…
“Well, did you find the thestral from the market?” I caught up with Pinkie and unobtrusively pulled her away from the group as we, with Twilight, Spike, and Rarity joining us, headed out of town to find a cozy grassy clearing. “Nope!” She smiled. “She’s a spy after all, it’s hard to find her! But it’s nothing — no one has gotten away from Pinkamina Diana Pie!” “I hope so…” I mumbled thoughtfully. “Pinkamina is your full name, yeah?” “Yep…” The mare darkened a bit. “It’s beautiful, but I don’t like it a bit, honestly. Strict, as mother and father, and hard, as the life on a stone farm. And it seems to have something… Frightening.” I rubbed my forehead with a wing thoughtfully. “Yes? I like it. Lady Pinkamina.” I said as if tasting it. “Just add an expensive outfit, jewelry, straighten the mane — and this is it.” Pinkie clearly lost her pace a bit. “But it wouldn’t be me.” She panted after a few seconds quietly and thoughtfully. “No this funny and curly Pinkie, but cold and isolated Pinkamina.” “You’re giving too much importance to the look.” I chuckled. “Is someone not satisfied with her look?” Fixing her mane pictorially, Rarity started to go next to the other side. “No wonder, because what kind of look can we talk about if there is no dress to complement and emphasize it, and some wear tasteless armor for a walk instead?” She looked at my cuirass with clear reproach. “Yeah, Pinkie just said her full name.” I chose to let the remark pass my ears: pfft, like she understands it! “I thought a straight mane and some sort of expensive outfit would go well with it.” “Pinkamina…” Rarity prolonged, as if tasting it, examining the cautious earthpony closely. “You know, there’s something in it… It must be formal, elegant… Color… Should try azure — it goes well with the eyes… Yeah… Pinkie, it really can be a good thing! How about stopping by me this week?” The unicorn proposed this to her with burning eyes. I sent the slightly dazed pastry chef an apologetic look. Put her in a tight spot for nothing… “Again standing and not twisting, yeah?” She sulked frustratingly. “It’s so boring! But also I can fit many-many beautiful outfits…” The pink pony dove into the suffering of choice. “I don’t think anything will come of your idea, Rar, but at least we’ll have a good time together all day as friends! I agree!” “Nice, dear! Then let’s meet tomorrow, after lunch?” “No-no-no, not tomorrow! Tomorrow I have…” I slowed my pace, letting the excitedly talking mares lead the way. That was… unexpected. Man, how could Pinkie take the idea of half a day of fitting positively? That’s… A-a… These mares are strange none the less… Shaking my head in confusion and adjusting a bit loose bags on my chest with a move, I quickened the pace to not be left behind entirely. In fact, now that they were all together, it was interesting to see how they differed from one another. Applejack was a worthy sister to her brother — half a head taller than the others, but still leaving the impression of a stocky figure. Strong legs, broad chest, and her muscles were pretty serious under her fur. Pinkie was shorter, generally shallower, and did not give that impression of massiveness. Surprisingly, the pastry chef was quite slim and fit. The fattest in the company, unexpectedly, was Twilight! There was no belly and no lines on it, of course, but the overall roundness and streamlined shape gave that impression. Soft, I guess… I’ll have to give her a hug sometime. Rarity was thinner, slimmer, and a little taller. And Fluttershy, to my surprise, was only smaller when compared to Applejack, and noticeably taller than the others. Long thin legs, a graceful neck… noticeable muscles. She also had the biggest eyes of all… Fluttershy blinked frightened and hastily hid behind her mane. I looked away: I’m just standing here and gawking at her, damn it… Actually, while I was looking around, it looked like we have arrived, and now Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, and Spike were setting the “table. Twilight, carefully pretending that she was just thinking, was puffing away tiredly and clearly trying to stand up so that she didn’t put a strain on her legs. “Citizen-sitter”, I chuckled. Flutty, demoralized by my intense gaze, tried to be transparent. “I’m sorry, I just fixed my eyes.” I smiled with lips only as I came a little closer, and I couldn’t help myself: “Your beauty is comparable only to your kindness, o, cute Fluttershy! I couldn’t look away…” Even though it was mostly as a joke, but I didn’t lie. The pegasus is really beautiful. “…!” She squeaked in her mane, rapidly turning red. