Around the world through laziness and boredom

      Even there, tens of kilometres before the arrival, the flying bastion already seemed truly giant. Big castle, the size of a mountain, seemed to actually fly - for its size, it stood on quite small metal legs. The closer companions got to the city limits, the more it amazed the company.   They say the truth, that everything is seemingly made out of crystals - even settlers. This is an actual paradise - not a flake around, grass is growing and everyone is joying! Even guards seem to enjoy their job. With such armour and weapons like they have, one could even be satisfied by equipment alone.   Forfex’s armour resembles these shells a bit, but it was probably made catastrophically long ago - not towards current fashion sense and with different technologies. And now, every stallion was decorated with something, protected by better standards, and their spears easily turned into tridents with one genius attachment. Miracles!         Should the solar pony walk onto the sparkling land herself, along with her saviours, when all of them changed - their fur and skin attained gem-like appearance - they shone, pulsed, and even some illusory facets appeared at the edges. But the rest was not an illusion.   Unusual comfort and absence of snow were very real, indeed. Creatures simply could not stay at one spot, like the playful foals in the distance! Nothing would seem to obstruct from simply moving here, embracing this beauty, living in the pleasures.. Until one notices that same truth with a corner of the eye.         Carts with zebras in muzzlers, with bracelets and pickaxes, with bags full of crystals. Slaves overworked in mines, where the glittery things eternally grow, and where there are always not enough hooves, to hold off the scary misfortune. From one perspective, they did a good thing.. From another, nobody asked for their opinion.   Limbs, tattered to the meat, were not an excuse to take a break. Some had to work until exhaustion in the caves, sacrificing everything they have. Truly, why not give such a burden to outlanders, who have nothing to do in a hot dustbowl anyway? Should the shining grace himself go into the mines elsewise?   Other citizens had no such desire either. The job is ungrateful, energy is too easily spent.. A lot easier and more interesting to fulfil orders for the king himself, or for other privileged dwellers - potions, food, clothes.. What was not produced in New-Londo or Canterlot, was made here.   However, not all things held the same charm, as what was thought by Panache. The further companions went into the city, the more influence of this master was seen on the society - unique houses, dissimilar flowerbeds, weapons.. What of it - even different pavement separated yards and districts from each other.         Deers tried to get into the downtown area through active and partying citizens, while Sunshine tried the opposite - to stop the pathfinders. If she appears before someone high-ranking, it may end on a bad note. If that someone is aware of the latest events, of course.   — ..Maybe we should visit Ardent first?   — We have a report to make. - insisted Warden - We are on a job, after all.   — Come on, now, we have all the world’s time! - fawn stayed on sun pony’s side - We’ll visit camerlengo right after the furnisher.   Buck’s grouchiness attained new strength with each passing second. As if he was jealous, or simply tried to make others pay attention to him. Any orange mare’s proposal turned into an immediate critique from the antlered being. Though he still listened.   — Can we get something to eat, if something gets our way? - the horse offered.   — No. We are making only one stop. - he hinted at the gelding.   — What is wrong with you? - Garden did not understand her friend’s behaviour at all - Just so you remember, our responsibilities have cafe trips included! What if she doesn’t have any coin?   — That’s her problem! - Warden pointingly exhaled - She’s just wasting time!       Rescuers argued the whole trip. Even a mouthful has not stopped the painted pathfinder from bids and complaints. Only, now they were addressed towards the establishment they visited - food has not that filling, the table is too far from the Sun.. Yet he still continued to eat.   But the winged pony and her horned friend liked what they had tasted. The so-called macarolls - pasta leaves, rolled with mushrooms or anything else to choose from, had a completely unusual taste. Winged mare was not acquainted with the local kitchen at all, but she could swear that there was one distinctive and familiar ingredient.   Familiar not by taste, but by tales. Little horse decided to look how these things were cooked, and immediately guessed what was added there. A cooked, hanging piece of meat was squeezed with strings, and the juice that came off gave this exact taste to the hard-founded pancake.   And others ate this too! The doe quickly calmed the rescued pony, explaining that it is not dangerous. At least, nobody had any complications because of this brown liquid. Even though hooved creatures could not eat meat products, they still found uses for such dangerous stuff. Same as with fish.         Ingenuity knew no boundaries. Even such a simple thing as a chair - nothing unusual at first thought, but someone, somehow, had thought of something, to stop freezing on a naked surface! Then came couches, beds - and not only out of wood. Hard to count how many things the gelding invented, that pathfinders went to after dinner.   And what he did not create himself - he would improve. Sounds of his work were heard across the whole street - huge structure inside the workshop already created music. Ardent-Vibrant experimented with his new project without a stop. And to think of it - a simple piano with tubes.   