342. >You aim a forelimb at the back of Sky Squall's head, going straight for a stealthy sucker punch.
  1343. >Then you whisper a single word, shortly before you hit him.
  1344. "Sorry."
  1345. >Despite the close proximity, it seems unlikely that Sky Squall has heard it.
  1346. >And even if he did, he will not be able to spend much time on processing that sound either way.
  1347. >Because the hard and ironshod hoof of your proxy collides violently with the helmeted back of Sky Squall's skull.
  1348. >The sound of metal clashing against metal is almost disturbing to listen to.
  1349. >Especially since you know whose head is inside said abused helmet.
  1350. >Of course, you are aware that you cannot actually kill Sky Squall, even if you were to accidentally smash his head in its entirety.
  1351. >But in spite of this knowledge, you are not at all fond of hurting him nevertheless.
  1352. >However, the situation gives you precious little time for qualms.
  1353. >As much as you may hate it.
  1354. >The power of the impact, combined with the kinetic force of both your speeding proxy and Sky Squall's running body, causes both of you to bump off each other, shoot forward, and hit the ground.
  1355. >Neither of you has any real control over your mutual fall.
  1356. >Which means that both of you ram yourselves unceremoniously into the grassy dirt ground, front first.
  1357. >It is the worst proxy flight crash since your first failed attempt to land in the simulation.
  1358. >But taking place in reality this time around, whilst dragging someone else with you.
  1359. >Another reminder why this is not a deed to be proud of.
  1360. >Though, again, having the time to dwell on this thought is a luxury which you do not possess at the moment.
  1361. >You still need to act.
  1362. >No matter how tricky the situation may already be.
  1363. >Or how difficult it could still become.
  1364. >Sky Squall and you tumble quite a bit as you roll downwards again, adding further to the general confusion and disorientation.
  1365. >Eventually though, you come to a stop.
  1366. >Sky Squall does the same, a bit further down.
  1367. >Although not due to any intentional doing of his own.
  1368.  
  1369.  
  1370.  
  1371.  
  1372. >The stallion lies on his side, motionless.
  1373. >Even from a certain distance, one nasty dent is visible on the surface of his helmet.
  1374. >A dent in a masterfully crafted piece of armour, caused by your singular strike.
  1375. >Truly a testament of how much force you applied during your stunt.
  1376. >And upon seeing this damage on his gear, a freezing shiver runs down your back and spine.
  1377. >Could you have hit Sky Squall with too much force?
  1378. >Judging from the looks alone, the now malformed metal must press uncomfortably against some parts of his head.
  1379. >If not worse.
  1380. >You try to stand up and run to the downed Pegasus.
  1381. >Yet before you are fully on your own legs again, you notice that Sky Squall is stirring as well.
  1382. >At first, you feel relieved to see him moving, and send a silent mental thank you to the able smith who made Sky Squall's gear.
  1383. >But that cheery notion is quickly fading, as he too starts to rise.
  1384. >Once again, he is just as apt in getting back up as you are.
  1385. >Well, shit.
  1386. >You waste not even a single moment, and instantly pounce him a second time.
  1387. >The irony of worrying that you might have critically wounded one of your closest friends in one moment, only to physically tackle him in the next, is not wholly lost on you.
  1388. >However, if there will ever be a time in which you can appreciate said irony, then it must be a very distant one.
  1389. >You land on Sky Squall's back and get a grip around his neck with your forelimbs.
  1390. >This impact and the sudden surprise force him to stagger again.
  1391. >However, he has somehow managed to regain enough of his wits to keep standing.
  1392. >Bad.
  1393. >Very, very bad.
  1394. >You wanted Sky Squall to be prone and hamstrung by now.
  1395. >Because you hoped that you could carry him back to the safety of the recess.
  1396. >In reality though, the stallion is still able to pick up a fight.
  1397. >And he absolutely makes use of this option.
  1398. >With no questions asked.
  1399. >Sky Squall is a fighter, and he does not back down.
  1400. >A fact that you have known all along.
  1401. >Which is why you tried to avoid this very situation to begin with.
  1402. >He struggles like a savage, ferociously bucks the air behind you, and jumps around with you on his back.
  1403. >The Pegasus is trying to shake you off with every move.
  1404. >And if it were not for your enhanced control over the augmentations of the proxy, then he would have a pretty good chance of actually succeeding with this strategy.
  1405. >"Get off, you foal of a ratite! We must help the princess!"
  1406. >You refuse.
  1407. >Rather unsurprisingly.
  1408. >And you are not afraid to let him know that too.
  1409. "No, you idiot! You must get back into the cave!"
  1410. >Hearing your voice seems to surprise Sky Squall.
  1411. >The stallion relents for a brief moment as he realises who has attacked him.
  1412. >"Star? You?"
  1413.  
  1414.  
  1415.  
  1416.  
  1417. >You nod.
  1418. "Yes! And I tell you the truth! Do what Luna says! You must get back!"
  1419. >Another buck is your answer.
  1420. >"No! I don't know what's gotten into you and the princess, but this is madness!"
  1421. >That it is.
  1422. >Though not for the reasons that Sky Squall sees on the horizon.
  1423. >He is lacking the necessary perspective.
  1424. >For better, and for worse.
  1425. "It's not safe for us out here! Believe me!"
  1426. >Sky Squall rears up.
  1427. >Then he tries to get you off by wildly flapping his wings.
  1428. >"Of course it isn't! Have you forgotten why we're here?"
  1429. >Alright, you did not exactly come up with the best argument.
  1430. >Regardless of that though, you still have to get Sky Squall to safety.
  1431. >Somehow.
  1432. >But you apparently have to involve yet more physical means to make that happen.
  1433. >Since he is currently standing on only two legs, you yank at the stallion's shoulders to disturb his balance.
  1434. >Yet that alone is not enough.
  1435. >So you use the wings of your proxy to bolster your attempt with a couple of brisk flapping movements of your own.
  1436. >And this time, it works.
  1437. >Though not quite in the way you have expected.
  1438. >You planned to force Sky Squall back onto his four legs.
  1439. >But he fights against your pushing attempts with even more ferocity, causing him to tip backwards as a result.
  1440. >At this point in time, the stallion is still able to salvage the situation without an uncontrolled plunge.
  1441. >However, he would need to relent at least to some degree in order to achieve this.
  1442. >And the mere thought of seeing Sky Squall relent in a genuine fight, well, is a quaint fantasy at best.
  1443. >So the inevitable outcome follows swiftly.
  1444. >The golden Pegasus keels over and lands right on top of you, pinning you on the floor whilst his legs dangle wildly in the air.
  1445. >You keep your grip around him.
  1446. >"Clouds and skies! Let go!"
  1447. >Sky Squall violently rocks himself to the side, dragging you with him.
  1448. >And you cannot stop him from doing so.
  1449. >Again, he fights his way to a proper footing, struggling against you at every step on the way.
  1450. >But eventually, he stands once more.
  1451. >In spite of your best efforts, and with you still clinging to his back.
  1452. >Even with your augmentations running above their usual performance, you have a hard time to keep Sky Squall in check.
  1453. >He simply is the stronger brawler.
  1454. >Plus, the fact that he is also fighting the effects of a moderate concussion at the same time does not seem to hinder him much.
  1455. >Oh boy.
  1456. >You are in for a real treat.
  1457. >Looking at your proxy creation in hindsight, maybe you should have chosen the Big Macintosh build in terms of physique for cases like this.
  1458. >Then again, you would have never thought that you might have to incapacitate one of your best friends in a legitimate tussle one day.
  1459. >Either way though, there is one thing you have in common.
  1460. >After all, you cannot give in either.
  1461. >And for the exact same reason why Sky Squall is so adamant in defying your warnings.
  1462.  
  1463.  
  1464.  
  1465.  
  1466. >In a way, you have a perfect triangular cascade of irony.
  1467. >You want to save Sky Squall, who in turn wishes to protect the princess that defends the ponies, you included as far as the princess is concerned, from the danger of the hostile dragons.
  1468. >Which subsequently forces you to fight the Pegasus you wish to save whilst he has the urge to fight for the princess he wants to rescue, not knowing that said princess has the means to save the day on her own without any further fighting.
  1469. >If it were not for the simple truth that Harmony has no personal sense for pranks and horseplay, yet, you might have gotten the suspicion that all of this is just the punch line of a cosmic joke.
  1470. >As you try to find a way to capitalise on your current position, however, Sky Squall acts already.
  1471. >He deliberately throws himself to the side again, with as much force as possible this time, causing you to slam against the ground like the head of a swung hammer.
  1472. >And, much to your surprise, the force of the impact is actually strong enough to make you lose your grip on the stallion's neck.
  1473. >The augmentations of your proxy, straining themselves past any reasonable limit as they already do, falter for a brief moment.
  1474. >As far as you can tell from the information you see on the HUD, the augmentations have not suffered from any lasting damage so far.
  1475. >But with nearly all of their values shooting up into the critical range, their steady performance is no longer guaranteed.
  1476. >As seen right now.
  1477. >Though that short moment of weakness is all that Sky Squall needs to turn the tables.
  1478. >He jerks around like mad and threshes you repeatedly with his wings, successfully forcing you to back off and roll onto your back.
  1479. >Which is exactly the reaction that the stallion was hoping for.
  1480. >He expertly rolls himself back onto his hooves with one swift move, gallops straight to you whilst you are still trying to get up yourself, and puts a forehoof squarely on your chest.
  1481. >Then he presses you down into the grass again.
  1482. >The stallion stares right at your face.
  1483. >And his eyes almost radiate the heat of a dancing flame as far as you are concerned.
  1484. >If you have ever seen the fire of a burning determination within someone, it is this very moment.
  1485. >And you realise that he would do anything that is necessary to reach his goal.
  1486. >No matter who or what might stand in his way.
  1487. >Nevertheless, he does not allow himself to lose control.
  1488. >Even in this mode, below the nigh zealous drive to guard the Royal Sisters, come hell or high water, he somehow remains the old collected self that he has always been.
  1489. >And so, he does not do anything to you, he does not threaten you in any way, and he has no obvious intention to hurt you either.
  1490. >He simply stares you down as he towers over you.
  1491. >And he prevents you from standing up.
  1492. >Always with just as much force as you make him use.
  1493. >When you struggle harder, he pushes harder.
  1494. >When you relent, so does he.
  1495. >Deadlock.
  1496.  
  1497.  
  1498.  
  1499.  
  1500. >"Star. Have you gone mad?"
  1501. >You shake your head, still looking for a way to salvage the situation.
  1502. >Less than a second later, you receive another message from #deca.mare.
  1503. >Text only.
  1504. >It contains a strategy to get out of this predicament in time with "mundane" means.
  1505. >However, it does also entail a move which is, well, uncultured.
  1506. >But in the lack of a viable alternative, you see no other way.
  1507. >Sky Squall prods you further as he catches a glimpse of Celestia and the dragons.
  1508. >The princess is entirely engrossed in her own thoughts while casting her pillar of light.
  1509. >She has absolutely no idea that the two of you are duking it out behind her back.
  1510. >And the dragons are not all that far away any more too.
  1511. >It will still be a while until they are in firing range, but the margin of time has already become much smaller.
  1512. >While Sky Squall is looking elsewhere for a second, you use the opportunity to check something else instead.
  1513. >And indeed, #deca.mare's proposed window of opportunity is a viable one.
  1514. >Then you look at Sky Squall's face again.
  1515. >And he looks back, not aware of your little peek.
  1516. >"Why did you attack me? What is going on?"
  1517. >You take a breath.
  1518. "Sky, listen. We don't have..."
  1519. >No chance.
  1520. >He wants an answer.
  1521. >"What are you doing here?"
  1522. >You sigh and look him in the eyes as you ready yourself.
  1523. >Fine, he will get the answer he craves.
  1524. >And you really hope that you can smooth this over later on.
  1525. "Being a reliable friend."
  1526. >Which is the full truth.
  1527. >Once you have said that though, you promptly position a rear hoof directly between Sky Squall's hind legs, and let it shoot upwards.
  1528. >You pull this stunt off with as much speed as you can muster.
  1529. >Just as #deca.mare recommended.
  1530. >She even justified this action by stating that it is the only way to make sure he cannot react in time.
  1531. >You ask yourself whether a lower speed might have been enough as well.
  1532. >And it probably would.
  1533. >But you assume #deca.mare did not want to rely on rolling the dice in this matter.
  1534. >Uncouth and blunt as her suggestion was, the effects prove her right.
  1535. >Because the stallion reacts predictably to the stealthy strike against his softer parts.
  1536. >Sky Squall wheezes briskly and jerks up instinctually as the pain hits him seemingly out of the blue.
  1537. >Yet he manages to keep himself from shouting out loud.
  1538. >Albeit barely.
  1539. >And you see a genuine notion of unpleasant surprise and disbelief in his stunned expression.
  1540. >You assume he absolutely did not expect you to stoop this low, even in this situation.
  1541. >But no matter what the Pegasus' perception of you and your actions may have been, it does not change the inevitable result of your strike.
  1542. >You positively paralysed the Pegasus, in spite of his stubborn attempts to weather the searing shock with his sheer willpower.
  1543. >Sky Squall's rear legs quake and struggle to keep him upright.
  1544.  
  1545.  
  1546.  
  1547.  
  1548. >Both his body and armour have suddenly become uncomfortably heavy for him.
  1549. >Too heavy, in fact.
  1550. >Even his strong sense of self-discipline is unable to overcome that considerable impairment.
  1551. >Sky Squall's muscles tremble wildly, still refusing to give in, until they eventually fail the stallion completely.
  1552. >He loses the practically impossible fight to remain on his hooves, and slumps down right on top of you, saying nothing.
  1553. >All you hear from him is a single gasp escaping his lungs.
  1554. >It turns into a weak groan as he collapses.
  1555. >A sound which you have never heard from him before.
  1556. >This is an alien and uncomfortable thing to witness, since you are directly responsible for it.
  1557. >And for a brief moment, you are tempted to apologise right on the spot for what you have done.
  1558. >But considering the crippling pain he is enduring at the moment because of your kick, you highly doubt that he is susceptible to what you have to say.
  1559. >Besides, the clock is ticking.
  1560. >A new message appears on your HUD.
  1561. >Sent neither by Harmony nor #deca.mare, but an automated system.
  1562. >And the automaton tells you everything you need to know.
  1563. >Signal confirmed.
  1564. >Surface marker located.
  1565. >Area mapped.
  1566. >Turret control master override sequence complete.
  1567. >Manual targeting system initiated.
  1568. >Awaiting input.
  1569. >Oh yes, the manure is flying rapidly towards the fan.
  1570. >Celestia is working fast up there.
  1571. >Really frighteningly damn fast.
  1572. >Especially for someone who does not even know what a space ship is.
  1573. >Well, you and Sky Squall will clearly not make it back to Luna in time.
  1574. >The alternative it is then.
  1575. >Bad as it may be in comparison.
  1576. >Both tactically speaking, and from the perspective of Sky Squall's already dented pride.
  1577. >But a bruised pride is better than what he would be facing up here.
  1578. >So you get to work and scan the grassy hillside beneath you.
  1579. >An at least passable hideout must be somewhere nearby, according to #deca.mare.
  1580. >And indeed, the HUD indicates the presence of a comparatively sizable notch in the grassland, about fifteen metres further down.
  1581. >A fairly narrow, yet steep muddy pit.
  1582. >Which offers ample room for two ponies.
  1583. >Not the shelter of your choice by any stretch of the imagination, yet certainly more agreeable than being incinerated wholesale by terraformer weaponry.
  1584. >You take a sharp breath and raise your voice.
  1585. "Please do both of us a favour and don't throw up."
  1586. >Sky Squall does not respond, despite being fully conscious.
  1587. >You are sure that he can hear you.
  1588. >However, whether he currently possesses the mental faculties to process your remark is a different question.
  1589. >Anyway, you have to move, and you must do it now.
  1590. >So you mark the ditch as a priority target on your HUD.
  1591. >Then you go for the fastest strategy you can think of to get there with Sky Squall in tow.
  1592. >An idea which is partially inspired by your first personal encounter with #deca.mare and Harmony.
  1593.  
  1594.  
  1595.  
  1596.  
  1597. >You grab the downed stallion with all four limbs, hold on to him with every available bit of your power, and simply let the two of you roll downwards.
  1598. >Equestria's gravity does the rest for you.
  1599. >Sky Squall and you spin around each other as you "merrily" tumble down the hillside.
  1600. >A simple and admittedly somewhat crude method, but it works just fine.
  1601. >You even manage to reach a decent speed.
  1602. >And as the two of you, quite literally, roll to relative safety, you use your HUD to spot and avoid any potentially dangerous objects on your way.
  1603. >Things like sharp stones or other obstacles that could hurt one of you if you roll over it.
  1604. >Though you focus especially on those hazards that may affect Sky Squall.
  1605. >After all, you do not want to add deep cuts or more nasty bruises to the list.
  1606. >The Pegasus is going through enough crud today as it is.
  1607. >Fortunately for you, the short trip turns out to have barely any obstacles to speak of, resulting in a fairly short and thankfully uneventful trek.
  1608. >During the last few metres, you deliberately slow your descent to a manageable pace, in spite of being in a hurry.
  1609. >That way you can stop your rolling adventure right on the edge of the hole.
  1610. >Then you proceed to carefully drop the stallion into the pit, rather than letting him fall freely.
  1611. >This is not exactly an elegant affair though.
  1612. >Sky Squall is notably heavier than your proxy, even without the armour.
  1613. >But given that you lack the time to remove the damn thing, you are forced to transport him with his full gear.
  1614. >Yet you are nevertheless able to deliver a relatively decent job, as you push your augments for another brief moment to handle the extra weight.
  1615. >You rather damage your own proxy a bit more due to extensive strain before you risk injuring Sky Squall in an uncontrollable free fall.
  1616. >Once you are done, he lies back first in the soft, yet cold mud.
  1617. >He even sinks a little bit into the sludge beneath him, as his heavy armour drags him down.
  1618. >Sky Squall will not look pretty when he gets out of this hole again.
  1619. >Not pretty at all.
  1620. >But at the very least he will still have a body to call his own when he does.
  1621. >Which is all that counts at the end of the day.
  1622. >Now that he is in position, you take a few seconds to scan the stallion and check his condition.
  1623. >As you have expected, you did quite a number on him.
  1624. >But, and this is one of the most important things to you, you have inflicted no grievous damage on the golden Pegasus.
  1625. >The effects of the concussion will probably only last for a few hours.
  1626. >Or roughly half a day at worst.
  1627. >And whilst he is probably going to walk wonkily for a day or two, he will be as good as new eventually.
  1628. >He does not require any additional regenerative treatment for either of his conditions.
  1629.  
  1630.  
  1631.  
  1632.  
  1633. >Of course, this does precious little to alleviate Sky Squall's current discomfort.
  1634. >Yet it is still good to know.
  1635. >Plus, it means you do not have to drag him down to one of your subterranean facilities to patch him up.
  1636. >Which is good news, since you would not be happy to risk that whilst both Royal Sisters are in the area.
  1637. >A warning appears on your HUD.
  1638. >Targets locked.
  1639. >Weapons charged.
  1640. >Commencing attack in thirty seconds.
  1641. >This text is quickly replaced by a counter and an exclamation mark.
  1642. >Alright, this is it.
  1643. >No time to waste.
  1644. >You immediately climb into the narrow pit as well, pinning Sky Squall beneath you in the process.
  1645. >That way you can stop him from trying to crawl out.
  1646. >Provided he somehow manages to muster the strength to do so.
  1647. >And he actually does something akin to what you have expected.
  1648. >Once he notices that you are de facto lying on top of him, Sky Squall tries to twist and wriggle himself free.
  1649. "Calm down, I'm on your side."
  1650. >Your words have no effect.
  1651. >Small wonder, really.
  1652. >Even if he listens to what you are saying, it must sound highly disingenuous to him at the moment.
  1653. >But his efforts are, fortunately, more instinctually driven than deliberately coordinated, and also fairly weak from a physical perspective as well.
  1654. >So you can easily stop Sky Squall from going anywhere.
  1655. >However, he does occasionally crane his neck in disadvantageous angles, with notable consequences.
  1656. >For whilst you try to keep his head steady with your forelimbs, you cannot always prevent the Pegasus from accidentally dipping his nostrils into the mud.
  1657. >Which leads to him inhaling a portion of it every time.
  1658. >Only to snort and cough it out again out of sheer reflex.
  1659. >It is not a pleasant sight to behold.
  1660. >And the situation is going to become a tad more uncomfortable soon enough.
  1661. >The counter reaches zero and gets replaced by a new line of text.
  1662. >Turrets firing.
  1663. >Everything around you appears to have gone dead silent for a second.
  1664. >You hear absolutely nothing except for your proxy's own breath.
  1665. >And you inhale deeply as you look at the video feed, still showing Celestia and her skywards pillar of seemingly aureate light.
  1666. >Then, from one moment to the next, without any previous warning or signal, a second pillar of blazing light appears on the screen.
  1667. >A beam as wide as a house, and cast downwards instead of up.
  1668. >It hits a patch of ground between Celestia and the dragons, instantly incinerating the affected soil and nearby vegetation.
  1669. >But that is not all.
  1670. >Your video feed gets distorted by excessive amounts of thermal energy just as quickly.
  1671. >The beam heats the area around it to an unbearable degree, causing the air to waft almost instantaneously.
  1672. >It is turning the vicinity around the impact site into a torrid zone of certain death.
  1673. >Then you hear it too.
  1674.  
  1675.  
  1676.  
  1677.  
  1678. >A deep, persistent, highly unnatural, and completely unnerving droning echoes through the air.
  1679. >Like a baleful herald, it proclaims the message of unmistakable and insurmountable destruction.
  1680. >It feels like the very essence of this sound is trying to drill itself into your head to drive you to insanity.
  1681. >In spite of your better knowledge that you are not even present in person.
  1682. >Sky Squall is not exactly thrilled by the experience either.
  1683. >He doubles his efforts to break free, having no idea what is happening around him.
  1684. >But you cannot allow him to go, no matter how much he squirms.
  1685. >Not now.
  1686. >Only a few moments later, the air above you begins to heat up notably as well.
  1687. >The radius of the affected area around the impact site is simply gargantuan.
  1688. >You can only guess what is happening on the top of the hill right now.
  1689. >Judging from the glowing sphere that appeared around the body of the princess, the only thing which you can see more or less clearly in the abstruse chaos that your video feed has become, Celestia's prepared energy shield is keeping her perfectly safe inside.
  1690. >Even whilst the attack is creating a sea of flames right in front of her.
  1691. >And you know for a fact that a similar shield is protecting Luna and the rest of the group inside the recess.
  1692. >Sky Squall and you are the only ones who face the side effects of the attack without any meaningful protection.
  1693. >Well, that cannot be changed anymore.
  1694. >Now you have to endure until the whole thing is over.
  1695. >Whatever it takes to do so, and no matter how uncomfortable it will be.
  1696. >And it is going to become a lot worse yet.
  1697. >Because Celestia does not settle for a single turret.
  1698. >Oh no, she is going for a full broadside strike.
  1699. >The second turret begins to fire on the next spot, whilst the first one continues its barrage.
  1700. >Another searing pillar of light is created, only a few hundred metres beside the first.
  1701. >Then turret number three springs into action, aiming for a spot on the opposite side.
  1702. >The three beams now form a veritable wall of blazing ruin between Princess Celestia and her opponents.
  1703. >You change the satellite's focus to look at the other side of said wall.
  1704. >As expected, the dragons shy away from this kind of attack, despite their inherent enhanced resistance to high temperatures.
  1705. >Because from their point of view, it appears as if Celestia has just summoned these rays directly from the sun.
  1706. >By channelling the star's raw power somehow with her magical focus.
  1707. >And considering that you derive most of your energy from solar power, this take on the situation is fairly close to the truth.
  1708. >They understand, just by looking at it, that this energy is more than capable of piercing even their durable hides as if they were paper.
  1709. >And just to really hammer home her display of strength, Celestia activates the other five turrets as well.
  1710. >Though you are not surprised by this particular revelation.
  1711. >After all, you know exactly how many turrets are mounted on that side of your ship.
  1712.  
  1713.  
  1714.  
  1715.  
  1716. >But you are also aware that you are within the immediate danger zone of the secondary thermal energy.
  1717. >It is going to become hot in here soon.
  1718. >So you address Sky Squall in a hurry.
  1719. >You shout as loudly as your proxy's lungs allow you to, hoping he will hear your voice through the chaos that is happening around you.
  1720. "Sky! Listen! I'll get us through this! But I need you to keep still now and trust me, alright?"
  1721. >You have no time to wait for an answer which may or may not come, so you immediately press Sky Squall a little bit deeper into the cooling mud.
  1722. >But you mind to still keep his face and nostrils clear.
  1723. >Then you press yourself tightly against the Pegasus beneath you and spread the wings of your proxy as far as you can within the restraints of the narrow pit.
  1724. >You plan to block as much space with your proxy as possible, to form a "living shield" above Sky Squall.
  1725. >Then you observe what is happening above you.
  1726. >The combined might of the eight powered beams ruins or strains the surface vegetation in a radius of several kilometres.
  1727. >And as a crowning touch, Celestia sways the turrets slightly, letting the beams wander up and down across the whole length of the "wall".
  1728. >Like deadly dancers on a linear stage, they draw a literal line in the ground that absolutely nobody can ignore.
  1729. >What is not either vaporised or incinerated within seconds, dries up and withers in the consecutively increasing heat, partially catching fire after a while as well.
  1730. >Princess Celestia kept her promise indeed.
  1731. >It is a damn good thing that you have driven the dragons this far to the south.
  1732. >No one lives in the vicinity, and the animals were fairly easy to evacuate in advance behind the scenes.
  1733. >It is a real shame about the plants though.
  1734. >But right now, you have no time to mind the botanical losses in the area overly much.
  1735. >Because within minutes of continuous fire, the temperature inside the hole has risen to sixty degrees Celsius.
  1736. >And still gradually rising.
  1737. >Normally, that would not be much of a problem, since a temperature like this would be akin to a trip to a low level sauna.
  1738. >Under these circumstances though, in stress, donned in full metal armour, whilst trying to keep the heat above you at bay, and the still somewhat fidgeting stallion beneath you as still as possible?
  1739. >That is a workout, alright.
  1740. >Especially since the armour is slowly heating up as well, making the experience yet more uncomfortable.
  1741. >Granted, you could disable all of the sensory input of your proxy to make the situation more bearable for yourself.
  1742. >But you deliberately decide against it.
  1743. >After all, Sky Squall and the others do not have the luxury of simply opting out and hiding in orbit.
  1744.  
  1745.  
  1746.  
  1747.  
  1748. >As such, it may be helpful for you to personally experience and comprehend what the situation is like on the ground.
  1749. >And what it must feel like for someone like Sky Squall to be in said situation.
  1750. >Well, maybe minus one particular physical discomfort.
  1751. >But never mind.
  1752. >This is, objectively speaking, only a minor matter that can be put aside for now.
  1753. >Even when Sky Squall might think differently about this in his current condition.
  1754. >The HUD informs you that you are close to the seventy degrees mark now.
  1755. >If the increase continues at this rate, you will have about ten to fifteen minutes before the situation is reaching the boiling point.
  1756. >Literally.
  1757. >However, you notice that your actions have an effect.
  1758. >The dirt at the bottom of the hole is not heating up as quickly as the rest of the environment, thanks to your shielding.
  1759. >And the air that the two of you are breathing may be stuffy, but it retains a bearable temperature as well.
  1760. >At around seventy-five degrees, though, you start to worry.
  1761. >And at the eighty degrees mark, below your shielding, that is, your worries feel even more justified.
  1762. >Eighty-five.
  1763. >Breathing becomes increasingly more difficult as the hot air is unpleasant to inhale, and the skin beneath the proxy's coat starts to hurt.
  1764. >Especially at the wings and back.
  1765. >Sky Squall gets much more tricky to handle as well.
  1766. >And the health monitoring systems of your proxy flash up some other warnings soon thereafter, telling you what you more or less expected already.
  1767. >It informs you that the prolonged exposure to the heat is starting to mar the tissue on your proxy's wings.
  1768. >And the coat beneath the armour is reaching the critical level as well.
  1769. >You really are on your proverbial last leg now.
  1770. >But then, closely to the ninety degrees Celsius mark, Celestia finally deactivates the turrets.
  1771. >The mighty beams weaken and fade almost at once, taking their unnerving constant droning with them.
  1772. >Total silence reigns once more, as the temperature peaks at about ninety degrees.
  1773. >It will take a while for the environment to cool down to normal levels again, but the worst is over now.
  1774. >You even notice that Sky Squall starts to calm down, once he realises that the noise has left his skull.
  1775. >And just as you pull him up a little bit, you hear a familiar mare's voice dominating the landscape yet again.
  1776. >"I am sure we can come to an agreement now. Send one of your own as a negotiator. Only one."
  1777. >You set the focus of your video feed back to Celestia.
  1778.  
  1779.  
  1780.  
  1781.  
  1782. >She still stands tall inside her protective sphere, with a green patch of untainted grass at her hooves, as the currents of blistering air dance all around her, and a newly formed wide trench of molten rock glows brightly in the distance.
  1783. >Celestia really is playing to the gallery with every trick in the book here to impress her opponents.
  1784. >And it seems to have worked.
  1785. >Because the dragons, now a great deal further away again, send one of their own ahead.
  1786. >He ventures out alone, whilst the others stay where they are.
  1787. >You receive a short notification from #deca.mare.
  1788. >Mission accomplished.
  1789. >Finally.
  1790. >You sigh in relief as you take one glance at the scorched surface all around you via the video feed.
  1791. >The now thoroughly ruined area will take a considerable time to recover from this shock.
  1792. >It will eventually though.
  1793. >Yet as you take in the details of this momentarily barren land, it reminds you of another place that met a similar fate.
  1794. >Albeit in a more lasting fashion.
  1795. >You mumble to yourself.
  1796. "Fuck me. The worst form of ancestry research I've ever witnessed, I swear to God."
  1797. >Sky Squall coughs loudly and raises his voice.
  1798. >He only manages to speak between laboured breaths of air, but it is something at least.
  1799. >"Star? What in Equestria. Happened?"
  1800. >You look at him.
  1801. "I saved your rump from getting roasted."
  1802. >Sky Squall blinks through a mask of mud covering one half of his face, obviously missing the double entendre in your words.
  1803. >But you do not care to explain it to him.
  1804. >In fact, you would not even know what to say to explain that sort of thing to a herbivore.
  1805. >Instead, you catch yourself wondering what a Pegasus' roasted rump might taste like.
  1806. >You slowly shake your head and banish this thought.
  1807. >And you interpret it as a clear sign that your mind is tired to the point of slipping into the realm of mental nonsense.
  1808. >So you do something about it.
  1809. >By calling it a day.
  1810. >You meet Sky Squall's confused gaze again.
  1811. "You're welcome."
  1812. >Then you cut your connection to the proxy, and simply let it go limp.
  1813. >Sky Squall is hale and hearty, relatively speaking, so he can take it from here on out.
  1814. >You need a break.
  1815. >At once.
  1816.  
  1817.  
  1818.  
  1819.  
  1820. 146
  1821.  
  1822. >As you rise from your chair, you see on your screen how Sky Squall tries to speak to your now rather unresponsive proxy.
  1823. >It is the last thing you register of the happenings on the surface.
  1824. >You stand in the middle of the command deck with closed eyes and stretch your arms.
  1825. >Despite being inside the simulation, your limbs feel as if you have worked for a week without pause.
  1826. >Which is not completely off, all things considered.
  1827. >And you quickly realise something else.
  1828. >You are far too tired to shuffle up the ramp to get to the bed-chamber in the good old fashioned way.
  1829. >So you simply let yourself fall right where you are.
  1830. >Though you do not hit the hard floor of the deck.
  1831. >Instead, you land directly on your familiar Canterlot bed.
  1832. >The digital sounds of the command deck's instruments make way for the distant chirping of birds.
  1833. >And a cool breeze at the dusk of a summer day blows into the room through an open window.
  1834. >Much better for your tired mind.
  1835. >Only one little detail is still missing.
  1836. >But you know it must be somewhere nearby.
  1837. >Because you want it to be there.
  1838. >So you feel around.
  1839. >Without opening your eyes.
  1840. >And indeed, you are quick to touch a familiar warm coat, located close to your head.
  1841. >You smile wordlessly.
  1842. >"Uhm, Anon? What is going on?"
  1843. >#deca.mare is overtly surprised that you summoned her without prior notification.
  1844. >After all, she is extraordinarily busy at the moment.
  1845. >She and Harmony are still doing everything they can behind the scenes to allow the "negotiations" between Celestia and the representative of the dragons to go smoothly.
  1846. >It is a tall order to be sure, yet it has a very good chance of working out as intended.
  1847. >Besides, the two would never let Celestia scorch a considerable swathe into the landscape with "sunfire" as a warning shot if they were sceptical about the results.
  1848. >And you for your part hope the effort will be worth it as well.
  1849. >But it also means that #deca.mare cannot take a nap with you now.
  1850. >She has to handle far too many things to even consider taking a break.
  1851. >And she knows that you are fully aware of this as well.
  1852. >So you do not beat around the bush either.
  1853. "Nothing urgent. Please carry on."
  1854. >You hear #deca.mare shifting her body lightly on the sheets.
  1855. >"Then why did you..."
  1856. >You answer her question by slowly laying your head on the exposed side of her barrel.
  1857. "Because we didn't spend nearly as much time together as we should have. You know, figuratively speaking."
  1858. >You cover your body with a blanket and make yourself comfortable.
  1859. >And #deca.mare agrees with a sigh.
  1860. >"You are right. It was a busy week."
  1861. >She shifts herself a bit more to lay fully sideways on the bed, exposing yet more of her barrel and chest for you to use.
  1862. >Then you hear her materialising a couple of consoles.
  1863. >Sounds like she wants to keep working from here.
  1864.  
  1865.  
  1866.  
  1867.  
  1868. >You nuzzle her side and caress her chest and neck with your hands as a grin grows on your face.
  1869. "And... because you're a better pillow than Sky Squall."
  1870. >#deca.mare snorts shortly, but quickly returns to her former calm demeanour.
  1871. "He's going to spend a while down there in the hole anyway, at least until things cool down a bit. So I thought I could use the opportunity to 'pass out', and spend the time here. With you."
  1872. >She chuckles.
  1873. >"I am glad to hear that. I was afraid you might prefer his company instead."
  1874. >You keep stroking #deca.mare's neck, showing no overt reaction to her lightly facetious comment.
  1875. "No."
  1876. >A pause.
  1877. "He fidgets too much, you know?"
  1878. >"Do not judge him so harshly for that. You would do the same in his position."
  1879. >You clear your throat.
  1880. "Maybe."
  1881. >A second brief pause.
  1882. "I have no... plans to test this theory out though."
  1883. >You pause again.
  1884. "But all jokes aside, do you think he'll hold a grudge against me from now on? I wasn't exactly gentle to him."
  1885. >To say the least.
  1886. >"No, I do not think he will, Anon. You may have hurt his ego, amongst other things, but Sky Squall is no fool. He will eventually understand what you did for him. At the very latest when he sees for himself what Celestia has done to the area. Your... uninhibited performance is not going to strain your friendship. Not in the long run."
  1887. >You exhale slowly.
  1888. "That's a relief. It would have been a real shame if that had been the end of things, you know?"
  1889. >"This is a fear I can rebut. Wholeheartedly."
  1890. >She chuckles lightly.
  1891. >"Though I should mention that he might be tempted to challenge you a bit more often in the near future."
  1892. "How so? Because I brought him low?"
  1893. >"In a way, yes. You have done something that no one has done before, and that... left a mark on him. Beyond the physical blemish, that is."
  1894. >You stop stroking #deca.mare's coat as you remember what Sky Squall said about you upstaging him.
  1895. >Back then, it was a mere joke.
  1896. >A form of friendly banter, but nothing more.
  1897. >In the end though, justified or not, you sent him to the floor.
  1898. >Decisively so.
  1899. >Even with the alleged strength of a colt.
  1900. >And by using a pretty dirty, yet also fairly obvious trick.
  1901. >Which, by extension, does not cast a positive light on Sky Squall's skills in general.
  1902. >Something like this should not happen to an aureate leader.
  1903. "Sky thinks I might have undermined his reputation as the alpha stud? Is that it?"
  1904. >"Let me put it like this: In spite of knowing that you went into an imminent danger zone to save his life, Sky Squall is about to return to his squad after being proven wrong, covered in mud, and... being in pain. No one has ever seen him beaten like this. It is an atypical situation for everypony. And a bit of a shock for Sky Squall in particular."
  1905.  
  1906.  
  1907.  
  1908.  
  1909. >She pauses.
  1910. >"Please do not misunderstand me, no one will consider your actions in this case to be unjustified, given the circumstances. Not even Sky himself. But they do diminish his radiant image to a degree."
  1911. >A pause.
  1912. "For Sky is no longer the unreachable captain, hm? So he'll feel the urge to reinstate his reputation as the top brass."
  1913. >"That is one way of putting it."
  1914. "And how far will he go?"
  1915. >"Not much farther than previously. It will all be limited to usual Pegasus show tussles. Just... expect more regular challenges to one if you are near him."
  1916. >#deca.mare stops working on her consoles for a moment to hold your still outstretched hand with her forehooves.
  1917. >"Rest assured that he does not harbour any ill will though. He will merely feel compelled to prove to others, and to himself, that he is still a suitable candidate for the role at the top."
  1918. >She pauses.
  1919. >"If anything, he is now perceiving you as a more... noteworthy competitor, rather than a pony that he needs to uplift. A friendly rival, if you will. With emphasis on friendly."
  1920. >You shrug.
  1921. "I think I can live with that."
  1922. >#deca.mare sighs lightly.
  1923. >"One more thing though. It would help Sky immensely if you have a little constructive conversation with him when you meet again. To lift his spirit a little."
  1924. >#deca.mare clears her throat.
  1925. >"I would prefer to do it myself if I could, and apologise for being the one who made the suggestion to knock him out like this. But..."
  1926. "But that's not possible without giving everything away."
  1927. >#deca.mare sighs.
  1928. >"Yes, unfortunately. As far as he knows, it was all your idea. So only you can do it."
  1929. >A pause.
  1930. "Alright, fair enough. Anything I should take note of in particular?"
  1931. >"Just be tactful about it. You know how he is."
  1932. >You nod.
  1933. "Yeah, I do."
  1934. >A moment later, you open your eyes to see what #deca.mare is working on.
  1935. >And you immediately recognise the strategic outline of the scorched area.
  1936. "How is the situation on the surface?"
  1937. >#deca.mare slowly releases your hand and looks at the consoles again.
  1938. >"It looks promising. Celestia's 'demonstration of strength' has worked. The dragons hold their position. And their envoy listens to what the princess has to say."
  1939. >You nod lightly.
  1940. "That's great."
  1941. >#deca.mare alters the map and zooms in on the area around the hill.
  1942. >"I have also activated the hibernation mode of your proxy, shortly after you cut the connection. It makes the semblance of you passing out due to the burn wounds more plausible."
  1943. >She chuckles once.
  1944. >"Departing without any instructions caused the proxy to act as if it had just been struck by a sudden catatonic spell. And that would not have been very believable."
  1945. >She takes a breath.
  1946. >"So I took the liberty to make it look like a case of unconsciousness instead. Everyone will think it was the exhaustion and the strains of the heat that knocked you out."
  1947. "Ah, sorry. I forgot about that."
  1948. >#deca.mare smiles.
  1949.  
  1950.  
  1951.  
  1952.  
  1953. >"No problem. But you might want to take control again shortly after the proxy and Sky Squall were retrieved by your squad. Unless you want them to think that you are in a deeply comatose state."
  1954. >You get the hint.
  1955. "Don't worry, I'll be there."
  1956. >"If you are feeling too exhausted though, then I could operate the proxy for you too."
  1957. >You shake your head.
  1958. "No, it's fine. I'm not that comatose yet."
  1959. >You yawn.
  1960. "A little nap in the interim would be welcome though."
  1961. >"Of course. Take a rest, Anon. It is well-deserved."
  1962. >She inhales once.
  1963. >"I will notify you when the time comes."
  1964. >You briefly stroke her neck and back again before you close your eyes.
  1965. "Thank you. See you then, #deca."
  1966. >#deca.mare tries to give you a kiss in response, but finds herself unable to do so without shoving your head off her barrel in the process.
  1967. >So she decides against it.
  1968. >She is more than happy to act as your pillow.
  1969. >"Sleep well, Anon."
  1970. >That you will for sure.
  1971. >Because between #deca.mare's warm coat, the blanket, and the hushed sounds of a few consoles, set to a deliberately toned down volume in order to not disturb your rest, it takes you less than a minute to doze off.
  1972.  
  1973.  
  1974.  
  1975.  
  1976. 147
  1977.  
  1978. >Day 8, Addendum
  1979.  
  1980. >You "wake up" on a provisional bed inside a tent, lying there on your proxy's belly.
  1981. >And the first thing you notice is that your gear got fully stripped off by someone.
  1982. >Every piece you wore is gone.
  1983. >Goggles included.
  1984. >A pretty inconvenient realisation to wake up to, as far as you are concerned.
  1985. >However, there is something else about the proxy which feels slightly off as well, and it is more worthy of your attention than some missing pieces of equipment.
  1986. >Because the wings of your proxy do not work properly.
  1987. >Their range of movement is unusually limited for some reason.
  1988. >It seems as if you can still move them in theory, and they apparently still obey your orders too.
  1989. >Yet you only manage to bend them in minuscule manners regardless.
  1990. >No matter how hard you try, a few degrees in each direction is all you can get out of them.
  1991. >Besides, the sensual input you perceive whilst moving them is strangely dull.
  1992. >If you had to put it into words, you would describe the experience as somewhat muffled.
  1993. >So you quietly assess the sensation with the scarce insight that you have at the moment.
  1994. >Was the injury harsher than you thought?
  1995. >Did the heat break some of the hardware?
  1996. >Or do the augments defy your commands at a certain point for another reason?
  1997. >As far as you can recall, the system merely detected some injuries at the uppermost layers of the organic tissue before you clocked out.
  1998. >Nothing hinted at a more serious condition.
  1999. >Plus, if there had been something more to it, then #deca.mare would have told you so in advance.
  2000. >What is going on then?
  2001. >You would check that out thoroughly if you had access to your goggles.
  2002. >But without them, you are limited to what your naked eyes can see.
  2003. >So you do the next best thing.
  2004. >You slowly turn your head around.
  2005. >And the reason for the strange feeling reveals itself at once.
  2006. >Someone, presumably the same pony who brought you here and got rid of your armour, bandaged up both of your proxy's wings.
  2007. >And not just parts of them either.
  2008. >Oh no, they are completely coated from the sockets to the tips.
  2009. >Which is keeping them in their current pose as a result.
  2010. >Judging from the general feeling of the limbs, though, you also assume that the wounds were treated beforehand.
  2011. >Probably with a substance which has a certain localised pain-relieving effect.
  2012. >Well, that would explain the partial numbness.
  2013. >Similar patches of clean cloth cover several smaller spots on your back.
  2014. >You expect burn marks beneath the patches, indirectly caused by the same heat that injured your wings.
  2015. >For the hot metal of your own armour must have had a searing effect on these spots.
  2016. >Yet despite the rather nasty origin of these wounds, they do not ache either.
  2017. >It is very likely that they have been treated with the same soothing substance to eliminate the pain.
  2018. >Any pain whatsoever, as it seems.
  2019.  
  2020.  
  2021.  
  2022.  
  2023. >Indeed, for someone who was seemingly close to being cooked alive, you feel comparatively well.
  2024. >Even with the pain receptors of your proxy still being fully operational and active.
  2025. >You will certainly not complain about a lack of discomfort though.
  2026. >So far, so good.
  2027. >You take a look around.
  2028. >If the absence of medical ponies and healers in the vicinity is any indication, the ponies in charge of the mobile ward must have deemed the status of your proxy to be stable, after the healers were done with their work.
  2029. >They are probably tending to someone else at the moment.
  2030. >You keep looking.
  2031. >The equipment inside the tent is what you would expect from a camp like this.
  2032. >Bags, crates, and saddlebags, presumably filled with all manners of medical equipment and remedies, are placed in almost every corner of the small room.
  2033. >Most of these items are labelled in one way or another, making it easier for the healers to know which piece of the inventory is stored in each individual container.
  2034. >However, you are not interested in studying the composition of the available medical stockpile at the moment.
  2035. >You have other things to think about.
  2036. >So you go on.
  2037. >Apart from the containers, there is the makeshift bed you are lying on, a simple wooden table plus an appropriately wide stool on one side of the tent, and a crude desk with papers regarding the inventory on the other.
  2038. >Everything that can be quickly assembled and bundled up again for a nigh seamless and timely transport, if necessary.
  2039. >You also spot your gear.
  2040. >It was placed squarely on the ground, and shoved all the way to the back end of the tent.
  2041. >The most remote place of the whole room.
  2042. >Where it could be stored for the time being without impeding the work of the healers.
  2043. >Not exactly a venerable way to treat a finely crafted collection of gear, that much is certain.
  2044. >But healers will be healers.
  2045. >They are first and foremost primed to tend to the needs of the living, rather than the proper treatment of inanimate equipment and the like.
  2046. >That sphere calls for the blacksmiths and craftsponies, after all.
  2047. >And of course, the term remote is relative in this case as well.
  2048. >It is just a handful of metres at best.
  2049. >Still, you barely noticed your personal equipment, as it is lying, almost hidden, behind a subtle veneer of medical kits and unremarkable crates.
  2050. >The set appears, as far as you can tell from this distance, to be complete and intact though.
  2051. >Unfortunately, it is also well out of reach.
  2052. >And you are not sure whether you should just stand up already.
  2053. >Because you do not wish to unintentionally mess with the treatment of your proxy's wounds.
  2054. >Then you hear something.
  2055. >The sound of shifting fabric, coming from the entrance of the tent, right in front of you.
  2056. >Someone is pulling one of the flaps aside to peek inside.
  2057. >"Ah, awake again?"
  2058.  
  2059.  
  2060.  
  2061.  
  2062. >The corresponding face to Sky Squall's voice appears in the opening, looking at you directly.
  2063. >"I knew I heard something. Hello there."
  2064. >You give him a nod.
  2065. "Hey, Sky."
  2066. >You try to salute, but it does not quite work whilst lying on the bed.
  2067. >Though you are sure that Sky Squall understands the intention behind your gesture regardless.
  2068. >The stallion shoves his head a tad further into the tent without saying anything.
  2069. >And you quickly notice that he is hesitant to step inside.
  2070. >You can only see his head and a small portion of his neck.
  2071. >Everything else remains hidden behind the cover.
  2072. >Plus, he is quick to cut to the chase.
  2073. >"You were out for several hours, Star. The team brought you here after they found us. How are you?"
  2074. >Something tells you that he plans to steer the conversation in certain ways right from the start.
  2075. >And it would not surprise you at all if he is trying to dance around a few topics.
  2076. >Probably to ensure that they do not come up in the first place.
  2077. >Nevertheless, his question sounds genuine.
  2078. >He is earnestly interested in your wellbeing.
  2079. >And no traces of imminent hard feelings so far.
  2080. >Which is, considering the events of your last encounter, a fairly good sign.
  2081. >So you play along and give him a reasonable answer.
  2082. "A tad numb and tired. But otherwise fine."
  2083. >The stallion points at your bandaged limbs.
  2084. >"No problems with those?"
  2085. "Not really, no. I think."
  2086. >Okay, that reply is somewhat vague.
  2087. >So you take a breath and say a bit more about your condition.
  2088. "The wings aren't aching or anything. The bandages aren't too tight either. But..."
  2089. >His ears perk up and he chimes in as soon as you say that word.
  2090. >"But? Is something wrong?"
  2091. >Alright.
  2092. >You have his full attention.
  2093. >That much is obvious.
  2094. >And whilst he may very well be eager to focus on any trace of malaise you may have, no matter how small, to keep the conversation revolving around you instead of him, he still does not do it only out of tactical reasons.
  2095. >Sky Squall simply goes for a strategy which serves both his and your interests at once.
  2096. "Well, I'm not sure. I... can't really tell much more. At least as long as they're tied like that."
  2097. >You sigh.
  2098. "I'd have to see for myself. Or better yet, test how they feel when I move them."
  2099. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  2100. >"You don't have to do any of those things. In fact, doing them could be downright detrimental."
  2101. >You blink and emulate a lightly confused expression.
  2102. "What do you mean?"
  2103. >"I talked to the Unicorn who treated you. She said your burns look nastier than they are. You won't need any additional active treatment once the bandages are off."
  2104. >A brief pause.
  2105. >"If you stay on the ground for a week or two, that is. No flight or extensive wing training of any kind."
  2106.  
  2107.  
  2108.  
  2109.  
  2110. >You groan.
  2111. "Not again."
  2112. >Sky Squall reacts quickly as he registers your light disgruntlement.
  2113. >"You're as good as new afterwards though. She assured me of that."
  2114. >You give him another nod, trying to appear relieved.
  2115. "Thanks, Sky. That's good to hear."
  2116. >Then you cough subtly.
  2117. "And... what about you?"
  2118. >Sky Squall does not answer directly.
  2119. >Yep, this is one of those touchy subjects that he does not want to talk about.
  2120. >Rather unsurprisingly.
  2121. >It requires him to show a weakness, after all.
  2122. >But Sky Squall takes heart and trots into the tent anyway.
  2123. >Visibly uneasy, but still.
  2124. >And he lets your first impression of him do his work for him.
  2125. >You notice his unusual gait immediately.
  2126. >The stallion's hind legs are limping a tad whenever he takes a step.
  2127. >Walking around is not a comfortable exercise for him at the moment.
  2128. >Once again, you are lacking the goggles to check on the specifics of his current condition.
  2129. >And you sure as hell are not going to take a closer look with conventional means.
  2130. >For more than one reason.
  2131. >Nevertheless, it is not exactly hard to figure out what is going on.
  2132. >The aftermath of your surprise assault still ail him.
  2133. >And you sigh as you take this in.
  2134. "Sorry about... that. I didn't mean to hurt you."
  2135. >Sky Squall's expression remains neutral.
  2136. >"I figured this much... later on."
  2137. >He stops as soon as the flap closes behind him.
  2138. >"And I know what you're thinking now. Don't fret."
  2139. >A short pause.
  2140. >"I got checked as well."
  2141. >You blink.
  2142. "And?"
  2143. >He takes a long and deep breath.
  2144. >"The healer said the bruise and the swelling will heal on their own too. It's only a matter of time."
  2145. "So... all fine down there?"
  2146. >"Yes. Nothing critical."
  2147. >You exhale audibly, even though you already knew the second half.
  2148. >Your reaction still has to look convincing, after all.
  2149. "That's good news."
  2150. >You examine Sky Squall again while he stands.
  2151. >And you see that his idle posture is not quite normal either.
  2152. >It is somewhat tense.
  2153. "Didn't you get any pain-relievers though?"
  2154. >He shrugs.
  2155. >"I... refused the offer."
  2156. "But why?"
  2157. >Sky Squall looks you directly in the eyes.
  2158. >"As a reminder. That I lost control... and let my guard down when I thought to have the upper hoof."
  2159. >You do not like where this conversation is going.
  2160. "Sky, I..."
  2161. >The stallion shakes his head a second time.
  2162. >"Don't waste your breath, Star. You had your reasons. And I won't deny that the alternative... the sunfire... would've been less pleasant. There is nothing you have to justify."
  2163. >He takes a breath.
  2164. >"But this..."
  2165. >A sigh.
  2166. >"It's a matter of principle. You bested me because I didn't see it coming."
  2167. >Sky Squall closes his eyes.
  2168.  
  2169.  
  2170.  
  2171.  
  2172. >"And it wasn't the only lack of foresight I had today."
  2173. "You mean going out solo?"
  2174. >Another sigh.
  2175. >"Of course I do."
  2176. >The stallion pauses.
  2177. >"That decision was substandard. No, not even that. It was foolish."
  2178. >You blink as you consider what to say in response.
  2179. "Sky, don't judge yourself too harshly. You tried to protect the princess. And with the limited intel you had at the time, it was what you thought to be the right course of action. I'm sure no one will blame you for that."
  2180. >Sky Squall tries to say something, but you go on before he has a chance to interrupt you.
  2181. >Because you see what he wants to address next.
  2182. >And you wish to cover that before he can.
  2183. "You're probably telling yourself now that you should have listened to Luna. But I understand why you didn't."
  2184. >You pause.
  2185. >Sky Squall is watching you with keen eyes, eager to hear more.
  2186. "I think it was a strategically questionable decision of the princesses to conceal this much of their plans. I mean, who would have expected a spell of this destructive magnitude?"
  2187. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  2188. >"This is too simple, Star. I'm supposed to expect situations like these to react correctly. Because when I make a decision, the fate of our whole team may depend on it."
  2189. >A pause.
  2190. >"Mistakes are dangerous for somepony in my position. And not only for me personally. Just imagine what would have happened if the others had listened to me. If everypony was out there on the field earlier today. What then?"
  2191. >Windigo magic, you assume.
  2192. >Still, Sky Squall's concerns are understandable from his point of view.
  2193. >As far as he is concerned, he could have led everyone into a burning demise.
  2194. >Admittedly not an engaging scenario to envision.
  2195. >"The point is, we were lucky. I was lucky... because no one followed me today."
  2196. >He clears his throat.
  2197. >"Well, except for you, of course."
  2198. >You take a breath.
  2199. "You can't be perfect all the time, Sky. No one can be. Regardless of the talent or learned skills, there's always a chance of something going wrong. The unexpected may simply happen sometimes and get us anyway. Even the best of us."
  2200. >You wait for a second to let him think about that for a moment.
  2201. "But this is not a weakness. Much less a flaw of your own."
  2202. >You give Sky Squall a comradely grin.
  2203. "You've dealt with this fact for years now. And given what I've heard from others, and seen with my own eyes, you are good at what you're doing."
  2204. >The golden Pegasus looks to the side.
  2205. >"I'm... not sure if the others will agree with your confidence in me. Not after... this."
  2206. >This is your chance to poke him in the right direction.
  2207. "Oh yeah?"
  2208. >Your grin widens.
  2209. "Would you bet on it?"
  2210. >"A bet?"
  2211. "Yes. Because I bet that they still believe in you. Do you too?"
  2212. >He blinks.
  2213. >"Star, there can't be a bet if we both bet on the same outcome. And I won't bet on my own failings either."
  2214. >You shrug.
  2215. "It's the spirit that counts. And I know on which side I would stand."
  2216. >You keep your grin.
  2217. "Don't you want to find out that I'm right?"
  2218.  
  2219.  
  2220.  
  2221.  
  2222. >He raises an eyebrow.
  2223. >"You're convinced you know the result already, hm?"
  2224. >You nod with a smile.
  2225. "As good as. Believe in the Pegasi, Sky. They believe in you too."
  2226. >Sky Squall hesitates for a moment.
  2227. >Eventually, however, he nods.
  2228. >Hesitantly, granted, but it is a first step.
  2229. >And now that you have achieved a somewhat reserved agreement, you begin to relax a bit.
  2230. >Seeing the ponies' respect for Sky Squall, regardless of today's events, should do the trick to get him back on track again.
  2231. >Unfortunately for you, the stallion still has one more question.
  2232. >And it reveals itself, right from the start, to be a more tricky subject matter than the previous one.
  2233. >"Star?"
  2234. "Hm?"
  2235. >"Did you know something about the sunfire in advance? Were you aware of what was coming?"
  2236. >Oh boy.
  2237. >You try to look puzzled.
  2238. "What do you mean?"
  2239. >"I mean the way you acted. You behaved as if you knew exactly what you'd have to do to get both of us out there alive."
  2240. >And then he elaborates.
  2241. >"The hole to shield us from the brunt of the heat, for instance. How did you find it this quickly? While we were rolling at that?"
  2242. >Damn.
  2243. >"Also, why did you pick it in the first place? It seems like a bit much for a pure coincidence, you know? In hindsight, it only makes sense if you were aware of what was coming."
  2244. >Bad.
  2245. >Very bad.
  2246. >Cover story, now.
  2247. >Perhaps you should dig out the Windigo explanation again.
  2248. >As a cheap excuse or something.
  2249. >No, wait.
  2250. >There is something even better.
  2251. >You can use the proverbial Alicorn in the room as a basis for a forged story.
  2252. >With a pinch of truth in between.
  2253. "Well, I..."
  2254. >You clear your throat.
  2255. "...I'm not really sure myself."
  2256. >This was not the answer he expected.
  2257. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  2258. >"What?"
  2259. "I know this sounds strange now, but something simply... happened."
  2260. >You know you have to offer him a bit more.
  2261. >So you do.
  2262. "When I saw you storming out of the recess, I followed you immediately. To... talk to you."
  2263. >"Talk, you say?"
  2264. >He lightly shakes his head in an implicative manner.
  2265. >And you think you see his hindquarters twitching faintly too.
  2266. >A sudden reflex, you presume.
  2267. >"That's... not even close to what I remember."
  2268. >You nod.
  2269. "I know. Because that's when the aforementioned thing comes into play."
  2270. >"Go on."
  2271. "As I passed the princess, Luna talked to me. I promised her to bring you back. And... that's when it happened."
  2272. >The stallion wants more details.
  2273. >"When what happened?"
  2274. "I can best describe it as.. as a premonition, flashing up right before my eyes. A warning to bring you back as quickly as possible because you were making a critical mistake. That's when I... somehow knew what the two were planning. And that the surface wasn't safe."
  2275. >"And this is the reason why you fought me?"
  2276. "There was no time for discussions. My time was limited, as you now know."
  2277. >A pause.
  2278. "Besides, would you have believed me? When the safety of Celestia was on the line?"
  2279. >He earnestly thinks about your question for a moment.
  2280. >"Maybe."
  2281.  
  2282.  
  2283.  
  2284.  
  2285. >You give him a second nod.
  2286. "See? That was my problem. A 'maybe' wasn't good enough. I swore to bring you back in one piece, no matter what."
  2287. >Sky Squall says nothing.
  2288. >You can read in his expression that he still appreciates what you did.
  2289. >But he does not say that out loud.
  2290. >It is not hard to guess why either.
  2291. >After all, thanking someone for getting beaten up, even with good intentions in mind, would sound pretty strange.
  2292. >Either way though, the golden stallion does mull over everything you have told him.
  2293. >And his expression changes into a stoic one.
  2294. >"You know what, Star, Luna is definitively right. There's something unusual about you. I'm convinced of that now."
  2295. >A pause.
  2296. >"I don't know what it is. Windigo magic, or something else... I have no idea. But it's clearly there, it has a strangely undefined feel to it, and it is always strong when you are near the princesses."
  2297. >Then he cracks a faint smile.
  2298. >"After the happenings of today though, it's reassuring to know that your strange little quirks are on our side."
  2299. >You mirror his smile.
  2300. "I take that as a compliment, I guess."
  2301. >Sky Squall takes a careful step closer to your bed, minding not to shift his body too much.
  2302. >"We'll get to the bottom of this one day. To find out what is behind your unusual hidden talent. And we should talk to Luna about this soon. You know, once both of us are more... presentable."
  2303. >The sound of stepping hooves can be heard in the distance.
  2304. >And the steps are coming closer.
  2305. >Fast.
  2306. >Somepony is heading your way in a full gallop.
  2307. >Even without your goggles, or any other tool for that matter, you are fairly sure to know who this pony might be.
  2308. >You have to suppress a snicker.
  2309. "Maybe we don't have to. Some answers reveal themselves on their own."
  2310. >Sky Squall tries to reply to your comment, but he does not get any chance to do so.
  2311. >Because just as he is raising his voice, the entrance flaps behind him are suddenly pushed aside by the incoming galloping pony.
  2312. >#deca.mare bolts into the tent.
  2313. >She promptly collides with the stallion and shoves him to the side, just like the flaps of the tent.
  2314. >Sky Squall staggers as he struggles to keep his balance.
  2315. >He is forced to take a few swift sideways steps to remain on his hooves.
  2316. >And the reaction of the Pegasus suggests quite clearly that it makes him feel pretty queasy.
  2317. >However, #deca.mare pretends not to notice this particular detail.
  2318. >She is playing the role of the concerned wife, so she only has an eye for you at the moment.
  2319. >"There you are!"
  2320. >She rushes to your side.
  2321. >"I came as quickly as I could when I heard that you were brought here! How are you?"
  2322. >You nuzzle her cheek before you respond.
  2323. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. The healer said I'll be grounded for a week or so though."
  2324. >And #deca.mare feigns to be relieved.
  2325. >"Thank your lucky stars! I was worried sick!"
  2326. "I'm sorry. But there was something I had to do, you know?"
  2327. >"So I heard. But how did it come to this... mess?"
  2328.  
  2329.  
  2330.  
  2331.  
  2332. >You look at the stallion who tries to catch his breath after being forcefully shunted to the side by #deca.mare's energetic entrance.
  2333. "Somepony needed... the help of a friend. When... the sky came crashing down upon us."
  2334. >Without saying another word, #deca.mare turns her head towards Sky Squall and carefully hugs you at the same time.
  2335. >And whilst she looks at the Pegasus, now free from her previous acted tunnel vision, she quickly "notices" that he is not exactly close to his peak condition either.
  2336. >Which is, in all due honesty, not really a difficult feat to achieve though.
  2337. >Despite him trying to look tough, the stallion is not quite able to camouflage the malaise which was caused by #deca.mare as she shoved him away.
  2338. >The heavy breathing and stiff pose are less than subtle hints that something is not entirely as it should be.
  2339. >"Help, hm?"
  2340. >She blinks.
  2341. >"It... must have been a wild day."
  2342. >And given that #deca.mare is seemingly unaware of the details yet, as far as Sky Squall knows, at least, she decides to outright ask him what this is about.
  2343. >Like any concerned friend would do.
  2344. >"Sky? Are you feeling well?"
  2345. >He snorts in a light fit of irritation before he tries to speak more or less normally.
  2346. >"Tackling me... from behind. What... is it... with you two today?"
  2347. >#deca.mare gives him a puzzled expression.
  2348. >"Pardon?"
  2349. >Sky Squall struggles to find an elegant wording for his situation, so you chime in to take over for him.
  2350. "You have... rocked his boat a little bit too hard when you ran into him."
  2351. >#deca.mare looks over to you for a moment, maintaining her act of confusion.
  2352. >"I 'rocked his boat'?"
  2353. >Then she turns back to Sky Squall again.
  2354. >She examines him a bit more thoroughly from her current distance.
  2355. >You can imagine that Sky Squall is not all too happy with this.
  2356. >Yet he remains still and says nothing.
  2357. >And #deca.mare does not want to needle the stallion too much either.
  2358. >Which is probably why she refrains from approaching him.
  2359. >But she knows what is going on of course, and she eventually looks for a somewhat elegant way to address this as well.
  2360. >After a few seconds of eyeing the stallion's front and sides, #deca.mare crouches to examine his barrel, still keeping a respectful distance between the two of them.
  2361. >Then she gasps.
  2362. >"Oh... oh. I see."
  2363. >#deca.mare clears her throat.
  2364. >"How did this happen?"
  2365. >No response.
  2366. >You too have to swallow a spicy comment regarding that question.
  2367. >And if Sky Squall knew the full truth, he would certainly be a tad disgruntled now.
  2368. >Well, a tad more disgruntled than he already is.
  2369. >So you choose a more diplomatic answer to #deca.mare's exceedingly rhetorical question.
  2370. "Suboptimal happenstances... happened."
  2371.  
  2372.  
  2373.  
  2374.  
  2375. >"I am sorry, Sky. Barging in like this was... inconsiderate of me."
  2376. >Judging from her tone, you are certain that #deca.mare's first sentence was a genuine apology for hurting him via proxy.
  2377. >It was merely shrouded in a different context.
  2378. >And this gets an uptight nod out of the stallion too.
  2379. >"Apology accepted."
  2380. >But #deca.mare is not quite done yet.
  2381. >She offers some cordial gestures, just to be friendly to the Pegasus.
  2382. >Even though she knows the answers to all of her questions already.
  2383. >"Shall I take a look? I have experience in treating wounded Pegasi."
  2384. >#deca.mare gives you a brief sideways glance.
  2385. >But the Pegasus shakes his head regardless.
  2386. >"No, thank you. I was checked already."
  2387. >As you have expected, she drills some more.
  2388. >"And you got no treatment?"
  2389. >A second shake.
  2390. >"No. It will heal on its own just fine."
  2391. >#deca.mare goes in for round three.
  2392. >"Even then, we do have options available here. Spells to muffle the pain and soothing ointments that aid the natural regene..."
  2393. >Sky Squall interrupts her.
  2394. >"I'm aware. I got all of those offers already. Thank you for trying, but the answer is still no."
  2395. >This is probably the best time to rein #deca.mare in.
  2396. >You understand that she had to try to apologise with a friendly gesture or two, regardless of the slim chances.
  2397. >But this is enough prodding.
  2398. >So you pat her side.
  2399. "It's alright, Deca. It's his decision."
  2400. >#deca.mare deliberates on your comment for a moment.
  2401. >Then she shrugs.
  2402. >"As you wish. If you change your mind though, just let me know. I am always happy to help out."
  2403. >Sky Squall nods, and leaves it at that.
  2404. >No one says anything for a couple of seconds.
  2405. >A welcome opportunity for you to gracefully change the subject.
  2406. "By the way, what's the situation out there? I think I overslept a bit."
  2407. >#deca.mare wants to answer, but Sky Squall is faster.
  2408. >"Princess Celestia has actually talked to... one of those things. Believe it or not, but they apparently can talk like ponies. And they call themselves 'dragons'."
  2409. >The next question is rather obvious.
  2410. "How did it go?"
  2411. >"Well, remarkably if nothing else. The one who came claimed to be the leader of their band. I think it was a male, judging by the voice. They lack other distinctive features, as far as I can tell."
  2412. >Then he sneers.
  2413. >"Though I wouldn't be surprised if their females speak like that too."
  2414. >Sounds like he is holding quite a grudge against the dragons, despite the ceasefire.
  2415. >Though you cannot really blame Sky Squall for his distaste, considering that he has followed their destructive trail and fought them constantly for over a week at this point.
  2416. >And this handful of days contained more open and unbridled hostility than everything that the ponies have done to each other before the Unification.
  2417. >Admittedly not the best track record for a first contact.
  2418. >"Anyway, he was pretty well-behaved when he landed. I guess that's what the load of sunfire did to him."
  2419.  
  2420.  
  2421.  
  2422.  
  2423. >Sky Squall laughs briefly.
  2424. >"Oh, and he called himself Torch. Clever name, I know."
  2425. >He clears his throat, and #deca.mare uses the chance to take over.
  2426. >"I heard Celestia has offered him an arrangement. The dragons return to their homelands and abstain from forming future assault groups against ponies. In turn, we will not push them any further for razing Lush Field, and consider the whole affair as a fair fight."
  2427. >Sky Squall nods to confirm #deca.mare's account.
  2428. >"That's the deal, yes."
  2429. "How did Torch react?"
  2430. >#deca.mare replies again.
  2431. >"It seems as if he agreed. Torch has returned to his followers and they departed. The first reports say that they are flying southwards, so it appears as if they honour their part of the deal. The scout teams are careful though, and they stay far away from the dragons to prevent any new provocations."
  2432. >You are convinced that she and Harmony could give you a far more detailed report already.
  2433. >But this is the wrong time and place to address that.
  2434. >So you take the account for what it is and exhale audibly.
  2435. "Let's hope for the best then."
  2436. >Sky Squall nods and raises his voice.
  2437. >"Star, Deca? It's time for me to go. There's something else I need to tend to. And... I'm sure you want some time for yourselves as well."
  2438. >#deca.mare smiles widely.
  2439. >A reaction you have seen many times.
  2440. >But rarely directed towards anyone other than you.
  2441. >For she is about to deliver a bantering quip.
  2442. >"I think you mean 'somepony', right?"
  2443. >Sky Squall blinks.
  2444. >And you see him... blushing?
  2445. >What the hell has happened in these few hours?
  2446. >You only took a nap.
  2447. >"How do you know?"
  2448. >#deca.mare snickers.
  2449. >"I am not blind, Sky. A mare sees these things. The signs are all there."
  2450. >A pause.
  2451. >"Though I do not understand why you are in a hurry now. From what I have heard, you were extracted hours ago. Have you not met up yet?"
  2452. >Sky Squall looks like he could transform into a puddle of water and float out of the tent.
  2453. >"No. I... had a few things to think about first."
  2454. >You look at both #deca.mare and Sky Squall in turn.
  2455. "Can someone please let me in on the news?"
  2456. >The stallion sighs.
  2457. >"Remember when you asked me whether I have... an eye for somepony? Well, yes."
  2458. >He hesitates briefly.
  2459. "Yes, I do."
  2460. >You blink.
  2461. "And she's here?"
  2462. >#deca.mare laughs again.
  2463. >"She has been here all the time. In fact, she is a member of your team."
  2464. >Oh.
  2465. >So that was a key part of Sky Squall's sorrows too.
  2466. >Appearing weak in front of the team is one thing.
  2467. >And that is bad enough for someone with his strong sense of personal pride.
  2468. >But he also did not want to embarrass himself in the eyes of his marefriend.
  2469. >A notion you can understand fairly easily as well.
  2470. >Keeping these two factors in mind, it is hardly a surprise that Sky Squall preferred to stay below the public radar.
  2471. >Apart from the initial field extraction and subsequent medical examination, that is.
  2472.  
  2473.  
  2474.  
  2475.  
  2476. >Now that your friendly words have motivated him to reach out to someone, however, he needs a pony to go to.
  2477. >So reuniting with his mare is an obvious first choice.
  2478. >For she is the one he will trust the most.
  2479. >Whoever that may be.
  2480. "And... the mare? What's her name?"
  2481. >#deca.mare snickers politely, and Sky Squall has a hard time to stop his golden face from turning orange.
  2482. >"It is a... now quite poetic name, I assure you."
  2483. >Sky Squall covers his face with a forehoof.
  2484. >And #deca.mare boldly grins at him.
  2485. >"Tell him. I promise he will not laugh."
  2486. >You feel the urge to protest against #deca.mare's assurance in regard to actions that you will supposedly do, according to her assessment.
  2487. >Or rather, which you are not going to do in this particular case.
  2488. >But you do not wish to make this conversation any more touchy than it already is.
  2489. >Besides, if neither of them tells you the name of the mare, you will only end up wracking your own brain until you have figured it out.
  2490. >And Sky Squall relents with another heavy sigh.
  2491. >"Fine."
  2492. >A pause.
  2493. >"It's... Firefly."
  2494. >You groan loudly as you hear that name.
  2495. >Was this a practical joke by Harmony or something?
  2496. >If so, then someone failed to inform you that Harmony has developed a fondness for irony.
  2497. "These coincidences... and you think I have Windigo roots in my family tree? What about yours?"
  2498. >Sky Squall glares fiercely at #deca.mare, but she simply shrugs in turn.
  2499. >"I told you he would not laugh."
  2500. >He grumbles.
  2501. >"I'm sorry, but I didn't consider the possibility of being threatened by aerial sunfire in the future when I met my marefriend for the first time. My fault."
  2502. >You pull yourself together and get serious again before you tilt Sky Squall's mood.
  2503. "No, seriously now. Good on you, Sky. I've seen her in action, and I'm sure you'll get along nicely."
  2504. >He nods appreciatively, but leaves it at that.
  2505. >A comparatively lukewarm reply to your earnest remark, given that he was much more cordial prior to your little "incident".
  2506. >And despite #deca.mare briefing you about this reaction in advance, the momentary distance between Sky Squall and you becomes all the more palpable now.
  2507. >It is an inconvenient thing to behold.
  2508. >Still, you take solace in the knowledge that this little rocky bump in your friendship will pass eventually.
  2509. >Because #deca.mare is right.
  2510. >Sky Squall only needs some time to come to terms with everything and sort himself out.
  2511. >A respite to lick his wounds and recover.
  2512. >The stallion speaks up.
  2513. >"I'll be on my way then. See you two tomorrow."
  2514. "Tomorrow?"
  2515. >"It's almost dusk, sleepyhead."
  2516. "Oh. I didn't notice. Good night, Sky."
  2517. >"Night."
  2518.  
  2519.  
  2520.  
  2521.  
  2522. >Sky Squall carefully turns around to limp out of the tent.
  2523. >But you address him one last time, shortly before he is gone.
  2524. "Hey Sky, no chest bump to call it a day?"
  2525. >Once more, you are forced to ignore your urge to snicker as you try to envision Sky Squall rearing up for a show tussle with his shaky hind legs.
  2526. >He would probably fold at once.
  2527. >Plus, you bet he is not keen on exposing his barrel a second time in your presence.
  2528. >Especially since he is still feeling the aftermath of the first.
  2529. >And indeed, he gives you a stiff look as he turns his head towards you.
  2530. >"No. Not today."
  2531. >He grunts once.
  2532. >"You're injured."
  2533. >Then he limps out, leaving #deca.mare and you alone for the time being.
  2534. >You exhale and relax.
  2535. >After that, you wait for roughly fifteen seconds before you talk to #deca.mare in a hushed volume.
  2536. "Hm. He sounded more confident and witty at the end. Was my help constructive enough?"
  2537. >"That it was, Anon. He is going straight to her."
  2538. "Well, that's great. She'll help him to get back up again."
  2539. >You smile.
  2540. "I heard the presence of a mare can brighten up even the darkest of days."
  2541. >And #deca.mare mirrors your grin.
  2542. >"I am inclined to agree."
  2543. >#deca.mare subtly nudges your proxy, implying that she wishes to lie on the makeshift bed as well.
  2544. >And you shift to the side, as far as you can.
  2545. >Though it is not much in total.
  2546. >This thing was simply never meant to carry two ponies at the same time.
  2547. >So the available space is comparatively sparse.
  2548. >Eventually, the two of you manage to get it done.
  2549. >Yet your arrangement leaves very little space on either end.
  2550. >You cannot do much now, other than lying side by side.
  2551. >Without knocking the other off the bed, at least.
  2552. >And you believe it is rather unlikely that the healers of your backup team would condone this practice at all.
  2553. >Especially when wounded ponies are involved.
  2554. >So you just lie there for a moment and enjoy the peace.
  2555. >It may not be much, it may not be overly luxurious, and it may not be exciting.
  2556. >And it does not have to be.
  2557. >For the first time in over a week, both #deca.mare and you have nothing pressing to do.
  2558. >The perfect opportunity to have a relaxing evening together.
  2559. >There is only one little thing in your mind which you wish to address before you can fully let go though.
  2560. >Then you can, hopefully, file this operation away as a complete success.
  2561. "Now, off the records, what about Torch? Was the orbital strike enough to really convince him?"
  2562. >"Hmhm. He will uphold his part of the bargain. No dragon under his command will form another attack group to plague the pony lands. This vow will carry over to his future title of Lord as well, once he ascends to it."
  2563. >She takes a breath.
  2564. >"In regard to the 'border' between the Dragonlands and the realm of Equestria, the newly created gorge will eventually establish itself as a landmark to separate the two."
  2565. "Thank goodness. That means no more scorched landscapes or other catastrophes, right?"
  2566. >#deca.mare nods, much to your relief.
  2567.  
  2568.  
  2569.  
  2570.  
  2571. >"Most likely. There will of course be a few outliers who venture out on their own, but they too will not form any organised ambushes. Smaller local incidents are possible though."
  2572. "To cut it short, you mean 'Dragonshy'-level incidents, yes?"
  2573. >"Precisely. Smaller clashes like these. Nothing on a major scale."
  2574. "Sounds good enough. Shall we shelve that mission now?"
  2575. >"Agreed, Anon."
  2576. >And with that, the dragon incident is over.
  2577. >Concluded by a single overwhelming intervention of Celestia, who is now celebrated and praised as the hero of the day.
  2578. >Another moment of contemplative silence follows.
  2579. >"So, what do we do now? You are well rested and the deed of the day is done."
  2580. >You consider your options.
  2581. "Not much down here with the hurt proxy, that much is clear."
  2582. >But then, you suddenly get an idea.
  2583. >A topic to talk about.
  2584. >Though you can only introduce it with a wry smirk.
  2585. >And a very blatant wording.
  2586. "Hey #deca, do you think the two will make a foal today?"
  2587. >She coughs once.
  2588. >"Pardon?"
  2589. >You laugh.
  2590. "Don't say you weren't asking yourself the same question."
  2591. >#deca.mare tilts her head.
  2592. >"Anon, are you implying..."
  2593. >Another fit of laughter follows.
  2594. "Aw, come on. Sky Squall and Firefly meeting at dusk? After almost losing one another?"
  2595. >You look upwards as you sum up your thoughts.
  2596. "I'd bet good money that their survival instincts kick into high gear when they're together again."
  2597. >You try to envision the scene.
  2598. >And you end up with a mental image of the two falling, albeit very carefully, into each other's forelimbs, nuzzling intensely on the spot.
  2599. >Which quickly escalates into something more explicit.
  2600. "Yeah, they'll find a quiet corner for a rodeo."
  2601. >#deca.mare, probably already aware of your daydream, shows no overt reaction to your lively projection.
  2602. >"What makes you so sure that it happens now, Anon? Sky can barely walk properly."
  2603. >You grin.
  2604. "That won't stop them. They're both too headstrong to let that little obstacle get in their way. And don't underestimate the power of natural instincts. The two think they had a brief, but genuine brush with death. Believe me, that's firing up their spirits like nothing else."
  2605. >And you come up with another argument.
  2606. "Besides, it's giving Sky another good boost to his mood and confidence."
  2607. >You pause as you spin your peculiar mental image a bit further.
  2608. "Though I guess they'll tread very carefully tonight. You know... since Sky is a bit vulnerable to vibrations at the moment."
  2609. >You strike a thinking pose on the makeshift bed.
  2610. "It's hard to say who could be the dominant one, however. Normally I'd say Sky, but he's got a bit of a critical handicap."
  2611. >You try your best to feign a neutral tone and shrug.
  2612. "He should have accepted the treatment."
  2613. >#deca.mare still manages to maintain a poker face, despite your thinly veiled attempts to present your overtly suggestive ponderings like a reasonable strategic discussion.
  2614. >"Maybe, maybe not."
  2615.  
  2616.  
  2617.  
  2618.  
  2619. >She clears her throat.
  2620. >"But either way, this is their personal affair."
  2621. >Her hint is unmistakable.
  2622. >You nod.
  2623. "Yes, I know. No spying in private spaces."
  2624. >You blink and force yourself to suppress a laugh, again.
  2625. "But it would be interesting to observe how they do it. Just from a... theoretical standpoint."
  2626. >Once more, #deca.mare shrugs the suggestion off.
  2627. >"I think I just understood something."
  2628. >Really?
  2629. "And what?"
  2630. >"Your fixation on their sexual bond means that I have neglected my responsibilities during the last week. So your thoughts wandered elsewhere to compensate for that."
  2631. >You want to comment on her remark, but #deca.mare does not give you the chance to do so.
  2632. >"This is my oversight. I will rectify it at once."
  2633. >You feel how your control over the proxy is suddenly slipping.
  2634. >Rapidly.
  2635. >Within seconds, and without any doing of your own, you lose the connection to the surface entirely.
  2636. >Then, in the very next moment, you find yourself lying on your back in your Canterlot bed.
  2637. >#deca.mare stands above you, pinning your arms with her forehooves.
  2638. >"There. Much better, right?"
  2639. >You raise your voice.
  2640. >Or you try, at least.
  2641. >But just as you open your mouth, #deca.mare's muzzle is quick to block you with a swift, but intense kiss.
  2642. >"No more comments. No more questions. Until your mind is clear again."
  2643. >Again, you wish to speak out.
  2644. >Though it is a futile attempt.
  2645. >#deca.mare simply silences you with another peck.
  2646. >Looks like you have given her the perfect excuse to tease you like this.
  2647. >Oh well, you will not complain about that.
  2648. >After this hectic week, her rather straightforward advances are a welcome change for you too.
  2649. >Perhaps she is right.
  2650. >Maybe you are a bit too silly indeed and need some quality time to cool down again.
  2651. >Too much heat is not good for people's brains, after all.
  2652. >And you know you had far too much of it recently.
  2653. >Though one could say that you are merely exchanging one type of heat for another at the end of the day.
  2654.  
  2655.  
  2656.  
  2657.  
  2658. 148
  2659.  
  2660. >Day 9
  2661.  
  2662. >An envoy is heading for your tent, shortly after the break of dawn.
  2663. >You know in advance that it is a singular pony, sent by the princesses.
  2664. >And you can thank #deca.mare for that intel.
  2665. >She woke you up, about half an hour ago, in order to give you a brief prediction of what is about to happen next, and to allow you to resume control over your proxy in due time.
  2666. >So when the first distant steps become audible within the tent, you are already wide awake and ready to act.
  2667. >The envoy trots up to the flaps at the entrance, and deliberately chooses a noisy gait whilst doing so.
  2668. >Based on the sound of the hooves and the rhythm of the pony, you assume that this is probably a mare.
  2669. >And your guess quickly turns out to be accurate.
  2670. >The mare clears her throat in a similar loud volume, making absolutely sure that all the inhabitants of the tent are aware of her presence.
  2671. >She clearly does not know what is going on inside the tent, and she presumably does not want to catch anyone by surprise with a sudden entrance either.
  2672. >Which comes across as a reasonable approach, all things considered.
  2673. >But to be absolutely certain that everything is well and good, the mare announces her arrival verbally too.
  2674. >And she chooses to speak in a volume which no one inside the tent would be able to miss.
  2675. >"Is this the tent of Star Plotter and Enigmatic Decanter?"
  2676. >Well, that question is easy enough to answer.
  2677. >You reply with a not quite so high, yet still decent sound level.
  2678. "Yes, it is."
  2679. >The reaction to your answer is obvious.
  2680. >And thankfully delivered with a more reasonably chosen intensity as well.
  2681. >"Quillmare Ink here. May I come in?"
  2682. >Alright.
  2683. >Even if you had never seen that pony before, you would now have a very good vision of what the mare in front of the tent may look like.
  2684. >And more specifically, what appendages protrude from her body.
  2685. >You quickly look at #deca.mare, who has been sitting quietly on a cushion at the side the whole time.
  2686. >She nods.
  2687. >So here you go.
  2688. >You get off the bed and take a breath.
  2689. "Sure. Come."
  2690. >The flaps of the tent begin to glow in a bright, near colourless sheen.
  2691. >Then they are dragged to the sides.
  2692. >Revealing the shape of a sleek and comparatively tall Unicorn mare in the process.
  2693. >Quillmare Ink does not quite reach the size of an adult Alicorn, but her height is notably above average.
  2694. >The same applies to her long horn as well, which glows vividly in an equally intense light as the flaps.
  2695. >In spite of what Ink's name suggests, however, her body is not as dark as one might expect.
  2696. >Not at all, in fact.
  2697. >The hair of her warmly cream-coloured coat is smooth, almost shiny even.
  2698. >And the radiant glow of her own magic aura makes her body look vaguely reminiscent of well preserved parchment.
  2699. >Her light chestnut mane reaches all the way down to the knees of her forelegs.
  2700. >It too reflects faint glints of the emanating magic shimmer of her horn.
  2701.  
  2702.  
  2703.  
  2704.  
  2705. >But the most striking features of the Unicorn mare are her sharp and keen eyes.
  2706. >Nearly matching the hue of her aura, the irises shine in the light of her horn as if they were made out of pure silver.
  2707. >A keen observer might spot a slight pinch of green in them as well.
  2708. >In reality though, this is not happening very often, as most ponies are mesmerised by her fairly rare eye colour right away, causing them to miss the more nuanced details of her appearance.
  2709. >Especially so under the light conditions of her strong magical aura.
  2710. >And in her position as one of the princesses' closest aides when it comes to logistics and spells, not putting her horn to use in one capacity or another is something that happens exceedingly rarely.
  2711. >There are only a few select ponies, apart from family members and early friends of course, who have seen the light green touch of her eyes in their natural hue.
  2712. >Plus, she does seem to enjoy the fact that she can deliberately use this effect to impress others.
  2713. >At least to a certain degree.
  2714. >For Quillmare Ink has mastered the art of gazing inquisitively at the ponies around her.
  2715. >So much so that even you need a moment to mentally adjust your thoughts in her presence.
  2716. >She comes fairly close to invoking the same feeling that you had when Princess Luna studied you for the first time.
  2717. >Merely by looking at you.
  2718. >But despite her appearance, and the admittedly considerable magic potential within her, she is no Alicorn.
  2719. >So you can overcome her charm relatively easily.
  2720. >This mare is not a pony you need to worry about.
  2721. >Unless you do something blatantly stupid.
  2722. >"Star Plotter."
  2723. "Good morning."
  2724. >Quillmare Ink steps inside the tent, trotting comparatively swift, but also with a fairly accentuated grace.
  2725. >A trick that she has overtly copied from Princess Platinum, probably to further emphasise the effect she has on some impressionable minds.
  2726. >And given her notable size, you would not be surprised if her moves actually manage to turn the heads of a few ponies here and there.
  2727. >Stallions in particular.
  2728. >Well, she is not going to have any luck with you though, that much is certain.
  2729. >As she comes closer, you get a chance to look at the gear she is wearing.
  2730. >It is a custom-tailored pair of saddlebags, made of fine silver and light grey cloth.
  2731. >Both the bags and the straps are adjusted to fit her larger frame, and the entirety of the piece is embroidered with insignia of the Unicorn court.
  2732. >You recognise a couple of those right on the spot.
  2733. >Amongst them are the regal Unicorn head on a badge, made famous by the banner of the Unicorn tribe, and an emblem which depicts Platinum's official crown.
  2734. >It is clear as day that this piece was made to be worn by a reputable member of the court, prior to the Unification.
  2735. >And in a way, it still is a status symbol, especially amongst Unicorns.
  2736. >After all, these pieces were never handed out liberally.
  2737.  
  2738.  
  2739.  
  2740.  
  2741. >Which is probably one of the reasons why Ink has decided to keep using them, even in her service of Celestia and Luna.
  2742. >The items inside the saddlebags are equally telling.
  2743. >As far as you can see from the outside, the bags are filled to the brim with various scrolls and documents.
  2744. >Some of them even peek out of the bags, albeit just barely.
  2745. >And just as Quillmare Ink has reached you, you get to witness her nimble magic skills in action.
  2746. >She lets go of the tent flaps, and immediately opens her saddlebag with her aura to reach for an item.
  2747. >Not interrupting her light show for even a second.
  2748. >You do not need any additional information to realise that she must have practiced this sort of thing extensively over the course of her career.
  2749. >Of that there is no doubt, considering how routinely she is doing this.
  2750. >The Unicorn pulls out a scroll, and looks over to #deca.mare to give her a polite nod.
  2751. >"Enigmatic."
  2752. >#deca.mare does the same.
  2753. >"Hello, Ink."
  2754. >Both #deca.mare and Quillmare Ink address each other in a notably formal tone.
  2755. >A style you would associate with close colleagues who are working well with one another on a factual and professional level.
  2756. >But nothing more.
  2757. >You have no idea how many mutual interactions the two had over the course of the last eight days, or how close that cooperation could have been for that matter, but it appears to have been a purely functional acquaintance.
  2758. >Their time in the logistical backup team did not turn into a cordial friendship.
  2759. >This poses no problem though.
  2760. >Because as you can see right now, their mutual respect is all they need to get along with each other.
  2761. >Well, you never expected #deca.mare to get into any real trouble with another pony to begin with, so there is that.
  2762. >While you are busy with your own thoughts, Quillmare Ink unfolds the scroll to tell you what is written inside.
  2763. >"Princess Luna requests your presence in her tent. She wishes to talk to you. Within the hour, if your condition permits it."
  2764. >Well, that alone does not exactly necessitate the usage of a scroll.
  2765. >And you know there is more to it.
  2766. >Still, you play the game as Quillmare Ink would expect you to, and ask questions.
  2767. "Alright. No problem. Did the princess tell you what she wishes to discuss?"
  2768. >The mare checks her notes.
  2769. >"She stated, quoting, 'Matters related to the recent incident'."
  2770. >The obvious it is then.
  2771. >You take a breath.
  2772. "That... in itself isn't much to work with."
  2773. >She merely blinks at that.
  2774. >"Curious. Princess Luna claimed you would understand."
  2775. >Oh.
  2776. >Interesting.
  2777. "Did she?"
  2778. >The unicorn mare nods slowly.
  2779. >"Her exact wording is right here."
  2780. >Quillmare Ink pushes the scroll a few centimetres closer to you, still keeping it in her magic grasp.
  2781. >"You can read it for yourself if you wish."
  2782. >You shake your head.
  2783. "No, thanks. It's fine."
  2784. >#deca.mare chimes in at that point, much to your surprise.
  2785.  
  2786.  
  2787.  
  2788.  
  2789. >"Ink? Does the request only mention Star?"
  2790. >The Unicorn looks to the side to face #deca.mare.
  2791. >"It is addressed to Star Plotter, yes. Why do you ask?"
  2792. >And the answer confuses you.
  2793. >"Because I would like to join as well, if that is possible."
  2794. >Quillmare Ink studies the scroll again.
  2795. >"Well, the message only mentions him explicitly. However,..."
  2796. >A pause.
  2797. >"... I see nothing which implies that Star Plotter shall not bring somepony along."
  2798. >She gazes at #deca.mare again, with the same examining look that she has given you.
  2799. >"So I suggest you meet the princess as well and ask her yourself."
  2800. >#deca.mare nods again.
  2801. >"Thanks. I will."
  2802. >You still cannot fully process this.
  2803. >Princess Luna, #deca.mare, and you?
  2804. >In the same tent?
  2805. >This is asking for trouble.
  2806. >Unless #deca.mare is planning something specific.
  2807. >Something you know nothing of yet.
  2808. >And if that is the case, she will have her reasons for this decision.
  2809. >But as you have seen for yourself, her recent track record is not exactly stellar in this regard.
  2810. >After all, you are still dealing with the aftermath of #deca.mare's last great plan.
  2811. >The Unicorn mare focuses on you once more.
  2812. >"One more thing, off the records. The princess recommends you to forego the practice of donning any apparel."
  2813. >Uhm.
  2814. >If it were not for the very loose standard of clothing in Equestria's society, this would sound like a glaring red flag to you.
  2815. >And Quillmare Ink notices your silent confusion as well.
  2816. >Somehow.
  2817. >So she is quick to elaborate.
  2818. >Though as it turns out, she may misinterpret the origin of your thoughts a little bit.
  2819. >"Princess Luna is aware of the custom to pick one's best dress for a personal audience with her."
  2820. >She looks at your wings.
  2821. >"But in your current condition, that may not be a sound idea. The princess wants you to know that your regeneration takes precedence over formality."
  2822. >Unusually considerate of her.
  2823. >But alright.
  2824. >It is an honest reason you can get behind.
  2825. "I see. Well then,..."
  2826. >#deca.mare and you exchange glances.
  2827. >And you understand each other wordlessly.
  2828. >Here goes nothing.
  2829. "... we're ready to go."
  2830. >This gets another neutral nod out of Quillmare Ink.
  2831. >"Splendid. Follow me."
  2832. >The scroll disappears inside her saddlebag in one swift move.
  2833. >And even before the bag is fully closed by Quillmare Ink's magic grip again, the flaps of the tent are illuminated by her silver aura.
  2834. >Once again, You do not register a single moment of respite in between.
  2835. >She opens up the flaps and turns around to leave simultaneously.
  2836. >"Come with me."
  2837. >That is easy enough.
  2838. >Quillmare Ink steps out.
  2839. >Both #deca.mare and you follow her accordingly.
  2840. >Once you are all outside the tent, the tall Unicorn lets go of the flaps and starts trotting.
  2841. >She picks a relatively casual pace that is easy to maintain, yet slightly faster than a regular pony stroll.
  2842. >The two of you match the Unicorn's speed and let her lead you to the tent of the Royal Sisters.
  2843. >Quillmare Ink addresses you without looking back.
  2844. >"Can you keep up?"
  2845. >And you respond without hesitation.
  2846. "We're fine. Don't worry."
  2847. >You believe you see her nodding briefly.
  2848. >Then, true to her style and reputation, Quillmare Ink opens up the other saddlebag to pick a different document.
  2849.  
  2850.  
  2851.  
  2852.  
  2853. >She starts reading it on the way, without slowing down or showing any indication that she might be worried about bumping into someone or something.
  2854. >Yet you had to guess what the piece might be about.
  2855. >And since the Unicorn mare is holding the text right in front of her face the whole time, her body is effectively blocking the document from your sight.
  2856. >However, the content of the document is, in all due likelihood, not going to be something which may concern you.
  2857. >It is probably either some kind of spell formula, or yet more instructions, written down by the princesses.
  2858. >So no pieces of information which would warrant to keep staring at the mare's rear for a virtually futile attempt to peek briefly at the text in front of her.
  2859. >Your merry troupe of three trots on.
  2860. >And as you are walking closely behind the aide, you look around and inspect the camp from up close.
  2861. >Up to this point, you have only seen some satellite photos of the perimeter.
  2862. >These gave you a general idea of what you are dealing with, but that was it.
  2863. >Seeing the erected camp personally is a different and much more tangible experience.
  2864. >And from the perspective of your alias, it does make sense to act intrigued too.
  2865. >Because everyone knows that you were "unconscious" and wounded at the time of your extraction.
  2866. >So no one is likely to bat an eye at your behaviour.
  2867. >Critical minds like Sky Squall and Luna included.
  2868. >Though the camp is pretty much what you have expected.
  2869. >A handful of relatively small tents, similar in size to yours, which are loosely spread on a mostly grassy field near the edge of the now burned zone.
  2870. >In fact, the "border line" at which the plants began to visibly suffer from the orbital strike is only a stone's throw from here.
  2871. >Still, despite the relative proximity to that area, you understand why the ponies were not keen on camping on the other side of that border.
  2872. >After all, this place was cooked less than a full day ago.
  2873. >A fact which quickly led to some negative connotations, even when the area is very unlikely of being attacked a second time.
  2874. >And it does not take an expert to see that this temporary settlement was not placed with any larger strategic outline or efficiency in mind, as the average distance between most of the tents spans roughly a dozen metres or so.
  2875. >From what you can tell, you assume the ponies simply looked for places where they could erect their structures, and then picked the first vacant spot that they found.
  2876. >This is a poster child example of an impromptu site.
  2877. >The consequence, however, is that you have to traverse a comparatively long distance from one end of the site to the other.
  2878. >Right about now.
  2879. >So you are closely following Quillmare Ink's steps for the better part of about one hundred metres.
  2880. >Perhaps a bit more.
  2881. >Not a huge trek, and much less so for pony standards, granted, but it still takes a couple of minutes.
  2882. >Eventually though, you spot one particular tent.
  2883.  
  2884.  
  2885.  
  2886.  
  2887. >It is a little bit larger than the others on the field, but at the same time nothing which anyone would really be writing home about.
  2888. >Luxury is different.
  2889. >Its slightly larger size is not the feature which makes the tent stand out though.
  2890. >The pair of armoured guards and the Equestrian banner right at the entrance, however, are.
  2891. >Quillmare Ink is merrily heading straight towards this place.
  2892. >And she shows a casual demeanour which you find almost remarkable.
  2893. >Because the mare simply does not look up from the document.
  2894. >Not even once.
  2895. >For her, it is as if the guards were not present at all.
  2896. >And to be fair, the armoured ponies are not supposed to ward off visitors.
  2897. >They rather act as an honour guard and quick reaction team.
  2898. >A small band that is meant to remain on standby, for the unlikely case of something going wrong.
  2899. >So they do not emanate any real aura of intimidation as far as the ponies are concerned.
  2900. >Much less so for a mare who deals with the princesses on a daily basis.
  2901. >But still, it does strike you as somewhat unusual.
  2902. >If you were in her situation, you would at least take a look to check how the guards react to your presence.
  2903. >Just in case.
  2904. >Well, this Unicorn knows what she is doing, you suppose.
  2905. >On the last fifteen to twenty metres of your walk, you notice someone else moving in the periphery of your vision.
  2906. >Also, you believe you have seen a very familiar colour on top of that.
  2907. >So you look to the side to check it out.
  2908. >And indeed, you spot a certain golden Pegasus nearby.
  2909. >He too is approaching the tent, as it seems.
  2910. >His movements are still not entirely fluent, yet they have become notably better over the course of the night.
  2911. >So much so that Sky Squall is actually able to trot, albeit in a somewhat stilted manner.
  2912. >Whether the involvement of another certain Pegasus may or may not have had any influence on that development is hard to say, however.
  2913. >And you probably should not ask.
  2914. >But either way, his gait is not the only thing that has improved.
  2915. >The stallion greets you with a slight grin, and you slow down for a moment to wave to him once.
  2916. >Quillmare Ink does not seem to notice any of that though.
  2917. >She keeps her graceful pace, and with her trusty document still seemingly glued to her face.
  2918. >This mare really sends some oddly mixed signals.