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed, darling!” Rarity joined me. “With a figure like that and these eyes, you should be modeling right away! You’re beautiful! You need to shine on the runway, not wear yourself out with hard work!” “Oh… N-don’t… I’d rather… Here…” somehow Flutty managed to squeeze out, blushing to the tips of her ears. “No one wants to demonstrate my dresses!” The unicorn sighed tragically, putting her wrist to her forehead in a gesture of despair, and glancing at me with a clear hint. “It’s sad to hear.” I nodded sympathetically. “It’s okay, there are lots of ponies, maybe…” “Hey, ladies! It’s all set! Please, come to the table!” AJ’s high-pitched voice interrupted our conversation. We were seated on a sun-drenched lawn, that overlooked the Canterlot Mountains, and I could even see Canterlot itself. Sandwiches and sweets dominated the tablecloth, which was filled with all sorts of goodies, but fortunately, Fluttershy’s pastries added to the mix: I liked the filling and tasty cabbage, carrot, and potato pies. There was freshly squeezed apple juice and two small bottles of apple cider for the drinks, supposed to be about the same strength as kefir. I don’t know how many degrees there are in cider, but it must not be more than seven. While I was eating the pies, mentally praising Fluttershy, the others were chatting more, trying to draw Twilight into the conversation as well. She hemmed, hummed and blushed and tried to figure out where to put herself, clearly feeling out of place in such simple conversations on mixed topics. In the end, the librarian, seizing a moment when no one was paying attention to her for a while, took a book out of her bags and immersed herself in reading, quickly becoming calm and enthusiastic as the pages rustled. I chuckled and glanced around at the others; unlike Twi, I wasn’t being pulled into the conversation so insistently. Now Applejack and Pinkie were discussing some kind of recipe — apples in caramel or something… Rarity and Fluttershy were enthusiastically remembering some new collection of clothes from some famous fashion designer from the capital. The unicorn, at the same time, posed for Spike, as if unintentionally. She turns this way and that way, she fixes her mane, she wags her tail… I glanced in the direction of the young dragon and could hardly contain my laughter: Spike is cooked. The unblinking gaze is fixed on Rarity, a silly grin on his face, and an empty sandwich clutched in his paws, jam dripping down his right paw and onto the tablecloth, where a solid stain has already formed. “Twilight!!!” An indignant Rarity’s exclaim distracted me from the dragon. “M? What?” She looked away from the book with ill-concealed displeasure. “Well-bred ladies don’t behave like this!” The white unicorn moved her brows. “We’ve gathered to be together, and you’re just reading!” “We-ell, yes… And?” Twi stared at the indignant designer blankly. “A-a…” Rarity couldn’t find the answer, still looking daggers at Twilight. “Rarity is right, Twilight.” Pinkie looked at the Princess’ student a bit sadly. “This way you’re showing, that the book is more important. As if we were something immaterial and unimportant to you…” The curly pony drooped. “But I!… But… But it’s!..” The unicorn rose up. “It’s not true, is it? Or… Or I’m… Or I’m such an awful friend!!!” She drooped in a moment. The ponies, who hadn’t expected such a reaction, stared at Twilight in incomprehension. I waited with interest for the situation to develop. “You’re a normal friend. You just don’t see the outer world behind these books.” Spike grumbled, hurriedly ending with his sandwich during this time and now is looking for a something to dry his paw. “And in general — nothing awful happened…” “It did! I’ve ruined everything again!” Drooping with her ears, Twi looked up at the assistant with her tear-filled eyes. “Now everyone will know what a bad friend I am and no one would be friends with me! I wouldn’t be able to study friendship and Princess would kick me out of the students! Wi… With sha-ame!” She sobbed with her nose. “I… It’s better for me to leave!..” At the dumbfounded silence of the others, the unicorn crookedly slipped her bags onto her back and, quickly shoving the book into one of them, dashed towards Ponyville, safely forgetting about the dragon. “Oh, I didn’t want to touch her feelings…” Rarity became sad. “What the hay! What’s gotten into her?..” Applejack pushed her hat back on the nape in bewilderment, and hurriedly got up and rushed after her. “Hey, Twi! ‘Wait! Where are you going?!” “Twilight, what are you talking about?” Pinkie swiftly passed me and joined the farmer. Rarity and Spike followed. As I glanced at Fluttershy, who was the last to join the chase, I surveyed the contents of the tablecloth and rubbed my hooves with pleasure. Well, you run there — a healthy thing to do. But this is all mine! I looked back and smirked, stealing the last potato pie from the Applejack’s bowl on the table, that has not yet been touched.…
Twilight was caught up and hugged after all, and, after wiping away her tears, they persuaded her to come back. Now she was slightly embarrassed, casting appreciative glances at her friends and drinking her juice gently, embraced on one side by Pinkie and on the other by Fluttershy. The picture was so adorable, that it was impossible not to smile while looking at it. Rarity was looking at it, too, and smiling; Spike, having hastily indicated his involvement for Twilight, again fixed his gaze at the white unicorn; Applejack… was looking at me with a strange expression. “Ya coulda asked.” The mare snorted quietly, noting my attention, pointing eloquently to her empty plate. “As if Rainbow wasn’t enough… What an amateur to grab everything without any knowing what thing belongs to who…” “Sorry. Fluttershy’s bakeries are too good.” I tried to smile innocently in answer, also making the pink-haired shyness blush again. “O! Applejack!” Pinkie rose up at the same moment as I answered. “You’ve been to Rainbow yesterday, haven’t you? How is she doing? I hope she will be in a better state soon!” “Yeah, tell us, please!” Rarity supported the pink pony. “We all are very worried about her!” “Yeah, “all”.” Farmer