The Prophecy

«…So, to sum up: this week, virtually all the local guards, with whom I had the honor to share sleeping places, managed to get used to me; they feed me quite well and even treat me with understanding, and Dark managed to become... no, not a friend yet, but a good buddy — I still know him too little, and he is he also understands» I was thinking about this as I lay in bed after the next lights out. In general, life was going well. Nobody bothered me much, didn't touch me, and they even fed me in the communal dining room. But I just didn't fully understand what was behind all this. After all, they obviously weren't going to let me out of the barracks too far and for a long time, and I was constantly under the supervision of the princess's guards. Everything else was carefully hidden from my eyes and ears. What is Celestia up to? Whose side is the moon on? And what awaits me in the future? That's what worries me the most. However, I did not remain completely in the dark. From the stories of the guards, I learned that Equestria does have a state-sponsored church of the «Solar Goddess Celestia», which, to put it mildly, angered me, because I also understood from the same conversations that the ministers of this faith are ardent fanatics. I just hate such people fiercely from Earth — even to the point of trembling in my limbs, although I had to hide my dissatisfaction with this — Celestia had eyes and ears all around. I was never able to meet Shining. He disappears somewhere all the time, although I guess he has «urgent business». The barracks is now run by his deputy, an earth pony named Blue Sky. I was also able to find out that according to some rumors, the Six began their turbulent activities in Ponyville. Twilight barely fought off her friends, who demanded that she give them a ticket to the Galloping-Gala. But it was still seven months before him, at least. But so far I have not been able to find out anything more. If you think about it that way, then the situation is in accordance with the canon. I also learned how to walk normally and handle the unicorn's body, although it was terribly unusual at first. At the same time, I learned how to adequately take objects with hoof kinesis, but so far I have not used magic in any way. I can't even move anything, let alone anything more. «It feels like I'm an ordinary earth pony, not a unicorn», — I thought with annoyance and sighed, — «But I hope that it will be possible to deal with this problem. All you have to do is leave the barracks and get out from under the eyes of the guards» With these thoughts, I fell asleep.

***

I found myself in the middle of a space surrounded on all sides by dense, dense fog. Instead of a floor, there was a sheet of water below me, which reflected everything with astronomical accuracy as if it were made of a liquid mirror. But I did not observe the bottom, although my paws went only ankle-deep into the water. I am here again in the guise of a dragon, and at first I breathed a sigh of relief, rejoicing, but then I remembered that this was just a dream, and the exultation was replaced by a slight sadness. Suddenly, a young, melodious voice was heard from somewhere to the side. — Our Savior, helloºᵉ! — Who is thisᵉ? — I looked around warily, but I didn't see the interlocutor. — You know us by our title and name, Stevrian Anlasºᵉ, — This time a voice came from behind. — The kingdom of dreams is your destiny, right, Princessᵉ? — I asked, guessing everything. I was right: it was the moon. She came out of the fog right in front of me and smiled lightly. — You don't have to use our titleºᵉ. I examined the dark blue mare from top to bottom and noticed that she had noticeably increased in height since our last meeting that night, and now she was equal to the average stallion. I suppose that was a good thing? — Then how should I address myselfᵉ? — I asked her. — Just the Moon, we won't mindºᵉ. — Okay, Luna, why are you...ᵉ — I wanted to ask a question, but she raised her hoof up, urging silence, and then said: — We know who you are, where you came from and what you went throughᵉ, — she turned to me with a sad note in her voice, — Our sister must not find out your secrets, otherwise you will have problemsᵉ. My eyes widened in surprise, and I sat down on the «floor» in surprise, noisily spraying the space around yourself. «DOES SHE KNOW? DOES SHE KNOW?! HOW? Okay, calm down…» — I thought feverishly, shaking my head, — «I really hope that there is no portal to the human world here and no one guesses that I am a popadanets from the Earth… It's kind of fucked up.… What a nightmare it would be if it all came out. It will be strange and may have sad consequences for me, up to the point of turning back into a human.… Into this decrepit, sickly organic body, which is hideously frail and unpleasant to me. Not this one.…» The Moon, as if sensing my thoughts, came up to me. — We know that this realization is unpleasant for you, but believe me, — she put a hoof on her chest, — we did not follow youᵉ. — Then how do you know thisᵉ? — that's all that the trembling lips could say. — When we were captured by Nightmare Moon, we saw your... battle with her, — She emphasized the word «battle», — But when our eyes met, we were able to read your memoryᵉ. I tensed up even more. Already the wings trembled and goosebumps went down my back. — How much have you learnedᵉ? — I asked dryly, but still surprised. — Everythingᵉ. It was like I was suddenly doused with cold water. I staggered and pulled away from her, clutching my claws in my palms. I didn't feel any pain, but I could feel them cutting into the scales, scratching it. «What should I do now? Is... is everything gone?». — Don't worry, we won't tell anyone about your pastᵉ, — The princess of the night smiled, — You are who you areᵉ. Don't worry about itᵉ. Admittedly, this did not make me very happy, but at least it made me feel better. I slowly raised my head and looked questioningly at the Moon. — Let it be our secretᵉ, — I said. She nodded. — And about your sisterᵉ, — Luna finally got to the point, — She started digging under you to find out who you are and where you come fromᵉ. — And what should I doᵉ? — I got up from the floor and frowned a little. «Oh, that old white nag. I don't like her for her maximalism. Even now it does not give rest». — Nothing yetᵉ, — The dark blue alicorn assured with a smile, — We'll make sure you get a plausible backstoryᵉ. «Well, that's great. Just fine. I know who my enemy is and that they are digging under me. What should I do now? I can't even fight properly — I've never really been able to or learned how to do this. Not to mention studying history and gaining knowledge». I sighed and closed my eyes for a second. All these popadans, finding themselves in a new world, usually begin either to train hard, or to gain unprecedented knowledge. Of course, the authors of such popadans see themselves in them, and, of course, they always succeed… But the reality was far from ideal, and I had to face such difficulties that no popadanets would want to meet. Namely, the language barrier and the lack of knowledge about the Equestrian alphabet and writing. — What about physical training? Knowledge of the local world, geography, history and the rest? I can't even read and write in the local language," I honestly admitted. — I honestly confessed. Luna smiled sadly in response. — You will have access to the castle library, but only to the regular wing, and not before a weekᵉ, — She assured, — The soldiers will provide you with physical trainingᵉ. Just ask them — they won't refuseᵉ. «I want to believe that she will be right. But for now…» — Why is your sister so mad at me anywayᵉ? — I asked, tilting my head to the side. — She... didn't think that youᵉ, — Luna pointed at me, choosing her words carefully, — Would help usᵉ. Besides, she really thinks that you are a dark magician and influenced our mindsᵉ. — A fair accusationᵉ, — I growled softly, frowning, — The elements did not affect me in a particularly pleasant way, and I do not know whyᵉ. — And how did they affect youᵉ? — The mare came closer. — They almost burned me alive because I was