Down the Road

Chapters

Chapter One : Never gonna take me alive
Chapter Two : Making due with borrowed time.
Chapter Four : He who touches the sun, gets burned.
Chapter Three : Of Briers and Minotaurs

Chapter One : Never gonna take me alive

Earth; North America - Montana

"...and that is coming to you live from...." An overly lively feminine voice chisels through the chill morning air of a darkened bedroom, much to the moan and groan of something desperately trying to be anything but. Reaching out, but in growing desperation to it's futility, the wayward hand swipes the air just above the stand next to the bed. "...the last best place!"

"Tell that to my cold feet that just moved." The deeper voice with a bit of morning croak mutters out just as his hand collides and knocks several objects off the stand, causing the hand to slam down with the bed head ridden man pulling himself partially out of his bed, jabbing his voice towards the mess almost incoherently. Flaring his covers off just enough to jump out of bed and almost onto the floor on a snag, he shivers and grumbles all the way to the door, turning and pulling in all the warmth hovering just outside.

Stepping out and then closing the door behind him in a slam, he instantly feels the freezing claws of cold cut at his feet while the rest seems to enjoy the bathe of sunlight from the large windows aligned all across the home. Shaking his head while giving his brow a good rub, he wastes little time in walking along the open hallway of his small two story home to the stairs, stumbling but a few times in his temporary stupor.

Rounding the bottom banister, he heads not for the bathroom or kitchen, but the large open living room with but one couch, table, and overly large TV sitting on top of one and much too close to the other. Cracking out a cuss to the catching of his toe, he leans down and presses the one thing he greets every morning first and foremost.

Leaving the beeps and clicks to do their thing, he walks to the hamper next to the couch and pulls out a few balls of clothing before finally finding something to his liking. Getting fully dressed, he turns on the TV with his remote as he makes his way over to his kitchen and fridge, pulling out one of many bottles filled with blue liquid before lumbering his way back to his comfy throne.

Sitting back down, with his normal routine before him, he takes a swig before rolling his shoulders and lifting a long tray with a mouse and keyboard up and over his lap. Placing his hands on both, he briefly drifts out of his focus to the large desktop demanding his full attention to which he submits, even if the total relaxation of both hands shows but a moment of discontent only to the cat at his side.

"How did you get in here?!" Daniel yells in light surprise and annoyance to his supposed companion, staring intensely onto the Russian Blue cat who just falls onto it's side and begins to purr. "Dude, go home!" Of focused intent scratched and bitten in play. "Ow!"

Of another bout of claws and sharp teeth later, much to the light bleeding now upon his hands, does Daniel finally get the feline wrangled up in his arms and escorted quickly to the front door. Opening it up to but a beautiful day by even the most modest of standards, he lightly drops the cat on the wooden porch before sliding shut the door between them.

"Now stay out you little..." His eyes, focused on the cat, can only follow as it patters away with a lingering purr out of sight. Leaning in, he does his best to look alongside the glass to the absence of any annoying cat, until the noise from another room forces them to close with a cuss. "...bastard."

Letting his head touch the glass once more in self defeat, he finally opens his eyes while letting them drift to front and center, landing onto something that would remind anyone else the difference between the front and back of their home. Keeping with his solemn stare, even as distraction patters it's way back to between his feet, he flares his nostrils.

"This is all your fault."

Looking down towards his immediate frustration, at the same time being given a rather talkative response from one who beckons only more, Daniel shakes his head as another call rings out from far outside. Pushing himself off the sliding glass door to the noise, he moves but a bit quicker to keep farther ahead of she whom would try and trip him up for further denying tribute. Grabbing hold of his boots, he quickly slides them on while resting on the opposite knee before taking but another claw to the finger.

Taking comfort in his better armored legwork, he walks far more casually back to the kitchen, opening and taking but a few more bottles from the fridge before putting them in a knapsack on the counter. Ignoring further interference, he grabs but a few more items for an seeming long day away before slinging the knapsack over his shoulder. Walking back through the open doorway, he reaches over and nonchalantly drags a bag off a shelf and onto the floor in an explosion of clatter and purrs. "Beat you to it."

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say it was about time you started getting some pu-!" The new visitor, standing with the back door wide open, quickly closes it to the glare just sent his way. "It's been too long for you to still get this mad, man!" Only to crack the door open but a few inches, "Figure you could use some help and I ain't got nothing going on!"

But as a few inches suddenly becomes twice that, the man instinctively pulls back with all his might.

"Well what did you expect me to do? Let you become some old cat lady of the valley!?" The man struggles even more even as he begins to use both hands and even a foot along the frame to the ever increasing pull against his own. "Damn it, Daniel!"

Standing just inside, eyes half closed with a stare closer towards the floor, Daniel merely holds onto the doorknob as if stuck in thought rather than external struggle. With no warning in or out, he suddenly loses his grip along with with his lack of focus as sharp crack of splintering wood allows the door to slam past the frame and out onto the porch as something else falls clean off it.

"Ah shit. Hank!?" Daniel pushes the crooked splintered door off and out of the way in his rush outside, having instinct worry to the broken wooden rail of his floor level deck before he jumps down himself. "Hank! Hey man, you okay?!"

"Nnnnnnngh." Hank moans out with closed eyes, slowly in a shaky motion raising his forearm up towards the sound of his name, one sided doorknob still in hand. "Nnnnnnnngh!" Once more, with the sound coming more urgent and closer, until the swipe barely misses.

"Hey now!" Daniel yells with dying urgency to the relief of seeing his friend try and hit him with the doorknob, and subsequent quick rise both in body and glare. "Ah, h-hey you shouldn't go and try moving so much after taking a fall like that, Hank." Backing up a bit quicker, even as the partially hunched over figure of his best friend growled and grumbled to try and latch on. "How you feeling?"

"Well considering I just fell and busted my ass on a stump I feel great!" Lunging forward again, only to nearly topple over before reaching back and holding his palm like an old man to his left ass cheek. "Hold still and let me show ya!"

Raising his brow, Daniel decides instead to move backwards with a bit of a kick, much to the crazed wide eyed expression sent his way. Doing so but again several times, with even more bounce, Hank can take no more from the the pain in his ass as he gives chase with the most awkward of colorful cuss words to each hobble. With one almost skipping backwards and another holding onto his ass while trying to run with most effort on one leg, they both finally reach Hank's truck and begin to encircle it, much to their stumbles.

"Hey Daniel." A feminine voice with a flat tone mutters with her palm propped up against the side of her head, elbow resting on the rolled down window with the most unamused expression. Content to ignore Hank who slowly begins to come into his handicap, she waits until another pass to speak again. "How's life been treating you?"

"Fine." He responds before clipping the side mirror and taking a hard fall, to which he crawls into recovery. "You?"

"Not bad, I just..." Flicking her eyelids open a bit when forced to stop mid sentence until next pass. "I've just been getting things..." With but another, even more intense flare, with her chin dipping down just a bit. "Don't make me get out of this truck, Hank!"

"Wha.. what?!" Hank staggers into a standstill, with Daniel finally doing the same at the driver side window. "It wasn't even my dang fault! Daniel's the one who can't take a joke and decided to push things a bit too far!" Leaning a bit into the passenger window, much to the frustration of it's occupant, "Come on Dillon baby, don't be like that."

"Wasn't ever going to get serious or nothing." Daniel pokes his head in through the open window just a bit. "Hank made a joke. I made a joke. The stump got the last laugh. Animals all wondering where the hell their food is at."

"Well, go get anything else you need and throw it in the back. Less you're against some help, Hank and I been meaning to come visit and do some catching up." With a tone and reminder of priorities helping calm the situation further. "Right, Hank?"

"Uh, yeah yeah." Hank looks around a bit before finally making eye contact with Daniel. "L-listen, Daniel I'm..." Getting not even a few words in before seeing Daniel scoff and wave a hand before heading towards the garage. "Same old Daniel."

"Well, that's what you're counting on, isn't it hon?"

"Ain't been around in a year and it's like we never left. Was counting on lot of the good being around and hoping some of the bad up and finally got tired of hanging around doing..." Struggling to find the right kind of word. "Nothing."

"Hon, he's doing what he's always done, and getting along just fine. The house looks fine. He seems to be healthy considering you're the only one out of breath." Dillon makes sure to grin on the last part before continuing. "Just glad you didn't start where you left off."

"Almost did, I think." Quick to look away from the disapproving glance sent his way. "I... made a joke about finally getting some."

"Hank!"

"Well what did you want me to say? Hey Daniel, sorry I up and deserted you for over a year cause I think you're torturing yourself. Oh hey, I notice you still live like a hermit. Glad that punch did you some good!" Finally showing a bit of defiance to the one refusing to relent. "Far as I can tell, he got me back good and now we're squared away. Just cause you don't understand it, don't knock it."

"If you could of only seen the irony of what you just said." Dillon can only shake her head, even give a few bouts of subtle laughter, to the idea. Settling in, she slowly loses herself in her thoughts of years long since past, coming back just in time to hear the devious yell coming from her left just as the truck sinks down and up hard, losing much of what sat in the bed.

"Now! Now we're good!" Hank looks wide eyed into the rear view mirror while laughing far too happily to the yelling still coming from behind the locked tailgate. Showing a moment of possible concern, his grin returns to the rising reflection of the sole risen finger.

Flinching closer to her open window, she quirks an eyebrow to the invigorated return salute swing back and out the rear window, giggling when the one she gives to the driver only instigates antics further as a more somber laugh cannot help but escape her lips.

Several hours later

Having made a few rounds, much to the renewed memory of just how much land Daniel seemed to own, they eventually make their way past the growing and harvest fields towards one of several large barns. Old deep grey planks line it's entirety, complimented further by such a large center beam that no new building would risk showcasing. Showing it's age by in and out, such would displace the notion of how active and lively it's purpose might be, with cattle and even a few horses sharing but a home.

"All yours?" Dillon asks with a hint of curiosity, having opted to rest on the lowered tailgate.

"Dirt and wood, sure." Daniel answers while leaning against one of the more sturdy fence posts, paying closer attention to Hank having made his way farther inside to explore and possibly test his fate. "Should I tell him to stay out of the pasture there?"