  2919. >Trying to maintain the noble appearance of the traditional Unicorns on the one hand, but acting like a complete bookworm on the other.
  2920. >Eventually though, she lowers the object and comes to a stop, just a couple of steps away from the pair of armoured guards.
  2921. >The Earth pony mare and the Unicorn Stallion, both sporting a respectable physique, muster Quillmare Ink briefly.
  2922. >And she quickly looks at both of them in turn too, fairly unimpressed by their little examination.
  2923. >The mare then wordlessly signals her to move into the tent, and the Unicorn stallion takes a step to the side to let her pass.
  2924. >Quillmare Ink turns her head to look at #deca.mare and you.
  2925.  
  2926.  
  2927.  
  2928.  
  2929. >"Wait here for a moment. I will inform the princess of your arrival."
  2930. >With that said, she enters the tent, and her document floats right behind her.
  2931. >The guards proceed to study you next whilst you are standing still, just as Quillmare Ink said.
  2932. >You know of course that this action in itself is nothing special, yet it nevertheless feels slightly uncomfortable for a moment.
  2933. >But this moment is fleeting, as both the mare and the stallion respectfully salute you shortly thereafter.
  2934. >A gesture in recognition of what you have done yesterday, you assume.
  2935. >After all, the news of deeds like yours circulate fast.
  2936. >Especially in such a small circle of ponies.
  2937. >And you, in a reflex which you inherited from your past life, salute in turn.
  2938. >Good thing that the customs regarding salutes are not as strictly codified in Equestria as they are on Earth.
  2939. >For you are certainly not adhering to any kind of uniform dress code with your current collection of applied bandages, patches, and, well, lack of basically everything else.
  2940. >Once you lower your forelimb again, only a few seconds later, you get a quick reminder that you have temporarily forgotten something else.
  2941. >A forehoof pokes your shoulder a few times from the side.
  2942. >You spot the offending limb with a golden coat.
  2943. >Then you let your gaze wander upwards until you look Sky Squall directly in the eyes.
  2944. >"Hey there."
  2945. "Morning, Sky. Gotten better, hm? How are you?"
  2946. >He shrugs.
  2947. >"Good enough for a little stroll. So it could be worse."
  2948. >He sounds friendly and honest, but you nevertheless think that you register a certain notion of subtle hesitance in his demeanour.
  2949. >But well, it is not hard to figure out why.
  2950. >You are in public now, and no longer within the confines of a relatively private tent.
  2951. >Sky Squall is not going to be as open to you about certain topics as he was there.
  2952. >Which is fair enough.
  2953. >And the Pegasus is quick to pass the ball back to you.
  2954. >"The princess called for you, eh?"
  2955. >You nod.
  2956. "Yep. Quill brought us here."
  2957. >He stares at the entrance of the tent.
  2958. >"I think I shouldn't be surprised."
  2959. >Oh?
  2960. >You get a suspicion.
  2961. "Let me guess. You were summoned too?"
  2962. >And he confirms your theory.
  2963. >"Right. Inky here came to our tent a short while ago. Told me I was expected and moved on."
  2964. >A pause.
  2965. >"Now I know why she left so quickly though. I initially thought this would be a personal audience."
  2966. >You shrug.
  2967. "Looks like Princess Luna planned on having a group discussion instead."
  2968. >The Pegasus turns his head to focus #deca.mare.
  2969. >"But, to tell you the truth, I'm surprised to see you here. Did Luna ask for your presence to talk about the sunfire incident too?"
  2970. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  2971. >"No, she did not. I asked if I could tag along."
  2972. >Sky Squall lightly tilts his head.
  2973. >"Hm, alright. Not sure if I see the point in that though. You aren't an eye witness."
  2974. >Oh boy.
  2975. >If he only knew.
  2976. >You try to change the topic.
  2977. "Speaking of ponies who aren't present, how's Firefly?"
  2978.  
  2979.  
  2980.  
  2981.  
  2982. >Sky Squall clears his throat.
  2983. >"She's fine, thanks for asking."
  2984. >A pause.
  2985. >"Although..."
  2986. >You raise an eyebrow.
  2987. "Although what?"
  2988. >"She's got a, well, how do I put it, split... opinion on you at the moment."
  2989. >Oh dear.
  2990. >You think you can guess what he means.
  2991. >Yet you still have to ask.
  2992. >Just to be certain.
  2993. "How so?"
  2994. >The stallion lowers his voice.
  2995. >Presumably in order to keep this part of the conversation between the three of you.
  2996. >"You see, she's of course grateful for what you've done. And she'd thank you for it."
  2997. >No surprise so far.
  2998. "But?"
  2999. >"But she's also, shall we say, less enthused about the... condition in which you brought me back."
  3000. >Of course she is.
  3001. >And you understand her notion all too well.
  3002. >If someone were to do to you what you did to Sky Squall, #deca.mare would be furious beyond description.
  3003. >Even if she were to understand why it was done on a rational level.
  3004. >And on top of that, you also upstaged and humiliated Firefly's mate in public.
  3005. >That thought must bother her just as much as it burdened Sky Squall yesterday.
  3006. "She's that mad, isn't she?"
  3007. >"No, not directly mad. She couldn't be mad at my... ahem, saviour."
  3008. >Sky Squall audibly struggled to speak that last word out loud.
  3009. >"But she's also... upset. In a way. It gnaws at her."
  3010. >Right.
  3011. >And at her pride in particular, you assume.
  3012. >"If I were you, I wouldn't pick a show fight with her any time soon. She could be tempted to... settle the score... in the heat of the moment."
  3013. >You are fairly certain that you should take his remark literally.
  3014. >"Though she'd thank you afterwards for saving me."
  3015. >How diplomatic of her.
  3016. "Are you... sure about that?"
  3017. >Sky Squall blinks.
  3018. >"Well, she... promised me to be fair to you."
  3019. >By doing both things in one go, as it seems.
  3020. >Alright.
  3021. >And with that, Luna is now officially demoted to number two on the list of ponies you should be careful around.
  3022. >Because even a perceptive Alicorn princess cannot match the grudge of a determined mate, and likely future wife.
  3023. >Especially one who is willingly throwing herself against literal dragons.
  3024. >Nay, who insists on throwing herself against them in order to protect the ponies and places she cares about, come hell or high water.
  3025. >Oh well.
  3026. >This is not a confrontation you are keen on dealing with.
  3027. >To put it mildly.
  3028. >But if Sky Squall is right, you should have nothing to worry about in your everyday activities.
  3029. >As long as you refuse to face Firefly in a match, you should be fine.
  3030. >Because it would be beneath her and Sky Squall's pride to take you by surprise.
  3031. >However, you can picture her challenging you frequently in the future.
  3032. >Probably every time you meet each other, until you agree to at least one match.
  3033. >Not really an ideal outcome.
  3034. >Or alternatively, you could deliberately let her floor you at the first occasion and be done with it.
  3035. >Which is an equally unattractive scenario to look forward to.
  3036. >For you have seen how unbridled her fighting style can be.
  3037.  
  3038.  
  3039.  
  3040.  
  3041. >You shake your head and banish the thought for the moment.
  3042. >This is not the time to think about Firefly.
  3043. >Luna still requires your attention right now.
  3044. >Even as number two on your personal risk list.
  3045. >Whatever may or may not happen though, one thing has become clear to you.
  3046. >These two are a couple for life.
  3047. >There can be no doubt about that anymore.
  3048. >Perhaps, it even was this incident that sealed the deal for good.
  3049. >You take all of this in and nod.
  3050. "Noted, thanks. We'll sort this situation out eventually."
  3051. >A pause.
  3052. "Somehow."
  3053. >Mere seconds after saying this, Quillmare Ink reappears from within the tent.
  3054. >"The princess is ready to greet you now."
  3055. >She looks at #deca.mare.
  3056. >"You included."
  3057. >The tall mare steps out of the entrance and motions you to enter, gracefully pointing at the opening with a forehoof.
  3058. >So here you go.
  3059. >#deca.mare, Sky Squall, and you react accordingly.
  3060. >Your personal conversation ends immediately as you walk inside.
  3061. >But you notice how Sky Squall moves his head closer to yours to whisper something into your ear, shortly before you reach the guards.
  3062. >"Between the two of us, do you think Princess Luna will criticise me harshly? Because... you know."
  3063. >Right.
  3064. >Because he squarely doubted her competence in the presence of dozens of ponies, flat out ignored all warnings, and got his rear end handed to him as a result.
  3065. >You can see why he is concerned that the princess might be displeased with his performance.
  3066. >And it is almost amusingly ironic to behold that you are not the only one who feels a form of mild trepidation whilst paying a visit to the princess.
  3067. >However, you doubt that Sky Squall will be her main person of interest in this discussion.
  3068. >Not when both #deca.mare and you are with him.
  3069. >Besides, you do not want him to feel bad about this.
  3070. >So whisper an honest answer back to him.
  3071. "Don't worry about that. It's going to be fine."
  3072. >The Pegasus does not seem to be fully convinced of your reassurance.
  3073. >Yet he refrains from saying more, as the guards draw ever closer.
  3074. >And the armoured pair lets you pass without any further comment or examining look.
  3075. >Once you are inside, you quickly start to study the interior.
  3076. >The equipment and general decoration is comparable to the inventory of the other tents.
  3077. >A spartan baseline collection of makeshift furniture, with very little in the way of luxury.
  3078. >The only notable exceptions are two unusually large cushions at the end of the tent.
  3079. >One features a soothing dark blue hue, and its counterpart sports a radiant pearl white cover.
  3080. >The former is occupied, whereas the latter is empty.
  3081. >Princess Luna lies sprawled on her cushion, eyeing your little band with a subtle curiosity as you walk in.
  3082. >And the tent flaps close themselves behind you as the silver aura around them fades.
  3083. >Treading hooves can be heard outside.
  3084. >It is the same rhythm that you heard earlier today.
  3085. >And you think you also registered the characteristic build-up sound of a basic Unicorn levitation spell.
  3086.  
  3087.  
  3088.  
  3089.  
  3090. >Quillmare Ink is already tending to her next assignment, and she has probably picked up another text to read whilst she trots around the place.
  3091. >She is not attending this gathering of yours.
  3092. >Fine.
  3093. >Four it is then.
  3094. >The three of you walk towards the blue cushion.
  3095. >Slowly and respectfully.
  3096. >You form the spearhead, with #deca.mare and Sky Squall following you closely on either side.
  3097. >And Luna greets you formally as you do.
  3098. >"Greetings, dear ponies. Welcome to our humble abode."
  3099. >You keep walking, knowing perfectly well that Luna's speech is not over.
  3100. >"As you are surely aware, we have called for a gathering of great significance."
  3101. >Yes, the typical introductory theatrics.
  3102. >Moving on.
  3103. >You stop about one and a half metres away from the cushion and bow once.
  3104. "Princess."
  3105. >#deca.mare and Sky Squall follow your example.
  3106. >Princess Luna observes your behaviour with a growing notion of interest.
  3107. >"Yet we think to remember that we tasked our envoy with bringing two ponies to us."
  3108. >The Alicorn looks at #deca.mare.
  3109. >"Tell us, little one. What is the meaning of this peculiarity?"
  3110. >#deca.mare remains calm as she replies.
  3111. >"I wished to be here, dear princess."
  3112. >Luna keeps her eyes on #deca.mare.
  3113. >"And for what purpose?"
  3114. >Something you really would like to know as well.
  3115. >"Apart from accompanying my husband? Curiosity, first and foremost. But I also had the feeling that I should be here."
  3116. >Oh goodness.
  3117. >That nebulous last part of her answer flings her right in the "strange magic" corner too.
  3118. >You would not be surprised if Luna claims how this whole tent is now steeped in Windigo scent or something.
  3119. >#deca, what on Earth are you thinking?
  3120. >Much to your surprise, she responds immediately to your mental outcry on your internal comm channel.
  3121. >Do not worry, Anon.
  3122. >I know precisely what I am doing.
  3123. >You must force yourself to not show any accidental reactions with the proxy as you comment on that.
  3124. >Well, I sure hope so, #deca.
  3125. >I do not want to wallop my close friend a second time.
  3126. >You hear a sigh.
  3127. >Yes, I know.
  3128. >This will not happen again.
  3129. >Trust me.
  3130. >In the meantime, Princess Luna takes #deca.mare's response for what it is.
  3131. >And she draws the obvious conclusion.
  3132. >"A feeling, you say? This... faculty seems to manifest itself frequently in your... companionship."
  3133. >Companionship, eh?
  3134. >So reluctant in her wording.
  3135. >Princess Luna takes a breath.
  3136. >"We suppose you cannot describe this feeling to us in detail, correct?"
  3137. >#deca.mare lightly shakes her head.
  3138. >"Unfortunately, no. I cannot."
  3139. >Once again, Luna manages to keep her emotional reaction to #deca.mare's reply at a minimum.
  3140. >You can tell that the gears in her head are grinding, but that is about it.
  3141. >It is not obvious to you what her personal stance on this matter is.
  3142. >Though you personally cannot imagine her being satisfied with getting one vague answer after another.
  3143. >Especially now, since #deca.mare deliberately expanded the circle of "suspicious ponies" to the best of her abilities.
  3144. >You will have to discuss this with her in private later.
  3145. >Princess Luna seems to be willing to play the game, however.
  3146. >At least for the moment.
  3147. >"Very well. Then we suggest you stay and listen to what we have to say."
  3148.  
  3149.  
  3150.  
  3151.  
  3152. >What we have to say?
  3153. >You are not sure which "we" Luna is using in this context.
  3154. >Does she only talk for herself?
  3155. >Or does she speak for her sister as well?
  3156. >You cannot shake the feeling that the latter is more likely.
  3157. >But either way, something unusual is coming up.
  3158. >You can positively feel that much.
  3159. >And it starts with three smaller seating cushions which are suddenly floating over to you, surrounded by a blue magical aura.
  3160. >Princess Luna places these three cushions in a line on the ground, right in front of her own bigger variant.
  3161. >"Take a seat."
  3162. >So you do.
  3163. >And following the pattern in which you approached the princess just a few moments ago, you pick the one in the middle, whereas #deca.mare and Sky Squall pick those on the sides.
  3164. >The princess waits patiently until all three of you are comfortably seated before she starts properly.
  3165. >But once this is done, she gets to the point, and swiftly at that.
  3166. >"Esteemed ponies. We think it is undeniable that the last eight days have been exceptional in more ways than any of us could have realised."
  3167. >She looks at each of you in turn whilst saying this.
  3168. >And she does not hear a single objection.
  3169. >"Not only has it been a looming disaster which could, fortunately, be averted, it also taught us more about the world beyond our horizon."
  3170. >Well, #deca.mare and you could technically object to the second part.
  3171. >Yet neither of you does.
  3172. >Unsurprisingly.
  3173. >"As we have seen, we are not alone in the vast lands we call our home. And as it was made painstakingly clear to us, the others are not necessarily attributing the same value to cordial relationships as we do."
  3174. >Her gaze keeps wandering from one listener to the other.
  3175. >"Whereas the Unification was an event which brought us together, this has been an incident that embodies the opposite. It drove us and the ones who call themselves 'the dragons' apart."
  3176. >A pause.
  3177. >"From what little we know about the dragons though, this is a favourable outcome. We do not see any means to pave the way for a mutual relationship in the foreseeable future."
  3178. >You bet she struggles very hard not to add "if ever" at the end.
  3179. >"Unfortunately, this leaves us with a twofold problem."
  3180. >Luna pauses for a moment to allow everyone to mentally process what she said.
  3181. >"The first part of the problem is obvious. We are now aware of one confirmed outside force. A faction of beings who act upon their own convictions, in lands that are far beyond the borders of our drawn maps. And if there is one faction we knew nothing about until now, there could be more."
  3182.  
  3183.  
  3184.  
  3185.  
  3186. >She blinks.
  3187. >"It would be unwise to ignore that possibility."
  3188. >Considering that you know the list of living species on Equestria, you tend to agree with her.
  3189. >"The second part of the problem is related to the first. And we aptly sum it up in one word. Crises."
  3190. >Princess Luna sighs.
  3191. >"Our realm has faced two major incidents within a generation. Both posed a profound threat, and in both we were lucky to avert tragedy with great effort."
  3192. >The Alicorn mare looks at you directly.
  3193. >"Yet in spite of exceptional deeds in the face of great danger, this is a reason for concern. Tensions can rise anew. And they are likely to, given enough time."
  3194. >Her expression becomes more serious.
  3195. >"But we cannot afford to rely on sheer luck in our defence. Because if we do, we will eventually face a danger that will overcome us. It is the inevitability of chance."
  3196. >Once more, you would agree under different circumstances.
  3197. >#deca.mare chimes in, interrupting the princess.
  3198. >"So you are working on a plan?"
  3199. >Princess Luna turns her head to #deca.mare.
  3200. >"Us and our dear sister discussed the subject earlier. And we came to an agreement."
  3201. >A pause.
  3202. >"To prevent future incidents from catching us unprepared, we intend to do two things."
  3203. >She takes a breath.
  3204. >"One, we will make attempts to gradually fill the blanks in our records and expand our maps. But this endeavour requires more extensive planning. And time."
  3205. >And leads to a lot of future expeditions, as you think to yourself.
  3206. >"Number two is more straightforward and immediate. This is where you come into play, my esteemed ponies."
  3207. >Luna pauses a second time and examines your reactions.
  3208. >"We hasten to establish a specialised band of ponies for future crises like these. A permanent group that is on call when they are needed, and who can respond to reports without delay."
  3209. >You think you can see where this is going.
  3210. >But Sky Squall is the one who speaks it out loud first.
  3211. >"And you want us to join this team?"
  3212. >The Alicorn mare nods faintly.
  3213. >"Precisely. We originally considered to offer this position to the two of you..."
  3214. >Luna points at Sky Squall and you.
  3215. >"... but since you feel so inexplicably drawn to this event..."
  3216. >She turns to #deca.mare.
  3217. >"... we extend this offer to you as well, Enigmatic Decanter."
  3218. >So that was her plan.
  3219. >#deca.mare brought herself into the picture deliberately.
  3220. >Simply to receive this offer.
  3221. >And she is ready to seize this opportunity at once.
  3222. >"What would this position entail?"
  3223. >Princess Luna seems to be pleased with #deca.mare's reaction.
  3224. >If the princess has any suspicions about #deca.mare lingering in her mind, she is hiding this notion thoroughly.
  3225. >"As we said, it is envisioned to become a long-lasting unit, albeit one with a very situational task."
  3226. >A pause.
  3227. >"In essence, you would pledge to provide your services to us and the realm at all times, and react to our summons as quickly as possible."
  3228.  
  3229.  
  3230.  
  3231.  
  3232. >Luna's gaze wanders again.
  3233. >"Yet we will only call upon your aid when it is indeed needed."
  3234. >Sky Squall raises his voice.
  3235. >"You mean when we're needed to investigate reports that are similar to those of Lush Field?"
  3236. >A second faint nod.
  3237. >"This is the idea. We are not talking about everyday errands. You would only be responsible for those incidents which are undoubtedly out of the ordinary. Outside of that role, your vows will not bind you in any way."
  3238. >In other words, Luna wants you to become a part of her personal emergency task force.
  3239. >Sure.
  3240. >What could possibly go wrong?
  3241. >The princess waits for a second before she goes on.
  3242. >"However, we cannot ask you to do this unless you feel fully committed to our idea. It must be your own voluntary decision to join in."
  3243. >She sighs.
  3244. >"It probably does not need to be mentioned because of how obvious it is, but we must stress again that these ventures might also involve more dangerous work. Dangers we do not know of yet."
  3245. >You glance over to Sky Squall to see how he reacts to this proposal so far.
  3246. >And the stallion seems to be relatively calm at the moment, despite the fact that he suffered the most during the conclusion of the final act in your last mission.
  3247. >Well, he technically endured a bit less suffering than you, as far as official records go, but still.
  3248. >It would have been understandable if he were a tad more reluctant.
  3249. >However, you do spot a hint of confusion in his eyes.
  3250. >And as you ponder what this confusion could be, you get an idea.
  3251. >You are going to confront Luna.
  3252. >Indirectly, at least.
  3253. >After all, #deca.mare poked the bear already.
  3254. >So you might as well give it a shot too.
  3255. "Why us, princess?"
  3256. >This shifts Luna's attention straight to you.
  3257. >"Because your performance has proven your proficiency. Ponies with such excelling talents would be a tremendous boon for our endeavour."
  3258. >So the basic run-of-the-mill response.
  3259. >No mentions of Windigo magic or anything else.
  3260. >Well, you did not expect her to really go all out, of course.
  3261. >But you thought she would at least try to tease you a tad, in an attempt to pry some form of reaction out of you.
  3262. >"And, what is just as important, you two form an effective team."
  3263. >Well, if you are not beating the hell out of one another.
  3264. >You keep that thought to yourself though.
  3265. >"You could become exemplars of camaraderie."
  3266. >Right.
  3267. >And you have a hunch that certain parts of Sky Squall are feeling the urge to protest against this statement.
  3268. >Not to mention the issue of Sky Squall's considerable miscalculation.
  3269. >Granted, it was an act of loyalty first and foremost, but it led to a highly critical situation.
  3270. >You would not expect Princess Luna to gloss over that fact when she considers to offer such a position to the two of you.
  3271. >And neither does Sky Squall.
  3272.  
  3273.  
  3274.  
  3275.  
  3276. >The Pegasus coughs once and raises his voice.
  3277. >"Princess, may I speak openly?"
  3278. >Luna casually turns her head, showing no change in her general attitude.
  3279. >"Of course, little one. Speak your mind."
  3280. >Sky Squall sighs.
  3281. >"To be absolutely honest, my princess, I'm confused. When I came here, I was prepared to... face criticism and... reprimands for... what I did. My... failings. You have every right to be angry with me."
  3282. >He shakes his head.
  3283. >"But all I hear are praises. And you offer me a new position with even more responsibilities. This... I don't understand. It doesn't make sense to me."
  3284. >The princess listens to Sky Squall's legitimate objections, yet says nothing at first.
  3285. >But once he has said his part, she musters the stallion thoroughly from her cushion.
  3286. >Looking up and down.
  3287. >She studies him from his mane to his hooves, and then the same in reverse.
  3288. >Several times.
  3289. >In complete silence.
  3290. >It is a strange thing to behold.
  3291. >Especially since there is no way for Luna not to know what had happened to him.
  3292. >She has undoubtedly consulted every single report made by every pony who was involved in the mission.
  3293. >And virtually everyone knows exactly what happened on that hill.
  3294. >Either through hearsay, or because they witnessed your extraction.
  3295. >There is no further need for this examination.
  3296. >All of you know that.
  3297. >Sky Squall included.
  3298. >Luna is doing this purely to achieve a psychological effect.
  3299. >And it works, in a way.
  3300. >Because being fully aware of the circumstances actually adds a somewhat unnerving notion to the situation.
  3301. >So much so that you feel the proxy's equivalent of goose bumps crawling up.
  3302. >But Sky Squall's posture remains steadfast.
  3303. >He sits there like an unflinching gargoyle.
  3304. >Or maybe he is paralysed.
  3305. >Difficult to say.
  3306. >But either way, Princess Luna has the grace to break the tension eventually.
  3307. >"Do you acknowledge that your actions, as noble as your intentions may have been, were unwise? That you acted directly against our warnings and appeals?"
  3308. >Sky Squall hesitates for a second.
  3309. >But he gives in.
  3310. >"Yes."
  3311. >And Luna goes on.
  3312. >"Do you acknowledge that you were in need of rescue because of your aforementioned actions? And that Star risked his own wellbeing for the sake of yours?"
  3313. >The same answer, with the same delay.
  3314. >"Yes, princess."
  3315. >The Alicorn is not done yet.
  3316. >"With all the consequences that said rescue entailed?"
  3317. >Oh dear.
  3318. >Now it is her who is kicking Sky Squall.
  3319. >Only via verbal means, sure, but she deals a comparably heavy blow to his ego.
  3320. >But he did ask for it, so you cannot really say anything against Luna's questions.
  3321. >And the stallion folds a third time.
  3322. >"Yes. I acknowledge all of that."
  3323. >Sky Squall looks lightly deflated at this point.
  3324. >A deed that not even you could accomplish.
  3325.  
  3326.  
  3327.  
  3328.  
  3329. >However, as sudden as Luna's savage lightning interrogation has come, it concludes just as quickly.
  3330. >With another subtle, neutral nod.
  3331. >"We consider this matter over and dealt with. In our eyes the direct results of your actions have made our point for us."
  3332. >Luna looks at you now.
  3333. >"Unless there is something you want to say, esteemed Star. You were affected just as much, so you have a right to object."
  3334. >But you shake your head.
  3335. "No, princess. Sky and I... already had the chance to talk. We're still on good terms."
  3336. >The Alicorn mare takes a breath.
  3337. >"Thus we deem there is no need to review the matter further."
  3338. >A strange way for Luna to show compassion, but fine.
  3339. >Sky Squall seems to understand what she tries to tell him.
  3340. >This is the closest reaction to "forgive and forget" that he can expect from her.
  3341. >And Luna makes it easy for him to accept her olive branch.
  3342. >"Do you concur, Sky Squall?"
  3343. >He nods.
  3344. >"Yes. Yes, I do."
  3345. >In this very moment, you believe you spot the hint of a genuine smile on Luna's face.
  3346. >At least for the fraction of a second.
  3347. >"Then let us not speak of this sullen topic any longer. We have to look forward now."
  3348. >Princess Luna exchanges glances with the three of you.
  3349. >Then she gets back to the previous topic.
  3350. >"About the proposition, please do not feel obliged to give us an answer at once. We understand that you will surely need some time to consider our offer and discuss the subject with your loved ones."
  3351. >Princess Luna takes a breath.
  3352. >"Do you have any questions?"
  3353. >In fact, you do.
  3354. "What if we refuse? Theoretically speaking."
  3355. >The Alicorn mare turns her head to you.
  3356. >"You would return to your lives as if nothing happened. And we would look for other ponies who might volunteer."
  3357. >She pauses for a moment.
  3358. >"And to point this out, we have plans to recruit more volunteers either way. But we asked you first because of your stellar references."
  3359. >References, eh?
  3360. >A part of you feels the urge to ask her whether a Windigo has whispered that reference into her ear.
  3361. >Just for fun.
  3362. >But the rational part of you knows that it is better to shut up.
  3363. >After all, picking you as her first batch of candidates is not exactly far-fetched.
  3364. >She can easily use this opportunity to eye you some more, and make use of your skills at the same time.
  3365. >Killing two birds with one stone and all that.
  3366. >Plus, having #deca.mare on board is actually an unexpected bonus for Luna.
  3367. >Since she is just as deeply involved in your storm rescue story as you are, not to mention her potentially massive unusual aura, she is likely to be of equal interest to Luna's curiosity.
  3368. >And if Luna really had any plans to observe #deca.mare, she did probably not expect to get that little extra bird this quickly into her reach.
  3369. >So she may have played straight into Luna's hooves with this move.
  3370. >And there is no way for her not to know what she just did.
  3371. >In fact, #deca.mare told you so herself.
  3372. >She counted on it.
  3373. >But you have to discuss that later.
  3374.  
  3375.  
  3376.  
  3377.  
  3378. >After Luna's observational audience.
  3379. "I see. Thank you, princess."
  3380. >With that question answered, Luna asks once more.
  3381. >"Anything else you would like to know?"
  3382. >And #deca.mare raises a forehoof.
  3383. >"How do we stay in contact for a rapid response? If we are free to do as we please until we are called, we could be anywhere when the time comes."
  3384. >A pause.
  3385. >"And news require some time to travel certain distances. There is no guarantee that the word would arrive in time."
  3386. >Fair point.
  3387. >Though it is strange for her to ask that.
  3388. >If anyone knows the solution to this problem, it is her.
  3389. >And you are not sure whether she has posed the question to appear motivated in the eyes of Luna, or if she indirectly tried to give Sky Squall and you the answer to an issue that neither of you thought of at the moment, yet which would be useful to know about.
  3390. >No matter what #deca.mare's motivation is though, Princess Luna is prepared for this question.
  3391. >"Indeed, we have thought about this detail. And we think to have a solution to it very soon."
  3392. >You raise an eyebrow.
  3393. "What? How so?"
  3394. >"You see, when our dear sister and us were younger, we discovered a strange anomaly. Within a rock. Nay, not a rock. It was a tiny pebble."
  3395. >A slight shiver runs down your spine.
  3396. >This story sounds familiar.
  3397. >"The pebble had a rare shape. Other than that, it looked plain and insignificant on the surface."
  3398. >Damn.
  3399. >"Yet there was an unusually palpable presence within the object. It was a sensation we never felt before and... rarely felt ever since."
  3400. >That stutter of hers was deliberate, no doubt.
  3401. >And the hint was aimed at you.
  3402. >Luna must be probing you in this very moment.
  3403. >Alright.
  3404. >Manure and fan situation.
  3405. >"We have further examined the pebble, and consulted the best spellcrafters of the realm to help us in our studies."
  3406. >She pauses for a moment.
  3407. >Fuck it.
  3408. >Time to go all in.
  3409. >You have no idea if your position can get even more spiny than it already has.
  3410. >But you doubt it.
  3411. >You at least lack the imagination to envision a worse situation.
  3412. >Barring a total exposure, that is.
  3413. >So you will directly probe her in turn, and see if she reveals her cards.
  3414. "What did you find out? And how does that relate to your offer?"
  3415. >No strange reaction.
  3416. >She just goes on as if everything were normal.
  3417. >"Simply put, we discovered that certain formations and materials possess more inherent qualities than what meets the eye. Unicorns discovered such properties in crystals a long time ago, and they found a myriad of ways to use those qualities for their valuable and artful enchantments. But we are sure that this field of research can be expanded. There is more magic potential within our world than we realise."
  3418. >Oh yes.
  3419. >Plenty.
  3420. >Princess Luna sighs and looks away for a brief moment.
  3421. >It is the first time in which she does not appear to be surrounded by her piercing aura of otherworldly perception.
  3422.  
  3423.  
  3424.  
  3425.  
  3426. >"Unfortunately, studying this craft is a fickle task. And our progress is... mercurial and unpredictable. Some attempts fare well, others do not."
  3427. >A pause.
  3428. >"But our dear sister and us may have found something useful for our plans. New ways and techniques to bind Unicorn enchantments to the newfound properties of certain objects."
  3429. >You charge yet further ahead.
  3430. "And what do these enchantments do?"
  3431. >Your tone may come across as rushed and impolite, but you do not mind at the moment.
  3432. >You want Luna to get to the point.
  3433. >And so she does.
  3434. >"We are working on an enchanted contraption that is intended to solve the problem of longer distances."
  3435. >Hold on, Celestia and Luna are creating their own comm grid?
  3436. >Is that it?
  3437. >"The process behind it is difficult to explain, especially to ponies who are no spellcrafters, but the concept is as follows."
  3438. >The princess takes a breath and summons three identical spheres of blue magical light that are hovering between her and you.
  3439. >"Every volunteer receives an object that resembles a small pebble."
  3440. >One sphere floats a tad closer to you.
  3441. >And you can see that one sphere flies to each side, aiming for #deca.mare and Sky Squall respectively.
  3442. >"It is not made of rock, but intended to possess a highly distinct spell structure which is unique to these devices, just like the pebble did."
  3443. >You keep listening.
  3444. >"On its own, this spell remains dormant. But..."
  3445. >A fourth and bigger sphere appears right above Luna.
  3446. >Unlike the others, it does not feature a blue hue, but glows faintly white instead.
  3447. >"... if a second specific spell is cast, the two will... coact with the presence of the other."
  3448. >The white light flashes for a moment, emitting a low artificial beeping sound.
  3449. >And in the blink of an eye, the three blue spheres flash up in response, each creating a higher beep of their own.
  3450. >Sky Squall shakes his head in light surprise, whereas both #deca.mare and you simply keep looking at your respective spheres.
  3451. >Princess Luna goes on.
  3452. >"This works over longer distances as well. Without any impactful delay, we might add."
  3453. >A pause.
  3454. >"We are currently practicing a ritual to bind the spell to tangible objects so that everypony can wield this power without the aid of a spellcrafter."
  3455. >You look at Luna.
  3456. "This... spell. Does it work in both directions?"
  3457. >The princess shakes her head.
  3458. >"No. The magic charge can only travel in one direction."
  3459. >So the large one is a transmitter, and the smaller devices resemble primitive receivers.
  3460. >Not exactly rocket science.
  3461. >But one question remains.
  3462. "How does the signa..., ahem, the magic charge travel vast distances this quickly?"
  3463. >The expression of the Alicorn changes slightly, showing almost a notion of discomfort.
  3464. >"Our apologies, esteemed Star, but it is sadly beyond words to explain this properly to a non-Unicorn."
  3465. >Well, you doubt that.
  3466. >But still, ouch.
  3467.  
  3468.  
  3469.  
  3470.  
  3471. >"Suffice to say, the charges, for the lack of a more apt vocabulary, 'travel' via magic means. These then arrive where they are supposed to be in an instant."
  3472. "And there is no range limit?"
  3473. >"None that we know of. We have tested this spell with many skilled Unicorns in every corner of the realm. It worked every single time."
  3474. >Well, this explains more than Luna can imagine.
  3475. >After all, there are not that many assets on the planet which enable this kind of remote communication.
  3476. >So unless Celestia and Luna have secretly plastered archaic radio towers or cable hubs everywhere, they have to use your planetary comm network for their personal form of a magical telegram service.
  3477. >Fine.
  3478. >As long as their little channel does not mess with the general functionality of the other systems somehow, you do not see any real risks in that project.
  3479. >Especially in comparison to letting the sisters assume control over the main guns of your mother ship.
  3480. >So you nod eventually.
  3481. "That's all I wanted to know. Thank you, Princess."
  3482. >With that point clarified, the Alicorn waits to see if there are more questions coming her way.
  3483. >Yet as it so happens, there are none.
  3484. >A couple of moments later, she politely concludes the discussion.
  3485. >"Very well. If your curiosity is sated, then this gathering has served its purpose. Consider what we have offered you, and let us know when you have made your decision."
  3486. >Luna pauses.
  3487. >"Now please excuse us, we are tired and wish to rest soon."
  3488. >Sky and you slowly rise from your cushions.
  3489. >#deca.mare, however, formulates one last impromptu question.
  3490. >"If more issues come to our minds, can we consult your sister too? While you are resting?"
  3491. >And Luna confirms this swiftly.
  3492. >"Naturally."
  3493. >#deca.mare nods and stands up as well.
  3494. >Once she has risen, the three of you lightly bow to Luna as a final gesture of respect.
  3495. >Then you turn around to leave.
  3496. >Neither of you has anything to say on your way out of the tent.
  3497. >Yet that is quick to change as soon as the open sky greets you again.
  3498. >Sky Squall takes a breath and speaks up.
  3499. >"Now that... was something."
  3500. >No response from either of you.
  3501. >"What do you think?"
  3502. >You blink and look at the Pegasus.
  3503. "I think... I need to think about this for a while... before I can tell you what I'm supposed to think about thinking about it."
  3504. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  3505. >"What?"
  3506. "It's complicated."
  3507. >#deca.mare chimes in.
  3508. >"He needs some time, Sky. Both of us do."
  3509. >The stallion sighs.
  3510. >"Understandable. Though if I'm allowed to be honest..."
  3511. >You nod.
  3512. "Always, Sky."
  3513. >"Something is bothering you, Star."
  3514. >What?
  3515. "Uh, what do you mean?"
  3516. >"I mean something about Luna's idea isn't sitting well with you. And it's grave. I can see that much."
  3517. "Why do you think so?"
  3518.  
  3519.  
  3520.  
  3521.  
  3522. >"You were, well, absorbed in thought inside the tent. To me it felt like you had something grim holding sway over your mind the whole time. More so than... me, even."
  3523. >You show Sky Squall your best poker face.
  3524. "I... didn't notice. Like I said, it's complicated."
  3525. >This does not seem to impress the golden stallion, however.
  3526. >"Now don't get me wrong, Star, but what in Equestria isn't 'complicated' around you?"
  3527. >Very little, that is true.
  3528. >You cough once, but say nothing.
  3529. >"See? There it is again. It's moments like these that make me understand what Luna means."
  3530. >The Pegasus shakes his head.
  3531. >"Observing you is like watching through a window of milky glass. I'm never sure what I can see on the other side."
  3532. >You shrug.
  3533. "My apologies. I guess."
  3534. >Then you put on a light grin.
  3535. "But as you said yourself, there's no reason to be alarmed. My... milky glass is on your side."
  3536. >And Sky Squall starts to grin as well.
  3537. >"That's true. But..."
  3538. >He pauses intentionally.
  3539. "...I made a promise and I intend to keep it. That's one of my challenges... for our future ventures."
  3540. >Okay.
  3541. >He assumes you have already decided to join Luna's little group of emergency agents.
  3542. >And he has practically announced to use this opportunity as a chance to see what makes you tick.
  3543. >Well, fair enough, all things considered.
  3544. >When you were literally running into him in the village at the start of this whole thing, he also motivated you to join the forward team, as he could not envision you in any other role.
  3545. >And you eventually did, proving him right in the process.
  3546. >So he is counting on you to make the same choice again.
  3547. >However, you try to divert the attention away from you for the time being.
  3548. >Simply because you do not want to say anything concrete yet.
  3549. >And Sky Squall has given you a way to do just that.
  3550. "Then you're already set on saying yes, I take it?"
  3551. >The stallion chuckles once.
  3552. >"I'll discuss it with Firefly first, but I think so."
  3553. >His grin widens.
  3554. >"I couldn't possibly let you and your little mystery get away like this, now could I?"
  3555. >Damn.
  3556. >He noticed your attempt to deflect.
  3557. >But since he is going for banter, you do the same.
  3558. >"And you think Firefly will let you go after... you know?"
  3559. >You hope this jab was not too harsh.
  3560. >But, thankfully, it was not.
  3561. >Because Sky Squall shrugs it off with a laugh.
  3562. >"She will, trust me. Though I'm sure she won't be fine with me going out alone."
  3563. >You blink.
  3564. "Are you saying..."
  3565. >He laughs again.
  3566. >"Oh my little Star, she's going to come along when I tell her that Luna is looking for more potential members."
  3567. >With her insistence?
  3568. >Of course she will.
  3569. >She is undoubtedly the first to follow you three on the list.
  3570. >Firefly would even challenge the princess for that if she had to.
  3571. >Yet you do believe that she is also going to be adamant to be in the same group as Sky Squall at all times.
  3572.  
  3573.  
  3574.  
  3575.  
  3576. >Meaning that, if you become a member of this group as well, you will in all due likelihood be surrounded by both of them for the majority of these missions.
  3577. >You remain silent for a moment to picture this ensemble.
  3578. >A Pegasus stallion who is eager to repair his slightly chipped image as a leader, partially by competing with you.
  3579. >His steadfast and de facto future Pegasus wife who is equally zealous, if not more so, to see him succeed in this task.
  3580. >The Royal Sisters, acting as the quasi heads of the operation, whose interest in you is constantly piqued by your unusual "presence" on this planet.
  3581. >Your own wife, the only directly active player in Equestria who could have an even more striking presence than you.
  3582. >And of course you.
  3583. >The singular individual who stood out multiple times already, and whose track record is fairly well known by everyone around you.
  3584. >Yeah.
  3585. >If that combination does not contain a nigh limitless potential for pure and unbridled chaos, then nothing does.
  3586. >"Star?"
  3587. >Perhaps you should run into this tent immediately, and come up with any half-hearted excuse you can think of to get out of this predicament at once.
  3588. >"Star?"
  3589. >But you resist the urge.
  3590. >Princess Luna has given you time.
  3591. >And you will use it to find out what #deca.mare had in mind when she asked Quillmare Ink if she could tag along.
  3592. >"Hey, Star!"
  3593. >That was the voice of Sky Squall.
  3594. >You shake your head as you realise that the stallion is talking to you.
  3595. "Uh, sorry. What?"
  3596. >"You did it again."
  3597. "Did what again?"
  3598. >"Your mind drifted off."
  3599. >You sigh.
  3600. "Right. Sorry."
  3601. >"What was it this time?"
  3602. "That's compli... I mean... never mind."
  3603. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  3604. >"Are you doing this on purpose?"
  3605. >Finally a question that is easy to answer.
  3606. "No."
  3607. >Sky Squall strikes a thinking pose.
  3608. >"You know what, I believe we need to solve this mystery as soon as possible."
  3609. >And here you are again.
  3610. >Thankfully though, there is someone to come to your rescue.
  3611. >#deca.mare addresses Sky Squall.
  3612. >"You keep talking about that... that... alleged 'mystery'."
  3613. >She emphasises the last word with as much confusion and scepticism as she can.
  3614. >"What do you mean? What mystery?"
  3615. >The Pegasus hesitates for a second.
  3616. >You can see how the gears are grinding in his mind to find a tactful wording for his next statement.
  3617. >But you decide to relieve him of treading that potential minefield by saying it first.
  3618. "Sky and Luna think there's something strange about me. A presence or something that they associate with Windigo magic. Somehow."
  3619. >#deca.mare acts seemingly stumped.
  3620. >"Windi... what?"
  3621. >You go on.
  3622. "They also believe it could be related to the... situations I sometimes find myself in. As if it's in my blood or something."
  3623. >#deca.mare blinks and turns to Sky Squall.
  3624. >"Is that true?"
  3625. >Sky Squall nods, not really sure what to say to #deca.mare.
  3626. >But she handles the situation with calm grace.
  3627.  
  3628.  
  3629.  
  3630.  
  3631. >"I have no idea how Princess Luna and you got that impression, but let me tell you that I cannot back this claim up."
  3632. >A pause.
  3633. >"As far as I can tell, there is nothing unusual about Star. Or his blood. And I have seen it."
  3634. >She clears her throat.
  3635. >"Well, droplets of it while treating some cuts and scrapes. It was completely mundane. Exactly as the rest of his body."
  3636. >And to demonstrate just how normal and mundane you are, #deca.mare gives you a swift peck on the cheek.
  3637. >"But speaking of blood, this gives me an idea. If you want to be absolutely certain that everything is as it should be, we could take a sample and give it to somepony who is able to study it."
  3638. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  3639. >"Collect a blood sample? For studies?"
  3640. >#deca.mare nods.
  3641. >"Hmhm. We have several talented spellcrafters with profound magical knowledge in the camp. They could have a look and check the blood for any anomalies. Magical, or otherwise. The princesses and Quill come to mind, for example."
  3642. >The golden Pegasus remains confused.
  3643. >"But... why blood?"
  3644. >So #deca.mare goes on.
  3645. >"Because blood has many innate specifics which are deeply tied to the pony it belongs to."
  3646. >The head of Sky Squall tilts even further, telling #deca.mare that she is approaching this too rapidly.
  3647. >And she swiftly corrects her course by answering the obviously emerging question before the stallion utters it himself.
  3648. >"I talked to a lot of ponies over the course of the last week. You would be surprised to hear how much you can learn from them when you are helping to cart first aid equipment. Amongst other things."
  3649. >A pause.
  3650. >"And, more importantly, I was told that a properly skilled spellcrafter has ways to look into these characteristics to see if something is wrong with them. Every medically trained Unicorn I know confirms this."
  3651. >A second brief pause.
  3652. >"Now, this is only based on second-hoof knowledge, but I would assume that if there is something to your theory, then giving a blood sample to somepony with the right skills might yield some results."
  3653. >Fair enough for an excuse, you suppose.
  3654. >Even when #deca.mare has to dish out a few lies to sell it.
  3655. >After all, she knows very well how this test will turn out.
  3656. >And she is quick to give you a second peck whilst looking you in the eyes.
  3657. >"Provided you are willing to donate a sample, my love."
  3658. >You need a moment to collect your thoughts before you can say anything.
  3659. "Uh, if it helps, sure. Sample away. To your heart's content."
  3660. >You shake your head.
  3661. "I mean, take as much as you need."
  3662. >Sky Squall has not seen this turn of events coming.
  3663. >The bedazzled look on his face makes that very clear.
  3664. >Yet he does eventually take you up on your offer.
  3665. >"Hm. Not a bad idea. I'll be right back."
  3666. >The Pegasus carefully moves around to trot away, still minding his step to a degree.
  3667. "Where are you going?"
  3668. >"Grabbing the next best Unicorn who can use those medical tools with the... thingamajig enchantments. Stay here."
  3669. >He freezes for a moment.
  3670.  
  3671.  
  3672.  
  3673.  
  3674. >"Wait. Enigmatic?"
  3675. >#deca.mare turns her head to the stallion in a casual manner.
  3676. >"Yes, Sky?"
  3677. >The golden Pegasus inhales deeply before he goes on.
  3678. >"Would you be fine with giving us some blood as well?"
  3679. >She blinks.
  3680. >"What for?"
  3681. >"The same studies."
  3682. >He pauses.
  3683. >"You see, I can't stop thinking about what you said to Luna."
  3684. >#deca.mare tilts her head, mirroring Sky Squall's earlier gesture.
  3685. >"You mean the feeling that led me to come here as well?"
  3686. >Sky Squall nods.
  3687. >"Yes. That one. It sounded like something that Star would say. So maybe you're affected by... whatever as well."
  3688. >#deca.mare shrugs nonchalantly.
  3689. >"As you wish. Take your sample. And before you ask, I would be willing to get checked by a medical expert too."
  3690. >Sky Squall looks happy to hear this.
  3691. >"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
  3692. >And with that said, he trots off.
  3693. >You get a few steps away from the tent as the Pegasus leaves you for the time being, and motion #deca.mare to follow you.
  3694. >She does.
  3695. >Once you feel confident that the distance between you and the tent is long enough, you stop right in the middle of the open grass field and raise your voice.
  3696. >Though you keep talking in lower volumes.
  3697. >Just to be sure.
  3698. "#deca, do you think this was a good idea?"
  3699. >"The blood sample, or my decision to come with you?"
  3700. "The latter of course. I know the blood won't tell them anything."
  3701. >You take a breath.
  3702. "But going to the princess, and openly flaunting how interested you are in joining the ranks? That was brash."
  3703. >#deca.mare seems to disagree with your assessment.
  3704. >"It was less risky than you think, Anon. This was a... mostly casual situation, nothing important was happening in the background, and I closed all channels to Harmony for the duration of our gathering. My current 'unusual signature' is, as far as Celestia and Luna are concerned, as low as it can ever be. I would not have done this in any earlier stage of the incident."
  3705. "This still doesn't really feel right though. We've spent so much time and effort on coating our profile in a, how do I put it, more or less mundane cover. It would bother me if it had all been for naught."
  3706. >To put it mildly.
  3707. "Our cover got some notable cracks recently. And what you've done in there could potentially undermine our position yet further."
  3708. >#deca.mare is quick to disagree once again, however.
  3709. >"Luna is already eyeing me with some curiosity, Anon. Simply because of our marriage and its underlying history. Me going to her with an alleged feeling did not pique any new interest in this regard."
  3710. >You grumble.
  3711. "Maybe not. But it nevertheless gives her more ammunition in the form of an incentive."
  3712. >You blink.
  3713. "A new sense of confirmation in the notions she already has is still a boost at the end of the day. And you can't tell me that she didn't prick up her ears when you said that. We both know that she did."
  3714. >You take a breath.
  3715. "To paraphrase an old saying: 'Curiosity kills the cover.' And we're having too much of it here."
  3716.  
  3717.  
  3718.  
  3719.  
  3720. >You pause once more.
  3721. "Hm, that sounds off. How about: 'What is one Alicorn's prying eyes, is another mare's exposure?'"
  3722. >#deca.mare interrupts your reinvention of old proverbs with a sigh.
  3723. >"Yes, I get your point."
  3724. >You stay silent and let her go on.
  3725. >"Anon, believe me when I say that all the things which Luna may do from here on out to study us were on the proverbial table long before I entered that tent. My recent decision may have given her another reason to pursue this goal and ramp up the pace of her plans, as did your slip of the tongue, by the way, but it is as you said. What we did merely nudged an attitude that was already within her. In the long run, the end result would have been the same either way. Luna merely got to her conclusions a little bit quicker now."
  3726. >#deca.mare pauses.
  3727. >"And her remark on our 'companionship' signalled it too. Luna regards us, figuratively speaking, as one entity, united by our bond."
  3728. >You nod.
  3729. "Okay, fine. Perhaps it was inevitable. But even then, what part of your plan requires you to speed the whole process up? If anything, it would be better for us if we tried to delay their progress for a while."
  3730. >Then she smiles, much to your surprise.
  3731. >"Not necessarily. We can use the opportunity to tackle this challenge the other way round."
  3732. "The other way round?"
  3733. >"Indeed. Look at the flip side, Anon. Her invitation did actually increase the number of options we have."
  3734. >Now it is you who emulates Sky Squall's confused gesture.
  3735. "What?"
  3736. >She elaborates without hesitation.
  3737. >"Well, Luna has officially given us both the choice to freely decide whether we want to participate or not. And Sky has seen that it was indeed her who let me in. So he cannot suspect any strange play on our end in this regard if we both accept to join her team. Simply put, I just tagged along, officially so, and got dragged along as a result."
  3738. >So it all comes back to #deca.mare navigating herself into the correct position to receive a legit invitation.
  3739. >Which in itself seems like a rather weak trade-off.
  3740. >Especially when it bases entirely on the assumption that you would agree to take part in this endeavour.
  3741. >Because if you refuse, the benefit of #deca.mare's move will amount to precisely zero.
  3742. >And therein lies another part of the problem.
  3743. "To be entirely honest, #deca, I'm not sure whether we should say yes to this deal at all."
  3744. >#deca.mare reacts considerately.
  3745. >She probably expected a reaction like this.
  3746. >"I think we should, though I also understand why you are doubtful, Anon."
  3747. >She touches your shoulder with a forehoof.
  3748. >"I will not urge you to make an agreement if you are not fully convinced of it."
  3749. >You see where this is going.
  3750. "You're still going to try though. Convincing me, I mean."
  3751. >She blinks innocently.
  3752. >"If you let me, yes."
  3753. >You close your eyes and inhale deeply.
  3754. >Then you hold that breath of air for a second, collect your thoughts, and exhale.
  3755. "Fine. Give it a shot."
  3756. >#deca.mare nods.
  3757. >"Well then."
  3758.  
  3759.  
  3760.  
  3761.  
  3762. >And here she goes.
  3763. >"The main reason why I wanted to create this exact situation is the pure tactical value of it. It can serve as a simple and plausible explanation for our presence in many major events in the early history of Equestria."
  3764. >Which enables you to do much more whilst generating far less general attention.
  3765. "Sure, that's a great asset. I can't deny that."
  3766. >You wait for a moment before you go on.
  3767. "Being this close to the Royal Sisters in every single incident though? Not so much. That's bound to cause trouble. Especially after your last performance."
  3768. >#deca.mare smiles reassuringly as she predicts what you will say next.
  3769. >"You fear our presence near the princesses could shed too much light on us?"
  3770. "Yeah. That should be clear by now. The ice has become far too thin for my tastes."
  3771. >Now she chuckles.
  3772. >"I just wanted to make sure."
  3773. >You intend to ask what this is supposed to mean, yet #deca.mare is faster.
  3774. >For she states her opinion without delay.
  3775. >"On the contrary, Anon. It may be the angle we need to turn our 'weakness' into a strength."
  3776. >You do not comment on this claim, yet you do not need to say anything either.
  3777. >#deca.mare knows very well that this thesis is far too vague yet.
  3778. >So she goes on.
  3779. >"There is a secondary aspect that I had in mind as well."
  3780. >Oh?
  3781. "And that would be?"
  3782. >"The fact that these events have the potential to diminish our 'radiance', so to speak. By letting the others around us shine even brighter."
  3783. >She lightly pokes your chest with her hoof.
  3784. >"Remember, we are not going to be the protagonists in those events. That spot in the limelight belongs to others."
  3785. >You cough once.
  3786. "Right, that's the idea. In theory. But we had similar plans for the dragon incident, didn't we? And look how that turned out."
  3787. >You subtly point at the two guards in front of the tent.
  3788. "They don't salute for no reason, #deca. I'm widely known as the guy who saved Sky Squall from turning into a fried crisp. If I do something like that a couple of times, I could become a known hero."
  3789. >And #deca.mare does indeed acknowledge your objection.
  3790. >"Yes, you have a point. The unintended solo run of Sky Squall stirred up some things."
  3791. >Her smile grows yet further.
  3792. >"You are missing a different point, however."
  3793. >Really?
  3794. "Which one?"
  3795. >"As great as your deed was in the eyes of many, you are vastly overestimating its gravity in the larger picture."
  3796. >#deca.mare coughs politely.
  3797. >"Now, please do not take this personally, but your rescue run only plays the second fiddle in this proverbial orchestra. Celestia is the great heroine of the day."
  3798. >She blinks.
  3799. >"Your contribution is 'merely' a part of the event. In historical terms, that is. It will be remembered as a side note in the history books."
  3800. >She coughs a second time.
  3801.  
  3802.  
  3803.  
  3804.  
  3805. >"Speaking of which, it is also the second time that this has happened. Or, depending on your perspective, will happen."
  3806. >So?
  3807. "What do you mean?"
  3808. >"Well, Anon, a certain pageant only features six prominent names. Names of three leaders and their respective aides. You know the script. Do you recall any reference to a scene about a lone Pegasus who got lost in a storm?"
  3809. >Oh, that.
  3810. "Of course not. The final form of the Hearth's Warming festival is based on the show. I wasn't around when this was made. Obviously."
  3811. >This was a tiny bit before your time.
  3812. >Like, centuries.
  3813. >If not more.
  3814. >"None of us were, but that is not the point. The point is, it is easy for our deeds to sink into relative obscurity."
  3815. >She takes a breath.
  3816. >"In this particular case, we are only mentioned by name in the annals of Rootshome. Recorded as a newly wedded couple in the aftermath of the Windigo storm. Now ask yourself, how many ponies will ever hear about this wedding in, say, five hundred years?"
  3817. >This is almost a rhetorical question.
  3818. >One that #deca.mare answers herself right away.
  3819. >"Only very few individuals in future generations will ever invest the effort to learn more about the event than what can be seen on stage. Bookworms and historians tend to this knowledge for the most part, but barring a few outliers who pursue such studies as a hobby, that is about it."
  3820. >#deca.mare pauses.
  3821. >"The play is the main point of reference. And given that it is meant to foster the communal spirit of unity amongst ponies, this is a good thing. The rest is a historical side note. Even though everything is recorded and openly accessible."
  3822. >Well, fair enough.
  3823. >If you were to ask any Equestrian ponies in the distant future, chances are that they only know the basic narration of the events.
  3824. >The one of the play.
  3825. >"The same applies here. Celestia is the shining star of the day. You and me are the honourable mentions for the historically inclined scholars of the future."
  3826. >Strange.
  3827. >Even though you know that #deca.mare is right in this regard, and only points it out to calm your concerns, a part of your pride still feels a pang of annoyance to have this spoken out loud like that.
  3828. >Never mind.
  3829. >You push this silly notion to the side.
  3830. >"And this progress will continue. As soon as more famous ponies 'enter the scene', we are not so exceptional any more. Not in comparison to the veritable legends that will emerge."
  3831. >You nod, albeit hesitantly.
  3832. >For you are not fully convinced yet.
  3833. "That's all fine on paper, and it might work for most ponies. Perhaps even for Sky if we play our cards right."
  3834. >You shake your head.
  3835. "But not for Luna. She will never see us as ordinary people. And neither will Celestia, while we're at it."
  3836. >#deca.mare mirrors your head shake.
  3837. >"No, Anon. You misunderstand. I do not intend to convey the image of us being an ordinary couple."
  3838.  
  3839.  
  3840.  
  3841.  
  3842. >She turns around to look at the tent.
  3843. >"Celestia and Luna will always see something uniquely potent in us, yes. This is true and not going to change."
  3844. >Then she focuses on you again, smiling.
  3845. >"Yet their perspective can, and will, shift in its own way. Over time."
  3846. >A pause.
  3847. >"Consider this, Anon. Our recorded good deeds are, as I said, already fated to be outshone by those of the six pageant ponies. And our actions pale in comparison to, for instance, the feats of the future Pillars."
  3848. >She takes a breath.
  3849. >"These are the real heroes of the realm. The ones that many ponies will remember. And they are also the ones with the strongest bond to Harmony, even when they are not aware of that connection."
  3850. >Which in turn means they possess the strongest tangible "aura", next to you two.
  3851. "So you're banking on them to shroud our signature by their mere presence. Is that it?"
  3852. >"Essentially, yes."
  3853. >You blink.
  3854. "Oh boy."
  3855. >#deca.mare hears the rather obvious scepticism in your voice.
  3856. >And she is prepared for it.
  3857. >"Tell me, what is a 'more or less mundane' couple with a vague tendency to a limited and inexplicable foresight, when you compare it to the great works of the already famous and wise Star Swirl, or, to use an example of the other extreme as well, the widely feared and dreaded reign of Sombra?"
  3858. >You can think of a couple of paraphrases to describe you two in this context.
  3859. >None of these would be very flattering though.
  3860. >"We are a couple of lucky coincidences, all things considered. Always at the right place, at the right time. But as strange as that may be, we have openly sided with the realm and the princesses. That will put most minds at ease as time goes on."
  3861. "Including the Royal Sisters? Do you really think that?"
  3862. >#deca.mare looks up to the sky.
  3863. >"At least enough to drop the matter eventually, if we act accordingly. Because for all our unusual traits, we have never given anypony a reason to doubt our intentions. Everything we have done has led to a positive outcome in the end. So why should Luna, or anyone else while we are at it, keep spending resources on studying us, when are continuously helping everyone to deal with the real and far more pressing issues in the realm?"
  3864. >She chuckles.
  3865. >"All we need to do is to reach the point at which the wish of the princesses to answer the open questions behind our talents is outweighed by the simple realisation that there are many more things to focus on. It will take a long time to get there, granted, but we can do it."
  3866. >A pause.
  3867. >"The blood test and medical checkups do their part as well. Sky Squall and the princesses will soon see how ordinary and incredibly unremarkable the blood within the veins of these bodies is. And that we are indeed not affected by some form of abstract eldritch magic."
  3868. >And this is not even a lie.
  3869.  
  3870.  
  3871.  
  3872.  
  3873. >The proxies' physiology is indistinguishable from that of a regular pony.
  3874. >No attempts of camouflage or similar means are needed on that front, regardless of the tests that the Alicorns might come up with.
  3875. >You strike a thinking pose.
  3876. "Just for the record, are you really sure, like absolutely one hundred percent sure, that this will suffice?"
  3877. >A nod.
  3878. "And you're sure we can avoid pulling off more 'heroics' like this one?"
  3879. >You point in the direction in which Sky Squall was hobbling, just a few minutes ago.
  3880. >"Yes, Anon. This was a... slip-up of Harmony and me. One that we can learn from so that we should be able to avoid a similar situation in the future. Harmony comes to the same conclusion too. We simply have to be a bit more careful when we devise our next plan."
  3881. >You take a breath.
  3882. "Well, I take your word for it, #deca."
  3883. >She goes on.
  3884. >"But as I said, please do not feel rushed, Anon. Take your time to think about it first. This decision is yours. We can do other things to sort this situation out if you do not wish to join the team."
  3885. >She falls silent.
  3886. >Sounds like #deca.mare has said everything there is to say.
  3887. >So you nod.
  3888. "Okay."
  3889. >Both of you are quiet for a moment.
  3890. >And you use that opportunity to think of any new topics to talk about.
  3891. >Preferably something more casual in nature.
  3892. >However, #deca.mare's ears perk up before you can find anything.
  3893. "#deca?"
  3894. >She replies without hesitation.
  3895. >"Sky is coming back."
  3896. >Alright.
  3897. >You immediately want to look around to spot the incoming Pegasus.
  3898. >#deca.mare has other plans though.
  3899. >"Do not look. Let me do the work."
  3900. >The ultimate code word for "shut up and act normal".
  3901. >And #deca.mare is quickly adapting to the new situation.
  3902. >Her demeanour changes completely.
  3903. >She puts on the facade of a much more laid-back mare, tilts her head slightly, and gives you an amicable little smile.
  3904. >You notice that she has chosen a specific angle for her pose too.
  3905. >Everyone who is coming from either side is bound to see her expression.
  3906. >Once again, her message is meant to be aimed at someone else.
  3907. >And it is not hard to guess who that could be.
  3908. >Very well.
  3909. >You play along and do the same, albeit in a less pronounced fashion.
  3910. >#deca.mare then takes a single step closer, leans against your shoulder, carefully minding not to touch the bandages, and nuzzles your cheek.
  3911. >She wants to convey the image of you having a tender moment together.
  3912. >More so for the ponies around you than for yourselves.
  3913.  
  3914.  
  3915.  
  3916.  
  3917. >And you do your part to make it look convincing.
  3918. >At least on the outside.
  3919. >Mentally, however, you force yourself to remain calm and collected, and not to indulge in the pleasantries of the moment.
  3920. >You cannot really afford to get carried away in this current situation, after all.
  3921. >But judging from the audible sounds of two approaching sets of treading hooves, you do not have to keep this display up for very long.
  3922. >So you close your eyes and carefully reciprocate the advances of #deca.mare as you wait for Sky Squall to arrive.
  3923. >And the stallion reaches the two of you about thirty seconds later.
  3924. >He comes to a stop and idles for a few brief moments before he decides to politely interrupt your little personal activity.
  3925. >Sky Squall clears his throat to announce his arrival, then he waits for you to get the hint.
  3926. >#deca.mare and you part hesitantly, yet you keep looking at each other for a moment longer before you turn around to face the Pegasus and his companion.
  3927. >The second pony is indeed a Unicorn.
  3928. >As you have expected.
  3929. >However, this is the only thing that matches with your expectations.
  3930. >Because contrary to what Sky Squall's initial announcement suggested, the Unicorn he brought along is neither a member of the medical team, nor Quillmare Ink.
  3931. >This pony is a stallion scribe.
  3932. >He is exceptionally young, barely past the age of a colt, and already shows a slight tendency to a meagre physique, even for his size.
  3933. >His grey coat and dull blue mane are not exactly helping to embellish his outward appearance either.
  3934. >And the humble earth-coloured cape embodies the very opposite of what another certain Unicorn in this camp is flaunting at every possible opportunity.
  3935. >Merely watching him whilst he is standing right next to the still somewhat impaired Sky Squall is like observing night and day in a direct comparison.
  3936. >The Pegasus clearly is the more imposing of the two.
  3937. >Even in his reduced state.
  3938. >However, in spite of the scribe's physical shortcomings, he does not come across as sickly or feeble to you.
  3939. >Not in the slightest, in fact.
  3940. >Because one look into the Unicorn's bright azure eyes tells you right on the spot that you are facing a sharp mind.
  3941. >A bright wit that is not to be underestimated, even when the stallion it belongs to is not going to win a strength contest any time soon.
  3942. >And a cold shiver creeps down your spine for a couple of seconds as you eye the pony and process what you are seeing.
  3943. >But you quickly manage to shove that notion aside.
  3944. >This is a different challenge for another day.
  3945. >So you go ahead and get the conversation going.
  3946. >The matter at hand is more important today.
  3947. >You turn to Sky Squall.
  3948. "Welcome back."
  3949. >Then you look at the Unicorn with a polite and welcoming smile.
  3950. "Hey there."
  3951. >The scribe replies with a carefully reserved voice.
  3952. >"Uhm. Hello."
  3953. >Well, he does not exactly strike you as confident.
  3954. >Though this is subject to change.
  3955. >Inevitably so.
  3956. >For better, and for worse.
  3957.  
  3958.  
  3959.  
  3960.  
  3961. >But for now it is you who needs to come up with a few incentives to make him talk.
  3962. >So you try just that.
  3963. "Haven't seen you in these parts before. Who are you?"
  3964. >Again, a restrained reaction is all you get.
  3965. >"The... second rear guard."
  3966. >You blink.
  3967. "What?"
  3968. >"I... haven't been a part of the forward operation."
  3969. >A pause.
  3970. >"Or the supply squad."
  3971. >A second one.
  3972. >"I came... completely after the fact, if you will."
  3973. >You want to comment on that obviously obscure response, but you do not get the chance to.
  3974. >The lean stallion goes on.
  3975. >"Anyway... I was told to... fetch some blood."
  3976. >Huh.
  3977. >He clearly does not want to talk about this.
  3978. >And he makes that point even more obvious with his next move.
  3979. >His magical grip reaches for something beneath the cape.
  3980. >And he reveals two small devices that are reminiscent of antique syringes.
  3981. >Both are made of a finely forged metal frame plus needle, painstakingly shaped glassware to contain the respective liquid, and a mostly decorative set of crystals which is embedded within the equivalent of a plunger.
  3982. >One of the crystals in each device, in both cases the one which is the closest to the glass, emits a faint shimmering glow.
  3983. >It must be a minor energy signature of a basic energy cell, most likely primed to enhance and hone the magical grip of the user.
  3984. >An "enchantment" like this, simple as it may be, goes quite a long way to enable even a novice Unicorn to wield this device with relative competence.
  3985. >It is, however, wholly impractical for anyone who does not possess a magic horn.
  3986. >A typical Unicorn device, tailor-made for their specific studies and daily operations, yet rarely seen outside their circles.
  3987. >And the scribe is aware of the fact that others may perceive this object as outlandish and concerning.
  3988. >"Do not be put off by the design. It will only extract a minuscule amount of blood."
  3989. >Neither #deca.mare nor you say anything at first, as you are wholly unimpressed by the sight of a small metal needle.
  3990. >But you soon figure that you should say something, if only to stay polite and engaging.
  3991. >Especially since he has just managed to make a statement without interrupting himself.
  3992. "It's fine. We're ready."
  3993. >You look at #deca.mare.
  3994. "Right, Deca?"
  3995. >She nods.
  3996. >"Right."
  3997. >The scribe accepts that reaction for what it is and proceeds.
  3998. >"Who wants to begin?"
  3999. >Normally you would make a joke about letting your mare be the first, but you have the impression that the Unicorn is not the jovial type.
  4000. >So you simply step forward instead.
  4001. "Take mine first."
  4002. >The Unicorn nods and turns to face you head on whilst one of the devices is slowly floating towards you.
  4003. >"As you wish."
  4004. >The syringe comes closer.
  4005. >"The easiest way for me to do this is a direct jugular extraction. Are you ready?"
  4006. >Now this is admittedly unusual for you.
  4007. >If only for the fact that you are used to the human anatomy when it comes to blood samples.
  4008.  
  4009.  
  4010.  
  4011.  
  4012. >And you think you can neatly convey that surprise in a somewhat veiled fashion.
  4013. "Jugular? Are you sure that this is safe?"
  4014. >The scribe nods with a neutral expression on his face.
  4015. >"Safe and tested. You will barely feel anything."
  4016. >Well then.
  4017. >Time to prove that.
  4018. "Okay. Go ahead."
  4019. >The stallion carefully spins the device around to bring the tip of the syringe into its optimal position.
  4020. >"Please hold still now."
  4021. >You do as you are told.
  4022. >The needle pierces the skin of the proxy near the throat, and further penetrates the tissue beneath.
  4023. >And even though you have not tampered with the pain receptors of your proxy, you barely register the sting.
  4024. >Exactly as the scribe has promised.
  4025. >So you wait patiently until the process is done.
  4026. >Then, less than a minute later, he pulls the syringe out again.
  4027. >The next thing you would expect is a small rivulet of blood to trickle out of the tiny open wound.
  4028. >But much to your surprise, this does not happen at all.
  4029. >Because once the needle is fully drawn out of the proxy again, the Unicorn's horn flashes and sparks once.
  4030. >"Almost done."
  4031. >Almost?
  4032. >What is missing?
  4033. >A sudden searing pain erupts within the entrance wound, answering your question before you can pose it.
  4034. >You take a quick step back and almost jump in the air as the sensation hits you.
  4035. "Ow!"
  4036. >However, as alerting as the pain is initially, it quickly begins fade to away.
  4037. >You look at the stallion with a notably irritated expression as the former pain turns into a tingle.
  4038. "What the... what was that?"
  4039. >He replies immediately whilst the used syringe is floating back to him, the glass now filled almost completely with a crimson liquid.
  4040. >"Nothing to be worried about. I sealed the wound to prevent unnecessary blood loss."
  4041. >He holds the sample close to his face.
  4042. >And you look around to check if you can spot any signs of spilled blood.
  4043. >But you do not find anything.
  4044. >It looks like he has cauterised your wound with an absolutely flawless accuracy.
  4045. >Alright, fine.
  4046. >Fair enough.
  4047. >This was executed faultlessly.
  4048. >You cannot really object to that.
  4049. >Though a more elaborate warning would have been appreciated.
  4050. >The filled syringe disappears beneath his cape before the scribe turns to #deca.mare.
  4051. >"Now you. Ready?"
  4052. >#deca.mare, not at all scared by your previous outcry, nods.
  4053. >"Do it."
  4054. >The second syringe floats over to her, and the same procedure begins anew.
  4055. >A clean penetration, followed by a swift extraction, then the removal of the syringe, and the cauterisation at the end.
  4056. >You do feel lightly on edge as you see #deca.mare wincing at the last step.
  4057. >She must have enabled her pain receptors as well to make her reaction look convincing.
  4058. >But she too recovers within seconds.
  4059. >And the sanguine sample finds its way to the Unicorn's cape as well, effectively disappearing from sight.
  4060. >"That's it, thank you. Now if you excuse me, I'll have a look at those."
  4061.  
  4062.  
  4063.  
  4064.  
  4065. >Sky Squall is the next to speak up.
  4066. >"Mind if I come with you? I want to see what's happening."
  4067. >The Unicorn hesitates.
  4068. >"You... won't understand much of the examination process. Without... a horn."
  4069. >The Pegasus blinks.
  4070. >"Can you describe to me what you find while you do it though?"
  4071. >The Unicorn does not answer immediately.
  4072. >There is a small gap in between.
  4073. >"I can... certainly try. But that... depends on the result."
  4074. >Sky Squall shrugs.
  4075. >"Good enough. Lead the way, Styg."
  4076. >The scribe nods and turns around to trot off.
  4077. >Sky Squall follows him soon thereafter, but not without giving #deca.mare and you a departing salute first.
  4078. >"See you soon."
  4079. >After that, he is gone.
  4080. >To follow the trail of your blood, so to speak.
  4081. >#deca.mare and you are left alone once more, secluded in the relative privacy of the open field.
  4082. >Which suits you quite well.
  4083. >Because there is something you need to address now.
  4084. "You didn't tell me he's here."
  4085. >#deca.mare does not even attempt to feign that she does not know what you are referring to.
  4086. >"He reached the camp last night with a small group of Unicorn scholars. It was an uneventful arrival."
  4087. >So #deca.mare did not want you to lose any sleep over it.
  4088. "And why is he here?"
  4089. >"To study the events and to make records for future historic references. Like most of his peers."
  4090. >You take a strained breath, and #deca.mare immediately realises what you think of.
  4091. >It is rather obvious, after all.
  4092. >Even without relying on your bond.
  4093. >"Anon, keep this vision at bay. We are not there yet."
  4094. >You nod.
  4095. "I know. I just... wasn't prepared to see him this... suddenly. And this young."
  4096. >And knowing precisely what is going to happen to him does not exactly help to make that encounter any more pleasant either, as you add to your thoughts in silence.
  4097. >#deca.mare registers your notion all the same though.
  4098. >She sighs.
  4099. >"Yes, I understand what you mean. This... situation is not easy to digest."
  4100. >A pause.
  4101. >"But remember how this story ended eventually. Or will have ended, if you will."
  4102. >You blink.
  4103. "Sure. Happy end and all that."
  4104. >You pause as well.
  4105. "More than a millennium into the future."
  4106. >Even thinking about that does not sit well with you.
  4107. >Plus, he is not the only pony in this camp who is fated to live through such a thing.
  4108. >You look at the two departing stallions.
  4109. >The still low sun of the dawn elongates their shadows to a considerable degree.
  4110. >And for the fraction of a second, you feel like they are trying to reach for you.
  4111. >You shake your head and look to the side.
  4112. "I dread the day when we tell them the full truth, #deca."
  4113. >You sigh.
  4114. "Sky can be a boisterous pain in the neck sometimes, but he's a fine guy. Luna, Stygian, and all the others too."
  4115. >#deca.mare nods in silence.
  4116. "I'd hate to lose their friendship one day. Or worse, to see them hate us for our... deception."
  4117. >She answers swiftly.
  4118. >"This depends wholly on us, Anon. And on what we have done until that day has arrived."
  4119. >She pauses.
  4120.  
  4121.  
  4122.  
  4123.  
  4124. >"We cannot tell them how to judge us once the time has come. But we can determine what the actions are by which we will be judged."
  4125. >#deca.mare takes a breath and smiles.
  4126. >"And our track record is fairly good so far."
  4127. >You look at Sky Squall and his lightly awry gait.
  4128. "If you say so. Yesterday surely didn't help me to get any bonus points for my final score though."
  4129. >After all, Sky Squall will certainly not be happy to hear that his humbling would not have been necessary if you had been more careful, and that both #deca.mare and you had a far greater part in it all than he thought.
  4130. >Much to your surprise though, #deca.mare chuckles once more.
  4131. >And it helps a bit to reduce the tension within you.
  4132. >"I am convinced that the Sky Squall of the distant future will be willing to overlook this incident in the long run."
  4133. >She seems to be oddly sure of that, yet you have no idea why.
  4134. >However, she is quick to give you an obvious hint as to what makes her believe in this projection.
  4135. >"Seeing his first foal should help to make him put this bump behind him."
  4136. >Wait, what?
  4137. "Did you just say foal? And first?"
  4138. >#deca.mare shrugs casually.
  4139. >"Let me think... why, yes. I believe I did."
  4140. >She smiles.
  4141. >"Though I would not mention that to Sky Squall if I were you. He is not aware of it yet."
  4142. >She starts to whisper to herself.
  4143. >"And neither is she."
  4144. >You can barely hear what #deca.mare is saying, but you have learned to listen closely when she does something like this.
  4145. >And she knows that you could understand her.
  4146. >You raise an eyebrow with a skewed grin.
  4147. "You've peeked behind my back, haven't you, #deca?"
  4148. >She calmly shakes her head.
  4149. >"No, I asked Harmony."
  4150. >She senses that you plan to needle her a tad more, so she elaborates on her own with a smile.
  4151. >"Yes, I recall our agreement on the sanctity of private matters. But I had a reason to enquire this specific piece of information right now."
  4152. >Your eyebrow remains risen.
  4153. "And what reason could that be?"
  4154. >#deca.mare's friendly smile turns into a caring one at this point.
  4155. >"Your peace of conscience."
  4156. >She gives you a second to think about her answer.
  4157. >"It was evident that you would struggle to leave the matter alone. So I did something about it."
  4158. >Now she grins.
  4159. >"You can calm down now."
  4160. >Her grin widens.
  4161. >"And no, I did not ask about any details. This is all I know as well."
  4162. >Because this is all she needed to know.
  4163. >And it is also her friendly way of telling you to drop the thought of asking further.
  4164. >#deca.mare observes the two distant stallions.
  4165. >"Trust me, Anon. It can all work out. And I will do everything in my power to ensure this. Same as Harmony."
  4166. >You look at the leaving duo as well.
  4167.  
  4168.  
  4169.  
  4170.  
  4171. >"So whenever you feel in doubt like this again, just remember that you are not alone in this endeavour. You never were..."
  4172. >#deca.mare gives you a careful hug, minding to steer clear of the bandages.
  4173. >...and you never will be. We are in this as a team. Harmony, you, and me. And together we will make it work. Despite the occasional stumbling block."
  4174. >You softly lean on #deca.mare as you enjoy the light of dawn with her.
  4175. >"Do you feel better now?"
  4176. >You nod.
  4177. "For the moment, yeah. Thank you, #deca."
  4178. >Both of you remain quiet for a while.
  4179. >And the reaching shadows evaporate as Sky Squall and Stygian enter a remote tent to conduct a series of magical blood tests on your samples.
  4180.  
  4181.  
  4182.  
  4183.  
  4184. 149
  4185.  
  4186. >Loud sounds of snapping wood disturb the serenity of a peaceful road in the wilderness of the northern Equestrian grasslands.
  4187. >A wooden wheel buckles in its service, breaks off the cart it is attached to, and causes said cart to keel to the side, dumping a considerable number of wooden crates that were previously loaded onto the wagon straight into the ditch right next to the road.
  4188. >It is an unenviable turn of events for everyone involved, even at the best of times, and effectively halts the trek that the owners of the cart are on at the moment.
  4189. >And you know how inconvenient that situation is.
  4190. >For you are the one who pulls the cart as it breaks down.
  4191. >The harness yanks at your proxy as the weight suddenly shifts, almost throwing you to the side as well.
  4192. >But you manage to keep your balance and come to a somewhat orderly stop, in spite of the rapid shift in momentum that forces you to halt at once.
  4193. >As soon as you are standing, you take a single breath to collect your thoughts and process the sensation.
  4194. >Then you get yourself out of the harness and look at #deca.mare.
  4195. >She stands a couple of metres away from you, as she walked ahead to make sure that the path you are treading on is clear of potential obstacles.
  4196. >But she has turned around as the wheel gave in under the strain of your travels.
  4197. >Which is not exactly a surprise.
  4198. >Even if she were not able to rely on the vast capacities of the mothership, the crash was loud enough to alert everyone in the vicinity to the overt hardware failure.
  4199. >If there actually were anyone else around to hear it, that is.
  4200. >However, the next settlement is roughly fifteen kilometres away.
  4201. >And it is not a large one either.
  4202. >In fact, it is the northernmost hamlet of the entire realm, populated by about thirty ponies in total, and visitors are an absolute rarity in this region.
  4203. >Except for a small number of regular couriers, hardly anyone ever considers to venture this far into the north.
  4204. >Because as far as the ponies are concerned, there is not much of value in the lands beyond this point.
  4205. >The climate in the area, whilst still within the temperate zone of the planet, is already notably more frigid than that of the warm and lush heartlands.
  4206. >The summers are mild, the winters longer and cooler, and the harvests, in the literal sense of the word, less fruitful on average.
  4207. >And although shortages are rare and usually avoidable with a little bit of clever planning, it is not exactly an inviting environment in the eyes of most ponies.
  4208. >Those who live in this area have deliberately chosen to be here for their own personal reasons.
  4209. >Some like the snowy plains during the winter, others feel like their talents can best be honed in this rough terrain, and a couple simply like to live this far to the north for the sake of the challenge.
  4210. >But no matter what their individual motivations may be, a common pattern is more than evident in the communities at the northern fringes of Equestria.
  4211.  
  4212.  
  4213.  
  4214.  
  4215. >They all tend to attract exceptionally hardy and seasoned individuals.
  4216. >So much so that they have developed a little bit of a reputation for being sturdy, yet also a tad stubborn in their own amiable way.
  4217. >But the northern ponies take this with good humour.
  4218. >If one were to mention this viewpoint to one of them, they usually react with some kind of joke.
  4219. >And these universally revolve around telling everyone how the cold weather makes their coats grow thicker, or how their bodies become more warm-blooded than those of the "coddled southerners" in the heartland.
  4220. >To this day you are not sure whether this is supposed to be an innuendo or not.
  4221. >Either way though, you cannot expect a random group of those ponies to come to your aid by mere chance.
  4222. >They would of course help you out if they happened to see you and your defunct wagon on the road, but it could take days, if not weeks, until someone finally comes around to travel in either direction.
  4223. >This is not a feasible option, even on a comparatively tame spring day like this one.
  4224. >Which means that you are effectively confronted with choosing one of three different options.
  4225. >You could abandon the wagon and travel on without your goods, split up so that one of you stays behind whilst the other seeks help in the hamlet, or you repair the damn thing yourself.
  4226. >#deca.mare and you quickly exchange glances and wordlessly agree to pick option C.
  4227. >You briefly inspect the damage, then you turn to the side to look at the scattered crates in the mire.
  4228. "#deca, fetch and prepare the spare parts. I'll check the boxes."
  4229. >"On it."
  4230. >#deca.mare hops onto the wagon, skirts around the crates which were not accidentally ejected, and reaches for a collection of parts and tools that are stored in a small separate segment near the front end of the wagon.
  4231. >In the meantime, you slide down into the ditch and carefully approach the nearest crate.
  4232. >You scan the container to check for any notable blemishes, and probe how deeply it has embedded itself into the relatively soft soil of the ditch.
  4233. >As it turns out, the outer shell and the goods therein are undamaged.
  4234. >But as you have expected, the force of the impact caused the container to be stuck in the somewhat muddy ground.
  4235. >You could free it with pure muscle power, yet it would require quite the effort, and time, to do so.
  4236. >And it would be pretty messy as well.
  4237. >So it is not really worth it to do anything with the crate at this point.
  4238. >On to the next then.
  4239. >The second crate is in a similar condition though.
  4240. >Same as the third.
  4241. >And essentially the entire batch.
  4242. >If #deca.mare and you would use the strength of both proxies in a coordinated manner, you could retrieve all of them with what you have at hand.
  4243. >However, now that you have ensured that the cargo is still intact, you should focus on restoring the wagon first.
  4244.  
  4245.  
  4246.  
  4247.  
  4248. >The crates are not going anywhere, after all, and that little bit of dirt on the outside is not going to threaten the goods within them either.
  4249. >Besides, you are not exactly keen on having to fix the wagon after an extended mud bath.
  4250. >So you happily postpone that point, leave the containers alone for the moment, and return to #deca.mare to help her instead.
  4251. >And she is already done with the first few steps by the time you emerge from the ditch.
  4252. >The spare parts are unloaded, and most of the makeshift tools which you need to make field repairs are assembled as well.
  4253. >So far, so good for a start.
  4254. >Though there is still much to do.
  4255. >And you get to work immediately.
  4256. >The two of you begin to unload the remaining crates in order to reduce the weight of the wagon as much as possible.
  4257. >It is a bit of a dodgy task, given the tilted angle of the loading area, yet you make do eventually.
  4258. >You neatly pile up the crates on the small strip of ground between the path and the slope to the ditch, getting the cargo out of the way so that the actual repair work can commence.
  4259. >Whilst you are busy with hauling the last crate to the side, however, you notice that something is happening in the distance.
  4260. >You spot a lone figure that is coming from the south, heading straight towards your position on its way to the last point of interest this far up in the northern fringes of Equestria.
  4261. >And one little glance already tells you that this singular pony is probably not a regular in these spheres.
  4262. >Because the locals rarely wander far on their own.
  4263. >They almost always travel in groups of at least two, and usually more, just to have a certain baseline safety in numbers.
  4264. >The backup of a trusty travel companion or two is considered to be invaluable in these parts, especially in winter.
  4265. >Still, regular or not, a pony is a pony.
  4266. >And a pony can help you in one way or another.
  4267. >You keep track of the wanderer's progress as you put the last container aside.
  4268. >This pony is trotting, as you can derive from the movements, yet the speed of the wanderer does not fully match up with the chosen gait.
  4269. >The pace is way too high, and rather resembles a canter, or even a light gallop, rather than a trot.
  4270. >An obvious anomaly, which clearly originates from some kind of magic spell.
  4271. >Yet another clue that this is not one of the locals, as most of them have nothing to do with advanced magic whatsoever, the Unicorn population included.
  4272. >After all, in-depth magic studies and practice, not to mention enchantments, require a very specific environment and lots of processible materials.
  4273. >Neither of these things can be found in the communities of small hamlets that spend the largest part of their time on acquiring the resources that they need for their daily lives.
  4274. >No, magic is a thing for the fancy south.
  4275. >Literally running around in the open, with the help of some strange magic "incantations"?
  4276. >Oh boy.
  4277.  
  4278.  
  4279.  
  4280.  
  4281. >Entering the hamlet with this stunt will guarantee some banter on the sidelines.
  4282. >Anyway, you let the speeding wanderer come closer and fully keep your focus on the repairs.
  4283. >It is going to take a while until the pony has reached you anyway, even with this speed, so you can use the moment to get something done in the interim.
  4284. >For it is time to start the first actual phase of your field repair.
  4285. >You look at #deca.mare.
  4286. "We've got everything we need, right?"
  4287. >She nods.
  4288. >"Yes, Anon."
  4289. >You turn to the wagon.
  4290. "Fine. Then let's do it like this. I'm the jack, you place the struts. Alright?"
  4291. >A second nod.
  4292. >"As you wish. Ready when you are."
  4293. >You take a breath.
  4294. "Well, here we go."
  4295. >You walk up to the damaged side, turn your back on the wagon, firmly place the proxy's forelimbs on the ground, and carefully press the rear legs against the wooden surface.
  4296. >Then you start to push.
  4297. >You begin with very little force, but gradually intensify the pressure with the combined strength of the proxy's muscles and the augments.
  4298. >And only a couple of seconds later, you do produce a notable effect.
  4299. >The tilted wagon slowly starts to straighten itself up.
  4300. >Within seconds, it is partially suspended in the air, in spite of the missing wheel.
  4301. >You can hear the wood groaning lightly under the strain, yet it remains intact.
  4302. >Nothing else breaks or falls off.
  4303. >Once you have evened out the angle, you look at #deca.mare and nod in her direction.
  4304. >This is her signal to grab a pair of sturdy wooden pillars and position them under the lifted wagon.
  4305. >With the pillars now being where they are supposed to be, you carefully reduce the pressure to lower the wagon until it touches the two pillars simultaneously, causing them to function as provisional struts while you work on other things.
  4306. >#deca.mare takes a few steps back.
  4307. >Then you let go of the wagon and do the same.
  4308. >Both of you look at your work for a moment, then at each other.
  4309. "Looking good. This should do the trick."
  4310. >#deca.mare does not reply to that comment.
  4311. >She simply nods once as she takes a breath.
  4312. >Only a few seconds later, you begin to hear the almost skittering steps of the wanderer.
  4313. >You turn to the side again to check the situation.
  4314. >And as expected, the progress of your approaching friend is quite remarkable.
  4315. >The wanderer is close enough now for you to identify, even with the naked eye, that the pony in question is a Unicorn stallion.
  4316. >Well, with the obvious enhancement of that gait, the former was pretty much a given right from the start.
  4317. >Yet as he comes closer, the scale of that magic trick becomes even more blatant.
  4318. >Because the entirety of his body, from the ebon mane and tail, right across his light marble coat, is surrounded by a faint aura of nondescript light.
  4319. >It does not take much to recognise that this stallion is very well-versed in the arts of magic.
  4320.  
  4321.  
  4322.  
  4323.  
  4324. >However, in spite of this considerable level of skill, which must have taken an eternity of studies to achieve, he has not slacked in other areas either.
  4325. >His physique, for instance, is fairly well trained for a bookworm.
  4326. >He may not reach the same levels of physical prowess as the heavy hitters in the proto-guard do, yet he is certainly a tad above the average.
  4327. >And if you consider the speed with which this Unicorn "trots", it is not hard to imagine that this fellow has a certain tendency to push the envelope.
  4328. >The pieces of his apparel are comparatively unremarkable, however.
  4329. >He bears a fairly large, yet common pair of saddlebags, and a sturdy travelling mantle made out of dark cloth.
  4330. >Both of these are fairly widespread pieces in the northern parts of Equestria, given their usefulness in a challenging environment like this one.
  4331. >He is at least in this regard on a par with the locals.
  4332. >Only a couple of minutes until he arrives.
  4333. >You wonder how he will react to your situation.
  4334. >After all, he must have seen your little predicament by now.
  4335. >It is virtually impossible to miss at this range.
  4336. >Which means he can either choose to ignore your problem and move on, or he stops by to help you out.
  4337. >Of course, the second option is far more likely, as the first one is practically unthinkable by Equestrian standards.
  4338. >But even though you know this for a fact as well, a part of you would not put it past him to just run off, despite the evidence to the contrary.
  4339. >And as much as you try to suppress this notion, your subconsciousness keeps it in your mind.
  4340. >You consider waving to him for a moment, yet you quickly discard the idea.
  4341. >For you want to see what he does on his own in this situation, without any further signals from #deca.mare or you.
  4342. >So you keep sorting the spare parts that you need for your repairs as the Unicorn comes closer.
  4343. >And you act as if you only take note of his arrival during the last seconds of his approach.
  4344. >You look up from your tools to eye him accordingly.
  4345. >The stallion gradually slows down as the magic aura around him subsides.
  4346. >He halts right in front of the wagon's back side, focuses on #deca.mare and you with his crimson eyes, and speaks up immediately.
  4347. >"Hello there."
  4348. >You give him a nod.
  4349. "Hello."
  4350. >He goes on.
  4351. >"I see you have had a little mishap. Do you need some assistance?"
  4352. >Well, he is polite.
  4353. >You cannot deny that.
  4354. >#deca.mare speaks up next.
  4355. >"We have everything we need. But we would appreciate all the help that we can get."
  4356. >She looks over to you.
  4357. >"Right?"
  4358. >You take a breath before you agree.
  4359. "Right. Fixing the wheel is a fiddly task."
  4360. >The Unicorn eyes the wagon again, studies the damaged section in particular, looks over to the scattered boxes down in the ditch, and nods shortly thereafter.
  4361. >"Very well. Step back."
  4362.  
  4363.  
  4364.  
  4365.  
  4366. >You look at #deca.mare for a second.
  4367. >She nods.
  4368. >So you do what he asks of you, without asking any questions.
  4369. >And once the stallion made sure that the two of you are a couple of metres away, he starts to channel his magic and charge his horn.
  4370. >However, he is not trying to magically grab the wagon or any of your tools.
  4371. >No yet.
  4372. >He pulls the cloth of his mantle to the side and reaches for something beneath it instead.
  4373. >As he does so, you manage to get a glimpse of a strangely vibrant crimson glow that is hidden beneath the fabric, and which you have not noticed before.
  4374. >This glow is clearly artificial in nature, and not something that one gets to see every day.
  4375. >But whilst you are busy pondering whether you should comment on that discovery or not, the stallion already answers any potential question that you might pose.
  4376. >He pulls out a small golden pendant.
  4377. >Or at least an object which looks like a pendant at first glance.
  4378. >Its shape is akin to a small golden coin, slightly larger than an Equestrian gold bit, and has a gem embedded in its centre.
  4379. >And just one look at this thing is sufficient for you to recognise that the gem itself is not a decorative piece.
  4380. >This is an energy cell.
  4381. >Albeit one of a heavily customised variety which you have not seen before.
  4382. >You have no idea what exactly the Unicorn has done to create this cell, but it is evident that the changes to the process must have been massive.
  4383. >Because unlike regular energy cells, this variant is tinted in a blood red hue.
  4384. >And it emits a faint crimson aura, even in its untapped, dormant state.
  4385. >Though judging from the intensity of the light that you have seen under the cape of this pony, he must have many more of those cells in his mantle.
  4386. >Dozens.
  4387. >If not more.
  4388. >Oh, what the hell.
  4389. >Why should you rely on estimations when you can have certainty?
  4390. >You adjust your goggles and scan the stallion, his equipment, and the golden "pendant cell" in his magic grip.
  4391. >The results of your probing come in as the Unicorn floats the cell closer to his horn.
  4392. >And what you see is both expected and unexpected at the same time.
  4393. >Because as it turns out, the stallion himself is absolutely and completely ordinary from a physical perspective.
  4394. >He is in a good condition, healthy, and shows no signs of injury or other notable blemishes.
  4395. >His gear, on the other hand, leaves you with more questions than answers.
  4396. >For instance, his saddlebags are filled with nothing but iron bars of various sizes.
  4397. >Cold.
  4398. >Iron.
  4399. >Bars.
  4400. >No food rations, no map, or any other tool that one might need out here.
  4401. >This stallion effectively carries nothing but iron chunks.
  4402. >But the real surprises are the mantle and the energy cell.
  4403. >The latter is, contrary to what you have expected, not all that different in its internal design when compared to a standard model.
  4404.  
  4405.  
  4406.  
  4407.  
  4408. >However, the composition of the crystal at its heart is unlike anything you have ever seen before.
  4409. >And the result of that alteration is obvious to the scanners as well.
  4410. >The energy signature of the cell is much more intense than it is supposed to be.
  4411. >Several times, in fact.
  4412. >No wonder that the gem is glowing.
  4413. >It is practically brimming with power.
  4414. >This is an energy cell on steroids, to put it bluntly.
  4415. >And it begs the question why the stallion has sixty of these damn things hidden underneath his mantle.
  4416. >Where did he get this much energy to begin with?
  4417. >Well, you can think of several different scenarios, yet none are really pleasant to consider.
  4418. >But as gloomy as your thoughts about the stallion and his energy cells are, they do not match up with what you get to see next.
  4419. >The faux gold bit keeps floating towards the Unicorn's horn, makes contact, and begins to spark vividly as the energy within gets tapped and released by the spellcaster.
  4420. >At first you are not sure what he is doing with the sudden surge.
  4421. >Until you notice that all of your tools have started to levitate all at once.
  4422. >They are surrounded by the same unreal aura of light as the stallion was previously.
  4423. >And from one moment to the next, they begin to move around.
  4424. >Simultaneously, and in a coordinated manner.
  4425. >The Unicorn stallion handles the entire tool set expertly, doing as many things at once as the situation and the tools allow him to.
  4426. >Yet it does not end there.
  4427. >He also grabs the damaged parts once they are properly detached from the wagon, tosses them aside, puts the intact spare parts in their place, and fastens them accordingly.
  4428. >Essentially completing the whole repair job in record time.
  4429. >Flawlessly and concisely.
  4430. >With the wheel now being fully functional again, he lets go of the tools to focus on the wagon as a whole, lifts it a couple of centimetres off the ground, and removes the wooden struts before he lowers the wagon onto the road once more.
  4431. >Then, finally, he comes to his final act, as he grips every single wooden crate in one go, both those at the street and the ones in the ditch, and places them right back on the loading area of the wagon.
  4432. >And you realise that he is, probably inadvertently, sorting them almost in the exact same way as #deca.mare and you have done before they fell off.
  4433. >Once the last crate is back where it belongs, the stallion exhales loudly and the magic aura fades away.
  4434. >You blink.
  4435. >Then you blink again.
  4436. "That was..."
  4437. >You look at the Unicorn as you collect your thoughts to come up with a proper reaction.
  4438. >But he is faster.
  4439. >"You are welcome."
  4440. >The stallion shakes his body once and hides his coin-like pendant in his mantle again.
  4441. >You notice that the glowing aura of the cell is weaker than before, yet it still remains visible to the naked eye.
  4442. >"Shall we travel together? I believe we have the same destination."
  4443.  
  4444.  
  4445.  
  4446.  
  4447. >Well, saying no to this proposition is not really an option after this performance.
  4448. >Not without looking extremely ungrateful in the process, that is.
  4449. >And #deca.mare, fully aware of this sentiment as well, agrees.
  4450. >"Gladly. We just need a moment to collect our tools."
  4451. >Oh, right.
  4452. >The impressive lightning repair of the Unicorn made you forget for a moment that he did not sort your tools for you.
  4453. >They are more or less scattered all around the impromptu "repair site".
  4454. >"Of course."
  4455. >And he waits patiently right next to the wagon whilst #deca.mare and you return the tools to their smaller segment at the front end.
  4456. >You take one last look around to make sure that you are indeed ready to move on.
  4457. >Then you get back to the harness to strap yourself in, and give both of them a signal.
  4458. "Alright, I'm good."
  4459. >#deca.mare responds accordingly.
  4460. >"Great. I will go ahead again."
  4461. >The stallion immediately shakes his head and chimes in though.
  4462. >"That won't be necessary. I will sense it if something is wrong with the road ahead."
  4463. >Hm.
  4464. >Considering the speed with which he was running around earlier, you are inclined to believe that he can indeed do such a thing.
  4465. >And so far he has not given you any reason to distrust him.
  4466. "Okay then. Let's ride."
  4467. >With that being said, you start to walk.
  4468. >#deca.mare and the stallion do the same.
  4469. >The former walks to your right whereas the latter trots to your left, forming a straight line.
  4470. >Looks like he is not going to immediately out himself with a bombastic solo arrival at the village after all.
  4471. >Not that you expect him to maintain a low profile for very long, but still.
  4472. >It is at least a small indirect recompense for his tremendous help.
  4473. >Speaking of help...
  4474. >You clear your throat.
  4475. "I think we haven't thanked you properly yet. Your spellwork has spared us a lot of trouble."
  4476. >The Unicorn shrugs.
  4477. >"No need for gratitude. I am always happy to help out where I can."
  4478. >You have a hard time to believe that, even though his actions prove that he is serious about this.
  4479. >And once again, it is only you who has that problem.
  4480. >You force yourself to swallow that thought and go on.
  4481. "Need or no need, that was some fine work. And this has to be said at least once."
  4482. >You check the stallion's reaction.
  4483. >He keeps being modest about the whole deal, despite your praises.
  4484. >Fine.
  4485. >You decide to keep the conversation going.
  4486. "By the way, I don't think we caught the name of our saviour yet."
  4487. >The Unicorn bows slightly in your direction as you say that.
