Moon Rise

Chapters

ch.2 - In the Beast's den
ch.4 - Origami of Relationships
ch.5 - Meeting of the sisters
ch. 6 - Alicorn's everyday life
ch. 7 - Drawings of life
ch. 8 - Games and roses
ch. 9 - Reality and Dreams
Special edition: Alicorn's songs
ch.1 - Unexpected protector
ch.3 - Common ground

ch.2 - In the Beast's den

Wandering in a haze of my blessed dreams, I did not want to wake up at all. My dream was so beautiful: for the first time in hundreds of years I was being cared for, bathed and fed. Though I was not in Equestria or even on the Moon, and the one who looked after me did not resemble a steed at all, but it was magnificent. So it was a weight on my mind, that I was to awaken soon in a stone-walled cold, laying on bags, staring at the dim little “sun” on the ceiling or into the pitch darkness.

Having heard some noise, which sounded like a muffled thud, I woke up suddenly. And a fainting unaccountable terror seized me.

”Where am I?!”

This question rang as an alarm bell, shattering that fear into a thousand icy splinters, which cut their edges against my soul. I am laying on something soft and something is covering me. Why is the air so warm and sultry? It does not smell like stuffy air in the basement. I do not feel my right legs, side and all the right half of my body. The heartbeat echoes across my innards and, listening to it, I realize that I am still alive. It is terrifying to move, to open my eyes, to see the reality.

Some fibres tickle my nose at every breath. Having put out my tongue, I touched the thing around my nose carefully. It was fleece. The thought of being wrapped in someone’s hide made me feel uneasy, but terror for life overcame my disgust. Listening to the silence, I vainly tried to understand what was happening around me. All that I heard was my own breathing.

”Princess, always expecting the worst will have your nerves unstrung” - the voice that I heard almost made me scream. With a strangled squeak I flinched, trying to shrink, to seem smaller. At the same moment, my right side and legs burned with a painful itch. By the horse’s apples! I had lost feeling of a good half of my body, laying here. I moved my head a little, stretching a numb neck. The hide, which was covering me, slipped down and my nose thrust outside. Having inhaled a fresh air, I decided to take a look at whatever was behind the edge of the hide.

Almighty Tia! This wasn’t a dream! Am I not at the basement? I examined this rather large room with astonishment. Bright ceiling and light-yellow walls, covered with endless ornate pattern, gave a semblance of warmth and cosiness. The lamp, hanging from the ceiling, resembled a ring suspended on chains. Having had a closer look, I remembered that there were similar lamps in a royal palace. Their tiered rings had burning candles on them. This lamp had a white cowl instead of the candles. Its edges rested upon the ring and there was transparent vial beneath it.

O-o-of, I never forget a voice. So I did not only remember the words, he said yesterday, but “heard” them again, as if they sounded around my ear. That scared me. But really, it may not be so bad. The fabric, which was covering me, turned out to be a woolen blanket, not a hide. It was yellow, with small round spots. Having thrown the blanket off, I got to all my feet, yawned and stretched, feeling a delicious shiver in my every muscle. Then I looked around.

There were plenty of big and small paintings, hanging on the walls. They depicted graceful spotted cats, which were unfamiliar to me. I took a closer look, trying to fathom, to feel the captured emotions. There was a family of cats, having a rest in the shade of a tree. All of them were pleased with their full stomachs. And there was a kitten, licking its mother’s nose. That simple gesture carried so much love and tenderness in it. The next painting depicted a cat, whose amber eyes seemed to look straight into the soul with their penetrating gaze. I moved aside a little - the cat continued to watch me. Having put my forelegs on the back of the sofa, I touched the painting with my hoof hesitantly. I expected the cat to do anything: attack, roar, run away. The image rustled quietly and remained motionless. Emboldened, I reached the edge of the painting and touched it with my lips. It was not papyrus or leather, but instead something thin, smooth and pliant. And the picture itself was so life-like. I feasted my eyes upon the pattern of spots and stripes on the animal’s muzzle. Why those stripes, which ran from its eyes down the cheeks, seemed so familiar, as well as the other, slanting ones, which were drawn across the temples? It was like I saw the same pattern very recently on the face of... Lairy? What can he have in common with those animals?

Having turned to the next picture, I yawned involuntarily. The yawning of the chilling cat was just that contagious. Its jaws were wide open, showing four yellow fangs, great number of sharp teeth and a pink tongue.

”It is definitely not herbivore” - I thought, having examined the mouth in detail, up to the gullet. The next picture paralyzed me with fright. The spotted animal was lying on dried and worn by the heat land, digging into the neck of some little ungulate. The sun was reflected in the victim’s glazed, bulging eyes, its wounds were bleeding, the tongue was hanging out of its mouth. Inhaling convulsively, I looked away and touched my own neck with the hoof to make sure it was still intact. For a moment it felt as if it was my throat, that the predator’s fangs had impaled. I did not want to examine the paintings anymore. I looked down and it was a very unpleasant surprise for me, that the bedsheet had many spotted patterns as well.

”May Discord tore me! Did I sleep on all of that?!”

I gave a loud disgusted snort and jumped from the sofa down to the soft brown carpet. I was lucky it did not have any spots on it or, by my Moon, I would be sitting on the ceiling. Couldn’t my sister find someone, who was not as bloodthirsty as this, what was his name again, Cheetah? And how can he know her, me, the Equestria? And at the same time how can’t he know who are the earth pony? Come on, recall what else did you blurt out to him? I told him everything about the ponies, but still I did not say anything special about my sister and myself, just mentioned our control of the heavenly bodies. And it was...

”Uh-uh” - The intense tingling feeling in my lower stomach diverted me from the worried thoughts. Having sprang up, I tripped around the house with my tail between my legs. I opened the unfamiliar door. There was bed, table and wardrobe in the room. Not this way. I rushed towards the next door. There was table with crockery on it and the white cabinet. I see, we had a dinner in there I ran out into the corridor and opened the third door, which did not have any peculiar locks or handles. There were tiles on the walls, a bathtub and that... how did Lairy show me? I opened the lid, lifted my tail up and sat down quickly. O-o-h, I made it just in time.

The rest of my gloomy thoughts came with a feeling of a certain satisfaction. The bad things are: I did not know anything of my sister’s or Lairy’s plans. How long will I live there? Will I live at all? I became careless, I could have been killed easily. Those paintings on the walls are not encouraging at all. The good things are: it is warm here. I am being fed, even bathed and talked to. I am not constrained, there are no chains on me and I am relatively free. What should I do? I should pay attention and try to avoid being caught by surprise. It is quite possible for Lairy to be a werecat, and for those pictures on the walls - to be the portraits of his family. In that case I am to become a “dinner”. And I do not want that at all! On the other side he seems to mean me no harm, I am recovering and soon I will try to clarify my fate. Go on, admit it to yourself, at least...

”Yes, I desperately need love and care...” - I whispered, looking at the ceiling, feeling the tears rolling down my cheeks and neck - “Thank you, Celestia, for you are the one who forget me not”

The light from the street was making the entire house bright. It reached the corridor, reflecting from the walls. But there was semi-darkness in the bathroom. Examining the glassy “little sun”, which hanged on the cord, I wondered how it could shine. I remembered, that when the human came in, he touched some place on this wall with his hand. The only distinguished element there was the white square plate, which had a slightly sticking-out upper side. I sniffed that thing and inspected it carefully. Yes, I remembered being asked not to touch anything unfamiliar. But I cannot just eat and sleep all day long, can I?!

Having taken a deep breath, I touched the lower side of the plate with my hoof. I was ready to pull my leg back at any moment. Nothing happened. Wheezing thoughtfully, I poked at it repeatedly, then pushed the sticking-out upper side. The plate moved under my hoof with a quiet click. Having been blinded for the moment by the bright light, I gasped, withdrew my leg and closed my eyes very tight.

Having soon become used to the light, I opened one eye. Aha, so it was the lower side of the plate, which stuck out now. I touched it and the light went out. I saw the pattern. I lit the “sun” again and tried to take a closer look at it.

There was a shining lightning, supported on thin filaments in the core of the vial. It emitted steady heat and uncomfortably bright light, which was burning into my eyes. It appeared to be in kindred with a thunderbolt, although the light was not flashing or dancing like a real fire. The lightning was deadly and dangerous, but the human used its power to light his home. That was quite impressive.

I flushed the toilet, turned out the lightning, waited for the colour splashes to stop bustling in front of my eyes and went to explore the house thoroughly. Having inspected walls of the corridor, I found the “plate of light” easily. It was located far up, but I rose on my hind legs and pushed it by my nose, feeling safe this time. There was a heavy front door with three locks on it. I remembered that its external part was made of iron. So, I was protected very well. Or was I locked as well? And there was the place I bumped into with my horn. The rugged edges have been already put together and stuck up by some limpid tape. It seemed hardly noticeable.

Having opened the wardrobe, I touched the clothes, which were hanging in there, and tried on the shoes out of curiosity. They were long, tight and did not resemble the rounded hoof-shoes at all. Did I really expect them to take the form of my hooves? But, why not? That would be very practical.

I moved from the wardrobe to the other side of the corridor. There was a big cabinet with short legs and small white box on the top. The front sides of that cabinet could be opened. I had a look behind them, found pieces of iron there, limpid little bags and jars, some of which emitted an acrid smell.

The face of that small white box was reclined heavily and had a disc with round little holes on the left side. There was also a thing lying on projections above the disc. Its ends were sharply curved downwards, one of them was tied to the box by a short twisted wire. And the same energy as in the “little sun” could be felt gleaming in the box.

Having put my elbows on the cabinet, I took the thing from the box with my both hooves, fumbled with it, trying to have a better look. Quiet hooting could be heard from the holes on the one end of that thing. I leaned my ear close, listened to them for a while and finally put the thing on its place with an uncomprehending sigh.

The lower end of the large mirror, which hanged on the wall, could almost reach the floor. I examined myself critically. My mane was tangled, tail was dragging over the floor, wings were rumpled after waking up and the look belonged to some exhausted overdriven horse. And still Lairy said that my eyes were beautiful. Either he lied to me crudely or had no conception of beauty at all. But could he mean something else? Yesterday I was literally sparkling with joy. So, do I agree to live like this, being miserable and gloomy, or do I allow myself to be happy here and now? Having closed my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to recapture my yesterday happiness, and could not help smiling. I flapped my wings, shook my whole body and felt a lot better, even inclined to sing something. My magic would spruce my mane and tail up in no time, but since I lacked it now, I hoped that Lairy would not mind to comb my hair. Having winked to my reflection, I turned the light off. Leaving the corridor, I stopped between the living room and the kitchen. I was not particularly hungry, so I decided to have a breakfast after I had a look at the other rooms.

My eyes were drawn to the cupboard in the living room. There were books, golden cups and small statues behind its glass doors. I opened it, drew the chair near the cupboard and began to examine the contents of the shelves comfortably. I took out one book at random, opened it in the middle. My eyes quite ached with those tiny, neat lines of an unknown text. I tried to use the magic of all-reading, which could allow me to read even the ruined pages, rubbed the base of my horn vigorously, but all that I got was a headache. And the contents of the book remained mysterious. The cover depicted a slender horse and a human on its back. He held a long stick with widen lower end in his hand. The clothes of that human were unfamiliar to me and he wore a beautiful head-dress made of many feathers. Lairy was right: I was very lucky to understand humans’ speech and speak to them, otherwise it could be much worse for the silent me. I put the book back to its place, straightened the row and took one of the cups from the shelf. It turned out to be strangely heavy - I had to hold it firmly with my both hooves. Trying to put the cap on the chair next to me, I lost my balance, staggered and kissed the metal with my nose, which left a moist mark on it. At least the chair had the high back and I did not fell down. Finally having placed the cup near me, I breathed at the mark and wiped it clean. I took a look under the lid. The vessel was full of ribbons. Having picked one wide bright ribbon up with the edge of my hoof, I pulled it out carefully. So that’s why the cup was so heavy - there was a big golden thing hanging on the ribbon. I turned it over, admiring the specks of light, and took the other one out of the cap. This one was silver. I wondered, what did that mean? Having put everything back, I placed the cup on its place.

There were many statues of humans, unfamiliar animals, some angular creatures and boxes with the wheels on the lower shelf. Having taken a closer look, I took one of them. It looked like the exact copy of the carriage, in which Lairy brought me here. I put the carriage back and took the statue of a walking cat. It was probably a cheetah. At any rate, it did look like cats on those pictures.

Author - Lusilie

Then I concentrated on some skeleton-like creature. At the first glance the humanoid figure was made of metal. It turned out to be movable and very light. It held long and flat item in its right hand and an angular silvery squiggle in its left. While I was turning it round, looking at it from all sides, the scarlet sheens were glimmering in its empty eye-sockets.

Having put the skeleton back on its stand, I had already withdrawn my hoof, when the statue fell and lost its item. Having given a terrified snore, I picked up the skeleton carefully and found out that he had lost not only the item, but also a half of its hand.

”Oh, it is not good” - wheezing contritely, I tried to restore everything as it should have been. I manage to fasten the skeleton to its stand, but it was too delicate work for my hooves to return the hand to its place, so I put it next to the statue. I did not risk to touch anything else, saddened by the breakage and possible anger of the owner.

Having been tinkering at the figure, I did not notice when the sky cleaned up and sunrays touched my back. Was it the sun? It was so long since I had seen bright, real sunlight. Its novelty made me squint, when I looked through the window. The nearby door was open slightly, letting the cool breeze inside. I went out on the balcony and took a deep breath of the chilly winter air. The boxes and jars in here contained food. Bunches of small red berries were hanging in the corner. Having reached out to berries with my lips, I nipped off some of them and shuddered. Their inexpressible sourness drained my head empty. If those berries were used to clear one’s mind, they surely were efficient beyond any expectation. Having swallowed somehow, I rubbed my numbed cheekbones and noticed a latch on the window-frame of the balcony. Was it possible to open that window? Having examined the latch, I twiddled with it with my hooves and then with my teeth.

”Ow” - the window opened inwards with a sudden clang, its iron frame hit my nose. Whimpering and liking my sore nose, I opened the window wider - or else I could be hit on the back of my head. I looked out from the balcony and the amazement made me forget about my troubles.

”Now that is the height...” - I exclaimed, as I glanced downwards. I could not imagine that I lived so high and that my home was just a little part of a giant building. From a pegasus’s eye view I could clearly see the serene blue sky, the land covered with snow, delicate crowns of trees, narrow paths and grey roads with colorful boxes moving along them. Having taken a better look, I noticed the humans go out of those boxes from time to time. Examining the building, I saw windows and balconies below me, next to me and even above me. And I saw the similar building across the street. Could they be countless houses made of stone and stacked end on end? How could someone live in there? I cast a thoughtful glance from the balcony to the living room. Well, it was quite possible. But can I fly out of here if anything happens? I estimated the width of the window and my sides by eye. It seemed I would have to squeeze through the window with my wings up. But I would not succeed in flying. I became certain of that as soon as I tried to spread and strain my wings for the flight. At best I would slow and break my fall, at worst I would smash myself up. Having let out a sad sigh, I adjusted the distorted feather, folded my wings and tried to close the window. While I was busy with the latch, something fell on my leg. But I did not want my head to be hit by the window, so I shoved the stubborn piece of iron in its place at last and only then looked down at my feet.

There was a board. At least it looked like an ordinary long grey board with its ends being slightly curved upwards. The upper side of the board had a rough relief surface. It did not lie on the floor, but seemed to be floating above it. It intrigued me, so I turned this thing around carefully just to snort. It had wheels at the bottom. And I had hoped naively that it would be magic. I put the board down, placed my left legs on it and moved a little. Yes, it would be very interesting to have a ride.

There was some draped hoop next to the wall. I leant the board against the wall and lifted the fabric. The hoop had many sparkling spokes, which were coming together in the centre, and was fixed to the corner of some iron frame. There were several cog-wheels and a chain, which led to the big wheel in the other corner. It was the second hoop with spokes. Or was that the wheel too? I became tired of examining this unknown machinery, wondering about its purpose. I released the fabric and was ready to leave, when I suddenly saw a real garden blooming on the next balcony. My stomach knotted as I realized the inaccessibility of those beautiful potherbs, growing just a several meters away, behind glass. What I wouldn’t give up to eat those juicy fleshy leaves to my heart’s content. I hiccupped and left the balcony with grievous disappointment.

I pressed my croup against the door to close it and found myself staring at my reflection in the grey front side of some... o-o-oh, it seemed that the whole world of humans was made of stone, iron, glass, edges, wheels and all kinds of boxes. This box was black and large, wide at the front. At the back it was a bit narrower. I touched the featureless side with my nose. It looked like a glass, so it would be better not to touch this mirror with a hoof. What else could it be? There were some goldish symbols written below the glass and no hint I could understand.

There was another, silvery box, lying under the black one. It looked attractively and had many small projections with stripes and triangles on them, and two shining sparkles, green and red. I touched the projection, which had horizontal stripe and triangle on it, carefully with the very edge of my hoof. Somehow this exact symbol intrigued me the most. The sparkles went out, the box growled, its mouth opened suddenly and spat some black object out. Having bitten my lower lip in fear, I pushed the object back. Three sparkles began blinking, I heard hum, rustling, the click and the object was thrown out again. The box wanted me to take it? Lairy’s words came to my mind again. He asked me not to touch anything I was not familiar with. I decided to agree quickly this time and made my way towards the kitchen.

Yesterday I was hungry and busy with the food and conversation. So I was not paying attention to the furniture and decor. But now, sitting on stool and calming myself, I looked around the kitchen. There was a white seasoned wooden table, big yellow jug, which had those spots again, little teapot with flowers on it. That jug had a long thin string. The fork with two tines was attached to it. Puzzled, I twisted the fork in my hooves. I knew what were forks for, but why would someone tie them to the jugs? All the more, the tines were not only blunt, but rounded. You could not spear anything with it. There was also a cup of juice and an upturned bowl. I found the plate of sliced apples and bread under it. Another filled cap and bowl were far away from my side of the table, and I would have to reach for them. Maybe he did not want me to eat everything at once? The apple turned out to be tasteless and hard like a piece of wood, but at least it was food.

I did not notice the usual firewood and a stove and began to think. The house should be heated in winter somehow, but in what way? I already knew that food was kept inside the white cabinet and was heated in the black and white box. But what was heating the rooms if not the warmth of fire? Intrigued, I jumped off the stool and strolled around the kitchen, sniffing the air. It was cooler above the floor and warmer beside the table. Having bent, I looked under the table. There were iron columns, lined in the corner beside the rear wall. They were emitting the heat. I touched the outermost column with my hoof. Yes, it was hot. So this was a stone house, lighted up by lightnings and heated by iron... I became a bit sad - being not able to see a bright, burning dance of fire in here. I finished eating the apple in silence, took a sip of juice, but did not touch bread. I did not know, how difficult or easy was it there to get food, but in Equestria the Earth ponies had to work very hard to grow cereals, vegetables and fruits. In this world it could hardly be different. And I did not want to be a burden for my savior. I did not want to become a sponger. If I were to return to my motherland, I should repay his kindness generously.

I heard a slow and regular rumble. I turned my ear, and then looked back to the sound with caution. It was heard from the white cabinet. I touched its side. The cabinet was shaking notably, and there was a flow of energy circulating on high. Or could it be that someone was freezing inside? Worried, I intended to find it out at any cost and opened the door bravely.

A cold draught blew at me. It turned out to be bright inside the cabinet. And there was no one here. No living creature was waiting for help. There were only shelves with pots, jars, several plates and bottles on them.

Sitting on the floor in front of the cabinet, I examined the shelves and was pleased to find the familiar products, such as eggs, milk, sour cream, juice in the packs. I fiddled with some paper for a while, unwrapping frozen butter, then took a bite of its edge and neighed quietly, enjoying tender taste of the butter, melting on my tongue.

The highest, closed shelf of the cabinet was emitting cold. Having opened it, I saw the real ice.

”And what is that?”

Having taken the heavy package out, I wiped the hoar-frost off the transparent film and sniffed it. It was something red, with yellow and white veins. I did not recognize its smell. But its colour...

I looked around thoughtfully, trying to recall where I could notice this saturated crimson tint earlier. My eyes stopped at the bandage, which was covering my injury. Yesterday Lairy washed the wound and I saw my naked live flesh, which had the same colour as...

The package crashed down like a stone. The icy dust skittered over the floor. My legs weakened, I did not sit down. I almost fell.

”No, no” - I sobbed, looking at the frozen remains in horror. Regarding my fate there was no doubts anymore: I was saved to be killed.

Author's Note

1) This book is being translated from Russian. It is not reccomended to use google translator to read it, because many beautiful moments will be lost that way.

2) The usual request is to feel free to point out any errors in the comments. We are also looking for the regular beta reader.

3) Be patient, the translation is a slow process.

ch.4 - Origami of Relationships

Sunlight, which was illuminating the alley, had difficulties piercing the piles of grey clouds. People were luxuriating in warm beds this early winter morning, only sparrows and titmice, flying in search for food, were disturbing the silence. No one could interfere with the conversation of two creatures. A human, who was sitting comfortably on the snow-clad bench, wore the clothes unsuitable for this time of the year. He was dressed in dark-blue sports pants and grey vest with short sleeves. He was looking with a slight smile at his interlocutor, who was the white alicorn facing him. The weather was windless, but the pony's colourful mane and tail were flowing, enfolded with almost imperceptible magical aura.

"Lairy, explain to me what are you doing to Luna? Why could I not reach her in her dreams the second night in a row?"

"I make her so happy that she snores her head off after that"

"Her head off?!" - the alicorn was terrified - "What do you mean?"

"Celestia, I can show you, but the change of the surroundings will be necessary. Do you mind?"

"Change it" - she nodded, having eyed me from head to foot grimly.

The sun faded quickly, houses crumbled to dust, the alley disappeared like a mirage. Some rabble could be heard crackling under the feet, the outline of the unwelcoming ruins showed itself through the grey fog.

"Are these ruins?!" - Celestia's pink eyes widened in perplexity - "Did you bring Luna here for happiness at night, in the place full of rocks and iron?"

"Be patient, Your Majesty..." - I muttered, sitting down on a concrete pedestal - "And stand beside me, if you want to see everything clearly"

Tia looked through all my memories, till the very moment I had covered Luna with a blanket, in one breath, trying to take notice of every little detail. Having dispelled the mirage of ruins I restored the alley and saw the goldish tears running down Celestia's cheeks, shining in the morning light.

After a moment's hesitation, she stepped closer and gave me a warm kiss on the cheek.

"Forgive me, Lairy, for allowing myself to doubt the purity of your thoughts and actions. I have not seen Luna so happy for a long time... no, I have never seen her so happy" - having smiled shyly, she wiped tears with her wing.

"But what a nerve you have!" - she whispered from under the wing in surprise - "Not every stallion would dare to kiss my sister like that"

"Your sister had no objections" - I answered with a grin.

"What could she do? You gripped her head suddenly and gave her no chance to escape!" - the Day Princess protested, having flapped her wings loudly against her sides, but her eyes were shining brightly with joy - "You remind me of Discord"

"Who is that? And how we are alike?"

"There was some dragon-like monster, Spirit of Сhaos. You have the same smile, which gives no idea what one shall expect from you. You surprise others at your whim and for your pleasure. Fortunately, those are some nice surprises. Finally, your ability to change the fabric of dreams puts you on the same level with Luna. You would have been invaluable in Equestria" - Celestia summarized reflectively.

"Let me give you the visual demonstration of this ability, Your Magesty"

While sitting on the bench casually, I turned the palm of my left hand upwards and bent my fingers slightly. The thick green stalks, which had sprung out of the asphalt suddenly, entwined about Celestia's legs, body, wings and horn gently, lifting her up.

"The same smile..." - she gave me a puzzled look - "What do you have in mind?"

"It is nothing bad, just some pretty effects. I have no claims on the title of "Spirit of Chaos", but I know and use tactics of "the master of chaos" - I scratched the alicorn's chin tenderly.

The stalks grew a little, bent, putting the pony's elegant legs together carefully. She watched the involuntary body movements with caution. Great number of new stalks and leaves had interlaced with one another, creating a big soft couch, which my guest was moved onto.

Those stalks, that had been winded around her, got untied and became part of the couch, and the stalk, which had been coiled around the horn, bloomed heavily, before it withered and crumbled to dust.

Having observed these transformations with curiosity, Celestia settled more comfortably.

"Help yourself" - I offered.

Two huge crimson buds grew between us. The alicorn touch the bud, which was closer to her, with her nose and it opened like a bowl of dark nectar. Sweet, heady fragrance filled the air.

"Thank you, Lairy" - Tia leaned over the bowl with a grateful smile.

"A life should have its pleasantries, even if it is a dream" - I plaited a narcissus flower into the princess' mane - "Would you like some selected oats as well?"

The second bud opened next to the first one.

"However, Lairy, you know how to amaze"

"I like to amaze! The spine-tingling moment of astonishment, embarrassment, confusion and even a touch of panic fills my soul with such euphoria, that it is a pleasure beyond measurement, better than any gratitude. It is the main reason I like to be with Luna so much. Making her glad, I enjoy her amazement and happiness. And I am ready to amaze her again and again, while she is with me - her beauty is enchanting, when she is embarrassed and happy"

"It is comforting to hear such things about the one I had not seen for almost a thousand years" - having swallowed the oats, Celestia took a sip from the bud, which could never become empty - "Unfortunately, the news I have is not so pleasant. I still have not found out the reason, why Luna disappeared from the moon and found herself in your world. If I understand everything right, she ceased to be Nightmare Moon at that, and that is strange as well. I am grateful, that you are taking care of my lost sister and she is happy with you"

"Of course. Although, I agreed to help only out of curiosity and because of money at first, but now this assignment brings me great joy, so it pays in double measure. Besides, the task is similar to my job, so I am accustomed to it already to some extent"
"What is your job?"

"I help people to recover from their injuries and traumas mentally. Having suddenly lost an arm or a leg, people think that their life is over and get depressed. And I, then, shake them up mentally as needed, make them regain confidence, adapt, find new opportunities, discover hidden talents and live their lives maybe not with a song, but at least with a smile"

"So did you shake Luna up as well?" - having lifted a handful of oats magically, Celestia sent the food in her mouth.

"No, it was her, who had nearly shook the life out of me with her voice in the first moments of our acquaintance" - I grinned, having remembered how dirty, dusty and angry Luna was.

"Traditional Royal Canterlot Speaking Voice". Yes, she has this particular feature"

"I persuaded her to be quieter. And we got along"

"So I have seen. And I am looking forward to the moment, when I will be able to hug Luna"

"And what is this Nightmare Moon?"

"I would rather not tell about it. It is an old family matter"

"As you wish, Princess. And how the search for the way from the Earth to Equestria is going?"

"The Earth?" - the oats, which was lifted by telekinesis, hanged in front of Celestia's nose.

"Well, yes. The world, where I live and where Luna lives now, is called "Earth", or the planet Earth to be more exact"

"Thank you for the clue. It may be useful to me. The thing is there is an earth in Equestria as well, but the usual one, to walk upon it. As for the way, like I have said, there are no results yet"

"I wish you success in your search. I will provide Luna with all things necessary during her stay, while you are looking for the right solution. I will try not to tire her to excess, and you will be able to meet her in a dream next night"

"I hope for this meeting" - Celestia winked. Her sides rounded a bit because of the amounts of oats and nectar she had consumed.

A sparrow, which had flied in suddenly, sat down on my shoulder and began to squeak with a monotonous mechanical voice.

"It is time for me to wake up, your Majesty, I am glad to serve" - I saluted, feeling my body disincarnating quickly. The princess smiled benevolently.

***

Having still not awaked fully yet, I groped about the Chinese clock, which was stuck to the head of the bed, turned off the hysterical squeaking and sank into the blissful half doze. There was a cold wet spot near my mouth. The breakfast I had with Celestia in a dream caused enhanced salivation in reality. Having yawned noisily, I looked at the dial - it was 7:08 a.m. I did not have to go anywhere today, so I would be able devote this day to Luna and myself. Having come to the window, I noted one of the strange patterns of my life: I had been always able to have a good walk before the weather changed to the worse. There was a snowfall outside, so heavy, that the house across the street was not visible.

Having went out to the living room, I marveled at Luna, who was asleep on the sofa. Half covered with the blanket, she was lying on her back, her limbs were stretched out, and her muzzle had an expression of an absolute serenity on it. However, her ear turned instinctively, following the sounds of steps, when I went to the bathroom, passing her. Having visited the toilet and taken the shower, I sat down near the pony and tossed back the blanket carefully, looking at Luna.

The alicorn's chest was heaving and subsiding in regular fashion, the nostrils were stirring in tune with her breath, the mouth was half-opened, the eyelids were fluttering slightly. Having touched her neck with my fingers gently, I felt life moving through the arteries. Luna craned her neck instinctively, reaching out for the touch. My fingertips traced her muzzle, having lingered on her lips, and I pulled my hand away just in time, because Luna scratched her nose with the tongue drowsily. I touched her unfurled wing, fingering rough flight feathers. Having begun to stir in her sleep, the alicorn tried to turn onto her side, but the wing did not let her do it. I stroked Luna's chest soothingly, she put her forelegs round my arm and held it close. Scratching pony's chest and neck delicately, I freed myself from her grip, went to the kitchen and returned quickly with a large glass, which was filled to the brim. Having sat down on the floor by the sofa, I held the glass near Luna's head and blew a puff of air in her direction, so the scent could reach her nose.

"Omh-h" - the princess exhaled, having realized suddenly, that she had not been sleeping alone. She opened her eyes widely, the pupils became smaller abruptly. I had already known that it was a sign of a great panic. Luna pressed her hind legs to the belly unconsciously trying to protect herself. At the same time she made an attempt to turn around and get up, but her wings became entangled in the blanket and the alicorn fell backwards awkwardly.

"You?" - a sigh of relief came from the pony. Her pupils regained their usual size.

"There is no one, who can be there, but me. Here is your breakfast in bed" - I helped Luna with disentangling and handed her a glass. Having sat up, she sniffed it.

"Is there a banana?"

"It is a banana cocktail. Drink to your heart content"

"Were you looking at me?" - she asked, having taken the glass from me.

"Yes, of course!" - I chuckled - "How is it possible to pass by indifferently without taking a look at such a beauty? Or at least at some of her parts"

"So, which part of me did you like?" - Luna leaned her cheek on her hoof.

"I liked hindquarters" - I answered in a sweet voice and scratched a crescent on the pony's croup, giving her a predatory grin.

"Ah, the hindquarters... I guessed so. Even in my sleep I had a feeling that I was being devoured with someone's eyes. But still I was sure that those eyes would not eat me up"

Having sighed thoughtfully, Luna pressed her lips to the glass for a long time, swallowing the cocktail with little sips. Finally, she left the empty glass at the corner of the sofa, licked her lips and nose and turned towards me.

"Thank you, it was very delicious and nourishing. Lairy, during the last two days you have been looking at and touching every part of me you could and could not. Now I want to look at you"

"Nudity does not make you uncomfortable, does it?"

"Do you mean the lack of clothes?"

"Yes"

"Hm-m, am I nude in your opinion?"

"No"

"And the sight of me does not make you uncomfortable. Why should I feel uncomfortable looking at you?"

"I am not familiar with the customs of your country, so I would rather prefer to ask than to put you in an awkward position. Do you want to look? Take a look" - having moved onto the sofa, I leant back on the pillows, relaxed, providing Luna with an opportunity to see anything, she wanted to see.

"I had been in positions much worse than "awkward ", so..." - the alicorn looked steadily into my eyes - "I am grateful to you for rescuing me" - she said it a bit solemnly, having pressed her right hoof to her heart and bowed her head.

"It was my honor to help you, Princess Luna"

I touched her cheek, the pony burrowed her nose in my palm, the same way she did it after the supper in the first evening.