Dillon, wondering if the question was closer to deflection, decides not to pester too hard. "Anything bad in there?"

"Just a bull." Giving a small shrug.

"How... long?" Her question, answered as a massive block of overly eager muscle jumps and kicks out of the barn, causes her some concern to the ability of one still with a limp getting clear. "I kind of need him, you know?"

"Bull won't hurt him none. Guy's just been waiting so damn long he's a bit over the top, is all." Lifting his chin a bit in distant observation. "Been known to nibble on ya, though. Ha! Dove inside the old hay feeder."

Continuing to watch with some concern and amusement, her fidgeting catches just enough to help push things along.

"You know, for someone who came back to make amends, you sure seem nervous." Daniel leans just a bit more on the post, crossing his forearms over the uneven top to no consequence of discomfort. "Never held nothing against either of you for acting like you did."

"Well, we... um." She begins to fidget even more with the fumbling of her words. "Did." Looking over as if to try and catch even the smallest clue or cue, her apprehension begins to shift into further frustration. "And I call bullshit! Don't... don't do this again, please?"

"Do what?" Finally turning to face she who seems unable to directly do the same. "Did you really wait a year to come back to ask me the same damn thing that only seems to piss you off?" Raising his palms up. "Just quit being so damn sensitive and..."

"That you don't care!" Sliding off the tailgate with hands shaking but slowly clenching save for the one beginning to point a finger his way. "Okay, I admit it! I can't stand... this!" Stomping on her way to meet him shy of only a few feet. "To any of us!"

"Well I..." He begins, only to grow silent to the sudden close of open space between them.

"Don't you dare make a joke." Narrowing her eyes.

"You know, not all jokes are meant to make you laugh." Finding his frank choice of words misunderstood with the light, and visibly hesitant, jab to his right shoulder. "Dillon, you grew up around me. Hank did too."

"So did Charlotte." Dillon keeping her less than happy expression, at least finds firm footing. "Didn't stop her from marrying you." Only to flare up again with a quick but missed lunge and grab. "That wasn't meant to be funny!"

Making a bolt here and there with just enough room to spare, Daniel seems to lag behind each escape until finally getting snagged by just a few clenched fingers of one whose temper only grew for each subtle snort of amusement. Finding little pull, Dillon affirms to standing firm, finding far more conflict inside than out as she seems unable to bring the situation back in line.

"We're moving."

Daniel huffs out a bit of air that ends in a subtle gruff, but remains silent in stare towards something farther away.

"Hank's uncle wants to retire before he ends up having a second stroke. It's a good business and would let Hank do some of the things that he's been unable cause of money. Most of our families are spread out now, and needing to be honest, nothing here holding us." She keeps her voice small, only to drift even softer. "Didn't want to leave on a bad goodbye, or a broken..."

"Bull's stealing your man." Lifting his lone finger to point towards the far off man getting roughed up to the pounding impacts of a playful bull with far too much pent up energy to the hay feeder. "Wanna go help him?"

"If he was in any real danger you'd already be there." Her eyes burrowing into that which does not return even a passing glance. "Like you said, we all grew up together. I know the last thing you like talking about, is you."

"Cause there isn't much to talk about."

"And you're okay with that?"

"I'm satisfied with that." Daniel puts his hand in his pocket to bring out a thin metal rectangle. Turning it in his hand before sliding it back down inside the pocket, he quirks an eyebrow when he turns to see the concern in Dillon's eyes. "What?"

"Nothing." She huffs in reply, shaking her head before walking away from defiance to one in earnest need. "Nothing at all."

Nearing Dusk

Daniel looks into the driver side open window of the truck with little distinction across his face, aside from his stare slowly but surely crossing hairs with the driver, while merely causing agitation in it's passenger. Staying silent, it takes only that to bring it to an end.

"Alright, what happened." Hank taps his pinkie finger to the index on each hand in rhythm to his weary patience.

"Nothing." Comes an answer, both left and right, before left decides to forgo safety and take the plunge.

"Dillon told me you're moving." Making sure not to look past Hank. "Congratulations."

"Well it's a good job, you know. Hate to leave something so familiar but never was into ranching or... ranching." Looking up towards Daniel. "Neither were you, If I remember. But then again you've never been the type to try something new."

"Never saw the need in spending all your time trying to find something to waste it on." Letting his brow show his nonchalant honesty over the matter. "But then again I'm too old to be traveling clear across the country like you stupid kids."

"You're younger than me!" Narrowing his eyes to the thought. "And I'm not old!"

"You're almost thirty." Forming a grin to the growing frown. "But don't feel bad. Dillon's even..." Cutting his words off to the pressure against the hinges of a flung open passenger door. "Didn't think she could manage to still hear that."

"Not too old to still kick your ass you little..." Dillon yells while running after an already far ahead Daniel back around the two story cabin, causing the driver with the ache of an old man to just laugh and watch and wait.

Rounding the far front corner of the house, Daniel seems to keep his lead even as he begins to slow down halfway back to where he started. Looking around, with none giving chase in sight, he finally adopts a look of curiosity until the jerry rigged back door falls onto the porch with a loud crash. Gaining the quick attention of Daniel and Hank, Dillon seems to almost lose her nerve as she holds something tightly in both hands and hesitantly walks off the porch to just in front of Daniel.

"I... I'm going to take this, okay?" She can only hold her hands tighter under his unreadable stare. "But I'm going to make sure it's safe. A-and if you want it back, you'll have to come and visit!" Seemingly losing steam with each word, she quickly walks up and slides a piece of paper in his front shirt pocket before moving past and back into the truck. "Go."

"Dillon?!" Hank looks at her in confusion and shock, "Dillon, what did you go and..." but is gently pushes back when she reaches over and starts the truck herself, with a few tears beginning to fall. "...I hope you know what you're doing."

Backing out of the drive, the two keep an eye on their childhood friend for any sign of escalation, or maybe for just anything at all. Stopping only to put it in forward on the road, the truck sits for a few seconds before finally revving up and moving down the road.

"Goodbye, I guess." Daniel simply stares towards the steps of his porch, etching from his throat but the few words in an unusually solemn tone that even surprises it's owner. Closing his eyes as he breaths in deep and out, he finally moves forward to and up his steps before reaching down and picking up the splintered door once again. "Gonna need a whole new door frame now."

Walking inside his house, he notices the mess in the kitchen but thankfully, just that. Grabbing the broom and dustpan, he cleans up the food left on the floor in silence before going to the fridge with little satisfaction towards it's contents. Making a sour face to the mystery solved of several containers, he promptly throws them in the trash before exiting his house once more.

Heading towards the garage, he picks up a bucket and a shovel and walks back around the house towards a fenced in area, gatherer empowered to row after row of dead plant and plain dirt. Seemingly undaunted, he walks between the rows until he finds a bigger clump of dead plants before stomping his shovel deep in the soil and then up again. Repeating this process several times, he drops to one knee while rummaging with meager success.

"All the money It put into you and this is all the bigger you spuds gonna get?" He grumbles with being able to hold several in one hand. "I wanted skillet fried, not tator tots, damn it." Before digging his hands back into the dirt with brow raising surprised.

Pushing harder and harder, with fingers failing to grip over the rather large potato, he finally manages to twist it out for even greater reward of even more hidden just under it. Picking up the shovel, he carefully digs around the find enough to get a good wide clump to twist out, eagerly rolling the dirt off each and every one before dropping them in the bucket. "Huh?"

Tipping the bucket towards his vision, he rolls it back and forth while looking inside with inquisitive eyes. Shaking it a bit with both hands, he noticed nothing different before throwing half a dozen more ample spuds in, satisfied with his haul and upcoming dinner.

Picking himself back up, he grabs the shovel and handle and walks back to his house, dropping off the shovel before climbing his steps and just inside on the mat. Untying his boot laces, he smacks them a few times out the open doorway before dropping them back inside. Sliding the splintered door over, he jiggles and crushes splinters before finally getting it to stay under it's own power.

"Bout damn time everything calmed down." He talks openly to himself as he dumps the contents of the bucket into the sink, pausing only to consider the louder than expected thud. Scanning the sink as he turns on the water, he shrugs it off as he far too quickly washes each one before putting them in a large plastic bowl on the counter, only to grab a towel and knife before heading to the living room couch.

Cutting into the first potato, he seems to pay more attention to the news feed on the large TV as each peeled is casually placed aside and a new one given a clumsy grab. Shaking his head from the contents upon his screen, he jolts and looks down upon his hand as the sting begins to fill out across the outside of his left hand's index, crimson already beginning to creep into every crease.

"A rock?"

So damn far away that the time doesn't matter; Canterlot - Exhibition Gallery

"This, is so boring." The filly hangs her muzzle down almost to the marble tile floor, much to the huff of her mother and father whom seem to be far more content to the nature of their current activity. "Please say it's almost over!"

"And that brings us to the half way mark of today's tour! Next we have...!"

"Oooooooh..." The filly moans loud enough to be lightly chastised by her parents, whom now pick up the pace to catch back up to the forefront of the tour as they look around in awe and genuine interest. "Who cares about a bunch of old things, anyhow."

The tour, a few dozen strong of stallion and mare both young and old, trot along behind the mare guide as she eagerly boasts each and every display shown. Of every tidbit of information, both formal and with a bit of theatrical play, comes across loud and clear as the unicorn uses her magic to help boost her verbal performance. But it is one particular display that garners even more...

"...and it was through tireless trial and error that we have come to know all that we have today. Of one such trial, personally ventured by the fabled Starswirl the Bearded himself, was the means of teleportation! Every pony, not just the unicorn, has benefited from the research into what was once considered far too dangerous and forbidden. For he who crafted each of these stones, filled with the guise of seeing pony kind see but a better day, we shall be sure to remember no matter the passing day."

As nodding and light single hoof taps ring out to the speech, to which the mare guide holds her muzzle just a bit higher to her pride, does the one little filly move past her parents. Seeing nothing in the harm, the guide nods towards the mother and father as the filly gets closer and closer until she stands almost side by side with the guide, facing just the other way.

