Chapter Seven: Living the days of Peace.

My body sighed, as I watched Sonata hand me a plate of cake. The cake itself looked very unique: its entire rounded surface was covered with seashells of both black and white chocolate. The filling was strawberry bits and tiny apple slices - strange, but I liked the taste. While I have a massive sweet-tooth, the cake felt like it maybe had a bit too much sugar in it...
I checked.

Oh no, yeah it definitely did. Thankfully, my mind began using all that energy for sorting everything I have read in the guide, allowing me to properly understand most of the text. I exhale once more, observing all of them laughing at a joke Adagio made, while I was simply smiling. I felt tired at that moment. Drained. I had to rethink my overall strategy and check for any flaws in it, so I thanked them for dinner, washed my dishes and retired for the night.

I put all of my clothes on the table and taking one of the jackets, dropped on the grey mattress, pulling the clothing over my torso. As I... snuggled into the piece of suit, I realized that I forgot to turn off the light. Groaning, I stood up and submerged the room into darkness. Finding my way back, I once again flopped on the bed, grabbed the jacket and fell asleep.

Only to find myself once more observing my soul. I decided to let myself get a bit of rest, by not thinking about anything. Only watching. I have found some very interesting details about my gear, that I saved for the next morning. This would have been useful during school. I muse, which instantly creates a bunch more memory copies. ...I really need to figure out, how to make it not do that. This is meta enough as it is.

I woke up, feeling more refreshed, than I ever did in Equestria. Dressing into my new clothes, I rose upstairs to the sunlit room and went along my usual morning routine. I was about to go back to the basement for more studying, when Sunset suddenly appeared behind me with a 'Good morning!'... I did not jump. All of my muscles pulled upwards and my body elongated, but my legs didn't leave the ground. Which made it worse because: I think, I might have pulled a muscle or two there. Releasing a grunt of pain, I started turning around.

"Fukhin hell Sunset, don't do that! Morning." Sunset at least had the decency to look sheepish and wear an apologetic grin.

"Sorry. I just figured you'd-"

"Have eyes on my back?" I interrupt, a bit salty.

"...I was going to say: not get so easily startled, but that works too." She endured my flat gaze like a champ. "So are you going to help me with my reasearch?" Now? I ran a hand across the side of my face.

"How are we going to do this?" She blinked in silence, so I elaborated. "I meant: am I doing this as some kind of freelancer?" She tilted her head with narrowed eyes.

"I guess you are, yeah. Or you could work with me full-time on my every assignment."

"I'll think about it, but for now I'm cool with a temporary job." She looked at me strangely, before shrugging it off.

"I have already completed the theoretical part, so today we are doing field research. Your payment will depend on how well you do the job and how much time it takes for you to do it." We're going out?

"No problem, just let me have a quick snack." She nodded.

"Of course. Will you help me carry some of my equipment to the spot?" I worked my mouth around.

"Can't you just... magic it with you or somethin'?" I receive a headshake.

"I can but it's going to exhaust me mentally. Levitation is easy, but it drains you quicker the more you do it and the more items you are using the spell on. And I don't want to risk teleportation, because some of the equipment is very valuable. Plus it's not too heavy. So, will you?" "Fine." "Be careful with it, okay?" "Okay." "Meet me up top." I raised a hand. "Not that 'up top'" I made a false pout, to which she just made her lips a straight line and went to the stairs. I went to grab something to eat.

After exploring around the kitchen for anything, that could last me a couple of hours, I decided on a natural caffeine energy bar and two clean apples, one of which I ate straight away and reserved the other in the pocket of my jeans. Getting up to the second floor, I saw Sunset standing over her table, packing scrolls, books and various other objects into a purple and black backpack.

I haven't really checked out her room last time, so I decided to do just that. The interior wasn't very spacious, the room being crammed with a lot of different mechanisms, that were mostly in the left corner, including a telescope. Ther were also shelves attached to almost every wall, a Sunset sized bed at the far left curved corner and a huge table on the right, that took up almost a fifth of the entire room. I barely noticed a tall lamp with a yellow shade, to the right of the door, hiding in the corner. I looked at Sunset, as she was putting on the backpack, already dressed in her usual hoodie and jeans.

I asked her what I will have to carry and she pointed at a peculiar device. The cubical contraption was made entirely of metal and crystals, but had a dark, sturdy-looking wooden frame. Probably, so it wouldn't collapse under it's own weight. While there were various bits and bobs on it everywhere, only two things stood out most. The decently sized, see-through circular piece of glass inside a circular frame made of gold, that had runes chalked on it and was sticking out the top, like some sort of looking glass. And a handful of white crystals on one side, imbedded in a vertical row with a number scratched next to each one of them, going up in value from top to bottom. I could carry it, but I would require both my hands for it.

I looked back at Sunset and asked: if she needed anything else brought with us, to which she replied with simply: 'not really except for that'. Another object was pointed at, which looked like a bronze spherical tesserract, with a blue gem in it's center, seen through the cracks. The entire thing could fit in my palm and then some. I deadpanned at her and finally noticed how much her backpack was bulging. It reminded me of my old days, when I went to school and was too lazy to be bothered using the lockers, so instead I carried all my school items in my backpack, which was almost always with me.