too close to the epicenter of the magic wave and didn't have time to hideᵉ. I was just singed from head to toeᵉ. Did you see thatᵉ… — Your power is not in magic, much less in the darkᵉ, — She interrupted me, shaking her head. — And what was that aboutᵉ? — You know the reason perfectly wellᵉ, — She replied calmly, — Your power, which you call «psionics», if we pronounced it correctly, was corrupted by the so called Voidᵉ, — The Moon told me, which confirmed my long-standing thoughts about myself. «Void, then». — I took a deep breath. — «That's why I was constantly fooled with my theories by acquaintances, then just in various literature and games. Void, Void... a force that is scarier than demons. In a nutshell, it is a kind of force that lives in the subspace between the worlds and devours energy. It was the most terrifying and inflexible force that the universe had ever encountered. Until some time I thought that these were just fairy tales, and those dreams that I saw were just a coincidence and a game of my inflamed imagination with Void, but it seems that the matter goes deeper and deeper». «No», — It suddenly popped into my head, — «Tell me this can't be happening! These are fairy tales, fiction, fantasy!» I tried to calm myself down, but my paws suddenly gave way and I fell down. — I knew thatᵉ... — I sighed heavily, as if resigned to the thought, — But your sister doesn't see the differenceᵉ. For her, Void and Darkness are all oneᵉ… — We know about the danger of this dark magicºᵉ, — the mare suddenly switched to ancient Equestrian, but stopped, - But in vain our dear sister forbade itᵉ… It's not about your «psionics» that we're talking aboutᵉ. «It's about the Darkness, isn't it?» — Sheᵉ... — Luna wanted to continue, but, covering her mouth, shook her head, — Forbade dark magic, yesᵉ. This is understandable to us, but it does not seem reasonableᵉ. — Maybe it's because of an incident thousands of years agoᵉ? — It's quite possible, Stevrianᵉ, — The princess of the night ran her hoof over the water surface, looking at her reflection. Then Princess Luna suddenly changed the subject, asking: — What are your paws doingᵉ? — What are you talking aboutᵉ? — I was surprised in response, raising an «eyebrow». — When we visited the dreams of ourᵉ... — The Moon looked at me again, — Subjects, there was no water, however, when you appeared here, the water appearedᵉ. Perhaps it had something to do with my power, which was still closed, but I didn't know how to explain it. Since we just sat there for a while and looked around, then at each other. — I don 't knowᵉ… Perhaps this will have to be found out in the future. I lifted my head and stretched my neck, and then continued: — But okay, let's summarize: I have some timeᵉ… — Four monthsᵉ, — The princess interrupted me. — How can you be so sureᵉ? — Our sister said that all information about you should be collected for exactly four months, no lessᵉ. «Well... four months is not very long, but... at least not two or three weeks. I think it's possible to start acting in such a time, especially given the presence of such a powerful ally in the form of a night pony over your shoulder». — Fine, — I drawled, so that even I didn't know if I was happy about this or on the contrary, — And what do I have to study during this timeᵉ? — A very lot of things, — The princess of the night replied with a smile, — All three languages in Equestria are probably gryphonium, because we have one idea, history for the next hundred years, biology, anatomy and geography, as well as world countriesᵉ, From such a large amount of material studied, I felt sick for a few moments, and my heart began to pound faster. I was just shocked. «Holy shit! Of course, if I want to be able to learn a lot, but here, even studying the material for sixteen hours a day, I still won't be able to do it… On the one hand, I want to say, «Fuck him!», but I can't give up everything, I cornyly have no choice.… They studied this in schools for ten or eleven years, but here I have to learn everything in four months… It's just wonderful». «And how do I cope with my studies?» — I continued my thoughts after comprehending what I had heard, — «I didn't get the highest grades at school either, but here I learn a foreign language, geography, take exams, the local equivalent of the Unified State Exam... A joke, of course, but I can't cope with such a volume, even considering the fact that I can do much more than usual if I want». — We understand how hard it is for you to accept this, but we will help you with thisᵉ, — The mare tried to calm me down, — We too need to studyingᵉ. — Not necessarilyᵉ, — The night mare smiled, interrupting. — In what senseᵉ? — We can help you study hereᵉ, — She sat down and swept her front legs around the surrounding space, — In the world of dreamsᵉ. — And this will increase the number of hours to study, rightᵉ? — I said, flexing his wings, stiff from long downtime. — Personallyᵉ, — She nodded affirmatively, — Moreover, time is running out hereᵉ. Luna, you're a genius! I was ready to snap right now and hug you for your quick wit and ingenuity! When I was about to turn my desire into action, I already took a step forward, but I thought better of it in time, deciding that she would misunderstand this action. — This is very goodᵉ, — I sighed with relief, — So the situation will become a little easierᵉ. She lifted her leg up, interrupting me again. — Don't forget thatᵉ! Only four months, otherwise you'll be in troubleºᵉ. «Well, we will try our best. You really give me hope, Princess». — I understandᵉ, — I stood up and bowed briefly, — Thank you, Lunaᵉ. — I'm always glad to helpᵉ, — The mare smiled at me, — The sun has already risen, which means it's time for you and me to wake upᵉ. In an instant, the Moon disappeared into a cloud of fog, as if it had never existed, and the world around was covered with a dark haze. In less than a couple of seconds, it was painted in new colors that resembled the color of the Day Guard barracks. It seems it's time to wake up. «Thank you, Luna. I won't forget this», — I thought with relief before I heard a loud voice…

***

— Company, get up! I looked around and noticed my neighbors in the barracks, who, on command, got up from their beds and gathered for formation. A whole week has passed since I arrived in this world, and the guards who constantly encountered me completely stopped being afraid of me. They now perceived me as one of their own. I was even able to find a common language with some of them. Especially with Dark Star. This stallion helped me a lot in everyday things, taught me how to walk normally, use hoof kinesis, and even cooked fish for me several times. And on my own, which surprised me somewhat. Such responsiveness and kindness, apparently, is not for nothing… On the third day of my army life, I had suspicions about his intentions and feelings for me. I even decided to ask one of the guards about him-to get an opinion from the outside, so to speak. And in the end, my thoughts were confirmed — it seems that Star really liked me, even though he tried to hide it. I would not say that I treat such personalities badly — after all, I am not a homophobe. Moreover, I treated it with understanding. I did not make any exceptions here: it is difficult to order love, and therefore I did not object to his attention, but I was in no hurry to reciprocate. Besides, I've already had relationships in the past, and I didn't want to start a new one yet. It was difficult for me to switch my attention to another couple so quickly, even though Dark Star seemed pleasant to me in communication and everyday life. On the fifth day, I gradually began to get used to the army's daily routine, fortunately it was not the first time I got up at six in the morning because of the alarm clock. They didn't touch me much, which was good, but they didn't really do it either. Rather, I was their guest. I didn't have any problems with food, because Green was used to cooking fish for me, and the neighbors in the barracks stopped worrying about it. They finally saw in me not a predator who eats children in the morning, but a reasonable and sane