"Why's one missing?"

"Hmm?" The guide mare looks first down towards the filly before following her guise. "Ah. That would be the 11th stone, little miss. Written documents along with the Royal Sisters themselves confirm that one had been lost during the very earnest of trials."

"But what happened to it?"

The filly looks back and forth from guide to ensemble of oval stones, each marked with a number up to the number fourteen. Taking a cue to add a bit more interest to the display and it's history, the guide mare looks towards the parents for permission before continuing.

"It was lost, to where, no pony knows. But I did hear of something used often through the elder years of Starswirl the Bearded to try and lay to rest that very question!" Leaning in closer with a small smile. "But I might need your help to do it."

"W-what do I have to do?" The filly asks of the unknown, to which the mellow whistle garners even the seldom whisper nearby to cease almost immediately. "Huh?" To the slow but gradual change in decibel at least a dozen times. "You went too fast!"

"Don't worry." The mare giggles a bit. "All you have to do is your part. It's the final part, the most important part even. I'm going to lead off and just listen a few times, and when I am done..." She once more does the first sound with her pursed lips, "Okay?"

Trying to mimic, the filly makes several attempts, much to the gentle corrections made each time by the guide mare until finally reaching perfection. Having to smile at the amount of interest shining through the filly's smile, she herself messes up on her first attempt to lead off with but a small rush of blood to her cheeks. Holding well to the innocent laughter, they finally begin.

Montana

"A rock?" Daniel stares at the object as the sting begins to grow. Reaching for the towel, he gets but a single flap in the air before he nearly falls forward into the table as the voice is stolen from the shock of immense pressure, and pain.

Holding himself just inches from face planting into the table, he finds barely enough to breath as for just a moment the pain and pressure taper off to the utter confusion settling in it's place. "What the ever living faaaaaaaah!"

Canterlot

"We did it! We did it!" The filly jumps in place in excitement as the guide mare stares with wide eyes onto the display in ever growing fear as each stone leading up to the missing eleventh pulsates with light until a deep resonating vibration resets them. The filly, turning to her parents, looks on with confusion as the mother rushes up and picks the filly up in her teeth. "But I was good!"

The display, shielded in very thick glass, continues to shimmer from the white light of each stone pulsating with growing intensity to the vibrating vacancy. With the guide mare slowly backing away, much to the spread of her anxiety to her audience, the glass finally shatters to the boom of another sequence denied as ponies begin to panic and run away.

"It... it's trying to force... oh Celestia." The guide mare whispers in a fear repressed voice. Barely noticing the other attendants flying or galloping to the ruckus, she can only see her own reflection growing through each and every one. "Help!"

Montana

"This is for emergency calls only! I don't know who you think you but it's a Federal offense to...!"

"Fucking listen to me! The god damn rock is trying to kill me!" Daniel begins to yell in anger with the phone's receiver right against his mouth as the tone of denial reaches his ringing ears. Throwing the house phone against the wall, he falls down to another sudden influx of pain and pressure as the dishwasher, fridge, and every loose drawer is pulled towards him.

Grasping his free hand to the mid forearm of his other, he screams out as the eventual pop of his fingers slowly begins to erode his judgement as he searches for relief. Coming into a stare upon the serrated knife somehow hovering mid air, he serves himself only further damage when his hand smashes into some unseen barrier. Giving a few good kicks while sprawled out on the floor, he only then notices the lack of anything immediately underneath him before another pulse almost blackens his vision.

Canterlot

"Come on, come on!" A mare pushes past any notion of patience as she tries to help a few stragglers evacuate, literally using her tail to whiplash one who stops to look back at what could very well be their end. "Get your flank in gear!"

Reaching over and taking another one of more elderly handicap by the side scruff of their neck, she does her best not to injure them just as another pulse knocks enough debris loose to knock them to the ground. Yelling out in pain along with several others, she manages to find just enough strength find out that she can no longer stand, forced instead to try and crawl a bit closer.

"I'm sorry!" The mare cries through dirt laced eyes as her form along with the others shimmer and shine. Brief golden glow before an resounding succession of pops, all vanish into thin air as the presence of another takes their place.

Clarity.

He always thought of it. Sometimes, he even wondered if he had maybe achieved it. Through trials and ventures, success and failures, he always latched onto the very notion that out of anything he might find something that he could carry with him. It was his song, his motto, his defiance. No matter what might happen, he wouldn't let anything keep him from moving forward.

Even now, laden with confusion and pain, all seems to cease for but a instant in time. Perhaps a gift, or moment of insanity. But there never lay a time in his life, as he stares towards the 500 gallon propane tank rolling elegantly in the air towards him, that he might finally understand but such a simple word. Even as the light around him dims to the authority of even greater brilliance, he cannot help but try and sum up his life in preparation of his answer.

Showing no resistance to the slow but eventual crawl of darkness once more, for which he just as openly accepts as a fitting finale, he seems to find only comfort in knowing that he can finally move on.

"Thank you."

She would stand there, for some time longer. Her muzzle lifted high into the air as her guard ponies handled moving any of their injured to the local hospitals. Of her knowledge, and temporary relief, no pony would have perished in such a tragic turn of events that would bring full swing mishaps mistakenly forgotten. But she cannot open her eyes even as her sister frantically calls her name, for if she were to do such, she would also be forced to lower her muzzle and lay claim to what paid that which they did not owe.

Battered. Burned. Broken. In her moment to contain such precious novelties of her long lost youth, she forced the point of entry to cannibalize it's push for air in on itself. She strained to saved all her little ponies. She worked to protect that which once belonged to those long since gone. But she will struggle against the life she so easily sacrificed in the name of those who would never have approved, when only she would open her eyes.

"<...thank... y...>"

Chapter Two : Making due with borrowed time.

Canterlot; Throne of the Royal Sisters - Two Weeks Forward

"Excuse me, your highness." A dark toned stallion slides forward on bent forelegs before continuing, "Doctor Hoofmender has requested an audience with your Majesty." Rising as the less than subtle pound echoes from behind. "My apologizes, he would not wait."

"It is fine. Please send him in." Princess Celestia dips her muzzle along with her eyelids before raising both ever so slowly, bringing them in line with he who helps push the doors open faster with his lack of patience to wait any longer. "Doctor Hoofmender. I have been expected you. Please, come forth."

The stallion, wearing an rather unorthodox set of clothing for one of his profession, seems to mimic an guard pony's bard in linen only. Lacking anything upon his head, but sporting colors of dark blue and lighter grey, he continues his gruff approach in his steps until just before the first step to the throne itself. Causing even the two guards to take a step inward, they are waves off by the wing of she who would come to expect nothing less.

"You have denied my request." Dr. Hoofmender looks up towards Princess Celestia with just the hint of discontent. "Yet, again."

"Would the lack of your request threaten the life of our..." She rolls the word for just a moment, "Guest?"

"It will hamper his recovery. Which, if I may add, is going horribly!" He lightly shakes his head back and forth while keeping eye contact and taking but a few steps back. "Notwithstanding that he had gone into cardiac arrest several times before you even had him brought underneath my care, his blood nearly became poison before we were able to find proper transfusion."

Nodding softly to each of his points, she looks towards one of the far guards who in turn travels closer.

"Has the double fudge sponge cakes been delivered to the Minotaur consulate?" Of her question, and firm confirmation, she nods a few more quick nods in succession. "Please see to it that they are made aware that the grand galloping gala hall has been made available to them for their upcoming Draconian War reenactment." Showing just a hint of reservation. "To which, I will also attend."

"Yes, your highness." With one moving out of sight, another raises onto his hind legs to reclaim it.

"I'm terribly sorry, Dr. Hoofmender, for far more than even you can be made aware." She lets her soft voice try and make each word heart felt, to limited success. "I applaud your passion to the well being of our guest in his time of need, and while I am no doctor of modern times, I must follow my own experience of having to take away the one thing that can devastate even the most hearty. A choice."

"The left upper limb, which if we continue to attribute his anatomy to a Minotaur's, was nearly destroyed. We have been able to partially reconstruct the forearm and hand, but the nerves is beyond our ability to correct." Dr. Hoofmender begins to show his frustrations. "You can still feel pain even when in a coma!"

"And if the need for it's removal to keep him alive is required then you have my blessing." She raises up from her haunches to all four hooves to begin moving down the steps. "But under no circumstances are we to make but the most life threatening decisions for him. We know almost nothing of it's social standards, but if we were to just look upon the Minotaur, we mustn't doom him to failure."

"Haven't we already?" His overly blunt words bring even the guard's attention onto him, with that of it's intended target stopped just to his side with her stare anywhere but into his own. "I know why you brought me back, when last we spoke I made it very clear I would never. You speak of choices, but in the end they are only the ones that you deem worthy to be made!"

"Doctor Hoofmender, you will show respect to your...!" The closest guard raises her voice before hearing the firm stomp of Princess Celestia's front hoof, echoing the hall better than any word could. Bowing back as another refuses to even budge, all in the throne room hold their tongue and eyes onto what might happen next between the sun and a legend even if only in another land.

"You may be my Princess, but never forget that you can never be my King." Dr. Hoofmender flares his nostrils before turning to leave the room, making sure each step echoes through the room. "For he would know what it means to be merciful."

With the last word barely escaping the slam of both doors behind the stallion unicorn, impacting so hard that the deep orange magic sparks off in an violent display, none in the room save for the princess can do more than stare wide eyed at such disrespectful display.

"If I hadn't seen with my own eyes, I would of sworn you just upset a member of the Minotaur consulate." Another feminine voice, belonging to one almost as large but dark blue in tone, comes from the far off side entrance. "Again."

"Luna." Princess Celestia announces the presence of another whom garners the full forward kneel of every guard in the room. Turning her head halfway, she huffs before looking away to shake off any lingering tension, before finally taking full stare. "I'm sorry you..."

"No need to apologize to me, sister. The last time the consulate and I conversed in such dramatic fashion you had to send them at least three of your famous double fudge cake." Trying to offer some humor, even if far too dry, to lighten the mood. "But I have news. Our guest, as you have often put it, seems to have been stuck in a loop of sorts. I have been able to learn much, this past week."

