The Prophecy

— And why did you attack me? — I asked Rainbow Dash the day after the incident. — I wanted to protect my friends, — She snorted angrily, — And the other ponies, too. A blue pegasus, small by the standards of her people, with a rainbow mane and tail, sat opposite me, perched on a plastic chair. The cutie mark in the form of a rainbow lightning bolt that shot out of the cloud was unmistakable. The mare herself was too strong and overly aggressive. I had to experience the force of her blow as soon as my disguise fell off. Then, with the help of a powerful push from the wall of the house and acceleration, she was able to outrun my reaction and hit me in the throat with her feet. I didn't fall, but the pain was such that for a couple of seconds I lost the ability to breathe, and my head was spinning. The blue pegasus wanted to kick me again, but a shy Fluttershy stopped her, assuring her that I was «not dangerous». But ordinary ponies immediately ran away. They looked at me with frightened glances, and someone carefully hid and locked himself in his house, just to avoid being seen. In a word, they considered me a monster in the flesh. Unfortunately, ordinary civilian ponies are not the day Guard, who are more or less used to me. On the other hand, it meant that for a while few people would bother me with questions about the past. But that didn't change the fact that I would have to earn my reputation anew, but this time in front of the residents of a single urban-type settlement. Now we were sitting in a small room of a local tavern, where no one else was there because of my presence. — I wouldn't offend anyone, — I said gloomily, looking her straight in the eye, which made Rainbow uncomfortable. The mare didn't show it outwardly, but I could feel her heart sinking at the sight of me. — Yeah, I believed it, — The pegasus snorted, — You'll crack anyone's skull with one blow, bully! The pegasus grinned, pointing at my big hooves. Yes, it was true, but for me to do something like that, it would have to make me very, very angry. — If I wanted to hurt, I wouldn't need legs, — I said, slightly baring my mouth, showing dragon teeth, which made Rainbow's eye widen. Rainbow-maned pulled away and turned away, probably so as not to look again. — But I don't want to do this, — I continued meanwhile, — I repeat it for the twelfth time. Is it really not clear? I sighed wearily and closed my eyes for a second. This conversation and the complete misunderstanding on the part of the interlocutor already annoyed me. — Okay, — Rainbow looked at me again and frowned, — But what were you doing there?" — I already said, — I nervously rolled my eyes, repeating once again, — I was moved from the capital here in order to gradually introduce myself into pony society. After a short silence, I picked up a cup of coffee with my telekinesis, which had been standing next to me all this time, and took a sip. The bitter taste of this drink brought me to my senses a little and drove away the irritation. I continued the conversation in a calmer tone: — In a week, the princesses were supposed to introduce me personally. But unfortunately, I decided to help Spike, and here I am. — So Spike knew you were here and didn't tell us anything? — The blue pegasus was indignant. Her mane jerked violently, and her tail began to twitch from side to side, like an angry cat. It seemed to me that a little more and she would rush to look for the poor dragon. That's why I immediately wanted to stand up for him. — Yes, he knew, — I nodded in response, setting the cup aside, — He was silent about it at my request. — I knew there was something wrong, — Snorted the rainbow-maned, stomping her hoof unhappily. — Maybe it would be better to start dating from scratch then? — I smiled a little crookedly. It turned out to be a forced smile, which was not very endearing. But it was hard for me to hide my real emotions. — Not so fast, — The pegasus raised a hoof, — You're the one who got Spike to take away and teleport those... what's-his-name... Parasprites with his breath, wo! — Yeah, there's that, — I replied, humming. — Not so fast, — The pegasus raised her hoof, — It was you who suggested to Spike that he should take and teleport those... what are they called... Parasprites, right! — Yes, it is, — I replied, chuckling. — Then he... — I wouldn't swear at him, — I interrupted the pegasus mid-sentence, — I just gave him the idea; the rest is his achievement. Fortunately, my wish was fulfilled; it was worth thinking about it once again. Twilight Sparkle entered the establishment, and the blue pegasus immediately fell silent, glancing at her purple friend. The Element of Magic smiled back at her and told her to help Fluttershy while she got to know the new resident of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash reluctantly agreed and headed for the exit. But just before the