A Pony's Diary and the Other Stories

Chapters

A Pony's Diary
The Burglars (Part One)
The Burglars (Part Two)
Things Change
The Third Eye (Part One)

A Pony's Diary

Prologue

This story has no title, it's just a diary, so I write that. I don't even know what does this diary really want to express or tell. Sometimes, no title would be the best title, just like classic musics, they just have codes. Most time, people cannot tell by words, any language can hardly tell the feelings and experiences of one pony. Just like I can hardly tell my feelings about this story.

I am a writter pony, my name doesn't matter (Well, Fury it is, actually), for I'm just a teller but not the main character in this story. It is a friend of mine, if he would call me a friend too. I am not even the writter of this story. It's a journal of his, what I do is simply sort it, turn the horrible hoofwriting into readable typed words, and I may add some new contents, using my mords, for continuity. And there are a lot of misspellings in his manuscript, I have corrected them all. The tense is confusing sometimes, but most time it's present tense, readable and understandable, so I will leave it be. There is no dates marked in the it, so I added titles such as "day one", "day two"... personally, please allow me, but that's just for being more readable, to let you know they are from different days. I can only recognize that by his hoofwritings. Be sure to know this.

About his story, I know only a few, not more than this journal. First time I met him, it was in a fine day. And the last time, I cannot remember when and where. One day I recieved a journal without dates, and I knew it was him once I opened it, it was a fine day too. He once told me his name, but I didn't hear clearly. Inky Book, i think. I have no idea where he lives, what is he doing. His name was all I know, until I read his story. I have no idea why did he send his journal to me, I was never close to him. Or maybe I was the only one who'd been close to him, I think, he had nopony else except me.

Day One

I have no idea where am I, or who am I. I've lost everything, I've lost the quanlity of being a pony. I live in shadows whether I'm sleeping or not. Oh right, speaking of that, sleeping, that is a worthless thing and I have to bear that. Waste of time, sleeping is, also eating is. Is there anything not waste of time in the life?

Life itself is a waste of time. We live in this world, that means we gotta waste our time. Waste or spend, whatever you wanna call it. We spend time doing this and that without a rest, until dust to dust.

We are too busy now. The world is too busy. We no longer have time to listen to the others, the people close to us, or maybe we actually don't want to. Everything is attracting our attentions, and we cannot control them. We more like to accept it, could be anything, but not think. Everything can be sold, even freedom or friendship. It is true that we can not buy freedom using money, but we may sold our freedom cuz of it. And friendship? Now we can buy it, also we can sell it. I feel hopeless about this. I wonder if there are anypony who's struggling, I see none, or I don't know any. They are comfortable, so they woule like to remain the same rather that changing it. No one understand this, and I don't understand people. They say I've read too much, but only I know that's not enough.

Tell me, if I am imagining all of this, tell me I am not the only pony.

The more books I've read, the less I know. The more kind I want to be, the more misunderstanding. Or are you gonna tell me that I am crazy? Hmm... makes sense, cuz I think so, too... After all, I've been locked myself in this cabin for weeks, forgive me (why should I forgive myself? I mean, this is my journal and why am I saying this in MY journal... Oh right, ponies do need forgive themselves sometimes, I wish that could be easier for me, forgiveness... Darn, I waste too much ink in those rubbish words, I should make it brief... ), I can't remember how many weeks exactly, my brain is in a confusion... And I've taken too much black coffee, I hate sugar, it feels like my head is going to blow up. My head is too heavy to take, maybe I should take a mane cut.

I open my window. Sunshine sneaks in, gently caresses me. Ponies now have no appreciate for that any more, or at least the ponies from where I live. It is not a small town as Ponyville, but also not a big city like Manehattan. So this city is fast, growing rapidly, also there are so many ponies who still are kind. That's where I love it. But kind doesn't mean see further, or think deeper. Kind doesn't mean smart. I am not smart, I am just egar to know.

Ponies pay for their promotions, using their money. Their lives is hard too, they gotta raise a family. But I feel confused, and I feer that. What if, poines tell you not to do something, so they can do that? Crowd scares me, their words scare me. I feel like Faust, the famous doctor existed in an old tale, sold his soul to the devil, I want nothing but get drunk, but alchohol will ruin my brain. Eating, drinking, sleeping, talking... they are slow my brain down (but yes, I have to keep this diary), but they never see it. Ponies only ask what, but never ask how and why, until they get a lesson to tell them, how bad friends they were. When they leave me be, when they are busying their own stuffs, as if I've never come to their lives. When they don't share their happiness or sadness to me any more, when they are totally gone from my memory... Tell me what should I do? Tell me, do you have friends who message you couples times a day? Or at least, for days? I haven't get one for weeks, not from my friends. I eagar to tell somepony, but no one there listening. And even if there are, I always want more, that is I want somepony who can get what I mean, who can understand me, not just listen.

That is impossible. A friend told me so. How ironic. She understood, and she didn't.

Day Two

Last night, or tonight, I haven't closed my eyes for two or three days, so I can't tell the exact time. Or maybe that's just because of the caffeine, I have no idea. Anyway I've finished a book that night. It's a story about an ancient magician. I kinda like him before the reading, but I've changed my mind. He wants to abandon all the poems, or songs, any kind of verses. He wants to kill all the music. What, do you really think you are a censorship? If you are, then you are too sensitive. And he says that makes us weak. Bah!

Ok, it is night now, confirmed. I rised the curtain. I always keep my curtain drawn when I am... reading or something, to make the room darker. Am I hiding myself? What am I hiding?

Gaint bloody moon, as if there is an evil pony prisoned in it, moaning every night. Maybe he or she is the only pony who can understand me. A dog's barking towards the moon, I have no idea what it's taking about. A thin dog.

I know, I know, I anwser. I know what do I need. I am just waiting for it.

Or you just don't want to? That voice says. And it is right. Deep down I don't want a friend somehow. Why is that? I keep asking myself.

You... You have betrayed once. You regret what you've done. When friendship was there you didn't catch it. What else? You lose your faith in friendship, but you still have hope, dreaming that the friendship will appear itself and save your life. That is your state. You cannot understand a lot of things, why do those grown ups always cheat? They are just cheating for meaningless things. And they sell friendships too. Is the friendship that importnat? You doubt that. They can't see the differences between friendship and partnership, that's what you think. Grown ups told you, that you gain profits from friendship. But deep down you know it's not like that. You refuse to accept what the grown ups told you. You are no longer a colt but you'd like still being childish, to state your opinion, to fight the grown ups' world. That is what you think. People judge so easily, not soon but easily, like you said, they just accept but never ask how and why, so they can hate gryphons, or despise those yaks, they think it's meant to be, born to be. You don't want that. You want ponies be more reasonable, not prejudice any more. They judge just because of several meaningless hearsays and a few provocatice speeches. You don't want to world like this. But you are too weak, you have no idea what to do, how to change. That's why you cry, why you don't want to make friends. You don't accept the grown ups' philosophy, also you have no faith in yourself, never believe in yourself. You know how miserable Cassandra's life is, that's what you are worrying about. And the worst thing is, you will be always worried until the end of life. Once you think about that, you get worrier. You want to let someone know your thoughts, but there is nopony listening, even if there are, they can't help you either. I mean, they can't even show you the way, they can't guild you, make your doubts gone. You need a mentor to tell you everything but there is none, and you can hardly find one. Only thing you can do is waiting, wasting your time. Anyway, you need help ,but you won't ask for it proactively. A prison built by yourself, that is where you live, not this town. The town belongs the them, those poines out there, none of your concern at all.

I trun my eyes to the knife. No, it's too dull... That would be too painful. I should get a scalpel earlier.

I'll leave those thoughts tomorrow, or today, as I said I'm not sure when is it now. I need to sleep...

Day Three

The sun hang in the mid of the sky when I woke up, so I guessed it was noon. Gotta make this short, I've spoken too much in the last few days, and being talktive? That's not a good habit.

I met a stranger today. He was a stranger to this town, I could see it, also he acted strangly. I went to countryside to enjoy my afternoon, and I was reading a verse anthology. He showed up, wandered from the other side of the path. He stood there, looked around, trying to pretend that he didn't have any curiosity about me. Stupid. I had already known.

"Hey! " he came closer to me.

Then I dropped down my book. We didn't talk too much. He was stupidly funny, like a corgi. But he is not vulgar as I thought, and he was reasonable, and logical. I think he is an educated. But he talked like the crowd. "They say", they say this, they say that, always "they say".

When I was younger, I had a friend. He told me what exactly should I do, he was not older than me but he acted like my parent. I hate him, and I wanna break every bone of his, which is the thing I should have done at the first time. He doesn't deserve the word, "friend".

Day Four

We are alike. Everypony in this world.

Life itself is meaningless, until we give it a meaning. But it's not the life's meaning any more once it is given by us.

That thing I should have done days ago, I still fear to do so. Am I a coward? I fear living, also the death. I need to talk to somepony to save myself. I'm not totally hopeless...

Day Five

I met him yesterday. He was surprised at my illness. He thought I was illness.

When I walked in the street, as if everypony knew I am illness, as if they were all looking at me with a strange smile. I ran away from it, hardly to breathe.

Which is ill? Me, or the world? I cannot tell, but they all say it is me. I hate them, I know they always do that. Even if a pony isn't really ill, he would doubt that, because everypony is saying like that. That's how they push many of us into madness. Do you know that neighbor living upstairs? She disappeared last month.