creature. The next day, I already had the opportunity to watch the training battle of two earthlings — Nimble Hoof and Heavy Axe. It was a very entertaining sight, considering the fact that they were no longer recruits. Blows with a weapon in the teeth, hoof-to-hand combat on four legs and even in a standing position on hind legs, while holding a weapon with hoof kinesis on the front hooves, like a human grip with a brush, but without fingers and without bending the leg as in the canon of the cartoon series — that's what the guard means. It's even surprising that they almost always lost in the canon, but here they looked quite formidable fighters. I tried not to show my admiration and violent emotions when I saw all this, although it was difficult to hide my emotions. For some reason, I wanted to play the role, if not of a hardened warrior, then at least of a wise being, although I did not even understand why. But as it is. It was just the morning of the seventh day, and I didn't know what it would bring me this time. But I understood one thing — it's time to act and learn. «Since Luna told me this information, then I need to earn a positive reputation right now, learn to fight, develop my knowledge of the local world, and, last but not least, learn how to use... psionics. Since hoof kinesis works for me, then telekinesis should work too. As far as I remember, psionics is not much different from local magic in this regard, but I have a strong feeling that I will not be able to use elemental magic. Well, it's okay with her, it's not a big loss. In general, I will start by trying to learn how to use telekinesis and only after that I will go to train in hand-to-hand combat. That's enough to start with». I got up from the double bed, which had been my sleeping place for a little over a week, stood up in formation, and after a short roll call and inspection, I began to make the bed. He took the blanket in his teeth, noting to himself that it tasted like something disgusting, and carefully made it up behind him, adjusting the pillows at the same time. The next thing I did was find Star and immediately asked him to teach me how to use telekinesis. He was surprised at this, because, in his opinion, I was in too much of a hurry to adapt, but I did not refuse. We quietly moved away from prying eyes and locked ourselves in an almost empty storeroom. The room itself was entirely decorated with light wood, and very fresh, which made the smell of freshly cut wood in the air. There were only a few tables and small wooden objects. The place was quite suitable for the upcoming training. However, knowing the army routine and how important it is for soldiers, I dared to ask Star when we got there: — Dark, won't your commander miss you if you're here with me? — Everything will be fine, — He assured me, — I have three hours of free time. I can give you some time. — Okay then, — I sighed, — What do I need to do? — First of all, — He came to the table to my right, took a wooden cube with hoof kinesis, came up to me and put the cube on the floor, — Try to focus on the object and feel its center of gravity. I immediately tried to do as he said, looking exactly at the cube and as if «scanning» it with my eyes. I was trying to find this very center of gravity and feel it. And a second later, an interesting detail about this object came to my brain — there was something metallic inside the cube. — I take it this is a trick case, — I chuckled. Star looked from the cube to me in disbelief. — What makes you think that, Stevrian? — A cube with a metal object inside, — I told him. My interlocutor's eyes widened in surprise. — How did you know that? — I felt it, — I said honestly. — That's good, — Star smiled a little and shuffled his hoof nervously, — Since you felt the object so quickly, now try to imagine that you take it without making any physical effort. I nodded and began to drill the cube with my eyes again, mentally imagining how a certain «aura», if I may say so, wraps around it all over the surface. For a minute, I must have been staring at the object, and Star silently watched my attempts. As a result, nothing worked out, but I decided to share some arguments anyway: — I think I felt it, — I broke away from the cube and spread my front legs apart, — I felt its density, size and weight. What now? — In schools for unicorns at this stage they teach you to put more effort into trying to learn a few more supporting weak spells, but, as I personally think, — He pointed to himself, — This is still nonsense. Basic telekinesis can be learned without all the rest of the riffraff, which is sold to foals as a training program. I narrowed my eyes. «So we're not doing well at school either? Trouble is trouble» — What's wrong with the Equestria unicorn training program? — What's the matter, you ask? — Star twisted his smile and then snorted irritably, — In overcomplicating the most basic spells. My father taught it with fewer supporting spells and passed the exam faster than the rest. Do you know why? There was a short pause between us. — I have no idea, — I shook my head. — At the same school where he studied, they introduced an experimental program that is now used everywhere, — The stallion with the green mane snorted again, — It was these foals who failed all the exams. They weren't adapted for them, but it worked great with those who studied before. I made a «facehuff» from such a revelation and groaned heavily from the realization of such nonsense. «Well, how could you do that? What was wrong with the old program? It feels like I'm not in Equestria, but in Mother Russia, where ministers and the State Duma are putting sticks in the wheels of ordinary citizens with their laws». — I reacted the same way myself when I learned from my father what we were actually taught, — The interlocutor looked around and chuckled, — It's good that I still studied at home with my father. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. — You have a good father, — I smiled weakly, — And where would you be then? — Well... — The stallion hesitated, — I probably would have found myself a low-skilled job in Ponyville. Anyway, I'm glad that everything went well. By the way, how are you doing with your father? I suddenly cleared my throat when he changed the subject so suddenly. Because I found myself in serious confusion. «Damn it… And what should I say to him? Okay, there's about the past, where I can still refer to distrust of ponies, but here you can't get away... but what if you say that my father is dead? Hmm... but this is an idea! I won't forget to add that I'm his foster father». Deciding not to reveal all the cards to the guardsman, but only to refer to the story I had just made up, I replied: — My father is dead, — I said dryly. There was a deathly silence in the room. The interlocutor's surprise was replaced by sincere emotion and sadness. — Oh... I'm really sorry... — It's not worth it, — I waved it off, — This is a matter of bygone days, I've already accepted it. And it's not a pity anymore. — And the mother? — He tilted his head to the side, looking hopefully into my eyes. I could only shrug my shoulders. — I didn't know her at all. — Then where did you live if you said you weren't from the Dragon Islands?.. And who is your foster father? — That's a pushy one... — I thought with some irritation, — What should I say then? Bison? Fuck it. The Minotaurs? What else. Diamond dogs? Nonsense. Polar bears? Am I fucked up or something? Think, Stevrian, think! The seconds ticked by. I went through thought after thought, picking out the necessary fragments from memory and the chaos that is currently happening in my head. How suddenly I stopped at an interesting idea. «Oh! There was also mention of a certain griffin colony called Nova Griffonia on this continent. Sometimes it's useful to eavesdrop on other people's conversations while eating! I'll tell him that». — In Novo Gryphonia,— I finally said. — Is your foster father a griffin? — He suddenly raised his voice in utter surprise. «Yeah... it looks like I wasn't very convincing. But we will have to build on this». — Something like that. — That's why you didn't