looked askew at me for a moment with disgust. I looked back indifferently, forcing the dissatisfied pony to look away quickly. Imagine — I’m not really worried about a sportswoman, getting at me because of her very high intellect, which made me had a few unpleasant hours because of her strike. It is surprising, isn’t it?” “Well, generally.” AJ continued, moving away from me a bit.” She’s bored out there. Says she almost got up, and she’s ready if not today — then tomorrow. But complained, that she’d be forbidden to fly some time for sure. And the house would have to be downed, for the time of her recovery… But our Rainbow is doin’ great, doesn’t lose her morale! And she was so happy 'bout somethin’ — damn, like a pig in a pool under the Sun!” I chuckled. Nice comparison. “Was braggin’ about having such a thing, that we all gonna burn with envy, but didn’t want to say it now. Said she would when she’s out of the hospital. Honestly — don’t even know what she’s talkin’ about… What the hay could she get, that it’s so good?” Lifting her hat, the farmer rubbed the forehead perplexedly. “It’s… It’s a gift of mine…” Twilight stared at the ground blushingly. “You know, I… She is there because of me, as it turned out… Well…I’ve gifted her the ticket for “Grand Galloping Gala”.” The unicorn summed up quietly, digging nervously with a hoof. “Sorry, please! I wanted to invite every one of you, I really did! But Princess Celestia gave me two tickets and I… It seems I’ve chosen only her…” The magician said wistfully, stooping. I couldn’t hold a smile. “Yeah… Understood.” AJ became surprised. “Nah, sugarcube, just don’t ya think we’re offended or somethin’, we understand it… But it’s of course a valuable gift, and every one of us would have been happy to have one…” The earthpony still couldn’t hold a quiet note of envy in her voice. “Then I’m happy!” Pinkie exclaimed with a wide smile. “I have an invitation too! Here!” The mare dipped her hoof into her mane, rummaged through it concentrically, got a perplexed expression on her face, and then, shining, removed her crocodile from her mane, clutching the familiar golden plate in its toothless mouth. “Yeah! Here it is!” The expressions on the faces of the surrounding ponies showed varying degrees of surprise and bewilderment. I couldn’t tell who was more surprised: Twilight and Applejack, who knew nothing, or Rarity and Fluttershy, who didn’t know either, but now must have something to think about. I, trying to keep a brick face, was inwardly enjoying what was going on. “Oh… As amazing as it is, I have to admit, I have an invitation, too…” The snowy unicorn squinted at me. “Yay! Nice!” Pinkie jumped. The eyes of the rest of the crowd got even bigger, and a smirk crept onto my face. I couldn’t keep a brick face anymore. “Mm… Well… I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but… I… happen to… have… an invitation, too…” The yellow pegasus, her face darkening nicely, dug with her hoof. “You too! Hurrah!” The chef jumped again. “But from where?!” Twilight yelled, not having even a clue. Applejack, for her part, stared dumbfoundedly into the void. The gazes of first the three mares, gifted with coveted tickets — and then the rest of the gathering — crossed over my satisfied smile. Ye-es!.. It was not for nothing that I gave them separately to each of them, and with a hint, saying, “You don’t have to tell me much.” I had returned relatively early from Canterlot and had enough time to go around everyone and did so in an evening, hoping to see the surprise of Twilight and the lucky girls themselves the next day… But for some reason, the unicorn acted as if she had not received any invitations from Tia… I see why now. “Nightmare, dear.” Rarity woke up first. “Thank you very much again, but… Why didn’t you say anything? I felt awful, thinking, that of everyone I’ll be the only one to come on that beautiful holiday!” “But the surprise was nice, wasn’t it?” I smiled with satisfaction. “Just great! So great, that “Yay”!” Pinkie jumped to me and hugged me tightly. “Thanks-thanks-thanks!” “Don’t mention it, lady Pinkamina.” I feigned — as far as it’s possible when laying and hugging someone fluffy — a ceremonial bow. “It wasn’t a big deal.” “Now you won’t forget that, yeah?” Pinkie darkened for a moment, however, in the next second, she made a formal face and said: “Nevertheless, lady Nightmare, let me show you my gratitude and assurances of my true friendship!” I chuckled. “I agree. It seems silly, when I am not me.” The chef giggled. “Don’t underestimate your acting talent!” Rarity insisted. Pinkie, hugging me one last time, moved over to her, quickly engaging in the discussion, and I was suddenly gingerly touched on the other side. “M-m… Nightmare, can?.. Well… Won’t I bother you much?.. I mean…” Fluttershy tried to be smaller under my gaze. “Don’t be shy.” I tried to cheer her up with a smile. “What’s that about?” “Well… Um… I feel really bad about asking and… Um… But, if it’s not too much trouble… Do you… Do you have another ticket?” The pegasus panted with a clear strain. “Just mine. I’ve had only four.” I answered, not completely understanding what she’s talking about. Something was at the edge of my mind, but I couldn’t hold this thought. “Oh… That’s sad…” Flutty darkened. “It means Applejack won’t have one…” Damn it. A vague guess finally took shape: I took tickets for three, expecting, that Twilight