The closer Sunshine got to the source of this music, the calmer she felt. And the other way around at the same time. What will she say to the tinkerer? How would he react to the solar mare’s plea, or to deers? If the changeling could stop hiding, he would already express his concerns..   Instead of him, other creatures reacted. The doe saw and felt the orange pony’s stress, while other horned deer suspected something and snorted. Even the slick fashioner thought that something is wrong, the moment that the trio walked into his immodest establishment. However, he did not show it - Sunshine is a friend of his business partner; hurting relations is never an option.   — Oh, Sunshine! What brings you here? - the stallion was happy to see the pegasus - This, problem of yours, still persists?   — Sadly.. - sun pony thought a lot about future words - New problems came with them. But I’m being helped by two new friends! Garden and Wa-   — We are not, friends. - the buck went completely cold - We came for a reward.         The fashioner was not at all expecting to be addressed by the pathfinder, especially so rudely. By their laws, such lifesavers actually can ask for a compensation, or an extra tip from relatives or close friends of the rescued, but that was not a usual thing to happen.   Sunshine tried to show with gestures, that she has to pretend, and that this young fawn played with each other's nerves. But sadly, the angle and subtle movements of only the hooves alone, could not convey the full message. But she was partially understood!   — ..Have you visited the camerlengo? - the inventor tensed up, seeing a negative reaction from red-eyed mare.   — We were just going there. - Warden already turned around and moved towards the door - Nothing to do here. Let’s go.   Finally, he sees nothing! Long-eared horse immediately tried to point out that they should not hurry, not fearing the reactions of her acquaintances. Even though the doe did not fully understand why that was needed, the horned creature still tried to play along with the earth pony. Though it still sounded weirdly from another perspective:   — Indeed? Nothing to do here? - Panache laughed - How about hearing this city’s history? And our traditions, stories? We’ll decide on the reward while at it..   — No. - annoying buck insisted on his point.   — Always wanted to know! - fawn stayed full of enthusiasm - And Sun is probably not against it. Are you?   — ..We heard this a hundred times already from others. Move it!         Of course, resentment had not stopped the stylist from telling tales, one could not refuse to hear. Even though he did not talk about history and rulers themselves - probably because the public knows not much - other novelties he learned of like none other. Many of which he brought himself.   The Empire’s guest was especially surprised by the crystal heart - an artefact, circling around in the very heart of the town, protecting it from all the problems outside. Blizzards, other nature attacks - everything goes away thanks to it. As it so happened, the magical gas was attracted to this heart-shaped crystal because of the platinum. Even here, laws of physics and magic stayed the same.   Everyone heard a lot about fashion already, but about pipeano - almost nobody. Loud instrument is going to be placed right in the citadel, and the sound is supposed to spread equally in the castle itself, and onto the main square below it. One could use some illusions to do the job.   And if crystals, theoretically, could help with the solution, one should not use magic for it - invisible, bandaid attempts at making the sound louder or quieter, will be noticed immediately. This stallion is obviously a master artisan, but nobody can go against the glassy things - they are too little-studied and whimsical. Very useful though.   Turning any common kettle into an alchemical laboratory is as easy as seeing the invisible with them. Not to mention, these stones almost became a reason for a genocide. But their main property, as many think it is, is giving new colours when light goes through them. Though, common knowledge about the light itself is quite twisted..   — ..Did you know that the male seed is a dense and solid light? - Ardent-Vibrant told about the folklore fiction with a serious face - We are all the children of the Sun, and we appear thanks to this very light!   — That.. Makes sense. - Sunshine thoughtfully waved it off, though to her it sounded frighteningly truthful and logical - ..Aren’t you, you know, sorry for losing your sanctity?   — Beauty requires sacrifices! - gelding stayed positive as ever - Not at all ashamed of my deed - opposite..!   — This is all nice and everything, but we have to go. - horned buck growled out of displeasure and tiredness - Grab the coin and move it.   — ..No!         The pegasus could not hold all this pressure. No excuses are left, but companions cannot go to the bastion, at all! Thankfully, everything remained the same. Kind of - nobody was going to refuse helping, and the angry creature continued to express his discontent.   — Sun? If you have something to say, then say it. To me at least, or our stylist. - antlered doe came closer to the pony - I know that we don’t know each other that well, you probably don’t trust us, but I promise that everything will be fine.   — ..Then in private, alright? Panache, can we get inside the workshop?         It appears that the stallion is interested not only in the interior - traps, hiding spots, barricades.. Only a private forge was seemingly lacking. However, big-eared pony knew that she should not spend this little time slowing down, and she whispered her concerns to the doe, not walking too far from the door:   — I am being watched. By someone from Equestria, and I don’t know who! Maybe he wants to kill me, I don’t know! I’m scared!   — So that is why you got “lost” and behaved so strangely?   — Of course! He will immediately know that I’m here if locals spread gossip! We can’t let anyone high-   — I knew it. - loudened Warden - I knew you were wicked!         Deer’s glowing horns immediately caught everyones’ eyes. Shaming alone is not enough for such audacious listening! How did he even learn about such a specific spell? And it would be enough if the fawn stopped right there, but his complaints only continued:   — We had to tell them everything from the start! We might get in trouble because of this! We need to inform the authorities!   — Are you hollow-horned or hollow-minded? - the doe thought of trampling him - You want to ruin a few lives?! They won’t help us!   — I want to save our kind! - deer’s voice had a glimpse of fear - If they learn that we were quiet, they-   — Nobody will learn anything if we won’t tell them ourselves! You will only bring trouble with this! - Garden walked too close to the fool - Stop behaving like Rebuke!   However, Warden did not listen to his childhood friend anymore. He was obsessed with his thought so much, that he ran away from the workshop immediately, the moment Garden got closer. Friends reacted too late, and the fool managed to lose them. Out of despair, the pony grabbed her head..   — I’ll kill him if I find him! - the deer genuinely raged at the escapee.   — Now’s not the time. - gelding tried to stay calm - You need to run, through the back door.   — What about you?   — They will not do anything to me, I will hold them off. - stallion pushed the company towards the inner part of the workshop - Someone’s coming. Hurry!         Not a minute had passed, when someone broke into the establishment without knocking. The couple barely managed to hide behind the door, before the guards went inside. Warden could not tell anyone about all this in such a short time, and that means only one thing.   Orange mare was spied on this whole time. Or at least, most of it - and not certain, by someone’s orders or independently. Judging by the sounds, the crowd escorted someone else - in almost silent armour, with a Canterlot accent. Aggressive herd only pushed friends quicker towards the swift escape.   — Greetings! How may I-?   — Inquisition. - someone’s young and half-deep voice pressured with its arrogance - Have you seen a small ginger horse?   — Small and ginger? No, I have not.   — And I think you did. Search the place!   Friends still struggled to find an exit out of this chaos of decorations and adornments. The company tried to stay quiet, nimbly jumping through many wooden modules. But the harder they tried, the harder they heard hoof clops. Either theirs, or someone who walked very near.   — I don’t think you should be here. - gelding answered just as coldly and arrogantly.   — Seems to me you did not understand who you are dealing with. Does the name Serendipitous tell you anything?   — Seems to me ‘tis you who didn’t get it. I have an order straight from his majesty, king Sombra - construct a musical wonder of art for-   — No, ‘tis you who is oblivious. - an unpleasant metal click was heard from the main room - Ardent-Vibrant Panache can easily lose his life. Or its meaning.   Suddenly, someone broke the window near the entrance. No matter who it was - he was serious and confident. Maybe it is the same blue-haired stallion! So many things happened at once, that the orange pony wanted to scream. And only the door behind a corner calmed down the winged horse.   — Do you understand what will happen if such an identity like me disappears? You’ll have to explain it yourselves, if you ruin the national surprise..!   — I have to explain myself to nobody, except the princesses. Speak, where is this insignificance.   — If the king learns about this.. - stylist’s voice broke off after the spell noises.   — Learn he will not. - Serendipitous addressed the cutthroats in shells - Get moving, or this unfortunate accident will turn into a fatal one. You don’t want to explain yourselves to the king, do you?   How fortunate that the door in the back was open! Only, it was probably opened by one of the lawful brigands. Should the friends turn towards the other side, and they saw one of them! The stallion was going to scream at the sight of escapees.. But the companions were faster. And more efficient.   Garden piled on the enforcer and made him shut up with her antlers. Chaotic bones literally shut the stallion’s mouth and made him move backwards, onto a luckily situated guillotine. Sunshine realised in time and kicked the construction with her back legs, and the sharp sheet of metal silenced the guardian for good.   Others came to the sound of commotion, yet they found nothing but the headless body. No sight or track of the pathfinder and her wingpony - the door would not open, as if it stayed closed this entire time. How nice, that big crates and heavy items were laying around in the backyard!         However, no time to relax yet. A unicorn was in prowlers’ ranks - probably the one who did the talking; too distinct a sound there was, not to mention the spell and consequences. Friends cannot stop, they have to run! But where to, and when? How, and how fast?   What if other watchers know that someone needs to be caught? What if they are already looking for the orange troublemaker? If not for the doe, knowing the surroundings too well, the pony could not walk even a few steps out of the workshop. Hiding in the yards and long waiting in the shadows - the only way to get out alive.   Patience and perseverance helped new friends evade patrol after patrol, and when the night settled, the couple had already pushed the snow in frost and loneliness. Music and joyful shouting were replaced by the wind howling, and a sense of time seemingly disappeared. One leg still felt near the citadel, another one - in a snowbank.