want to talk about your homeland! — Star suddenly burst out laughing and hit the floor with his front hooves, — Now everything fits together! The unicorn enthusiastically said this, but then he saw my stern expression on his face and abruptly became sad, ceasing to laugh. — I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch on such a painful topic for you. — I've already said that these are days of the bygone past, — I reassured him, shrugging my shoulders, — Never mind. — Okay ... — Star lowered his ears, looking at the floor. «It seems to have worked. It pleases me. You can move on to the original topic of conversation» — Returning to the topic of education, I wonder why the curriculum in your schools is becoming more complicated? What do you think about this? The interlocutor thought for a moment, and then shrugged his shoulders. — No new disciplines are being added, but what is even worse: the old ones are becoming more difficult, which prevents the acquisition of the necessary knowledge, — Star raised his leg slightly upwards, as if emphasizing the importance of his words. — It turns out that my feelings are true... — I chuckled, got up and began to pace the room, — The program comes right from the top, right? — Yes, — Dark Star nodded. — And who approves it? — I stood near the window to the backyard and looked at the training fighters from among the earthlings. I was getting closer and closer to guessing. — They say that the princess herself, — The blue pony answered me in confusion, and I irritably kicked the window frame with my foot, so that the wood creaked tensely. — It turns out that she complicates the curriculum herself, — I said with distaste, — But why would she do that? — I don't understand it myself, — The stallion shook his head. «That bitch! Celestia… I thought that you, creature, only want to ruin Equestria, regardless of the opinion of ordinary ponies! It's not enough that you're digging under me, you're also not letting others live. Do you think you're the smartest and can do whatever you want? Do you think you can get away with everything?! No, you can't get rid of me that easily! Just give me time and strength» — I'll get even with you for everything! I will never forget your contemptuous and angry look with which you looked at me a week ago! Noticing the outbursts of rage on my face, Star involuntarily stepped away from me. — Um... is everything okay? — He asked cautiously. I nodded, pulling away from the window. — Okay. Let's continue, — I said gloomily, putting on my mask of indifference again. We returned to the cube, which was still lying quietly on the wooden floor. — What do I need to do this time? — I asked. — Once you have felt the size and density of the object, then try to move it at least an inch. — Just like that, without any preparation or trick? — I was surprised. — Yes, just like that, — Star nodded. I concentrated and again «enveloped» the cube with my «aura», which was not visible to the eye, since it was imaginary. A moment later, I felt the weight of the object, its structure and center of gravity, and then tried to imagine that it was moving in my direction. The unicorn watched my attempts carefully and was not distracted by anything, but everything was in vain. Even ten minutes later, I hadn't made any progress in my training. — It's okay, Stevrian, — He smiled at me and gently patted my shoulder, — Take a break and try again. I wanted to relax, but suddenly I heard a loud clang of metal on the street, as if someone had dropped a rack of weapons there, and I, still continuing to think about the cube, turned sharply towards the source of the sound. Unexpectedly for the two of us, the cube abruptly flew into the air and hit Dark in the face with a thud. — Oh... — I opened my eyes wide, not yet fully realizing what was happening, — How are you? I didn't do it on purpose! — I readily believe it, — He rubbed the bruised place on the right side of the muzzle with his foot, where a small abrasion was already visible, — What strength you have… — Well, — I smiled awkwardly, — At least it worked. — Yes, now I see that you definitely have abilities, — The stallion took a deep breath, — But you need to learn to control it consciously. Do you understand? — That's right! — I reported as a soldier. — Slow down, big stallion, — He chuckled, — You're not a guardsman yet, which means you don't have to report in that manner. — I'm sorry, — I smiled back, — I'm getting used to life among a close-knit stud team in the conditions of the army, — I said, laughing slightly at the same time. There was a pause in which our eyes met, and I saw in Dark a certain attention to my person. He looked at me not just as a student, but as something more. Perhaps he was even thinking about a closer relationship. Realizing that now might be the right time, I asked: — Sorry for the question, but I wanted to ask... — I scratched my head with my foot, awkwardly choosing my words. There was a short silence between us. — Yes? — Finally, Star asked, smiling wider. — You treat me like you care about me.… So I am… — I understand what you're talking about, — He nodded and then looked a little embarrassed, — Yes, I love stallions. Is that a bad thing? — No, — I waved it off, — It's just that you don't actually find such a thing among griffins. — So, I heard correctly about the griffins, — He sat down on the floor and smiled again, — I'm not offended by your question, don't worry. We sat in silence for a while, not daring to ask each other anything more. I could imagine how hard it was for Star to hide his attraction to stallions while in the men's team, even considering the liberality in such matters in Equestria. «I hope that he is at least treated with understanding in this regard» — And how do you feel about stallions and mares? — He asked after the prolonged attention. This question put me in a short stupor, but I nevertheless decided, albeit reluctantly, to tell. After all, I trusted Star enough already. — Well, — I hesitated, running my hoof over the floor, — What can I hide? I'm on both sides. — So I correctly called you a «big stallion», — the interlocutor laughed loudly and his eyes lit up with hope. I was embarrassed and looked away for a couple of moments. «Yeah... the situation turned out to be extremely awkward, however, as well as the topic for the conversation itself… But on the other hand, we have put the dots over I. But my thoughts took me somewhere wrong. So, where were we?» — Okay... — I began to smoothly return to the topic, — I was going to learn telekinesis from you. — Yes, that's right, — The stallion breathed loudly, as if descending from heaven to earth. — Should I repeat what I did by accident? — Yes, — Dark nodded and then stepped back a little. I tried to do the same trick with the cube that worked for me before. I concentrated and strained for a long time. It was probably even longer and more difficult than before, and I was quickly running out of steam. I was about to give up my attempts and take a break again, but at the very end, Star noticed how the cube slowly moved one centimeter in my direction. — Well done! — The stallion tapped his hooves on his front legs against each other, sincerely rejoicing at my success, — Do you see? You can do it! Take a break and try again. So we spent some more time studying, this time without being distracted by extraneous conversations. In the remaining time, my result improved to two centimeters within five minutes. Of course, it wasn't very cool, but it's something to start with. I wanted to keep learning telekinesis, but suddenly there was a knock on our door. As it turned out, it was the company officer on duty who was looking for Star. He was put on patrol around the city, and I was left alone with my thoughts again. «Okay. I need to do something else», — I said to myself and went outside into the courtyard under the watchful gaze of the guards. I decided to watch the guards training today as well. Unfortunately, the results of the telekinesis class seemed extremely unsatisfactory to me, and I decided for myself that I would devote at least six hours to them. If not with Dark