Maybe... if I play this right. After a short debate, of whether or not I should take both: Sunsets backpack and the boxy device, she finally gave in, but told me, if I feel like I am over exerting myself, then I should let her carry something. I told her in a joking manner, that if I did that, then she would have to carry everything straight away, at which she laughed a little. I wasn't joking.

Thinking about it, I asked Sunset to carry my blue jacket for me, while we're walking to the spot. She agreed and I handed it to her, took the pack and put it on, finding myself hunching over a little from it's weight and sturdy material. Just like the old times... I put the thought away and picked up the 'Thaumic Meter', as Sunset called it, which was much heavier, than it looked. She took the brass ball. On our way out, we met Sonata, who was climbing up the stairs in her usual cheery mood and humming a tune under her breath.

"Oh hey guys! Where are ya'll going?" The Siren asked, with a curious tilt.

"We are heading out to work on my assignment, Vadon has agreed to help me. What about you?"

"Oh cool! Adagio wants to practice for the show some more." Sonata's look turned conspiratorial and she checked down the hallway and stairs. She moved closer to me. "She feels quite nervous before these sort of events, especially when she hasn't eaten in a while. It's been almost two months, since anyone got excited around her." I raise an eyebrow. So many innuendos I could make, with those two sentences alone.

"That statement makes me feel, like this is a very boring place."

"Oh no, quite on the contrary, but sometimes you just don't find anything thrilling enough, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess." We stood in silence for few moments.

"Well I better not keep them waiting, have fun you two!"

She waved to us and headed down the corridor, turning left at the end. After she stepped through a door, we went down into the living room and began putting on our footwear, that was placed near a grey carpet. When Sunset unlocked the door a question came to my mind.

"Are we the only ones, that are working on this? Do you have any colleagues, or anything of the sort?" Sunset stopped turning the handle.

"No, it's just us... Although I used to have one. Sort of. He was more my friend really. While I was Princess Luna's student, he was Celestia's, but that didn't stop us from helping each other on our separate assignments. However: when I left the castle and started living here, he stayed behind for... reasons. Besides..." She whispered something, that I didn't properly catch. "..e..ed...mmo..th..i.o." She pushed the door open and we left the house.

A beautiful, but deadly view opened up before us. The edges, of the now almost pure black cloud, were much closer to the shining rod, with multicoloured lightning hitting it from all directions. It was surprisingly quiet for so many strikes happening at the same time. Glancing around our street, I noted, that once again: there were no people in sight. Probably somewhere around the centre of the city . I followed Sunset to the left of our home.

I shoved my hands in the pockets, but didn't bother with straightening my back. After a few more minutes of walking up the path, I finally realized, that I forgot my dagger. Shit. Well I can't go back now, I've got no plausible excuse. We reached the T-intersection with the street to Rarity's Boutique and I saw another Storm Tower being constructed 'Red Alert' style in the far distance, on a forest's border. The forest itself was dark and massive, easily reaching the horizon. I noticed a tiny grey dot in the foliage, but I didn't know what it was.

Sunset turned abruptly, which made me walk past her, but I soon noticed her missing from the corner of my vision and twisted myself around to her. After I caught up with her, she looked at me with an amused eyebrow, which I decided to ignore. She opened her mouth nevertheless.

"-"

"Sh." Closing her mouth, she looked forward again, still smiling.

When we started seeing the boutique, I noticed a glimmer in the distance. I blinked in worry, squinting to check if what I saw, was indeed - what I saw. Mother- "Hmhmm." I quietly hummed to myself. On the plaza, there were quite a few white Ponies in golden armour, standing watch.

I could reveal myself to them and hope for the best. But the way Aria described me Celestia, she doesn't seem like much of a rational person, or a nice one. I could try to convince them, that I am a legal citizen of Canterlot, or a tourist, but I doubt I will convince them, and I don't think Sunset would lie to the guard. What I might do though, is avoid them for now, and hope that Luna has some influence over them even if she is just a princess. The quicker I can help Sunset with this assignment, the better.

"Hey, Sunset? How far is this place?"

"What, getting tired?" I pull my neck into my shoulders and make a face.

"Come now. I'm not one to get tired so easily from such a simple task as carrying a box."

"That's not a box, that's a Thau-"

"Does it have a cubical shape?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Is it huge?" She stopped and turned fully.

"No?"

"is there space inside of it?" I leaned my head away from her and raised both eyebrows.

"Yeah, but you don't put anything in it."

"...Does it have stuff in it?"

"Well yeah, but-"

"Then it's a box." I finished with a smile, but Sunset looked like her whole world was a lie. "Anyway: I was asking, because I thought, that maybe you know some shortcuts."

"Uh- yeah. Yeah actually, I do. Why?"

"I just felt, like we should take less time with this. The faster we complete your job, the sooner we'll have more free time for our own things."

"Don't get your hopes up. We might be stuck with this for a couple of days." Uhh... Does she have the Twilight complex?

"I mean: I doubt, that the princess would give you a task and would wait for over a week for results. I don't know her-" I shrugged my shoulders. "-, but as far as I understand: she gave you this assignment a week ago. Yes I know: the storm happened, but she still could have asked somebody else, to do it sooner." Sunset shakes her head.

