Chapter_1

Wrong Turn

I fumbled at the map, trying to make heads or tails of where I am. Geez, this bites! I really wish my parents would have told me exactly where Celestia's School for the Young and Gifted was! Or more commonly known as Celestia's School for the Mindfully Talented.

"You are a smart little filly, Lily Light. I'm sure you will know exactly where it is." I snorted at the flashback of my mother telling me this over a pint of apple cider. I sighed in defeat and looked around to get my bearings. I was definitely in a forested area. A dirt path snaked out before me. The sun was shining high over the tall looking trees. Flora and fauna seem to line up along the road as I carefully trotted ahead. I furrowed my brows when I had the sudden sense that I was being watched. I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

Nothing. I took a deep breath.

'Alright, Lily. You are a brave filly. You can do this. You know how to conjure the most basic of guardians and golems. Albeit, small and puny, but a conjurer in the making nonetheless!' I puffed my chest out, feeling a new set of energy coursing through me. It all immediately faltered when I heard the snapping of a twig. I dropped my ears and shrunk a little as I looked around.

Still, nothing. I bit my lip and looked back at the map again.

I had gotten off the train station near Neighagra Falls. And if I remember from the brochure, it should be west of the falls. I frowned, turning the map this way and that. I really wish I had more details of exactly where. Suddenly, I heard a low growl. I balked and looked around again. Another low growl. I blinked and looked back to my stomach. I saw it reverberate and growl. Now that I think about it, I haven't really snacked on anything before getting on the train. In fact, the destination from Las Pegasus to Neighagra Falls was about a six hour train ride. My stomach growled again and I sighed.

'Alright, alright. I'll feed you.' I thought to myself as I sat down on my haunches and dug through my saddle bag. Shifting through notepads, quills and a tightly closed ink well, I found to my chagrin, I had forgotten to take a snack with me. 'Well, that is just great! No food and I am lost. What could possibly go wrong?' As if on cue, I felt a raindrop pelt my muzzle. I scrunched my muzzle and looked up, seeing the sun now being covered by rain clouds.  The next thing I knew, I was suddenly being drenched by heavy rain. I sat there pathetically and groaned in annoyance.

I galloped off the road and took shelter underneath a tree. Realizing that the rain kept pelting me, even through the thick tree branches, I closed my eyes and concentrated. My horn glowed and I grunted in pain as I tried to conjure a small shelter. I heard a pop and I took a moment to catch my breath before looking to see my work.

"Aww, come on!!" I said in frustration. I had conjured something alright. But I was expecting for the golem to be big and able to keep me sheltered from the rain. Yet, I was left with a small stack of rocks in the form of a small and tiny golem no bigger than my torso. It seemed to look around in confusion. I sighed. I looked around and managed to find a flat leaf bigger than me and seemed perfect for an umbrella like cover. I beamed and reached for my magic. I tugged on it. I blinked in confusion. I then stood up and began tugging again. What the hay? Why was it being so stubborn!? I felt the grip of my magic slip from the leaf and I landed back on my haunches. I shook away the daze and looked up.

My ears twitched at the sound of hissing. I stiffened as I suddenly realized something. I was no longer being pelted with rain. And not only that, something seemed to loom over me, as if sheltering me from the rain. I noticed the tiny rock golem jump a little and took cover under me. I slowly turned around and came face to face with a leathery plant like creature with fangs.

"Uhh... I was just passing through and I'm sorry if I disturbed you Mr. Plant Monster." I said lamely with a nervous smile. The plant slithered and I saw three more buds suddenly open up and hiss. Oh, buck. I gulped, my brain now on full alert. I quickly planted myself down on the ground as the plant snapped over me. Quickly scrambling to get up, I managed to dodge another snap at me from the second bud. I screamed as I galloped away from the creature. It screeched loudly and I heard it slithering after me.

Oh Goddesses, nononono! I'm too young to be eaten! I panted for breath as I ran, jumping slightly forward when a bud tried to nip at me. I looked back over my shoulder and gapped, seeing another bud looming over me. The next thing that happened, took me by surprise. The little rock golem I had conjured was riding on my back. Seeing the bud loom over me, it stood up, shivering a little before looking at me and nodding.