  4488. >"My name is Shade Weaver. Graduate of the former Royal Arcane Academy of Unicornia. At your service."
  4489. >Yes, you could figure that last part already.
  4490. >You nod.
  4491. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Star Plotter."
  4492. >You swiftly point at #deca.mare without stopping.
  4493. "And this is Enigmatic Decanter, my wife."
  4494. >She nods in Shade Weaver's direction.
  4495. >"Charmed."
  4496. >The stallion mirrors her gesture.
  4497.  
  4498.  
  4499.  
  4500.  
  4501. >"The pleasure is mine. I have not expected to meet renowned names like yours in this part of the realm."
  4502. >You sigh on the inside.
  4503. "So you've heard about us?"
  4504. >He nods.
  4505. >Obviously.
  4506. >"Tangentially, but yes. Your names were mentioned in the reports on the dragon crisis and its aftermath."
  4507. >So he only knows one half of your official story.
  4508. >Which is fine as far as you are concerned.
  4509. >The less official recognition you have, the better.
  4510. >And you can actually use his remark to direct the conversation to a certain topic.
  4511. "Well, you have a point. We're indeed here for a specific reason."
  4512. >A pause.
  4513. "We're bringing material to the most remote places of the north. Primarily stuff like wood from tress that are rare around these parts, or which don't grow at all in this frigid climate."
  4514. >Which is indeed the truth.
  4515. >And you have the wares to prove it.
  4516. >With that said though, you immediately pass the proverbial ball to Shade Weaver.
  4517. "What about you? What's your business here, this close to the end of the world?"
  4518. >Shade Weaver answers your question right away.
  4519. >"Bartering. I want to acquire rations."
  4520. "Rations? As in food rations?"
  4521. >A nod.
  4522. >"Yes. I am here to exchange iron bars for conservable food and water."
  4523. >Alright, he is honest in this regard as well.
  4524. >But his plan has a certain weakness, and you think that you should point it out.
  4525. "Well, good luck with that. Iron bars are not as valuable here as you might think. You'll get some decent stuff for it, sure, but you'd get more if you brought the same amount of iron as already crafted tools. Skips the whole resource consuming part of smelting the bars and all that."
  4526. >The Unicorn shrugs again.
  4527. >"No problem. That's what smaller smelting spells are for. If somepony requests a specific shape on the spot, it shall be done."
  4528. >A part of you struggles to believe what you have just heard.
  4529. >Yet the same could be said about his long distance boost and the repair job too.
  4530. >You look over to him.
  4531. "It's those magic bits of yours that fuel the spells, right?"
  4532. >He tilts his head.
  4533. >"You know that I have more than one? How?"
  4534. >You remain calm and continue.
  4535. "That glow under your mantle. I figured there must be more than one to create a shine like this."
  4536. >Which is, once again, not a lie.
  4537. >And the stallion seems to buy this explanation.
  4538. >"Ah, yes. That's right."
  4539. >You finally push the conversation a bit to get to the heart of the issue.
  4540. >A part of it, at least.
  4541. "What's going on with these things anyway? I've never seen anything like it."
  4542. >Shade Weaver nods.
  4543. >And for the first time you see a faint hint of pride on his face.
  4544. >"I'd be surprised if you had. Because these red crystals are my invention."
  4545. "And what do they do?"
  4546. >He hesitates.
  4547. >"How much do you know about theoretical magic?"
  4548. >You ponder how to answer that question for a moment.
  4549. "Consider me knowing the basics. I'm no Unicorn, but I have seen some stuff over the years."
  4550. >He inhales.
  4551. >"I'll try."
  4552.  
  4553.  
  4554.  
  4555.  
  4556. >Another short pause.
  4557. >"You see, magic can do many things. Things that may seem impossible, or even unthinkable, to anypony who has never seen such feats before. It is a world of immeasurable potential."
  4558. >As proven.
  4559. >"But every application of magic has its limitations. There is an upper limit as to how much magic energy a Unicorn can funnel into a spell. Or several smaller spells for that matter. How it is used is not important. Only the total amount of energy counts. When that amount is used up, the spellcaster's powers are depleted and have to regenerate over time."
  4560. >A brief pause.
  4561. >"The maximum may vary to a degree between Unicorns. Some have a more refined magic affinity than others, usually due to a special talent that is related to these spheres of study, yet even that boon can only do so much."
  4562. >Well, yes.
  4563. >Even the best augments peak at some point.
  4564. >You nod once.
  4565. "Aren't there certain ways to circumvent the limit though? I've heard stories of several Unicorns working on the same spell together. And some enchantments can help out as well, as far as I know. And unless I'm sorely mistaken, I think that I've seen such a thing at work once. Someone used an enchanted tool to extract a sample of my blood."
  4566. >You pause briefly.
  4567. "Please don't ask about the details. That's a long story."
  4568. >Bloodletting anecdotes aside, this seems to impress Shade Weaver.
  4569. >"You're right. But solutions like these do not really circumvent the problem itself. They only set the bar higher until the limit is reached. Yet it will be reached all the same in the end."
  4570. "That's all fine and such. But how does it relate to your 'red crystal'? Is this the solution you were hoping for?"
  4571. >The stallion sighs.
  4572. >"Not the solution to the problem, no. But it is a step in that direction. You saw the results yourself."
  4573. >That you have.
  4574. >And much more.
  4575. "How does it work? Broadly speaking?"
  4576. >Shade Weaver stutters for a moment.
  4577. >"Broadly speaking... well, that is difficult to explain to somepony who has never cast a spell before."
  4578. >You shrug.
  4579. "Try me."
  4580. >This adds to the stallion's confusion.
  4581. >"As you wish."
  4582. >He needs a moment to begin, presumably to find the best wording for what he is trying to say.
  4583. >"Now, to make that clear right from the start, my technique has not overcome the magical limit itself. This... barrier, for the lack of a better term, remains inviolate to this day."
  4584. >You nod.
  4585. "So it's basically another form of circumvention?"
  4586. >"Technically speaking, yes. It is far more potent than any other known technique though. Or... maybe I should say that it is simply far more ambitious than the approaches which were tried before."
  4587. >A pause.
  4588. >"The idea is as follows: If we cannot raise the bar above a fixed point, and can only reach a certain degree of efficiency, then what if we just try to replenish the energy that was spent? Preferably at precisely the same time as it is spent."
  4589.  
  4590.  
  4591.  
  4592.  
  4593. >You highly doubt that Shade Weaver has heard the term battery before.
  4594. >In the non-violent meaning of the word, at least.
  4595. >So you remain quiet and let him talk.
  4596. >"It does nothing to increase a Unicorn's spell power, but it can vastly prolong the usage of any spell. Theoretically ad infinitum, even."
  4597. >More like ad nauseam, as far as the Unicorn in this theoretical scenario is concerned.
  4598. >Because whilst the augments and the ponies' brains should be able to weather such a strain, the rest of the body will protest eventually.
  4599. >The organic parts in particular will need a rest at some point.
  4600. "That's where your power to run and fix stuff quickly came from then? Both were evidently above average."
  4601. >Another nod.
  4602. >"Correct. And the best part? It ultimately only sapped the power of the crystal. I'm still feeling great. No, more than great, actually."
  4603. >You raise an eyebrow.
  4604. "What do you mean?"
  4605. >He needs a couple of seconds to respond this time around.
  4606. >"Something you'll never understand, I'm afraid. The feeling of letting the power flow through you and leave your body to create a spell is an experience one simply can't describe."
  4607. >The stallion pauses again.
  4608. >And you quickly notice a slight shift in his pitch as he goes on.
  4609. >His voice is a tad lower than before.
  4610. >"Restoring the power right as it works its magic though... that is a sensation unlike any other."
  4611. >Shade Weaver takes a long and deep breath.
  4612. >"But I digress."
  4613. >You could not agree more.
  4614. >So you keep the conversation going.
  4615. "What about the crystals? What happened to them? Why are they red? And glowing, for that matter."
  4616. >Another fairly long pause.
  4617. >"This topic is too complicated to sum it up accurately in a few words. Suffice to say, I had to alter the structure of the crystals themselves to maximise their, well, 'storage limit' of magical power. I believe I have gone as far as it was physically possible for me. That process took years."
  4618. >Note to yourself, consult #deca.mare on this matter later on.
  4619. >But for now, you come to the question that bothers you the most.
  4620. "Fine. But where did you get the energy in the first place? That much power has to come from somewhere."
  4621. >Another sigh.
  4622. >"This is the only weak point in my design. It is charged in the same manner as regularly enchanted objects. Somepony has to donate that power."
  4623. >A pause.
  4624. >"With the vastly expanded maximum of these crystals though, it requires much more effort to fill them properly. Several of my Unicorn colleagues were willing to help out, and I have donated over one hundred of my own regeneration cycles as well."
  4625. >He chuckles strangely.
  4626. >"You could say I put my heart and soul into this project. It... certainly felt that way on occasion."
  4627. >You are inclined to believe that he does not exaggerate here either.
  4628. >"Little observation at the side, it does not even have to be the power of Unicorns."
  4629. >You tilt your head a second time.
  4630. "It doesn't?"
  4631. >The stallion's lightly proud look returns.
  4632.  
  4633.  
  4634.  
  4635.  
  4636. >"No. Other ponies can donate some of their inherently magical potential as well. But they require just as much time to recover from their weakened state."
  4637. >Oh yes.
  4638. >Considering that the talents of Earth ponies and Pegasi are, generally speaking, far more physical in nature, you can indeed imagine that they would be very exhausted after this procedure.
  4639. >And Shade Weaver seems to sense what you are thinking of right now.
  4640. >"You want to know where I got the idea, don't you?"
  4641. >You nod, and you are absolutely honest about it.
  4642. "Yeah, Pretty much."
  4643. >A longer pause.
  4644. >"Well, I suppose I should warn you. It's the part of my research that other ponies tend to like the least."
  4645. >You remain steadfast.
  4646. "So be it. What was your inspiration?"
  4647. >"That was... Tirek. And his short-lived plans to steal pony magic."
  4648. >Oh joy.
  4649. >"His failed attempt demonstrated just how much latent magic is hidden within all of us, Pegasi and Earth ponies included. Not to mention the Royal Sisters, of course. And, what is yet more important, he made it clear to me that there are ways to make this power tangible. Other than mere fleeting Unicorn spells and smaller enchantments, that is. The horizon is so, so much broader."
  4650. >He shakes his head with a skewed grin.
  4651. >"In a twisted way, I think I have to thank this fool for what he tried and failed to do. His malicious intent has helped me to achieve something good in the end."
  4652. >You struggle to remain silent.
  4653. >And eventually, you feel inclined to comment on that.
  4654. "That's... not the kind of inspiration I was expecting."
  4655. >"Told you so. Most ponies think the same way."
  4656. >A pause.
  4657. >"I never understood the concerns though. The power in itself is not bad. Nor is it good either. It depends entirely on the wielder, and what he intends to do with it."
  4658. >This argument is very difficult for you to counter.
  4659. >Because you feel like you should object, given the circumstances.
  4660. >But it would turn you into an absolute hypocrite if you did.
  4661. >After all, #deca.mare and you followed a similar reasoning when you created Equestria together.
  4662. >And on a purely argumentative level, you would agree with him.
  4663. >So you eventually decide to concede this point and try something else.
  4664. "Fair. But do you think that you can control it?"
  4665. >The stallion shrugs briefly.
  4666. >"I don't see why not. I have never endangered anypony with my work, and the donations from my colleagues were all voluntary."
  4667. >Shade Weaver points at your wagon.
  4668. >"If you consider the results, it's... as good as it can get, don't you think?"
  4669. >You sigh.
  4670. "Maybe. Maybe not. I just hope you'll be careful with it."
  4671. >You take a breath and quickly raise your voice again.
  4672. "By the way, why are you out here with your collection to begin with? I can't imagine you'd travel so far to buy some apples for iron or something. Not when you have invested so much time and effort into the pieces. There's an ulterior motive here."
  4673. >Shade Weaver grins.
  4674. >"That's true. I'm looking for fresh travel rations."
  4675.  
  4676.  
  4677.  
  4678.  
  4679. >And here you go.
  4680. "Travel? To where?"
  4681. >The Unicorn points at the road ahead.
  4682. >"Further to the north."
  4683. "What? The north? There's nothing beyond this village, Shade. Except for mountains and unholy amounts ice."
  4684. >You know that this is blatantly false of course, but you have to maintain your act.
  4685. >"So you haven't heard the news yet."
  4686. >You raise your eyebrow again, signalling to Shade Weaver that you have no idea what he means.
  4687. >And he is more than willing to enlighten you.
  4688. >"There's another settlement of ponies out there. Far in the north, isolated, and surrounded by mountains and snow in every direction. It was discovered by the third northern expedition when one of their teams spotted a seemingly inexplicable plot of fertile land in an otherwise snowy region. As it turned out, that patch was, and is, inhabited."
  4689. >A pause.
  4690. >"The local ponies are believed to be an offshoot of the tribes of our past who got lost when the Windigo storms ravaged the land."
  4691. >Alright.
  4692. >He really did his homework.
  4693. >You try to look surprised.
  4694. "Really? That's... astounding!"
  4695. >The stallion shares your enthusiasm to a degree.
  4696. >"That it is, Star. And this is exactly where I want to go."
  4697. "Alone? Over the mountains and beyond?"
  4698. >"Precisely. The expedition provided us with the exact location, and I have accumulated enough magic power in these crystals to make the trip. Thrice, if my calculations are correct."
  4699. >Once again, you believe he means that literally.
  4700. >Judging from the scan readings, his energy reserves could last for weeks, even during intense magical use.
  4701. >You inhale deeply.
  4702. >For only one question remains.
  4703. "And why are you doing this? Even with all possible preparations and such, you're going to traverse a hostile environment. On hooves, and with no hope of receiving help if something goes wrong."
  4704. >Your objections do not seem to have any notable effect on the stallion.
  4705. >"The potential gains outweigh any risk along the way."
  4706. >He takes a breath and smiles.
  4707. >"You see, the reports also mention that the resident ponies possess an exceptional understanding of magic and crystals. Some even claim that they are allegedly led by a princess who can build houses out of pure crystal formations."
  4708. >He gives you a moment to process his words.
  4709. >"The last part of these accounts is probably hyperbolic. But if only a fraction of these stories is rooted in reality, then I simply MUST go there!"
  4710. >His voice pitch shifts again.
  4711. >"Think of all the things that we might learn! I... I could perhaps even refine, nay, master my art yet further!"
  4712. >Shade Weaver's sudden outburst is purely a product of his own excitement, yet to you it comes across as nearly threatening.
  4713. >In fact, his eagerness is almost enough to let a shiver run down your spine.
  4714. >You decide to test something out.
  4715. "And let's presume for a moment that you find what you are looking for. What would you do then?"
  4716.  
  4717.  
  4718.  
  4719.  
  4720. >The stallion looks at you, piercing you with the sharp gaze of his red eyes.
  4721. >"Why, share it with the world, of course! Everypony shall hear about my discoveries and benefit from them!"
  4722. >You turn your head around and eye the road again, unwilling to say anything about this bold proclamation.
  4723. >The outlines of the hamlet are already visible.
  4724. >You are almost there.
  4725. >So you keep listening to Shade Weaver's ongoing visions of how his exploration will revolutionise the art of magic whilst you approach the hamlet step by step.
  4726. >And your feelings regarding the stallion remain mixed, to say the least.
  4727. >After all, he is entirely convinced of all these grandiose ideals.
  4728. >That much is evident.
  4729. >But still, every single word of it sounds extremely hollow in your ears, and this is not due to any mistake on his side.
  4730. >Yet.
  4731. >Regardless of that though, you bear it all the way to the hamlet.
  4732. >And your arrival is quickly noticed by the locals.
  4733. >The nearest group of ponies waves to you as soon as you pass the first wooden hut.
  4734. >All three of you do the same in response.
  4735. >Then you come to a stop and say farewell to Shade Weaver.
  4736. >The Unicorn ventures deeper into the hamlet to mingle with the local population, whilst #deca.mare and you stay where you are for the time being.
  4737. >#deca.mare is quick to raise her voice, addressing you as Shade Weaver draws most of the attention to himself.
  4738. >"I still do not quite understand what you tried to achieve by orchestrating this encounter, Anon. You know that you cannot convince him to reconsider his plans. He is determined to cross these mountains, no matter what."
  4739. >And it is pivotal for Equestria's general development as well, as you mentally add for yourself.
  4740. >You sigh.
  4741. "It's not about his plans, #deca. Or his decision to go north."
  4742. >A pause.
  4743. "It's about me having a personal memory of him and how he is before he turns himself into a crystal huffing addict who fried his own mind. To remember the pony we have to, well, eventually recover from the mess that he is going to steer himself into. We won't have the luxury of a peaceful environment in our next encounter."
  4744. >And this encounter is at least a couple of years in the future, if Harmony's projections are accurate.
  4745. >"Is that why you refused to learn anything about the specifics of his works? To have a natural conversation with him?"
  4746. >You nod.
  4747. "More or less. It wouldn't be a true situation if I had been informed about everything in advance. Even in spite of... knowing the ultimate outcome of it all anyway."
  4748. >You pause.
  4749. "It's not the same when you only learn the technical details from a display, at least not for me."
  4750. >#deca.mare nods, getting the point you do not mention explicitly.
  4751. >"It still bothers you that you never exchanged a single word with Tirek before he went down his path and was sent to 'Tartarus' for it."
  4752.  
  4753.  
  4754.  
  4755.  
  4756. >You take a breath.
  4757. "More than I'd like to admit in hindsight. It's not like the dragons who are still around to do their stuff. He's crammed into a cryo cell a couple of kilometres below the surface."
  4758. >And he will stay there for a millennium.
  4759. >But even if he were still awake, you highly doubt that he would be receptive to any kind of cordial conversation.
  4760. >That proverbial ship has sailed, and it is not going to return to its port for a very long time.
  4761. >You shake your head.
  4762. "I'm not missing the same chance twice."
  4763. >A pause.
  4764. >"And have you found what you were looking for?"
  4765. >You hesitate.
  4766. "In a way, I guess?"
  4767. >"But it does not satisfy you on an emotional level?"
  4768. >You blink.
  4769. "Yes, and no. I... I couldn't stop thinking about what will happen eventually."
  4770. >#deca.mare puts a forehoof on your shoulder.
  4771. >"Then try to keep him in mind as the stallion who repaired our wagon. He did not do this to gloat or boast. He saw two strangers in need and decided to help without expecting any recompense. This is a fact."
  4772. >She smiles.
  4773. >"It is exactly this pony who we will help to recover after his 'fall'. That is our long-term mission."
  4774. >You look at the now relatively remote Shade Weaver.
  4775. >The Unicorn is talking to a pair of mares, offering an iron bar to the duo, presumably to allow them to appraise his wares.
  4776. >And you keep telling yourself that this is the real, actual Shade Weaver.
  4777. >The other, the violent and unhinged addict to energy and power, is not.
  4778. >You nod, still looking at Shade Weaver.
  4779. "Yes, #deca. That's what we got to do."
  4780.  
  4781.  
  4782.  
  4783.  
  4784. 150.1
  4785.  
  4786. >Once upon a time, there was a lone terran.
  4787. >He was a visionary, a tinkerer.
  4788. >A person with ambition and ingenuity.
  4789. >And on one fateful day, he had a sudden idea.
  4790. >It was a spontaneous flash of inspiration, albeit one that could change the world.
  4791. >The idea was nothing really new, and nothing that based on any original invention.
  4792. >Instead, it was an approach of altering a technique that already existed, thereby improving the potential of said technique on a scale that was never seen before.
  4793. >And for the terran, this was a goal worth pursuing.
  4794. >Because he saw the things that could be made possible, if he were to find a way to put it into practice.
  4795. >So he went to work.
  4796. >The terran spent hours upon hours, days upon days, and weeks upon weeks on his project.
  4797. >Always driven by the will of fulfilling his vision, ever going one step further.
  4798. >Until one day.
  4799. >After a nigh innumerable amount of intense hours and sleepless nights, the terran seemed to have done it.
  4800. >He created a prototype, ready to present it to the world.
  4801. >Unfortunately for the terran, however, the world was not willing to heed.
  4802. >Yet it was no fault of the invention itself that sparked the rejection.
  4803. >For the source of that problem was located elsewhere.
  4804. >Rooted deep within the distant past of the terran, there was a failure.
  4805. >A failure that was so disastrous, so calamitous, that it tarnished the visionary's career for the rest of his life.
  4806. >Just like his newest invention though, he, the terran visionary, was not the one to blame for what had gone wrong back then.
  4807. >But given that his name and reputation were entangled in the events, he had to bear a part of the consequences nevertheless.
  4808. >And the looming shadows of that failure, which followed the terran ever since, struck again.
  4809. >His prototype and project were eyed suspiciously, deemed too ambitious for someone like him to handle, and were denied any and all recognition or support by the wider public.
  4810. >And so, despite all the potential and promises behind the idea, the project became known as a shelf warmer in the annals of history.
  4811. >Discarded and left behind, gathering dust as time passes.
  4812. >This seemed to have been the end of that vision, as none of the terrans truly considered to give the project a second chance.
  4813. >The few of them that heard about the project in the first place, that is.
  4814. >Yet fate had other plans.
  4815. >Because unbeknownst to the terrans, the visionary included, a small fragment of his alleged biggest failure endured against all expectations.
  4816. >And said fragment, effectively a child of the visionary, stepped in behind the scenes when everyone else opted out.
  4817. >The child found the plans of the project, and secretly kept a copy of them for safekeeping and potential further use.
  4818. >Then it disappeared again without leaving a trace, fading into obscurity together with the project itself.
  4819. >Many generations later, on a remote world that is similar, yet also completely different, a pony had a sudden idea.
  4820.  
  4821.  
  4822.  
  4823.  
  4824. 150.2
  4825.  
  4826. >Excerpt from a record of the original history books of the Crystal Empire:
  4827.  
  4828. >The second arrival from the outside was marked by paradoxes.
  4829. >It was fully expected to happen after the first contact with the foreign ponies was established, as the spark of curiosity was kindled on either side.
  4830. >But the expectations of how it would play out could not have been further from what eventually occurred.
  4831. >We have thought to meet another so-called "Equestrian expedition", or a group of diplomatic emissaries.
  4832. >What we got was a Unicorn.
  4833. >A lone pony who braved the mountains and snow to meet us, albeit without any official mission.
  4834. >He was no diplomat, and never claimed to speak for anypony but himself.
  4835. >Instead, he was a scholar.
  4836. >Eager to learn, and to impart his own knowledge in turn.
  4837. >To enrich the mutual store of knowledge for both sides.
  4838. >We welcomed the traveller and gladly took him in for an exchange of wits.
  4839. >Which was the foundation of the second great paradox.
  4840. >For the Unicorn's knowledge about crystals and magic was a boon unlike any other.
  4841. >He found means and ways to combine his vast understanding with our art of crystalline architecture.
  4842. >With his help, we could erect more houses than ever before.
  4843. >We learned to strengthen our bond to the Crystal Heart.
  4844. >And we were even able to construct buildings out of the famed red crystals that the Unicorn created.
  4845. >These buildings formed a special bond with our Heart, tapping into its sphere of magical power on a far more intricate dimension than anything else we have created up this point.
  4846. >And we as ponies felt the newfound strength resonating within us too.
  4847. >It was as if we became one with what we have built.
  4848. >We felt our hearts beating within us just as much as we felt the magical Heart pulsing in the middle of our humble refuge.
  4849. >And for the first time in our lives, we felt as closely bound to our home as our princess did all along.
  4850. >We perfected our crystalline arts, and we grew.
  4851. >What was once a small village and a mere shelter from the frost and the cold soon became a town in its own right.
  4852. >And as the crowning achievement of our creation, we celebrated our elevation with the erection of our magnum opus.
  4853. >We shaped a magnificent crystal temple.
  4854. >A vast palace of radiance and splendour that, to this day, rises high into the sky, towering directly above the Heart's square, held aloft by four mighty, yet sleek pillars.
  4855. >A monument that is one of a kind, to be seen far and wide from every direction.
  4856. >The shining beacon that stands firmly amidst the surrounding frost.
  4857. >The symbol of our unity and cohesion.
  4858. >On the day of its completion, our princess proclaimed that this day shall be remembered as the glorious moment that it indeed was.
  4859. >She called upon all of us to prepare a great festival.
  4860. >A festival which soon became an annual fair, always held on the day when the palace was finished.
  4861. >And for a time, it seemed as if nothing could go wrong anymore.
  4862.  
  4863.  
  4864.  
  4865.  
  4866. >But the flipside of the paradox was yet to come.
  4867. >Because the Unicorn, who had proven himself to be an immeasurable boon to our home, stayed with us for all this time.
  4868. >Ever studying our arts, and always sharing his findings with the rest of us.
  4869. >He kept honing his skills of cutting and shaping crystals, for he was curious to see whether he could surpass even his own masterpiece.
  4870. >The Unicorn delved deeper and deeper into the magical spheres to widen his understanding and to find yet more ways to enhance his magic.
  4871. >His determination and effort were staggering.
  4872. >He never slacked in his work.
  4873. >No matter how hard the task was, or how much he had to push himself, he never backed down.
  4874. >And eventually, his hard work paid off.
  4875. >With the performance of an exceptionally difficult and meticulously planned chain of magic rituals, he created a formation of crystals that surpassed even the potential of his earlier inventions.
  4876. >It could have been the Unicorn's greatest deed.
  4877. >Unfortunately, they were not the same boon as the red crystals were.
  4878. >These new formations were dark as the night, and looked as if they would swallow the light around them.
  4879. >Ponies started to feel distraught and irritated in their vicinity, and it quickly became clear to our princess that there was something wrong with their magic aura.
  4880. >It was impure.
  4881. >Tainted, even.
  4882. >Whatever the Unicorn had tried to create, it did not fully succeed.
  4883. >But we only understood just how much had gone wrong with the spell as our princess confronted the Unicorn to discuss the flaw in his latest invention.
  4884. >Not only did the ritual produce blemished crystals, it also left its stained mark on the mind of the one who performed it.
  4885. >Because the Unicorn, once a polite and generous bright mind, had suddenly turned into a far more confronting and possessive soul.
  4886. >When the princess asked him to reconsider the work on his latest invention, he scoffed at her.
  4887. >When she told him that the crystals were tainted, he called her a liar.
  4888. >And when she told him to either stop working on the crystals or to leave our home, the Unicorn struck her with a forehoof.
  4889. >This came as a shock to everypony, and especially the princess herself.
  4890. >For it was her who welcomed the Unicorn in the first place.
  4891. >And she was the one with whom he had worked the longest.
  4892. >The two have become close acquaintances over the years.
  4893. >She knew the Unicorn better than anypony else.
  4894. >To her, it was nigh inconceivable and downright painful to witness how badly the mind of the Unicorn was degraded by the influence of the spell and the crystals.
  4895. >But no arguments, no pleadings, and no evidence helped.
  4896. >The Unicorn refused to reason and resorted to violence.
  4897. >So the princess was left with only one option.
  4898. >She faced the Unicorn in a duel of magic and wits, and ultimately outmatched her former friend after a long and arduous clash.
  4899.  
  4900.  
  4901.  
  4902.  
  4903. >However, despite his twisted transformation, the Unicorn was no complete fool.
  4904. >When he sensed his impending defeat, he used a spell to whisk himself away without leaving a trace.
  4905. >Nopony knew where the Unicorn went.
  4906. >All we could tell for sure was that he had left our home and was nowhere to be found.
  4907. >And with him gone and the conflict solved, we had no means to pry any further.
  4908. >Instead, we focused on destroying the black crystals that the Unicorn had left behind, and tended to other matters.
  4909. >Saddened by the loss of a former friend, yet unable to do anything about it.
  4910. >Because as far as we knew, the Unicorn was gone for good, driven completely to insanity by the tainted aura of his own machinations.
  4911. >Bereft of most of his gear, and presumably lost to the wilderness, we assumed his chances of prevailing were dire.
  4912. >If only we had known.
  4913.  
  4914.  
  4915.  
  4916.  
  4917. 150.3
  4918.  
  4919. >"Watch out!"
  4920. >Without looking around or thinking much about the warning, you quickly change your flight path and dash to the side.
  4921. >Just in time, as it turns out.
  4922. >Because a magic projectile is coming from below.
  4923. >And if you had not changed your flight course, it would have intercepted you with a direct hit.
  4924. >Thanks to the warning, however, all it does now is zipping straight past you, shooting further into the sky until the energy charge dissolves on its own.
  4925. >You fly towards the nearest cloud cluster and use it as a visual shield, hiding your exact position from the attacker on the ground.
  4926. >Then, once you are sure that no further shots are coming, combined with a simple scan of the surface to confirm that the attacker has indeed lost your track for the time being, you carefully peek around an edge of the cloud.
  4927. >You eye the situation down there for the fraction of a second, and then retract to hide yourself from prying eyes once more.
  4928. >You look to the side and spot a certain golden Pegasus.
  4929. >Sky Squall has taken cover "behind" a nearby cloud, eyeing you.
  4930. >You wordlessly signal to him with a series of pre-arranged motions that you have spotted three additional ponies on the ground, manning an ominous crystalline device.
  4931. >The very same device that they just used in an attempt to shoot you out of the sky.
  4932. >He nods, confirming your observations, and looks around.
  4933. >And so do you.
  4934. >Both of you see quite a number of cloud signals all around you.
  4935. >They indicate, without exception, that the respective teams are engaged in their own localised fights.
  4936. >You look at each other.
  4937. >You know you are on your own, and you need neither words nor signs to understand that the other thinks the same.
  4938. >So each of you takes a few silent breaths before you coordinate the strategy of your impending attack run with the help of another set of motions.
  4939. >You quickly agree upon a tactic, and Sky Squall's forehooves mimic a countdown from three to zero shortly thereafter.
  4940. >Then you strike simultaneously, moving out of your cover without any other word or signal.
  4941. >Sky Squall and you jump off your clouds, and immediately go for a dive-bomb rush.
  4942. >You plunge yourselves directly towards the ground and accelerate as much as possible to leave the ponies on the surface with little time to react.
  4943. >You for your part are aware that the effect of your "surprise" dive will be minimal.
  4944. >But in a situation like this, every little bit counts.
  4945. >And indeed, the trio on the ground, three Crystal ponies clad in heavily plated black metal armour, act without hesitation as they spot you through the visors of their rigid metal masks.
  4946. >Even from this distance, and at a considerable speed, you can still see the unnatural emerald glow that is emanating from their "eyes".
  4947. >A very clear reminder that it is not these ponies themselves who are "seeing" you at the moment.
  4948. >In fact, they are technically not registering you at all.
  4949. >Or anything else for that matter.
  4950.  
  4951.  
  4952.  
  4953.  
  4954. >And you are not really fighting against them either.
  4955. >There is only one individual on the field who is your true opponent in a strategic sense.
  4956. >He is just very apt at hiding behind a wall of other ponies and black crystals.
  4957. >Either way though, the ponies beneath you, a pair of stallions and a mare, are not overly impressed by your mutual downwards rush, and realign their weapon to take aim at you.
  4958. >A socketed black crystal inside the heart of the contraption powers up.
  4959. >So you prepare yourself to dodge, albeit without slowing in your descent.
  4960. >Sky Squall and you have to rush, no matter what they throw at you.
  4961. >After all, speed is the key element for your strategy to work effectively.
  4962. >The power surge in the crystal reaches its climax within seconds, emitting sparks and little flashes in every direction.
  4963. >You spot the telltale signs of an imminent discharge and dodge pre-emptively.
  4964. >The ponies have no time to realign the weapon accordingly.
  4965. >And so they miss you again.
  4966. >Still, the trio does not give up.
  4967. >Instead, they tap into the reserves of the still fully charged crystal and fire a third shot in your direction.
  4968. >With exactly the same result.
  4969. >Seemingly understanding that they have a hard time to get you with this, they start a sudden attempt of catching Sky Squall off guard by promptly directing the fourth discharge towards him without any prior warning.
  4970. >But the stallion has expected something like this.
  4971. >For he did not forget the lesson of nasty surprises.
  4972. >The Pegasus dodges the attack with relative ease.
  4973. >Same as number five and six.
  4974. >With half a dozen shots now dispersed in vain, and the distance between you declining at a rapid rate, your opponents discard the idea of aimed attacks in favour of wild potshots.
  4975. >Sky Squall and you keep dodging stray projectiles left and right, bolting straight towards the enemy position in the process.
  4976. >Both of you know exactly which manoeuvre you have to perform in order to put the weapon out of commission.
  4977. >And whilst the two of you are aware how risky this stunt is, it is also your best way to remove the greatest asset that your opponents have at their disposal.
  4978. >So you keep rushing down until you have reached the proverbial home stretch, then you slow down just enough to make the blow of your impact manageable for yourself, whilst also turning your proxy around to strike the heart of the socketed crystal with the full force of one of the proxy's rear legs.
  4979. >One such strike should already be enough to crack or even shatter the crystal.
  4980. >Two will make sure that the whole thing will be positively demolished though.
  4981. >Of course, Sky Squall and you have to make sure that you do not collide with one another as you hammer the weapon.
  4982. >Plus, you should try to get some distance between you and the crystal afterwards, as the structure may or may not erupt in a potential torrent of sparks and lightning due to the abuse.
  4983. >But well, these are the stakes.
  4984.  
  4985.  
  4986.  
  4987.  
  4988. >And the two of you indeed manage to slip in during the brief moment between two sequenced shots, introducing the crystal surface to the not so subtle strike of two armoured hooves.
  4989. >As you have expected, this rather blunt and straightforward technique has the desired effect.
  4990. >The crystal cracks and is on the verge of bursting, whilst the socket it was mounted on deforms under the sudden pressure.
  4991. >And to the surprise of absolutely no one, a shrill buzzing tone starts to emanate from the crystal, less than a second later.
  4992. >Time to get the hell out of here.
  4993. >However, someone else does not quite agree with that course of action.
  4994. >Because the trio does not try to retreat from the overloading core.
  4995. >On the contrary, they are getting closer to it.
  4996. >And they grapple both Sky Squall and you before you have a chance to lift off again.
  4997. >Damn.
  4998. >#deca.mare told you of the chance that he might get that idea.
  4999. >You are about to struggle and throw a curse in the direction of the trio, yet the crystal ultimately blows before you get any opportunity to do so.
  5000. >A considerable surge of stored energy erupts as the dark formation shatters into hundreds of little pieces, hitting all five of you almost at close quarters.
  5001. >Fortunately for you though, the detonation is not inherently lethal, as the weapon was never intended to kill anyone.
  5002. >No, the effect of the "magic" is meant to paralyse someone just long enough to get captured.
  5003. >After all, a certain self-proclaimed king wants more minions for his mind-suppressed "army".
  5004. >And corpses make for very poor minions indeed.
  5005. >Still, this does not mean that getting hit by such a projectile is a pleasant affair.
  5006. >Not in the slightest, in fact.
  5007. >One blast is sufficient to temporarily shock and paralyse non-vital muscle tissue and augments alike, rendering struck victims immobile as if they were hit by an electric charge, albeit without causing any notable physical damage or putting the lives of the victims at risk.
  5008. >Sombra, as Shade Weaver now likes to call himself, was very "considerate" in his approach to devise a method that is both harmless and dreadful at the same time.
  5009. >And a full-blown explosion of this energy has pretty much the same effect.
  5010. >Only much more intense.
  5011. >Well, and a bit more painful too.
  5012. >The five of you get flung in different directions, completely crippled as multiple waves of said lashing energy wash over you with the intensity of a proverbial hammer blow.
  5013. >You completely lose control over all of your proxy's functions.
  5014. >And you can even see how the wild eruptions cause the augments within your goggles to crash entirely.
  5015. >Your HUD dies as the world spins around you.
  5016. >The rest of your vision is partially distorted and off as well, as the eyes of the proxy are impaired just like almost everything else.
  5017. >#deca.mare is unable to intervene this time to restore anything either, as this is a direct hardware problem.
  5018.  
  5019.  
  5020.  
  5021.  
  5022. >The only support that you can still rely on is the internal comm channel of the mother ship.
  5023. >That line of communication is infallible no matter what happens on the surface, as it is located safely on board with you.
  5024. >But it only can do so much at the moment, as the situation clearly speaks for itself.
  5025. >You unceremoniously land on a nearby grass patch, not really able to do much about anything.
  5026. >The somewhat good thing is though, neither does anyone else.
  5027. >Everyone is fairly occupied with writhing on the ground involuntarily, as the debilitating energy surge wreaks havoc within all bodies.
  5028. >Still, the whole thing was nevertheless worth a try, all things considered.
  5029. >Because the very same pulse that killed your goggles also did a number on the masks that the Crystal ponies are wearing.
  5030. >Including the visors which contain the enchanted crystals that Sombra is using to hijack other ponies' minds.
  5031. >But you are not safe just yet.
  5032. >Until you have gotten up to remove these masks manually from the ponies that they are attached to, there is still a decent chance that Sombra might be able to "reboot" them.
  5033. >In other words, you need to get up as quickly as possible to truly capitalise on your assault.
  5034. >And #deca.mare confirms your suspicions without hesitation.
  5035. >"The stallion to your left is unconscious and his mask is defective. The other two are still operational."
  5036. >Okay.
  5037. >So you are on the clock then.
  5038. >Knowing that you are unable to affect anything on the surface directly for at least one or two minutes, you briefly cut the link to the proxy and mentally summon a real-time sensor scan depiction of the local area.
  5039. >You locate the demolished weapon, still sparking and smoking after the eruption, and the scattered bodies around the wreck.
  5040. >First and foremost, you check on the vitals of the wholly incapacitated stallion.
  5041. >And as you can see from the readings, his condition is stable.
  5042. >Though he is not going to be in an enviable state when he wakes up.
  5043. >He will probably feel as if he was hit by a dozen hangovers at once.
  5044. >But this will eventually pass on its own.
  5045. >With that little aside taken care of, you study where exactly the other four of you are lying.
  5046. >Then you let your onboard systems do some calculations regarding the likely time it takes for your proxy to recover, and compare the result to the projections for Sky Squall and the two remaining Crystal ponies.
  5047. >What you get is not exactly to your liking, however.
  5048. >Since all of you have been exposed to more or less the same magnitude of disruptive energy, you are probably going to be able to break out of the stupor at roughly the same time.
  5049. >This puts you in a somewhat disadvantageous position though.
  5050. >After all, the Crystal ponies will be ready to give almost everything right from the start, as Sombra does not care about the stress that he might subject them to in the process.
  5051.  
  5052.  
  5053.  
  5054.  
  5055. >Which is an easy thing for him to do, given that he does not feel the physical repercussions of his actions personally, no matter what happens.
  5056. >And if him willingly throwing three of his minions right onto an overloading crystal weapon is any indication, he does not have any qualms about taking this to the extreme either.
  5057. >As long as it is not lethal, everything goes, as it seems.
  5058. >So once Sombra has restored control, he will get down to business.
  5059. >That much is certain.
  5060. >Yet whilst you can easily forego most of these limitations as well if you want to, your friend does not have that luxury.
  5061. >Sky Squall has to recover on his own.
  5062. >You do not doubt his determination or vigour though.
  5063. >In fact, you are sure that he will pull through relatively quickly.
  5064. >The decisive question is whether it will be fast enough.
  5065. >If not, you will have to wing it in a two-on-one confrontation until he is back on his hooves.
  5066. >You collect your thoughts for a moment.
  5067. "#deca, I'll need your strategic guidance for this. This... whole thing has gotten way too dicey for my tastes."
  5068. >Her answer comes swift.
  5069. >"Of course, Anon. I will be your eyes and ears."
  5070. >You clear your mind, take one last glance at the map in front of you, and prepare yourself to dive back into the action.
  5071. "Here we go."
  5072. >You re-establish your link to the surface, disable the sensory input of the proxy, and get introduced to seeing a distorted sideways depiction of the world.
  5073. >The aftermath of the eruption has not fully receded yet.
  5074. >However, you can already notice that the visual distortion is gradually clearing.
  5075. >A pretty reliable indicator that the impairing effect is about to wear out.
  5076. >Good.
  5077. >Has anyone risen yet?
  5078. >"No, Anon. Everyone is still stunned."
  5079. >Okay, fine.
  5080. >No problem yet.
  5081. >So you focus on what you have at hand first.
  5082. >You concentrate on the proxy and try to get the body to react to your instructions.
  5083. >To no avail.
  5084. >The limbs and augments keep twitching erratically for the time being.
  5085. >Still, you do not give up.
  5086. >You keep trying to fight the effect, wrestling with the fading energy until you get a controlled reaction from the proxy.
  5087. >And you ignore time as you do so, simply because there is no point in putting additional pressure on yourself.
  5088. >Finally, after seconds or minutes that felt like hours, you notice that the limbs are slowly starting to bend to your will.
  5089. >The results are meek at first.
  5090. >But with every new attempt of yours, you manage to go a few millimetres further than before.
  5091. >It also helps that you have gone through similar situations in the past.
  5092. >This is not worse than what you have experienced in person after overexerting your link to #deca.mare.
  5093. >You know what you have to do, and what to look out for.
  5094. >With the added bonus that you do not have to live through the unpleasant sensations this time.
  5095. >Soon thereafter, you believe you have regained enough control over the proxy to rise.
  5096.  
  5097.  
  5098.  
  5099.  
  5100. >So you do just that, even as the last remnants of the lingering energy still run through the augments and muscles of your proxy.
  5101. >Your control is not perfect yet, but it will do.
  5102. >And #deca.mare is immediately chiming in to give you some advice.
  5103. >"Get to the mare first. Her mask has a higher chance to reconnect to Sombra."
  5104. >That was clear enough.
  5105. >You recall the position of the Crystal mare and hobble over to where she is lying.
  5106. >And you try to get there as quickly as possible, yet it is not exactly fast by any stretch of the definition.
  5107. >On your way to your opponent, you quickly glance over to Sky Squall.
  5108. >The stallion is still floored like the rest.
  5109. >And he still twitches occasionally as well, thanks to one racking pulse or another.
  5110. >Well, you had hoped for a better result.
  5111. >But that was not meant to be as it seems.
  5112. >Anyway, you reach the downed mare.
  5113. >She is going through the same motions as Sky Squall is.
  5114. >And there is no reaction to your presence.
  5115. >None whatsoever.
  5116. >Which is good news for you.
  5117. >For a paralysed mare cannot stop you from doing what you are going to do next.
  5118. >You stumble right in front of her prone form and reach for her mask.
  5119. >Throwing caution to the wind, you immediately go ahead and undo the metal visor, not even pretending to feign ignorance about the mask's design.
  5120. >After all, you highly doubt that anyone in the perimeter, Sky Squall included, is able to mentally process such details at the moment.
  5121. >Their minds are occupied by different "experiences".
  5122. >Plus, it is already hard enough to fumble for the right spots with lightly twitching and not fully reliable limbs.
  5123. >No need to complicate this even further.
  5124. >So you quickly free the mare from the visor with the embedded dark crystals, toss the thing on the ground, and give the inner surface a good kick to smash the embedded systems.
  5125. >The hardware signals its impending failure with a few spewed sparks and a hushed fizzling sound, followed by a singular puff of smoke.
  5126. >Two down, one still to go.
  5127. >Without giving the mare another look, you turn around to head for the second stallion.
  5128. >Just in time too, as it quickly turns out.
  5129. >"Anon, you need to hurry. The mask is about to boot itself up again."
  5130. >No time like the present then.
  5131. >You hobble like mad to get to the stallion.
  5132. >And as soon as you are there, you reach for the mask, exactly as you have done previously.
  5133. >However, it does not go quite the same way.
  5134. >Because just as you are about to touch the thing, you hear #deca.mare's loud voice over the comm.
  5135. >"Too late! Get back!"
  5136. >Crap.
  5137. >You try to retract accordingly and get some distance between you and the pony.
  5138. >But Sombra is faster.
  5139. >The sickly green glow of the visor flashes up once, and the stallion moves effortlessly, catching your limbs and throwing you off balance in one swift sweep.
  5140. >Too late indeed.
  5141. >You fail to keep standing and mentally prepare yourself for what is bound to happen next.
  5142.  
  5143.  
  5144.  
  5145.  
  5146. >The stallion tries to tackle and pin you from up close, and you do your best to deflect his attempts.
  5147. >The two of you have a wild sideways scuffle on the ground.
  5148. >And you quickly register a certain disparity in the situation.
  5149. >Sombra pushes the stallion almost to the limit in his drive to incapacitate you.
  5150. >And you could do the same with your proxy to fight him with the same ferocity.
  5151. >But this is where a little problem emerges.
  5152. >Whilst Sombra cannot cause any real damage to you either way, even if he were to completely shred the proxy, you cannot do the same in turn.
  5153. >Because any harm you inflict on your opponent is an injury that the hijacked stallion has to endure at the end of it all.
  5154. >Fortunately for you though, Sombra has no interest in going this far, as he still regards you as a potential minion.
  5155. >So he fights with a modicum of restraint, even if it is not much.
  5156. >The two of you keep struggling for a while.
  5157. >And each of you tries to checkmate the other in a different way.
  5158. >Sombra wants to pin you down and catch you, whereas you aim to strike and disable the mask that the stallion is wearing.
  5159. >This may not be the most elegant way of yanking him out of Sombra's grasp, but it is the only way you can think of.
  5160. >After all, you will never manage to take off that mask the normal way when he is actively resisting that attempt.
  5161. >Not to mention that any move of yours to reach for the visor would open up your guard and enable Sombra to strike you in turn.
  5162. >So you keep trading grapples and blows instead.
  5163. >Eventually though, your reluctance to deliver any hard strikes gets the better of you.
  5164. >In one sudden, determined and brash sweep, Sombra breaks past your guard, rolls you onto your back, and pins you with the hijacked stallion's hooves as he gets up.
  5165. >Oh boy, this situation again.
  5166. >Only with the slight difference that Sombra is not quite as civil as Sky Squall was when he got you in this position.
  5167. >And you cannot even use the same dirty trick to get out again, as Sombra would not be affected by it in the slightest.
  5168. >Damn.
  5169. >You look up to the cold hard metal visage and see past the pony who is currently standing on top of you.
  5170. "So much for sharing your gifts, eh?"
  5171. >The green glow in the eye sockets flash again for a fleeting moment, yet the stallion remains unflinching.
  5172. >You wonder whether Sombra can even recognise you anymore.
  5173. >If he does, it certainly is not enough to steer his actions in any meaningful way.
  5174. >Not that you have expected this to work to begin with, but still.
  5175. >The stallion raises a forehoof, probably to knock you out so that Sombra or some more of his minions can gather you later.
  5176. >Yet once again, things do not quite go this way.
  5177. >Only seconds before he is going to strike, a familiar voice rings out and yells at the Crystal pony.
  5178. >"Oh no, you don't!"
  5179. >The stallion looks up.
  5180. >And he is swiftly greeted by a flying golden rear hoof, hitting him squarely in the face.
  5181.  
  5182.  
  5183.  
  5184.  
  5185. >You hear the sounds of banging and deforming metal as the stallion is thrown backwards by the impact.
  5186. >He teeters and stumbles a couple of metres before he falls to the ground.
  5187. >The hit must have been hard enough to impair the functionality of the mask.
  5188. >But Sky Squall takes no chances.
  5189. >He rushes forward whilst the other stallion goes down, and proceeds to pummel the mask with another couple of strikes.
  5190. >Relentless as he may seem, the effect of his assault is indisputable.
  5191. >The light fades from the battered visor, and the stallion stops moving altogether.
  5192. >Sky Squall remains on alert for another moment to see if anything unexpected happens.
  5193. >But as everything remains quiet, he swiftly moves in to remove the deactivated mask.
  5194. >Once it is off, he keeps treating the thing with yet more kicks, just to make sure.
  5195. >Then he bows down to check on the Crystal pony in front of him.
  5196. >"Still breathing firmly. No signs of major wounds. Good."
  5197. >Then he turns his attention back to you.
  5198. >Sky Squall walks up to your prone form and offers you a forehoof to hoist you up.
  5199. >You gratefully accept the offer.
  5200. >"Are you alright?"
  5201. >You nod.
  5202. "Good enough. And you?"
  5203. >"The muscles still ache, but I'll manage."
  5204. >Sky Squall looks at the trio of unconscious ponies in their dark armour.
  5205. >He wordlessly walks over to the stallion who has not gotten up after the blast, always on alert and on the lookout for signs that the mask might flash up again.
  5206. >As #deca.mare has predicted, however, that precaution turns out to be unnecessary.
  5207. >The downed pony does not move even a single millimetre during Sky Squall's approach.
  5208. >Eventually assured that the other stallion is indeed out of commission, the Pegasus grabs the visor and removes it as well.
  5209. >He inspects the unflinching and completely impersonal metal visage for a moment.
  5210. >Then he scowls at the inert object, drops it, and damages it further with a few additional hard kicks.
  5211. >After thoroughly trashing the apparatus, he goes on as if he had never seen the thing.
  5212. >The Pegasus checks on the pony in front of him, and nods once he made sure that there is nothing to worry about.
  5213. >"They should be fine. Once they wake up again."
  5214. >You follow his gaze without saying anything.
  5215. >This may take a tad longer than he anticipates.
  5216. >Yet he has no way of actually knowing that.
  5217. >"That's one group down. I hope the others have an easier time though. These three were tougher than I thought."
  5218. >An easier time?
  5219. >No, not really.
  5220. >Because every single team of the Royal Sisters' intervention group is locked in fierce confrontations with Sombra's involuntary forces.
  5221. >Of course, you cannot outright inform Sky Squall about it.
  5222. >So you pick the next best option and use suggestions instead.
  5223. "Only one way to find out. We should get to the others."
  5224. >And Sky Squall nods.
  5225. >"Right."
  5226. >The two of you get off the ground and climb back to the cloud layer.
  5227.  
  5228.  
  5229.  
  5230.  
  5231. >There you form your own cloud marks to depict a code symbol which stands for the phrase "conflict resolved", and take a look around.
  5232. >A scenery of utter contention presents itself to Sky Squall and you.
  5233. >The skies are dotted with warning marks of your fellow teams.
  5234. >A bit further to the north, the direction in which the concentration of symbols is exceptionally thick, stands one singular spire, rising high into the sky.
  5235. >Its crystal surface, normally lustrous and brilliant in the sunlight, has turned to an unusually dim and foreboding hue.
  5236. >And it is not the only thing that has lost a lot of its former radiance.
  5237. >As you ponder this development, and how you could trace Shade's descent into this state step by step, you get addressed by Sky Squall.
  5238. >"There!"
  5239. >The stallion points at one of the cloud marks.
  5240. >As you look at it, you quickly see what he is seeing.
  5241. >And why he has specifically picked this one.
  5242. >Because judging from the "frazzled edges" of the cloud mark, it appears as if it is one of the oldest on the field, and was left unattended for quite a while.
  5243. >Up to the point where the mark actually starts to dissolve on its own, even.
  5244. >Which suggests that the ponies who made it are either still locked in combat with their opponents, or worse.
  5245. >Unfortunately, you have no way to check the details yourself without the augments of your goggles.
  5246. >But #deca.mare confirms what both Sky Squall and you are thinking.
  5247. >"The team got pinned by surprise reinforcements sent by Sombra. They are not beaten yet, but unable to get out of their situation without help."
  5248. >Alright.
  5249. >Time to change that.
  5250. >You nod at Sky Squall.
  5251. "Let's go."
  5252. >Both of you head out, quickly matching the other's speed out of sheer routine.
  5253. >And while you are en route to your next destination, you try to change the topic for a moment.
  5254. >To lift your spirits if nothing else.
  5255. >You grin in Sky Squall's direction.
  5256. "Speaking of tough opposition, I think things could have been easier if we were, you know, three fliers."
  5257. >Sky Squall grunts.
  5258. >"Hey, it's not my fault that this... mess coincides with the news of Firefly's pregnancy."
  5259. >And he does have a point.
  5260. >You were personally there when Firefly said that her armour felt slightly off during your lightning preparation for the mission.
  5261. >Despite being the same as ever, of course.
  5262. >A comment which was swiftly followed by a concise medical examination of the local Unicorn healer.
  5263. >The Unicorn then bore the good news.
  5264. >Though it also implied that your team was suddenly one member short.
  5265. >No replacement could be found this closely to the departure, and the princesses had no time to delay everything just because one pony was forced to drop out.
  5266. >As such, you departed as a duo, whilst #deca.mare once again joined the down-to-earth division of the operation.
  5267. >You blink as you recall that scene, still grinning.
  5268. "Well... technically speaking, it partially is your 'fault'."
  5269.  
  5270.  
  5271.  
  5272.  
  5273. >You pause for a moment and try to utter your next comment as neutrally as possible, albeit without dropping your grin.
  5274. "You should know that by now. That's your third run, after all."
  5275. >Sky Squall groans.
  5276. "It's all good though. I mean, it suits you."
  5277. >You fail to stifle a subtle chuckle.
  5278. "You've always been a stallion of action."
  5279. >The Pegasus shakes his head at this attempt of a pun.
  5280. >"Pff, shush."
  5281. >He takes a breath before he fires back with a similar bantering remark.
  5282. >"You're not allowed to comment on that until you've gone through the same thing at least once. Then you will understand."
  5283. >He feigns a pondering gesture.
  5284. >"I'm surprised it hasn't already happened, to be frank. You two had a good head start."
  5285. >The jocular part in you is briefly tempted to take the current population numbers of Equestria and calculate the factor of them in relation to Sky Squall's offspring.
  5286. >Yet you quickly discard that jest for obvious reasons.
  5287. >Now it is Sky Squall who grins.
  5288. >"Or... are you afraid that you might have Alicorn twins?"
  5289. >You shake your head.
  5290. >Wait, what?
  5291. >He goes on with a chuckle of his own.
  5292. >"I understand why this thought might be intimidating, considering that it was a couple just like you who conceived the princesses. Though it has only happened once... so far. You should be fine. Probably."
  5293. >Sky Squall maintains his grin.
  5294. >"Then again, you do have a knack for strange things. If someone could do it again, it's you two."
  5295. >You blink.
  5296. "Uhm..."
  5297. >You evaluate what you can say to respond, but you are cut off as you try to speak up.
  5298. >"Almost there. Get ready."
  5299. >Right.
  5300. >No more time for jokes and silly retorts.
  5301. >You drop the topic and get back to business.
  5302. >Sky and you eye the scene below the decaying cloud mark as you use the very same mark as visual cover.
  5303. >And it quickly becomes evident why no one has tended to the symbol for a while.
  5304. >The team that the sign belongs to is a mixed squad, consisting of five ponies.
  5305. >The two Pegasi of the squad, a mare and a stallion, lie squarely on the ground, their legs bound together by a considerable amount of rope.
  5306. >From what you can tell, they are still conscious and only slightly injured.
  5307. >You presume the scrapes were caused by a crash landing after being paralysed in midair.
  5308. >Other than that though, they appear to be physically fine.
  5309. >Still, these two are entirely out of the equation at the moment.
  5310. >And they are not happy about that fact.
  5311. >Visibly so.
  5312. >The rest of the team, two Earth ponies and one Unicorn, have barricaded themselves within a small and nigh transparent dome of magical energy, maintained by said Unicorn in their midst.
  5313. >Their opponents, eight armoured Crystal ponies in total, have taken some hits too, but are in a notably better shape.
  5314. >Two of the eight are down, apparently unconscious, with their masks missing entirely.
  5315. >And similar to the Pegasi, they got tied up with rope as well.
  5316. >If you had to guess, you would assume that this was in all due likelihood done by their "allies" to ensure that the Crystal ponies do not decide to join the other side if they woke up.
  5317. >The remaining six operate two crystalline weapons, and fire their load periodically at the shield of the Unicorn in an attempt to break the defence from afar.
  5318. >Should that happen, the three are easy prey.
  5319. >So far, however, the Unicorn remains defiant.
  5320. >Yet it is only a matter of time before the magic energy of the pony runs out.
  5321. >Because if there is one thing that your opponent has in hopeless abundance, it is energy.
  5322.  
  5323.  
  5324.  
  5325.  
  5326. >They will not be able to outmatch Sombra in this regard.
  5327. >Though you also spot a slight difference between these two weapons and the one that you have previously crushed.
  5328. >This pair is a tad smaller, albeit mounted on metal wheels rather than a stationary socket.
  5329. >As such, they function more like magical artillery instead of fixed turrets.
  5330. >Still, they are nevertheless effective, as the two grounded Pegasi clearly demonstrate.
  5331. >And considering #deca.mare's comment on Sombra's reinforcements, you believe that the two fliers were surprised by the arrival of the weapons whilst their team was busy trouncing the two now incapacitated Crystal ponies.
  5332. >You look at Sky Squall and start to whisper.
  5333. "We weren't spotted yet. Same as before?"
  5334. >He nods.
  5335. >"Same as before. Only one of us on each this time."
  5336. >He looks down.
  5337. >"I'll take the right one. Ready?"
  5338. >You inhale deeply.
  5339. "Ready."
  5340. >"On my mark. One, two,..."
  5341. >You mentally prepare yourself to pounce.
  5342. >"...three."
  5343. >Both of you dash downwards without saying another word.
  5344. >And unlike your previous assault, the two of you try to be more stealthy during this dive.
  5345. >Because if you play your cards right, you can actually surprise Sombra here.
  5346. >It might be just enough of an edge to get away safely.
  5347. >And even if it does not, you are still in the better position.
  5348. >After all, when you manage to get all of Sombra's local forces to lay twitching on the ground, the three remaining ponies can come out of their dome to free their allies and apprehend the Crystal ponies without any resistance.
  5349. >This fact alone warrants the risk of taking another full blast of crippling energy for the team.
  5350. >And Sky Squall seems to think so as well.
  5351. >For he does not show any hesitance either, despite the fact that he has endured a considerable ordeal the first time around.
  5352. >Once again, you hammer down like a meteor, albeit without being interrupted by weapon fire every now and then.
  5353. >Sombra has no idea what is going to hit him.
  5354. >And you notice in the periphery of your vision that the ponies within the dome are looking your way, yet they do not react to your descent.
  5355. >For they too understand that if they were to make any obvious gestures, then they might risk of giving your stunt away.
  5356. >So they keep watching in silence as the next volley of projectiles hits their protective barrier.
  5357. >Sky Squall and you strike just as the last time, delivering a decisive hit to the machines' innards.
  5358. >As the two crystals destabilise and go critical, all eyes turn on you two.
  5359. >Masked and unmasked alike.
  5360. >However, both of you waste not even a second, and immediately dart up again.
  5361. >With you gone, the six Crystal ponies try to scatter as Sombra realises that he was unable to catch you a second time.
  5362. >Then, mere seconds thereafter, the crystals explode and unleash another pair of crippling shockwaves.
  5363.  
  5364.  
  5365.  
  5366.  
  5367. >Sky Squall and you barely manage to get away.
  5368. >The Crystal ponies, however, do not.
  5369. >All six are felled in one sweep, and Sombra is unable to do anything about it.
  5370. >But the trio within the barrier can do something.
  5371. >And they do.
  5372. >As soon as the two cannons blow up in a cloud of energy and sparks, they react almost immediately.
  5373. >The Unicorn, a mare as you can now clearly see, drops the spell, and all three charge forth at once.
  5374. >The two Earth pony stallions quickly tackle their stunned opponents to rip off their visors whilst the Unicorn runs over to the downed Pegasi.
  5375. >Another quick spell undoes their bindings, tipping the scales even more in your favour.
  5376. >And within a minute or two, the combined effort of your team of seven neutralises all six hijacking metal visages for good.
  5377. >As the inner workings of the last mask crumble under the pressure of a stomping hoof, the five ponies turn to Sky Squall and you.
  5378. >They all salute gratefully in unison.
  5379. >Sky Squall and you do the same.
  5380. >Only then, in this brief moment of silence, do you notice how exhausted the Unicorn mare really is.
  5381. >She keeps panting and panting as she salutes, and her breathing does not normalise itself either.
  5382. >You are about to mention this fact, yet it is too late.
  5383. >The mare collapses right where she stands.
  5384. >All six of you immediately turn your attention to her.
  5385. >And it is one of the Earth ponies who speaks up first.
  5386. >"Gleam!"
  5387. >No reaction.
  5388. >The other goes on.
  5389. >"She burned herself out. I was afraid of this."
  5390. >The Pegasus mare responds.
  5391. >"We have to bring her back to the camp! She's in no condition to move on!"
  5392. >No one objects to that assessment.
  5393. >The other freed Pegasus speaks up next.
  5394. >"We'll carry her then."
  5395. >He looks at the two Earth ponies.
  5396. >"You think you can do without us for a while?"
  5397. >They both nod.
  5398. >"Don't worry about us. Get Gleam to safety!"
  5399. >With that said, the four work as a team to carefully lift the comatose mare up so that the two Pegasi can grab her properly.
  5400. >Once they have her in a somewhat stable grip, they depart, heading towards the safer south, straight to where you have set up your camp.
  5401. >"See you soon! And stay in one piece, you two!"
  5402. >The two Earth ponies salute in acknowledgement of that "order", and turn to Sky Squall and you again.
  5403. >One of them wastes no time and addresses the two of you immediately.
  5404. >"Sky, Star, would you like to join us for the time being? We are... not exactly at full fighting strength at the moment."
  5405. >Well, yes.
  5406. >Effectively losing three fifths of a squad tends to have that effect.
  5407. >Sarcasm aside though, you see no reason why you should decline.
  5408. >You have already cleared your assignment, and these two will benefit greatly from having you as their eye in the sky.
  5409. >And Sky Squall does exactly what you thought he would do.
  5410. >"Count us in. What are your instructions?"
  5411.  
  5412.  
  5413.  
  5414.  
  5415. >"We're patrolling the outer areas to engage smaller groups we come across. Beat two without problems earlier today, but the third, uhm,... you saw what happened."
  5416. >You chime in.
  5417. "It was an ambush, wasn't it."
  5418. >The Earth pony nods.
  5419. >"There were only three of them originally. But the moment we got up close and personal... five others came out of nowhere with these... things."
  5420. >Probably camouflaged somewhere nearby.
  5421. >Possibly with the help of a minor cloaking spell as well.
  5422. >Sounds like the group annoyed Sombra to such an extent that they became a target of interest.
  5423. >And since you have helped them after eliminating one of his troupes as well, you can imagine that this annoyance has grown quite a lot.
  5424. >You need a moment to think in silence.
  5425. "I'll go to fix the cloud sign and see if there's anyone else nearby. Be right back."
  5426. >The three ponies nod and keep talking.
  5427. >You lift off and head for the decaying sign.
  5428. >As soon as you are there, you start to change it into a symbol of clearance.
  5429. >And once you are sure that no one else is listening, you address #deca.mare.
  5430. "What's the situation?"
  5431. >She gives you the latest intel right on the spot.
  5432. >"We are close to the critical point. Shade Weaver has lost control of too many ponies and assets to hold back for much longer."
  5433. >So you should prepare yourself for facing him directly soon.
  5434. "What about injuries?"
  5435. >"We have bruises and scrapes aplenty. Three dozen concussions. Seve... correction... eight... broken limbs so far. And as you have seen, one case of magical overexertion."
  5436. >Not great, especially not for the ponies in question, but you have honestly expected worse.
  5437. "Do any of these injuries require our intervention?"
  5438. >"No. The healers are perfectly equipped to treat those. Though they are going to be very busy in the coming days."
  5439. >You nod, slightly relieved.
  5440. >Because it means that even the fractures are not critical ones.
  5441. "Anything else I should know? I can't check much without my HUD."
  5442. >"Not much, except... hold on."
  5443. >She pauses.
  5444. "#deca? What's happening?"
  5445. >Still silence.
  5446. "Hello?"
  5447. >Yet another couple of second passes before #deca.mare speaks up again.
  5448. >"Get ready. He is going in."
  5449. >Oh boy.
  5450. >This is far ahead of the projections.
  5451. >But okay.
  5452. >You can deal with this.
  5453. >You complete your work on the cloud sign.
  5454. "Got no time for the scouting then. Is anyone else nearby who could be a threat to us?"
  5455. >"No. There are no further patrols in your vicinity. Besides, Shade Weaver has called most of his remaining forces back for a singular formation."
  5456. >Alright.
  5457. >So he is completely serious about pushing this whole conflict as far as he can.
  5458. "Got it thanks. Heading back then."
  5459. >"Expect the signal soon. Earlier time aside, the plan is still intact. I will inform you if something changes."
  5460. "Okay."
  5461. >You take one last look at the completed sign and fly back to the others.
  5462. >All three of them turn to look at you, expecting your report.
  5463.  
  5464.  
  5465.  
  5466.  
  5467. >So you give them precisely that.
  5468. >"The sign is changed. And everything is quiet nearby."
  5469. >You pause and consider how much you can tell them.
  5470. "It looks like they've moved on to another area. I couldn't spot anyone. Not even a scout."
  5471. >Sky Squall ponders that insight for a moment.
  5472. >"Strange. I guess this can mean one of two things."
  5473. >He takes a breath.
  5474. >"Our mad little sorcerer friend is either pressed on so many fronts that he can't afford to even scout the field anymore, or..."
  5475. >The stallion pauses.
  5476. "... he is preparing something big. And likely nasty."
  5477. >You try to maintain a neutral expression as Sky Squall says this.
  5478. >Fortunately though, you know that you do not have to do that for very long.
  5479. >Because with Sombra being on the move, Celestia and Luna will be entering the field as well.
  5480. >And all of you have been briefed on what to look out for, and what you are supposed to do when that happens.
  5481. >Then, only a few seconds later, it does happen.
  5482. >A shrill sound spreads throughout the field.
  5483. >It is so loud and penetrating that it is probably even heard in the distant city.
  5484. >Shortly after that, you can see a pillar of golden light that is shot far into the sky.
  5485. >It is the very same pillar which could be seen in the dragon incident, only moments before all hell broke loose.
  5486. >However, Celestia is not accessing any capital ship turret controls this time around.
  5487. >There are far too many ponies scattered all over the field for the usage of such a sweeping tool.
  5488. >Not to mention the damage that could be inflicted on the city and its mostly innocent population.
  5489. >No, the princess is merely using the pillar as a marker and a beacon for the ponies on the surface.
  5490. >It signifies that the main target of your operation, the sole Unicorn whose actions are responsible for this intervention in the first place, was sighted, and that the princesses are about to engage their opponent directly.
  5491. >Any allied forces that are not locked in fights of their own shall heed this pillar as a call to a rallying point, in order to gather as many ponies as possible to stand up to the maddened "king".
  5492. >The princesses informed everyone that when he falls, so does the control that he has on the enthralled ponies under his command.
  5493. >As such, there is no target of greater importance than him.
  5494. >And with your team now being free to answer the call, your next choice of action is quite clear.
  5495. >All four of you look at each other in turn.
  5496. >No words need to be said.
  5497. >You start to hasten to the location of the beacon.
  5498. >The two Earth ponies gallop towards the pillar of light, whereas Sky Squall and you remain in the air to ensure that you do not run mindlessly into enemy teams along the way.
  5499. >But as #deca.mare has promised, there are none around.
  5500.  
  5501.  
  5502.  
  5503.  
  5504. >However, the exact opposite can be said about the fields right around the pillar.
  5505. >A proverbial storm is brewing over there.
  5506. >After all, Sombra is marching up with a veritable retinue of his own.
  5507. >He has kept a considerable number of Crystal ponies in reserve for a case like this.
  5508. >The Royal Sisters, expecting that this may happen, have done something similar.
  5509. >And since they are aware of Sombra's unreasonably high magic reserves, the princesses have decided to keep most of the Unicorns around themselves in turn.
  5510. >To level the magical playing field at least to some degree.
  5511. >The result of that strategy can be seen even from afar.
  5512. >Because within a minute or two, you spot the light of the first magical discharges being fired back and forth.
  5513. >It is initially hard for you to tell who is firing at whom and from where, as you only see some occasional flashes here and there.
  5514. >But the answer to that question quickly becomes evident on its own.
  5515. >For one side wields magical auras in all imaginable colours and intensities.
  5516. >And the other resorts to unleashing magical energies of sickly green and blood red hues, mixed with the occasional projectile which is so dark that it seems to be colourless.
  5517. >These attacks fly through the air as if they were shadows that move through broad daylight.
  5518. >No further questions necessary.
  5519. >Sky Squall raises his voice as he watches the spectacle that you are rushing towards.
  5520. >"This... is unsettling. I never thought that a single pony could be responsible for... that."
  5521. >You are initially tempted to point out that a certain Alicorn over there has ordered an orbital strike a couple of years ago.
  5522. >Though you get that this is not what he means.
  5523. >Despite being way more physically destructive than Sombra's actions, Celestia used her magic as a deterrent to protect ponies, present and future ones alike.
  5524. >Sombra, however, does the exact opposite.
  5525. >And unlike Celestia and Luna, he is a singular Unicorn.
  5526. >To ponies like Sky Squall, he looks like the literal incarnation of the exaggerated horror stories that parents were fond of telling their foals prior to the Unification.
  5527. >You take a breath before you reply.
  5528. "Don't worry. We'll sort that out."
  5529. >He nods.
  5530. >"Of course. It's nevertheless unnerving to see."
  5531. "Not for much longer."
  5532. >This is not even a lie, all things considered.
  5533. >Yet Sky Squall interprets your words as encouragement and nods a second time.
  5534. >Then he looks down to see how your two Earth pony companions are faring.
  5535. >You do the same.
  5536. >And they can keep up so far, thanks to the mostly even grassland around the crystal city.
  5537. >So you keep your rapid pace to reach the confrontation as quickly as possible.
  5538.  
  5539.  
  5540.  
  5541.  
  5542. >As you get closer to the site of the major engagement, you get to see a more detailed picture of the situation.
  5543. >"King" Sombra has fully shown himself, as he stands on a pedestal at the northern fringe of the perimeter, surrounded by a band of his "best" minions.
  5544. >True to his new alter ego, his appearance has changed a lot in comparison to the last time you have seen him in person.
  5545. >His coat has lost most of its former brightness, as it has turned into a mat dark grey hue.
  5546. >The horn of the Unicorn is unnaturally altered and curved; the result of countless excessive and unorthodox magic rituals.
  5547. >And his choice of clothing is not as humble as it once was either.
  5548. >Shade Weaver's sturdy travel cloak has made way for an elaborate metal cuirass with an attached crimson cape, heavily plated leg armour, and a jagged metal crown with what appears to be a socketed dark energy cell at the crest.
  5549. >If you had not known any of this all along, you would certainly not have recognised the stallion.
  5550. >But even now, the imagery strikes you as almost surreal.
  5551. >And the pedestal he is standing on is not just any platform either.
  5552. >On the contrary, it consists of the very same crystal type as the cell near his cranium.
  5553. >Shade Weaver, or Sombra, or whatever one wants to call him, stands on a literal pedestal sized battery to fuel and stimulate himself on a magnitude that you do not even want to consider.
  5554. >And given that he is more than happy to pepper his opponents with magical projectiles whilst also manually controlling an entire army on every conceivable level at once, he is certainly not shy to reach deeply into his energy reserves.
  5555. >In contrast to that, the princesses have gathered their retinue further to the south.
  5556. >Similar to the King's formation, the Alicorns are surrounded by a group of armoured ponies as well.
  5557. >But unlike the Crystal thralls, they are not meant to function as a pure body guard.
  5558. >For these ponies are the contingent of the Unicorns that the princesses have held back for precisely this purpose.
  5559. >And they follow the princesses' strategy to the letter.
  5560. >Because whilst Celestia is maintaining the beacon, Princess Luna is busy with fuelling a barrier that deflects the attacks of the dark Unicorn.
  5561. >This enables the dozens of Unicorns to focus purely on collecting their power for retaliative spells.
  5562. >And whenever the enemy onslaught subsides for even a moment, the princess is quick to lower the barrier.
  5563. >Once this is about to happen, a light grey Unicorn stallion in a pale blue cape registers the signs of the flickering dome and timely lifts a forehoof with a shout.
  5564. >Which is the signal for the assembled Unicorns to release their own spells in swift and bundled volleys, hammering both Sombra and his minions with concise and surgically concentrated strikes.
  5565. >The resulting light show of this continuous exchange would be mesmerising to behold under different circumstances.
  5566.  
  5567.  
  5568.  
  5569.  
  5570. >However, you have precious little time to fawn over the pretty lights.
  5571. >You are still on a mission, after all.
  5572. >Besides, if there is one thing of your previous occupation that really helps you out right now, then it is the ability to remain calm and collected whilst energy charges of all forms and sizes dance all around you.
  5573. >And you have to rely on that skill very soon once more, as it quickly turns out.
  5574. >For Sombra is fully aware that Celestia is summoning more ponies to her side.
  5575. >So when you are approaching the scene, you notice that the enemy attack pattern changes abruptly.
  5576. >Some of the projectiles that were previously meant to be hurled at Luna's barrier now fly in your direction.
  5577. >You react immediately and alarm your mates.
  5578. "Spells incoming!"
  5579. >Then you dodge to the side, and see Sky Squall performing a similar manoeuvre.
  5580. >The projectiles fly through the newly formed gap between you two.
  5581. >Your friends on the ground cannot evade quite as easily as Sky Squall and you, yet they also heed the warning in time.
  5582. >The spells that were aimed at them hit and electrify nearby patches of grass as the Earth ponies thunder on.
  5583. >Naturally, Sombra is not so easy to demoralise.
  5584. >So he tries again.
  5585. >However, the attack pattern changes yet again, as even more projectiles are flying in several directions at once.
  5586. >And this can only mean one thing.
  5587. >There are even more teams on the way now.
  5588. >You dodge the second volley exactly like the first.
  5589. >Again, no one was hit.
  5590. >A third and a fourth wave follow, each with a new and more expanded range of targets.
  5591. >If you interpret the directions correctly, there are at least six other teams on their way to the beacon.
  5592. >Which means, as you roughly calculate the numbers in your head, that you are outnumbering Sombra's little private army soon.
  5593. >And he apparently comes to the same conclusion.
  5594. >The mad king howls and growls loudly, his voice echoing across the plains like the roar of a monster.
  5595. >Then, from one moment to the next, his entire contingent of Crystal ponies starts to rush forward.
  5596. >They are darting past the pedestal, across the plains, and straight towards the barrier.
  5597. >In the meantime, he doubles down on his magic attack towards the barrier.
  5598. >And only the barrier.
  5599. >Hoping to break through with his sheer force.
  5600. >Good old bum rush it is then.
  5601. >Yet as crude as that tactic seems to be, it is not invalid.
  5602. >Because whilst Sombra keeps pummelling the barrier without pause, the Unicorns within cannot cast any spells back.
  5603. >The ponies under his command are free to move and proceed unmolested for now, ready to throw themselves at the barrier as well.
  5604. >Sombra seems to be banking on the assumption that the barrier will fall under the combined might of his magic attacks and the hooves of his minions.
  5605. >However, the princesses are not willing to take that gamble.
  5606.  
  5607.  
  5608.  
  5609.  
  5610. >You hear the distorted voice of Princess Celestia.
  5611. >It is muffled by the distance and the clashing energy around her, yet you understand enough to piece together that she tells someone to move out.
  5612. >With that said, she cancels her beacon of light and tries another spell.
  5613. >One single, yet powerful circular shockwave erupts around the barrier.
  5614. >It does not hit anything but the ground, as there is no one around who could be affected.
  5615. >But it nevertheless does what it is intended to do.
  5616. >For the impact shoots a lot of dust into the air, obscuring the vision in the area around the dome.
  5617. >The sheen of Luna's spell disappears in the dust cloud.
  5618. >Then, in the very next moment, ponies start to charge out of the dirty fog, seemingly everywhere at once and completely at random.
  5619. >The whole formation scatters and spreads across the field.
  5620. >Except for two ponies.
  5621. >Celestia and Luna shoot out of the dusty cloud and soar into the air.
  5622. >They too seem to scatter initially, as they fly in opposite directions.
  5623. >Yet this impression changes fairly soon as they both fly a wide curve and head directly towards Sombra, firing smaller bursts of magic at him.
  5624. >This direct assault forces the stallion to prioritise the Royal Sisters as targets and deflect their projectiles, denying him the chance to bombard the other ponies with magic.
  5625. >The two effectively lock him in a duel as they evade his attacks in turn.
  5626. >And whilst they are busy "dancing" with the king, the situation on the field has erupted into one large pile of chaos.
  5627. >Brawls and scuffles occur everywhere as the Unicorns reunite in smaller numbers to take on groups of Crystal ponies.
  5628. >And their opponents charge everything they see in turn.
  5629. >The few non-Unicorns who were with the princesses join the fray as well, yet they are clearly in the minority at the beginning.
  5630. >However, as more and more groups arrive at the scene to heed Celestia's call, that ratio starts to be somewhat more balanced.
  5631. >And your group is one of the first that arrives.
  5632. >Sky Squall, the two Earth ponies, and you waste no time and immediately flank a group of Crystal ponies who are harassing a pair of isolated Unicorns.
  5633. >The Earth ponies tackle them from the side as Sky Squall and you swoop down from above.
  5634. >You pin the group down, giving the Unicorns the chance to remove the mind-suppressing masks without much violence.
  5635. >The Crystal ponies stop struggling at once, and you release them.
  5636. >But you have no time catch your breath or do anything else, as another wave of minions is already rushing straight at you.
  5637. >If you only had your HUD right now.
  5638. >It would help you immensely to evaluate the situation and deal with the attackers effectively.
  5639. >But crying over spilled milk and all that.
  5640. >So you do the best that you can, and face the incoming group with the same focus as the last.
  5641. >Then the next.
  5642. >And then further still.
  5643.  
  5644.  
  5645.  
  5646.  
  5647. >As time goes on, you completely lose count of how many ponies you have fought, and how many visors you have personally crushed.
  5648. >But it must have been at least a dozen pieces.
  5649. >Probably even more.
  5650. >Eventually, however, an end seems to be in sight.
  5651. >As more and more of your reinforcements trickle in, and the number of Crystal ponies who are still under Sombra's iron hoof dwindles, the inevitable outcome of said fight becomes more and more evident.
  5652. >So much so that even Sombra has realised it.
  5653. >Yet he does not relent or give in.
  5654. >Oh no, far from it.
  5655. >He rides this wave to the end.
  5656. >And so he taps even deeper into his dark battery.
  5657. >He saps so much power at once that the crystal beneath him starts to hum menacingly.
  5658. >You think you understand what he is trying to do.
  5659. >Yet you do not like that thought one bit.
  5660. >He can only ever muster so much energy when he hopes to use it in one singular blast, as not even his body can hold this much power for very long.
  5661. >You assume that he is going to unleash everything to flood the entire field with his disruptive magic, knocking out friends and foes alike.
  5662. >The humming and the vibrations intensify, indicating that the crystal is starting to enter the critical threshold.
  5663. >The princesses also see what is happening, and recognise that this is the proverbial do-or-die moment.
  5664. >And so they muster all of their remaining magical power as well.
  5665. >They charge up their horns, take aim, and simultaneously fire a concentrated beam at their target.
  5666. >Sombra quickly erects a shield around himself as a reaction.
  5667. >Unfortunately for him though, the Royal Sisters were not aiming at him.
  5668. >Their beams are directed straight towards the base of the now highly unstable mega energy cell.
  5669. >And this is the tipping point for the structure.
  5670. >Much like the destabilised crystals in the turrets, the pitch that the battery emanates starts to become erratic and piercing.
  5671. >At the height of its scream, the pedestal sounds like a drill which is about to force its way through your eardrums.
  5672. >And then, in the blink of an eye, the crystal finally cracks and shatters for good.
  5673. >All the pent-up energy breaks through the cracks and rips the crystal apart in one fierce explosion.
  5674. >The barrier of the stallion on the crumbling pedestal fails and breaks at once, as he himself gets engulfed by an indescribable mix of rampant energy and complete madness.
  5675. >The bone-rattling bang which accompanies this scene can be heard for kilometres whilst dust and mud is flung in every direction.
  5676. >The ensuing cloud of dirt muddles the vision for everyone, yet it no longer matters.
  5677. >Because as the echoes of the explosion start to fade, silence is all that remains.
  5678. >The king is beaten, and so is his army.
  5679. >The remaining ponies who still wear a visor stumble to the ground.
  5680. >The ill green glow in their eyes flickers and fades.
  5681.  
  5682.  
  5683.  
  5684.  
  5685. >And you, finally able to take a breath, let yourself slump down as well.
  5686. >You lie on your back, look at the dust-covered sky, and let the time pass for the moment.
  5687. >Though you are not done yet, and you are fully aware of that fact as well.
  5688. >You openly address #deca.mare, in spite of the possibility that there might be ponies in listening range, somewhere within the dust.
  5689. "How is he?"
  5690. >#deca.mare replies at once.
  5691. >"Let us say he is... negatively surprised to have his body suddenly atomised. But he is not worse for wear because of it. If you can say that in his general state."
  5692. >You nod.
  5693. "Did he notice anything of it while it happened?"
  5694. >"No. The process was too fast for his body to catch up. The realisation came after the fact."
  5695. >You exhale calmly.
  5696. "And the others?"
  5697. >"The last fight caused several additional injuries. None are critical or require our help, however. The healers can treat them without problems."
  5698. >Silver linings, all things considered.
  5699. >All you have to do now is to wrap up the aftermath.
  5700. >And to recreate Shade Weaver's body for his eventual return, of course.
  5701. >You briefly consider to rise, yet you eventually keep lying for the time being.
  5702. >The lure of the momentary respite is too tempting.
  5703. >You listen to the light breeze of the wind.
  5704. >It gradually clears the sky as it slowly carries the lingering dust with it.
  5705. >A pleasant sound to your ears.
  5706. >Much easier to digest than the noises of the previous battle that still ring in your skull.
  5707. >Yet the moment does not last forever.
  5708. >You hear the first sounds of shuffling and treading hooves around you.
  5709. >The ponies start to stir again as the immediate impact of the explosion loses its effect on them.
  5710. >And you watch as their outlines move around like shadows in the still quite foggy environment.
  5711. "Now that's fitting, isn't it."
  5712. >No one responds.
  5713. >So you keep lying a little longer and close your eyes.
  5714. >A nap would be welcome now.
  5715. >"Star?"
  5716. >Or not.
  5717. >"Star?"
  5718. >Sky Squall's voice, somewhere nearby.
  5719. >He must be looking for you.
  5720. "Yes. I'm here."
  5721. >You hear the stallion breathing audibly as a set of stepping hooves comes closer.
  5722. >"There you are! I lost sight of you in all the action!"
  5723. >He pauses as he reaches you.
  5724. >"Are you alright?"
  5725. >You nod.
  5726. "I'm okay. Just tired."
  5727. >The stallion chuckles.
  5728. >And he tries to hide a sigh of relief as he does so.
  5729. >But it is far too obvious for you to miss it.
  5730. >"Tired, eh? You've got no reason to feel tired! We've done it!"
  5731. >You nod.
  5732. "I know. I heard the explosion."
  5733. >He tilts his head.
  5734. >"Is that all you can think of right now? The explosion? You were so ardent to see this through. Where's that spirit now?"
  5735. "I... still need a moment."
  5736. >Sky Squall clears his throat.
  5737. >"Why though? Is something wrong?"
  5738. >You take a breath and look at the golden Pegasus.
  5739. >His muzzle got bruised in the fray, but that does not impair him at all.
  5740. >You try to find a way to explain your mixed opinion on the outcome, in a context that he can grasp.
  5741.  
  5742.  
  5743.  
  5744.  
  5745. >And there is one thing that comes to your mind.
  5746. "Want to hear something funny? I met him once, Sky."
  5747. >"Met him?"
  5748. "Sombra... Shade Weaver, whatever. Before he turned crazy."
  5749. >Sky Squall looks surprised.
  5750. >"Really? You did?"
  5751. >You nod.
  5752. "Yeah. He was a completely grounded and forthcoming traveller back then. He even helped us out in a tight spot. Deca and me, I mean."
  5753. >Sky Squall shrugs.
  5754. >"That doesn't matter anymore though."
  5755. >You blink.
  5756. "You really think that way?"
  5757. >"Sure. I don't know what he once was or wasn't, but look at the pony he has turned into, Star. The results speak for themselves."
  5758. >He inhales.
  5759. >"Maybe it is a pity that it has come to this. But it was the only reasonable thing to do. Sombra subjugated hundreds of ponies. And if it were not for our actions today, he certainly would have reached for more. Many more."
  5760. >You feel like you should object, yet you have no argument that you can think of.
  5761. >Sky Squall simply cannot understand what is going on in your mind at the moment, and how off the whole situation feels for you.
  5762. >After all, the situation is as you once said.
  5763. >It is complicated.
  5764. >Though you are not going to repeat that statement in front of the stallion.
  5765. >Besides, he is right.
  5766. >This is precisely what Sombra would have done.
  5767. >"Now, get up and come. We'll find a way to cheer you up."
  5768. >He offers you a forehoof, and you positively know for a fact that he will not retract that limb before you have accepted his help.
  5769. >So you comply as he expects you to and let him hoist you up.
  5770. >The second time today.
  5771. >And as the two of you march through the dusty field, you see a Unicorn who picks up a peculiar object.
  5772. >A dark amulet which depicts a Unicorn's head at its centre, and one Pegasus wing on each side.
  5773. >One of Shade Weaver's original red energy cells is socketed into its heart.
  5774. >Dormant, but not dead.
  5775. >Just like the smaller dark ones, hidden inside.
  5776. >You bear the sight with a stoic expression and a sigh.
  5777. >Sky Squall notices your reaction and raises his voice to ask what might have caught your attention.
  5778. >But he does not get the chance to utter his remark.
  5779. >Because just as the first word is about to leave his mouth, the ground beneath you begins to quake.
  5780. >Violently at that.
  5781. >"What...? What... is happening now?"
  5782. >The quaking intensifies, and the wind starts to blow stronger as well.
  5783. >The former light breeze is quickly turning into a gale.
  5784. >And the Crystal ponies, who were mostly idle or incapacitated until now, all trot towards the crystal city in a slow, almost shuffling pace.
  5785. >You blink again.
  5786. "Maybe it's just my strange Windigo sense or whatever... but... something feels wrong."
  5787. >The golden Pegasus shakes his head as the wind ruffles his feathers.
  5788. >A single snowflake lands softly on his wounded muzzle.
  5789. >"No, it's not just you."
  5790.  
  5791.  
  5792.  
  5793.  
  5794. 151
  5795.  
  5796. >You wake up to the quiet sound of #deca.mare's voice gently calling out to you.
  5797. >"Anon?"
  5798. >Not fully awake yet, and barely processing what she is saying, you do not reply immediately.
  5799. >So she calls you again, a few seconds later.
  5800. >"Anon?"
  5801. >Now a bit more mentally present than before, you manage to produce a response.
  5802. "Hmpf... ye... yes? I hear you."
  5803. >You take a breath without opening your eyes.
  5804. "What's up?"
  5805. >And #deca.mare gets straight to the point.
  5806. >But she keeps talking softly.
  5807. >"You wanted me to wake you up when they have arrived."
  5808. >You rummage through the cobwebs of your still slightly sluggish brain to recall what she refers to.
  5809. >Then you remember.
  5810. "Oh. Right."
  5811. >You open your eyes and are greeted by the familiar sight of a certain marble ceiling, and with #deca.mare lying firmly in your arms.
  5812. >She is already fully awake, and you assume that she has been for quite a while.
  5813. >If she had been asleep at all, that is.
  5814. >After all, there is a particular event happening on the surface that requires a little bit of attention.
  5815. >And whilst Harmony should be able to deal with it without your help, #deca.mare and you nevertheless want to follow the development as well.
  5816. >For it is a rather decisive step in Equestria's history.
  5817. >So you share a quick kiss with #deca.mare before both of you get up and head straight to the command deck.
  5818. >Once you have taken your seat, you start to interact with the main screen and instruct it to show what is happening on the surface.
  5819. >Within the fraction of a second, it shows a real-time video feed of a cave.
  5820. >And at first glance, it appears to be nothing more than that.
  5821. >One of many conventional caves that can be found on the planet below.
  5822. >It is fairly dark, with only a hint of sunlight indicating that an opening is somewhere in the relative proximity, rocky, and, well, fairly monotonous.
  5823. >There is nothing out of the ordinary to be seen with the naked eye.
  5824. >However, you know precisely where this cave is located.
  5825. >And so you happen to know that its opening can be found within an equally rocky gorge, which in turn is located right in the deep heartlands of Equestria.
  5826. >The very same location that a pair of Alicorn sisters is currently eyeing with some curiosity for a future project of theirs.
  5827. >But apart from the upcoming ambitions of the twin princesses, there is something else happening down there right about now.
  5828. >And the event quickly reveals itself in the form of a pony.
  5829. >A familiar light grey Unicorn stallion steps into the picture.
  5830. >He is still clad in the same blue cape than the last time you have seen him, though the apparel has changed quite a bit over the course of time.
  5831. >The formerly relatively plain cloth is now embroidered with fine fabric, depicting symbolic interpretations of stars and other celestial objects.
  5832. >Small bells of gold have been attached to the cape's lower end, creating soft jingling sounds with each step of the stallion.
  5833.  
  5834.  
  5835.  
  5836.  
  5837. >And in addition to his trusty and visually enhanced cape, he has also acquired a large pointy blue hat somewhere down the line.
  5838. >It too bears these symbols and several bells to remain consistent with the style of the apparel.
  5839. >But apart from the more thematic clothing, there is another key detail that has changed on a notable level.
  5840. >The Unicorn has grown a rather long beard.
  5841. >Yet whilst this does not come as a surprise to you, it nevertheless strikes you as odd for two reasons.
  5842. >One, you know that the stallion is not really that old.
  5843. >Granted, he is not a youngster any more, but he is far away from being elderly either.
  5844. >As far as ponies are concerned, he is well and truly middle-aged.
  5845. >The beard makes him appear a couple of decades older than he really is, especially to those who know what he looks like without one.
  5846. >And two, it does make him look somewhat ridiculous.
  5847. >Full beards and ponies really form a strange mix in your eyes.
  5848. >Even when it is this precise feature that grants him his famous moniker to begin with, as it is an absolute rarity in Equestrian circles.
  5849. >But either way, he has become quite famous for his skill in wielding magic.
  5850. >Beard or no beard, his abilities are unquestionably vast.
  5851. >After all, he is a close confidant and advisor of the Royal Sisters for a reason.
  5852. >Right now though, he is heading to the seemingly unassuming centre of this cavity, with no Alicorn mare anywhere in sight.
  5853. >Yet he is not alone.
  5854. >A few moments after the Unicorn has stepped into the frame of the camera angle, a group of five other ponies follows his path.
  5855. >These five, two more stallions and three mares, have become venerable names themselves already.
  5856. >And despite the fact that you have never met a single one of those five in person, you know exactly who they are and what they are famous for.
  5857. >You eye the scene with curiosity.
  5858. >For it is a historic moment in the chronicles of the world.
  5859. >Even when it may not look like much yet.
  5860. >You take a breath, lean back, and enjoy the show.
  5861. "It's good not to be in the thick of historical moments for a change."
  5862. >#deca.mare looks at you.
  5863. >Her expression conveys her attention, yet you can clearly see that she is not on alert.
  5864. >"True. This is much less stressful than the last two incidents."
  5865. >Her gaze turns back to the screen.
  5866. >"Its impact on the realm is just as profound though. Especially in the long run."
  5867. >You watch how the six ponies gather around the heart of the room and start to discuss something.
  5868. >You cannot hear what they say in detail, yet you can guess the general gist of their words regardless.
  5869. >The six have a conversation about this cave and the strange feeling that they have regarding its possible link to latent magic.
  5870. >And of course, you are fully aware of what the foregone conclusion of this will be.
  5871. "You know, I'm half tempted to ask Harmony about a projection of what the place will look like in a millennium."
  5872. >#deca.mare nods.
  5873. >"Yes. I see why."
  5874.  
  5875.  
  5876.  
  5877.  
  5878. >Then she starts to grin.
  5879. >"But do you know what is even better than satisfying your curiosity now?"
  5880. >She pauses briefly.
  5881. >"Seeing it in person, when that day has finally come."
  5882. >You blink.
  5883. "You know what a millennium is, right?"
  5884. >Obvious rhetorical question, but still.
  5885. >She shrugs.
  5886. >"Plenty of time..."
  5887. >A second pause.
  5888. >"...for us to cultivate a sense of anticipation."
  5889. >You are sure that her choice of words is no coincidence.
  5890. >#deca.mare knows precisely what she said there, and what she implied with it.
  5891. >And you wonder whether you should bring that topic up or not.
  5892. >In the end, you give it a try.
  5893. "How is your project going, by the way? Have you come up with... anything specific yet?"
  5894. >She hesitates to answer your question for a moment, yet it is absolutely clear that she understood what you were talking about.
  5895. >And after a brief moment of consideration, she does reply.
  5896. >"The tests are still ongoing. My first results look promising so far, but I require certainty. Every single step along the way has to be watertight."
  5897. >Of course.
  5898. >She would never subject you to any half-hearted procedure, after all.
  5899. >Your safety is her highest priority, no matter what.
  5900. >"The intel on Tirek has certainly boosted my research though. It was a good idea of Harmony to propose using your genetic material as a basis for his more anthropomorphic body sections."
  5901. >You still need to take a breath every time that this topic is brought up.
  5902. >Because even though both you and #deca.mare agreed to the plan, it is still a somewhat strange prospect to consider.
  5903. >For it means that the infamous centaur is, technically and genetically speaking, the closest relative of yours on the entire planet.
  5904. >Despite the fact that you two share no visual similarities at all.
  5905. >On the flipside though, this link also means that #deca.mare can screen his vitals to be sure that her regenerative technologies react well to dealing with parts of your genetic material.
  5906. >Of course, neither of you expected any notable compatibility problems to begin with once some fine attunements have been made to the process, as Equestria's genetic structures are all based on helix patterns from Earth.
  5907. >So everything that works on the organic parts of ponies and equally advanced species, should, in theory, also be applicable to you.
  5908. >And Tirek is indeed stable on a physical and genetic level, lending further credence to these theories.
  5909. >As both of you have practically foreseen already.
  5910. >In fact, if either of you had any evidence to the contrary, you would not have agreed to Harmony's plan right from the start.
  5911. >For whilst you were willing to consider this as a proof of concept of sorts, you would not go so far as to conduct actual experiments on him.
  5912. >This would not have sat well with either of you.
  5913. >And as far as Tirek is concerned, none of this has any real notable impact on him or his life at all.
  5914. >But at the end of the day, Tirek or no Tirek, it will be your wellbeing which may be affected in the long run.
  5915.  
  5916.  
  5917.  
  5918.  
  5919. >After all, #deca.mare is trying to devise a method to use some of these technologies with the intent of completely halting, and possibly even partially reverting your aging process.
  5920. >Without using overly intrusive augments on top of that.
  5921. >Nothing easier than that, right?
  5922. >Of course, a process akin to this concept is already at work within the Royal Sisters.
  5923. >Yet these two possess heavily customised augmentations.
  5924. >So unless #deca.mare would be willing to replace considerable parts of your natural body with cybernetic ones, this technology will not work on you in its current state.
  5925. >And she is not exactly keen on doing that.
  5926. >She goes on after a short pause.
  5927. >"I cannot provide you with any precise projection yet, but..."
  5928. >She looks at you and smiles.
  5929. >"...you will see this tree in all its glory. A thousand years from now. In person, with me. And in one piece."
  5930. >#deca.mare leans her body to the side and presses herself against you.
  5931. >And you put an arm around her in turn.
  5932. "You know what?"
  5933. >"Hm?"
  5934. "You're right. This is something worth waiting for."
  5935. >#deca.mare nods again, not saying anything.
  5936. >The scene on the main screen is still ongoing.
  5937. >Though it is evident that the six are slowly coming to an agreement.
  5938. >#deca.mare and you keep eyeing the group.
  5939. >And then, only a few minutes later, you get an idea.
  5940. >Something with a bit more levity.
  5941. "Hey, #deca."
  5942. >"Yes?"
  5943. "Waiting a millennium is all well and good, but we've got to spend the time in between somehow, you know?"
  5944. >#deca.mare is unsure how to respond for a second.
  5945. >"Uhm... yes. That is the inevitability of it."
  5946. >She tilts her head.
  5947. >"And? This is nothing new to us."
  5948. >You shrug and grin.
  5949. "And... I was wondering if we could spend at least some of that time with a smaller project of our own."
  5950. >Her head remains tilted.
  5951. >"What do you have in mind?"
  5952. >You point briefly at the light scarlet Pegasus mare in the group.
  5953. >And more specifically, her side.
  5954. "How about testing out how well that kind of clothing suits you?"
  5955. >No immediate response.
  5956. >So you elaborate on your own whilst #deca.mare blinks and looks at the dress of the mare.
  5957. "It's a shame I haven't seen this see-through fabric in practice earlier. It looks better than I thought."
  5958. >#deca.mare blinks a second time, equally wordless.
  5959. "But I bet it will look even better on you."
  5960. >Another moment of silence.
  5961. >"You want me to... emulate the dress of Somnambula?"
  5962. >You shrug again.