Day Six

He saved me today. That stupid corgi writter. I shouldn't call him that. I was outside, had no money, fainted aside, out of hunger, he found me, and we had a lunch. He told me his name is Fury Comedian.

He said his parents wanted him to become a comedian, because that was what his family always did. He said he doesn't have too much vocabularies, because he lived in a circus, but he is a writter now. His family is proud of him, but he doesn't at all.

Yes, said I. I've heard that some liguists said, we don't have to handle too much of that, 1000 ~ 2000 words is totally enough for dailly uses. Fury agreed.

And a journalist is a writter, a novelist is a writter, a poet is a writter too. I said. He agreed. Then I asked him what kind of writter he is. He said he write them all. He gave me some of his essays, I've read, I don't quite like his style, but I admire him. He has friend after all. He has been admitted by the society. And I? Locking myself away, and fighting myself, trying to figure out the life's meaning, fearing something, and hoping something.

The moon is so beautiful tonight. She is sad too, I think, she is always sad. She shows up in the midst of the sky when everypony sleeps down, nopony admires her, even nopony notices her. She can talk to nopony, too. She wants to, but she can't, and maybe, she doesn't dare to even if she could. Who can read her?

Tears... tears are evil, but I'll let them flow this day. Can you hear me? We are the same...

Day Seven

Cantorlot has a fashion show. Appleloosa is going to have a festival to celebrate the harvest. The newspaper says so.

None of my concern. All those things are just meaningless, oh well, or at least meaningless to me.

It only have meanings when you are going with your friends. When you can share happiness, when you can laugh together, or laugh at each other. None of them is a good place to go for me, I'd rather not going if I gotta go there alone. Watching movies, taking dinner in restraurant, or attending to a party, that's for the ponies who have friends, only they can really have fun. I won't do any of this, maybe in my whole life. Yes I still have hope, I hope somepony be my friend, but what can hope do if it's just a hope?

I'm not hoping that everytime I need you you are there, I'm not hoping you can always spend time together. I just hope, sometimes, you can spend your time with me... And I think that's not gonna happen. Do you know that, my dear old friends? I don't want you to be always with me, but at least you can send me a mail several days. But, now I have no idea what are yall doin recently, I have no idea where are you all...

Fury, I hope you are here, I hope you could hear me... but no, I think we are not friends, we are just nodding acquaintances, we only talked twice, and now what am I thinking... You don't even know the real me.

Am I self-pitying? I don't want to but it seems I am doing like that. That's because my weakness... must be... But how can I get stronger without any supports from friends...

In the surface of the scalpel's blade, I can see the moon, as bright as always... I am your follower... Take me there, please...

Day Eight

Hi, Inky, it's been a while. How are you doin recently? Fury asked.

I didn't anwser him quite a while, then I asked, have you read the Legend of Magic?

Hmm... I think so... You mean the book written by Stardust?

Starburst. And actually the author is Stygain, that is his diary, just published with Starburst's help, I said. So the dialogue ended here. I am pretty sure we are not living in the same world now.

Say, what if Stygain is still the Pony of Shadows? I mean, what if Twilight and the others couldn't save him? What could Stygain do? I mean, if we put ourselves in Twilight's position, or Star Swirl's position, we can easily get the conclusion what we should try to trust the others, try to listen to them, don't judge easily, it is clearly. But, what if we put ourselves in Stygain's position? It seems that he can do nothing but just waiting for the others' rescue, is it? Stygain is the reactive part, and the others are the proactive part, so the Stygain's fate is technically in Twilight's hoof. What if that's not Twilight but Star Swirl? I mean, can Stygain save himself without any help?

I doubt that. Because I am a Stygain, and no Twilight in my life.

I was planing to ask him that, sadly he didn't read the book, and he pretended.

Say, did somepony promised the king of the world only if you pretend? Not just you like that, but them all. I am disappointed about this world.

Day Nine

Phathetic.

Phathetic?

Phathetic.

That filly looked at me, anwsered for the last time, then jumped away. Who taught that? I don't even know her.

I started to hate myself. Maybe I am phathetic.

It reminds me a story happened to me, I was in a train. A businespony sat aside. He started to tell a story of his.

I've met a worker before, an old pony, funny and phathetic. I was writing a contract at that time, and then I heard a voice, you misspelt, that's even not a word! I turned my head back, it was the old worker. Haha, how pathetic...

The whole train followed the laugh, including me. I was pretending there. How pathetic I am!

Day Ten

I feel guilty.

I wish I am pure evil, then I won't feel guilty at all. Have those evil poines ever feel guilty too? If they do, then they are no evil enough. Nopony. I feel ashamed.

When I was in school, my deskmate told me that if he were my father, he'd like to drown me into the toilet once I was born. I did nothing, as if I heard nothing. And it was decade years ago.

They say love is wise, hatred is foolish. And I hate.

Day Eleven

Maybe I should write a novel too, or let this diary be, just like Stygain's. I'll name it A Madpony's Diary, haha...

I feel lonely. I want to be treated nicely. I thought the world can take me in, be a part of them no matter how different I am, but I thought wrong. Only writing can save me. The only reason in my life keep me from suicide is writing. When I write I can only feel a lilttle hope, I wanna write, that's why I haven't die yet.

I want to say, want to talk. Talk to anypony who's reading this. I don't want to die a corpse, I want my name to be known. When they rush into my room and see my corpse, and read my diary, then they will know how much you've done to me, how much you've already hurt to me, they will regret, cos they are the killers.

Know this, if I die one day, you are all killers. For not understanding me, for bullying me, for judging so easily but never hear me. For you push me to the cliff, the edge of life. I die, and also I disgust you.

But when I have spoken enough? I mean I've been silence too long, but in the end there will be nothing to say. Is that the time to die then? What do I do when it comes? I have no idea. I don't fear death. I am alive now, and I don't fear that, how would I fear death? I want to express. And I must, for that's the destiny.

I'm being like this, all because of you.

Day Twelve

My grandpa died. Within a year, another family member left too. I didn't know that at all, until a year after that. I didn't even get a mail from them. I was study in Yakyakistan then, far from my hometown. And they just decide for me, to not letting me know. I know, they think that's good for me.

A year after my grandpa's death, I went back to hometown, surprisingly found the truth. The death a year ago, and they kept secret from me, as if I am not a member of them. They blamed me, and questioned, why did you go to so far a place to study? As if I was the one who made a mistake. From that time, I knew, they make mistakes, and I don't have to respect them always. The crowds, which stand for those authorities.

After I knew that they had already sold out everthing belonged to him, I knew there was nothing to keep me here any more. I started to think, that this world we are living, is actually controlled be the others. Everything you know, the way you live, the facts you've seen, all is decided not by yourself. Everything is called "they-told-you". So the world is full of lying, or maybe, itself is a big lie, who knows.

Ponies lie everywhere, Ponies pretend everywhere. Say, if my family do such thing to me, how can I have any courage to get alone with the others? How can I trust the others, to be open to them?

I've read a lot novels. The best thing of writing one is, they will never know if you are writing yourself, or you just make up a ideal pony on your stage. I love this part, so I can hide behind it, and also I can express the real me at the same time. Novelists lie, that's just because their stories maybe fake, but the feelings are real, so a novelist tell more truth than mathematics. Feelings are the most precious thing to us.

I felt no hate, my heart was at peace. Everytime I miss my grandpa, I can let everything go, it seems. I wanted nothing but a fully rest. So I took a rest that night, aside his grave. I couldn't catch it, I couldn't see him for the last time. We were arguing, that was the last time we saw each other. I tried not to let me think about it but I failed. I felt tired, why don't you take me with you? I asked inside. I feel so scared, living in this world, even my own family couldn't trust me... and look at me now, I am useless, totally wasted... I thought like that, falling into sleepness.

Why there are so many stereotypes in this world... Why can't we play nicely... Why do we have to insult each other... Why do you have to hurt, why do we have to cry...

I am just a meaningless one, imprisoned in this pony-shape body. I'm not even sure who am I. Am I even a pony?

Day Thirteen

I've been scammed for like a thousand times.

When I studied in Yakyakistan, the school was in a tourism city. More and more ponies travelled there to feel the foreign cultures. It was in the street, a filly asked me if I could borrow her some money, she was a tourist from the equestria and she got lost with her mom, she needed money to buy some food, and find a nice place to spend night. I gave all my money away. I was expecting to spend for the rest days of the month.

A few days later, I met the same situation, but this time it was a little young yak, he looked very poor, dressing rags, beggin me for money. I didn't give her any, and I don't know if I did the right thing. I think, ponies don't like Yakyakistan for no reason. And yaks don't like we ponies for no reason, too. Because that kind of things could happen in any country even like in equestria.

I wanna run away. I can't breathe in this. I don't do it, doesn't mean somepony else won't do, too. Being kind, doesn't mean the others gonna treat you kindly too. This world, drives me crazy. But if I meant to be dead, let my stories be known by others. Let my thoughts be known.