***

Holding Lairy's left hand with the hooves on my forelegs, I rubbed my nose against his palm, then pulled away, looking at firm fingers, which had flat claws and were covered with numerous small scars. My hoof slid along the forearm, tousling the short thin hair. The human pressed his fingers together and then uncurled them one by one slowly. I could see the muscles' movement under the skin. Having taken a look at my foreleg, which was free from the bandage, I moved my hoof and metapodium a little. It was curious to notice, that I had fewer muscles and they moved differently.

"Are you comparing the anatomy?"

"Yes. This is so unusual to be close to the creature from another world. And now I finally have a chance to examine it calmly, without any fears to distract me" - I touched the elbow, shoulder, enjoying the feeling of muscles under my hoof.

"You know, it does not seem like something very unusual to me" - Lairy wrapped a strand of my mane around his palm thoughtfully.

"Do you have pony princesses visiting you every day?" - having reached to the motionless ear, I picked at its edge.

"Hey!" - having jerked his head, the human grabbed my leg and pushed it aside - "Your hooves are scratchy after the yesterday trip" - he rubbed the jugged edges with his fingers.

"I am sorry. Yes, they need to be evened"

"It can be done with a file, probably. Well, let us do that after the meal. And as for the visitors, I did not mean it like that"

"Then what did you mean?" - having sat down right up to him, I passed my leg over Lairy's cheek, his stiff fair moustache, which was curved downwards, and curly dark beard gently. There was a small scar on the upper lip.

"For me you just exist, here and now. You are alive, made of flesh and blood. You can be touched, you can be talked to. And anything else... does it really matter? What matters is the attitude"

Lairy touched my lips with his fingers, then his hand slid down the cheek, neck, rested on the shoulder. The touch was strong and at the same time cautious, as if the human was careful not to break me with a wrong move. A pleasant surge of warmth rolled over the whole body to the tips of the ears and tail from his touch. Having closed my eyes, I tried to apprehend this sensation, which had overwhelmed me, to the fullest, but I felt a little confused. Having ceased to listen to the reason, the body took on a life of its own, responding to the love and caring. I had troubles realizing that my head had already rested on Lairy's shoulder and I had clung to him myself, hugging him.

"What is happening to me? Am I doing the right thing?" - I became anxious, vainly trying to get rid of the strange obsession - "For Celestia's sake! What liberties he takes, chewing my ea-a-a-arh-h-h?"

Having caught the ear, which was twitching nervously, with his mouth, Lairy was biting its edge gently. I tried to resist, move my head away or at least object loudly, but the blissful feeling of harmony enveloped me, dissolving my doubts, grieves and fears. The relaxed body was inexpressively heavy. All, what I could do, was to make an unintelligible hoarse noise, being on the brick of consciousness and trying not to lose it.

The head became dizzy from an unexpected move, it seemed to me that I was falling somewhere. A moment later I realized that I was lying on my back on Lairy's lap, and he was leaning over me with a smile, embracing me with one hand. His other hand was caressing the neck, chest and stomach tenderly, occasionally touching udder and soft nipples, as if it was by accident.

Author - Lusilie

"Oh, heavens! If he compels me to coition, I will not... will not be able to say no" - I looked at his face gingerly, vainly trying to foretell my fate. And was there any point in foretelling?

"Eh, cutie horsey, I have totally kawaii-ed you"

So, that was called "kawaii-ed"? I tried to correlate this unfamiliar word with my situation. The uncertainty was scary and alarming, the euphoria had passed, I was able to cut all these liberties short. But I did not want to. I was lying, filled with happiness, enjoying the caresses and rejecting the very idea that anything bad could happen to me. Lairy was dandling me on his knees, as if he was rocking me to sleep.

"Will you continue the examination or go to bed?"

I touched the smooth hairless chest with my lips.

"Is it just me, or you are somehow cool? Is it normal?"

"Yes, it is normal. And you seem so pleasantly hot to me" - having smiled, Lairy put his hand under the wing and pressed the palm to my side - "One can warm their hands on you"

Having unfold my wing, I touched his face and the tip of the feather slid along the black stripe, which extended from the eye down to the corner of the mouth.

"Tell me, what do these stripes mean? These are like theirs" - My gaze switched to the pictures of the cheetahs.

"It is a long story. And it will probably seem strange and obscure to you" - the human run his hand along the wing, tunneling the fingers in the feathers and tousling them slightly.

"And it is even more curious for that. Will you tell it?" - having smiled radiantly, I scratched Lairy's chin and neck with my wing. Suddenly, he made a low quivering noise. I was intrigued and touched the throat with my hoof, while keeping scratching. The sound repeated itself on the exhale. It was similar to the roar, which I heard after I had plunged into the wall of the corridor with my horn, but now it was softer, more prolonged and it did not have signs of annoyance.

"You see? You have a way with cats like me" - the Cheetah stopped purring.

"I want to hear that story, so - I guess I'll scratch you a bit more" - I responded to his move with a rhyme of my own and winked.

"That was not bad, no doubt of that. The story goes back a long way, will you listen to what I have to say?" - Lairy picked at my ear with his fingers. It was still slightly wet after his recent caresses.

"I'm ready to listen, I'm ready to see, for my curiosity is just killing me!" - I had to struggle a bit to find a descent way out of this sudden duel of poetry.

Lairy was telling me, that there were many different nations on Earth, and each of them had its own laws, customs and legends. And the main belief was the belief in a certain higher power, which had created the world and was giving life to all the creatures on Earth. According to some interpretations, a soul, as a part of that power, was being reborn in different physical bodies, living lives and gaining various experiences. Depending on the deeds, which it had been performing in the previous life, the soul could raise to the higher levels of evolution or fall to the lower levels to understand, live through and right the wrongs of its past.

I had almost cried, when Lairy described his demise at the hands of humans. But he was talking about that calmly, like that was something he had endured long ago and it did not hurt him anymore. I could not figure it out, whether he noticed my condition or not. Having sobbed a couple of times, I did not break into tears nevertheless.

Suddenly it flashed upon me. Could it be, that I was asking about something innermost and extremely personal? And what if Lairy's composure was just an attempt to hide his feelings? That thought made me sit up abruptly. The cheetahs on the pictures did not look like ruthless killers to me anymore.

"Forgive me, if I have touched on the sensitive issue" - I placed my hoof on the human's chest sympathetically.

"Sensitive issue? Do you mean my death?"

"Yes. If I understood everything right, you had been living as a cheetah previously, but you were killed and reborn already as a human? I got a feeling, that such memories could be unpleasant"

"You understood it right. And as for the memories..." - Lairy shrugged his shoulders - "It is just water under the bridge. The humans killed my body, but it is not so easy to kill a soul. And all my catlike features, which you have certainly noticed, are the influence of the memory from my past life. That is how I live, being the soul of a cheetah in a human body. The stripes, which you are asking about, are painted as a sign of a totemic kinship with the real cheetahs. More precisely, these stripes are tattoos, but I do not think that this is a word you can recognize"

"Now I know a little more about you. But, Lairy, you have become even more mysterious, than you were before" - I passed my hoof over the chest and muscular stomach. The eyes slid down unintentionally, and the grimace of terror twisted my muzzle, the ears flattened to the head, I tensed, expecting not knowing what. Was it the chase? The violence? Lairy reacted instantly, he lifted his leg and tilted the hip, covering the groin from my eyes. Having turned round quickly, I met his glance and read the light irony in it: "I knew". Yes, I was shaken to the very core, and if the human had touched me, I would have flied away, huddled up in the farther corner of the room behind the bedside-table with the box, and fought off with all my legs.

He did not move, having met my direct gaze, which could make the royal guards put down their tails, evenly. My heart was hammering, as if I had been galloping for a hundred miles at a stretch, escaping my fears. Having closed my eyes, I rubbed my muzzle with the leg, trying to regain my composure.

"Well, what now?" - I heard a voice with a touch of caring interest. I lifted one eyelid a bit, Lairy was still half reclining, his pose did not change.

"Do not cover" - I asked quietly, having put my hoof on the knee of his lifted leg - "Yes, it feels bitter to remember, what I had to live through, but still it was not your fault"

Having nodded, he put the leg down on the floor slowly.

"Oh, I hope I have not scared you? You see, my glance can make the horses fall" - I tried to make a joke nervously.

"I have nowhere to fall, I am already lying. And you are too charming to scare"

"Er-r... and what if I had attacked you?"

"I would have held you, winded the blanked around you and lied on top, until you calmed down"

"Ow, it would have been rough to me"

"It would have been the softest and warmest of all the things I could imagine"

"Oh, would it?" - My muzzle put on a very distrustful expression.

"Something like that" - Lairy threw the blanket over me, wrapped it so tightly, that I could hardly move, and held me close - "Is it cosy?"

He gave my nose a smacking kiss. I snorted playfully and was released at once. The human was not scared of me, indeed, and he was taking his strength into consideration, so I was enjoying the close physical contact a lot.

"Oh, so you can feed?" - feeling curious, I touched a prominent pink nipple on Lairy's chest with my hoof. He purred.

"No. I am male. The females can feed, but their breast is different, bigger, salient and round" - Lairy waved his hands, demonstrating visible size.

"Hm-m, I could have guessed it" - I answered, feeling slightly embarrassed. Could it be, that I also was "a female" to him? I should try to find it out with all possible tact. Having remembered, how tenderly he was giving me a bath, I felt even more embarrassed and started to wheeze, not knowing what to do.

"Why is it necessary to make conjectures and draw wrong conclusions? In order to know for sure, that the best decision is to ask directly" - it seemed that the human looked straight through my embarrassment, or did not bother to focus on it. At least, this "inattention" of his was saving me from having to explain the loud flapping of my nostrils and the way I was sitting with my eyes fixed on the pillow.

The purring sound arose, and it was definitely not guttural.

"Let me guess" - I pressed my ear to Lairy's stomach with a smile. The deep sound repeated itself. - "You are hungry"

"Yes"

"In this case the examination is over. Thank you, you are free to go"

"Okay"

"Where is your tail?!" - I gasped, as Lairy got up.

"What?" - he looked back.

"Did you lose your tail?" - I waved my own ostentatiously.

"Ah? No, the humans are born without tails"

"Really? And I have thought everyone should have a tail"

"It is normal for you"

It was warm at home, but Lairy left his room wearing clothes. Having taken the glass from the sofa, he made his way into the kitchen. I followed him.

"Do you want to eat too?"

"I want to have company. Wow, what on Earth is going on outside?!" - having sat down on the stool, I put my forelegs on the sill, looking through the window - "The pegasi would have had to work really hard to gather such a snowfall"

"It happens here easily even without the pegasi. We went for a walk just in time last night"

Lairy put something, which looked like a big pile of hay, into the bowl and poured boiling water from the kettle over it.

"Mph-h-h" - I sniffed inquiringly.

"It is spaghetti" - he elucidated, having powdered the meal with spices and shuffled it with a fork - "Or just noodles to put it simply"

The smell made my nose awfully itchy and I sneezed right into the bowl.

"Ow!"

"Well, here we go, there we are. Now you are going to eat the noodles, which you have sneezed at, yourself" - the Cheetah grumbled. He placed the second bowl far away from me, poured the water again and covered both bowls with plates. While the noodles were being steamed, I was rolling the fork along the table in a silent embarrassment, trying to take in with my hoof. Having taken a look at my fruitless efforts, Lairy took the fork away from me and moved my noodles onto a flat plate.

"Are you going to eat your noodles with blood?" - I was aghast at the sight of thick red liquid, flowing out of a bottle.

"Do you mean this one?" - Lairy showed me a picture on the bottle - "This is ketchup, vegetable seasoning"

"And I have almost thought..."

"Try it" - ketchup was poured upon my noodles as well.

"It is spicy" - I exhaled. My tongue felt like it was on fire.

"Some spices will not hurt you" - having snorted, he put a glass of milk on the table in front of me, and I was finally able to extinguish the flames in my mouth.

"The weather is beautiful outside, snow pegasi are frolicking"

"Pegasi?" - having looked through the window in astonishment, I saw only downy snowflakes. And then I felt that Lairy was pulling my leg.

"How dare you?" - I objected with an ostentatious austerity, taking my leg away - "Pulling the royalty's leg is treason!"

Lairy burst out laughing loudly. Having noticed no mockery or taunt in his voice, I held back my emotions nevertheless. The laughter was becoming quieter and quieter and then it stopped. The human was standing still with his head being thrown back and his shoulder leaning against the wall.

"L-lu-u-una, you are beau-u-utiful" - he groaned, wiping the tears from his eyes - "And I like you more and more"

"And what if I get angry right now?" - I narrowed my eyes meaningfully and began to wheeze.

"I will like you even though you are angry. In fact, I liked you even when you were yelling at me in the corridor"

"Even then?"

"Yes. Well, you can accuse me of treason, but all that I wanted was to wipe the oil, which had dripped on your leg"

"Wipe it" - I agreed much more indulgently this time, having noticed the spots, shining on the fur - "Was that a joke about the pegasi?"

"It was. But the humans like to look at the foul weather and imagine various creatures, which can be hiding somewhere deep in the elements"

Lairy wiped the oil from my leg and asked, having grabbed a fork:

"Luna, I have already noticed that you and Celestia are a classic pair of the opposites, you are like day and night. And I am curious, where did the pictures on your croups come from, and what do they mean?"

Lairy pointed with the fork.

I took a look, as if I wanted to make sure that my crescent was in due place, and bent over my plate, gathering the noodles and my thoughts.

"This picture is called a "cutie mark". It represents some talent, the pony's ability to do something really well, the vocation, given by destiny. That is why the cutie mark is also called "a mark of destiny". Usually pony get the mark only once in the early childhood, the mark stays for the rest of the life, and it is unique for each pony. Wearing cloaks or other clothes, which hide the cutie mark, feels uncomfortable. And if a pony wears saddlebags, their cutie mark is depicted on them as well. It is very important for the little ponies to have a cutie mark, to be able to see it all the time, to show it to the others. Those, who get their marks later, than their peers, become the object of mockery and feel inferior. But actually those little ponies with "blank flanks" are the most valuable members of the community. They possess inexhaustible optimism and the urge towards testing their talents in all possible kinds of crafts in order to find their destiny. I knew pony, who was successful in everything, he was attempting to do. But he had lived his whole life without a cutie mark"

"And how did you get yours?"

Having finished eating the noodles, I poured a glass of juice and put it into the stove to warm up. Before turning it on, I exchanged glances with Lairy. He nodded, confirming that I was doing everything right.

"Me?.." - listening to the rumble, which was coming from the stove, I put my forelegs on the edge of the table and rested my head on them - "This was very long ago, when ponies had only begun to settle in different corners of the world and make new places habitable. Celestia's sun was shining for them by day, and they were asleep by night, because nights were dark, and as for the starlight - what could it illumine? In the situations, when travelers were overtaken by night in dangerous places, ponies had to lit their path with magic or fire"

The ring sounded. The glass was burning hot.

"Take the towel" - the human prompted. I carried the glass to the table carefully, holding it in the hooves of my forelegs through the towel. Then I continued my story, waiting for the juice to become cooler.

"A family of Earth ponies had hoped to go through the mountain pass before the sunset, however, the night stopped them halfway. It was very dangerous to advance along the mountain trails, and it was impossible to use fire because of the heavy storm. I was travelling with that family and was the only pony among them, who wielded magic. All the eight of us were stuck on the slippery trail and had to stay close to the mountains to avoid being washed away by the flowing water. Just one wrong move could send you flying into the darkness of the abyss. At least I was able to see in the darkness and could fly"

I tasted the juice, it was still too hot.

"The cutie marks have a rule. Very powerful emotions are needed for them to appear, be it joy, fear, bliss, pride of your victory or sudden insight. It is individual for everyone, but the main point is common: a good shaking-up is essential. It happened to me as well. The water eroded the mountain above us, a huge boulder crashed down on our path. It was a miracle that it had not smashed anyone. One of the youngest foals was frightened and slipped into the chasm. I dashed after him through the rain and darkness"

Having sobbed, I closed the wet eyes and took a sip slowly.

"I managed to catch him by my magic and fly out of the chasm. The wind was tossing me like a bit of fluff, but I came flying to the family and brought the little one back. And at that very moment I realized, that since I had magic I ought to use it! I ought to help those ponies. Feeling firmly resolved, I blew that cursed boulder off the path with one magical strike. Then an unbelievable thing happened. I felt the entire world like the most beautiful, majestic, infinitely difficult conundrum, and something bigger, than those mountains, plains, forests and rivers, answered my call. The strings of the universe sounded in my soul with dozens of glimmering constellations and the closest was the night luminary, which echoed with a solemn chord.

Having jumped off the stool, I stood before Lairy on my hind legs, stretched up, with my wings being opened broadly. Having spread my forelegs at my sides slowly, I raised them above my head, waving them in a circle.

"That was how I raised the Moon for the first time. It was huge, white, bright. The shroud of the rain, suffused with the moonlight, was indescribably beautiful, like a countless diamond threads. The path could be seen clearly like during the day. Having made our way through the dangerous area, we were able to find a place to sleep. I did not notice the particular moment, when my cutie mark had appeared. I was so exhausted, that I fell asleep for the whole night and a half of the day"

Having suddenly moved up close to me, Lairy hugged me tightly.

"Well done, Luna. Your spirit is strong, I appreciate that a lot"

I could find no words, so I simply hugged the human too.

***

"Well done" - I repeated with a smile, looking at her happy green eyes and caressing features of Luna's small muzzle with my fingers. Having smiled modestly, she jumped upon a stool and buried herself in the glass.

"The princess is not used to praises?" - I winked.

"I feel flattered" - Luna nodded - "But I did not tell you the whole story. When this crucial event took place, I was merely a small, frail pony, just knee-high to you. And I was scared so much back then"

"Overcoming your fear is called bravery"

"And what is the fearlessness then?"

"It is madness"

"And weren't you scared to take that job from Celestia? It is one thing to do the talking in the dream, and the other thing is to make contact with an alien creature for real"

"The main problem for me was only our ability to understand each other in reality. That was why I declared your name and title right away then - you had to react to that. Everything else, as I have told you before, does not matter much"

"And what if I had not understood? That could have happened as well" - Luna scratched behind her ear.

"I would have had to use force. At first I would have talked to that dude and arranged his face a little, probably. Then I would have had to drag you on the chain and push you into the car. May be, I would even have had to bind you"

"To bind me?!" - Luna shivered.

"Well, the other option was to hit you upside the head with something heavy, so you would have passed out" - I shrugged my shoulders - "But you would not have liked that. And I would have preferred not to hurt you"

"Er-r, no, thanks, I had been hit upside the head already and had been bound as well. In response to my very polite request for help, I was stunned by the blow. When I had awakened, I found myself bound inside some smelly back of the truck. I felt hurt, bad and so offended, I could cry" - Luna's hoof slammed into the table in fury - "No one has ever treated me like that. And now it seems that you could have done the same thing!"

Having snorted angrily, princess almost fell from the stool and left the kitchen stiff-legged and indignant. The muscles moved under her fell, and the wings, which were raised up high, were trembling with the strain.

Having waited silently for the sound of her steps to die away somewhere in the living room, I followed the pony and saw that she was lying on the sofa and shaking her wings to lay them on her sides. Well, the good thing was that she at least did not try to jump from the balcony. She could be in the sulks as long as she wanted to, but she should stay home voluntarily.

I put the dishes away and then, in case it could yet occur to Luna to go outside, examined the locks on the front door, turned them up to the stop and hid the keys. I did not know, how furious the pony was and how long she would feel that way. However, I hoped that I would be able to ease the tension till the end of the day. I had to go to work, after all. She had to stay alone at home, and to tell the truth, binding her would be a very bad decision. I hoped for the mutually beneficial coexistence and did not want to take our relationship to the level of "torturer and victim" at all. That could only cause unnecessary problems.

The "relaxing" mare put her head on the elbow-rest and did not even trouble her ears to move. It seemed she took a serious offence at me. Having sat down next to her croup, I found the "fork-comb", which fell in between the pillows, and pulled up her gorgeous tail.

"Your Majesty, your anger is unwarranted" - I said calmly, smoothing her hair.

"It is" - Luna agreed sulkily. Lying flat, she tried to jerk her tail from my hands. But it was only the closest to the body part of the tail, which was responding to the movement, the rest of it was hanging loosely and resting in my lap.

"May be, you would allow me off the hook and stop being angry?"

"I have been angry for five hundred years on the moon" - Luna looked at me with one eye, without lifting her head from the elbow-rest. I pretended, that I was deeply involved in combing the tail and failed to notice her piercing glare.

"U-u-uh, I will be able to die and reincarnate about eight times during those five hundred years. There will be no trace of me in humans' memory, how can it be, that you still will be angry?"

"Eight times?" - now not only her eye, but the ear as well, turned to me.

"An average lifetime of a human is seventy years. I am thirty five years old, so you can say that I have lived the half of it. And everyone can pass away anytime. May be, I will go out of the door now - and whoosh, you will see me no more, you will feel the touch of these hands, caressing your skin behind the ear and brushing your tail, never again. Accidents happen, you know"

"Lairy!.." - the alicorn jumped up, having turned the whole body towards me. I gave her a long glare, condemnation and grief were frozen in my eyes. And there was also something else, which she has not been thinking about yet.

Startled, Luna looked away and, having ducked under my arm, pressed herself close to my chest.

"Never... please, never stare at me like that" - she whispered - "I have seen another universe in your eyes. And I am terrified"

"This is the lot of all the immortals - they do not appreciate life"

"I am not immortal, Lairy" - the pony looked into my eyes - "And I do not want to lose you"

"Let's not be angry with me" - I gave her an advice warmly.

"I am not angry" - she nodded - "I have already realized how foolish it was"

"Very well" - I stroke Luna's back between the shoulder blades. She gazed at me inquiringly and reproachfully, as if I had done something inappropriate to her, but said nothing and moved a little farther off.

"Have we made it up?" - she touched my shoulder with her hoof.

"Yes. It has no benefit for me to quarrel with you, anyway"

"Benefit?" - the pony repeated in surprise.

"I always act mainly for my own benefit, no matter what I do. If that benefit is not material, then it is spiritual. I accepted Celestia's job, because she promised me good money in the case of success"

"I understand, it is material side. And what about the spiritual?"

"Well, imagine some morose, unfriendly mare, spending her days in my apartment. She gorges fruits, vegetables, bread and juice every day. And she gorges those much more than I do, at that. It is impossible to talk to her, to laugh with her, to scratch her, to feast the eyes upon her, or even to argue properly. It is written in every line of her body, that I am an empty space to her. And to make the matters worse, this winged sight to behold claims that she would be angry with me for the whole five hundred years"

"Seriously, five hundred years?"

"Yes. And now tell me, do I want that to be around?"

"I think, you do not. But five hundred... ah, have you described me that way?! Am I so morose and unfriendly?" - the mare burst out laughing resonantly and covered her muzzle with hooves - "I feel so ashamed of myself, so-o-o asha-a-a-amed, oh!"

"That was you, who were sitting there like a storm cloud to look at. And I had to drag you out of this gloomy existence by your tail"

"So it was you, who was molesting my tail! I have found you, villain!" - the princess pointed her hoof at my direction incriminatingly and then rushed at me. The playful struggle began with clenches, holds and other body-checks. We had slid off the sofa onto the floor, where the wrestling continued on a larger scale. I was a bit heavier than Luna and my tenacious fingers gave me a significant advantage. The pony was more agile and fast lashes of her wings proved to be quite painful. However, she did not use the horn.

Growling and wheezing, we interlaced with one another, trying to put each other into more and more uncomfortable positions. The struggle was going with varying success. Once I managed to grab Luna by the throat with my teeth and clenched them a bit, having felt ravishing, wild trembling of life. I got a serious poke on my side from her hoof for that. A bit later I let her defeat me. Having stretched me flat on my back, Luna stood with her two legs on my chest and neck, feeling superior - with her weight she could instantly break my ribs and trachea, condemning me to an excruciating death. The pony bent over me, her muzzle approached my face with curiosity. I licked her nose gently.

Luna was not surprised or she was tired of being surprised. Having stepped back, she lay down next to me. Her mane was disheveled, the tail was tied up in a bundle, the feathers puffed up, being distorted. The look of the alicorn was extremely chaotic and at the same time peaceful. Only the horn, crowned with the top of the felt pen, seemed like an unshakable order incarnate.

"It feels so good to be with you" - she signed quietly.

"I am glad to hear that. I hope, I did not dislocate anything of yours?" - I enquired, crackling with my joints.

"I am fine" - the pony shook her head, craned the neck, got up, moved her wings, legs and tail. Then she lay down again - "But there is something about the horn..."

"You mean, when I grabbed it to bend you?"

"Yes" - Luna looked at me seriously - "I have already told you that the horn is used for magic, there are nerves inside of it, it is sensitive to the touch. You grabbed me, and I had a very uneasy feeling that my horn could break. And the broken horn drives a pony mad. It used to be one way to execute unicorns. It seems not lethal, since only the horn is broken off, yet still the consequences are dire. Please, keep in mind not to grab your friends' horns ever, under any circumstances"

"Okay. Thank you for explaining"

"I had to say that to avoid being crippled by you accidentally"

"You know, I am very interested in your wings. May I take a look at them?"

"And what is so interesting about them?" - Luna reached her wing towards me.

"That you have them to begin with. In our world animals have four legs or two legs and two wings, that is to say there is a total of four limbs, not six"

"Well, in this case, take a look"

Having sat down, I ran my hands along the whole length of the wing carefully, feeling muscles and bones. The wing was similar to the eagle's wing and its span was impressive. Having examined the pony's foreleg, I found the right shoulder-blade. But as soon as I put my palm on her back, something made the alicorn gave a quiet, pleased moan, arching up towards the hand. So it was easy for me to find the second right shoulder-blade, which was interrelated with the wing.

"Do you remember, that when I was bathing you, you told me that you were too weak to fly?"

"Yes"

"But yesterday you were flying really well. It seems that you ceased to be some helpless Earth pony and turned into a Pegasus"

"Oh, that is right" - Luna giggled, lifting her wing. I was examining it from below and from its side.

"I suppose, you needed not so much the food and rest as moral support to regain your strength"

"You are right"

"Let us get settled for training your wings without leaving home. This will not be a substitute for the real flight, but this way you will be confident of your abilities, at least"

"And how we can do that?"

I moved to the centre of the room.

"Stand above me, place your forelegs on each side. Your hind legs should stand on the floor between my legs. Now bend your knees a little and lower yourself a bit. I am seizing your back with my hands above and below your wings, and my legs are seizing your croup. This way I am holding you firmly"

Luna was a little nervous, but she followed my instructions.

"Why are you worrying?" - I asked.

"Perhaps, I will explain that later. So you are holding me. What comes next?"

"Work your wings, strive for flying up. And you do not have to try as hard as you can right away. Start slowly. Whenever you feel tired, stop the training"

The alicorn spread her wings with a sigh, and my fingers felt the powerful muscles on her back moving. After several vigorous flaps her heartbeat rate quickened sharply. The air was whistling because of Luna's wings. The pencils and sheets of paper were falling from the table. The pony craned her neck and raised her head a bit higher, so I did not see the expression on her muzzle, but I knew that she was focused on the movement. Having closed my eyes, I was lying at the centre of the whirlwind. Holding the heated up princess tightly, listening to her breathing, feeling this primeval natural strength of the mare, her indomitable, impetuous thirst for life, freedom, harmony and perfection with my every nerve, I merged together with her, having taken everything she was and having given to her everything I was.

"U-un-n-nh" - Luna exhaled vaguely, having stopped "flying". Then she stooped to me and gave me an inquisitive look - "Did you feel the same that I felt?"

"I felt unity with you" - I smiled happily - "It seems, the exchange of energy has taken place. I gave something to you, and you gave something to me"

"But what was that "something"?" - having turned away hastily, the pony sneezed loudly.

"Maybe we will find that out or maybe not. Let us go to the kitchen, we kicked up a cloud of dust here"

"Still I did not follow your advice and went all out at once. It felt really good. I think, I managed to lift you up a little" - Luna summarized, while I was wiping sweat off her sides with a towel.

"I liked it too, we shall repeat this training every day. I am heavy for you, but you should lift your own weight without any problems in one flap"

"It is difficult to lift you physically, but I would have lifted you magically with ease" - having taken a glass of warm juice from my hands, the alicorn thanked me with a nod - "If I can move the moon, your weight is a speck of dust for me"

"However, let me remind you, that there is no moon at your disposal here, but you are at my disposal completely. And I promised to Her Majesty Celestia that this disposal would be careful and cautious" - I put a straw into her glass and poured some more juice.

"And that is exactly what I am worrying about" - Luna waved her hoof edifyingly.

"Could you explain in detail?" - I asked, having sat down holding a cup of warm tea.

The pony sucked half a glass out, being lost in her thoughts.

"If you remember, I have been living on the moon for quite long time. And during that time I became disaccustomed to any physical contact. I keep that to myself, but your every move alarms me"

Luna began to sip the juice through the straw slowly. I was waiting for her to continue in silence, looking at the small column of liquid moving towards her lips. She was taking not only sips, but also her time.

"I will not conceal from you, that I appreciate your care greatly, you are a pleasant company. But at the same time you shock me often. Add there the bad experience I had socializing with the first human, I have met, and you will realize, that I have very good reasons to be afraid of you. I understand, that you mean me no harm, but I cannot help it. At least I cannot help it so soon, for I have spent only two days with you"

Having lowered her ears sadly, the princess looked at me with a guilty smile. I put my palm over her hoof and gripped it gently.

"Well, what in me shocks you?"

"It is your spontaneity and frankness. When I was living in the palace with my sister, there was always some distance between me and other ponies. Everyone treated me politely and cringingly, tried to please me. And everypony was a stranger to me. I knew, that they would serve anyone else just the way they were serving me. Do you understand?"

"Yes"

"And you... here you are, just next to me" - Luna moved her hoof a little under my hand - "That is much closer, than I am used to. And you help me sincerely, from the heart, without that false servility. I already know, that you busy yourself with me because it is beneficial to you, if I am clean, well-fed and in a good mood. However... yesterday it would be no trouble at all for you to send me to bed instead of driving me into some ruins so I could have a ride and fly there"

"I think you know why I did that as well"

"I know. And your constant striving for being near me, touching, stroking, hugging also allures and scares me at the same time. It allures, because I like that you caress me, show signs of attention. And it scares me, because I realize that my life is comple..."

Something massive crashed down upstairs. Luna looked up on the ceiling and picked up her ears guardedly.

"A drunken neighbor has fallen down" - I snorted - "Do not be surprised, if you hear a clutter of dishes as well. It is normal to him"

"Drunken... I see. As I have said, I am scared, because my life and I, as you were right to notice, are completely at your disposal. Your instructions seem obscure and ambiguous to me sometimes, and I do not know how to respond to them. You do not yell, do not give orders. You offer, but you do it in a way, that I just cannot decline or I have no choice. Or I am cornered" - Luna shrugged her shoulders - "And I do, what you have told me, silently"

"Is that so-o-o?" - now it was my turn to get lost in thoughts over the cup of tea.

"So this is how, thanks to you, I am balancing on a borderline between fear and pleasure"

"But could you tell me, when did I give you ambiguous instructions, which were embarrassing and scary?"

"Well, what I was supposed to think, when you had told me to stand in such a pose with my legs apart and hugged me with all four limbs to boot?"

"I had told you clearly from the start, it was to train your wings. What else there was to think about?"

"In that case, that was the weirdest pose for the training I had ever seen in my life. Only mounting the cloud and flying on your back while holding it could have been weirder"

"Everything is simple: I am holding you so you can flap your wings with sufficient power, but avoid flying up to the ceiling. My calculation was that you would not lift me"

"Were there any other scary moments?"

"I do not know if I should tell about them"

"As you wish"

"There is one question, but how should I ask about that?" - Luna scratched her chest.