door, she made a gesture with her hooves that said «I’m watching you», and then left the tavern. I was left alone with Twilight Sparkle. — So, — I sighed again, waiting for her to play the same record as her friend, — What do you want to hear from me, Miss Twilight? — Where you're from and who you are, for example, — She said seriously, sitting down on a chair in front of me. — I've already told you my name, — I replied with a bored yawn, closing my eyes from exhaustion, — Anything else? — And where are you from? — Is it really that important? — I wearily asked the unicorn. — Yes, it is! — The lavender one declared brusquely, but I clearly sensed a note of fear in her voice. — I'm from Nova Griffonia, — I growled irritably in response. It felt more like an interrogation by Celestia than a simple introduction. «Why can't we talk in a more relaxed manner when I'm not so tired? Who are they to act this way?» Nevertheless, my answer made Twilight pause for a moment, lost in deep thought. — From Nova Griffonia? — She finally asked hesitantly and, to my surprise, smirked, — I don’t believe it! All I could do was press my hoof to my head and shake it from side to side. — Here we go again. I'm getting tired of this. — Griffins don’t get along with other species and... — Twilight started to retort, but I interrupted her, abruptly rising from the table and slamming my hoof down on it. — A griffin raised me! — I roared, feeling the table creak and sway under my weight. Noticing my reaction, the unicorn cowered in fear and almost fell off her chair. I snorted pointedly and sat back down. At the same time, I couldn't help but think about the fact that I mention griffins too often. Sometimes I talk about their country, sometimes I mention some facts of their biography. «Why am I talking about griffins without hesitation? I kind of appeared in Equestria in my real form, but it looks like I'm in someone else's body, and these are the memories of the former owner? I remember they wrote a whole bunch of fanfiction on Earth about various popadants. How did they not get into a new world: through rebirth in a new body, and were transferred to their human body, and some even occupied someone else's body along with all the memories and other skills. Then these skills popped up in their heads from time to time. Maybe I have the same thing? Or not... It still sounds like nonsense» — Okay. Okay. But who raised you? — Theodore Fairwing! — Having decided that I had enough, I shouted the first name and surname that came to mind for the whole neighborhood, — Are you satisfied?! «Twilight and her minions have finally brought me down! If she doesn't shut up right now, I will personally strangle her without even looking at the fact that she is a student of Celestia» The lavender filly clearly did not expect my anger, and it completely knocked the arrogance out of her. She hurriedly slid off the chair and backed towards the exit. — You gave me an interrogation, not an introduction, — I continued. — Why?! And you also want to make friends! That's not how it works! — Okay, — I finally said in a calmer voice after exchanging gestures, — Can we just stop this interrogation and let me go? You lured me here to drink juice and eat, but what did you do? Just let me go, and then we'll start dating again. Is that okay? Twilight first lowered her head guiltily, and then nodded slightly, after which she disappeared behind the tavern doors. I sat at the table for about a minute longer, and only after that I decided to go outside. To my surprise, both princesses, Celestia and Luna, were already waiting there. Celestia's student was nearby and was having a heated discussion with the day princess. But when they saw me, they both fell silent and looked at me with displeasure. — Twilight, — Said the white unicorn to the lavender one, — can you leave us for a bit? — Of course, Princess, — She bowed and went off to do her thing, glancing back at me every now and then. Now it was time to talk to the princesses. I had a feeling that the conversation wouldn’t end well. Maybe Luna could understand me, but Celestia was biased when it came to her protégé. «Thank the Void that I don't have to report to her!» — I thought with relief. — «Well, what will she say now?» I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment as the alicorns surrounded me on both sides. The first to speak was the day princess, her voice tinged with slight irritation: — Why couldn't you wait just four more days, Stevrian? — What else was I supposed to do when Spike barged into the house demanding my help? — I sat down and spread my hooves to the sides, shaking my head. Celestia let out a quiet huff. It was clear she didn't like it when things didn't go according to plan, but what could I do? If I hadn't opened up to the little dragon, the situation would have turned out much worse. — Tell me, why did he see you? — Luna