Day Fourteen

Ponies cheat everywhere, I once asked why, here is my answer. As we know, we always have our time bullying the others when we were young. And ponies are all the same in every stage of their lives. We lie for the same reason. When we were young, it might be candies, or trying to get the others' attention. When we were no longer young, our desire changed, but the desire is always there. That's why ponies cheat even if they are so called grown ups, businessponies, loveponies, they cheat for the same reason when they were fillies and colts. So do the other evil things. Like I've seen too many haters in this world, too. Just a few evil ponies, even if just a little one, can destory the whole world, so we want all the ponies are kind and nice, but that cannot happen, that's why we hope. But what if we destory ourselves? Then there will be no evil at all, isn't it? Isn't that the utopia we are always looking for?

Celestia's pictures become a product, send to everywhere, hanging in the shop, becoming their advertisements. When Luna came back, more and more medias paid attention to her, but for their own profits. The shops named after them to attract tourists. And so on. The princess of friendship's diary didn't become a textbook, teaching ponies how to make friends, but became a product of entertainment, amusing ponies, making money for the publishers. You tell me, what happened to this world? You may say that's not my concern, but I can tell you, this world is driving everypony into madness. We need calm down and stop amusing ourselves, we need be kind and nice, not judging anypony easily, we need peace. But only a few ponies know this, and maybe less. We haven't learn love and friendship from this, and never will.

I fear this world. I fear myself. For I am weak and I don't know what can I do about all of this. I don't know, what can I do for myself. The best and the worst thing is, I am destroying myself and i am enjoying this.

Day Fifteen

Close eyes, in order to open them again. Shut the feelings down, in order to feel again. Once you've done those, the feelings is sharpened, and the eyes will be brighter. So you can see those things that ponies can hardly notice, those tiny things, piece by piece. Once a filly tole me, I remember, It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

When I was just a colt I always like those fairy tales, but they told me that it's not real. But I still like it now. Ponies can be prisoned by millions of concepts or ideas, so they can not jump out of it, they can't see the scenery outside. So there are racist, trolls, haters. But, meanwhile, I cannot argue with them, because they didn't catch the wind, I mean, they hate something for a reason and that's not their fault. Think about it, yakyakistan's police is almost the worst in the world, I can tell, and I have no words for that. Or maybe, it's just too objective and I am judge easily too. I can not feel sad about the world without feel sad about me. I judge easily too, I know right. The differences between me and them is, I know I am judging, and I won't take that as a conclusion, I know it's just a judgement and it can be right or wrong, it's may not how the things really are. As for them? Uhm, they judge like it's real, and if you have done something out of their surprise, they won't say something is wrong with their judgement, but they will ask, what's wrong with you?

I can see that clearly, but I can not change, or I don't know how. That's the source of my pain, and it never rest until meet the death.

(That horizontal rule is added by Inky himself, shown in his diary, noted by Fury Comedian. )

I've heard a tale, that when somepony dies, in the meantime, there will be a star falling from the sky, into the Star Lake. I don't know where are those falling stars fall into. Star Lake, but where is it? Name is just a code, a metaphor of real things existed in our life, just like story is a metaphor of our life, too. Maybe it's just a lake, like a normal lake, waters and trees. Or it's just there are too many falling stars rest there and it looks like a lake. Maybe it's sea size, or maybe ocean size, we call it the lake just because we named it so. Also you can name it another whatelse, but you gotta find a way to call it.

There are too many tales about the Star Lake, millions? Or billions? Those tales is a maze, and you never know what's the fact of it (I believe its existence, do you? ). Like, you can make any wish and the lake will help you make it come true. Or you may become a god-like, like those alicorn princesses, and you can almost do anything you want by its magic. Some tales say it's the original source of any kind of magic, before the universe formed. Nopony has arrived the Star Lake so nopony knows which is real. And, nopony thinks the lake is real, anyway.Every tale has something in common, that is when a pony dies, there will be a star falling into there.

I believe the lake it real, but I'm not if it in real world. You may tarvel through the map until the edge of the world, or you can seek it inside your heart. I perfer the last one, for eye is blind, and one must look with the heart.

What if the only path to it is death? Anyway, I want to find it.

Fury Comedian's Note

After reading his diary I think he is mad. There is no such thing like stupid lake existed in this world, but it's also a good joke for relaxing. I hope I can save him, but we seldom meet together, and why he sent his diary to me, it's still a mystery that I can't figure it out.

With his diary, there is another letter found in the mailbox. Inky has given me the copyright of the diary, it's my property now and I can burn or trash it, whatever I want. But I think Inky may want there are more ponies know him, so I decided to publish this without asking. The diary ends here without a sign, there is no start and no ending, but I hope it's not boring. Because every peice of work is the blood bleeding from the author's own heart. And, if you are reading this, Inky, I hope no matter where you are, you can come back. I should have made friendship with you, should have known more about you. And, I hope you can find your Star Lake in your heart peacefully.

The Burglars (Part One)

Canterlot.

Stary midnight.

Two shadows sprinted from dark to dark, hiding guards' sights. Finally, they arrived their determination. It was a poor house, well decorated, but small and couldn't get any attention. Two shadows stood there and watched the house for a while.

"This is it, " it was a colt's voice.

"Are you sure? " another colt felt not so confident.

"Yes, Look, a sign of a bottle of ink in the door. This is the house we are looking for, " said the first colt, "c'mon, Papageno, let's find out. " Behind the black hood, there was a sparkle shined in his deep blue eyes.

"I... I'm not sure, Lion... " Papageno said, shivered in his cloak.

"Shh... somepony's coming! " Lion Song, that's the colt's name, pulled Papageno and himself into a flower bed under the window and hided quickly, without any hesitate.

It was a stallion, with a short mixed mustache. He paded to the door straightly, and rang the bell.

Some sounds rised inside the house. Something got knocked each other. Something fallen from somewhere. After a while, there was a voice, "who's out there? " It sounds weary and scary. Maybe the voice's owner smoked, or hadn't take a shower for too long times.

"Don't worry, it's your old friend, Paperwork. " The stallion answered.

"Come in, my mate, " the door opened unwillingly. Paperwork went in.

Two colts cocked their heads out of flowers, eyesights wandering inside throught the window. The furnitures were getting really old-fashioned but well cared, polished like their first day made out. Warm flames jumped and sang to their guest, expressed how happy they feel, colored the ground like sunset. The house's owner was a stallion with a curly black long mane, and body was orange. He led his guest to his chair, starting to ask: "so, what do you want from here, Paperwork? " The voice sounded strangely offensive.

"Oh, take it easy, bro. We all know why I'm here, that diary, of course, Fury Comedian. " Paperwork stayed his smile.

"I have gave you all of the papers! I have none now! " Fury shouted loudly in a sudden. It scared two colts outside, but Paperwork acted still normal.

"You look pale, my friend, " Paperwork smiled more, but mysteriously, "calm down and let us have a nice chat... Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, how interesting... I wonder, it's you that idiot, or is Inky... "

"What Inky! I don't know any! "

"Easy easy, little youny pony. You told that story, or you can say Inky told, they are nothing different. Nor I care. I know you are hiding something, I know, you haven't gave me the full diary. And now, as the publisher, I need more to publish. "

"No! Not a chance! Get out from my home! " Fury yelled like a cocanist, totally crazy.

"Ok, ok, as you wish, sir... " Paperwork stood up and headed to the door in a flurry, forgot his hat.

Two colts looked at each other, not a word slided out from their fences of teeth. After a while of silence, Lion spoke first:

"So we guessed right. he does still keep the diary and something in it that we don't know. We are gonna steal it from him. "

"Are you crazy? We are what, burglars now? How can we steal things from the other ponies? "

"Or what? You just saw, his publisher failed to get it. Are we gonna ask nicely and just borrow it? Besides, we just wanna take a look, we return it after that. This is the only clue we have and we can't lose it! "

Papageno looked at Lion, swallowed, "let's do this then. "

The house had two floors. The first floor is totally in a dark now, maybe Fury went upstairs, but we don't know if he slept. He acted excited with his guest, so he might not sleep too soon. The two colts thought so, too. So they waited for a while, until it was dark upstairs too, and without any sound. There was only insects singing amongst grasses, the guards' footsteps came clearly, and then faded away. Lights on the street twisted, brighter and darker. They could even hear the hearts' beating each other. A star-dogged moon hang there, watched equestria with no emotion.

It is time!

The two burglars held their breathe, opened the window quietly, crawled into the house, landed with a soft "crack". They got extremely nervous, none of them had done that kind of thing before. So they stood still, didn't dare to move, just lowed their body and listened carefully, hoped that sound wouldn't drag any unnecessary attention. Their breathe was clear to hear, the flowing air. They felt like they spent a century waiting, and then they moved on. What would Fury do? Where would he put his treassure diary? They thought quickly. Some kind of safe box, must be. Or the bedside table, inside one of those drawers. It was just two of them, and they were all colts. It was just a small house, but not small at all for them. They got to search around to get that diary, but they wouldn't give up, they'd rather put it in practice, in some real acts.

Search was methodical. There were a lot of stuffs in first floor, chairs and table, a volion hanging in the wall, looked very old. There were some brown stains in the floor, could be coffee, or tea, or blood. There were a lot of stuffs, but had not too much places could hide a diary. They had to go upstairs. The wooden stairs looked very unstable, even a feather could make a sound. Papageno was very worried, he said, "Lion, I can just stay here, if you find something upstairs then you come down here. I can... I can stand as a sentry here... "

"No, we gotta do this together! So we can end it faster! We don't even need a sentry. It is already midnight! And Princess Luna has already summoned Fury! "

"What? You said Luna summoned Fury? But... how do you know and why? "

"That is a metaphor, for celestia's sake! I mean he must be sleeping deeply and having a dream already, not literally be summoned! " Lion sighed and facehoofed.

