My Little Pony: Shadows of the Two Kingdoms

Each pony stared up at the towering black ruins known as the Broken Kingdom. Each wondering what lay within its twisted walls. The fire calmly died out leaving nothing, but a few wisps of smoke drifting from the smoldering ashes. The small rays of sun that softly lit up the area a few hours ago had all but disappeared leaving the ponies in the soft glimmer of the moon. Each pony grabbed their weapon from the ground and sheathed into the special hilt Applejack had made them back in Rubia.

“So, why is this statuette so important?” Rainbow asked, still a bit skeptical about the purpose for this journey.

“What we are after isn’t a normal statuette. It is known as a guardian piece. Two guardian pieces are needed to awaken the sleeping giant. We have one of them, but somehow one of Eternal Darkness’ acolytes was able to get into the city and steal the other one. The Guardian was built to defend Equestria from Eternal Darkness. Without both statuettes we can’t awaken him.” Crimson Steel answered distantly.

“Sounds serious, so what’s the plan for this little snatch and grab?” Rainbow asked eager for some action.

“The Broken Kingdom is surrounded by a field of dark magic, that black mist you see drifting around it is the magic I speak of one touch and I’m sure the entire kingdom and whatever lies inside will know we are here. So here is the plan. Rainbow Dash I want you, Fluttershy, and Twilight to enter through the top of that shambled castle and find that guardian piece. It’s likely to be in one of the towers so find it and get out.” Crimson Steel cut Rainbow off before she could protest needing help. “I’m sending them with you because Twilight can hide you from detection with her magic, and because you three have wings so a perfect team.”

He turned toward the other three ponies “Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie you three with me. We are going to be the distraction hopefully by the others some time to search. I can shield us from detection with my magic. Hopefully the four of us can sneak in and cause a little disarray within the kingdom. If all goes well we should be in and out before sun up and back on our way to Rubia to prepare.”

“Hang on prepare for what, exactly?” Twilight asked interjecting

Crimson Steel let out a long sigh realizing he hadn’t told them yet. “Eternal Darkness is preparing an army for an all out attack on Equestria. If we don’t stop him here all of Equestria could collapse. Yet another reason we must not fail. Now, is everypony ready?”

“I think we are, more or less.” Twilight said softly gazing up at their imminent destination.

Each pony split up into their team, and soon they were off on their way into the dark ruins of the Broken Kingdom.

The trio of flyers took off leaping from the ground to the skies.

“Ok girls let me activate the spell Crimson Steel showed me.” Violet aura surrounded Twilight’s horn, and a gray energy began to encircle each pony, forming a ring that split in two directions. “There we go, now we should be invisible to the black magic that surrounds this place, let’s go.”

“Yeah, time for some action!” exclaimed Rainbow, taking the lead into the ruined kingdom.

“I’m not sure about this.” Fluttershy squeaked.

The three mares flew to the first tower, landing on the rim of the first crumbling balcony. Fluttershy went over and pulled softly on the window.

“It’s locked maybe no one’s home right now let’s come back later.” Fluttershy turned to fly off not before Rainbow bit onto her tail, and pulled her back.

“Hey, fate of Equestria here, remember? No one goes home till this over.” She snapped.

“Besides nothing is ever locked.” Twilight smirked stepping in front of the cracked window. Her magic sparked up and surrounded the window. With a slight “click” the window unlocked and creaked, as it swung open. The three mares stepped inside the tower quietly, and began to search the interiors. Rainbow checked the ceilings and cabinets quickly flying back and forth through the room. Twilight scanned the floors and walls with her magic to check for secret hatches and passageways. Fluttershy checked the furniture carefully combing over each spot for a switch or lever.

“Nothing, there is nothing here.” Rainbow sighed.

Twilight walked over to the open window, and peered out “Come on let’s get going. Still four more towers to search.”

The three mares took off in the direction of the next tower.

“Everypony stop, look out there.” Fluttershy pointed to the nearest tower. Several black pony-shaped figures circled the tower.

“Must be some of those acolytes. We need to avoid their sight and stay hidden.” Twilight said.

“Can’t you just hide us with magic?” Rainbow asked a bit annoyed.

“I wish, but that would take a lot of strength to hold two cloaking spells at once.”

“Ugh fine.”