inquired in turn. Her tone was calm and measured. It was clear that the princess of the night wanted to understand the situation rather than throw accusations. This quality was something I appreciated about her, even despite her occasional impulsiveness. — Here, yes, — I said, shrugging and slightly lowering my head, — I'm at fault. But I had no choice. He would've called the others over to my place. — Now it's going to get way more complicated! — Celestia snapped, slamming her hoof on the cobblestones we were standing on. — Do you get that? — I get it, — I said, rolling my eyes in annoyance. «When will they finally leave me alone?» Fortunately, Celestia wasn't allowed to keep throwing accusations. Luna raised a wing to the level of the sun goddess's face and cut her off: The white mare glanced at her sister, then let out a heavy sigh and softened both her expression and her voice. — I hope so, — She said, looking at me again. — Understand me, Stevrian, I'm worried about my student. I hope you won't do anything to her. Right, Stevrian? — Right, right, — I replied confidently, nodding. — I won't do anything to her. I promise. I didn't really need anything from Twilight Sparkle, to be honest. If she just stayed out of my way, I wouldn't mess with her either. After all, she was an important figure in Ponyville and the embodiment of the Element of Magic. So, it would be a really stupid move to hurt her. I replied in turn: — Just please tell the mares to stop interrogating me. Both sisters looked at me in surprise, and Celestia even recoiled slightly. It seemed I had stunned her with this revelation. — Did they interrogate you? — Luna asked excitedly. — Yes, — I nodded, — They tricked me into inviting me here under the pretext of getting to know each other again, and they started pestering me with questions about my past, asking for my name, occupation, and more. Celestia looked around and frowned, taking a step forward in my direction: — I'll talk to them, — The sun princess assured me, — I hope we understand each other. — Yes, — I agreed, and nodded wearily, glancing at the night princess along the way. In response to my look, Luna just shook her head. The sisters turned around and left without further ado, ending the conversation, and I sat outside the tavern for a while longer, wondering what I should do now.

***

The next day, sitting at home and drinking tea, I continued to study the book on the griffin religion. And, if at first I read it with some prejudice and negativity towards believers, then over time I became imbued with the griffin religion and even began to respect those who worship Arcturius. Unlike the followers of other gods, they do really useful things for their people, developing military science, building fortress cities, protecting the innocent from danger, and also releasing potential geniuses and generals from their schools. If it weren't for my admiration for the powerful, I would have become interested in this religion myself. In fact, it is a very good and powerful philosophy based on the cult of strength and military prowess. Just the thing for a warrior. I even made a couple of notes for myself so that I wouldn't forget to ask the griffins later, or at least read more about Arcturus. When I was about to put the book away, there was a sudden knock on the door. Judging by the sound of the claws, it was Spike. Going up to the door and opening it, I kindly asked the little dragon, who was standing at the entrance, to enter, and he timidly entered my humble abode. — Well? Did you just come to stay or did you want to ask something? I started the conversation with a good-natured smile, and Spike awkwardly smiled back at me. — Simply... You don't mind? — He asked, crossing his fingers. — No, have a seat, — I nodded toward the couch and closed the door. While Twilight's assistant was settling in, I quickly went into the kitchen and made five sandwiches with meat, and then returned with them back to the dragon. Spike, noticing the food, began to devour it greedily with his eyes, which did not escape me. — What is this? — He asked, pointing his finger at the food. — Sandwiches with meat. Want some? Having asked the little dragon a question, I placed the plate on the table and smiled at him again. He hesitated. — I only eat crystals and... I raised my paw and stopped him. «No, that won't do. I know perfectly well that the local dragons are omnivorous with an emphasis on meat-eating. With the caveat that they can be crystals, but not the point». — I can see from your look that you really want to. Just go ahead and eat. The little dragon shyly glanced at the sandwiches, pondering my suggestion, but after a moment of hesitation, he grabbed the top one and quickly stuffed it into his mouth, munching happily. From his closed eyes and the rumbling in his stomach, it was clear that he was enjoying the taste of my food. — It's