"Ask directly"

"Well, right, so I should say the blunt truth?"

"What is wrong with that?"

"Okay, tell me, am I attractive to you, do you like me?"

"Yo-o-ou" - I examined the princess from horn to hooves with a deliberately skeptical look - "I like you and you are very attractive"

"But I hope you do not intent to... chase me around the room" - Luna's voice went uncertainly quiet at the end of the sentence.

To chase her around the room? What was she talking about? I gave my interlocutor a puzzled look. The pony seemed smaller than usual, having shrunk on the stool sadly. She looked at me humbly, as if she was waiting for a sentence.

"To be chased around dark, dirty cellar, dumped on the sacks of vegetables, tied and raped!" I recalled suddenly. Oh, my god... I shut the eyes, which became damp. She was afraid of going through all of that again with me.

"No, Luna, I will not chase and rape you"

"Really?" - She raised her ears timidly.

"Yes"

"Honestly?"

Having put my cup aside, I leant my hand upon the edge of the table, bending down right up to Luna. She did not budge, just craned her neck, moving the head aside.

"Gr-r-rm, and what does it avail me to tell lies?" - I asked quite aggressively - "You should understand it yourself, if I wanted to have my way with you, I would have done that long ago, many times and without facing much of resistance. But I am not doing that and I am not going to"

The pony pressed her hoof against my chest, making me draw back. Having leant against the wall, I opened the pack of biscuits and helped myself to a huge mouthful of them at once.

"This is one thing I understand. But allow me to ask, why are you not going to do that? Could you tell me the reason?"

"There are two reasons, one is moral, the other is material. Which one do you want to hear?" - I handed the biscuits on my palm to Luna. After some hesitation, she decided not to take them from my hand with her lips and took the treat with her hoof instead.

"I suppose, I know the material one, and I can even express it, using your favourite phrase: "there is no benefit". Am I right?"

"Mr-r-rm-m" - I agreed, taking a drink after dry biscuits.

"Then what does the moral reason consist in?"

"Sex is one of the brightest sides of life for me. It is the expression of an absolute trust in your partner, readiness to give yourself to them and take them as they are, to give them pleasure. This is a sacred act of creating a new life. Two creatures, merging together, give life to a new creature and take responsibility for its destiny"

I poured a little more water into my cup and drank it.

"That is why I think, that sex and violence are incompatible with one another in every possible way. To rape you, to make you suffer, to make you feel fear and hatred just to get a short satisfaction myself to the detriment of you is an atrocity, arousing the utmost abhorrence. I will never do that. It is a real happiness for me to see your bright eyes, lively smile, sincere joy, to hear your laughter and clatter of hooves, to comb your sparkling hair and caress your velvety side"

Luna was watching me with unwinking eyes. The biscuits fell from her hoof.

"Why would I want to ruin our fragile friendship and relationships, to "revel" in you against your will and then see you crying in the corner behind the sofa, scared, distrustful and shivering at every rustle? I would not enjoy that, not one bit. I want you to be happy with me, Luna"

Having descended from the stool slowly, the alicorn took a step towards me, walking on her hind legs. Suddenly I have found myself inside a dark-blue cocoon. Luna embraced me with her wings for the first time, and that, probably, was an expression of a particular closeness. In response I put my arms around her sides and back below the wings gently and held her close.

"Lairy, I am touched deeply" - she whispered.

"Me too"

"Still, I want to make something completely clear" - having released her embrace, Luna lowered her wings a bit and stood, leaning her forelegs on my shoulders - "There are some moments in your behavior, which indicate the desire for intimacy"

"What are they?"

"An earbite is one of the intimate gestures. When you were chewing my ear and then put me on my back and started caressing, I was shocked. My only hope was that, if you were to continue making love with me, then at least you would be gentle.

"However, I did not continue"

"Yes, and that surprised me a lot. I do not understand your actions"

"Animals often chew each other's ears. It is a sign of care, friendship, love. But it does not mean the desire for mating. I had thought, if I caressed your ears in such a manner, you would like that. But I had no intent to continue by turning all of that into sex"

"I... really liked it" - the mare smiled.

"Well, if you liked it, I can do that again on some occasion. Relax and enjoy yourself"

"But if I do not like something I will drop a hint"

"Drop no hints, Luna. I do not trouble myself with observing and decoding of nonverbal signals. I notice only the most prominent of your gestures and interpret them according to their resemblance to the similar gestures of humans and animals. I do not know what meaning you give to the gestures and words, which are customary for your world and its way of life. I can only make a guess. Is that clear?"

"Yes"

"So you do not need to drop hints. Do you like something? Say it directly. Do you dislike? Again, say so. Do you want anything? Ask. And take it easy"

"Well, Lairy, release me, I need to go for a moment" - Luna took a step back, I released her and the princess clattered toward the bathroom.

***

Having spent some time on the faucets, I turned the cold water on, washed my muzzle and leant upon the edge of the sink with a weary sigh, looking in the mirror. There were so many worries and occurrences in just one morning. While I was asleep, I was being watched and even touched, as it seemed. I was startled, given a drink, being caressed almost to the point of fainting, shocked, fed and laughed at. I had told the story of my cutie mark, managed to take offence for no reason, felt shock and guilt again, wrestled, "flyed" in an exotic pose, experienced the exchange of energy with a creature, who was alien to me, and on top of that I was finally convinced that I was not in the danger of being raped.

There were too many events for one lost princess in an hour, weren't there? And what a scarecrow I was now! Having splashed cold water on my muzzle again, I turned off a tap and sat down on the lid of the toilet. Having worked with my hooves and teeth for a while, I undid a knot on my tail. Having leveled and smoothed down my feathers, I found one oar feather missing. I had, probably, dropped it flying in the ruins.

Hm-mph... if I was to think in the Cheetah's terms, it was of "no benefit" for me to quarrel with him either. Who else would feed me, caress me and comb my hair? I tried my best to restore the look, which would fit my social status, but the mane resisted the actions of my hooves stubbornly and the state of the tail also left much to be desired. At the thought of caresses I roused myself, having felt slight excitement. How was it possible for Lairy not to know, what he was doing, and to caress me just the way he did, for no particular reason? And how could he know? Oh, enough with the worrying. If I do not like something, I will tell. But when his fingers were sliding along my fell, touching lightly sometimes and then scratching, how could I help liking that? Or did he know, nevertheless, or did he guess, at least, and was not crossing some line deliberately? And did he like to cause me pleasure that way, keeping me dangling in suspense?

My wings gave a start and rose a bit involuntarily. Those thoughts could lead me to the lasting "wingboner". The good thing was that I would not need to explain the reason of this piquant occurrence. I shook the wings, relaxing them. It was the second "wingboner" this morning and, yes, I had never expected my wings to rise so hard with anger. Having scratched my horn musingly, I went out of the bathroom.

Lairy was walking around the room on all fours, picking up the items, which had been scattered during the training. Those seemed to be some writing materials. I decided to help and also strolled, snatching up colourful pointed sticks with my lips.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. It looks like we have found all the pencils, except for maybe those, which could had rolled under the sofa"

"Oh, cat, you will call me "Majesty" when we are back to Equestria and the rightful crown is on my head. For now I am just Luna for you" - I replied, having spat my findings on his open hands.

"You are not just Luna, you are charming Luna" - the Cheetah objected with an openly impudent smile.

"Stop flattering me, or I will start to doubt the sincerity of your words" - I frowned

"Flattery is when someone is lying deliberately or exaggerating the merits. And I am not lying. In my opinion you look great, especially when you are smiling and laughing"

Hearing all of that, I could not help smiling.

"The point is that my look is not so great"

"And what does this look lack?"

"My hooves need to be leveled, they catch at the carpet, when I am walking, and it is very uncomfortable. And my mane and tail both need to be combed"

"Let us deal with the hooves first. I would ask you to bring the newspaper from the corridor. There is a batch of them under the wardrobe. And meanwhile I will go to the balcony"

What the "newspaper" was? Accidentally Lairy gave me a puzzle to solve, having asked to bring something I did not know. I took a look under the wardrobe and saw dusty shoes, colourful boxes and a pile of white sheets. Those, probably, were the newspapers. Having fumbled there with my hoof, I drew the upper sheet out and, having took it by the edge with my lips, returned to the living room.

The human brought long flat pieces of iron from the balcony. Having stopped by the table, he stabbed his finger at the big black box. Part of the box came off, Lairy took some transparent item out of it, examined it intently, reading the inscriptions, turned it over, put it back into the box, closed the box, pressed on something again and a pleasant female voice came out:

I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through
Didn't know how lost I was
Until I found you

I approached the table, listening to the song in astonishment. I saw my lost feather right there on the table and rejoiced over its being here and not somewhere outside.

I was beat incomplete
I'd been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
Shiny and new

"How does it sing?"

"I cannot explain, there are too many things, you will not understand. But I can teach you how to use it to listen to the songs"

"I will listen to this one for now"

"Okay. Luna, lie down sideways and put your legs here" - Lairy spread the newspaper over the floor.

"I have an impression, that my hooves are being sawn off" - I said after a brief bustle with the file.

"They are, indeed. I am just grinding all the burrs off . And I did not have a chance to work with the horses before, so I am doing it solely at random"

"I am a pony, not a horse"

"I chose pony for a ride, they're like horses, only light" - this line from a poem is quite accurate and conveys the gist very well" - Lairy lifted the newspaper up by its corners, gathering the sawdust together, and set to work on my next leg - "Humans generally shoe the horses' hooves"

"Do you have horses?" - I roused myself. Could Equestria be closer, than I thought?

"Yes, we have. We have ponies as well, but they are different from you. They are less sentient, one cannot talk to them the way I talk to you, and all of them are "Earth ponies". There are no pegasi or unicorns"

"Still I would like to take a look at them"

"I think, I can show you. You will not see them in person, but still, you will see them well enough. I have one nice compelling movie in mind"

"Movie? What are you talking about?"

"Luna, I have forgotten that you were not of this world. And I am saying unfamiliar words again"

"Well, then explain it or show" - lying on my side, I managed to move my forelegs in an expressive gesture questioningly.

"At first we should resolve this matter" - Lairy tapped the hoof on my hind leg with a file, shaking the sawdust from it. His fingers examined the edges and he continued to grind the burrs off - "And then we are going to comply with other requests of Your Majesty"

"Hm-m... tell me, do you obey Celestia's orders only?"

"In the context of this mission - yes. What of that?"

"I am Celestia's younger sister and I am a princess as well. Can I give you orders as a royalty?"

Both hands of the human were busy with the hoof and the file. Lairy bent his leg and scratched his nose with the knee.

"Mr-r-rm, Tia did not say anything in particular on that issue. I think, yes, you can. But there are some conditions"

"Yes?" - I turned my ears directly towards him.

"An order must be logically relevant and clear, like this one about the hooves" - having taken the last untreated hoof in his hand, the human lift the leg a bit higher and thus turned me over on my back.

"Okay. Anything else?"

"An order must be doable, considering my capabilities. It is doable to bath you. But it is not doable to bring a star from the sky to you"

"I got it. Is that all?"

"No. Your order must not conflict with Celestia's assignment. I need to keep you fed, clean, warm and safe" - Lairy counted on his fingers, bending them one after another - "even locked up, if I find it necessary. That is all. I am ready to serve Your Majesty" - having folded the fingers up, he pressed the fist to his chest.

"Very well" - this guard-like, exact and consecutive stating of the terms was a bit stunning for me, and I fell silent, giving Lairy a chance to get my hooves into shape unmolested. The black box on the table was singing about the chrysanthemums, which had withered long ago, about love, flowers and plants.

"My knight" - I smiled gently - "Once you teach me how to listen to the songs, I will know, what order shall be your first"

"All right, Princess Luna" - Lairy gave me a look, which enkindled tender, timid warmth in my heart. I passed this test without averting my eyes. Finally, the Cheetah smiled and looked down, picking up the files and newspaper. However, I was willing to wager my throne and crown, that he was not a whit embarrassed, he just ceded to me. I was lying in front of him on my back with my hooves in the air, my wings were spread across the floor, the mane was hanging loosely, irresistible in all the glory.

Having taken the instrument away, the human put the singing box down on the floor, lay beside me and started teaching me how to handle the thing, which he called "stereo", although it did not look stereotyped to me. Soon I learned the meaning of those circles and arrows, which had caught my attention earlier on another box. I also found out, that the voice was stored inside flat transparent little boxes, which one needed to insert into the stereo in a certain manner.

"While inserting, try not to touch the tape with your tongue, lest you can damage it"

Holding the cassette with my lips, I placed it into the stereo carefully and closed the lid with my nose. Having aimed, I pressed the arrow button with my horn. There was the rustling and then the singing could be heard. Having turned the wheel with the edge of my hoof to adjust the volume, I listened to it for a while and pressed the button with a square on it, using my horn again. The singing stopped.

"Everyone knows, that I live alone. So, when you are listening to the music without me, decrease the sound level. There is no need to attract the neighbours' attention"

"I will keep that in mind" - on the second try I managed to take the cassette by its corners with the edges of my hooves, pulled it out of the stereo and placed it into the box.

"Well done, Luna, you are smart"

"I hope you will do, what I am going to ask you, as well. Let us go to the balcony"

It had grown notably colder, than it was yesterday. Shivering from the chill, I fluffed my feathers up and pressed the wings to the sides tightly. Lairy put his hands on the sill expectantly.

"There is a garden" - I pointed to the neighbouring balcony with my hoof - "Will you be able to get fresh leaves from there for me?"

The human, looking intently at the thicket, resembled the cheetahs, who were his totem congeners, a lot.

"Yes, I will"

Having followed Lairy into bedroom, I lied down on his broad bed and watched him changing clothes with curiosity.

"Ponies wear clothes too, but not so many"

"And why do you need clothes?" - Lairy asked, putting the second sweater on.

"First of all there are clothes for all sorts of weather. We wear hats and light cloaks in summer, warm jackets, scarves, caps and shoes in winter. Working clothes keep the labourers and employees from injures, showing their occupation clearly. Guards on duty are walking around in armour. And finally there are luxurious head-dresses and evening gowns for celebrations. But usually we do not wear any clothes"

"But how do you put the clothes on and off without hands?"

"The spell for clothes is cast on the clothes themselves and certain words or gestures activate it. Hence, almost all ponies' clothes are enchanted"

"So I could press the shirt to my chest, say "Shirt, be put on!" and bang, I would be wearing it. Is that right?"

"Yes"

"That is ve-e-ery convenient, there is no fuss at all" - Lairy checked inside the pockets, put a cap on and gave me a gentle pat on the head - "I will go and get the leaves"

I followed him into the corridor, watched him putting the shoes on and unlocking the door. There was a damp cold draught, blowing from the passage.

"Wait" - I hit his leg with my hoof.

He turned around silently. I stood up on my hind legs, leaning against the wall with one foreleg, and placed the other foreleg on his shoulder.

"You know, when I was angry, lying on the sofa... I did not think about what I had said... but I told you the truth - I do not want to lose you, Lairy. Please, be careful"

Having put his arm around my neck, Lairy kissed my nose gently.

"I'll be back"

The door closed, the locks clicked. Having been standing there for a while, I licked my nose musingly. Then I returned to the living room, sat down and began to rummage in the pile of cassettes, wondering, what to listen to.

***

The bright light hit the eyes, making me linger upon the threshold of the porch. The wind was throwing little shurikens of the biting snowflakes into my face. Having put dark glasses on, I closed the door and looked around, sniffing. Frosty morning air filled my chest with its freshness. Having let out a pleased purr, I strolled towards the shop.

The snow was flying, covering the heads of the street lamps with downy hats, settling down upon trees like a lace from fairy-tales, wrapping the world in the white shroud. The cars were cutting the winter linen stubbornly, sourly brushing the adherent snow off the windscreens with the wipers.

The low tree brunch with the crystal-clear, glimmering snow on it was overhanging the road. I took the snow with my lips, - it turned out to be unbelievably tasty.

There were a few people on the street. The young couple with their baby in the pram was walking in front of me. Being engaged in lively conversation, they did not notice something shiny fell at their feet. I picked up the lost thing, it was a hard pasteboard label from some product and it had a very beautiful holographic pattern on it: there was mosaic of variegated triangles, shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow. That was a real treasure for a child. Having wiped this precious artifact with my sleeve, I stepped up my pace.

"Hi, you baby has dropped a toy" - I touched the guy's shoulder.

"What?" - the young father stared in surprise. But I got used to the fact, that "tear-like lines" on my face often stun strangers, long ago.

"It is yours, is it not?" - I reached out my hand with a piece of pasteboard in it.

"Ah, thank you, it is" - the girl roused herself and, having taken the label from me, gave it to her little daughter. Having nodded, I went on. Across the street, I stopped the tea seller and asked for a glass of boiled water without anything.

The shop "Gloria" was located a block away from my house and looked like a narrow corridor with counters, reaching across the whole building. Having held the door for an old man, who was entering the shop, I headed to the video rental section, putting my glasses into the pocket on the move. The salesman was an unpresentable short man with tanned skin, thinning head of hair and shifty rat-like eyes. He greeted me with an indifferent nod.

"Mr-r-rm, do you have anything new here?" - having folded my arms over the chest, I leaned my elbows on the counter, which was made of planks, examining the rows of cassettes.

"Nothing. Everything has been the same for three weeks already" - the salesman waved his hand dolefully - "Do you need something?"

"I do. Do you have anything about the horses?"

The cassettes of "The Silver Brumby", "Crin blanc", "The Princess' Stallion" and "The Black Stallion" were laid upon the counter in front of me.

"Will you take them for a week, as usual?"

"Yes. And I would also like to buy some cassettes with long movies, no matter what they are about"

The horses were joined by "Mighty Joe Young", "Carlito's Way" and "The Fall of Berlin"

Having paid, I put the cassettes in a bag and wanted to leave, but salesman laid his hand on the bag suddenly.

"You know what? I will not be there the next week"

"Do they evict you?"

"Things happen" - he spread his hands - "Maybe you would like to buy something else for the future use?"

"Agreed"

Two dozen boxes were laid upon the counter.

"And I have been wondering for a long time, what do you need these long cassettes for?"

"I record TV shows about cheetahs and robots and cartoons sometimes" - having shaken the cassettes out of their boxes, I was looking at the amount of tape on reels, putting the ones with more tape into stack.

"A-a-ah, I see. Here is the number, call me in a week, I will tell you where to return the rental"

"Thank you" - I put the piece of paper, which had a number written on it, together with one of the cassettes.

After visiting the video rental section, I headed over to the shop, where the goods for women were being sold. There I got hold of shampoo and the excellent hairbrush with thick and soft bristles. At the toy department I inquired about transformer robots, but the range of goods was limited. I was not captivated with a pair of planes, made in China and coloured like a parrot. Still, having taken one plane off its peg, I turned the blister over, examining the model. It seemed to bear a resemblance to Starscream from the "Generation 1".

"How old is your child?" - the well-groomed, sleek lady wondered.

"I am choosing for myself, I do not have a child" - I hanged "Megatron's deputy" up to his place, where he would be bored again, waiting for the better destiny.

Having hemmed with disapproval, the saleswoman sat down. Having found nothing worthy of the collector's attention, I left the shop and walked around the building. Then I went down into the basement, where an arcade was set up with almost half a dozen TV sets and game consoles. I stood there for a while, looking at lads exchanging punches in "Tekken", making Lara Croft run through the catacombs of "Tomb Rider", breaking the boxes with Crash Bandicoot and tearing off the wheels on the roads of the whirlwind "Twisted Metal". But I did not want to spend my money and time on the games myself, even more so, since I left my notebook with passwords at home, and starting a game from the beginning without it would be boring.

Having had plenty of walking and already approaching the porch, I recalled the assignment of Her Majesty and the reason I had gone out into the street in the first place. I turned to the next porch. I knew where the owner of that balcony with a garden lived.

My ring was answered by a beautiful elderly woman, who opened the door. The pleasantly round features of her face were radiantly serene, it was the feeling, inherent in people, who had achieved a lot in their lives, dedicated to the work they loved.

"Hello, Galina Nikolayevna. I have a rather unusual thing to ask you. It is about your flowers"

...Unlocking the door of my apartment, I heard a quiet sound of music. Having left my bags, I sneaked along the corridor into the living room and peered around the corner. Princess Luna was dancing enthusiastically, flapping her wings to the beat of the song, managing not to bump into furniture and singing along with ABBA.

You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen.
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine.

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen

Having sat down on the floor, I was feasting my eyes upon a graceful dancer. She was giving a new meaning to the song, filling it with motion and power. The breeze, caused by Luna's wings, was rolling over the room. Her hair was cascading like a shining waterfall.

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music,
Getting in the swing

You come in to look for a King
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance and when you get the chance...

Having noticed me, the princess stopped in mid-stride and covered her muzzle artistically with the wing, as if it was a fan. The other wing was spread high above her head.

"Your Majesty, you are truly magnificent" - I applauded slowly.

Having folded her wings, Luna turned off the stereo and approached me.

"I am glad to see you, Lairy, even if you returned empty-handed" - she said, bending over me, and touched my nose with hers gently. The mare's breath warmed my lips.

"I did not return empty-handed. I just seldom carry something in my hands" - I responded by touching Luna's cheek with my palm and rubbing my nose against hers, enjoying the closeness of the charming creature. The green eyes were luring me with their unearthly beauty and the wisdom of the ages, which a human mind could not comprehend.

"Luna... I do not recognize you" - I whispered.

"Did I change so much?" - the alicorn asked quietly. There was almost no distance between our lips.

"Yes. You have become confident, calm and very beautiful"

"I need to thank you for that, Lairy. I would have been very different without you" - the pony bent her head, as if placing it on my open palm. I scratched her cheekbones and neck with my other hand, bathing in the warm blessed aura, which Luna was emitting, and absorbing the energy of kindness and happiness.

"Isn't it too hot for you?" - Luna noticed a drop of sweat, glittering on my temple.

"It is hot. But your company is worth it"

To avoid putting an unfair stress on Luna, I did not take all my clothes off, as I usually did, but changed into the dry ones. Having hung the sweaty clothes to dry, I came to the sofa with the bags. The princess sat down opposite to me. Her eyes moved from me to bags with curiosity.

"Thus, Your Majesty, the mission accomplished" - I announced in a deliberately grandiloquent tone, pulling the leaves, which were wrapped in newspaper, out of one bag.

"You have my gratitude, my loyal knight" - having accepted the parcel, Luna replied with the same grandiloquence. We looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Oh, there are so many of them, and even the flowers are there as well" - having unrolled the newspaper, the pony was delighted, laying out the greens - "Which one should I start with?"

I picked a leaf of violet at random. It was dark-green, fleecy and had lacy edges. Luna's look followed it. Having turned the leaf in my hand, I run it against the princess' nose tenderly and raised it to her lips. She crunched the leaf leisurely and lingered her lips over my fingers, as if in a kiss.

"Thank you"

"Yes. If the leaves are placed in water, they will stay fresh longer. You will prolong the pleasure"

"Of course, we will place them there. How did you get them?"

"I came to the gardener and told her the truth"

"You have... told the truth... about me?" - Luna stared at me, looking bewildered.

"I said: the winged, horned, talking blue horse, who lives at my place, saw your beautiful garden and now her fondest dream is to treat herself with these very leaves. Please, be so kind to give her one leaf from every plant" - I made an exaggeratedly dramatic statement.

"Oh, yes, the truth, delivered in the form of nonsense, does not look like the truth anymore" - having smiled, the pony ate one more leaf.

"And that had worked"

"I am really glad. And what else do you have in bags?"

"There is a shampoo for you. There are chips. They are quite tasty" - I shook three bags of "Cheetos" with cheese, dill and sour cream out of the bag - "And there are those movies about the horses"

"They are a bit similar to us" - Luna looked closely at the box of "Crin blanc"

"We will watch it together. And now, Luna, close your eyes"

The alicorn looked at my hands and the meaningful "Discord-like" smile, which had already managed to alarm Celestia, inquiringly and with caution.

Do you want to kill me? - the shadow of a doubt reflected in her eyes.

She does trust me - I grinned archly, pulling the hairbrush out of the bag. Sitting with her eyes closed, Luna was moving her ears keenly, hearing the rustle of the cellophane. Having given a start, she strained, when I touched her head with a brush. Then the guarded expression on her muzzle changed to the one of amazement and joy. Letting out a contented sigh, the alicorn extended her neck and, of course, I could not deny her the pleasure of having her beautiful wavy mane brushed carefully.

"Thank you" - Luna whispered, having opened her eyes a little - "If I only could repay your kindness in a worthy manner..."

"It is a purr-r-re pleasure to help" - I handed the hairbrush over to her - "Your blissful look is already a worthy manner to repay me. And Celestia sends her regards"

"How is she?"

"She became more lively and sociable. I treated her to oats and nectar"

"Did you do that in dream?"

"Yes"

"I did not expect Tia to be able to act in dreams" - Luna turned the hairbrush in her hooves - "Usually the dreams are my domain"

"May be she had to learn that quickly to find you and make the arrangements for your rescue. However, when I was leaving the dream, Celestia looked quite satisfied with her life"

The younger princess sighed happily, looking at some blinking hairs, which got stuck at the hairbrush. Her thoughts were somewhere far away. She, probably, was remembering her sister.

Having taken the newspaper away quietly, I took leaves to the kitchen and placed them into cups, filled with water, which were on the table and windowsill. Having thrown the fridge door wide open, I sat down in front of it.

"Do we have anything to eat?" - Luna asked from behind the door.

"We have everything in abundance" - I rolled an orange under the door.

"Thank you" - having sat down at the table, Luna began to peel the fruit.

I warmed up leftovers of the soup for myself and had a banana for dessert.

"Hm, when you said, that I ate more, than you, you were exaggerating a lot" - the pony noticed with a grin, tossing up and catching the peeled orange with her hoof.

"I did that deliberately to show you all the ridicule of that situation. It is an absurdity to keep being angry for five hundred years with someone, who live only seventy years, is it not?"

"Is is not an absurdity for me. Five hundred years? Give me a minute" - Luna waved her leg, chewing the orange slice with concentration. Suddenly she ran out of the kitchen and came back shortly, carrying a pencil and a piece of paper in her teeth. Having pressed the paper to the table with her hooves, the pony was writing something with the pencil, which was hold by her teeth. Finally, having spat the pencil out, she reread what she had written.

"Well... the way I figure, I had been angry for the first five hundred years in the moon. Then I had been calming down for four hundred eighty seven years. Then I found myself in there. If I get everything right, the duration of the spell, which was cast by the Elements of Harmony, will expire only in thirteen years"

"So what?"

"So that. What if I come back to Equestria and Celectia will send me back to the moon to serve those thirteen years, merely on principal?"

"I do not think so. She misses you and is longing to meet you, at least in dreams"

"It sounds comforting"

"Yes, giving you comfort is also part of my assignment"

"Are you comforting me only because you were "assigned" to do that? And what if the things get out of hoof?" - having tossed the slice up, the pony caught it with her mouth deftly.

"That is not the only reason. You and I with the help of Celestia need to do everything we can to bring you back to your motherland. Even if nothing works and you are doomed to live in my world, I will not leave you"

"But this can drastically change your life, let alone mine" - Luna held out half of the orange to me.

"M-m-ba, what do I have to lose?" - I placed the alicorn's gift next to the plate.

"Well, I do not know about your life, I can only make a general assumption about home, family, job, friends, free time. And above all of those there is me" - the pony spread her forelegs, the unspoken question could be seen in her eyes.

"Luna, do not speak for a while, think it over and try to gather your thoughts into one sentence, if you can"

Having turned the paper over to the blank side and having taken the pencil with her teeth, the princess fell silent for a long time. I finished my dinner, ate the orange and kept waiting, while I was drinking the water. Finally Luna turned her charming gaze toward me.

"If I sum up all my thoughts in one sentence, it will sound like "I am grateful for all you have done, but I do not want to be a burden to you" - Luna breathed out with relief, as if she was getting rid of a heavy load.

"So, you cannot help feeling obliged, when you are being cared for and fed by me?"

"Yes"

"I see. Let us go, we will talk on the sofa"

"Let us go" - Luna agreed quietly and somewhat indifferently. She was the first to leave the kitchen. Was she already regretting bringing this topic up? I brought the banana, which was still warm, with me, and also took the pencil and paper, speckled with ponies' unfamiliar letters, from the table. Luna's writing was neat and small.

***

"Would you let me brush your tail?" - Lairy asked. He tossed stylus and paper on the table and put banana on the back of the sofa.

Having given the hairbrush to him, I lay down, as I had been lying recently with my head on the elbow-rest, and looked at the human interestedly, hoping to notice some pattern in his behaviour. Having sat down nearby, he drew the tail out longwise and put it on his lap. The hands ran the hairbrush smoothly, leaving no hair out of place. Indeed, the movements slowed down, became relaxed, as if the human went into a trance. Lairy was casting glances at me from time to time, and I felt his wandering look almost physically. It was gliding, caressing the curves of my body, but without lingering at any place for long.

"Luna, let us talk over all the things, which bother you, one after another"

"I am listening"

"My home is your home as well. While discussing the plan of how to help you with Celectia, I decided at once, that you would be living with me. And I was risking my life and my health, letting an alien unfamiliar creature stay at my place. After all, even Celestia could not tell, how almost a thousand tears of reclusion, let alone the contact with that... "human", would have had affected you"

"Were you risking?" - I wondered - "When?"

"Bra-a-avo. And who nearly deafened me, being offended by "demeaning" conditions of living here? Who was ready to impale me with a horn, which "only purpose" was supposed to be magic?"

Lairy hit my cutie mark slightly with a hairbrush. Having snorted in surprise, I tucked my leg. Being satisfied with my reaction, the Cheetah purred quietly and continued to brush the tail.

"As you can see, living with a princess is life-threatening for an ordinary person"

"I see" - I snapped in response, being puzzled.

"However, I undertook this assignment. There were other motivations as well, besides wanting to get you out of trouble. I wished for a new and unusual experience in life, and that is what I am getting. After all, you are a real adventure at home"

Having burst out laughing, Lairy hung the middle part of the tail round his neck and started to brush the tip with care.

"You know... I admit, that I went much further in my relationship with you, than your sister had asked me to. And Celestia was even angry. According to the contract, all that I needed to do was to feed you and keep you warm. But, Luna, I had seen what condition you were in"

Having leant over me, Lairy put his hand on the wing. I stared into his eyes intently, realizing, that he was going to tell me the most important thing. It would be able to confirm my guesses and dispel the doubts.

"And I deliberately transcended the confines of what Celestia had allowed"

I moved my wing slightly, wanting to encourage the human. He fell silent for a while, stroking the feathers and burying his fingertips in them.

"Luna, I am giving my love to you, without asking for anything in return. I had already told you the reason"

I did not expect that. Love? But... Having forced myself to suppress the raising wave of questions, I closed my eyes thoughtfully. If he had been talking about it before, why was I so deaf? Or did I not pay attention to his words?

Having put the well-combed tail near me, Lairy lay down, propping on his elbows, and continued to caress the wing, side and hip. His closeness and unconstraint were disturbing, my thoughts were scattering, they did not want to form a logical chain.

"Please... move away!" - having felt cornered suddenly, I probably asked about that too sharply and louder, than I should have. Having flatten my ears, I was shuddering nervously, still restraining myself from more aggressive and rash actions.

The human moved to the other side of the sofa silently, he did not look surprised or offended. Having buried my muzzle in hooves, I was wheezing frequently and tensely. Familiar, so disgusting, that it was making me sick, empty feeling of loneliness returned to me, and it was diluted with a bitterness of remorse. What did Lairy do to deserve to be treated like that? He was only caring. His attention, love, excessive closeness, caresses... Having been frightened, I rejected all of that and was alone again, left with nothing. Could I become so wild? No pony, who I was acquainted with, loved...