The three mares flew quietly over to the tower, stopping several meters away. When the acolytes had passed the tower the trio made a dash for it. Each one landed on the balcony with perfect precision. Twilight hastily wrapped the window in her magical embrace unlocking the window within a few seconds. The trio hastily rushed in while Twilight shut the window behind them. Twilight shut the window a little harder then she thought and the window snapped shut with a loud “BANG” catching a glare from one of the passing acolytes. The robed acolyte flew over to the window and peered inside. Seeing nothing the dark robed pony grunted went back to his post.

“Close call, I don’t think I could have held that spell much longer.” Twilight whispered stopping her cloaking spell.  “Ok girls lets get searching before those guards come back.”

Once again they broke off scanning the large tower high and low with no sign of the statuette.

“Nothing again.” Rainbow growled.

“Dashie try to be quiet we don’t want to get caught.” Fluttershy whispered from across the room

Rainbow Dash sighed to herself. All this sneaking around was really staring to wear on her. She still hadn’t got to use her lightning bolt-shaped great sword Applejack had made her. The three waited for the robed acolyte soldiers to pass before exiting the tower as fast as fast as they could.

“Only three more towers left two smaller ones and the central tower in the center of the collapsed castle.” Twilight thought to herself. She was worried about how the other four might be fairing had they been captured, killed, or even tortured! “Best not to dwell on it now.” She thought trying to calm herself.

The three ponies moved to the next tower. Twilight hastily unlocked the window with her magic so they could get in. Each pony looked around the tower quickly looking at weapons and different suits of armor.

“Must be the armory. The guardian stone is not gonna be in the armory.” Rainbow Dash concluded.

Twilight combed quickly through the armory one last time. She levitated a small stack of papers into her bag hoping they could be useful maybe possible battle plans she hoped. “Two more to go.” She whispered to Rainbow and Fluttershy.

The last tower had no patrol around it the three mares quickly made their way inside. Twilight stopped dead in her tracks when she realized where she was. A giant library stood before Twilight. Many of its books were torn and covered in a fine layer of dust. Clearly this library had fallen into disrepair sometime ago. “This must be the royal library. I’ve got to read through some of these ancient books maybe they paint a deeper story on this kingdom.”

“Twilight there isn’t time we need to get moving.” Rainbow said ready to get a move on again.

“Just hang on Rainbow give me sec.....”

A sharp ringing struck each pony’s ears as a bright and loud blast of light erupted from what they could only assume was the Great Hall. Loud yelling and the dark drone of possessed voices rang below the three ponies. Twilight hastily used her magic to block off the window and lock it up tight. Rainbow drew her great sword from it’s sheath holding it firmly with her teeth as the tower door began to splinter and shake violently from the force of the dark knights and acolytes pounding on it.

“What gave us away?” Fluttershy asked with a whine as she covered her face with her hooves.

The door gave way with a loud shattering SLAM as it broke and splintered into pieces. Rainbow Dash looked dead ahead at their assailants “BRING....IT....ON.” she growled as the attackers charged into the room.

Crimson Steel, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie looked on as the three flying ponies took off towards the towers of the Broken Kingdom.

“So darling what’s the plan here exactly while they search the towers what are we going to do.”

“We are gonna buy them some time to search the towers by causing a distraction. First things first, the spell.” Crimson’s horn started to glow a dark red as a gray ring of magic surrounded each of the four ponies. The ring began to spin, then splitting in half formed a barrier around each of them that faded away after just a few seconds. “Now we should be invisible to the dark magic surrounding the area.” Crimson Steel hooked two strange dagger-like weapons to his legs. “Applejack you did make weapons for the others correct?”

“Ah sure believe ah did. Ah gave Rainbow hers awhile ago.” She said attaching a pair of sharpened metal kicking shoes to her legs.

“Ok let’s get moving then, and Rarity please restrain your use of magic. The trio shouldn’t have a problem with that being the towers are more on the outside of the kingdom, but we are going to be dead center. Our bodies may be invisible from detection, but being so close to the center of the kingdom any foreign magic use would easily be detected by Eternal Darkness.”

“Noted then.”