"No, because I made that "box", myself. So no one else could possibly find out, what's causing the fluctuations." Huh...

"Do- Do you know if it works?" She shook in a negative.

"No idea! But that is why I have all sorts of tools and parts in the bag, so that I can tinker with it. That's why it might take a while." I blink.

"Well then. Let's not take any longer, than we have to, shall we?"

"Yeah, alright. Come on, we are taking a shortcut."

We took a right turn, a couple shops before Soul Mate and as we were entering the alleyway, I stared at the guards to make sure: they didn't point their heads at me. A while later: I noticed a wall of a huge building to my right, made of grey stone and decorative marble half-columns. Actually: when I looked closer: I noticed more houses were made out of grey stone in this area, than any other. I marked that as interesting for later investigation and kept going along a not so cramp alleyway. They built this city big. I guess they had to, since Minotaurs used to live here.

After many twists and turns, we finally reach our destination: a park. The park was pretty spacious, but well taken care of. The paths were made of light-grey, flat stones of various shapes and sizes, with dirt seen between them. The bright grass was trimmed at the same level everywhere and little pathways of sand led up to trees, that provided much wanted shade, from the glaring sun. There was also a fountain, roughly in the middle of the park, with a large metal statue on it, resembling some sort of symbol.

The top of the statue was on a short cylinder, that had various engravings on it, depicting... something. I was too far away, to see exactly what they were. Attached to the sides of the fancy platform, were six wings extending outwards, with cloud-like patterns, that held up a sphere, connected to both: base and wings. It looked like an atom without electrons on it's orbits and had swirly pieces extending from them. Except instead of a core, there was an orb of two celestial bodies fused together. The sun, with neatly curved spikes, and a crescent moon, with star-shaped craters.

Pulling my eyes away from the fountain, I noticed Ponies walking about their day in the far parts of the park. Most of them seemed to be 'simple' folk. By that I mean: there were no nobles in sight. Sunset called me over to a nearby tree, telling me to set up there. We weren't quite under the shade, the hot-ass sun burning into the back of my head. Sunset walked around me, unzipped the backpack I was wearing and pulled out a picnic blanket. After she set it up on the sand and folded my jacket on it, I took off the weight from my back and laid it on the blanket, still holding the magical box.

Sunset pulled out the brass thing, the inner layers were spinning like crazy now, a blue light coming through the cracks. "Yup, this is the place. Can you set the Thaumic Meter over there?" She pointed at a patch of grass nearby.

I laid the device on the ground and made space for Sunset to begin fiddling with it. Moving her hand, that held the orb, around, she pushed the boxTM a short distance. After she seemed satisfied with its placement, Sunset started pressing various little switches, which in turn made the contraption let out steady buzz. Holding the orb in front of the box's lens, which was now almost a solid bronze glowing blue, Sunset flipped another switch.

Nothing happened.

Except the runes on the golden circle lit up a white light and were flickering a little. But otherwise: nothing happened. Sunset released a heavy sigh and flicked the same switch again, which I took as a sign, that we might be stuck here for a while. She took out a book from her backpack and started looking through it's index.

"So what exactly, are we doing?"

"We're trying to find out what is causing the fluctuations in the ley-lines." Sunset said, still having her nose in the book.

"An-nd that implies?.." She finally looked around at me.

"No one in recorded history, has ever encountered this... anomaly. So nothing was made to study the worlds energy pathways in depth. And even if it was, it has probably been lost to time." Sunset pulls out a set scrolls, searching through them for something. "This Thaumic Meter should do exactly that: measure the amount of magic running through an area."

"I'm sorry, but I thought, that you do the magic, don't you?" She swiveled her body around and crossed her legs.

"Yes and no. Unicorns can cast spells, but they require ambient magic to do so, also known as - ley lines. There are areas, such as the Everfree Forest, where multiple ley lines cross, creating a very magic saturated place. There are also places such as the Badlands, where magic is practically useless. As far as I know: runes are the only type of magic, that can work without being in direct contact with ley-lines, but they still require thaumic or arcane energy to function." She takes a deep breath. "Those, that use runeless magic, have to be in a ley-line for their magic to work. I have a theory, that the more magic is running through the pathways, the longer a Unicorn can cast their spells without putting in much effort. However, that also depends on how much magic a Unicorn can actually use. If one were to go into the Everfree and try to cast spells there, there is a very high chance they'd uh... fry." ...Most of the book makes sense now.

"Uh-huh... So you're trying to measure something, that no one has ever before. If the box measures magic ,then what's up with the brass thing?" She takes out the spinning orb of doom and looks at it.

"This is meant to find the ley-lines by the astral energies they radiate. Princess Luna helped me with this, the faster it spins, the more ley-lines are in the area. And it seems that there are at least two of them in Canterlot and this is where they hypothetically cross." I nod in understanding and then an idea hits me.

"You said, that they have an astral signature, right?" She gives a nod. "What is the ring and the lens made out of?"

