Around the world through laziness and boredom

      Those were quite long nights. All this time, instead of sleeping, the changeling and his new friend discussed that same artefact. Other than that, the historian also explained how the artefacts appeared in the first place, and what made them stand out from useless baubles from dark alleys.   And they appeared completely randomly - nobody exactly knows why they behave like they behave. Only one was certain - that same gas was guilty of it all - the ethereum. Like with living creatures, it allows the surrounding objects to attain a meaning. Or, someone living to create a meaning for it.   Not every object though, can be forged this way. All those magical things are different, sometimes unrecognisable when compared. Only one thing unites all of them - platinum. This metal attracts the blue filth, after which, sometimes, a piece of platinum can get some unnatural properties.   — So, I understand correctly, that this.. “Preserver” - is a shiny pickaxe?   — Correct. Even though the name is confusing - that pick was named so for being able to extract the needed ores in their purest form, without damaging them at all.   — And it shines because of platinum. How does this instrument understand what someone wants from it?   — Just as how you understood what I was afraid of and ran away from. It feels that. - pony exhaled with difficulty - Legends say, that this pickaxe’s owner had hooves made of platinum, and he directed his strength where he needed to, but.. That sounds too weird. Guess there’s a reason for this story, who knows..         An interesting coincidence - heir to the house of Sunrise also had horseshoes made out of magic-magnet metal. Just like Moonrise, and Clockwork.. Probably just a coincidence, but even them, like legends, have a glimpse of truth. Even the littlest detail can possess a great power in it. When it comes to platinum, that is especially true.   — ..What about Sunshine’s flower? Something is not right with it.   — The flower? ..It’s rare, indeed. - the unicorn amazed after thoroughly looking over the adornment - Platinum nasturtiums are very few by now, almost impossible to find them.   — Platinum.. nasturtiums?   — It’s a name, a title, don’t be scared. They have more platinum than any other plant or animal; more than there’s in me, or even you. - snowwhite mare moved away another pony’s ear and mane - Almost an extinct species, I would say. It is most noticeable on its stem - see the shining? They are valued very much by the alchemists.         But the little horse’s flower never leaves her mane. Not even a single petal has fallen out since the moment that she started wearing it on her head. The insect constantly kept near the pony, and he never saw the plant being damaged in any way. Not to mention that she had it there even before meeting the bug.   And what about past events? First the swarming surges of emotions, then death of a desert changeling. This platinum thing somehow affected the winged mare - both positively and negatively. The fact that she sleeps for two days by now, waking up for a moment after touching edges of the plant and without reacting to anything else, only proves friends’ guesses.   — Her brother is tied to it, in some way. - clarified Gambit - Flower protects Sunshine. She got through impossible stuff, and I have no doubts that it was possible thanks to it.   — ..So, it’s probably not that bad? - Curio shrugged - I would not touch it, and would not provoke Sunny if I were you. You better deal with it together, at home.   — Even if talk attempts about Moonrise end like this?   — I don’t know. - the historian made a big pause - Can’t help here at all. Do what you feel is right. Like what you did with me.   If only such a way would work for certain. That is a one-way trip - like the use of the scroll, or hiding a knife beneath someone’s skin. The thought about the consequences alone made the bug nervous - what if it will be the end of a friendship, even so strong and tight as theirs?   — Will try. In the right moment.         But for now, there was a lot of time before this moment. Little pony still slept, and the third moon still held above the city, closer to the horizon. All that was left to do is understand, how this smoke sphere works. The sorcerer already took everything she hid from the unending nowhere, which attracted the attention of the plated bug.   — How do you do that? - insectoid pointed at the blackness.   — This? - the horse demonstrated her skills again - Don’t know how to call it. My parents suggested the right words, and what happened - happened.   — Words? Like what Moon wrote on the scroll?   — Well.. Almost. I thought about them for some time, and here it is - can store everything and anything inside my head. Saved me countless times when someone suspected and searched me.   “Store inside the head.”. Somehow, it sounded unusually familiar to the fanged one. The fact itself, that he understood it all with such an ease, scared him more than the albino horse’s words themselves. Interesting, did she mean what the whiskered insect thought about right now?   — Words. Mean different things. Same words. - lilac bug discussed out loud - Perception gives different meaning.   — You’re surprised by that?   — I have an idea. Let’s try something. Put the paper in the bag.   