would have to choose between Dash and Jack, bringing the situation to the canonical, with a letter to Tia… And Twilight, out of guilt, immediately gave her invitation to Rainbow, who was in a hospital bed because of her screw-up. And, as a result, our pony in the hat was left out… “Hey… I’m happy, that my friends are that lucky and stuff…” Applejack tried to feign a smile. Forced completely: it was easily seen, how bad and painful it’s for her. “Okay, you… Have fun out there, I have things to do on the farm…” The harsh farmer dashed away a tear furtively. She got up slowly and, forgetting the basket, wandered sullenly away. There was a heavy, tense silence at the table. Twilight was digging at the ground with her hoof, Spike was running his eyes and scratching the back of his head in confusion, Rarity was biting her lip painfully, looking after her friend, and Fluttershy was hiding from the world under her wings and mane. Even Pinkie stared sullenly at the ground and sighed. No one was in a hurry to run and console AJ. What’s there to say? We have, and you don’t, and you won’t… I have a ticket. I glanced at the bags hanging on my shoulders. It’s the last one, but it’s not really necessary, after all. I wouldn’t get anything out of going to that circus. Applejack, really, neither… But it is, after all, her dream — even if she’s not entirely aware of the shortcomings of it. Well, yes, Applejack and I don’t get along very well — that makes sense. But she’s not a bad pony on the whole, and it’s… wrong to let her pass by a long-awaited and coveted holiday like that. And it’s sickening to look at the rest of them, too. Okay, fuck with these nobles, they’d be fine even without me. I got up with determination, and, under the bewildered glances of the four ponies and the dragon, I followed the farmer, who has her hat pulled down over her eyes and was walking slowly towards Ponyville. “Applejack!” I pulled her tail with telekinesis, quickly moved round her and stood before. “Let me go!” I was ordered under the hat dully. “Give me your hoof.” I unceremoniously grabbed hold of AJ’s front leg, forcing her to stretch out in front of me and twist her hoof upward. “Hey!” Finally, Applejack looked up, her green eyes gloomy with tears glistening in the corners of them. “Take it. You need it more.” I put the gold card from my bag onto her outstretched hoof, and without waiting for a reaction, I walked back. “I-ah… Wait!” AJ’s startled voice caught up with me a dozen seconds later. I stopped and turned to see the farmer, running after me. “Thanks and things, but…” She caught up to me, started to shy and, hesitating, stretched out a hoof with the ticket back. “Listen, I can’t take that. It’s yours, isn’t? You don’t have any left?” “Mine.” I nodded. “And I can do anything with it. Like wanting to give it to you, for example. Take it, don’t make things up.” I chuckled, turning around and coming back to the others without a hurry. “I’m just, like, an acquaintance to you… Not the best one… Why?” Pony caught up to me. “For me it’s a piece of paper, for you — a dream.” I moved with a wing. “And I don’t really want to see sad faces. If it suits you — I did it more for them than for you.” “Heck yeah, but I can feel it, that you’re doing that not just because of profit…” The earthpony stared at me with a long, thoughtful gaze. I shook my head silently, not knowing what to answer. Just… You’re a good pony, Applejack. And leaving you alone here would have been wrong — that’s it……
Upon my return, I received a small flurry of thanks from the worried mares and from Applejack herself, who finally gave up the idea of returning the invitation to me. And her cider was just the right thing to drink for the happy resolution of the situation, and then the picnic began to wind down. And just before leaving, I unexpectedly got an extremely insistent invitation from AJ to come down to her farm. I didn’t refuse: I just didn’t have any plans for the rest of the day, so now I was walking beside the farmer, who is walking almost like Pinkie — with leaps and jumps. “Thank ya again, Nightmare.” The earthpony turned to me, when we went far away from the place of the picnic and walked down a grassy path. “But I still feel awkward. How are you?..” “Anyhow.” I moved ming wings phlegmatically. “I can imagine what this event is — and I’m not interested in it.” “Not interested? But it’s Grand Galloping Gala!” The farmer clearly didn’t understand my position. “Typical nobles’ gathering.” I waved away. “Protocol conversations about weather, quiet orchestra, slow and complex dances — it’s just a mask for their underground affairs. The only thing of interest is a lavish buffet with a lot of exquisite delicacies, which you can’t taste anywhere. No solemn sacrifice to the glory of the Princesses, no bloody battles in the arena between the slaves captured in the raids, no festive orgy at the end… It is a dreary party. It’s no match for the past…” I rolled my eyes dreamily, “remembering” the good old days. Applejack lost her pace and stared at me with a savage look. “Ph-h!” I snickered, not being able to hold it, looking at her straightened face. “Joking, of course.” “Your jokes give me creeps.” The mare shivered. “Don’t joke like that, would ya? Not funny at all!” “Well, this is how I can.” I chuckled, earning an indignant look of the pony. For some time we walked in silence, the silence was broken only by