The sofa creaked. Having held my breath, I looked at the human askew. He took a little board, clean sheet of paper and pencils from the table, sat down on the sofa again and started to draw something, having put the board with the paper on his lap.

There was no glance, no word toward me, as if I was not there. The heart was squeezed down by an unbearable resentment. Bitter tears ran down my cheeks, I sobbed, hoping that it would not be heard.

No pony loved me. They were interested in my social status, the opportunity to get closer to the court, to build the relations they needed. They were interested in everything, except for me. And I, being free and independent, surrounded by glitter and luxury, had always understood that really well. So I was shutting the noble admirers out.

Having wiped the tears, I sighed. And what was now? I had no title, influence, connections, wealth, even the simplest magic. I was no one in this world and I was lonely again. And above all, I understood nothing. Okay, I was mainly a commodity for Celestia, and she would have paid to anyone to get me out of that basement. But Lairy was just a mercenary, doing his job. I grinned humourlessly, having remembered calling him "earth pony hillbilly". Now I would rather call him a griffon, than a pony.

How could I explain his behavior? Why does he love me, when I have nothing to offer him? It was clear, that he was attracted by my unusual appearance, just like the last human was. However, Lairy also was interested in my feelings and my worries. He tried his best to make me feel happy with him.

M-m-m, a hot bath, a substantial supper, sleeping under a warm blanket, going for a walk and for a ride, the exotic training of the wings, the leaves from an inaccessible garden, beautiful songs, heart-to-heart talks - everything was so beautiful. And still he says, that he does not want anything in return. It was enough for him, that I was lying next to him happily, allowing him to caress me. And how did I respond to him, being such a pony-flesh?

The unwonted thoughts made me grumble crossly. I knew that I could soon heap up a big pile of hay, and there would be no one to wipe up the mess, but me. No, it should not be that way. Having sighed heavily, I got up and approached Lairy, feeling the strings in the sofa buzzing forcedly under my legs in harmony with my whining self-esteem. I was not sure, that he would understand and would not repel me, like I did.

Having looked up, Lairy smiled warmly. Seeing that sincere friendly smile, I felt like not a princess, but a tyrant, I wanted to burst into tears. Having examined the picture, I was stupefied. The human drew me. I was angular with sharp pointed features, the mane and tail were winding strangely, and on the top of the masterpiece there was a small thundercloud above my head. Slanting rain was pouring out of it, and the lighting was striking at the horn. Blue lines were stretched from the eyes down the cheeks. Lairy noticed that moment of weakness and the tears.

The wounded pride was resisting, kicking my croup, urging me to give a haughty snort and go away. But I had already become fed up with leaving, rejections, hardships and loneliness.

Having bent my knees, I took the drawing with my lips, crumpled it and spat it out to the floor. Then I pushed the board away with my nose.

"Lairy, it was wrong of me to hurt your feelings" - having sighed, I rested my head on his legs.

"Yes" - the hand was put on my withers. Was it just me, or the fingers, being buried in the mane, pulled the hair stronger than usual? That even hurt a little.

"We told you so!" - my self-esteem and pride yelled all together.

"Kick off!" - having snorted, I sent both of them to some very familiar distant place.

"I understand... do you want to punish me?"

"No" - the fingers relaxed and began to massage the aching spot gently.

"But..." - having almost gotten up, I looked at Lairy's face - "Why?"

He took my head by the chin.

"You had told me, that you were afraid of me. I got to close and scared you by that. I understand"

"Will you forgive me?"

"Yes. You have already realized your mistake and its consequences, have you not? And whenever you would like to be left alone for a while, tell about that calmly, if possible"

"I understood" - I smiled, not knowing what to say in response.

"Luna, I have told you, that I do not demand anything in return for my love. But I will ask for one thing"

"What is it?" - I looked imperturbable, but felt tied in a knot painfully inside, expecting the worst.

Lairy fell silent for a while, caressing the features of my muzzle with his eyes and fingertips.

"Be that nice, kind, beautiful Luna, whom I love, all the time we are together, and I will be as happy with you as you are with me. That is all"

"Cat, you have scared me. I was expecting something impossible" - having had a laugh of relief, I put my hoof on Lairy's chest, - "Yes, I agree"

"It is nice to hear. And what can I ask of a winged pony, which would be impossible? I have already said, that I love you. It is enough for me"

"So, all I have to do is to be nice, kind and... HAVE YOU SAID, THAT YOU LOVE ME?!" - I have almost choked over these words in astonishment.

Suddenly Lairy clapped my mouth shut with the both hands. His glare become harsh, the wrinkles appeared on his nose and the upper lip was lifted in a predatory grin. I froze in fear, thinking, how to pull my head out of his hands and where to flee. Could I happen to bring up the forbidden subject?

"Luna, watch your voice. Otherwise I will uncover your mouth only when you eat"

"M-m-m" - I nodded and was released at once. I rubbed my lips with the leg, - "I am sorry, but I am really amazed. You have just said..."

"And I will say it again, - yes, I love you. One has to be a heartless brick to save such a beauty without falling in love with her. I am not a brick" - the Cheetah relaxed and yawned.

"I do not know whether I should be glad about that or not. I had been "loved" before, and that was unpleasant" - I sighed sadly.

"It was lust, not love" - Lairy frowned - "He had used you the way he wanted, with no regard for your feelings"

"I do not want to recall that" - I turned away.

"Then do not recall, I have not pulled you by the horn. You should replace your negative memories with positive ones"

"And what are those?"

"The pleasures of living with me"

"Still it is very strange..." - I looked the Cheetah up and down thoughtfully - "... to realise that I have become your special pony. I do not know what to do"

"Probably, we can wish a long life and deep love to each other? And what does the "special" mean?"

Having peeled the banana, Lairy held it out to me. I bit off half of it absently and my lips stuck together at once. This sudden problem allowed me to gain time to think the response over and to gather my thoughts.

"Special" means "beloved" - having finally swallowed banana "glue", I folded the hooves of my forelegs in pleading gesture - "Lairy, I rejoice at your love, but I am not sure I can reciprocate it and call you my beloved... human. Did I say that part right? Still, it is so unexpected for me, and it is too quick" - I scratched my ear confusedly.

"Yes. I will not press you. Just remember my request. And do not raise your voice to "Canterlotish", it is out of place here"

"I remember and I have already said, that I agree"

I looked at the table, and my gaze found a feather. I strained myself, as usual, but the expected glow did not appear around my horn and the feather.

"What sort of a life it is without magic?" - I moaned in annoyance and walked for the feather myself. Having taken it with my lips, I returned to the sofa, wondering at inconceivable transiency of the events in silence. Probably, the pace of time was different in this world, or maybe it was me, who became sluggish, and I needed to relax, be more flexible and quicker to react. Having sat down I laid the feather at my hooves.

"Lairy, it was an extremely strange day for me. Being in an alien world, I found out that a member of an alien race loves me. If you were a pony in the castle of Canterlot, I would push you out of the door. But here..." - I passed my hoof over the muzzle with an effort - "I have no doubt about the sincerity of your feelings. Since things have taken such a turn, allow me to introduce you to one of the ponies' customs, which is known to me"

I lifted the feather, which was lying on the hoof of my foreleg. Was it my right to take responsibility for entering into a relationship with someone I did not know at all? Could I be mistaken?

I was recalling banquets, nobles from high society, rituals, which bored me to death, odious talks, all known by heart, and those ponies, who were with me. I was able to tell beforehand what they would say and do.

Lairy reached his hand out to me with the palm upturned. My glance slid over the hand and I looked into his eyes. I have not seen any adulation, arrogance, greed, lust for glory, wealth or power, which I could read easily in others' eyes. There was only that unflinching composure, which was inherent in large predators. He was waiting. And I did not know what to expect from him. But his actions spoke louder than words.

The oar feather was lying on my hoof like a milestone of fate. There was no going back, since I offered him to learn a ponies' custom. Well, after all, I was not signing the marriage contract. And Lairy would perceive everything the way I was going to explain it. At any case, I was hoping for his understanding.

"If a mare find out about a stallion's love for her, if she likes that stallion and agrees to be his "special pony", then the mare can give the stallion some item, for example, a flower of the same colour as her coat. Or she can give a lock of her mane, a feather. In which connection, this case is considered a sign of peculiar favour and appreciation. Stallions wear these gifts proudly. So, Lairy, I give you my feather"

Having nodded with a smile, I hold it out, waiting for the human's reaction cautiously. He took the feather in his hands respectfully, like it was a precious artifact.

"I thank you, Princess, your gift is very pleasant to me. But with your permission, I will not wear it, because I would not want..."

"Because you refuse to accept my gift?!" - I interrupted indignantly - "Do not disappoint me! For the first time in my life I agree to be someone's pony altogether and follow this custom of giving"

Lairy put the feather on his lap.

"Lu-u-una" - he struck his finger on my nose affectionately a few times - "Hear me to the end. You do not even know, what I have wanted to say"

"Ah, to the end, then?" - I was still roused and indignant.

"Yes"

Having moved closer and put his arm around my shoulders, Lairy lifted the feather, holding it by the quill in front of our eyes and turning it in his hand slowly. I saw all my feathers a million times, I knew everything about them and did not pay any attention to that. But now it felt like I was looking at myself from the outside, watching the play of patches of light and tints.

"I do not refuse to accept your gift, Luna. But if I am going to wear it, it can be broken or ruined. Look, this feather is a part of you. It is an admirable, beautiful, sublime part. I will keep it. You will go back to Equestria, I will stay here. Years and decades will pass, but your feather will make me glad, reminding of happy days, I had spend with you, and of love, I had given to you"

Having reached out my leg, I touched the fingers. The human opened them and the hoof fit into the palm. Having turned around, I met Lairy's eyes suddenly. His arm, which had been embracing my shoulders, moved down slowly and began to caress the spot between the shoulder-blades tenderly, causing a sweet languishing sensation to spread over my back and wings, like a healing balm.

Feeling embarrassed, I tried not to think about how all of that could end if I lose control or Lairy drives me to the point of swooning again.

"Yes, I understand" - I was trying to fight slight dizziness and itching of the wings, which were starting to strain.

"Thank you" - Lairy gave me a tender kiss on the forehead below the horn - "Are you all right?"

"I may be... if you stop scratching me" - I smiled as confidently as I could, but as a matter of fact I was going crazy slowly. O-oh, those fingers, m-m-mgh-h...

"And one cannot tell by the look of you, that you are repelled by the massage. You are sitting here being so happy and dreamy"

"I am entranced!" - Finally, I gave up, being unable to hold back the tension and threw my aching wings open with all my might - "Lairy, your caresses are incredible, but, please, you should really stop scratching my back, if you do not need a crazy mare at home"

"Hm, that is a serious warning. So, this is enough then" - having taken the feather and pencils, Lairy went to the cupboard.

Being exhausted with voluptuous feebleness, I rolled up my eyes and dropped down on the sofa, having given a long moan. Rebelling wings rose like the sails. The head was dizzy, a smell of human's sweat sneaked into my nostrils, it was tart and strangely pleasant.

My knight was sitting on the floor in front of the cupboard, gluing the feather to the inside of the glass door.

"Lairy?" - I called him quietly. He turned back. - "Could you give me an honest answer to one question?"

"Ask away"

"Why did you give me that... "massage"?" - I faltered, trying to recall the word, I had heard for the first time.

"For no particular reason" - he shrugged his shoulders - "I saw that it was very pleasant to you. Why not please the loved one?"

"Thank you..." - I was hearing my heartbeat getting slower little by little and felt my shivery wings relaxing. Having yawned, I rested forelegs under my head. I have not felt so good for a long time...

For no particular reason. So he really had no idea about the power of excitement, which his very simple actions had made me feel. And he had been caressing the most sensitive spots unintentionally. In this case I cannot blame him...

"Luna! I see you did a lot of deeds here as well!" - Lairy was holding the figure, which I had helped to lose an arm.

Here we go, the day of reckoning for my curiosity has come - having sighed, I left the sofa, approached humbly and lay down in front of Lairy. I pressed my wings, which still did not relax completely, to the floor. I was remembering all the offensive words, I had heard from my previous "owner", with sadness. What else about myself I will find out this time?

"Yes, I admit, I am guilty. I had broken it accidentally yesterday. And I did not tell about it"

"And what was the pu-ur-rpose of not telling?" - the Cheetah's friendliness aroused my suspicions.

"I did not want to sadden that evening. It was too good of a time to scold me"

"To scold you? For this? Never mind, this terminator is jerry-built and held together with spit. Look" - Lairy threw the figure up. Having been dropped on the carpet from no great height, the skeleton lost another arm and both legs.

"Is that all?" - I was surprised when the figure was assembled again quickly and accurately.

"That is all" - having returned the figure on its place, Lairy took a small blue and white box from the shelf - "And this is a tape recorder"

"Recor...der?" - I looked back at the item, which could sing.

"That is right, but this tape recorder is a toy and it does not sing. Still, it has other features"

"Can it be thrown as well?"

"No, it cannot be thrown. It is different with this one"

Once again I was amazed by the accuracy and deftness of the hands. The white parts of the box were drawn apart and pulled down, then the blue parts were also moved. Before I could blink, a human-like creature was standing on the floor. I grabbed it with my hooves and examined. It was clumsy, angular with a big window on its broad chest, massive arms and legs and a small head, which had only one narrow and yellow eye.

"How is it called?"

"It is a transformer. Its purpose is to change its form. Try to assemble it as it was. It is not difficult"

Having looked at fingers and hooves skeptically, I thought unkindly of the lack of telekinetic magic and lay down more comfortably. Having examined the creature carefully, I found parts of a tape recorder on its belly and legs, but I had caught only a glimpse of its previous form. At first I moved its head down with my nose, however the yellow eye looked strangely somehow. Having given it some thought, I turned it round with my lips carefully and put it down again. Now the head became an integral part. The transformer was giving in to my actions reluctantly, with creaking and rustling. Having assembled its arms, still using my lips, I tried to determine, what it was made of, and even licked it, which made Lairy smile merrily. Was it wood, clay, stone, bone, glass, metal? No, it was not. Finally, having pressed the conundrum to the carpet with one hoof, I returned the legs on their place with the other.

"Ooh, it is done" - I was turning quite a heavy box in my hooves - "What is it made of?"

"It is made of plastic, man-made material"

There was definitely something inside the transformer behind the glass. I touched all the buttons carefully. The slot was opened, when I had pressed the upper one. Having turned the "tape recorder" round, I shook some flat black object out of it.

"Is it a cassette? And is it without a voice?"

"Yes, it does not have a voice. It only looks like a cassette"

"There is a deception everywhere" - I burst out laughing and placed a false cassette on Lairy's palm -"And how else can it look? Show me it, I will not be able to handle this small thing"

"It is not a deception. Transformers are meant to look like usual appliances"

Having pulled a head, a tail and paws out of the cassette, Lairy turned it into a little black cat.

"Hush, stand still, the jaguar is too close and can smell you" - he whispered and put the cat down on my nose. It seemed really huge there. Having crossed my eyes, I have been remaining still as long as I could, then I drew a small breath and the cat fell.

"You know, you have so many interesting and unusual things. What is the purpose of those figures and transformations?"

"The initial purpose is that those are children's toys, they are beneficial to developing finger dexterity and precision of movements. And for me they are collector's figures, and I like them for their ability to change form"

"It resembles some complex transformation spell. One needs to do everything accurately and gradually to achieve the desirable result. I do not remember, that such things had existed in my time, let alone such toys"

"Ponies do not have fingers. How could they be transformed without fingers?"

"With the help of telekinesis, probably" - I replied, being concentrated on my attempts to turn the cat back into the cassette with the edges of my hooves - "Show me more"

***

"More"? I helped Luna to fit Ravage into a tape deck of Soundwave and looked over my shelves with half a hundred of transformers on them. There was nothing good there, only military equipment, the machines, which were built for destruction and killing. Why should I explain the meaning of that fleet to my lovely pony? The less she knows about humans the better it is for her. She had already "learned" too much.

However, curious princess was ahead of me.

"What is this bird here?" - having risen slightly on her hind legs near the cupboard, she touched the wing of "Tu-134B" model with one of her forelegs. I took the model from the shelf to let Luna have a better look at it.

"This machine was created by humans for quick and comfortable flying. It is called airplane, because it can plane through the air. There are easy chairs and even food inside of it"

"There are easy chairs? So it must be large"

"It is quite large. Here is a cockpit, two humans are sitting in it. And almost a hundred people can take seats in the salon" - I ran my fingers along the frame of the model.

"A hundred... but how?" - Luna rubbed her nose thoughtfully. Imagining real proportions of an airplane seemed to be difficult for her.

"Do you remember the size of my car, by which we were traveling? It is big and comfortable"

"Yes"

"Well, then imagine that car, but with wings and several times larger. So it would be possible not only to sit inside of it, but to walk as well"

"T-to walk?" - the pony breathed out in amazement. Holding the model with the hooves of her forelegs, she moved her eyes between it and me - "And a hundred of humans... it looks like a real flying house!"

"Yes, it is like a house"

"It is amazing. But is it not easier to fly on your own wings?" - the alicorn waved her wings elegantly.

I took the model away from her and put it back into the cupboard.

"It is easier, if you need to fly to a nearby bakery and buy bread. But if the flight is long and the destination is far away, it is better to use an airplane like this one. Besides, humans do not have wings, so they made the wings themselves"

"Hm... I forgot about that somehow"

"You are accustomed to using wings, and you were thinking like you were used to. It is all right. And now take a look at this" - having closed the door of the cupboard, I showed Luna her feather, which was scotch-taped to the glass by its quill.

"It looks beautiful and it will stay safe. That truly is better, than wearing it yourself" - she approved. Having sat down on the sofa, I picked up my crumpled sketch of an angry princess and smoothed it out.

"Lunie, can you draw?"

"I do not know, re-e-eally" - she managed to shrug both her shoulders and wings at the same time very beautifully. Having run up to me, she snatched the drawing out of my hands, chewed it up and went to the corridor. The rattle of the trash can lid could be heard, and then there was the sound of the water. The pony came back, shaking her hind leg, and she looked a bit smug. I noted mentally, that Luna became more liberated and active in her actions.

"If you do not know, let us find out. Sit down" - I moved the chair to the table and, having brought a stool from the kitchen, sat down to the left of the princess. I glued the corners of the paper to the table, so she would not need to hold the sheet with her hooves.

"It will be difficult without magic" - Luna muttered, rolling the pencil by her hoof.

"You know, everything in this world works without magic. And your writing is beautiful, despite the fact, that you use your mouth to write. So just try" - having smiled, I gave her the pencil. The pony took it, smacked her lips musingly and bent over the paper. Having shook the coloured pencils out of the box, I put them next to the future drawing.

The features of a landscape started to appear gradually. There was a valley, a winding river, a huge, heavily wooded mountain. However, it was difficult for Luna to catch the pencils with her lips, as they rolled along the table often.

"Oh, Luna, I have an idea how to make it for you"

"M-m-hm?" - she looked at me inquiringly, with a pencil in her mouth.

Without bothering myself with unnecessary explanations, I pulled tight elastic medical bands on her forelegs, and tucked the pencils, which she used most often, into them. The little pony took a liking to that immediately. Now she was able to take the pencil of required colour into her mouth easily and it was just as easy to put it back. The artistic process became much quicker and more convenient.

Having finished drawing some castle with a couple of towers, which was located on a mountain slide, the artist smoothed a strand of her mane and exchanged looks with me. I have been watching her work silently for all that time.

"Well, that is all about it. It turned out to be a bit rough" - she made a dissatisfied face.

"May I try to beautify it?"

"You may" - she replied, as if it was the greatest sign of a royal goodwill.

No, if the self-assertion of Her Majesty was going to go uphill at that rate, I would have to tie her mouth up with a towel to avoid her giving orders in "Royal Canterlot Voice" any day now.

Having peeled the sheet of paper off the table, I began decorating it, every now and then taking the pencils off the legs of the pony, who was watching the drawing being changed. Sometimes she would wrinkle her nose and snort quietly, if she did not like something. But mostly she was wheezing approvingly. It was hard to draw, being distracted by wheezing and snorting, however there was a peculiar charm in that. Listening to the princess' reaction carefully, I was creating a colourful picture of her native world stroke by stroke. And it seemed like ponies' eyes perceived the same colour palette as humans' eyes did. Luns did not object, when I coloured the grass and trees on the mountain green and made the river and the sky blue.

"It looks much better now, thank you" - Luna pronounced with deep feeling, when I pushed a picture, which was quite complete, toward her - "You drew the clouds and the Pegasi, it is so nice"

"You have been drawing. I have just added some features" - I stroke the pony's head tenderly, she stooped down, offering me the spots, which were itchy. I scratched behind her ear, the back and the crown of her head. Having closed her eyes, the alicorn was wheezing with pleasure quietly. Whether it was accidentally or intentionally, Luna tilted her head back in such a way, that her horn touched my fingers. Remembering her words about the sensitivity of a horn, I took a careful grip on the coil, which was the first from the bottom, massaging it and the skin at its base with rotational movements. Having opened one eye slightly, Luna looked at me in surprise.

"If you do not like it, tell me to stop" - I preferred not to conjecture, what those caresses could have meant to her.

A sweet spasm passed over the pony's whole body, she closed her eyes silently, giving the initiative up to me. Probably, she did not want to admit openly, that it was pleasant for her, but Luna's condition spoke for itself.

Having caressed the base of the horn for a bit longer, my fingers ran over the muzzle, touched fluttering eyelids and lingered on the nose.

"That is it" - I scratched the edge of the nose with my nails.

"So you want to drive me crazy with your caresses, do you not?" - Luna kissed the fingers.

"If you want it too, then I do"

"How impudent are you!" - the princess protested jokingly, moving my hand away from her nose with the leg, - "And what if I do not want that at all?"

"Yes, certainly, I was driving past the garage entirely by coincidence, and suddenly saw a charming winged pony, who was taking a stroll near it. I caught her impudently, hauled her home, without listening to the pleadings about letting her go. I bathed her impudently, fed and put her to sleep, despite the desperate resistance of this touch-me-not from Canterlot. Then I left her alone for a whole day foully, without any food, and put a huge sack of meat in plain sight to give her a good fright. In the evening I pulled the wool over her eyes impudently, saying that I was not going to kill her, although there were pictures of killing hanging all around the house, ah-ha-ha!" - I narrowed my eyes wickedly, - "And then I drove the poor pony off, far away from the prying eyes, to some desolate ruins, and was chasing the exhausted princess cruelly over sharp rocks and pieces of iron for a whole hour, holding her by tail, while she was trying to run away from me. I brought her back, when she was more dead than alive, so I poured the boiled water down her throat by force, wrapped her in blanket and left her dying"

Luna was sitting there as if she was catatonic, looking at me without blinking and listening with her mouth open. And since she has not put two and two together yet, I was enjoying the moment, continuing messing with the alicorn's brain with methodical sadism.

"But no-o-o, this winged horned creature was up and about in the morning. I even touched her impudently, wanting to be sure that she was alive, then gave her the most delicious cocktail and made her please me. I subjected the princess to the most sophisticated tortures just to find out the meaning of that ornate mark on her butt. And when the worn-out pony was fighting me, trying to fly away, I had grabbed her, raking the tender shivery flesh with my claws, and had been holding her until she became so weak, having bled, that her heart was hardly beating in the chest. And she begged me to have mercy on her faintly, begged me to kill her and end her suffering"

Having hiccupped, Luna swallowed loudly. Her pupils narrowed, one ear was flinching and the other one flopped down awry in perplexity. I decided to finish the poor creature off altogether and made the final blow.

"And now, having fettered the little pony to the table with thick chains, I demand to draw the detailed map of Equestria for me, because I intent to conquer and enslave that country. And I will give my dear Lunie to no one. That is all" - I leaned on the table triumphantly.

The silence spun out. The alicorn moved her lips, muttering something under her breath. Her eyes regained their normal look gradually, both ears rose cheerfully, she laughed quietly, uncertainly at first, but it kept getting louder.

"O-o-oh, the stars from the heaven!" - Luna moaned with tears of laughter - "You have turned all my life inside out! Lairy, it is so good that you do not have any magic, or you would have Discorded me without much effort, I swear it. So, you think, I am some "touch-me-not from Canterlot". Well, okay" - having grabbed my hand with her forelegs, she put it on her head - "Go on, touch, I do not mind. You have already touched me all over, I cannot object anymore"

I wiped away Luna's tears with a tip of her tail, took her head between my hands tenderly, entwined my fingers with her mane, so she was not able to slip out, and shook gently.

"Luna?"

"Yes?" - she sobbed obediently, without looking away. Now it was possible to do anything to her.

"Why are you so contradictory? If you like my caresses, why do you reject me? If you do not like them, why do you put up with it? I always give you the freedom of choice, but your freedom always goes awry. Please, make up your mind, so the both of us would not suffer unnecessarily"

"I know, that my behaviour is strange, but I had told you before, that I want to be with you and I am scared of you at the same time. No one has ever paid so much attention to me, like you do. Being with you, I am in harmony at one moment and in chaos at another one. Celestia has never lived so close to you, she does not know, what it feels like. You are much more similar to Discord, than she thinks. You are unpredictable, and I cannot help being confused"

"And there is a chaos in your head because of my caresses" - I scratched behind both of her ears at once.

"How do you?.." - she strained herself and then wilted almost instantaneously - "Yes. There is chaos"

"How do I know? Luna, probably, you do not realise that, but your body and your beautiful eyes are very expressive. It does not take much of an insight to know, that you like everything I do"

"Yes, I like that!" - she said that in a sharp defiant tone, as if she had been taken in some indiscretion, and closed her eyes embarrassedly.

"Luna, why are you ashamed of something, which is pleasant to you? Are caresses forbidden in Equestria?"

"No" - now the pony lowered her ears, willing to lean away from me subconsciously. But she was hesitating still and has not pulled her head out of my grasp.

"Inward conflicts lead only to destruction and chaos. You need love, Luna. Allow yourself to accept love. You deserve it"

"Allow myself?.." - Luna's brows arched a bit, she was lost in thoughts.

"Allow yourself to love and to be loved, and all your fears will go away" - I stroked her ears, as if I was encouraging them to listen to my words.

"Fears?"

"You are scared of my unpredictability. And I may know the reason"

The alicorn's long eyelashes blinked, as if she has just awakened and looked at my face with interest.

"Behavioural patterns. Do you know what that means?"

"Yes" - it seemed possible to keep falling into the abyss of those green eyes for an eternity, without ever coming back.

"I am unpredictable to you, because my behaviour is different from the patterns, you are used to. You compare me to ponies or someone else, do you not? And you expect certain actions"

"That is right"

"Well, if you stop comparing me to the others, you will avoid making mistakes and will not be afraid to make them"

"Hm-m..."

I massaged Luna's temples, hoping to stimulate the thinking process.

"And am I... predictable to you?"

"No, but I do not compare you to anyone, I expect nothing and do what seems right to me at the moment. That is why I am calm, I am not afraid of you or of possible mistakes" - I took my hands from Luna, having saved smoothing her mane for last.

I should give psychological and philosophical conundrums to the alicorn more often. When she was comparing my words to the many hundreds of years, she had experienced, the pony was becoming very beautiful at those moments, filled with thoughtful contemplation of her inner universe.

"I did not expect such advice as "allow yourself to love" from you"

"The less you expect from me in accordance with your "patterns", the more good things you will see, and, probably, I will not look like "a spirit of chaos" to you" - I shrugged my shoulders, tearing off the double-spread page from the centre of a school notebook.

"Would you let me think about it by myself?"

"Yes"

"Thank you"

The princess went away to the kitchen. Folding the sheet of paper into the base square shape, I heard the refrigerator door banging, then there was a quiet clatter of the crockery, swish of water, clap of the stove door. It was clear, that Her Majesty has adjusted to the house chores quite well. So it was one less trouble for me, I needed only to refill the refrigerator in time now.

While Luna was eating, I made a traditional figure. The pony returned to me, licking the sour cream from her lips with pleasure.

"Sit down. I have a surprise for you" - I slapped my palm against the chair.

She sat down, not with all four of her legs being tucked this time, but quite human-like, having swung her hind legs off the chair.

"Here" - I showed her a bird with triangular wings, angular back, long neck and a tail - "This is a Japanese crane of happiness. According to the legend, if you make a thousand of cranes and give those to all your friends, acquaintances and just good people, your dream will come true. This is the first one. And here is one more thing..."

Having taken the bird by its chest, I pulled its tail carefully with my other hand. The little crane flapped its wings.

"How interesting. Is it made from paper?" - the alicorn took the crane in her hooves.

"Yes. It is made from one sheet of paper"

"Just one?" - Luna pulled the crane's tail with her lips, and it seemed like the crane was trying to fly away from her.

I unfolded the figure accurately right in front of the pony, showing a simple page of a squared notebook with some sophisticated geometry of folds to her.

"Well, it is surely something! And how is it possible to fold it back? Will you teach me how to play this game?" - the princess smiled charmingly, and her warm glance, reaching the very soul, was able to melt the oldest and the most durable ice of a bachelor's convictions completely.

"I will. This art is called "origami" and it is more than two thousand years old. Its title can be translated as "folding the paper". The point is that it is possible to make a great number of different figures out of a sheet of paper.

Having taken an old book about origami and a pile of colourful sheets of paper for the children's artistic activities out of the cupboard, I explained to Luna how to read the folding instructions, demonstrated the "mountain" and "valley" folds, corners, pockets and turns visually, cut some square blanks out of paper.

The alicorn folded the first basic "square" in her life by herself. Origami was coming much easier to her, than transforming the robots. Making a fold, the pony pressed the sheet of paper against the table tightly with her hoof. She was folding the corners down with her nose and lips, and managed to turn aside the pockets, pushing a pencil through them. That way the ancient Japanese art has gained a new and unusual fan.

The silence settled onto the apartment for whole two hours. It was disturbed only by the rustle of paper, clatter of the hooves against the table and occasional dissatisfied grunts of the little horse at the times, when she did not succeed at folding something like it was supposed to be folded. The inflatable frog and tulip, the leaping frog, the dog, which was able to nod its head, the disposable cup, the bottle, the swallow, the pigeon, heads of the crocodile and the fox, the catamaran and the flower-shaped box appeared on the table. Luna took a great interest in it and she asked me for help only once to have more blanks cut out of the paper. She was not able to handle the scissors. The remaining sheets of paper had been enough to make two more figures and Luna's eyes shone enthusiastically, when I brought the bolt of wallpaper from the closet.

"Thank you!" - having hugged me, she gave me a kiss on the cheek - "I will make big and beautiful figures!"

"Only what can be done to make you able to cut the paper yourself?" - I made some clicking sounds with the scissors, being lost in thoughts.

"Is is meant for the fingers, though" - the pony pointed her hoof at the instrument.

Having brought a knife from the kitchen, I put the bolt of wallpaper on the floor and unrolled it.

"I have never thought that I would teach a princess. Luna, place the corner of this band against its other side. There will be a triangle, one side of which will be across the band. Bend the entire band to this side, trample down the bend well, open the triangle and the square is made. Bend the band five times, overlaying the squares. Here is the knife, try to cut it along the folds and be careful not to cut yourself"

Holding the knife with her teeth, the pony cut the blanks out and examined them with great satisfaction.

"Those squares are huge" - she grinned, covering her head with a blank.

"It is possible to make them smaller. Bend the band from one side, as much as you want to make it smaller, cut off along the bend, you will get the rectangle. Then overlay its smaller side with the cut-off band, combine the edges, bend it again and cut the band of the same width off"

I showed her how to do that, using a knife.

"I am grateful" - having taken the book from the table, the alicorn sprawled out on the floor with the pile of paper. While she was concentrated at thinking over the scheme, I made a cocked hat and cut some slits for the horn and ears, having estimated their places by eye. I fastened the corners with the clips in order to hold the hat together.

"Luna, prick up your ears"

"What?" - she gave me an alarmed look - "Have I done something wrong?"