"H-huh? What are you-?" I couldn't finish when I saw the golem jump from my back and into the throat of the hissing bud. The plant creature stopped and shivered. I stopped about a couple yards away as I witnessed the plant suddenly lurching forward and upchucking something nasty and smelly that even the rain couldn't seem to wash away. I looked in horror as the remains of my golem laid dissolved and unrecognizable. The plant creature shuddered and two of the other buds began upchucking as well. I backed away in disgust. On the bright side, I was no longer hungry. On the horrified side, I couldn't help but noticed something strange protruding from the vomit. It looked liked ruined gears. I arched a brow, but quickly snapped out of my confusion and turned to run.

I had managed to gain some distance before looking back and seeing the plant creature catching up to me.

"Give me a break already!" I exasperated. I picked up my speed. I could hear the hissing getting closer and closer. No! I won't let it end here! I still have a school to go too! Friends to meet! I don't want to be eate- WHOA! I found myself suddenly bouncing and rolling down a muddy hill. I did at least two rolls before landing on my stomach with a thud. I groaned in pain and stood up, shaking away the daze. I stiffened and looked back, expecting to see the plant like creature to suddenly swallow me up.

I did see the creature alright. But it was hissing at me from the top of the hill I had fallen from. I took a  moment breather before smiling in triumph.

"Yeah! That's right! You run on back home! This little filly isn't going to be eaten by the like of you! I am Lily Light! Nine years old and enrolled to be one of the top students at Celestia's School of the Mindfully Talented!" I puffed my chest out and gave a challenging look to the creature. It hissed. I cocked my head. What was it looking at? I noticed it was no longer hissing at me, but past me. I heard the sound of thunder not too far off. I turned and suddenly felt much, much, much smaller than I had thought.

There, in front of me, was the biggest industrial looking castle tower that I had ever seen! It's mossy cobble stone walls towered high into the sky. I could make out a giant yellow glowing clock that seemed to be saying the time was close to afternoon. I stiffened when I saw lighting strike the very tip top of the clock tower. This place was massive! I furrowed my brows and looked ahead. I saw a closed up draw bridge. Next to the draw bridge were strange looking banners of cogs and gears. Lightning struck again. I blinked and looked to my left, seeing a vine covered plaque wall. I trotted over to the wall and pushed aside the vines.

Institute of the Young and Insane

I cocked my head in confusion. Institute? As in a school? I reached with my magic in my bag and pulled out the map. Weird... this place wasn't on the map. Why is there an institute out here? I looked back up at the colossal tower. The bell tower suddenly came to life. A low and ominous gong like sound reverberated loudly that it rattled my bones. I darted my eyes in thought. I peeked over the ledge and felt more vertigo. It was a loooong way down. Sharp jagged rocks pointed up as the sea appeared to crash against them. I squinted my eyes, noticing that there appeared to be wrecked vessels and broken crates littering the moat.

An institute out in the middle of nowhere and standing over the sea? I was more amazed that the structure seemed to be holding up better than it looked, despite the ominous looking erosion of the foundation. More thunder rumbled through the area. I cocked my head once slightly, my ears twitching. Was that chains rattling? I looked over my shoulder. I could hear it. Faintly at first, but getting ominously closer. I bit my lip worriedly and looked around. I had no idea what was heading my way, but I wasn't going to find out. I darted my eyes before they fell onto the plaque wall. Without a second thought, I quickly trotted behind the wall and crouched low enough to hide myself in the small shrubs.

I peeked out slightly, my ears twitching as I suddenly heard voices.

"... you blubbering idiot!" what sounded like a metallic voice of a mare said over the rain. I heard the chains more clearly now. I squinted my eyes and saw two figures walking my way. As they came closer, I could finally make them out. One was a two toned colored mare. Her grotesquely matted red mane and vanilla and gray face looked like as if she had a surgery gone wrong. She wore a long slender crimson dress that seemed to make her float as she walked. Next to her made me shrink back a little. It was tall, big and stout. It's blank eyes stared stupidly at the mare as she spoke to it. "How can you lose one colt!?" The creature next to her opened its' mouth to speak.

"Duuuhhh, what do you mean?" it drawled. I arched a brow as I listened in more.

"Imbecile! You cost us another subject to escape!" the mare snapped in her metallic, raspy voice.

"But he didn't get very far." the creature said. The mare smacked the creature across the head and growled. The anger clearly in her red eyes.