the sound of our footsteps and birds, chirping around us. The path was crossed by two cows, who forced us to slow down: one was chewing intently, the other was… telling her something passionately, bursting into laughter at every word. I, for the umpteenth time, cringed my brain, feeling how this world was mocking me, throwing up all kinds of inadequate shit. I, for the umpteenth time, cringed my brain, feeling how this world was mocking me, throwing up all kinds of inadequate game. The cows… Chatting… As I followed the cows with a gaze slowly, I noticed another odd detail, that was supposed to be covered by magic… But no: both cows were showing off a large pink udder between their legs. “How?” I transferred my blank stare to the farmer. “They’re sentient, aren’t they?” “Wha? A, this…” AJ looked at the cows for a moment. “They are, of course. But not like ponies… Have brains to talk, but not to think.” She chuckled. “And their shown udders are a kind of custom or something… They don’t use the cover. It’s like, if you hide it, it means you’re ashamed, you haven’t grown anything. What kind of cow are you then? You’d be laughed at.” “Yeah…” Chuckling, I rubbed my forehead. “Cows aren’t the only ones that… Strange, sugarcube.” Applejack noted my chuckle. “Pony can be strange, too, y’know… You maybe haven’t heard that, but I had been living in Manehattan for a while — so much of these strange ones, you just can’t imagine!” “What, they’re walking around the streets without the cover?” I suggested as a joke. “Yep, right like that.” My companion nodded absolutely not joking, chuckling. “What is natural is not dirty!”, “Don’t avoid your natural beauty!” Pftt…” She sniffed. I chuckled with a loss. You know, it was a joke after all… Cursed Horses… “Not only that, by the way.” The mare continued as if nothing happened. “There’s fools, thinkin’, that the Moon and the Sun are moving themselves, and Princesses do nothing. These are, what’s they called?.. Vevotarians? Vegetarians. H-hay, don’t remember it… Like these ones, who don’t eat milk products! At all! Can you imagine that? No milk, no butter, no eggs — nothing! All as one, skinny, cheeks hollow, ribs visible, but all the same — “let’s not be like griffins and consume animal food!” I itched my brow with a shoe in prostration. Ponies-vegans. Life didn’t prepare me for this… “And these, the ones that “nothing to be ashamed of”, are just the most famous from the local fools. O, remembered! “Social movement” it’s called. In Manehattan there are as many as apples in the fall.” I had somehow thought, that such leisure time was more typical of the inhabitants of the capitals… However, how do I know, maybe it’s even worse in Canterlot?.. “And why?..” I asked the space rather rhetorically. “Who can tell?..” Applejack chuckled. “The good life’s gone to their heads, if you ask me — that’s the whole story. And yeah, we’ve come! Welcome to “Sweet Apple Acres”, Nightmare!” The farmer, not without pride, waved with her hoof at the apple orchards spread out before us in the lowlands, and a few vaguely familiar buildings. “I’ve been here, you know.” I chuckled. “Oh, “I’ve been, I’ve been”!” The earthpony waved away with a feeling. “Sorry, okay? I behaved myself back then like… A-a…” She didn’t find the words. “Not a big deal.” I emphasized a smile as a reply. “Your distrust was understandable for me personally.” “Yeah?” I was looked up with great, unhidden skepticism. “Even our Princess trusted you — only I looked like a fool around here… But you nearly hammered Dash and you know…” It looks like the pony with a hat dove into doubts again. I shook my head with a chuckle. “Do you have something between you and Rainbow?” A surprise question almost made me stumble. “I don’t have anything against her — as plainly as it is.” I oriented. I have serious doubts about farmer asking about affaire d’amour… So I think she’s interested in my attitude towards the painted one. And I don’t have any. “She ran into me — she got a blow, the question is closed. If she does more — she will get more. If she doesn’t — well, she won’t get more.” I shrugged with my wings, and, summing up, added. “By the way — it works with everyone. Except Fluttershy and, maybe, Celestia… She’s a hard one.” “No guess.” AJ sniffed, fixing her hat. “I’m not about what you have just thought.” I peered at her. “I just really can’t imagine a situation, in which she would run into me…” And why, if she just can look at me with a long, sorrowful gaze and sigh?.. Damn it, and how does she always nail it?..…
So, with a slow chat in the background, we arrived at the gate of the farm, where Applejack, after throwing off her bags, gave me a little tour, not without enthusiasm. She showed me the legendary volt-apples, the kind of tree that buzzes like a transformer, next to which the mane and tail stand up on end, and careless insects evaporate with the sonorous clicks of discharges, made an impression. The rest of the farm also looked impressive: a huge apple tree forest, a vast basement under the house filled with barrels, a corral with pigs… The latter, to my disappointment, were needed by the Apples not for meat but for… manure. The cows' one, of course, was, according to the farmer, much better, but the cow with its delicate mental organization could raise its horns for a request to share… Well, the pigs, which were not much different from the ordinary animals of the Earth, did not suffer from such abstruse high-mindedness — so they were used. Yeah… At least someone here didn’t have an opinion, or else the farms would die out because of endless agreements with cows, pigs, and even apple trees — who gets what and how much from whom… What a crazy world.…