The bag appeared in the changeling’s place the moment he stopped talking. Curious creature did word by word what she was asked of, and after a few seconds, that same spell scroll came out from the insect’s mouth, covered in yellow slime. The sorcerer did not understand anything. The bug himself probably understood even less.   — Words. - the plated insectoid continued - Store inside the head.   Now, she understood even less than seconds prior. While the pony tried to make a logical chain of what just happened, she took the coin from the pocket void. Both of them suddenly found, that this same coin was different from the rest; it did not look like itself.   — It’s.. A fake? But they’re the same. - horned mare puzzled - I know what I saw! This cannot be!   — They are all fake. Did you remember it?   — ..No, wait! I don’t believe it!   The pony dug inside the infinity for a little longer. A constant feeling that there was something else left, and all the time came something other than desired item - one time the silver coin had no notches, then the dime appeared golden; now the sister faces looked forward, not put in profile. Finally, a normal coin came out. And another one!   But the void should not have anything else, where did all the money come from? They look like real ones though. No, they are real, of different hammering - this is pure silver that one can use to pay for stuff, or even sell to someone as collector’s items! At one point, the sorcerer realised something.   The revelation did not take long - both the first and second variants of the spell could be cast. The changeling gave an idea, and he did not understand any of it himself! Not only did the pony learn how to hide many things from other eyes, but also how to imagine and create something conceivable by the horse's energy.         Alas, but the albino creature had very little strength left - for one to sleep so little, lose their nerves and try to cast spells at the same time - not many can do that. And those who can, will certainly risk with their health. Like with any activity, with practically anything - one needs rest from everything. Even from sleeping.   The moment that the snowwhite horse started falling on her flank, the solar pony finally opened her eyes. First thing that she saw - a genuinely satisfied mare, with white leather knapsack laying behind. Joy and satisfaction quickly got through to the orange horse, and it made the unicorn herself more happy. Almost a perpetual engine.   — Finally, you woke up. To sleep so much - This’ bad for health, you know?   — But I was tired! Honestly, I don’t even remember how I fell asleep..   — The main thing is you’re here again, safe and sound.   — ..What’s with you? As if you haven’t slept for the whole night.   The eyebags did not scare Sunshine as much, as the change in voice with choice of words to more soft and pleasant ones. It seemed, as if moments prior a completely different pony stood nearby - very angry, maybe evil, despising others for many reasons. But now..   — Three, in fact. - Curiosity giggled - Three very rough nights. You know, we understood a lot of things during that period.   — We? - little one did not understand anything and tilted her head to the side.   — Yes, we. Me, and.. I haven’t even asked his name. This, white, and smooth..   — Oh, you’re talking about Gamby! His name is Ace Gambit. He’s nice, isn’t he?   The moment that the winged horse took off to reach her friend and other things, the bed was immediately occupied by the sleepy wizard. She had energy only for a few more words, and she was not intending to give up on them, even in such a sleepful moment:   — You can’t even imagine what happened during those three days..   — I hope you’re not mad at me?   — Not at all. And not at Gamby either. We had a little conflict, but he helped me overgo through many things. Better this, than if something else happened. - the horse lingeringly yawned - ..Told him about the artefact, that it’s in Dome..   Undoubtedly, good news, but what is next? What about the payment that Curio spoke about? Did everything resolve without the sleepy mare? She simply must know how it all ended. Since it was her who walked here and there in search of extraordinary things, not someone else.   — He-ey, don’t sleep! - long-eared pony stroked the sleeping mare - Have you decided everything? What about-   — Gamby decided everything. - horned horse interrupted her friend due to sleepness - ..Oh, sorry. Everything’s done, took one smoke bomb and one coin. Those are fake anyway.   — Fake?! How? - orange pony visibly angered.   — Don’t be angry at Moon. Be angry at Cele. Is all because of her. - white-haired pony smiled, falling asleep while talking - I’ll help.. But now, sleep..         That is certainly a good start! Since they know where to go and what to look for, albeit partly, they should go exactly there. However, first things first - one should eat. And even though logically all the pancakes would disappear in someone’s mouth during the past days, absence of food still upset the sun mare.   But their availability in the kitchen, on the first floor, got the mood set on the right path again. It is a bit strange that such food would bring positive emotions. On a second thought, another known brew left not exactly the best impressions, despite it being amazingly delicious.         