"The ring is almost pure gold and the lens is a magic-conductive and absorbing crystal. What, did you come up with something?" I unwrapped the energy bar and ate it in one bite. It was very small, but it wasn't called an energy bar for nothing.

"Give me a sec." I sat down on the grass and closed my eyes, attempting to fall unconscious.

Some time passed and I started giving up, when my soul appeared before me. Repressing the urge to blink, as to not wake myself up, I bring forth all the memories, that had to do with runes, putting away those that were fiction. I take a few seconds to process the information, creating multiple rune formulas, that might do the trick of detecting the amount of magic. As I am doing that, I search through the memories regarding the astral plane. Since necromancy has some things in common with the sub-dimension, I have already read about it. Iron is a good material for making runes, that affect the astral plane, how are my iron levels? Stable? Good.. I feel someone shaking me, which instantly wakes me up. I looked up and came face to face with Sunset's concerned eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I was just remembering something. You wouldn't happen to have anything made of iron would you?" She reeled back in confusion and looked away, putting a hand on her chin. A moment of silence passed.

"No, I don't think I do. Why?" Fuck. I dragged a hand across the side of my face with a sigh. I looked at Sunset from under my brows. She bit her lower lip.

"Are you sure?" "...I will go check." She crawled to the backpack and began rummaging through it's contents, placing them on the blanket.

"Sorry I don't have anything made of iron. I have plenty of steel, gold an aluminium parts though, if you need them." I chewed on my lower lip. Eventually I sigh and resign to my fate.

"Sunset, give me something sharp and clean, and also something round and thin."

She looked puzzled for a second, before handing me a metal triangle with a sharp side and a cylindrical rod. I scooted over to the box and used a part of the blanket, to carefully wipe off the runes on the ring. I sat the box between my legs and asked Sunset to not distract me no matter what and before she could question further, I cut my hand, hissing slightly from the pain. I heard Sunset gasp behind me, but chose to ignore her, by dipping the rod into the wound and carefully writing out runes. Hopefully: there'll be enough iron in my blood spread out on the circle.

After meticulously inscribing both necrotic and normal runes for nearly an hour, making sure, that there was enough blood on both sides of the ring and that none of it would make splotches: I was finally done. The cuts had just stopped bleeding and dried up a little.

"Would you like to do the honours?" I asked Sunset, as I turned to her with a smile. Her face told me, that she wasn't happy about what I did.

Exhaling, she walked over to me without a word and knelt down. She flicked the switch and instead of a buzz, like last time, a hum came from the device. My blood lit up light-blue and the lens suddenly became a shifting mass of multiple colours. Sunset's mouth fell open and the general look on her face told me, that she was happy with what I've done. However, I might have been mistaken, as she went ahead and started scolding me. Women. My face was the near definition of 'nothing'.

"Why would you cut yourself!? Why write the runes in blood!?" Really?

"Iron works best, if you want to affect the astral plane. It works as a sort of magnet for it's energies and since I have iron in my blood, I decided to use it." She looked at me as if I was an idiot. Oh wait, that was written in the guide...

"We could have bought something from the nearby shops." And waste time? I don't think so.

"Are you goin' to take notes on the data, the magical box is providing you with, or not?" A blink and a red and yellow whirlwind appears before me, before slowly materializing into Sunset, with parchments and ink bottles around her, a pen grasped in her hand.

She stared intently at the white crystals, which were acting like a bulb being turned on and off. Barely half of them lit up, with the fifth one flickering sporadically. Sunset frowned. Hard. She started slowly turning the ring. After she turned it about ninety degrees, three more gems lit up. After she rotated it again, the three gems dimmed and then stopped glowing altogether. Sunset's frown increased and I saw her attempting to pick up the parchments with her magic.

"This is wrong." I heard her whisper. "This is all wrong." She slowly looked at me, still on her knees. "T-theoretically: the normal amount of magic running through the ley lines s-should be at least a twelve hundred thaums. Canterlot has about si-six hundred thaums at the moment." She starts talking to herself. "Where is all the magic gone? It can't just disappear, that doesn't happen. Ley lines are literally the magic of Terra, so what..." She looks lost, but I give thought to what she said.

"I have... two theories and one conclusion." Her cyan gaze moves to me. "Either A: Something is clogging up the magic somewhere. Or B: the magic is getting drained from somewhere. Eith-"

"That's not possible. If anything is clogging up so much magic, then there would have been an explosion of arcane energy already. And if it was being drained so much, well... I know of nothing, that could possibly store so much magic. Plus the energies would eventually stick back together if you took it far enough away from the ley line. Even if a part of it was sent across to the other side of the world. No, this is like magic disappeared." Just a hunch.

"What if it was sent beyond the planet?" She raises an eyebrow. "Just a theory, but think about it. If you're right, then that would mean, the only possible way for so much energy to disappear: is for it to go outside the planet's atmosphere." Hopefully, they know the word. Sunset mouth formed an 'o', as she breathed in some of the magic-desaturated air, but froze with her eyes widening a little. Her eyes started moving, but her body was still.

"Holy fuck." I blinked at Sunset, as the now almost erratic Unicorn was scribbling something down on the parchment, mumbling to herself all the while.

"Experiment successful?" I offered. She pierced me with the most haunting gaze. My lips pressed against each other.