"A loop?" Celestia trots over with renewed vigor, stopping to just before her sister who widens her eyes just a bit to the display. Shifting her head a bit to and fro as if to find what she might want to say, she becomes rigid body, soft in voice. "Is it in pain?"

Fronted with such a question, with no kind answer to give, Luna just stares back to her sister who gently nods her head. As the royal sisters seem caught in something internal, without any magic from their horns coming to light, the guards in the room seem to take cue as they quietly shuffle together and towards the large double doors. With the light thud of closing doors...

"The loop is one of their day rotations, which from what I can tell is even shorter than our own, at least for daylight. It begins from when he wakes up and ends..." Pulling in the corner of her mouth, she reaffirms herself. "It ends when the being spoke before you."

Celestia, for better or worse, retains a neutral expression. "Is he aware of your presence?"

"No. I have taken care to find a way to properly place myself within his dreams without causing any means for concern." Using her magic to now pull in several carts of parchments. "I have had some difficulty, as this element held such a short moment in the loop to begin with. Thankfully, I have been able to slowly extend that element with a bit of tactical subterfuge, and thus, myself."

Backing up as even more carts are rolled in, she slowly moves closer to one in order to investigate much like a foal to something potentially nice or harmful. Startled to the sudden pull of all the parchments below her muzzle, Celestia steps back and looks upon her sister who in turn gives her one to chastise the lack of patience. Giving half a smile to her embarrassment, she awaits her turn.

"As I were..." Luna flickers her eyelids towards her sister to help remind. "I have taken care to document much of what I have experienced. While the world is far too limited to this one being's awareness, I believe there is enough here to at the very least help us prepare for some form of communication when he wakes up." Unraveling many of the parchments. "But I may need assistance. I have imprinted the sounds of their language with visuals of familiar objects which I am mostly assured was relatable."

"I think we may know of somepony who might blossom at the chance." Celestia's voice brightens to the thought. "But why wait until he has arisen from his coma? Would it not make the transition more comfortable to reach out to him in his own environment?"

Luna, in her extended silence, brings her sister up and alongside. With the prodding of an curious elder sister through subtle movements of her head to match the ones done to dodge eye contact, dark blue finally huffs in contempt of her defiance.

"The element, as I have put it, is the form of an entity best considered a pet." Looking away again. "Both here and there."

"A pet?" Celestia raises her tone. "A phoenix?"

"Nothing so exotic." Glancing towards her sister. "You are the only one in the entire kingdom to call such, her pet. No, it is something far more grounded, and riddled with far too much fur to make grooming anything but an adverse chore!"

Letting the room fill with an awkward silence that neither seem to dare disturb, they merely stand side by side with parchments still held up for both to either admire, question, or just use in excuse. "...is it..."

"A cat!" Luna's response erupts far louder or harsher than intended, much to her instant reservation and embarrassment to having lashed out onto her sister so wrongfully. "That... was uncalled for of me, Ti..."

But just as quickly, with the inward suction of Celestia's lips as if tasting something horribly sour, her eyes narrow and with the most unladylike hiss which only forces Celestia to move back and around. With the distinct sound of somepony trying to hold in a sneeze squeaking out, Luna's eyes close in as does her magic onto but a single long strand of floating tail hair.

"OW!"

"Serves you right... Now. I am very certain that like here such mammals are mere mundane pets and trying to communicate through such an element could very well send the being into a state of mental distress." She continues her explanation even as her sister does her best to pay attention while tensing her muscles and kicking an hind leg. "We will need to wait."

"But, oh..." Letting an inward hiss escape her muzzle before finally settling back down. "But if you've been able to somehow manipulate this element to extend your ability to participate, couldn't you also manipulate how you're represented?"

"If what I have witnessed has not somehow deceived me, then there is almost no point for such opportunity. The only way would be to break the loop, which in his current condition, could very well ripple and cause him to never wake up." Looking back towards her sister whom seems to hold something back by the look in her eye. "You can always speak your mind, when it is just me."

"What is it like?"

"What is what like?" Arching her brow to the raised one in reflection.

Daniel's Dream State; One Week Prior

Pruna's Perspective

Frozen. That would be the only word she could use as to the first image before her vision that has finally been made clear. It is for only a moment, in comparison to the broken and bloody image she first remembers of it, that she can finally see something that represents the very reason she came here in the first place. Calm and peaceful. Relaxed, and seemingly...

"Food." She widens her eyes while sitting on her haunches. "We demand tribute!" before falling over onto her side, much to her utter confusion and blood rushing to her cheeks while arching her back and digging into the air with her foreleg.

"" it reaches down and lightly tries to grab her, to which against her will she begins to bat her forelegs, kick her hind, and even rear her head back with quick bites onto the fingers and outer palm.

"Ye dares assail the Empurress of the Night!" Luna continues her assault on the wayward hand, gaining the advantage with a few well placed strikes. "Wretched slave! Relinquish thy food bank less thou wishes to be brought to thy knees!"

Present time

"It is..." Luna dismisses the look sent her way. "We have gained proper control, rest assured."

"Oh." Celestia looks away just to regain her thoughts as they begin to run rampant, turning back with pushing focus back towards what has stood aside to theatrics for long enough. "For all your efforts, I am very grateful, Luna. I will have any and all you deem fit to be sent to Princess Sparkle with discretion to the matter at hand. While I am sure she will be eager to become more involved I..."

Her words, stopped by the direct stare sent her way, become swallowed instead.

"Do not tell her about him." Luna speaks not in request, but in firm statement. "Under no circumstances."

Celestia, slightly put off the quick change in demeanor and especially of to whom in question, "May I ask why? While we've been able to keep his existence hidden, the incident at the exhibit could not be. She would eventually come to the conclusion if we merely ask her to begin translation of an language that prior to two weeks ago, did not exist."

"Nothing is set in stone, sister. We are not dealing with a foal, calf, or chick whose eyes are full of wonder and innocence. If things come to pass, then they should of their own natural accord, not by the helping hoof of one wishing to make amends." Lifting and extending her wing over her elder sister to help convey her true intend. "It wasn't your fault, that things happened as they did."

Standing under the comfort of her younger sister, to which she would normally love to linger, she instead slowly moves out from under as she moves away. Almost dragging her hoofs, she approaches one of the open balconies to peer out in silence, looking out with an unusually stern expression even for one as practiced as her. Flaring her wings in a stretch, she finally turns around.

"Then who else will it be, to tell the being stolen from his home, that it was no accident?"

Friendship Rainbow Kingdom Castle

"Is applejack coming?" The softest feminine voice belonging to the butterscotch pegasi of kindness barely reaches across the table. Watching as eyes shift back and forth with no answer to be found, she gives little resistance. "Oh. Okay."

"Well, I simply don't know what could be keeping her. I know we told her we were having another meeting tonight the other day." Rarity slowly raises a foreleg and presses it to the underside of her muzzle. "You don't suppose she is doing that thing, again?"

"That thing?" Rainbow looks over towards Rarity, who simply rolls her eyes in return. "Hey, how the hay am I supposed to know what that thing even is?" Finally leaning over towards Fluttershy, "Hey, you know what that thing is, Shy?"

"Um." Before shaking her head.

"Twilight, dear, please explain to Rainbow Dash what that thing is." Who in turn, shifting her eyes between Rarity and Rainbow Dash, can only quirk part of her brow. "Well, go on!"

"Hah! Even Twilight doesn't know what that thing is!"

"Do you mean overworking herself again?" Twilight looks over towards Rarity, who wiggles her body with an rising muzzle that dips only to agitate the rainbow maned pegasi further. "I'm pretty sure she learned her lesson from the last time."

"But Spiiiike, what about the sprinkles? Or the whipped cream?" The high pitched voice grows only higher much to the instant attention it garners. "How can you serve snacks without making them snacks?!"

"Pinkie!" Spike yells while almost losing hold of the platter which houses a wide assortment of cheese and crackers. "Hey if you have a problem talk to Twilight. She's the one who thought we should try serving better brain food at the meetings."

"B-b-b-but!" Pinkie continues to encircle the ever more nervous baby dragon like a shark in water, swooping in underneath and rising the platter above his tiny talons with an escalating outburst. "Ice cream is brain food. That's why if you eat it too fast it hurts!"

Popping her head up once more, the platter raises high into the air and then over towards the large round table while clasped in magic glow, setting down for which only three of five make any effort. Taking notice to the duo's pouting, Rarity rolls her eyes before using her magic to shove several assortments into their muzzles without warning.

"Gah!" Rainbow pounds her hoof on the table while struggling to either swallow or cough back up, water beginning to form in her eyes as she is forced to comply with the former much to the satisfaction of her assailant. "...that... was disgusting!"

"It was pretty good, actually!" Pinkie holds her hooves out after finishing her first sample. "More please!"

"At least somepony enjoys a good, healthy, and might I add wonderfully prepared snack." Rarity looks over towards an already blushing baby dragon. "Thank you, Spike."

"Y-you're welcome. Hehe." The baby dragon cannot help but blush to the attention.

They all begin to banter, either of or against the food, before the doors leading outside slam shut once again. Looking over from either on or behind their seats, they only stare with wide eyes as the lost but found finally makes her way towards her seat. Even Rainbow Dash, who only makes it as far as opening her muzzle, holds it only just when the sight of her best friend comes into full view.

Covered in dirt. Briers entangled in her mane and tail, along with some still gouged upon her backside that just refuse to let go. Clomping her hooves every step of the way, she says nothing nor looks at anypony as she jumps into her seat, sitting down hard to an room gasping crunch that shows absolutely no reaction otherwise. Staring with gaping muzzles and one snout, is all they can do.

"Been a bad day." Applejack states with the icy chill of the frozen north. "Real bad."

Sitting with her muzzle dipped low enough that she can avoid any eye contact, she fails to notice the first little tug of brier in pink glow. Still hiding both answers and her eyes, she just barely catches the light blue magic gently working another stem of thorny annoyance from her tail. Letting the faintest of breaths flare her nostrils she barely noticed the light breeze coming from her side as something else seems to try and wrestle out but another of her prickly annoyances, with a slightly bigger tug from yet another side.