been so long since I had good meat, — the little dragon managed to say after swallowing the sandwich. I nodded and picked up a sandwich with my telekinesis. He brought it to his mouth and began to eat it slowly, with feeling, enjoying the taste of natural meat. And the pleasure I took in doing it surprised even Spike himself. Although, it would seem: the dragon of the dragon should understand. — Do you eat meat too?! — My guest exclaimed, opening his eyes wide. — Yes, I'm eating, — I grinned and showed him my teeth, which were not typical of an ordinary stallion. Obviously, they stayed with me as an effect of the incomplete transformation into a pony. I quickly found out that I was also an omnivore soon after my first full day in the barracks. — Wow! — Spike said, stopping eating and looking at me. I sat motionless in front of him for a while, but then I finally removed the predatory grin from my muzzle. — Are you saying that you haven't eaten meat for a long time? — I asked. — Yeah, a long time ago, — Sighed the dragon, taking another sandwich. — And why? Twilight forbid it? — Well, — Spike hesitated, — She says ponies don't eat the meat of other creatures, which means others shouldn't either. He averted his eyes and looked around the room, as if looking for someone, but then he sighed heavily and closed his eyes. I noticed that it definitely depressed him, and I even wanted to support him, even though I didn't know how. But then Spike opened his eyes and looked at me again: — Anyway, she says she doesn't like to see it. Instead, she strenuously feeds me crystals, which can't replace meat anyway. A deathly silence hung between us, interrupted only by the rustle of leaves outside the window. I was unpleasantly surprised by his revelation. — This is crazy, — I finally said, bewildered, getting up from the table and starting to pace around the room, — And how do you put up with it? — I don't put up with it, — The dragon divorced its paws, — I run to Fluttershy for meat every time I want to eat. «Wait? Fluttershy is the most shy and peaceful pony. But at the same time, she has meat and shares it not only with her animals. I wonder where she gets it anyway». — Where did she get the meat from? — I cocked my ears curiously. — She buys from griffins, — Spike told me, — She doesn't get meat by hunting animals. And at that, the little dragon laughed softly. And I continued to walk around the room. Surprise at this news, pity for Spike, resentment for Twilight, anger at the pony's mentality, as well as their somewhat xenophobic attitude, began to unsettle me again. I was breathing heavily, trying to come to my senses. «And I was wondering where she got the meat from then... And yet Twilight is doing a bad thing by forbidding Spike to eat meat under such a racist pretext... it's a complete mess. Well, I'll talk to her again! I'm not going to hurt her, but we're definitely going to have a serious conversation». I didn't think anyone would make me angrier than Celestia before, but there's a first time for everything. «The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She's just torturing her assistant with a stupid diet. Spike considers her his sister and trusts her completely, and she treats him like that... No, I'm not just going to let this go!» But first, I wanted to cheer up my guest a little, who was already starting to look around at me with concern. — If that's the case, — I chuckled, pausing and standing in the middle of the room, — You can come to my place and eat as much meat as you want. — Really? — Spike exclaimed happily. He seemed pleasantly surprised by my suggestion. — You won't even mind saying anything? — Why would I do that? — I chuckled faintly. — Well, Twilight... — I'm not her, — I interrupted the dragon, — Besides, we both eat meat here, so you don't have to be shy or afraid of being judged by me. I'll talk to her. — Thank you very much! — Spike smiled even wider, and then picked up another sandwich, devouring it hungrily. When we finally had enough, I decided to show my new friend the backyard with the training ground. What he saw made a strong impression on him, and he even asked to be allowed to wave one of the swords. I didn't try to dissuade him, but simply gave Spike the blunted one, carefully making sure that he didn't get hurt. The sword turned out to be heavy and out of size for the dragon, but he held it confidently and firmly. Standing in a fighting stance, the dragon was even able to make a couple of slow and clumsy lunges with the weapon from top to bottom and forward. — Where did you learn how to handle a weapon like that? — I asked at one point, watching the movements. — Shining taught me a little, — The dragon replied, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead, laying the sword on the ground next to me. — Apparently he's a good teacher, — I grinned. — Very much, — Spike smiled, but then