"What do you mean?" - I asked and we stared at one another, uncomprehending.

"Well, the phrase "prick up your ears" means that I am about to be told something unpleasant and I will have to hear that out. It is scolding, for example" - Luna explained reservedly.

"Is it some slang from the ponies' language?" - I asked for clarification.

"Slang?.. Yes. What of it?" - the mare relaxed a bit.

"I did not know the meaning of this phrase and was not going to tell you anything unpleasant"

"Okay, what did you mean, then?"

"I was asking you to hold your ears upward"

I set up the cocked hat on the pony's head, having put the horn and earth through the slits.

"It is funny!" - she laughed, peeking out from under the hat, which was a little big for her.

"What are you working on?" - I looked at the opened book.

"It is a dragon, and it is quite strange. I decided not to make some of the figures, because I do not know their meanings"

"Do you need any help with it?"

"It is more interesting to do it myself"

"Okay. When you finish, we will watch the video. I had promised to show you horses"

"Video?" - Luna asked to repeat. I held out the box of "Black stallion" to her - "Ah, now I know, what it is"

While the princess was struggling with the dragon alone, her loyal knight cooked himself a dinner and while lying with the plate on the sofa was watching his beloved spending time on the last curves of the dragon's tail assiduously.

"Ya-a-ay! I conquered it!" - the alicorn exclaimed, raising the finished lizard above her head. Having been made of wallpaper, the magnificent dragon was shining with golden tracery proudly.

"Congratulations on your victory. It is a beautiful masterpiece of Japanese culture, made by a beautiful pony" - I looked at Luna with admiration and noticed that her cheeks darkened. Trying to conceal her shyness, she moved the dragon to the table, rolled the bolt of wallpaper up and began to pick up the paper trimmings.

"It is enough for today, I have pins and needles in my both legs and croup, and also in my tail" - the pony declared, stretching the limbs. Having crumpled and trampled down paper rubbish well enough, she took it to the corridor. And the lid did not rattle this time.

"That is great" - having gathered the cassettes, I sat down next to the pedestal, on which the TV set was placed. - "Would you like to just watch or to learn how to watch it yourself?"

"I would like to learn. It is so interesting" - the pony examined the equipment.

"You already know about the tapes, on which voices are recorded. And here not only the voice, but also the pictures, which can move and talk, are recorded on these big cassettes. They are displayed on the glass part of this big box. The main thing, that you must remember, Luna, is that the events on the pictures can be vivid, emotional, even frightful, but those are just pictures. There is no need to be afraid of them. As far as I remember, the walls of my room were scary for you to look at" - I waved my hand to the posters with cheetahs.

"Yes"

"But you are not running away or hiding. It is the same here" - I shook the cassette of "White Mane" out of the box

"But, maybe, I am scared, but I have no place to run and hide" - the alicorn grinned, having taken the cassette with her hooves.

She got the hang of turning TV and VCR on and operating all that stuff quite quickly. Luna already was experienced in handling the stereo and she had learned the purpose of the buttons well.

The main difficulty turned out to be the impossibility to press tiny buttons on the remote control with a hoof.

"That is ba-a-ad" - I turned the remote control over in my hands, thinking how to adapt it to the pony's needs.

"Maybe, we can get on without it" - Luna waved her leg

"No-o, it is impossible to get on without a remote control, it is like getting on without magic"

"Do you say "impossible"?" - Luna strolled across the living room musingly, went away to the bedroom and came back. Having stopped by the table, she took the cocked hat off, put the pencils back into the box.

"I have an idea!" - she ran to me - "Give me the remote control. How should I hold it?"

I showed her how. Having clutched the remote control between the hooves of her forelegs, the pony aimed and pressed the power-on button with the blunt end of the pencil, which she was holding with her lips. The TV set switched on obediently.

"Well done, Lunie, it was a great idea!" - I caressed the princes' muzzle, which was beaming happily, all over.

In order to avoid accidental changing of the TV settings by Luna, I covered the tuning buttons on the remote control with a piece of cardboard and winded a masking tape around it. Now it was possible to enjoy watching the video in a pleasant company.

The movie was quite old, black and white picture was quivering, the slight noise appeared on the screen every now and then. But it was forgivable, considering that the movie was shot in 1953 and took part in Cannes film festival.

"Those are the foals!" - Luna sighed with admiration - "They are so cute"

I was sitting on the sofa, the mare was lying beside me, leaning her neck on my side. Having opened a pack of chips, I offered her one. Luna noticed it only when I rubbed a chip against her lips, and ate the treat without even looking at it.

"The taste of the cheese is just stunning!" - Luna licked her nostrils - "And why are all the horses without their cutie marks?"

"Those are the ordinary horses from Earth, they are not Equestrian"

"That is right, I have forgotten, where I am. But why are the humans chasing White Mane?"

"They want to catch him and make the steed serve them. The humans are too lazy to walk and they force the horses to carry them on their backs"

"Look at that" - the pony snorted - "They want to make him serve..."

"One might think, it was different with you. You had also been forced to "serve" a human"

"I had asked you not to remind me about that" - Luna remarked a bit harshly. She wanted to say something else, but at that moment her attention was caught by White Mane, who was raging about the pen, dragging the people behind him, and I stuffed the princess' mouth with chips quickly.

"Yay! He broke free!" - the pony exulted quietly. The steed, having broken the trunks, which were barring the exit, bolted away toward his freedom.

Luna was an emotional viewer. She was laughing, looking at the girl, who was running with a turtle, watched the humans' everyday lives with interest, was exasperated, when the herders began to chase the horse again.

"And Folko is all right, he proved, that he is strong-willed, can fight one-one-one and deserves White Mane's friendship" - she neighed approvingly, when the boy, covered in mud, was stroking the horse's neck. I stroke Luna's neck. Having sighed happily, she pressed her hoof against my hand - "Why cannot the other humans do the same?"

"The humans prefer to solve the problems by the means of brute force, frightening and enslavement. It is easier for them, then to act peacefully and with kindness. Usually they are not able to come to an accord among themselves, let alone to make friends with animals"

"Yet you were able to come to an accord with me"

"Because convincing you, instead of forcing, is beneficial for me. It is much more pleasant" - I scratched Luna's side.

"Oh, yes, I remember and I agree with you. No, just look at what they are doing! One horse is not enough for them, they caught all the heard in that pen. And White Mane is fighting someone"

"He is fighting for leadership"

"And the heard is standing and watching from behind the fence"

The steeds were rearing, biting each other till they bled, kicking. Luna was trembling, as if it was she, who was being bitten. Trying to calm the sensitive pony down, I was scratching her shoulder, wing and side. When injured White Mane appeared in Folko's courtyard, the alicorn became distracted and bit her foreleg carefully several times.

"Can you imagine, I did not know, that I could bite. And that is quite painful" - she looked at me - "I promise, I will never bite you"

"Thank you. I will remind you, if anything happens"

"Are they burning the swamp just to smoke the horse out?! And what about birds, fish and all the other animals, why do they not think of them?!" - the alicorn jumped up on the sofa.

Having put the video on hold, I pulled Luna's mane strongly, making her turn toward me.

"Keep jumping and you will hit me with your hooves" - I said in a quiet strict tone - "Calm down"

"I am sorry" - the pony sighed meekly and lay down the way she was lying before that. Having released her mane, I resumed the video. White Mane dashed through fire and smoke, taking his friend with him.

"The humans rarely think of anything, besides their immediate needs and interests. It is easy for them to burn a swamp, they do not care about what is going to be next"

"This is way beyond my comprehension" - Luna grumbled - "And what is happening now? Are they trying to catch a hare?"

"Yes, in order to eat it, I presume"

"But White Mane is catching it himself, without being prompted by Folko. He cannot be going to eat it, can he?"

"That is right. But you understand, that meat is food for me. Why cannot the steed understand, that this hare is meat for the human?"

"It was a waste of hare's life" - the pony pointed out discontentedly. White Mane and his friend had to flee without a chance to eat, and the horsemen, who were rushing after them, trampled the bonfire down.

The movie has ended, the VCR was rewinding the cassette.

"But did they reach the other side of the river?" - Luna asked, being not quite certain of that.

"They did not. The ending of the movie implies, that both of them had drown" - I was finishing eating the last chips.

"Then White Mane's decision was very stupid, and I strongly disagree with it"

"Why?"

"Do you not understand?" - Luna frowned.

"I did not say, that I did not understand. I asked, why. I am interested to hear your opinion. Tell me"

"If he loves his freedom so much, that he is willing to die for it, but not to yield to enslavers, then it is his right and his choice. Bui it was unforgivable and stupid to involve the other person in his choice, let alone to risk that person's life. Folko had known White Mane only for several hours, and trusted him blindly, relying on the steed's strength and endurance. And what did he do? He perished himself and betrayed him" - having folded her forelegs across her chest, the alicorn shot an accusing glance at the TV set - "He could have set the boy down on the shore, and then he would be free to go anywhere himself, even to the netherworld. In that case, I would have admired that. But in this case, I can only express my reprimands"

"You are right"

"I am right. And I do not want to be like White Mane for you. I do not want you to lose everything because of me"

It was obvious, that Luna was carried away by her emotions after the movie. She had a lot to say, and I kept silent, giving her an opportunity to speak her mind.

"You are helping me, Lairy, and I am infinitely grateful for that. You should not suffer. If I had gotten myself into this mess, I should get myself out of it on my own. I should not drag you into this incident with the lost Moon Princess. It is my life and my problems and I am the one to be solving them. I have no right to ask anything of you, let alone to allow you to devote your life to me. That is what I wanted to tell you in the morning"

Having put my arms round Luna's sides and shoulders, I brought her closer to me. She placed one foreleg on my shoulder and the other was placed on my chest.

"Princess, I agree with you completely. But allow me to correct you a bit"

"And how exactly will you do that?" - the alicorn smiled faintly.

"The first thing is that it is not your decision, so do not be hasty to take an unnecessary responsibility. In this case everything comes down to Celestia. If she manages to secure the connection between our worlds, there will be no problem for you and you will go home easily"

"And what if she would not be able to do that?"

"Then it is up for me to decide"

"And that is the whole point!"

"Stay quiet for a moment" - I covered her mouth gently - "The ability to hear someone out to the end is important everywhere"

Well, of course it is - Luna rolled her eyes, but she did not object.

"If she does not succeed the first time, Celestia will try again. Failure will not stop her. Since you got there somehow, you must be able to get back. If the attempts have to be postponed for the time being, or if it becomes clear that it is better not to try at all, then yes, I agree to spend all my life with you and that is my choice. Do you mind, princess?"

"I do not... do you... agree?" - Luna was looking at me with tears in her eyes, not daring to believe in what she had heard. I smiled and nodded. Having sobbed, she hugged me tightly and pressed the whole body to me.

"You are in no danger of repeating White Mane's fate"

"I am amazed. I did not expect that. Explain your choice, if you can" - the alicorn released me from her embrace.

"I am free from society and community. I have no serious long-term obligations. I do not have a family, I do not see the actual need for human wife and children. They represent only a lot of unnecessary problems in my eyes. I have friends, but if I tell them that I want to make away to the middle of nowhere, to the edge of the world, they will not hold me back. Job is a thing one can get again. The knowledge, which I possess, will be in demand in this place and in any other one. If it is required, I will learn something new, find a new job. And as for my free time, I am glad to have someone to spend this time with. And I am willing to give it to you"

I put my hand on Luna's shoulder. She gave a start, as if she got burned. I read the gratitude in her eyes.

ch.5 - Meeting of the sisters

Falling asleep slowly, I was looking at the dim stripe of light, which came out from under the bedroom door. It was past midnight, but the pony has not gone to bed yet, carried away by TV. According to sighs and moans, which could be heard, Luna was skipping from channel to channel and came upon “Babylon” or there was “Playboy” on “NTV” again.

Should I ask her to turn it off and go to bed? Why, what the crap? She is an adult mare, if she does not like that, she will change the channel herself.

The noises behind the door got more intense. Finally I got up, made my way to the door and opened it a little.

”Luna?”

She turned her ear towards me, her eyes were still glued to the scene on TV. The television set stood sideways and I could not see what had caught the alicorn’s attention.

”Turn the volume down. There is no need for our neighbours behind the wall to become overexcited”

The new sigh was heard in the room, but this time it was real and not from the film. My beloved pony had to turn her eyes away from the show, she took the remote control and pressed the required button with a pencil.

”Thank you. Good night. Celestia and I are waiting for you in the dream, try to find us”

Luna turned towards me, her emerald eyes have sparkled in the twilight. Having kissed her hoof, she blew me a kiss. I returned it with a tender smile and went to my bed again.

***

In the winter forest one could see a long way off. Leafless trees stood, wrapped in their snow-white attire, looking like brides on their wedding day. The forest was asleep, waiting for the spring to come.

The alicorn’s hooves were crunching on the crust of the bright blinding snow faintly. Her graceful white body was in amazing harmony with the snow-clad forest. Walking among the trees, the alicorn was turning her ears, in the hope of hearing something beside the heartbeat and the sound of her own steps. She sighed. Light clouds have flown out of her nostrils and mouth. Having raised her head, she cast a sad glance at the bright blue sky. But even the midday heat of the summer sun was not able to melt the winter inside Celestia’s soul.

Her keen ears caught a new sound, the alicorn looked round, sensing the danger instinctively. Someone large was following her trails slowly. The peace of this forest has been never disturbed by anyone. Celestia strained herself involuntarily, turning around to face a mysterious enemy. Her heart began beating faster and her long horn glimmered slightly. She was ready to defend herself. The unexpected spy was sure in his impunity. He was going towards Celestia without making any effort to hide himself. Snorting nervously, Celestia prepared several protective spells, which were able to stop the typhoon and the snow slide. There was a glimpse of a yellow spotted back among the trees. According to the sound of footsteps, the guest was now within a length of a jump. The bushes moved. The head of a cat showed itself between the branches. It took the alicorn one glance to recognize the species of the fastest cats. One could not make a mistake of it, seeing the typical black stripes, stretching out from the eyes and along the cheeks. These cats were found in Equestria too and they were known to eat lost ponies from time to time.

”The cheetah?” - Celestia questioned in a whisper, as if she was talking to herself - “How?”

”Lairy” - having looked the horse over with an intent glance, the predator crawled out of the bushes - “It was not easy to find you this time, Your Majesty”

”Aren’t you a human?” - Celestia took a step back.

”In the dreams I am a werecat. The cheetah is my alternate form. And it was easier to enter your dream in this form, than in the human form. Then it was absolutely impossible to force my way through to you”

”Force your way through? How do you know me? Prove that you are Lairy or I will uncover your true essence” - having narrowed her eyes, Celestia lowered her head, pointing the bright glimmering horn to the animal.

”Piece of cake” - the cat stared at the alicorn defiantly - “Your name is Celestia. You hired me to save your sister Luna from a pervert. Yesterday you were crying, looking at happy Luna inside my memories. And you called me insolent, because I was kissing her pushier than any stallion. Is that enough?”

”Yes, you convinced me” - having canceled the spell, Celestia stood up straight, proudly and gave a kind snort - “At least I am not waiting for you to claw my croup anymore. Nevertheless it is quite unexpected to see you as an animal and in my personal dream. I could have set you aflame”

”The worst of what you could have done was to throw me hard out of your dream” - the cheetah licked the claws on his fore paw - “At that, you would not have heard the good news and, probably, would have deprive yourself of the joyful meeting with your sister”

”Luna? Is she here somewhere?” - Celestia looked around - “No, I do not feel anyone else...”

The cheetah caught the strand of colorful fly-away mane with his paw and now was sniffing it thoughtfully.

”When I was falling asleep, Luna took a great interest in television. But she promised to come. I think we should wait for her”

”Tele... what?” - the alicorn asked, taking her mane away with a move of her leg.

”Television is the main entertainment in my world. It is also the main source of information, based on the living, talking pictures. I did not know what Luna was watching in the middle of the night, but she liked it”

”I see it is interesting there, in your world. I wish I could see those pictures and the Earth world in general” - Celestia was walking along the path slowly. The cheetah was following her, staying a little behind.

”I guess, when Luna comes back home, she will be telling you about everything she experienced in my house for a long time”

”Who knows? Maybe she will not. Luna used to not talk a lot to me”

”Celestia, I know that we are in the dream, where everything is possible. But don’t you think that the weather here is somewhat inappropriate? The sun is heating above, as in Africa, and there is winter under our feet” - the cheetah flipped the loose snow with his paw.

Having stopped, the alicorn curved her neck, bending closer to the cheetah. Their muzzles were right up against each other now.

”Lairy, I going to tell you something that no one else knows. And I am telling you this because you are alien, the laws of Equestria do not apply to you and you will not tell this anyone except for, maybe, Luna”

The cheetah stood, examining a bright face of Her Majesty. Suddenly Celestia realized that she was not getting enough attention from Lairy. The animal treated her without any piety, he was calm and even, as is she were... an ordinary mare. He did not care about the power of the princess. He called the ruler of Equestria by her name dauntlessly, mentioning “Your Majesty” rather in simple politeness.

”How does Luna live with this barbarian? Yes, I remember, she lives very happily. However, my sister has always perceived the royalty differently. All of that was tedious, boring and unpleasant burden for her.”

”Since I had exiled my rebelled sister to the Moon, there was eternal winter in my soul. It has been lasting for more than nine centuries already” - the alicorn smiled bitterly - “I can only hope that Luna’s return will melt all this ice around me”

Author - Lusilie

Lairy caressed Celestia’s cheek with his paw tenderly. She could see sincere sympathy in the animal’s amber eyes. Having turned away, the light princess kept walking in silence. She felt ashamed of that moment of weakness.

”And at our first meeting, I was crying on my knees before him. I did not mean to move him to pity, oh no. I was really scared for Luna. I would have agreed to do almost anything to rescue her”

The forest thinned gradually and turned into an endless snow-covered plain. The cheetah looked around, being accustomed to the search for potential victims, but did not find anyone except for Celestia. He grinned, having imagined how he could bring her down to the ground, thrusting his fangs into an elegant neck.

”I know, what are you thinking, Lairy” - the alicorn said calmly - “Because this is in your nature. And I also know, that you will not do the thing, you are thinking of”

”I will not” - having stretched himself, the predator lied down on the snow - “I wonder, why Luna has not come yet?’

”That will be a pity, if she does not come at all”

”What if she had the same trouble as me, forcing her way through here?”

Celestia thought of it. Her horn flashed out for a moment, bright goldish waves of magic swept over the sky and the land. Having reached the horizon, they faded.

”Alas, there is no one. I removed all my defenses to make it easier for her just in case. Admittedly, many other guests may come, but I will send them on their way. If you understand what I mean”

”I understand. I could eat some of the guests, probably, if you do not mind”

”I do not mind. However, it will not be a pleasant view for me. Besides, eating exterior essences in the dream can have a negative effect on your energy to the point of worsening state of your health in reality” - Celestia warned him with care.

”I heard about it. And while we are waiting for Luna, tell me, is there any progress in solving the problem how to bring Luna back to your world?”

”There is. But since it concerns all three of us, I would like to tell about it in Luna’s presence”

”Say, does your sister tend to make dramatic appearances?” - Lairy waved his paw to the sky.

Celestia saw a little white cloud, which was approaching them quickly. And there was beautiful Luna reclining on the cloud, filled with grandeur. Having flown down, she stepped on the snow gracefully and gave her transportation a slight kick of her hind leg. The cloud vanished with a soft “puff-f” sound.

In a dream Luna looked as charming as she did in reality, but only now Lairy could witness the magical beauty of his special pony. Her lush mane and tail with blazing speckles of constellations, surrounded by blue aura, were swaying gently in the rhythm of a powerful magical flow. The alicorn’s movements were leisurely, harmonious. Her eyes were shining brightly with conciliation.

”Sister?..” - Luna’s melodic voice sounded.

Celestia was walking towards her slowly. It seemed that every step through the thickness of time and space caused a titanic strain in her. Finally, she stopped. The white horn touched the blue one and a spark began to shine between them. At first it was goldish, but it turned dark-blue quickly and then faded.

Having sat down, Celestia hugged Luna and pressed sister to her chest tightly.

”Luna, my dearest Luna! I was pining for you so much!” - Celestia was crying her eyes out, kissing the baffled dark princess’ muzzle. Her tears falling into the snow were sizzling like drops of molten metal. The snow was melting and a new grass was sprouting on those spots. Having hugged Celestia uncertainly, Luna gave the cheetah, which was sitting nearby, a glance of inquiry above her shoulder. But the cat made a puzzled face and threw up his paws. As if he was trying to say “What can be done? You have not seen each other for a thousand years”

”Ah, Lairy, come, share our happiness. Thanks to you we could have met each other at last!” - without waiting for an answer, Celestia picked the cheetah up by her magic, drew him nearer and hugged the cat together with Luna.

”Tia, o-of, let me go already, lest our meeting will be too heated” - Luna was panting gaspingly in the hot embrace of the Sun Princess.

”Oh, come on” - the alicorn flapped her wings, sweeping all the company with a cool breeze.

”In that case, I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE YOU TOO, SISTER!” - The Princess of Night announced, kissing the forehead of Celestia.

”Oo-oh-h, I have not heard this famous “Canterlotish” for so-o-o-o long!” - the ruler of Equestria moaned blissfully, kissing her sister and the cheetah one after another - “This are the best news, and the greatest happiness in my life for the last nine hundred years! Lairy, what are you doing?”

”The same thing as you, but in my own fashion” - the cheetah was licking Celestia’s muzzle.

”We have been living apart for a thousand years, so we would be standing in each other embrace for a hundred years more?” - Luna jested.

”You convinced me, the life-long imprisonment in the royal embrace is cancelled” - the Princess of Day laughed, having released the captives.

”Am I right in m suggestion, that this is our friend Lairy here with us, in the form of a cheetah?” - Luna wondered, spreading her crumpled wings.

”Yes, he said that it was easier for him to enter my dream in this form” - Celestia explained.

”Ah, I exactly headed for the flash of your magic to find you. Without those two waves across the land and the sky, I would have been roaming about various dreams for a long time”

”I am going to bring the defense back, but so that you can pass through it” - Celestia released the waves of magic again. Then she made several steps back and stood motionless with her glimmering horn pointed to the sky. The sun faded away, winding flashes of Aurora Borealis blazed up in the starry sky. The voice of the white alicorn resounded in the universal silence.

A thousand years of grief,
Loneliness and despair
Have passed at last and I
Can sing and laugh, I swear!

A hundred nights and no sleep
Led frozen heart astray.
All my thoughts were of one,
You could not see at day.

Having taken wing, Celestia became a dark silhouette against the sky, illuminated by northern lights. Her voice was gaining strength...

I banished sister to the Moon,
The place of gloom and cold,
So blinding was the pride of mine.
It was my gruesome fault.

The lights faded, having given way to the big yellow moon. A host of dark craters combined into a symbolic image of the pony’s head with horn.

I was consumed by state affairs,
Forgot about my kin.
The family was split apart
And still I have not seen

Having descended slowly to the dark princess, the light one clang to her and hugged, looking her in the eyes.

A thousand of grey days...
Fake smiles became my shell.
How can I atone?
Luna, I beg you,
Tell!

Kneeling before you now,
I hope you will forgive...
Now at last I learned
Kindness from all the grieve

The sky became bright as if before the sunrise. The craters on the moon disappeared.

The harmony now reigns supreme!
The spring bloomed in my heart!
Two luminaries share one dream
They can’t be set apart!

There was a bright day, lit by the Sun and the Moon, again. The snow was melting quickly and the fertile soil was breathing with warm vapours. The alicorns stood motionless, hugging each other and contemplating the awakening of the nature.

”Happy new spring, Celestia” - the cheetah purred, shifting from one paw to another. The grass was growing like crazy and it was tickling his foot-pads

”It is so beautiful here!” - Luna stirred and licked Celestia’s nose - “Sister, your singing was amazing. And the show to celebrate my return turned out to be per-hoofed”

”Gee, I hope you do not think, that I have prepared it beforehand” - the blush adorned the white pony’s cheeks - “All of that happened on the spur of the moment”

”But...”

”Celestia is right. Things like that are created whole-heartedly and in a breathless rush. I know it by my own feelings” - the cat arched his back and stretched himself - “Let us go for a walk in this new dream”

”Lairy, would you like to fly?” - Luna offered

”And don’t you worry about patching your hide after that?” - the cheetah waved his clawed paw.

”My magic is working in dreams. It will be new experience for you”

Having lifted Lairy by the means of telekinesis, the alicorn held him balanced for some time, then turned upside-down, curled him up into a ball, fiddled with him as if he was a toy.

”How was that?” - she asked, having put him down on his paws.

”Gr-rhm” - the cat shook himself all over - “I feel dizzy, but it was interesting, I agree”

”Luna, you amaze me more and more every minute” - Celestia sighed. Alicorns and the cheetah were flying above the verdant forest.

”And I am amazed by Lairy” - the dark mare laughed - “His attitude towards me there, in the real world, is just charming. Without any magic”

”I saw that”

”When?”

”Last night Celestia demanded an explanation of why she was not able to find you in the dream, and I showed her my memories” - the cheetah spoke up, lying in the glimmering blue field of telekinesis.

”Yes, Luna, Lairy showed me your games in the ruins. And I am very glad, that you have found such a good friend. There is a lake underneath. Let us quench our thirst and discuss our plans”

”The grass is so tasty here!” - Luna grazed with admiration.

”Yes, and a couple of tasty ponies are on the shore” - growled the spotted cat out, lapping the water.

”Tasty ponies”? Hey, pony-eater, do not scare me, or I will be afraid of you for real!” - Luna was outraged.

”Well, he is not to eat us. There would be no point of it. His humor is sarcastic, that is all” - Celestia plucked a little reed and pilled its leaves off - “Lairy, here is an advice for the future: you should have a substantial meal before bed, so your predatory self would not be hungry in the dreams”

”But I know that there is an inverse relation too. If I stuff myself in the dream, I will wake up full in the real world” - the cat yawned, showing his fangs, and licked his chops.

”Well, come here” - the white alicorn lied down on the sandy shore. Having waited for her companions to lie next to her, she drew two circles with the reed - “These are our worlds, the Earth and Equestria. Having examined the descriptions of different worlds thoroughly, I found out that artificial reflecting surfaces appear sooner or later in every world. Lair, is there something like this in your world?” - Celestia conjured a mirror in golden casing.

”Yes”

”Yes, there is a big clear mirror hanging on the wall in Lairy’s house” - Luna confirmed.

”It is excellent. Mirrors are the most ancient means of travelling between worlds. If a mirror is tuned well it can be serving as a connecting portal for a long time”

”Hm-m, “Alice through the looking glass”...” - Lairy combed his whiskers.

”What did you say?” - Celestia inquired.

”Humans have hundreds of legends and fairy-tales about mirrors. I just recalled the name of one of them”

”They are not just fairy-tales. Through the looking glass one can find a broken mirror portal, or a portal tuned wrong, or that portal can lead one way and its exit, the second mirror, can be destroyed. Such portals are very dangerous, their behavior is unpredictable. Anything can crawl out of them and if someone falls in, then there is almost no hope of returning. However, let us get back to our task” - Celestia connected the both circles, she drew, with a straight line - “In that case we need the magic power of the moon to open the portal”

”Sister, I cannot control the moon, my magic do not work in Lairy’s world. I am powerless on the Earth” - the dark princess informed sadly

”I was not talking about you controlling the moon, Lunnie” - Celestia smiled - “I just meant the night luminary of the Earth itself. Then, we will be able to open our portal on the full-moon night”

”We will have to wait two weeks or something. The moon of the Earth is quite new now” - the inhabitant of the Earth, who has been silent until that, put in.

”In this case, Lairy, if it is okay with you, may my sister live in your house for a while?”

”I do not mind, Your Majesty. I quite like your sister”

”He likes you a bit too lively” - Celestia muttered towards Luna good-humouredly. The sister looked down shyly and lowered her ears.

”Is it possible for someone not to like such a beauty?” - the cheetah drew the heart on the sand with just one move of his claws.

”So, we have two weeks...” - Celestia chewed stem of the reed a little - “Our worlds are different and the flow of time can be different too. I have a guess how to test it. Lairy, count to ten and throw your paw out”

Ten seconds later the cheetah’s claws clinked against the alicorn’s golden hoof-shoe.

”We threw our limbs out simultaneously. It is encouraging. A track of time in our worlds is almost identical. I do not have any questions at this moment. Do you?”

”I have... why... am I so cold?”

Ponies examined the cheetah cautiously, having noticed the drastic change. The cat crouched, became grey, he looked half-ghostly somehow, his paws were tucked under him and he was shaking visibly.

”Is he freezing?” - Luna touched Lairy’s forehead with her lips - “I think, that I know the reason. Tia, please, warm him. I will come back soon” - and she disappeared.

”Warm him”?..” - the alicorn repeated thoughtfully. She had never happened to warm cats, let alone the big ones. Or did Luna really become strange? Although, what wouldn’t she do for her beloved sister?

Having stood above Lairy, Celestia lied down upon him carefully, trying not to press her weight against him. She embraced the cat with her wings and began to warm his muzzle with her breath. The cheetah calmed down, his shivering stopped, the coat was gaining saturated yellow colour gradually.

”Did he fall asleep?” - Luna materialized nearby.

”Yes”

”That is good. Let him sleep” - Celestia stepped aside and Luna conjured a warm blanket upon Lairy with care - “Let’s talk. We have a lot to tell each other”

***

Far away, on the border of a dream, a dark-purple cloud was lying. It was small, trembling, weak like a torn away shred of a starry sky, lost on the ground. And something was drawing it to Princess of Night inevitably. They have been together for almost a thousand years, until a ridiculous concourse of circumstances separated them.

The cloud was crawling towards the conversing alicorns. In the bright daylight it did not even look like a cloud, but rather like a vague blurry shade. Having touched Luna’s tail, the shade merged with it.

Author's Note

1) This book is being translated from Russian. It is not reccomended to use google translator to read it, because many beautiful moments will be lost that way.

2) The usual request is to feel free to point out any errors in the comments. We are also looking for the regular beta reader.

3) Be patient, the translation is a slow process.

ch. 6 - Alicorn's everyday life

At some moment the flow of thoughts was turned on. It has been picking up speed smoothly until it became as usual. State analysis was completed. The nose was half blocked-up and the left leg became numb, but everything else was normal. Brief recollection has come. It covered yesterday’s events, and events that should happen today, adjusted for the presence of Her Lunar Majesty. It surprised me a bit, that my head was covered over and the blanket was tucked under from all sides with great care. Still being half asleep, I was recalling the dream, taking notice of the most significant parts: mirrors, full moon, two weeks... and, for all that, Celestia’s croup still looked appetizing.

Something touched me from the outside, glided along my leg cautiously. I moved to give a hint that I was not asleep anymore. The mattress bent under a considerable weight of the pony. Luna climbed onto me, mounted my hips, and hooves of her front legs began to “run” along my back tenderly. Sometimes I could feel the strength she put on it, but sometimes her hooves were passing over my shoulder-blades and spine almost imperceptible.

”Mr-r-rgh-h” - I murmured, arching and quivering from the wave of pleasure, which was rolling over me. The mare lay down upon me, pulled the blanket off my head and scratched the nape of my neck gently with her teeth. The tickling made me give a loud grunt, I barely hold my head to avoid hitting her lips with it.

”Good morning” - Luna whispered and rubbed her cheek against my ear - “Did you sleep well? Was it warm?”

”Mr-r-r, I am glad to see you. Could you come down on the floor, please”

The clock was showing the gaping holes of the number eight. The thin number one was having a tedious time next to the fat number zero. I overslept allright. Having waited for Luna to unload me, I moved to the wall, making room on the other half of the bed, and lifted the blanket with a welcoming gesture.