“Mac, granny, I’m home!” Applejack soundly signaled our arrival: the farmer stubbornly insisted on introducing me to everyone. Why does she need it, huh?.. “Hi.” The red stallion said phlegmatically, looking out into the hallway and giving us an indifferent look. He’s a big fuckin' guy… Only a little shorter than me, but he’s as powerful as a tank. He was not pumped up, though he had plenty of muscle — he’s just huge in and of himself. Mac, meanwhile, saluted us with a hoof, turned and, swinging his croup, disappeared out the door, leaving me to think angrily and confusedly: how and why did I even notice the last thing?! Let you!.. Damn it!.. “M-m… Granny made some cakes…” AJ helped me to get back into the reality, stretching out her nose and rolling eyes dreamily. I reflexively sniffed after her. M-m… The picnic was a long time ago, right?..…
“Try some more strudel!” “No, thank you, I’ve had enough…” “Huh? Try strudel I say!” “Thanks, but no! I’ve had enough!” “Whaddya mean “enough”? Sitting here, with ribs being seen!” “And somehow no one noticed except you.” I muttered quietly, pushing my plate away with determination. Granny Smith seemed at first frightened of me and not at all happy to meet me… Until, a few minutes later, she found my ribs protruding, and I immediately turned from “terror flying on the wings of night” to “poor unfed mare”. Well… My ribs were noticeably bulging, of course, but comparing me to an anatomical guide? On the other hand, I weighed about half as much as Celestia did, at the same height… In any case, trying to fatten me up right now was doomed, but only the old green pony wasn’t embarrassed by such things… And it wouldn’t be such a problem if granny didn’t also cook so good… I looked around the table in puzzlement as I finished the rest of the pie. I listened half-heartedly to Applejack’s contented speech about the founding of Ponyville by her ancestors, while Big Mac chewed phlegmatically — as he did everything else — while trying not to look in my direction: the big guy had no emotions as a characteristic, but I could tell he was somewhat wary of me when I looked closely at him Apple Bloom, on the other hand, was staring at me all eyes, showing outright fear mixed with… admiration? Granny, in her turn, has so far switched from me to her: the little one hardly touched her food at all, and this did not go unnoticed. Oh… I have to go. While I still can… Pinkie hadn’t been able to tell me anything concrete about the thestrals, and I bet those vampires would have a lot of fun killing me if I ate too much now… Thinking about Luna servants ruined my mood immediately. By the way, I was thinking of trying to get information on them again tonight: maybe Twilight has something, that I wasn’t already familiar with… “Oh… Fine… Thanks a lot for the goods, it was matchless! But I think it’s time to go.” I stated my decision and started to get out of the table. I had to endure a small but hard fight with grandma, and, in the end, I managed to escape Granny Smith’s hooves with a promise to stop by again sometime, trying to put the big slice of pie this grandmother had handed me on the way. Saying goodbye to everyone again, I walked out in the street, feeling my belly lift my wings and seem to rub against my knees when I walk… “Sorry about that.” Applejack caught up to me. “Grandma can be sometimes…importunate.” “Not a big deal. Cutest mare.” I chuckled. “But I have to visit you less often, or a belly, dragging on the ground, will destroy all my reputation.” “Sorry for sincerity, sugarcube, but your reputation will not be worse already.” The farmer examined me. “Easy talk.” I insisted. “Will get fat, kind, get a cute dress — and it definitively would.” AJ sniffed — I think she tried to imagine that. “You’re a strange one…” She concluded after a few seconds of silence. “I cannot understand why you think, that when everyone fears you it’s a good thing…” “We are all strange ones in our own way.” I noticed philosophically. “And still: why do you think like that? I want to understand.” The orange mare didn’t want to leave me alone. “Why…” I sighed. Got a grip on me, damn it… “Because those, who are afraid, see only my reputation in me. And those, who can see me behind it, are not afraid. Like Pinkie, like Rarity… Like you now, maybe. And… I have to go, I think. Goodbye.” “See you there…” Applejack said slowly, when I was already a dozen of meters away. I shook my head silently and hastened the pace. You’re not a bad pony, Applejack, just sometimes too curious… Interesting thing — would we get along or not… Anyway, the first step is done. But do I need it?..…