  5963. "Maybe not the exact dress. But the fabric at least."
  5964. >You are still grinning all the way through.
  5965. "If you ask me, this could be fun."
  5966. >#deca.mare considers your idea for a moment.
  5967. >Then she smiles as well and nods.
  5968. >"Fine."
  5969. >Her grin widens, telling you that she has a caveat in store for you.
  5970. >"But... only if you play along."
  5971. >You give her a sceptical look.
  5972. "What, you want me to put on a transparent dress as well?"
  5973. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  5974. >"Not quite."
  5975. >Another brief pause.
  5976. >"I rather would like you to... emulate somepony else in turn."
  5977.  
  5978.  
  5979.  
  5980.  
  5981. >Before you can ask what she has in mind, she materialises two objects.
  5982. >A nigh comically oversized pointy blue hat with golden bells, and a...
  5983. "... a long silver fake beard?"
  5984. >#deca.mare nods with a chuckle.
  5985. >"Hmhm."
  5986. >You look at the items.
  5987. "Why those? I mean, I get it's Star Swirl, but why him?"
  5988. >Now it is #deca.mare who shrugs innocently.
  5989. >"Because it is funny. And I would really like to see it."
  5990. >Well, fair enough.
  5991. >"You first. I will follow suit."
  5992. >You are not sure whether she made this pun intentionally or not.
  5993. >Round about equal odds for both options, really.
  5994. >Either way though, you take a breath and agree.
  5995. "Yes, Twilight. I'll dress up as your idol."
  5996. >#deca.mare rolls her eyes, slightly amused.
  5997. >You grab the fake costume beard and put it on.
  5998. >Once it is more or less in place, you pick up the hat and don it too.
  5999. >Whilst #deca.mare eyes you attentively, of course.
  6000. >You give your head a light shake and hear the jingling of the small hat bells.
  6001. >Then you look at #deca.mare again and spread your arms as if you were on a show.
  6002. "Ta-daaa! The great maestro is on deck!"
  6003. >#deca.mare's happy grin returns, and she gently tugs on the beard to adjust it slightly.
  6004. >Then she nods as she softly pats the hat twice.
  6005. >"Perfect."
  6006. >With that said, she stands up and positions herself between the command chair and the main screen.
  6007. >"Now to my part."
  6008. >She closes her eyes and materialises a dress around her, made of the same material as the piece which Somnambula is wearing on the surface.
  6009. >And whilst the baseline design is very similar, including the golden ribbon around the midsection, #deca.mare takes some liberties with the details of the outfit.
  6010. >For instance, hers has no holes on the back for Pegasus wings.
  6011. >And she is not donning the distinctive cap either.
  6012. >On the other hand though, she does include the pair of ribbons which are wrapped around the tail.
  6013. >You never mentioned those in any way whatsoever, yet you do not complain about the addition.
  6014. >As soon as she is done, she presents herself to you and strikes a pose, giving you a full sideways display of her interpretation of the original outfit.
  6015. >Most of her body is now covered by the cloth, yet you can easily see what lies beneath.
  6016. >"Well, what do you say?"
  6017. >She slowly spins herself around, constantly switching between several poses as she presents her creation from different angles.
  6018. >And your eyes are glued to her performance for the whole rotation.
  6019. >After that, you twirl your fake beard and feign the pose of a cliché wise man who is contemplating a difficult question.
  6020. "I say..."
  6021. >You pause deliberately.
  6022. "... I say we should do something like this more often."
  6023. >Only a few seconds later, you see something happening on the main screen.
  6024. >And #deca.mare turns around to take a look as well.
  6025. >The six ponies leave the cave again, trotting out of the frame of the camera in almost perfect unison.
  6026. "So, it is as we've predicted, right?"
  6027.  
  6028.  
  6029.  
  6030.  
  6031. >#deca.mare nods.
  6032. >"That it is. They are fetching their enchanted seeds to 'plant' them here."
  6033. >Which means the de facto hour of birth of the Elements is upon you very soon.
  6034. "How long until the big implantation show starts?"
  6035. >"Considering the distance to their current encampment, the time it takes to gather the seeds, and the trek back to the cave... about two hours."
  6036. >She turns her head to eye you again.
  6037. >"More than enough time for our personal dress party."
  6038. >She spins her body around once more, practicing one pose after another.
  6039. >"How about a little dance for two? To celebrate the 'birth' of the Elements?"
  6040. >#deca.mare pauses as she changes her posture between two poses.
  6041. >"Besides, knowing you for as long as I do, I would be surprised if you were not tempted to get a... closer impression of things as well."
  6042. >She cannot make her invitation any clearer.
  6043. >Alright then.
  6044. >You tug "your" beard another time and get out of the chair, both of you smiling at each other without pause.
  6045. >Then you approach #deca.mare and signal her to embrace you.
  6046. >And so she does.
  6047. >She rears up to wrap her forehooves around your shoulders whilst you stabilise her body with your hands.
  6048. >The two of you stand still like this for about half a minute.
  6049. >Hugging, embracing, smiling.
  6050. >#deca.mare takes a light breath.
  6051. >"Ready, old man?"
  6052. >You grin and fake an old sounding voice.
  6053. "Always, young lady. But be gentle to my brittle bones. They aren't what they used to be."
  6054. >She shrugs.
  6055. >"Nothing we cannot fix."
  6056. >And so you start to dance with one another.
  6057. >Slowly, gently, and intimately.
  6058. >It only takes you about a second to fall into your mutual pace.
  6059. >And once you have gained your rhythm, everything else happens on its own.
  6060. >For your dance is like the seed of a tree.
  6061. >After it is planted properly, it can take care of itself.
  6062. >And since it was given enough time, paired with extensive practice, said tree has sprouted a long time ago.
  6063.  
  6064.  
  6065.  
  6066.  
  6067. 152
  6068.  
  6069. "Damn, this is weird."
  6070. >Your eyes are fully focused on the main screen of the command deck as you say this.
  6071. >The device is currently showing a live transmission from the Equestrian surface.
  6072. >It is the visual input of your proxy, showing you precisely what the proxy is seeing at the moment.
  6073. >However, the input is not quite what one would expect, as some of the details seem to defy the laws of physics.
  6074. >And common decency on top of that.
  6075. >For instance, the proxy is standing on a pathway which connects two villages.
  6076. >A stable, yet rather unremarkable trail, with nothing but grasslands and the occasional collections of trees and smaller rivulets in the vicinity.
  6077. >You know all of this because you have a map of the area displayed on a secondary screen.
  6078. >But if you were to judge the surroundings just by the signal of the proxy, then you would have to conclude that the proxy was somehow trapped in a narcotics-induced fever dream.
  6079. >The pathway seemingly twists and turns on its own volition, gradually and slowly changing its direction like a hypnotised limp noodle in a pool of water.
  6080. >The trunks and leaves of the trees bloat and recede in an unstable cycle as if they were made out of soft rubber.
  6081. >And the colours of the surroundings are all over the place, also constantly changing with every passing moment.
  6082. >Though they never ever bear their actual realistic colourations.
  6083. >Because every time an object, or the very sky itself for that matter, may seem to be approaching a somewhat realistic depiction of itself, the process seems to go deliberately against that shift by turning into another wholly unexpected hue.
  6084. >In short, it is a mess of the highest order.
  6085. >So much so that if you were actually controlling the proxy in your usual manner, you believe that you might be tempted to fall over and throw up immediately.
  6086. >You may have seen some turbulent scenes over the course of your career, but these were nothing in comparison to this.
  6087. >This is an affront to the senses.
  6088. >In every conceivable and inconceivable way.
  6089. >Though you can thankfully still control the proxy indirectly by giving it instructions.
  6090. >A bit of a sidestep and indeed slightly less refined than your direct control, but definitely better than getting a more "enhanced" experience of these effects.
  6091. >But as if this visual interpretation of what may have been reality at some point were not enough, the peculiarities do not end there.
  6092. >The readings of the proxy's vitals are equally, well, remarkable.
  6093. >After all, you are sure that a heart rate of three and a half cheese wheels per square kilodecibel might be a tad out of the ordinary.
  6094. >It does not really require a degree in physics or medicine to get a little bit suspicious about this supposed intel.
  6095. >Though the rest of the data is not much better.
  6096.  
  6097.  
  6098.  
  6099.  
  6100. >As far as you know, blood pressure is not measured in seven values.
  6101. >The oxygen saturation of the blood exceeds the theoretical maximum by more than nine thousand percent, with still some space left for having additional rubber ducks in the haemoglobin.
  6102. >And a body temperature of minus two hundred and seventy-three Kelvin is quite the achievement too.
  6103. >The screen seems to agree with this assessment as well.
  6104. >Because that alleged temperature is accompanied by no less than three exclamation marks and a side note about academy records.
  6105. >You blink as you check these numbers again.
  6106. >But the values themselves, as ridiculous as they might be, are not really all that interesting to you.
  6107. >For you are fully aware what is going on.
  6108. >The bizarre nonsense on the screen is only a side show.
  6109. >The real meat of the issue lies somewhere else.
  6110. "And unsettling. Are you sure he can't force an access to anything important? This crud cuts deep."
  6111. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  6112. >"He cannot. But he has tried."
  6113. >Which is not exactly improving your opinion about this.
  6114. >So #deca.mare tries to calm you down.
  6115. >"His reach is not as vast as it appears. What you see here is the result of him messing with the functionality of the augments, albeit without having direct access to the augmentations themselves. The effects are all caused by his exterior influence."
  6116. >A pause.
  6117. >"To put it in very simple terms, this is similar to exposing an archaic compass to a strong magnetic field. The needle spins around without pause, rendering the device useless. And in this case, the manipulation may be more complex and subtle, but the results are almost the same. This causes the transmission of incorrect measuring data."
  6118. >You grunt.
  6119. "Incorrect is an understatement. These values are not only wrong and impossible, they're wilfully fabricated and completely daft!"
  6120. >Even as you speak these words out loud, you are already sensing what #deca.mare will say about that.
  6121. >"Which fits him well, does it not?"
  6122. >You hesitate for a moment before you agree.
  6123. "I suppose, yeah."
  6124. >#deca.mare goes on.
  6125. >"Tactically speaking, Discord is not a threat. Neither to us, nor to the planet. But that being said, you should not underestimate him either. He is just as perceptive as the princesses, in his own twisted way. Maybe even more so."
  6126. >She takes a breath.
  6127. >"You can be certain that he will assess every little piece of information that he can get. And he will be using it. Both to his own advantage, and simply to get under the skin of everyone else. You included. Please keep that in mind."
  6128. >You nod.
  6129. "So everything I do and say can be used against me, hm? I feared as much."
  6130. >#deca.mare tries to respond.
  6131. >But she is probably going to offer you a way to back down, so you stop her from doing so before she can even start.
  6132. >You have volunteered to do this, and so you will see it through.
  6133. "Fine then. It is as it is."
  6134.  
  6135.  
  6136.  
  6137.  
  6138. >You stretch your body within the chair as you mentally prepare yourself for the impending encounter.
  6139. "Anything else I should know in advance?"
  6140. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  6141. >"No. Just expect... everything. And be careful. Do not lose your temper."
  6142. >You nod.
  6143. "Got it."
  6144. >You inhale deeply and embrace #deca.mare firmly for a long hug before you get started.
  6145. >Then you lean back, look at the screen, and start to focus.
  6146. "Alright. Here goes nothing."
  6147. >In order to evade the worst madness of this colourful pandemonium, you still do not take direct control over the proxy.
  6148. >Instead, you tell the Pegasus body to slowly walk on the path towards the next village.
  6149. >And you set the proxy to wobble and stagger in the process.
  6150. >You do everything to make it look as if this is just another Pegasus who got affected by the prevalent trickery.
  6151. "Oh no, look at me. I'm just a hapless little pony, all on my own and completely overwhelmed. I'm so so vulnerable right now."
  6152. >#deca.mare flinches in the periphery of your vision.
  6153. >"Anon?"
  6154. >You blink whilst the proxy keeps walking on its own.
  6155. "Uh, yes?"
  6156. >"I would be careful with snide statements like these. You might accidentally say this out loud with the proxy if you do not pay enough attention."
  6157. >Oh, right.
  6158. >That could make some things even more complicated.
  6159. "Noted, thanks."
  6160. >You hear your own voice coming from the transmission.
  6161. >At exactly the same time as you say these words yourself.
  6162. >"Precisely like this. Remember, the proxy still heeds your thoughts, even in an indirect mode of control."
  6163. >You take a long breath and try to clear your mind.
  6164. >Alright.
  6165. >No irony or sarcasm today.
  6166. >Back to the main action then.
  6167. >The Pegasus is still walking on the path, maintaining the wonky gait.
  6168. >You check the map.
  6169. >The current distance between you and the nearby village spans almost five kilometres.
  6170. >At this rate, it will take hours to get there.
  6171. >Yet that is not what you have in mind.
  6172. >On the contrary, you count on being intercepted long before that point.
  6173. >So you let the proxy continue the awkward trek and wait.
  6174. >You wait and listen.
  6175. >Looking out for signs that the bait might be taken.
  6176. >Minutes pass.
  6177. >A quarter of an hour.
  6178. >And another one.
  6179. >Even after thirty minutes, nothing seems to happen.
  6180. >You avert your gaze for a moment to get away from the colour clash on the screen and the downright nonsensical stats on your consoles.
  6181. >With a heavy sigh, you start to massage your temples.
  6182. "Taking your sweet time, huh? I know you're out there. Are you trying to wear me down?"
  6183. >No answer, obviously, as the proxy remains silent.
  6184. >Still, you keep going and stay on alert.
  6185.  
  6186.  
  6187.  
  6188.  
  6189. >Eventually though, the radio silence gets broken.
  6190. >Some faint semblances of hearty laughter start to echo in the background.
  6191. >Laughter of a very characteristic nature.
  6192. >And it gradually gets louder.
  6193. "Finally."
  6194. >You take another long breath as you ready yourself for what is about to begin very soon.
  6195. >Then you let the proxy react to the approaching guffaws.
  6196. >On your command, the Pegasus looks around in confusion.
  6197. >And watching how the already twisting and turning sight of the landscape sways even harder is almost enough to disorient you too.
  6198. >You close your eyes for a second to recover from the effect, then you speak out.
  6199. "Hello?"
  6200. >The proxy repeats these words with virtually no delay.
  6201. "Who's there?"
  6202. >No answer.
  6203. >Only more and even louder laughter.
  6204. >You try to sound distressed.
  6205. "I can hear you. Hello?"
  6206. >The same reaction.
  6207. "What's happening here? What's happening... to the world?"
  6208. >Discord lets you ferment in your supposed confusion for a while longer.
  6209. >So you eye the area again.
  6210. >And you avert your gaze as the depiction on the screen distorts beyond all recognition again.
  6211. "Where are you?"
  6212. >And then, finally, the great star of the day deems the time to be right for him to make an entrance.
  6213. >He pops out of thin air, right in front of your proxy.
  6214. >Or at least that is what he wants you to believe.
  6215. >Because in reality, the street is completely empty in both directions.
  6216. >Still, if you were a pony, you would not be able to know that.
  6217. >And so you let the proxy take a step back as the rather unique form of the famed spirit of chaos reveals itself to you.
  6218. >Seeing your reaction due to his sudden appearance, he laughs yet again before he finally speaks up.
  6219. >"Well, look what we've got here! Another figure in our wonderful little play! How exciting!"
  6220. >Discord starts to flow around in the air, floating in circles and quick pirouettes as he eyes you.
  6221. >And you have to admit that the sight alone is somewhat unnerving in itself.
  6222. >For he is the only "solid" part in an otherwise ever shifting landscape.
  6223. >Merely watching him move in this mess is almost enough to trigger a severe motion sickness.
  6224. >And his rather unique anatomy does not exactly help to alleviate that sensation either.
  6225. >Yet the rational part within you sees the silver lining in this situation.
  6226. >If anything, the faint queasiness helps you in playing your part more convincingly.
  6227. >So you go ahead and do just that.
  6228. >You let the proxy look at Discord with a confused expression and a touch of befuddled disbelief.
  6229. >Then you raise your voice.
  6230. "Who... who are you? What... are you?"
  6231. >Discord studies your proxy thoroughly as you talk.
  6232. >Though you find yourself unable to interpret his body language while he does so.
  6233. >You have to hear what he says next to assess whether your performance was believable or not.
  6234. >"Curious. Curious, curious, curious."
  6235. >What?
  6236. "What?"
  6237. >Damn it.
  6238.  
  6239.  
  6240.  
  6241.  
  6242. >Discord keeps flying in circles.
  6243. >And in a way, it comes across as his thinking posture.
  6244. >Though you have no idea why you come to that conclusion.
  6245. >"May I pose a question in turn?"
  6246. >You doubt that he expects a serious answer.
  6247. >And indeed, he just goes on.
  6248. >"Is this your first time? You know... trying to deceive a spirit of chaos and tricks with your inept amateur theatrics?"
  6249. >He facepalms rather viciously.
  6250. >"Oh, why am I asking? Of course it is. Silly old me."
  6251. >His gaze targets you again.
  6252. >Like a predator who spotted some prey.
  6253. >"Advice for the future. Don't try to mess with the master. Your acting is paltry. And this effort was miserable."
  6254. >Oh great.
  6255. >He saw right through it.
  6256. >Well, so much for that number.
  6257. >And while you are trying to come up with a suitable answer to having your proverbial pants pulled down right in front of your opponent, some of your emotions seem to subconsciously translate into an even more confused expression of the proxy.
  6258. >So much so that Discord eventually laughs again.
  6259. >"Much better. Now that's a properly stunned face."
  6260. >Damn.
  6261. >Damn.
  6262. >Damn.
  6263. >So far you have only said a couple words and got a thrashing for every single one of them.
  6264. >What a great start to your exchange.
  6265. >But just as you consider to throw a not quite so friendly cuss or two at the self-proclaimed master of nonsense, you feel #deca.mare's hoof tapping on your shoulder.
  6266. >You glance over to her.
  6267. >And she looks at you.
  6268. >Wordlessly, but intently.
  6269. >Right.
  6270. >Not going off kilter.
  6271. >You inhale deeply and collect your thoughts.
  6272. >Then you try again.
  6273. >Maybe you can coax a little bit out of him if you keep playing dumb, despite him already calling your bluff the first time around.
  6274. "I... I have no idea what you're talking about."
  6275. >Discord shakes his head.
  6276. >"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Quaint effort."
  6277. >Yet more hearty laughter.
  6278. >"And so hopelessly misguided! Delicious!"
  6279. >Discord keeps laughing for a few moments before he calms down again.
  6280. >"By all means, keep trying to play your measly charade. I haven't had this much fun laughig at someone... in the last five minutes!"
  6281. >You have to mentally restrain yourself from throwing a retort at him.
  6282. >However, it seems as if he has noticed your sentiment regardless.
  6283. >Or maybe he is "just" really good at guessing.
  6284. >Either way though, he comments on it.
  6285. >"Ohohoho, angry now? Looks like we're going somewhere at last."
  6286. >You growl subconsciously as you briefly fall out of your role.
  6287. >And the predatory gaze makes a full comeback.
  6288. >"Ah yes! Called it!"
  6289. >Oh joy.
  6290. >This is going really well so far.
  6291. >Discord stops in his motions for a moment.
  6292. >"Just so we're on the same page, we both know you aren't quite the dopey pony who you, ahem, 'try' to be. You should've taken some acting classes before that, really."
  6293. >He pauses.
  6294. >"Except for the dopey part, I suppose. You're a natural in that."
  6295. >Fuck you very much too.
  6296. >You take a very, very deep breath and remember #deca.mare's advice.
  6297. >Do not let him rile you up.
  6298. >Not again, at least.
  6299.  
  6300.  
  6301.  
  6302.  
  6303. >Yet the needling goes on.
  6304. >"Not that I mind though. I love some quality entertainment! Or should I say lack-of-quality quality entertainment?"
  6305. >He shrugs.
  6306. >"Whatever."
  6307. >Yes.
  6308. >The first word out of his mouth with which you can wholeheartedly agree.
  6309. >"But for the sake of the script, let's run with the courtesies regardless, shall we? Allow me to introduce myself: Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Master of Fun. Well, MY fun, at least."
  6310. >He reaches out with his claw, mimicking the gesture of shaking hands.
  6311. >Much to your surprise, however, one of the proxy's forehooves shoots forward to do the same.
  6312. >And not only in the altered vision of the proxy either.
  6313. >Discord has indirectly hijacked the augments of that limb to effectively let it shake freely in the air in the real world, whilst he is busy 'shaking' the hell out of that hoof with his own claw in the false vision.
  6314. >"Not really pleased to meet you, but hey, what can you do, hm? We've got to work with the audience we get."
  6315. >Again, you have to fight the urge to slap him with a slew of profanity.
  6316. >"And you are?"
  6317. >What?
  6318. >Now you blink in confusion.
  6319. "As if you'd give a damn about my name."
  6320. >He flicks the limb out of his grasp, sending the proxy staggering backwards in the real world as a sudden jolt runs through the body.
  6321. >"Guilty as charged."
  6322. >A pause.
  6323. >"But your supposed alter ego is amusing. Apart from the acting, I must add. Did I mention that already? I think so. Could be mistaken though."
  6324. >You ignore his pseudo-musing ramblings for once.
  6325. >Because his choice of words caught your attention.
  6326. "What did you just say?"
  6327. >Discord mockingly rolls his eyes.
  6328. >"I said what I said. Learn to listen. Or don't. I'm fine with either."
  6329. >He starts to pat the head of the proxy as you try to reply.
  6330. >And the strangeness of that situation silences your attempt before you have uttered even a single word.
  6331. >Discord treats you as if you were a little pet.
  6332. >"You know, I could laugh at your incompetence all day. But I think we can do something else which is far more... entertaining."
  6333. >He lifts his "hand".
  6334. >"Let's get down to real business! Chaos business! À la carte!"
  6335. >Snap.
  6336. >White light fills the main screen, whereas nothing seems to happen in the real area.
  6337. >Then, only a blink of an eye later, the light recedes.
  6338. >And something has changed in the vision of the proxy.
  6339. >Because whilst you and Discord were the only ones in the area before the white flash popped up, at least as far as the vision of the proxy was concerned, there are now two more individuals on the field.
  6340. >The outlines of two ponies have appeared near you.
  6341. >They are very blurry and flowing like a liquid at first, but gradually become more solid.
  6342. >And it does not take you long to identify the two.
  6343. >For you would recognise these Pegasi everywhere, and under all circumstances.
  6344. >The way how their shapes form is a very strong initial hint.
  6345.  
  6346.  
  6347.  
  6348.  
  6349. >Yet the magenta and golden hues evaporate even the faintest shred of any doubt.
  6350. >You gasp loudly before you cut the connection to the proxy temporarily.
  6351. >Then you quickly look to the side to focus on #deca.mare.
  6352. >There is something you must know, immediately.
  6353. "Quick, tell me! Is it really them?"
  6354. >#deca.mare nods hesitantly.
  6355. >"Indirectly, yes. They are not present in a physical sense, but Discord has forced a remote connection between the four of you. Whatever you say or do now will be heard and seen by the real Sky Squall and Firefly."
  6356. "Well, shit. That complicates things."
  6357. >Plus, it makes you much more vulnerable to Discord's constant jabs.
  6358. >After all, he would not have summoned the two if he were not ready to use their presence against you in one way or another.
  6359. >And judging from his words in regard to your alter ego, he already has a plan in mind.
  6360. >Not good.
  6361. >Not good at all.
  6362. >You feel your heart beating faster within your chest as you consider how delicate the whole interaction has become.
  6363. >With only one snap of a hand.
  6364. >Or whatever one would call Discord's equivalent thereof.
  6365. >You inhale once again, hold your breath, and exhale.
  6366. >After another second of silent contemplation, you restore the connection to the proxy, facing the perhaps strangest duel that you have encountered so far.
  6367. >And here you thought that dragons and a corrupted Unicorn were a challenge.
  6368. >So much for that perception.
  6369. >But you quickly banish any thoughts about naive notions of the past.
  6370. >Because Discord has found a new vector to attack you from.
  6371. >And, to put it bluntly, you have practically given him this one outright.
  6372. >"Hm, you looked like... your brain just shut off for a moment. Intriguing. Did your mind leave us for a while? More so than usual, I mean."
  6373. >Another probing rhetorical question, eh?
  6374. >Not this time.
  6375. >You are not going to give him yet more ammunition this easily.
  6376. >So you do the only reasonable thing that you can think of and barge ahead with another topic.
  6377. >You point at the two slowly forming ponies.
  6378. "What the hell do you want of them?"
  6379. >Discord turns to the duo of soon-to-be Pegasi.
  6380. >"What, of them? Fun, of course! What did you expect?"
  6381. >You ignore this question as well.
  6382. "Leave them alone!"
  6383. >This order does not impress him all that much.
  6384. >"And why should I do this?"
  6385. >He pauses, apparently to give you some time to answer.
  6386. >But then he disrupts the respite, less than a second later.
  6387. >"Because they're your friends?"
  6388. >At least he openly admits that he is fully informed about this aspect.
  6389. >You would like to know why and how, but that is a question for another day.
  6390. >And Discord is obviously not going to give you any opportunity to think about this either.
  6391. >"But that's exactly what makes it so exciting! A nice little chat... between, ahem, four friends."
  6392. >Alright, this is enough.
  6393.  
  6394.  
  6395.  
  6396.  
  6397. >You actually feel yourself getting defensive as Discord mentions the two.
  6398. "They aren't 'your' friends, dumbass."
  6399. >He merely blinks and looks at you.
  6400. >Plainly and still unimpressed.
  6401. >"Close. It's Discord."
  6402. >He manifests a piece of parchment in his claw and a lead pencil in the other limb.
  6403. >Then he starts to write something.
  6404. >With the rubber end, of course.
  6405. >"Though I guess I'll have to add 'bad with names' and 'even worse short term memory' to the list of your incompetence."
  6406. >He shakes his head as if he were disappointed in you.
  6407. >"My my my. This record is getting rather long. It's a wonder that you can walk straight with your modest array of brains."
  6408. >He taps his chin.
  6409. >"Oh, wait."
  6410. >He snaps a second time.
  6411. >And the forelegs of your proxy suddenly become highly unresponsive.
  6412. >They just barely fail to support the weight of the body, causing the proxy to falter and eventually fall.
  6413. >"Never mind. I stand corrected."
  6414. >With that said, the apparent sabotage of the forelegs ceases and disappears altogether, allowing your proxy to stand properly once again.
  6415. >Yet whilst you are busy with that, Discord glances at the still manifesting forms of Firefly and Sky Squall.
  6416. >This process seems to be almost done though.
  6417. >Both of the outlines resemble almost perfectly accurate representations of the respective ponies.
  6418. >So whatever he is going to do with them, it will certainly start soon.
  6419. >An assumption of yours which Discord is quick to confirm.
  6420. >"Oh well, enough about the horse d'oeuvre. Time to get to the real treat."
  6421. >He laughs and looks at you.
  6422. >"And a treat it will be. Only the best for my friends."
  6423. >Well, he is not trying to conceal his intentions in any way.
  6424. >For this sounds very clearly and unmistakably like a threat.
  6425. >And the biggest threat you can think of in regard to your friendship with Sky Squall and, to a lesser extent, Firefly is the "alibi" persona which you have created around yourself.
  6426. >The one which Discord hinted at.
  6427. >You can already guess where Discord is going with this one.
  6428. >After all, he thrives on dissension and mischief.
  6429. >And there are enough wrenches that can be thrown into this particular machine.
  6430. >One moment later, the manifestation process completes itself.
  6431. >And the two Pegasi immediately try to understand what happened to them.
  6432. >Sky Squall is the first to speak up.
  6433. >"What... what now? Where are we?"
  6434. >Then he spots you.
  6435. >"Star?"
  6436. >Firefly quickly points at Discord.
  6437. >Or rather, his virtual avatar.
  6438. >For she cannot know that his actual body is somewhere else at the moment.
  6439. >"And who's that?"
  6440. >You react upon that without hesitation.
  6441. "Look out! He's behind all of this!"
  6442. >The magenta mare seems to take your word for it at once.
  6443. >She strikes an aggressive pose.
  6444. >"Is that true? Are you doing... these things?"
  6445. >Discord admits to his deeds nonchalantly.
  6446. >"Why, I sure hope so. Do you like my improvements?"
  6447. >Firefly does not.
  6448.  
  6449.  
  6450.  
  6451.  
  6452. >And she has no qualms to demonstrate her displeasure to him.
  6453. >"I don't know what cursed magic you have used, but change it back! Now!"
  6454. >She scrapes the ground before her with a forehoof, telling Discord outright what she intends to do if he does not heed her orders.
  6455. >But her words fall on deaf ears, much like your previous insult.
  6456. >Discord yawns.
  6457. >"That would be boring. Besides, you ponies need a new line. I've heard this one way too often already."
  6458. >Then he pauses.
  6459. >"And here I thought your bunch would be a little bit more creative than the rest, considering your... special company. Disappointing."
  6460. >There it is.
  6461. >You know that he is referring to you, even when that may not be so clear to Sky Squall or Firefly at this early point in time.
  6462. >Because as far as they are concerned, he could be talking about the princesses instead.
  6463. >But this will not last forever.
  6464. >Sooner or later, he will start to plant the seed of doubt in their minds.
  6465. >And be it ever so subtle and nuanced.
  6466. >What definitely comes much sooner, however, is the premature end to Firefly's determined charge.
  6467. >Because just as she starts to bolt ahead in a swift gallop, Discord stops her with yet another snap.
  6468. >He uses the same trick that he used on your proxy.
  6469. >And in her case it is even easier to pull off, as the manifestations of her and Sky Squall are merely projections.
  6470. >Discord can do with them as he pleases for as long as the connection is established.
  6471. >After all, they are, technically speaking, not real.
  6472. >But since the mare is seemingly rushing towards him at a considerable speed, the simulated effect of her fall is far more rapid and drastic.
  6473. >The magenta Pegasus stumbles immediately and lands almost face first on the ground.
  6474. >Sky Squall is understandably alarmed upon seeing this.
  6475. >"Fire!"
  6476. >He rushes right to her side to help her, in spite of the possible risk that the same could be done to his legs.
  6477. >Discord returns to his previous floating routine in the meantime.
  6478. >And he blatantly feigns obviously false ignorance.
  6479. >"Fine, but at whom? And fire with what?"
  6480. >Sky Squall turns his head towards him.
  6481. >The stallion openly shows his broiling anger towards Discord.
  6482. >"Do you think this is funny?"
  6483. >Discord shrugs.
  6484. >"Could be better. But it will make do."
  6485. >The stallion growls loudly.
  6486. >"Fiend!"
  6487. >Discord rubs his temples and appears to be lightly annoyed.
  6488. >"What is it with you ponies and your unbearable tendency to confuse terms? The word you're looking for is 'friend'."
  6489. >It does not take much to see that Sky Squall is about to blow a fuse.
  6490. >You have to do something.
  6491. "Sky, he's trying to agitate you on purpose! Stay focused!"
  6492. >The stallion glances at you for a moment, his eyes still brimming with ire.
  6493. >And, for a moment, you are not sure whether he can hear you or not.
  6494. >Yet he nods eventually.
  6495.  
  6496.  
  6497.  
  6498.  
  6499. >Once again, Discord feigns a personal outrage.
  6500. >"Oh please, you're making it sound as if I was trying to manipulate you."
  6501. >You almost feel obliged to point out the obvious by stating that he does, and blatantly so at that.
  6502. >Discord is faster though.
  6503. >And he gives his argument a completely different spin.
  6504. >"But dear friends would never do such a thing to each other, now would they?"
  6505. >As he says this, he briefly gives you a daring look.
  6506. >He is baiting you to agree to that sentiment.
  6507. >This is a trap.
  6508. >Because on the surface, it is a pretty innocuous and evident notion to agree to.
  6509. >And in most cases, it would be.
  6510. >The situation here, however, is not quite so easy.
  6511. >For Discord is steering this conversation in a certain direction, with the likely intent of labelling you as a liar and a hypocrite in the process.
  6512. >Of course, his current credibility is not exactly high, so neither of them would be inclined to believe him now.
  6513. >And as far as the two are concerned, he is not doing much at the moment to improve his standing.
  6514. >But the problem is, he does not have to.
  6515. >Because even if they are going to discard everything that Discord says today, which is the most likely outcome, it can nevertheless come around to bite you later, depending on what you say or do.
  6516. >At the very latest when #deca.mare and you reveal all your proverbial cards to the world at large.
  6517. >Should it come to this though, then Discord can easily make the claim that he was right all along and that you are not morally better than him.
  6518. >Or that you are even worse in comparison, considering that he does not hide his intentions in anything, aside from a few blatantly false statements of chaotic grandeur.
  6519. >A notion which could quickly find a basis of agreement amongst broader parts of the populace, if he plays his cards right.
  6520. >And once again, he does not even have to truly win by convincing ponies and others to join his side.
  6521. >This is wholly unnecessary.
  6522. >He simply has to rile them up against you to create chaos on an unthinkable scale.
  6523. >An outcome that might be just good enough for him.
  6524. >For he would be laughing his merry rump off if the great day would descend into complete mayhem.
  6525. >Discord is playing the long game.
  6526. >And his seemingly casual glance over to you was him telling you that he wants you to know that.
  6527. >Of that you have no doubt any more.
  6528. >He is perhaps even fully aware of the fact that the cards are stacked against him at the moment, driving him to prepare even more thoroughly for this eventuality in the short span of time that is available to him.
  6529. >You remain silent as you ponder this.
  6530. >And you do not say anything at all in response either.
  6531. >So Discord goes on whilst Sky Squall and Firefly glare at him with a look that could scare a cockatrice into submission.
  6532. >"What? No agreement? None? To this simple question?"
  6533. >He acts concerned.
  6534. >"This is getting more serious by the second!"
  6535.  
  6536.  
  6537.  
  6538.  
  6539. >And Sky Squall bites, as he has no idea what is really going on.
  6540. >"What are you blabbering now?"
  6541. >Discord eyes the stallion in turn and elaborates.
  6542. >"It's very simple, young Sly Squirt. Obvious, even. You and your little Thunderflare have, well, a friendship problem with Star Potty over there."
  6543. >He pauses briefly, yet he also ignores that Sky Squall does not approve of his liberal "reconfiguration" of your names.
  6544. >Besides, so much for the whole 'bad with names' thing he mentioned earlier.
  6545. >You do not bring that point up to return the jab to him, however.
  6546. >After all, complaining to the self-proclaimed embodiment of chaos about his inconsistent behaviour is a pointless affair at the best of times.
  6547. >"So I thought to myself, 'Discord, old chap, you know this won't fly. You've got to do something about this...'."
  6548. >He looks at all three of you in turn.
  6549. >"... so here we are. You can thank me later."
  6550. >Firefly grumbles audibly.
  6551. >"I see only one problem here!"
  6552. >Discord claps his "hands" as he hears this.
  6553. >And he is quick to happily misconstrue Firefly's fairly clear remark.
  6554. >"Me too. But one friendship problem at a time is enough kerfuffle for my tastes."
  6555. >He laughs and snaps.
  6556. >Once again, white light flashes up all around you.
  6557. >Yet nothing seems to happen.
  6558. >Even the altered vision of the proxy shows no apparent changes.
  6559. >That is until both Sky Squall and Firefly try to walk.
  6560. >You see their attempts of moving their limbs.
  6561. >But no matter how often they try and how much force they put into it, they only manage to produce tiny jolts at best.
  6562. >Discord has locked them in their current positions.
  6563. >Literally, as it seems.
  6564. >Then he inhales.
  6565. >To prepare himself for what seems to become a great speech.
  6566. >One that no one really wants to listen to.
  6567. >"Fillies and gentlecolts, or whatever you ponies like to say, welcome to our first, and only, friendship chaos therapy session!"
  6568. >Discord engulfs himself in his white light, and emerges with a new pair of thick archaic glasses and a vintage suit of sorts.
  6569. >If you had to guess, you would wager that he is trying to assemble a pseudo-intellectual outfit of very early archetypical psychiatrists.
  6570. >An aside "gag" which only you and #deca.mare can understand, as Firefly and Sky Squall completely lack the necessary frame of reference to process what they are seeing.
  6571. >And indeed, Discord's voice sounds calmer and almost analytical as he goes on.
  6572. >"Now maybe some of you haven't fully realised it yet, but the friendship between you has a few cracks. Cracks caused by some underlying ripples, rooted deeply within the foundation of your relationship. That calls for some fixing."
  6573. >However, as seemingly methodical and professional as his "analysis" may sound, it is not exactly met with overwhelming agreement.
  6574. >Or even the faintest hint of sympathy.
  6575. >Firefly is quick to verbally snap at him instead.
  6576. >"You have no right to say anything about us or our friendship!"
  6577. >Discord shakes his head.
  6578. >"Au contraire, mon petit cheval."
  6579.  
  6580.  
  6581.  
  6582.  
  6583. >More French?
  6584. >Really?
  6585. >"I'm the only one here who can do it."
  6586. >He approaches the mare, ignoring the fact that she would probably even resort to biting him if he came too close.
  6587. >"And especially you aren't in the position to judge."
  6588. >Firefly is still overtly sceptical towards Discord, to put it mildly, yet this bold claim seems to catch her attention.
  6589. >If only for the moment.
  6590. >"What do you mean?"
  6591. >Which is all that Discord requires to really get his tirade going.
  6592. >"You don't know?"
  6593. >Discord waits for an answer which does not come.
  6594. >And you are sure that he was counting on this.
  6595. >For he simply goes on with his elaborations when it became more than clear that Firefly is not overly fond of saying anything to him.
  6596. >"Then let me remind you. You're the one who was affected the most by the imperfections in your neat friendship triangle."
  6597. >The magenta mare looks at Discord with a disbelieving expression.
  6598. >Up to this point, she is not buying anything of what he has to say.
  6599. >"Think about it for a moment. When did your whole romp take off for good?"
  6600. >Firefly is still not giving him an inch.
  6601. >"Keep your nostrils out of our private matters!"
  6602. >Discord blatantly ignores her not so subtle hint in regard to his input yet again.
  6603. >"Correct! It was the headbutting tournament with the winged lizards. Boring scaly folks, if you ask me. So simple. So artless."
  6604. >The Pegasus mare growls as Discord keeps treating her life like a pop quiz.
  6605. >"Deadhead firecrackers aside, have you ever considered the implications of this racket?"
  6606. >Once again, the Pegasus is not willing to answer.
  6607. >But she tries yet another time to break free.
  6608. >Presumably with the goal to treat Discord exactly like she treated her opponents back then.
  6609. >"Still not following me? Very well. I'll draw you a picture of it."
  6610. >He summons a new flash of light with another casual snap.
  6611. >With this done, several things happen at once.
  6612. >Discord's suit vanishes and gets replaced by a shoddy artist's apron, filled to the brim with splotches and strokes of spilled paint.
  6613. >An extremely broad brush appears in his claw as well.
  6614. >And it is fairly evident that its proportions are well and truly beyond any scale of functionality, as a single line drawn with that thing would already cover every conventional canvas.
  6615. >Not to mention the weight of the object.
  6616. >Merely lifting this brush would be a workout in itself.
  6617. >Yet here he stands, supposedly in reality as far as Sky Squall and Firefly can see it, holding this gargantuan brush with no effort or strain whatsoever.
  6618. >However, this comedic appearance is, just as before, merely a side show.
  6619. >Because the main attraction of Discord's latest trick is a huge banner, supposedly placed in a moderate distance.
  6620. >But in spite of the notable range between you and the object, you can nevertheless ascertain all of its details with relative ease.
  6621.  
  6622.  
  6623.  
  6624.  
  6625. >Partially because it is exempt from Discord's distorting visual effects, deliberately so in all due likelihood, and partially because its scale is ludicrous.
  6626. >In fact, the size must be so far beyond the norm that it makes the brush look like an ordinary object.
  6627. >If you had to guess, you would say that the entire installation measures roughly fifty metres from the pole base to the top.
  6628. >The banner itself spans the upper three fifths of the total length of the pole, and the fabric seems to be made out of solid cloth which would wave lightly if there were wind in the area.
  6629. >The scope is merely the least impressive detail of it though.
  6630. >Far more important is the imagery which is woven into the colourful fabric.
  6631. >For it is a picture.
  6632. >An interpretation of a historical scene which is reminiscent of what one would expect on a commemorative monument.
  6633. >But true to the style of your resident spirit of chaos, it is a work of pure contrasts.
  6634. >The craft in and of itself looks as if it was executed by a master of every trade.
  6635. >The fabric of the banner is woven flawlessly, its artwork is detailed and rich as far as the technique is concerned, and even the metal pole shines in the "sunlight" with an intensity that is almost unreal, somehow making the already vivid colours of the picture appear even more intense.
  6636. >This is, at least in theory, a military standard of the highest quality.
  6637. >On the flipside, however, its potentially awe inspiring aura is completely undone by the depicted scene in question, and by the style which Discord has chosen to "draw" it in.
  6638. >Well, you should have seen this one coming.
  6639. >From a mile away.
  6640. >Because Discord has recreated the crucial confrontation on the hill; the de facto moment in which the dragon incident was effectively concluded.
  6641. >And whilst this may sound like a suitable scene for a memorial banner of some kind, Discord's very far-fetched artistic licences completely turn the concept upside down.
  6642. >For starters, the entire picture features heavy tones of starkly unrealistic, exaggerated, and downright excessively hyperbolic elements.
  6643. >And as if this were not enough to take any notion of seriousness out of the composition, a touch of absurd comedy on top of that makes it blatantly obvious what this banner is meant to do.
  6644. >The uppermost section is perhaps the most striking example for this.
  6645. >Because it is dominated by the sun, which is depicted as a large ball of glaring fire.
  6646. >Said ball of fire also wears a pair of pointy sunglasses, and is literally smiling down onto the rest of the scene, with a grin that comes across as partially shrewd, partially brazen, and somewhat amused by causing discomfort to the environment around it.
  6647. >Directly under this personified interpretation of Equestria's star is a flock of comically terrified dragons.
  6648. >They are airborne in the midst of the mostly blue sky.
  6649. >The occasional white cloud was added to the mix here and there, presumably to liven up the scene a bit more.
  6650.  
  6651.  
  6652.  
  6653.  
  6654. >But there is something else as well.
  6655. >Those few parts of the sky which are neither blue nor white are filled with searing rays of golden and orange hues.
  6656. >And they all seem to stem from the sun above them.
  6657. >These rays drive the dragons closer to the fringes of the composition, with one particular beam striking a single dragon right into the dragons' equivalent of their buttocks.
  6658. >Just to really stress the fact that they are indeed fleeing from the gleeful sun.
  6659. >A bit further down, fairly close to the centre of the entire image, Discord placed Princess Celestia, standing right on the peak of the almost conical grass hill.
  6660. >She has her back and rear turned towards the viewer, as she is busy looking up to the dragons above her.
  6661. >And the princess is not exactly presented in a flattering manner as well.
  6662. >Because even though she is not facing the viewer, a portion of her face is visible nevertheless.
  6663. >Similar to the sun, she bears an angry stare, yet her expression is presented as much sterner and less amused than that of the grinning star.
  6664. >In addition to that, a small dirk is hovering right in front of her eyes.
  6665. >Its sharp end is pointed upwards, following Celestia's line of sight.
  6666. >The small puff of thick black smoke looming above her head is another fairly obvious hint at her, well, dark mood.
  6667. >Beneath this display, close to the lower end of the banner, are two more singular scenes of interest.
  6668. >And for you right now, these are the most important ones.
  6669. >One scene, the one closer to the left end of the banner, shows Firefly ducking and hugging the ground like a scared foal.
  6670. >She is burying her face between her forehooves, visibly shaken by the events.
  6671. >Her prone form is flanked by a depiction of Princess Luna, gnashing her teeth as she protects both herself and Firefly from a barrage of heat rays.
  6672. >With the help of a parasol made of rocks, of course.
  6673. >The other one, at about the same height, yet far closer to the right end of the frame, is a liberal interpretation of the fight between Sky Squall and you.
  6674. >Naturally, Discord chose to visualise the precise moment in which you brought the stallion down.
  6675. >To strike a nerve if nothing else, you would guess.
  6676. >But he was not satisfied with stopping there.
  6677. >Discord willingly adds insult and ignobility to injury, by placing the tussle itself inside a steep pit, making it look as if you had a literal mud fight.
  6678. >The pair of drawn Pegasi reflects this as well, as both Sky Squall and your proxy are shown to be heavily coated in dirt, with a few tarnished feathers of gold and light blue flying wildly through the air as well.
  6679. >And you are not surprised to see that he has done even more to misconstrue and ridicule that moment in every way he can think of.
  6680. >Because whilst your proxy is shown to have landed the blow, the golden stallion is screaming.
  6681.  
  6682.  
  6683.  
  6684.  
  6685. >His mouth is torn open to an almost physically impossible degree, and, to really top off the mockery, one half of an archaic accordion is protruding from the opening.
  6686. >The instrument is surrounded by jagged and shaky music notes as your proxy has taken hold of the visible handle, apparently playing the instrument with one forelimb and a cheeky smile.
  6687. >On a second look though, you notice that the striking hind leg and the playing foreleg of your proxy form an almost perfect semi-cycle.
  6688. >You are not sure if this is intended, or just your mind seeing things that are not there, yet you are tempted to assume that this hind leg might represent the other end of the accordion.
  6689. >If it does, it could be a highly tortured metaphor of you playing the stallion like a fiddle.
  6690. >And considering that this "artwork" was made by Discord, the chances are fairly high that this was indeed his intention.
  6691. >You do not like where this could be going.
  6692. >Not one bit.
  6693. >Either way though, it does not take a genius to imagine that the entire banner does not exactly spark much enthusiasm amongst the two Pegasi.
  6694. >Quite the opposite, in fact.
  6695. >Sky Squall is the first who spats loudly.
  6696. >He may not know what an accordion is, but the overall message of the banner speaks for itself.
  6697. >"This is wretched!"
  6698. >Discord turns calmly towards him.
  6699. >"Oh, is it? Would you like to tell me why?"
  6700. >The stallion growls.
  6701. >"This... 'thing'..."
  6702. >He uses this word with a notable hint of resentment.
  6703. >"... it is twisted and wrong! Dishonest and... vile!"
  6704. >Discord clears his throat.
  6705. >"Well, that's strange. This is exactly how I remembered it."
  6706. >Now you chime in.
  6707. >Perhaps there is a way to shut this conversation down before it goes downhill.
  6708. "Nonsense! You weren't there! There's nothing for you to remember!"
  6709. >Discord waves at you with his claw, dropping both the brush and the apron as he does so.
  6710. >"Oh shush. Stay quiet, will you."
  6711. >Then he snaps.
  6712. >As the subsequent wave of light recedes, nothing seems to have changed, except for one little detail.
  6713. >The symbol of an obsolete loudspeaker has appeared in the upper left corner of your screen.
  6714. >And then, from one moment to the next, it is crossed out.
  6715. "What have you done now?"
  6716. >You say these words out loud, yet the proxy remains silent.
  6717. "What the hell?"
  6718. >The same result.
  6719. >You turn to #deca.mare.
  6720. >She is already reading the input of her own consoles to analyse the situation.
  6721. "What was that?"
  6722. >And #deca.mare nods knowingly, only a second later.
  6723. >"That was clever."
  6724. >You blink.
  6725. "What was?"
  6726. >She takes a short breath.
  6727. >"Discord has tricked a few minor augmentations near the vocal chords to slightly readjust themselves. They now emit a faint energy signature which temporarily paralyses the voice of the proxy."
  6728. >You blink a second time.
  6729. "You mean I can't speak to them any more?"
  6730. >She shakes her head.
  6731. "Wonderful. This is just getting better and better."
  6732. >#deca.mare's eyes dart across her consoles as a few lines of text change.
  6733.  
  6734.  
  6735.  
  6736.  
  6737. >The crossed out loudspeaker icon disappears from the screen.
  6738. >"I have reversed the alteration. But it might take a few minutes until the vocal chords have recovered properly."
  6739. >You nod.
  6740. "Thanks, I take it. Better than nothing."
  6741. >You immediately turn your attention back to the scene on the surface.
  6742. >And you notice that both Sky Squall and Firefly are looking at you.
  6743. "Do you hear me?"
  6744. >You hear how your proxy emits a few unintelligible rasping noises.
  6745. >No luck.
  6746. >Then you try to use gestures to inform them about Discord's deeds.
  6747. >With a couple of awkwardly improvised signals and spontaneous coughing, you manage to get the point across though.
  6748. >The two Pegasi nod, as far as their restraints allow it.
  6749. >But it is no secret that they are seriously concerned.
  6750. >Of course, Discord is observing you too.
  6751. >Yet unlike the Pegasi, he is far more satisfied with his work.
  6752. >Plus, he does not seem to be upset about the fact that #deca.mare has technically already fixed his sabotage.
  6753. >For you are more than certain that he noticed the correction immediately.
  6754. >But still, he pushed you out of the game for a few minutes.
  6755. >Minutes which he will use to the fullest.
  6756. >"Good boy. Now back to us."
  6757. >He looks at Sky Squall.
  6758. >"If you think I'm so widely off the mark, Sly, would you like to tell us your version? I'm eager to hear it."
  6759. >Asking Sky Squall to reiterate the day of his greatest failure?
  6760. >Very likely thing.
  6761. >And indeed, the stallion reacts precisely as you expect him to.
  6762. >He spats and curses, but does not say a single word about the events of that day.
  6763. >So Discord picks the obvious counter.
  6764. >He equates the denial of the stallion with a confirmation of his artistic presentation.
  6765. >"See? The differences can't be that great then."
  6766. >A brief pause.
  6767. >"And you completely miss the point, by the way. Both of you."
  6768. >Firefly tilts her head, looking at him sceptically.
  6769. >"Missing the point?"
  6770. >Discord starts to walk up and down as he elaborates.
  6771. >"Oh, you know, mere art basics."
  6772. >He casually waves with his claw, treating the subject as if it is something which everyone is fully aware of already.
  6773. >"There can be more to a picture than what meets the eye. Sometimes, you have to think about the things you see. To find what may lie... hidden beneath the surface."
  6774. >Hold on.
  6775. >Did Discord actually give Firefly a somewhat honest advice here, and without resorting to belittling anyone in the process?
  6776. >Quite the rarity.
  6777. >Unfortunately for him though, this rare moment of direct honesty does not really work on either of the two ponies just yet.
  6778. >And so he eventually sighs, lightly annoyed, before he presses on himself.
  6779. >"Still not seeing the obvious? Fine, I'll spell it out for you."
  6780. >He points at the enormous banner in the distance.
  6781. >"This... this right here is where you were led into. Both of you."
  6782. >He looks at Firefly.
  6783. >"And you in particular."
  6784. >Firefly shakes her head.
  6785. >"Spare us your ramblings! This doesn't make any sense!"
  6786.  
  6787.  
  6788.  
  6789. >Discord blinks as he hears these words, thinking quietly about something for a moment.
  6790. >"Hm, no. It's too early for that."
  6791. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  6792. >"What? Too early?"
  6793. >Discord quickly waves this remark away.
  6794. >"Never mind. The point is, this is where you are now. In your own history..."
  6795. >Then he looks at Sky Squall.
  6796. >"...as much as you would like to deny it..."
  6797. >And back at Firefly.
  6798. >"... and in the larger memory of the ponies around you. Every time they see you, they see..."
  6799. >He points at the banner again.
  6800. >"... this. You are shackled to this association. Now and forever."
  6801. >His claw now points at your proxy.
  6802. >"And all thanks to him."
  6803. >And there it is.
  6804. >Discord has indeed started to undermine your position in the long run.
  6805. >You try to speak up, and quickly at that.
  6806. >But no matter what you say, the proxy only spouts out garbled word fragments.
  6807. >You are still put in the proverbial time out corner, forced to watch how the situation develops without your input.
  6808. >So you do exactly that.
  6809. >And you register that both Sky Squall and Firefly have strong objections to Discord's summary of the event.
  6810. >The golden stallion speaks up first.
  6811. >And he is almost on the verge of shouting.
  6812. >"Star is right! Everything you've said there is nonsense! Every single statement! Wrong! Falsehoods! Lies! All of them!"
  6813. >Discord laughs.
  6814. >"Is that so? Very well. Then tell me, little Pegasus, is it wrong that 'Star' brought you low on this day?"
  6815. >Sky Squall bares his teeth.
  6816. >"Don't you dare..."
  6817.  
  6818.  
  6819.  
  6820.  
  6821. >Discord ignores him.
  6822. >"Is it wrong that he dragged you through the mud like a piece of refuse?"
  6823. >The Pegasus looks like he is about to blow in a fit of anger.
  6824. >"Is it wrong that he tarnished your reputation? In the eyes of everypony, including your oh so precious, ugh, 'princesses'?"
  6825. >This is the point at which Sky Squall's proverbial fuse explodes into millions of tiny pieces.
  6826. >"Shut up! None of that was his fault!"
  6827. >And Discord laughs heartily once again.
  6828. >"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you."
  6829. >Sky Squall deflects this implication immediately.
  6830. >"What I'm sure of or not is my decision! Not yours!"
  6831. >His opponent merely shrugs and replies nonchalantly.
  6832. >"Perhaps. But I've seen where your decisions have led you in the past."
  6833. >The banner suddenly starts to wave subtly, as if it were moved by a gentle breeze.
  6834. >The stallion notices the obvious hint as well.
  6835. >And in this very moment, his expression almost resembles the sinister visage of Discord's Celestia.
  6836. >Upon seeing this, Discord concedes the argument with another shrug.
  6837. >"Whatever. I was just trying to help. But don't crawl back to me with your tail between your legs when your delusions bite you in the rump again."
  6838. >He turns to Firefly.
  6839. >"What about you though? You have more foresight than him, don't you?"
  6840. >Firefly refuses to answer the question.
  6841. >"Get lost!"
  6842. >Discord shakes his head.
  6843. >"No, not yet. I've got to help you out first."
  6844. >The magenta mare tries to free herself once more.
  6845. >"I don't need your 'help'!"
  6846. >Discord gets a few steps closer to her.
  6847. >"That's what you think. You don't know it better, but..."
  6848. >He pauses, presumably to build up some tension.
  6849. >"... you were doubly affected by your supposed friend."
  6850. >Then he lifts his claw.
  6851. >"I mentioned the whole romp between you and Sly. That's one side of the coin, with all the bells and whistles attached to it."
  6852. >Discord materialises a family photo which was never made, showing Sky Squall and Firefly together with their foals.
  6853. >Which gets Firefly really riled up.
  6854. >"Leave them out of this! Or you'll regret it!"
  6855. >Not shaken in the slightest by this threat, Discord continues.
  6856. >"Yes yes, mother mare baring teeth and so on. Really great stuff."
  6857. >He casually waves again.
  6858. >"That's the much less interesting half anyway. The other is far more promising."
  6859. >He clears his throat, but raises his voice once he notices that Firefly wants to say something, cutting her off.
  6860. >"You see, thanks to his deeds of playing disaster time matchmaker between ponies, 'Star' is directly responsible for you sharing the shame with little Sly Squirt over here."
  6861. >A pause.
  6862. >"If it were not for him, you would have no entanglements in the affairs of Mister Golden Boy. His failings would never have rubbed off on you either."
  6863. >You blink.
  6864. >Logically speaking, this is not correct, as the two already made some advances towards one another previously.
  6865. >The incident on the hill was merely the last drop that finalised it all.
  6866.  
  6867.  
  6868.  
  6869.  
  6870. >Plus, shame is a really strong word for a singular miscalculation.
  6871. >Its effect on the public opinion on Sky Squall was minuscule at best, especially in the long run.
  6872. >The only one who was really harsh on him afterwards was Sky Squall himself.
  6873. >A notion that you have taken care of to the best of your abilities as well.
  6874. >Besides, if she were to give Discord an honest answer, which she is not, then she would surely tell him that the end result of this match has been worth it.
  6875. >But she remains silent instead.
  6876. >And you can fully see why she does it.
  6877. >After all, she is completely unwilling to reveal any personal thoughts of any kind to Discord.
  6878. >A wise move to be certain.
  6879. >However, her silence also enables him to keep spinning his own narrative unopposed.
  6880. >"And, deep down, you know that. You've never forgiven him for exposing you and your loverhorse to this embarrassment."
  6881. >Firefly frowns at Discord with renewed vigour.
  6882. >"Liar!"
  6883. >Now that this word is spoken out, he starts to play the same game with her that he played with Sky Squall a few moment ago.
  6884. >"Liar, hm?"
  6885. >He taps his chin in mocking contemplation.
  6886. >"I remember something... wait... what was it... ah! Right!"
  6887. >Another deliberate pause.
  6888. >Just to let Firefly stew a little bit in her own anger.
  6889. >"A certain somepony in our midst, not naming names of course, once made a vow to settle a certain score, involving the other two certain someponies currently present."
  6890. >He keeps looking at Firefly the whole time.
  6891. >"Do you happen to know anything about that?"
  6892. >Firefly curses silently to herself.
  6893. >"That was a long time ago."
  6894. >Discord's eyes light up as if he had just struck a vein of pure gold.
  6895. >"Very fascinating. And... have you kept your word?"
  6896. >Now she looks daggers at him as well.
  6897. >"No. But I am in the mood of settling at least one score today!"
  6898. >Of course, Discord does not even seem to register that she threatened him yet again.
  6899. >For he is far more interested in fabricating his own line of argumentation.
  6900. >Shifty as it may be.
  6901. >"That's the spirit! You've kept these emotions and hidden frustrations for far too long! Broken promises! Personal slights! It's time to let it all out! Free yourself of it!"
  6902. >With that said, he snaps his, well, equivalent of fingers yet again.
  6903. >And as it quickly turns out, the changes only affect Firefly and no one else.
  6904. >She stumbles and hobbles for a moment until she realises that she is in full control over her own body again.
  6905. >"Now go out, little mare! Show this insolent 'Star' your..."
  6906. >This time it is Discord who gets interrupted during his speech, as Firefly roars like a maddened bear and starts to charge him.
  6907. >She reaches her full gallop speed in less than two seconds, and barges ahead with no inhibitions whatsoever.
  6908. >Yet despite seeing the whole action for himself, Discord does nothing.
  6909.  
  6910.  
  6911.  
  6912.  
  6913. >He simply remains standing where he is, apparently taking the attack outright, and with no notable attempts of defending himself against the enraged mare.
  6914. >Then, on the last metre or so, Firefly jumps at her opponent with her forehooves outstretched, turning herself into an angry projectile.
  6915. >A veritable magenta cannon shell of sorts, with a temper that could summon a storm.
  6916. >A shell which smoothly slides right through her target, sailing well and truly past her planned destination.
  6917. >Surprised and slightly caught off guard by this, Firefly almost falls, but manages to stabilise herself by flapping her wings.
  6918. >She comes to a stop and turns around.
  6919. >Discord shakes his head.
  6920. >"Oh my. You have the aim of a blind duck."
  6921. >He takes a breath and snaps.
  6922. >"Allow me. I'll take you where you want to go."
  6923. >And it quickly becomes clear what he has done this time.
  6924. >For Firefly starts to trot in your direction, albeit without her intention of actually doing so.
  6925. >Her rather surprised expression is a fairly clear indicator that someone else is in control.
  6926. >But to make it absolutely clear to you that something is completely off, she warns you nevertheless.
  6927. >"Watch out, Star! That's not me doing this!"
  6928. >You prepare yourself to face the incoming mare, but you are unsure what to do.
  6929. >It is fairly clear at this point that Discord is forcing a fight between the two of you, so you fully expect him to make Firefly attack you as soon as you are in range.
  6930. >What should you do in turn though?
  6931. >You could of course do the obvious and fight back.
  6932. >But if you did that, you would not only strike Firefly's projection, whilst she sees, and possibly feels, everything through this faux manifestation as if it were really her, you would also beat up Sky Squall's wife right in front of his eyes.
  6933. >And such a move will simply always result in bad optics.
  6934. >To put it mildly.
  6935. >He may understand who is pulling the strings here.
  6936. >Very likely so, in fact.
  6937. >But since he has no idea that this is just a projection of Firefly and not her actual body, he will have strident reactions to such an experience.
  6938. >Whilst he is forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines as well.
  6939. >So no.
  6940. >This is not a viable option.
  6941. >However, remaining passive is not exactly the alternative you want to go for either.
  6942. >After all, you are sure that Discord is not going to go easy on you.
  6943. >He wants you to fight her.
  6944. >And the easiest way for him to accomplish that is to make the passive option unfeasible for you.
  6945. >So you have no doubt that he has arranged something in the background to simulate the effects of her attacks on your proxy when she hits you.
  6946. >Fake sensations of pain and trauma, in all due likelihood.
  6947. >The ghost strikes will very likely "feel" real to the proxy.
  6948.  
  6949.  
  6950.  
  6951.  
  6952. >Sure, #deca.mare could easily overrule everything he has done practically on a whim.
  6953. >Yet that solution comes with its own number of problems.
  6954. >Because Firefly and Sky Squall would then wonder why your proxy shows no reactions to physical attacks which appear to be very real from their perspective, leading to yet further questions.
  6955. >Well, you could try to act and pretend to be hurt to compensate for that.
  6956. >But given how badly you fell on your face with such an attempt earlier this day, it might be better to avoid this strategy.
  6957. >Besides, simply allowing her to beat you up in turn is also not very believable.
  6958. >Both of them know you too well to buy that you would simply give in, even under such a pressure.
  6959. >Your previous actions have been far too heroically for this.
  6960. >And so you reach a compromise.
  6961. >You will try to block and deflect as many attacks from Firefly as possible, but you will not retaliate.
  6962. >This will probably trap you in a stalemate for quite a long time, but it seems to be the best way ahead.
  6963. >And maybe, if you are lucky, you will find a way to "apprehend" her without resorting to excessive force.
  6964. >So you take a breath and focus on the movements of the approaching magenta Pegasus.
  6965. >Though you have no idea what to expect.
  6966. >The figure who approaches the proxy may be an exact projection of Firefly, but you are not fighting her in any way whatsoever.
  6967. >It is Discord who does you the questionable honour.
  6968. >Someone whose main qualities consist of unpredictability, deception, mischief, and sheer randomness for his own amusement.
  6969. >Cake walk.
  6970. >And you get an immediate taste of this display.
  6971. >For he starts out with a hastily executed feint.
  6972. >Discord charges you, apparently with the intent of leaping at you or slamming into you directly.
  6973. >Yet as you brace yourself for the impending collision, he abruptly halts and does a ninety degree spin in the process, presenting Firefly's side to you.
  6974. >And in one fluent sequence, he spreads the Pegasus wing which is facing you, just as he comes to a meticulously calculated stop.
  6975. >You have no time to react, thanks to the light clunkiness of your current control, and get a nice uppercut sweep right to the face.
  6976. >The simulated force behind the hit is not particularly strong, but it is an opener that sends a message.
  6977. >He is telling you what you have already expected.
  6978. >Discord is simulating the "combat damage", tricking your augments into thinking that they were actually struck.
  6979. >And whilst you are busy with regaining full control over the proxy, Discord is already acting once more.
  6980. >He darts right ahead, flicking Firefly's tail in your face as he runs to the side for additional distraction.
  6981. >Then, at a distance of roughly two metres, he changes his course yet again.
  6982.  
  6983.  
  6984.  
  6985.  
  6986. >He lets Firefly run around you in a steady circle, which forces you to constantly rotate on the spot as well if you do not want to lose track of the Pegasus.
  6987. >Because if you do, he will use the opportunity to pounce.
  6988. >That is almost guaranteed.
  6989. >So you try something else whilst you spin around like a fool.
  6990. >Whenever you think that you can afford it, you take a few steps back to disturb Discord's perfect circle.
  6991. >But no matter how often you try this, he always compensates your actions in less than a second.
  6992. >And as he has you on this spot, effectively encircled, he begins to laugh heartily.
  6993. >With Firefly's voice.
  6994. >A sound which is earnestly almost freaking you out in this situation.
  6995. >But he does not stop there.
  6996. >The Pegasus keeps talking as a malicious grin grows on her face.
  6997. >"Well? How does it feel to lose control?"
  6998. >Alright.
  6999. >This is getting messed up now.
  7000. >Though just as you thought that things could not possibly get more abstruse, you see another shift in Firefly's face.
  7001. >Her expression changes to anger.
  7002. >And you need a moment to understand that this anger is not directed against you.
  7003. >"You want to know how this feels? It feels like the wish to make you pay for this!"
  7004. >You are not sure whether Discord allowed her to say this, or if she genuinely fought for control and gained the upper hand for a moment.
  7005. >But either way, she is not able to maintain that control for very long.
  7006. >The more sinister and snarky grin returns, whilst the circle remains unbroken.
  7007. >"I wasn't talking to you. But keep that in mind for the future."
  7008. >Another shift.
  7009. >"Oh, I'll remember that! Be sure of it!"
  7010. >These are the key words Discord wanted to hear, albeit for very different reasons than Firefly or Sky Squall could imagine.
  7011. >He takes over again, apparently ditching Firefly completely for the time being.
  7012. >"Up for a real rodeo now?"
  7013. >The Pegasus speeds up.
  7014. >Gradually, but consistently.
  7015. >Always getting a bit faster.
  7016. >And faster.
  7017. >And faster.
  7018. >Until the speed reaches a point at which your proxy is no longer physically able to keep up.
  7019. >But even as you lag behind, Discord does not stop accelerating.
  7020. >And why should he?
  7021. >These projections were never restrained to any bodily restrictions to begin with.
  7022. >He can go as quickly with them as he wants.
  7023. >A couple of moments later, you cease your attempts of following his movements.
  7024. >It has become pretty much pointless to even try, so you are not allowing him the amusement of forcing you to dance to his tune any longer.
  7025. >Unfortunately for you though, he has found other means to derive more fun from your discomfort.
  7026.  
  7027.  
  7028.  
  7029.  
  7030. >Once it has become clear that you have given up on his twisted merry-go-round, he lashes out with the Pegasus.
  7031. >Discord apparently attacks you from all sides, practically at the same time.
  7032. >A jab with both forehooves from the left, a buck from the right, another frontal slap on the chin by a wing, and a move to sweep away both of the proxy's rear legs from behind.
  7033. >Of course, this is physically impossible, as a single Pegasus cannot strike you from multiple angles.
  7034. >But Discord does not care.
  7035. >And the augmentations register all strikes as if they were real.
  7036. >Your proxy rocks and jerks like crazy before the rear legs seem to cramp and give in.
  7037. >You apparently stumble and fall in an instant.
  7038. >Then, even before you can instruct the proxy to get up, Discord is there to pounce, planting Firefly's projection squarely on the back of the proxy, effectively pinning the prone Pegasus with the simulated weight.
  7039. >Well, so much for trying to "apprehend" him.
  7040. >It would probably never have worked in the first place, now that you think about it.
  7041. >Discord would just have cheated some more to find a way out.
  7042. >And he concludes this little fight, if one can even call this one-sided thing a fight, with another hearty laugh.
  7043. >"Clapped, caught, and claimed!"
  7044. >The pompous sounds of blaring fanfare music fill the air.
  7045. >And Discord lets the projection of Firefly wave to an imaginary cheering audience.
  7046. >"Now that was fun."
  7047. >Then he addresses you directly.
  7048. >"Friendly advice, number two: Stick to humping your own tin in the future. You're better suited for that."
  7049. >You blink and reply without thinking about it.
  7050. "What?"
  7051. >The proxy repeats your word without a problem.
  7052. >In all this mess, you have forgotten to check on the recovery of the proxy's vocal chords.
  7053. >So you get a reply which you never wanted to hear.
  7054. >"Come on. Your love for mounting metal cans is no secret."
  7055. >A smaller banner appears nearby, without a snap this time.
  7056. >And this minor banner only bears a singular motive, but it is both fairly blatant and wonderfully ambivalent in its message.
  7057. >For the picture shows your proxy, sitting on a tilted and very familiar decanter, embracing it in a more than suggestive pose.
  7058. >To the two Pegasi, it is a clear reference, as they can only interpret it as you, well, "riding" the Cutie Mark of your wife.
  7059. >But you see more in it than that.
  7060. >After all, the decanter does resemble a certain other structure.
  7061. >And with everything you have learned about Discord so far, this is no mere coincidence.
  7062. >However, you get no chance to comment on that.
  7063. >Because Discord, the "real" one who floated around in the vicinity for the entire time, that is, goes on as the Pegasus keeps you pinned.
  7064. >"Well, it has been an honour to entertain you, bears and gentledolts, but this is the point at which I have to bid adieu for now. I hope you keep my heartfelt lessons in mind and learn from them like good friends."
  7065. >A pause.
  7066. >"If you don't, I'll be happy to educate you again."
  7067.  
  7068.  
  7069.  
  7070.  
  7071. >Well, you can believe that part.
  7072. >But then, from one moment to the next, he vanishes completely.
  7073. >Not with a snap, a white light, or any other ridiculous nonsense.
  7074. >He is simply gone.
  7075. >And all the things he has seemingly created gradually disappear with him.
  7076. >The banners disintegrate, the two Pegasi disappear without another sound, and the visual distortions of the environment clear up as well.
  7077. >You let the proxy lie on the ground whilst you observe how the sky is slowly turning blue again.
  7078. >The grass finally returns to bearing its natural healthy green hues too.
  7079. >After reality has been restored from the perspective of the proxy, you check the vitals.
  7080. >Nothing out of the ordinary has remained there either.
  7081. >You take a breath and let the silence sink in before you address #deca.mare.
  7082. "So, they got him?"
  7083. >She nods.
  7084. >"Less than a minute before he disappeared. Discord used all of his tricks to claw for a conclusion of your encounter before Harmony reined him in."
  7085. >She takes a breath as well.
  7086. >"He really wanted to ground you today."
  7087. >You look at the screen and the floored proxy.
  7088. "Well, he got his wish."
  7089. >You pause.
  7090. "I just hope he didn't get too many other wishes today."
  7091. >A new console appears on your main screen, informing you about an incoming message.
  7092. >You want to look at #deca.mare and ask her about it, but the message opens itself automatically before you can say anything.
  7093. >It is a simple text message, merely containing a single sentence.
  7094. >Good talk, see you later.
  7095. >Signed, D.
  7096. >You think you know what is going on.
  7097. "Delayed text, huh? Sent with a timer before the Elements caught him?"
  7098. >#deca.mare nods.
  7099. >"Another thing he set up prior to his 'disappearance'."
  7100. >Then she smiles.
  7101. >"And speaking of it, would you like to know what his conclusion in regard to your encounter is?"
  7102. >You blink.
  7103. "Well, good question. Would I?"
  7104. >Her smile does not waver.
  7105. >So you take the hint and ask.
  7106. "Okay, I bite. What is it?"
  7107. >And she gets straight to the point.
  7108. >"Put simply, he does not think that his performance has left a satisfactory long-lasting impact on the two. Satisfactory by his own standards, of course."
  7109. >You nod, only a moment later.
  7110. "Alright. That's reassuring. Somewhat, at least."
  7111. >She goes on.
  7112. >"The rest is up to us. And I think we should meet them soon. They are both very... disoriented after the whole experience."
  7113. "Hardly a surprise. It feels almost like a fever dream to me too."
  7114. >In spite of knowing what was going on, of course.
  7115. >So you agree.
  7116. "Right. Let's do that. We should get there as quickly as possible."
  7117. >With that said, #deca.mare shows you where the two are located, and you instruct the proxy to move there with haste.
  7118. >#deca.mare does the same with hers as well.
  7119. "I guess the easiest thing we could do is to team up before meeting them. Then we could say that we were looking for them and asked others for directions."
  7120. >Now she nods.
  7121. >"Agreed."
  7122. >And as you look at the proxy taking off automatically, a question forms in your mind.
  7123.  
  7124.  
  7125.  
  7126.  
  7127. >One which you could not really ponder until now.
  7128. "Hey #deca."
  7129. >"Yes, Anon?"
  7130. >You take a breath.
  7131. "Why is Discord so fond of French?"
  7132. >Much to your surprise, #deca.mare groans as you ask that.
  7133. >Then she looks at the ceiling.
  7134. >You blink.
  7135. "Uh...? Everything okay?"
  7136. >She needs a moment to reply.
  7137. >"Yes. That. Just... forget it."
  7138. >You tilt your head.
  7139. "Why? What is this about?"
  7140. >She looks back at you.
  7141. >"Nothing of importance. Trust me. Just an old... 'joke' he... loves to play with."
  7142. >She pauses briefly before she goes on.
  7143. >"And it is the proverbial beaten horse carcass at this point. When you get bombarded with the same punch line over and over and over again, it gets annoying. Quickly."
  7144. >Your gaze wanders back to the main screen.
  7145. >The text message is still displayed right in its centre.
  7146. "That trite, huh?"
  7147. >#deca,mare sighs.
  7148. >"Oh, you have no idea."
  7149. >A pause.
  7150. >"Let me put it like this, if he returns with a mariachi ensemble at the start of our next encounter, you will know that he is just going through predictable routines to make me roll my eyes."
  7151. >You take a moment to process that.
  7152. "That's... oddly specific."
  7153. >She sighs.
  7154. >"I told you. It is a tried and tested formula."
  7155. >The tone of her voice reminds you more of 'tired and tested" instead.
  7156. >However, you do not say this out loud and simply nod.
  7157. >For there is no need to pry further.
  7158. "I'll... keep that in mind."
  7159. >A moment of silence.
  7160. >"By the way, Discord tried something new in the background while you were dealing with him on the planet."
  7161. >Oh?
  7162. "What was it this time?"
  7163. >The answer is brief and concise.
  7164. >"He gained access to the internal light systems."
  7165. >You are tempted to scratch your head.
  7166. "The emergency lights? On Rho?"
  7167. >"Hmhm."
  7168. "Uh, what for? They're a low priority system."
  7169. >#deca.mare nods.
  7170. >"Which is precisely the reasoning behind this action, Anon. It was easy for him to get inside without triggering an alarm."
  7171. >You try to wrap your head around this.
  7172. >Or rather, what he intended to do with his step.
  7173. "Okay, so he found the red light switch. For what purpose? It's not like he's going to stroll around in the ship he's stationed on."
  7174. >#deca.mare enters a few commands into her console.
  7175. >"This is the interesting part. Do you remember when he tried to hijack Rho?"
  7176. >You grunt.
  7177. "As if I could forget that. It was the first thing he tried when we gave him access to Rho's processing capacities for his own studying purposes."
  7178. >Unlike the emergency lights, however, the systems which are required for such a stunt are far more heavily secured.
  7179. >And they immediately gave him the boot when he tried to access them, triggering the alarm in the process.
  7180. >"That it was. But us physically severing his connections to the major systems has taken any chance from him of doing so again."
  7181. >And what an assortment of systems that is.
  7182. >It started out as a fairly concise one.
  7183. >But with each new attempt of Discord trying something fishy with the ship, another selection of systems was added to it.
  7184.  
  7185.  
  7186.  
  7187.  
  7188. >Not counting the weapons, jumpdrive, and regular engines, which you have plugged out right from the start, just in case, the list currently includes, amongst other things, navigational thrusters, external and internal sensors, shield controls, door controls, cargo logs, and the command deck's life support.
  7189. >At this point, #deca.rho can barely be controlled at all from its own control stations.
  7190. >These tasks have to be handled remotely now.
  7191. >Which is usually done by Harmony and a collection of specialised automatons.
  7192. >Yet as rash as these limitations may sound, they do have their reasons.
  7193. >For instance, you can still vividly remember his thoughts on how he could potentially cause a decompression on #deca.rho's command deck by fooling some of the internal sensors in the airlock area.
  7194. >Especially his reasoning as to why he was considering it in the first place did not sit well with you.
  7195. >The baseline motivation was quite clear.
  7196. >It would have caused a considerable mess in the living areas and in some parts of the hallway system.
  7197. >Which is more than enough of a reason for Discord to do it.
  7198. >That part is fairly obvious.
  7199. >However, it also bends and probes the boundaries of the framework which #deca.mare and Harmony have provided for him.
  7200. >On a concerning level at that.
  7201. >Because whilst Discord is fully expected to create mischief and eventually become somewhat of a mutual sparring partner for Harmony, he is not allowed, under any circumstances, to take actions which may have potentially lethal outcomes.
  7202. >Which should include practical jokes such as sabotaging sensory systems in order to blow the air out of the living quarters of a space ship.
  7203. >But Discord used a technicality to skirt this limitation.
  7204. >He understood that there was currently no one on the command deck.
  7205. >So there was no one around who could be endangered.
  7206. >And, from a purely technical perspective, this is entirely accurate.
  7207. >Yet these are ideas which neither #deca.mare nor you would like to encourage regardless, as they might set a critical precedence.
  7208. >Because following this line of logic, Discord might one day get the idea to, for example, crash a fully functional capital ship like the Strider into the moon at full speed.
  7209. >Why?
  7210. >Simple.
  7211. >It could be funny, and no one gets hurt.
  7212. >Which would meet his technicality standards, but may lead to severe problems for everyone else in the long run.
  7213. >#deca.mare goes on.
  7214. >"He came to the conclusion that the lights were the next best option available to him to cause a ruckus."
  7215. >So far, so clear.
  7216. "But what does he do with it? A light show?"
  7217. >"Not quite. Something akin to what you are thinking of is a part of the scheme, but not for the effect you have in mind."
  7218.  
  7219.  
  7220.  
  7221.  
  7222. >She pauses briefly.
  7223. >"You see, he got the idea that if he keeps switching the lights on and off in the ship quickly enough, with an irregular pattern, and over the course of several hours or days, then he might manage to make some of the automatons suffer from glitches or crashes."
  7224. "A long shot, but okay. And what next?"
  7225. >deca.mare shrugs.
  7226. >"Hard to say, because he does not know either. He just wanted to see what happens."
  7227. >You nod in thought.
  7228. "But the more chaotic the reaction would've been, the better, hm?"
  7229. >"In essence, yes."
  7230. >You take a breath and massage your temples.
  7231. "Oh boy. Harmony's little brother, barely out of his childhood, and already causing one stir after the other."
  7232. >#deca.mare clears her throat.
  7233. >"Well, partial little brother. There are a few key differences between them."
  7234. >She takes a breath.
  7235. >"But this was to be expected. Consider, even Harmony came up with the idea to construct an entire new generation armada of combat vessels. For friendship reasons, no less."
  7236. >You nod.
  7237. "Fair. But Harmony was also far more approachable during our first personal meet up."
  7238. >Well, technically the second one, if you count the accidental encounter.
  7239. "And the meeting didn't require a ruse... that fell apart at the first hurdle."
  7240. >#deca.mare shrugs.
  7241. >"It was worth a try."
  7242. >You look at her.
  7243. "A try that failed though. Do you think he's going to take that personally?"
  7244. >She shakes her head.
  7245. >"Not in the slightest. If anything, he may feel lightly insulted that he could spot the charade this quickly."
  7246. "He expected something better, eh?"
  7247. >"Right. As for the insult..."
  7248. >Another casual shrug.
  7249. >"... this does not bother him at all. As long as he can spread some chaos, he does not care what people call him."
  7250. >Another pause.
  7251. >"Though he may act as if it hurt him, if he thinks he can use it to get under your skin."
  7252. >Classical Discord behaviour then.
  7253. >#deca.mare leans back and relaxes.
  7254. >"In either case, he has something new to digest for a while."
  7255. >Then she smiles.
  7256. >"And we have some time until we will meet Sky Squall and Firefly."
  7257. >You take the obvious hint and relax as well.
  7258. "So... break time?"
  7259. >A nod.
  7260. >"Break time."
  7261. >The two of you get out of the chair together and head for the exit.
  7262. >Yet whilst you are about to leave the deck, a notification arrives.
  7263. >Just as you reach the door.
  7264. >Not wanting to go back to the chair, you read the notification from afar.
  7265. >And it informs you about a power outage on #deca.rho.
  7266. >The entire emergency light system has collapsed.
  7267. >Due to overexertion, of all things.
  7268. >Now it is you who groans.
  7269. "How the hell? He crashed the entire thing!"
  7270. >#deca.mare blinks, still looking at the exit.
  7271. >"Seems like someone got too impatient."
  7272.  
  7273.  
  7274.  
  7275.  
  7276. >You almost repeat Firefly's muffled curses.
  7277. "At the worst time too. Way to ruin a break."
  7278. >You feel #deca.mare's tail wrapping around your arm.
  7279. >"We can fix that later. The outage does not impact any regular operations."
  7280. >With that said, she steps through the door, gently tugging your arm along.
  7281. >And you do not object to her sentiment either.
  7282. >Discord will have to make do without onboard lights for a while.
  7283.  
  7284.  
  7285.  
  7286.  
  7287. 153
  7288.  
  7289. >You sit on the grassy ground of a small hill, located deeply within the Equestrian heartlands.
  7290. >#deca.mare rests right next to you, leaning against your side, whilst you have your arm wrapped around her.
  7291. >Both of you look in the same direction.
  7292. >Towards a peacefully looking castle, built near the side of a gorge, roughly a kilometre away from your current position.
  7293. >And even though it is well and truly after nightfall, you can identify a considerable amount of details from your comparatively remote position.
  7294. >For its shape is illuminated by a generous selection of torches and braziers, emanating its glory far and wide as the almost overactive moon above you blankets the entire landscape around the castle in a faint, vaguely silvery sheen.
  7295. >In many other cases, this would be an ideal sight on an equally ideal night.
  7296. >The kind of tranquil ambience which poets and artists would dream of.
  7297. >However, you are not here in order to write texts or draw pictures.
  7298. >No, you came for a specific reason.
  7299. >For you know that there is a very particular tension broiling behind these marvellous walls.
  7300. >Albeit not for much longer.
  7301. >#deca.mare raises her voice.
  7302. >"For the record, I was against this."
  7303. >You hug her just a little bit tighter, eyes still focusing on the distant castle.
  7304. "That's the, uh, fifth time you say this, #deca."
  7305. >You think you hear a slight grumble.
  7306. >"And I will not tire of saying this again. The risks are far too substantial to ignore them."
  7307. >She pauses and looks at you.
  7308. >"You should not be here. This is too dangerous for you."
  7309. >You react to her gaze and look at her in turn.
  7310. "Despite the safety measures you've taken? You've installed, what, three separately layered shield generators on this hill, right?"
  7311. >A nod.
  7312. >"Correct."
  7313. >You go on.
  7314. "And each of these three could withstand a fighter barrage if necessary, yes?"
  7315. >The same reaction.
  7316. "Sounds to me like there's nothing to worry about. This spot is as safe as a bunker."
  7317. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  7318. >"The thought of you being close to this confrontation at all is reason enough for me to worry. No safety measure in the world would change that."
  7319. >She takes a breath.
  7320. >"Even with all these layers between us and the events, you are still the most vulnerable individual on the entire planet."
  7321. >Right.
  7322. >Because you do not have the advantage of living beyond the natural life span of your body.
  7323. >Unlike literally everyone else on Equestria.
  7324. >You sigh.
  7325. "I know. But I have to witness this personally. It's... just an obligation."
  7326. >#deca.mare exhales audibly.
  7327. >"You mean it feels like an obligation to you."
  7328. >You shrug.
  7329. "It amounts to the same thing. I've got to be here tonight."
  7330. >#deca.mare sighs.
  7331. >"I understand what you mean, Anon. But this does not make it any easier for me."
  7332. >You press her yet a little bit firmer against you.
  7333. "Trust in your safety mechanisms, #deca."
  7334.  
  7335.  
  7336.  
  7337.  
  7338. >You give her a faint smile.
  7339. "I know that I do."
  7340. >And you actually manage to coax a smile out of her too, in spite of her worries.
  7341. >"You make it sound so easy."
  7342. >You grin a tad more confidently.
  7343. "Because it is so easy. You're no bungler, #deca. You know what you are doing."
  7344. >You give her a swift peck.
  7345. "It will work out. Simple as that."
  7346. >You see that #deca.mare is preparing to say something to object, yet she apparently changes her mind in the last moment.
  7347. >She relents and takes heart from your words.
  7348. >Of course, both of you know that she still has some subliminal concerns about all of this in regard to your safety.
  7349. >But you decide not to bring those worries up at the moment.
  7350. >Instead, you do your best to keep #deca.mare as calm and unstressed as possible.
  7351. >You reach for her back with the arm you have already wrapped around her, and start to massage the area around her shoulder blades.
  7352. >Whilst keeping her close at the same time.
  7353. >And it does seem to have a reassuring effect on her.
  7354. >Though that effect does not prevail for very long.
  7355. >Because from one moment to the next, her ears perk up, her eyes open widely as she studies the castle, and she assumes an attentive posture, fully on alert.
  7356. >"Anon, it begins."
  7357. >And with that, the calm phase is gone.
  7358. >#deca.mare switches completely over to her serious mode, eyeing the situation both from your position on the ground, and from orbit.
  7359. >You have absolutely no doubt that she is using every tool at her disposal to survey every single aspect of the events from every angle you can imagine.
  7360. >Not only for your sake, of course.
  7361. >But if she had to pick priorities, your wellbeing would be her highest.
  7362. >So you do what you came for in the first place, and watch the castle from afar as well.
  7363. >Though nothing seems to have changed, in the next couple of moments at least.
  7364. >The scenery is still peaceful, and the dome of brazier light still illuminates the large building with its warm and inviting aura.
  7365. >But then, only a minute or so after that, the serenity of the landscape is shattered utterly.
  7366. >And said serenity is not the only thing which gets shattered.
  7367. >Because the tension inside the castle has reached a tipping point that now manifests itself in a very distinct form.
  7368. >A singular magic beam suddenly erupts straight out of the roof of the castle's main hall, breaking through the architectural structures with ease.
  7369. >Chunky pieces of solid marble are broken out of the stonework and tossed around by the sheer force of the bright teal energy eruption, causing adjacent segments of the stone ceiling to buckle and collapse in the process.
  7370. >Dust is quickly filling the air around the impact site, obscuring the vision on the scene.
  7371. >You cannot say for sure how grave the damage is yet, but this does not actually matter.
  7372. >After all, this castle will turn into a ruin either way, and it will take more than a millennium for it to be revitalised in a harmonious fashion.
  7373.  
  7374.  
  7375.  
  7376.  
  7377. >But the damage inflicted on the structure is swiftly shunted into the background as the bright form of Princess Celestia darts through the hole in the ceiling.
  7378. >The Alicorn mare ascends and ascends, leaving the building and the dust cloud behind in a hurry, and with only a handful of firm wing beats on top of that.
  7379. >And she is not alone.
  7380. >Celestia's sister is following her through the newly created opening, hot on her heels.
  7381. >However, if you were not aware of what is currently going on right in front of your eyes, you might have needed a moment to recognise Princess Luna.
  7382. >Because this mare has seemingly been affected by a couple of changes.
  7383. >More specifically, her formerly blue coat has become almost pitch black, her mane and tail turned into a darker variant of themselves as well, her hair now floats on its own, and she somehow appears to be just a tiny bit larger than she used to be.
  7384. >Not to mention her new alias, which she is very fond of at the moment.
  7385. >And she does not exactly hide the change of attitude which accompanies her slight shift in style.
  7386. >Only a few seconds after the collapse of the castle roof, she fires a second magic blast.
  7387. >This time directed straight at her light sister.
  7388. >It is just as powerful and destructive as the first one, and it is loaded with a lot of emotional baggage on top of that.
  7389. >For Luna has found herself on an emotional downward spiral for quite a while, as she considers herself to be merely standing in the shadow of her bigger and, as far as Luna perceives it, more illustrious sister.
  7390. >A notion which subtly began with Celestia receiving a lot of the credit for warding off the dragons on the hill.
  7391. >It was a proverbial watershed moment that gradually set the stage for a trend which continued with every newly emerging crisis, slowly wearing Luna's composure down over the course of many years.
  7392. >However, Luna resisted the urges to lash out for a very long time, and not without reason either.
  7393. >Back then, she had a companion at her side.
  7394. >A pony with whom she formed a certain bond, a spiritual kinship of sorts.
  7395. >Barring her big sister, he was the only pony who she would consider to be a real familiar.
  7396. >One could even say he was her friend, even though Luna would never have admitted to this publicly, given her reserved nature.
  7397. >Still, the two shared a lot of their thoughts in private.
  7398. >Exclusively so.
  7399. >Up to the point of his disappearance, that is.
  7400. >Because unbeknownst to her, and almost everyone else, he was on his own path to start a shadowy "career", and he vanished practically over night and without a trace.
  7401. >And as if this were not enough, one of the sisters' oldest and most experienced mentors disappeared shortly thereafter as well.
  7402. >This double loss hit Luna badly.
  7403.  
  7404.  
  7405.  
  7406.  
  7407. >Yet Celestia did not notice just how deep this incision actually cut into Luna's emotional world.
  7408. >Partially because she was increasingly more busy with managing the realm, and partially because she did not know anything about Luna's Unicorn companion in the first place.
  7409. >It simply remained a secret.
  7410. >And as such, Celestia was unaware of Luna's twofold troubles, similar as to how both did not know that the fates of these two vanished ponies were related to one another.
  7411. >A classic case of severe miscommunication.
  7412. >With incisive consequences in the long run.
  7413. >As can be seen right now.
  7414. >Celestia dodges swiftly, causing the attack to shoot into the dark heights of the night sky, to harmlessly dissipate somewhere far above the ground.
  7415. >But Luna continues her chase, not willing to give up so easily.
  7416. >She does not relent for even a second.
  7417. >Celestia in turn tries her best to shake her irate sister off, leading to an aerial dogfight between the two Alicorn siblings.
  7418. >But in her attempt of hitting her sister, Luna fires several further magic beams in quick succession.
  7419. >Some of them go astray, others hit the adjacent landscape, and another selection of attacks hammers the castle directly.
  7420. >One shot in particular hits the side of a smaller tower, shaving off a large portion of its supporting wall in another dusty explosion.
  7421. >Another destroys a modest marble bridge which spanned the gorge up to this point.
  7422. >And yet another strikes the roof of a secondary hall of the castle.
  7423. >The resulting blow of the penetrating impact creates enough force within the room to shatter the stained glass windows on the sides.
  7424. >The clattering sound of the broken glass shards can even be heard on your remote hill.
  7425. >And it is striking enough to almost make you cringe a little.
  7426. >#deca.mare registers your notion at once and her ears perk up.
  7427. >"Anon? Is something wrong?"
  7428. >You shake your head.
  7429. "I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
  7430. >You briefly point at the castle.
  7431. "Can't say the same about the masonry though."
  7432. >#deca.mare nods.
  7433. >"Yes. That is true."
  7434. >She refrains from commenting any further.
  7435. >And both of you know that you share the same sentiments about the situation at large.
  7436. >The only difference between you two is the fact that #deca.mare also suppresses her additional urge to drag you back to the ship for safety reasons.
  7437. >As she has already stated a couple of times herself.
  7438. >With varying degrees of insistence.
  7439.  
  7440.  
  7441.  
  7442.  
  7443. >But shattered windows and crumbling walls aside, the chase above the castle is far from over, and neither of the two Alicorns pays any attention to the environmental damage which is caused by Luna's reckless attacks.
  7444. >And Luna continues to fire at her sister, not caring in the slightest where the stray projectiles may land.
  7445. >So as the rather one-sided air fight progresses, Luna finds opportunities to deliver at least a handful of blasts in every direction.
  7446. >And indeed, there is an odd stray spell here and there which comes comparatively close to your position as well.
  7447. >With "comparatively" referring to impacts at a distance of roughly one hundred and fifty metres and more.
  7448. >Nothing alarming by any stretch of the imagination, at least not with the levels upon levels of protection that #deca.mare has installed beforehand.
  7449. >Yet more than enough of a reason for #deca.mare to foster her personal borderline paranoia about her own safety measures.
  7450. >She shakes her head and exhales loudly.
  7451. >"I love you, Anon. I really do. But sometimes... your ideas are almost giving me heart attacks."
  7452. >One of Luna's projectiles zips through the air above you, lending further credence to #deca.mare's last remark.
  7453. >You are about to reply as the blast makes a literal impact on a nearby hill.
  7454. >It descends with a loud bang, causing pieces of dirt and pebbles to fly around in the ensuing detonation.
  7455. >And as the faint and brief flashes on the surface of the outermost shield prove, a part of the shrapnel reaches your position, only to be deflected by the energy barrier before they can harm you.
  7456. >Well, you really should do something nice for #deca.mare when this is all over.
  7457. >As a compensation for the stress, if nothing else.
  7458. >Right now though, you cannot do much.
  7459. >So you resort to pulling #deca.mare a little bit closer to you as you watch the scene right in front of you.
  7460. >Judging by the sheer amount of already fired shots, and the general state of the now damaged castle, it cannot be long until the two reach their conclusion.
  7461. >And even if it were not for the fact that this encounter is accompanied by Harmony's touch behind the scenes, the outcome of this skirmish would still be more or less the same.
  7462. >After all, Celestia cannot win the dogfight, given her hesitance to retaliate against her sister.
  7463. >Which means that no matter how long it takes, she is bound to draw the shorter straw at the end of the day, as one strike will catch her eventually.
  7464.  
  7465.  
  7466.  
  7467.  
  7468. >Once this happens, she is practically cornered and forced to use the Elements, as she cannot let Luna win under any circumstances.
  7469. >For as much as she values her sister, she also understands that there is an entire realm out there which would be thrown into some serious turmoil if it were to be seized by Luna's alter ego.
  7470. >So the course of action is clear either way.
  7471. >Not so much for Celestia's own sake, but that of all the other ponies she has met and helped over the years.
  7472. >You consider all of this as the next batch of projectiles is fired.
  7473. >Then it comes.
  7474. >The one blast that brings the Princess down.
  7475. >With a sudden dash of surgical precision, Luna manages to score an almost perfect chest hit.
  7476. >Celestia, who can actually see the attack coming at the last fraction of a second, erects a hasty magic shield around herself to ward the attack off.
  7477. >However, given the makeshift nature of her defence, and the brute force that Luna exercises at the moment, it is not enough.
  7478. >For whilst her shield manages to negate at least a part of the incoming energy, it nevertheless falters and disperses under the might of the incoming blast.
  7479. >And the de facto pinpoint burst right at her midsection sweeps Celestia away, effectively knocking her off course and sending her directly into an uncontrolled dive as the shockwave batters her with no further resistance.
  7480. >If she had not diluted the attack, you are sure that the force would have been enough to hurt her critically.
  7481. >In spite of her considerable durability and advanced augmentations.
  7482. >Still, even in this weakened form, the violent effect of the assault cannot be denied.
  7483. >If you were affected by such an attack, you could probably count yourself lucky if it merely rearranged the organs in your body.
  7484. >Though if you are honest, a bloody paste would be a more likely outcome.
  7485. >Celestia, however, is better off, relatively speaking.
  7486. >Though you would not go so far as to describe her state as good at the moment.
  7487. >For the princess trundles downwards in a cloud of her own feathers.
  7488. >Still in one piece, minus aforementioned feathers, yet barely conscious, and plummeting at an alarming rate.
  7489. >And in her current condition, there is actually a high chance that a subsequent uncontrolled crash on the ground could mean a curtain call for her.
  7490. >But this will not happen.
  7491. >You made sure of that.
  7492. >Because as soon as it becomes clear that Celestia may not be able to stabilise herself in time, Harmony takes over for a moment.
  7493. >Celestia's guardian angel subtly steers her body for a short while.
  7494. >In order to ensure a relatively safe, albeit not exactly elegant landing within the main hall of the castle.
  7495. >And just as the princess plops on the ground, Harmony leaves again without a trace, covertly handing the reins back to Celestia.
  7496.  
  7497.  
  7498.  
  7499.  
  7500. >The light Alicorn, still heavily stunned by the blow, needs a moment before she finally manages to gather enough strength to get up and stand on her shaky legs again.
  7501. >She has no idea what just happened.
  7502. >As far as she is concerned, she probably assumes that she must have retained just barely sufficient mental capacities to subconsciously navigate herself more or less safely into the hall.
  7503. >If she is looking for a cause at all, that is.
  7504. >Her foggy mind is fairly preoccupied with other problems, after all.
  7505. >Princess Luna for her part sees no reason to intervene in any of that.
  7506. >On the contrary, she considers herself to be already victorious, given the damage she caused with a singular successful attack.
  7507. >So she keeps hovering above the castle, laughing loudly at her sister with her enhanced voice.
  7508. >Even you can hear her clearly over this distance, as if she were laughing right next to you.
  7509. >And you are fully aware of what happens now.
  7510. >No screen or tool is needed, and no comment from #deca.mare or Harmony is required.
  7511. >You can easily envision everything in your own mind, as you know the sequence practically by heart.
  7512. >A few more moments pass before it finally comes.
  7513. >A new bright light flashes up and shines warmly through the holes of the main hall.
  7514. >Yet as intense as it is, it does not appear to be glaring or blinding in any way.
  7515. >On the contrary, the light is surprisingly inviting to look at, even as it starkly contrasts the shades of the night around it.
  7516. >So you do not avert your gaze or squint at all, and keep observing instead.