stopped, blinking in surprise, — Do you know him? — I had a chance to cross paths with him several times when I lived in the barracks of the Day Guard for a while, — I answered honestly, remembering army days with a sigh. It didn't seem like much time had passed, but I was starting to miss them, as I was too used to the army atmosphere. Yes, it wasn't easy there at first, there were unpleasant moments, but some part of my soul was still with the Day Guard. That's where I made my first friends, settled in, and learned various techniques. So my sigh was more from a surge of nostalgia than from real sadness. — Wait, — The interlocutor shook his head, interrupting my thoughts, — Did you live in the barracks? Seriously? — This story is not the most pleasant, let's just say, — I tried to brush it off, trying to close the subject, Maybe I'll tell you later. — I'd like to hear it now, — Spike demanded, — Tell me, tell me! — Alright if you calm down, — Anticipating a long story, I sat down opposite him and took another breath. And then I started telling them everything from the moment I got to the barracks. Of course, Spike didn't hear that I came here from another world, and I omitted some other details. On the move, I made up that I had come to Equestria just to see the local beauty, and just to visit a country that I had not visited before. I also didn't mention that I was from Nova Gryphonia. It was too early for him to know such details. But I have provided a short summary of my life and the difficulties I have faced. Spike turned out to be a good listener and listened to my story without asking any questions. It wasn't until I finished telling him that he finally asked: — It turns out that you were here illegally? I nodded slowly. And so it turned out in fact: a pony and dragon hybrid that came from nowhere crossed the border illegally. Given the strained relationship with the dragons, this explained the local population's natural distrust of me, as well as their fear. — Yeah, exactly, — Was all I said. — Considering what's going on around you, — Spike sighed sadly, spreading his paws to the sides, — I'm surprised you're not in jail. — If it hadn't been for my helping Luna that fateful night, it would have been like this, — I added, looking down. I can say that I was lucky that I was able to help her in time. If it hadn't been for that, my life would have been much worse. We were silent for a while, looking into each other's eyes and each thinking about something different. At one point, Spike broke the silence: — You didn't do well with the Six, — The interlocutor shook his head, — Fluttershy was so scared of your appearance that I was afraid that her blow would catch. The young lizard looked at me sadly at first, but then he smiled, continuing: — But it's good that everything was resolved, even if not as peacefully as it should have been. Getting kicked by Rainbow Dash was really frustrating. Six greeted me very «friendly», which is why I was still offended at them, although I didn't show it. — I hope I can establish a relationship, — I finally replied. — I hope so too, — The interlocutor smiled faintly. We were silent again for a while, trying to find a topic to talk about. «I'm not much of an interlocutor, that's a fact. I don't know how to come up with a topic of conversation on the fly, even though I try. And it's all my social phobia. Moreover, if the interlocutor is not smart enough and does not take the initiative, then you can remain silent for quite a long time. How sad is that, damn it!» Looking at the dragon again, I sighed and pursed my lips. «Speaking of intelligence, Spike is smart beyond his years. He's only ten, but he knows a lot, apparently. Maybe I should focus on this in the conversation? I'll amuse his ego, and at the same time I'll improve my relationship with him» — I'm surprised that you're ten years smarter and morally superior to some older stallions, — I said thoughtfully, looking at Spike. He looked down, confused. — That's my problem, — My interlocutor sighed and kicked the floor with his paw, — No one takes me seriously. Except for my sister, and even then not always. And that makes me extremely sad. «Is it a shame too? I can imagine. It seems that the Six don't always take his opinion into account. Are they so arrogant because of their position? Or because they consider him a child? In any case, it's unfair» Comparing what Spike had said, I figured that my chances of getting along with these mares would be very slim. — I understand you very well, — I replied, getting up from the ground and approaching the purple dragon. — Until a certain time, I was also not taken seriously until I began to surpass my peers in size. I had to twist and invent information about myself, trying to respond as if everything were true. Fortunately, Spike turned out to be one of those who didn't suspect me of lying. — Oh, yes! — He