At the end, Papageno still went upstairs with his friend. He was that kind of pony, that kind of friend, he might complain, might be lazy and fear, but he woule never fail his friend.

Lion was an unicorn, but he didn't want to teleport, I must add this, forgive me. Because teleportation is easy, but he had no idea where would he land, might be the floor, or might be right on Fury's sleeping body. And teleportation made noise. Gladly, even there were several sounds of crack when they followed the stairs, nothing happened at all. And more surprising thing just happened after they went the second floor.

It was empty.

The whole floor, or let's say even the whole house, was empty! Not a pony was in the upstairs sleeping, not a shadow. The young burglars felt confused, meanwhile a thousands thoughts appeared in their minds. What happened? What could be happened? Where is Fury? When Fury went upstairs, they watched it with their own eyes, but now? They felt so confused. Or... there is a secret cave! There must be! As they thought so, a pony showed himself, rush to them from somewhere in the dark. It was such an accident, that the burglars could only feel like be punched by a train, then they fell on the ground.

"What do you want! " that voice sounds angry.

Lion looked at that pony, it was not Fury.

"You are not Fury! Who are you exactly? " Lion questioned.

"None of your concern! Get out from my house! " that pony, it was a stallion, stared at the burglars seriously, "I'll call the guards! "

"And, " the stallion added, "I don't know any furies! "

A silence for quite a long while. Nopony said anything, or moved, but just like that, stayed still. Finally, Lion spoke:

"You are a changling. "

That stallion took a deep breathe.

"So that all make sense, you don't want Paperwork stay too long, or he would know you are not Fury himself; and don't want give him the diary, that's why you act so angry, so you can scare him away. " Lion continued.

"You heard the conversation? "

"Loud and clear. So that why I know you are lying when you said you don't know any Furies. We can pretty sure there is no back door in this building, we've investigated well. And we saw nopony else enter or leave this building from the front door. If you are real Fury, you don't have to hide in the dark, you can just pretend sleeping in the bed and just wait us show ourselves and claim this house's property to us. "

"Lion... let's go back! I don't want to get caught! I am hungry and thirsty..." Papageno murmured.

"Silence! " Lion said unsatisfiedly, "don't you know keep quiet is divine and noble? "

"Haha... a lion here, good name! What do you want from me? Oh wait, Let me guess, you want Inky's dairy too, don't you? " The stallion laughed arrogantly.

"The diary published, it referred the Star Lake at the end. We need more information. We don't want the diary, or we don't only need that diary. We need any information to help, that's why I'm here. " Lion said.

"I don't trust you. " The stallion said.

Lion said nothing, took his cloak off. Meanwhile, there is a tiny blue flame came out from his horn, flowed towards a candle and lighted it. His face could be clearly seen in this light, it was a face with a strong determination. There was a special sparkle brighting from his blue eyes. His mane was black, not the dark kind of black, but the nobler kind. His body was white, but some places of his had been a little brownish, maybe burnt, or exploded out there too long. There was a scar in his left backleg, right on his knee, wide and scary. Seeing this, Papageno took off his too. He was green, with red and yellow mane, looked childish and ridiculous.

"We come here for peace. " Lion said calmly.

The stallion stared at them for a while, finally spoke: "let's talk. "

The changling changed back to his normal form from stallion, surprisingly, he was just a little colt too, "but first, let's make your friend not starved. " he smiled.

Soon, they went to the hall, around a table, there were cookies, cakes and drinks on it. Papageno couldn't wait any more, rush to the table, swallowed as if hadn't eaten for years.

"Why don't you sit? " The changling asked.

"Muu... kuuuu... " Papageno's mouth was full of food that he couldn't speak clearly. He was tried to say something but he must got them down. "I mean, " he said, "I'm ok... standing can save more time to... eat... and... digest... "

Lion tried not to look at him. His embarrassment just showed on his face.

"Eat. " The changling still smiled.

Lion took a little piece of cake for a polite respond. And then he siped a tea, he didn't know why did he do that, he just wanted to. The food is dry, he thought, and the tea tastes strange.

Lion felt dizzy, the cakes and teacups woke up from their dreams and was dancing around him, hoof in hoof, singing some strange folks.

Two silly puppies, two silly puppies,
twitching twisting in their bellies.
Big bad wolf moan in the dream,
bury whose skulls and call their mommies...

Lion lost his consciousness. The last thing he saw was that changling colt's smily face.

The Burglars (Part Two)

When Lion woke, he found himself tied tightly in a chair. Papageno was the same, too, aside him. The light was still on. A black pegasus, pure black, stood with back to them, hearing the noise Lion made, he turned his face.

"You wake now, " he said.

"Shame on you! You drug a foal! " Lion got angry. A light araise from his horn, the rope tied him and his friend had torn apart in a crack. Papageno slided down from the chair with a painful ouch.

"If you call yourself a foal, then you shouldn't be a burglar, " pegasus fought back.

"Forgive me, " that pegasus changed himself back, he was that changling, "I didn't drug you, just... couldn't trust you. Now I can, since you already told me anything I need to know. That was a truth potion. "

"Oh, a truth potion, of course... " Lion said with a unsatisfied looking.

"Easy, I mean no harm. I need you. "

'You mean you need me, or need me to trust you? "

"Both. By the way, do you want something to eat? "

"Save it. Why would I trust you again? "

"Because I know you have a serious disease and the only hope is a lake in mystery. I won't let you lose your control, besides, if I really want you to die, you are already now. We can't achieve our goal without each other's help, " changling paused for a second, waiting for response.

"What is your goal? "

"Just like you, find that stupid lake. "

"Go on."

"You have no choose but trust me. Because only me have the information you need, and that's what I need too. "

"You mean... we have the same goal? " Lion said doubtfully.

"Finally, we have made a agreement. "

They went to the lobby, the changling changed himself into a black pegasus again. "Why do you change youself into a pegasi, you don't like being a changling? " Lion asked. "Personnal little habit. I just like that way, " changling answered.

The changling's name was Zorro, his uncle, as he said, was Fury Comedian. And according his words, he came here just yesterday, wanted to spend his vacation in Canterlot, here, and he did get the invitation, but when he got here, he found his uncle went missing.

"I have to find him. " Zorro said.

"I understand you want your uncle back, but I don't see the connection. "

"Fury is Inky, too. They are the same pony. He's a changling too, so don't get so surprised about this. He is a little... well, " Zorro sighed heavily, didn't continue. "Follow me, if you are wondering how do I know... " Zorro held a candle from the desk, led them to the second floor, speaking. He stoped aside a book shelf, and clicked something on it. Suddenly there was a secret door appeared, behind the shelf.

They followed the gothic spiral stairways, seemed it was already in the underground. They arrived. Zorro used his magic lighted this place. It was a room, wet and nasty, with tons of books, scrolls and papers here and there. A giant star map hang in the wall, damaged. A strange mirror stood unstablely at a corner, full of dust and spider webs. There was a smaller room hiden behind a shelf, only a bed in it. A fire basket hang above them, with a magic blue fire burning in it. They also found a desk and three chairs.

"Here, " Zorro threw a red covered book to Lion, didn't notice when and where did he get that, "take a look. "

It was Inky's dairy.

~~I've found the key. It's like a spell, beautiful and deadly.~~

~~It is a symbol, some kind of... concept. Who says that we have to achieve a goal that can be touched? Spells can't be touched too, but it is so powerful...~~

~~No, tis not. Spells are only powerful when they are spoken out by the magicians, before that, they are just a string of characters of meaninglessness, useless. But what about for the non-unicorns? I mean, the spell but not magical? A spell that nopony uses, but just stands there.~~ ~~Gah!!!~~

~~I have to admit, this work is harder than I thought before. As I said, it could be anything. The code can be hiden in music, or an artwork... I can't sure...~~

Have I lost her? I can't think... I must leave this place... ("Wow, he sounds like... so paranoid, " Papageno said. "Hush, I can't read! " Lion broke him immediately. ) Or not, everywhere is prison for me, I have to leave equestria, go to somewhere further, beyond equestria...

A friend living in yakyakistan once asked me to visit sometime, but I'm not sure, or maybe I'll just stay here... Am I a coward? I... what am I thinking exactly? I don't even know myself... No, I'm not, and I won't go there...

The only thing I know is I am seeking, but for what? I don't know. I need a purpose, but more than that. Not anything can be my purpose... They don't, and never know who am I, my true self, but nethier do I. How can I just chase a dream?

a-tang deh sa naeh tiaer-s... ubi sunt? arh yenn mindu-s...

"What the hay is that? " Lion didn't read more, because the rest of it was all written like that, a kind of unreadable characters.

"Now you see why I can't hoof it over, " said Zorro, "maybe tis some kind of secret code and need to be decrypted. I think this is new, written just recently. But I still don't know a lot about his diary. "

"So I thought there were some unpublished texts in his diary, but no, Inky published all diary he wrote that time. He just wrote more after that. "

"Exactly, but why did he do that? Why did he made up a pony called Fury? "

"You sure they are the same pony? I mean, that old stallion Paperwork call your uncle, I mean it was you, Fury. " Papageno broke in. It was harder than make a pig fly to make Papageno keep quiet for a short time.