”Climb here, to me”

The princess hesitated. Having wandered under the blanket, her eyes looked at the naked model with distrust. Having snorted quietly in answer to some unknown thoughts, she jumped onto the bed delicately and lay down to keep her head next to mine. I covered the mare with the blanket and, having caressed her neck tenderly, leaned myself against her hot body, feeling regular pounding of the vigorous heart.

”I hope, you understand, what state I am in?..” - Luna stirred a little to make her legs comfortable.

”Chaotic?” - I answered at random, knowing that I would not guess right either way.

”Exactly. The bed is an intimate zone, after all, and you invite me there so easily. There is a swarm of doubts and apprehensions buzzing in my head. And still I want to trust you”

”These are “stereotypes”, Luna. Try to use less outside stereotypes regarding me” - I fingered the alicorn’s horn slightly, knowing that touching the part, she protected so much, would shift her attention instantly.

”Is these stereotypes?” - Luna eluded, releasing her horn from my grasp - “Fine. What the “bed” means to you?”

”The place, where one can sleep or rest comfortably. Or, sometimes, one can stay in bed, being in poor health”

”Is that all?”

”That is all”

”Pf-f-f, you have broken down at least ten of my walls”

”I hope, there will be less dark labyrinths in your bright head from now on”

”I wish” - Luna grinned merrily - “I am sitting amid the debris of my old knowledge, having no idea of how to treat you again”

”Try to take it lightly, interpret everything as it is. Do not try to find the hidden meanings of my words and actions. It can make your life a lot easier”

”It is not that easy to make a life easier” - Luna scratched her nose with a hoof - “I am accustomed to think differently, and there are you telling me that everything is blunt and easy. I say, you are harder to deal with, than a griffon!”

While listening to this inspired tirade about the hardships of life, I was smiling into my moustache, caressing the princess’ withers.

”Luna, what keeps you from putting aside the circumstances and being completely unbiased towards me? Try not to look back on your past experience. You admit that your old knowledge is useless yourself. So why would you continue to use them? Let’s start from a clean slate, turn over a new leaf”

The pony looked at me as if I had charged her with completing the task of astronomical complexity in a rather short period of time. All right then, it would do her good to work on something besides the movement of the Moon.

”So what keeps you from that? I noticed, that you mentioned griffons. What do they have in common with me?”

”Besides the fact, that you eat ponies... I meant, ugh, meat” - Luna made a wry face, looking irritated - “There are a lot of other similar traits. The griffons also are honest, stern, straightforward, harsh, they like power, but at the same time they are loyal friends and excellent lovers”

”There is some resemblance, I guess. But still I am not a griffon, which means, that trying to apply griffons’ stereotypes to me, you are bound to become disillusioned, disappointed of your expectations. You will react out of place, make a mistake after mistake, and I will remain as unpredictable and chaotic in your eyes as before. You will live in a constant tension, being not able to foresee my next move. And the reason would be, that griffons’ stereotypes dictate to you one thing, and I do another, or do nothing at all”

”Gee, now you are exacerbating everything” - Luna said it quite confidently, but one could see in her eyes, that doubts were gnawing her and she was not as sure of herself as she wanted to show.

”No, I have told you the truth as it is. Even if you do not want to accept it, nothing will change. In time you will know, that my words are right. So, why don’t you take them into consideration now, in order to save your nerves and our relationship? Take yesterday’s declaration of my love for example. Is that typical for a griffon?”

”No. The subject of love is very important for them. They do not declare it at random. Quite the opposite, the declaration is forestalled by careful preparations”

”See, your stereotype is cracking at the seams. The love is important for me too, but I can tell about it without any preparation, simply and whole-heartedly”

”I heard that and I heard the seams cracking too”

”It is like you are trying to find an exit from an unknown city, following the map of another, familiar city. In such a way, you will find anything, but the exit” - I was combing the mane of the lunar mare with my fingers tenderly, admiring the play of colors in her blue hair.

”If I find myself lost, I can fly and look around”

”And I am suggesting that you do exactly that! Fly above your stereotypes to understand that everything is different with me”

Until his moment Luna was lying sideways to me, watching me only with her left eye. Now, she turned her head and looked at me directly.

”You have a twisted way of thinking. You like to put everyone in a corner” - the resentment was straining her voice.

”I am not trying to put anyone in a corner. I am showing the situation from a different angle. It is up to you, will you agree with me or not. And you are taking the whole responsibility for the consequences of your mistakes”

”I understood” - having turned away, the pony stretched herself and closed her eyes. Even if she took offence, she did not show that. But, most likely, she just wanted to consider the situation calmly in silence. It was not an easy task to get rid of stereotypes and of habit to “measure everything with your own metre”. But Luna would have to do that in order to be leading a quiet life during the following weeks. She could, certainly, ignore everything and continue to compare me to griffons, but in this case she was sure to have headaches and misunderstandings out of the blue.

My fingers touched her ear tenderly, massaging its edge. And what did I know about her? She was an alicorn, the ruler of Equestria, a mythical creature, who was deprived of her magic. But how could she be “mythical”, if here was she, alive and warm, lying alongside and wheezing. She was wise, clever, curious, sentient, understanding. Beautiful, sensible, refined, emotional and expressive. Persistent, proud, ambitious, bold, determined, but she was willing to make concessions, when she realized, that it was better to give in and agree, than to hold her ground. Kind and friendly, she could sometimes lose her temper, but was restraining herself, trying to resolve any conflict peacefully.

I ran my palm over her graceful neck, feeling the pulse with the tips of my fingers. I already knew the power, which was hidden under the blue velvet, but surprisingly Luna did not look powerful at all. She evoked the desire to protect her from any troubles and misfortunes. Having embraced her neck, I kissed the closed eye, feeling the eyelid tremble.

When I drew back, Luna turned to me with her eyes opened. She looked embarrassed and confused.

”I love you, the joy of my life” - I whispered, caressing her muzzle.

”I am sorry, but I cannot say the same” - the pony smiled. She was looking down, but sometimes she seemed to cast covert glances towards me - “There is such a mess inside me... but I feel good and warm beside you, and I hope that this feeling is mutual”

“Yes. But what had happened the last night? Why did I freeze? The last thing I remember is Celestia lying upon me, breathing on my muzzle”

“I understood what that meant and left the dream at once. Having awakened, I came to you and saw that the blanket was sagging. You were lying, having curled up, and your mewing was so sorrowful. I almost cried. So I covered you with the blanked, tucked it under properly and returned to the sofa to have a sleep. You got warm, calmed down in the dream as well, and fell asleep too”

“Thank you, darling. I memorized the essentials. We are to live these two weeks till the full moon together, and then Celestia will open the way back home for you. But something else made me wonder. She wore the crown, breast-collar and the horseshoes, but you appeared without any jewelry”

“Those were not the horseshoes, but the hoof-shoes. The hooves are simply placed into them. Yes, I decided not to bother myself with the symbols of power and did not spend my energy on recreating them. It seemed like a good idea to fly in on the cloud. It was elegant and simple. But to tell the truth, I did not expect such a warm welcoming from my sister. And you were looking at me as if you were seeing me for the first time in your life too” - Luna laughed quietly.

“I saw you in your magical form for the first time. And you are as beautiful in the dream as you are in the real life. I admire you”

“I am glad to know it. And also I had a talk with my sister. And when she had asked about my life here with you, I did not keep anything back and share with her everything I experienced these past days in one breath. Absolutely everything, from my little rebellion next to the basement, when you had just came for me, to the recent sigh”

“So, how did it go?”

“You know, the good thing about dreams is that you do not have to think about putting your feelings into words well and nicely there. You can pass everything you would like to express to your interlocutor and they live it and feel it the same way you did. I could have said that I had shocked Celestia, but it would be a bit of understatement. Celestia was stunned by my memories, so I had to pour water from the lake on her”

I snorted merrily, imagining that picture: Luna lifted the centner of water with seaweeds, fish and frogs, using her magic, and then brought it all down on Celestia!

“Oh, you can snort” - Luna sighed - “It was not you, who got soaked. The most interesting is that I expected Celestia to react to you declaration of love, my gift and agreement to be your “special” pony somehow, but I did hear neither the approval nor the reprimand from her”

“She is likely using a wait-and-see approach in order to have a chance to think it over herself and to give us time to understand our feelings and relationship better”

“Maybe she is. But also she was disturbed by your view of life. You label everything as “profitable” or “non-profitable”

“And what is disturbing there?”

“You say, that you are thinking about your profit. Celestia promises you a reward of ten thousand bits for your efforts. Let’s suppose, that some-pony would give you fifty thousand and demand “Kill Luna!” Would you do that?”

“No”

“Why? To receive fifty thousand is much more profitable than to receive ten thousand”

“Well, right it is more profitable from the material point of view. But firstly, the deal, which has been already made, cannot be changed or canceled without the agreement of both sides, only because of someone, who meddled in and offered a bigger payment. Secondly, such a move would not be a deal, but a treachery. And thirdly, whom will I have to love, if I kill you, eh?” - I caressed the princess’ back between the shoulder-blades slowly, noticing with pleasure, that her breathing became uneven instantly and her wings rose as a reflex act.

“Ah-h... what if you will be offered a hundred thousand?” - my seducer turned up her eyes. I ran my fingers along her spine tenderly and massaged the base of her tail.

“I would not give her life even for a thousand of thousands” - I caressed Luna’s coat the wrong way and buried my fingers in soft feathers on her wing, feeling my beloved trembling with her whole body.

“Be you kicked by pony! What are you doing?!” - the alicorn protested with a hot whisper, keeping her eyes closed. My hand was making its way through her mane, caressing her from withers to the horn.

“I am doing a pleasur-r-r-re for you” - I growled playfully in her ear, having fingered with its point. I myself began to become excited by this game slowly. The closeness of a beautiful, trustful mare lured me and stirred me up.

“I feel very good” - Luna glanced at me with a bit of fear. Her ears were lowered and the dark cheeks ere giving her embarrassment out - “But, please, do not try to... ride me”

“I will not” - I smiled softly, having understand the direction of her thoughts at once. Finally I have caressed the muzzle of the watchful princess and placed the hand below my chest.

The pony sighed, tidied her mane, examining my features thoughtfully. I was hearing a clear cracks of the stereotypes being torn down, and they were not all about griffons.

“Tell me, do you really like to excite me that way?”

“Yes”

“Why?”

“But I can ask you the same thing. Why did you came to me and was running along my back?”

“I wanted to please you. Did I do something wrong?”

“No, you did everything right. And that is the answer to your question. I caress you, wishing to please you. And in those moments, you are very beautiful, when you are embarrassed and happy. I like to see you like this”

“Listen carefully, Lairy” - the alicorn frowned and rubbed her forehead with her hoof in concentration - “You are right. You are not a griffon and I really do not know how to interpret your actions. When we had come here, you warned me, that you were going to ask direct questions and I should give honest answers to them. I think, I need to adopt this way of questioning to avoid making unnecessary puzzles for myself”

Hurray! Thrice-repeated salute, thundering ovation, fanfare! At last everything, I had told her earlier, hit her! I rubbed the moustache with my palm to hide the triumphant ironical grin.

“My question can sound provocative to you, Cheetah. It you would feel offended, agitated or enraged, please, do not vent our anger on me”

“Okay, I promise. Ask away” - I was already looking forward to hear what Luna came up with.

She had been remaining silent for a while, whether it was because of her trying to formulate the question the most tactfully, or just working up the nerve.

“When you are caressing my back and wings in such a way, like you have been doing now, do you want to tempt me to have sex with you?”

“No”

“Gee... “no”? It changes a lot for me” - having exhaled with a relief, the alicorn lied down on her side and suddenly fell off the bed with a short scream. I heard a muffled thud and could see her four hooves over the edge for a moment.

“Hey?!” - having sat up at once, I looked down. Luna was lying on the floor, her muzzle was twisted with pain.

“O-oh... a sudden falling is always painful” - she moaned.

Having bent closer, I reached my hands to her. She offered me her front hooves. I helped her to get up and to sit on the bed.

“Did you hurt yourself?” - I hugged her and pressed her to my chest tenderly.

“And took fright at too”

I have been sitting for a while, comforting Luna, waiting for her to calm down.

“Are you okay?” - I touched her back

“Yes, it does not hurt anymore”

“So, if you do not mind, explain to me the connection between sex and scratching someone’s back”

“Gee... the connection?” - the pony stared at me thoughtfully.

“What? If you find my question “embarrassing”, do not answer “

“I will answer. The question is logical. I simply did not expect it” - Luna switched her gaze to the wardrobe and then to the window. While she was thinking, I put on pants and vest. It was strange, but I felt chilly in the room.

“Please, scratch me one more time and I will know the exact answer”

Having sat up, I clawed Luna’s shoulder-blades with fingers crooked like a predator’s paw. The pony moaned, arching her back and giving a start on ever movement. The pupils of her eyes widened suddenly and the wings opened abruptly, having slapped my face.

“A bit lower” - the alicorn whispered, giving me a look under the wing. I shifted the activity to the centre of her back. Having sobbed, Luna wriggled herself, threw her head back and m free hand caressed her chin, neck and chest - “Now a bit higher...” - having reached her withers, I was rewarded with a long passionate moan and the pony’s languid glance over her shoulder - “That is it, thank you. That is enough”

“What did you manage to find out?” - I wondered, having finished the experiment.

Luna became engrossed in thoughts again. I began to suspect that Her Majesty was straying in impassable thickets of decorum, royal upbringing and other conventions, which were making the direct, frank and sincere communication much harder. I wondered, if it seemed to her as though I was an immoral, insolent animal. Nevertheless, it does not matter, does it? Luna definitely is not that kind of pony, which need to be told anything twice. And, as I said yesterday, if she does not like something, she is able to announce it at once. If she does not announce, she likes it. All the more, it is impossible to pretend to be so happy. One can see the bliss on her muzzle. And her eyes... those bright, piercing eyes cannot lie. Luna always express all her emotions and worries, such as distrust, fear, curiosity, joy, openly and sincerely, without hiding beyond innuendoes and equivoques. “ IT IS CRUEL AND DEMEANING!..” - what a rage she flied into that time, in the corridor.

She was dishonored, fucked out, dragged through the mud literally and morally, and still she remained a lively, proud, hardy princess, who was ready to defend herself and to survive despite all the odds. There was such a pure, undisguised fury, blazing in the alicorn’s eyes then. No one knows, how everything would have turned out, if I had not managed to drive her against the wall. And such a joy filled her at being bathed, riding and flying, singing and dancing, at her hair being combed. Luna was not simply radiant with joy, no, the energy of her happiness was running through everything around her.

Yeah, Luna... her sincerity is one of those traits I grew to love her for.

“Lairy, you are looking at me in such a way, that I do not know where to turn already. Should I go away, before you eat me or something like that?”

“And what will I say to Celestia? I am sorry, I have lapsed into a daydreaming, and ate your sister instead of a breakfast? Gee...” - I gave troubled Luna a pat on the head, laughing - “I really was thinking about you and about my feelings for you”

“Did they change?” - a little horse peeped out from under my palm.

“Yes. They changed for the better”

“That is good. I thought out the answer to your question. The point is that pegasi and alicorns have the most sensitive spots on the nape of the neck and between their wings. When you are scratching my shoulder-blades I became exited. This is evident from the involuntary lifting of the wings, so called “wingboner”, which is common for both sexes. You have probably already noticed that. And the scratching of the back, just like courting, is an intimate caress for winged ponies”

I burst out laughing. My winged pony turned her head a bit sideways inquiringly.

“Now I understood. When I caress our back, you involuntary wait for it to be continued with sex?”

“Frankly speaking, yes... you have exited me so much, I cannot fold my wings”

“Well, you asked me to scratch, so I scratched. If you are disturbed by such caresses, just say it. I will not scratch anymore”

“And now I even do not know what to tell you” - the alicorn shook her wings, trying to relax them - “The unfamiliar pony, scratching like that, is running the risk of being kicked by pegasus in their teeth. And one should avoid the caresses of the griffon. They have grave claws and can leave one with a hacked back. But I like you... and your caresses very much” - having took my hand, Luna press her cheek to the palm - “So I allow you to scratch my back and wings like you can do it. But please, do not go further than that, okay? Do not hurt your special pony”

“Okay” - I kissed her nose, looking at the reflections of the Universe in Luna’s eyes. Having moved closer, I hugged Luna and she rested her head against my shoulder. Our hearts were beating in harmony, flowing together with the indivisible stream of love.

The clock was reminding of the pace of time impassively, but every moment felt to me like an eternity, filled with happiness. What the wretched quartz chronometer could know about nirvana?

“Lairy, have you flyed to the moon or somewhere else?” - Luna pressed her nose against mine. Her breath was smelling like an orange - “Come back”

“As Your Majesty wishes” - I marked my coming back with licking Luna’s nose. She sighed quietly.

“Well, you...”

“Yes, I am” - I grinned boldly, from ear to ear, like a Cheshire cat.

“You are irresistible and I even know why. Let us go and have a meal”

“But you have had a meal already” - I pointed, having noticed a pile of orange peels on the table.

“And I will have it again. I am hungry like a horse after such eventful dreams. What can you offer?”

“There is a usual assortment for you, you can see for yourself. And there is nothing in particular for me. The food needs to be cook. And I suggest you help me with that”

“Help with the cooking? How?”

Having started some water to boiling, I brought the package of potatoes from the balcony, took a knife and a bowl, sat down on the kitchen floor and dropped the contents of the package between my stretched feet.

“Here are tubers, that need to be peeled and boiled, and then one can eat them. And to make it more interesting, let us engage in a competition and find out who will peel all this pile faster”

Having sat down opposite me, Luna took the bigger potato with her forelegs.

“How can I peel them?”

“Try to bite the skin thinly with your teeth. I usually throw the peels away, but if it is edible for you, you can eat it”

Rotating a potato in her hooves, the pony peeled the long stripe of its skin.

“It is edible, but it tastes bad”

“Then spit it out. Shall we begin?”

“Let’s go”

And so we began. Several seconds later, Luna dropped the first peeled potato into a bowl, and my potato followed hers. Having picked up a new tuber, I remembered an old, forgotten camp song and brought it back to life:

Hi, our dearest potato-tato-tato-tato
We pay our respect for you-you-you.
For a long time we’ve been waiting-waiting-waiting-waiting
Our dream meal to come true-true-true

The alicorn peeled tuber after tuber, her ears were waving cheerfully. When just a few potatoes have remained, I slowed down a little to let the princess take the last ones, so she could feel the joy of winning in this competition, which was quite new for her.

“O-of, I was quicker” - Luna laughed triumphantly.

“Excellent, my precious, you have done well. Now let us go to wash hands and feet”

Having placed the board across the bathtub, I sat down and began to wash my hands over a sink. Luna squatted on her hind legs and shoved her forelegs under a faucet.

“Could you give me that?..” - Luna asked.

“Soap?”

I gave. Holding a piece of soap between her hooves, the pony sniffed it all over and made an attempt to lick it.

“Hey, don’t. You cannot eat soap” - however, I did not take it from her, letting the pony decide for herself what to do.

Having placed the soap on her right hoof, Luna tried to rub her left leg. She was successful and washed her leg under the faucet with pleasure. Yet, when she later had tried to cover her right leg with soap, she failed to hold the piece and so the soap fell down under a toilet, having slipped out of her hooves. I managed to kick the piece out from under an outlet pipe with my foot.

“Ah!” - the alicorn pressed the soap to the floor with the hoof of her hind leg. And as soon as she moved, her catch slipped away from her under the bathtub. Having exchanged glances with me, Luna shrugged her shoulders perplexedly. I drove the soap out from under the bathtub using a besom, and found there a razor I had lost some time ago. At last we did washed Luna’s hooves, working together. Then I unwound the bandage on her right leg to check her injure.

“It has almost healed up. But a scar will probably remain as a reminder of that adventure in the humans’ world” - I ran my finger along glossy and gleaming pale-blue skin and met Luna’s eyes - “ What is important is that the wounds in your soul should be healed. They can be much more painful”

“I hope, they will close up too, while I am with you. We are looking great together, are we not?” - having hugged me a little, Luna looked in the mirror - “You are so epic and stern. It is hard to believe, that you are such a tender and caring person” - she ran her wet hoof over my moustache and beard, kissed my cheek and went out.

I put the soap back upon a shelf, fixed a shower, thinking of how I could replace “stereotypes about griffons” in the alicorn’s mind by something more neutral and closer to my cheetah core.

“Luna?” - I looked back. No, she was not in the bathroom. But it appeared to me, that I caught a glimpse of Luna’s dark reflection in the mirror for a second. To tell the truth, it somehow seemed too dark.

***

When I stepped into the kitchen, my first care was to look at the pot. The water began boiling already. Having sliced potatoes, Lairy poured them into the hot water and added salt.

”Let it boil. Meanwhile we shall discuss your spare time”

I followed him to the TV set. Having sat down on the floor, Lairy took a big box out of the bedside-table.

”Gr-r-r, why it is so freezing cold in here?!” - he growled sourly and reached his leg to iron pillars, which were sticking out of the corner - “And here we go again! The heating is shut down. Now I see, why I froze at night”

”So what happens now?” - having passed around the human, I touched the heating pillar with m hoof too. It was cold.

”Nothing happens. I have no control over the heating. I hope, that these problems are temporary and soon the heat will be on. But if this disconnection is for non-payment, we shall live wearing sweaters and sleep together on one bed. Would you mind getting warm with me, if that happens?”

”I can only hope, that it would not come to that” - My sigh was deliberately loud and sad. Actually, despite all Lairy’s assurances, I feared the perspective of founding myself in a bed with a human. I was afraid of being taken rudely, having my muzzle buried in the mattress. I was afraid of being forced to obey. Echoes of the bitter past were hurting me badly, tearing my memories and feelings. But I know firmly deep inside, that if Lairy call me, I will come. The way I came already at night.

Involuntarily, I recoiled from the tender touch of the fingers I felt on my neck. My look drifted down and I met the eyes of Cheetah. I saw in his eyes something I could not even imagine... there was no blind worship of a mythical deity, there was no desire to own an amusing toy, nothing like that. There was a confident, calm calling for being beside him, for walking together as equals.

”Luna, you are so sad. What is wrong?”

Tears came into my eyes. Unvoiced resentments were caught in my throat like a sticky disgusting lump. I felt like I was stuck in a bog up to the neck, having no strength to move.

I staggered and fell on my knees, bumped into Lairy and might have hit him painfully. Having fell, I unknowingly buried my muzzle in the folds of clothes covering his stomach.

”Luna?!” - the human exclaimed worryingly, supporting me with his arm, because I flopped down sideways.

”I am sorry” - I sobbed - “I am just so terribly tired after everything I had lived through. And I am not sure if I am worthy of being with you”

”I am amazed to hear such a heresy from you, Princess Luna” - having pushed the box aside, the human changed his place. He leaned against the door, which led to the balcony, and placed my head at his lap more comfortably - “It is a great honor for me to be with you and to help you. Are you not worthy of something? Mr-rpf, how did such demeaning thoughts come into your regal mind?”

”We suppose they came from the same ill-fated basement” - I gave a crooked grin, wheezing with my nose in the folds of the T-shirt. The warm air and the scent of the body were somewhat soothing - “Depressing environment and vile treatment, which did not suit Our person, had a significant influence on Our self-appraisal”

Lairy emitted some sound, which was half-moan and half-groan. I did not see his face and was not able to interpret his actions well, but I hoped that it was not a threat to me. His hands were caressing my head and my side slowly.

”What can I tell you, Princess? You are now in another place, with another person. You are loved, you are being cared for. Do you remember how many good things you experienced during your time here?”

”We do remember” - there was a dry ache in my throat. I did not expected my voice to sound so muffled and hoarsely.

”I know that the first experience is very important. Unfortunately you have a negative one, and that is so. You are afraid of me and of my possible malicious actions subconsciously. But...”

Lairy lifted my head, rested on his palms, so I was able to meet his eyes.

”Luna, you should separate your past experience from what is happening now. Yes, you were lonely, it was painful and hard, those days, filled with violence, shame and filth, were not the best in your life. But they had passed. You deserve everything that you are getting now because of your spirit and will power. You are worthy of everything around you. You are worth of being with me, of being loved and happy. Accept it, Princess”

I was looking at Lairy, as if I was being hypnotized. His words were like a balm for my wounds.

He leant closer to me. I laid my ears back, frightened, and strained myself involuntarily, having felt his breath on my lips. The heart was fluttering inside my chest like a captured bird. Lairy kissed me tenderly. Having sobbed, I closed my eyes, returning the kiss timidly. Bitter tears were running down my cheeks, taking the sorrows, pain and fear, which had been haunting me those days, with them. I felt ineffable relief, even strange void, which frightened me a bit. But the Cheetah knew what to fill that void with.

I sighed quietly as our lips separated. The tip of my tongue ran over m lips, feeling unfamiliar flavor. I looked at Lairy. His eyelashes became darker and cheetah-like stripes on his face were gleaming with wet. Having smiled, I wiped his tears with my wing.

”But why...” - I did not find the right question.

”Because I love you”

***

Kissing a mare was not the same thing as kissing a human. Luna was different in everything. She looked, thought and felt the other way. Caressing her lips, I had a feeling, that she began to relax, as if she was melting. Was she a fallen goddess, alien or unusual smart animal? It did not matter to me. I did not care what gender, color or race this creature was. I saw a living being, who was longing for support and love. She was licking her lips, looking at me with a bit of amazement, curiously. Will she slap me? Or will she want me to continue? Her wing touched my face. She seemed not knowing, what to ask me about. But how could I explain, what I was feeling towards her, being next to her? Maybe, she had never loved and did not know what it was like, so my actions were beyond her understanding. I smiled, pressing my cheek against her wing. She just had to accept that for what it was.

Having sat down, the princess hugged me, whispering some indecipherable tender words in m ear. I seemed to shock her again. I scratched her wing, where feathery covering was turning into velvet pelt. Luna clung to me with a sigh, embracing me hot and twice: with her forelegs and with her wings. Now I was caressing her wings and back with the both of my hands, it was a pleasure to hear the alicorn moaning and shivering, being exhausted with a sweet torture.

”That is eno-o-ough, Lairy” - the Moon Princess sobbed piteously - “You can drove me mad with exhaustion”

Finally I ran my fingertips slowly along her spine, making the mare arch up and wheeze, and then I lowered my hands. It was difficult for Luna to wove her numb limbs apart, as she felt down with her hooves up.

”I got a taste for it. From now on I am the Great Torturer of Equestrian Princesses!” - I announced with an intonation of a dictator and clawed Luna’s stomach with a sadistic grin. Having uttered a weak scream, she kicked, but her softened body almost did not respond. I scratched her tenderly from stomach to chin, feasting my eyes upon the helpless alicorn.

Having lifted her head, Luna shot me an imploring look, which could touch the heart of the most hardened villain. But I was not a villain at all, so her glance did not make due impression on me. Having caressed the edges of shivery nostrils, I took away my hand to the pony’s indescribable relief.

”O-of, it is dangerous to get involved with you”

”Don’t you say, that you did not like it, unless I will do it again” - having brought a pillow from the sofa, I place it under Luna’s ears.

”No-no, that is enough!” - Luna waved her forelegs in protest - “You can scratch a griffon to the death”

”How is it possible, hm?” - I sat down on the floor next to Luna

”That is how” - I heard her blissful sigh - “He will fall dead after your caressing and will never get up again. Or did Celestia asked you secretly to torture me? So I would not put myself out the next two weeks?” - having winked, the alicorn prodded me in the ribs with her elbow.

”No, Tia has nothing to do with it. I came up with this activity myself” - having the pony’s leg under my arm, I felt her hoof all over and massaged it. It was hard along the edges, but quite soft and elastic in the middle, giving an impression of some “sucker”. Maybe that was how Luna could manage to hold items with her hooves.

”That is a good activity, a pleasurable one” - the alicorn nosed - “Is it a smell of our breakfast?”

”Yes, we are going to eat soon. But now...” - having leant over Luna, I pulled the box closer and took several cassettes out of it - “... let us return to discussing your spare time. These are the records of films about cheetahs. To keep you from boredom, while I am at work, I suggest you watch them and learn about my congeners and also about me. All the cassettes have the same label, so remember it and you will not make a mistake about the theme of the film. And unlike “Crin blanc” those films tell about the real wild life, beautiful, severe, cruel”

Luna was taking the cassettes out and examining them, lying on her side. I shook one cassette out of its case, showed Luna the label with an inscription “Cheetahs” stuck to it. The pony nodded.

”You can watch everything I have, there is plenty of anything inside the end-table. But bear in mind, that some of the films could be not for your taste”

”Can you give me an example?”

Having given it a thought, I dug up the cassette with “Terminator”.

”Well, this is about the nature, humans and horses” - I showed Luna the cassette with “Black Stallion”, then gave her the “killer cyborg” - “And there is only war, devastation, murders. And there is almost no point in watching something like that”

”I see. And, Lairy, did I hurt you much, when I fell down?”

”I was not so much hurt as I was shocked”

”I am sorry” - having given me a confounded smile, Luna touched my head with her hoof.

”It was nothing. Let us go to the kitchen”

I stirred the boiled potatoes, standing in front of the stove. The pony bent closer to the saucepan, sniffing.

”Where is your nose getting into?”

”My nose wants to ask a question. Is it done already?”

”Does it want the answer to hit it on the nose?” - I waved the spoon menacingly - “There is a boiled water with a temperature of hundred degrees. The last thing you need for a complete set of adventures is to scald yourself”

Having pushed Luna away, I poured the water out.

”Do you want to take part?”

”Yes”

”That is good. Add the butter there, please” - I put the saucepan on the table.

Luna got into the refrigerator with her inherent enthusiasm. While looking for the butter, she hit one of the shelves on the door with her horn accidentally and -bump- a chicken egg broke against the floor.

”Me and my horn, we should be warned” - the princess said sourly in a sing-song voice. Having placed the butter on the table, she put away the shells and licked the floor clean. Having unwrapped the butter, she bit several pieces off and threw them into the saucepan.

”Hold still” - I asked gently and wiped the alicorn’s lips with a towel.

”Thank you”- Luna’s smile shined, when she sat down at the table.

”And now we just have to wait, till our food cool a bit on plate” - I rhymed, filling the plates with potatoes - “Do you want sour cream or ketchup added?”

”I want both of them”

I gave pony a spoon, a jar of sour cream and ketchup. Taking advantage of Luna’s attention being occupied with her fight against a spoon, which she held with her teeth by handle, trying to draw the sour cream out of the jar, I concocted something quickly and put the cups in the stove to heat.

Having spread the potatoes out over her plate, Luna seasoned one half with sour cream and another half with ketchup. I was even intrigued, how was she going to eat that? I threw the pieces of cheese over it to diversify the taste of her meal. Meanwhile, my treat became warm and I put the cup in front of Luna.

Deft move of the pony’s leg wound her long locks and tossed them over her shoulder to keep the mane from getting into the food. At first she ate potatoes with ketchup, and spicy seasoning surely made her thirsty. Luna took a sip from the cup, which she was holding in her hooves. However the alicorn’s nose suspected that something was wrong. Having thrown a glance at me above the cup, she smelled it again.

”Well, “Discord”, declare, what have you mixed in to my drink?”

”Try it, do not be afraid” - I grinned slyly - “My cup has exactly the same mix”

”Hm-m-m, okay” - she took a mouthful carefully. The Princess’ eyes grew round with amazement, her shivering ears flattened against her head.

”It’s a nigh... my mane even rose” - she sighed and drank some more, narrowing her eyes in pleasure - “It is excellent, just excellent. Share a secret, what is it? “

I put a couple of jars on the table and placed a teaspoon upon them like a bridge.

”It is a coffeecoa. You need a cup of hot water, one spoon of coffee and two spoons of cocoa. Then mix it thoroughly and drink while it hot”

”Thank you, the taste is very pleasant and it is invigorating. My stomach feels so good and warm inside, o-o-oh” - having moved the plate closer to her, Luna began to shovel up potatoes very heartily.