But like the honest pony that she is, to all the effort given thus far, she would sharply raise her muzzle in acknowledgement.

"Ow." Applejack states with a reared back head, her rising eyes catching the narrowed magenta iris yanking on a large brier in her mane like Winona on a play rag. "How ya doing, Rainbow?"

"Ahm doang gate!" Rainbow ignores all the shrieks and screams for her to stop when she gives one final pull, holding up her defeated enemy of long blonde mane with retreating glee. "Ohhh crap. Sorry AJ!"

"It'll grow back." She returns her stare but a bit more leveled muzzle. "Always does." Letting her words carry the tune of a grinding stone, she suddenly becomes enveloped in outside warmth, it's yellow and pink hues stealing all her sight. Opening her mouth to speak, she becomes interrupted by each additional jolt of cushioned warmth that slowly covers most of her frame.

"You know they're not gonna let you go until you fess up." Rainbow's iris barely catches the attention of green, whose owner attempts to convey but a few words muffled incoherent. "I got sucked in by magic, so what?"

"Ah said, it's okay." Applejack shifts just enough to get her words out, much to the slow but gradual release of those who would bind her in their friendship to which she is not usually so dismissive. "Gotta believe me when ah say it's just been a bad day."

"Is there anything we can do to make it better?" Twilight looks upon the usually go getting farm pony whose uplifting confidence in any bad situation spared none it's contagion. "I mean it's okay if you don't want to talk about it but if we can help somehow?"

"Help me forget that it's been a bad day." Applejack tries her best at her fake half smile, to which one causes each and every pony and dragon in the room grow in further worry and concern. But good or bad to hold her ground, no pony would ever question, and as each pony tries to think of something to her request, it is big a belching dragon who offers the best suggestion.

Turning around, slowly but eventually, they all look upon Spike who quickly unravels the scroll as the breaking seal changes into an overly large and juicy gem. Nearly losing focus, he only slides the gem closer before coughing his throat clearer.

"Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle..." He then reads a little ahead, with a raised brow. "She'd... like you to help translate a newly discovered language? She said that she will be sending urk!" With cheeks puffing more and more. "Blaaaaaargh!"

With varying screams, shrieks, and laughter the entire table along with all the mares become engulfed in the unexpectedly dense volume of parchments and other scriptures. The baby dragon, ever thankful that magic could condense such mass into such a small belch, eagerly reaches forth to reclaim his payment before disappearing underneath the table.

"Will this work?" Twilight yells from underneath the pile.

"Ah reckon so!"

"Help!"

Daniel's Dream State; Present Time - Past Midnight

Pruna's Perspective

"" The creature pokes his head in through the open window just a bit. ""

"The chance, is ours." She quickly dashes across the treacherous landscape of boulders two hoofs large, nearly sliding into a fall several times before making her way under the large metallic carriage, undetected. Moving around underneath the large contraption, she makes a smirk before finding but a large opening between what she can only consider the front wheels.

Looking around once more to verify her success in unseen infiltration, she drops her smirk as her thoughts slowly begin to move back to just earlier in her day, and maybe even painfully farther. Never one to let any see her inner free spirit, she raises her muzzle, puffs out her chest, and stomps her hoof into the boulders below.

"We shall find a way to make this right, sister."

But it takes even less to snap her muzzle towards the distortion erupting all around her for but a blink of an eye. Letting a bit of concern spread across her brow, she shakes it off before jumping up inside the spacious compartment. Wiggling to get a bit more comfortable, she settles in just as an ear wracking sound causes her to open her eyes to the wall in her personal study.

"Failure shall not be tolerated, when it shall serve none the better."

Chapter Four : He who touches the sun, gets burned.

"Thank you."

Of letting himself go to the numbness, does the head rattling break against Daniel's fall show it's appreciation. Feeling the burning across an ankle and underside of knee, he finds a bit of coolness inside what has become prey to the clutching of his left hand's fingers. Releasing his grip in order to do so again, his mind rushes to try and rationalize with eyes still shut tight.

Beginning to breath a bit faster, much to the traveling of his right hand over cross his chest in jerks, he continues to search for what is not there. Moving his right hand over his eyes, fingers spread open and wide, he slowly peers in expectation of life threatening red, finding instead something far more concerning but in between. Moving his hand back and forth, if only to give his eyes a bit of shade from that which bares down upon him from high above, he becomes fixated more on lack of needing to.

Moving his hand away, with growing confusion and anxiety, he lunges upright before grabbing upon the a leg, expecting once again what in reality does not comply. Patting each leg down, before slowly straightening them out from his short crumble to...

"What the hell?" Looking down, to the far cast of the horizon, does the range of mountains snap him into action to his sudden rise to his feet. Taking deep breaths, with his head swooshing back and forth upon the deep valley below, his nerves begin to fray with the etch of his feet even closer to the end once more. Creeping his head forward, if to look down to just how high up, he jumps back.

Walking back until he almost trips again, he finds solid ground only from the large boulder sticking up from the lush green laden soil below. Grabbing hold, with enough pressure to free a bit of grit, he struggles once more to understand.

"A-alright. Alright." Taking a hard swallow. "I... I was picking some potatoes and... and I found that rock. I cut my hand, and then it kills me with a propane tank. Now I'm on a mountain?" Closing his mouth with nostrils flaring. "Bullshit."

Looking once more up into the sky, he takes notice to just how large the sphere in the sky appears. Staring into it, only to find the lack of splotches from a few rapid blinks, he shakes his head with growing frustration. "I said, bullshit!"

"I've been waiting for you." The feminine voice from behind with light concern causes him to freeze.

With but another swallow, almost painful, he struggles not to look behind him. Tilting his head with the slow movement to the side, he lets out the forced breath of resisting the sudden chill spreading between his shoulder blades. Grinding his palm into the rock, harder and harder, seems not to notice the slow but gradual movements closer to bare witness to the seeping stains.

"You must stop that." The voice now just behind. "You can still feel pain here, if you will it."

"And where the hell is here?" Unable to hide the grinding tone that continues also upon his palm. "Cause it doesn't hurt!"

"It does, to me." Sighing a bit in relief as the hand becomes stationary once again. "Now, will you turn and face me?"

"No." Merely taking a guess from the crinkle of grass one word might not be enough. "Don't push me."

Hearing the movement move back in balance behind his ears, he cannot help but finally notice just how hard his heartbeat thumps inside his chest. Serving reminder, he closes his eyes just in case.

"Is she here?"

"We found only you." Adhering to boundaries still set against the stone. "You had passed in life, upon coming before me."

"Am I in a bad place?"

"You are in a safe place."

"Then why isn't she here?!" Raising his open hand only in order to smash it back down closed. "I don't even believe in none of this shit, lady!" Several times over. "Yeah, she made some mistakes, but you're telling me you refused to save her for that?!"

"We are often not given the chance, to make the choice." The voice remains soft, but with enough emotion to soothe nonetheless. "But of my own, I have only come to you now to ask that you make one for yourself. I welcome you, if you shall of me."

With sincere words meant to comfort, only to bring full turnabout with the firm grasp of a bloody hand upon her foreign bicep, her eyes widen in reflection to the one burning away any water that might stain it. Taking notice to the one now closed, seemingly struggling underneath it's twitching eyelid, she becomes distinctly aware of what is now on the verge of breaking.

"You just said my wife wasn't fucking good enough." Moving back rather than pushing against, space once more comes between them. "So neither are you. Now get out of here." Growling to the lack of action sort of reaction. "I said, go!"

"Please, listen to me." Firming her voice with options slowly eroding away. "You were still alive, for but a moment, when you entered my realm. You died, and we were able to bring you back. But we need you to reach out and come the rest of the way."

"Or what?" His growing defiance even bringing slight surprise upon she who continues to attempt reasoning.

Growing just a bit agitated herself, she cannot hide the tension along the bridge of her nose.

"Prove it." Raising his arms in order to cross them over his chest, giving the expression right back. "Because there are only a few things that I know for certain right now." Nodding up with keeping his eyes on her's. "That's fake, and so are you."

Looking up into the sky, she seems to struggle to find anything out of place. Looking upon all of the clouds, and especially in between for any sort of disruption or anomaly. Turning in place with her expression now out of sight, does she begin to move mountains.

"The sun? That giant object in the sky that supposed to hurt your eyes when you stare at it?"

"Why would the sun hurt you?" She turns back around with light concern in her tone to the notion. "It is to help you. To guide you, so that you may not lose your way. It would never seek to cause you pain, and neither do I."

"Then that's not my sun."

"No, it's mine." Lifting her arm, her palm now held as it to grab hold, she looks almost childish. Letting a faint smile spread across her lips, she gently moves her arm across the sky up and behind, twisting around in order to lower the sun just above the horizon. Bringing her hand back down, she meets it with the other, brought to hang relaxed against her waist.

"I used to love sunrises. The first gleam of light to brim the distant horizon, like a blanket, covering all that it may reach in it's warmth. Basking every treetop and mountainside ablaze, I could find no better poetry, no better companion. I needn't fear that one day it wouldn't greet me. I could depend upon it, to always be there for me, no matter how dark the night had become. I felt safe."

Watching as the sun takes it's final bow across the horizon, the starless sky above their only audience.

"Blinded by my selfishness, I never paid much attention to what it meant to those around me." Showing an expression she would only show to none who could see. "It took losing the only family I've ever known to show me the cost of such fallacy. To finally acknowledge, that for so long that I simply hadn't cared enough, to see that which I thought of the most could hurt those who tried to do the same."

Simply turning back around, as the farthest tips of the distant mountains glisten to the fire upon the snow, she continues to speak.

"I've always loved the sunrise, this is so very true, and it is also true that I terribly miss what I can never have again. But it wasn't until I let go, and turned around, that I found what I love most of all. I shall never give that up, and for that reason alone, I made the sun my own."

Eagerly awaiting the light to let her see, her smile evaporates with the dawning of nothing but the far view. Sighing, with eyes closing to the mutter of discontent of the choice she sought made, she seems unsure on action now best taken in the encompassing light.