"Because he was eaten by a pack of timberwolves!" she groaned and rubbed her grotesquely stitched face. "What am I going to tell the Doctor now?" The creature shrunk back, the guilt in his blank like sack face.

"I'm sorry Professor Typical. I swear I would of had him too if it weren't for that damn construct he made." he said with a low frustrated growl. The mare, who I now know as Professor Typical, returned the growl. The creature shrunk back as the mare reared back and was about to give him another good one when she suddenly stopped and blinked. I ducked back, seeing her suddenly shoot in my direction. I covered my mouth and tried to quiet my breath. What is going on!? Who are these ponies!? And what did they mean that a colt got eaten by timberwolves!? It was quiet. Perhaps, too quiet.

I could only hear my heart beat and the rain pelting the ground. What's going on? Why is it so quiet? I didn't get the chance to think any more when I suddenly heard the chains rattle and I suddenly felt myself being wrapped around and pulled over the plaque wall. I yelped and landed on the muddied ground with a thud. I shook away the daze and struggled to break free of the chains that restrained me at the torso with my fore hooves at my chest.

"Well, well, well. And what do we have here?" I heard the metallic voice of the mare. I looked up fearfully. Oh goddesses no! I have to get out of here! I have to escape! I struggled more, grunting as I tried to pull off my restraints. To no avail. The mare chuckled as I was suddenly lifted up and dangled to eye level with the mare. She looked me over, seeing her red eyes take me in. She smirked widely. "An escapee? Why, this certainly won't do! What a naughty girl you have been." She looked to the hulking creature and nodded. "I say we don't have to tell the Doctor anything. In fact, I think we have a fresh new spot open." I gulped and stammered my protest.

"P-p-please don't feed me to the wolves." I squeaked. The mare laughed.

"Oh, dear child. I have no intentions of letting your brains be a meal to savages. No, my dear. We have something else planned." she flicked my horn, making me go cross eyed. "Take her to the doctor. We need to do a quick check up and see if this filly has anything worth while." The creature chuckled before slinging me over its' dirtied sack like shoulder.

"W-wait! Please let me go! I'm just trying to find my way to Celestia's School! I didn't mean to trespass!" I said, struggling to escape the grip of my captor. But he just seemed to tighten and I felt it hard to breath. The mare laughed more.

"Oh my. Maybe there is something in you if Celestia wants you to enroll in her school. But here, my dear, in the institute. We can do so much more to your mind! A unicorn of your standards must have a lot of talent to be going there. Here, we can unlock your true potential." I didn't like where this was going. To mention about a colt being eaten by a pack of timberwolves and then being lugged around by a giant hulking sack creature. Definitely a lot of alarms going off in my head. My two captors faced the draw bridge and I saw the mare suddenly pull out a bright rustic spherical object from her chest. She held it up with her hooves and the drawbridge suddenly descended. Slowly at first. Then, as it was reaching halfway, it stopped for a brief moment before quickly slamming over the moat. A loud thud and dirt flying over us, drenching me even more. I looked to see that the mare and the creature were perfectly unscathed by the sudden burst of mud and water.

"Let me be the first to welcome you to our humble school. The Institute of the Young and Insane." Professor Typical said.

Despite being lugged around on the shoulder of the hulking sack creature with chains, I took a moment to take in my surroundings. It seems we were passing through a circular garden with a cross like split that seemed to resemble a cog. I arched a brow when I noticed that the towering clock building was just that. A clock tower. As we traversed the massive like cog garden, I noticed now that the Institute was way bigger than what it looked like on the outside.

I counted six buildings, all with mossy cobblestone and jagged towers jutting in no particular direction. I was awe struck. Professor Typical and the sack creature shambled up a small flight of stairs with a ratted and soaked carpet with cog like patterns. I darted my eyes as we passed the cog like patterns. Why did everything decorative have a cog like insignia? It was almost as if this place was a factory or something. But when we entered into the tall wooden oak door and entered into an alabaster like lobby, I couldn't help but feel even smaller. The lobby seemed to split into four ways. Each hallway extended as far as I could see. As we moved through the lobby, we passed by a rustic statute of a stallion posing triumphantly with a filly on his back and a colt at his feet. The children looked happy while the stallion looked over to the doors in a confident pose.