”I have to go to work soon. I will come back it the evening. You have got something to do while I am away: origami, video, music. And I want to stipulate some limitations for you. Keep in mind, what I will say, please”

”I am listening” - the pony waved her ear expressively.

”The electricity, water, heat - all of those are chargeable. In order to keep me from paying more than usual, you should use them frugally. Turn on the light only when you really need it. To switch on the lamp by day is a nonsensical waste of energy. When you finish watching video and listening to the music you should turn them off. Concerning the water, you can drink only the boiled water from the kettle. It is dangerous to drink water from the faucet, you can fall seriously ill. You have to see that all the faucets are closed well and the water is not running”

”Gee... is the sun or the air chargeable as well?” - Luna stared at me, so surprised, that she had even stopped chewing.

”The sun is shining for everyone and the air is still free too”

”O-of, and I did imagined such a horrible picture”

”Well, that’s all. In fact, I do not deny you anything. But everything you do should be done quietly, or people can become interested in music, television and someone’s steps sounding inside a supposedly empty apartment. And the curiosity of humans never leads to something good. You know without me, that you should better not to walk out of the door as well”

”I know”

I clearly overdid it with my helping of food. I did not want to finish eating it, so I put the pieces of potatoes, which had left, to the Luna’s plate.

”Thank you. But I am full now” - the alicorn drank coffeecoa up.

”You can finish eating it later, when you are hungry”

Having put away the crockery, I kissed the pony on the crown of the head and said, that I would be waiting for her in the living room.

”Did you want to see me?” - the princess sat down on the sofa.

”I wanted to see, hear, smell and touch you” - I stroked her shoulder with a smile - “Here, I am attuning the television for you”

”And what is on there?”

”The same as on the video. There are good, interesting channels and programs, and there are middling ones. The television is not only the entertainment for you, but also a way to find out more about our world without leaving the house”

I moved “Disсovery”, “Animal planet”, “National Geographic”, “Culture”, “Cartoon network” to the first positions, explaining to her what was being shown on each channel. There was a program about outer space on “Disсovery” and Luna asked to keep this channel on. Taking into account, how many years the alicorn spent in the Moon, looking at the stars, her interest in the cosmic theme was easy to explain.

”So, princess, I entrust you with my apartment. You are in charge here”

”And how can I pause this?” - Luna wondered.

”The channel? You cannot. The pause is for the video only”

”I see” - the pony rubbed her cheek against mine. I caressed her head and neck - “Thank you, Lairy. Good luck to you”

My beloved escorted me to the door. Her sadness, caused by parting, could be seen, but she understood the reason behind this temporary separation and took it as a matter of course.

The weather outside struck me as the kingdom of the Snow Queen. There was thick-falling snow, the strong wind almost knocked me down. When I have reached the garage, I was happy to get into the warm cabin of “Passat”, being in the habit of driving out with time to spare. The trip was going to be a long one.

I reached the first crossroad. Snow-clearing vehicles were crawling by like tanks, with strained howling and rumble. They needed only a couple of laser guns to leave all Terminators without their jobs. Having taken a thin pack of “Stimorol” from the control panel, I chewed the last dried-up gum and threw the wrapper into the blizzard. Maybe I should offer Luna some food from our world? But it would better be tastier than this murderous gum. I drove off again.

The next crossroad was there. I relaxed, waiting for the green light. A few people were crossing the road. The muzzle of grunting “KamAZ” was staring at the stern of my car, and the square rear of articulated “Icarus” spattered with mud, obscured the front view. Sitting by the window there was some bored little girl wearing blue cap. She grimaced at me and stuck her tongue out, but I ignored her antics. Pray tell, where on the earth could they drive with this kid? Everyone stay at home watching TV in this kind of weather. Yeah, Lunawaswatchingittoo.There were no dogs, cats or even birds, only humans were roaming about. I wondered, what would a pegasus do, if it was to be caught out by a blizzard? I should ask a princess about it.

As I was driving closer to the parking lot, I gazed out over my colleagues’ cars, which were unrecognizable, covered with snow. Okay, so my car would be the third from the right, no recognizing would be needed. I spat the chewing gum out into a trashcan near the entrance.

I was stopped by the bored security guard in the corridor. The sounds of shooting could be heard from the “Tetrisor” game in his hands.

“Do you have a cigarette, striped one?”

“I do not smoke”

“You are the third not-smoking guy his morning. Did you sign up to the Ministry of Health, one and all?”

“I do not know about the others, but I am not working in any Ministry”

“Okay, move along”

I opened my study. The furniture here has been unchanged for a long time, consisting of a cabinet, a rack, a desk, two chairs, a hard bunk. The colour of the walls was light-greenish and cheerless. The bright incandescent “light bulb of Ilych” almost caused pain to the eyes. The clock on the wall had a form of a mermaid, who was pregnant with a dial, which looked so vulgar, that there was always summertime according to it - no one wanted to turn the clock back, and the battery was being changed once in three years. The barred window had bars thick as fingers. Obviously it was a ground floor. An ancient radio set “Ocean-209” was living its last years on a window-sill. Having been mended with insulating tape across its frame, it looked like it was threatening to break into little pieces of transistors from only an incautious glance. It turned on spontaneously from time to time, starting the incoherent radio broadcast, interspersed with agonizing howls and death-rattle. I gave it a nickname «Caution» inwardly.
A rack creaked, but agreed to hold my jacket. Having switched the table lamp on, I sat down, flicked through the notebook till the current date, made a mark in the timetable. The client was going to arrive soon. There was nothing to do, so I began to draw Luna on the closest blank sheet, recalling the look of her eyes after that “warming” kiss.

Would she be able to recover, having been traumatized so much? Her behaviour comprised of ascents and landings. Although, no. Those landings were more like “tailspins”. Sometimes she was gaining dizzying height, being caught up by the wind of happiness. The other times she was falling down in a flash, as if she had lost her wings, being left with no hope for salvation. Uncertainty and fear cut her down literally. I rubbed my forehead, being lost in thoughts. Still, she became calmer, than she was on the first day, not so wary and fearful anymore. Especially after ABBA’s songs, it was a true pleasure to look at Luna.

Someone’s heavy steps sounded behind the door. I gave a start and looked at it. Having trampled a little, the person went away. Footsteps receded at the end of the corridor. I bent my head over the notebook again.

So, what should I do with Luna now? Before my leaving, she kissed me on the cheek, so gently and modestly. Should I keep courting her and flirting to help her wipe from the memory all the terrible things she had endured before our meeting? Or should I start moving away little by little, hold some distance and wait until she would calm down by herself without my help? One should fight fire with fire. That is true, but how could I know what side to approach from, rambling in the shadows of another person’s soul? Especially, when that soul is...

The door had swept open so suddenly, that I jumped up. A snow-covered man stood in the doorway.

”Damn that blizzard. The busses have almost stopped running because of it. No wonder, I am late” - he grumbled, brushing the snow from his fur hat and taking the coat off.

”Gr-rh” - I breathed out, putting the notebook away - “Come in, Ivan. You are not too late, only ten minutes have passed”

The chair creaked under the massive body. Having clenched his thick hands, Ivan leaned on the table and looked around, as if he was searching for something. Despite being just in his middle thirties, he looked much older, tired and unkempt. His eyes with a heavy dim look were drifting around the room without focusing on anything.

Having picked a pack of “Prima” from the drawer, I pushed it to him across the table. Ivan’s hands moved slightly, as if they wanted to unclench.

”No, I have had enough of this filth”

”Well, did you have your way with the divorce?” - I swept the cigarettes back into the drawer.

”I had no way, to put it dully. For the third week I have been living by myself, eating spaghetti, recalling the pleasures of a bachelor’s life. Yeah, and also my heath is reduced, the USD exchange rate is increased”

I swear, after seeing a lively Luna’s muzzle, this human’s face seemed to me as expressive as a brick.

”How is your back?”

”My back feels the same as my shoulders and my butt. Everything is damned! Except for the work, but I still feel like a robot doing it. I could sleep there in the closet, just not to return home”

”Ivan, even if the married life did not work out for you, you must be healthy out of respect for your own life. If you leave your spine untreated, it will wreck you”

The look of “working drone’s” eyes fixed on my face.

”Alas, I am a sluggard, and I admit that honestly. While I am able to move - I will do nothing. Damn it, I have no time for anything like that. If I have to choose between sleeping and exercising, I will definitely choose sleeping anytime. I may try it on my leave, but I cannot be sure... it is no use to treat that, all I need is to live quietly, without trying to move mountains”

”Yeah...” - I took the pencil out of the glass and moved it in front of Ivan’s face.

”So that is what my conscience sounds like. Well, I am ashamed... and lazy... and how that can be solved?” - the man shrugged his shoulders without unclenching the hands.

”Try to imagine that one fine day, a minute you can crack and lose both your legs and spine. Will you enjoy that, pu-u-ur-r?” - I broke the pencil theatrically, with a crackle. Its halves rattled against the table.

”I will not enjoy that one bit. But I will have the time and, most importantly, an incentive, to improve my health at least. Living without legs? Honestly, it is horrifying just to think of that. The lack of movement will drive me mad”

”But when that happens, it will be too late to exercise. You see, your own laziness will be your doom”

”You are right about that. I need to trample to the hospital and solve the problems... before it is too late. And may the kick give me speed. Then I will get down to my back and other places”

”I can kick you every day with the phone calls. It does not tire me”

”I am sure of that” - Ivan smiled at the first time since we started this conversation - “But in such brass monkey weather I will not go anywhere at 6 a.m. When the March will arrive and the spring will come, I will be sitting on the butt in my car again... only then I will start touring the hospitals. But as for now - no-o, I do not want to do that”

”I have one or two slackers like you in my eye. And you are lucky that it is winter now outside. If it was spring, I would give you some good drills on the parade-ground!”

”Are you a control freak? Would you be building a hell of everyone ? What a drag...”

”Yes, I would”

”It gives me food for thoughts. And I cannot do “building”, I do not have a knack for that. But I am not good at obeying orders. I am a convinced detached loner. I walk by myself and live of my own accord”

”Convinced detached loners will be convinced to be detached alone!”

”I prefer to stay in the second row, so that no one sees me, thank you very much”

”The second row! Step forward!” - I commanded harshly.

Ivan started waving his hands:

”No-o, I will only step aside to follow secret tracks through vegetable gardens”

”And you must be in the hospital after work tomorrow, being examined. I do not care about brass monkey weather. I have your phone number, so I will call you tomorrow and make sure of that”

”Aren’t you a real commander, lieutenant Marsh!” - the man spread his hands in surprise - “Usually the main characters detour”

”And the unusual main characters go on tour along the usual road, in anxiety and variety. Of ways “

”I cannot argue with you. I do not want anxiety, I want peace and quiet”

”The best decision is to do, what you are told, silently. Then there will be instant peace and quiet”

”There will be instant problems. I even contradict my boss and grumble at work. I am out of control by principle, until I control myself. So, what is next?” - Ivan leaned back in the chair. Having been heated by a verbal duel, he looked much livelier and was ready if not to take action, but at least to do his best to avoid taking action and responsibility.

”I had already told you why you must take control of your life”

”Yeah... because this is my normal life. And you are 120% right... I know”

”Even stray cats understand when people wish well to them. Because cats HAVE BRAINS” - I pointed at my forehead with the finger.

”Well... I cannot complain of the brains, but in my case they come with immense rebelliousness. And it does not matter that it does myself wrong. What a stupid disposition”

”Thus it appears that a hedge-born cat is smarter than so-called “homo sapiens”, who is willing to die just to BE LAZY till the very last breath! Wicked ! End of the line . Darwin and his famous Theory of Evolution go south!”

I raised my hand in a well-known gesture of the Communist Leader, pointing at the wall, behind which, supposedly, was the aforementioned south and some Theory was wandering in the jungle far away.

”It seems so”

”Okay, now go and take care of yourself, while there is still someone to take care of” - I put the halves of the pencil together.

Ivan burst out laughing.

”Yes, but it can wait until the spring... well, there is brass monkey weather, you know. And, by the way, Lairy, do you live in the country?”

”No, I live in the apartment. Why did you think so?” - I was surprised. “Because...” - Ivan’s nose sucked in a breath loudly - “You smell like a stable and the horse”.

***

“Oh, Cosmos you are Cosmos, indeed” - I sighed, when the broadcast about the outer space came to an end. I started to listen to the next program about the pyramids of Ancient Egypt, but lost interest quickly. I felt thirsty and, having turned the television off, went to the kitchen.

Having put the bowl of juice into the oven, I smiled. It was nice to know, that had learned something new. While taking the box away, I fixed my eyes on the freezer without any intent. Well, I freaked out really hard because of that meat. And the reason was that when I had found myself in this world and had been wandering in search for help, I looked through the window of some house and saw how treacherous and foul a human being could be, luring a living creature, who trusted him completely, just to kill it. At that moment I felt ineffable horror. What could have stopped someone from doing the same to me, when I was relaxed after the bath? Having approached from behind, he could throw back my head and slash my neck with a knife. The end. I had no magic to heal the wound . There would have been just a short excruciating agony and then death. O-o-oh...

Having shut the refrigerator, I pressed my cheek to the cool door. What was I thinking about again? After this caring, cordiality and tenderness, the respect, that Lairy showed me in word and deed... was I still afraid of him? Did I still look on him as an enemy? He had proved many times that I could trust him. He promised not to hurt me, and that was not an empty promise, he justified his words. He made them as clear as a bell. But it was so painful and difficult to forget the past... it was difficult even to think a bit less about it, let alone to forget. I heard a ring. My ear moved involuntarily.

I took the bowl, lay down on the table with my legs and tail tucked underneath me. I ate several leaves from the glass, which was standing on a window-sill, and began to sip the juice through the straw, looking at the raging snowfall outside, trying to restore the peace of mind.

”In another place, with another person”

How different was Lairy from the others? Was his behavior typical for humans in general or not? Would he care for me if I was not an alicorn, but an Earth pony? Or a human? No-no, I even did not want to imagine that. But how else could I get to know him better, understand his reasons? Hm, he had told me about the video. Let’s take a look.

Having looked through several video tapes about the cheetahs, I chose one randomly. The symbol at the end of each inscription was different. It could probably be a sequence number, but it was of no help to me.

I had been turning the cassette over and over in my hooves, trying to recall what was needed to be done next. I did not want to make a mistake and damage something. Well, the gaps were on top and the moving side was in front. I inserted the cassette carefully and it bumped against yet another video tape. Lairy had not taught me how to extract them, had he? It seemed that he had not. But I remembered, that on my first day, when I was exploring the house, I managed to make the videotape recorder throw a cassette out somehow. But, frankly speaking, I knew nothing about its purpose at that time.

I examined the panel closely. What did I press there, was it an angle with a small line? That was right, the box clicked, having given its contents away without arguing. I laughed contentedly, put the unneeded video tape away and inserted mine.

”Cheetahs are the quickest land predators, ideally suited for high-speed running. A cheetah is capable of accelerating to one hundred ad fifteen kilometers per hour in a few seconds”

I did not see the narrator, this male voice was coming from somewhere else. But the cheetahs were shown to me instead. They were very close, I could take a good look at every hair, every spot. When some animal turned its head towards me, I froze instinctively, trying to stay unnoticed. I was under the continuous impression that an animal could jump out of the TV set into the room anytime. It was strange, there was no such illusion in the case of the outer space. Everything, which was being shown then, seemed to me unbelievably far and thus unreal. And the congeners of Lairy were just a few steps away from me.

”So that is what he looked like once” - I was examining a stately predator - “Why has he become a human now?”

The longer I was looking, the more similarities I kept noticing. Of course, a human could not match an elegant gracefulness of a cat, but I saw now, that many things in the behavior of cheetahs had a lot in common with Lairy’s behavior as well: their curiosity, intense stare, calm definite movements, constant readiness to give a chase. The group of five adult animals was being shown, and I found out that endearment, love and thoughtful attitude towards fellow creatures are peculiar to cheetahs as well. These five could barely take a single step without rubbing against each other, licking the muzzles, touching others with their paws.

”Ah, here is an earbite” - I burst out laughing , when one of the cheetahs, while caressing the other’s head with its tongue, bit an ear gently and then licked it clean on the inside. For some reason earlier I thought, that Lairy was clinging to me constantly only because of my “unusual appearance”. I could not even assume, that it was simply in his character. Now I realized, that he actually acted like an animal, following his nature and instincts, but at the same time this animal was affectionate, sympathetic and caring. The same could not have been said about Al...

”Do not go back!” - I cut the reflections short, refusing to allow the dark thoughts to invade my mind again.

There was a plain being shown, seared by the sun. The trees and bushes grow sparsely on it.

”A troop of impala antelopes is heading southeast, passing the acacias, where the predators are having their rest” - the invisible storyteller continued his narrative - “And we will witness one of the most exiting spectacles - the cheetahs’ hunting”

I did not like that bit of the last sentence. I imagined being grabbed with the clawed paws “spectacularly”, and that made me feel a little uncomfortable.

Having formed a long line, these large cats walked round the herd leisurely, upwind. They were not masking their presence, while examining the antelopes with an idle interest. One of the animals lay down, the others kept walking, without even looking back at it. Impalas dashed aside - the cheetah, which has lain in hiding, scared them and it scared me as well. I nearly jumped out of my seat on the sofa. The troop broke into a run. Following it in a cloud of yellow dust, the silhouettes of swift hunters flashed by. For a moment the landscape was empty, and then a running impala appeared, being chased by three predators.

I was watching with growing tension, my breathing became heavy and the heart sped up on its own. Being worrying for the antelope ardently, I wished it to fling off the pursuers. The gossamer of hope snapped, when two more cheetahs appeared suddenly, having snatched the prey from the roundup. The antelope dodged, but fresh cats, bursting with strength, overtook it easily and brought the impala down, having slashed its hind legs with their claws.

I pressed a hoof to my lips, sucking back a scream of disenchantment and horror. The impala got up, but five cheetahs restrained it together, having grabbed a hold of its legs, sides and neck. The blood seeped from numerous wounds, the antelope was still struggling, standing in the deadly embrace of the predators. I could neither close my eyes nor look away. The cruel scene paralyzed me, having riveted my look upon it.

”Come on, break free, ran away!” - I whispered, unaware of the tears, running down my cheeks. If only I could help it somehow...

One of the cheetahs was tearing the hip, the other was clutching the neck in a rigid hard grip, the third one sank its fangs into withers. The weakened victim fell on its knees and was thrown down. The sun was fading away slowly in the black eyes.

They kill in order to survive, I remembered Lairy’s words. Did it mean that now they would?..

My terrifying guess has been confirmed. The predators rip impala’s groin and belly open, the blood poured onto the ground, the guts fell out.

”E-e-e-k!” - my stomach lurched, burning sourness stuck in the throat.

”No, anywhere but here!” - fighting the dizziness and weakness, I rushed headlong to the bathroom. My nose had almost struck the edge of the wall at a turn. I was wobbly. My legs were shaking, but still I managed to reach the water closet before I felt completely sick. Having fallen flat to the floor, I lolled my head over the toilet and threw up violently. My mind reeled, the body was shaking as though in a fever, some loathsome sour mash with chewed bits of leaves was gushing from my throat.

”O-o-oe-e-eh-h-h” - my head was bad, the hooves were trembling, the body became feeble and empty, as if it was I who was flayed and disemboweled. Having spat the slime out, I crawled away from the toilet and pressed my back against the cold wall. Something stuck to my chest. I turned on the light and examined myself. My mane was stained with some muddy yellow spew. F-r-r-r, that was disgusting! Leaning against the edge of the bath, I managed to stand up and started to wash the tresses clean. It was good, that the spew was only on the mane and not all over me and on the carpet to boot. That would be the most abject of me. And I would have to explain myself to Lairy, telling him that his films about nature make me sick.

Having wiped my mane dry, I peered around the corner with caution. What was on the picture ? The horrible feast was continuing there . The cheetahs thrust their blood-stained muzzles into the victim’s body, ripping the innards out and gnawing the flesh off the ribs. Having hiccupped loudly, I turned away and slumped against the wall.

Celestia... what a cruel world I have found myself in! I wanted to scream with pain and despair. I burst out sobbing bitterly, giving loose to my emotions. I felt so sorry for the deceased impala. I did not know how long I had been sitting like that. It was like I had slipped out of the time and space. An intense burning in the eyes woke me up. Having washed my face and having wiped the tears from my chest, I felt thirsty, but remembered that it was not safe to drink water out of the faucet. I trudged to the kitchen and took a long pull at a kettle, drinking out of a spout. Having climbed up on the sofa with great difficulty, I stared at the TV set with a dull apathy. The gorged cats with rounded bellies were lying in the shade of a tree there and were purring contentedly, while licking the blood from each other’s muzzles. I found myself so completely exhausted, that I would not have been able to react if I was shown another murder right now. Having turned the cassette recorder off on my second attempt, I got under the blanket, hoping to get some sleep. And as soon as my eyes closed, I fell down into the vortex of unconsciousness.

***

Some strange crackle disturbed my ear. The air was humid with a smell of a storm. Staying still, I looked around watchfully. There was a mass of heavy thunderclouds around me. They were turning, rolling, occasionally letting a lightning fall with a crack. The sun could not be seen, but the light was coming from somewhere far below and it was bright enough.

I was lying in a strange corridor, made from clouds, which were stretching out into infinity. Having cast a glance both ways, I walked at hazard in the direction, which my head had been facing initially, avoiding bumping into the clouds whenever possible. I ducked, letting a swollen cloud pass by, and at that moment I heard the crackle right above my ear and my horn felt a faint surge of pricking energy. Having looked at the horn, I saw a lightning quivering on its tip.

"Ah, fie!" - I shook my head, the lightning died out. Having crouched, I moved away carefully, trying not to invite a new discharge over my head.

The corridor was widening gradually and ended with a dead end in the form of a huge white cloud. I touched it with my nose and hoof - it turned out to be soft and pliable. I tried to step through it, but the cloud flew apart with a deafening thunder and, having lost my footing, I slipped into the void.

"A-a-argh!" - having turned over several times without managing to spread my wings out properly, I splashed into the hot water. The heat was bearable, but the prospect of being stewed in my own juice slowly did not appeal to me, so, having floundered about for a bit, I came to the surface. My hair and feathers were soaked with water, bulging and dragging me under. However, the hooves could not find any foothold, and it probably was very deep down there.

There was a grey fog around. It was so dense, that I could not see beyond the end of my nose. Rowing with my legs vigorously in order to keep myself afloat, I used the spell "Clear path", but the fog became even thicker. I could swear, that it began to approach me from every direction with a menacing low sound. Vague, pale silhouettes of some creatures were wandering in the fog, encircling me in their round dance. When they were turning their heads towards me, I could see that there were dark blurred ovals instead of their eyes and mouths.

"Oh, back off... I am sorry, but I find your company unnerving" - I muttered, having made the "path" spell stronger, adding the "Fair weather breeze" to it. The fog crawled away reluctantly, the outline of the shore became visible behind me, and I swam there, having lifted the logged wings onto my back.

The thought about changing the fabric of a dream or teleporting ashore was cast away instantly. I found myself not in "my own" dream, so any changes could lead to unpredictable consequences for the dreaming person and for me. Besides, I wanted to get out of here on my own, not just teleport from one point of the space to another. Lastly, if I did not like the dream at all, I would be able to leave it at any moment. So I rowed hard towards the shore, hoping, that there were no creatures nearby, who would like to treat themselves with my legs and tail.

The gloomy weather-beaten cliffs were closing in upon water. I put my forelegs on the low edge of the bluff, feeling the rustle of small sharp stones. Suddenly the golden glow enveloped my hooves. Spreading fast over the legs and body, it wrapped round me, like the thinnest silk, which was woven with the warm rays of the summer sun.

"Let me help you, Luna" - Celestia came from behind the rock, her horn was radiating a soft glow.

"Have you seen everything?"

"Your "splashing" into the thermal spring was the most epic, little sister. Of course, I could not miss such a sight"

The white alicorn lifted me with telekinesis and, having kissed my nose, put me next to her. Her magic was not only moving me, but also helped me to dry. Without lifting the fabric of the spell, which was being cast, Celestia changed its structure.

"Actually, everything is much simpler. I felt, that something was wrong, and I fell asleep right during an important meeting, willing to help you. I hope no one will replace the documents, while I am sleeping. In any case, if something happens, everyone gathered will have to deal with me profoundly and for a long time" - the sovereign of the country of colourful ponies grinned.

"Thank you, sister. Everything is so bad for me" - I sighed.

"It is not comfortable here among the rocks" - Celestia looked around - "Let us move to more pleasant dream, where you will be able to tell me about your miseries, if you want to. The meeting will last very long and it, basically, does not require my extensive involvement, so I can sleep for quite a while"

"Well..." - having closed my eyes tightly, I focused.

"And where are we now?" - Tia inquired.

"I have found one of Lairy's dreams. It is a personal dream of his home"

"Is he not asleep now?"

"It is daytime, he is at work. And I am sleeping there" - I pointed to the sofa - "I am sure no one will interfere with us there"

"It is an interesting setting" - Celestia walked up and down the room, examining the pictures, furniture and the shelves of the cabinet - "The totemism is strongly pronounced: wherever one’s glance rests, there are cheetahs. And at the same time there are almost no items of personal power. There is nothing, which would have Lairy's energy concentrated upon it. It feels like he has no need of such objects at all. However, it can actually be that way"

"Let us go, I will give you a treat"

Tia was watching me heating the glasses of juice in the oven closely.

"What is saddening you?" - she asked, when we lay down on the sofa, holding the glasses with telekinesis.

"It is not easy to tell" - I sighed - "Showing it will be simpler. I warn you, you must watch without taking any measures like shooting with magic"

"Come on" - Tia laughed - "I can cast a statue spell on myself, but then you will have to disenchant me"

I had to use magic to find the remote control, which was rooted firmly in the floor under the sofa.

"Lairy suggested, that I should watch some movies about cheetahs to learn more about them and about him as well. Well, I had watched, I had learned, and I felt very bad afterwards"

Celestia was watching the video silently, frowning from time to time and taking sips from the glass. I was just lying, having closed my eyes and covered my ears. I had no desire to go through all of that for the second time. Finally, the sister touched my muzzle with her hoof.
"It is enough"

Having turned the movie off with a relief, I looked at Tia expectantly.

"Did I get it right, that you were disturbed very much by the act of killing and devouring of an antelope?"

"I was not just disturbed. That horror made me vomit" - having fiddled with the glass, I shove it between the cushions.

"Luna... there is nothing unusual about that"

"I agree. It is absolutely normal, anyone can throw up at the sight of..." - having swallowed, I pulled the glass out and took a sip.

"I am saying, that there is nothing unusual about killing to eat in overwhelming majority of developed worlds, which have division into herbivores and carnivores, including even Equestria"

"Wha-a-ath-ha?!" - I choked over the juice and lost my ability to think and speak for a moment - "What did you say?" - I rubbed my eyes, wiping away the tears.

"Perhaps, it will also be easier for me to show you instead of telling" - Celestia's horn lit up, she moved her wing, dissipating the dream. The walls of the apartment disappeared, we were standing in the middle of the plain - "Let us stroll a little"

We were walking slowly, knee-deep in the thick grass. Having bent, Tia plucked several blades of grass. I followed her example.

"You probably know, Luna, that there are many other living creatures in Equestria besides ponies, some are magical, the others are ordinary, and many of them are predators like snakes, owls, dogs, cats, tree wolves, manticores, cheetahs"

I gave a start at the mention of Lairy's congeners.

"As for the food, Lairy is right, when he is telling, that if you eat in a dream, you will be full in reality as well. Of course, we are not talking about absolute satiety, but you can really feel much better. Well, let us look at what the predators eat"

Having flown past over the alicorns' heads without making any noise, an owl caught a mouse. A cheetah rushed after a deer at some distance. And a manticore was watching this chase, lying in the grass.

"As you can see, Luna, if we are talking about predators in nature, the Earth world is not crueler, than the world of Equestria"

"But it is disgusting to see all of that up close"

"It happens at times, that large predators eat ponies as well" - Celestia plucked a mouthful of grass again and looked around. The manticore has gone somewhere else.

"Huh?" - it could not be said, that I was delighted by the news.

"And what is the difference between a pony and any other meat? There is none. Lunie, you should accept the fact, that you also can become someone's food. Alas. You are the princess in one world, but in the other world someone can eat you, without asking your name or title, without showing proper signs of respect, but with simple and artless pressure of their teeth on your throat"

"Tia, I have already almost been in the role of meat, you need not tell me that again" - I cast a short disapproving glance at my sister.

"I am sorry if I offended you somehow. But that is all that I wanted to tell you. Let us go back"

The manticore flapped her leathery wings abruptly, expressing disappointment. Large ponies, which she sneaked up to so craftily, have disappeared. However it was possible to look for a spotted one and take the meat away from him.

Sitting on the sofa, I looked at the white alicorn walking slowly, thinking about something. Having stood in front of the opened cabinet for a bit, she lifted one of the cheetah figures with magic.

"Lairy's dreams are very detailed, saturated and deep. Did you pick it up in reality?" - Tia turned toward me.

"Yes"

"There is just a tiny trace of your energy on it" - having smiled slightly, the princess put the cheetah on the shelf and closed the cabinet - "I want to talk about your friend"

I moved a little away on the sofa, letting Tia have a half of it.

"Luna, I had very little time to think over everything you had shown me the last night and to draw any valid logical conclusions. Still you have a right to know my opinion, even if it is just a fleeting glance on the surface of it. And I can be mistaken"

"Tell me everything, you deem necessary to say, sister"

"Lairy's love for you is very unusual. I looked through all your worries and conversations again, reread everything, they were able to find for me in the library about interracial and interspecific relationships. There was not much to be gathered. Those were either memoirs of those, who were desperate enough to challenge the fate and opposed the circumstances and society, or records about marriages of convenience, which were meant to solve some national problems. Your case is different. Lairy does not have any complicated lines of destiny in his relationship with you. He is not interested in politics as well, unless you offered him a snug berth at the royal court in exchange for his love"

"Tia, I am not like that"

"I know. That is why I do not even consider such versions as bribery. And I simply do not have any other versions. I did not expect such turn of events, it is difficult for me to imagine the development of your relationships. I have nothing to add to the words, which you have already heard from Lairy. He loves you just because you are with him and you let him express his love. Frankly speaking, I am also confused by some of his actions, but I have understood the reason. What we know as the rituals of sexual courting are just caresses with no relation to sex for Lairy. And I feel calm. The main thing is, that he does not abuse and demean you. That was my greatest fear"

"Well, I have already been in his bed" - I smiled sweetly.

Celestia's muzzle became stony, her whole body tensed, so I was really scared for Lairy.

"Kick my croup!" - finally Celestia exhaled hoarsely - "He did that too! What has he done to you?!"

"He caressed my withers, back and wings" - I answered calmly - "And there was nothing like "that", which you were thinking about"

Suddenly the alicorn's snow-white wings fell on the sofa with a muffled rustling. Tia's look was sad and tired.

"Luna, do not scare me like that"

"I am sorry" - having sobbed, I hugged the sister impulsively.

"Still, tell me what has happened between you?"

I retold her events of the last morning.

"He has impudence and charm, straightforwardness and civility, persistence and complaisance. What an amazing combination of qualities" - Celestia whispered - "Lairy could have been the first stallion at the court even without trying much"

"If he had wanted to have his way with me, I would have already given in yesterday. I have had no strength to resist after the "ear bite"

"I believe you, Luna. From physiological point of view you are a mare, female, and I can suspect, that you are desired by him"

"Desired? Me?" - I was so surprised, that it made me gasp for air. Could I really have heard that from my sister?

"Luna, there is no need to wear such a sincerely innocent expression on you muzzle" - Tia snorted and pulled my ear with magic - "From the beginning of my collaboration with Lairy I had to consider the probability of the second raping of you after your release from the basement. But I knew that in Lairy's case that probability was minimal"

"Why?"

