Between Arstotzka and Equestria: Papers, Please

Prologue: the new Inspector

12 October, 1983

The Truth of Arstrotzka

Communication with the Parallel World: frontier will open in 1 week

Just two months have passed since the discovery of the existence of another universe inhabited by non-human beings, but the curiosity and the desire of knowing better this new reality already reached the hearts of everybody.

The relations between the chiefs of our Great Arstrotzkan State and the representatives of the inhabitants of the paralel universe began in a tense atmosphere that, after a while, became more friendly and relaxed.

With enthusiasm, today, during a press conference, the Minister of Admission announced that the Great State of Arstrotzka reached an agreement with the Holy Great Princess Celestia (this is the title used from the Minister to call the leader of the Equestria Nation, one of the most important Country of the Parallel World) to create a line of communication between our two worlds, in order to establish trade routes, informations excanges and transit of citizens; this will bring, according to our Great Government, more prosperity and power to both our worlds.(it is worth to mention that apparently the Holy Great Princess Celestia didn't like the title used from the representatives of our Great Government for her, a strage thing indeed).

Workers from both sides are making huge efforts to prepare the checkpoints from where all the travelers will be able to walk between our worlds (obviously, our workers are doing the job faster and better than the Equestrians); within two weeks, it will be possible to travel from Orvech Vonor to Canterlot, the Capitol city of Equestria.

The usual October Labour Lottery will determine which citizens will have the honour to serve our Great State by working at the checkpoint.

Glory to Arstrotzka.

********

23 October, 1983

<>, he said looking outside the window of the apartement while, with extreme calm, he stroke a match upon is heavy and ruined jacket, giving life to the little blue flame that would allow him to light his cigarette; <>.

<> the old lady replied while, on a couch close to the little heater placed near one of the four walls of the room, she was reading a book <>, she added with a facial expression that was worth of her words.

<> the man replied, while blowing away little clouds of smoke from his slim mouth and looking from the window at the high trees that, schocked from the strong wind, were moving their peaks from left to right with a regular rhythm, like there were all big metronomes that were beating the time for a musician <>, the man added, now facing the old woman with his right hand placed in front of his large and white forehead, posing like a soldier that is paying his respect to a higher rank officer <>

<> the old woman grumbled, bowing his head to read <> she added turning her attention to an old photo placed on a wooden shelf where four people where happily eating under an apple tree of a park of Grestin <>.

He raised his eyebrows <> he said now looking carefully at his mother-in-law while pushing in an ashtray what was left of his cigarette <> he smiled slightly at his own sentence; the bitterness of his feelings were remarked from the outlines of his pale and harsh face, consumed from the concerns of everyday and from Arstrotzkian cold climate <>.

<> the old lady said with a nervous tone, pointing toward him with her slim index <> the added with a bit of melancony, looking back at the photo with her tired, light blue eyes ... eyes that clearly saw, during the years, too many bad and sad things <> the mourned in the end, closing herself in an heavy silence.

He gave his shoulder to her for a moment, thinking about what she said. He then looked at the room, focusing on the old woman first, then on the warm heater and then, in the end, on the photo. His brown eyes were fixed on that source of good memories for several minutes; then, he slowly stepped closer to the old lady, posing his hand of her slim shoulder <>.

<> she said with a little smile <> she added changing completely her expression <>

<> Hektor replied, shrugging his shoulders <> he added, before remaining silent, thinking about their situation without even noticing in the beginning that Katia was posing her old hand on his backhand, <> he suddenly said giving a quick look at the old clock on the wall <>.

He reached slowly the door of his room and, before opening it, he looked at his mother-in-law <>

<> she said with sadness while looking at the photo, while covering herself with an heavy wool blanket.

<>

<>

Before going to bed, the man took from the pocket of the jacket the letter sent to him just few days ago; the red stylized eagle with its spread wings, the symbol of Arstrotzka, was in some sort way frightening. He looked for the umpteenth time at what was written on it, almost as he was feeling himself not really conscious of the real meaning of its content:

"Mr. Hektor Popov,

we're proud to annouce you that the October Labor Lottery is now complete and that your name was pulled.

You'll have the great honor to serve the Great State of Arstrotzka at the new checkpoint built to control who wants to reach the glorious Country of Equestria, our new powerful ally.

For placement, Visit the Ministry of Admissions at Orvech Vonor new checkpoint exactly at the 6:00 of the 24 october current year; there, you'll receive all the equipment and istructions needed to perform properly your new job.