"You painted a pretty picture." Daniel, speaking with his back left shoulder almost touching the back of hers with the sharp inhale of air forming a half grin on his lips, crosses his arms once again while facing the sunrise. "But that right there was just badass."

Turning to face him, she brightens to what she hopefully assumes in compliment. "Then you finally believe me?"

"No. Oh, hell no." His casual tone, with a bit of play but enough gruff to keep the tension, only brings confusion. "All you've convinced me is that you're not something that I thought you were. Which I guess makes some of what you said more believable."

Unsure of what to think of such comments, she remains silent less she loses what had just been gained.

"It hurt too much, for too long, for it to not of happened. This..." Making a wave as if swatting away a fly, "What is this?" leading his hand towards the front of her chest, but not close enough to touch. "Talk to me like you'd want to be talked to if this was happening to you. No more damn lies, or trying to lure me with candy, cause frankly I was about ready to give you the finger for that."

"I didn't want to force you awake in your condition, because we feared you wouldn't react very well. So I brought you here, so that I might earn your trust, and not see you further harm. Right now, we are both connected to make that possible."

"What the hell was in my garden, and why did it bring me to you." He makes sure to put a bit of anger into the final word, refusing even to blink. "Cause it's looking pretty bad the more it rattles around in my head."

"The stone, was a magical ward, created to protect my realm from what seeks to take advantage. One was lost, and while still anchored, it lacked the energy to reach where it could be pulled back through." Gesturing with a nod. "Until you."

"Magic?" The flicker of his brow meets with only another nod. "And my blood somehow constitutes as magic?"

"Well, of course. Every being, no matter how small or large, is latent with magic. It is part of their very essence." Noticing her words losing far more ground than they gain. "That's why we were forced to replace, much of yours."

"Replace?" Unfolding his arms to his side. "You're not doing a bunch of strange shit to me are you?" Pointing an index finger her way. "I'll have you know I like myself exactly like I am, so if I come out of this and find a bunch of shit strange... better not."

"You're just as you were, do not worry. We were even able to save your arm." Watching as he looks upon the left forearm without hesitation. "You still have it. There may be some problems, because of how badly it was damaged, but that shall be up to you."

"I can't repair myself, lady." Narrowing his eyes as if slapped. "What's your name?"

"Prin..." Flickering her eyes away, and only faster back onto his own. "You may call me Celestia."

"Daniel, and that's all you're going to get if that's all you're gonna give." Shrugging to the put off quirk in her brow. "So I'm also going to take a wild guess that you look absolutely nothing like what you look like, right now."

"That would be correct." Etching each word out slowly, growing quite curious over a few things herself.

"That's good." Waving his hand before her chest area, once more. "Because a life sized barbie is disturbing as hell." Watching her reaction of looking down, a bit surprised herself. "Thanks for the show, and the scream in my mind when I realized it wasn't latex."

"Well I am, quite... surprised." Looking back up without even the slightest embarrassment. "Clothing is rather up to the individual. Some wear, most do not." Meeting his eyesight which bares some semblance of apprehension. "We do have rather extensive natural cover."

"Alright, I can't take it anymore. Show me."

"Show you?"

"You. The real you, damn it." Stepping back with arms going wide open out to either side. "Let's do it!"

"He's spiking!" The nurse yells, scampering between several machines in order to get towards her medical tray. Taking hold with magic several vials, and needles, she begins to prep for the doctor whatever he may need. Growing a bit worried herself, she moves the tray closer to Doctor Hoofmender who looks up towards Princess Celestia with less than supportive eyes. "Doctor?"

"I told you this was a mistake!" Rearing up as the bed shakes a bit to the convulsions of it's occupant. Using his own magic to lock the wheels of the bed while also pressing a button, he looks upon the readings with anxiety. "Terminate the link!"

"Do not dare!" Princess Luna, holding little back unlike her elder sister, moves forward with her neck craning for her eye to meet the doctor's own within inches. "If she has not severed the link, then she is still trying to control the situation."

"Seems to be a pretty horrible job of it, then!" He yells right back, caring not for consequence. "Go help her, or I will, him."

"Daniel?" Watching him almost double over onto his face. "Please, you must control yourself!"

The woman, now of all her true Alicorn glory, holds her wings arched high to the sky with her stature closer to one of genuine shock and confusion. Staring down upon which now resists upon his knees, holding his hands to the opposite side rib cage, struggling to breath. Etching closer, only to stop and hold one foreleg in the air with a hanging hoof, her emotions begin to overflow as well.

"Daniel. Do please stop this nonsense." Watching him finally catch enough breath to laugh some more, she herself becomes a bit flustered and even perhaps, offended. Stomping her hoof into the ground to no avail, she moves with a bit more force than realized with a bit of dirt kicking up on her roundabout journey to his left side. "We do not have time for..."

"I'm so damn screwed." Taking in and out several long breaths. "And we both know it."

Having been robbed of any misgivings she might of held, she unfolds and lowers the inner wing to press softly against his backside, given a jolt from what beats with dangerous intensity just below. Searching for words of comfort, she prepares herself for breaking such a short lived promise, for a lie shall have to do.

"Well, let's get on with it, then." Daniel gives his head one good shake before rising up to his feet, seemingly unaware of what still presses against his back. Stretching the left, and then right shoulder, he looks towards Celestia with an raised eyebrow. "What?"

Simply staring, fixated most on what still pulsates into her wing, she can only whisper. "Calm yourself, first."

"Kind of hard when you know how bad it's going to hurt." Closing his eyes to the hesitation, only to find sudden himself unable to open them once more, he tries to thrash against the pressure all around him as if he's drowning. Unable to push to reason, he can only struggle harder, much to the ever increasing noise that bring no comfort even if understood.

"" Princess Celestia, as close as she can get upon the struggling Daniel's left ear, just continues to whisper with a soothing tone the same word many times over. Only when his struggle begins to ease, does she pull from her limited vocabulary. ""

Struggling to open his eyes still, he puts all he has into just one, with the fluttering given small reprieve to the sudden dimming of all the lights. Finally able to find the light with but one eye, he rattles the bed when instead of pearly white, midnight blue takes all. With a few seconds of alarm, the room quiets down once more with midnight blue speaking with a bit more authority.

"He shall have to be confined to the inner halls of the castle. I have already formed several teams to watch over him. They have been briefed to ward for protection, rather than surveillance." Looking down onto the two eyes still trained on her, offering nothing expected of her from her elder sister, whom now stares at her with an encouraging smile. "I shall hold you to our expectations."

"Luna?" Celestia moves towards the other side of the hospital bed. "You know he cannot understand you."

"He doesn't need to be told what he already expects." Keeping her eyes upon her sister's. "Once Twilight Sparkle finishes her work on the translation, we can move onward from there. Until then, there is little need in coddling him as you have already."

"Coddle?" Showing but the hint of offense. "Let's not forget, if we had informed Twilight fully, she would view this in an entirely different light. Her letter earlier barely made any mention, short of acknowledgement to her pique of interest."

"Then I am pleased." Taking notice, but no reaction, to the look sent her way. "She is the Princess of Friendship, Element of Magic, and quite frankly with far too much pulling on her already. There is no need to make this anything but what it really is."

"That being?" Celestia tilts her head with the flicker of her closest ear, showing her less than pleased demeanor.

Ready to give her answer, almost in mimic posture, wayward hands reach up and takes hold of escalating situation often held behind closed doors. While not able to squeeze, four fingers rest over top Celestia muzzle with relative ease with just enough pulling pressure to dip her muzzle down a tiny bit. Staring cross eyed onto the resting hand, they widen when moving to directly across the way.

Where four lay upon the elder sister, only the outer two seem to cling with any ease onto Luna's muzzle, threatening to slip off as the hand struggles with convulsions. Refusing to look down, instead remaining fixated straight ahead, she reacts with gently lowering her head while tilting back. Speaking not another word, her eyes convey all that she wishes to.

"If you two are quite done having your little spat over top my patient, I would like to begin." Doctor Hoofmender hovers many objects in the air, among them, a little bit of water. "If my hopes are not dashed, he should be able to be moved within a couple days."

Celestia ducks and slides back in order to make room for him to start checking Daniel. Taking her leave without another word to, or from, she quickly finds herself trotting in silence alongside an equally mute midnight blue. Passing guard after stationed guard, who all seem rather unaffected by the cold display between royal sisters, they finally part ways with far too much left unfinished.

Shaking his head, back in the private medical room, the doctor and lone nurse begin to their procedures and checkups, focusing instead on what will surely become an ever tiresome night. Trying not to focus in on he whom rustles a bit under heavy cover, they instead pass glances over theatrics often best kept out of their domain. Smirking to each other, with the shake of their heads, they separate once more with the doctor going to the far corner to open an cabinet and the nurse out the door.

"If I didn't know any better, I would of sworn you actually understood what they were going on about." Doctor Hoofmender pulls out some sterilized gauze and tape, coming back to the bed now lowered to his chest level. "Between you and me, I hope they aren't just having some sort of game about all this with you. I know you're a bit of a spectacle, but it not up to them to push you into being something you're not."

Going around to the other side, he pays closer attention to the hand that has caused him such great concern.

"So similar to the Minotaur, but even then." Using his magic to press a strip of metal near the wrist. "If only you'd flex..."

As if on cue, like upon any other understood request, does the outer two fingers pull into the palm, leaving the large two and thumb barely giving any compliance. Captivated by the opportunity, he forgets reality. "Again."

To the compliance once more, does his gaze slowly drift up towards one that has held onto him for some time. Held in silent stare, as if to gauge the worth of agreement still left unsigned, does the doctor become the first to answer.

"Again."

Chapter Three : Of Briers and Minotaurs

Friendship Rainbow Kingdom Castle; Throne Room - After Midnight

Tired. Oh so very tired, but at the same time, entranced to what now lays before her and maybe even further behind in her mind. Having since forgone the train of thought of doing but a favor for one whom she would never consider using such a word, she instead rustles underneath her ever comfy fleece throw. Reserved in silence of an ever moving muzzle to an ever grinding mind, she only closes it to the lack of assumed substance, finally forced aware of the nearby empty platter.