"Thank you." Her voice sounded hoarse. "Thank you so much, I would not have been able to find this out, if it weren't for you. I will deliver our finding to the princess, you can come as well if you want."

"...I'm not sure if I can handle royalty. I think it's better if you do it instead. Mention me if you want."

"Obviously I'll mention you! You might have just prevented something really bad from happening, of course I'll give you credit!"

"Alright. Calm down. If the princess wants to meet me, what should I do?" Sunset raises an eyebrow.

"Meet her, of course." Well... can't really argue with that. "I am going to head to the castle right now, I won't even take any more notes with me. Could you please carry all of the equipment home?" I gave her a nod and an encouraging smile.

"Sure thing. Good luck." She took a relaxing breath, grabbed the box and with a nod stormed off into the streets.

I looked down onto the mess we made and, with a sigh, began cleaning it up. After I was done, n Wait. If magic is decreasing, then how did Rarity make me jeans? Or was she just boasting? I thought as I put on the jacket. After zipping up the sack, I bent down to it.

"Hello good sir. Today is a fine day for a walk in the park isn't it." Still bent over, I slowly turned around to find the last people I expected to run into, here.

"Hi." I offered flatly. Finally straightening up and putting on the backpack, I took a good look at Fancy Pants and Fleur.

Fancy had his trademark monocle on and his azure hair seemed to have gel applied. He was a few centimeters taller than me and wider in the shoulders, dressed in a fine black tux suit, white shirt with gold buttons, a navy blue vest and a magenta bowtie.

Fleur's curly at the ends hair was magenta with a few white stripes, but not from age. A blue dress with magenta floral patterns enveloped her thin frame. She had one of those big French hats, you'd wear to shield yourself from the sun, which was also blue and had a white feather in it. Fleur's dress didn't reach to her knees, however that didn't really reveal anything, since she had legs for days, making her almost as tall as Sassy. She was carrying a white purse and both - Fleur and Fancy wore heeled shoes and small amused smiles.

"I-uh I'm sorry. I was a bit surprised, by your sudden appearance, I am Vadon." I held out my right hand for him, whilst hiding my other one in a pocket. He looked down on it and gave it a solid shake with a smile.

"I am Sir Fancy Pants, it's a pleasure to meet you." His twitching mustache is unnerving. It's blue. "I assume you recognize me? Yesterday at the market?"

"How can I forget someone with such a recognizable hairstyle. Love it by the way." A slight smirk crawled it's way up his mouth.

"Allow me to introduce my wife - Fleur De Lis." His left shoulder twitched, like he wanted to put a hand over Fleur's shoulder, but chose motion to her instead with his right one.

Fleur moved a part of her hair and held out her right arm at full length, with the back of her palm facing upward. Which I promptly shook. Fleurs's eyes widened noticeably and Fancy's smirk grew for some reason. The tall Unicorn gracefully pulled her hand to her side and then onto Fancy's shoulder, preferring to lean slightly on him and look in some other direction. ... I look up at Fancy with a pleasant smile.

"I must commend you on your chivalry at the market yesterday. Not everypony would have done something like that." Something tells me: you are going to be very fun to talk to. I suppress the urge to grin.

"Thank you and honestly: it's kind of a shame really. May I ask, as to why you are here sir Fancy Pants?" He leans his head forward a little.

"Please, you don't have to call me Sir. It's just an old title." I hear a bit of melancholy in his voice. Wait... in what way is it old? "I personally enjoy walking among the lower parts of the city. It has a- different feel to it."

"I bet it does. I wouldn't know though, since I've never been on the upper one."

"Yes. Well, I suppose we also have other reasons, but I'd like to think most of them are quite mundane." My smile stays the same. "If you don't mind, would you tell us: what business you are on?"

"I am assisting a researcher in carrying their equipment to a place."

"This researcher wouldn't happen to be the student of princess Luna - Sunset Shimmer?" If I didn't know any better, I'd say he is faking the smug attitude.

"Yes actually. We have found something out and Sunset went to report to her highness."

"Hmm. If you don't mind me asking, what is it that you have found out?" ...

"I don't know if this is top secret or anything, but maybe it isn't, at least not yet. First I'll ask you a question: has your magic been acting up?"

"Yes, quite so."

"Well: I with the help of my employer, have found out the reason behind this abnormal behaviour." I lean in forward, to the side of his face. "Just in case: I'd like you to keep this a secret, at least for the time being. Will you do that?"

"You have my word." For all I know - it means jack.

"Ley line energy in Canterlot, acts a bit off."I say a bit... "My advice? Try to not use magic, unless it's an emergency." I take a step back and see Fancy frowning, while Fleur still has her smile, although it's obviously strained.

"I see." The noble says as he falls into deep thought. I decide to lighten the mood. And answer a question, that's been bugging me for years.

"I've always wondered. Is there a purpose to monocles, besides aesthetic value?" They both blinked at the strange question and Fancy took off his monocle to look at it, instantly becoming younger.

"I suppose it has a bit of an intimidation aspect." He told me with a smile, putting the monocle on again. I leaned backwards and narrowed my eyes.