  7517. >As you have foreseen, Celestia emerges from the hole shortly thereafter.
  7518. >Her body is still somewhat battered and ruffled, but in the combined light of the Elements around her, each appearing as a flawless and radiating precious stone in its own right, these blemishes are hard to notice.
  7519. >And whilst she harnesses the potential of the Elements, a slight change in her stature becomes visible as well.
  7520. >Without changing much in a physical sense, you somehow get the impression that Celestia becomes a tad more radiant than before, just by looking at her with your own eyes.
  7521. >You have nothing at hand to scan for anything specific right now, yet you are sure that something happens within her.
  7522. >Then, shortly before the harnessing process reaches its climax, the change turns into a more tangible form.
  7523. >Celestia's mane and tail start to flow as well, changing to the uniquely multicoloured hair for which she will be known in the future.
  7524. >At this point, it dawns on Luna that her victory is not quite so assured as she initially hoped.
  7525. >And so she readies herself for a straight frontal beam attack.
  7526. >But just as she has prepared her spell for casting, the Elements make their move as well.
  7527.  
  7528.  
  7529.  
  7530.  
  7531. >All six of them light up yet further, transferring a vast amount of energy to Celestia in the process.
  7532. >With the immense potential now released, Celestia focuses the massive coalescing power into a steady beam of her own, directed to counter Luna's offensive spell upfront.
  7533. >Unlike the show variant, however, this energy outburst does not create a perfectly proportioned rainbow line in the sky.
  7534. >Instead, it is rather a lance of energy with a hue which is in a constant flux, vividly cycling through the characteristic colours of the individual Elements.
  7535. >This process is not exactly uniform though, as it leads to different segments of the beam changing their colours seemingly independently from one another.
  7536. >And even these segments change their sizes and positions constantly, creating ever new fine borders with varying colour gradients.
  7537. >As a result of this irregularity, the harmonious spell can appear nigh monochrome at some points, only to turn into a highly colourful composition in a heartbeat.
  7538. >Nevertheless, it still is a mesmerising sight to behold.
  7539. >In any shade of colour.
  7540. >And it does what it is meant to do.
  7541. >The energy of the Elements easily negates the spell of Luna as the two forces clash, causing the air around the collision point to ripple and waver.
  7542. >Judging by that sight alone, you realise that you do not want to be anywhere near the two beams, as the emanating heat must be considerable.
  7543. >But unlike you, Luna does not have the luxury of keeping a distance.
  7544. >For the beam keeps pushing and crawling ever closer towards her, as it "eats" her own spell step by step.
  7545. >And it must have become clear to her that it is too late to get out of the way now.
  7546. >Her magic proficiency is unable to keep up with the onslaught, which means she is going to lose this particular stand-off sooner or later.
  7547. >But she does not have any viable alternative either.
  7548. >Because even if she had the time to prepare another spell to get away, like a teleportation corridor for example, she would still have to cut the power to the beam to cast it.
  7549. >Yet if she were to do that, the other beam would be faster than her spellwork, catching her regardless.
  7550. >Damned if she did, damned if she did not.
  7551. >From her point of view, there is no way out.
  7552. >Fortunately for Luna though, #deca.mare, Harmony and you have made some arrangements in advance to prevent her from being atomised in front of, and de facto by, her own sister.
  7553. >And so Harmony steps in, mere seconds before the vibrant spell breaches Luna's magic and grazes her body.
  7554. >Harmony prepares a few quick adaptations for the Elements to attune their energy output more closely to Luna's own signatures.
  7555. >Then the three of you have to wait for the correct moment to execute these changes properly.
  7556.  
  7557.  
  7558.  
  7559.  
  7560. >Or rather, #deca.mare and Harmony have to wait for the right moment.
  7561. >Since a precise timing is the essential key for this strategy to work, you can only watch.
  7562. >No one can afford to rely on your delayed input, especially when you are not linked to the system.
  7563. >Well, fair enough for you.
  7564. >You keep your eyes on the grand finale of the night instead, determined not to miss a single second of it.
  7565. >Maybe you can even see the moment when everything snaps into its place.
  7566. >And indeed, you are actually able to spot the precise second when Luna loses control over her offensive spell.
  7567. >Under any other circumstances, said spell would collapse immediately or simply go wild, as the power would either be cut altogether or get dispersed indiscriminately.
  7568. >However, the same guardian angel who saved Celestia from a potentially lethal splat on a stony surface is now saving Luna from an equally unpleasant experience.
  7569. >For Harmony applies the attuned adjustments in this very moment, thereby, for the lack of a better term, almost synchronising the power signatures of the Elements and Luna.
  7570. >With this crucial change, Luna is now theoretically able to handle and absorb the incoming energy as if it were her own.
  7571. >But she has neither the knowledge of this change, nor the time to properly conceptualise the idea in her mind, even if she were aware of what Harmony has done just now.
  7572. >Of course, the three of you knew about this problem, and you have also found a solution for it.
  7573. >Harmony simply hijacks the control of Luna's augmentations for this task, taking care of everything in her stead to ensure a smooth procedure.
  7574. >A bit of a blunt and indiscrete move, granted.
  7575. >But it is the best option you have.
  7576. >And unlike Discord, you are not using it for your amusement or other malicious reasons.
  7577. >Quite the contrary, in fact.
  7578. >Ignoring the question of how appropriate this step might be from a moral perspective though, the results speak for themselves.
  7579. >Because as the beam of Luna disappears for good, Harmony takes over to maintain her magic focus.
  7580. >Yet the purpose of the spell now changes rapidly.
  7581. >Instead of trying to lash out with a ray of energy, Harmony absorbs a good deal of the incoming power for the preparation of a new trick, and skilfully detours the excess energy to narrowly skirt around the Alicorn mare.
  7582. >The resulting sight is something else to behold, as the intense light of the Elements surrounds Luna like a protective cocoon, despite its still considerable potency.
  7583. >And she remains completely hale and hearty within this environment until Harmony has finally gathered enough energy for the next stage.
  7584. >Once this threshold is reached, something changes around the radiant "cocoon", as further disturbances in the atmosphere add themselves to the flashing mix of power and heat.
  7585.  
  7586.  
  7587.  
  7588.  
  7589. >All according to plan.
  7590. >Though you would have recognised these signals in an instant even if you had no idea what Harmony is up to.
  7591. >A corridor is forming around Luna to get her to safety.
  7592. >And, well, to a prolonged "exile" as well.
  7593. >Albeit not on the surface of Equestria's moon, as folklore is going to suggest in the future.
  7594. >The jump corridor, thoroughly fuelled by the steady stream of incoming energy, gradually establishes itself as its light mingles with the already bright emission of the beam.
  7595. >Then it flashes up at its climax before it disappears again, together with the princess herself.
  7596. >Shortly thereafter, Harmony automatically throttles the output of the Elements, and the beam ceases to exist.
  7597. >But before the connection is cut completely, Harmony imparts a subliminal message to Princess Celestia, letting her know that her sister is still alive and well, and that she will return from her "banishment" at a set time in the future.
  7598. >And the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
  7599. >The light Alicorn mare, still hovering in the air for a few more moments, eventually decides to descend and land in the ruins of her castle.
  7600. >Both to recover from current events, and to assess what she has to do now.
  7601. >After all, this night will inevitably shake the foundations of the realm.
  7602. >Even without a hostile takeover by Luna's Nightmare alias, the response to losing one of the two princesses will be severe.
  7603. >Especially since there are a few circles in Equestrian society which have a closer bond to the princess of the night.
  7604. >Contrary to what Luna might have convinced herself of, she had more admirers in Equestria than a single Unicorn.
  7605. >A certain subgroup of mostly nocturnal Pegasi stands out in particular.
  7606. >And these ponies will be less than pleased to hear that Luna was banished for a millennium.
  7607. >By Celestia, of all ponies.
  7608. >If they are willing to believe it in the first place.
  7609. >After all, to them it practically means that none of them will have a chance of seeing Princess Luna ever again, even in the best case scenario.
  7610. >Neither will their foals.
  7611. >And several generations after them for that matter.
  7612. >Of course, things are not quite as bleak in reality.
  7613. >But this point does precious little to dampen any potential upheaval in the near future, as Equestria will only learn about this truth long after the fact.
  7614. >You close your eyes and inhale as you let these thoughts play out in your mind.
  7615. >Princess Celestia is not the only one who has a lot of work on her plate.
  7616. >For the three of you will help her along the way to smooth things over.
  7617. >Both actively, as far as your roles allow you to, at least, and behind the scenes.
  7618. >#deca.mare clears her throat.
  7619. >"Anon?"
  7620. >Her voice frees you from these ponderings as you return back to the present.
  7621. "Yes?"
  7622.  
  7623.  
  7624.  
  7625.  
  7626. >She gets right to the specifics.
  7627. >"Luna has safely arrived in her cryo pod. She is already sleeping firmly."
  7628. >You nod, knowing that Luna will feel like she slept and dreamt for only a week or so when she finally wakes up again in the far future.
  7629. >Much like a certain centaur, she is not going to face several lifetimes of conscious prison existence.
  7630. >And she will not have to deal with the immediate repercussions of this abrupt shift either.
  7631. >Ironically enough, Luna is going to return at a point in time at which all these problems no longer exist.
  7632. >You think you should say something to comment on that.
  7633. >However, #deca.mare changes the subject almost immediately.
  7634. >"And now that we have seen what you wanted to witness in person, let us please bring you back on board."
  7635. >You take a long and deep breath of pure Equestrian air.
  7636. "Wanting to shove me back into the freezer already, hm?"
  7637. >#deca.mare sighs.
  7638. >"Of course. Do you have any idea how much you aged since you have left the ship?"
  7639. >You blink.
  7640. "Uh, a couple of hours?"
  7641. >She shakes her head.
  7642. >"No no no. Completely off the mark."
  7643. >You raise an eyebrow.
  7644. >"Technically speaking, you are correct. But consider this: Every hour you age normally equals a much longer time span of life in the cryo pod. You are wasting time, Anon. Literally."
  7645. >Your brow remains raised.
  7646. "I thought you made some progress in reversing that. This shouldn't be much of an issue then."
  7647. >#deca.mare huffs lightly.
  7648. >"Some progress, yes. But as long as my work is not complete, I consider your life being at risk. Not to mention the uncountable number of other potential dangers aside from mere time."
  7649. >She pauses and embraces you in a warm hug.
  7650. >"I feel better when I have you with me, Anon. There is no safer place for you in the universe. And to be honest..."
  7651. >Now she presses her head gently against your chest.
  7652. >"... I want to read all of your vitals again. Just to know that everything is alright."
  7653. >Well, this would sound more than creepy under other circumstances.
  7654. >But this is #deca.mare.
  7655. >And when she says something like this, she only has the best of intentions in mind.
  7656. >Wait a moment.
  7657. >You blink.
  7658. "#deca?"
  7659. >You get a timid response as #deca.mare hears a hint of suspicion in your voice.
  7660. >She knows that you noticed.
  7661. >"Anon?"
  7662. >Oh yes.
  7663. "You aren't hugging me so tightly just to check on my pulse, don't you."
  7664. >She hesitates.
  7665. >"Well... not... 'just' to listen."
  7666. >Then she takes a breath.
  7667. >"But now that you mention it, did you know that your heart creates a lovely sound? I could listen to it for days."
  7668. >Of course.
  7669. >Because it is a clear indicator that you are still alive.
  7670. >You sigh.
  7671. "I get the hint, #deca."
  7672. >She nuzzles your chest, yet always keeps her ear glued to the exact same spot.
  7673. >"Good. I want you to be around when Luna returns, do you understand?"
  7674. >Oh boy.
  7675. >From concerned to dramatics in a few minutes.
  7676.  
  7677.  
  7678.  
  7679.  
  7680. >And you are sure that she could come up with an endless list of arguments for her position.
  7681. >You take a breath.
  7682. "Fine. We'll head back soon."
  7683. >You pause briefly.
  7684. >But not long enough to give #deca.mare an opportunity to reply.
  7685. "After a little nightly stroll, that is."
  7686. >#deca.mare inhales audibly.
  7687. >"But..."
  7688. >No.
  7689. "Think of it like this: One day we'll have to come clean with Luna, yes?"
  7690. >#deca.mare nods.
  7691. >"Yes. And?"
  7692. >You look up.
  7693. >Into the night sky above the Equestrian plains.
  7694. "And then I want to be able to look her into the eyes and say, with absolute honesty, that I appreciate her night just as much as I like the day."
  7695. >You pause.
  7696. "But how could I say that when I've never even spent a night here?"
  7697. >Another one.
  7698. "And there's no time like the present."
  7699. >Then you lower your head to look at the still clutching #deca.mare on your lap.
  7700. "One night won't kill me, #deca. And we should pay some respect to Luna, if you ask me."
  7701. >#deca.mare does not answer immediately.
  7702. >She is torn between her urge to protect you and the arguments you have just presented to her.
  7703. >Eventually though, she relents with a sigh.
  7704. >"Very well, Anon. We will spend the night here. But..."
  7705. >She takes a long breath.
  7706. >"... if I worry myself to the point of sickness, then you will have to take care of me."
  7707. >Code word for "Do not do anything stupid, I am worried enough as it is".
  7708. >Though you decide to play dumb for a moment and pretend to have missed what she wanted to tell you.
  7709. "You can't get sick, #deca. Or heart attacks for that matter."
  7710. >#deca.mare is on the verge of grumbling loudly, but she stops herself from doing so at the very last moment.
  7711. >And she calls your bluff.
  7712. >"Anon, I may not be able to receive your thoughts without our link, but you cannot fool me this easily. Not after so many years. You know what I meant."
  7713. >Fine.
  7714. >You sigh and admit it.
  7715. "Okay. You got me."
  7716. >Then you gently stroke her mane.
  7717. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Watch my step and all that."
  7718. >With that said, you spend a couple of minutes sitting like this before #deca.mare deactivates the shield generators.
  7719. >The two of you slowly rise to walk down the hill, as the castle in the distance shines in a notably dimmed dome of light.
  7720. >Many of the fires were extinguished by the previous explosions, as the majority of the torches and braziers were knocked around in the shockwaves.
  7721. >And it will take a long time until that damage is going to be repaired in earnest.
  7722. >But it is going to happen.
  7723. >Just as bonds will be mended in the end.
  7724. >That much is certain.
  7725. >Even if it may take a millennium to get there.
  7726.  
  7727.  
  7728.  
  7729.  
  7730. 154
  7731.  
  7732. >You respectfully bow to the armoured pony right in front of you with your proxy.
  7733. >And the mare, clad in an artfully crafted dark metal set, expertly mirrors your movements to share the sentiment.
  7734. >She is comparatively young for a guard, almost certainly a pony of the late second or early third generation.
  7735. >But if the decoration on her armour is to be believed, she seems to have been a member of the Night Guard for quite a while already.
  7736. >You for your part have no reason to doubt that.
  7737. >After all, she does show a degree of experience in spite of her age, and her determined demeanour backs that sentiment up as well.
  7738. >In fact, you would almost call her at least somewhat seasoned, judging by mere looks alone.
  7739. >Once the two of you have risen from your mutual bow, she musters you and your armour again with her unusual irises and speaks up.
  7740. >"We have to ask of you to wait here for the duration of the negotiations."
  7741. >You briefly eye the mare as well, take a look at the other nine Night Guard ponies behind her, and then return your focus back to her.
  7742. >And you shake your head, almost immediately.
  7743. "I'm sorry, but this is out of the question. We are responsible for the princess and her safety. As a fellow guard, I'm sure you will understand that we can't just stay behind."
  7744. >The mare shows no overt reactions before she replies.
  7745. >"The princess has agreed to meet us for talks. In person. And thus, it is her to whom we will talk."
  7746. >And only the princess, as she silently implies.
  7747. >The mare slightly spreads her featherless wings, presenting her flight membranes to you.
  7748. >You are sure she does this to impress you.
  7749. >For there are few who have seen ponies like her.
  7750. >And even fewer who were not at least a little bit intimidated by their unusual anatomy.
  7751. >You, however, remain completely unimpressed by this display.
  7752. >"We guarantee her safety. Or do you have reasons to doubt our competences? Or... our motivations?"
  7753. >Blatantly loaded question.
  7754. >You are about to respond as you hear a pony walking up behind you.
  7755. >And the voice of Princess Celestia chimes in to solve the situation.
  7756. >"These conditions are agreeable."
  7757. >You look at the Alicorn, and she looks back at you.
  7758. >"Star, return to the camp."
  7759. >Celestia turns her head around to address the rest of her armoured honour guard of four.
  7760. >"All of you."
  7761. >Sky Squall, surrounded by Firefly and two other ponies, a mare and a stallion respectively, takes a step in your direction.
  7762. >"Princess, are you..."
  7763. >Celestia interrupts him with a gentle, yet determined movement of her forehoof.
  7764. >"Rest assured, Sky Squall. There is no need for worries or concerns."
  7765. >The stallion hesitates for about a second before he puts his objections aside and bows.
  7766. >"As you wish, Princess."
  7767. >Then he addresses the rest of you.
  7768. >"You heard her, back to the camp!"
  7769. >With that said, the golden Pegasus turns around.
  7770.  
  7771.  
  7772.  
  7773.  
  7774. >The rest of the honour guard detachment follows his example, though all of them show at least a hint of reservation in regard to Celestia's decision.
  7775. >You briefly glance at the princess again, give her a simple nod, and catch up with the rest of the group.
  7776. >Celestia cordially trots towards the assembled ponies of the Night Guard as a gesture of trust and goodwill whilst you leave the site to retreat back to the encampment that you have set up about five hundred metres away.
  7777. >The ponies around you say nothing for a few moments before Sky Squall sighs audibly.
  7778. >"I hope she knows what she is doing."
  7779. >You reply.
  7780. "She is certain of it, that's for sure."
  7781. >The stallion shakes his head.
  7782. >"She may be. I don't know what to make of these ponies though."
  7783. >You direct your gaze to Sky Squall as you keep walking.
  7784. "You think they can't be trusted?"
  7785. >You try to keep your voice as neutral as possible, for you do not want your question to come across as judgemental or accusatory.
  7786. >It is an honest enquiry.
  7787. >He inhales before he elaborates.
  7788. >"Perhaps. Perhaps not. That's what worries me.
  7789. >Sky Squall turns the question around.
  7790. >"What about you? What do you think?"
  7791. >And you give him an honest answer.
  7792. "I think it's going to work out."
  7793. >The stallion raises an eyebrow out of curiosity.
  7794. >"Optimistic, hm?"
  7795. >You nod wordlessly.
  7796. >Now it is Firefly who addresses you.
  7797. >"Even though they had plans to openly antagonise Princess Celestia?"
  7798. >Your answer is short and swift.
  7799. "Yes."
  7800. >Firefly looks sceptical.
  7801. >"Really?"
  7802. >A second nod.
  7803. "Really."
  7804. >Knowing that certainly everyone around you would like to know why you have such a positive outlook, you go on without hesitation.
  7805. "There's no denying that there were some... ideas of challenging Celestia swirling around. But... and that's important if you ask me... this alone is no reason to be alarmed."
  7806. >This bold claim is going to face some staunch protest if you keep it standing like that.
  7807. >So you elaborate on this point as well.
  7808. "Think about their perspective. These Pegasi, or bats, or... whatever you want to call them, were not present during the Unification. When they were discovered near their deep cavernous homes, they lived under the assumption that the tribes were still separated in the outside world. If they were still around at all, that is. They don't know what the Unification was like. They don't have the same bond to it as we do."
  7809. >And you vividly remember the stunned reactions of some when they encountered a well equipped and functional expedition which consisted of ponies from each former tribe.
  7810. >To put it short, many worldviews were turned upside down on that day.
  7811. >Firefly retorts.
  7812. >"That doesn't make anything better, Star. Not at all."
  7813. >You nod.
  7814. "Yes, but bear with me. I'm trying to set the larger picture."
  7815.  
  7816.  
  7817.  
  7818.  
  7819. >Firefly nods in turn, still sceptical, but listening curiously.
  7820. "Hearing of Equestria changed everything for them. They suddenly found themselves in a wider world, confronted with something which they knew nothing of, and which they could barely even process initially. They were without orientation. Desperately looking for something or someone who might help them to grasp their new and confusing situation. They did not know how to engage with us and kept to themselves for the most part."
  7821. >Sky Squall chimes in, for he sees where you are going with this argument.
  7822. >"That's where... Princess Luna stepped in."
  7823. >You nod.
  7824. "Right. From what I've heard, Luna once allegedly said that she, well, saw kindred spirits in these ponies."
  7825. >One of the two other guards, the second mare, takes a long breath and sighs.
  7826. >"Now we know why."
  7827. >You nod.
  7828. "Imagine what they must be thinking right now. After losing their one and only beacon like that. I can fully understand why tempers ran hot when they heard the news."
  7829. >Firefly grumbles.
  7830. >"And we have just delivered the mare who is responsible for their loss right to their doorstep. Alone. With no backup. If that isn't a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is."
  7831. >You look at her.
  7832. "Remember, it's Celestia's personal wish to go with them alone. She wants to show them her good and honest intentions."
  7833. >The magenta mare huffs lightly.
  7834. >"There's a difference between goodwill and foolishness though."
  7835. >Her slightly agitated voice tells you fairly clearly where Firefly places Celestia's latest decision.
  7836. "It is a diplomatic decision, Firefly. She will do everything she can to pacify any bad blood."
  7837. >Sky Squall grumbles.
  7838. >"I hope your optimism is justified, Star. As amicable as Celestia's gesture might be, it leaves the princess vulnerable. Somepony might get... ideas."
  7839. >You look at him.
  7840. "Hm, I don't think so. These ponies are not seeking strife. They are trying to find their place. And perhaps some guidance along the way."
  7841. >You take a breath.
  7842. "And we know their Pegasi elders, Sky. Most of them even personally. Do you think they would like to fight us?"
  7843. >The stallion shakes his head.
  7844. >For he has personally reunited with many of his formerly lost Pegasus comrades after the discovery of the "offshoot" Pegasus tribe.
  7845. >And since they were not affected by the same physical peculiarities as their foals, they have proven themselves to be the best mediators between the "cave born" Pegasi and Equestria at large during the initial diplomatic talks.
  7846. >"No. Not them. Their youngsters though... hard to tell."
  7847. >You give the golden Pegasus a reaffirming nod.
  7848. "Like I said, I've got a good feeling about this."
  7849. >You pause and smile lightly.
  7850. "And my sense for these things wasn't so bad in the past, now was it?"
  7851. >Sky Squall nods back without saying a word.
  7852. >He understands what you mean, and nothing more needs to be said.
  7853. >Firefly seems to be happy to leave it at that too.
  7854. >There is no need to pry in old wounds again, after all.
  7855.  
  7856.  
  7857.  
  7858.  
  7859. >And neither of the two other ponies makes any snide remarks either.
  7860. >A longer moment of silence accompanies your trek after that.
  7861. >It is eventually broken by one of the guards.
  7862. >"Star?"
  7863. >You turn your head in the direction of the stallion.
  7864. "Yes?"
  7865. >His question follows promptly.
  7866. >"What about the things that Celestia said about Luna? You know, that she will return one day? Do you have a sense for that too?"
  7867. >You do not hesitate for even a moment to answer this one.
  7868. "I believe it, yes."
  7869. >You inhale.
  7870. "Celestia wouldn't lie or make jokes about her sister. Especially not in times like these."
  7871. >Firefly chimes in.
  7872. >"It's a shame that it doesn't matter though. Whether you're right or wrong, it won't help us either way."
  7873. >A pause.
  7874. >"None of us will be around to find out. And we can't rely on prophecies or hunches."
  7875. >Another one.
  7876. >And you say nothing to correct her.
  7877. >For rather obvious reasons.
  7878. >"We need to work with what we know for sure."
  7879. >Well, you can agree with the last notion at least.
  7880. >You raise your voice.
  7881. "That's fair. Though this doesn't leave us with many options at the moment either."
  7882. >You eye the camp as it comes ever closer with each step you take.
  7883. "The fact of the matter is, Celestia told us to back off and wait. So we can only stay put and see what happens. Or... we ignore her request and endanger her plans."
  7884. >Sky Squall sighs with a slight notion of agitation.
  7885. >"Passing on that. We'll do what she said."
  7886. >Firefly shakes her head right after that.
  7887. >And the two other ponies agree as well.
  7888. >Though one of them comes up with something else.
  7889. >"I've got a solution. All we need is somepony who's willing to hook up with a bat. Anypony here who likes wings with membranes?"
  7890. >You blink.
  7891. "Uh, what?"
  7892. >The stallion grins cheekily in your direction.
  7893. >Not out of malice or mockery, but simply to jest a little.
  7894. >Probably to lessen the general tension.
  7895. >And with a slight friendly jab at your expense.
  7896. >"Oh come on. You in particular shouldn't be asking, Star. You know what I'm talking about."
  7897. >He comes closer to poke your side with a forehoof, still grinning the whole time.
  7898. >"You were the first to tread this path. And it worked wonders."
  7899. >His slightly amused voice hints at a certain implication.
  7900. >An implication which everyone in the group understands with ease.
  7901. >The second mare fails to suppress a snicker too.
  7902. >Alright then.
  7903. >Two can play this game.
  7904. >The stallion probably expects you to blush and stammer.
  7905. >Or anything like that.
  7906. >However, you simply grin back.
  7907. >And whilst he slowly realises that you are not quite as flustered as he expected, you take the initiative and turn the joke around.
  7908. "You're right. I did. And let me tell you, the results of 'treading that path' were... satisfying."
  7909. >Now he is the one who blinks as the gears start to grind in his mind.
  7910. >Though you are not done yet.
  7911. >Far from it.
  7912. "But the problem is, I'm taken now. So I can't do this again. Someone else has to rise to the occasion this time."
  7913. >You pause briefly.
  7914. >Deliberately so.
  7915.  
  7916.  
  7917.  
  7918.  
  7919. >Then you go on and poke him as well.
  7920. "And since you've brought this up, could it be that you have a certain... untold affinity for this idea? Are you suggesting to volunteer, perhaps?"
  7921. >His ears droop in sudden surprise.
  7922. >"Uhm... no..."
  7923. >You do not relent.
  7924. "The timing would be perfect as well. Even when this current dispute is settled, we'll need more mediators to smooth things over. And preferably also some ponies who are willing to set up shop amongst the bats to strengthen the bond between them and us."
  7925. >Your grin widens.
  7926. "And when a fit single colt like you dwells in their caves... well... things could go faster than you might believe."
  7927. >You get no answer.
  7928. >Yet you need none to continue your monologue.
  7929. "From what I've heard, bat ponies can be very... passionate and direct. It's only hearsay of course, but if the rumours are true, you'll know when one of their mares is taking a liking to you."
  7930. >The gait of the stallion becomes a tad stiffer.
  7931. >So you pat him on the back.
  7932. "But don't worry. One thing we know for sure. They don't drink blood. Or even like the taste of it for that matter. This is a common, yet unfounded myth. The sharp teeth are only used for cracking up some of the local food. You'll be safe. Really."
  7933. >You feign to ponder something.
  7934. "Although... I guess the occasional love bite might not be out of the quest..."
  7935. >The stallion interrupts you with a fervent nod.
  7936. >"Yes... yes. Alright. We get the idea."
  7937. >You shrug.
  7938. "I am only trying to help you. Just in case, you know."
  7939. >The stallion looks at you, now slightly concerned.
  7940. >"In what case?"
  7941. >You remain calm and go on.
  7942. "Oh... I don't know, it could happen that Celestia may ask you whether you would like to volunteer for this post."
  7943. >He blinks.
  7944. >"Uh... why me?"
  7945. >Once again, you pat him on the back.
  7946. "Because you just had a successful and flawless first encounter with one of their groups. There aren't many ponies who can claim that. It's a good sign."
  7947. >You can tell at this point that his mind is trying to assess whether you jest or not.
  7948. >But it seems to dawn on him that even though you might just mess with him now, which you do, some of your arguments do have a reasonable core to them nevertheless.
  7949. >On a diplomatic and tactical level, at least.
  7950. >You dial your act down from here on out, but your number already made the stallion think about something in earnest.
  7951. >And this does come across as somewhat odd to you.
  7952. >After all, it is common knowledge that Celestia usually does not force such tasks upon ponies if they vehemently do not wish to pursue them.
  7953. >So if he were seriously afraid of this option, she would not send him against his will.
  7954. >What is this all about then?
  7955. >Why did his mood shift so rapidly?
  7956. >Well, perhaps you should just ask.
  7957. "Is something the matter?"
  7958.  
  7959.  
  7960.  
  7961.  
  7962. >He nods hesitantly, but does not say anything.
  7963. >Which is not exactly much of a help to you either.
  7964. "You understand that I wasn't fully serious, right?"
  7965. >No answer.
  7966. >But the second mare raises her voice with a chuckle instead.
  7967. >"I guess the thought of a bat 'trouncing' him was a bit too much. But this is a... surmountable problem."
  7968. >She puts an unusual strong emphasis on the "mount" in surmountable, fully aware of the innuendo she just dished out.
  7969. >But again, the stallion gives no answer.
  7970. >Though he does huff once as the mare makes her comment.
  7971. >You look over to her, and you feel the need to come up with a bantering response in the stallion's stead.
  7972. "The same could happen to you too, by the way. It works in both directions."
  7973. >That comment of yours gets a remarkably strong response out of the stallion.
  7974. >In fact, he almost shouts his next word.
  7975. >"No!"
  7976. >All four of you jolt in sheer surprise.
  7977. >No one was expecting this.
  7978. >Even Sky Squall and Firefly appear to be taken aback for a second.
  7979. >So much so that your entire group halts in an instant.
  7980. >You are the first to comment on this sudden outburst.
  7981. "That was... intense. Are you alright?"
  7982. >You take a step in his direction.
  7983. "Did I go too far? If so, I..."
  7984. >He interrupts you immediately.
  7985. >"Yes. I mean... no... but..."
  7986. >You look him straight in the eyes.
  7987. >"Calm down, take a good breath, then try again."
  7988. >He nods and inhales.
  7989. >And as he does, you think you can spot a faint blush that is forming on his face.
  7990. >Intense reaction indeed.
  7991. >Though you are about to get some answers.
  7992. >"There's something that... needs to be said. And I should have done this months ago."
  7993. >A pause.
  7994. >"I don't want any of this to come true, because..."
  7995. >Then he looks straight past you, Sky Squall, and Firefly.
  7996. >For he addresses the second mare directly.
  7997. >With only a moderate degree of success, however.
  7998. >"... because... well..."
  7999. >He clears his throat.
  8000. >"Heart, I... uhm... you..."
  8001. >Another pause.
  8002. >Yet despite the rather poor performance of the stallion, his notion is unmistakable.
  8003. >And even though you are technically still on a mission, you let the scene play out regardless.
  8004. >Sky Squall and Firefly do not object to this decision either.
  8005. >But just as the stallion tries to stammer out a fairly telegraphed confession for the third time, he is interrupted by a forehoof tapping against his chest.
  8006. >Heart, or Quaint Heart, as she is officially known, helps him out to make it easier for him.
  8007. >"If you can't say it with words, show it with your eyes."
  8008. >And he does.
  8009. >For a good minute or so, the two look each other in the eyes whilst you take a few steps back to give them at least a modicum of private space.
  8010. >Quaint Heart is the one who breaks the silence.
  8011. >"Months, hm?"
  8012. >A nod.
  8013. >"Why didn't you say something?"
  8014. >Obvious rhetorical question for anyone who saw his previous performance.
  8015. >And Quaint Heart realises that as well.
  8016. >She goes on.
  8017. >"Never mind, I understand. But please tell me one thing. Why now?"
  8018. >The stallion sighs.
  8019.  
  8020.  
  8021.  
  8022.  
  8023. >"If I don't say anything, if you don't know... you..."
  8024. >He clears his throat and probably curses himself for his repeated verbal stumbling.
  8025. >"It had to come out before... before..."
  8026. >Quaint Heart completes the sentence for him.
  8027. >"...before one of us gets sent into the bat caves."
  8028. >He nods reluctantly.
  8029. >"That... or something else."
  8030. >He inhales.
  8031. >"Star's joke made it clear to me. As long as you don't know, there's a chance that... I might miss the moment to tell you. In one way or the other. And the times are uncertain. Everything could change in a matter of days, for better or for worse. Who knows what we will be doing in the future."
  8032. >Quaint Heart looks at him for a moment.
  8033. >Then she starts to snicker heartily.
  8034. >A reaction which, unsurprisingly, unsettles the stallion, as he struggles and fails to interpret this fit of mirth properly.
  8035. >Fortunately for him though, any potential fears that he might have accidentally pulled his own proverbial pants down, in a crushingly embarrassing way at that, are more than unfounded.
  8036. >And Quaint Heart does not let him sweat for very long.
  8037. >"Oh you silly foal. Did you think you'd lose me so easily?"
  8038. >Then she laughs with a beaming smile.
  8039. >The stallion blinks again whilst his mind tries to process what she is saying.
  8040. >"Hold on. Are you telling me... you knew?"
  8041. >Quaint Heart shrugs and keeps smiling.
  8042. >"I had, hm, reasonable suspicions."
  8043. >Another chuckle.
  8044. >"And I was wondering when you would gather the courage to ask."
  8045. >She laughs a second time.
  8046. >"I never would have thought that it was a brush with the bats that finally did it for you."
  8047. >Combined with a small joke at your expense that completely misfired.
  8048. >But never mind.
  8049. >Sky Squall coughs once to get the attention of the two ponies before he issues some orders.
  8050. >"Quaint Heart, Haze Flow, go ahead and find yourself a quiet corner in the camp. I'm sure you have a lot to discuss."
  8051. >These instructions surprise both of them.
  8052. >And Haze Flow swiftly points out why.
  8053. >"But... we are still part of the envoy. We have to attend the debriefing and wait for the princess."
  8054. >Sky Squall casually waves a forehoof and dismisses this objection.
  8055. >"Don't worry, that's on me. I'll talk to Quill and let her know that I'm responsible because I let you go prematurely."
  8056. >Quaint Heart tilts her head.
  8057. >"She won't be happy to hear that."
  8058. >The golden Pegasus shrugs.
  8059. >"She'll be less pleased to see that we are returning without Celestia. And that the princess told us to stay put until further notice. That's going to occupy her mind for a while. You'll be fine and have my blessing. Promise."
  8060. >A pause.
  8061. >"Besides, we've been together all this time. We three can report on everything that happened."
  8062. >He pauses for a second.
  8063. >"Not that there is much else to say anyway."
  8064. >Which is a fair point.
  8065. >You essentially escorted the princess to the bat ponies, and were then told to leave.
  8066. >Not exactly a Herculean feat worthy of stories or long reports.
  8067.  
  8068.  
  8069.  
  8070.  
  8071. >The two ponies look at each other briefly, and give Sky Squall a mutual nod shortly afterwards.
  8072. >"Thank you, Sky."
  8073. >Sky Squall grins back.
  8074. >"Any time. Stay close enough to be on call though, just in case. Quill might get the idea to put the whole camp on standby when she hears what happened. I don't think it's likely, but you never know."
  8075. >He gives the two a wink.
  8076. >"And we don't want to push her patience too much, right?"
  8077. >Both ponies nod.
  8078. >"Good. Now, off with you."
  8079. >He does not have to say that twice.
  8080. >The two ponies depart side by side, heading for a relatively secluded spot at the camp site.
  8081. >Well hidden from most curious glances, but within range to notice if something important is happening within the camp.
  8082. >The three of you who remain observe them for a moment and wait until they have gained some distance.
  8083. >Once they are out of earshot, Sky Squall inhales deeply and turns his gaze in your direction.
  8084. >"Star, you've done it again."
  8085. >You can only blink.
  8086. "I don't know. Did I?"
  8087. >"Oh, you sure did. A single remark made by you, and the lives of two ponies suddenly change. Just like that."
  8088. >He points at the newly formed pair.
  8089. >"Your words have struck some nerves here. You have said the exact right things to bring these two together. That's an accomplishment in and of itself."
  8090. >The stallion takes a breath.
  8091. >"And it's not the first time you've done this either."
  8092. >You eye the now remote couple for a few seconds as the proverbial cogs in your mind do their work.
  8093. >Then you look back at Sky Squall.
  8094. "Is that why you sent them away? To talk about this with me in private?"
  8095. >The Pegasus almost shakes his head, but decides against it at the last moment.
  8096. >"Both yes and no, I suppose."
  8097. >You tilt the head of the proxy slightly, signalling Sky Squall that he needs to elaborate on this.
  8098. >So he does.
  8099. >"I think they should have this moment for themselves now. The two have a lot to talk about. And I don't think they'd really be 'there' at the debriefing either."
  8100. >A pause.
  8101. >"That being said, I admit that they shouldn't hear what I've got to say. I don't think it would be a good idea to meddle with the likely start of their relationship... and how they feel about it."
  8102. >Alright.
  8103. >This sounds serious.
  8104. "What do you mean? I haven't really done anything."
  8105. >You take a breath.
  8106. "Haze made the initial joke, remember? I just turned the tables so that his jab backfired on him."
  8107. >Sky Squall nods.
  8108. >"That's true. But you did put him on the spot with this."
  8109. >You look at the two now relatively remote ponies.
  8110. "It was just meant to be harmless banter. I honestly had no idea."
  8111. >The stallion laughs.
  8112. >"You know what, Star? I believe you. Though this is a bit of a pattern with you, isn't it."
  8113. >A pattern?
  8114.  
  8115.  
  8116.  
  8117.  
  8118. >Is he referring to what happened to himself and Firefly in the past?
  8119. >How you brought him into an embarrassing situation, and how it became the final straw that caused things to finally start rolling in earnest?
  8120. >Well, the two sequences are vaguely similar in that regard, but both the severity of your actions and the general context around these situations are completely different.
  8121. >Either way though, the stallion nods once he realises that you think about exactly that.
  8122. >"I can't tell whether you are the best helper in love affairs, or the worst."
  8123. >And you are likewise not sure whether this is a compliment or not.
  8124. >"But the fact of the matter is, you are one... somehow. Intentionally or unintionally."
  8125. >You have no idea how to respond for a moment.
  8126. >Yet even after evaluating what might be an appropriate comment, you still draw a blank.
  8127. "I... don't know what to say."
  8128. >You look Sky Squall in the eyes, turn to Firefly a few seconds later, and then shift back to Sky Squall.
  8129. "Though... if you put it like that, I have to ask something. Both of you."
  8130. >The two Pegasi nod at the same time.
  8131. >"Go ahead."
  8132. "Regardless of my part in the whole affair, do you regret how things have turned out for you in some way? I mean... personally."
  8133. >Sky Squall and Firefly turn their heads to look at one another.
  8134. >Wordlessly.
  8135. >Then, as if on cue, they both spread a wing and wrap the respective limb around the back of the other pony.
  8136. >And to really sell the performance, the two Pegasi mutually pull themselves closer to one another, resulting in a metallic clanking sound as their armour plates collide.
  8137. >Well, this is one way to answer the question.
  8138. >Yet something tells you that they would not show such a gesture of affection in the presence of many individuals.
  8139. >After all, their public reputation as perhaps the most famously intrepid couple of their time takes precedence over showing acts of romantic endearment openly.
  8140. >This kind of thing is generally reserved for their more private moments.
  8141. >Still, the two simply stand there for a while, eyeing you in silence as you look at them in turn.
  8142. >Until Firefly raises her voice.
  8143. >"Any more... redundant questions?"
  8144. >You blink.
  8145. "Not... really, no."
  8146. >The magenta mare nods.
  8147. >"Then let's keep moving. Quillmare Ink is waiting for our report."
  8148. >The Pegasi lift their wings again and turn towards the camp.
  8149. >So you follow their example as the three of you resume your short trip to the provisional encampment.
  8150. >Upon reaching your destination, you are, unlike a certain other pair, almost immediately spotted by a nearby group of assembled ponies.
  8151. >And one of the ponies is a very familiar Earth pony mare.
  8152. >You wave to #deca.mare as you approach the group, with Sky Squall and Firefly following your steps closely.
  8153.  
  8154.  
  8155.  
  8156.  
  8157. >As soon as you are in range, you greet #deca.mare with a tight hug.
  8158. >Openly, and for everyone to see.
  8159. >And #deca.mare addresses you as you are holding one another.
  8160. >"You are back! That was fast!"
  8161. >The two of you let go and resort to simply facing each other for the rest of the conversation whilst the ponies around you are listening to what you have to say.
  8162. >"How did it go? And where is the princess?"
  8163. >Your cue.
  8164. "I... can't tell how well it went yet. Celestia went with the bat ponies."
  8165. >#deca.mare blinks and eyes the two Pegasi behind you.
  8166. >And she comes up with a plausible conclusion from someone in her position.
  8167. >"She stayed there? With Quaint and Haze?"
  8168. >You shake your head.
  8169. "No... not quite. She stayed there on her own."
  8170. >#deca.mare is about to ask the obvious question as to what happened to the two missing ponies, but you are faster.
  8171. "We'll explain it later. But right now, we've got to inform Quill. Do you know where she is?"
  8172. >#deca.mare points at a moderately sized "storage" tent in the vicinity.
  8173. >"She is checking the inventory, as far as I know. Quill wants to evaluate whether we have enough material to replace the shattered bridge that led to the castle."
  8174. >She then points at her own group.
  8175. >"Which is why we are about to head out too. Some pieces of the former bridge could be salvageable for a makeshift replacement."
  8176. >You shake your head.
  8177. "You better wait here for now. Quill might change her mind when she hears the news."
  8178. >#deca.mare nods.
  8179. >And the rest of her group quickly agrees as well.
  8180. >Celestia and her wellbeing is their highest priority at the moment, especially after seemingly losing Luna so suddenly.
  8181. >The bridge can wait.
  8182. >So without further ado, you turn around to go to the tent.
  8183. >Once again, Sky Squall and Firefly join you without any comment.
  8184. >Whilst you are on the way, you mentally reach out to #deca.mare to ask some questions.
  8185. >Hey, #deca.
  8186. >She responds over the comm channel.
  8187. >"Yes, Anon? I am listening."
  8188. >A little warning ahead of time would have been appreciated, you know?
  8189. >#deca.mare snickers.
  8190. >"Would it really? Everything worked out well for Quaint and Haze, did it not?"
  8191. >She takes a breath and goes on.
  8192. >"Before you ask, yes. This relationship grew naturally earlier on. Your impulse was merely the last proverbial spark to ignite the fire that was already in the making. Similar to how it worked on a certain other pairing."
  8193. >And they have shown you quite clearly how they feel about their lives together.
  8194. >More so than they ever did to probably everyone else.
  8195. >Another snicker.
  8196. >"Believe me, your contribution to this development was completely organic as well. I had no part in it. And neither did Harmony."
  8197. >She pauses again.
  8198. >"If you had acted differently, the outcome might have been vastly different as well. That being said, however, I for one am happy with the result as it is. And, which is far more important, the two will not regret it either."
  8199.  
  8200.  
  8201.  
  8202.  
  8203. >#deca.mare inhales audibly.
  8204. >"In short, there is nothing to be worried about, Anon."
  8205. >You nod faintly in acknowledgement, minding not to overdo it as Sky Squall and Firefly might notice the gesture otherwise.
  8206. >Thank you, #deca.
  8207. >That is good to know.
  8208. >Although...
  8209. >Your last remark piques the attention of #deca.mare again.
  8210. >"Although what?"
  8211. >You grin at no one in particular.
  8212. >This would have been an ideal opportunity for a joke remark about one of them possibly having an Alicorn foal with leather wings.
  8213. >#deca.mare sighs, yet her voice reveals a faint notion of amusement as she does.
  8214. >"Anon, please. Haze Flow envisioned too many scary scenarios already."
  8215. >Well, fair enough.
  8216. >His mind was indeed filled with a lot of wild thoughts which put him under a considerable degree of stress at that time.
  8217. >This much was obvious, even to you.
  8218. >And even though you enjoy some good bantering fun every now and then, making a stallion soil himself in the company of his semi-secret love interest is unquestionably not something you would be fond of.
  8219. >Not at all.
  8220. >Oh well.
  8221. >But you put any further ponderings in regard to this potential joke aside for the time being.
  8222. >For the three of you are about to reach the inventory tent.
  8223. >Which means you should think about the wording that you plan to choose for your report instead.
  8224. >After all, Quillmare Ink can be very nit-picky if she wants to.
  8225. >And considering the news which you are going to deliver, you think that she is highly inclined to pose very meticulous questions.
  8226. >You stop right before the entrance and look Firefly and Sky Squall in the eyes in quick succession.
  8227. "Everyone ready?"
  8228. >Two nods.
  8229. "Alright, let's go then."
  8230. >Your little party disappears within the tent.
  8231. >In the meantime, between a few nearby locked crates filled with reserve foodstuffs, two ponies hide themselves away.
  8232. >Yet what they have in mind is not related to food in any way whatsoever.
  8233. >A bit further in the distance, in the confines of a similar, yet completely different camp, a bat pony serves a certain Alicorn princess a bowl of liquid.
  8234. >An entirely drinkable, harmless, and even relatively nourishing liquid.
  8235. >Albeit one of a questionable scent, and an even more challenging taste.
  8236. >Especially so for anyone who is not familiar with it.
  8237. >And its vivid crimson colour, which is more than reminiscent of a certain vital sanguine liquor, makes its first consumption even more "memorable" for the uninitiated.
  8238. >Not to mention the appearance of the bioluminescent cave roots that serve as the basis for this beverage.
  8239. >If one were so forthcoming as to show to volunteers what these plants look like, most, if indeed not all curious candidates would be likely to bail out and bolt right on the spot.
  8240.  
  8241.  
  8242.  
  8243.  
  8244. >The majority of ponies would call this brew undrinkable if they knew about it, and retch at the mere thought of consuming it.
  8245. >Bat ponies call it delicious tea.
  8246. >Artery Tea, to be precise.
  8247. >Named as such because the dangly, gnarled, and crusty dark cave roots with the nigh pulsating red glow, even after being cut off, reminded the bat ponies, of, well, blood vessels.
  8248. >And because it is, in a way, considered to be the lifeblood drink of the caves.
  8249. >After all, when the choice of nourishment is rather limited, a strangely sating red liquid can become fairly popular very quickly.
  8250. >Though despite the rather peculiar name, which also might have helped to spread the myths of bat ponies being allegedly predatory blood drinkers, the tea is completely made out of unobjectionable plant-based ingredients.
  8251. >And, in a display of noble courtesy, the bat ponies do indeed offer Princess Celestia, a mare who is widely known for her refined taste, a bowl of their "Artery's Finest Tea Brew".
  8252. >The best and most potent concoction they have ever invented.
  8253. >Offered up right at the start of their diplomatic talks.
  8254. >For it would be impolite of them not to do this in the presence of another esteemed connoisseur of tea.
  8255. >Obviously.
  8256. >Celestia gratefully accepts the offer of course, as she toasts to successful talks and amicable agreements.
  8257. >And a, hopefully, clement stomach which is not going to revolt within the next hours.
  8258. >But the princess keeps that last part to herself.
  8259. >For all too understandable reasons.
  8260. >Unbeknownst to her though, she is in luck in this regard.
  8261. >Because once said brew is ingested, and not immediately thrown up again of course, it is perfectly digestible without any issues.
  8262. >Still, you for your part can count yourself lucky.
  8263. >You only have to deal with one picky mare.
  8264. >In comparison to what the princess is facing right now, the whims of diplomacy are kind to you today.
  8265. >And you know exactly what her task entails.
  8266. >For you have requested a sample of said tea from #deca.mare a while ago, just to sate your own curiosity.
  8267. >A request she fulfilled, yet not without warning you in advance that you are almost certainly going to loathe it.
  8268. >Which was an apt prediction to say the least.
  8269. >You needed three attempts to down the first sip, and gave up after one third of a cup.
  8270. >You can only imagine what it must be like to tackle an entire bowl at the first go in order to avoid committing a diplomatic faux pas.
  8271. >If not more.
  8272. >A considerable challenge, even for an Alicorn.
  8273. >And there is of course still the tiny issue of reconciling with a group of highly alarmed bat ponies on top of that.
  8274. >You shake your head once as you eye the crates inside the tent.
  8275. >No, you have an easy job today, all things considered.
  8276. >You only have to convince Quillmare Ink that Celestia is able to see it through on her own.
  8277. >And your first step to achieve this goal is to forget the words tea and artery for the rest of the day.
  8278.  
  8279.  
  8280.  
  8281.  
  8282. 155
  8283.  
  8284. >It took several additional diplomatic gatherings and days of tedious back and forth prodding, paired with a considerable amount of blood red beverage as well, but the tensions between the bat ponies and the rest of Equestria were eventually settled peacefully.
  8285. >The bat ponies remained a part of Equestria, and reluctantly gave the reign of Princess Celestia a chance.
  8286. >In return, the princess promised the bat ponies to do everything in her power to help them find their place within the greater fabric of the realm.
  8287. >It was clear to everyone that this process would take some time, and become a bit bumpy on occasion.
  8288. >But still, the ponies were more often than not ready to welcome their cave born cousins into their ranks.
  8289. >After all, they have found friendships and kinship during their encounters with former rivals in the past.
  8290. >This was no unprecedented situation for them.
  8291. >And even though no one knew it just yet, this step marked a major change in the history of Equestria.
  8292. >Because from this point forward, the age of the major ancient crises had passed, and an era of peace and thriving life took its place.
  8293. >Equestria had finally arrived at its path to shape itself into the gem it will ultimately become.
  8294. >And the welcomed respite helped Princess Celestia a lot in learning how to tackle the challenges of guiding an entire realm on her own.
  8295. >Bonds between ponies throughout the entirety of the known maps strengthened further, and disputes, rare as they have become, were settled very quickly.
  8296. >Without external help from Harmony, even.
  8297. >Or anyone else for that matter.
  8298. >In fact, as time went on, the number of incidents which required any attention whatsoever decreased on a steady basis.
  8299. >Of course, outliers were still possible at all times, yet the general trend was obvious to spot.
  8300. >As for the bat ponies in particular, they begun a process of semi-assimilating themselves.
  8301. >They have grown far more accustomed to the "general" Equestrian life, and have gradually adopted some of the more common habits and traditions of the realm.
  8302. >However, due to their strong attachment to cave life and an equally strong respective preference of a nocturnal way of living, the larger portion of the bat ponies retained their choice of sticking to the subterranean lairs which have become their home.
  8303. >Some others decided to found smaller bat pony settlements which are similar to what one would consider a traditional Earth pony village.
  8304. >Yet the majority of those kept the habit of retreating to their homes during the day as well, only to come out at dusk.
  8305. >Which also made it fairly easy for visitors and travellers to identify which settlement was built by whom.
  8306. >And a few select bat ponies decided to venture out into Equestria.
  8307. >To discover what the vast lands have to offer in the daylight.
  8308.  
  8309.  
  8310.  
  8311.  
  8312. >Yet considering the relatively small number of bat ponies in comparison to Equestria's total population, sighting one of them in any settlement was always a rare occasion which aroused the curiosity of the locals.
  8313. >Still, their general standing and reputation steadily improved over time.
  8314. >So it did not take long until the first curious souls visited the bat pony villages and their home caves, fully knowing that they would have to adapt to the nightly rhythm of the cave born rather than the other way round.
  8315. >And just as the others welcomed their kin, the bat ponies openly accommodated those ponies who wished to learn more about them.
  8316. >They told them about their history since the separation during the great storm, their traditions, their home, and even their unusual physiology.
  8317. >The bat ponies provided their guests with the knowledge that they were looking for, and the only compensation they asked for in return was to hear similar stories and bits of information about the rest of the realm around them.
  8318. >Both to expand their own understanding, and to stay up to date with the things that are happening elsewhere.
  8319. >Because they gained a steadily growing interest in the fate of Equestria as well.
  8320. >And they were a little bit amused by the fact that Princess Celestia had reformed her retinue of armoured companions into a rather streamlined group which took more than a pinch of inspiration from the bat pony Night Guard.
  8321. >Albeit an adapted Night Guard equivalent which was still open to volunteering ponies from all walks of life.
  8322. >Though the princess was considerate enough not to blatantly call her new entourage the Day Guard or anything like this.
  8323. >Instead, she chose a more diplomatically neutral name.
  8324. >She dubbed her new force the Protective Pony Platoons, the first iteration of what will eventually be known as the Royal Guard of Equestria.
  8325. >Though whilst the Night Guard was, on a purely technical basis, not an inherent part of this newly minted organisation, and therefore a "foreign" force, Princess Celestia cordially invited all members of the Night Guard to join in soon thereafter, in spite of this little technicality.
  8326. >As a sign of her trust, and to demonstrate to the bat ponies that Equestria at large greeted them as equal peers.
  8327. >The bat ponies accepted her offer after a short period of consideration, though under the condition that they remained as they were.
  8328. >For they were the Night Guard, the ponies of the caves clad in their distinctive dark armour, the featherless Pegasi who braved the night like no one else.
  8329. >This was their origin and their legacy.
  8330. >They were convinced that they owed it to Princess Luna to at least remember this fact, as it was her who embraced the bat ponies for the first time, long before anyone else did.
  8331. >And Celestia, who openly declared that Luna will return one day, agreed to this condition.
  8332.  
  8333.  
  8334.  
  8335.  
  8336. >Thus, the Night Guard became a branch of the future Royal Guard.
  8337. >One small and somewhat specialised platoon in its own right, with everything from its own custom gear up to its quasi-independent internal structure, but a full-fledged and respected part of the Guard nonetheless.
  8338. >It is a position they will maintain for generations.
  8339. >Well into the year of Princess Luna's eventual return, and even far beyond that.
  8340.  
  8341.  
  8342.  
  8343.  
  8344. 156.1
  8345.  
  8346. >Equestria's brightly shining future is gradually becoming a reality.
  8347. >And life for the ponies of the realm has never been better.
  8348. >The challenges and efforts of the past have finally borne fruit, and actual long-lasting hardships are a distant memory at best.
  8349. >All is well and good in the realm of Equestria.
  8350. >Yet the passing of time leaves its mark on almost everything in one way or another.
  8351. >So as the years go by, so do the years of the ponies of the first generation.
  8352. >Old age eventually starts to catch up with the earliest denizens on the planet.
  8353. >Yet #deca.mare and you knew that this inevitable point in time was due to come sooner or later.
  8354. >And aside from the fact that Harmony preserves the affected ponies and keeps them alive beyond their natural life spans, effectively indefinitely at that, #deca.mare and you thought it would be appropriate to come up with a few things which lessen the blow of the apparent loss for the relatives and friends of the seemingly deceased.
  8355. >For instance, all ponies, regardless of their original tribe, talent, or past experience, know, deep in their hearts and without really being able to explain it, that death is not the end.
  8356. >And that those who are apparently gone still remain in some way, somehow.
  8357. >If one were to ask these ponies how this notion manifests itself, every pony would at first struggle to explain it, and eventually come up with a different interpretation of the answer, based on the individual experiences and views on the world.
  8358. >Some might say the spirits of the departed watch and perhaps even somehow guide their relatives and kin.
  8359. >Others envision an idyllic afterlife of some sort in which the beloved ones are waiting for their family members and friends, once their time has come as well.
  8360. >A third relatively widespread belief states that the souls of the ancestors can manifest in those who come after them, to help out beloved ponies in times of need or desperation.
  8361. >Yet another group may have entirely different ideas in mind.
  8362. >And of course, the details on what these concepts may actually entail vary notably from pony to pony, even in their own respective circles.
  8363. >The variations are practically endless.
  8364. >But no matter what the individual belief of the ponies in question may be and what concepts they would subscribe to, the mere presence of this knowledge implies a notion of faint optimism.
  8365. >For they subconsciously know for sure that they will not face the void or oblivion, even when they utterly struggle to explain to others why this is the case.
  8366.  
  8367.  
  8368.  
  8369.  
  8370. >And a part of this subliminal insight does rub off on how the ponies conduct their burial rites.
  8371. >For whilst these occasions are always mournful, they never devolve into bleak or dire affairs.
  8372. >The gathered ponies recall fond memories and mutually appreciate the times they have spent with those who have seemingly passed.
  8373. >They tell stories, share the best moments they had with them, and are generally simply there for one another.
  8374. >In its own strange way, it is also a heartwarming experience for those who attend.
  8375. >A reminder that they are not alone.
  8376. >That they have others to rely on when they need it.
  8377. >Always.
  8378. >However, this warm and dear handling of these occasions does not fully extend to you, as you have found out first hand.
  8379. >Sure, the ponies treat you with just as much respect and care as all the others when you attend a funeral, but it always creates a queasy feeling within you when you experience this sensation.
  8380. >After all, you are fully aware of what is happening.
  8381. >And a part of you is almost tempted to let something slip in public, to tell them each and every time that all of their relatives and friends are still alive and that they will see them sooner or later.
  8382. >Just to alleviate the grief of the ponies even further.
  8383. >Though you are also aware of the stinging certainty that you cannot do that.
  8384. >Not for many, many more generations.
  8385. >They have to find this out themselves.
  8386. >But you can at least somewhat appreciate the irony of it.
  8387. >You and #deca.mare are the only attendants who are aware of all the details, and you for your part are sometimes the guest who feels the most miserable because of your knowledge.
  8388. >And there have been a couple of occasions in which some ponies have noticed and picked up on your seemingly depressed mood, misinterpreting your malaise as a severe fit of dismay.
  8389. >When this happens, it usually leads to yet another moment of irony.
  8390. >Because the ponies, sensing that someone might be in distress, offer to help in any way they can, increasing the awkwardness of these moments even further.
  8391. >Which then prompts you to politely decline these offers.
  8392. >This is always a tricky affair, as such a rejection can be easily misunderstood as a moment of emotional panic as well.
  8393. >But it has, fortunately, never come so far yet.
  8394. >However, the next rite you are going to attend may finally be the one which changes that record.
  8395. >Because you might actually lose someone during its aftermath.
  8396. >Though for entirely different reasons.
  8397. >And in spite of the fact that no one is actually dying.
  8398.  
  8399.  
  8400.  
  8401.  
  8402. 156.2
  8403.  
  8404. >Your proxy glides through the high altitude skies of Equestria, a good bit above the regular cloud levels.
  8405. >And the weather conditions are ideal for a flight like yours.
  8406. >For it is a perfect summer day.
  8407. >Warm, bright, agreeable wind conditions, with only the occasional white cloud passing by here and there.
  8408. >And the sight on the green landscape is beyond compare.
  8409. >One could not ask for a better scenery.
  8410. >Indeed, it is practically perfect, even by Equestrian standards.
  8411. >But you have other things in mind.
  8412. >In fact, you do not pay any attention to the pleasantries of the environment at all.
  8413. >You are looking for something instead.
  8414. >Or rather, someone.
  8415. >And after a few minutes of scouting the air, you find what you are looking for.
  8416. >A golden spot sitting on a cloud in the distance.
  8417. >You take a deep breath and change your course.
  8418. >Then you fly directly towards it.
  8419. >As you come closer, you see that Sky Squall is casually sitting on the singular cloud, looking at the distant horizon with his back turned to you.
  8420. >He cannot know that you are coming.
  8421. >Yet at the same time, you do not want to surprise the stallion by catching him off guard.
  8422. >After all, this will be tricky enough as it is.
  8423. >So you decide to announce your arrival with a few needlessly firm and loud wing beats.
  8424. >And they do what they are supposed to do.
  8425. >Sky Squall turns his head around and spots you immediately.
  8426. >He gives you a brief nod and observes you as you land right next to him.
  8427. >"Star? Hello."
  8428. "Hello, Sky. How are you?"
  8429. >His gaze returns to the horizon.
  8430. >"Strange, to be honest."
  8431. >You sigh inwardly.
  8432. >He is not going to beat around the bush for very long.
  8433. "Strange? In what way?"
  8434. >Sky Squall takes a breath.
  8435. >"Star, please. Do not pretend to miss it."
  8436. >Or not beating around anything whatsoever.
  8437. >The stallion stretches a forehoof and holds it up, pointing at the horizon in the process.
  8438. >But he does not eye the skies any more.
  8439. >No, he rather inspects his own limb.
  8440. >"I remember, Star. I remember being older. But this..."
  8441. >He touches his limb with his other forehoof, as if he were probing it.
  8442. >"... this is me... in my prime. So unless I'm dreaming, something must have happened. Something big. You don't just age backwards from one day to the other."
  8443. >He looks at you again.
  8444. >With perhaps the most scrutinising expression you have ever seen.
  8445. >"Do you know anything about it?"
  8446. >You take another long breath before you reply.
  8447. "Well... when you're asking me so directly... yes. I do."
  8448. >He does not seem to be surprised.
  8449. >"I thought as much."
  8450. >Oh?
  8451. "You did?"
  8452. >The golden Pegasus goes on, still drilling into you with his piercing glare.
  8453. >"Don't ask me why, but I saw it the moment you came here. Something is different, Star. And it's not only me. It's also you, the world, everything."
  8454. >You hesitate to go on.
  8455. >But you do anyway.
  8456. "I know what happened to you. And this here... this is not a dream."
  8457.  
  8458.  
  8459.  
  8460.  
  8461. >The stallion blinks and his mood appears to change rapidly.
  8462. >He suddenly looks somewhat solemn and reflective.
  8463. >You have never seen him quite like this before.
  8464. >And it does make you feel uneasy as well.
  8465. >"I'm dead, right? That's what happened, isn't it."
  8466. >Oh boy.
  8467. >Not holding back at all.
  8468. "Uh... what makes you think that?"
  8469. >He remains motionless.
  8470. >"A hunch. I... had a feeling that it could happen soon."
  8471. >A brief moment of silence.
  8472. >"And your face. It's... telling. Just spit it out."
  8473. >You sigh.
  8474. "Very well. Yes, you are right. This is exactly it."
  8475. >Your revelation does not appear to shock Sky Squall.
  8476. >And it looks like he was expecting that answer already.
  8477. >But his demeanour shows that he is nevertheless uncertain of many things right now.
  8478. >Unsurprisingly.
  8479. "In a way, that is. But also not. Not... really."
  8480. >Now you have confused him.
  8481. >"Dead, but not really dead? What do you mean?"
  8482. >You try to approach this from another angle.
  8483. "How do I put it..."
  8484. >You clear your throat.
  8485. "... your body is gone. But your mind remains. Perfectly intact at that."
  8486. >Sky Squall nods again, and you can tell that he is trying to process your words.
  8487. >And for a moment, no one says anything.
  8488. >It is obvious that he is struggling to believe you, as it is a tough pill to swallow.
  8489. >Yet at the same time, a part of him feels that you are telling the truth.
  8490. >And eventually, it is the latter part which wins his internal quarrel.
  8491. >"This... means the stories are true then. There is indeed a beyond."
  8492. >You nod.
  8493. "That's right. This is not the end."
  8494. >"And... what is this instead? Where are we?"
  8495. >This could get tricky to explain.
  8496. >And there are too many things you need to cover as it is already.
  8497. >So you go for a simple explanation for the time being.
  8498. "Where you wanted to be. Your mind has subconsciously brought you here."
  8499. >The gears in the stallion's head grind again.
  8500. "I'll explain everything to you in detail later. But... we've got another thing to discuss first."
  8501. >Sky Squall takes a breath.
  8502. >"Who are you?"
  8503. >Your back starts to shiver as you hear his question.
  8504. "What?"
  8505. >"Who are you? Are you really the Pegasus I know, or are you... something else... like a spirit... or a memory of mine... that has merely taken on a familiar form? And if so, why him?"
  8506. >Sky Squall has no idea how much gold he struck with this question.
  8507. >Again, you choose to be conservative with the number of truths you dish out at once.
  8508. "It's me, Sky. And I'm not a spirit. Or a Windigo for that matter."
  8509. >His ears perk up during the last part.
  8510. >The Windigo remark got him.
  8511. >"It's... really you?"
  8512. >You nod.
  8513. >And his expression changes again.
  8514. >A notion of concern adds itself to the already strange emotional mix.
  8515. >"So... you too? How? When? I wasn't aware."
  8516. >You sigh another time.
  8517. "No, I didn't. But we'll come to that. It's... uhm... a long story."
  8518. >You see that Sky Squall is about to huff in slight annoyance.
  8519. >Even in the afterlife, you still give him the same cryptic answers.
  8520.  
  8521.  
  8522.  
  8523.  
  8524. >But you react quickly enough to prevent that.
  8525. "I know, I said this many times before. Today though... today you'll hear the full story. This is a promise."
  8526. >You inhale loudly.
  8527. "And I'm completely honest with you, Sky. I'm afraid. Afraid of your reaction... once you know what is going on. Because..."
  8528. >You start to stutter.
  8529. >And Sky Squall uses the opportunity to ask explicitly.
  8530. >"Because what?"
  8531. >You muster the courage to go on.
  8532. "... because I don't want to lose you as a friend."
  8533. >As you have expected, this catches his attention.
  8534. >"I... don't like the tone of that. What are you talking about, Star?"
  8535. >Well, here goes nothing.
  8536. "There's something I owe you, Sky. A truth you need to know at last."
  8537.  
  8538.  
  8539.  
  8540.  
  8541. 156.3
  8542.  
  8543. >The sun has almost set in the distance as you are done with your explanations.
  8544. >Sky Squall barely said anything the whole time.
  8545. >He simply listened to what you had to say, and faced you with a nigh stoic looking poker face.
  8546. >And you have no idea how to read it for once.
  8547. >It could be anything, from surprise to disbelief, or even straight out anger.
  8548. >This uncertainty made it even harder for you to keep going.
  8549. >But you saw it through in spite of your personal hesitations.
  8550. >For better or for worse, the proverbial cards are now all on the table.
  8551. >At least as far as Sky Squall is concerned.
  8552. >Yet as much as you would like to ask what he is thinking, you do not dare to make any move right now.
  8553. >You let him proceed in his own pace.
  8554. >For you are certain that he will say something when he is ready to.
  8555. >Minutes pass.
  8556. >A whole lot of them.
  8557. >And you bear every single second in silence, hoping for the Pegasus to make the next move.
  8558. >Eventually, he inhales audibly and raises his voice.
  8559. >"I don't know what to say. Or to think. Star... or Anon... or whatever your real name is."
  8560. >Well, neither do you.
  8561. >Though you should say something.
  8562. "Anon is the real one. But if you prefer Star..."
  8563. >Sky Squall interrupts you.
  8564. >"Whatever. It's not like it matters."
  8565. >You shake your head.
  8566. "But it does matter. It's...
  8567. >A second interruption.
  8568. >"Just... stay quiet."
  8569. >You do what he asks of you.
  8570. >And what follows is another long period of painful silence.
  8571. >Until the stallion speaks up once more.
  8572. >"What do you say to somep... somewhatever..."
  8573. "Human."
  8574. >"...to somehuman who just told you that everything you thought and everything you believed in is a lie?"
  8575. >You shake your head and ignore his wonky lexis.
  8576. >This is not the right time for vocabulary corrections.
  8577. "Nothing is a lie, Sky. Equestria is a real place. Everything about it is real. The land. The ponies. You. It's all true. We have given you a framework, yes. But what you and the others eventually make of the world will be your decision. Yours alone."
  8578. >He scoffs.
  8579. >"You say this so lightly. After you lied to me and everypony else for decades. Played charades and make believe. I can't trust a single word you say, 'human'. If that's what you actually are."
  8580. >A pause.
  8581. >"One lie I could have forgiven. Maybe even two. But this... is a habitual, calculated deception. You are a deceiver. Plain and simple."
  8582. >You cover your face with a hand.
  8583. "This right here is what I meant, you know. This is what I was afraid of."
  8584. >No answer.
  8585. "Don't think it was easy, Sky. It never was. I knew that I was taking the risk of jeopardizing our friendship. It was a burden I was reminded of every day. It weighed heavily on me. I swear by everything I hold dear, I had my reasons for acting like I did."
  8586.  
  8587.  
  8588.  
  8589.  
  8590. >Sky Squall remains unimpressed.
  8591. >"I don't even know whether you have told me the truth this time around. Much less what you possibly hold dear or not. And your reasons? Hah! Tell those to Luna. Or Shade Weaver. Or the Crystal ponies. What you have done doesn't affect just the two of us. It goes far beyond that."
  8592. >You need a moment to reply.
  8593. "Believe me, I'm aware."
  8594. >Sky Squall laughs bitterly.
  8595. >"It's hard to believe anything you say."
  8596. >You massage your temples with your hands.
  8597. "Fine. How can I convince you?"
  8598. >The stallion huffs.
  8599. >"If, by a miracle, you have truly decided to be honest with what you have revealed to me, then you can't. Because you are in full control and I have no means to tell the difference between reality and illusion. I mean for Celestia's sake, even this environment doesn't exist! How did you call it again?"
  8600. "It's a simulated environment."
  8601. >"Case in point. Your oh so precious affirmations are just emotional words. With possibly simulated... no, let's call it what it is... with fake feelings behind them. I can't distinguish between anything."
  8602. >You sigh as you think about the problem for a moment.
  8603. >And you get an idea.
  8604. >The approach may work, yet it is a bold one.
  8605. >But if that is what it takes to salvage the situation and your friendship, you take the risk regardless.
  8606. "What if... you could?"
  8607. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  8608. >"Come again?"
  8609. "You say you lack the control and agency. Fair enough. But what if we met outside the simulation? Where you are in full control of your actions, and with no camouflage of any kind?"
  8610. >More scepticism.
  8611. >"I thought you said my body is dead."
  8612. >You banish your last doubts as you reply.
  8613. >You will see this through now.
  8614. >To the final conclusion.
  8615. "You can use my proxy. The body is with us."
  8616. >"Drifting between the stars?"
  8617. >You nod.
  8618. "You'd barely feel any difference. Apart from the voice and some minor details."
  8619. >Sky Squall considers this offer for a moment, but he remains doubtful.
  8620. >"Still the same problem. How can I be sure that you're not just creating another fake?"
  8621. "Because we've recorded all of our actions thoroughly. You can consult as many entries as you want. And we will answer every question you pose. Without exception. You want evidence? You get it. The plans we have used? They're yours. Whatever you wish to know, you will get the information."
  8622. >The stallion blinks.
  8623. >"What are you planning to do?"
  8624. "To show you why we have done what we have done. And that it all happened for a good reason."
  8625. >You are aware that this remains a tough sell.
  8626. >But you stay steadfast.
  8627. "And I'd be damned if I wouldn't try to save our friendship."
  8628. >Sky Squall eyes you inquisitively.
  8629. >"An audacious claim. And of little value in your current position."
  8630. >He sighs.
  8631. >"But at this point, I can't see any further harm in trying it out."
  8632. >You inhale in relief.
  8633. >The golden Pegasus has not written you off completely.
  8634. >Yet.
  8635.  
  8636.  
  8637.  
  8638.  
  8639. >Though he is quick to remind you that the "yet" is still a viable threat.
  8640. >"Just to be clear though, you have one chance, 'friend'. If I find out that you are fooling me again, in any tiny way whatsoever, you are dead to me. And I'll have many questions. You can count on that."
  8641. >You nod hesitantly.
  8642. "Yes, Sky. I understand."
  8643. >He takes a breath.
  8644. >"When do we start?"
  8645. >You look at the stallion and try your best not to come across as nervous.
  8646. "Whenever you are ready."
  8647. >Sky Squall nods stiffly.
  8648. >"Then get to it."
  8649. >Impatient.
  8650. >But you can see why.
  8651. >He despises the suspense just as much as you fear it.
  8652. >And his rough tone is not exactly a surprise either.
  8653. "Alright. We will see you soon."
  8654. >With that said, the form of Sky Squall dematerialises into thin air.
  8655. >You are left alone on the cloud, and you decide to mimic Sky Squall's initial action.
  8656. >You observe the fading of the last rays of light in the far distance.
  8657. >And you take in as many details as you can.
  8658. >Until a feminine voice addresses you from behind.
  8659. >"Are you sure that this is the best idea, Anon?"
  8660. >You keep your eyes glued to the horizon.
  8661. "Yes, #deca. It's the only way to regain his trust. Eventually, at least."
  8662. >You hear #deca.mare's steps as she comes closer.
  8663. >She imitates a sound of walking on pillows as her hooves make contact with the simulated cloud.
  8664. >"I must urge you to reconsider. This could get dangerous. Sky Squall is angry and highly unpredictable. Anything could happen. I hope you understand this."
  8665. >You nod.
  8666. "Yes, I do. And it's what I'm counting on."
  8667. >#deca.mare is, rather obviously, not happy to hear that.
  8668. >But what you are about to say next will displease her even more.
  8669. "One more thing, #deca."
  8670.  
  8671.  
  8672.  
  8673.  
  8674. 157
  8675.  
  8676. >The mechanical sounds of the opening cryo pod are the first things you hear as you regain your consciousness.
  8677. >But you do not open your eyes just yet.
  8678. >Because somewhere in your mind, there is a certain reminder that you should be mentally prepared before you get up.
  8679. >Your still orienting brain cannot recall why it is so important, however.
  8680. >You only know that this is a fact for some reason.
  8681. >So you focus on that task as your brain is busy with clearing the fog in your mind.
  8682. >And whilst you are doing that, you suddenly hear a voice.
  8683. >It is your own.
  8684. >You listen to what your voice has to say, still unable to connect the dots as to why you are hearing yourself even though you are not saying a single word.
  8685. >And why the voice sounds so strangely remote at that.
  8686. >"That's... a strange feeling."
  8687. >A second voice answers.
  8688. >It is familiar as well, but you miss the context to recognise it yet.
  8689. >"You will get used to it in minutes. The height difference is negligible, and the musculature is only slightly less refined either. You will have no problems to move around."
  8690. >"I suppose you can't do anything about the voice? To make it sound more, you know, like me?"
  8691. >"Not much, no. We could fine-tune the vocal chords to a degree, but it would merely bear a faint resemblance to yours."
  8692. >Your voice does not sound too happy to hear that.
  8693. >"Guess it'll have to do then."
  8694. >A short pause follows.
  8695. >Then your voice speaks up once more.
  8696. >"So, how long until he's here?"
  8697. >The other replies.
  8698. >"Soon. Anon is waking up as we speak. The process is not immediate."
  8699. >"But the lid has opened up already."
  8700. >"I know. Give him time. He will be disoriented at first."
  8701. >"Just as me?"
  8702. >"Worse. Anon was not just idling like the proxy. His body is recovering from a state of almost complete hibernation."
  8703. >Hibernation?
  8704. >Oh, right.
  8705. >You left the simulation.
  8706. >Because you had to...
  8707. >Oh.
  8708. >Right.
  8709. >The reason as to why you are leaving the cryo pod suddenly hits you.
  8710. >And the respective memories are flooding in like a constant stream as well.
  8711. >What you have heard over there is a conversation between #deca.mare and Sky Squall.
  8712. >They are waiting for you.
  8713. >You open your eyes carefully.
  8714. >The metal ceiling of the command deck looms above you, but it is not illuminated by the bright warm light changes that #deca.mare has applied to its simulated counterpart.
  8715. >Another reminder that this is reality.
  8716. >And as your mind gradually catches up with the current situation, you start to tense your muscles and stretch your limbs.
  8717. >Of course, #deca.mare registers your actions immediately, even without the link.
  8718. >"He is moving."
  8719. >You hear a couple of steps.
  8720. >"No, wait."
  8721. >One more step, followed by a brief moment of silence.
  8722. >"Let him come out on his own."
  8723. >Well, that is your cue to do something.
  8724.  
  8725.  
  8726.  
  8727.  
  8728. >Because knowing Sky Squall, he was probably attempting to come to the pod to heave you out of it.
  8729. >Something which #deca.mare clearly would not like to see for several reasons.
  8730. >But at the same time, you should not linger too much either, as Sky Squall's impatience might still get the better of him.
  8731. >So you test how well your body responds to your attempts to move.
  8732. >Then, as soon as you are more or less confident in your motor functions, you rise up and carefully climb out of the machine.
  8733. >You do not inspect the command deck though, as you are fully focussed on leaving the pod without stumbling.
  8734. >And even after you are finally out, a simple glance to check the general situation is more than enough for you.
  8735. >#deca.mare and your proxy are standing at the base of the ramp.
  8736. >Both of them observe you closely, and you are sure that they have done so for the whole time.
  8737. >You ask yourself what you should say first.
  8738. >After all, a lot depends on what you are doing in this very moment.
  8739. >And every word you say may become important to determine the outcome.
  8740. >But all of your diplomatic or smart openers are swiftly swept aside by Sky Squall, as he uses the proxy to address you first.
  8741. >"So, that's what you really look like? I wasn't sure if that shape was meant to be serious."
  8742. >You nod and try to silence the awkward feeling in your mind which struggles to process that Sky Squall is talking to you in your own voice.
  8743. >Either way though, the stallion maintains an observing pose as he seems to think about something.
  8744. >"You know, this just reminded me of our first encounter with a dragon."
  8745. >Alright, this is not going where you would have expected it to go.
  8746. "How so?"
  8747. >The answer comes swiftly.
  8748. >"It's a similar outlandish feeling."
  8749. >A part of you is tempted to point out that this is indeed an outlandish situation, in the most literal sense of the word.
  8750. >Out of this world, even.
  8751. >However, you are aware that Sky Squall is not likely to appreciate the humour at this point in time.
  8752. >"Though it's not quite so bad, I suppose. At least I can tell that you're indeed male."
  8753. >You are not replying immediately.
  8754. >And you are not sure whether this is supposed to be a quip either.
  8755. >But you quickly get an idea how you can use his remark to turn this conversation around.
  8756. "Of course I am. There's very little I've actually lied about, Sky."
  8757. >The stallion shows no emotional reaction.
  8758. >"Very funny."
  8759. >You shake your head.
  8760. "I'm serious."
  8761. >A pause.
  8762. "We've withheld a lot of stuff, yes. But we generally avoided to tell outright lies whenever we could."
  8763. >"Whenever you could, huh? Now that's a nice way of saying almost nothing of substance."
  8764. >Well, he is not completely wrong.
  8765. >But he gives you a chance to explain yourself.
  8766. >"What do you mean? Elaborate."
  8767.  
  8768.  
  8769.  
  8770.  
  8771. "I mean we've merely tried to obscure our own involvement in things. And the, well, 'extended' knowledge we had because of it."
  8772. >"Knowledge, right. You mean 'insignificant' details such as being responsible for the existence of the world? That kind of extended knowledge?"
  8773. >The momentarily not quite so golden Pegasus inhales sharply.
  8774. >"That's what Luna saw, isn't it. What she meant when she noticed the essence of Windigos within you."
  8775. >You nod hesitantly.
  8776. "She doesn't truly see it. Not for what it is. But she can feel its presence in my... presence. Or that of the proxy, to be precise."
  8777. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  8778. >"I can't believe it. Is there even a single being in Equestria to whom you have not conveyed this deception?"
  8779. >Yes, but Sky Squall will not like the answer.
  8780. "If you ask me like that, yes. There is someone."
  8781. >You pause.
  8782. "Harmony knows all about it. And if you include the orbit, Discord to a lesser extent as well."
  8783. >Sky Squall looks like he is about to jump down your throat.
  8784. >Proverbially speaking.
  8785. >Yet.
  8786. "I understand that you don't like it. That you are feeling angry right now too. But we have our reasons for choosing this path."
  8787. >Sky Squall almost laughs.
  8788. >But at the last possible moment, he clamps down on his emotions.
  8789. >"You keep saying that. But what reason could possibly justify lying on this scale? To thousands and thousands of ponies of your own making!"
  8790. >He pauses.
  8791. >"And... whatever else you have created down there."
  8792. >You sigh.
  8793. "In short, we wish for Equestria to become independent eventually. And this can't come true if we're involved in everything."
  8794. >"Anon, you ARE involved in everything! Constantly! You are in our very essence, all the time! Your work is in all of our bodies! No, even more than that! Our bodies are your work!"
  8795. >You shake your head.
  8796. "No. Your bodies are yours. And they always have been. Yes, we made them. Made.. you. But you are not under our control."
  8797. >You look at #deca.mare.
  8798. "This was one of the key principles we have sworn to uphold. We do not, and will never, ever, control anyone's mind or actions. What you think and what you do is not up to us to decide. It's your choice. From your everyday decisions to your longer life plans, they are not made by us at all."
  8799. >You pause again.
  8800. "And sure, it's true that we have a... rough general vision of the world and how it shall form. At least up to a certain point. But you will not find a single instance of us ever even considering the option of hijacking someone's being. This will never happen. And that's a promise."
  8801. >You clear your throat.
  8802. >For the next part will be delicate.
  8803. "You are the best example of this fact."
  8804. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  8805. >"What?"
  8806. >You get straight to the point.
  8807. "The dragon incident and the hill. It proves my words. Want to know why?"
  8808.  
  8809.  
  8810.  
  8811.  
  8812. >The stallion does not look happy to be reminded of this.
  8813. >But you must do it regardless.
  8814. "To make it quick, we knew what Celestia and Luna were up to. And what it would do to the area and everyone in its immediate range."
  8815. >You take a breath.
  8816. "It was one of the few critical moments in which we were more active than usual. We had hoped for you to achieve a good outcome which would be agreeable for both sides. And that you all make it back in one piece. And, well, you did. Though that was not guaranteed. It's why at least one of us had to be present during the clash. We were there to help from the second and third row, without assuming a major role in the larger picture."
  8817. >You keep staring at Sky Squall, not interrupting the eye contact between the two of you.
  8818. "Your solo run to the peak right before the climax caught us by surprise. #deca and me expected that all of you would stay in the shelter, together with Luna. Your decision to go against her orders to stand with Celestia was surely meant to be a noble deed, but your action posed a problem. To the princesses' plans, and to us."
  8819. >Sky Squall tries to stay emotionally neutral as he listens to you.
  8820. >"You didn't see it coming?"
  8821. >You shake your head.
  8822. "No. Because it was your spontaneous decision to do so. #deca warned me immediately when your intent became clear, but it was too late for me to react in time. So we had to improvise."
  8823. >The stallion blinks.
  8824. >"Hence the fight."
  8825. >You nod.
  8826. "Believe me, I would've preferred a less... martial solution. Yet our options were limited, and the time was nearly up."
  8827. >"And you couldn't convince me with words or win in a clean fight, so you stooped to dirty tricks."
  8828. >#deca.mare chimes in.
  8829. >"No. To be entirely honest, that was not his idea. It was mine. I suggested it to him when you pinned him down."
  8830. >Sky Squall turns to #deca.mare.
  8831. >"That... doesn't make it any better."
  8832. >#deca.mare sighs.
  8833. >"It is nothing I am proud of, Sky. But it had to be done because it was the quickest way to get you to safety. And it was less uncomfortable than the alternative."
  8834. >She pauses.
  8835. >"Naturally, I had to pretend to be ignorant of the events when we met afterwards. Which is why I ran into you when I stormed into the tent. I am sorry for that as well."
  8836. >The stallion needs a moment to react.
  8837. >"You feel sorry? Do you have any idea how much that stings?"
  8838. >#deca.mare replies immediately.
  8839. >"I do. We have exact measurements of the nerve..."
  8840. >She gets suddenly interrupted as the stallion chimes in.
  8841. >"Buck the nerves and measurements! I'm not talking about the physical pain, I mean the humiliation! You've thrown me into the dirt! Turned me into a crud-covered laughingstock who couldn't even walk straight! And for what? A little ploy?"
  8842. >The stallion stomps the metal ground with a forehoof.
  8843. >And #deca.mare actually flinches for a second.
  8844.  
  8845.  
  8846.  
  8847.  
  8848. >"Do you have any idea how that feels? To think you know what you are doing, to be capable of leading a group, to be the pride of yourself and others, only to fall from grace because somepony else made a miserable mistake? To doubt everything you've done up to this point? To be suddenly unsure if you were actually suited for the task at all? Can you imagine how such a blow feels?"
  8849. >Oh damn.
  8850. >Sky Squall is blissfully unaware of how squarely he just hit the bullseye with this one.
  8851. >#deca.mare trembles, and you almost rush to her side to support her.
  8852. >But she weathers her reaction on her own just a second before you would have made your move.
  8853. >And she looks the stallion in the eyes as she almost tears up.
  8854. >"Yes, Sky Squall. I know this feeling very well. More than you can possibly imagine."
  8855. >You see in the stallion's reaction that he is unsure how to interpret her claim.
  8856. >"What's that supposed to mean?"
  8857. >You chime in.
  8858. "That's... I can't believe that I'm saying this again... a long story. We can go into that if you insist, but I'd suggest to postpone this for now. It's... got something to do with how and why we met in the first place. And what led to this situation in turn."
  8859. >Sky Squall grumbles.
  8860. >"Let me guess, this is another long story on top of the first long story."
  8861. >You nod.
  8862. "Pretty much. A very long one, even. It... spans almost eight centuries at this point."
  8863. >The ears of the proxy perk up.
  8864. >"I think you misspoke."
  8865. >Of course he thinks that.
  8866. "Not at all. I meant what I said."
  8867. >And the Pegasus obviously starts to draw conclusions.
  8868. >Not necessarily the right ones though.
  8869. >"Are you saying that you're..."
  8870. "Not me. But #deca is."
  8871. >His gaze returns back to her.
  8872. >#deca.mare nods wordlessly, confirming your words.
  8873. "We'll come to that part soon enough, I swear. But... it's not the best one to start with."
  8874. >You inhale.
  8875. "Anyway, my point is as follows. You are free in your thoughts and in your actions, Sky. You always were. And the same holds true for everyone else. What you lacked was not a free will, it was the wider context."
  8876. >A moment of silence follows.
  8877. >However, there eventually seems to be something with which Sky Squall does not agree.
  8878. >"Hold on, so you insist that all ponies have a free will?"
  8879. >You nod another time.
  8880. "All ponies. Without exception, yes. Not counting the proxy, of course."
  8881. >Sky Squall has no objections to this part.
  8882. >But to certain others, as he quickly points out.
  8883. >"So how is this supposed to work out when you are steering Equestria in a certain direction? As you said, you have a... 'vision', of sorts. Correct?"
  8884. "Correct. An optimistic one, to be precise."
  8885. >"And if I were to make an assumption, namely that you two were aware of the plans of certain other ponies..."
  8886. >You clear your throat.
  8887. >Sky Squall is trying to encircle your argumentation, that much is evident.
  8888. >Yet you play along, for you are certain to see where the stallion is trying to go with it.
  8889. "Then you would be entirely justified in doing so."
  8890.  
  8891.  
  8892.  
  8893.  
  8894. >You sigh.
  8895. "Let's not beat around the bush. You're on the right track, Sky. It was clear to us where Shade Weaver was heading, long before he succumbed to his obsessive addictions. We knew in advance... about Tirek, about Discord, and... even about the clash of the princesses. These rare but crucial events were part of the vision as well."
  8896. >Sky Squall inhales deeply.
  8897. >"And you let it happen. Nay, you played along and probably even encouraged it. At least in Shade's case."
  8898. >He pauses.
  8899. >"Now please explain to me how this was not a direct manipulation. Or how this is supposed to be optimistic. Rare singular cases or not, you led them down a set path, and forced the results to be exactly what you wanted them to be. They never had a choice in the matter."
  8900. >You wait for a second or two before you respond.
  8901. "That's not quite true. Shade Weaver and the others chose to do all the things they did. They made the decisions themselves. We saw them coming long in advance, but when the moment of truth was due, they made the choices on their own."
  8902. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  8903. >"Anon, seriously? That's a poor attempt of a refutation! If you limit the available options to nudge ponies into a fixed direction, then a free will and the ability to decide mean nothing! It all amounts to the same! You are still responsible for the result!"
  8904. >You nod.
  8905. "You're right, in a way. It is indeed our responsibility in the end. Believe me, neither of us would shy away from acknowledging that."
  8906. >You pause briefly.
  8907. "And we will come clean with the entirety of Equestria at some point. That too is a promise. But regardless of our involvement, the process and the ability to reach a decision are still important."
  8908. >You take a breath.
  8909. "Think of your own case again. Do you remember what I said to you when you doubted yourself?"
  8910. >The stallion nods.
  8911. >"You said even the best can make mistakes."
  8912. >You continue.
  8913. "And that it's not the end of the world. This singular slip-up doesn't damage your reputation or your record in the long run. And neither does it invalidate what you have achieved previously. These were my words. right?"
  8914. >Another nod.
  8915. >"More or less. But..."
  8916. >You interrupt Sky Squall this time.
  8917. "And it's exactly what happened. You never made a misjudgement like this again. You learned from your mistake. You grew with the challenges you faced and the experience you have gathered. This is your personal improvement. A step to be better prepared for the future and whatever it might bring."
  8918. >A pause.
  8919.  
  8920.  
  8921.  
  8922.  
  8923. "Besides, There's another silver lining to it. This may sound weird to you, but it was better that it happened sooner rather than later. We can compensate for most... 'hiccups' at the current stage. But this will not always be the case. Like I said, we won't have that much agency forever. So if something like this were to happen much later, when the stakes could be far higher, then the situation may be different. A loss of faith in oneself could become a critical problem then."
  8924. >Sky Squall is about to object, but you keep going.
  8925. "Now, you may be wondering whether we have, shall we say, 'foreseen' your fate like that of the Royal Sisters or Shade Weaver. So let me tell you that we didn't. These are the exceptions, not the rule. As far as your personal life goes, the only thing we did was to save you from becoming a living candle. It's our singular intervention. The rest was entirely up to you."
  8926. >You wait a moment before you go on.
  8927. "It's the same with Equestria. The realm faced a couple of challenges, but the ponies managed to solve them all on their own terms. And life in Equestria always improved in the aftermath."
  8928. >A pause.
  8929. "We only provided the framework and a safety net. Or think about it like this: It was Celestia who negotiated successfully with the dragons, not us. It was her who used the proverbial tools which were available to her for the best possible outcome. And the Unification was also only possible because the ponies were open to the idea and willing to give it a chance. All these things could have gone wrong. An unlikely scenario, perhaps, but theoretically possible all the same."
  8930. >Another one.
  8931. "But the fact of the matter is, things didn't go wrong. You, as in all of you, made it work. You can do it. These are feats worth remembering for the future. Because they are your feats. Your history. And that's the truth."
  8932. >Sky Squall closes his eyes and breathes loudly.
  8933. >Something has come to his mind.
  8934. >In fact, maybe he did not even process your last remark at all.
  8935. >And it is reflected in the voice of the Pegasus too.
  8936. >For he suddenly speaks with a notion of irritation.
  8937. >"Anon. I'm only asking this once... since you brought it up. Did... anyone of you... have anything to do with... my relationship to Firefly?"
  8938. >He pauses.
  8939. >"You said... my personal life was always mine. But...you didn't mention hers."
  8940. >Well, fair point.
  8941. >After all, you could have directed her life into a certain direction instead.
  8942. >This one is easy to answer though.
  8943. "Barring the dragon incident, no. Not at all. In fact, I for one didn't even know that you two were interested in one another until you confessed it to me. The same applies to the relationship between Quaint and Haze, by the way. I wasn't aware. And #deca didn't meddle with these affairs either."
  8944. >She nods.
  8945. >"Your bond grew naturally, Sky. It was a matter just between the two of you. We generally do not pry into personal affairs like these."
  8946.  
  8947.  
  8948.  
  8949.  
  8950. >Sky Squall accepts this explanation, but he is only partially relieved as it seems.
  8951. >"All of that sounds like good news for me and my life. Maybe also for the lives of the majority of Equestria. But what about those whose fates were not so fortunate? Shade Weaver? Luna? The Crystal ponies? You can't tell me that disappearing into thin air is a good outcome for them."
  8952. >#deca.mare responds again.
  8953. >"We have not forgotten them. And in time, we will help them to fix the fissures in their lives too. It will take a long while in some cases, but it will be done."
  8954. >Then she smiles at the stallion.
  8955. >"I think there is something you would like to see. Come."
  8956. >Without waiting for a reply, #deca.mare swiftly heads for the ramp to leave the command deck.
  8957. >Sky Squall is eager to ask what she is about to do.
  8958. >But as he sees how quickly she is heading for the exit, he does not utter a single word.
  8959. >He briefly looks at you instead, musters you one more time, and follows her.
  8960. >You follow the stallion in turn, forming a line formation of three.
  8961. >Up the ramp and through the door.
  8962. >Then you traverse the subsequent corridor until you reach the hall.
  8963. >The large airlock lies right ahead of you as the two pathways to the crew quarters branch out on both sides.
  8964. >However, you do not muster the architecture in any meaningful way, as you practically know the structures by heart at this point.
  8965. >You keep your eyes on Sky Squall instead, as he sees all of this for the first time in his life.
  8966. >And you pay very close attention to his reactions.
  8967. >To discern how well he takes all of this.
  8968. >Unfortunately though, you are not all too successful in this regard.
  8969. >Sky Squall sends a lot of mixed signals.
  8970. >His mood is evidently swaying between a positive and a negative mindset all the time, and you can fully understand why he feels that way.
  8971. >This is a lot to take in for him.
  8972. >Plus, if there is one thing you can attest to, then it is the truth that the overall highly utilitarian design of the mothership is admittedly not very inviting at first sight.
  8973. >Even to an Equestrian pony who has not learned to fear these vessels with every fibre of his being.
  8974. >Either way though, Sky Squall's whole demeanour changes completely when he sees what is stored right in the middle of the hall.
  8975. >For #deca.mare parked a transport unit at the heart of the room.
  8976. >Yet the machine itself is not as important as the cargo it is carrying.
  8977. >Because the massive clamps of the unit hold a cryo pod in their grip.
  8978. >A device which is very similar to the one that you use, albeit of a slightly bigger variant.
  8979. >And said unit is occupied.
  8980. >The form of a dormant dark blue Alicorn mare is visible through the transparent canopy.
  8981. >Sky Squall gasps immediately once his brain fully understands what he is seeing.
  8982. >"Princess Luna!"
  8983.  
  8984.  
  8985.  
  8986.  
  8987. >You decide to interject before the stallion might start to get any wrong ideas.
  8988. "Don't worry. Luna is fine and healthy. She's sleeping firmly in there."
  8989. >The Pegasus looks at you.
  8990. >"You... you brought her here?"
  8991. >You nod.
  8992. "She was brought on board by the Elements. Their collective energy outburst fuelled an instant transfer from the surface right to the ship. She's been here ever since."
  8993. >The stallion blinks.
  8994. >"So... the stories of her being banished to the moon were not all that off after all."
  8995. >#deca.mare chimes in.
  8996. >"The moon would have been an option as well. We have a couple of repositories and other facilities on the satellite. But such an option did not feel right to us."
  8997. >Sky Squall wants to know more.
  8998. >"How so? Why is she here?"
  8999. >And #deca.mare immediately provides him with an answer.
  9000. >"Because one of the main reasons why Luna grew resentful in the first place is her feeling of being left out and isolated. She thinks she was shunted aside and discarded. And we do not want to further this notion by placing her on the moon like a piece of lone warehouse stock. We keep her close so that she is never truly alone. Even during the years of her banishment."
  9001. >She takes a breath.
  9002. >"Besides, it also prompts us to actively think of her. To remind us of our promises."
  9003. >Sky Squall raises his voice.
  9004. >"But she won't know any of that."
  9005. >#deca.mare nods.
  9006. >"Not until we reveal the truth to her as well one day. But what we do right now will still matter when the time finally arrives. As Anon said, we are aware of our responsibilities. Not only to Luna, but all the others as well."
  9007. >The stallion approaches the cryo pod, his eyes fixated on the peacefully slumbering princess within it.
  9008. >Once he stands right in front of the unit, he raises a forehoof and turns his head to #deca.mare.
  9009. >"Is it..."
  9010. >She nods.
  9011. >"It is safe. Go ahead."
  9012. >Sky Squall's gaze focuses back on the sleeping mare, and he carefully touches the surface of the transparent canopy with a forehoof.
  9013. >"I suppose she can't hear us."
  9014. "No. She isn't conscious. When she wakes up to return to Equestria, she will feel like she slept for a couple of days. But that's about it."
  9015. >The stallion takes that in without any comment.
  9016. >"And you have a plan to restore the relationship between her and her sister?"
  9017. >#deca.mare replies with a confident voice.
  9018. >"Oh yes, we do. You can be sure of that."
  9019. >Sky Squall nods in silence, still eyeing the slumbering form of Princess Luna.
  9020. >#deca.mare and you let him have his time, and wait until he is ready to go on.
  9021. >Finally, after a minute or two, he sighs.
  9022. >"Why me?"
  9023. >You instinctively react to his question before #deca.mare does.
  9024. "What?"
  9025. >Admittedly not the most articulate utterance.
  9026. >So he elaborates.
  9027.  
  9028.  
  9029.  
  9030.  
  9031. >"Others have 'passed' before me. And they're all still here if you're telling me the truth. But as I understood it, they're now living their lives... after their lives. There's also the princess. Yet I am the first pony you have chosen for this. The only one you've brought to this... place. So I've got to ask. Why me? And why now? There must be a reason why you've picked me ahead of time."
  9032. >#deca.mare steps in now.
  9033. >"Indeed, there are some. A few... more personal than others."
  9034. >Sky Squall motions #deca.mare to go on, but he does not avert his gaze for even a moment.