“N-nightmare! Can I speak to you? I t-think it’s to you…” The worried unicorn’s voice sounded below. What the hell is over there?! Putting the book aside with a sigh, I moved to the stairs reluctantly. Twilight was found next to the entrance, nervously examining the frontal door. “What?” The mare shivered from my voice. “Came… To you, I guess… Said, that they would outside…” She explained confusedly. To me? Guests, yeah… When night came down. “Who?” “Thestrals…” Fuck. “Many?” “I don’t know…” Damn it! Luna has sent a team of liquidators! And what a fighter I am now… “Why do they need me — did they say it?” I moved towards the stairs quickly. The unicorn trotted after me. “I think they want to be assured, that you’re alive. Well, as far as I understood it…” Yeah. Be assured, that alive and end this mistake. Fuck it, we’ve got problems… Got the armor quickly. Hissed as my mane snagged on my helmet again. Head was blank. I think there’s even less chance of escaping than there is of defeating them. If it makes sense to think about it at all, with negative values for both the first and the second… For the tenth time, checking the armor fasteners and latches, I burst out angrily. Enough stalling! What’s the use? I went out onto the balcony, took a deep breath, jumped over the railing, and gently glided to the ground. Well… I tried. The armor made a difference: I almost lost my balance. The hasty landing was louder than I would have liked — on the road, with a distinct clang of hooves on the stone instead of a relatively quiet landing on the grass, a few meters further… “This is she!..” Fucking hell! Spotted me, freaks! You can say goodbye to the at least attempt of the first hit “It’s really she!” Turned sharply to the voice. The firefly is on stand-by: it should be especially effective in the darkness, the only thing I must do is to close my eyes faster enough. “The Great, is it you?” The owner of the voice approached suspiciously and cautiously a bit. Yellow eyes with a narrow pupil, purple armor, purple, almost colorful hair, big fluffy ears. The wings are folded, but it is clear without a word — they are webbed. It… It doesn’t seem like an attack… Looked back. I glanced up, remembering about the wings — seems clear for me. What are they trying to do? Wait. I’m a fool! What’s the use of my body for Luna right now? She would have to pin Tia’s death on someone! These bastard want to get me alive! Meanwhile, the approaching stallion was quickly and quietly joined by a few more bats with wings. Six in all. Considering, that I can imagine their capabilities very poorly, and they mine — thanks to the spies — quite well, it’s the end. But you won’t get me alive, you bastards! “It’s a pity Luna sent so few of you, bastards… You can’t make a big pyramid out of six heads.” I grinned crookedly. “Well, come on! Come closer! Who is eager to drop dead first?!” Pointless bravado. I probably won’t get more than two. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try! A bloodthirsty grin came out of my face by itself, and pure adrenaline ran through my body instead of blood. The thestrals stopped. I looked around again, searching for a possible approach from the side. I don’t see anyone… Bastard. “Mistress Nightmare Moon?” The same stallion asked somewhat hesitatingly. “Heck no, Princess Celestia!” I chuckled nervously. “Are you picking on me or Luna just didn’t even depict the look of the one you’ve come to kill?” “To kill?!” The mouse with wing rounded his eyes very naturally. “Yeah. Keep saying, that you’ve come just to call me for a picnic.” I chuckled. But the thestrals' behavior was still questionable: they didn’t try to approach or surround me, they stood still… And were they waiting for the second squad to attack me in the back? Or weren’t they?.. “How much of you are here?” “Half a dozen, Mistress. Everyone is before you.” The purple pony bowed shortly. “I, Silent Charge, and the other warriors of the Eclipse Wing swear by the light of the stars, that we have no malice against you, and that our intentions towards you are purely peaceful. May the Night be a witness to our oath!” Thestral bowed in a special way. “We swear!” The others affirmed in unison, bowing in the same manner. We stared at each other. Silently. Take for granted? I may be an idiot, but I’m not that stupid… On the other hand, these are not human beings, and this is not Earth, where only a document had weight, and verbal agreements were the preserve of close friends and relatives… “I don’t know such an oath. How should I know this is not a trap?” I narrowed my eyes, examining the leader of the thestrals watchfully. “Especially after you spying on me.” “We weren’t spying.” He shook his head. “Mountain Dew went to this town just to check on the rumors of your return.” “I’m sorry if I made you nervous. I didn’t mean for it to be that way.” A nearby thestral spoke up. “As for the oath… I’m afraid I have nothing to offer but my word.” Silent moved with his wings. “Ask me, if you have questions. I’ll answer. Maybe this would persuade you in our peaceful intentions?” A good thought. “What is your connection to Princess Luna? I thought every thestral serves to her.” “No. So far, only a few wings have officially sworn to her: Star Cover, Night wind, Moon Shield, Mountain Guardians, and a few others. The news of her return has reached us, too.” The stallion nodded. “But… It wasn’t Luna, who led us in that — alas, fateful — battle for our future. That alicorn’s name was Nightmare Moon. And it was she, that my distant ancestors followed.” “You know it was, in fact, the same alicorn, right?” I narrowed eyes. “I know. One body — two souls. It’s written in our legends.” “And you decided to choose the losers’ side?” I was surprised. “You exist only because of Luna!” I don’t understand… “Yes. And we’re thankful to her for it. But still… She did nothing to give us any decent place in this life. Thanks