"I know my uncle's hoofwriting, okay? " Zorro seemed very impatient for Papageno's barinless. You can't blame him, because a witpony is always no more wit when he meets a witless one.

"Yes, I can understand. But every writter pony has his pseudonym, " Lion continued.

"And his is Fury, I knew. What I mean is, his diary did mention a pony named Fury, his original diary, and they met! Don't you think that's strange? What if this Fury, not him, really exist? "

Silence.

"Wait, Zorro, " suddenly something came into Lion's mind.

"What? "

"Your uncle is a changling, just like you, but why did he show himself an earth pony? And always like that? Is he a... changed one, or still eat the other pony's love? "

"Hmm... indeed. That's the question too. I know seldom about him, but I'm sure he is a changed changling. Why did he disguise himself an earth pony is still a mystery for now. " Zorro took the diary Lion hoofed him, and threw it back to the desk carelessly.

"Hey! I find something! " Papageno brought a paper folded, "found inside the diary."

"No way, I examed it carefully! " Zorro questioned.

"Except the cover. " Papageno sounded happily.

"Right, the cover. " Zorro rolled his eyes in frustration.

They opened it. There was nothing except a picture. It was very strange, more like some kind of magic symbol. The imagine glimmered fainted, and then brighter and brighter, like the paper was gonna burn. Like as a respond, Lion's horn lighted out of control. His eyes lighted too, and his body floated into the mid air, seems something else controled his body, and the real Lion had already lost his consciousness. Zorro folded the paper again, but didn't make it better. A wind generated from nowhere, out of magic, it was getting more and more powerful, it would be a storm at last if it wasn't stopped, torn every paper and book apart. It threw Zorro into the wall, his body slaped the wall heavily and then slided down. Papageno caught pillar in a sudden, saved himself from the same fate. Glasses, wooden bookshelves, cracking, being smashed into ashes.

"Lion! " Papageno tried to wake him up, but that was useless. Lion couldn't hear anything at the moment. The light around Lion was getting brighter and wider, like that magic imagine on the paper summoned something inside Lion's body, a pure magic power, a drainless fountain, even more powerful, a spirit. A stream of magic released from this horn, lighting the whole room like a bright day, but also a stormy day.

A strong quake burst out from the ground. The whole building was going to collapse. Papageno was panic, lost his normal voice, "what am I gonna do... oh, my holy celestia... celestia bless me, or luna, or the pony controls the underground, the unknown world whoever he or she is, bless me... " Papageno closed his eyes, waiting for his destiny's calling. Zorro felt angry about what Papageno act, but he tried not to get mad at Papageno. "Do something, Papageno! " Zorro asked.

"Right, right... don't panic, and think wisely... Papageno... do something... " he murmured in a panic for a few seconds, but finally he still lost his mind and yelled, "everypony get out! Abandon the ship! Save yourself! " Losing his strength, he couldn't hold the pillar, fell into the wall too, with an "ouch". You can't blame him, he was really scared, you can't sure if you can do better than Papageno if it was you.

"Stop it, Lion! " Zorro barely couldn't hold on, he tried to move himself to the corner. The pillars was losing the balance, the ceiling leaned towards one side.

"Darn! " So many times Zorro just wanted to yell "useless" to Papageno, and also himself. He felt hopeless, the only thing waiting for them was buried here, even nopony would find their bones and skulls, maybe the ponies who know them would report their missing after months, that would be the best result. But will everything come to an end here? This is just chapter two, and our adventurers just take their first step, every doubt haven't been answered yet, every secret haven't been revealed yet. Zorro was just feared and as afraid like us, but he was also a brave pony. Like the old saying said, their "hearts as strong as horses". Zorro felt his hoof touched something cold, a piece of iron plate.

"Iron plate... " Zorro's brain ran rapidly, "right, the sewers, of course... "

Zorro used all his four hooves to move that iron plate, with all of his strength, he threw that piece iron towards Lion's head.

Pow!

With a noise, Lion fell from the mid air, fainted in the ground. Winds vanished, went back to where it came from. All the lights were gone. And the quake stopped.

"Come here! " Zorro lighted up his horn, shouted as loudly as he could, to cover the noises.

Papageno took Lion's body, rushed.

In a sound of a thunder, the house collapsed deadly.

Things Change

Down the sewers, where stank and smelt. Rats and bugs past trought in the dark with creepy sounds. There was something rising, a set of bells rang from somewhere deep inside the sewer, clean and soft, like the white shirt just cleant up and hang in the sunshine.

"Where... " Lion still felt his head heavy. He shook his head, stood up.

"Shhh... You are just recovered, you still need a rest. " Papageno said.

"What... happened? "

"You went mad, lost your consciousness and caused a magic explosion. Gladly I, yes, it was me, Papageno saved your life from the evil devil in the darkest and deepest night. When everything was in silence and about to vanish into the nothingness, there is a brave and bold foal, he lighted up a hope... " Papageno kept talking, in extremely excited, but clearly nopony listened. But his speech helped Lion to remember what happened before.

Lion sighed heavily, "seems all the files were gone with the destory... "

"Not quite, I saved the diary, and that little note drove you mad. I think that imagine on this paper has some magical connection with you, it's like a trigger. As long as you don't look at it, it will be fine, " Zorro said.

"And I saved this bell! O look, a set of bells! You know how beautiful the sounds are? Haha, now they are mine, and I believe the bells just woke you from the coma, Lion... " Papageno rase the bells in his hoof.

"You know that's my uncle's property, do you? So don't ring that bells again, it noisy. " Zorro broke rudely.

"We can't go back, we need to find out some more informations about that imagine and Inky's message, " Lion said.

"I have seen some familiar codes somewhere, I'm not sure... We need to get to library and do some research. " Zorro said.

"Wait wait, are we now goin to explode library this time? " Papageno said loudly, heavily worried, "we are just foals and we just explode a house in the center of Canterlot! We need go back home and let those grown-ups handle this, we need place to sleep and we need food to eat, not some adventures without any consideration! I mean, I'm starving! "

"You know what? We changling don't need to eat, we eat your love, and we drain it... " Zorro show his fangs and hissed to Papageno.

"Stop it, Zorro, don't make fun of him. Papageno is right, " Lion said.

"You know what, " Zorro said, and turned his to Papageno again, "Papageno, if you keep quiet and follow us, the bells are yours, in the name of mine, Zorro. "

"Yay! " Papageno jumped around, happily.

"See? " Zorro raised one of his eyebrows, looked at Lion.

"No, not like that, " Lion said, "first, you know we foals have no rights to decide the properties according to the law of equestria, do you? Besides, that's not YOUR property but your uncle's. "

"Who cares. " Zorro outstretched his hooves, disapprovingly.

"And we are not even sure if that is your real name... " Lion said in his heart.

"Not just that, " Lion said, "Papageno is right. We need food, fresh green sprouting juicy grass but not the wet sticky mud we found in the bottom of the sewers! "

"That's easy, Canterlot is kinda like my seconde hometown, mi casa es tu casa. Let's get out of here and take a amazing shower, and then we get to library and find the truth out! " Zorro said.

"And maybe a grass strawberry sandwich? " Papageno asked.

"Ah, yes, of course. Forgive me, cuz we don't really eat food I always forget that. "

"And the bell? "

"You can have it if you can keep quiet. "

"And... "

"Did I just said quiet, Papageno? "

Papageno was like the youngest among them, if Lion and Zorro were teenagers, then Papageno woule be just like a new-born baby in his heart. Of course Papageno also sometimes act like a horse too but who denys that every coin has two sides? Papageno was lazy and talkive and less thinkful. Lion also blamed Papageno's annoying, but not like Zorro, he would like to keep it in heart, to protect his little friend's respect carefully. Gladly, Papageno never doubted his friend just like Lion did, and this time he had a new friend, and was a changling, that was so cool, wasn't it? So when Zorro broke Papageno this time, (and he actually did several times more in our further story, but we'll talk that when it comes, sometimes we are the same, narrator and audience, we both need patience, isn't it? ) Lion was a little uncomfortable with that, but he also knew this was just a harmless joke and he also often did that too, and Zorro felt nothing, Papageno didn't ethier.

They got out from sewers, and soon, after a shower and a meal as wonderful as the sunshine. If they wanted to get the anwser, they had to go to the library, since that imagine and cipher text was the only clue they had. They let Papageno sit aside, and the two ponies started their search. Even Papageno didn't allowed to invovle this searching, he still kept bothering until he finally realized it. That was really a huge project! Can you imagine how many books exist in the Royal Library of Canterlot? And they are just books, there are also tons of unclassified scrolls, untitled papers, basically contains everything in those thousands years. Even there is a guiden and search system driven by magic, that you can easily find books you may want, it still took days for this work. If I tell you everthing happened in these two or three days, that would be boring and even fooling you, totally a waste of words and will ruin it. Anyway, they found what they want, well, at least, a part of it.

"Hey guys, I've found something! " Zorro headed to his friends, with a book in his hoof. They gathered, put the book on the desk.

"What's this... Le histoire della... The history of ancient yakyakistan?! Is that even equestrian language? You learnt that since when? " Papageno asked.