The four ponies stepped up entering the veil of swirling shadow magic that surrounded the kingdom. Nopony said a word as they walked. The deep depression of the ruined landscape really started to make this place feel evil. The dirt was dry and black almost as if it had been burned for years. The trees were all but dead or twisted in such a way they might as well be dead, and they held the same black color the land did. The sky was all but gray and lacked color. The land and kingdom just looked dead.

The group of four ponies stopped at the old drawbridge. No guards were in sight.

“Where’s the friendly greeting or the surprise.” Pinkie asked confused. The others just rolled their eyes and kept walking.

The four ponies slowly crossed the drawbridge carefully checking for any patrolling guards or hostiles along the castle walls. There was nothing, no sign of any life at all. The four ponies crossed through the courtyard, and past the gardens. Still nothing no soldiers, acolytes, and no sign that Eternal Darkness had ever been here.

“I don’t understand it. There isn’t anything here no sign that anypony had ever been here.” Crimson Steel wondered aloud. "Perhaps we should check the Great Hall. If this place is abandoned the Great Hall will be empty.”

The four ponies walked through the streets of the kingdom occasionally glancing up, and seeing a brief glimpse of the three flying ponies heading to a tower. They arrived at the Great Hall in a matter of minutes.

“Hey Crimson ya’ll know if this place ain’t abandoned then this is probably a trap right?” Applejack asked nervously.

“Yep of course. I wouldn’t expect any different.” He said with a slight chuckle. “Hey Pinkie?”

“Yes?”

“Stick outside the Great Hall and if you hear anything troubling, do what you do best?”

“YEP!” pinkie exclaimed with a big beaming smile.

“So what’s are next move then?” Rarity questioned.

Crimson Steel gave a slight grin “Spring the trap.” He said confidently.

The three ponies slowly pushed open the massive doors to the Great Hall of the Broken Kingdom. The decretive pillars were half collapsed, the carpet torn, and the tapestries were shredded and barely clung on to the stone wall. The three ponies turned several glances, as they looked around at the destroyed the hall.

“This place is truly an absolute disaster.” Rarity muttered in disbelief.

“Wait....hold on.” Crimson Steel said suddenly stopping.

“Ya’ll hear that?” Applejack asked looking nervously at the others.

A thin whistling sound began to envelop the room

“Move!” Crimson Steel yelled.

The three ponies didn’t get far before a dark barrier formed in front of them blocking their way forward and the door they came in through. The dark magical barrier bent and twisted itself into a cage surrounding the three ponies. Pinkie Pie who had been waiting outside looked inside the hall to see the dark magic barrier blocking her view of her friends.

“UH OH TROUBLE!” Pinkie shouted running into the hall barely dodging the door as it shut. Pinkie stayed by the corner of the wall where she would be hidden from view. The loud clapping of hooves together could be heard in the distance.

“It’s so nice to see you again brother.” An eerie voice said from the shadows.

“Maybe if you weren’t possessed I might be a bit more enthusiastic about seeing you again.” Crimson Steel said coldly.

“Possessed, me? What would make you think such a thing?”

“Drop the act and come out you coward.” Crimson Steel said. Clearly he was becoming more angry by the minute.

“Is that any way to talk to your dear sister?” The pony said stepping from the shadows. She had a shining blue coat and bright-silvered mane.

“Maybe I’d feel bad if I were actually talking to my sister.” Crimson Steel was almost shouting now.

“Awww am I plucking your emotional strings? Meh doesn’t matter anyway you and your little group of ponies won’t live long enough anyway to see your precious Equestria collapse before your eyes.” Diamond Dust spoke with a voice obviously not her own.

“Release my sister from your grip you shadow crawling cur!”

“Hmph I’m done with you, kill them. Oh, before I forget to tell you. We have already discovered your little trio of flyers they will be dead soon as well.” The corrupted Diamond Dust exited the room followed by two guards suited in full purple armor. A small group of knights surrounded the magical cage. The knights brandished saddle-mounted spears and it was easy to tell what their next move would be. The knights suddenly stop mid attack as pink blur jumped around the room. Pinkie Pie stopped in front of the magic cage.

“HEY ANYPONY MISS ME!” She hollered narrowly dodging a spear with the help of her pinkie sense.

“Kill that pink pest.” One of the knights shouted to the others

“Time to break out of this cage. Rarity combine your magic together with mine.”