drawled, appreciating my height, — it's impossible not to take such a bully seriously. One hoof in the face and all questions will disappear! The little dragon pointedly slapped his clenched fist into his palm and giggled. — I'm afraid the questioner's head will fly apart from the rest of his body, — I joked back. Of course, my humor was a little dark, sometimes. Due to my experience and professional deformation, humor has become darker as a defense mechanism. However, as expected, Spike did not appreciate the humor. — What a joke you have! — The little dragon grimaced, — They're kind of cruel. — Whatever they are, — I shrugged my shoulders. — You get a kind of humor when you work in medicine. Spike blinked in surprise a couple of times and opened his mouth, staring at me. — Are you a doctor? — Unfortunately not, — I sighed heavily, shaking my head, — But I have experience in working with other intelligent beings, including first aid. — That's great! — The interlocutor smiled broadly, - I have always respected the work of doctors, especially after they repaired Rainbow Dash's broken wing. It only took a few days. The doctors at Ponyville Hospital are real magicians! But I'm still afraid of injections. The little dragon shivered and snorted, probably remembering something. — Rainbow really has been offended by me lately. — For teleporting some of her magazines? — I asked. — Yeah, but she rarely takes offense, — Spike shook his head, — She's just a pegasus, and that says it all. — Well, that's right, — I nodded slowly, averting my eyes to the side, — Pegasi are indeed somewhat aggressive, as far as I understand. I remembered army stories about pegasi and the fact that they really have a militarized structure of society and traditions. Of course, I hadn't studied them in detail, but using Steele's example, it was clear that they were head and shoulders above unicorns and earth ponies as fighters. We talked about various topics for a while. I told Spike some army stories, and also discussed some not very interesting rumors. As evening approached, I decided that it was time for Spike to return home, otherwise his sister would start looking for him. As soon as I slammed the door behind the dragon, I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes, thinking about everything Spike had said today. «So, what do we have? The selfish Twilight Sparkle with a good dose of chauvinism. Aggressive Rainbow Dash. And the rest seem very muddy. Although I'm not sure about them yet. Anyway, I'm not surprised, especially after Celestia. It's like a complete set of all the sins, no other way. Nothing, as they say: the first pancake is lumpy. Let's see what happens next» Sighing heavily, I decided to write down my thoughts in a notebook, and then go to bed.

***

A new day began with a note teleporting itself onto my table. As I opened it, I saw that it was a letter from Twilight Sparkle. In it, she apologized for the inconvenience her actions had caused and expressed a desire to get to know me better. The meeting place was set on the outskirts of Ponyville. «Well then... Let's see what you have to say now. Fine, I will come to you, but don't expect me to bend to your will» With a frown, I reread the letter and decided to agree to the meeting. When I arrived at the hill where they first spotted me, I stopped to wait, taking in the surroundings and breathing in the fresh air. After the interrogation at the tavern, I had calmed down a bit, but my distrust lingered. I pondered how to conduct myself, reflecting on my course of action, and resolved not to stray from my principles, no matter what. To me, these ponies were nothing, so their opinions wouldn’t hold much weight in my decisions. Soon, I heard feminine voices approaching from the direction of the town. While I couldn't make out the words, it was clear from the tone and timbre of their voices that at least three ponies were nervous. A minute later, I spotted six young mares walking toward me. The tallest among them was a yellow pegasus with a pink mane named Fluttershy. Next was an orange earth pony with a yellow mane named Applejack, who always wore a big cowboy hat that she seldom took off. Following her was a lavender unicorn with a multicolored mane named Twilight Sparkle. Fourth in height was a white unicorn with a voluminous purple mane and an elegant body for a horse, named Rarity. Fifth was a slightly stout, bright pink pony with an equally pink mane named Pinkie Pie. She moved about energetically, bouncing like a little ball. And the smallest of the group was a blue pegasus named Rainbow Dash. Aside from her height, she stood out with her rainbow mane, unmistakable from any other. When they all approached within visual range, they stopped. For a while, we played a silent game of «staring contest». After that, they discussed for a moment whether they should come closer and engage with