I noticed a plaque at its' base, but I couldn't read what it said, as we had started ascending more flight of stairs that lead to an elevator. I blinked in confusion as the creature pressed the button and the door opened. What followed next was a big surprise.

"Hello, Professor~!" a voice sang cheerfully. Professor Typical gave a small groan of annoyance before addressing the happily cheerful voice.

"Yes, hello Professor Love. As upbeat as usual." she said. I heard a giggle.

"More than that! I have something very urgent to tell you that you must simply hear!" she said. I heard what sounded like a hoof clap. "Oh... did you finally catch the escaped student?" Professor Typical chuckled.

"Even better. Her parents gladly dropped her off at our door step. Leaving her to fend for herself out in the rain." she said. I balked.

"W-what!? No, you got it all wrong! I took a wrong turn! I swe-" I oofed as the big lug shifted me on its' shoulder, causing me to frown and growl at it. The cheery voice giggled again.

"Oh my, she seems promising." the mare voice said. The metallic voice of Professor Typical spoke as we entered the elevator.

"Oh yes. One of Celestia's who had just recently been transferred. We are taking her to the Doctor for examination." she said. Now that I could see what the voice was, I noticed a young and pretty looking mare. However, she seemed more like a doll than anything. Her mane was styled into thick weaves spiking back and her eyes were colorless. Her tan hide was covered by what looked liked a small petite dress you would see fillies in Manehatten wear at private schools. However, it was crimson colored just like Professor Typical's strange slithering dress. She beamed at me and waved.

"Hello~! My name is Spitzy Love. Or you can just call me Professor Love as most of my students call me." she said. I blinked at the mare in confusion. Was it me, or did this mare seemed too cheerful in the state she is in. How is she able to function at all!? Is she a golem or something? I could see the stitches running down her legs and under her dress. I gulped. I was terrified. Why did these ponies and creature looked like they were created out of raw materials and such? I felt my insides move when the elevator stopped. With a small ping, the door opened and we exited the elevator.

We were traversing down a long hallway now. I could see portraits of old time looking stallions with moustaches and mares with strange looking mane styles and outfits. Almost as if they were wearing nurse styled clothing, but strangely punkish.

'How bizarre.' I thought. It didn't take long for us to suddenly enter into a small but spacey room with tall wooden oak doors. Professor Typical trotted forward and knocked on the door.

"Doctor Clandestine! We have a very special treat for you!" she sang. My ears twitched at the sound of gears winding and clanking. I heard what sounded like something slithering out of the ceiling and then just hovered over us. There was a brief moment of silence before whatever hovered over us shot back into the ceiling and the oak doors creaked open. The sack creature was the first to step in. I was suddenly dropped onto the hard marble floor with an oof. I shook away the daze and looked around. The atrium was spacey, however it seemed to be cluttered with strange contraptions in display cases. I saw a second floor with a rickety looking balcony. The wall on the second floor was lined with towering book shelves. I looked up and gapped as I saw what seemed like a skeleton of a giant slender dragon. The skeletal figure made me shrink even more as its' skeletal grin looked down at me.

I yelped when all of a sudden, the eye socket shot open and I saw what looked like a glass eye stare down at me. I wanted to flee. I wanted to run out of this room and never look back. But the chains were still wrapped around me and I couldn't move. And not only that, the exit was being blocked by the two professors.

"And what purpose do my two professors have to intrude upon my quiet time?" I heard a deep voice of a buck say. I looked and shivered. Behind a half circular desk in a tall black leather chair sat a strange looking buck. His brown hide mixed in well with his caramel and vanilla striped suite. He wore a ten gallon brown top hat. His features, to my surprise, looked kind yet serious. His neatly groomed moustache wiggled as he looked at me through a pair of battered spectacles. "What is the meaning of this?" the buck asked. Professor Typical trotted up next to me.

"Forgive the intrusion, Dr. Clandestine. We have captured one of the escaped students." she said as she looked at me with a grotesque grin. Dr. Clandestine narrowed his eyes as he studied me. He then put a hoof on the table and I heard more sounds of gears winding. The table opened and out came a tall stack of folders and papers. The earth pony took off his top hat, revealing a neatly combed grey mane. The top of the hat opened up and rustic looking claw began ascending up to the stacks of papers. During all this, a lot of questions were running through me head.