“Ok.”

The knights had lost all focus on the three trapped in the dark cage. They were so focused on catching Pinkie Pie they failed to notice Crimson Steel and Rarity had crossed horns. The color of the combined magic turned from a dark red to a soft light blue shade finally combining into a deep purple shade.

“Now!” Crimson Steel yelled as they released their spell. Their combined magic erupted throughout the hall in the form of a violet explosion of light. The dark knights who had been chasing Pinkie hollered in agony as the blast of magic tore their souls from their bodies leaving nothing but motionless corpses where they once stood. The cage of dark magic disintegrated under the powerful blast.

“Ugh.” Crimson Steel muttered feeling his legs weaken.

Rarity was clearly suffering from the effects of the spell as well “What was that?” She groaned holding a hoof to her head.

“That was a requiem spell, a long forgotten magic type. That was the same type of spell my parents used to defeat Eternal Darkness the first time.”

“Ah well it was quite something. I have a massive headache now.” Rarity complained.

“That’s just one type of requiem spell. A weak one to be exact, they often leave headaches or make you sick after use. The more powerful spells can kill the user or users if extreme caution is ignored.”

“Alright stop dillydallying you two we need to get movin remember fate of Equestria on the line here.” Applejack said hastily.

“Yeah I agree we do need to be moving. We’ve got to slow down Eternal Darkness.”

Rainbow cut down knight after knight as they charged through the broken tower door. Her great sword streaked through the air like lightning as she caught the neck of a dark knight staining the floor with black blood. Three more charged into the room. One knight clipped Rainbow’s front leg causing her to wince, her bright red blood glistening as it dripped to the floor. A thrust forward from Rainbow’s sword put one knight out of commission as it pierced his throat going out the back of his neck.

“Any bright ideas egghead?” Rainbow growled as a thin blade caught her flank. Her adrenaline pumping so fast she didn’t notice. Rainbow leveled two more knights staining the room in their dark blood. The loud snap of bones and the screams of several more dying soldiers filled the room as Rainbow killed another small group.

“Hurry Twilight do something.” Fluttershy squeaked out from the corner of the room.

“Ok here we go.” Twilight mumbled while taking a deep breath to clear head. Her horn started to glow its usual purple color, and with a flash of light a purple barrier blocked the door preventing more reinforcements from entering the room. Twilight closed her eyes and winced as the pain from keeping two barrier spells began to hit her. “Just focus and concentrate.” She mumbled. Her eyes sprang open as her teleportation spell flashed the three of them out of the tower.

The three mares appeared with another flash of light. Twilight only stood for a few seconds before she collapsed to the ground.

“Twi... light Tw....ilight.” a faint voice spoke in the dark haze.

“Death is the only end.” A deep voice growled through the shadows. “Now fade away let it take you and PERISH!” The voice shouted.

Twilight snapped awake, glancing around the room she saw Rainbow Dash standing in the corner. Fart of her face was covered by the shadow cast by the broken windows. The look on her face was one of sheer worry. Twilight faced forward and saw Fluttershy standing in front her. Fluttershy looked scared, and her body trembled as she spoke.

“Are.... are you ok Twilight? You were thrashing and hollering so much. I tried to wake you, but you started to talk about death and perishing is the only escape. We were so worried.” Fluttershy’s voice was cold as ice as she spoke.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. I think this place is getting to me.” Twilight shifted uneasily. “How long was I unconscious?”

“Oh uh maybe fifteen minutes.” Fluttershy said still a little worried about her friend.

“Where are we anyway?” Twilight rose to her hooves, and moved over to the broken window and peered out. The entire Broken Kingdom was visible through the shattered glass. “This must be the central tower of the kingdom. Everypony get searching for that statuette. It must be around here somewhere.”

It didn’t take long for Twilight to find something out of place in the room with her scanning spell active. The painting next to the bed had been moved and put back in place rather sloppily. Upon the painting was the image of a beautiful alicorn princess. “This must be Crystilia. Crimson Steel’s mother.” Twilight guessed

“She’s very pretty.” Fluttershy commented.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew up each grabbing a corner of the rather large painting. With one fluid motion they pulled it off the wall and set it down onto a beautiful bed. Behind the painting was nothing but solid wall. “Rainbow do you mind?”