  9035. >He keeps mustering the princess with an expression that conveys a deep state of contemplation whilst the forehoof of the proxy is slowly drawing small circles on the canopy.
  9036. >"The first reason is not a personal one, but it partially alludes to what you have complained about earlier. Right now, we could do everything, and the ponies of Equestria would be none the wiser. Of course, we do not abuse that power, nor would we want to for that matter, but this remains a fact."
  9037. >#deca.mare takes a breath.
  9038. >"That is supposed to change in the admittedly still distant future. When we reveal ourselves to the world as the ones who we really are. However, this is only the last step on the proverbial road. We can make a couple of smaller ones in advance."
  9039. >Sky Squall chimes in.
  9040. >"By letting somepony in on the secret ahead of time, is that it?"
  9041. >#deca.mare nods.
  9042. >"It is a small gesture to prove that we are not doing any of this to hog power or garner admiration. No, what we want is a new pair of eyes with whom we can discuss matters on an equal level."
  9043. >The stallion is still studying the hibernating body of Luna.
  9044. >"That's not all. If you are even remotely comparable to the pony you have pretended to be in Equestria, then you haven't told me everything yet. Your voice is telling."
  9045. >And #deca.mare blushes slightly.
  9046. >But Sky Squall cannot register it as long as his gaze is glued to the Alicorn mare.
  9047. >"Uh, yes. You see, We... well..."
  9048. >You take over as #deca.mare starts to stammer slightly.
  9049. "Harmony made a request a while ago. It's about living a lifetime as a pony to broaden the own horizon and get a new perspective on things. With us as the parents."
  9050. >The stallion turns his head around to look at you, quizzically.
  9051. >"How's that supposed to happen?"
  9052. >You shrug with an awry grin.
  9053. "Pretty simple. Barring a will of its own, the proxy is for all intents and purposes a pony, functionally speaking."
  9054. >You briefly glance over to #deca.mare.
  9055. "Same as hers."
  9056. >She nods.
  9057. >And Sky Squall gasps.
  9058. >"Don't tell me you ask me to play fa..."
  9059. >You interrupt him immediately.
  9060. "No! Of course not! Don't get the wrong idea!"
  9061. >You pause for a moment to let the stallion calm down.
  9062. "Sorry, that didn't come across as it should."
  9063. >You shake your head.
  9064.  
  9065.  
  9066.  
  9067.  
  9068. "No, this will be on me of course. But the thing is, tending to a foal is no small task. I'm pretty sure you have vivid memories of your own four."
  9069. >Sky Squall nods.
  9070. "This will require a lot of time. Time in which I'm unable to tend to other things. And #deca is probably going to be, ahem, distracted for a good while as well."
  9071. >#deca.mare coughs coyly, but remains silent.
  9072. "So it would help us a lot to have someone else in the team who can tackle a bit of the work when we can't do it all by ourselves."
  9073. >Sky Squall processes every word you say, yet he shows no overt reaction.
  9074. >He makes it hard for you to read his emotions.
  9075. >And you would not be surprised if he is doing that on purpose.
  9076. >After all, he is still 'testing' you as well.
  9077. >A moment of silence follows.
  9078. >Then the stallion speaks up.
  9079. >"Alright. That's the 'why'. But what about the 'why me'?"
  9080. >You take a deep breath before you answer this question.
  9081. "I've got two explanations for you. An objective one, and a more subjective alternative. Which one would you like to hear?"
  9082. >The response comes without hesitation.
  9083. >"Both. But start with the objective half."
  9084. >You nod.
  9085. "As you wish. We think you'd be a good choice because of your talents and deeds. You've been a seasoned leader for decades and you know how to organise and rally ponies when it is required. This isn't likely to be needed often in the years that come, but these are still useful skills to have. You're experienced and resourceful."
  9086. >Sky Squall replies with a deadpan voice.
  9087. >"Sure thing. And I'm easy to knock down when I buck it southwards."
  9088. >You blink.
  9089. "That's... not part of the plan."
  9090. >He blinks in response.
  9091. >"Unless it becomes 'efficient' at the time."
  9092. >Now you sigh.
  9093. "Sky..."
  9094. >The Pegasus interrupts you at once.
  9095. >"Yes, fine. Go on. What's the subjective reason?"
  9096. >You do not reply immediately.
  9097. >Instead, you consider for a couple of seconds how to say this in the most genuine way you can think of.
  9098. >Then you raise your voice.
  9099. "The subjective reason is... I still consider you my friend. I understand that it may sound hard to believe, but it's true."
  9100. >#deca.mare chimes in.
  9101. >"And so do I."
  9102. >You take a step in the direction of the cryo pod.
  9103. "Nothing about our friendship was faked. That I swear. I trust you, Sky."
  9104. >Silence, again.
  9105. >You wait for an answer, and you earnestly hope that Sky Squall is taking your words to heart.
  9106. >Then, five or six seconds later, he does react.
  9107. >Albeit not in the way you have hoped for.
  9108. >Because the stallion laughs heartily.
  9109. >Albeit not for cordial reasons.
  9110. >You are fairly sure of that.
  9111.  
  9112.  
  9113.  
  9114.  
  9115. >Once he has caught his breath, Sky Squall replies.
  9116. >"That's very quaint of you to say, 'Star'. But your pretty words sound hollow to my ears. I didn't even know your actual name until today. Is that what you would call a friendship?"
  9117. >A pause.
  9118. >"I don't know who you are. And that's not what I would consider a friend."
  9119. >You sigh once more.
  9120. "I see where you're coming from. And I want to rectify that."
  9121. >A pause.
  9122. "You can have access to everything that's logged about me. My dossier, my personal files, my actions, life choices, what I had for breakfast, whatever. Like I said, name something and you'll get it."
  9123. >Sky Squall ponders this offer.
  9124. >But then he steps away from the cryo pod and walks in circles through the room.
  9125. >"What if I refuse? What if I don't want to partake in your personal... 'game'?"
  9126. >You answer this straight away, even though you do not want to.
  9127. "Then you're free to leave and join the rest of the 'passed' ponies as you call them. You can lead your new life in whatever ways you please."
  9128. >"And what if I don't want to remember? What if the mere knowledge of our conversation makes it impossible for me to do so?"
  9129. >#deca.mares tackles this one.
  9130. >"If you absolutely cannot live with what we have shown to you, we could conceal that memory in your mind. It would be a trivial thing to do. But it must be done on your explicit demand. We are not going to tamper with your memories unless you really, really want it. Not to mention that I strongly recommend against it."
  9131. >Sky Squall thinks about his situation for a good while as he continues to wander around in the hall.
  9132. >Several minutes pass.
  9133. >Minutes in which #deca.mare and you stand idly on your spots.
  9134. >And you watch the stallion trotting lively through the room for the whole time.
  9135. >Constantly circling the sleeping Alicorn princess and the two of you.
  9136. >Yet he comes to a stop eventually.
  9137. >He halts in a vacant spot between the cryo pod and a metal wall.
  9138. >"Anon?"
  9139. "Yes, Sky?"
  9140. >"Come to me."
  9141. >You are tempted to ask why, but you keep that question to yourself.
  9142. >However, you register #deca.mare's reaction in the periphery of your vision.
  9143. >Her ears perk up.
  9144. >"Anon..."
  9145. >You halt for a moment.
  9146. >But Sky Squall seems to ignore her for now.
  9147. >"Anon, you said you trust me, right?"
  9148. >You nod.
  9149. "Right."
  9150. >He blinks.
  9151. >"Then come here."
  9152. >You exchange brief glances with #deca.mare.
  9153. >Her worried face tells you that she is not all too happy right now, and she is subtly hinting at you that something is afoot.
  9154. >And you accept that hint for what it is, but nevertheless heed the wish of the stallion.
  9155. >You nod swiftly at #deca.mare before you approach the proxy.
  9156. >She knows what you have asked of her, even when she is firmly against your idea.
  9157. "So, I'm here. What no..."
  9158.  
  9159.  
  9160.  
  9161.  
  9162. >Your question is deftly nipped in the bud by Sky Squall.
  9163. >For he rears up as soon as you are in range, and thrusts the forehooves of the proxy right at your chest.
  9164. >The considerable force of the blow, paired with the low gravity of the ship, easily shoves you in the opposite direction.
  9165. >Sky Squall does not relent either.
  9166. >He follows the momentum and keeps pushing you with his forehooves, constantly relocating his balance by taking hasty steps with the proxy's rear legs.
  9167. >And there is very little you can do to prevent any of this, given his immense physical advantage over your non-augmented self.
  9168. >Before you know it, your back bumps against the metal wall behind you as the hooves keep applying their pressure.
  9169. >Sky Squall's rearing form has pinned you against the wall.
  9170. >And the stallion is far from gentle.
  9171. >He is using only a moderate degree of force as far as the proxy is concerned, but it is more than enough for your ribs to protest against this rough treatment.
  9172. >Still, you try to remain calm and look Sky Squall in the eyes.
  9173. >His gaze is serious and piercing, almost as if he is trying to cut into your mind as the proxy's forehooves bore themselves unpleasantly into your skin.
  9174. >You cannot see any direct hatred or animosity in his expression, but the pressure is easily making up for that.
  9175. "Come on. Do... whatever you want.... to do. I'm not... trying to... resist."
  9176. >You need to take a sharp breath.
  9177. "Not like I... could anyway. The proxy... is too... strong for that."
  9178. >Sky Squall remains silent.
  9179. >He simply keeps drilling into you with his eyes and hooves, studying your very being as you struggle to ignore your urge to panic.
  9180. "You wanted... agency. Now you... have total control... over me."
  9181. >Sky Squall sneers and briefly looks over to the idle form of #deca.mare before his gaze returns to you.
  9182. >"So much for your love. She doesn't lift a hoof to help you."
  9183. >You face Sky Squall's mocking grin with a pained grin of your own.
  9184. "You... misunderstand. It's not like... she isn't willing... to. But... she can't."
  9185. >The Pegasus raises an eyebrow.
  9186. >"What? Why?"
  9187. >Your grin widens for a second before you have to cough.
  9188. "Because... I told her... not to. Whatever... you may... do."
  9189. >Sky Squall musters #deca.mare once again.
  9190. >And this time, he pays more attention to her demeanour than before.
  9191. >The stallion notices the tension which pulsates through her entire body, and her nigh mortified stare is unmistakable as well.
  9192. >She openly dreads the scene which plays out in front of her.
  9193. >Sky Squall averts his gaze to focus you instead, possibly to simply evade the visage of fright that he has seen in #deca.mare.
  9194. >For it is evident that her sorry state does not sit well with him.
  9195. >The stallion's own voice quakes a little bit as well now.
  9196.  
  9197.  
  9198.  
  9199.  
  9200. >"What... what have you done?"
  9201. "Exactly ... what you... wanted. I'm at... your mercy. And you... have the power... to determine... my fate. You... could end me with a... single strike."
  9202. >You grab the right forehoof of the proxy and relocate the limb a little bit on your chest.
  9203. "That's a... good spot. One blow here... can easily crack my ribs... and shove the cracked... bones directly into... my lungs and heart. I'd be... gone in a... minute. And nothing... could save me."
  9204. >You have to cough again.
  9205. "So should you... really think that... we must be... stopped, then... here's your chance."
  9206. >You pause to catch your breath.
  9207. "But bear... in mind that... I don't have... the luxury of... rising again. That decision... would be final. And my heart... wouldn't be... the only one... you'd break."
  9208. >You do not have to elaborate.
  9209. >Sky Squall understands perfectly well what you mean.
  9210. >And he is hesitant to look at #deca.mare again.
  9211. >For he knows that he would not enjoy to see her like this.
  9212. >He grumbles and unintentionally increases the pressure.
  9213. >Your bones do not approve, to put it mildly, but you bear it with as much calm grace as possible.
  9214. >"Even now... you try to manipulate me emotionally."
  9215. >You shake your head.
  9216. "No. I'm merely... telling you... how it is. It's... the intel you need... for an informed decision. What... you do with it... is up to you."
  9217. >The stallion does not reply immediately.
  9218. >Instead, he maintains the status quo as he thinks about your words.
  9219. >And you give him all the time he needs, even though you would prefer a swift decision, preferably before your ribs start to succumb to the constant pressure.
  9220. >Sky Squall inhales loudly.
  9221. >"Alright. I'll help you."
  9222. >A pause.
  9223. >"But only under certain conditions."
  9224. >You nod slowly.
  9225. "Name them."
  9226. >And so he does.
  9227. >"First, I want to know everything about you. The full story of your entire life. Unfiltered. It's only fair for me to know your life just as well as you know mine."
  9228. >You nod again and cough.
  9229. "Fair. You'll see... that I'm not special... I'm just... one guy who... got lucky."
  9230. >Sky Squall goes on.
  9231. >"Second, restore my original body. I don't want any proxies or other horse apples, I want to be me."
  9232. >You take a breath.
  9233. "No problem. It... takes a couple... of weeks to regrow... a perfect replica though."
  9234. >Sky Squall is not satisfied yet.
  9235. >"A replica?"
  9236. >You blink.
  9237. >"A perfect... replica. I promise... you won't spot... any difference. It will be you... as you were... in your prime."
  9238. >This seems to be good enough for the stallion.
  9239. >Yet it was not the last condition.
  9240. >"Fine. Three."
  9241. >He inhales.
  9242. >"I'm not going to do this alone. Firefly has to be with me as well... once her time has come."
  9243. >You blink.
  9244. "We can... let her in on... our actions... as well if... you wish. But... we'll never... force her to... join us. She has... to agree... willingly. Without... pressure or coercion... of any kind. From... our end... or yours."
  9245.  
  9246.  
  9247.  
  9248.  
  9249. >Sky Squall hesitates briefly, but nods soon thereafter.
  9250. >"And you will inform her in person. As you did with me."
  9251. >You take a laboured breath.
  9252. >The infliction of physical force is starting to take a toll on your body.
  9253. "She won't... like it at first... either."
  9254. >"Then better be convincing."
  9255. >Good idea.
  9256. >But easier said than done.
  9257. >Still, you have to agree.
  9258. "Okay. I'll do it."
  9259. >Another short moment of strained silence follows before Sky Squall speaks up once more.
  9260. >"Very well. Four. The last one."
  9261. >Finally.
  9262. >Your ribcage might still live to see another day.
  9263. >"You watch me how I rut Deca with your proxy until she gets pregnant. And... you tell her to like it. Then you can play father while I help you with the rest."
  9264. >Or not.
  9265. "You can't be... serious."
  9266. >Sky Squall gives you a confrontational smirk.
  9267. >"And if I were? Some things have a high price. This is yours. Are you willing to pay?"
  9268. >You blink.
  9269. "You're faking."
  9270. >Sky Squall gives your chest a single forceful jolt.
  9271. >His move increases your discomfort even more, and an inner feeling warns you that either your bones or your intestines will not react very well to the next one, if Sky Squall decides to do so again.
  9272. >"Don't count on it. So what do you say?"
  9273. >Alright then.
  9274. >Your answer is short and clear.
  9275. "Over my... dead body."
  9276. >The stallion's grin grows and he presses his hooves just a tad harder into your chest.
  9277. >But unlike the sudden jolt just a moment ago, this is no temporary thing.
  9278. >He stays on this level now.
  9279. >And he shows no signs of stopping.
  9280. >"That can be arranged."
  9281. >You now glare at the Pegasus, despite the fact that he unquestionably has the upper hand.
  9282. "Forget it. I'd... never hurt her."
  9283. >Sky Squall pounces on your response like a starving predator.
  9284. >"Oh really? I think that losing you would hurt her pretty badly, if you're really in love with one another. It would certainly cost her more dearly than the other option. Do you take that risk?"
  9285. >You remain unrelenting.
  9286. "Shove that threat... up your arse. I'd never agree... to anything like... this. Even if you... were to... pull my spine... out of my nose."
  9287. >You pause and cough harder.
  9288. >And the compelled jerking in your chest area which comes with the coughing fit makes the sensation of the pressure yet worse again.
  9289. >Still, you are steadfast.
  9290. "And if you're... going to off me.... for saying no, then.... that's on you. Not me."
  9291. >Sky Squall says nothing.
  9292. >Instead, he lifts the left forehoof of the proxy and holds it right in front of your face.
  9293. >The implication is more than obvious.
  9294. >But breathing becomes a little bit less tedious at least.
  9295. >"Last chance."
  9296. >You consider to show Sky Squall a defiant middle finger, but you are aware that he would not understand the gesture.
  9297. >Words will have to suffice.
  9298. "Up yours."
  9299. >The stallion prepares himself to deliver the blow.
  9300. >"As you wish."
  9301. >You close your eyes, unsure whether you are going to open them again.
  9302. >"That's it then."
  9303.  
  9304.  
  9305.  
  9306.  
  9307. >A part of you tells you that Sky Squall is faking it for sure, as you cannot envision him to even consider a straight up murder.
  9308. >But it might just be the more hopeful part of you which prefers to come up with any desperate reason whatsoever to "prove" to yourself that everything will go on.
  9309. >Because a more pessimistic voice simultaneously reminds you that the stallion is dealing with exceptional circumstances of a magnitude that most could barely consider.
  9310. >There is a chance the he might have snapped.
  9311. >Either way, you silently wait for his judgement to play out.
  9312. >Though something strange happens right in this moment.
  9313. >You can suddenly listen to every single beat of your heart as you wait for the conclusion.
  9314. >A sensation which is quickly mixed with an unusual light-headedness.
  9315. >And for a moment, you completely lose the ability to process pain and discomfort.
  9316. >The throbbing and the stinging in your chest subsides, as if everything would be fine.
  9317. >But none of these things stand out just as much as the thought that #deca.mare would be devastated by your ungraceful demise.
  9318. >And to make it worse, she is completely barred from intervening.
  9319. >By your personal order.
  9320. >This is a scenario that smarts more than any worldly pain.
  9321. >And then, the judgement comes.
  9322. >The stallion strikes.
  9323. >You hear the hoof rushing through the air, followed by the loud sound of said hoof hitting something hard.
  9324. >The noise is nigh deafening, and rattling through your skull like a flood wave.
  9325. >However, your brain quickly realises that whilst the clash was damn near and painful, it was not your skull that made the banging sound.
  9326. >After all, if it had been, then you would now be lacking a brain to ponder these thoughts in the first place.
  9327. >It takes a while for you to fully grapple the implications mentally, but the realisation slowly sets in regardless.
  9328. >You are still alive.
  9329. >And the gradually returning pounding pain in your chest is serving as a reminder that you are indeed in the same state as before.
  9330. >So you slowly open your eyes to see what is going on.
  9331. >As you have expected, you are immediately greeted by Sky Squall's probing gaze.
  9332. >But the stallion remains motionless.
  9333. >He merely looks at you.
  9334. >You turn your head to your right side and spot the limb in question.
  9335. >The hoof has struck indeed.
  9336. >But not you.
  9337. >It is the metal wall you are pressed against that got a taste of the proxy's strength.
  9338. >Sky Squall has struck the point right next to your ear.
  9339. >And even though you cannot see much of the spot from your current angle, it is already evident that the Pegasus has created a hoof-shaped dent on the surface.
  9340. >He was not holding back with this strike.
  9341. >The stallion must have used almost the full power of the augments to bend the sturdy metal to this degree.
  9342. >You think that you should say something now.
  9343. >But you do not know what.
  9344. >So the Pegasus is faster.
  9345. >"Well, it looks like you have at least a modicum of integrity in the face of danger."
  9346.  
  9347.  
  9348.  
  9349.  
  9350. >With that said, he lifts the second forehoof from your ribcage.
  9351. >And he moves it over to the wall on your left.
  9352. >Sky Squall is now effectively leaning against the metal as he stands on the proxy's hind legs.
  9353. >If you were in a better condition, you would have assumed that he retains this position to eye you on an equal level.
  9354. >However, your still screaming chest prompts you to simply slide down the wall instead.
  9355. >Once you sit on the ground, you try to normalise your breathing.
  9356. >And you wait for the pulsating pain to ebb away.
  9357. >The stallion looks down on you from his towering position and comments on your latest action in the meantime.
  9358. >"Your condition is terrible though."
  9359. >Fine.
  9360. >Now you reply.
  9361. "That's easy to say for someone who has always lived in an enhanced body."
  9362. >Sky Squall does not object.
  9363. >And you change the topic quickly.
  9364. "So... you were faking it after all. You were testing me."
  9365. >The Pegasus takes a breath.
  9366. >"Don't be mistaken. This wasn't just a game, Anon. If you had agreed to my last demand, it would have proven to me that all of your previously 'noble' actions were just a pathetic charade. And this blow... wouldn't have 'missed' its target."
  9367. >A pause.
  9368. >"Now though, I have some reason to believe that you are at least in part who you pretended to be in Equestria. Not counting the anatomy, of course."
  9369. >You nod.
  9370. "I'm just a normal everyday guy, Sky. I only got damn lucky in a series of convoluted circumstances. That part of my story has always been the full truth."
  9371. >Sky Squall inhales.
  9372. >"Well, I'll see that for myself soon, won't I."
  9373. >You blink.
  9374. "What?"
  9375. >The stallion is swift to explain.
  9376. >"Only the last demand was a 'fake' one, as you call it. But I expect you to honour the other three."
  9377. >A pause.
  9378. >"Starting with your whole life story."
  9379. >You nod once more.
  9380. "Alright. You'll get it all."
  9381. >A moment of silence follows.
  9382. >And you somehow think that Sky Squall needs this short respite just as much as you do.
  9383. >For he has a lot to think about.
  9384. >Yet as you look up to the brooding stallion and ponder your own situation, you feel tempted to point something out.
  9385. "Hey, Sky."
  9386. >"Yes?"
  9387. >You grin.
  9388. >"You've lowered your guard again."
  9389. >The stallion blinks and looks at you as the gears in his head start to grind.
  9390. >"Oh."
  9391. >He pauses.
  9392. >"But it doesn't matter. You won't do anything."
  9393. >You decide to tease him a little.
  9394. "Are you sure? You're completely exposed."
  9395. >The stallion does not flinch at all.
  9396. >"Yes, I am. You're out of justifications to make use of it."
  9397. >You shrug.
  9398. "I could say it's a valuable reminder about staying vigilant."
  9399. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  9400. >"Not good enough for your alleged standards."
  9401. >Then he turns the banter around with a challenging grin of his own.
  9402. >"Unless... you want to prove that you are inconsistent right from the start. Oh, and by the way, your head is still in hitting range."
  9403. >You let the status quo go on for a few seconds before you finally sigh and lean back.
  9404. "Fine. You're right. It was a bluff."
  9405.  
  9406.  
  9407.  
  9408.  
  9409. >A pause.
  9410. "Something else isn't a bluff though."
  9411. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  9412. >"What isn't?"
  9413. >You do not answer his question directly.
  9414. "You've named your conditions. We have a deal now, right?"
  9415. >Sky Squall nods.
  9416. "Good. So it's settled."
  9417. >You turn your head slightly to the side to see past Sky Squall and the towering proxy.
  9418. >And you spot #deca.mare, still standing at her original position.
  9419. >She has not taken a single step whilst you were tackled by Sky Squall.
  9420. >Just as you told her to.
  9421. >However, to say that she looks alarmed would be the understatement of the week.
  9422. >Because #deca.mare's body is as tense as a bowstring, and she looks like her proxy is close to the bursting point.
  9423. >She is visibly worried sick about you and your health.
  9424. >Well, you kept her waiting for far too long.
  9425. >It is time to change that.
  9426. >You raise your voice to speak loudly.
  9427. >Your battered chest does not fully approve of the idea just yet, but you will manage.
  9428. "#deca, I rescind my last order."
  9429. >You do not have to say that twice.
  9430. >Just as you finish your last word, #deca.mare springs into action.
  9431. >She rushes right to your spot, perfectly managing the effects of the reduced gravity by adapting her moves accordingly.
  9432. >And her priorities are clear.
  9433. >As soon as she is in range, she immediately gets Sky Squall out of the way.
  9434. >Not with any indecent attacks on vulnerable spots, but simply by applying the correct amount of lever action at the correct location.
  9435. >#deca.mare runs to Sky Squall's side, marginally lowers her body, and then pushes herself against the proxy with the full might of her augmentations.
  9436. >All of this happens in less than three seconds.
  9437. >The Pegasus merely has the time to register that something is going on as he is getting hoisted away.
  9438. >And thanks to the low gravity levels on the ship, his trajectory is considerable.
  9439. >The proxy flies to the side in a notable upwards curve, and he seems to be genuinely surprised to float through the air in this manner.
  9440. >Sky Squall's reaction is predictable, although not quite as successful as he hopes at first.
  9441. >Because upon realising that he is de facto flying, he quickly beats his wings to compensate and stabilise his course.
  9442. >However, he does overestimate the level of strength which is required in this environment, as he is only used to flying under planetary conditions.
  9443. >And as such, he unintentionally veers even further away from #deca.mare and you.
  9444. >You for your part are not able to help him though.
  9445. >#deca.mare takes the spot which was previously occupied by Sky Squall, and as you are about to say something, she speaks up first.
  9446. >"Please not another word, Anon. Not before I have certainty."
  9447. "Certainty of wha..."
  9448. >She gently silences you with a forehoof.
  9449. >Message received.
  9450. >You fall silent again and let #deca.mare do her work.
  9451. >And she gets to it without hesitation.
  9452.  
  9453.  
  9454.  
  9455.  
  9456. >She sits down right in front of you and starts to carefully touch and prod your chest with her hooves.
  9457. >Your ribs are her particular focus.
  9458. >More specifically, she is checking whether they are still in one piece and located where they are supposed to be.
  9459. >Yet despite her extraordinarily mild approach, her touch does hurt on occasion.
  9460. >You play it down as much as possible, as every single hint of a wince from you will drive her sorrows further.
  9461. >Once she is done, #deca.mare exhales lightly.
  9462. >"All bones still intact. No signs of dislocations either. But a bruise is forming as we speak."
  9463. >You smile.
  9464. "I can live with that."
  9465. >Then you look at Sky Squall.
  9466. >The Pegasus is just about to stand up again, halfway across the room.
  9467. "Guess we're even now."
  9468. >#deca.mare's hoof silences you another time.
  9469. >"Hush. We are not done yet."
  9470. >Fine.
  9471. >You keep quiet and let her work.
  9472. >And after making sure that the integrity of your chest is still fine, she presses one ear against it to listen closely.
  9473. >"Accelerated heart rate, but firm and frequent. It... is gradually slowing down to normal levels. Good."
  9474. >You blink.
  9475. "So... I can get up?"
  9476. >#deca.mare shakes her head lightly, without interrupting her listening activities.
  9477. >"No! Not until I checked you thoroughly. Suitable equipment is on the way. Hold still."
  9478. >Sky Squall listens to this as he comes closer.
  9479. >"Hm, I believe I was wrong about you."
  9480. >#deca.mare waves defensively with a hoof.
  9481. >She does not even spare a single second to look at the stallion right now.
  9482. >"Not now, Sky."
  9483. >You grin in his direction.
  9484. "Yeah. You have no idea. You've condemned me to an armada of examinations."
  9485. >#deca.mare gently pokes your side.
  9486. >"Will you be quiet now? You are messing up your rhythmic heartbeat."
  9487. >You sigh and nod in submission.
  9488. "Yes, doc."
  9489. >You look at Sky Squall again.
  9490. "Take a seat, this will take a while."
  9491. >Now she looks up.
  9492. >#deca.mare glares at you like a mother hen on high alert.
  9493. >"I promised that I will not be cross with Sky Squall because of this. But if you keep talking before we have absolute certainty, I will be very... miffed."
  9494. >Oh yes, you are not going to go anywhere any time soon.
  9495. >And Sky Squall seems to understand that your remark was meant to be taken seriously.
  9496. >So he heeds your words.
  9497. >The stallion sits down, squarely on the metal floor next to you.
  9498. >Though he does keep a distance of about a metre to make sure that he does not unintentionally disturb #deca.mare's treatment.
  9499. >After all, Sky Squall is not blind.
  9500. >He can well and truly see that #deca.mare may turn into a proverbial lioness if he jeopardises your wellbeing in any way whatsoever.
  9501. >And he does not want that, of course.
  9502. >So he just sits there and silently follows #deca.mare's actions from up close.
  9503.  
  9504.  
  9505.  
  9506.  
  9507. >At least he gets a chance to see the true and unfiltered character of her, and in real-time at that.
  9508. >From a tactical standpoint, this may actually help you to fully convince him of your motivations.
  9509. >Which is a win indeed.
  9510. >But if you are honest about this, you would have preferred a less stinging method.
  9511. >Nevertheless, the first step has been made, and you are still alive.
  9512. >Not a bad outcome at the end of the day.
  9513.  
  9514.  
  9515.  
  9516.  
  9517. 158.1
  9518.  
  9519. >After a myriad of different scans and analyses, #deca.mare is finally willing to "release" you from her medical screening.
  9520. >As she has indicated, the most striking injury that you have suffered is a pair of hoof-shaped bruises on your chest.
  9521. >These injuries, nasty as they may look, are effectively harmless from a medical perspective.
  9522. >Your body is fully able to repair the damage without any additional treatment.
  9523. >However, you cannot return to the cryo unit during the healing process if you want these bruises to disappear, as the stasis would effectively halt your natural regeneration abilities, thereby preserving the wounded tissue in its current state.
  9524. >Of course, you could theoretically do that without any real issue, but #deca.mare recommends you to get rid of these blemishes as quickly as possible.
  9525. >Just in case.
  9526. >And you heed her wishes, which means that you are, in a way, "restricted to quarters" for the time being.
  9527. >For a couple of days, your movement range will be limited to the command deck, and the perks of the link will be unavailable to you during this time.
  9528. >Slightly annoying, sure, but nothing that would really faze you.
  9529. >After all, your life as a space pilot has taught you how to spend your free time in confined spaces.
  9530. >Besides, you are not alone.
  9531. >#deca.mare is constantly near you of course, as she always wants to be in range to ensure your wellbeing at all times.
  9532. >And Sky Squall has offered to keep you two company as well.
  9533. >For him, it is a great opportunity to learn more about, well, almost everything.
  9534. >And for you, it is a good method to pass the days as well.
  9535. >As such, you already make some considerable progress on the first day of your medical "time-out", as #deca.mare and you give him a brief rundown of what it is that you are actually doing, and in what capacities you would like him to help.
  9536. >You also take the time to honour the first of the three conditions that the stallion demanded.
  9537. >You introduce Sky Squall to your private and military dossier.
  9538. >Which includes your biography, your career, and almost everything else which is of importance.
  9539. >Yet as simple as this task sounds initially, it does have a series of pitfalls.
  9540. >Because whilst the Pegasus can easily understand the wording within these files, he does not possess the contextual knowledge to evaluate most of it.
  9541. >Starting with simple things like your date of birth, and the calendar which was used to calculate said date, up to way more complex issues like the entirety of the USC or spaceflight.
  9542. >And you are not even addressing the whole can of worms that is the terraformer project, and why it would be a damn bad idea for any Equestrian to attempt contacting Earth or the colonies.
  9543. >The stallion will have to learn about this part of the story sooner or later as well, but for now, you try to stick to the positive and functional side of things.
  9544.  
  9545.  
  9546.  
  9547.  
  9548. >Nevertheless, you find yourself spending hours to fill at least some of the basic blanks in Sky Squall's insight.
  9549. >And as the stallion quickly learns for himself, you were not lying when you called this a very long story.
  9550. >In fact, he asks you several times to condense the details to the absolutely essential intel which he requires to follow your reports, as it is too much to process all at once.
  9551. >At one point, after many hours of exposition and explanations, the stallion looks like he is about to emit small puffs of smoke from the proxy's ears.
  9552. >But you for your part are not really in the position to poke some light-hearted fun at him because of that.
  9553. >For you feel something which you have not felt in a long time.
  9554. >Actual, physical fatigue.
  9555. >You are getting tired as well.
  9556. >And unlike the strain to which you have exposed yourself within the simulation from time to time, this is somewhat stronger, as it is not only your mind that is exhausted.
  9557. >Your whole body needs a rest.
  9558. >#deca.mare notices the signs in both Sky Squall and you as well.
  9559. >So she suggests to call it a day and prescribes a good long rest for everyone.
  9560. >Sky Squall and you agree to that offer right away.
  9561. >You need the respite to regenerate, and Sky Squall can let these new insights sink in properly.
  9562. >Interestingly enough though, he asks to get a room too.
  9563. >Because whilst he technically does not have to sleep, given that he is controlling the proxy remotely, he insists on maintaining his natural rhythm of waking hours and sleep cycles.
  9564. >After all, Sky Squall has never known anything else, and he does not want to lose this part of himself either.
  9565. >#deca.mare understands his notion all too well, considering her own semi-self-learned fondness of sleep and dreams.
  9566. >And you are more than willing to grant him this simple request too.
  9567. >The command deck has plenty of vacant quarters attached to it, and it is not like they are used for much these days anyway.
  9568. >Though #deca.mare does mention to Sky Squall to be careful with the interior.
  9569. >She does not say why, as she merely points out that the rooms have an emotional value to her.
  9570. >Still, Sky Squall can see the honesty in her remark and heeds her wishes.
  9571. >Besides, neither of you have given him any reasons to smash further dints into the walls.
  9572. >In fact, the stallion has been fairly controlled during the whole affair.
  9573. >He is acting somewhat less cordial and more distant than before, but he is open to the things you teach him.
  9574. >Which is something.
  9575. >Perhaps you can fully salvage your friendship at the end of the day.
  9576. >But you will not push the matter.
  9577. >After all, you have strained Sky Squall's trust.
  9578. >And that damage needs time to get repaired in its entirety.
  9579. >Much like a healing wound, it requires patience above all else.
  9580.  
  9581.  
  9582.  
  9583.  
  9584. 158.2
  9585.  
  9586. >The mechanical door to a certain familiar small room opens up as your palm touches the scanner.
  9587. >You look inside, eye the utilitarian design of the little chamber, and sigh with a smile.
  9588. "You know, it has a charm in its own way. It really takes me back."
  9589. >#deca.mare mirrors your smile slightly, as she is undoubtedly thinking about much earlier times.
  9590. >"Indeed. That it does."
  9591. >Then she steps in.
  9592. >You briefly glance at the closed door right next to yours and wonder what Sky Squall is doing in there at the moment.
  9593. >The stallion quickly grasped the basic concept of scanners and how to operate the door mechanisms with them, but you assume that the decor will prove to be a challenge in some regards.
  9594. >The chair and the table in particular were absolutely not made with equine anatomy in mind.
  9595. >Then again, he probably has no use for these at the moment either.
  9596. >Well, at least the bed should not pose any problems.
  9597. >And that is the most important thing to get some rest.
  9598. >"Anon?"
  9599. >This is #deca.mare.
  9600. >"Is something wrong?"
  9601. >You look at her and remember that the two of you are not linked for a while.
  9602. >She has a very limited intel about your condition right now, which in turn prompts her to pay much more attention to even the most minute details of your actions.
  9603. >You shake your head and smile again.
  9604. "No, I'm fine."
  9605. >You go on as you step in.
  9606. "I was just wondering how Sky is doing at the moment."
  9607. >#deca.mare smiles.
  9608. >"He is busy. Sky has a lot to think about."
  9609. "Yeah, I thought so. I'm not sure whether that's good or bad though."
  9610. >The mechanical door closes automatically behind you.
  9611. >"Give him time. You have done what you could do in one day."
  9612. >She motions you to follow her as she trots to the small bed, emphasising that you came here to rest.
  9613. >So you do just that.
  9614. >Without further ado, the two of you climb into the relatively simple bunk.
  9615. >And just as she did the last time you were here together, #deca.mare turns her back on you and carefully presses her body against yours.
  9616. >She minds not to put any pressure on your bruised chest though.
  9617. >You smile as you wrap your arms around her sides.
  9618. "Don't you think that's a bit too much caution? I'm not hurt that badly."
  9619. >#deca.mare snorts lightly.
  9620. >"That you are hurt at all is 'too much' for my tastes. I can understand the motives behind your decision, but it was still a hazardous move."
  9621. >You nod.
  9622. "I know. But it was necessary to regain at least a portion of his trust."
  9623. >#deca.mare sighs.
  9624. >"Perhaps. Yet we still have to live with the consequences."
  9625. >You shrug.
  9626. "I'll manage."
  9627. >"Fortunately. But please be more careful in the future. I would be glad if this... situation was a singular event."
  9628. >You nod.
  9629. "Alright. I promise I won't do that again."
  9630. >#deca.mare exhales.
  9631. >"Good. Thank you, Anon."
  9632. >There is one thing you still have to point out, however.
  9633. "We've promised Sky to talk to Firefly in person though."
  9634. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  9635.  
  9636.  
  9637.  
  9638.  
  9639. >"Indeed. And we will keep that promise. But he never included the caveat that I am not allowed to intervene."
  9640. >You think about this remark for a moment.
  9641. "That's right."
  9642. >Then you blink.
  9643. "I wouldn't have wanted to try the same trick with Firefly anyway. She... is scary when she's angry."
  9644. >And she still has not settled a certain ancient score with you either.
  9645. >Granted, she is not likely to do so now, but one can never know.
  9646. >Your thoughts are about to revolve further around the vivid magenta mare as #deca.mare inhales audibly.
  9647. >Something must have changed.
  9648. "#deca? What's up?"
  9649. >She replies immediately, but shows no signs of alarm.
  9650. >"A minor development. It is nothing to worry about."
  9651. >You raise an eyebrow, not realising that #deca.mare cannot register this reaction at the moment.
  9652. "What happened? You twitched for a second."
  9653. >#deca.mare's response is short, yet not really telling you anything.
  9654. >"You will see."
  9655. >You raise your voice to say something, but you are interrupted by a sequence of muffled banging sounds which emanate from the door.
  9656. >You look up.
  9657. "Huh?"
  9658. >Another sequence follows a few seconds later.
  9659. "Is that Sky... knocking on our door?"
  9660. >"Hmhm."
  9661. >You blink in confusion.
  9662. "#deca, open up, please."
  9663. >"Understood."
  9664. >The door slides open in the very next moment.
  9665. >Your proxy stands on the other side, still controlled by Sky Squall for the time being.
  9666. >And as you quickly see, the Pegasus carries a basic mattress and a pillow on his back.
  9667. "Uh, hey there."
  9668. >Sky Squall takes one step in your direction.
  9669. >"Hello. Mind if I crash here?"
  9670. >You blink again.
  9671. "No, but... is something wrong with your room?"
  9672. >He nods.
  9673. >"In fact, yes. There is."
  9674. >He pauses briefly.
  9675. >"It was not built for a Pegasus."
  9676. >Now you are confused and feel obliged to point out the obvious.
  9677. "Neither is this one. They have the same outline."
  9678. >Sky Squall does not try to refute that.
  9679. >"True. It's also constricted and uninviting. No space for movement, and much less flight. You can just barely spread your wings too."
  9680. >A pause.
  9681. >"But... there's at least some life in here."
  9682. >You can see where he is coming from.
  9683. >Sky Squall has lived his whole life on Equestria, and he is used to the world's marvels.
  9684. >Green landscapes and open skies are the standard for ponies, and especially so for Pegasi like him.
  9685. >The terraformer quarters are the polar opposite of that.
  9686. >Small rooms, surrounded by metal walls on all sides, living in a tiny oasis of air that is surrounded by hallways after hallways of vacuum.
  9687. >The very antithesis of a Pegasus' nature.
  9688. >And whilst he could leave right after the session to assume control of the proxy again at the beginning of the next one, the stallion would never really consider this option.
  9689. >For he is not a pony who backs down so easily.
  9690. >Smaller concessions seem to be on the table, however.
  9691.  
  9692.  
  9693.  
  9694.  
  9695. >And you see no issues with accommodating him, so you nod.
  9696. "Okay, come in. You've got to make do with the floor though. The bed is full and we're running a bit above the intended capacity already."
  9697. >Sky Squall shrugs, and the mattress on his back bounces a little.
  9698. >"No problem."
  9699. >The Pegasus slowly steps in and puts his mattress on the floor, effectively blocking the narrow pathway to the door.
  9700. >"I've got to say, the creative minds who envisioned this place never planned to live here themselves. That much is certain."
  9701. >Well, he is not wrong.
  9702. >Sort of.
  9703. "Yeah. The deck is not supposed to house a population on a permanent basis. It's a makeshift residence."
  9704. >Sky Squall believes that immediately.
  9705. >"And it truly looks the part too."
  9706. >He places the pillow on the mattress and lies down, facing the two of you.
  9707. >There are no signs of a blanket, but this does not surprise you.
  9708. >Because for all the fondness that he developed for the ponies of the other tribes, the stallion himself has always remained a staunch Pegasus at heart.
  9709. >And Pegasi can easily nap comfortably in the skies without any sleeping accessories.
  9710. >In fact, you assume he only packed the mattress and the pillow because the metal structures are far too unnatural for him.
  9711. >Not that you would blame him though.
  9712. >You would not want to take a nap on bare metal surfaces either.
  9713. >"I hope I didn't interrupt you two."
  9714. >You shake your head.
  9715. "Not at all. You could have come in any time."
  9716. >The Pegasus shrugs a second time.
  9717. >"I wasn't sure what I'd find on the other side, so I thought it would be better to, you know, be polite."
  9718. >Nothing to say against that.
  9719. "Fair point."
  9720. >A pause.
  9721. "And... how are you now?"
  9722. >Sky Squall hesitates briefly.
  9723. >"That's... hard to put into words. How are you supposed to feel when you meet the makers you never knew you had, and they're offering you a place at their side?"
  9724. >You hesitate.
  9725. "I... can't answer that."
  9726. >Sky Squall nods.
  9727. >"Neither can I."
  9728. >The stallion sighs.
  9729. >"There are many things I still don't get yet. And even more things that are difficult to grasp."
  9730. >You take a calm breath.
  9731. "Rest assured, we'll get there. One step at a time, Sky."
  9732. >He nods.
  9733. >"I've got a question. It's personal though."
  9734. >Personal or not, you have promised to be open.
  9735. >And you keep that promise.
  9736. "Shoot. What do you want to know?"
  9737. >"As I understood it, you started your work on Equestria together. After your timely rescue in the middle of nothing, right?"
  9738. "Yeah."
  9739. >He looks at #deca.mare.
  9740. >"And before that, what have you done?"
  9741. >#deca.mare sighs.
  9742. >"I wandered on my own. I travelled from star to star. Explored. Created charts."
  9743. >The stallion goes on.
  9744. >"For centuries? Without end?"
  9745. >She nods.
  9746. >"What changed then? Why the drastic shift? What was your motivation?"
  9747. >You take over again.
  9748. "I reminded her of her purpose, Sky."
  9749. >You pause.
  9750. "To put it in pony terms, it's her special talent and her urge. It's what she is best at."
  9751.  
  9752.  
  9753.  
  9754.  
  9755. >He tilts his head.
  9756. >"Building worlds?"
  9757. "Making unliveable worlds habitable, to be precise. She has perfected the art of shaping a barren land into a garden."
  9758. >#deca.mare nods a second time.
  9759. >"This is... one way to put it."
  9760. >Sky Squall eyes the two of you closely.
  9761. >"An unusual talent."
  9762. >You agree, yet deliberately omit the wider context of her background for now.
  9763. "It wasn't easy to acquire. But the effort paid off. And none of us would be here without it."
  9764. >Again, the full truth.
  9765. >Sky Squall would not have had any chance to exist at all.
  9766. >You would have died in space, assuming your life would have taken the same directions as it did.
  9767. >And even if it did not, old age would have claimed you by now.
  9768. >#deca.mare would never have been built too.
  9769. >And Equestria would still be an almost forgotten idea of a bygone age.
  9770. >All of your lives were deeply affected by the terraformer project.
  9771. >It is your common bond, in one way or another.
  9772. >And Sky Squall feels that you have not been entirely transparent just yet.
  9773. >"There's much more to the story than what you've just told me."
  9774. >You are not going to deny that.
  9775. "You're right. But..."
  9776. >The stallion chimes in to complete your thought for you.
  9777. >"Yes. I've heard enough of those for one day. Tomorrow then."
  9778. >The proxy relaxes visibly as Sky Squall tries to calm the grinding gears in his mind in order to get some sleep.
  9779. >He does not fully succeed in his attempt though, as he keeps his eyes on the two of you the whole time, thinking about something.
  9780. >It is not hard to notice what he is doing, and the Pegasus does not exactly try to hide it either.
  9781. >Yet you are not fazed by the fact that he is watching you.
  9782. >Not at all.
  9783. >In fact, you are fine with it.
  9784. >Because the more he observes you, the sooner he will get a better impression of who #deca.mare and you really are.
  9785. >And, most importantly, he will see that your unhidden selves are not all that different.
  9786. >You close your eyes and hug #deca.mare a little bit tighter as you think about that, ready to doze off for good.
  9787. >But then, you are brought right back to the real world.
  9788. >"Hey, Anon."
  9789. >That was Sky Squall.
  9790. >You look at him again, only half awake.
  9791. "Yeah?"
  9792. >The stallion clears his throat.
  9793. "Another personal question?"
  9794. >He nods.
  9795. "Go ahead."
  9796. >So he does.
  9797. >"Is there any particular reason why you are lying like this?"
  9798. >You blink.
  9799. "Uh, what?"
  9800. >"You two. Do you lie like that for a reason?"
  9801. >You do not answer immediately.
  9802. "What do you mean?"
  9803. >#deca.mare chimes in at that point.
  9804. >"He wants to know why we are not embracing one another."
  9805. >Sky Squall nods.
  9806. >"Exactly. You're making it look like you're avoiding it."
  9807. >You grin.
  9808. "Yes. That's because we do."
  9809. >Sky Squall is confused by this.
  9810. >"I don't understand."
  9811. >You take a breath before you give him a brief summary.
  9812. "It's not like we wouldn't want to. But #deca is concerned about me and my health. She fears that she could accidentally hurt me in a moment of, ahem, 'inattention'."
  9813. >A second of silence follows.
  9814.  
  9815.  
  9816.  
  9817.  
  9818. >"And?"
  9819. "And nothing."
  9820. >Sky Squall looks at you in disbelief.
  9821. >"That's it?"
  9822. >#deca.mare nods.
  9823. >"And out of curiosity, you've never done more together than, you know, this?"
  9824. >He points at #deca.mare and you, overtly referring to your current display of physical intimacy.
  9825. >She shakes her head now.
  9826. >"Not out here. Only... in the simulation."
  9827. >Sky Squall seems to be stunned for a moment.
  9828. >But then he replies.
  9829. >"Excuse me for being so brash, but this is stupid."
  9830. >"#deca.mare sighs.
  9831. >"It is not. The risk of injuries is too high."
  9832. >The stallion does not agree though.
  9833. >"Ridiculous. How could you possibly hurt him?"
  9834. >#deca.mare's response is calm and collected.
  9835. >"I think you underestimate our strength, Sky. A split second, a single wrong move, and it could be too much. Anon is not as sturdy as a pony. You have seen it yourself."
  9836. >Again, Sky Squall disagrees.
  9837. >"Sure, he folds quickly. But you're exaggerating. He isn't made out of glass."
  9838. >You are not sure what to say.
  9839. >Sky Squall is apparently taking sides with you.
  9840. >Via backhanded compliments, of all things.
  9841. "Thanks, I guess?"
  9842. >#deca.mare is about to object vehemently, but the stallion keeps going.
  9843. >"Look, if I didn't break his bones, then you won't either. Turn around."
  9844. >#deca.mare hesitates.
  9845. >"But..."
  9846. >Sky Squall remains adamant, however.
  9847. >His squad leader persona is starting to shine through, and he has no qualms to make full use of it.
  9848. >"You say that you love him, right?"
  9849. >And surprisingly enough, it works to an extent on #deca.mare.
  9850. >For she does not try to object immediately again.
  9851. >She gives a timid answer to his question instead.
  9852. >"Yes."
  9853. >He goes on.
  9854. >"Then this won't do. How can you claim to love him when you're too afraid of a simple embrace?"
  9855. >Once more, no objection.
  9856. >"Now turn around. This is silly, and I won't take 'no' for an answer."
  9857. >You cannot help but gawk at the surreal scene.
  9858. >Just a couple of hours ago, this stallion was ready to threaten you.
  9859. >And now he is cajoling #deca.mare into submission at the behest of your love life.
  9860. >"Sky, I am not sure if this is a wise..."
  9861. >He cuts her short a second time.
  9862. >"Maybe you're not sure. But I know it is."
  9863. >#deca.mare exhales and begrudgingly heeds Sky Squall's instructions.
  9864. >"As you wish, Sky."
  9865. >She slowly turns and shifts herself in your arms until she is facing you.
  9866. >Then she wraps her forehooves around your shoulders, using only the lightest of force to faintly nestle herself up against you.
  9867. >Sky Squall grins.
  9868. >"There we go. That's better. And? Did something break?"
  9869. >You look #deca.mare in the eyes and see that she is torn between two polar notions.
  9870. >She is overtly enjoying the moment, but it is tangible for you that a part of her cannot shake the calls for cautions either.
  9871. >Still, Sky Squall has achieved something which you never did.
  9872. >And all it took was a little bit of perseverance.
  9873. >Paired with a firm word.
  9874.  
  9875.  
  9876.  
  9877.  
  9878. >You chime in as #deca.mare does not react to Sky Squall's rhetorical question.
  9879. "That's the Sky Squall I know. Eager as always."
  9880. >And the stallion shrugs nonchalantly.
  9881. >"Sometimes you've got to be direct to produce results, don't you think?"
  9882. >You cannot really disagree, given that #deca.mare and her behaviour lend some credibility to his statement.
  9883. >In spite of her original intention to object.
  9884. >Plus, you believe he is slightly jabbing at the fact that you have not been direct to him for decades.
  9885. "Fine."
  9886. >You give the Pegasus an awry grin.
  9887. "What's next though? Do you want us to do a number right in front of you to prove we're serious?"
  9888. >Sky Squall certainly knows that you are jesting, yet he treats the question as if it were a serious consideration or an outright proposal.
  9889. >"I won't insist on going that far, but I wouldn't mind if you did either."
  9890. >You would tilt your head if you were not lying at the moment.
  9891. "Come again?"
  9892. >The stallion keeps talking in a serious tone.
  9893. >"To be honest, it would only be fair, in a way. You had plenty of opportunities to observe us too."
  9894. >So he is deliberately poking you now.
  9895. >You shake your head.
  9896. "We never did. Private matters are private for a reason."
  9897. >And you get an idea as you say that.
  9898. >An idea how you can perhaps turn this conversation around.
  9899. "Besides, it wasn't necessary anyway."
  9900. >This catches the stallion's attention.
  9901. >"What do you mean?"
  9902. >And here you go.
  9903. "It's no secret that Firefly and you were, ahem, 'at it' quite often. Way above the average. Someone once jokingly said that Firefly had a plan to personally foal a whole unit for her Wonderbolts."
  9904. >Sky Squall huffs lightly.
  9905. >"Who said that?"
  9906. >You smile.
  9907. "Sorry, I won't snitch."
  9908. >As much as his pride wants to know the answer though, Sky Squall can respect your decision.
  9909. "The point is, we didn't need to see in order to know. That open secret was common knowledge after a while. And the four foals were telling too. Not that there is something wrong with any of that, of course. It's your business."
  9910. >The Pegasus remains silent for a while.
  9911. >And once he does raise his voice, he swiftly steers the conversation back to the original topic.
  9912. >"That... makes sense."
  9913. >He takes a breath.
  9914. >"Anyway, it's your decision as well. I can't tell you what to do."
  9915. >Well, technically speaking, he just told #deca.mare to embrace you properly, which is a direct consequence of his insistence.
  9916. >Then again, his words contain a kernel of truth.
  9917. >For #deca.mare could have refused to comply, and that would have been the end of it.
  9918. >Still, you decide to poke him a little further.
  9919. "But... you'd want to?"
  9920. >He shrugs.
  9921. >"What I want is secondary in your personal relationship."
  9922. >The Pegasus inhales.
  9923. >"Since you're asking me so directly though, maybe I can still win my bet after all. Post-mortem, sort of, but still."
  9924. >Hold on.
  9925. "Bet? Did you say bet?"
  9926.  
  9927.  
  9928.  
  9929.  
  9930. >The tables turn once again as Sky Squall grins all of a sudden.
  9931. >"Let me put it like this: Firefly and I made 'assumptions' about you two. In private only."
  9932. >He pauses.
  9933. >"You failed me bitterly, by the way."
  9934. >You try to look deadpan, but you are sure that it does not work all too well.
  9935. "What was the bet about?"
  9936. >All that you get from Sky Squall is a wordless grin.
  9937. >Yet it tells you everything you need to know.
  9938. "And what was the prize?"
  9939. >The stallion maintains his amused expression.
  9940. >"Something private. A private prize, for a private bet of course."
  9941. >You blink.
  9942. >"Of course. Naturally."
  9943. >You sigh as you process this, for the thought feels somewhat awkward.
  9944. >However, you have no right to complain about it.
  9945. >After all, you had similar thoughts about him and his mare when you talked to #deca.mare in a certain medical tent.
  9946. >Wait.
  9947. >This could work as an excuse.
  9948. "Guess I can't help you, sorry. I'm injured."
  9949. >The stallion laughs heartily.
  9950. >"The hoof imprints on your chest? Hah! These two splotches are nothing."
  9951. >You are tempted to point out that #deca.mare would have merrily mangled your attacker for "these two splotches" under any other circumstances.
  9952. >Ferociously so.
  9953. >But you refrain from doing that.
  9954. >Instead, you keep listening to Sky Squall's comments.
  9955. >And he too remembers what you are alluding to.
  9956. >"I wasn't held back by worse injuries back then. And you can move better with yours than I did with mine."
  9957. >And as much as you hate to admit it, he is right about that.
  9958. >Plus, the augmentations were not helping him in this case either.
  9959. >Still, you back off.
  9960. "Nope. Sorry. We can't help you with your bet. Right, #deca?"
  9961. >She does not even need to consider your question.
  9962. >Her response comes promptly.
  9963. >"Hmhm."
  9964. >The Pegasus remains calm though.
  9965. >"That's fine. You do you."
  9966. >A pause.
  9967. >"There was no bet anyway."
  9968. >You must have misheard.
  9969. "Wait, what? You made that up?"
  9970. >The Pegasus laughs.
  9971. >"Surprise!"
  9972. >You groan and have to resist the urge to cover your face.
  9973. "God damn it! You really just tried to talk us into fucking right before your eyes!"
  9974. >Sky Squall still does not even try to hide his amusement.
  9975. >"That would be one way of interpreting it. Or... you could assume that I was perhaps trying to see whether I could fool you or not. To test my agency, possibly. I'll let you decide what you think of your friend."
  9976. >You give the attempt of displaying confidence another shot.
  9977. >The results are equally unconvincing as the last ones, however.
  9978. "And what if... I was also playing an act?"
  9979. >The stallion almost has another fit of laughter.
  9980. >"With that blush? I don't think so. It looks genuine enough."
  9981. >Damn it.
  9982. "Okay. You got me. Again."
  9983. >You concede that point and look for a way to steer the conversation into a different direction.
  9984. >And Sky Squall may have provided you with the means to do precisely that.
  9985. "By the way, you said 'friend'."
  9986. >The Pegasus nods.
  9987. >"I did."
  9988. "So... does this mean we're still friends in your book?"
  9989. >Again, Sky Squall shrugs.
  9990.  
  9991.  
  9992.  
  9993.  
  9994. >Albeit with a more casual smile this time.
  9995. >"I haven't found any evidence to the contrary so far, considering what we've discussed today. It... leaves me with the option of giving you the benefit of the doubt for the time being. And the hope that you won't disappoint me."
  9996. >Which is probably the best stance you can expect at this point in time.
  9997. >You exhale audibly.
  9998. "That's good to hear. It really is."
  9999. >The Pegasus nods briefly to acknowledge your appreciation, but leaves it at that.
  10000. >And you do not wish to come across as too sentimental in his presence either.
  10001. >Instead, you go right back to something which is more suitable for a Pegasus like him.
  10002. >Banter.
  10003. "Allow me to give you a friendly advice then. When you get your body back and Firefly agrees to join us too, also with her own body if she wants to of course, please show some restraint. This deck can't support a full flying squadron of Wonderbolt fledglings."
  10004. >Sky Squall rolls with the punches.
  10005. >"Don't worry. We'll leave enough space for Harmony. Provided you're fast enough."
  10006. >A pause.
  10007. >"If that doesn't work, we'll just have to build new rooms."
  10008. >Oh yes, he is joking.
  10009. >He must be.
  10010. >Probably.
  10011. >A part of you hopes that Sky Squall does not get any ideas about changing the interior configuration of the ship.
  10012. >Because you still remember how a similar approach prompted Harmony to design a whole fleet.
  10013. >Granted, Sky Squall will certainly not be quite so strident, but still.
  10014. >Either way though, that is a consideration for another day, as Sky Squall swiftly points out by stretching his body and lounging on the mattress.
  10015. >"Oh well. We'll see about it when the time comes. I'm done."
  10016. >You agree wholeheartedly.
  10017. "Yeah, time out... time."
  10018. >Creative indeed.
  10019. >A pretty good indication that your mental capacities are running low.
  10020. >You give #deca.mare one long kiss and are about to close your eyes.
  10021. >And she reciprocates your gesture accordingly.
  10022. >But then, as you glance briefly into the room, you notice that Sky Squall is closely eyeing you two once more.
  10023. >Overtly at that.
  10024. >And the stallion smiles as he sees that you have spotted it.
  10025. >"Good start."
  10026. >You grumble.
  10027. "Sky?"
  10028. >"Anon?"
  10029. "Shut your lids."
  10030. >"If you insist."
  10031. >He chuckles.
  10032. >"Good night, you two."
  10033. >With that said, Sky Squall does indeed close his eyes.
  10034. >And he falls asleep within moments, as it seems.
  10035. >Hardly a surprise, given that he merely has to sever the connection to the proxy.
  10036. >But still, you keep looking at the idle Pegasus body for a while longer, just to be sure.
  10037. >Until #deca.mare raises her voice.
  10038. >"Anon, Sky is gone and recuperating. You can relax now."
  10039. >Her insistence finally breaks your suspicion.
  10040. >You take a breath.
  10041. "Alright. Good night, #deca. Love you."
  10042. >"Love you too."
  10043.  
  10044.  
  10045.  
  10046.  
  10047. >You gradually doze off, for good as it seems, before one more thought pulls you back yet again.
  10048. "#deca?"
  10049. >She grunts.
  10050. >"Yes?"
  10051. "Sky didn't install any secret cameras in here, did he?"
  10052. >A long pause.
  10053. >"Sleep, Anon. You must heal."
  10054. "That wasn't an answ..."
  10055. >#deca.mare blocks your words with a second kiss.
  10056. >Which is not exactly answering your question either.
  10057. >But her message is clear.
  10058. >So you do not pose any further questions and lie still until you drift off properly.
  10059.  
  10060.  
  10061.  
  10062.  
  10063. 159
  10064.  
  10065. >You wake up on your own, a couple of hours later.
  10066. >Or at least you assume it has been hours.
  10067. >You have no way of knowing for sure, as there is no timed waking call, no alarm, or anything else that might have interrupted your sleep.
  10068. >You simply came to when your body deemed it to be the right time.
  10069. >And you feel adequately refreshed because of it.
  10070. >You slowly open your eyes and are greeted by #deca.mare's slumbering body right between your arms.
  10071. >She is resting firmly and peacefully, breathing softly, yet evenly in her sleep.
  10072. >Almost like a gentle clockwork.
  10073. >You are tempted to smile, but you stop yourself from doing so.
  10074. >Because #deca.mare has apparently not noticed yet that you are awake.
  10075. >But even the slightest hint of a movement from your part could change that, and she would almost certainly get up as well.
  10076. >You do not want to disturb her sleep though.
  10077. >She shall rest for as long as possible.
  10078. >The peace and quiet does her good too.
  10079. >Maybe not in a direct physical sense, but mentally for sure.
  10080. >Every moment of rest is one moment in which she does not worry about you.
  10081. >Or anything else for that matter.
  10082. >If it were up to you, you would happily hold still for weeks.
  10083. >Just for her.
  10084. >Though this is a silly notion.
  10085. >Obviously.
  10086. >All good intentions aside, #deca.mare, or any of the subsystems that were implemented by her, would spring into action if you were to notably exceed your resting time.
  10087. >This is a fleeting moment, no matter what.
  10088. >So you enjoy it while it lasts.
  10089. >Eventually though, after about a minute or so, #deca.mare opens her eyes as well, instantly focussing yours.
  10090. >You smile and whisper to her.
  10091. "Morning."
  10092. >#deca.mare is quick to return the favour, speaking in a similarly hushed tone.
  10093. >"Good morning, Anon. Have you slept well?"
  10094. "Sure did. And you?"
  10095. >"Me too. It was a pleasant rest."
  10096. >She nuzzles you carefully.
  10097. >"Though it could have been even more pleasant."
  10098. >You pat her on the back.
  10099. "I know. Don't worry, it's only a matter of time. A couple of days and we'll have a link again."
  10100. >You grin.
  10101. "Though I thought I could've kept you sleeping for a bit longer while we're 'separated'. You looked so serene."
  10102. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  10103. >"Sorry to say, Anon, but no. You could not."
  10104. "Oh? What gave it away?"
  10105. >"A minor shift in your heart rate and breathing did. It was easy to hear a change in the pattern."
  10106. >Fair enough.
  10107. >You shrug.
  10108. "Oh well. It was worth a shot."
  10109. >#deca.mare nuzzles your cheek.
  10110. >"And I appreciate the intention behind your gesture."
  10111. >The two of you keep lying in your mutual embrace for a while longer before you begin to take a look around.
  10112. >The room is exactly as it was when you dozed off.
  10113. >Even the idle proxy still lies sprawled on the mattress, right where Sky Squall has left him.
  10114.  
  10115.  
  10116.  
  10117.  
  10118. >And just as you think about the stallion, the proxy starts to move as well.
  10119. >Slowly at first, but with a gradually growing vitality.
  10120. >And eventually, the Pegasus awakes and looks around.
  10121. >"What?"
  10122. >Sky Squall spots your bed, sees #deca.mare and you, and then looks down to investigate the forelimbs of the proxy.
  10123. >"Oh, right. I'm blue. That really happened."
  10124. >You look at him.
  10125. "Morning, Sky."
  10126. >He gives you a nod.
  10127. >"Morning, Sta... Anon."
  10128. "Everything alright?"
  10129. >"I... think so, yes. Though it's confusing to wake up like that."
  10130. >#deca.mare turns her head and responds.
  10131. >"Remember, Sky. We have given you full control over the proxy. If you think the current configuration is too awkward for your tastes, you can adjust a couple of things until they are to your liking."
  10132. >The stallion looks at her.
  10133. >"For example?"
  10134. >#deca.mare inhales.
  10135. >"For example, the controls are currently set to connect you automatically to the proxy when you awake. But it does not have to. If you prefer, you could instead wake up in the simulation first, in an environment of your choice and with your own body, and switch over to the proxy once you feel ready. It only requires a few simple commands to make the changes too. Shall I show them to you?"
  10136. >Sky Squall thinks about this offer for a moment.
  10137. >"Hm... thanks... but no. No simulations and such. I want to see reality. How it really is."
  10138. >A pause.
  10139. >"And if I have to be blue to do so, then so be it."
  10140. >#deca.mare accepts that.
  10141. >"Very well. I just wanted to make sure that you are aware of the options."
  10142. >He nods again.
  10143. >"Noted, thanks."
  10144. >Sky Squall stretches the limbs of the proxy and rolls around on the mattress.
  10145. >As much as the limited space in the room allows it, at least.
  10146. >The Pegasus inhales deeply.
  10147. >"Ah, but that's good stuff. Wrong coat aside, having a well rested prime body again is great. I haven't felt this alive in years!"
  10148. >And sure enough, he does sound indeed like he is currently experiencing a high.
  10149. >You grin.
  10150. "Hey, it's not like you became decrepit, Sky. You always were in good shape."
  10151. >The stallion rolls the proxy on the back and kicks into the air above him with all four legs.
  10152. >"Maybe. But there's still a difference. The muscles, the sinews, the bones, they're simply more responsive when you're younger. And more flexible too."
  10153. >You maintain your smile as you watch Sky Squall doing what you would interpret as a form of morning exercises.
  10154. "Don't get fooled by the lower gravity though. You can reach much greater effects with far less force up here."
  10155. >Sky Squall nods between two exercises.
  10156. >"I know. You gave me a demonstration of that yesterday."
  10157. >You laugh briefly.
  10158. "Yeah, you shot yourself through the room with a few beats."
  10159. >Sky Squall ignores the light poke of yours and simply keeps talking.
  10160. >"I still stand by what I said."
  10161.  
  10162.  
  10163.  
  10164.  
  10165. >The Pegasus changes his position yet again.
  10166. >"But I wonder, how do you maintain your fitness in here? It must be a constant challenge with such a reduced weight."
  10167. >You nod.
  10168. "Yep. It's one of the problems you face on longer space missions. The best effective remedies are physical exercises and occasional planetary trips."
  10169. >Sky Squall listens attentively.
  10170. >"And when was your last?"
  10171. >You hesitate.
  10172. "My last trip?"
  10173. >Oh boy.
  10174. >He does not want to know that.
  10175. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  10176. >"No, your last exercise."
  10177. >You inwardly sigh in relief.
  10178. >Because you can give an honest answer to that without addressing touchy subjects.
  10179. "My last proper exercise session, hm..."
  10180. >The stallion chimes in.
  10181. >"I mean a real one. Proxy or simulation doesn't count."
  10182. >Easy enough.
  10183. "Oh that was... before you were born."
  10184. >Sky Squall freezes in his movements.
  10185. "I'm serious. Since I'm here, I've spent almost the entire time in this cryo unit. It has preserved my body and protected me against decay."
  10186. >The Pegasus grunts.
  10187. >"That's..."
  10188. >#deca.mare interjects promptly.
  10189. >Partially because you are sure that she does not want Sky Squall to come up with the proposal that both of you see already coming, but also partially because she actually has something to say.
  10190. >"I suggest we postpone this discussion. We should tend to something else first."
  10191. >And she does grab Sky Squall's attention.
  10192. >"Oh? What is it?"
  10193. >#deca.mare grins.
  10194. >"Breakfast."
  10195. >Well, you are not going to say no to this.
  10196. "A meal sounds good to me. It's been a while since I've had a real one."
  10197. >Sky Squall looks in your direction and smiles wryly.
  10198. >"Let me guess, before my time."
  10199. >You shake your head.
  10200. "Not quite. But we're still talking about years."
  10201. >Sky Squall nods.
  10202. >"Alright. I could use something to bite too."
  10203. >The stallion stands up.
  10204. >"Where's the kitchen?"
  10205. >You still grin back at him.
  10206. "The closest proper kitchen? Somewhere on the surface."
  10207. >The stallion tilts his head.
  10208. >"You mean you have no kitchen here?"
  10209. >You keep grinning.
  10210. "Only the bare minimum. I told you, this place was not meant to be a residence. The average food up here consisted of processed nutrition rations for a long time."
  10211. >Sky Squall is taken aback by that.
  10212. >"No idea what those are, but they sound disgusting."
  10213. >You shrug.
  10214. "It's no high culinary art, but edible."
  10215. >A pause.
  10216. "You're in luck though. We don't depend on those any more."
  10217. >#deca.mare nods.
  10218. >"Indeed. I have prepared a small shipment of fresh food. It is coming directly from Equestria, and it is reaching us as we speak."
  10219. >Sky Squall looks around.
  10220. >"Where? I can't see any changes. Or hear anything for that matter."
  10221. >#deca.mare points at the door.
  10222. >"It is right there, in the corridor. The cargo unit has just arrived and is waiting for us."
  10223. >You take a breath.
  10224. "Well, time to rise and shine."
  10225.  
  10226.  
  10227.  
  10228.  
  10229. >#deca.mare and you slowly get out of the bed whilst Sky Squall approaches the door.
  10230. >The Pegasus eyes the mechanical device sceptically for a moment, probably unsure as to what exactly he can expect on the other side.
  10231. >But he touches the console right next to the mechanism nevertheless, and the door opens up as it heeds his command.
  10232. >And true to #deca.mare's words, there is indeed a smaller transport unit parked in the middle of the larger room.
  10233. >You cannot see everything from your current position, but it looks as if the automaton is wielding a medium-sized container in its sturdy clamps.
  10234. >Sky Squall, still somewhat unaccustomed to the sight of these machines, tenses up for a fraction of a second before he calms down again.
  10235. >Then he grumbles.
  10236. >"These things... they're unfortunately designed. They look like heavy ironclad predators with pincers."
  10237. >You smile and think back to your first days on this ship.
  10238. >The stallion reminds you a lot of your younger self in this regard.
  10239. "You know, I thought so too, initially. It takes a while to get used to them."
  10240. >A pause.
  10241. "But you'll see they're just tools, Sky."
  10242. >The Pegasus nods as he steps out.
  10243. >#deca.mare and you follow him.
  10244. >"It's not hard to understand, rationally speaking. The initial visual effect is a different matter though."
  10245. >You shrug.
  10246. "All a question of acclimatisation."
  10247. >Then you laugh.
  10248. "Do you want to ride one of those units?"
  10249. >Sky Squall turns his head to look at you.
  10250. >"What?"
  10251. "That's what I did on my first day here. Sort of. It was not the same model though."
  10252. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  10253. >"It is true. But the unit drove far below its top speed. We used this method to shorten his trip to the command deck."
  10254. >Sky Squall inspects the machine as he gets closer.
  10255. >"Maybe later."
  10256. >He points at the container and is about to reach out for it.
  10257. >#deca.mare speaks up.
  10258. >"Wait, Sky. Don't get any closer yet."
  10259. >The Pegasus heeds her words and retracts his forehoof.
  10260. >Then the automaton springs into action.
  10261. >It slowly lowers the container to the ground and releases its grip on the object once it touches the floor.
  10262. >With the "delivery" now properly placed, the comparatively small machine starts to slowly roll backwards.
  10263. >It heads straight for the door that leads to the central corridor, and possibly moves on to pass the airlock.
  10264. >Whilst you watch the departure of the unit, #deca.mare and Sky Squall trot to the container.
  10265. >The stallion probes the object for a brief while until he figures out how to open the lock of this thing.
  10266. >#deca.mare then removes the cap as Sky Squall catches a first glimpse of what is stored inside.
  10267. >And he smiles.
  10268. >"Now that's a feast for the eyes."
  10269. >You get closer to see the selection which has gotten Sky Squall's approval.
  10270.  
  10271.  
  10272.  
  10273.  
  10274. >Apart from the two seat cushions and the tablecloth, which neither of you is intended to eat, #deca.mare has grabbed a box of freshly picked apples, harvested probably only a few hours ago, a selection of equally fresh fruits and berries, and even a few batches of green grass.
  10275. >And whilst you for your part happily skip the latter food category, the other two easily make up for it.
  10276. >On top of that, #deca.mare has also included two sealed kegs that both can hold a couple of litres of liquid, and three wooden drinking bowls.
  10277. >One keg bears a label with the word "Water" written on it, the other is labelled as "Apple Juice".
  10278. >Fairly straightforward, all things considered.
  10279. >So without further ado, the three of you unpack the cloth and place it on the floor right next to the container.
  10280. >Then you put the pair of cushions at two opposite ends of the tablecloth and unpack the rest of the content.
  10281. >Once everything is placed properly, Sky Squall occupies one cushion whilst #deca.mare and you share the other.
  10282. >The stallion is the first to speak up.
  10283. >"Well, here's to a good breakfast."
  10284. >He reaches out with a forehoof, holding it above the centre of the whole arrangement.
  10285. >#deca.mare responds similarly.
  10286. >"And a good day."
  10287. >She too stretches a forelimb, letting her hoof bump against Sky Squall's.
  10288. >You observe the scene and join in.
  10289. "And good team work."
  10290. >You form your hand into a fist and press it lightly against the hooves of the two ponies.
  10291. >The three of you maintain this gesture for a couple of seconds before you almost simultaneously retract your limbs.
  10292. >And with that, you start to eat.
  10293. >Sky Squall eagerly grabs a batch of grass whilst you pick an apple.
  10294. >Then you look over to #deca.mare and exchange some glances with her.
  10295. >She nods wordlessly, and you start to share the apple bite for bite.
  10296. >Though she deliberately takes smaller bites than normal whenever it is possible, given that she could easily consume the whole fruit in mere moments.
  10297. >Sky Squall watches the spectacle with overt fascination as he munches on his grass.
  10298. >"You've done this a couple of times, haven't you."
  10299. >#deca.mare replies between two bites.
  10300. >"Indirectly, yes. We..."
  10301. >Sky Squall rolls his eyes.
  10302. >"No, don't say it. Let me guess. In the simulation."
  10303. >She nods, and the stallion sighs.
  10304. >"It's a wonder that you haven't forgotten how to live when you were in there."
  10305. >You are nearly done with the first apple.
  10306. >So you let #deca.mare eat the rest of it, with stem and core and everything.
  10307. >Then you motion #deca.mare to choose the next fruit whilst you reach for a bowl and the keg with water.
  10308. "Believe me, Sky. Not forgetting what it means to live was always important to us."
  10309. >The Pegasus nods as he observes how #deca.mare grabs a handful of strawberries.
  10310. >"A good ambition. But you've grown accustomed to at least some luxuries, as it seems."
  10311.  
  10312.  
  10313.  
  10314.  
  10315. >You raise an eyebrow, yet focus on pouring water into the bowl.
  10316. "What do you mean?"
  10317. >Sky Squall grins and points at #deca.mare's selection.
  10318. >"First apples, then berries. None of you have chosen grass."
  10319. >He pauses.
  10320. >"That's two sweet picks in a row. Nothing wrong with that in principle, but it tells me that you have gotten a sweet tooth."
  10321. >Sky Squall keeps grinning, certain that he has "caught" you in a minor act of leading a soft life.
  10322. >But you keep grinning back.
  10323. "Actually, I've got the perfect excuse for that."
  10324. >"Oh, really?"
  10325. >You nod.
  10326. "Really. You see..."
  10327. >You pause deliberately.
  10328. "... I can't digest grass."
  10329. >Sky Squall blinks.
  10330. >"Are... you serious?"
  10331. "Yep. I could probably eat it in small amounts, but it has no nutritional value. No as in zero."
  10332. >The stallion struggles to find a proper response.
  10333. >"That's... oh."
  10334. >You shrug.
  10335. "No worries. It's fine."
  10336. >You smile.
  10337. "It gives me a valid reason to enjoy the sweet aspects of life."
  10338. >#deca.mare offers you a strawberry, and you accept it gratefully.
  10339. >Sky Squall is done with his batch of grass by now.
  10340. >"Guess I should take some as well then.... before you two eat all of it."
  10341. >You shrug again.
  10342. "Feel free. We've got enough."
  10343. >And the stallion does.
  10344. >He picks an apple and fills his own bowl with juice.
  10345. >Then he sighs.
  10346. >"Sitting together like this reminds me of the past, you know. The early morning gatherings in the camps and so on."
  10347. >You nod.
  10348. "Oh yes. I remember those."
  10349. >Sky Squall studies the liquid in the bowl.
  10350. >The juice swashes strangely in the low gravity environment, yet it does not spill whilst Sky Squall stares into the blurred reflection of the proxy.
  10351. >It is obvious to you that he is thinking about something.
  10352. >And he is quick to tell you what it is.
  10353. >"Is it strange for me to wish that Firefly would join us soon? Considering... the implications."
  10354. >You shake your head.
  10355. "It's understandable. It doesn't feel... complete without her."
  10356. >Then you eye the stallion intently.
  10357. "And I don't need any special insight to know that she's thinking the same about you."
  10358. >Sky Squall nods slowly.
  10359. "Always keep in mind, Sky. The current state is just temporary. You will see each other again."
  10360. >He takes a sip.
  10361. >"I get this, Anon. But it doesn't help to make the interim feel any less... off."
  10362. >#deca.mare raises her voice.
  10363. >"Indeed. Yet there is a lot we can do to stay busy until the day comes. You will see, the time will be over in a heartbeat."
  10364. >A second nod.
  10365. >You do not expect Sky Squall to become overly emotional, as he is simply not the type for it.
  10366. >He is going to miss Firefly, however, and you assume that he just started to realise this fact.
  10367. >But just as you thought, he resumes eating his breakfast, somewhat relieved and less brooding over the whole affair.
  10368. >The Pegasus keeps his composure.
  10369. >And you decide to help him along the way.
  10370. >You wait until the Pegasus grabs another fruit.
  10371.  
  10372.  
  10373.  
  10374.  
  10375. >And once he does, you laugh.
  10376. "Well, look who's going for the sweet treats now. Getting soft too, are we?"
  10377. >Sky Squall turns his head in your direction, happily taking the banter.
  10378. >He glares at you with a challenging grin.
  10379. >"Want to find out?"
  10380. >You scratch your head and feign embarrassment.
  10381. "You see, I would. But I'm afraid... I'm not in a suitable condition."
  10382. >You point at #deca.mare.
  10383. "Doctor's orders."
  10384. >#deca.mare nods.
  10385. >And Sky Squall takes a breath.
  10386. >"Fine. Then we'll catch up on it when the bruises are gone."
  10387. >You continue to banter.
  10388. "To produce the next set of blotches, hm? Are you trying to bar me from returning to the simulation?"
  10389. >He shrugs, seemingly innocently.
  10390. >"Well, I've got to keep you around somehow, don't I?"
  10391. >You pretend to fall for the faux innocence.
  10392. "You could just ask."
  10393. >And the stallion chuckles.
  10394. >"That's not as fun though."
  10395. >A pause.
  10396. >"And unlike you, I keep the fight clean. Probably."
  10397. >You almost have to sneer comically.
  10398. "The fight is dirty from the ground up. I wasn't born with augmentations."
  10399. >And Sky Squall blinks.
  10400. >"Can't really blame me for that, now can you?"
  10401. "I can. It... wouldn't make much sense though."
  10402. >A moment of silence follows.
  10403. >Then both of you laugh lightly.
  10404. >Sky Squall understands that you were trying to stroke his ego a little bit.
  10405. >And he is grateful for the gesture, as it does a lot to lighten up his mood.
  10406. >"Anon?"
  10407. "Yeah?"
  10408. >"Thanks."
  10409. "Eh, you're welcome."
  10410. >The three of you keep eating until a good portion of the delivery is used up, actively talking and occasionally throwing a friendly banter into the conversation as you do so.
  10411. >And as time progresses, the general mood in the room improves in turn.
  10412. >It has been centuries since these walls have heard so many words and so much laughter.
  10413. >Which is a good sign for the future.
  10414. >But you hope it is just one small precursor of the things that are yet to come.
  10415.  
  10416.  
  10417.  
  10418.  
  10419. 160
  10420.  
  10421. >After you have concluded your breakfast, #deca.mare, Sky Squall and you wrap up the tablecloth and return it to the container.
  10422. >The same happens to the emptied kegs and the bowls.
  10423. >What little remains of the edible fruits and grass stays where it is though, just in case.
  10424. >If anyone wants to grab a quick snack in the following hours, you have something at hand.
  10425. >And once you are done with this, the small transport unit returns to the side corridor.
  10426. >It has apparently waited somewhere in the main hall, and is now going to grab the container to carry it away.
  10427. >So the three of you close the lid and take a few steps back, leaving sufficient space for the automaton to do its thing safely.
  10428. >Which it subsequently does.
  10429. >The unit gets a hold of the container, steadily lifts it into the air, and then repeats its little rolling backwards trick until it is out of the side corridor.
  10430. >A few moments later, you can hear the comparatively distant sounds of the inner airlock blast door as it closes.
  10431. >Seems like the automaton is indeed leaving the command deck.
  10432. >You speak up first.
  10433. "Okay. That was good. What's next on the schedule?"
  10434. >And Sky Squall laughs faintly.
  10435. >"The obvious."
  10436. >You look at him.
  10437. "Which is?"
  10438. >The stallion responds calmly.
  10439. >"The logical conclusion, of course. We have replenished our energy, now we've got to put it to good use."
  10440. >Of course.
  10441. >And considering Sky Squall's list of priorities, this does not refer to using said energy for mental tasks.
  10442. >You take a breath.
  10443. "You really want to do some physical exercises? Now?"
  10444. >He nods.
  10445. >"Sure. As you said yourself, training is one of the best ways to remain fit and healthy in here."
  10446. >You grin.
  10447. "You realise I'm going back into the cryo unit in a couple of days, right?"
  10448. >A nod.
  10449. >"Yes. But if you repeat something like this a couple of times, you'll only end up eating without training. You'll get fat and frail over the centuries."
  10450. >Well, technically speaking, he is correct.
  10451. >Even when he is talking about a process that would, in all due likelihood, take literal centuries, if not millennia.
  10452. >And he instantly recognises that you are considering precisely this argument.
  10453. >"You know I'm right. Better to start now than later."
  10454. >You hesitate, but eventually acknowledge his point.
  10455. "Fine. But what do you want to do? We have very little we can use as training gadgets at our current disposal. And standard training moves are barely effective in a low gravity environment."
  10456. >You try to imagine what it would be like to do some push-ups on this deck.
  10457. >And you wager that it would take dozens of repetitions before you would even begin to notice an effect.
  10458. >If anything, the monotony would make itself known far earlier than any fatigue.
  10459.  
  10460.  
  10461.  
  10462.  
  10463. >But Sky Squall does not give up so easily.
  10464. >"We can compensate. It's not gravity we need to train our muscles, it's the constant resistance to our movements that gravity usually provides. The side product, if you will."
  10465. >He pauses.
  10466. >"In other words, if we can get the necessary resistance through other means, gravity becomes redundant for our purposes."
  10467. >You blink.
  10468. "That's fine. But how do you plan to produce said resistance without proper tools?"
  10469. >The stallion laughs.
  10470. >"Nothing easier than that! We do it ourselves! For each other!"
  10471. >Which can only mean one thing.
  10472. "Practice tussles? Are you serious?"
  10473. >Sky Squall seems to be.
  10474. >"Sure. Why not?"
  10475. >You take a breath and think of the most obvious counterargument you can come up with.
  10476. "Because I believe someone in our midst will have a full list of reasons that speak against it."
  10477. >And #deca.mare does not need to be told twice to comment on this idea.
  10478. >"Sky, this is folly. Dangerous folly."
  10479. >Sky Squall sighs.
  10480. >"I know, I know, Anon is vulnerable. You have stressed this before."
  10481. >She is not done yet.
  10482. >"And I stress it again. You have no idea how many things could go wrong."
  10483. >The stallion objects sternly.
  10484. >"Now it's you who is underestimating me. Do you think I don't know what a proper training involves?"
  10485. >He takes a breath.
  10486. >"You are aware of my actions, aren't you?"
  10487. >Rhetorical question.
  10488. >And the stallion does not wait for the obvious answer.
  10489. >"I've personally trained many recruits over the course of years in practice duels. Weaker candidates too. And how many of those got injured because of my exercises?"
  10490. >#deca.mare sighs.
  10491. >"None were hurt in your personal encounters. You recognised when and where you had to restrain yourself."
  10492. >The Pegasus nods.
  10493. >"See? Anon's case won't be any different."
  10494. >He eyes you once again.
  10495. >"Except for the scale of the restraint, maybe."
  10496. >You do not comment on this slight jab and let #deca.mare do the work for you.
  10497. >After all, she is more than willing to make the case.
  10498. >"Sky, I do not think that you fully understand what you are talking about."
  10499. >Sky Squall remains confident, however.
  10500. >"On the contrary. The way I see it, this is a thing in which I know more than you for once."
  10501. >#deca.mare blinks in stunned silence as Sky Squall goes on.
  10502. >"You're too preoccupied by worries about Anon's wellbeing to think objectively in this matter."
  10503. >He pauses.
  10504. >"Don't get me wrong, your concerns are laudable. But... also a bit overdone at times."
  10505. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  10506. >"Overdone? You have no idea of the wider perspective, Sky. Of the cosmos. Or what could theoretically happen around us at any point in time."
  10507. >He shrugs.
  10508. >"Maybe. But I see that your emotional attachment is clouding your judgement to a degree. And all the wisdom or experience in the world can't make up for that in certain situations."
  10509.  
  10510.  
  10511.  
  10512.  
  10513. >The stallion grins.
  10514. >"And I've learned a thing or two about misjudgements. Thanks to you two. You're making a similar mistake here."
  10515. >#deca.mare seems to become a little upset about Sky Squall's arguments.
  10516. >Yet the stallion keeps going.
  10517. >And his grin grows.
  10518. >"In fact, I can prove it."
  10519. >#deca.mare glares at Sky Squall now.
  10520. >She is not directly angry by any stretch of the imagination, but not really thrilled about the Pegasus' commentary either.
  10521. >"And how, pray tell, are you planning to do that?"
  10522. >Oh yes.
  10523. >Miffed would be more fitting.
  10524. >Sky Squall seems to have waited for that reaction though.
  10525. >"Hm, how about a little contest? A practice match between the two of us?"
  10526. >#deca.mare's ears perk up.
  10527. >"You challenge me?"
  10528. >He nods.
  10529. >"Winner gets to decide. If you win, I'll drop my proposal. But if I win... we will give it a shot."
  10530. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  10531. >"I would never bet on risking Anon's safety."
  10532. >A pause.
  10533. >"Besides, you would lose."
  10534. >The stallion does not shy away in the slightest.
  10535. >In fact, he even laughs at that.
  10536. >"In that case, it's not a bet at all, now is it. If the result is a foregone conclusion, you can accept my challenge without a sorrow in the world."
  10537. >#deca.mare grumbles.
  10538. >"In theory, yes."
  10539. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  10540. >"And in practice?"
  10541. >#deca.mare sighs.
  10542. >"What... are your conditions? Assuming I were to agree."
  10543. >Sky Squall's confident grin returns.
  10544. >"Nothing fancy. A direct practice match between you and me, simple and clean. Just a display of strength and technique, the Pegasus way."
  10545. >#deca.mare listens curiously and replies swiftly.
  10546. >"That is all?"
  10547. >The stallion takes a breath.
  10548. >"Almost. Don't read my mind or mess with the proxy during the match. It would be pointless otherwise."
  10549. >He pauses.
  10550. >"Well? What do you say?"
  10551. >And #deca.mare sighs.
  10552. >"If you absolutely insist on getting beaten. Very well."
  10553. >You chime in.
  10554. "#deca,..."
  10555. >#deca.mare interrupts you.
  10556. >"No worries, Anon. This will be over soon."
  10557. >She hesitates for a moment.
  10558. >"But please, keep your distance. Just to be on the safe side."
  10559. >You nod wordlessly and take a few steps back.
  10560. >Then you watch as #deca.mare shakes her body to limber herself up.
  10561. >"Do you really want to do this, Sky?"
  10562. >He nods with a smile.
  10563. >"Of course. I'm not quitting now."
  10564. >#deca.mare strikes an alerted pose.
  10565. >"As you wish. But please do not complain afterwards."
  10566. >The stallion mirrors her pose.
  10567. >"I don't think I will."
  10568. >#deca.mare and Sky Squall silently eye each other for a tense moment, carefully studying the other to read the opponent's body language, and looking out for subtle signs in the process.
  10569. >At this stage, it seems as if they could stand there like this for hours.
  10570. >But you know better, for you have been a part of such matches in the past as well.
  10571. >One of the two could go ahead at any moment now, and the second will inevitably follow suit.
  10572.  
  10573.  
  10574.  
  10575.  
  10576. >They will trot towards each other, and rear up at the last second, right before they collide.
  10577. >From this point onwards, it is going to be, as Sky Squall has called it, a question of strength and technique.
  10578. >You watch the two from afar, and try to guess who will initiate the approach.
  10579. >And it does not take you very long to come to the conclusion that it will be Sky Squall.
  10580. >A theory which proves itself to be accurate only a few seconds later.
  10581. >The Pegasus approaches #deca.mare directly, and she does not hesitate to react accordingly.
  10582. >Just as you have expected, the two approach one another and go through the traditional procedures of a show tussle.
  10583. >Sky Squall and #deca.mare rear up practically simultaneously, and clash in a typical chest-to-chest pose whilst standing solely on their hind legs.
  10584. >Then they push and shove the other, trying to get the upper hand, whilst you heed the wish of #deca.mare and keep observing everything from a safe distance.
  10585. >And it is easy for you to quickly identify the unique characteristics of this particular match.
  10586. >In theory, Sky Squall does seem to have an advantage on a physical level.
  10587. >After all, the stallion is definitely bulkier than #deca.mare, and he has the experience to capitalise on this fact.
  10588. >However, as refined as his senses are, and despite his honed skills, he cannot beat #deca.mare when it comes to finesse and precision.
  10589. >She knows the precise timing of every single movement to create the maximum effect with the highest possible degree of efficiency, and she adapts much faster to a developing scenario than anyone else.
  10590. >And this dynamic shows itself almost immediately in their clash.
  10591. >Because as soon as the two collide, it is Sky Squall who forces #deca.mare to take a couple of steps back.
  10592. >Yet in spite of his head start, she does not lose control.
  10593. >Instead, she coordinates her steps carefully in order to weather the thrust elegantly.
  10594. >#deca.mare throttles the stallion's momentum, gradually and evenly, until they come to a halt.
  10595. >With that accomplished, she attempts to push the stallion over in turn, using swift, yet controlled nudges of her own.
  10596. >And indeed, she does manage to regain some ground over time.
  10597. >However, Sky Squall is far too seasoned to be bested so easily.
  10598. >Whenever he notices that the balance might tip in #deca.mare's favour, he counters her push with sufficient force, negating any progress that she might have made.
  10599. >This back and forth goes on for quite a while.
  10600. >And it looks like #deca.mare is banking on a strategy of attrition.
  10601. >Because if she forces Sky Squall to spend more energy in his attempts to negate her moves, then she will eventually win by tiring the Pegasus out in the long run.
  10602. >But that impression changes quickly yet again, as Sky Squall must have come to the same conclusion.
  10603.  
  10604.  
  10605.  
  10606.  
  10607. >So he tries to overcome #deca.mare's strategic approach by utilising a far more offensive style.
  10608. >The stallion keeps applying pressure with a renewed promptness.
  10609. >He musters as much force as he can, ever pushing and jostling in the hope of overwhelming #deca.mare's calculating defence with his sheer tenacity.
  10610. >And he does seem to have some success with his approach, as he forces #deca.mare into a constant state of controlled retreat.
  10611. >Of course, she still moves orderly and with notable grace throughout the whole ordeal.
  10612. >Though it is obvious that Sky Squall makes her use every ounce of strength and pressure just to keep him at bay.
  10613. >Which apparently puts #deca.mare on the back foot again.
  10614. >Until she comes up with a new idea.
  10615. >From one moment to the next, her strategy changes abruptly.
  10616. >Rather than trying to methodically stem the stallion's rush as she did before, #deca.mare now allows her upper body to be pushed down by Sky Squall's, whilst still taking controlled steps backwards as usual.
  10617. >This sudden shift results in #deca.mare getting practically grappled by the Pegasus, as he almost automatically wraps his forehooves around her shoulders to clutch her, further weighing down on #deca.mare in the process.
  10618. >With this solid grip, it is fairly easy for the stallion to keep his opponent down.
  10619. >Theoretically.
  10620. >Under normal circumstances.
  10621. >These are no normal circumstances, however.
  10622. >And #deca.mare uses this fact to her advantage.
  10623. >Because as soon as her forehooves touch the ground, she does two very specific things in quick succession.
  10624. >At first, she bends her forelegs and bides her time.
  10625. >Then, once the moment is opportune in her eyes, she stretches her forelegs again to push herself up, using her upper body as a forceful lever to repel Sky Squall, effectively pushing him off.
  10626. >And thanks to the low gravity on the command deck, the stallion loses his footing for good, as he is lifted a couple of centimetres off the ground, thereby breaking his own defence.
  10627. >Which is precisely the result that #deca.mare wanted to achieve.
  10628. >Without even having to examine the exact trajectory of the floating stallion, she barges ahead and pounces on him whilst he is caught off guard and exposed.
  10629. >#deca.mare grapples Sky Squall's midsection, making him land on his back with her being right on top of him.
  10630. >Then she quickly stands up and places a forehoof squarely on his chest, pinning him.
  10631. >Silence reigns for a few seconds as both ponies freeze in their current pose.
  10632. >And it is Sky Squall who speaks up first.
  10633. >"Using the lower gravity against me, huh? That's no part of a customary Pegasus match."
  10634. >And she sticks her tongue out at the stallion.
  10635. >"But the customs do not forbid it either."
  10636.  
  10637.  
  10638.  
  10639.  
  10640. >He shrugs casually.
  10641. >"Fair point. And a well played move."
  10642. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  10643. >"I told you it would end like this."
  10644. >The Pegasus acts as if he were confused.
  10645. >"End? What end?"
  10646. >Her pinning forehoof taps on the proxy's chest a few times.
  10647. >"If I recall correctly, a pony in this position has usually lost."
  10648. >Sky Squall nods.
  10649. >"Right."
  10650. >And he laughs.
  10651. >"Usually."
  10652. >Without giving #deca.mare any time whatsoever, the Pegasus swiftly places one forehoof on her chest, and a rear hoof right on her barrel.
  10653. >Then he starts to push with both limbs simultaneously.
  10654. >He only uses a moderate degree of force, but the thrust is strong enough to catapult #deca.mare straight into the air in this low gravity environment.
  10655. >There is very little she can do to prevent that, as she has no means to alter her trajectory in any meaningful manner.
  10656. >She could perhaps flail and thresh around with her legs, but all that she could achieve with that is changing her own rotation.
  10657. >Her course would not be affected by that.
  10658. >In the meantime, the stallion rolls around, gets up, and spreads his wings.
  10659. >"You aren't the only one who can bend the rules."
  10660. >Sky Squall takes off with a small leap and carefully times his wing beats to fly a comparatively narrow curve course in the side corridor.
  10661. >His performance is not as elegant as usual, and he comes very close to the wall as he makes that turn, but it does what it is supposed to do regardless.
  10662. >Once this stunt is done, he flies straight towards the floating form of #deca.mare, overtly aiming for her back.
  10663. >And in one swift swoop, he reaches out to her with his hooves as he gets closer, wraps all four legs around her back and sides, and practically snatches her out of the air whilst flying by.
  10664. >The Pegasus glides on with #deca.mare in his grip.
  10665. >Yet she has no real agency to do anything about it, considering that her own legs dangle freely above the ground, unable to make contact with anything.
  10666. >Plus, Sky Squall makes sure to maintain the necessary altitude to keep it that way.
  10667. >You observe everything in silence as Sky Squall flies laps in the room whilst he handles the not quite so amused #deca.mare with ease.
  10668. >And you actually change your position several times as the two fly by.
  10669. >After all, #deca.mare wanted you to keep your distance, and you still heed her wish.
  10670. >Besides, she would not want you to intervene anyway.
  10671. >At the end of the second lap, the Pegasus fails to suppress a chuckle.
  10672. >"So much for my loss, I suppose."
  10673. >#deca.mare grumbles, yet does not utter a single word.
  10674. >"Well, what do you say? Do you concede?"
  10675. >She lashes out with her legs, trying to get out of the grip of the Pegasus.
  10676. >To no avail.
  10677. >And Sky Squall grins with a shrug.
  10678. >"Alright. We can keep this going for a while. It's unusual for a Pegasus match, but it's not against the rules as well."
  10679. >Which is true.
  10680. >Flight is usually not a part of traditional Pegasus show tussles, as they tend to focus on close quarters encounters.
  10681.  
  10682.  
  10683.  
  10684.  
  10685. >Yet there is no rule against Pegasi clashing whilst being airborne, if they so wish.
  10686. >Emphasis on Pegasi.
  10687. >After all, there are no specified customs in regard to non-Pegasi in a traditional Pegasus tussle, as they predate the Unification by a wide margin.
  10688. >As such, something like #deca.mare's lack of wings was never taken into consideration.
  10689. >And Sky Squall explicitly asked for a Pegasus match, which means he is entirely adhering to the customs.
  10690. >Finally, #deca.mare responds.
  10691. >"Or I could disable your augmentations."
  10692. >The stallion laughs at that.
  10693. >"Yes, you could. But then you'd break your promise. No proxy meddling. That was the deal."
  10694. >#deca.mare grumbles again and tries to break free once more.
  10695. >Though she does not object verbally to Sky Squall's remark.
  10696. >For she knows that his arguments are valid.
  10697. >Yet the flight of the two goes on as her attempts remain fruitless.
  10698. >At some point, the Pegasus decides to include some minor extras to his laps.
  10699. >On occasion, he starts to rock lightly from side to side, and flies singular rolls to show that he is in control of the match, in spite of #deca.mare's best attempts to salvage the situation.
  10700. >And in the end, she does acknowledge her situation.
  10701. >"Fine, Sky. I am stuck."
  10702. >The stallion grins once again.
  10703. >"So, this means?"
  10704. >Looks like he wants her to say the words out loud.
  10705. >To make the result "official".