Who is this earth pony? Who are these ponies? And why did everything look so steam punkish? I've heard of the steam punk fashion. However, it's not one of the very popular trends in Equestria. But to think, this institute had the professors looking like they were lobotomized and wearing the steam punk trend? And more importantly... where was this place on the map? Or in any map for that matter! My dad was a cartographer in his days. He would spend countless of months traveling Equestria, marking down certain places and parts in Equestria that the old cartographer seemed to miss. However, I don't think he mentioned about a place like this. It also didn't help that mom would always be drunk whenever he was out creating maps.

"Your father is too busy with those maps of his." My mom had said in one of her drunk stupors. I had asked where dad was when she suddenly slumped and waved a hoof at me. "Go away. You're annoying to talk too." I sighed. Why did I have to be born in a dysfunctional family? My thoughts were interrupted when Dr. Clandestine cleared his throat.

"I'm afraid I do not have a snow white unicorn filly on record. Are you sure she is an a escaped student?" Dr. Clandestine asked. Professor Typical smiled.

"Why yes. I must apologize, I couldn't seem to get the record of this filly through. She's a recent transfer from Celestia's School of the Young and Gifted." She said. Dr. Clandestine arched a brow.

"From Celestia's school, eh?" I shrunk back more when I saw his contemplative look at me. Then, he beamed. "Splendid! A talented mind in the making." he then frowned. "And you decide to show her my campus in chains?" The sack creature smiled and nodded. Then, dr. Clandestine slammed his hoof. "Idiots! What is the one thing our foundation runs on?" The sack creature rubbed his head stupidly with his mouth open. That's when I noticed the two professors suddenly seemed... nervous?

"Duuuhh, using the minds of the kids?" the sack creature replied. The top hat on Dr. Clandestine popped open and the claw shot out at the creature in a blink of an eye. The claw hooked onto the creature on one of his stray stitches and I saw a slight tug. The sack creature then suddenly looked terrified.

"Professor Typical, Professor Love. Care to remind us?" Dr. Clandestine said in a stern tone. The two professor seemed to take a moment to regain their composure.

"We run our foundation on the minds of tomorrow. We make it our goal to unlock the potential of the young that could even make them insane. We graciously provide the children with the necessities and privileges that allow our teachers and students to create a better tomorrow." Professor Typical said with a slight shiver of disgust. Professor Love finished it off.

"We are the future. We are the talented. And we will show Equestria that the minds of tomorrow are not something to take lightly." she said, losing all that spunkiness she had earlier. I narrowed my eyes. Are they that frightened of the Doctor? I looked to see Dr. Clandestine smile.

"Well said you two. Now then, show the child to her room. And release her from those chains. We are not savages. We are professors and doctors. We are supposed to teach." he smiled at me. "I expect a lot of things from you, child." Professor Typical spoke up.

"B-but Doctor, do forgive me, but we also brought her here to have her examined." she said. Dr. Clandestine arched a brow before balking.

"But of course!" he looked at me and the claw that was grabbing a stray stitch on the sack creature went over to me and lifted me up. The chains were removed and I was dangled over to the table. I was too scared to move when the claw placed me in front of the desk. I was even more afraid to move when the floor around me suddenly shot open and I felt a helmet plant on my head and magnifying glasses spun at different speeds around me. Dr. Clandestine stared intently as the contraption worked whatever it was doing. And as quickly as it had happened, the contraption shot back into the ground and something descended form the ceiling with a parchment. I looked at it and it read:

Congratulations on being accepted into our institute! We hope you will spend your five years of unlocking that true potential in your mind! With regards from the staff!

-Dr. Trottingheim

I arched a brow.

"Dr. Trottingheim?" I asked suddenly. Dr. Clandestine nodded.

"Yes. The very founder of this foundation. It was his goals and ambitions that lead us to what we are now." Dr. Clandestine said. I took the parchment in my magic and saw the sack creature look down at me. I shrunk back again as the creature stupidly reached for me before Dr. Clandestine hissed at him. "Golem! Escort her. Not drag her." The sack creature winced and nodded.

"Y-you got it, boss." he said. Dr. Clandestine seemed to be annoyed at the word "boss". He then turned his gaze at the two professors.

"You two. We have an announcement to make during the morning breakfast period. I will notify the rest of the staff. And do your daily rounds tonight." He placed his hooves over his muzzle grimly. "I have a feeling that those rascals are gathering again. Do whatever it takes to disband their little operation and give them detention." Professor Love suddenly beamed.