Star, then do it yourself. But, in the meantime, I decided to learn martial arts by watching the training battles of the guards. Just like yesterday, they fought hard and very skillfully. It's even strange how often the Day Guard, frankly, merged with any «villain». Here they frankly do not look like the equivalent of the «Imperial Stormtroopers» from Star Wars. «And yet I can't figure out why… Why the guard will suck in everything in such a way... It surprises me» I've been thinking about all this and going over the various options in my head: «And what if, specifically, they are a real force here, despite their small numbers? If this is the case, then you don't have to worry too much about the safety of your own skin. But if they are as weak as in the canon, then it is better to deal with the problems yourself… Maybe there were real differences from the canon after all? The same Celestia is much darker and angrier than in the cartoon. And the guards match her — look how they fight! Perhaps I should make some omissions and deviations from what I saw earlier in the series». After watching the training battles for several hours, I decided to return to the barracks. It was getting late for lunch, and the soldiers were already gathering in the sleeping quarters. After a while, we were lined up in two rows and marched into the dining room. The wall clock showed two o'clock in the afternoon, and it was lunchtime for the soldiers. Everything is according to the schedule. Once in the dining room, I immediately took a seat closer to the kitchen and sat down on the floor — there was no chair of my size in the dining room. Other soldiers were sitting around me, quietly starting to eat and quietly whispering about all sorts of things to each other. They talked mostly about personal matters, about the service, and told various stories and tales. But among all these conversations, one topic caught my attention, and I immediately listened, moving my ear. — Listen, Gold, — The young stallion on my right was saying, — I do not know why you went there, but I do not recommend going into that town near Mainhattan. Promise me you'll warn me first… — You know, — Said the voice of the second guardsman, — It was necessary. My mother lives there... — Is it okay that there is not a very good reputation about this city? — Are you talking about the possibility of Changelings living there? «Here's the news for you! They already know about changelings, although it's late spring or early summer, if I understood the local seasons and seasons correctly. These are the very creatures that can transform into other ponies, disguising themselves, and suck emotions out of them. It seems that the series didn't know anything about them until the end of the second season, but here, according to the chronology, the beginning of the first one is going on, sort of, and the changelings are already on everyone's lips. Although there is an idea that ordinary ponies do not know that they exist or have simply forgotten, while employees of the military structure are well aware. Well... if you think about it that way, it's not surprising» Meanwhile, I continued to listen to their conversation further: — Yes, that's what I'm talking about, — The first stallion replied affirmatively. — To be honest, I don't believe it, — The second sighed, — They haven't been seen for over two hundred years. Why would they suddenly appear? — Do you see a dragon? — No? — The second guardsman said questioningly and looked around. — And he is, — Obviously, speaking about me, his interlocutor answered the question, pointing with his hoof at me. I turned my head at the two of them and frowned. They smiled innocently and waved their hooves at me, continuing the conversation this time on another topic that was not interesting to me. Lunch, as usual, turned out to be very tasty. This time, Sergeant Green decided to make a salad of carrots and cabbage. He decided to give me a double portion, which is not surprising, considering my size. It was his signature dish for the Guards, which was quite logical — it was these two vegetables that Green had depicted on the cutie mark. Lunch was given only half an hour, which means that you can't enjoy food for too long. On the other hand, getting used to the daily routine of the military, I even stopped taking it as a sad fact, but just took it for granted. After lunch, all the guards in the barracks, including me, lined up on the parade ground. I stood at the very end of the line, watching the sergeant walk along the orderly row of stallions, detailing to them what they would do in the afternoon. In the military, this was called a day break for classes, and after a short briefing, the guards began a stormy work activity. Who honed their combat skills, who did sports training in the form of simple push-ups or with a load on their back. Who learned to stand confidently on their hind legs, who just ran... in other words, life was boiling. Well, they didn't give me any special work again, sending me, roughly speaking, «to free bread». «I need to learn what they do», — I thought with a little annoyance, — «This is the perfect warm-up for this body. However, I never thought that I would end up in the army, despite the fact that my body is absolutely healthy — even the epilepsy that bothered me has disappeared. And how damn glad I am!» Yes, despite the circumstances and the surrounding environment, I still couldn't get enough of the body change. On Earth, I was constantly tormented by epilepsy attacks, because of which I launched my physical form, but here, consider, I could run, spin, even stand on my ears - I was completely healthy! But it seems that the mind has not recovered, because sometimes it was still unpleasant to think, however, as well as adequately, consistently build logical chains. All that remained was to figure out how to realize my ambitions. However, my thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected question from a colleague who came up to me: — Are you bored? Turning at the sound, I saw Red Storm, a young pegasus with blue fur like Rainbow Dash (which didn't really fit with his name), and a thick purple mane. There was a cutie mark in the form of a swirling tornado on his rump. Red Storm is a pegasus of about eighteen years old, with a very impulsive but good-natured character, who was absolutely not afraid of me when he first saw me. Also, I could not help but be glad that the wings of pegasus, as well as those of Celestia, were not small in size, as they were depicted in the original animated series, but they were quite comparable in size to the body, exceeding its length, in total, twice. — Um... — I hesitated, — No. I'm just watching. — It's an interesting sight, isn't it? — He smiled. I didn't know how to answer this question, so I mumbled in confusion: — Yes... There is such a thing. — Ha, — He grinned, — They will never compare with us pegasuses! I couldn't help but think of the Vanderbolts, the pegasus group that everyone looked up to. They really like to show off their ability to fly. However, despite this, they were good flyers. I mentally rolled my eyes in annoyance. — Yes, yes, — I replied, — I readily believe it, although I have never seen it yet. — Not once? — I hadn't been to Equestria before that fateful incident with Nightmare Moon, — I shrugged, putting on an indifferent face again. — Is that so? — He grinned and clicked his hoof on the parade ground, — Well, all right then. By the way, have you even heard of the Vanderbolts? «Oh! And here came the same group of pegasuses that I hadn't heard about, except that I hadn't watched the TV series «My Little Pony». But I didn't want to show my knowledge of the canon so quickly». — I heard something, but only briefly, — I shrugged again. — These are the best flyers among the pegasus! — The stallion blurted out, - How can you not know them? — I repeat once again… — Yes, yes, I get it, — Red snorted irritably. — Then why the question? Storm hovered for a moment, trying to figure out where he had led the conversation. There was an awkward pause, during which he shook his head uncertainly and then continued: — As soon