"Ah think ya went and finished off the last one ah hour ago, Twi." Applejack, the only other one awake in her chair as subtle to almost distracting snores and murmurs soothe the room's tranquility. "Can whip up something, if yer needing."

"Oh, oh it's okay. I just get so lost in all of this..." Looking over the table, and even mares, who carry the spoils of their little war like blankets on but the most vague of information etched over countless parchments. "...how about you?"

"How about what?" She tilts her head, much to the slide of her stetson to which she promptly corrects.

"Anything on your mind?"

"Just how ah can't make a lick of sense over any of this here mumbo jumbo." Leaning forward with a slight squint in her eyes, tilting them back and forth, before rearing back with a light snort. "Ah think ah'm the last kinda pony you'd be needing on this kinda stuff."

Letting her ears flick a few times to the words spoken, eyelids lowered half way in deep contemplation, she lets her expression relax until almost devoid of any and all emotion. Keeping her eyes unfocused for but a few more moments, she instantly flicks them towards one who still struggles to find her worth under drifting stetson.

"!" Applejack, with an expression of unnerved surprise, goes limp in her silent hover several feet above her seat. Still unsure on what to think, she lets the unseen guiding hoof, or horn, pull her slowly counter clockwise until lowered with but one hind leg stuck upon the armchair. Gently raised back up a bit, she is sat back down to similar success. "Ah don't think this here is meant for two, sugarcube."

Eyeing the lack of success, Twilight wiggles her bottom and hind legs a bit tighter with the eventual squeeze of two full sized mares into one throne of magic. Having to tug extra hard, she also frees her fleece for which she then shares without even a word.

"Happy now?"

"Yes." Her reply, even without looking over, serves it's purpose of finality as the green eyed apple farmer beside her only lightly huffs in submission. "I figured since we're both awake, and I'm having trouble keeping so, that you could help me."

"An how am I supposed to do that? Ah can't even move!" To her declaration, she can only feel the stifled shrug.

"I dunno. Talk to me, maybe?" Twilight's iris catches and takes hold of bright green through genuine but poorly executed imitation from one whom still wears the crown. "You know you can always come to me if something is on your mind."

Beginning to shake, much to the tight friction causing an almost perfect unison of bubbling bumping, Applejack begins to snicker and laugh. Wearing a far more common and wholesome smile to the recently worrisome frown, "Girl, ya gotta work on that mother thing."

"W-well I-I'm doing..." Twilight holds her words to the puff of air blown in her face.

"But ya got the friendship thing down better than anypony ah know." Pulling in but a bit more air, much to the squeeze on them both, before looking down onto the table. "Ah messed up, and ah'm not sure how ah'm gonna make it right, is all."

Twilight, unable to move, just reserves herself to listening rather than pushing ahead.

"Harvesting is bout done. So now is the time we go an check things for repairing. Ah was working the fences, this time round, and went and figured I'd push on ahead farther than ah normally would. Ya see, the farm is mighty bigger than y'all might think, and only so many of us that a lot of it goes unused." Closing her eyes. "Or just up an abandoned."

"I know you struggle to fill extra hoofs as more businesses are hiring in town, now."

"Only one little place in the whole dang thing that ah'm not allowed to go." Of such words, even those whom have tried to remain in feign slumber stir but a bit. "None of us are. Least not alone. An even then, last time it was only cause all the family was here and we all went together!" Her emotions slowly getting the better of her. "Ah had to let my durn temper get the best of me."

Twilight, not wanting to interrupt what waited so long to even begin, begins to struggle in and out to what means she could offer in comfort. Finding the lack of words, she strains to free that which had already begun to go numb from lack of blood flow.

"So there ah was. Whacking and just smashing up a storm, making no better a hole no matter how hard ah swung mah branch. Don't remember much, but ah figure ah was just a cussing up a storm." Letting her shameful expression follow like in story, "Ah didn't see em coming. Heard crunching and ah just turned and swung!"

Twilight's eyes, shut like vices, betray her gaping muzzle driven straight up as if enjoying the drizzle of a cloud on an overly warm summer day. Her bottom jaw, quivering with a strained whisper, seems no more capable of claiming notice than the distinct pop of her now free wing in all it's blood rushing glory.

"Ya know what he went and did next? Got on up and starting asking if ah was ok!" With shameful mixing with deep regret, she closes her eyes in fear of will surely be shown her way. "And that's when the cussing started up again."

Draping her wing over the backside of her down and out friend, Twilight looks down upon her edge of the table. Hovering upon the most uninteresting distraction possible, she raises them while in thought to directly across her way, upon that of an earlier sacrifice to appease the loudest among them. Watching the pink party pony snuggle and even nibble on that of slumbering baby dragon, she pushes away responsibility of future night terrors in the hope of finding something, anything, to make council.

"Sometimes the last place ya wanna be is the one ya can't just walk away from."

"I..."

"Then ya got the times where it's not so bad." Dipping her muzzle with a smile. "Even if ah can't feel mah legs."

Canterlot; Minotaur Consulate - Approaching Dawn

"Have to admit, on account last we spoke, I'd ever see you in front of my desk again." The dark grey fur of three fingers and a thumb tips a tall bottle over into a small glass with the fluid of a smooth voice. "Well, at least not on this side of the ocean, eh?"

"Likewise." The large unicorn stallion in dark blue and grey garment picks up the glass slid his way with an raised brow. "I never expected to see Grakan the Scale Bender of the eastern front sitting behind any desk." Sniffing before taking a sip. "Here, or there."

"Oh! Seeking to bolster my obvious reputation even upon these docile lands, are we?" Holding the bottle up with a hearty shake and mock tone. "The Great Doctor Hoofmender! Known...oh, that's right! It's not." Only to lean in with a sneer. "But not all have two..."

"Grakan." Dr. Hoofmender closes his eyes in exasperation, "What's is that?!"

"It's called getting old." Grakan laughs before taking another swig from the battle. "Happens to the best of us."

"To that, my old friend, I do agree." Raising his glass in the air, much to the slight disappointment sent but concealed from his tipped back view, does the stallion drink in full. "I cannot wait to leave this place, once again."

"I wouldn't normally lecture you, but I'm simply getting too old to give a damn." Twisting the bottle in the air back and forth, the clink of glass reminds of feelings mutual. "She's always going to be your Princess, whether you like it or not."

"I can't stand her voice." Dr. Hoofmender's casual tone of such petty mention masks little to current company. "I'll never have such a instrument, mind you, to cut any with but a word. For if I ever did the very first would also be the very last."

"Being?"

"A string."

"At least that is far less violent to what I first assumed." Grakan sets the bottle down atop the desk, hand still firmly grasped with thoughts upon his wandering mind. "I'd most likely cut her mane. You know, see what happens."

Setting his own glass down, the doctor adopts an expression somewhere between amusement of the act, and apprehension to the curiosity. Staring far too long, the alignment once more between old friends steers the conversation weary.

"What? It just moves on it's own!"

"It's just magic, Grakan."

"With no purpose." Flipping his hand palm up. "And what are we without purpose?"

"Free to decide our own, whether good or bad." Narrowing his own to the roll of another, "It is different, for a pony."

Releasing the bottle, he raises and then slams down both open palms onto his desk while rising from his chair. Standing to full stature, he leans but a little more upon his left hand as his right raises to his center chest as if in mid formal bow. Sporting many places where his coat once concealed, either from blade or talon, he forms a challenging smile to the straight and narrow refusing to be impressed.

"For one such as I, whom may not have been just given but a single mark, I have over the course of my life earned but many. These are not the markings of a diplomat so far removed from conflict that the only thing that continues to grow is his belly, but one who should have never left it! But here I sit, for but a purpose molded from the ashes of one forged in the fire!"

Showing through the folding of his ears, closing of nostrils, the doctor grumbles. "Forged... in something... alright."

"You are no different! I remember the first time we met. This... greenhorn unicorn, fresh from the docks, enlisting to be a field medic on the front lines? Prosperous!" Twisting his hand in the air back and forth, "His name isn't good enough, is exactly what I said."

"I'm not quite sure whatever it is that you're trying to get across, Grakan, but..."

"That perhaps we can judge too harshly, when presented with something unable to properly fight back." Leaning back upon his creaking chair, knuckles upon the underside of his jaw in rest. "You would do well to know that initially, it was denied."

As if caught in the act, the Doctor lets a bit of surprise show through expression alone.

"But then..."

Canterlot; Minotaur Consulate - Ten Days Prior

"Sir!" A rather young in coat Minotaur stands in rigid posture and salute before the overly large dark desk once more, much to the concern shining through his eyes in doing so. Daring not to speak on his own, he can only remain until informed otherwise.

"I've already denied their request. If the pony wants to wait there all day, then I am fine to oblige." Shuffling but a small clump of papers before placing them off to the side. Giving his head an idle shake to the thought, he pushes himself on his rickety chair towards the only window to the world outside, yanking the curtain in order to peer out. "...soldier."

"Yes, Sir!"

"How long has she been standing out there?" His tone, flat but serrated like a knife, cuts even a heartbeat.

"For almost half an hour, Sir!" Only to inhale sharply to the slow creak turning his way, letting but a tenacious few seconds linger before the hard stomp of hooves come and pass him by, much to his relief and quick follow.

Thundering through the consulate with little grace or care, the dark grey Minotaur merely waves his open hand to any and all whom tries to assist or come to his aid. Clearing the entire way to and from, he finally reaches the large double doors to the consulate that both his hands firmly grasp, letting his grimace precede what he could only fear would come next.

"...and I look forward to such an event. You can be sure that I shall attend." Princess Celestia, standing just before the consulate back to front, cranes her neck down towards the group of fillies and colts. "I Promise."

"Yay!!" The little group jump or prance before taking off, just as far more almost shove and push to get just a bit closer.

"Oh, please don't push aside your fellow pony." She dares not show even the slightest worry or harsh judgement to the actions before her. "My home is your home, as is my ear to anything that you may have to say. But please, be only kind to those who seek the very same." Beginning to turn with but the faintest of pace. "I shall return, momentarily."