to her, we lived, but we were nothing. And you, unlike her, had the courage to speak out against this state of affairs.” “It didn’t end well.” “Unfortunately, the queen was stronger then.” The thestral nodded somberly. “But now that she’s relaxed…” He didn’t finish meaningfully. “She has Luna and part of your clans… wings on her side.” I insisted. Not that I had any plans for Tia, but it was interesting to hear suggestions on the subject. “On her side?” Thestral chuckled. “Our Mother, unfortunately, does not care enough about her children to go out against the Fury of the Sun, but she is not on her side. She is on her side: sitting back and waiting for things to get better on their own!” “Hold your disrespect to the Great Mother, Silent!” One of the thestrals interrupted their commander. “The fact, that she did not go against her sister, even if evil and oppressive, does not cheapen her Action for our sake!” “I’m not going to discuss it with you again! Especially now!” The stallion replied sharply. “Sorry for this scene, mistress.” He turned to me with a bow. “I see, you still respect Luna… To some extent.” I tilted my head sideways thoughtfully. “But you think, that she’d not help Celestia, right?” “Right…” Thestral scowled, trying to understand my thought. Do I even need the thestrals’ service? On the one hand, yes, it certainly wouldn’t be unnecessary. These guys would be far more willing to be teachers and instructors in various areas of interest to me than ponies. They would my own scouts, architects, fighters and blacksmiths. Living with such a rear, I suppose, would be much more peaceful and fun. Especially since the thestrals catch and eat fish. M-m… On the other hand, the bats clearly have certain plans for me and, accordingly, will count on my fulfillment of certain obligations. And it is doubtful, that they will stand for long neglecting them… They will be disappointed and, at best, throw me out under snow, or even stab me at night and bury me in a ravine… In any case, my reputation among them after this will be below the plinth. I won’t go against Tia: I don’t need to. And they, since they respect Luna, though not all, and not always, will not go against her. In that case, I shouldn’t trust them at all, especially since I won’t get much use or help from an alliance against the blue horse… Or will I? “You may have noticed, that I thought you were Luna’s killers, coming for my head. Must I explain, that an alliance with me will automatically make you her enemies? Her and those of you, who have joined her?” Charge froze like a statue, staring through me. I chuckled quietly, turning my gaze to the pony formation behind him: the other mousewings, by and large, reacted the same way. As was to be proved… Judging by their words, it was unlikely they’d be willing to go against Luna out in the open. In fact, they probably don’t need to. These fellows would be more trouble than good. Though I could use some help, of course… I don’t know. I don’t trust them. “But… Isn’t it more important, that we strike the Queen now?” The stallion hastily suggested that as he got back in reality. “Then what?” I chuckled. “And then war with Luna: don’t you think, that I’ll forgive her betrayal and stab in the back, do you? And how many of you are ready to go against her?” “Betrayal?..” Charge asked again with a loss. “But you… In the legends…” He looked around helplessly at his subordinates, as if looking for support, but they were not at their best as well. “Why?!” Mountain Dew spoke up in a cracked voice. Damn it, didn’t even notice when she came closer… “You… You’re parts of the same whole!.. How can you fight each other?.. It’s… It’s wrong…” It’s better to shoot myself than being a part of such whole!.. I’m not going to fall to Luna’s level! “Go explain it to Luna.” I advised, narrowing eyes gloomily. “It was her idea to rule and not share. One small issue: I just didn’t want to silently die for some reason!” I looked around at the silent thestrals, feeling a deep irritation spreading inside me. “My word: either you swear an oath to me, and then you go all the way, or you refuse, get out of here, and never show your face again. So?” I froze in place, gazing intently into the eyes of the mousewings one by one. They looked at each other with a loss, looked away hastily, someone was staring at the ground… “We…” Charge paused uncertainly, speaking. “I mean, thestrals… We fought for a long time because we couldn’t… Because we thought one or the other of your incarnation was more true. That was… That was our mistake. Both are true, equal in value… Though we have different views of them… We won’t dare to choose sides, Great. No thestral would.” He shook his head, looking to his feet. “Then I won’t keep you any longer.” I pointed at the night sky demonstratively. “Forgive us, Great… We can’t… It’s like choosing between cutting off your left wing or your right…” The dejected thestral commander squirmed. “Forgive us… And farewell.” Charge stepped aside, and the thestrals, indecisive and talking briefly about something with frowning faces, flapped their wings and silently disappeared into the darkness. Well… At least they would not support Luna… Although that’s what I want to believe. But should they be trusted? Certainly not. If really, this “enemy within” guy like me should not trust anyone here, but… Pinkie, Rarity… Twilight, to some extent… Am I making a mistake?..