"Does that mean I can finally bring out The Janitor?" she said with a little hoof clap. Dr. Clandestine nodded, making the doll like pony squee in delight. He then turned his gaze back to me.

"You must be exhausted after having to stand out there in the rain. Please, make yourself comfortable in your dorm room. We provide all the necessary standards for a child. Bathrooms, dinner in bed and text books on your classes, free of charge." I said nothing as I looked nervously at the sack creature, who I now knew was named Golem. The creature turned and shambled his way to the door, forcing me to catch up to him in a trot. Before we exited the room, I looked back to see Dr. Clandestine talking to the two professors. I gapped when I saw Professor Typical look at me through the corner of her red eyes and grin.

Golem stomped through the quiet alabaster hallways of the lobby. When we exited the elevator, we had taken a left from the statute and it seemed to be a good ten minute trot before we had to turn right and go up another flight of steps. I wanted to see if I could make a run for it. But having Golem somehow tangle me in those chains of his, I doubt I would have any chance at all. I couldn't help but shuddered when I saw a giant meat hook sticking our of his back where the chains connected. I guess I was lucky enough to have that latch around me.

We traversed another hallway with doors on all sides, before arriving at one of the doors in the very back. I saw a portrait of what looked like Dr. Clandestine, but younger. Golem opened the door and stepped aside to let me in. When I entered the room, I was baffled. This place was... clean and neat for a run down institute. A four post full size bed laid neatly made in the corner. At the base was a trunk that I assume would be where I put my belonging in. Lined against the walls seemed to be bookshelf after bookshelf. The room also had a door that was partially open. I went over to it and gapped when I saw a very pristine looking bathroom with a shower tub, a sink and toilet.

"Filly need to wear uniform once done." Golem said with a grunt. I looked over my shoulder at him. He narrowed his blank look at me before turning and slamming the door, leaving me to be alone to take in my room. I didn't know what to think. Everything seemed to have happened so fast. I closed my eyes and knocked on my head, telling myself that this had to be a dream. When I opened them, I was still in my room. I sighed and tossed my saddle bags at the base of the bed before heading into the shower. I turned the knob and felt the cold water pelt my hide before it turned to a warm relaxing soak. I sighed happily.

'Well, this isn't so bad. I mean, I get to take a bath and shower.' my mind was abruptly cut off when my stomach growled. I frowned. 'Right, after everything that has happened, I haven't eaten anything! The least they can do is provide a meal for a hungry lost filly.' Despite my constant nagging in my head, I had to think of something. They had it all wrong. I was supposed to be enrolled in Celestia's School. Not whatever hell hole this place is. I didn't show it, but I was terrified. After seeing the professors and Golem, as well as Dr. Clandestine himself, I couldn't help but something being off about the group.

What I couldn't help was realize that they always talked about the mind. I know schools keep mind in check, but they were talking a lot about it. And what did they mean that they saw potential in me? I'm a conjurer in the making. I did my best to wow the judges to be enrolled. And when I did, I was happy. I was so happy that I told all my friends at the school. But then, after that, everything changes. They didn't seem to want to hang out with me. It was like they hated me for doing so well at the fair. I sighed. At least I get to be enrolled in a place that wouldn't look down on me. And I'm not talking about this institute. I had a plan. And I was going to stick by it. I need to get out of here. This place had bad written all over it. And if I ever want to see the daylight again, I had to escape.

I finished up my soak and dried myself off before trotting out into the room. I gapped when I saw a serving tray with what looked like delicious salads and hay fries along with neatly triangle cut daisy sandwiches on my bed. My stomach growled more. I hopped up onto my bed and took a bite out of the sandwich. I beamed. I chowed down. Oh sweet Celestia, thank you for the food! I did my best to savor it, but I was so hungry that I had eaten the whole thing, even the decorative lettuce leaves before burping and sighing in delight. I levitated the tray off the bed and laid down, pulling the covers up to me. I stared at the ceiling. Pondering what I should do once I escape. I had to find a way to lower that drawbridge. And not only that, I want to be fully prepared to face that plant monster again if it decides to hinder me. I must have thought too long and hard for I found myself falling into a comfortable and deep slumber.