"Never mind, look what I just found " Zorro opened the book and turned the page to where the bookmark was, "this picture. "

It was a picture with only characters in it, but very familiar characters. "As we know, the ancient yakyakistanishs used their own writing system since an ancient era, totally different from the modern yakyakistanish language we use nowadays, " the note below it said.

"What did the words in the picture say? "

"We don't know. Or the author didn't know. "

"So basically, all we have now is just a sentence? Do we have a book about ancient yakyakistan language so we can translate it? "

"No. The was only one book related was about mordern yakyakistanish language, and that book was missing. "

"So now our only hope is to go to the yakyakistan? " Lion asked.

"What? We are goin to yakyakistan? Cool! " Said Papageno.

"What? Aren't you supposed to not willing to do it? " Zorro asked.

"Why, that's cool! I dunno why, but it sounds so fun! Why do I don't wanna go? " Papageno said.

"But still, " Lion said, "we need preparation. I mean, why the guards still haven't found out why the house collapsed, I mean we hear no rumors at all. Are they suspicious on us now? Would Celestia heard of this already? Would they recognize us? Or even so, none of us had been in yakyakistan before, who knows what does the weather like there? And the food? And the train ticket? Do we have any spare bits? There are so many things we need to consider! "

"I've covered that into an accident. " Zorro said.

"How so? "

"I've disguised the ruin scene. No lead will follow us. "

"But when did you do all those? Aren't you staying with us in library all these days? "

"I have my own methods. " Zorro grined lightly.

"So we are not goin to tell our parents? " Lion asked.

They left the library, walked in the street. It was already dusk. In winter, the dusk always came too early. There was only a piece of orange hang in the corner of the sky.

"Are you? " Zorro asked.

"Well... I... " Lion said in hesitation, "I'm not sure. I think I should, but I don't want to. " Saying that, Lion sighed heavily, seemed something in his mind.

"You told me your home is in a small town nearby, in the country of Canterlot, but you didn't tell how did you get out from your home? "

"I... I escaped without telling them. I thought it would be easy and would be back soon. "

"Your concern is right. If you think you should let your family know... " Zorro said.

"No... never mind, I... " Lion sighed again, stoped this topic, "let's move on, what is your plan to yakyakistan? I mean, if we take the train, we would be in yakyakistan in two days absolutely, which is the fastest, the most ideal one. But we can't just do that, for foals are not allowed to take train without any grown-ups companying. You can also change into a horse, but there will be a changling detector too. "

"Don't worry, I've got all this, " Zorro opened his mouth, "here is the plan. We are gonna go to the nearest village where there is a train station but no detectors, to avoid it, and then we take the train. "

A worry rose from Lion's mind.

"So we are catching up during the night? How far is it? If I knew that eariler, I'd rather staying at home... " Papageno murured.

A feeling of upset in Lion's mind kept floating and sinking, like an unsteable theme hidden in the various parts of the polyphony, could burst out any time.

"Not too far, we can walk there in hours. But that's your hometown, " Zorro said, and turned his head to Lion, "you have time to consider if tell your family, we are going your town anyway. "

It floated! Didn't appear in Lion's face, but it appeared, and took control of the all sounds in his mind, getting stronger and stronger, buzzing around. A feeling that made him not want to think about his family. That was his heaviest burden.

Even Lion was just a foal, but ponies' hearts are not exactly match their ages, especially in that situation. He was young, but his experience gave him a lot, which is the treassures during his whole life. Some experiences change a pony for life, they don't say that for no reason. Well, make it shortly, Lion's family is... not happy at all. He was born in a tough age, his mother was kind and warm-hearted, but his dad, well, let's just pass him, I don't want to let that interrupt and ruin this chapter. Anyway, remember, god is not fair. He gives some misfortunes just random, like a drunk wandering in the street carelessly, and bumped into something. Sometimes there is a solution, while sometimes there is not. Lion was fearing. He wanted to be brave to face all those things that not right, he knew he wasn't that pony. Escape! There was always a voice said, escape, even to the moon, or wherever else, just not there, anywhere will do! Just escape! But he never did that for once.

During all their path, Lion didn't say anything, just kept walking. Papageno said something funny, but he couldn't quite remember, he wasn't listening. Zorro didn't laugh. He said something, and then Papageno said something. Papageno could hardly keep quiet, but Zorro said something again, and made him silent.

It was so clear, the sky, like a piece of crystal. Stars everywhere, some were lighter, while some were darker. Bugs buzzing in the winds, winds wuthering throught the branches.

It was deep night when they arrived. Lion wanted to go back to his house and take a look. There was a fire inside, he was surprised that his parents hadn't slept yet so late. Something made a sound from Lion's hooves. The pony inside that house heard it clearly, went to the door, called eagerly: "Lion? Is that you? Why do you come back so late? " Somepony came out from that door, and hugged him tightly. So tight, that Lion could barely breathe. Mom tried not to let her tears out, but failed.

"Are those your friends? " Lion's mom noticed the other two foals standing not far from here, Papageno, she knew him, and another one which was a black pegasus, looked friendly. She didn't wait for the answer, said quickly: "quick, get in, your dad is sleeping, don't let him find out you are... "

"WHO'S THERE! " a thunder just blast in the sky. With a light on his horn, he went out, "How do you dare to come back! " dad seemed got drunk, and acted so angry. He tried to punch Lion, but mom blocked that.

"Go away, you monster! " she shouted because of the pain. She pushed Lion away, stared at the dad, with rage in her eyes too, against his. From her eyes, there was no fear.

Lion scared at first, just like his friends. But soon he was back to the zone. His body was still trembling because of the anger. He didn't feel any surprise at all about all this, but he was still kind of shocked. As he used to, not totally, but he still kept calm, or was trying to keep calm. He wanted to shout and cry, but not that day, not that evening.

"Get off from my mother, you loser! " fire burning in Lion's eyes. He knew, his father couldn't bear somepony call him a "loser" especially his own son. As expected, the dad turned to him. That was a dark face, twisted. So many times, Lion thought that his life will be like his father too, a loser, he felt angry about that, and everytime he just got nothing but disappointed. Looking his face, Lion suddenly felt a little pity, that face was so old, not handsome as the past days any more, and poor. Somepony's life is like a meat has no life, hanging in the air and just want to fall down, and when falling, also drags everything around him down. To Lion, he was more than that. He was his father. In Lion's earliest memory, he... well, we can't say hate, but he disliked him and the hatred grew. At first, that was just a star of fire, a star of fear, then the terror. Lion wouldn't want to recall that memory for a reason. When dad looked at him like this, he wanted to back off in his heart, even though that looking was not so scary. He told him not to turn back, and he really didn't. He stared at his dad, concentrated. He knew what would be the next move, a spell, powerful but not deadly, then he could take a breathe. As expected, again, a strong magic spell came from dad's horn. Lion dodged that, but the light shot at Papageno. Papageno fainted down by that shoot. Zorro was standing with Papageno, but he dodged quickly when the light came. "What did you just say? " dad questioned in the rage. He really did hate that, maybe that was just because he did think he is a loser too, in his deep inside, but that is not what I should know.

"For all these years, since I was born, you are always like this and I'm tired of it! It's enough! " Lion trembled, shooting a ray to his dad. But he ducked that. A chair flew out from the house, rush to Lion. Lion didn't expect that, got a heavy hit in his chin.

"What did you just say, kid? Say it again? "

Dad's words made Lion angrier, he couldn't hold it, charged forward, but missed again. He tried to stand up, but a punch made his face felt hot. Tears filled Lion's eyes for the pain.

"You are not a father, not qualified! You don't deserve it! You are even not a horse, shame on you! " His teeth creaked, his body trembled seriously.

His eyes turned into pure white and lighted his body again. A bright ray shot upwards into the heaven, extremely strong, lighted the half of the sky. The magic flow overloaded, like it was shouting, eagering to escape from this weak body, making the body floated in the air. Dad looked at that as if it was the first time he saw this kind of scene, which is true. Nopony, except Papageno the Fainted and Zorro, had ever seen him like that, or knew how could this possible.

"By my will, you shall not hurt! " The words came out from Lion's month, but sounded not like his voice, but so resonant, sounded like a clarinet but with the organ's tone. Finished those words, the lights suddenly disappeared, Lion fainted and his body lost his balance, fell down to earth.

"Oh no... " Zorro said in his heart, and frowned. That was the first time that he worried about Lion.

It was already dark again when Lion woke up, and he was already in the express to the yakyakistan. He didn't know what happened last night, but his two partners were just right aside him. They told him that his secret might have been exposed, but only his parents saw what happened exactly. And they told him that he shouldn't worry, they must decrypt that note as the first priority. Lion worried about his parents, asked his paterners. Zorro said that he didn't take care of that too much but everything will be fine. Papageno was still talking about his brave performance in that battle, even he just did nothing but carry Lion to the train, which was also following Zorro's order. Lion didn't listen. Partners told him to eat, so he took some, but really had no appetit. It was so quiet, the whole train was asleep, so as the outside. His eyes saw the further places through the window. Montains smoked in the far lands, and the waters spreaded. He knew he has no back. He felt tired soon. He felt that the train was runing into the spaces, runing on the huge mirror, reflecting dreams.