Bad impressions were also left by a bunch of scholars and labourers from the past days. The moment that the little pony took the table for herself, some representatives of another point of view decided to have breakfast there as well. Active townsfolk discussed and denounced the sunny pony outloud, while she still awaited her order.   However, much to everyone’s surprise, some huge stallion in plated armour decided to stand up for the mare. Nobody could see his looks - even the tail colour left unseen, as it was hidden by steel and two paired swords. But his voice.. It was magnificent, as if taken straight from fairytales. Even through the visor, it felt very inspiring, expressive.. and young.   — Silence, you obnoxious half-wits! - he spoke, as if he stood on a stage - Else I, Sir Forfex, will demonstratively show you why I am called so!   As an answer for such impudent talk, the crowd expressed their dissatisfaction, with the same loud voices and words. Someone even decided to throw an apple at an armoured warrior. Which, of course, provoked him and grabbed his attention. That someone immediately regretted doing so.   The knight, probably being used to the boiling mood of others, took both swords with his bracelets. While standing on his hind legs, he connected the blades like scissors - and with those scissors, the stallion cut all the table’s legs, then the troublemaker’s food without a single problem.   The apple horse immediately silenced, realising his mistakes. Other citizens, including the tavernkeep, followed the victim’s example. Who did not understand even then - changed his mind when the warrior moved his head towards them. As if Forfex looked for a rebel, who could challenge him to a duel.         Others returned to their affairs only after the orange horse received her plate with pancakes. Because only then, that the earth pony in armour finally sheathed both his weapons, for some reason continuing to give all of his attention to the little mare.   — What is your name, young lady?   — Sunshine.   Strange mix of etiquette and common trifles both attracted and deterred the horse - the stallion agreeingly laughed, then aristocratically bowed and raised his visor. Benevolent horse’s face could not be witnessed in the dark tavern corner, but his pink eyes were seen perfectly. Eyes like nobody else in the world had.   — Beautiful name! A pure embodiment of joy and celestial beauty.   — Oh, you..! - little mare visibly confused.   — Why would such a pony eat so much and carry a weapon? - the stallion suddenly changed the topic - I would gladly help you with your fate, completely free at that.   With every new word, the illusion of kindness steadily crumbled, and the situation painted itself in colours of reality. Yes, Sunshine was proportionally in size, as how many pancakelings she had. And weapon sheath, sabre and a hooflet are not exactly a “lady” thing.   But what could someone do, when there are so many louts and dangerous enemies around? Was it indeed a reason to play victim and hide behind stallions in armour, who only “proved” themselves on their account? Should someone follow those silly rules and hide their strength, even when one needs to show it?   — As a matter of fact, this sword-   — You don’t even know that it’s a cutlass! - the soldier also mistakenly silenced the mare - How are you going to use it? You simply must have aid! I am ready to stand for you in the face of danger!   — But-!   — No need to ask me! I see that you are a shy being. Nay fret, just give me a sign, and I will understand.         Nobody would let the pegasus feast in peace. Every word from the sunny pony was destroyed by invalid arguments of a forced interlocutor. Most of the food, as well as mood, Forfex took to himself, in exchange for a story that nobody asked for. Nobody, but Sunshine.   Pony was very curious, why the knight, who looked like those warriors from Crystal Empire, had almost no said accent. The horse also interested, in the frightened sense of those words, why the stallion treated pancake stuffing so harshly and greedily.   And the armour with weapons themselves, which did not look like the typical equipment, raised no less questions. Paired swords matched each other so much, that even midillian folk will think twice - should they even attack? And what is this name, Forfex?   — ..I was named after my father. He was named after my grandfather, and so on. - the loud stallion continued to test everyone’s patience - And the last of my line, one who started everything, forged those swords - forfexes, or scissors - by his own hooves. Both armour and weapons - all made from legendary eversteel!   — Eversteel? - red-eyed pony suddenly got excited - The one that’s made in Dome? I was just heading that way!         Ah, the sudden realisation. Big-eared pony had completely different plans - she hoped to lose the fellow traveller in alleyways and continue her adventure alone, without annoying downers. Now, there was no way she could escape it - he would walk with her straight to the world of mining and forging.   No words or talk could help at all - the young giant followed the winged pony endlessly, to protect. Truth be told, he embarrassed more than he brought help. Even without anyone around, when forced companions left the town borders and appeared in, for the most part, an empty side of Equestria.