me, ultimately deciding that it was worth a shot. The first to step forward was Rarity, claiming that she was the most suited for the role of diplomat. — Greetings, darling, — The white mare began in her playful manner. — Last time we had a bit of a misunderstanding, and we'd like to express our deepest apologies. We're truly, truly sorry. Judging by the look on Rainbow Dash's face and the way she curled her lips, it was clear she was itching to interrupt. Fortunately, she was swiftly silenced by Applejack's hoof, allowing the white unicorn to continue. — This act is unforgivable, — Rarity continued, — But we sincerely wish to earn your forgiveness. The white unicorn sighed dramatically and went on: — What can we do to atone for our wrongs towards you? I stood there, listening to the monologue with a completely neutral expression on my face. In my mind, however, I was drawing parallels between the character from the canon and what I was witnessing in reality. «I don't see many differences so far», — I stated, — «But as the saying goes, «Don't judge a book by its cover». I won’t rush to conclusions». Despite the apparent sincerity, I felt there was a hint of hypocrisy in Rarity's voice. However, I decided to chalk it up to paranoia. — Alright, I forgive you, — I finally said. Contrary to my expectations, the mares exchanged surprised glances, as if I had said something out of line. Deciding to give them some time, I waited, and after about half a minute, Twilight stepped forward. — Is that it? Nothing else is needed? — Nothing else is needed, — I shook my head. Rarity sighed with relief, Rainbow scoffed in annoyance, while the others simply remained silent, exchanging glances. In turn, I patiently waited for the conversation to continue. — In that case, — Rarity sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before looking back at me, — What is your name? — My name is Stevrian Anlas, — I replied, — And who are you? — My name is Rarity, — She pointed to herself, then went on to gesture toward her friends, — This is my friend Applejack. The orange earth pony waved a hoof at me, forcing a smile. — You must be familiar with Fluttershy, — The yellow pegasus glanced at me nervously, while the white unicorn continued, — The blue one is Rainbow Dash. The aggressive pegasus snorted and turned away from me, settling down at an angle. — Twilight Sparkle, — The student of Celestia gave me only a fleeting glance, — And finally, there's Pinkie Pie. The pink earth pony bounced in place and flashed a cheerful smile. I nodded, trying not to pay attention to the blue pegasus. — I've heard about you, — I said, looking around at everyone present, — The embodiments of the Elements of Harmony, am I right? — Absolutely right, — Pinkie began, — It's common knowledge. It's quite strange that you don't know who we are, especially since even many griffons are aware of us. We obtained our stones not long ago, but it was a difficult journey. Do you know Nightmare Moon? We managed to defeat her with the help of the Elements of Harmony, thus becoming their embodiment! The mare repeated all this in one breath, so that I barely understood what she was talking about. «Holy shit! She's no better in reality», — I thought, rolling my eyes, — «I hope she doesn't bother me with her friendship. She's too hyperactive and obsessive. I've never liked such personalities» — Slow down there, sweetie, or Stevrian won't understand a thing, — Applejack tried to rein in her friend. However, at that moment, a lavender unicorn suddenly stepped forward, stamping her hoof on the ground. — Fillies, let's not start empty conversations about anything, okay? — She looked sternly at the others. Her friends fell silent and exchanged glances. — Okay, — The other five mares replied in unison. For a moment, it was quiet on the hill, but then a modest yellow pegasus approached me and leaned her head towards me. — Excuse me. I heard that you live nearby. Would you show us your home? The words were spoken timidly, barely audibly, but as politely as possible. I would not have been able to refuse such an appeal, but I decided to do it differently: — After you show us yours. After all, you initiated the «introduction». I sat down and made a quotation mark gesture with my front legs, wincing at the memory. However, the others ignored my emotions, starting their own hurdy-gurdy: — Great! — Pinkie shouted happily, — Can we visit my cabin? — Or maybe boutique «Carousel»? — Rarity suggested. — No, — Applejack waved off, — He just has to see farm «Sweet Apple»! Seeing all this, Twilight Sparkle pressed her hoof to her forehead and shook her head. — Fillies! — Shouted the lavender unicorn, — Let him choose for himself. But I would recommend heading to the library. All the ponies fell silent and looked at me, waiting for a response. — In short, — I concluded, deciding on the next step, — First the library.