as you can leave the barracks, then come to the training ground of the pegasus guards to look at the beauty and grace of our race. — Okay. I will definitely come, — I replied in order to end the conversation. «Oh, what a braggart! But at least not so angry and nasty». The stallion winked and disappeared inside the building, and I continued to observe the physical training of the guards, noticing certain techniques in order to repeat them on my own when necessary. «Anyway, I'm going to have to sign up for a hoof-fighting class. I will set myself up to memorize, otherwise I will be in a bad way in the foreseeable future. I wonder if it will be possible to learn the same thing in the space of dreams? If possible, it's pretty cool. I'll try to ask Luna when she shows up again. Although… What's stopping me from getting ready now? I'd better ask someone from the junior officers about this. Tomorrow». The training of the soldiers, which I watched, dragged on until the evening, and I was very hungry by that time. But even more I wanted to continue my telekinesis classes, so this evening, with the tacit consent of the platoon commander, I skipped dinner in favor of training with a cube and locked myself in an empty pantry, continuing my studies on my own. But soon I heard a light hoof tapping on the wooden door, and I had to distract myself. — Stevrian! — Star's voice came from behind me. — Eh? — I turned at the sound of the voice and, opening the door, saw a blue stallion in front of me. — I just got back from patrol. Would you like to take a shower? I'm just going there. «So here we are. The shower is shared. Well, considering the fact that the last time I washed was already in a previous life, I'll have to agree» I already knew what Star was driving at, and therefore I already felt a slight shame, which I did not decide to show on my face. Another thing is that stinking and being unwashed is even worse, so I had no choice. — Okay, — I drawled, taking a deep breath, and went out into the hallway, closing the door behind me. We walked in the direction of the shared shower room, and to distract myself from the heavy evening thoughts, I was thinking about what I should read first when I get access to the library. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm helpless right now. The only way out is to play by the rules of the locals and trust the Moon. I really hoped that she was really my ally, and not pretending to be one. We entered a very spacious room, the floor of which was lined with a material that reminded me very much of ordinary tiles, and in the middle there were several rows of benches. The walls of the room were painted pure white, and along it, to the right of the entrance, towel racks and small lockers were attached. The handles on the doors of each of them were of a completely different design, not like those of humans — with a hoof-shaped notch, apparently to facilitate hoof kinesis. As far as I could understand from the room itself, this is not the shower room itself, but only a locker room. Despite the fact that the room itself seemed spacious, for me it did not look particularly large in size. But I didn't have to complain — as it is. I grabbed one of the towels from the locker with hoof kinesis and threw it on my back with my teeth. Again: it's not only uncomfortable, but it tastes disgusting. I even thought about how ponies take something with their teeth all their lives and put up with it. Perhaps this is now another motivator for me to learn telekinesis. Grabbing towels, we went out into the next room. To my surprise, the shower room itself turned out to be even bigger than the locker room. There were already open booths along the walls and in the middle of the room, in which, obviously, they took a shower. Approaching one of them, I was pleasantly surprised that there are recesses on the sides from which water should flow under pressure, and the trigger mechanism itself is located near the floor, representing a pedal mounted in the wall next to the exit from the cabin. «I didn't think that they had everything so thought out, otherwise they would write in fan fiction that they have everything like humans,» — I chuckled softly, — «In the sense that it is not adjusted to the anatomy of local artiodactyls. Nonsense is nonsense, but here, in person, everything is different. None of the bronies would believe me if I told them that. Yes, live and learn forever. And sometimes it happens that they represent one thing, but in fact it turned out to be completely different». While I was thinking about all this, I had one problem with the shower: the stall was too small for me. And then suddenly, from somewhere outside, a tight stream of icy water splashed into my face. I neighed like a real horse and turned away from the jet. When the flow of water began to subside, I saw through the spray a giggling Star who levitated a hose with telekinesis and played with me. He turned on the hose a couple more times, aiming at me, but this time I dodged her. — Why are you doing this? — I snorted when the stallion finished playing. — What for? — He grinned happily, — To cheer you up, otherwise you're always gloomy, always immersed in your thoughts… — Well, you're arrogant, — I shook my head, brushing myself off, — We've only known each other for a week, and you already dare to do this to me. — Yes, indeed, — The stallion released the hose, at the same time lowering his head, — I'm rushing things, I'm sorry… — Yeah, that's not the word, — I replied dryly and sighed, — Okay. Let's just wash up and get out of here. And I wanted that more than just playing in the shower. At that moment, many voices of the guards who came after the guard to wash off the dust and dirt of the roads could be heard in the locker room. So just a little more, and soon it will get crowded here. It was the first time I washed with everyone, and therefore I had to put up with the fact that there are so many naked stallion groats around and they all sparkle with their accessories. It seems that during this time I should get used to the fact that no one around cares about nudity, but apparently old human habits are still making themselves felt, and therefore I felt a little out of place. Trying not to linger, I began to wash with a hose, not finding a stall to match my size. Strangely enough, Dark volunteered to help me with this, although I had some doubts about agreeing to such a thing. Looking at how he was helping me, the other guards began to look at me with a slightly ingratiating look. A look that actually told us: «Have fun, lovebirds, and we'll stand next to you and watch!». And then you'll laugh at me like horses. Although, this was the truth. I didn't like large crowds at all, and now that the situation had become even more awkward, such attention was beginning to annoy. «I've never lived in such dormitories, and here's a minus for you — a lot of curious eyes that fuel my already considerable paranoia. To be honest, it seems to me that my actions are being watched… Although it «seems» that I am really being watched, otherwise they would not have kept me here. After all, there are trained fighters around me, armed to the teeth, and even cramped rooms, narrow corridors where I and several ponies can barely miss each other... What is not an ideal place to keep a potentially dangerous dragon, which can knock out even the most trained fighter with a blow? Well... unless he's trained in martial arts». While I was thinking and abstracting, the guards had lost all interest in me and were now leaving the shower room, and my friend Dark called out to me. — Stevrian, ow! — He sprayed me with water from a hose in the face. — Eh? — Somehow, unwillingly, I managed to dodge the jet of water. «I think I've been thinking too much again». — With such a reaction, you should compete with pegasus, — He giggled into his hoof, turning off the hose, — It's time. — Is everyone leaving for the evening formation? — Yes, — The stallion nodded. Although I was not a military man, but living in the barracks of the Day Guard, I had to undergo an examination, like everyone else, standing in the same formation with