The Third Eye (Part One)

During Lion's dream, there was a lake. But that is not the star lake, he just knew that. Dark waters flew slowly, shining like a metal. The sky was as heavy as a metal too. It slowed down, watching Lion wherever he hided himself. Then suddenly all was gone, like the ink cleaned by water, vanished to the air. And then there was a sound. He looked and listened carefully. He found he stood in the middle of a field, a wildland. He couldn't locate the sound, because it was moving around, like fugee.

"Ring ... "

He remembered. The sound of magic bells. He even believed that is the bells which saved his life for just a moment. When he tend to hear it, the sound vanished, too. But when he didn't pay attention to it, the bells rang again. Like the stars smiling, the sound. And it's a clear fontain flew into his heart, so cold, and full of happiness. The night is like the sky painted by Vencent Neigh Gogh, had a deadly beauty. He looked around, the montains slept in the far lands. The plain is full of emptiness, just one pony standing in its heart. Montains surrounded, but very far away. Just him.

He felt so lonely. And he never felt that before.

A voice called. Resonant and gentle.

"Lion Song. Thou shall not be afraid. We shall light, guide, but thou shall must follow thy own path, that we cannotdo it for thou. Beware, and take care, " and then the voice got louder, more like not speaking to Lion, "begone, the dark creatures, the nightmare, I curse you! " Then there was a thunder slashed.

After that, the sky was getting clearer, more green got in. There was no more wildland but more like equestria, his home village. There was a wooden mill, with the rill chattering, and butterflies playing. He felt like he was in his childhood again, tho he was exactly in his childhood, but more in mental. His mind met freedom.

This dream was sweet. Lion was still sleeping even the train met his destination, and his paterners had to shaked him awake.

The train station was new, and so upper-class style. There was no wonder, because there was no train station at the begining, and it was built just a few years ago. There was a changling detector, but just a piece of cake for Zorro. He cheated it easily.

There were two giant yak statues at the entrance, when you walk acorss that, yakyakistan land is right here. The tourists crowded the road, with ridiculous flags in their hats or hooves. Lion reminded what did Fury write in his diary: Yakyakistan is a poor country. Sloven yakyakistanishes, and dirty streets, they have their wisdom, but still not civilized. They like to get them drunk, and being rude to everypony, and consider that a polite manner. It changed a lot, or maybe Lion just didn't see the real yakyakistan, Lion couldn't sure. Tourism makes profit, but also hides the dark sides from the light.

They found a cheap hotel far from the tourism zone, somewhere don't have too much famous places of interest, somewhere don't too crowd. Zorro changed him into a grown-up, a black pegasi as always, and went in. Before that, Lion took a little peek at the alley, wet and dirty, just like what Fury had described in his paragraph. Maybe he was right. Lion could even imagine there is a foal yelling "help me" but finally was pulled away in that alley.

The next day, they went to the collage where Fury had studied when he was young. "The National University of Yakyakistan", the characters stayed steadily in a wooden board, hanging in a place that wouldn't get too much attention, the handwriting is quite yakyakistanish style, thin and long, like a mop mopping the edge of the board, touching the ground. The gate looked like just renovated, the paint wasn't dried yet. There was a little cabin aside, with some guard sitting in it, drinking tea, reading newspapers.

"Hold on! Report your purpose! " A fat yak, just as fat as any yaks, noticed the strangers, stopped them, with a spear in his hand.

"Erhm... " the stallion, of course it was Zorro as the pegasi, hesitated, with a embarrassed smile, "my name is Nopony, and these are my little students, we just want to take a visit, to encourage them to study hard so they can enter this world's most famous and greatest university. "

The guard looked at the two foals and looked at Zorro again, said, "sorry, sir, we don't support any kind of visit, whatever the purpose is. You may go back. "

So the foals left, loafing in the street.

"Seriously?! World's most famous and the greatest university? Why don't you just say you are Celestia! " Lion complained.

"Wait what? Good idea! Hmm... no... hmm... "

"What are you talking about? " Lion said.

"Listen, they don't like strangers go in, that means something is weird in this university. Your words remind me that I can change myself into princess Celestia, but then maybe tis a bad idea. " Zorro said slowly.

"You are right, you can't change yourself into princess... " Lion thought about something suddenly. It was the voice in his dream, it sounded like a princess. Could be Luna, but couldn't sure, because there was just a voice but no imagine. Lion was conquered by that voice, it was so fabulous, and the greatest voice he ever heared, even there was a moment that he would do anything for that voice no matter who is behind it.

"Hey! " Papageno shaked Lion to earth from his day dreaming.

They still followed the street, actually the streets around the university. In the gate there was guard room, and four or maybe more cameras, as they had seen before, and there was no way to go through it. There was also a door in the back, it was small but also two cameras there. The walls were high, that was easy as pie for an unicorn, because they can teleport, but they can not sure if there are more cameras. There was no extra openings. At the east part, there should be a yard, for no buidlings could be seen from the outside, and then they should find the archive, where may have some files about young Fury. Zorro couldn't be Celestia, because he couldn't simulate the tone and the royal qualities, and that may make a shocking news, which would be really shocking and bad for them, but if anypony found them suddenly, he can change into the princess to distract.

That was the plan, the time should be tonight.

It was not the first time being a burglar like this for all of them. They crossed the wall skillfully, and landed in the lawn, without a sound. They simply checked, and soon got a conclusion that they were not captured by cameras. There is none around the lawn, but in in main building of the campus, there were cameras outside, covering the paths.

They went to the back side of the main building, and leaving Papageno there, in a corner. Zorro and Lion and fly and teleport into the building, leaving no images in the cameras (thank celestia, they cameras were all set in low position, that couldn't get anything flying creatures), but since Papageno is just an earth pony, he couldn't get in. Besides, they were afraid if Papageno would mess things up, for he was clumsy and talktive. So they left Papageno outside, but as a sentry, to let him keep watch. Then the two burglars went in.

This building was quite huge. There were several buildings in the campus, but this one was the largest one, and that was why did they think the archieve might be there. It was dark and quiet, the hearts of two foals were already hanging in their throats, just waiting to jump out of it. They still felt nervous, and held their breathe. A glimmering came out from Lion's horn, checking the map aside aside the stairs, they found they were in east wing, the third floor, and the archieve was also in the same floor, but the west wing. They located what they were heading to, easily, but they had no time to cheer. They moved their hooves slowly forward, following the long corridor, with ears up, alerting. The light broke into from the window, it was the moon, and the city's lights from somewhere else. Tourism, a tourism city never rest, day by day, night by night. The fury could even be heard from this place. Lion sighed slightly. He wondered that if the voice he heard in his dream was Princess Luna. The question was meaningless, and he didn't want to do anything after knowing it, he just wondered the answer. If Luna rules all the dreams of equestria, does she also protect the child yaks who live in yakyakistan? If doesn't, then who will protect them from the nightmares? Yakyakistan has a Prince name Stanford, but a princess? Seems never had one. Lion felt sorry for them, because they were not as lucky as him, nopony protect them from their terrible dreams.

The corridor was not long actually, but it was long enough for two foals. They felt it years to arrive the end of it: a dead end.

"What? " Lion didn't expect that. That supposed to be the west wing, but now there was only a wall with a door in it. Also there was a board with some characters in it, but they could only identify a word "room". The door looked old and dirty, Zorro tried to pull it, and push, but the door stood still. "Let's go. " Zorro said lightly. Lion didn't know really what did Zorro want, but he could guess it, so he said nothing and followed. They returned to the first place, there were stairs, they followed, trying to get to the upper or lower floor to see if there are any other way. But the way was blocked too. They returned and then checked the map again. The map proved the doubt in their hearts. There was no such a chamber shown on it. Nothing, not even a name, was marked in the map. It was quite strange.

Following that long long corridor, they were standing in front of that chamber, again. It seemed that the chamber was right on the middle of this floor, connecting the two wings of it, and maybe, just maybe, and the foals thought like that too, that if they can get inside, then there must be a way to get to the west. Lion tried to pull that door, and then push, still, nothing happened.

"Step back. " Zorro said.

He tried to cast a spell. As I already mentioned it for several times, that the changling's magic is quite different from the unicorn's. It is more like dark magic. Even all the changling changed into good ones in Sorex's reign, there are still differences. Anyway, when a silver orb of magic came from Zorro's horn, he knew he did it. That orb slid, and then disappeared. Zorro pulled that door lightly, but once his hoof touched its surface, the door opened.

They came in.

They couldn't close their mouths, even Zorro.

It was like a dragon's cave. Strange things everywhere, creepy things. Skulls (nopony knows if they were real or just models), dream catchers (very yakyakistanish), thangkas hanging on the wall, weird wizard staffs, herbs in the bowl on a wooden table. Lion felt a little regret that he didn't bring Papageno together, because he would be really happy and exciting seeing all those stuff. He went to the window, trying to find Papageno, but he couldn't see him from this angle, the building blocked it.