"I can see that, yeah." Someone creeps up behind my right.

"Good day. You can see what, darling?" Despite the weight on my back, I leaped forward. But because the couple was standing there, I had to spin in midair, to land by their side. My expression hasn't changed and was still wearing that pleasant smile, as I looked at the third white Unicorn in our little group.

"Good day miss Rarity. It is always a pleasure to see you." Fleur said.

"Ohh, look at who's now eavesdropping." Rarity get's a bit reddish.

"I sincerely apologize for that. I am currently on a break, I was on my way to get some tickets for an upcoming show and saw you, so I decided to say hello."

"Hi." We stand in silence for a few moments. "Don't you work from nine until six?"

"No, darling. My boutique is open from nine until six, so you can order garments during that time. However we make them, when we have time unless there is a deadline. Plus: I've completed all my orders already." I nod a few times in understanding. "Have my dressmaking skills been to your liking?"

"No Rarity. They're horrible, that's exactly why I am wearing them right now." At first she looks hurt, but quickly switches to unamused. "Come on, Rarity. You really have doubt in your skills? Because in all honesty: I think you can please any customer with you work. And that's difficult, because everyone has their own preferences."

"Well... Thank you." She smiled.

"Have you had any trouble with making these?" Fancy looked curious as well.

"A little bit, but nothing that would affect the result."

"I know you might need to use magic for dressmaking, but try not to, unless it's runes." Rarity tilts her head.

"Why ever not?"

"Magic fluctuations. All I can say. You'll have to ask Sunset for more." She looks confused, but seems to understand in the end.

"Alright." She gave a nod.

"Welp. I have to go now, have a good day everyone." I said, looking at each one of them.

"Could you hold on for a moment? We would love to enjoy your company over at our mansion. We'd like to invite you two to our humble estate for some tea." Tea? Sounds nice.

"I would be delighted Sir Fancy." Rarity lowers her head in a small bow.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I will be able to, I'm a very busy man. Right now: I have to carry all this back somewhere far and then I have even more stuff to do, but I'll consider it."

"Oh no, of course. Will you be available on Friday? "

"Like I said: very busy. But I will try to make some time. Where is your estate?"

Fancy told me the name of the street, where their mansion is located and we exchanged pleasantries one last time. When I arrived home, avoiding all the guards like the plague, I left Sunset's items in her room and began searching for one of the Sirens. I didn't have to look for long, because we met in the corridor when they left the room, Sonata entered that morning.

They were on their way to have some dinner, but I refused to have some at the moment, asking them for something that can disinfect a wound. Of course they were curious at first and then worried, when they realized that Sunset wasn't with me. I tried to ease their concerns, by telling them, that Sunset went to the princess and it was I, which got hurt. It didn't help. I waved their questions off and showed the cut, asking for the whereabouts of a disinfectant cream or anything similar. Aria suggested searching in the fridge. I thanked them, applied the cream and bandages, offered to me by Sonata. In the end: they managed to convince me to join them for fried eggs and fish.

Going down to the basement, I theorized about how Rarity made my clothes. Maybe magic levels were higher yesterday? I decided to give some thought on the matter later, or more precisely: that night, while I would have direct access to my memories. In the meantime: I began writing a list of things I'd like to buy, for when the payment arrives. If any. Done with the list, I began making more schematics while playing songs I enjoy.

It was really late in the evening, when Sunset came home, but she looked more energized then before, although: still had some lingering worry on her face. I call them faces because really: if you look their muzzles from a certain angle, it would look like a human face, albeit a furry one.

Sunset seemed to be in a good mood and I soon found out why. Both of us earned two thousand bits each, straight from the Princess of the Night. Apparently: Luna told her, that we both did an outstanding job, doing something nopony has ever before and did it faster, than her sister's students. I sense some rivalry there. Of course: Luna wanted to personally meet me as well, but not at the moment or anytime soon probably, since she took over the project for now.

"Four thousand bits for about an hour's worth of work? The princess must really like you." Sunset blinked in confusion.

"Wh- Oh! No, my payment was two thousand bits." What?

"What?"

"Hm-hmm. She said, that we have done Equestria and the whole world a great favor, by figuring this out. She gave us each two thousand bits."

"...Oh." I simply said.

"Yeah, she would like to meet you as well. But if she isn't busy, she told me to ask you: if she may visit you in your dreams." So she can do that. At least she asks for permission first.

"That would probably be an interesting conversation, if I had dream."

"...Yo-you don't have dreams." I shake my head. "But- what?"

"I dunno. I just don't dream."

"O-kay then, is that normal?"

"Yes." Now it is.

"If you say so. Anyway: the princess is gathering mages and scientists to delve deeper into this matter. Obviously: I will go help tomorrow, since they might need the Thaumic Meter with them to do any proper research."

"Co-" They might need my help to understand the rune's functions. "o-ol..." I purse my lips.

"What's wrong?"

"Eh. I just remembered something. You know: I'm free at the moment, I can explain to you some of the runes, if you want?"

You have three guesses as to what she said and you magically used up the first two already. I've spent the rest of the evening teaching Sunset the exact runes, I drew on the ring. She of course, took notes and after we were done: thanked me and gave me a hug. It was an awkward one, since she came at me from the side and I was sitting on a chair. After she left I decided to eat the second apple I was carrying around, then entered 'night mode'.