An apartment will be provided for you and your family in Orvech Vonor. Expect a Class 8 dwelling.

Glory to Arstrotzka!"

<> he said looking at the roof, willing to look at the sky istead, before preparing himself to sleep.

*********

24 October, 1983

The Truth of Arstrotzka

Checkpoint for the parallel universe opens today

Today is a glorious day for all the Arstrotzkan citizens: today the passage for Equestria will open from both sides. Everybody is waiting to see how the inhabitants of this new world will look like. The press office of the Ministry of Admission released the following declaration: due to some sort of "side effects" of the travel, people that will visit the other world will assume their aspect and vice-versa, based on their physical aspect and, as said from one of the main representatives of Equestria, the Powerful Princess Twilight Sparkle, on their "mind" (it's not clear yet what does that mean).

The Arstrotzkan ambassadors said that it's a very strange sensation but, at the same time, they ensure that there are no known side effects.

It's expected an huge line outside the Orvech Vonor checkpoint, where at 7:00 the doors to the parallel universe will open. Somebody ...

Suddenly, while Hektor was reading the main article of the newspaper, the office door of the high official of the Ministry of Admissions opened. The sound of the hinges attract immediately his attention.

<> the blonde and tall officer said with a cold, distant, yet cordial voice <>.

Hektor left the newspaper on the chair he was relaxing himself and, with fast movements, he went in the office, closing the door behind him. Following the indication of the Officer, he sat of a wooden and unconfortable chair near a desk. The Officer, wiyj slow and well thought movements, sat in front of him.

<> he said with an apparent friendly voice <>. The blonde man stopped for a moment to take a little, white package from which he took two cigarettes: one for himself, the other for Hektor, who accepted with great pleasure.

<> the Officer then said while putting the package in the left pocket of his gray jacket <>-

<>, Hektor replied while lighting the cigarette with a match <>.

<> said the blonde Inspector, smiling at those words <> he added while standing up <>.

They walked for a long corridor to reach another room; a bright, red “Only authorized emplyees” sign was present on the door <>. With a calm tone, he began to speak with a certain sureness of himself and of his power <> he stayed silent for some moment while looking at some papers he found in the office; during these short moments, Hektor caressed his freshly defined brown beard, refined for the occasion, while trying to follow the movements of the Inspector.

<> He suddenly stopped to reach Hektor, giving him two envelops: one with the symbol of Arstrotzka, the other with some kind of Alicorn stamp on it <>.

Hektor walked slowly behind Varusov, putting the two envelops in the intern pocket of the jacket and thinking about his situation: he didn't care about the nation and about the service he was going to offer to “The Great State of Arstrotzka”; he wanted just to being able to bring back enough money to pay the rent, to buy food and coal for the heater and, if everything would go well, to buy a bottle of that vodka his mother-in-law despises so much. All the things about “serving the country” and “be thankful to Arstrotzka" were just big lies, needed to have as less problems as possible with that blonde and snooty man.

With the mind so focused on these thoughts, Hektor didn't realize that he was already in the dressing room <> the Inspector said aloud, attracting his attention <>.

Varusov gave to Hektor an huge sack with all the clothes he needed to wear <> he said while pointing his finger in Hektor's direction <<... you'll represent our Great Nation>>; after these words, the blonde man suddenly brought his right hand on his heart, looking to the one he was facing with a solemn look <>.

<> Hektor said firmly, imitating all the movements he saw "what an exalted person" he thought.

<> Varusov said in the end <> he added, smiling a little.

Realizing the situation, Hektor dressed as fast as he could, thanking his luck when he saw that everything fitted perfectly, even the shapka with the red eagle in the middle, thoughying that, at least, his head will stay warm. He then took the two envelopes from his jacket to put then in a pocket of his new trousers, before giving a nod with his head to Varusov, letting him know that he was ready.

<> the blonde man replied while lighting another cigarette <>. With a resolute expression, Varusov saluted Hector beating his right hand closed as a fist at the high of his heart <>.

<> replied Hektor, saluting in the same way before leaving.

....

The eyes of Hektor, when he reached the checkpoint, focused on the huge line of persons. everybody were waiting for minutes, maybe for hours, for the chance of crossing this new passage to an unknown world. There were men, women, childern and old people from every country he knew ... and from far away countries too, judging from their dresses and from their appearance.

He walked slowly, looking at the ground beneath his feet, reaching after a while his destination: a booth made of iron and stone, the only passage that could allow somebody to pass the giant stone wall built to protect the passage for the parallel universe. While walking, he tryied to light a match, failing four times due the freezing wind that was blowing. Focusing on what he was doing, he didn't realize that he was next to the door of the booth ... and that a guard was pointing his rifle toward him.