"Don't worry about him, let's finish our job first. "

Zorro came to the window, and drew the curtains, and then lighted a candle in his hoof, just found somewhere from this room. It seems that nopony had ever came here for quite a long time, maybe years, Lion thought. Everything was covered in dust, they could smell it. Some pictures on the wall, painted by somepony, looked familiar. It was painted by the same pony who drew the magical symbol in that paper they got in Fury's secret cabin. It was also like a symbol too. When Lion came and took a closer look, it suddenly glimmered. Out of suprise, this time nothing happened to Lion. Lion caught a paper from the desk, copied it. Zorro found a book, it was a special edition, the first edition of the yakyakistanish ancient history book. He opened the book, but he couldn't recognize any of words in that page. He had a quick flip through the book, he couldn't recognize any. But it seemed the book was written in two languages, Zorro could only get that conclusion. In the first page, there was a sentence written by somepony, that was not in equestrian language absolutely, but according to the handwriting, he thought that belonged to Fury. "Eques, nosce tu ipsum, " it wrote. And, he also found several pages which shouldn't be there, could belong to somewhere else, then somepony tore them off, and put it there. The characters unknown, again, but one thing could be sure, that was Inky wrote those pages. Could be a part from his diary, he guessed.

"Come here. " Zorro said.

Lion came and took a quick look at the book, and noticed the inscription in the first page, too. "Fury! " he asked Zorro, "do you know what does it say? " Saying nothing, Zorro shaked his head, and looked at Lion for a while. He heard a sound. Zorro blew up the candle quickly, like a wind, and grabed Lion, hided behind the door they've opened. Nopony or yak came here. That sound was suspicious. It didn't sound like from corridor, even didn't sound like from a hoof. But he could tell that it was not just a cat or something. That sound must be somepony made on purpose. Standing still, they listened carefully.

"Dit - dit - dit -"

"Dah - dah - dah -"

"Dit - dit - dit -"

And then was heard no more. And then, they didn't know how long did it take, that sound happened again. They had no idea what was that about, but somepony must be sending a message through knocking something, and made a noise like that. It was from the desk.

They moved the desk somewhere else, there was a gate on the ground, made of iron, looked like a gate of a giant safe box. And there was a combination lock. What a surprise! They looked at each other, didn't know what to do at the instant.

"Errr... lend a hoof? " Finally Lion asked.

"You crazy? That's not our job! Leave somepony else to save him and let's just get to the archieve! " Zorro looked at Lion doubtfully, looked a little angry.

"Hey! Why are you getting so angry? Do you really want leave a poor somepony who's asking for help, and maybe he has been trying to find help for years? " Lion was a little more angry, too.

"No! " Zorro said quicker, trying to lower his tone, "I mean we shouldn't waste time in it! We must get Fury's file before dawn, and Papageno is still waiting for us! Besides we don't know if that is a signal for help or what, you understand? "

Zorro tried to reason him but it seemed failed. Lion wanted to open that door and check anyway. He yelled, "no I don't! Why are you thinking that I can trust you? Why are you thinking, that I never doubt you and your purpose? You just wanna get what you want and never cared about anypony! You are selfish! And now use your magic to get this door open, quick! "
Nopony noticed that Lion's eye was getting weird, which might make him such angry and out of control. But we don't have time to talk about that now. Because Zorro was getting angry too. No, angry is not enough to describe him. He saved Lion's life from the explosion in Canterlot, and saved him from his parents, taking care of him when he past out, and what did he get after all? A command. A command that he will never accept, just like the others. He tried to hold his tears, and turn his back, just simply said a word, peacefully: "fine. "

Zorro exited, closed the door at his back, walked into that long long corridor. The archieve was at the head of him, and his friend was behind, locked in a room.

It was dawn when Zorro went back to the lawn. Papageno slept at the corner. He shaked Papageno awake, and brought them outside of the wall.

"What happened? Where is Lion? " Seeing Lion wasn't with him, Papageno felt a little worried, "and what did you get from Fury's file? Anything useful? "

"The file is empty. There are even more questions. I must investigate them alone. Lion is trapped inside, I suppose, since he is not here. But don't worry, we will find a way save him, and before that, hope he is still safe, " stopped at the front door of the hotel, Zorro didn't quite want to enter, "now go to your room and if you don't have too much things to do, just don't get out of it. I must investigate something important, stay right here in your room, and I will get back once things are done. "

"Bu - But - you didn't take any rest last night! " Papageno turned his head, but there was already no sign of anypony else.

Let's back to the last night.

Zorro didn't think too much. If you forget everything we've been through and still wanna do what you want, well, suit yourself! But meanwhile, a part of him hoped that Lion could catch up and join him, but that didn't happen. Checked the sky out there, he knew he doesn't have too much time.

He went in the archieve. The boxes filled the room, and every box had a mark in it. Zorro searched for a while, finally he found a file with a name in its cover: Inky Book. it seems that he didn't change his name into Fury Comedian yet, in his younger ages. He opened the file, but what he saw made him shocked.

It was empty, not a word, no, not even a paper. Could it be that the file never existed? No, there is no way! Somepony must stole it! Zorro thought. He felt his anger is going to burn this place!

Suddenly, he heard a sound. It was like a explosion from the room where he had been, he wasn't sure what just happened, but he was worried. He could imagine the worst, and that increased his anger, and his fear.

"Stupid! "

Zorro cursed Lion in his heart while running back. You are not Papageno, and you do stupid things! Damn! He felt quite angry and frustrated. But when he got there, there was no more Lion.

He could hardly believe what he saw. There was big hole in the ground, and no idea where it would lead to. Dusts everywhere, the walls turned to black. Only celestia knows how did Lion make a powerful explosion! But galdly there was no fur left in the ground, so Lion survived and fell into that hole he made. Zorro breathed a sign of relief.

Wait...

He heard something. Somepony was walking in the building, maybe he was unlocking the doors in the stairs. That sound calmed him. No, I can't follow. It is already dawn, soon will be morning, and the guard is opening the gate and the doors.

He came out, locked that room, and cast a strong spell to make a magic lock. He was satisfied with his work. There was nopony come here for a long time, and he added a spell on that door, so nopony could get in and know what was happened. Having done those, he changed into a pegasus and flew out through the window, and found Papageno and woke him... well, you know the rests.

Lion couldn't remember when did he lose his consciousness when he woke up. It was a deep hole, it seems. It reminded him the novel talking about a young little girl went into a wonderland through a rabbit hole. He was in the bottom of it, the grasses were like a giant mattress, so soft and relaxing. He opened his eyes, trying to recall his memory. There was a light, yes, it stung the eyes, and then he couldn't get more, and to recall what happened just made his brain like burning. He could barely stand up, shaking his head, to make his mind clearer. He listened carefully, for one second he could hear nothing but only the sound when waterdrops hit the ground. But then here it was, the knocking sound continued, as what he heard upwards, even clearer. He lighted his horn as a torch, looked around. He felt his magic was weakening, the light from his horn kept flickering. It was a huge room, really huge. Lion wondered that if this room could contain all the ponies in his little town, and there would be much more spaces. The room is also beautiful, it had a baroque style of decoration, the gold in the pillars still shined fine and well, even covered by the dusts of time. The arcs were old, but still looked with the light of grace, looked like an artwork from the drynaid race.

It was not a cave, but a part of an ancient palace, dark and wet, but still a palace, hiding beneth the earth for a long time, without any protection, let alone repairment.

The sound continued. The sign of calling for help.

Lion stepped forward.

The sound suddenly disappeared.

It didn't take him long to bring him in front of another door. Actually there was only one door. It was closed tightly. Zorro wanted to open it, but before that, he heard something on the other side. Hoofsteps. Somepony is coming.

Zorro hided himself behind a rock, then the door was opened. Two pony walked out, cloaked and hooded. Zorro couldn't that his face from his place.

"So, " one of them spoke, "what do you do with him? "

"We wait for the order came from the goddness. Until then, " the other one answered, "he is locked. "

"Fair enough then. He should know he must pay for... "

"Silence! " for once, Lion thought that he was found, but he didn't. That one continued speech, "we shall not judge him on our own. We belong to the third eye. "

They stopped, greeted to each other, and went far in different directions.

"The third eye... what does that mean, is that a god of them? " While thinking, Lion stepped forward to that door.

The door was made of stone, like the others, giant and heavy, and decorated with dusty gems. Some gems were missing, like an empty hole without an eyeball. The door wasn't locked, maybe that's because those two ponies forgot that. But that also means they would come back and check soon.

Lion opened the door and went in, and closed that door carefully. Luckily he didn't make any noises.

This place was totally a piece of ruin. The ground had sunk like for ages, and there were fractures all over the walls. There was a pipe made of bronze, leaded to somewhere. Asides it, there were so many cages made of steel, in one of them, there was a very very old horse, weary and could hardly open his eyes. It was him! It must the pony who sent the help message! Lion thought, and went closer, considering that if he should shake him awake or not. In this moment, the door was opened again, and came a monk.

"I knew you would be here. Now hand over the book! Quickly! " the monk yelled at him, and came closer. He didn't come alone.

"What? The... what book? " Lion confused, stood alertly.

"The diary wrote by Inky. Give it to me. We promise that we won't hurt you. " the monk smiled, but the instinct told Lion that he couldn't be trusted.

Lion hissed.

He didn't know what's the relation with that diary, but he felt angry and fearful. Sometimes when we feel helpless and fearful, we act like we are angry, and hiss to everyone around including our friends.

Lion felt bad, because he had lost his temper to his friend Zorro, and put him away. And this moment he standed alone, without any friends asides. He hurt Zorro, he thought. He hated himself for what he had done to Zorro, for what he had spoken, for this pony what he became.

Lion felt his heart is dead. After leaving his home, after traveling so far, after saying all those hurting words.

He felt guilty.