The next morning doesn't arrive suddenly. Luckily for me: I can 'skip' to the next memories, since, at the moment, I don't want to watch myself thinking about the transpired events.

I decided to get out of bed at ten in the morning, unsurprisingly: Sunset was already gone. That mare needs to relax... Did I just think mare? I mean... it's not wrong... I wanted to skip breakfast, instead choosing to visit a shop. I picked up my list and shoved it in my jacket's pocket, not forgetting the dagger, which I once again hid in the same spot. Grabbing my bag of bits and pulling out about thirty percent of my coinage, which I stacked on the table, I exited out into the world. But not before Sonata graciously handed me her pocket bag, for which I thanked her and put the sack of bits into it.

There were more Ponies on the streets this time, going about their day and some seemingly ignoring me, but not in a rude way. Have news spread about me? Better not have been Rarity... Although: she might have told everyone that I am a moral gentlestallion, that'll protect a lady. It couldn't be further from the truth, if that was the case. Plus: I highly doubt, that it would matter to a cold-blooded killer... Or a hot-blooded one. It's not like murders happened every day, but I don't read the newspaper, so I wouldn't really know. Plus it never hurts to be cautious. Which is exactly what I was doing.

I've finally arrived at my destination, standing before a light-brown door. The gateway, to the solution of my current problems. I enter the building and a strong smell of parchment and saw dust hits me. The room I walked into wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. I'd say somewhere between four and five meters wide and A couple of stairs led from the cornered entryway to a planked floor, that had a red carpet over it. There were two connected display counters: one in front of the carpet and one to the left of it. Various trinkets laid beneath the glass, illuminated by the dim sunlight coming through a window, to the left of the entrance. Some masks and other things lined the walls of the shop, but I didn't pay them mind, my attention focused on the owner behind the left counter.

"Welcome to my little magic shop, hopefully you will find what you are looking for." A grey Earth Pony said with a polite smile.

I walked over to him and took notice of a door behind him, in a corner. I also noticed that he is working out, but not exactly the buff kind. I need some time to adjust to this darkness. I blinked and stuck my tongue out, running it across my dried lips. Taking out my list, I look into his purple eyes.

"You are Mr. Arcane I presume?"

"You presume incorrectly. I am Arcane Scroll, no mister if you would."

"Right. Well- On this parchment, there is a list of things I'd like to buy and before I make you get any of the items, I'd like to know their price." I pass him the scroll and he takes a look at it, without even squinting from the dim lighting.

"Hmm... Yes I have all this, but may I ask as to why you would want all this?" My eyes became a bit shifty, before finally settling on Scroll.

"Magic?" He stared at me for a second, then smirked.

"Alright I won't pry, but at least please tell me you're not trying to summon anything?" I blinked.

"Uh... what kind of things can you summon?" He visibly relaxes.

"Many things." He tells me with a foreboding undertone. Didn't really answer my question though.

"No, I'm not planning on summoning anything in the foreseeable future."

He wrote the prices on the paper, although he was a bit confused with a few. Since I didn't know what the items were actually called: I gave them each a description. But it would seem, that my handwriting is not acceptable, so I had to explain some to him. Arcane, taking my list, went through the door behind him and down some stairs, that were hidden from view. He had everything, or at least things similar to those I wanted and best of all: I could afford it all. I waited patiently, while he got all the wares from the apparent basement.

When he came back up, he was carefully carrying a cardboard box. Placing it on the table, he began taking everything out and laying it on the counter. While he was taking out a red gem, a part of his slightly messy hair fell to the side and made me realize that I was wrong about him. He is not an Earth Pony. Poking through the short hair was his horn, though it wasn't whole. He took notice of me taking notice.

"Ah yes, that. You're probably wondering how it happened?"

"I wouldn't mind knowing, no. I can keep this a secret if you want. Did a brick fall on you, or something." He let out a chuckle.

"Give a Unicorn's horn some credit. They are much tougher, than that." He sighs. "No. It was an accident at work, that involved magic and let's leave it at that." Something tells me, you fucked up.

"Sure. I have my own concerns to deal with anyway." I looked through all the items. After everything seemed in order, I paid him five hundred and forty bits. Magic is expensive. "I will probably see you again sometime, Arcane. Have a good day."

"Same."

I went back home, to leave the bag in my basement. When I came back: Quick Novel was drinking either coffee or tea with Sonata and Adagio, in the kitchen. My closing of the door has alerted them and I was heading towards my room, when Quick turned to me with a smile. Which promptly disappeared when he saw me. I pursed my lips and walked over to the group.

"Hello, what are you lot doin'?" Everyone replied with a greeting of their own.

"We're just catching up. You?" Adagio replied, genuinely interested.

"I bought some stuff for my research and am about to get myself a ticket for your show. Can you tell me where I can buy one?" She put's a fist on her cheek.

"Oh, um... I-In the big dark building to left of our house. It's near a small park, we have a map of Canterlot if you want."

"...Will you need the map back?"