<> he said aloud with a menacing tone of voice, focusing the attention of Hektor and of all the people present there on the scene <>

<> Hektor replied with a sincere sad voice, while throwing away the match he was trying to light <> he then added while adjusting the shapka with the Arstrotzkan symbol on it <>.

<> the guard said without laying down the weapon, aiming at the middle of Hektor's head <>.

Understanding the situation, Hektor took with calm the two envelopes from the pocket of the jacket, giving them to the guard <> the guard then said with a more relaxed voice <> he added while aiming his gun down <>.

He opened the door with a key swiftly taken from his pocket <> he said, pointing the finger of his right hand to the mob <>.

The brown eyes of Hector looked at the crowd for a moment <> he replied before going in <>.

<> he replied <>.

<> Hektor said with a serious voice before closing the door behind.

The booth was for an unknown reason warm ... at least warmer than expected.

The space was small: the working place was big enought for one or two persons and there were just a wooden chair and a desk with a lot of stuff on, of which he wasn't able to understand the usefulness. A door with the sign “toilette” was present in the room <> Hektor murmured. A small clock under the desk showed him that there were 20 minutes before the opening time, so he seated on the chair and, with a swift movement, he opened thw two envelopes received from the High Inspector.

The first he red was the one with the Arstrotzkan mark; it was written with an excellent typing machine, as he could see from the black and vivid letters printed on the paper.

Dear Inspector,

we hope that you'll find your working post confortable.

Today it's important to see how people will behave and if there will be public order problems. Our experts thinks not, but reality is always different from theory.

As written in the treaty with Equestria, today only Arstrotzkan and Equestrian citizen will be allowed to pass; this law will be strictly applied from both sides of the border, so don't make mistakes.

As you can see, we mention “Equestrians”, too; we can't in fact deny the possibility of Equestrians coming here to see the our Great Nation just for a day, so we decided to give them this chance. If one of their citizen will show up, the photo on their passport will not be a decisive factor for the approval of their visa, as their aspect change when they come to our world.

Deny people from other nations and approve only people with a valid passport; eventually, our date is the same of the date in Equestria, so there are no difference to consider in checking the validity of the documents.

Your pay will be determined from the number of people proccessed.

Under your desk you'll find a drawer with a Rule Book and the instruction to use all the equipment you'll find in your working place.

Do not disappoint us.

Glory to Arstrotzka.

Ministry of Admissions

Hektor red the letter, focusing on every word that filled the white paper and mumbling something incomprehensible. When he reached the bottom, he nodded while looking at the drawer mentioned, from where he took the book, not before throwing away the letter <> he said.

The watch hands showed that there were just 10 minutes left before the start ... enought time to read the content of the second letter.

It was very different from the previous one: the paper was made of a particular material, as the bright white color of it showed, and it was handwritten from someone with a clear, beautiful calligraphy. Hektor was pretty surprised from the style of the writing and, above all, from the content of the letter.

Good morning Inspector,

it's my deep desire to wish you the best of luck for your new job.

I want to present to you my deepest thanks for the service you'll provide to the Nation I represent; even if you're working for your Country, you are here to stop unauthorized and evil people from coming in Equestria.

I hope that our two worlds will live in peace and that no problems will emerge from the contact between you and us; if something will go wrong, please inform your superiors and, of course, me, expecially if these problems will be caused from our citizens.

We have a lot to learn from your culture and we're ready to offer all our knowledge to you, in an excange that will allow both our civilization to better understand what exist around us and to prosper.

Have a nice working day. I hope to be able to write to you again.

Best regards

Princess Celestia

P.S. Just “Princess Celestia”. I know that the representatives of Arstrotzka gave me another title, but I think it's too long and it doesn't suits me.

<> these were the first words Hektor said after finishing the letter <> he added, speaking to himself before realizing that he had one minute left before the opening <>.

He waited to see the watch hands of the clock under the desks moving ... 7 o' clock <> he said opening the grate with a lever. He checked his jacket and his fur hat, then he took a deep breath before speaking at the microphone

<>

<> Hektor thought while an old lady covered by a light brown fur coat came in, holding in her hand a bright green passport. When she stood in front of Hektor, she remained silent, waiting for a signal.

With embarrassment he remained silent for some seconds, before saying, with a clear and decisive voice the two words that would become for him a real mantra:

<>
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