Coming muzzle to muzzle in stare to that of far less diplomatic horns, she holds her aloof expression even as one far more down to earth takes a bit of pity. With two hooves stepping aside to the gradual passing of four, the doors slowly close once more.

"Thank you for seeing me, Ambassador Grakan." Celestia stands in wait for him to pass by once more, forced to take the smallest steps in order to match in pace. "I know my little ponies can get overly excited, and hope the commotion did not disturb you so."

Passing him by one last time through his modest office door, Grakan shuts and then locks the door once her lingering tail passes through, snorting at it's linger. Walking to around the other side of his desk, he gestures for her to sit before doing so himself.

"You must indulge my curiosity, Princess, as to why you would come yourself without guards to the consulate at this hour of morning. I would say that I have not a clue, but then we would both be wasting our time." Reaching to a bit behind, and then even a bit more much to the dust beginning to cover his hand. "I always find just a bit, just enough."

Lifting her brow, she remains silent to the dark red hue of rounded bottle sat upon the desk with two large glasses. Doing her best not to show her apprehension, she can only widen her eyes to the blue liquid filling the cup clear to the brim. "T-thank you."

Doing the same to his own, he lifts his glass to toast without words with the one held in golden glow. Downing his with little trouble, he never lets one eye lose sight of the princesses cringe both before and especially after. Much to the flapping of her wings as her muzzle remains agape, gasping for air, she cringes one more time before dabbing her muzzle clean with a feather.

"Now I know something is wrong." Grakan gently sets his glass back on the table. "What did you ponies do, now?"

"There is one whose life depends on what you have denied, which is certainly within your right." Celestia reaffirms her posture and puts on an non confronting expression, but one neither of weakness. "I have come to ask that you may reconsider."

"No pony would need a pint of our life. And unless you've taken to holding one of my own without informing me..." Giving an expression forged in the face of far less fair. "Then there is little reason for me to concern ourselves in your affairs."

"You would be correct, to know that no pony nor has any Minotaur come under such aid in need. But an aid in need remains, regardless. Is that not enough for the mighty Minotaur to rise and give but would be given in kind?"

"We rise to any cause that riles but the best within us, no matter when, or where." Giving his empty glass but a few spins with his fingers. "Something that many a pony could never claim, even if the anchors of those who can must somehow carry all the weight."

"I can offer..."

"I want to see whatever it is that your hiding." Letting his eyelids drift halfway. "You have given aid and the world has suffered, far too many times. If we are to also claim responsibility, then by my King's hand we shall not do so blindly."

"...my personally prepared..."

"However, in kind, if what you hold is deemed only as you say, then along with full discretion only to my King you shall have any and all that you shall require from us." Doing all he can to keep his expression as hardened as intended. "Do you accept the terms?"

"...double fudge sponge cake."

As words and and expressions die down, each seems to consider what has been offered, to which they do a subtle nod.

"Agreed."

Present Time

"I can't believe she bribed me."

"I can't believe she actually showed you."

"That's what happens when you lead with your heart." Grakan shrugs. "You make mistakes." Giving a few chuckles to the look sent his way. "I have no reason to make a move against something that poses no threat to King or kin, so do not worry."

Staring just a bit longer, Doctor Hoofmender finally let's his eyes drift farther towards the pendulum on the wall, causing them to widen in surprise before letting his front foreleg rise and give gentle caress. "I think..."

"Before you go, I did have something that I wanted to ask you." Leaning farther inwards over the table, causing the doctor to rear back a bit in response. "Isn't it a bit mortifying to number parts of the body before it's dead?"

Shaking it off, Doctor Hoofmender gives his friend a nod before passing off the question as something of a crude joke. Making his way out of the office, and soon the consulate itself, he never says another word. Trotting in the wane of chilly moon light, he snorts going down the street, leaving behind another with an even greater look of surprise still sitting with elbows resting on the hard wooden desk.

Graken, seemingly lost in his thoughts, looks as if fallen asleep before slowly reaching inside one of his metallic wrist cuffs. Sliding out a small clear sphere, like that of a marble with strands of milky substance moving at it's core, he brings it to eye level with a glare. Like with many races, what a Minotaur lacks from birth can always be made up with a tool, even if only to help see but a bit better.

"She looked at me the same way, too."

Palace of the Royal Sisters - Breaking Dawn

Sunrises. She always enjoyed them, even if none would ever truly know why. The first gleam of light across the horizon, basking but every treetop and mountainside ablaze, means so much for so many a different reason depending on the pony. Changing of the Guard at the palace, start time for many a farm across the land, and the good morning kiss for a full night's rest. But for her...

"Careful, sister." Luna nudges her voice in between the private moment. "You wouldn't want to confuse one of the new guards."

Filling her lungs with the cool air of lingering mist, she smiles with the gentle shake of her head to bring her out of her stupor. Finally opening her eyes, of which had been closed for some time, she once more looks out across the fire brought to but the closest clouds in the sky. Looking to her side, in full attention of teasing teal, she winks her own in dismissive play.

"No less confusing were the palace to know to whom you've been spending many a cold night." Showing an earnest smile, but for but a moment before it's slow retreat of possible teasing going too far. "I did not mean to offend..."

"It is not the tease, but the context that brings concern." Turning her head her way but without letting her sight leave her sister's own, ushers Celestia to follow her lead. Making their way towards the very edge of the balcony, one downward gaze leads to but another, with only one knowing exactly what to look for. "Tell me, sister. What do you see?"

Dipping her muzzle a bit more, looking down upon what would normally only be seen by their own eyes, she looks a bit back and forth. Humming to herself, much to the patience beside her, she narrows her eyes but a few times before doing a subtle nod.

"My garden." Earning herself no reaction beside her. "Our garden?"

"I mean of the things that reside within the garden." Letting one lone eye serve vigil to the slight movements of Celestia's muzzle, sometimes craning her neck even farther down and then again back up. "They move about?"

"Oh!" Now raising her brow knowingly. "Discord."

"What?!" Luna suddenly rears up and throws her forelegs over the banister, using rather fierce movements in guiding her muzzle towards any and all movement. Growling, "I don't see..." before glaring towards the giggle. "Ooooo."

"Oh, okay." Smacking her lips a few times for less than appreciated encore. "I see quite a few animals."

"And at the base of the far tree, near the lily pond?"

"Ah. A monkey." Blinking a few times. "Be careful around that one. He bites."

"And maybe not the only one if you don't take this seriously." Sending a clear warning through an overly loud chomp, much to the elder sister slightly scooting away. "Now, in regards to the monkey, what else is it?"

In request, does one sister honor another, much to her apprehensive stare.

"I... Well it's a mammal, primate specifically. His name is Bobo, loves lemons, and is three years old." Slowly widening her eyes to the gaping maw doing the same towards her side along with the pitch of her voice. "A-and... um... I don't know! All he wants is someplace safe, food and water, and some of my attention." If only to find more, "And maybe a girl monkey, but maybe not after the last one beat him up so bad."

Opening her mouth to speak, only to close it once more, Luna seems to stare thoughtfully down into the garden. Tilting her head, as the monkey seems to cup his tiny hands, looking all around as if to anticipate something that no longer resides there.

"That bad?"

"Oh yes. I sent in one of the guards to separate them, only to became her next target." Doing much the same as her younger sister down upon the garden. "He's the one who seems to glare into the garden whenever I station him there every Tuesday."

"And if that monkey were to suddenly approach that guard, not as a mere pet of the garden, but something able to suddenly both speak and understand anything that could be said?" Intently looking for honest reaction. "What might happen?"

"Oh, I would most assuredly need to give him more time off for his mandatory therapy." Flickering her eyelids to the mere thought. "And while for a mere moment I would be rather enthralled, I must admit the experience might be rather concerning."

"They were rather impressive, if I must say so myself. Even you would feel but a bit dwarfed if next to one. The very first time I caught sight, I will never forget." Letting loose a huff of air from her nostrils, she seems to only offer a light shrug. "Nor shall I upon seeing one being fed dry hay from the very hand of the one who now resides beneath us."

Turning to her sister who only seems to welcome the understanding. "I would prefer to have been told, yesterday."

"I do confess to having held back on what information I showed you, even of what to send Princess Sparkle." Holding a more serious expression herself. "Time is not equal upon all realms that we may walk, nor does it wait idly by. To be judged upon a single day, no matter how profoundly lacking, deserves at the very least a second chance."

"You're purposely keeping him asleep." Of no question, but a statement, void of discernible judgement thus far.

"Did you not just absorb what was made in revelation? He shall wake up confused, without familiar council, other than with what should not be able to make any at all." Looking across the horizon instead of the garden. "He may very well go into shock."

"I understood, Luna." Still looking upon her sister with just a thoughtful expression. "But he has no where else to go, and while that will not change no matter how long he slumbers, his health will not be spared the harsh reality chosen for him."

"Chosen?" Lifting her brow with a few subtle nods. "A positive delusion, if even that. If you only consider my concern for his reaction, then even that could be easily sold no worse for wear. But if we do not tend care to what we do today, we certainly shall, tomorrow."

"I want him woken." Letting well performed tone lower to something a bit more equally personal, to company kept. "The minotaurs are having their reenactment at the Gala in five days and I wish not to offend by being unable to keep my word to attend. I know you have reservations, and I would be lying if I did not wish we could simply send him back, but we are princesses, not his owner."

Refusing to return even one in glancing, Luna simply continues her forward gaze.

"Then may I ask, to whom are you considering for first contact?"

"Myself." Looking curiously towards the silent turn and slow departure of her sister. Beginning to do so herself, before the halt and crane of neck to look back upon her anchors her hooves, Celestia seems unsure to ask. "Is something wrong?"

"Come to my chambers later this evening. We shall need to make you a bit more presentable, both mind and body."

Nodding, Celestia seems to linger with eyes drifting onto the marble below. "Luna?"

"Yes?" Making half turnaround, taking notice onto which still only peers down.

Finally looking up back up, anchoring both their sights. "What changed your mind?"

"That, dear sister, shall be up to him to answer."