Rainbow Dash drew her lightning shaped great sword from the sheath on her back, and positioned it in her mouth so she would have a good grip between her teeth. With a heavy swing Rainbow struck the wall the painting hid. The wall faded away as if it never existed in the first place.

“An illusionary wall how interesting.” Twilight thought.

Behind the illusionary sat a small lever. It appeared to me made of a metal similar to bronze but showed no signs of rust. Twilight flipped the lever with her magic so no of them would be in danger if it was a trap. The stone floor began to creak and screech as the sound of gears moving kicked to life. The floor in front of them began to slide away revealing a long spiral staircase that descended downward into the depths of the castle.

“Why is it always a long spiraling staircase?” Twilight sighed as the three ponies began their descent.

Unlike the rest of the kingdom this staircase seemed to have been kept in a fairly good condition. The three friends finally hit the bottom of the winding staircase. The guardian piece was right there just ahead at the end of the hall. Being such a huge fan of the Daring Do books Rainbow Dash could easily tell the floor was rigged extensively with traps.

“Ok well there are obviously traps here.” She smirked. “Lets just fly over.”

Rainbow lifted up into air and began flying to down the cramped hallway. She stared confidently at the traps along the ground knowing they could never hit her while Twilight and Fluttershy looked on nervously at what the cyan mare was doing. The sound of a plucked cord vibrated through the room. Rainbow fell to out of the air hitting the ground with a heavy “thud” just barely missing a rigged bear trap and spring activated spikes. Twilight and Fluttershy looked on unsure of what to do while Rainbow lay motionless on the floor halfway down the hall.

“Ra....Rainbow.” Fluttershy squeaked covering her face with her hooves.

“Ok let me try to teleport over there.” Twilight said as her horn began to glow.

A blast of energy shot from a jeweled eye in the ceiling striking Twilight’s horn causing her to jump back frightened.

“It’s no use whatever is in that strange eye up there it stops the use of magic.”

Rainbow twitched a little before slowly rising to her hooves. “Ow that stung a little.” She commented before looking up.

What she saw was a very fine strands of material hanging from the ceiling. They were easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. The material was so fine and sharp that it could easily cut the delicate wings of a pegasus pony, which is clearly what they were made for. Rainbow’s wings had been nicked and cut from the thin string blades hindering her ability to fly.

“Rainbow are you ok.” Fluttershy whined.

“Ye...yeah I’m good just a little sore from those string blade things hanging from the ceiling. Give me a sec I’m gonna get that guardian piece.” Rainbow said her vigor renewed. Rainbow swiftly maneuvered around the floor traps. Even with her wings cut and bleeding she could still jump extremely high to dodge those traps attached to the walls.

She stopped in front of the beautifully crafted guardian piece. It was a crystalline white color and was carved in the shape of some sort of white stone beast. Though it depicted only half the guardian of Rubia. Rainbow snatched up the statue causing all the traps to disarm with several clicks, and the sound of cranking gears.

“Phew I got it.” Rainbow called out through the hall and swiftly strutted back to her friends.

“Ok now that we have what we came for let’s find the others and get out.”

“We can’t just go searching this place for them when we don’t know where to look. This castle is crawling with knights and acolytes now.”

“ That’s a good point Rainbow. Let’s head outside to that hill I have a plan to get them.” Twilight beamed.

It wasn’t long before the four ponies caught up to the possessed Diamond Dust. “No no no I can’t have you interfering. Now that just won’t do. You’re time will come soon; all of you will die soon, and perish beneath my power. But why rush it.” Eternal Darkness separated from his catalyst appearing as a pony shaped shadow stretching along the room. “I must say though your sister has been quite a prize, without her hatred I never would have regained so much power.”

“Silence!” Crimson Steel yelled.

“Ooooo does that burn yes, I’m sure is does. Feel the hatred run through your veins. The more you hate the stronger I get so go-ahead hate me with all the passion you have.” Eternal Darkness chuckled slightly at the sight of the four ponies. “Such riffraff attempting to match my power, you entertain me.” A loud thundering laugh escaped the shadow of Eternal Darkness and echoed around the room. The four ponies stood intently never relenting to his taunts. “Hmmmm very well if you’re so inclined to die then who am I to not grant your wish.” Eternal Darkness walked back into Diamond Dust’s body to use as his weapon against the four ponies. “Then let us begin.” The possessed pony spoke arrogantly.