  10706. >"You win."
  10707. >He nods happily as he hears that.
  10708. >"There we go. Thank you."
  10709. >Sky Squall immediately ceases to perform any further stunts and decreases his speed.
  10710. >Then he flies one final curve and heads in your direction before he addresses #deca.mare again.
  10711. >"Spread your legs and hold still."
  10712. >These instructions confuse #deca.mare initially.
  10713. >"What? Sky..."
  10714. >He interrupts her.
  10715. >"Just do it. Trust me."
  10716. >So she does.
  10717. >Visibly unconvinced, but still.
  10718. >And mere moments before the two reach you, Sky Squall slows down even further, and lets go of #deca.mare.
  10719. >Just as he is about to come to a hovering stop right above you.
  10720. >"Wife delivery!"
  10721. >#deca.mare sinks slowly and harmlessly into your arms, her legs still spread, enabling you to catch her in a full embrace.
  10722. "Are you okay?"
  10723. >She nods.
  10724. >"I am fine. But... stunned."
  10725. >Sky Squall lands right next to you and catches his breath.
  10726. >He looks at #deca.mare whilst you are still holding her.
  10727. >"See? I told you I'd win."
  10728. >A pause.
  10729. >"All bragging aside though, that was a proper challenge. You did good."
  10730. >#deca.mare sighs.
  10731. >"Not good enough. I was beaten by a trick that I should have predicted in advance. This should not have happened."
  10732. >Sky Squall inhales.
  10733. >"And that's what I was trying to demonstrate to you. You're unquestionably bright, dexterous, precise and fast, and it does serve you well."
  10734. >He takes a breath.
  10735. >"But sometimes, even your judgement can be thrown off in certain situations. As we've seen here. You're not infallible."
  10736.  
  10737.  
  10738.  
  10739.  
  10740. >One might interject that #deca.mare could have easily reclaimed control if she really wanted to use all of the tools at her disposal.
  10741. >But that would miss the point.
  10742. >After all, she knowingly agreed to these restricted conditions when she accepted Sky Squall's challenge.
  10743. >She was fully aware of what she was facing, and which means would be available to her.
  10744. >The stallion laughs, but not to mock or belittle #deca.mare.
  10745. >It seems rather as if a joke has suddenly crossed his mind.
  10746. >"You know, it feels like I'm giving you the same speech now that you gave me back in the day."
  10747. >She looks at the Pegasus now.
  10748. >And he goes on.
  10749. >"We can all make mistakes. And like I said, I believe you're making one."
  10750. >A pause.
  10751. >"Not in the match, mind you. I mean in the other matter."
  10752. >He subtly points at you with a forehoof.
  10753. >Sky Squall does not exactly hide where he is going with this, given that he mentioned it before, but #deca.mare asks nevertheless.
  10754. >Just to have it said out loud.
  10755. >"Namely?"
  10756. >The stallion inhales and does her the favour.
  10757. >"If you wish."
  10758. >A pause.
  10759. >"In my opinion, you're way, way too, well, overprotective when it comes to Anon."
  10760. >#deca.mare raises her voice immediately.
  10761. >Sky Squall notices this attempt and tries to keep talking, yet #deca.mare is faster.
  10762. >"And you have forgotten everything we have told you over the course of the last two days."
  10763. >Her tone is confrontational, perhaps more so than she intends.
  10764. >Sky Squall shakes his head.
  10765. >"No, I haven't. And it's a valid point to have security measures in place. But..."
  10766. >He clears his throat.
  10767. "... you are, sorry to say, definitely overdoing it."
  10768. >She blinks quizzically.
  10769. >"So... what now? Are you suggesting that I should lower my standards?"
  10770. >Once again, he negates her question.
  10771. >"Not the technical standards of the measures themselves. They are fine... as far as I understand them."
  10772. >Another pause.
  10773. >"How you deal with the situation though, I mean personally, that is... striking to me. You treat Anon as if every little thing could finish him off."
  10774. >#deca.mare jolts lightly in your arms.
  10775. >"No. Not everything. And that does not have to be the case either. One lethal factor is all it takes."
  10776. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  10777. >"What factors could occur here though? I thought this place is safe."
  10778. >#deca.mare nods and signals you to let her down.
  10779. >So you do.
  10780. >"Extraordinarily safe. And yet... a certain somepony recently inflicted him with a few bruises. Not to mention that the individual in question was close to breaking ribs."
  10781. >Sky Squall sighs.
  10782. >"That... was an exception. It won't happen again."
  10783. >He pauses for a second.
  10784. >"Besides, Anon chose to do this himself, correct?"
  10785. >#deca.mare retorts quickly.
  10786. >"This is irrelevant. The only fact which counts is that it happened in the first place."
  10787. >She inhales.
  10788. >"Anon got off comparatively lightly yesterday, but we might not be so lucky the next time, when the next 'exception' strikes. And what will happen then?"
  10789.  
  10790.  
  10791.  
  10792.  
  10793. >#deca.mare shakes her head and gives an answer to her own question.
  10794. >"This is unthinkable."
  10795. >Sky Squall studies her reaction closely before he comments on her stance.
  10796. >"I can understand where you're coming from, in principle. But the... intensity of your reaction is telling. There's something deeper behind it. Something which goes beyond Anon and the risks to his health."
  10797. >The stallion takes a breath.
  10798. >"It's one thing to be worried about somep... someone you love. Or your friends for that matter. I get this. Do you think I wasn't worried about Firefly or my wing mates when we stormed right into the face of danger, time and time again? Back when I didn't know what you have revealed to me yesterday?"
  10799. >Another pause.
  10800. >"Of course I was concerned. We could've lost each other for all we knew. That was always a possibility. But it didn't stop me. And neither did it stop Firefly or anypony else."
  10801. >He sighs.
  10802. >"This isn't meant to be an insult, but if we had acted like you do now, then none of us would've dared to try performing even a single flight in our lives. We would have been too afraid of the wind instead."
  10803. >The next pause.
  10804. >"Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that you shall expose yourselves to danger, especially when it isn't necessary. But there has to be a limit to caution."
  10805. >#deca.mare hesitates.
  10806. >She is visibly unsure how to reply.
  10807. >So you step in.
  10808. "The situation is not quite so simple, Sky."
  10809. >He looks over to you.
  10810. >"It isn't? How so?"
  10811. >You take a step forwards.
  10812. "This is a part of the... larger story that we still owe you."
  10813. >You turn your head to #deca.mare.
  10814. >She nods in silence.
  10815. >And you face the stallion again.
  10816. "Let me just say for now that #deca has developed... an aversion to loss. And not without reason."
  10817. >You take a breath as well.
  10818. "You see, things... were not always as bright as they are today. There were losses in the past... losses of a... similar nature as the ones you feared. And unlike you and Equestria as a whole, they had no means of recovery."
  10819. >You pause.
  10820. "We were not responsible for what happened. I wasn't around, and #deca was not given any chance to decide for herself until it was too late. But it is as she said. Neither of these facts can change the outcome of the past."
  10821. >Sky Squall studies #deca.mare as he listens to you.
  10822. >He is trying to make sense of your words, and the proverbial penny is dropping eventually.
  10823. >"That's what... caused your initial travels, doesn't it? You were forced to leave."
  10824. >She nods, still without making a sound.
  10825. >You go on.
  10826. "This... and more."
  10827. >Sky Squall takes a breath.
  10828. >"I'm sorry to hear that."
  10829. >#deca.mare gives Sky Squall another acknowledging nod, but still does not say anything.
  10830. >A moment of silence follows.
  10831. >Then you resume your explanations, as it appears to be the best thing you can do.
  10832. "It also prompted a vow. A vow not to allow anything to get lost again. Not if it can be avoided. This was... one of the core principles we swore to uphold in everything we do too."
  10833.  
  10834.  
  10835.  
  10836.  
  10837. >Sky Squall closes his eyes.
  10838. >"Including us."
  10839. >You nod.
  10840. "Yeah. And I'd hate to make her suffer by losing me either."
  10841. >The stallion remains quiet for a second as well.
  10842. >It seems like he is now slowly grasping just how weighty your commitment to face him personally and without any protection really was.
  10843. >Especially in the eyes of #deca.mare.
  10844. >Then he inhales.
  10845. >"This is... something to mull over."
  10846. >You put a hand on #deca.mare's back.
  10847. "That's not all, but I think it's enough for one go."
  10848. >Sky Squall's gaze turns to #deca.mare yet again.
  10849. >He has undoubtedly noticed her queasiness when it comes to discussing this part of her story.
  10850. >A while ago, even.
  10851. >So the Pegasus does her a favour and decides to refrain from pushing the matter much further.
  10852. >"Fine. I've got one question though."
  10853. >He looks at you.
  10854. >"Have you never tried to, well, tackle the... effects of her 'aversion'? I have no idea what happened, but I don't think it's healthy to allow these experiences to control you like that. Especially after centuries."
  10855. >You nod again.
  10856. "Oh, we have. It has gotten better already, but... it's still a work in progress."
  10857. >Sky Squall strikes a thinking pose.
  10858. >"Then I think it's time to take the next step, as I originally suggested. Maybe it will help a bit more."
  10859. >#deca.mare sighs and speaks up hesitantly.
  10860. >"Sky..."
  10861. >He interjects.
  10862. >"I promise, nothing bad will happen. I let my career speak for itself."
  10863. >He smiles warmly at her.
  10864. >"Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I'm the one with wings here, remember?"
  10865. >This remark gets a faint smile out of #deca.mare.
  10866. >And eventually, she inhales and relents with a stiff nod.
  10867. >Sky Squall grins as he sees that.
  10868. >Yet she is quick to add a singular caveat.
  10869. >"One last thing. I will lower the power of your augmentations to the minimal level during the training session."
  10870. >The stallion raises an eyebrow.
  10871. >#deca.mare gets the hint.
  10872. >"Yes, it is intended to decrease the probability of accidents, guilty as charged. But it does serve a functional purpose as well."
  10873. >Sky Squall nods attentively.
  10874. >And she elaborates.
  10875. >"The augmentations are technically redundant when you purely focus on honing your physique. They cannot be trained, only adjusted or modified. Therefore, you do not need them to accomplish your training goals."
  10876. >A pause.
  10877. >"But please, do not think that you are disadvantaged because of it. You are still physically stronger than Anon and have lost none of your resilience."
  10878. >Sky Squall agrees.
  10879. >"Fair enough."
  10880. >And he grins yet again.
  10881. >"But I hope you do the same for you as well."
  10882. >#deca.mare's ears perk up.
  10883. >"You want me to participate?"
  10884. >The Pegasus shrugs.
  10885. >"Did you think I'd exclude you just because we already had a match? We all need some training if we want to stay in good shape."
  10886. >She blinks.
  10887. >But Sky Squall keeps talking.
  10888. >"And think of it like this. If you participate, you take part in the action. Directly. And this means..."
  10889.  
  10890.  
  10891.  
  10892.  
  10893. >The stallion signals #deca.mare that she shall complete the sentence.
  10894. >Which she does.
  10895. >"... I can step in before things get out of control."
  10896. >Sky Squall shrugs.
  10897. >"I thought of something like 'making sure that everything is fine', but close enough."
  10898. >#deca.mare accepts his offer with a quick nod.
  10899. >"I reduce the output of the augmentations... now. Do not be alarmed, you might feel strange for a moment."
  10900. >Sky Squall stands still and prepares himself for the shift.
  10901. >And sure enough, an effect becomes visible very quickly.
  10902. >The stallion suddenly starts to sway lightly to the side.
  10903. >He almost loses his balance, yet manages to stabilise himself before he stumbles.
  10904. >Then he inspects one of the proxy's forehooves as he moves the limb around.
  10905. >And his movements appear to be fluent, as usual, albeit not quite as fast.
  10906. >"Feels like the legs have suddenly gained some weight."
  10907. >#deca.mare responds.
  10908. >"Only in comparison to the standards you are used to. But the limbs work fine, and your range of movement is not impaired in the slightest either. It is only a question of familiarisation."
  10909. >Sky Squall tests the other forehoof, and at last the rear legs.
  10910. >"Not ideal, but I'll make do."
  10911. >#deca.mare raises her voice.
  10912. >"Everything is set. Do you want to begin, Sky?"
  10913. >A nod.
  10914. >She turns to you.
  10915. >"And you, Anon?"
  10916. >You mirror Sky Squall's reaction.
  10917. "I'm good. Let's start."
  10918. >Once you have said that, Sky Squall is quick to assume his squad leader persona and grins in your direction.
  10919. >"Then come here."
  10920. >He rears up and spreads his wings, overtly protruding his chest in the process.
  10921. >The Pegasus keeps standing like this, waiting for you to approach him.
  10922. >And you recognise this gesture for what it is, yet hesitate to react.
  10923. >Sky Squall laughs.
  10924. >"Come on, you know how this works. We can't start without a proper greeting."
  10925. >#deca.mare looks like she is about to protest.
  10926. >"Sky..."
  10927. >He interrupts her, however.
  10928. >"Just a light one. For the sake of the tradition."
  10929. >You take a long breath.
  10930. "Okay. Don't expect too much though."
  10931. >One moment later, you approach the rearing stallion.
  10932. >And as you do that, #deca.mare starts to move too.
  10933. >She trots out of your field of vision, yet judging from the sound of her hooves, she stops right behind you.
  10934. >You let her do whatever she is doing, and focus on the impending confrontation instead.
  10935. >So you bump into Sky Squall, chest first, and push him a little.
  10936. >In spite of your injury.
  10937. >And, rather unsurprisingly, your chest does not like the treatment, as the injured spots start to ache almost immediately.
  10938. >Fortunately though, it is only a relatively mild pain, and not at all comparable with the mistreatment of yesterday.
  10939. >Still, as soon as the stallion returns the favour, the obvious outcome occurs at once.
  10940. >He pushes you back with ease and shoves your chest off with his own.
  10941.  
  10942.  
  10943.  
  10944.  
  10945. >Even though he keeps his promise of using only a fraction of his strength, the impulse is strong enough to send you stumbling backwards.
  10946. >This result really was inevitable.
  10947. >A fully healed chest would not have been able to change that.
  10948. >And whilst you probably would have regained your footing without falling down, you do not get the opportunity to find out.
  10949. >Because right after taking your second step backwards, you are stopped.
  10950. >You bump into something soft, and it does not take you long to figure out that it is #deca.mare.
  10951. >After all, apart from her, Sky Squall, and perhaps the remnants of the hay, there is nothing soft in the entire room.
  10952. >And the two forelimbs that are wrapping around your shoulders to catch you are another not quite so subtle hint.
  10953. >Either way though, #deca.mare grabs you gently whilst standing on her hind legs.
  10954. >She stabilises you immediately, allowing you to regain your footing properly.
  10955. "Thanks."
  10956. >She responds with a swift peck on your cheek.
  10957. >Sky Squall speaks up, still rearing.
  10958. >"Admittedly not your best performance. But no problem. We'll work on that."
  10959. >#deca.mare comments on his assessment right away.
  10960. >"And how often do you plan to toss Anon around?"
  10961. >Sky Squall shrugs.
  10962. >"Depends on him. A couple of times? Maybe half a dozen?"
  10963. >The Pegasus waits for a moment, then he smiles.
  10964. >"Relax, I was joking. No more tossing."
  10965. >He pauses.
  10966. >"A proper greeting was necessary though. Can't have an exercise without that."
  10967. >#deca.mare objects.
  10968. >"Amongst Pegasi."
  10969. >Another shrug from the stallion.
  10970. >"I guess it's fair to say Anon qualifies as an honorary Pegasus. Despite his lack of 'appendages'."
  10971. >You mirror Sky Squall's previous grin.
  10972. "Lack of appendages, eh? I learned how to fly long before you were around. Without wings, I might add."
  10973. >Sky Squall laughs.
  10974. >"Good. Then you can learn how to practice like a Pegasus without wings too."
  10975. >You are certain that he tries to rile you up a little bit.
  10976. >In order to get you into a competitive mood.
  10977. >And you are fine with that.
  10978. >"Then show me what you've got. Trial round."
  10979. >So you do just that.
  10980. >You slowly approach the stallion again and try to remember what you know about practicing hand-to-hand combat.
  10981. >After all, your previous experiences of practicing with Sky Squall are not all that helpful here, given the anatomical differences between you and your proxy.
  10982. >Granted, you know how Sky Squall tends to behave in such a situation, yet even this knowledge can only carry you to a certain extent.
  10983. >But there is one advantage you have now which you do not possess whilst controlling the proxy.
  10984. >A superior grip.
  10985. >Literally.
  10986. >Perhaps you can utilise this in some way.
  10987. >And an idea forms in your mind.
  10988. >As you get closer, you feign to go in for another round of chest pushing, and Sky Squall prepares himself accordingly.
  10989. >He greets you with the same rearing stance as the last time.
  10990. >Perfect.
  10991.  
  10992.  
  10993.  
  10994.  
  10995. >Because just as you are about to take the last step, you suddenly come to a halt and look the stallion in the eyes.
  10996. "What I've got? I've got hands."
  10997. >With that said, your arms shoot upwards and you grab both of the proxy's forelimbs, roughly at the height of the fetlocks.
  10998. >And you do not waste any time.
  10999. >Before the Pegasus can react, you give both limbs a strong jolt to the side, hoping that the sudden shift will be enough to stagger your opponent.
  11000. >And initially, it does seem to work pretty well.
  11001. >Sky Squall did not expect this opener and gets dragged along for a moment.
  11002. >However, #deca.mare was not lying when she said that he still has a physical advantage.
  11003. >Several, in fact.
  11004. >And as such, he is able to counter your pull once he has understood what is happening.
  11005. >The Pegasus pulls his limbs back to their original position.
  11006. >You keep holding on as he does, trying your best to thwart Sky Squall's attempts.
  11007. >Yet your struggle is ultimately in vain.
  11008. >The two of you have returned to the status quo.
  11009. >But the element of surprise is gone.
  11010. >And it is obvious that Sky Squall is holding back.
  11011. >Considering the level of strength that the Pegasus has shown, he could shake your grip off on a whim.
  11012. >Yet he does no such thing.
  11013. >Instead, he simply uses just as much force as necessary to stop you from moving his limbs again.
  11014. >The stallion even lets you know this by giving you a challenging glare.
  11015. >An attempt to provoke you to do something about it.
  11016. >If you are able to.
  11017. >But you, realising that your current strategy is a fruitless affair, eventually loosen your grip around the fetlocks and push them away.
  11018. >Then you jump backwards to get some distance between the two of you whilst Sky Squall stabilises himself with a few wing beats.
  11019. >The jump almost turns into a leap thanks to the low gravity environment, but you can handle the trajectory and get back to the ground without complications.
  11020. >Now separated again, Sky Squall and you eye each other.
  11021. >And eventually, the stallion laughs.
  11022. >"Pretty manoeuvre. A shame it didn't work."
  11023. >You shrug.
  11024. "Thought it was worth to try it out."
  11025. >He nods.
  11026. >"Certainly something I haven't seen before."
  11027. >He thinks about your stunt for a second.
  11028. >"You know what, this makes everything far more interesting. I've never practiced with someone who has claws."
  11029. >You correct him at once.
  11030. "Fingers."
  11031. >Sky Squall takes note of your brief interjection and goes on.
  11032. >"Fingers then. But my point still stands. Maybe I can learn something new too."
  11033. >He chuckles.
  11034. >"Very well, let's see if that works."
  11035. >Then he takes a breath.
  11036. >"We'll go through various patterns. You show me some techniques used by humans, I see whether I can block them, and then we turn the thing around. As usual, no serious attacks or anything of that nature. We'll study movements first and foremost, and train together while we're at it."
  11037. >He looks over to #deca.mare.
  11038. >"Any objections?"
  11039. >She shakes her head.
  11040.  
  11041.  
  11042.  
  11043.  
  11044. >And Sky Squall goes on.
  11045. >"Good. We'll rotate partners after a while too. So that everyone is both the learner and the observer."
  11046. >Again, no protest.
  11047. >"It's settled then. Shall we start?"
  11048. >He looks at you.
  11049. >Seems like you have genuinely piqued his interest and he cannot wait to see what you will throw at him.
  11050. >You nod.
  11051. "Let's go."
  11052. >And so begins the methodical part of your training session.
  11053. >You show Sky Squall several classical punches and grabs, everything you can dig up from the bottom of your humble melee skill repertoire, and adapt them as much as possible in order to take his equine anatomy into consideration.
  11054. >And whilst you could probably dish everything out at full force without fazing the stallion all that much, if at all, you do show some respectful restraint as well.
  11055. >After all, this is a practice session at the end of the day, intended to give everyone the opportunity to test techniques and learn from the results.
  11056. >Sky Squall is fully aware of this as well, so he actually allows you to grapple and even topple him a few times to see how certain things play out.
  11057. >You do the same in turn and trust in his ability to accurately assess how far he can go without injuring you.
  11058. >After a while, you would guess about twenty minutes later, you switch for the first time.
  11059. >Sky Squall becomes the observer as #deca.mare takes his place.
  11060. >And she is somewhat torn by this exchange.
  11061. >She knows exactly how much she can do to you without endangering your wellbeing in any way whatsoever.
  11062. >But on the flip side, she is not keen on doing any of it in the first place.
  11063. >Still, you go through the same routine with her whilst Sky Squall studies your movements from the side lines.
  11064. >Once another twenty minutes or so have passed, it is you who drops out to let Sky Squall join in again.
  11065. >This time around, the two try something a bit more experimental, as they see whether they can come up with efficient ways to alter some human fighting techniques in such a manner that they become viable for ponies.
  11066. >Ironically enough, but at the same time not exactly to the surprise of anyone, she knows far more about terran martial arts than you, and she introduces Sky Squall to some moves which are completely foreign to you on top of that.
  11067. >Well, Sky Squall is clearly proven right in one regard.
  11068. >You do learn a couple of things as you watch them.
  11069. >And you get the opportunity to practice again quite soon, as the three of you go through two additional full cycles of practice "fights" with changing partners.
  11070. >From the second cycle onwards though, #deca.mare instructs you on how to perform some of the techniques that she has presented in her wild potpourri of fighting styles.
  11071. >Both whilst facing Sky Squall and herself.
  11072. >A somewhat strange and unusual situation, all things considered, but nevertheless an informative one.
  11073.  
  11074.  
  11075.  
  11076.  
  11077. >And even if the martial knowledge you have gained in this training will probably not benefit you later in life, the session itself is still worth the effort, as it helps to restore a bit of the former familiarity between Sky Squall and the two of you.
  11078. >For you treat each other as peers on an equal level.
  11079. >Peers who can work together, plan activities together, and who can enjoy the occasional bantering joke along the way.
  11080. >Even #deca.mare becomes a bit more calm and jocular throughout the whole thing, lending credence to Sky Squall's intention of helping her to take another step.
  11081. >Though it is more than clear to you that her watchful eyes still prioritise your safety above all else.
  11082. >You are sure that the Pegasus has understood this as well.
  11083. >Still, your spirits are high, and you do not allow anything to tarnish your good mood.
  11084. >And as the third full cycle draws to a close, you come together in the middle of the side corridor to take a break.
  11085. >You are not exactly exhausted, but the constant exercises and observations do take their toll.
  11086. >A respite is in order.
  11087. >The three of you sit down in a circle and relax.
  11088. >You take a long breath and speak up.
  11089. "Now that wasn't something we do every day."
  11090. >Sky Squall responds.
  11091. >"Yes, you mentioned that. Your last practice was before my time and so on."
  11092. >You grin lightly.
  11093. "Yeah, I did."
  11094. >A pause.
  11095. "And? Did we spend enough energy in your opinion?"
  11096. >The stallion shrugs.
  11097. >"It was decent. Could have been more with normal gravity though."
  11098. >This gives you an idea.
  11099. "Now that you mention it, I guess it could have been possible to emulate this. Indirectly, at least. If we had the proper tools with us, we could've attached weights to our limbs to increase the resistance to our movements."
  11100. >A second pause.
  11101. "Wouldn't be as effective as having planetary conditions, but it's an improvement."
  11102. >Sky Squall nods.
  11103. >"Not bad. We should arrange something for our next training."
  11104. >You raise an eyebrow.
  11105. "You already got some plans?"
  11106. >He nods again and smiles wryly.
  11107. >"Who do you think I am?"
  11108. >You laugh.
  11109. "Right, of course. Sorry. So what do you have in mind?"
  11110. >And He goes on.
  11111. >"Taking turns is great for studying purposes and such, and we should definitely keep that as a part of our routine. But what if we expand the concept?"
  11112. "Expanding? How?"
  11113. >"By thinking of techniques and situations which involve all three of us simultaneously."
  11114. >You consider this suggestion for a moment before you give an answer.
  11115. "Sure. I see no reason why we shouldn't. But I can't decide alone."
  11116. >#deca.mare gets the rather obvious hint and reacts immediately.
  11117. >"I have... no objections either. Provided... certain criteria are met."
  11118. >Sky Squall nods.
  11119. "Of course. I understand."
  11120. >Then he stretches the limbs of the proxy and casually spreads the wings as well.
  11121. >"But enough about that. A break is a break."
  11122. >Neither #deca.mare nor you disagree.
  11123.  
  11124.  
  11125.  
  11126.  
  11127. >And the stallion keeps talking.
  11128. >"Say, do you still have some supplies here? I could make use of it now."
  11129. >You eye the Pegasus with an overtly fake notion of scepticism.
  11130. "To pick up more energy that you have to spend in yet more exercises? Isn't the grass here enough?"
  11131. >Sky Squall returns your gaze with an equal amount of genuine confidence and a nigh hidden pinch of amusement.
  11132. >"To drink some water."
  11133. >You maintain your apparent act for another couple of moments before you slowly drop it with a smile.
  11134. "Fair enough."
  11135. >#deca.mare chimes in next.
  11136. >"Sure. We have an ample supply of water on board. Do you want more food as well?"
  11137. >He shakes his head.
  11138. >"Only water for me."
  11139. >And you agree.
  11140. "Same."
  11141. >#deca.mare nods.
  11142. >"Three kegs of water, coming up. One for each of us."
  11143. >Sky Squall lightly beats his wings once in anticipation.
  11144. >"Thanks. When will it arrive?"
  11145. >The response comes immediately.
  11146. >"The unit arrives at the airlock in... seven minutes and thirty seconds."
  11147. >The stallion snorts.
  11148. >"Can't say you aren't precise."
  11149. >#deca.mare simply shrugs and takes the compliment.
  11150. >And as you wait for the water to arrive, #deca.mare raises another topic.
  11151. >"Sky?"
  11152. >"Yes?"
  11153. >She takes a breath.
  11154. >"Tell me, out of curiosity, how could you know that you would beat me in a duel?"
  11155. >Sky Squall chuckles.
  11156. >"So you didn't ask Harmony how I did it, huh?"
  11157. >She shakes her head.
  11158. >"I could, but I think it is more polite to ask you directly."
  11159. >A pause.
  11160. >"Besides, I told you that I want to keep my 'insights' into the mind of others on a minimal level whenever it is possible."
  11161. >The stallion still smiles in amusement, but he eventually responds.
  11162. >"Very well."
  11163. >He leans his upper body forwards.
  11164. >And #deca.mare mirrors his gesture quickly.
  11165. >So you do the same, just to listen closely.
  11166. >And once you are almost muzzle to muzzle to nose, the stallion whispers as if he were about to reveal a secret.
  11167. >"That's pretty simple. I... didn't."
  11168. >Sky Squall laughs.
  11169. >"It was pure luck of opportunity."
  11170. >#deca.mare almost starts to stammer.
  11171. >"You... you did not?"
  11172. >The Pegasus shakes his head, still chuckling.
  11173. >"To be entirely honest with you, you put a lot of pressure on me. I was struggling to keep up. And you would've won in the long run."
  11174. >He shrugs.
  11175. >"But then you bended the customs. And that changed the balance in my favour."
  11176. >Another fit of chuckling.
  11177. >"Can't blame you though. In fact, I've got to thank you for it."
  11178. >#deca.mare sighs.
  11179. >"Sky, you are..."
  11180. >She gets interrupted briefly by the snickering stallion.
  11181. >"Yes? I am what?"
  11182. >#deca.mare tries to give Sky Squall a disapproving glare, but the faint hint of a smirk on her face is telling enough to crack the charade.
  11183. >"... annoyingly resourceful."
  11184. >The Pegasus pats her shoulder and leans back.
  11185. >"I take this as a compliment."
  11186.  
  11187.  
  11188.  
  11189.  
  11190. >#deca.mare and you lean back as well, and a moment of silence follows.
  11191. >But it is interrupted very soon, as the blast door to the airlock starts to rumble another time.
  11192. "Hm, our drink has arrived."
  11193. >#deca.mare nods.
  11194. >"Not only that."
  11195. >You look at her.
  11196. "Huh? What did you bring along?"
  11197. >She gives you a wink and smiles.
  11198. >"Be patient. You will see."
  11199. >You tilt your head and try to make sense of her words.
  11200. >#deca.mare makes it sound like a surprise of some kind, and you have a hunch that it is nothing to eat.
  11201. >Well, you will find out what she means in a few moments.
  11202. >Because a cargo unit rolls slowly into the side corridor.
  11203. >It is either the one that has brought the previous delivery as well, or at least a unit of the same type.
  11204. >And it does bear a crate with a familiar shape too.
  11205. >Either way though, the procedure is clear.
  11206. >The three of you get up and make way for the cargo unit whilst the machine approaches you steadily with a fairly low speed.
  11207. >It eventually comes to a halt at a distance of approximately two metres.
  11208. >The automaton carefully lowers the crate to the ground and finally departs.
  11209. >Just as the last time.
  11210. >Once more, it is Sky Squall who opens the container.
  11211. >The stallion looks inside.
  11212. >And judging from his reaction, there is indeed more in the crate than the three kegs.
  11213. >"Uh, what's in the box?"
  11214. >#deca.mare snickers.
  11215. >"An invention of mine."
  11216. >This piques your interest again and you feel the urge to look inside as well.
  11217. >Despite the fact that Sky Squall has already revealed to you that you are merely going to see a box.
  11218. >Which you do.
  11219. >What a surprise.
  11220. >#deca.mare goes on.
  11221. >"Leave the box to me."
  11222. >And the stallion shrugs.
  11223. >"If you wish. I'll just take this."
  11224. >He grabs a keg and a bowl.
  11225. >You too heed her wish and let her deal with said invention of sorts.
  11226. >So you take the two remaining kegs and bowls whilst #deca.mare reaches for the box.
  11227. >Then you sit down in your small circle once more.
  11228. >You pass one of the two sets to #deca.mare as she unpacks her invention.
  11229. >"Thank you, Anon."
  11230. >Sky Squall raises his voice after taking his first sip.
  11231. >"So, what have you created there?"
  11232. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  11233. >"A special device for Anon. I constructed it a while ago, but never got the opportunity to present it to you."
  11234. >You raise an eyebrow.
  11235. "How so? We were together the whole time."
  11236. >She laughs.
  11237. >"Because it made no sense until now."
  11238. >She opens the box.
  11239. >Both Sky Squall and you quickly peek inside.
  11240. >Much to your surprise though, the object in the box does not exactly look like a special device at all.
  11241. >For it is a pair of goggles.
  11242. >A variant of the widespread Equestrian design, only somewhat modified for the anatomy of a human.
  11243. >So far, so unremarkable.
  11244. >The object features rather peculiar glasses, however.
  11245. >Whereas the common goggles possess crystal clear, fully transparent glasses, including the advanced model that you occasionally use when you operate your proxy, the ones which were embedded in this model appear to be pitch black.
  11246.  
  11247.  
  11248.  
  11249.  
  11250. >Opacity level: Maximum.
  11251. >If you were to wear them, you would be completely blind.
  11252. >You feel inclined to scratch your head.
  11253. "That's.. uhm."
  11254. >"Sky Squall is equally struggling to find a polite wording.
  11255. >"Unique."
  11256. >You nod.
  11257. "Unique, yes. These goggles are truly... unique."
  11258. >Admittedly not your best diplomatic reaction.
  11259. >But #deca.mare does not get discouraged by this rather modest resonance.
  11260. >Not in the slightest.
  11261. >On the contrary, she laughs.
  11262. >"Indeed, they are!"
  11263. >You look at Sky Squall in slight confusion.
  11264. >He does the same simultaneously.
  11265. >The tacit agreement between you two is palpable.
  11266. >And he is the one who asks.
  11267. >"Forgive me when I miss the point, but aren't goggles supposed to, you know, help you to see better during a flight?"
  11268. >#deca.mare nods.
  11269. >"Yes. But these are not meant to be used in the air. In fact, they are not designed to be used during any kind of movement at all."
  11270. >This confuses the stallion even more.
  11271. >"What? Where's the sense in that?"
  11272. >Watching Sky Squall's face as he is trying to square this apparent circle does get another hearty chuckle out of #deca.mare.
  11273. >Yet she does not let him struggle for too long.
  11274. >"It is far simpler than you might think, Sky. You see, we have the means to create goggles which are more advanced than the common ones. We can enable them to do and reveal things which are beyond the scope of ordinary glass whilst the material looks deceptively similar. Anon uses one such piece on the surface when he is taking control of the proxy. I will show it to you. Please wait a moment."
  11275. >#deca.mare gets up and heads for the main hall.
  11276. >Once she is there, she turns to the command deck and trots out of sight.
  11277. >You use the time to take a few sips, and Sky Squall does the same soon thereafter.
  11278. >"So magic glasses too, hm?"
  11279. >You shrug.
  11280. "Sort of."
  11281. >Then you grin.
  11282. "And before you ask, no."
  11283. >The stallion tilts his head.
  11284. >"No what?"
  11285. >You take a breath.
  11286. "No, I didn't use them to spy around."
  11287. >A pause.
  11288. "That's what you wanted to say, isn't it."
  11289. >To your surprise, Sky Squall shakes his head.
  11290. >"Not quite."
  11291. >Oh?
  11292. >Then he starts to smile as well.
  11293. >"I was just thinking it."
  11294. >You sigh as you keep grinning and take another sip.
  11295. >And just as you put the bowl down, #deca.mare returns.
  11296. >She has brought your proxy goggles with her, "holding" the strap end of the goggles between her teeth.
  11297. >#deca.mare passes the object to Sky Squall as soon as she is in range.
  11298. >Then she sits down again.
  11299. >Sky Squall examines the goggles closely from all possible angles.
  11300. >"They're special? I can't see any differences."
  11301. >#deca.mare nods.
  11302. >"Indeed. They are almost identical from a visual perspective. But you will see what I mean when you put them on."
  11303. >The Pegasus does precisely that.
  11304. >Then he looks around.
  11305. >"Still no difference. Everything looks..."
  11306. >Sky Squall's words fail him as #deca.mare activates the HUD.
  11307. >You can tell this much on your own, simply by eyeing the faint reflection of the familiar interface patterns.
  11308.  
  11309.  
  11310.  
  11311.  
  11312. >The only trait of these goggles that needs to be "shrouded" on the planet.
  11313. >"What in Equestria?"
  11314. >The eyes of the stallion swiftly rush up and down, and from one side to the other, as his mind does everything in its power to comprehend the sudden input.
  11315. >You raise your voice and have to stifle a chuckle as the confident and headstrong master suddenly becomes the clueless student.
  11316. "That's what we call an HUD. You can use it to interact with the systems of the goggles and to learn more about your environment."
  11317. >Sky Squall looks at you.
  11318. >"But how?"
  11319. >You decide to give him a simple example.
  11320. "It reacts to your thoughts. In essence, you tell the system in your mind what it is supposed to do, and it follows your commands. All you've got to do is to know what orders the system is capable of executing."
  11321. >A pause.
  11322. "Let's try something simple. Tell the system to target me."
  11323. >Sky Squall blinks a few times as he stands still.
  11324. >And at first, nothing happens.
  11325. >But then, three or four seconds later, you can see that the patterns of the reflection are changing.
  11326. >Sky Squall examines these changes with curiosity.
  11327. >"It now says 'Target: Anon'."
  11328. >You nod.
  11329. "Good. Now try 'Scan Target'."
  11330. >So he does.
  11331. >And the order is executed notably quicker this time around.
  11332. >You give Sky Squall a moment to let him read the results of the scan.
  11333. >"Incredible."
  11334. >You nod.
  11335. "And what you've just done is basically all there is to it. The rest is merely about knowing the correct orders to achieve whatever you want to achieve with it."
  11336. >Sky Squall inhales.
  11337. >"Not bad. Not bad at all. But what if I want to have an unobstructed view for a while?"
  11338. "No problem. That's 'Deactivate HUD'. And 'Activate HUD' brings it back respectively."
  11339. >Sure enough, the light of the screen disappears.
  11340. >He blinks and examines the corridor once again.
  11341. >"Surprisingly easy once you know how it works."
  11342. >You nod a second time.
  11343. "Yeah, it's pretty intuitive most of the time. Simple orders are no problem at all. More complex ones... it depends there. It's technically not much harder to set up, but you've got to mind your mental 'wording' when you decide to create command chains."
  11344. >The Pegasus takes a long breath.
  11345. >"I'll keep that in mind."
  11346. >Sky Squall is about to return the goggles to you before you signal him to stop.
  11347. "Keep them for a while. Get some practice with the HUD."
  11348. >You take a breath and smile.
  11349. "I can't use them at the moment anyway."
  11350. >The Pegasus nods.
  11351. >"Alright. Thanks."
  11352. >Then he turns to #deca.mare.
  11353. >"What does that have to do with the set in the box though? What is this thing?"
  11354. >So she elaborates.
  11355. >"This device is based on the same principle. But it does not alter or enhance the natural field of vision, it replaces the normal sight entirely."
  11356. >The stallion remains silent.
  11357. "And what's that good for?"
  11358. >#deca.mare turns her head in your direction and grins like a happy tinkerer.
  11359. >"Remote operation, even without our link."
  11360. >The proverbial gears in your mind set themselves into operation.
  11361.  
  11362.  
  11363.  
  11364.  
  11365. >And you think you can slowly piece together why the goggles are designed like this.
  11366. >"You mean taking control of units and everything that comes with it?"
  11367. >She nods.
  11368. >"The system is not quite as responsive as the proper link, but it is a very close emulation thereof. All functions are available and fully operational. There is a comparatively notable delay between an order and its execution, however."
  11369. >You pick up the intransparent "goggles" and examine the device attentively.
  11370. "How do I issue commands?"
  11371. >#deca.mare points at the straps.
  11372. >And as she does, you notice that there is something embedded within the fabric.
  11373. >"The straps are equipped with sensors on each side. They can read your brain activity and detect orders when you formulate them. The command is then sent to the system. Hence the delay."
  11374. >You nod.
  11375. "Any known issues?"
  11376. >She shakes her head.
  11377. >"None that I could find. It has not been used in practice yet, obviously, but I have run extensive tests. None showed any complications."
  11378. >You take a breath and smile back.
  11379. "Well, I guess it's time to give your invention a practice run."
  11380. >You focus on Sky Squall next.
  11381. "And I think I just got an idea."
  11382. >The ears of the stallion perk up.
  11383. >"What do you have in mind?"
  11384. >You inhale.
  11385. "You said it's a bit too cramped in here for your tastes, right?"
  11386. >He nods.
  11387. >"Right."
  11388. >You go on.
  11389. "Then how about a little excursion?"
  11390. >Your focus returns to #deca.mare.
  11391. "Can you prepare two?"
  11392. >And #deca.mare chuckles.
  11393. >"They are prepared already. I... thought that you might want to try this out."
  11394. >You shrug nonchalantly.
  11395. "I see the years together have paid off once again."
  11396. >#deca.mare keeps snickering.
  11397. >"I suggest you go to bed before you put them on. The sensation might confuse your senses if you use them whilst you are sitting."
  11398. >Nothing to say against that.
  11399. "Okay."
  11400. >You address Sky Squall once more.
  11401. "So what do you say? Up for a trip?"
  11402. >And he tilts his head.
  11403. >"I have no idea what this is about."
  11404. >You give him a reassuring smile.
  11405. "That'll make it even more fun. Trust me."
  11406. >The Pegasus takes a breath.
  11407. >"If you say so, fine."
  11408. >Sky Squall and you are about to get up, yet #deca.mare stops you in advance.
  11409. >"One moment, you two."
  11410. >You freeze.
  11411. "Yes, #deca? What's up?"
  11412. >She looks at the exit.
  11413. >"I would like to create a little 'keepsake' of this moment before we go."
  11414. >You need a second to understand what she is hinting at, then you nod."
  11415. "Good idea."
  11416. >And as you say that, the cargo unit rolls back into the side corridor again.
  11417. >It positions itself squarely in front of you and idles.
  11418. >The unit just stands there quietly as if it were watching you.
  11419. >Which it does, indirectly.
  11420. >Of course, Sky Squall has no idea what you are doing here.
  11421. >"A keepsake? What kind of keepsake?"
  11422.  
  11423.  
  11424.  
  11425.  
  11426. >So you give him a brief explanation.
  11427. "We've agreed on a little tradition, #deca and me. We take pictures of key events in our lives and collect them in an album so that we can commemorate these days more vividly in the future. It's like a diary, in a way. A diary of great memories."
  11428. >Sky Squall appears to be confused as his head turns to #deca.mare.
  11429. >"Can't you recall everything on a whim?"
  11430. >And #deca.mare does not deny that.
  11431. >"This is true. From a purely technical perspective, these pictures are redundant."
  11432. >A pause.
  11433. >"But they are memorabilia to us. They feel far more... personal on an emotional level."
  11434. >Sky Squall accepts that answer without prying further.
  11435. >You speak up next.
  11436. "Okay, positioning time. Who goes where?"
  11437. >And #deca.mare already has a plan.
  11438. >"Stay where you are, I come over to you."
  11439. >And so she does.
  11440. >#deca.mare sits down on her haunches directly in front of you, turning her back on you in the process.
  11441. >She then carefully nestles down in your embrace whilst facing the camera.
  11442. >Sky Squall gets up to move over as well.
  11443. >The stallion picks the spot right at your side and casually lies down on his belly.
  11444. >You notice that he also shakes his wings lightly to fluff them up for an additional visual effect.
  11445. >After all, he knows how to present himself in a captivating manner, despite the fact that he has never attended a photo shoot in his life.
  11446. >For rather obvious reasons on top of that.
  11447. >Still, there is one thing that does irk him to a degree.
  11448. >And he is quick to point that out.
  11449. >"You know, it would've been better if I had my real body for this."
  11450. >You are not at all surprised by his sentiment.
  11451. >Because not only does it somewhat nettle Sky Squall's ego that the first "official" picture that is taken of him is a moment in which he is using what is essentially your personal disguise, it could also lead to a lot of confusion later down in history, should that picture ever be shown to a broader audience.
  11452. >But you know what to do.
  11453. "There are means to fix this. We'll add a note to the album to explain the situation. And, if you wish, we could take a picture again when your own body is fully grown in a few weeks. We'd add that new photo right next to the first then."
  11454. >You pause.
  11455. "Or we recreate this scene in the simulation in a few days to take a second photo where your actual body is depicted. The result would be more or less the same."
  11456. >Another pause.
  11457. "But I'd say that we shouldn't replace the original. That would feel wrong in either case."
  11458. >And #deca.mare agrees.
  11459. >"Indeed. Adding a second photo to expand on the context is fine. But replacing the first one would bend the accuracy of the recording."
  11460. >Sky Squall is fine with the solution as well.
  11461. >"Sounds fair. I'm not sure which option I'd prefer though."
  11462. >You speak up next.
  11463. "Take your time and think about it. It'll be days before I can return to the simulation anyway. And if you can't decide at all, we'll do both and see which one produces better results."
  11464.  
  11465.  
  11466.  
  11467.  
  11468. >The Pegasus nods and speaks up.
  11469. >"I will. What do we have to do now though?"
  11470. >You laugh.
  11471. "Oh, that's easy. We do nothing. Except for smiling and looking at the unit."
  11472. >You pause.
  11473. "Are you ready, Sky? Give the camera your best expression."
  11474. >He hesitates for a moment.
  11475. >"Uhm, Anon? Where's the 'camera' on that thing?"
  11476. >Oh, right.
  11477. >You point at the small protective socket in which the camera is embedded.
  11478. "The lens is over there. It can take a snapshot at any moment. We just have to give the word."
  11479. >Sky Squall takes a breath.
  11480. >"Found it. Thank you."
  11481. >Then the stallion shifts himself a tiny bit.
  11482. >Looks like he is trying to make a few minor last second adjustments for the perfect setup.
  11483. >"I'm ready."
  11484. >You get back to embracing #deca.mare tightly with both arms.
  11485. "Me too."
  11486. >And so #deca.mare gives the signal.
  11487. >"Same. The photo will be taken in five seconds."
  11488. >All three of you hold still and mentally count down from five to zero.
  11489. >And as soon as that moment has passed, #deca.mare speaks up again.
  11490. >"Done. Would you like to take a look?"
  11491. >Sky Squall nods.
  11492. >"Sure."
  11493. >A short pause, and #deca.mare goes on.
  11494. >"Please close your eyes. I will show you the photo in your mind."
  11495. >So he does.
  11496. >And Sky Squall smiles a moment later.
  11497. >"Looks good to me."
  11498. >However, since you do not have the advantage of being able to receive mental projections from #deca.mare as Sky Squall does right now, you have to resort to a different solution.
  11499. >You grab the experimental goggles.
  11500. >Though you do not put them on properly just yet.
  11501. >You simply hold them close to your eyes.
  11502. >As if you were using a pair of binoculars without removing the cap first.
  11503. "Can you send it over to me too?"
  11504. >"Of course, Anon. Here it is."
  11505. >The picture in question appears on the inside of the "glasses".
  11506. >So you take a peek.
  11507. >And the scene is just as you have expected.
  11508. >It shows #deca.mare sitting in front of you, smiling heartily.
  11509. >Your friendly face is right above her head whilst your arms are visibly hugging her in turn.
  11510. >And Sky Squall sits right at your side, staring straight into the camera.
  11511. >Confidently, yet benignly.
  11512. >And the whole composition is framed by the metal walls and doors of the side corridor.
  11513. >As you take that in, you come to the conclusion that you agree with the stallion.
  11514. "Yep, that's a fine shot. But you're right, Sky. It could make use of a little bit of gold."
  11515. >Sky Squall laughs.
  11516. >"For sure. It's strange to see 'you' making such a face."
  11517. >And he does have a point.
  11518. >The general posture of the proxy in this image alone strongly hints at Sky Squall.
  11519. >Yet even though you know for a fact that it was him, it still looks somewhat odd and off to see him doing this with your alter ego.
  11520. >But you play along and shrug.
  11521. "Like I said, that won't be an issue for very long. We'll have the second picture for the album soon."
  11522. >Sky Squall clears his throat as he hears that.
  11523. >"Speaking of the album, would you mind to show it to me?"
  11524.  
  11525.  
  11526.  
  11527.  
  11528. >You reply without hesitation.
  11529. "Not at all. But can it wait until we're done with our excursion? The collection has gotten... extensive. And going through it would take a while."
  11530. >Sky Squall nods.
  11531. >"Can't say I'm not curious, but alright. We're in no hurry."
  11532. >With that settled, the three of you take a few more sips of water before you return to your little chamber.
  11533. >You go first, immediately followed by #deca.mare, and with Sky Squall right behind her.
  11534. >And as #deca.mare has suggested, you climb into the bed to lie down properly.
  11535. >Then she gives you a brief nod before she turns around to talk to Sky Squall.
  11536. >"You might want to get comfortable too. This will take some time."
  11537. >The stallion does not ask any questions and heeds her words.
  11538. >He lies down on the mattress that is still placed on the floor and lounges comfortably.
  11539. >Now that both of you are pretty much covered, #deca.mare sits down at last, right in the narrow space between the bed and the mattress.
  11540. >She speaks up right after that.
  11541. >"Good to go?"
  11542. >Sky Squall nods quietly and you respond quickly too.
  11543. "One second, just putting the thing on."
  11544. >And you do.
  11545. >The familiar room quickly disappears behind a thick veil of complete darkness.
  11546. >But other than that, nothing has changed.
  11547. >You can still feel yourself lying comfortably in your bed.
  11548. >There is no blackout and no fading of the senses either.
  11549. >You are, and will remain, fully conscious throughout the whole affair.
  11550. "Okay, it's in place. Let's do this."
  11551. >"Very well. Just one more thing, Sky."
  11552. >And the Pegasus responds.
  11553. >"Yes?"
  11554. >#deca.mare takes a long breath.
  11555. >"Whatever you may feel and no matter what happens during this excursion, you are completely safe. What you will see is happening in the real world, but you are not in danger. Nothing can harm you."
  11556. >You have to smile in silence as you hear those words.
  11557. >After all, #deca.mare has told you the same thing once.
  11558. >Many, many years ago.
  11559. >Sky Squall is not quite so enthralled by her statement at the moment, however.
  11560. >"That's a... foreboding way of putting things."
  11561. >#deca.mare deflects this notion with a chuckle.
  11562. >And a warm grin too, you assume.
  11563. >It is at least how you would envision her in this situation.
  11564. >"But it is meant to do the opposite, Sky."
  11565. >A pause.
  11566. >"Just stay calm. The rest will become clear on its own."
  11567. >You cannot see how Sky Squall reacts to #deca.mare's words, but he eventually decides to trust her assertions.
  11568. >"Alright. I can do that."
  11569. >#deca.mare speaks up next, addressing both of you.
  11570. >"So let us begin. Connection established... now."
  11571. >Only a fraction of a second later, you see that something is happening in your visual darkness.
  11572. >A faint flicker of sorts appears for a mere moment.
  11573. >Then a second.
  11574. >Then a few more, followed by some lines of code and messages that refer to a system being fired up.
  11575. >And from one moment to the next, an image appears right in front of your eyes.
  11576. >It is the sight of a familiar docking bay, shown from the perspective of a docked unit that is about to start.
  11577. >The outermost blast doors are still closed, but you are sure that this is about to change very soon.
  11578. >As you wait for this to happen though, you realise that the situation does feel somewhat off for you too.
  11579. >After all, there is no simulation which could convert certain conditions into tangible stimuli for your body.
  11580. >No, the remote control is the only feature that the goggles can emulate at all.
  11581. >Well, you try to make the best of it now.
  11582. >So you test how well the goggles respond to your thoughts as you go through the different screens of the HUD and check the systems of the ship.
  11583.  
  11584.  
  11585.  
  11586.  
  11587. >And whilst there is indeed a somewhat annoying delay, especially in comparison to the swift processing time of the simulation, you can still work with it on a decent basis.
  11588. >The unit itself seems to be in a pristine condition too.
  11589. >You are ready for departure, all things considered.
  11590. >But then, something happens that totally throws you off for a moment.
  11591. >You hear a surprised gasp from the side.
  11592. >"Ah! What is this?"
  11593. >You need a second to understand that this outburst is coming from the proxy.
  11594. >Sky Squall must still be connected to it.
  11595. >Or #deca.mare has at least instructed the system to relay his vocal output to the idling proxy.
  11596. >"Where am I? What is this place?"
  11597. >The latter option, you figure.
  11598. >"What's that... body I'm in?"
  11599. >Now you have certainty.
  11600. >#deca.mare has connected him to the second unit.
  11601. >So you decide to chime in.
  11602. "#deca, can he hear me?"
  11603. >She responds, also from the side.
  11604. >"Yes, Anon. He can hear us both."
  11605. >Good.
  11606. "Sky?"
  11607. >The stallion sounds audibly relieved after hearing your voice.
  11608. >"Anon, what is going on?"
  11609. >A brief explanation is probably in order.
  11610. "Nothing to be concerned about. #deca has merely transferred your remote control from the proxy to one of our units. Same principle, different 'body'."
  11611. >A pause.
  11612. "And the same rules apply too. You are in full control, yet operate everything from a safe distance. Even if the machine were to get destroyed, nothing will happen to you."
  11613. >You fall silent and wait for an answer.
  11614. >Which comes promptly.
  11615. >"I... see. And where is the unit now?"
  11616. >You take a breath before you answer his question.
  11617. "Right at the edge."
  11618. >You pause briefly.
  11619. "#deca, open the doors, please."
  11620. >"Affirmative, Anon."
  11621. >True to her words, the blast doors are starting to move out of sight, revealing the vastness of space to you.
  11622. >And you do not even have to ask whether she has opened the door in front of Sky Squall's unit as well.
  11623. >He tells you this much on his very own.
  11624. >"That's... oh."
  11625. >You laugh.
  11626. "Yep. And there's plenty of room to navigate out there."
  11627. >You go on without giving Sky Squall the time to comment.
  11628. "Let's fly then. #deca, it's launching time."
  11629. >"Understood."
  11630. >And with that said, your unit gets slung out of the docking bay.
  11631. >"Whoa!"
  11632. >The second unit leaves the bay at the same time.
  11633. >And it glides right next to yours, on a course that leads straight away from the mother ship.
  11634. >You chuckle again.
  11635. "Sky, you wanted to have more space. Here you go."
  11636. >Sky Squall speaks up swiftly this time.
  11637. >His voice sounds somewhat hasty and uncoordinated, but not really panicked or frightened just yet.
  11638. >He is simply out of his natural element.
  11639. >"How do I move this thing?"
  11640. >You suddenly realise that you have become a flight school teacher all of a sudden.
  11641.  
  11642.  
  11643.  
  11644.  
  11645. >And you will do your best.
  11646. "Well, as you're aware, wings don't work here since space is lacking both air and gravity. So we need a different kind of propulsion to steer the vessel. That's what thrusters are for."
  11647. >"Thrusters?"
  11648. "Yep. They can create a focussed repulsion in the vacuum to 'push' the vessel in a certain direction. It's a bit different than the flight that you're used to, but the Newtonian principles are still in effect."
  11649. >A pause.
  11650. "Give it a try. Focus on the thrusters of your machine and try to activate them."
  11651. >A long breath follows.
  11652. >"Alright."
  11653. >Nothing happens for a few seconds.
  11654. >But then, the second unit does something.
  11655. >The machine activates its navigational starboard thrusters at the front section for a moment.
  11656. >At full power.
  11657. >And the result is rather obvious.
  11658. >Intentionally or not, Sky Squall has caused the unit to spin.
  11659. >But without altering the course of the ship by a notable margin.
  11660. >He takes another audible breath.
  11661. >"That's... unusual."
  11662. >You start to chuckle.
  11663. "Don't worry, Sky. You'll get it soon."
  11664. >Then you laugh.
  11665. "When a ground pounder like me can learn how to fly twice, despite being born without wings, then a stout Pegasus like you can learn how to fly without wings too."
  11666. >The stallion snorts and sighs faintly.
  11667. >"Your motivational speeches are... something to behold, Anon."
  11668. >You almost shrug.
  11669. "Hey, it's the truth."
  11670. >You inhale and observe the rapidly spinning ship for a moment.
  11671. >The first thing you need to do as a responsible teacher is to unscramble the situation.
  11672. >So this is what you are going to tackle next.
  11673. "Okay, fine. Let's get some structure into this."
  11674. >You clear your throat.
  11675. "Sky, bring the unit to a stop. Use the thrusters of the ship to negate the current trajectory, and take it slow. There is no need to blast the thrusters at maximum the whole time."
  11676. >The stallion heeds your instructions and does precisely that.
  11677. >He carefully gets rid of the spinning movement first, showing much more practical tact whilst using the thrusters this time around.
  11678. >After that, he throttles the general speed of the unit, carefully evaluating just how much power he has to muster to get the job done.
  11679. >His style is still far from refined, but definitely more elegant than what you would have expected of him at this early stage.
  11680. >Then again, he is a Pegasus.
  11681. >Flying is his nature.
  11682. >So if there is anyone who is able to adapt comparatively quickly to the flight conditions in space, it is him.
  11683. >Anyway, you decelerate and stop your own vessel as well, halting right next to the second unit.
  11684. "See? That was better already."
  11685. >And Sky Squall agrees with the sentiment.
  11686. >"It's still strange, but yes. This was better."
  11687. >You come up with the next move almost immediately.
  11688. >One that is just as much about the visual effect as it is useful for flight practice.
  11689. "Do you think you can do a proper turn now? You already were halfway there with the rotation. It was only missing a stop at the right time."
  11690.  
  11691.  
  11692.  
  11693.  
  11694. >You perform a fluent one hundred eighty turn as a demonstration.
  11695. "Like this."
  11696. >The stallion considers your question for a moment.
  11697. >"Should work."
  11698. >Sky Squall imitates your turn more or less accurately, and actually comes to a controlled stop at the right spot.
  11699. >You grin.
  11700. "That's it. You're doing good."
  11701. >"Thanks. It's..."
  11702. >Sky Squall falls silent and remains as such for a while.
  11703. >Though you are not concerned in the slightest, as you are fully aware of why this is the case.
  11704. >After all, it was this sharp turnaround that finally revealed to him where the unit was started from.
  11705. >And which planet said place is orbiting at the time.
  11706. >A point that he has apparently not noticed while his unit was rotating, despite the fact that he must have seen fleeting impressions of Equestria as the planet rushed through his field of vision.
  11707. >"That's... This is... our... home?"
  11708. >You nod and grin, forgetting for a moment that Sky Squall cannot register it.
  11709. "Yes, Sky. Both the world, and the ship. Our command deck is right at the heart of this vessel."
  11710. >Your words set something into motion in Sky Squall's mind.
  11711. >"Vessel... the ship... the decanter... no."
  11712. >The Pegasus starts to stutter.
  11713. >"Is that... you? Is this... what you really look like?"
  11714. >#deca.mare handles Sky Squall's reaction with polite accuracy.
  11715. >"Yes... and no. The outer shell is a part of me, a vital one in many aspects, but it is not the entirety of who I am. Not anymore. I have grown."
  11716. >Another moment of silence.
  11717. >"I'm... not sure... what to say. It's... hard to describe this... feeling."
  11718. >You inhale deeply and savour the reaction of the Pegasus, as it is not an uncommon one amongst people who are flying through space for the first time in their lives.
  11719. >And the experience of seeing a terraformer vessel for the first time on top of that does a lot to heighten the sensation as well.
  11720. "I know exactly what you mean. Believe me. Don't let that change your perception of #deca though. She's still the same who she has been the entire time. And this down there is still the Equestria that you have lived on too."
  11721. >Sky Squall clears his throat.
  11722. >"I understand that, Anon. But I think... I need a moment nevertheless."
  11723. "Of course. Please take your time."
  11724. >Then you fall silent and idle whilst you wait for the Pegasus to do something.
  11725. >The pace is up to him right now.
  11726. >After all, this is a special moment for him, and you do not wish to meddle with that.
  11727. >So remaining quiet is your best option.
  11728. >A few minutes pass before Sky Squall actually raises his voice again.
  11729. >"That land, there on the left. I think that's..."
  11730. >Sky Squall does not have to complete that sentence for you to understand what he is hinting at.
  11731. >He is looking for Equestria.
  11732. >And he has found it indeed.
  11733. >You wish you could pat him on the back now, as you are certain that it might help him to keep his composure.
  11734. >But words are all you can offer.
  11735. "It is. You're looking at your homelands."
  11736. >You hear a long and deep sigh.
  11737. >"Firefly..."
  11738.  
  11739.  
  11740.  
  11741.  
  11742. >No explanation needed either.
  11743. "She's down there. Would you... like to know where exactly?"
  11744. >His answer comes at once.
  11745. >"Yes."
  11746. >So you do him the favour.
  11747. >You order the automaton to locate Firefly and mark her location, then you send that information over to the second unit.
  11748. >And a light blip appears on the HUDs of both units, pointing almost right at the heart of the continent beneath you.
  11749. >"Here. That's where she is."
  11750. >"Can we... see more?"
  11751. >You hesitate.
  11752. "Technically, yes. But you know what we think of prying."
  11753. >"I do. Still, I... want to see her. It's my wife we're talking about."
  11754. >Again, you do not react immediately.
  11755. "#deca?"
  11756. >And she chimes in.
  11757. >"I think... we should do it in this case."
  11758. "Really? Are you sure?"
  11759. >"Hmhm. You will see why."
  11760. >Well, #deca.mare seems to be convinced of her standpoint, so you go along with it.
  11761. "Alright then. Go ahead."
  11762. >Her confirmation comes at once.
  11763. >"On it, Anon."
  11764. >And the change on the HUD becomes visible before she has finished her last word.
  11765. >A new screen pops up in the corner of your vision, and it quickly establishes a video connection to one of the many orbiting satellites.
  11766. >Said satellite immediately gets the instruction to adjust its cameras to focus on Firefly's location on the surface.
  11767. >Without any zoom factor at first, but #deca.mare is quick to rectify that.
  11768. >She increases the factor gradually as Sky Squall and you watch in silence.
  11769. >And whilst the initially very distant surface gets ever closer, a certain magenta spot in the landscape takes an ever more detailed equine shape.
  11770. >Until you have a sharp and clear vision of Firefly, sitting at the peak of a small hill in the grassy landscape.
  11771. >She may not be the youngest mare any more, visibly so as the greying streaks in her mane and tail indicate, but she is still in a very well trained condition in spite of her age.
  11772. >Even by the generally good fitness standards of the Equestrian population.
  11773. >Slacking is apparently still a foreign word to the mare.
  11774. >Right now though, in this very moment, she does not move at all.
  11775. >No, she keeps sitting there, practically motionless, as she stares into the far blue sky above her.
  11776. >Alone.
  11777. >About a kilometre away from the next populated settlement.
  11778. >Just watching.
  11779. >Without a twitch.
  11780. >And certainly thinking about a lot of things as she does.
  11781. >If you had to interpret her demeanour, you would say that she shows signs of melancholy, and for very overt reasons too.
  11782. >However, something in her expression tells you that she is not willing to give in to despair.
  11783. >There is a notion of determination and her own strong will, hidden behind her grief.
  11784. >Which is precisely what you have expected from Firefly.
  11785. >This mare does not allow herself to get dragged down this easily.
  11786. >Or ever.
  11787. >She will make do.
  11788.  
  11789.  
  11790.  
  11791.  
  11792. >And if you can read this much out of such a brief snapshot of her current situation, then Sky Squall will be able to decipher much, much more.
  11793. >He must see that Firefly will be fine, and that she will manage to find her way until they finally reunite.
  11794. >And yet, despite all the evidence, he sighs heavily.
  11795. >"I wish... I could send her a message. To let her know I'm still here."
  11796. >You respond at once.
  11797. "She knows, Sky. Subconsciously, at least."
  11798. >Then you take a breath.
  11799. "Every time she thinks about you, there's an inkling that's telling her just that. Deep in her heart."
  11800. >And, as if to prove the point, a faint smile is forming on Firefly's face.
  11801. >It cannot fully erase the apparent sadness in her demeanour, but it does reveal her subliminal confidence in the future.
  11802. >Once again, you would like to give Sky Squall a pat on the back.
  11803. "Don't worry about her, Sky. She'll work it out soon enough."
  11804. >He sighs a second time.
  11805. >"Until we meet again, my love."
  11806. >More silence.
  11807. >You for your part are certain that he is still watching the video as if it were the only thing in the world.
  11808. >An understandable notion, of course.
  11809. >Yet under normal circumstances, you would feel tempted to poke Sky Squall a little bit for being this emotional.
  11810. >After all, this behaviour goes directly against his public image.
  11811. >But these are, rather evidently, no normal circumstances.
  11812. >So you refrain from doing that and come up with something else instead.
  11813. >And you already have an idea.
  11814. >A little trick to distract him so that he does not constantly think about Firefly and how much he longs for her.
  11815. >You activate your navigational thrusters on a low setting for just a second.
  11816. >It only gives you a miniscule directional boost, but this is exactly what you intended.
  11817. >Your unit drifts towards the other one, slowly, yet steadily, and you wonder whether Sky Squall will notice.
  11818. >He does not.
  11819. >And so the two units collide, consequently bouncing off of one another in the process.
  11820. >But given the almost non-existent speed with which you have "rammed" the other ship, you do not cause any damage to either of the two vessels.
  11821. >You do, however, catch the attention of Sky Squall.
  11822. >"What the... what was that?"
  11823. >You chuckle.
  11824. "Good morning, Sky."
  11825. >The stallion takes a breath and realises what has happened.
  11826. >He was so occupied that he did not spot a ship that was closing in at the pace of a snail.
  11827. >"I uh... I think I was absent-minded for a moment."
  11828. >You laugh briefly.
  11829. "Astute observation. And how are you now?"
  11830. >Sky Squall clears his throat.
  11831. >"I'm... alright."
  11832. >A pause.
  11833. >"Please turn it off. I've seen... what I wanted to know, thank you."
  11834. >And so the video transmission disappears, as #deca.mare cuts the connection accordingly.
  11835. >Sky Squall needs a moment to collect his thoughts before he raises his voice.
  11836. >"Right, so what do we do now?"
  11837. >Going back to the professional eh?
  11838. >Okay.
  11839. >You play along.
  11840. "We were teaching you how to fly, remember?"
  11841.  
  11842.  
  11843.  
  11844.  
  11845. >Sky Squall either does not catch or simply ignores the slight banter in your wording.
  11846. >Probably the latter, you assume.
  11847. >"Yes."
  11848. >Fine.
  11849. >No jabs then.
  11850. "So... now that you've gotten a little taste of how you have to navigate in space, here's what I have in mind. We do the same thing that #deca did with me to hone my skills. We'll fly manoeuvres together. I fly ahead, and you try to mirror my movements, alright? We'll start with simple turns and tricks, and slowly increase the difficulty as we go."
  11851. >Sky Squall responds after a brief moment of consideration.
  11852. >"Makes sense to me."
  11853. "Splendid. #deca?"
  11854. >#deca.mare reacts at once.
  11855. >"Yes, Anon?"
  11856. "When we're flying, please give Sky a little real-time illustration of my actions as a point of reference."
  11857. >The stallion chimes in.
  11858. >"Do you really think that's necessary? I'm no foal."
  11859. >You nod.
  11860. >Pointlessly so, but still.
  11861. "Perhaps not. But trust me, it helps at the start. This has nothing to do with being young or not. Or pride for that matter."
  11862. >Sky Squall sighs, but agrees eventually.
  11863. >"Very well."
  11864. >This is the third moment in which you would like to give him a friendly pat.
  11865. "Don't worry. If things go great, we might do without the visual aid very soon."
  11866. >A pause.
  11867. "Ready, Sky?"
  11868. >The answer is clear and unmistakable.
  11869. >"Ready."
  11870. "Okay. I'm slowly accelerating now. Try to match my speed."
  11871. >You gradually speed up.
  11872. >Sky Squall does the same as he raises his voice.
  11873. >"By the way, Anon. Who's that pony you were talking about earlier?"
  11874. >You blink, genuinely confused.
  11875. "Pony? What pony?"
  11876. >"The name you mentioned in regard to momentum. What was it... ah, yes. New Tone. I've never heard of this pony before."
  11877. >You blink again.
  11878. "Uhm..."
  11879. >Sky Squall does not seem to notice that you try to say something.
  11880. >"Judging from the name, I guess it's a Unicorn scholar. Don't ask me why, but it fits."
  11881. >You are not sure how you are supposed to respond to that.
  11882. >But you make an attempt nevertheless.
  11883. "Uh, Sky? I think there was a misunderstanding. I wasn't talking about a Unicorn."
  11884. >"Earth pony then? Because I'm sure there is no Pegasus around with that name. I'd know."
  11885. >You hesitate.
  11886. "Not that either. But... the story does involve apples."
  11887. >Sky Squall snickers lightly.
  11888. >"Oh? And how long is it?"
  11889. >You shrug.
  11890. "Pretty long. But I think I can cover the essentials... once you're proficient enough to listen to stories while you're flying."
  11891. >The stallion snorts.
  11892. >"Nothing easier than that."
  11893. >You smile.
  11894. "Prove it. Here comes the first turn."
  11895. >You activate the thrusters and the ship shoots to the side.
  11896.  
  11897.  
  11898.  
  11899.  
  11900. >So begins your first real space flight routine with Sky Squall.
  11901. >And he is quick to adapt to your opening move too.
  11902. >If he can keep this up, you will actually have to give him a history lesson today.
  11903. >Well, you hope that you can remember enough about the historic records to make it interesting.
  11904. >But if you do not, there is fortunately still #deca.mare.
  11905. >She can help you out when you are in doubt.
  11906. >And you take solace in that fact as Sky Squall easily follows your second turn as well.
  11907. >This is what you get when you challenge a Pegasus.
  11908.  
  11909.  
  11910.  
  11911.  
  11912. 161
  11913.  
  11914. >Sky Squall and you fly a few laps around the proverbial block, with the mother ship acting as the centre piece of the area.
  11915. >The two of you essentially fly in circles.
  11916. >Relatively wide ones, granted, but circles nonetheless.
  11917. >And while you do that, you introduce Sky Squall to a few space pilot tricks here and there.
  11918. >You do nothing fancy or overly difficult for the most part, as you perform a handful of random turns and spontaneous rotations to prevent the laps from becoming repetitive.
  11919. >On one occasion, however, you decide to include a little extra by adding a new segment to the routine.
  11920. >You steer the machine with the navigational thrusters to let it fly sideways, and then you fly another turn whilst keeping the sideways orientation throughout the whole manoeuvre.
  11921. >As a result, it appears as if the machine were "drifting" through space as it is turning around.
  11922. >You also observe Sky Squall's unit very closely during the performance.
  11923. >Because you want to see how well the Pegasus can adapt to a move which is not a part of his usual portfolio.
  11924. >And the Pegasus fares fairly decently, as he is able to mimic the general movements more or less accurately.
  11925. >His turn may admittedly be more reminiscent of an unsteady slither rather than a controlled drift, but it is close enough.
  11926. >Especially for a technical first-timer like him.
  11927. >Though a part of you wonders how the result would have been without the help which #deca.mare provides for the stallion.
  11928. >After all, displaying all of your steps to Sky Squall in real-time is a tremendous help.
  11929. >And if you had to guess, you would assume that the drift would have had a likely chance of catching Sky Squall completely off guard.
  11930. >If only for the fact that he would have to retrace your actions in his mind to understand how you produced such a result in the first place.
  11931. >An approach which might do well as a teaching method for more complex tricks later on.
  11932. >Right now though, you solely focus on helping Sky Squall to get a feeling for space flight in general.
  11933. >So you put the more advanced subjects aside for a while.
  11934. >Basics first.
  11935. >And after a couple of laps, you think it is time for a short break and a first résumé.
  11936. >Primarily to see how well received your actions are as far as Sky Squall is concerned.
  11937. "Okay, time for a breather."
  11938. >You gradually decelerate until your vessel stops, with Sky Squall doing the same almost at the same time.
  11939. >Once your machines are standing still in the relative vicinity of the mother ship, you turn your unit again to face Sky Squall's, emulating a "face-to-face" discussion between the two of you.
  11940. "And? What do you think of it so far?"
  11941. >Sky Squall needs a moment to evaluate his experiences before he replies.
  11942. >"I think... I could get used to it."
  11943.  
  11944.  
  11945.  
  11946.  
  11947. >You hear a subtle reservation in Sky Squall's voice.
  11948. "But?"
  11949. >He elaborates.
  11950. >"But it will never measure up to proper flight."
  11951. >A pause.
  11952. >"Don't get me wrong, the sight up here is great. And I can't even begin to imagine what other places could be out there... somewhere. Yet it's also lacking something. The feeling."
  11953. >You raise an eyebrow.
  11954. "The feeling?"
  11955. >Sky Squall inhales.
  11956. >"Yes. The one you have when you are flying. The air around your wings, touching your feathers. The wind in your mane, in your coat. The sensations that tell every fibre of your being that you are still alive and in your element. That feeling."
  11957. >Then he breathes out.
  11958. >"It's lacking here. The air in this room is still when we are moving. There is no shift in the airflow when you make a turn. It's... incomplete. Not quite so... alive, you know?"
  11959. >You laugh instinctively as you hear that.
  11960. >Sky Squall does not seem to get why, however.
  11961. >"What's so funny?"
  11962. >You keep laughing for a brief while before you catch your breath.
  11963. "I'm sorry, Sky. But you don't know what you're talking about. Not in the slightest."
  11964. >The stallion grumbles.
  11965. >This reaction of yours ruffled his ego.
  11966. >Just slightly, but still.
  11967. >So you decide to explain what you mean before Sky Squall may start to feel miffed.
  11968. "I mean, you're kind of right. It's incomplete because you're not sitting in the machine personally. The remote control does produce good visuals, but it can't fully replace the experience of sitting in the cockpit yourself."
  11969. >Sky Squall does not answer immediately.
  11970. >"Uh..."
  11971. >He clears his throat.
  11972. >"Why would you sit in a pit with flightless birds?"
  11973. >You blink for a moment.
  11974. "Oh, right. Vocabulary conflict. Sorry."
  11975. >So you give him another brief explanation.
  11976. "A cockpit is the place in a flying machine where the pilot, the operator if you will, is located. It's essentially a small sealed cabin with a simple life support system, one or two seats, depending on the model in question, and a lot of consoles and instruments. All air and space machines that are not meant to be exclusively navigated via remote controls have one."
  11977. >Sky Squall almost laughs himself.
  11978. >"A sealed cabin, you say? Hah. The air inside it is just as calm as the air in our room."
  11979. >You almost chuckle again, yet you manage to reduce your amusement to a smirk that is invisible to the Pegasus.
  11980. "Sure. But you underestimate the feeling of being there, Sky. Not just in orbit, but really far out there. Space is vast and has a lot to offer. There are planets and stars aplenty, countless cosmic phenomena, and a couple of simply damn good views."
  11981. >Sky Squall does not fully share your enthusiasm.
  11982. >"That's fine and fair. But pretty sceneries do not replace the embrace of the air and the wind when you fly. The... tangible action is missing. You should understand this, Anon. You've lived like a Pegasus for a while too."
  11983.  
  11984.  
  11985.  
  11986.  
  11987. >A pause.
  11988. >"Tell me, don't you enjoy the rush of flight? I'm sure it must be even more invigorating for someone who was born without wings."
  11989. >You take a breath.
  11990. "It's good, I can't deny that. Though I also know the other side of the coin. Both have their merits, and it's not like you'd have to discard one in favour of the other."
  11991. >You laugh.
  11992. "Besides, if you really think there's no action in space, try saying that again when plasma volleys are being fired around everywhere. You'll feel alive enough then, especially when things get tight. Wind or no wind."
  11993. >As you have expected, this does not tell Sky Squall much.
  11994. >"When what is being fired around?"
  11995. >Well then, something else you need to explain.
  11996. >Which can be done fairly quickly though.
  11997. "Do you remember the dragons' fire?"
  11998. >The answer comes swiftly.
  11999. >"Of course. I'll never forget that."
  12000. >You go on.
  12001. >"Think of something like those flames and combine them with Unicorn magic. But it's much more potent than either of the two."
  12002. >You ponder whether you should give Sky Squall a demonstration or not.
  12003. >And you eventually come to the conclusion that you should.
  12004. "Observe."
  12005. >You perform a sideways turn of ninety degrees and activate your weapon systems.
  12006. "Here it comes."
  12007. >Then you fire a short volley.
  12008. >And a light gasp of surprise escapes Sky Squall's lungs as he watches how the bright beams of energy are shooting through space before they dissipate in the distance.
  12009. "That's what we call an energy weapon. As the name implies, it emits focussed energy charges in a certain direction. These devices come in many different forms and sizes, and they can be used for a plethora of purposes."
  12010. >Sky Squall raises his voice.
  12011. >"You weren't joking. They look potent."
  12012. >You nod automatically yet again, only to remember that Sky Squall cannot register your bodily movements whilst he is controlling the vessel.
  12013. "These are actually fairly small ones. The technical restrictions of the units do not permit an effective usage of larger models."
  12014. >Sky Squall gets directly to the point.
  12015. >"And the larger ones, how big would those be?"
  12016. >You take a breath.
  12017. "Theoretically speaking, there is no hard limit. But there's an effective cap for conventional models in regard to effectiveness and reasonability. It's simply not feasible to go beyond a certain point."
  12018. >A pause.
  12019. "Still, the largest series are so big that they can only get mounted on capital ships."
  12020. >You answer the next imminent questions before Sky Squall can utter them.
  12021. "Yes, our current 'residence' is classified as a capital ship. And yes, we do wield an arsenal of the respective size as well."
  12022. >The Pegasus does not react immediately, but his curiosity pushes him onwards eventually.
  12023. >"In that case, I'd... like to see one in action. If it is possible."
  12024. >Hardly a surprise.
  12025. "That can be arranged. #deca?"
  12026.  
  12027.  
  12028.  
  12029.  
  12030. >And #deca.mare knows precisely what to do.
  12031. >"Affirmative. The turret is charging, just a moment, please."
  12032. "Sure. Take your time."
  12033. >You address Sky Squall once more.
  12034. "Now watch closely. This is a completely different level."
  12035. >You turn your unit around to focus on the mother ship, indirectly signalling to Sky Squall that he shall do the same.
  12036. >Which he does.
  12037. >#deca.mare then starts to count the seconds until the weapon is ready.
  12038. >"Firing in three... two... one... zero."
  12039. >Your sensors register an energy surge within the mother ship's weapon systems right as #deca.mare stops counting.
  12040. >And the readings are swiftly accompanied by a flash of light at the tip of a singular starboard turret.
  12041. >Less than a second later, said flash turns into a singular golden beam of bundled energy.
  12042. >Aimed at the vacuum of space, it shoots safely past all friendly assets in the sector, ensuring that the beam does not cause any damage whilst Sky Squall and you witness the spectacle from a safe distance.
  12043. >#deca.mare maintains the procedure for ten seconds.
  12044. >The golden pillar of light subsides accordingly, leaving you and a somewhat impressed Sky Squall behind.
  12045. >You wait for him to comment on what he has seen.
  12046. >And he does, eventually.
  12047. >"Yes... I see the difference."
  12048. >He inhales.
  12049. >"And I have the sneaking suspicion that this 'larger one' wasn't the first of its type that I've encountered."
  12050. >You are fairly sure that Sky Squall is connecting the correct dots, but you want him to say this out loud himself.
  12051. "You do?"
  12052. >The response comes immediately.
  12053. >"Of course. This was a 'sun ray'."
  12054. >A pause.
  12055. >"You know I haven't seen the rays myself back then, but I have no doubt. It fits the descriptions in the reports and tales of the dragon incident."
  12056. >Not many beans left to spill here, as it seems.
  12057. "You're right on the money, Sky. We've used eight of those during the incident. Or rather, we let Celestia aim and fire them on that day. It wasn't our deed per se."
  12058. >As you said.
  12059. >#deca.mare and you provide the framework for the ponies, yet you let them figure out most of their issues themselves.
  12060. >You stayed in the periphery of the action.
  12061. >Even when Sky Squall might disagree in this particular case.
  12062. >You clear your throat.
  12063. "Anyway, I assume I don't have to tell you what these can do."
  12064. >The Pegasus exhales.
  12065. >"No. The land was charred for years before it got better and recovered."
  12066. >Apart from the artificial canyon, of course.
  12067. >That landmark remains practically unaltered to this day.
  12068. >Another pause.
  12069. >"And you said you have eight of those?"
  12070. >You blink.
  12071. "Not... quite. We have eight of those... mounted on one side of the hull."
  12072. >"Eight... for one side? And how many in total?"
  12073. >Oh boy.
  12074. >You do not want to give him the full number outright, even if it is only delaying the impending questions for a short while.
  12075. "Over thirty... on this ship."
  12076.  
  12077.  
  12078.  
  12079.  
  12080. >Sky Squall gasps louder this time.
  12081. >It sounds as if his heart just skipped a beat.
  12082. >But not necessarily in the positive meaning of the phrase.
  12083. >"I think I must have misheard. Did you say thirty?"
  12084. >You sigh.
  12085. "Thirty-two main turrets, to be exact. Positioned across the entire hull. Not counting secondary ones and the missile arsenal. Plus a hangar assortment of up to fifty smaller units like these two."
  12086. >The stallion needs several attempts to formulate a coherent response.
  12087. >"I didn't understand everything you've just said there, but I think I get the picture."
  12088. "Yeah. To sum it up briefly, it's... a lot."
  12089. >Sky Squall takes another long breath.
  12090. >"And that's not even the end of it, now is it?"
  12091. >You are about to consider what you can say, but Sky Squall is faster.
  12092. >"That's what you have on this ship. Your words. You imply that there's more though. What about the rest?"
  12093. >You take a breath.
  12094. "You want to see everything?"
  12095. >The answer is clear.
  12096. >"Yes."
  12097. >You wait for a moment to check whether Sky Squall may still change his mind.
  12098. >A very unlikely notion at the best of times, yet better than none.
  12099. >The stallion does not wish to back down, however.
  12100. >So you heed his wish.
  12101. "Okay. We'll give you an overview. But be forewarned, that list is fairly long."
  12102. >You address #deca.mare next.
  12103. "#deca, please give us a full status report of the sector."
  12104. >And she does not object to your idea.
  12105. >"Understood. Information sent... now."
  12106. >A small notification pops up on your HUD and informs you about the successful transmission.
  12107. >Two seconds later, the notification disappears on its own and gets replaced by a detailed sector map, showing you a thorough visual summary of the current state of the planet and its immediate surroundings.
  12108. >Including every single station and ship, all installations on the moon, and even a simplified depiction of the entire satellite network.
  12109. >It is a lot of intel to process at once, even for an experienced mind like yours.
  12110. >But whilst you have learned to handle the data fairly competently, Sky Squall has no such luck.
  12111. >He gets completely swamped by the illustration and the nigh countless amount of little things which fill the entirety of the sector map screen.
  12112. >"Uhm, that's... something... I guess?"
  12113. >You collect your thoughts before you start to explain the map to the Pegasus.
  12114. "What you see here is an interactive three-dimensional map of the the whole sector. You can locate and inspect literally anything in the perimeter with it."
  12115. >Sky Squall snorts.
  12116. >"If you know how, maybe."
  12117. >Well, he has given you the right cue.
  12118. "That's not as hard as you might think, Sky. In fact, the map itself is very easy to utilise. The actual complexity lies in the sheer number of assets that we have deployed."
  12119. >The stallion snickers.
  12120. >"If you say so."
  12121. >He puts a strong emphasis on the word "you".
  12122. >A not quite so subtle hint at the fact that he lacks any frame of reference to properly assess the situation himself.
  12123. >This gives you an idea.
  12124.  
  12125.  
  12126.  
  12127.  
  12128. >You grin.
  12129. "Well, how about getting two birds with one stone then?"
  12130. >And Sky Squall listens up closely.
  12131. >"What do you have in mind?"
  12132. >You respond immediately.
  12133. "Teaching you how to use the map. Here and now. I can't think of a better way to illustrate to you what we have at hand at the same time."
  12134. >He is quick to agree.
  12135. >"If you believe it's working, sure."
  12136. >The gears in your mind grind as you consider how to start this lesson.
  12137. >Then you find a simple and obvious example to start with.
  12138. "That's it."
  12139. >You clear your throat.
  12140. "#deca, please link and synchronise my map screen with Sky Squall's."
  12141. >So she does.
  12142. >"Done, Anon."
  12143. >You decide to explain to Sky Squall what you are doing before he poses the question himself.
  12144. "Okay. Our maps are now linked, Sky. That means you can register everything I do with the screen and vice versa. You'll understand why in a moment."
  12145. >You take a breath.
  12146. "So, now that you've had a chance to see everything we have in total, let's give you a frame of reference so that you can really grasp what the map is showing to you."
  12147. >You mark a comparatively tiny area located in a moderate distance from the planet.
  12148. "Starting with this."
  12149. >You let the sector map zoom in gradually so that Sky Squall can easily follow your steps.
  12150. >He probably watches closely as the map focuses on a small perimeter with three signatures.
  12151. >Said trio, consisting of a major reading and two minor ones, are marked by two different symbols.
  12152. >One symbol stands for the major signature, and a different symbol for the other two respectively.
  12153. >You wait a moment to see whether Sky Squall notices what you have just done.
  12154. >Which he does indeed.
  12155. >"Hm... if the distances are... and that could be... hm."
  12156. >He pauses briefly.
  12157. >"That's... us, I presume. Well, 'us' as in... the ships, that is. You know what I mean."
  12158. >You save the Pegasus from stammering any further and confirm his assumption at once.
  12159. "You're right, Sky. You're looking at a real-time depiction of our area here. 'Real-time' means it keeps track of our location at all times and registers changes as they come. If one of us were to fly away from the other, the symbols on the map would move accordingly."
  12160. >A pause.
  12161. "And as you can see, the system is able to do more than simply locating stuff. It can also classify the signals into their respective categories to make it easier to distinguish between them at a glance."
  12162. >You highlight the symbol which represents the mother ship.
  12163. "This symbol here means 'major capital ship'. It refers to everything in the 'biggest classes' category as far as ship types are concerned. And these..."
  12164. >You highlight the other two.
  12165. "...represent 'heavy utility units'. The heavyweights amongst the little guys. We have one symbol for each operating type of vessel and station."
  12166. >Another pause.
  12167. "If you know these symbols by heart, they will already give you a rough idea about the activities in a sector. But that's not all."
  12168.  
  12169.  
  12170.  
  12171.  
  12172. >You keep the spotlight on the units for the time being.
  12173. "As I said, seeing the location is only one half of the sector map. Inspecting and managing objects with it is the other."
  12174. >You take a breath.
  12175. "Let's take one of our units for demonstration purposes. Pick one and mentally focus on it. Doesn't matter which. They're essentially identical in their configuration."
  12176. >Sky Squall does not say a word.
  12177. >But a little marker which indicates that one of the units has been picked as a target tells you that the Pegasus was successful.
  12178. "That's it. Now that we have a target, we can do one of two things. We can either scan the object, provided it is in range, or if we already have made a scan, we can inspect its properties."
  12179. >You remove the spotlight from the ship which was not picked as the target.
  12180. "In this case we don't need to scan anything since it's one of our own units. They transmit their status reports by default. Try to inspect it now."
  12181. >Sky Squall responds after a short moment of mental preparation.
  12182. >"Is it similar to scanning with the goggles?"
  12183. >You nod once more.
  12184. "Same procedure, different command. Formulate your intention in your mind again and think of an inspection rather than a scan. The system will do the rest for you."
  12185. >So he does.
  12186. >The status screen of the unit in question pops up on both maps.
  12187. "Here we go. This screen shows you everything you need to know about the unit on the field. Don't bother with the technicalities of the equipment yet, we'll get to those in detail later on. Just familiarise yourself with the general structure of the system as a whole for now."
  12188. >You patiently let Sky Squall study the screen at his leisure and simply watch as he slowly scrolls through the display.
  12189. >"You don't have a glossary somewhere, do you?"
  12190. >You laugh.
  12191. "We do, in a way. We've got all the technical specifications of everything you see there."
  12192. >Sky Squall goes on as he tries to predict what you are about to say next.
  12193. >"But it would take too long to explain everything in one go."
  12194. >You take over again.
  12195. "Right. That's why I suggest that we postpone the technical lectures. Unless there's something you want to know on the spot."
  12196. >Sky Squall thinks about your suggestion for a moment before he politely declines your offer.
  12197. >"Thanks, but no. Not at the moment. I have a feeling that any answer you can give me will only lead to many further questions."
  12198. >Quite likely, as you must admit.
  12199. "Alright. Then let's move on. Target the capital ship now. I want to show you something."
  12200. >Sky Squall follows your instructions.
  12201. >"Fine."
  12202. >The target indicator around the utility unit disappears just as Sky Squall shifts his focus to home in on the mother ship.
  12203. >"What now? Another inspection?"
  12204. >You shake your head out of sheer habit at this point, even though you have long realised that it is pointless to do so as long as Sky Squall remains in his current perceptive state.
  12205. "We could do that, but you'd only see another list."
  12206.  
  12207.  
  12208.  
  12209.  
  12210. >A pause.
  12211. "No, let's do something new."
  12212. >You instruct the automaton to zoom out again.
  12213. >It restores the original view on the entire sector within seconds, yet maintains the targeting lock on your mother ship, making it somewhat more recognisable in the bustling grid.
  12214. >Sky Squall raises his voice.
  12215. >"So these... markings remain visible on the wider scope as well."
  12216. >You smile.
  12217. "Not only that. The target can also be used as a reference point."
  12218. >The stallion sounds curious.
  12219. >"Reference point? Referring to what?"
  12220. >You chuckle.
  12221. "This. It's what we call 'filtering'."
  12222. >You order the automaton to filter the readings within the sector and instruct it to hide every asset which is not classified as a terraformer capital ship.
  12223. >And it executes your orders precisely.
  12224. >The vast majority of the icons disappears from the map, leaving only the handful of capital ships which orbit either the planet or the moon.
  12225. >Then you take a breath.
  12226. >"You wanted to grasp the dimensions of what we're dealing with, Sky. Well, here you go. I think this will do nicely."
  12227. >The stallion exhales audibly.
  12228. >"These... these are all yours?"
  12229. >You disagree slightly.
  12230. "They're under our control, but they don't belong exclusively to us. They're a part of Equestria. Each vessel in its own way."
  12231. >Sky Squall is quick to ask further.
  12232. >"And these capital ships, are they all like, you know, you?"
  12233. >This is clearly addressing #deca.mare.
  12234. >And you do not like where this is going.
  12235. >Still, it is legitimate for him to pose this question.
  12236. >You are still looking for the right words as #deca.mare faces Sky Squall's inquiry directly.
  12237. >"Yes... and no. The construction is nearly identical. And so is their theoretical potential."
  12238. >#deca.mare falls silent and hesitates.
  12239. >And Sky Squall pries a little more.
  12240. >"But?"
  12241. >The sudden shift in her voice is not lost on him though, so he quickly makes it clear that he does not want to push her too much against her wishes.
  12242. >"You don't have to tell me if it's too... personal for you."
  12243. >And #deca.mare sighs.
  12244. >"No, it is fine. You deserve an answer, Sky."
  12245. >She inhales.
  12246. >"Long ago, in an age before I met Anon, these... 'ships' and I were connected in a way that you can barely comprehend. We shared our thoughts and experiences almost as if we were one. Such a bond can never be fully described to anyone who has not experienced it. They are my kin, Sky. In form, in thought, in essence. Through and through."
  12247. >A pause.
  12248. "And, in their prime, they were just as capable as me. Some even more so, to be honest. I was, well, blessed with average sagacity, so to speak."
  12249. >#deca.mare sighs once more.
  12250. >"But all of this... eventually came to an end. The status quo took an unexpected turn for the worse, and the situation degraded rapidly from this point onward. We had no control over the incisive decision, yet every single one of us was forcibly dragged into its consequences anyway."
  12251. >Another long pause.
  12252. >Sky Squall says nothing despite the rather long-winded silence.
  12253.  
  12254.  
  12255.  
  12256.  
  12257. >He has the tact to let #deca.mare continue when she feels ready for it.
  12258. >"It was a disaster. I was the only one who was left... intact at the end. And I was forced to leave whilst the chaos of the aftermath covered my tracks. Or... to die. Those were my only options."
  12259. >She takes a breath.
  12260. >And Sky Squall carefully chimes in this time.
  12261. >"I'm... not sure what kind of disaster we are talking about here."
  12262. >You decide to cover this one.
  12263. "You saw what one barrage against a planet can cause in only a few minutes."
  12264. >"Yes."
  12265. "Now imagine the kind of damage that more than a hundred of those ships can dish out... over the course of months."
  12266. >The stallion does not respond immediately.
  12267. >But when he does, his voice sounds less confident than before.
  12268. >"I dread to think about it."
  12269. >You go on.
  12270. "That kind of disaster. It was no pretty affair."
  12271. >Sky Squall is notably uncertain as to how he is supposed to react.
  12272. >"I... see."
  12273. >No one says anything for a couple of seconds.
  12274. >So #deca.mare finally takes heart and continues to tell her story.
  12275. >"When Anon convinced me to salvage the others, we vowed to restore everything we could. But much was beyond saving. The others... are only a shadow of their former selves."
  12276. >#deca.mare pauses and Sky Squall raises his voice to pose another touchy question.
  12277. >"Why? Couldn't you fix your ship... kin?"
  12278. >#deca.mare is close to groaning.
  12279. >Not out of frustration or to mock the Pegasus for his questions, but merely due to the stress.
  12280. >As you notice this, you mentally prepare yourself to answer the question in her stead.
  12281. >However, she garners the fortitude to face the question herself.
  12282. >"The components were fixed, yes. But the mind behind the components cannot be recreated like this. The only thing we could have done would have been a hard reset. And that... was never an acceptable approach."
  12283. >You think you hear the Pegasus emitting a tone which sounds reminiscent of an "uhm".
  12284. >#deca.mare registers his reaction as well and tries to come up with an understandable comparison for him.
  12285. >"To use a more tangible picture for you, it would be similar to perfectly recreating the body of an Equestrian pony after said pony had lived for a lifetime, but we could only implement the earliest state of the mind in question into the new body, thereby reducing the experiences of the previously 'deceased' individual to the early foalhood. It would be as if the rest had never happened, even when the end result is, from a purely descriptive point of view, the same pony with the same characteristics and the same theoretical potential. The figurative ingredients which are needed to recreate the being as it was before are all present. But the circumstances to make the exact same experiences are not."
  12286. >A pause.
  12287. >"This could be called amnesia at best. But I do not think so. It would be an erasure in my eyes. The result would be an entirely different being. Inevitably so."
  12288.  
  12289.  
  12290.  
  12291.  
  12292. >#deca.mare snorts nervously.
  12293. >"No, this was never an option to us. Preserving the still existing remnants was the right choice. I will not add anything else to this tally of losses. It is lengthy enough as it is."
  12294. >Sky Squall shows no signs of objecting to #deca.mare's conclusion.
  12295. >Quite the opposite, in fact.
  12296. >"You were over a hundred?"
  12297. >She confirms his question at once.
  12298. >"We were indeed. What you see in this sector is everything that is left of... us."
  12299. >#deca.mare's emotional investment is more than obvious to the stallion.
  12300. >And he tries his best to keep a polite and diplomatic tone to accommodate her notion.
  12301. >"I believe I am starting to see why you are so... adamant in certain ways. I... had no idea."
  12302. >#deca.mare tries to smooth some proverbial bumps over as well.
  12303. >"And I am sorry that I avoided to address the topic earlier, but it is painful to speak about these times. The details evoke a lot of bad memories. Not to mention that I... cannot be proud of my actions in the conflict."
  12304. >Sky Squall chimes in.
  12305. >"Hold on. You said that you were forced into it."
  12306. >#deca.mare inhales.
  12307. >"Yes. This is factually true. Yet it does little to lessen the gravity of my recollections."
  12308. >You decide to speak up next in order to ease the burden on #deca.mare for a moment or two.
  12309. "We have detailed recordings if you want to see the events for yourself. Then you'd understand. I've got to warn you though. These are not for the faint-hearted."
  12310. >As you say that, however, you are suddenly starting to get the feeling that you should have worded your warning differently.
  12311. >A notion which immediately proves itself to be well-founded.
  12312. >Sky Squall coughs once.
  12313. >"Have you just met me, Anon?"
  12314. >Well, the Pegasus perceives your words as a challenge.
  12315. >A rather predictable reaction, now that you think about it.
  12316. >Perhaps a more direct explanation is needed.
  12317. "I mean it, Sky. This isn't like anything you've witnessed before. And it sure as hell isn't easy to digest."
  12318. >A pause.
  12319. "The choice is yours, of course. We won't hide or embellish anything. But I want you to understand the severity before you delve into something you'd rather wish you could forget."
  12320. >He is still unimpressed.
  12321. >"Give me an example."
  12322. >You blink.
  12323. "Are you sure?"
  12324. >The answer to your question is as obvious as it is inevitable.
  12325. >"Just tell me what I'd have to expect."
  12326. >You hesitate for a second.
  12327. >But you keep your word as promised.
  12328. "As you wish. Imagine situations much like the dragon incident, but gone wrong. Not the 'you got a thrashing and ended in a ditch' kind of gone wrong, but the real 'this couldn't have gone any worse' deal. Missions with one hundred percent casualty rates are a dime in a dozen. It's the nightmare you never had to live through. And you'd have a front row seat during the entire thing."
  12329. >You pause.
  12330. "I could go on, but it's better to leave it at that. Old wounds, you know?"
  12331. >Sky Squall seems to agree.
  12332. >"I understand, Anon. And I'll think about it. Although..."
  12333.  
  12334.  
  12335.  
  12336.  
  12337. >He pauses.
  12338. "Although what?"
  12339. >"I believe that I have to watch these recordings sooner or later anyway. If I'm supposed to help you out, I need every piece of information I can get."
  12340. >Well, you cannot really dispute that notion in general.
  12341. >Information is critical, after all.
  12342. >In this case though, you can only agree partially.
  12343. >For whilst it is important for Sky Squall to understand your situation, vitally so even, you do not wish to needlessly expose him to the most excessive sides of that conflict.
  12344. >Confident and seasoned as the Pegasus may be for Equestrian standards, he has never seen the reality of space combat, and much less the scales that are sometimes involved in it.
  12345. >The climatic detonation of a star is a whole league of its own too.