them. But this time the medical check was different. The medical wing, which was under renovation before, has reopened, and today we were examined there. And I can't say that it was like all the others that I've been through. — Stevrian, come in here, — A young unicorn mare with white fur and brown mane, dressed in a long white robe, suddenly said. She peeked out from behind the screen and shook her hoof at me. I obediently walked closer to her and saw nothing but a cargo scale behind the screen. While I was looking at the maximum division to find out the maximum weight that these scales can withstand, I felt something cold on my as... croup. Gasping out of habit, I turned my head and noticed that the doctor was carefully examining my cutie mark, running something metal over it, as if trying to comb the wool, and thinking about something. — For the sake of protocol, I have to fill out some documents, so tell me, — She took a paper from the table with telekinesis and brought it to her muzzle, preparing a pencil, — Where are you from? «Here's to you. More interrogations! It's one thing from a Star who communicates with you easily and naturally, and quite another from a completely official person. Well, shall we repeat the old trick that I did this morning?». — To be honest, — I hesitated for a second, feigning extreme thoughtfulness, — I don't know where exactly I'm from. My foster father found me on the territory of Novo Gryphonia. — Oh! — She was genuinely surprised, — so you want to say that you were raised by a griffin? — Yes, why? — I was just thinking about what your cutie mark means, — She thought again, examining my croup. — Uh… You know that I dra… — Yes, I know, — She nodded and looked into my eyes with a serious look, — But the fact is that the transformation spell is very ancient and, as far as I know from old textbooks that my great-grandfather gave me, — The mare put the papers back on the table, — Shows special talents when turning into the likes of us, that is, into ponies. — And you're saying, Miss White, that you don't know what my talent is? — I squinted, already mentally preparing for the worst-case scenario that I was currently drawing in my head. — Yes, I don't know, — White drew attention to my tail and smoothly put it aside, — And don't get mad, please, I still have to work with a whole company of guards. — I'm sorry. — Okay, and now, — She pointed with a nod of her head at the scales and telekinesis pulled back the curtain, — Get on the scales. I stood on a plate that was able to determine my body weight, and carefully looked at the indicator. I couldn't help noticing that neither the stove itself nor the indicator had moved a millimeter, which surprised me at first. However, after she pressed the button next to it, the stove dropped sharply, and the indicator jumped sharply to almost the limit value. — Oh, — She scratched her head with a hoof, — I completely forgot that you need to do exactly the opposite. — Maybe look at my weight? — Okay, I'll take a look, — She went to the indicator, and the expression on her face changed from usual to extremely surprised. — Um... — I looked at the filly carefully, — Is everything okay? — Well, considering the fact that you're not a pony after all, — She suddenly switched abruptly to «you», — Then the weight may well be normal. She smiled nervously, and I cocked my head to the side in interest. — So how much did it show? — I asked impatiently. — Two thousand two hundred and fifty-seven and a half pounds... — She replied nervously. — Or nine hundred and forty-eight kilograms according to the Northern format... — I stated. Despite the official dislike of the Equestria authorities for «Russian» ponies, their language, measurement system, and some other things have seeped into local life. On the one hand, it was nice, on the other hand, it looked a little strange. They haven't answered me yet. Without further ado, I stepped off the scales, finally loudly clicking the plate under them. — Okay, we've sorted out the weight, — I took a deep breath, — But what about height? I haven't measured it for a very long time. — And when was the last time? — she met my question with a question. — Ten years ago, — I replied. — And how old was it then? I pretended to be deep in thought again, trying to compose some beautiful figure on the go. — About six point two, two tenths of a foot, or one hundred and ninety centimeters, — I shrugged, remembering the ancient measure of length. — In that case, stand over there against the wall, — She pointed with her front foot at the wall where the height markings were painted. I walked right up to the wall and froze. My interlocutor looked in my direction for a while, but then shook her head in disappointment: to her dissatisfaction, she found that there were too few markings. She stood for a while and turned her head, tilting it to the sides, trying to match the lower markings with my height, and finally drew a line directly above my head, brushing my mane and ears. — Now step back, — She said, nodding her head to the side, — I have to count. She stood for a while and hummed thoughtfully, came closer several times, whispered something softly, and then, again very surprised, said: — Almost six point nine feet! — I've grown up! — I was a little surprised, — As much as two hundred and ten centimeters! I must admit, I had to play up my emotions in order not to give myself away. Let them think that I'm such a fool, I came from I don't know where and I don't know what I want. The mare thoughtfully tapped her hoof on the floor for a while, and then took a paper and began to write down my data. — That's enough for now, — White said, — You'll get a second checkup next week. — Okay, — I smiled, — Is there anything else I need to do for you? — Well... — She hesitated, — Not yet, but if there's anything I need, I'll tell you. I left the office thinking about what I had heard and seen. Until the moment I entered this office, I did not know my size and weight at all, but now I already had something to think about. For example, about whether I would be able to fly at all if I could take on the form of a dragon again. Or I can only plan, as I did by jumping out of the window. «All this is interesting, however. Weight, height... although in my case it was more appropriate to ask the question — will I be able to regain the appearance of a dragon at all? And if so, how?» While I was thinking, I went into the bathroom to do my evening chores. Once again, I noted how modern and clean the likenesses of pony toilets look. It is immediately clear that they are very careful here. Finally, I looked at myself in the mirror and quickly washed my face with water before going to bed. «Actually, I'm not that scary, if you look at it from the outside. Yes, I'm big and very heavy by pony standards, but I look presentable. There are no giant eyes, as in the canon of the cartoon, the head and body are quite proportional. And by the way, I just now realized what kind of horse I looked like in this guise — the Shires. What can I say if Alicorns can also be attributed to this breed. I've never understood horses, but I've read a lot about them in my time. If you think about it, the tallest guardsman I've ever seen reached only half of my chest. It turns out that the local ponies are about one and a half meters tall, which is much higher than those that the fans tried to estimate. Another difference» After washing, I tore myself away from looking at myself in the mirror and headed towards the bedroom, where virtually all the servicemen were already. I looked at the recently hung clock that hung over the entrance and noticed that the time of lights out was about to be announced, and therefore I hurried to get in line so that the locals would not swear, as it already happened with one recruit three days ago. — Stand down! — a command was heard from the corridor, after which the lights abruptly turned off, and the soldiers quietly went to their beds. After lying down, I tossed and turned for a while, trying not to make too much noise, but eventually bent my legs under me and fell asleep in such an uncomplicated position.