“Eternal Darkness, ever the coward you are. You won’t separate from my sister to fight me yourself.”

“Hang on, what do you mean darling we are all in this together.” Rarity said confused

“Yeah sugarcube this our mission. We are gonna fight with ya.”

“Heck YEAH! We never leave a friend behind.” Pinkie exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, but this I have to do alone. Eternal Darkness was the cause for my parents’ deaths, and my sister being possessed. It is my fault as well, it is time I atone for my mistakes.” A single tear ran down Crimson’s face as his horn began to glow a blast of magic sent the three ponies flying backwards out the door of the room. Before the three ponies could get back into the room the door melted off the wall and steamed into away on the ground dissipating into oblivion.

“Hmmmm I’m not sure if you’re decision to spare them was a wise or foolish one. You know I will kill them too eventually.” Eternal Darkness chuckled through the body of Diamond Dust.

“You won’t do anything to them. You won’t make it far enough.” Crimson Steel said.

With a wave of the hoof the possessed pony threw Crimson Steel against the wall pinning him in place. Crimson Steel struggled a bit, trying to break free before turning to his magic. His horn began to glow before blasting a bright light freeing him from the grip of his sister’s magic. The intensely powerful enemy made several weapons appear out of thin air and sent them flying at Crimson. The dark red pony flashed a barrier of magic in front of reflecting the weapons causing them to scatter around the room.

“Ahhh I see you have gotten much stronger since we last met all those years ago when you’re parents imprisoned me. I will have fun breaking you.” The possess pony said in a tone so calm it was unsettling.

Eternal Darkness fired a beam of magic from the possessed sister’s horn. Crimson Steel retaliated with a beam of his causing them to be locked in a magic duel. Crimson thought Eternal Darkness was just toying with him because no ground was gained in either direction. Their beams flickered and flashed causing and explosion of magic to erupt. The blast completely leveled a piece of the castle causing the east wing to fall apart. As the dust cleared Crimson Steel was lying on the ground weak from the blast. He could see his possessed sister through the dust and smoke.

“Ugh.” Was all Crimson was able to get out. Before his possessed sister was on top him.

“Oh tisk tisk such a pity to kill such a powerful guard if only you had chose to serve me instead of marrying that weak ruby princess. But now you must die it truly is a shame.” Eternal Darkness cooed as shadows began to surround Crimson Steel causing him to go unconscious.

“Ow my head.” Crimson Steel said. His vision was still a little foggy.

“OH OH OH ohohoh he’s WAKING UP!”

“Don’t move too much sugarcube.”

“You’re sure he’s ok he looks kinda sick.”

“Yes darling Rainbow Dash he’s ok definitely alive at the very least.”

“Oh I really hope he’s ok.”

“ Girls don’t crowd. Crimson Steel are you ok.”

“Yeah I think so.” He said holding to a hoof to his head while rising to stand. “How did I get here?” He looked around noticing the seven of them were far outside the broken kingdom. It was Twilight who answered with a thoughtful look on her face.

“I used the same long distance teleport spell that Princess Celestia used to bring us to Canterlot. I just altered it a bit to sink with a cutie mark rather than an element of harmony.”

“Why did you save me?” he asked as his head began to hurt worse.

“Because when we ran into Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie they told us what you did. You have a princess to return to. We couldn’t let die, and suffer returning to the princess that you had died in the Broken Kingdom.” Twilight said with a sweet smile.

“Thank you, the six of you could’ve run, but you didn’t.”

“Just one thing. Don’t go tryin ta get yourself killed again.” Applejack laughed.

“The guardian piece. We never got it.” Crimson Steel shouted suddenly.

Fluttershy stepped forward and pulled the right half the white stone statue from her bag. “We did.” She whispered.

“Then we need to get moving. We half to get this half back to Rubia, I’m sure Eternal Darkness’ army is already on its way to Rubia.” He said as his resolve was renewed. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t rest tonight.”

A fire sparked to life in the center of the six ponies and flickered ever freely into the evening moon as the cool breeze blew, giving the environment a gentle calm to the ever-surrounding destruction.

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