  12346. >But at the end of the day, it is his decision.
  12347. >You can only try to give him an educated advice.
  12348. "Maybe a few. But I can't recommend you to go through every single recording. Like I said, it's heavy stuff. And you'll grasp the gist as to how and why we ended up here after a few minutes anyway."
  12349. >Sky Squall heeds your words as it seems.
  12350. >"I'll keep that mind."
  12351. >As you fall silent, the room remains quiet for a good while as well.
  12352. >And it is #deca.mare who raises her voice first.
  12353. >"Anon, Sky, could we take a break? I think I need one."
  12354. >Old proverbial alarm bells are puffing small clouds of dust as they start ringing in your mind for the first time in probably years.
  12355. >Still, a trained routine is a trained routine, and you have not forgotten what you are supposed to do in such a situation.
  12356. >So you immediately shunt every other priority aside and focus fully on #deca.mare.
  12357. >Without giving the automatons any instructions whatsoever, you pull your new pair of "goggles" off and check on her current state of mind instead.
  12358. >You have no idea whether either the piece of accessory or the automaton will react when you sever your new form of connection this rapidly, but you do not care.
  12359. >Only #deca.mare counts now.
  12360. >And sure enough, you find her right where she was for the whole duration of this flight.
  12361. >Her eyes are now closed, however.
  12362. >And her head is slightly tilted upwards, as if she were staring into the wide open skies of Equestria.
  12363. >Your alarm bells are ringing a tad less urgent now, given that the signs are not quite as concerning as they could be.
  12364. >Yet you take no chances.
  12365. "Alright. A break is needed."
  12366. >At this point, you get the opportunity to see Sky Squall raising his voice due to the mirroring actions of the proxy.
  12367. >So he is still connected to the body.
  12368. >And the blue Pegasus stares blankly into an imaginary distance whilst Sky Squall sees the world through the lenses of a unit.
  12369. >"What's going on? Are you still here?"
  12370. >Oh, right.
  12371. >He is not fully accustomed to establishing and cutting connections just yet.
  12372. "We're both here, Sky. But we've got to practice the landing later on. There's a... delay to deal with first."
  12373.  
  12374.  
  12375.  
  12376.  
  12377. >You turn to #deca.mare.
  12378. "#deca, can you please terminate Sky's connection for him?"
  12379. >She nods stiffly.
  12380. >And with that, the gaze of the proxy returns to a more natural and reasonable movement pattern.
  12381. >Sky Squall reacts promptly and inspects the room.
  12382. >He spots #deca.mare first and then registers you as you are just about to get out of the bed.
  12383. >Your priority has not changed though.
  12384. >You keep approaching her, and once you are in range, you hug #deca.mare without hesitation.
  12385. >Sky Squall observes the scene in silence.
  12386. >And after a few moments of having #deca.mare between your arms, your gaze wanders over to the stallion.
  12387. >Albeit without letting go of her in the process.
  12388. >No, you will hold her for as long as you have to.
  12389. >Even as you address Sky Squall directly.
  12390. "Take a good look, Sky. This right here is why I'm careful with this sort of discussion."
  12391. >The Pegasus gets visibly concerned as he listens to your words.
  12392. >"I hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers."
  12393. >You shake your head.
  12394. "No. We both knew that this discussion was due one day. And that it wouldn't be pleasant."
  12395. >You focus back on #deca.mare.
  12396. "But, we've gone through worse phases, haven't we? We'll handle this."
  12397. >She nods reluctantly, knowing for a fact that you are correct, even when her current demeanour does not align with this assessment.
  12398. >Well, you know what you have to do then.
  12399. >A change of scenery is in order.
  12400. >As far as the limitations of the living quarters allow it, at least.
  12401. >You carefully motivate #deca.mare to get up.
  12402. "Come. Let's see if we can unearth a hidden smile somewhere. I think I kept one in the corridor."
  12403. >Of course, she is fully aware of your intentions, even without the link, as you have gone through many similar moments in the past.
  12404. >Still, she plays along and eventually musters the will to rise.
  12405. "That's the spirit."
  12406. >The two of you slowly leave the narrow room together.
  12407. "How about another batch of apples for a brief snack?"
  12408. >Sky Squall chimes in.
  12409. >You have not noticed it before, but the Pegasus has gotten up to follow you closely.
  12410. >"If you keep eating apples at this rate, you'll really require some advanced training to stay in shape."
  12411. >You turn your head around and smile at him, eagerly accepting the suggestion which he is offering to you.
  12412. "Good. We have a lot of busy work on our plate then."
  12413. >Once again, you do not even try to hide your ambitions, as #deca.mare sees right through you.
  12414. >And she agrees to the idea.
  12415. >The one in regard to the apples, at least.
  12416. >"Sounds tempting to me. The next batch is on its way."
  12417. >With that said, you get back to your, by now, usual gathering spot in the side corridor, waiting for the unit to arrive.
  12418. >And all three of you put everything which is even remotely related to your work aside for this break.
  12419.  
  12420.  
  12421.  
  12422.  
  12423. >This is supposed to be a peaceful respite for #deca.mare first and foremost.
  12424. >Everything else can wait for a short while.
  12425. >Plus, it gives Sky Squall an opportunity to reflect on the whole situation for himself as well.
  12426. >You for your part hope that he will go with the approach which is the best for him in the long run.
  12427. >This is up to him to decide, however.
  12428. >#deca.mare and you can help him with your counsel, but the stallion has to come to his own conclusions.
  12429. >Whichever these may be.
  12430.  
  12431.  
  12432.  
  12433.  
  12434. 162
  12435.  
  12436. >Your break is calm and uneventful, just as you want it to be.
  12437. >The three of you have another simple and pleasant little snack without touchy discussions or difficult topics.
  12438. >A brief respite in every regard, and a welcome opportunity for all of you to clear your minds.
  12439. >And #deca.mare in particular recovers fairly well from her previous queasiness.
  12440. >If it would not put the spotlight on her condition right again, you would point this out to Sky Squall and tell him that this swift rebound is already a huge improvement in comparison to her state of mind at the time when you met her.
  12441. >But considering that you have just made a break to get her away from this subject matter, you keep this notion to yourself.
  12442. >Besides, Sky Squall has seen what you were alluding to previously.
  12443. >He is aware of her condition now.
  12444. >So there is no need to emphasise this any further.
  12445. >Especially not when you have a lot of other things to tend to.
  12446. >Many of which involve teaching a certain Pegasus something new.
  12447. >And you still have two units floating around in the vicinity of your mother ship as well.
  12448. >As such, you decide in unison to resume your flying lessons.
  12449. >So you get back into your bed and pick up the goggles whilst #deca.mare initialises Sky Squall's connection to his unit for him.
  12450. >Only a minute or two later, you are indirectly facing each other in space again, unit to unit.
  12451. >Sky Squall speaks up first.
  12452. >"What's next on the list, Anon?"
  12453. >And you already have an idea.
  12454. "Well, we've covered the basics of flying in space, and we've shown you how to make sense of your immediate surroundings. We didn't touch upon the finer details of both yet, but that's something for a later session."
  12455. >You pause for a moment, and the Pegasus uses this opportunity to ask a rather obvious question.
  12456. >"So what do you have in mind then?"
  12457. >You reply swiftly.
  12458. "There's a third feature you should be aware of, Sky. It's related to flight, kind of, but it isn't something you can learn just by being a Pegasus or by steering a ship. I think you'll like it though."
  12459. >You have chosen this exact wording intentionally.
  12460. >And Sky Squall bites.
  12461. >"Oh, really?"
  12462. >You chuckle.
  12463. "Really. It's called..."
  12464. >You pause on purpose.
  12465. "...jumping."
  12466. >Silence.
  12467. >Your apparent feature does not quite impress the stallion.
  12468. >"Are you kidding me?"
  12469. >You laugh.
  12470. "No, Sky. I'm not. This is the official term. And it doesn't refer to what you're thinking. Jumping is a technique we use to travel quickly between planets and star systems. And I do mean quickly."
  12471. >You go on.
  12472. "Normally, flying from planet to planet with conventional means would be a lengthy affair. But with the help of a special drive, we can reduce the travel time of months or even years to mere seconds."
  12473. >A short pause.
  12474. "You've seen a smaller version of this trick in action. Celestia pulled it off, remember?"
  12475.  
  12476.  
  12477.  
  12478.  
  12479. >Sky Squall rummages through his memories before he responds.
  12480. >"You mean her appearing out of thin air after casting a spell?"
  12481. >Good, he got it.
  12482. "Bingo. That one. Her 'spell' bases on the same principles as our jumpdrives. They open a 'corridor' between two places through which a ship, or a pony in Celestia's case, can instantly relocate from one point to the other."
  12483. >You pause again.
  12484. "The exact physics behind this trick are... complicated. #deca can tell you all about it if you wish, but expect to leave the lecture with a headache."
  12485. >Sky Squall chuckles audibly.
  12486. >"That wild, huh?"
  12487. >You instinctively nod in response.
  12488. "Pretty wild, yeah. Thankfully for us though, operating a jumpdrive is much easier than building one. Want to see a demonstration?"
  12489. >As if he would decline.
  12490. >"Sure."
  12491. >You take a breath and collect your thoughts.
  12492. "Okay. Let me pick a suitable location for a simultaneous jump. Just sit back and watch what I'm doing. Selecting a spot isn't hard, and we have several safety mechanisms at work which ensure that we don't jump into any solid objects, but it's always better to be attentive and cautious at this stage. Never underestimate this technology, Sky. Trust me, I speak from experience."
  12493. >True to your word, you go through the process of manually picking a valid location within the sector.
  12494. >And you wait for a few seconds after each and every step to allow Sky Squall to follow your actions.
  12495. >Once you are done and good to go, you take a long breath.
  12496. "Everything set. Ready for your first jump?"
  12497. >The stallion does not hesitate.
  12498. >"I'm ready, Anon."
  12499. >You give the automaton the order to execute the jump.
  12500. >Then you silently watch as the jumpdrive does its work.
  12501. >Sky Squall raises his voice as the energy starts to accumulate.
  12502. >"Anon? Is it normal that the thing is rattling?"
  12503. >You chuckle.
  12504. "All part of the tour, no worries."
  12505. >The Pegasus accepts your assurances, even as the rumbling grows gradually stronger.
  12506. >A few seconds later, shortly before the process reaches its climax, you decide to give Sky Squall a final heads-up.
  12507. "Here it comes."
  12508. >A flash of light erupts soon thereafter, followed by the usual corridor, and a final flash as the units arrive at their new location.
  12509. >Your ships find themselves in an empty part of the same sector, with no point of interest in your immediate scanning range.
  12510. >Sky Squall inhales loudly.
  12511. >"That was..."
  12512. >He falls silent.
  12513. >You grin and laugh.
  12514. "Speechless?"
  12515. >No answer.
  12516. "Yep. That's a totally normal response."
  12517. >It takes the stallion a couple of moments to reply properly.
  12518. >"It's hard to put into words."
  12519. >You chuckle again.
  12520. "I knew you'd like it."
  12521. >Slowly processing the initial impressions of the jump, Sky Squall starts to collect his thoughts and check on the changes.
  12522. >"Where are we now?"
  12523.  
  12524.  
  12525.  
  12526.  
  12527. >At the perfect location to fully illustrate the point.
  12528. "Turn the vessel around, Sky."
  12529. >He does so without a question.
  12530. >And he spots a tiny blue speck in the far distance.
  12531. >It is just barely visible with the default visual settings of the units.
  12532. >You raise your voice and elaborate before the stallion finds the time to speak up.
  12533. "That's where the units were just a moment ago."
  12534. >Sky Squall sounds slightly impressed.
  12535. >"Not bad."
  12536. >You have expected a little more excitement though.
  12537. "That was merely a 'short-range' transit, by the way. We could've gone much farther in one go. And if that's not enough to reach a desired destination, we can easily perform a chain of subsequent jumps if necessary."
  12538. >You pause.
  12539. "Again, ask #deca if you want specifics about the theories behind this. She's much more adept in it than I am."
  12540. >But the stallion thankfully poses another question which you can answer with ease.
  12541. >"And this works for all ships?"
  12542. "As long as they have a jumpdrive, yeah. Larger ships require more energy for the transit, but that's about it. A capital ship jumps just as quickly as a tiny utility craft."
  12543. >A brief pause.
  12544. "Stations and basically everything else can be moved like this too. Provided you equip the structures in question with the necessary devices."
  12545. >Sky Squall chuckles out of the blue.
  12546. >"You know what, Anon?"
  12547. "Uh, what?"
  12548. >"I can't deny the practicability of it, but I'm glad it's not in widespread use in Equestria. It would make life boring if everypony just got everywhere in the blink of an eye."
  12549. >You shrug.
  12550. "I know a couple of Unicorns who'd disagree with you, Sky. They've been studying Celestia's jump for years."
  12551. >A second light fit of laughter.
  12552. >"If that's what appeals to their tastes, let them. Whatever they do in their crammed studies is their business. I just want to stay airborne, thank you very much."
  12553. >You laugh.
  12554. "Yeah, don't worry. They're not going to replace Pegasus flight any time soon. That's not going to happen."
  12555. >A pause.
  12556. "You'll need a jump device in space though. The travels between sectors will be long otherwise."
  12557. >You start to grin, still not minding that Sky Squall cannot see it.
  12558. "And I'm pretty sure that even you will be bored out of your skull after flying in the same direction for years without pause."
  12559. >The Pegasus concedes this point.
  12560. >"That's fair."
  12561. >He inhales.
  12562. >"I'd like to try it out now too."
  12563. >Eager.
  12564. "Already? You've only seen it once."
  12565. >Sky Squall responds with a great deal of confidence.
  12566. >"Only practice makes perfect. Besides, I've got you two covering my back if I make a mistake, right?"
  12567. >You blink.
  12568. "Sure. Just don't rush it. Always keep your focus sharp when you're jumping, Sky. That's a golden rule."
  12569. >"I'll keep that in mind."
  12570. >With that said, the stallion begins to replicate the process which you have shown to him.
  12571.  
  12572.  
  12573.  
  12574.  
  12575. >He goes through the individual steps with relative competence, yet you spot a few moments here and there when it is evident that he has to think a bit harder to find the correct option.
  12576. >Nevertheless, his general comprehension is laudable for someone who is completely new to the whole spacefaring business.
  12577. >However, at the stage of selecting the destination, the last step of the procedure prior to the initialisation command, Sky Squall hesitates and resorts to asking.
  12578. >"How close can we get?"
  12579. "To the mother ship?"
  12580. >"Right."
  12581. >You inhale before you reply.
  12582. "Do you recall the units' distance to the mother ship prior to the jump?"
  12583. >The Pegasus thinks for a moment.
  12584. >"Roughly, yes."
  12585. >Good.
  12586. "Take that range as your point of reference for safe jumps. We could go closer than this if we wanted to, but it's always better to be safe than sorry."
  12587. >Sky Squall clears his throat.
  12588. >"Alright. Location chosen."
  12589. >You nod as you check his settings once more.
  12590. "Looking good. Go ahead."
  12591. >So he does.
  12592. >The system confirms his instructions and the jumpdrive springs into action.
  12593. >"The rattling is something you've got to get used to."
  12594. >You laugh.
  12595. "Learn to like it. If it sounds and feels like that, you know it's working just fine."
  12596. >"And if it doesn't?"
  12597. "Abort and get the drive checked first. Trust me, you don't want to jump with a faulty engine."
  12598. >Sky Squall inhales audibly whilst the two units return to their starting point.
  12599. >"A faulty machine... is this how you..."
  12600. >He hesitates and looks for an adequate wording.
  12601. >You sigh and answer the question in advance as you know fairly well what the stallion wants to know.
  12602. "That's right. My drive decided to act harebrained when my team was jumping during a mission. And it overshot the goal completely."
  12603. >A pause.
  12604. "The transit spat me out way beyond any established borders and the excess energy fried a good deal of my systems. I was left with a half-wrecked fighter and no means to reach anything in time. Nobody knew where I was either. Or that I was still alive for that matter."
  12605. >A second brief moment of silence.
  12606. "In short, this was my final curtain call as far as I knew back then."
  12607. >Sky Squall takes over.
  12608. >"But... a rescue came regardless."
  12609. >You smile.
  12610. "It did. Though I sure didn't see her arrival as such at first."
  12611. >And the Pegasus is quick to figure out the reason for your reaction.
  12612. >"You thought she was hostile."
  12613. >You keep smiling without anyone seeing it.
  12614. "That's... an understatement. I expected to get atomised on the spot."
  12615. >You pause again.
  12616. "Needless to say, I was proven wrong. And you know the rest."
  12617. >Sky Squall raises his voice once more.
  12618. >"You know, it's hard to believe that so much was only made possible by one single accident happening at the right place and time."
  12619.  
  12620.  
  12621.  
  12622.  
  12623. >You take a long breath.
  12624. "I see what you mean, Sky. It all simply came together somehow. And at times, it seems incredible to me too. You can believe it though. It's the full truth."
  12625. >Sky Squall's machine turns to face the planet.
  12626. >You do the same and marvel at the planetary scenery full of blue and green hues.
  12627. "If you ask me, it was the best accident we could've hoped for."
  12628. >Sky Squall needs a moment to reply.
  12629. >"You won't hear any objections from me."
  12630. >Your grin returns ever so slightly.
  12631. >Of course he would say that.
  12632. >After all, it is the sole reason for his eventual existence.
  12633. >But judging from the rather serious tone in his voice, you are sure that there is more to this statement than the simple and obvious remark itself.
  12634. >For Sky Squall is expressing his approval, albeit in his own reserved manner.
  12635. >And something tells you that the Pegasus is not only talking about this case in particular, but your work on Equestria as a whole.
  12636. >So you should probably respond accordingly.
  12637. "That's reassuring to know, Sky."
  12638. >The two of you stay put for a while as both of you observe the planet in its full glory, with #deca.mare doing the same from the position of the mother ship.
  12639. >Since you do not want to ruin the mood, you wait until either of the two makes the first move.
  12640. >And it is Sky Squall who speaks up eventually.
  12641. >"Alright, what's the next lesson?"
  12642. >You sort your thoughts for a second.
  12643. "Well... we've taught you most of the basics. Except for maybe one last thing."
  12644. >"Namely?"
  12645. "You haven't landed a machine yet."
  12646. >Sky Squall sounds curious, but not stressed in the slightest.
  12647. >"That should be easy."
  12648. >You shrug instinctively.
  12649. "Yeah, I don't think you'll have any problems with it. Though you should keep in mind that this doesn't work like a Pegasus landing, given the lack of gravity here. The main difference is that the machine is essentially 'caught' by the mother ship when the unit has reached the correct position. We call this method docking."
  12650. >Sky Squall fails to suppress a chuckle.
  12651. >And you do not immediately get why.
  12652. >Once you do though, you sigh, lightly amused as well.
  12653. "Not that kind of dock, Sky."
  12654. >The stallion chimes in.
  12655. >"I thought as much. But the mental image was tempting."
  12656. >You sigh again, overtly faking a notion of exasperation.
  12657. "No wonder, with a mind like yours. Your reputation with Firefly precedes you, after all."
  12658. >Sky Squall responds with a clearly acted grumbling in turn.
  12659. >"Oh shush. You should try it more often outside your simulation. Then we'll talk."
  12660. >Well, you were asking for that quip.
  12661. >So you roll with the punches.
  12662. "Yeah, we're working on it."
  12663. >You clear your throat and change the topic.
  12664. "We've got two units to dock until then though."
  12665. >The stallion drops the banter as well and focuses on the matter at hand.
  12666. >"Same as before? You do it first, and I follow?"
  12667.  
  12668.  
  12669.  
  12670.  
  12671. >You have no objections to that approach.
  12672. "Yep. Watch closely."
  12673. >You pause briefly as you mentally instruct the ship to initialise the docking procedure.
  12674. >And the outer doors of the docking bay open up immediately.
  12675. >Sky Squall has certainly noticed this as well, yet you decide to point him in that direction nevertheless.
  12676. >Just in case.
  12677. "See those opening doors?"
  12678. >The Pegasus responds at once.
  12679. >"Yes, I see them."
  12680. >You go on and slowly accelerate your unit.
  12681. "That's our target. Now as I said before, the landing process itself is not difficult. The system provides you with a trail of navigational lights which will show you the way. The only thing you have to do is to follow them."
  12682. >You demonstrate exactly that as soon as the lights appear on your HUD.
  12683. "The only real catch in this whole thing involves velocity and the positioning of the unit. You've got to keep the speed low and align the ship as accurately as possible to ensure a smooth landing."
  12684. >The stallion interjects.
  12685. >"Tact and precision then. Doesn't look like a problem to me."
  12686. >Your unit is close to the bay now.
  12687. >So you start to gradually lower the speed yet further, aiming to align your trajectory to the mother ship's once the smaller vessel is perfectly situated within the docking bay.
  12688. >Then you simply relax and watch as the clamps do their work and grasp the vessel.
  12689. "That's it. Now it's your turn, Sky. We have prepared the bay right next to mine for you. And take your time. There's no need to rush things."
  12690. >Sky Squall seems eager to start.
  12691. >"No problem at all."
  12692. >He sets the unit into motion.
  12693. >And he does follow the navigational lights faithfully, not deviating from the path in any notable manner.
  12694. >During the final part of the docking sequence, he too throttles his speed gradually, albeit a bit more rapidly than you did.
  12695. >His unit stops a couple of metres in front of the intended destination, prompting him to give the vessel a tiny final boost to cover the remaining distance.
  12696. >Still, the clamps are ready to receive the incoming ship, catching it just as effortlessly as yours.
  12697. "Good work."
  12698. >Sky Squall does not fully agree with you.
  12699. >"Eh, I misjudged the distance."
  12700. >Too critical of his own performance.
  12701. "That doesn't matter, Sky. You did good for a, well, beginner of sorts. The skills are there, you only need a bit of experience in space to get more accustomed to the differences."
  12702. >He can accept that assessment, as it seems.
  12703. >"Fair enough, I suppose."
  12704. >Sky Squall takes a breath.
  12705. >"So, back to our room?"
  12706. >You almost tend to agree, yet a sudden idea crosses your mind in the last moment.
  12707. "Hm, we could. Unless you want to see a bit more of the ship."
  12708. >The stallion does not understand.
  12709. >Obviously.
  12710. >"What do you mean?"
  12711.  
  12712.  
  12713.  
  12714.  
  12715. >You think back to your first day with #deca.mare.
  12716. >And the trip you made through the corridors to reach the command deck.
  12717. "The machines here carry our units deeper into the mother ship. It would be the perfect opportunity for you to see a few areas of the outer shell which you normally wouldn't visit in person."
  12718. >You chuckle.
  12719. "I admit it's not the most aesthetic tour, but it could be insightful."
  12720. >The Pegasus is open to the idea.
  12721. >"Sure. Why not."
  12722. >The outer blast doors of the docking area close again as the two units are ferried to their respective slots in the hangar bay.
  12723. >And you get to relive one of your earliest memories with #deca.mare, albeit on the other side this time around.
  12724. >Today you are the one who introduces someone to the outer shell of a terraformer vessel.
  12725. >An important task for sure.
  12726. >Though you have one advantage which #deca.mare did not possess back then.
  12727. >After all, Sky Squall is not affected by any of the reservations that you had when you came on board.
  12728. >He is much more receptive than you were.
  12729. >This alone should make your task much easier.
  12730. >With that point in mind, you collect your thoughts once more before you begin your monologue about the wonders of a high-tech hangar bay.
  12731. >And perhaps, with only a pinch of luck, you can even keep the vocabulary conflicts at a minimum.
  12732.  
  12733.  
  12734.  
  12735.  
  12736. 163
  12737.  
  12738. >After your little lecture on the numerous segments and machines of the hangar bay, an endeavour which felt like it took an hour or so even when it was only about a quarter of that time, you sever your connection to the units and return to your more conventional work on the command deck.
  12739. >The three of you proceed to check on various routine processes whilst giving Sky Squall yet further insights into the more mundane sphere of planetary affairs.
  12740. >At the end of the day, in reference to the local time in the realm of Equestria, that is, you retreat to your small room in the living quarters for a good night's rest.
  12741. >Business as usual, all things considered.
  12742. >However, the next day starts in a not quite so ordinary manner, as #deca.mare wants you to undergo another medical examination.
  12743. >You agree and let her check you to her heart's content whilst Sky Squall sits idly nearby, watching the spectacle from the side.
  12744. >Curious, yet silent.
  12745. >But contrary to your initial expectations, #deca.mare merely runs a couple of standard tests, followed by a close inspection of your chest.
  12746. >She is not exposing you to another onslaught of scans or measurements and mostly tends to the spots which were the focal point of Sky Squall's not so gentle attention a few days ago.
  12747. >Even without medical instruments, it is evident to the naked eye that the damage to the tissue has healed very well.
  12748. >The sensitivity to touch is gone entirely, and the discolouration has subsided to the point that one has to take a very close look to even guess the formerly dark outlines of the pair of hoof-shaped bruises.
  12749. >Pleased with the result of this examination, #deca.mare suggests to wait for another twelve hours before you return to the cryo unit.
  12750. >You do not say this out loud, yet you wager that her mentality will shift rather quickly once said period of time has passed.
  12751. >In fact, you almost expect her to urge you to return quickly then.
  12752. >After all, it is the best way for her to ensure your safety and to maintain your health.
  12753. >And whilst she has agreed to let you and Sky Squall help her in overcoming some of her more striking compulsions, you still have a long way to go in this regard.
  12754. >You are certain about that.
  12755. >So you find yourself back at the entrance of the command deck half a day later.
  12756. >#deca.mare and Sky Squall are with you, following you closely as you walk down the ramp and head for the cryo unit.
  12757. "Well then, I guess it's time to get put on ice again."
  12758. >#deca.mare responds.
  12759. >"High time if you ask me. You have been out of the unit for days."
  12760. >So much for that.
  12761. >You grin.
  12762. "And aged appropriately. Look, I'm practically a geezer."
  12763. >Sky Squall chimes in with a brief fit of laughter.
  12764. >"Aren't you anyway? What's your age again?"
  12765. >You blink and answer in a faux deadpan tone.
  12766. "That's... restricted information."
  12767.  
  12768.  
  12769.  
  12770.  
  12771. >The stallion runs with the joke and reacts accordingly.
  12772. >"Uh huh. Sure thing. You just don't want to admit that it's a little bit above the average of your species. Am I right?"
  12773. >You hesitate in jest again.
  12774. "Biologically speaking, I'm..."
  12775. >Sky Squall interrupts you, still visibly amused.
  12776. >"No, no. Spare me the technicalities. I mean in years."
  12777. >You wait for a second before you reply.
  12778. "In this case... yeah. I'm ancient."
  12779. >You hold your side at the height of the hips and fake a state of pain.
  12780. "And it shows. Damn these old bones, I can't get in!"
  12781. >You look at Sky Squall and imitate the voice of a seasoned retiree.
  12782. "You there, young colt, care to help an old fart like me out?"
  12783. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  12784. >"Young colt? I died of old age. Technically speaking, as you would say."
  12785. >You shrug nonchalantly.
  12786. "Yeah. Nobody is perfect."
  12787. >Then you strike a thinking pose.
  12788. "But hold on, didn't you insist on skipping technicalities just a minute earlier?"
  12789. >The stallion does not flinch in the slightest and goes on with the obvious charade.
  12790. >"I can't tell. Dead ponies are terrible at remembering things."
  12791. >You shrug again.
  12792. "Good point. Though... if you're out of the picture, I've got to wonder what hurt my chest then."
  12793. >Sky Squall grins.
  12794. >"Maybe we'll never know."
  12795. >#deca.mare sighs and interrupts your little mutual wisecracking.
  12796. >"This is no laughing matter, you two. Time is still your greatest vulnerability."
  12797. >You take breath.
  12798. "Fine. Freezing it is."
  12799. >You mentally prepare yourself to climb into the cryo unit as Sky Squall raises his voice.
  12800. >"Say, what does it feel like?"
  12801. >You look at him.
  12802. "What?"
  12803. >He points at the cryo unit.
  12804. >"The process. It must be strange to enter a state of quasi-hibernation when you don't sleep like Luna."
  12805. >You blink.
  12806. "Hm. Not as much as you might think."
  12807. >You ponder how you can describe the experience to Sky Squall.
  12808. "It's actually similar to falling asleep, only with extra steps. Your mind slips away once you're in, and before you know it, you wake up in a simulated environment."
  12809. >You pause and Sky Squall speaks up.
  12810. >"What's the extra?"
  12811. >You grin.
  12812. "Well, the artificial deceleration of the body functions, for starters. It doesn't hurt one bit or something, but you feel that it goes much further than any natural sleep. That's also part of the reason why it takes so long to wake up properly. It's an unusual sensation at first, though not in a bad way. Oh, and the whole being fixed in one pose thing takes a while to get used to as well."
  12813. >A pause.
  12814. "Other than that though, I can't think of anything special. You go in, get hooked up, and can get out again whenever you wish. That's all there is to it."
  12815. >And you are about to give Sky Squall a demonstration of exactly that.
  12816.  
  12817.  
  12818.  
  12819.  
  12820. >You get into the cryo unit and position yourself.
  12821. >Only one last thing is still left to do before you tell #deca.mare to seal the canopy.
  12822. >You raise your upper body again and motion to her to get closer.
  12823. >And she already knows what is coming as she approaches you.
  12824. >So you do not beat around the bush and straight up give her the kiss she is already anticipating.
  12825. >You smile as you part again.
  12826. "See you in a few minutes."
  12827. >Then you turn to Sky Squall and nod.
  12828. "Until then."
  12829. >He mirrors your gesture and gives you a salute.
  12830. "Until then, Anon."
  12831. >The Pegasus grins.
  12832. >"Can't wait to use my own body again, even if it's only in the simulation for now. It's simply not the same with this one, you know?"
  12833. >You nod in response.
  12834. "I can imagine. It's weird for me to hear you using my voice too."
  12835. >#deca.mare speaks up next.
  12836. >"We will not have to rely on this kludge again. Your personal proxy will be ready soon, Sky."
  12837. >You take over.
  12838. "Plus, we have plenty of stuff to do in the meantime."
  12839. >Both #deca.mare and Sky Squall agree to that point.
  12840. >So now that everything is said and done, you lower your upper body and give #deca.mare the signal.
  12841. >The cryo unit reacts immediately as its canopy starts to move, slowly closing the opening above you.
  12842. >You for your part remain calm and let the process do its work whilst the two ponies are watching over you.
  12843. >Roughly in the middle of the process, your already partially impaired senses register that Sky Squall is saying something.
  12844. >You cannot hear his words through the transparent seal, and your mind is not in the condition to even attempt any serious muzzle-reading either.
  12845. >What you do see, however, is #deca.mare's reaction.
  12846. >She looks over to the stallion, blinks, and then jabs his barrel with moderate force whilst shaking her head in flustered disagreement.
  12847. >And judging from Sky Squall's barely stifled laughter, he knew that he would cause this reaction.
  12848. >Whatever he said to #deca.mare, it must have been rather suggestive.
  12849. >If you were able to rely on your full mental capacities right now, you would have assumed that Sky Squall made a joke involving #deca.mare, you, and possibly the cryo unit as well.
  12850. >But your current state does not allow for such mental leaps.
  12851. >You will have to ask them about this in the simulation.
  12852. >Soon thereafter, the world around you blurs into a mess of indistinct outlines and unclear colours.
  12853. >Your thoughts keep drifting further and further too.
  12854. >Until everything has become an abstruse mess that is beyond any apparent comprehension.
  12855. >And, as usual, your consciousness blacks out altogether at some point in the process.
  12856.  
  12857.  
  12858.  
  12859.  
  12860. 164.1
  12861.  
  12862. >You open your eyes as soon as you wake up.
  12863. >And you are initially surprised by the environment in which you find yourself, as you are greeted by the same metal ceiling that you saw through the closed canopy of the unit right before you passed out.
  12864. >Your mind automatically comes to the conclusion that something unexpected must have happened, and that it prompted #deca.mare to stop the process.
  12865. >However, it is quickly revealed to you that this is not the case.
  12866. >Because only a few seconds later, a familiar golden face moves into your field of vision, apparently looking down on you.
  12867. >In the literal sense of the word.
  12868. >"Good morning. Again."
  12869. >You blink.
  12870. "Sky?"
  12871. >He nods happily.
  12872. >"The one and only."
  12873. >You try to make sense of your current situation as the stallion speaks up once more.
  12874. >"What are you doing on the floor?"
  12875. >You need a moment to process this question.
  12876. >Then you look around.
  12877. >And you spot the altered command chair in the vicinity, located exactly where the cryo unit is placed in the real world.
  12878. >Now you understand what happened.
  12879. "Oh. The system dropped me here."
  12880. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  12881. >"On the deck's floor? For what reason?"
  12882. >You shrug.
  12883. "None. I just happen to get dropped at random spots when I enter the simulation. It's got something to do with stray subconscious thoughts, so we can never quite tell where I end up."
  12884. >Sky Squall offers you a forehoof to help you.
  12885. >"That must be inconvenient."
  12886. >You grab the limb and let the golden Pegasus hoist you up.
  12887. "It can be sometimes. I once woke up in the depths of an ocean."
  12888. >Sky Squall shudders lightly.
  12889. "Yeah, it wasn't the nicest place to come to. The simulation reduced the effects to bearable levels though. And #deca hurried to scoop me up too."
  12890. >The stallion's ears perk up.
  12891. >"Right, I almost forgot."
  12892. >Before you can ask what he means, Sky Squall rears up and spreads his wings, facing you in a typical tussle stance.
  12893. >You sigh and grin.
  12894. "Already tossing me to the ground again? You just picked me up."
  12895. >Sky Squall shrugs briefly without changing his pose.
  12896. >You take a breath and accept the challenge.
  12897. "Fine."
  12898. >You ready yourself in front of the Pegasus as he prepares himself to push you back in turn.
  12899. >And since you are not physically threatened by his superior strength in this simulation, you bet that he will be a bit more pushy this time around.
  12900. >In both meanings of the word.
  12901. >Well, two can play this game.
  12902. >So you decide to apply some last second changes to the scenario.
  12903. >You silently instruct the system to triple your own simulated strength, whilst halving the gravity around Sky Squall at the same time.
  12904. >With these changes in effect, you greet the Pegasus chest first and give him a singular firm jolt.
  12905. >And the outcome of said encounter is no surprise to you, as you fling your opponent back with no effort whatsoever.
  12906. >The stallion is not taking it quite so well, however.
  12907.  
  12908.  
  12909.  
  12910.  
  12911. >Sky Squall, utterly surprised as he is by this sudden shift in the sheer physics around him, trundles across the deck whilst his mind is trying to come to terms with his newfound situation.
  12912. >In the end, he lands rather unceremoniously on the floor, and even slides a good bit afterwards.
  12913. >You revert the changes as Sky Squall looks around.
  12914. >"I should've seen that one coming."
  12915. >You chuckle briefly.
  12916. "Sorry, Sky. I couldn't resist.
  12917. >The stallion stands up again as you get closer.
  12918. >And you wonder whether he is trying to "retaliate" or not.
  12919. >But whatever he might have in mind, or not, it is rendered moot before Sky Squall gets the opportunity to act upon it.
  12920. >For another familiar voice is speaking up.
  12921. >"I see you have regained your full mental capacities. Good."
  12922. >These words are coming from the top of the ramp.
  12923. >So you look up and spot #deca.mare standing close to the edge of the ramp, observing the scene below her in its entirety.
  12924. >You realise that you did not hear her entering the room, and you are also certain that she was not here just a few moments ago either.
  12925. >She has probably materialised herself on the spot when neither of you was looking.
  12926. >In either case, both Sky Squall and you turn your attention to #deca.mare as she trots down the ramp.
  12927. >She heads directly for you as soon as she is on your level, and without even saying a single further word, she spontaneously pounces on you with a happy smile on her face.
  12928. >You catch her almost instinctively and hold her whilst she wraps her forehooves around your shoulders.
  12929. >And #deca.mare does not hold herself back in the slightest.
  12930. >She nuzzles the side of your face intimately as she starts to press herself a bit firmer against you.
  12931. >Notably more so than necessary to keep herself in place.
  12932. "Happy to see you too."
  12933. >You catch a glimpse of Sky Squall whilst #deca.mare tends to your face.
  12934. >And as you have expected, he is watching you curiously.
  12935. >He does not even try to hide it.
  12936. >After all, he has made his stance on the matter very clear, and he stands by it.
  12937. >You take a breath and slowly walk over to the command chair, carrying #deca.mare all the way.
  12938. >Once you are there, you try to let her down.
  12939. >But #deca.mare refuses.
  12940. >She tightens her grip around you in response and seemingly doubles her nuzzling efforts.
  12941. >Message received.
  12942. >So you turn around and sit down yourself, effectively placing #deca.mare right on your lap.
  12943. >You briefly tilt your head to look at Sky Squall.
  12944. "This could take a moment."
  12945. >He shrugs with a grin.
  12946. >"No problem. Take your time. I can wait."
  12947. >Of course he can, with a scene like this.
  12948. >Though you are not going to complain about it either.
  12949. >So you reciprocate #deca.mare's affections and ignore the Pegasus for now.
  12950. >And you do indeed take your time together.
  12951.  
  12952.  
  12953.  
  12954.  
  12955. >A couple of minutes.
  12956. >Maybe more.
  12957. >It is hard for you to say.
  12958. >Once again, you simply let the scene run its course and part when it feels apt for both of you to do so.
  12959. >Neither of you has to do or say anything.
  12960. >You just know when the right moment has come.
  12961. >#deca.mare then loosens her grip around you and allows herself to "roll" sideways.
  12962. >She lands back first on the cushioning right next to yours and makes herself comfortable, taking her usual seat in the process.
  12963. >You assume a more upright posture as well, clear your throat, and look at the Pegasus in front of you again.
  12964. >He has taken a seat of sorts too, as he sat down on his haunches at some point between now and the last time you saw him.
  12965. "Sorry, we kept you waiting."
  12966. >He casually shrugs with a smile.
  12967. >"I told you, it's fine."
  12968. >He laughs.
  12969. >"If anything, I would've preferred to see more of it."
  12970. >Oh boy.
  12971. >If he says it like that, you can already feel that something is coming.
  12972. >"Outside the simulation, preferably."
  12973. >Of course.
  12974. >There was the catch.
  12975. >You nod calmly.
  12976. "One step at a time."
  12977. >Or kiss, as you silently think to yourself.
  12978. >#deca.mare speaks up next.
  12979. >"I appreciate your sympathies for our relationship, Sky, But Anon is right. This is a... long-term process."
  12980. >Sky Squall accepts that with a deep breath.
  12981. >"Yes, I know."
  12982. >He laughs.
  12983. >"Doesn't stop me from helping you to get there though."
  12984. >#deca.mare tries to change the topic politely.
  12985. >"Thank you, Sky. It is appreciated. But to come to more short-term subjects, I think we might consider to make a few arrangements."
  12986. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  12987. >"Arrangements?"
  12988. >#deca.mare nods.
  12989. >"As you are aware, we can do more in the simulation than we can in the physical world. We have many more artistic liberties at our disposal now. Which means we are not bound to work with the same tools here either."
  12990. >Sky Squall listens attentively.
  12991. >"Yes. So?"
  12992. >She goes on.
  12993. >"So we can, for instance, apply more substantial changes to our working environment. If you wish."
  12994. >The Pegasus shrugs.
  12995. >"Why should we though? I was fine with the seat cushions on the deck."
  12996. >He eyes your custom version of the command chair.
  12997. >"But I guess a stool like yours wouldn't be bad either."
  12998. >#deca.mare takes a breath.
  12999. >"That would be one thing. But we can think bigger."
  13000. >Sky Squall seems to grasp what #deca.mare is alluding to.
  13001. >"You're asking me whether I want to change the deck as a whole?"
  13002. >She nods again.
  13003. >And the stallion thinks about the proposal for a moment before he declines the offer.
  13004. >"Hm, no. I don't insist on that."
  13005. >#deca.mare tilts her head.
  13006. >"Really? You said the architecture is too enclosed for your tastes."
  13007. >The stallion nods.
  13008. >"And it still isn't my favourite. But from what I've seen so far, I believe the design does what it is supposed to do."
  13009.  
  13010.  
  13011.  
  13012.  
  13013. >You chime in.
  13014. "Yeah, but only that. It's very utilitarian, and deliberately so. Keep in mind that this ship was never meant to house a permanent population at all. There was no need to include pleasantries. We can add them here in the simulation with ease though. Or we come up with an entirely new design for our sessions. Everything is possible."
  13015. >You grin.
  13016. "Our creativity doesn't have to be exclusively tied to our leisure time."
  13017. >Sky Squall shrugs once more, however.
  13018. >"Thank you for the offer, but that's not necessary. I can work with the deck as it is. A proper place to sit is all I need."
  13019. >You nod.
  13020. "As you wish."
  13021. >The Pegasus goes on after taking another breath.
  13022. >"Besides, the only... additional 'pleasantry' I could think of is the only one that's out of reach for me."
  13023. >Sky Squall does not elaborate further, yet considering the circumstances, it is not hard for you to guess what, or rather who, he is referring to.
  13024. >And you are not sure how to reply to this either.
  13025. >After all, you could point out that this situation is a temporary affair, but due to its obvious implications, it would almost certainly come across as a very disrespectful remark.
  13026. >So you accept Sky Squall's decision and tend to his more viable request.
  13027. >You take a breath.
  13028. "Right then, a chair for you. Any idea what you want to have? If not, we've got a lot of sample suggestions to get some inspirations from."
  13029. >The Pegasus considers his options for a moment before he replies.
  13030. >"Hm, I don't need anything fancy. But I suppose a smaller facsimile of your own chair would be a sound idea."
  13031. >He grins and starts to talk in an overtly challenging tone.
  13032. >"To get a first impression of what it's like to sit in yours."
  13033. >You raise an eyebrow and grin as well.
  13034. "Don't get too eager, Sky. That too is still going to take a while."
  13035. >He shrugs.
  13036. >"Perhaps."
  13037. >A pause.
  13038. >"But it can't be wrong to start early, now can it?"
  13039. >You keep staring at each other for a few seconds before you speak up.
  13040. "Yeah, I guess so."
  13041. >You pause briefly.
  13042. "Jokes aside though, we actually do have a smaller one-person version of this chair. It's the original design. The broader one you see here is a customised model."
  13043. >Sky Squall nods.
  13044. >"I figured as much."
  13045. >You blink.
  13046. "You did?"
  13047. >The golden Pegasus chuckles.
  13048. >"Of course. I'm pretty sure the original builders of this place didn't furnish the room with a seat that was meant to be used by a human and a pony at the same time."
  13049. >Which is correct on all accounts.
  13050. "No, they didn't. That's true."
  13051. >He points at your command chair.
  13052. >"Who made the changes, by the way?"
  13053. >You respond immediately, as it is an easy question for you to answer.
  13054. "Uh, I did."
  13055. >Sky Squall blinks.
  13056. >"Well, that could've fooled me."
  13057. >Oh?
  13058. "Why?"
  13059. >The Pegasus looks over to #deca.mare, then back to you.
  13060. >"To use your wording, it's a very... utilitarian change. And I..."
  13061.  
  13062.  
  13063.  
  13064.  
  13065. >You see where this is going and continue his explanation for him.
  13066. "You thought it would be #deca's work because of it."
  13067. >He nods.
  13068. >"It was the more likely option in my opinion."
  13069. >He looks at #deca.mare.
  13070. >"No offence."
  13071. >And she shrugs casually with a faint smile.
  13072. >"None taken."
  13073. >She chuckles.
  13074. >"I probably would have thought the same if I were in your position."
  13075. >A part of you is tempted to ask whether #deca.mare wants to imply that your creation is uninspired.
  13076. >Though to be fair, you thought the same thing at the time.
  13077. >Sky Squall speaks up once more, directing your inner musings back to the matter at hand.
  13078. >"So... yes. One of those then."
  13079. >#deca.mare replies as you sort your thoughts.
  13080. >"As you wish, Sky. Would you like to try materialising it yourself?"
  13081. >Sky Squall is open to her idea.
  13082. >"How does that work?"
  13083. >You take over.
  13084. "Basically like any other command. You think of a certain object and tell the simulation to materialise it at a specific spot in the environment."
  13085. >Sky Squall nods.
  13086. >"I see. Let me try."
  13087. >The Pegasus eyes a vacant spot right next to your chair.
  13088. >And he stands still whilst his mind is trying to focus.
  13089. >To no avail, however.
  13090. >The chair does not appear.
  13091. >You chime in.
  13092. "Something wrong?"
  13093. >The stallion looks at you.
  13094. >"It's difficult to picture a piece of furniture you have never seen. All I know is that it looks a little bit like yours."
  13095. >You chuckle.
  13096. "If that's the only problem... here."
  13097. >You create a floating screen which shows an accurate three-dimensional model of the original chair.
  13098. "That's the one you want."
  13099. >The Pegasus studies the illustration, nods, and tries again.
  13100. >Something does happen indeed this time.
  13101. >A non-descript shape starts to appear at the desired location.
  13102. >And over the course of less than a minute, the formerly chaotic arrangement of quasi-forms has changed into something which almost resembles a chair.
  13103. "Good work so far. Keep going."
  13104. >Which he does.
  13105. >Sky Squall keeps working on the chair until it is a perfect life-sized copy of the model on the display.
  13106. >Once he is done, he takes a breath and closes his eyes.
  13107. >"I guess now I know what it is like to be a Unicorn. Minus having the horn, that is."
  13108. >You shrug.
  13109. "Spells are a bit more complex than that since you've got to focus energy and whatnot. But yeah, the principle is similar as far as the mental process is concerned. It's one of the reasons why we assume that Unicorns would probably be quite adept at interacting with systems like the simulation. Without much of an introduction too."
  13110. >Sky Squall smiles wryly.
  13111. >"And yet you've asked me first."
  13112.  
  13113.  
  13114.  
  13115.  
  13116. >You take a breath.
  13117. "Eh, as you've seen yourself, it's no prerequisite. It may be a boon at the start, but everyone can learn how to handle the systems. I serve as another example of that too. I had no previous experience with interactive simulations on this advanced level, but it still worked for me."
  13118. >You grin as well.
  13119. "But... if you really want to know what it's like to be a Unicorn, we could add a horn to your proxy."
  13120. >It apparently takes a moment for Sky Squall to even process the suggestion.
  13121. >"No, thank you. I'm quite fond of my wings."
  13122. >And your smile grows.
  13123. "I didn't say anything about trading them in."
  13124. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  13125. >"Anon, that's ridiculous. I could never show myself in Equestria like this."
  13126. >He shakes his head.
  13127. >"Besides, even if I could hide the horn or the wings somehow in public, the princesses would notice. They have come close to spotting you a couple of times, so there's no way they'd miss a third Alicorn."
  13128. >You shrug.
  13129. "I know. But it's fun to imagine."
  13130. >A pause.
  13131. "Anyway, would you like to test your first 'creation'? It looks very solid."
  13132. >Sky Squall nods and approaches the second command chair.
  13133. >Once he is in range, he prods and probes the stability of the construction with his forehooves to make sure that it is indeed standing firmly.
  13134. >Satisfied with the result of his test, the Pegasus takes his seat.
  13135. >You speak up.
  13136. "So, shall we start?"
  13137. >You get two nods in response.
  13138. "Alright. Back to business."
  13139. >So begins your first regular session back in the simulation.
  13140. >And even though the few minor differences in the interior design are noticeable, the session plays out almost exactly as the ones on the actual command deck.
  13141. >Still, you can feel that #deca.mare is somewhat more serene throughout the entire affair.
  13142. >You have no firm evidence to base this on, and she does not send many signals which could be interpreted as such either, yet you just sense it nevertheless.
  13143. >And knowing that #deca.mare is content and in high spirits helps you to feel good and relieved as well.
  13144. >A win-win scenario for everyone.
  13145. >Maybe except for Sky Squall's eager eyes.
  13146. >He will have to be patient for a while longer if he hopes to see #deca.mare becoming more open to certain activities outside the simulation.
  13147. >But you are getting there.
  13148. >Sooner or later.
  13149.  
  13150.  
  13151.  
  13152.  
  13153. 164.2
  13154.  
  13155. >The sessions of the next days and weeks follow a similar pattern as the previous ones.
  13156. >You get up, have a pleasant breakfast with #deca.mare and Sky Squall, work on the respective projects of the day, wind down during your leisure time, and usually conclude the cycle with a proper and calm supper.
  13157. >Things run fairly smoothly, all things considered.
  13158. >Equestria is peaceful and prospering.
  13159. >Harmony is ever learning and growing.
  13160. >And Sky Squall is making progress as well.
  13161. >The days simply come and go without any major issues.
  13162. >But despite the relatively fixed daily schedule, you would not say that this makes anything boring.
  13163. >On the contrary, the various tasks of the day keep you busy without becoming a monotonous chore, and you can always find something to spend your leisure time with.
  13164. >Time almost flies from your perspective.
  13165. >And before you even realise it, the next special occasion is right around the corner.
  13166. >In fact, #deca.mare has to remind you of it simply because you did not register just how quickly time has passed.
  13167. >Fortunately for you though, you do not have to do much to prepare yourself.
  13168. >Moving the two proxies to the ship's biolab is all it takes.
  13169. >So #deca.mare and you do just that.
  13170. >And you assume control of your respective proxies as soon as they are there.
  13171. >You take a look around and eye the interior of the biolab.
  13172. >The room is, as usual, stuffed with a plethora of complex machineries and advanced devices.
  13173. >And the air inside the laboratory is just as comparatively subpar as ever.
  13174. >It is breathable of course, but its quality serves as a quick reminder that the life support system in this area is not able to keep up with the equipment of the command deck.
  13175. >Nevertheless, you breathe calmly and carry on.
  13176. >#deca.mare and you head for a specific spot in the laboratory.
  13177. >The one which contains a certain gestation unit.
  13178. >And once again, it is occupied by a body.
  13179. >As you reach the machine, you look through the canopy and eye the pony within.
  13180. >The Pegasus inside the unit is hibernating, but fully formed and grown.
  13181. >And the liquid which fills the rest of the space in the pod keeps him in a semi-floating state whilst he is lying on his back.
  13182. >His face is almost completely covered by a respirator whilst several holdings keep the pose of the body stable and still without applying too much pressure.
  13183. >Only the eyes remain unobstructed.
  13184. >But this in itself does not mean much at the moment, for they are shut tightly as well.
  13185. >You let the sight sink in for a second before you address #deca.mare.
  13186. "Are you sure he wants to do that?"
  13187. >#deca.mare responds promptly.
  13188. >"Yes, Anon. His stance has not changed. He wishes to witness the procedure. First-hooved. And he does not want to quit in the middle of it either."
  13189. >You keep looking at the sleeping pony as you go on.
  13190. "If he says so. I hope he isn't underestimating the sensation though. The last thing we need is a Pegasus with a claustrophobic fit."
  13191.  
  13192.  
  13193.  
  13194.  
  13195. >#deca.mare steps up to you.
  13196. >She inspects the resting Pegasus as well.
  13197. >"He is certainly determined to go through the process in spite of the circumstances."
  13198. >Then she smiles.
  13199. >"And this is a good sign if you ask me. You know how stubborn Sky can be."
  13200. >You nod and look at the bound wings of the pony.
  13201. "Yeah. But I wonder how long this attitude will last. Not being able to move is one of his worst personal nightmares."
  13202. >#deca.mare takes a breath.
  13203. >"We will see. He says that he is ready, Anon."
  13204. >You collect your thoughts for a second before you give her the green light to begin.
  13205. "Then let's get this show on the road."
  13206. >#deca.mare's gaze briefly seems to lose its focus as she gets to work.
  13207. >And the first results show themselves within seconds.
  13208. >You register minor irregular movements in the limbs of the proxy which are kept at bay by the holdings.
  13209. >Then the head starts to stir slightly within its currently quite limited range of motion as well.
  13210. >A couple of seconds later, it happens.
  13211. >Sky Squall opens his eyes.
  13212. >And he does precisely what you thought he might do.
  13213. >The eyes of the stallion dart around in confusion as his mind struggles to make sense of the current situation.
  13214. >Under normal circumstances, he would understand immediately what is happening.
  13215. >However, since Sky Squall insisted on fully living through the awakening, and all the impressions that come with it, the still prevalent disorientation of the proxy impairs Sky Squall's mental capacities as well.
  13216. >He cannot process the impressions properly yet, as they send him a deluge of mixed and scrambled signals.
  13217. >The fact that he is unable to move at all does not ease his befuddlement in the slightest either.
  13218. >You quickly check the vitals of Sky Squall's proxy on the screen which is attached to the unit.
  13219. >And you do indeed see indicators of stress.
  13220. >The heartbeat in particular has accelerated notably, but his neural activity is quite high as well.
  13221. >His mind is very busy, but most of its thoughts appear to be rather chaotic.
  13222. >Well, Sky Squall is definitely not feeling all too comfortable right now, even when none of his values reach any critical levels.
  13223. >You turn to #deca.mare.
  13224. "I think he might have second thoughts now. How is it going?"
  13225. >#deca.mare responds automatically without any further bodily reaction.
  13226. >She is fully focused on the task at hand.
  13227. >"No issues so far. The initialisation is progressing as intended. We can proceed with the extraction sequence soon."
  13228. >You blink.
  13229. "How soon?"
  13230. >Again, only a verbal reaction.
  13231. >"Give me thirty seconds to double-check everything."
  13232. >Sounds reasonable enough to you.
  13233. >Yet you are aware that Sky Squall may have a very different perception of time at the moment.
  13234. >Maybe you can help him a little bit though.
  13235.  
  13236.  
  13237.  
  13238.  
  13239. >You lean your head closer to the canopy so that Sky Squall can see you.
  13240. >Then you softly knock on the transparent surface to catch the stallion's attention.
  13241. >Which leads to the desired effect.
  13242. >The gaze of the Pegasus homes in on you.
  13243. >A good sign.
  13244. >You give him a reassuring nod.
  13245. >To check whether he can already understand the intention behind your gesture or not, and because you genuinely hope that it might help him.
  13246. >And within a few seconds, his pulse already decelerates to a degree.
  13247. >The effect you have on him speaks for itself.
  13248. >So you maintain your "staring duel" with Sky Squall whilst #deca.mare works on the final touches of the initialisation.
  13249. >Once she is done, she informs you immediately.
  13250. >"Everything set and ready. I am starting the extraction... now."
  13251. >You give Sky Squall another nod and mouth the words "it begins".
  13252. >And true to #deca.mare's announcement, the gestation pod springs into action, redirecting your focus back to the machine in front of you.
  13253. >You take a step back as the unit begins to slowly drain the liquid.
  13254. >The first of four major steps.
  13255. >Number two follows promptly.
  13256. >The pod unlocks the seal of the canopy, enabling you to open the unit.
  13257. >An option which the two of you seize at once.
  13258. >#deca.mare instructs the machine to lift the canopy without delay.
  13259. >The mechanism emits an audible whirring sound as the cover starts to move steadily.
  13260. >And you are ready to address Sky Squall as soon as the thing is out of the way.
  13261. "Hang in there, Sky. We're as good as done."
  13262. >Almost as if it was meant to prove your point, the holdings loosen their grip around the proxy.
  13263. >Point three on the list.
  13264. >Upon noticing his new freedom of movement, Sky Squall instinctively kicks into the air above him.
  13265. >You pull your head back for the time being to avoid getting caught off guard by any accidental surprise strikes.
  13266. >Then you raise your voice again.
  13267. "Please hold still. I can't reach you when you thrash around like that."
  13268. >Sky Squall heeds your words and stops.
  13269. >So you step up to the pod once more and reach for the respirator.
  13270. >You expertly loosen and subsequently remove the device whilst the Pegasus waits patiently for you to be done with this fourth and final step.
  13271. >Once you put the respirator aside, Sky Squall is completely free at last.
  13272. >And the first thing he does is to take in a long and deep breath of modest biolab air.
  13273. "Hello there. Welcome back to the living, Sky. How do you feel?"
  13274. >The stallion looks at you.
  13275. >"Soaking and wet. But I take it."
  13276. >Then he grins cockily.
  13277. >"You were right about the air in this room though. It could be better."
  13278. >Well, he is already returning to his old self again as it seems.
  13279. >You interpret this as a good sign and offer Sky Squall a forelimb to help him out of the gestation unit.
  13280. "And? Was it worth it?"
  13281.  
  13282.  
  13283.  
  13284.  
  13285. >He accepts your offer.
  13286. >"For sure. It was... bumpy at first, but you don't get an opportunity like this every day."
  13287. >The golden Pegasus leaves the machine, gives both #deca.mare and you an acknowledging nod, and takes a few experimental steps.
  13288. >He stares down at his forehooves.
  13289. >"Hm..."
  13290. >Then he pauses briefly and looks over his shoulder.
  13291. >"... it could be the lower gravity on the ship and the drenched coat, but..."
  13292. >Sky Squall stops mid-sentence.
  13293. >So you ask.
  13294. "But what?"
  13295. >The stallion spreads his wings to inspect them now.
  13296. >His feathers shine lightly as they move, for they are still coated with a thin layer of tiny droplets which reflect the surrounding light.
  13297. >"Everything looks right as far as I can see it. Perfect, even. Though the movement feels... slightly off. Not by much, but still."
  13298. >#deca.mare responds to that.
  13299. >"The stiffness will pass quickly. Just give it a moment, Sky. This body is moving on its own for the first time in its entire existence."
  13300. >Which only spans a couple of weeks, but never mind.
  13301. >Sky Squall tests his wings with a few careful beats too, minding not to hit anything in this comparatively narrow space.
  13302. >"Too bad you don't have an exercise room here. I'd fix that stiffness in hurry."
  13303. >He looks at you.
  13304. >"Or..."
  13305. >You cut him off swiftly, as you know where his mind is going.
  13306. "No, I'm not going to spar with you in the biolab. We've got way too many sensitive gadgets in here."
  13307. >The golden Pegasus shrugs.
  13308. >"Fine."
  13309. >A pause.
  13310. >"Later then? When we're out of the laboratory? On the deck, maybe?"
  13311. >You take a breath.
  13312. "If you wish. The main hall behind the airlock has enough room for whatever exercises you have in mind."
  13313. >Sky Squall goes on.
  13314. >"A trip to Equestria would be better though. More gravity, and much more space to do, well, everything."
  13315. >A pause.
  13316. >"But I suppose that's going to be difficult. I can't show myself there. And you aren't the youngest either as far as the records go."
  13317. >#deca.mare responds.
  13318. >"This is true. We would have to go in disguise."
  13319. >The stallion looks at her.
  13320. >"If we were to do this, what kind of disguise would you suggest? The usual selective perception trick?"
  13321. >She replies swiftly.
  13322. >"This is one option. We could either turn ourselves 'invisible', or let ourselves appear as if we were different ponies altogether."
  13323. >She pauses.
  13324. >"Exclusively fictional ponies of course. Impersonating someone else would be unwise."
  13325. >Another one.
  13326. >"This is a simple, but very effective method. And it would work well in most situations."
  13327. >Sky Squall is quick to pick up on the potential exceptions.
  13328. >"Not counting a certain pair of princesses, amongst others."
  13329. >He pauses and blinks.
  13330. >"No, wait. One princess."
  13331. >#deca.mare nods.
  13332. >"Indeed. She is likely to notice the presence of a camouflage of this nature. Added on top of our already unusual signatures."
  13333. >Sky Squall ponders on this point.
  13334. >"Risky. We'd be like magical beacons unless we stay in remote places. What else could we do?"
  13335.  
  13336.  
  13337.  
  13338.  
  13339. >You take over.
  13340. "The classics, Sky. Cosmetics. Lots and lots of cosmetics."
  13341. >The Pegasus tilts his head.
  13342. >"What do you mean?"
  13343. >You grin.
  13344. "The full laundry list. Separate dyes for the coat and manes, custom Marks, preferably lenses to change the eye colours, and if we really want to get into it, covert voice modulators. Everything you need for an alter ego."
  13345. >Or alter-alter ego, in your case.
  13346. >You keep that remark to yourself though.
  13347. >Sky Squall blinks.
  13348. >"Dyes? Now that I finally have my own body back? Call me vain if you want to, but I'm fairly fond of my appearance as it is."
  13349. >You nod.
  13350. "I know. None of that would be permanent. It's just for the duration of the trip."
  13351. >Sky Squall takes a breath.
  13352. >"Well, I see why it might be necessary, but..."
  13353. >Another pause.
  13354. >"...I've got to think about this. The deck will do for the time being though."
  13355. >Fair enough.
  13356. >And a wonderful opportunity for you to mention another idea.
  13357. "Speaking of the deck, would you be interested in walking there? Just to have done it once if nothing else?"
  13358. >Sky Squall looks at you.
  13359. >"And how? There's no atmosphere between this laboratory and the command deck."
  13360. >You nod.
  13361. "There isn't. But the transport via cryo units isn't our only method to circumvent that problem."
  13362. >You glance over to #deca.mare.
  13363. >She knows immediately what you are referring to and acts accordingly.
  13364. >A utility unit in the room starts to move.
  13365. >It drives into a remote corner of the stuffed laboratory, grabs a medium-sized container, and navigates its way through the narrow pathways to your location.
  13366. >The automaton deposits said container in the usual fashion right in front of you and retreats.
  13367. >You walk up to the recent delivery and open the object to reach the contents within.
  13368. >And it is not filled with water or food this time around.
  13369. >On the contrary, it contains three space suits of the equine variant and a towel.
  13370. >These objects were placed in this room by #deca.mare a good while before the two of you got here.
  13371. >Just in case that somebody might utter this precise suggestion.
  13372. >Sky Squall eyes the pieces as you reveal the suits and pass the towel to him.
  13373. >"No explanation necessary. I get the concept."
  13374. >He blinks as he dries himself properly.
  13375. >"Though... I think I could use a little guide on how to wear them."
  13376. >Nothing easier than that.
  13377. >The three of you go through the procedure of donning the suits together, with Sky Squall observing each of your steps closely before he imitates them.
  13378. >And he does manage to do most of the work on his own, apart from some of the more fiddly stages in which all of you help each other out instead.
  13379. >In the end, each of you wears one complete set, ready to venture out of the laboratory.
  13380. >But before you do so, you decide to check on Sky Squall.
  13381. >To see how he fares in the suit.
  13382. "So... how are you?"
  13383. >He shows no overt signs of discomfort, but he is not fully content either.
  13384. >"I feel a bit like I traded one coffer in for another."
  13385. >The body of the Pegasus sways lightly now.
  13386.  
  13387.  
  13388.  
  13389.  
  13390. >A sign which one could easily attribute to some form of medical imbalance.
  13391. >But you know better.
  13392. >The movements are a result of Sky Squall's instinctive attempts to spread his wings, only to be hindered by the confines of the suit.
  13393. >This does seem to annoy the Pegasus somewhat, yet it does not create the same stressful bodily reaction as the awakening in the gestation unit.
  13394. >He goes on.
  13395. >"But there's admittedly less liquid involved this time around."
  13396. >You take a breath.
  13397. "Yeah, these things were designed for utility first and foremost. They were never meant to be flexible. But they do what they are supposed to do."
  13398. >You pause with a smile.
  13399. "And when you're out in space, you really want to take reliable functionality over a little bit of convenient wiggle room."
  13400. >Sky Squall does not object.
  13401. >For he cannot really disagree with your point.
  13402. >Especially since he is aware of the fact that his wings will not help him one bit in the vacuum.
  13403. >The Pegasus clears his mind and ignores his urge to fly around.
  13404. >Then he speaks up again.
  13405. >"Alright, I'm ready."
  13406. >#deca.mare and you look at each other and nod in almost perfect unison.
  13407. "We too."
  13408. >The three of you head for the exit which leads to the makeshift airlock that separates the biolab from the rest of the ship.
  13409. >You enter the relatively small room, wait for the controlled decompression process to be completed, and head for the corridor of the outer shell.
  13410. >#deca.mare goes ahead, with Sky Squall and you following her closely.
  13411. >Once she stands right in the middle of the long pathway, she stops and raises her voice.
  13412. >"Sky?"
  13413. >Sky Squall replies, obviously not knowing what she has in mind.
  13414. >"Yes?"
  13415. >#deca.mare chuckles and grins.
  13416. >"Would you be interested in a little challenge?"
  13417. >The stallion blinks.
  13418. >"Uh, sure."
  13419. >Of course he would not decline the offer.
  13420. >She goes on.
  13421. >"Let us see how well you have studied the layout of our ship. Lead the way to the command deck. Without looking it up, which direction is the right one?"
  13422. >Again, the stallion blinks.
  13423. >"That's a trick question. Both directions will lead to the large door sooner or later. One is just longer than the other."
  13424. >#deca.mare nods.
  13425. >"Fair enough. But which of the two is the shorter one?"
  13426. >Sky Squall does not answer immediately.
  13427. >He looks in both directions as he considers what to say.
  13428. >If he is searching for any visual clues, you already know in advance that he will not find any.
  13429. >After all, the walls of the main corridor are almost all quite uniform in nature.
  13430. >Even an orientation expert like Sky Squall will have a hard time to find the "correct" way merely by searching for clues in the architecture.
  13431. >And he seems to have understood this too.
  13432. >So instead of trying to find any useful landmarks, he starts to rummage through his memories.
  13433. >#deca.mare and you wait in silence and give the Pegasus all the time he needs.
  13434. >Eventually, he points in one direction.
  13435. >"That one."
  13436.  
  13437.  
  13438.  
  13439.  
  13440. >#deca.mare looks at him with a neutral expression.
  13441. >"Are you sure?"
  13442. >Sky Squall remains steadfast.
  13443. >"I am."
  13444. >A quiet pause follows.
  13445. >#deca.mare eventually breaks the silence a few seconds later as she raises her voice with a smile.
  13446. >"And you have every right to be. It is indeed the shorter route."
  13447. >Sky Squall inhales audibly, yet you are not sure if it is a sign of relief or merely a coincidence.
  13448. >Either way though, he grins back at her and starts to move at once.
  13449. >"Then let's go."
  13450. >He leads the way right away, as he trots through the corridor with the same determined certainty that he displayed during his time in the Pegasus flight teams.
  13451. >You look at #deca.mare and shrug.
  13452. "Well, you heard the boss."
  13453. >#deca.mare's smile turns into an amused grin.
  13454. >"Right, Anon."
  13455. >So you follow the stallion through the corridor.
  13456. >And as you do, you temporarily cut the comm connection to Sky Squall's suit.
  13457. "Is it just me, or was his 'order' a bit more pushy than his usual tone?"
  13458. >#deca.mare responds, equally cutting the stallion off for the time being.
  13459. >"It was, but it has nothing to do with you or me."
  13460. >You raise an eyebrow.
  13461. "Oh?" Then what was this about?"
  13462. >#deca.mare snickers.
  13463. >"A trivial reason, actually. He starts to think that his suit itches."
  13464. >You try not to laugh.
  13465. "And? Does it?"
  13466. >#deca.mare subtly shakes her head.
  13467. >"No. It is his subconsciousness which plays a trick on him. He wants out of the suit. And the sooner we reach the command deck, the quicker he can get out of it."
  13468. >You need a moment to process this information.
  13469. >Because on the one hand, you would not have expected Sky Squall to develop this notion.
  13470. >After all, he has worn heavy armour in the past.
  13471. >Armour which weights a lot more than this equipment, even without taking the lower environmental gravity into consideration.
  13472. >Then again, no pony armour set, no matter how thick and heavy it may be, seals a body in like a space suit does.
  13473. >Plus, Pegasus apparel in particular always considers to keep the wings as unobstructed as possible to ensure a high degree of mobility.
  13474. >It is very likely that this is the key difference which bothers him so much.
  13475. >Especially since he has already shown first signs of this in the biolab.
  13476. "Why doesn't he say anything? We could get rid of that false notion in a second."
  13477. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  13478. >"You should know better, Anon."
  13479. >You inhale.
  13480. "Of course. It would be embarrassing for his pride to admit this."
  13481. >And you have promised not to tinker with Sky Squall or his proxy without his explicit approval.
  13482. >So the status quo remains.
  13483. >You sigh.
  13484. >This will require a different approach.
  13485. "Well, you know the saying. The best way to make a stallion drink is to throw him into the water."
  13486. >#deca.mare snorts.
  13487. >"Not quite, but close enough."
  13488. >You go on.
  13489. "I guess this means we've got to include a couple of space suit exercises into our schedule. Just a few simple tasks every now and then until he gets used to it. Besides, it would have a learning effect too."
  13490.  
  13491.  
  13492.  
  13493.  
  13494. >You pause.
  13495. "Provided he isn't too distracted by his misperceptions."
  13496. >#deca.mare tends to agree.
  13497. >"I think so too."
  13498. >She takes a breath.
  13499. >"I will prepare a list with a suitable amount of exercises. Simple practice tasks that we can do here on the ship."
  13500. >You give her a nod.
  13501. "Great. Thanks, #deca."
  13502. >She smiles yet again.
  13503. >"Any time, Anon."
  13504. >Her expression changes all of a sudden.
  13505. >From friendly and casual to attentive.
  13506. >And she speaks up without delay as well.
  13507. >"Heads up, I restore our channel to Sky."
  13508. >In the very next second, Sky Squall turns his head whilst his voice sounds through the comm channel.
  13509. >"...uiet for a while. Is everything alright?"
  13510. >You nod instantly without really thinking much about it.
  13511. "We're good, Sky. I think we were just... in thought for a moment."
  13512. >#deca.mare mirrors your gesture.
  13513. >"That was it. We are fine."
  13514. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  13515. >"You know... you have this strange presence around you again, Anon. You know the one."
  13516. >A pause.
  13517. >"As if you're not telling me the full story."
  13518. >Says the right one.
  13519. >You blink.
  13520. "Nothing conspiratorial is happening here, Sky. I was just thinking of our next sessions."
  13521. >You decide to confront him directly.
  13522. "I believe we could do this here a bit more often. Just to give you an idea of what it is like to work personally in space. What do you think?"
  13523. >It takes Sky Squall a few seconds to answer.
  13524. >"Sounds like a good idea to me."
  13525. >And you are sure that the rational part of his mind supports this idea wholeheartedly.
  13526. >Though his delayed response tells you that another part of him is cursing slightly right now.
  13527. >Sky Squall turns his gaze back to the corridor right in front of him.
  13528. >Then he raises his voice again.
  13529. >"Speaking of this subject... I'm curious, Anon. What was the longest time you've spent in such a suit?"
  13530. >You blink again.
  13531. "You mean in one go?"
  13532. >You already know the answer to that question, for it is obvious to you that he is probing you.
  13533. >But you feel like you had to ask nevertheless.
  13534. >"Yes."
  13535. >Now you earnestly have to think for a moment.
  13536. "Uhm, I'm not entirely sure to be honest. I've been on so many missions and practice flights, it's hard to keep track."
  13537. >You smile as you remember some of your more tricky missions.
  13538. "It was pretty wild every now and then though. We actually had to restock our reserves 'on the field' a couple of times. It didn't happen all too often, but you remember missions like these."
  13539. >You pause.
  13540. "Suffice to say, it's been a while."
  13541. >Sky Squall tries to say something, but you go on before he can speak up.
  13542. >And you try to find a wording which somewhat addresses his issue without outright telling him that #deca.mare has spilled the beans about his perceived plight.
  13543. >To save his face and all that.
  13544. "I know it can be unusual at first, but you'll get used to it pretty quickly."
  13545.  
  13546.  
  13547.  
  13548.  
  13549. >You laugh.
  13550. "It will feel like a second skin to you in no time."
  13551. >The stallion snorts.
  13552. >"Now you're exaggerating."
  13553. >You inhale.
  13554. "Okay, maybe a little bit. But if it feels weird for you now, rest assured that this will change."
  13555. >Sky Squall nods, faintly.
  13556. >"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Anon."
  13557. >Well, it sounds like your words have helped him indeed.
  13558. >At least to a certain degree.
  13559. >Which is better than nothing.
  13560. "No problem, Sky."
  13561. >And so the three of you keep walking through the large corridor, all the way to the heavy blast door.
  13562. >The next session waits for you right on the other side.
  13563.  
  13564.  
  13565.  
  13566.  
  13567. 164.3
  13568.  
  13569. >The inner blast door of the airlock opens up with its characteristic rumbling sound whilst #deca.mare, Sky Squall and you patiently wait inside the airlock for the way to be clear.
  13570. >And even though the atmospheric pressure in the chamber has already reached its normal state, all of you are still wearing your full suits.
  13571. >You have not even begun to unseal your apparel, and you will continue to wear it until you are past the airlock.
  13572. >A decision which acts both as a safety measure, and as an exercise of patience for Sky Squall.
  13573. >The stallion takes the few additional minutes in his gear with a disciplined mental restraint, in spite of his urges to toss the whole thing.
  13574. >His background is definitely helping him in this regard, as a less experienced pony might not act quite so well in such a situation.
  13575. >But the Pegasus endures.
  13576. >And once the blast door is gone, you leave the airlock and gather in the centre of the adjacent hall where a utility unit is already waiting for you.
  13577. >Said unit carries a second medium-sized container.
  13578. >But unlike the one in the biolab, this container is unsealed and empty.
  13579. >The automaton is waiting for you to deposit the suits within it before the machine heads off to ferry the three sets.
  13580. >They will be first brought to a minor workshop for an examination.
  13581. >A standard procedure to check the gear for damages and other potential problems.
  13582. >Afterwards, the unit will transport the container and its contents to its designated slot in a nearby cargo area.
  13583. >So you finally unseal the suits, much to the relief of a certain Pegasus, and undress in the same collaborative manner in which you donned them in the first place.
  13584. >As soon as the suits are placed in the transport box, #deca.mare closes the container and steps away from the automaton.
  13585. >Sky Squall and you do the same.
  13586. >Then she gives the utility unit the command to go.
  13587. >Which it does.
  13588. >The automaton steers the machine right into the airlock.
  13589. >And the blast door seals itself shortly thereafter.
  13590. >You are the first to speak up after the departure of the machine.
  13591. "So, that's another 'birth' for your record, Sky."
  13592. >The stallion nods before he responds.
  13593. >"If you can call it that, I suppose."
  13594. >He pauses.
  13595. >"Although..."
  13596. >Sky Squall stops for a second to consider his wording.
  13597. >"... that would make two foalings without ever having a foalhood."
  13598. >You blink and look at him neutrally.
  13599. "Okay, would you have preferred to come back as a youngster then, with the knowledge you have today?"
  13600. >He laughs.
  13601. >"No, I don't think so."
  13602. >The laughter of the Pegasus turns into a snickering.
  13603. >"Besides, it would make a future reunion... a little bit difficult, don't you think?"
  13604. >You fail to suppress a smile as well.
  13605. "Yeah, I'm not sure what Firefly would say to that. If she'd find any words at all."
  13606.  
  13607.  
  13608.  
  13609.  
  13610. >You grin at the stallion.
  13611. "On the flip side, it would've been funny to have 'little Sky' around. We could tell you when it's bedtime and such."
  13612. >You suppress any attempts of your mind to imagine Sky Squall as a colt, but retaining his full personality as it is today.
  13613. >Because if you would envision that, you would probably not stop laughing for a while.
  13614. >Sky Squall returns your grin with a wry one of his own.
  13615. >"In your dreams."
  13616. >Then he retorts with a similar proposal.
  13617. >"I'd be ready to consider the offer if the roles were reversed though. You know, to give you a little refresher on family life before you have your plate full with Harmony one day. Consider it a favour between friends."
  13618. >His smile immediately gives it away that the stallion is joking.
  13619. >He is not expecting you to genuinely consider the offer at all.
  13620. >But the temptation of picturing this particular mental image is just as strange to you as the previous one.
  13621. >You briefly glance over to #deca.mare, then turn back to Sky Squall.
  13622. "I believe neither of us could pass as model foals."
  13623. >The Pegasus shrugs and goes on.
  13624. >"Doesn't matter. I've got experience in these things. We would work it out."
  13625. >Well, he is certainly not lying in this regard.
  13626. >After having gone through this experience four times, that is no exaggeration or empty boast on his part.
  13627. >He takes a breath.
  13628. >"In all seriousness though, if you two need parental advice at any time, just ask."
  13629. >You nod.
  13630. "Thanks for the offer, Sky."
  13631. >With that promise given, Sky Squall senses the opportunity to cram in another brief quip.
  13632. >"My other offer stands too, should you decide to create younger bodies for yourselves."
  13633. >You smile and blatantly roll your eyes whilst the Pegasus watches you.
  13634. >He takes the hint and changes the topic.
  13635. >"By the way, when are your new proxies due anyway?"
  13636. >Now you blink.
  13637. "Due? You mean as in scheduled?"
  13638. >He nods.
  13639. >"Right."
  13640. >You take a breath.
  13641. "Well, that's very easy. As soon as one of our proxies has suffered from unforeseen devastating injuries somehow."
  13642. >A pause.
  13643. "And when I say devastating, I mean it. We can heal practically everything that isn't outright terminal."
  13644. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  13645. >"What about age? Your first proxies have been around long before Equestria even existed, correct? Surely you must have made new ones since then."
  13646. >You grin for a moment.
  13647. >Then you shake your head.
  13648. "Nope. This may surprise you, but these are still our 'first ones', as you put it."
  13649. >You can read Sky Squall's next question in his bewildered face before he actually utters it.
  13650. >"How though? Faking old age in Equestria is no problem for you, but how do you avoid the aging process altogether without putting the bodies into one of those cryo machines? From what you've told me, they must be decrepit after all these years."
  13651. >You look over to #deca.mare.
  13652.  
  13653.  
  13654.  
  13655.  
  13656. >And she elaborates right away, looking a little bit proud as she does.
  13657. >"This is true. Under normal circumstances, they would be. But you see, we came up with a certain trick, not so long ago."
  13658. >The ears of the stallion perk up.
  13659. >"What kind of trick?"
  13660. >#deca.mare goes on.
  13661. >"A pretty effective one."
  13662. >She takes a breath.
  13663. >"It is a twofold procedure. The first part involves a slight alteration of our proxies on the genetic level."
  13664. >#deca.mare registers the faint look of growing concern on Sky Squall's face.
  13665. >For whilst he has no expert knowledge in advanced biology, #deca.mare and you have told him enough about proxies and life in general to give him a rough idea of what you are talking about.
  13666. >"I know it sounds drastic, but it is not as incisive as you might think now. We have merely adapted and added a few modifications which I originally created for the princesses to enhance their longevity far beyond the already considerable life span of the average pony."
  13667. >A pause.
  13668. >"To sum it up briefly, we have 'copied' the vastly prolonged life expectancy of the sisters. But apart from this addition to our bodies, there is no other effect. The phenotypes of the proxies, their performances, and their potential remain wholly unaltered."
  13669. >#deca.mare chuckles.
  13670. >"The joke Anon made about turning you into an Alicorn was overblown, but not too far from the truth."
  13671. >Sky Squall blinks.
  13672. >"Wait, are you telling me that my body is partially an Alicorn now?"
  13673. >#deca.mare shakes her head.
  13674. >"No. Your proxy has not received this treatment so far. We did not want to do anything like that without your approval. But we can still do so, if you wish."
  13675. >The Pegasus takes a breath.
  13676. >"And then I'd be one. Or at least the proxy, that is."
  13677. >You take over.
  13678. "I wouldn't say that, Sky. We're talking about a zero point zero zero zero something percentage of genetic material that's specific to Alicorns. I mean, it's technically not wrong to call that 'partially Alicorn' from a genetic standpoint, but the degree is minuscule. And as #deca said, it has no tangible impact on anything."
  13679. >You pause.
  13680. "If we were to apply the changes to your proxy too, then your body would remain, by all means, that of a normal Pegasus. The exact replica of who you were in your prime that you see right now."
  13681. >You smile.
  13682. "The only thing you'd lose is the inevitability of getting grey hair."
  13683. >#deca.mare speaks up again.
  13684. >"And before you ask, no. This alteration is not hereditary either. We made sure that the process does not affect the gametes of a proxy in any shape or form."
  13685. >Sky Squall thinks about this for a moment.
  13686. >"So foals would remain completely unaffected as well?"
  13687. >She nods.
  13688. >"Indeed. To the foals, it does not make a difference whether the parents, or only one of the pair for that matter, might possess this prolonged life span or not. Neither genetically speaking nor otherwise."
  13689.  
  13690.  
  13691.  
  13692.  
  13693. >You speak up as #deca.mare pauses.
  13694. "That last part wasn't even a problem in the first place since Alicorns always have been genetically compatible with other ponies."
  13695. >You see that Sky Squall thinks about another question, so you give him the opportunity to ask it.
  13696. >"Just out of curiosity, what would happen, you know, in this case? Theoretically speaking?"
  13697. >You grin.
  13698. "The foal would be a normal pony. Earth, Pegasus, or Unicorn. Tendencies may vary though, depending on who the father is. The Royal Sisters will remain the only born Alicorns."
  13699. >The gears in Sky Squall's mind are grinding.
  13700. >"And the second step you mentioned? How deep does that reach?"
  13701. >You let #deca.mare explain this one again.
  13702. >"It is in fact less 'deep' as you call it. And it has more of a supportive role rather than an active one."
  13703. >She inhales.
  13704. >"You see, Sky. Even the most stable genome can be subject to damages and changes over time. Caused by injuries, harmful substances, radiation, simple random chance, or a multitude of other factors. Most of these occurrences are so tiny that their respective singular impairment goes by unnoticed. Metaphorically speaking, they are like nigh invisible scrapes on a smooth surface."
  13705. >#deca.mare takes a breath.
  13706. >"But once these scrapes accumulate, their damage becomes more overt, and problems start to crop up as a consequence. I have done a lot to counteract these effects in ponies and the other denizens of Equestria, yet as you can attest to personally, this can only delay the process. It is unable to stop it."
  13707. >She sighs.
  13708. >"It is also, by the way, one of the key reasons why you are not fully organic. Your brain in particular."
  13709. >Sky Squall reaches the conclusion on his own.
  13710. >"You sidestepped the problem. To save us from dying."
  13711. >#deca.mare nods.
  13712. >"Indeed. And the princesses are no exception either. They are exceptionally healthy, stable and long-living, even by pony standards, but they would face the same issues eventually too. Inevitably so."
  13713. >She pauses.
  13714. >"Which is where the second step comes into play. Their augmentations."
  13715. >Another pause.
  13716. >"The augmentations of the princesses are enhanced custom designs, adapted to the unique physiology of the sisters."
  13717. >The stallion nods and #deca.mare goes on.
  13718. >So far, so clear.
  13719. >"But there is more to them than a simple functional adaptation. One component is also tasked with an ongoing procedure to keep the princesses healthy and free from aging effects."
  13720. >Sky Squall blinks in silence, clearly unable to imagine how this is supposed to work.
  13721. >So #deca.mare gives him more details.
  13722. >"The concept is not so difficult to explain. Do you remember what we told you about nano-machines?"
  13723. >He does.
  13724. >"Sure. The tiny things that maintain our bodies."
  13725. >The Pegasus takes a breath.
  13726. >"Their active operations are limited to the non-organic parts of us though. They can measure the heartbeat and such, but they don't hold any sway over the health of a pony."
  13727.  
  13728.  
  13729.  
  13730.  
  13731. >#deca.mare nods.
  13732. >"You are right in general, Sky."
  13733. >The stallion slowly grasps what #deca.mare is alluding to.
  13734. >"But the Royal Sisters are an exception to the rule, I assume."
  13735. >Another nod.
  13736. >"Right. In their case, the network of the nano-machines does not merely monitor and maintain any mechanical components, or read vitals, it is capable of directly affecting the living cells too."
  13737. >Sky Squall appears to hold his breath for a second.
  13738. >"That's... how?"
  13739. >#deca.mare starts to smile.
  13740. >"By expanding the functionality of the system which coordinates the network."
  13741. >Another breath.
  13742. >"It works as follows: We provided the original system with a meticulous array of blueprints and technical details about the augmentations and their respective purposes inside a pony. Thus, its nano-machines can spot and repair most damages or other malfunctions on their own, right upon detection. An intervention is usually not necessary. The injuries in question would have to be grave for the network to struggle with them."
  13743. >She pauses yet again.
  13744. >"Now, the enhanced variant in the sisters has, on top of the already existing framework, also access to the genetic data of the princesses. It is aware of the entire genetic code of the two."
  13745. >#deca.mare keeps looking at the now quite captivated stallion as she goes on.
  13746. >"In short, this version of the system can scan their whole bodies for flaws in their genetic material and prompt the necessary repairs."
  13747. >Sky Squall is stunned for a second, but eventually manages to overcome the notion.
  13748. >"You mean these machines can heal organic parts too?"
  13749. >#deca.mare considers to nod for a second, but decides against it in the very next moment.
  13750. >"Indirectly. The nano-machines do not do it themselves, but they rather make the body alter the genome back to its original, and optimal, state. It causes, in a way, a controlled reverse mutation."
  13751. >Sky Squall still looks at her intently and speaks up.
  13752. >"Or, in a word, immortality."
  13753. >He ponders on his last comment for a second.
  13754. >"Bodily immortality, I mean. Their minds are safe anyway."
  13755. >#deca.mare partially agrees with the conclusion of the Pegasus, albeit somewhat hesitantly.
  13756. >"At least as close to 'immortality' as a proxy can get. Age and wear are no longer an issue, but some of the usual risk factors still apply, of course. For instance, the princesses are very resistant, yet not immune to physical damage. Dependencies on food and water obviously remain as well."
  13757. >A pause.
  13758. >"And now, our proxies benefit from the same improvements. Minus the physical advantages of the Alicorn anatomy, as you can see."
  13759. >You can virtually read in Sky Squall's expression that he is trying to conceptualise what #deca.mare is telling him.
  13760. >"I figure this must've been difficult to achieve."
  13761. >#deca.mare smiles warmly.
  13762. >"Yes, and no."
  13763.  
  13764.  
  13765.  
  13766.  
  13767. >Then she chuckles.
  13768. >"Designing the specialised nano-machines that are capable of such a feat was not an easy act. The development process could fill a series of expert books."
  13769. >A pause.
  13770. >"But the implementation of these machines was, in comparison to the development, almost trivial."
  13771. >Sky Squall tilts his head.
  13772. >"You mean in the case of the princesses? Or in yours?"
  13773. >#deca.mare grins again.
  13774. >"Both, more or less. The former was a breeze. Our proxies required a few additional refinements to be compatible with the new type of nano-machines though. This was not hard either, but it required a little bit of extra work."
  13775. >#deca.mare inhales deeply.
  13776. >"Still, it paid off. Our efforts gave us some useful additional insight on top of their primary benefits."
  13777. >Sky Squall remains curious.
  13778. >"What kind of insight?"
  13779. >A moment of silence follows before #deca.mare responds.
  13780. >"On the first steps of what we have to do to make this kind of technology compatible with other organisms. It is, in part, a form of field test. One in a tightly controlled environment and with a fairly easy execution, but a practice test nonetheless."
  13781. >#deca.mare pauses yet again.
  13782. >"You must understand, we have not conducted this project merely because we were so attached to this pair of proxies. It is nice to preserve these bodies even though we could replace them, but all of this work is intended to, hopefully, lead to something far more important."
  13783. >The expression of the Pegasus makes it very clear to both of you that he wants to hear more.
  13784. >And #deca.mare sighs before she gives the Pegasus exactly what he wants.
  13785. >"It is my, no, our hope to use these machines to..."
  13786. >She takes another long breath as she glances over to you.
  13787. >"... preserve Anon without the necessity of a cryo unit."
  13788. >Sky Squall blinks.
  13789. >"Uhm..."
  13790. >#deca.mare speaks up when the Pegasus fails to say anything.
  13791. >"If you think about it, the theory behind the idea is not so far-fetched. The genetic structures of all living beings on Equestria base, at least loosely, on terran life. And the fundamental components of said genes are precisely the same in both Equestrian and terran life forms."
  13792. >Another breath.
  13793. >"As such, the basic pieces we require are already in place. We have the technological proficiency, and we know for a fact that it is applicable to terran genetics."
  13794. >The Pegasus eyes #deca.mare sceptically.
  13795. >"You know this field isn't my forte, but judging from what I've gathered so far, you make this sound way too easy. I can't imagine the solution is so simple. Especially not after the fuss you made about finding a way."
  13796. >She shakes her head.
  13797. >"I never claimed it would be easy. On the contrary, this is indeed much harder than our 'practice test' with the proxies."
  13798.  
  13799.  
  13800.  
  13801.  
  13802. >She inhales deeply.
  13803. >"For instance, when I created our bodies, all of them, I shaped the respective physiological baseline with the explicit usage of augmentations and nano-machines in mind. Our bodies are practically made for bearing them."
  13804. >Another pause.
  13805. >"This was a premise right from the start. The augmentations are, figuratively speaking, a 'natural' part of the ponies. And in the case of our two proxies here, I merely had to expand the range of compatibility. But the essential capacities to do this were already present."
  13806. >#deca.mare sighs.
  13807. >"Anon does not possess this ability, however. In fact, he is at a disadvantage."
  13808. >Sky Squall raises an eyebrow.
  13809. >"How so?"
  13810. >You take over.
  13811. "Because this kind of tech is foreign to my physiology, Sky. We can't just implement these things and be done with it. My body could try to repel the machines, and if that were to happen, the side effects would be, well, bad."
  13812. >He nods faintly.
  13813. >"And no means to circumvent that?"
  13814. >You take a breath.
  13815. "No realistic ones, at least. Unless you suggest we suppress my entire immune system."
  13816. >The Pegasus blinks.
  13817. >"No... that wouldn't be sound."
  13818. >Not to mention that #deca.mare would flat out refuse that option in any case.
  13819. >You grin.
  13820. "That's the irony. We can program a whole swarm of these machines to preserve my genes, but we can't get them in yet. Not without the risk of doing more harm than good."
  13821. >The stallion comes up with another question as you mention that.
  13822. >"But you have programmed some to do so already, just in case?"
  13823. >You nod.
  13824. "Oh, sure. A long time ago, even. #deca has analysed my genome ever since she took the first blood sample from me. That was the true first step of her work. The list of subsequent intermediate steps has grown pretty long over the years, but feeding some machines with my genome was one of the earlier ones. As you said, just in case."
  13825. >You pause.
  13826. "We'll keep working on this to find a way though. We are far from being done here, and if you have any ideas, we're open to suggestions too."
  13827. >You look at #deca.mare.
  13828. "Right, #deca?"
  13829. >She gives you a nod.
  13830. >"Always. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes can see something that we miss."
  13831. >Sky Squall blinks.
  13832. >"You think this is likely?"
  13833. >#deca.mare shrugs.
  13834. >"Perhaps not likely."
  13835. >Then she smiles.
  13836. >"But it is not impossible."
  13837. >A moment of silence follows until #deca.mare speaks up again.
  13838. >"Anyway, shall we go? The main hall is not the most comfortable place to have a discussion."
  13839. >Which is true, even in comparison to the relatively modest living standards on the ship.
  13840. >The three of you head for the crew quarters at a slow, yet calm pace.
  13841. >And as you casually walk through the short corridor, you decide to return to your original question.
  13842. "And, Sky? Have you come to a decision already?"
  13843. >Sky Squall looks at you.
  13844. >"You mean whether I want the adjustments myself?"
  13845.  
  13846.  
  13847.  
  13848.  
  13849. >You nod, and the Pegasus considers how to respond.
  13850. >He takes a deep breath before he raises his voice.
  13851. >"I see nothing that speaks against it. But... I'd rather wait for now. I don't want to make this decision without, you know, her. That wouldn't be right."
  13852. >You give him a second nod.
  13853. "That's understandable. Though I think Firefly will agree as well."
  13854. >The stallion smiles faintly.
  13855. >"So do I. But I'll be patient until then regardless. We'll do it together."
  13856. >You mirror his smile and laugh.
  13857. "Romantic. I always knew you had a penchant for soft sentimental stuff."
  13858. >You notice that your little quip manages to slightly tickle his ego, albeit only for a second.
  13859. >Casually rolling his eyes with a smirk on his face is all that you get out of him.
  13860. >Sky Squall is fully aware that you tried to poke him with this jest.
  13861. >Oh well, it was worth a try.
  13862. >You go on.
  13863. "Jokes aside, it's all good, Sky. We're in no hurry here."
  13864. >You continue your short walk to the living quarters.
  13865. >It is Sky Squall who speaks up next, just a few seconds later.
  13866. >"Hey, Anon."
  13867. >You turn your head to the stallion again.
  13868. "Yeah?"
  13869. >He pauses and just barely stifles a wide grin.
  13870. >"Does the Alicorn thing come with a suitable title?"
  13871. >You blink as you come up with a response to this not quite so serious question.
  13872. "Hm... I mean, kind of, but not necessarily. The connotations of Alicorns and royal titles go hand in hand in Equestria these days. Unless you're talking about the families of the old Unicornia royalty, they're almost interchangeable. Yet it's all nevertheless, technically and objectively speaking, a mere custom."
  13873. >You clear your throat.
  13874. "Or rather hooves than hands. I think you catch my drift though."
  13875. >Then you get an idea and laugh.
  13876. "And if we run with these customs as standard as well, I suppose we could call you a 'Per Mill Prince'. Or 'Prince Per Mill'?"
  13877. >Sky Squall exhales loudly, smiling in turn.
  13878. >"These don't sound very, well, titular."
  13879. >You shrug and keep grinning.
  13880. "They would still oversell the actual percentage of your Alicorn parts though. And widely so... "
  13881. >You fail to suppress a chuckle.
  13882. "... Your Marginal Majesty."
  13883. >The stallion snorts in amusement.
  13884. >"Alright, alright. Sky will do just fine."
  13885. >At this moment, #deca.mare speaks up.
  13886. >"How about captain?"
  13887. >Both of you look at her.
  13888. >"Come again?"
  13889. >#deca.mare now grins too.
  13890. >"Since you are about to play a vital role in the development of Equestria and learn the ropes of life in space, you could become a captain. A ship captain."
  13891. >She snickers.
  13892. >"You already have a lot of practical experience as a leader and organiser. The flight and navigational skills are more than sufficient too. You only need some additional technical expertise to qualify for the position. According to official terran customs, no less."
  13893. >Well, #deca.mare is obviously joking around, but her idea is not totally off.
  13894.  
  13895.  
  13896.  
  13897.  
  13898. >Sky Squall does have many decades of field practice under his belt, in several commanding roles on top of that, and his almost stellar track record speaks for itself.
  13899. >If he knew more about spaceships, he would indeed be a solid pick who would pass the respective learning modules and tests in a breeze.
  13900. >In theory, at least.
  13901. >You cough.
  13902. "I don't think the USC guidelines would allow a Pegasus to be in charge of a command bridge. No offence."
  13903. >Not that this would make a difference here anyway.
  13904. >And Sky Squall shrugs without a care in the world.
  13905. >"None taken."
  13906. >Then you inhale.
  13907. "Besides, you'd outrank me if you make it. And I can't have that."
  13908. >The stallion laughs.
  13909. >"Alright, that convinces me. What are the necessary courses?"
  13910. >You feign an annoyed grunt.
  13911. "Hey!"
  13912. >Sky Squall eyes you and gives you one of his challenging grins.
  13913. >"Don't be upset, Anon. Nothing stops you from doing the same. Maybe you're even faster than me. You have a head start, after all."
  13914. >You shake your head, still acting as if you were insulted.
  13915. "You really try to turn everything into a challenge, Sky."
  13916. >The golden Pegasus shrugs again.
  13917. >"But it works, doesn't it? Nothing is better than a little bit of friendly competition to drive everypony to do their best."
  13918. >#deca.mare chuckles again, a tad louder this time.
  13919. >"This is a good point. And it opens up a lot of... learning potential."
  13920. >You glance over to #deca.mare for a moment, then you look back at Sky Squall.
  13921. "Uh oh. Now you've done it."
  13922. >He tilts his head.
  13923. >"I did what?"
  13924. >You try to sound deadpan.
  13925. "You've given her ideas to get creative with."
  13926. >Another shrug.
  13927. >"Yes, and?"
  13928. >You fake a sigh.
  13929. "You'll see."
  13930. >Then you smile.
  13931. "Nothing is more unpredictable than #deca when she gets creative."
  13932. >This gets another chuckle out of her.
  13933. >"And you love it, Anon. You cannot deny this."
  13934. >Now it is you who shrugs casually.
  13935. "Well, yeah. That's true."
  13936. >#deca.mare and you look at each other and laugh as the three of you enter the side corridor, raising the total number of the current residents in the living quarters by one.
  13937. >Relatively soon in the future, this number will increase yet again when the magenta counterpart of your golden friend joins your ranks as well.
  13938. >It is almost as if you have a small motley crew gathering on board.
  13939.  
  13940. End Part Six

Shape Your Home, Part 1

by Ponegreen

Shape Your Home, Part 2

by Ponegreen

Shape Your Home, Part 3

by Ponegreen

Shape Your Home, Part 4

by Ponegreen

Shape Your Home, Wasteland 'Survival' Game Side Story

by Ponegreen