***

This time I found myself in the middle of nothing: no surroundings, no sounds, nothing was around but darkness. I couldn't even feel my body, which was strange for a dream. Where am I? What's wrong with me? What the hell is this? I already wanted to panic, but there were simply no emotions, as well as physical sensations. I just… Didn't exist. «Holy shit! Where am I? Why did I get here?» — I mentally asked questions. Of course, there was no response. At first nothing happened, but after a while a vague picture appeared, which gradually began to take shape of a frozen moment from the end of the second season of the canon, that is, the wedding in Canterlot, when Chrysalis revealed herself. I carefully examined this picture, noticing even the smallest details, such as the structure of Chrysalis chitin itself and the color of the whites of Shining's eyes, which were green due to the corrupting influence of the queen of changings. This made me think at first: why am I seeing her now? What is the meaning of this vision. And then it dawned on me: «That's what I missed! The Canterlot wedding and the Changeling attacks! We need to prepare for this. But how much time do I have left?». I looked closely: some numbers were printed right on the chitin of Chrysalis. Whatever that means, I tried to memorize them and put them in my memory. As it turned out, it was not in vain. The next moment, there was a thud from everywhere, as if someone was stubbornly knocking on a wooden door, and the dark space gradually took on colors, and I found myself in the middle of a thick fog again. Under my feet was the crystal water, which was already familiar to me, in which everything was reflected as if in a mirror. And I calmed down. And soon the emotions and sensations of the dragon's body returned. — Stevrianᵉ! — The voice of the Moon was heard, which quickly came out of the fog and she looked worried, — We could not open the door to your space between dreams for a long time. What happened? I decided not to be silent and immediately tell it as it is. If the Moon knows what it is, then let it tell you. — It seems to me that I saw the future or something like itᵉ, — I looked around, but then quickly calmed down, — This is not the first time this has happened to me, Lunaᵉ. Is this normalᵉ? I closed my eyes for a second, remembering some incidents from my real life. I've had such prophetic dreams before. The first time I had a dream like this was when a classmate died. At first I saw her die under the car, but I didn't dare tell her. She actually died after a while - she was hit by a car. This scene seems to have been the second, except for the smaller moments that later cause deja vu. And I knew for sure that this would happen afterwards. And after all, according to the canon, the moment of Shining Armor's wedding with Princess Cadence will come sooner or later. The Moon, as if sensing my excitement, approached. — It's curious, but don't be afraidᵉ. We know this feature of yours is a gift and a curse, very rareᵉ. — Yeah, — I shook my head, — Not very encouragingᵉ. Luna, did you want to tell me something too, rightᵉ? — Yes, I would like toᵉ, — She nodded affirmatively and began to pace around, — We were able to arrange for you to be granted access to the palace library earlier than we planned, but only after three days, and even then to the public partᵉ. We think this is quite enough to get startedᵉ. — Thank you, Princessᵉ, — I bowed slightly. I was ready to hug her again, but I restrained myself, she deserved it. She just waved it away. — It's not worth itᵉ. We both need itᵉ. — So the day was beneficialᵉ? — I asked, by the way. — More than thatᵉ, — Luna squinted, — Our sister briefly introduced us to the policy that modern ponies useᵉ. The last words were thrown with irritation, which did not escape my attention. — Judging by the tone in your voice, you didn't like it muchᵉ? — Yesᵉ, — She replied dryly, — But now we know why to start when we are restored to powerᵉ. — Are there many reforms in mindᵉ? — I asked, shifting my feet from place to place. «I think I could tell her where to start, but don't rush it». — More than thatᵉ, — Luna nodded, — But we'll have to visit teachers to catch upᵉ. Fortunately, your memory greatly facilitates the learning processᵉ. «I wonder how my memory could be useful to you?» — I thought with some surprise, — «Are you saying that you learned something from the canon that I knew before I arrived?» — Is it trueᵉ? — I just asked. — We wouldn't lie to youᵉ, — The mare answered my question, pulling her head back a little. — And how much did you learn from my headᵉ? — I continued, trying to look polite and calm. — Enough to know modern things and the languageᵉ, — She answered honestly, not taking her eyes off me, but after a while she took him aside. — ...But I didn't see anything about our worldᵉ. We can't even imagine how lonely you might be in this worldᵉ. «So she didn't find out anything about the canon? Maybe it's for the best! It makes things much easier for me. But on the other hand, it complicates things, because only I know what will happen next. For example, my intuition almost never failed me, which means that there should be a Changeling attack. We need to get ready!». After thinking a little more, I decided that it would be better if the Moon did not know about our future. — Now is not the time to grieve about the pastᵉ, — I almost lied, feeling bitterness at the realization of losing connections with those I knew, — The primary task is to make my cover perfect, and only then worry about the restᵉ. — Yes, Stevrian, you're rightᵉ, — The Moon princess nodded affirmatively, — But I think we have a planᵉ. — What are you up toᵉ? — I asked an obvious, but very important question, — If Celestia has her own guard, then will you create your ownᵉ? — Not to create, but to recreateᵉ, — Luna looked around and smiled, — No matter how busy our sister is right now, she found time to send an ambassador to the thestrals to announce our returnᵉ. — And I was wondering why the princess ordered so many fish to be boughtᵉ... — I was feigning surprise. I had already guessed everything, and all I had to do was play my game. — Did she order the fish to be boughtᵉ? — But Luna's surprise was quite natural. — Yes, — I scratched my nose, which suddenly itched, — A cook named Edible Green grumbled about this when I went to the dining room to eat on the second day after arriving hereᵉ. — It's wonderfulᵉ! — Luna sat up and tapped her front hooves against each other. The Princess of the Night was clearly delighted with this news. — Only I have such a questionᵉ, — I tilted my head slightly to the side, — How many thestrals would want to go after youᵉ? — They have served us for hundreds of yearsᵉ, — She paused for a second, but seeing the interest in my gaze, she continued, — I really wish there were many of themᵉ. And I decided to smoothly bring the night princess to the main point. — You knowᵉ, — I returned my head to its normal position, — I also want toᵉ... I have a feeling that something very bad is going to happenᵉ. The sooner we can prepare, the fewer negative consequences there will be for us allᵉ. — We'll take that into account, thank youᵉ, — Luna agreed. — And one more thingᵉ, — I hesitated a little, but then decided to share with her what I had already done, — I have already started to invent a legend for myselfᵉ. She smiled with interest and came closer. — I introduced myself as the adopted son of a gryphon from Novo Gryphonia, but without detailsᵉ, — I briefly outlined, — While this option was rolling and did not cause unnecessary questions, so let it be a worker for nowᵉ. — So that's what we're going to start fromᵉ, — She nodded, — A good startᵉ. But then, in my sleep, I heard the rustle and clatter of hooves, and this could only mean one thing — a speedy ascent. — We wish we could stay here longer, but the night doesn't last foreverᵉ, — The lady of the night sighed, saying my thoughts out loud, — It's time to wake up, Stevrianᵉ. I hesitated for a second. But then he looked at her. — Wait, Lunaᵉ! — I lowered my gaze in embarrassment, but then decided to ask what I wanted earlier, — Can I hug youᵉ? Luna looked clearly surprised, but came closer, agreeing: — Good. Although no one hugged us before you, except my sisterᵉ. I slowly walked up to her and hugged her from the bottom of my heart, gently hugging her to me. — Thank youᵉ. You are my saviorᵉ, — I whispered to her, not hiding my emotions and feeling tears in my eyes. She smiled at me and said nothing, and then disappeared into the haze. And then I was woken up by another rise. But I woke up in a good mood. Now I was sure that I was not alone in this world, and it gave me strength.