"We might, although it's highly unlikely. You know, that we can get you a VIP spot by putting you on the list, right?" ...Huh?

"Uh- How much?" Sonata opens her mouth to say something, but Adagio beats her to it.

"A hundred and seventy." Sonata frowned at her sister. As did I.

"A hundred and seventy bits for a VIP spot?" Adagio nods sagely.

"Yeah, I know. Surprisingly cheap eh?."

"I'd say too cheap." I narrowed my eyes, the action causing her grin to falter.

"What?"

I calmly walked up to the lying Siren, still suspicious. She slowly craned her neck to look up at me, with a pretty good poker face. Too bad I can tell it's a poker face. I slowly put down my purchases by my side and stacked the amount she said on the table next to her. I don't trust you, but you don't need to know that. Adagio looked at the coins with a thoughtful look, but before she can say anything, I spun towards Novel, who flinched and stared at me. I walked around over to him: my body turning, but my sight focused on him. His eyes moved towards me with newfound resolve. Almost preparing for a fight.

"...You don't like me." I stated plainly. Novel blinked.

"I can't say, I enjoy your company, no."

"You barely know me."

"I know enough." I grinned, closed my eyes and let out a dark chuckle simultaneously.

"No. No you don't." I looked at him with a smile, that was absent in my eyes. He noticeably gulped. A few seconds passed in the silent room. "Tell you what. I don't like you either, but that doesn't mean: we should hate each other." Although I do. "So why don't we try to stay out of each others business and not do something, that'll in the end: harm us both, ey?" He looked dubiously at my reaching hand.

"Alright." He gives me an unsure shake. I grin.

"That's the spirit." Adagio looked at me, as if she's seen me for the first time. "Don't break the deal now. There will be consequences for both sides." Novel seemed worried, but I ignored him. "Well: I'll be off in the basement. If any of you need something from me: Knock first okay?" "Sure." "Yeah." "Um..." I gave them one final look, grabbed my supplies and went experimenting.

Sunset came back late again and paid me a visit, thankfully knocking before entering. She was a bit confused, when she saw various schematics and diagrams taped to the walls. I used them mostly to cover something I've been working on: a gift of sorts. However I also used them for their actual purpose of being schematics for my other projects. I had to hide the magical items in the cardboard boxes beneath the table, because that is not something I'd like her to see. Sunset would question me so much, I wouldn't be able to explain anything to her without lying.

"How have you been?" I asked her, as I finished turning in my chair.

"We made a bit of progress, the Princess sent out an investigation party to the base of the Mountain and the Queen personally congratulated us on our progress. How about you?" Sunset told me, as she was looking in concern at my bandaged hand.

"I've been alright. Bought more paper-" And a few other things. "-and gave Adagio some bits, so she would get us a VIP spot for their show."

"That's nice."

"Sunset. Is there something you're not telling me about Pony anatomy? Are all Ponies, as affectionate as you?"

"We are a bit, yeah. We can be very emotional at times." She let's sadness drip into her voice. "I just... don't like seeing anyone hurting themselves for me." Oh. OH! Childhood memories much? Or something similar at least. I rise from the chair.

"Sunset. Don't." "But-" "You would prefer to hurt yourself for another's sake." She looks like a nail went through her head.

"I-I don't want anyone hurting because of me."

"Sunset. There are people, that have the same mindset as you. What if you meet one such person? What would you do then? You both wouldn't want each other to be in pain, yet you'd jump at the chance to ''protect''." I gave her a look, that left no room for an arguement. Sunset found some.

"But why should they!?"

"Why shouldn't they?" Sunset reeled back, flabberghasted. "If they want to hurt themselves for your sake, without being under the effects of mind control: why not let them?" Sunset glared at me with the sort of anger, when someone doesn't understand them.

"You just don't understand." See? I replied with complete calm.

"I do." She's still glaring at me. "I really do." I trailed off as I looked to the side. Sunset's features eventually softened. I don't usually feel pride, but I think I can spoil myself once in a while.

"Please, just... don't hurt yourself okay? For me?" It's practically impossible to hurt me. Harm me? Maybe. But not hurt. I looked at her and my head bobbed up and down. "Thank you." I gave her a kind smile.

Deciding, that I have ingrained all the details to the top of my head: I open my eyes and get out of bed, stretching my limbs. I used to crack my joints, but after I arrived: they just refused to crack. Except this time they do. Letting out a moan of pleasure, I grab different clothes and head upstairs. Nobody is awake yet, which I use to my advantage to prepare for the long day. Stepping into the hot shower, only one thought rings in my mind about the upcoming event.

Today will be very interesting.

I mean... I wasn't wrong.

Author's Note

Hi.

Mistakes?: If you find any typos, please send me a mail telling me what they are. Don't write them in the comments.

Location: What do you think of the city so far?

Characters: more characters introduced and more information revealed about the 'old' ones. What are your impressions?

Predictions?: always welcome, but once again: add the spoiler effect.

A possible comment: But this is a displaced story dude! Where's all the Michael Bay action?! Where's the overused scenario and when are the crossovers?!

Me: Mate. I did not put this story into the displaced folder.

Order or Chaos, OUT!

Can you hear the whisper?