"His response to my request to save you was very expressive and unambiguous. When he found out, how you had been treated, he became frenzied"

"Well..." - I tried to imagine a "frenzied" Lairy and saw a cheetah's muzzle with teeth bared in rage. I flatly was not able to picture a furious human.

"And all Lairy's subsequent actions only proved to me that he was reliable, especially when he had growled at you a little in the kitchen"

"Oh, so you know even that..."

"My dear little sister, I know only what I have learned from you in our last dream. And you had told me almost everything. You should have seen the size of my head in the morning"

"I am sorry" - I sighed.

"But then, it was a first time in many days, when I was able to sleep soundly. So, Lairy is a male, and all his love for you originates from his "male-ness", first of all. He cares for you as he would care for his only one beloved female. In my opinion you have an ideal type of family, setting aside the difference of species. I am sure that he would not mind to share the bed with you. But he also knows, what you had to endure earlier, and spares your feelings. He thinks highly of you as a person, you will never become just an amusing toy for him. Lairy is reliable, you can feel as safely with him as behind a stone wall. He is your best medicine for every spiritual wound and he will help you to achieve the long-awaited inner peace and harmony"

"Tia, thank you so much, I am very pleased to know that. You set my mind at ease and answered some questions, I had not even asked"

"Yes, Luna, and I have one request"

"What is the request?" - I looked at the sister in surprise.

"I ask you to look after Lairy. The tree of love needs care to be strong, to protect from storms of miseries, to stand against the winds of trials... leave me alone" - the princess muttered suddenly in a sleepy and discontented voice - "Well, here comes an end of our conversation. They are waking me up there at the meeting. But you understood, did you not? Lairy gives you very much, do not stay in his debt, try to repay him with love, care and tenderness"

"I understood. And as for "sharing the bed", do you seriously think so?"

"I can give you no advice in this matter. You should decide about the bed for yourself whether you want it or not. In any case, Lairy will not do you wrong. All right. I will wake up now!"

The sovereign of Equestria disappeared, having managed to wink at me at parting.

I moved to the sister's place, absorbing the dear energy, which was dissipating slowly. And I felt very hungry suddenly at that moment. Of course, at first I had been throwing up in reality, losing everything I had eaten for breakfast, and after that there were those dreams with a lot of action and a long talk.

"Well, I can take advantage of Lairy's experience and fill up in dream" - with that thought I went to the kitchen cheerfully.

***

"He-ello-o" - I let out in surprise, having just come back home. A savour of something fried was filling the whole apartment.

"Oh, Lairy, I am so glad to see you!" - the mare, who came running to me, started to prance on her hind legs. Having locked the door, I sat down on a chair and let cheerful and a bit tousled Luna hug me.

"Hello, beauty. What has happened here?"

Her wings were shivering, she was probably overflowing with emotions, and the feathers bristled up in a funny way.

"I was waiting for you, and while I was waiting, I decided to make a supper for us. I think, I had succeeded. And I also succeeded in guessing the time of your return, you are just in time for the supper. Shall we go?"

"I will take the outer clothing off, wash myself and come at once" - I kissed the pony on the nose, and that made her close her eyes in happiness.

"Do you have a bag?" - without waiting for an answer, Luna grabbed the bag with her teeth and carried it away to the kitchen.

She surely has a lot of energy - I marveled. She ate her belly full, had a good night's rest, and things were in full swing.

While washing myself in the bathroom, I noticed smithereens of a plate in the trash can. But I did not care about the dishes, as long as the Princess of Night was not going to destroy the entire house with her enthusiasm.

"Well, what do we have here?" - having sat down at the table, I lifted the lid - "You ama-a-aze me!" - I laughed.

The omelet on the plate was shaped like a crescent, having tiny pieces of fruits and speckles of peppercorns in it.

"I do" - Luna chuckled - "I made the same for myself as well"

"Let us taste it" - I picked up the fork and the knife - "It is a bit singed at the bottom, but otherwise... it is great"

"Do you really like it?"

"I quite like it, yes. But how were you able to do all of that, m-m-m?" - I spun the fork in the air.

"Do you mean, without the hands or magic?" - the alicorn specified.

"Yes"

"It was rather easy. I saw you handle the igniting sticks, oven and fire. It may seem strange, but crockery and dinnerware are almost identical in our very different worlds, so I mostly know what is used for what here. Lastly, when I was having troubles, I was asking myself, what would a pegasus or an Earth pony do in my place. They have to handle all these stuff in their everyday lives, using just their bare hooves and teeth. And I managed to do it" - Luba concluded with a triumphant smile.

"Well done! Luna's cutie mark for a supper is a great idea"

"It was very easy to give it the shape of a crescent. I placed a small bowl inside a heated frying pan, poured whisked eggs near it, and put the bowl away as soon as they got thickened. That was how I did that"

I started purring approvingly, while eating Luna's treat. Together fruits and pepper formed a peculiar spicy flavor. I came across more pepper, than necessary, in another piece of food and had to look for the water promptly.

"How was your day?"

"It was great. I was eating, sleeping, watching video. Your congeners are amazing. And I have a lot of questions"

"I have only one question. Where is the bag?"

"It is under the table"

I began to lay the purchases on the table. Luna was taking and examining everything.

"Well, there is my food. And it seems to be your food by the look of it" - the alicorn turned a can of stewed meat in her hooves. A well-nourished cow was pictured on its label - "Nothing can scare me after I saw your cheetahs"

The pony pushed the can far away from her, having some ambiguous expression on the muzzle, which could mean either disdain or disgust. I decided not to ask her opinion on cheetahs, and diverted her attention with canned rings of pineapples.

"It smells so good!" - Luna tasted a pineapple carefully, like she always did dealing with unfamiliar produces.

"Ha-ha, and I was told that I smell like a horse at work"

"Do you mean my smell? Why?"

I rubbed the mare's shoulder with my hand vigorously and then raised it to her nose.

"Do you smell it? It is Luna's divine and unique aroma"

"Yes. And does that expose us now? Maybe I need to be bathed really well again?" - the princess began to fidget nervously.

"I think, there is no need of that. You are clean as you are, the smell is healthy and it is natural. This aroma is rather strong and pronounced, but..." - I smelled my palm and wiped it upon the trousers - "I like it. It is a normal animal smell. And I do not mind to wear it instead of a feather, pur-r-r-r"

"And what if people notice and start to ask, like it happened today? What will you reply?"

"And what keeps me from not answering them? It is my business, how I look, whose smell is on me, and I was never interested in outsiders' opinions. If I am to worry about some associates' thoughts about me, I will have neither strength nor time for my personal life"

"Lairy" - the alicorn's hoof pounded on the table demandingly - "I am asking you seriously"

"And I am giving you a serious answer" - I growled in a low voice, slicing the leftovers of an omelet - "I do not have to give an account for my private life to anyone. If someone is going to pester me with questions about the cause of the smell of collective farm and cattle on me, I will send this curious one to take a long hike in the forest"

Luna looked at me thoughtfully, but did not say anything else. Maybe she calmed down, or maybe she kept her doubts to herself.

The tongue got caught in something. With some effort I drew a long blue hair out of my mouth. Since my childhood I have never liked to find such "artifacts" in my food. The pony noticed the displeased expression on my face and interpreted it in her own way.

"I am sorry. You can take my helping of food" - she whispered, feeling embarrassed, then looked away from the plate and pushed it towards me with a hoof.

"Thanks, but there is no need" - having held her leg, I returned the plate - "It is nothing. I was not offended" - I gave an answer to Luna's unspoken question.

In order to break the awkward silence, I waited for the pony to bend over the table, picking the last crumbs up the plate with her lips, and put the pineapple ring on her horn. It slipped down to the middle of the horn and got stuck. Luna burst out laughing, catching the drops of syrup, which were falling from the ring and streaming down the spiral coils onto her forehead and nose, with her tongue.

"Wipe the princess, before she gets all sticky" - Her Majesty threw a towel at me, still laughing.

"Would you let me to wipe you in a bit different way, without a towel?" - I moved closer to Luna.

"Without?" - she asked again in a whisper, staring directly at me. The pupils of her eyes grew wider, and it seemed like she could scarcely breathe - "Yes..." - this sound resembled a meek outward breath.

I put my left hand on her shoulder-blades, feeling the muscles trembling involuntarily, and took her by the chin with the right hand. The alicorn closed her eyes, when I touched her nose gently with my tongue, licking a sweet winding trace off.

"What are you doing to me, what are you doing?.." - she was whispering. There were ringing notes of passion, pleasure and a slight panic in her voice. Having been spread wide, her wings had every feather quivering, showing the ecstasy. I could guess, what a storm of emotions was raging in Luna's soul, and kept walking a thin line, licking the mare's muzzle tenderly. She was trembling with the strain, like a taut wire.

When I touched the horn, the alicorn fell silent and started to wheeze nervously, as if I had crossed some forbidden line suddenly. My fingers were able to feel the pony's heart racing even through her back.

What could have speeded it up so much?

Having licked the coils of the magical instrument clean, I bit through the pineapple ring and touched Luna's lips, holding it in my mouth. Having sniffed it, she took my gift by feel. Having kissed her nose, I leaned back.

"So that is who you are, ca-a-at" - my beloved exhaled, opening her eyes slightly - "You just love to torment me, keep me at the breaking point and lead me along the edge of the cliff with my wings being tied up, do you not?"

"I do" - I smiled sweetly, licking my lips - "I love that. But I do all of that with your consent and reciprocal desire"

"When did I give my consent to such sophisticated love tortures?!" - Luna's look was a bit bewildered.

"You have given it just now. I asked your permission to wipe you. You let me do that. There can be no complains about me. But I will accept you gratitude gladly"

"You have my gratitude" - having put her head and forelegs on the table, the alicorn sighed wearily, her wings were reaching the floor - "Lairy, my head is spinning because of this outrage of yours"

"Do you not like it?" - I carried the dishes into the sink.

"I like it. And that is the strangest thing. It feels like I am examining a diamond, which has been known to me for a long time, and I am seeing some new facets, which I have never noticed before. And the reason is, that I am looking at my life from a different angle in the light of recent developments"

"When changes in life show new facets, it is good. It means that you have a room for growth"

"And what is the direction of my growing?" - Luna looked askance at me with one eye musingly.

"Time will tell. For now you are learning to accept love and take pleasure"

"I am a successful learner, according to the bedlam in my heart and mind. I wish I could figure that out"

"You will understand, when the emotions settle down" - having finished washing the dishes, I sat down at the table and opened a pack of fruit-drops - "I have brought a funny treat to you. Would you like to try?"

"I hope, I will not feel too "funny" because of it. I am tired of emotions"

"Nothing will happen. Just hold it in your mouth and listen"

Expression on Luna's muzzle was becoming more and more surprised and watchful gradually. The fruit-drops were fizzing, exploding, jumping on the tongue and bumping into teeth, making a peculiar noise.

"I have never tasted anything like that before. Thank you"

"And I thank you for the supper. Everything was amazing, both the supper and the dessert"

"What dessert? Was it here?"

"Yes, it was big, blue, with syrup, slightly nervous and very delicious"

"I am very glad to hear that, and I am glad that you liked it. Join me on the sofa"

Having placed her wings on the sides, the moon mare left the kitchen. I had arranged the cans in the refrigerator and followed the princess. If the royalty arranges a rendezvous with me, it is a sign of bad manners to try her patience.

***

Having smiled, I patted the sofa with my wing, offering Lairy a seat beside me. Having sat down, he relaxed and slumped against the back of the sofa. It seemed that such a reclining pose was the most comfortable for him.

"Do you want to ask some questions?"

"Oh, yes. These questions are quite important to me"

"I think the princess cannot have UNimportant questions"

"How would you have treated me, if I had been not an alicorn, but a pegasus or an Earth pony?"

"What do you mean?"

"Hm... I know, that you like my wings, you are interested in my horn and in all of my uncommonness in general. But if I had been like White Mane, without wings or magic, what would have changed?"

"Nothing would have changed" - he shrugged his shoulders - "My treatment of you depends on you, your behavior, and certainly not your anatomy or race. Although if you had been frightful by my standards, then it would have been more difficult"

"Then I am lucky to be beautiful. And here, among your songs I had found a curious one"

Having come to the table, I turned the stereo on. A mechanical wheeze was followed by a male voice.

Our life is like volcano. We are at the shooting-range,
And so every one of us becomes a target.
Calling our world so sinful, like a thing we cannot change,
We can't see our sins as if they're strings for puppet.

Having noticed, that Lairy was singing along, nodding to the rhythm of the song, I turned up the volume a little.

Our world is never perfect, it consists of all of us.
It presents direct reflection of our feelings and our eyes.
This world can't become a better, kinder place, unless we all
Become better and kinder to others...

Having listened to the song from the beginning to the end, I turned the technical equipment off and came back to the sofa.

"I want to know your thoughts about it" - I waved my hoof in the direction of the table - "Is there a meaning in this song, or is it a mere verbiage?"

I put my forelegs on Lairy's hip. He ran his hand over my leg, shoulder, slipped his fingers into the thick mane. I had already been used to his ingenuous caresses and my reactions became calmer. I was bending my neck, bowing my head to let the fingers scratch the most sensitive areas, such as withers, spots behind the ear and near the horn.

"There is a meaning. The world is neutral. It does not have good or evil, right or wrong. Every person sees only what they are able to see in this world, and every person gives the world only what they have inside, no more"

"Lairy, I had seen a lot of evil at those days. Does that mean, that there is as much evil inside of me and I see only evil things? But then, why do I see you and everything you give me, which is not evil?"

"No, you are not evil. You are an alien particle in this world, like a grain of sand from seashore, which finds itself in bank sand. This grain is different, but it will be lost among many others and it will not be noticed"

"I was not noticed as well, yes..." - I placed my head on Lairy's lap.

"And so, the world gives everyone, what they want to see. It recreates pictures, which every person imagines, in reality. The one, who is always thinking about problems, will spend all his life trying to solve them. The one, who is thinking about diseases, will be ill, even when everyone around is healthy. And no medicine will be able to help the body, if the soul and mind are sick"

"It reminds me of a book"

"How?"

"If I am reading a book, in which only hatred and malice are described, then I will see nothing, but hatred and malice on its pages"

"That is true. A person, who has malice in his heart, will be seeking for malice everywhere subconsciously and will see only malice. If he notices the images of goodness by chance, they will seem ridiculous and laughable to him, arouse abhorrence, disdain, desire to break, humiliate and destroy that image"

"There is one thing I cannot understand. You had horrified me recently by replying, that you could kill. But this is an evil deed to take someone's life. And at the same time you are very kind to me. What is there inside your heart, good or evil?" - having lifted my head, I looked at the human's eyes.

"There are both of them in harmony. Good gives a chance to improve and strive to become better, to help and support others. Evil gives strength to take a blow and respond with a blow, to overcome the obstacles and keep going despite the circumstances. So, I am neutral, selectively good and not evil, if no one makes me angry. It is dangerous to be just good. You will be either used by everyone, who feels like it..." - I gave a start involuntarily - "... or destroyed. It is a common opinion that if you are good, then you are a weakling and a loser. "Evil" sounds almost the same as "strong". But you know, what real malice feels like. To be evil means condemning yourself to degradation and chaos"

"I know, unfortunately. When I was wandering there, on the streets, I avoided coming across humans. But one time I was taken by surprise, tormented and beaten severely"

"Beaten?! You had been BEATEN?" - Lairy recoiled in terror.

"Ge-e?.. Yes" - I looked at the human with anxiety. I did not understand his reaction. He grabbed me suddenly, pulled me onto his lap and pressed to his chest tightly.

"Oh, my God, Luna, how that could had happened?.." - I heard him trembling with suppressed tears - " Luna, Luna, I really wish Celestia and I could have found you earlier" - he was whispering, kissing my head and neck randomly - "What else had they done to you?" - he stared into my eyes, as if he was looking for an answer.

"Shall I tell you?" - I asked timidly, sniveling.

"No. There is no need. There is no need to recall all of that. You are with me. Everything else is over now"

Lairy embraced me again. I threw my wings round him and buried my muzzle in his neck. We had been sitting there, calming down, for a long time.

"Your world is so cold and gloomy, because people have a lot of fear, hatred and malice in their hearts" - I said.

"What?" - Lairy's question was muffled. The worries had changed his voice in a strange way.

"There was a time, when different races of ponies in my world were at war. Vendigo, spirits of winter, appeared in every place, where were hostilities, discord, strife, malice, distrust, and the deadly winter followed them quickly. Ponies managed to defeat those spirits only when they had united. Is it like that here as well?"

"No, it is not like that at all"

"Is it not?" - I scratched my nose with the wing in surprise - "Then how is it?"

"The seasons change in the Earth world, spring always comes after winter, then summer comes, followed by autumn and winter again. It can be very cold in winter, nights are long and days are short. It is very hot in summer, days are long and nights are short. Those changes are continuous and they do not depend on humans or their emotions. When winter comes, we put on warmer clothes and wait for spring. Heh, you know, humans are funny creatures. They are wearied by summer heat, complain about thirst and the blaze of the sun, wishing for summer to end, giving way to the coolness of autumn and then winter. And then humans whimper over winter cold, complain about ice-covered ground, blizzard, snowfalls and dream of the quickest return of the summer. And that happens from year to year through the whole life. Humans are so inconstant"

"I had no idea about that" - having opened my wings halfway, I shifted on Lairy's chest to get more comfortable, making sure that the joints of my legs would not hit his body. Certainly, it would not be pleasant to feel a blow of someone's elbow on ribs - "There were bitter winters in Equestria, but little Snowdrop helped to mollify the weather's temper. She offered to give the winter gifts, so it would not feel lonely. Snowdrop was a blind pegasus, but she was able to hear the stars. And she gave us hope, that many things could be changed for the better by having a wish and some dedication. Snowdrop's life at Celestia's court was long and happy. I remember her cutie mark vividly even now. It was a snowflake flower"

"Hope" - the human whispered, smoothing the strands of my mane with both hands, and singed quietly:

My hope is like compass on Earth
My luck is a prize for the fighter
And there is one song, that is worth
Of singing: of home, which I strive for.

"Home... I will come back to my magical home soon" - I smiled, dreamily.

"And everything will be fine, green-eyed enchantress"

I longed to show my gratitude to my protector, introduce something bright into this sad evening. I looked at my horn. If only I could use my magic normally... but I could, could I not?

"Please, take this item off my horn"

"Do you want me to take the cap off? Why?"

"I want to do a little magic"

"So long as our house is going to stay undamaged by your magic"

"Do not worry, my powers are not enough for the house"

"Okay, but I will put it back on afterwards. You remember its purpose, do you not?"

"I remember"

Having ripped the sticky tape with a claw, Lairy put the cap off. Having sat up on the sofa comfortably, I took a few deep breaths, concentrating the magical energy, which was extremely rarefied, and tried to focus. A tiny blue spark began to glow on the tip of the horn, and the crane of happiness, which was lying on the table, moved.

"Oh-h, it is difficult"

"Try again" - having smiled warmly, Cheetah caressed my wing.

Автор - Lusilie

Having concentrated, I managed to lift the crane with magic and turn its head toward us. The thing, which I was able to do next, looked like a miracle to me as well. I applied the magic to the figure's tail, without losing my concentration.

Автор - Lusilie

The paper crane circled over our heads, flapping its wings and moving its tail, and landed on Lairy's palms.

"It worked! You have done that! It is great, I am so glad. You regained your wings and magic, you became an alicorn again" - I was kissed on the cheek with excitement.

"A-ah-h-hm" - I yawned - "Activities like that are wearing me a lot, I become tired quickly. All I can do in this world is moving small objects with a lot of effort. A fully fledged use of magic is out of the question"

"It may be so, but it is still your magic, a unique and inseparable part of you, princess"

"Thank you" - I tried to cover my new, obscenely loud yawn with the hoof.

"I will bring you a warm juice and we will go to sleep. Your yawning is conta-a-agio-o-ous" - Lairy yawned broadly, without even trying to hide it.

Having taped the cup to the horn, Cheetah went for the juice, and I wrapped myself up in the blanket, yawning constantly and fighting bravely to stay awake. The juice was brought to me in a bulky bowl. Having drunk the last of it, I recalled my last question, which I had partially forgotten.

"While I was watching video about cheetahs, I was troubled by one thought. The life you had then and the life you have now are extremely different. Your past life was very dangerous, but at the same time it had more freedom, than a human's life, as it seems to me. Why had you left savannah and became a human? You will probably tell me about that only tomorrow"

"Luna, but we can meet in dreams. Come to me in my dream, I will tell you everything"

"Oh, that is a great idea! Good night and till next time. I will try to find you" - I nuzzled Lairy's cheek drowsily.

__________________________
Notes about songs in this chapter:

"Our world is never perfect..." \ "This World" - Igor Talkov, USSR bard, 1993.

"My Hope" - Aleksandra Pahmutova \ Nikolay Dobronravov, USSR, 1971.

Translate \ adaptation to english - Captain Plunder.

Author's Note

1) This book is being translated from Russian. It is not reccomended to use google translator to read it, because many beautiful moments will be lost that way.

2) The usual request is to feel free to point out any errors in the comments. We are also looking for the regular beta reader.

3) Be patient, the translation is a slow process.

ch. 7 - Drawings of life

Warning: unconventional religious views

* * *

As far as the eye could see there was a smooth surface of an ocean. I took a deep breath of invigorating air. The waves were coming up on the shore one after another. Even, incessant, everlasting sounds of the surf were falling pleasantly on the ears. The sun was submerging into the water slowly, resembling a red-hot coin, and its rays were spreading over the entire ocean. The constellations, which I did not know, were lighting up timidly in the cloudless sky.

I was walking along the shore slowly, listening to the sand, rustling softly beneath my legs. I stopped for a moment, a small crab sprang out fussily from under my hoof, waved its tiny claw at me sternly and ran away into the waves. Having smiled indulgently, I followed it with my gaze, and a little farther I saw a human, sitting on a big bright carpet, facing the ocean. I recognized him instantly by sinewy lean body and short hair. The warm wind was blowing on Lairy, who was naked and sitting still. Both of his arms were moving up and down in turns leisurely at the height of his stomach.

Having come up behind him, I sat down, pressing my chest against the human's back, put my forelegs round him gently and looked over his shoulder at the hands with interest.

"I was waiting for you, Luna" - Lairy whispered affably, pouring the sand from one palm onto another. Having emptied the right hand, he caressed my neck. Following a sudden impulse, I held out my right foreleg and the sand from the human's left palm poured upon my hoof. Feeling the grains falling, I experienced all-embracing harmony and that sense of unity again, which I had felt before while training my wings. It was not as powerful and dizzy, but it was touching every nerve with a warm current, running through every part of my being.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. There was an infinite ocean of harmony, energy, light and love. Everything was here, including the entire Universe and every world. God is curious, he creates worlds and watches their development. He created our Earth among them. At the beginning it consisted only of the sky, ground and water. But the Maker wanted to examine the world, to find out, how the swimming in the water feels like. And he created many various living creatures, ones were tiny and the others were large, ones were the simplest and the others were very complicated. He was looking at the world with their eyes, paddling the water with their fins, feeling the bottom of the ocean with their legs and tentacles. That was how he was gaining new experience through the senses of others"

Having poured all the sand onto Lairy's palm, I laid down next to the human, looking at the fading crimson luminary. A glimmering golden path extended from the sun to the shore across the entire ocean. I have always wanted to ran along it and reach the sunset, although I knew, that it was only an illusion.

Having put his arm round my side, Lairy continued to speak:

"Every creature, be it an insect, a bird, an animal, a tree, a blade of grass, carries a soul, a part of God, within itself. Starting with the simplest forms of life, a soul lives through an infinite number of incarnations, gaining different experiences, and in time it becomes a unique person. The more impressions and feelings a soul gets to know, the more it will be able to tell God about everything, it had lived through, because the Maker is always looking for new sensations, and a soul reaches the higher level of its development in every next reincarnation"

The thin streams of sand were slipping through Lairy's fingers, being scattered and carried away by the wind. Linen of darkness fell over the land. The moonlight decorated the waves with an endless silver lace.

"Everything is gradual, like stairs" - I moved my hoof in the air several times, lifting it higher and higher.

"That is right. The Earth world has been developing for a long time. The water creatures were created first. Their world was limited and monotonous, souls of fishes and octopuses did not have much to tell the God. But those souls, which were beached during their lives, were speaking about a long and agonizing death without water under the scorching sun. The Maker was interested in how it would feel to live on land. And he gave a fish legs and lungs instead of gills, so it would be able to walk and breathe" - the human smiled, wiping his palm on the knee.

"Did fish have legs?" - I burst out laughing.

"Here it is" - Lairy pointed to the shore. Several fishes crawled from the sea, leaning on their fins. They were changing slightly with every step. Their fins turned into paws, their tails and heads elongated, their gait became more confident. The lizards ran past, without paying attention to us, and disappeared in coastal thicket.

"Let us follow them"

We had been making our way through the shades of the night among huge plants for some time. I plucked a couple of leaves without stopping, they turned out to be quite delicious. Following the human, I thought, that my friend looked very funny and not dangerous at all, being pale, smooth-skinned and lacking a tail. Finally, Lairy stopped next to a grey wrinkled tree.

"Here we go" - he patted a trunk with his palm. Suddenly the tree lifted its bulk up from the earth heavily. To my horror it did not have any roots and walked to me slowly.

"What is it?!" - I jumped away as far as possible. The tree crashed onto the place, where I had been standing a second ago, with a muffled sound.

"It is a foot!" - Lairy laughed, pointing upwards.

Was it a foot?.. I threw back my head, willing to estimate the size of a giant, and that made me sit down. This monster was as big as a house, it had the thickest pillar-like legs, a long tail, a lissome neck and a tiny head, which was chewing leaves in the crown of a tree melancholically.

"Do you like it?" - Lairy approached and scratched my ear encouragingly - "Lizards like this one had lived on the Earth once"

"We-e-ell" - I felt very small and insignificant near this "lizard".

"You can fly up and jump on it a little, if you want to"

"Will it not..."

"No, you need not worry about breaking its spine" - the human patted me on my withers friendly. I was not used to such heartfelt PONYliarity, but since I was not a princess in the Earth world, I decided not to raise the unnecessary issues of the high society etiquette and take it easy. Besides, it would be stupid to rebuke the only person, who cared for me, for the endearment and support. Even if he was utterly direct and frank in expressing his feelings sometimes, and that was throwing me into utmost confusion.

Having flied up, I landed on the giant's back carefully, feeling rough thick skin with my hooves. It seemed, that the lizard had not felt my weight, while I was strolling from the neck to the tail. Still, the head turned round, watching me. I plucked a bundle of flowers from the ground with my magic and raised it to the head as a token of reconciliation. The head chewed up my gift indifferently.

"That is how our world had looked like almost a hundred million years ago" - Lairy said, when I came down to him - "The planet Earth was ruled entirely by reptiles. Some were huge and clumsy, the others were very small and swift. There were predators and herbivores, those flying, walking and swimming creatures were everywhere"

Having turned around slowly, the human made a wide arm gesture, and the rising Sun lit a beautiful green plain with a winding river and a forest, standing on the far bank of it. A lot of reptiles appeared before my eyes. I could not have imagined such strange and amazing life forms. They have leathery sails and bony rhombuses on their backs, heads with beaks, large shields and three horns, tails, crowned with sharp spikes. I looked at the lizard, which was flying over our heads, with respect. Its wingspan was several times wider, than mine. I was alarmed by the sounds of heavy footsteps. The giant passed by us. It had a massive body, powerful hind legs and tail and ridiculously small forelegs, which were folded on its chest. But I was impressed by the sharp-toothed jaw the most. It was able to swallow me, hardly taking the time to chew.

"Did you say a hundred million years ago? In that case the Earth world is much older, than the world of ponies"

"It is possible. And the first life appeared on the Earth three and a half billion years ago"

"Three billion years?!" - if I understood the number, which I had heard, correctly...

"The age of the reptiles provided the God with a lot of experiences about living on the ground and in the air. But he grew tired of them in time, because they were as primitive, as the fish before them, in their nature. The Maker decided to create the world anew, using the information, he had acquired already"

The yellow spot was glimmering in the clear sky, falling to the ground swiftly, and a trail of smoke was stretching behind it. There was a blindingly bright flare on the horizon and an enormous cloud of dust spread over the sky gradually.

"The God directed a meteorite to the Earth. The dust, which was raised after it had collided with the planet, was flying in the air for several weeks, covering the sun. It was dark and cold, all lizards perished. Besides, the hit of that meteorite altered the angle of the planet's axis, creating the conditions for weather patterns and changing of the seasons"

"Oh, I had heard of the axis yesterday in a program about the space. It took me a long time to realize, where on Earth that axis was. But, was he not sorry about killing all the reptiles just like that?"

"Who knows. They had no prospects of development, and the world, which was inhabited only by lizards, would have been very dull. It is not for us to judge the Maker's plans. But take a look at the beautiful and diverse world, which we are living in now"

The landscapes were changing around me, and their beauty was taking my breath away. There were majestic snow-white mountains, dark plateaus, which were exposed to every wind, winding mountain ranges, insuperable chasms and ravines, beautiful green hills and valleys, endless forests and burning desert sands, mighty waterfalls and rapid rivers. My mane was tossing in the blasts of wind, every breath was filling my chest with some new fresh air and my nostrils were quivering, catching various scents.

"Are you enjoying it?"

"Oh, yes" - I breathed out blissfully and a second later I realized, that I was hearing a voice, which was not known to me. It was low, quiet and soft, with velvety notes - "Ow?"

Having shaken the euphoria off momentarily, I turned around and saw a cheetah beside me. My first instinct was to jump away, fly up, staying out of the claws' reach, but I sensed a familiar powerful energy.

"Phew, Lairy, you have scared me" - I snorted, hearing my heart racing in my chest - "When did you reshape?"

"I did it while you were having a blast. The body changed and the voice changed with it. Everything is okay" - Lairy touched my shoulder with his paw soothingly. Even that slight touch of the claws caused the shivering to pass over my hide. Yes, I knew that this danger was imaginary, and Cheetah would never rip and tear into me. But that knowledge was not able to assuage the vague feeling of anxiety, and I was keeping my guard up subconsciously. Probably, I should not have watched the movies about the spotted hunters.

"For future reference, could you at least warn me of your intention to go all werecat on me? I could have fired a magical volley in terror. You would not have liked that"

"Okay, will the standard yell like "transform!" suffice?"

"You do not have to yell, but still let me know somehow"

"Are all the alicorns so nervous?" - the predator grinned - "Once Celestia could have scorched me, when I had found her. And now you are proclaiming the same thing. At this rate I am going to be afraid of meeting you"

"You tell me" - I tapped on his head with my wing playfully - "As far as I know, there is no werecats in Equestria, so your tricks are quite unexpected for Tia and me. It is a question, who should be afraid of whom"

"And what can I really do to you? I will not be able to raise my paw, let alone strangle you, before you make a carpet out of me with your magic. So I have no chance against you. Besides, what is the point of ruining the relationships in dreams, when we are meeting in the reality" - Lairy put his paws round the wing and caught it in his jaws gently.

"I agree with your arguments. Release me"

"Let us go for a walk. I have something else to tell you" - the cheetah released the beslobbered wing, got up and stretched himself. I shook my wing discontentedly. The caresses of human fingers, when they were burrowing into the feathers, were very pleasant. But I did not think, that I would risk entrusting my wing to the claws and teeth again. I felt really nervous, being caressed with the tools for murder. However, one could kill with bare fingers without any particular claws. What was the difference?

Luna, stop stressing out - I told myself.

"Are we in savannah?" - I looked around, noticing the familiar acacias, which looked like umbrellas.

"Yes, this is Africa. It was my motherland, when I was a cheetah"

"It is very hot" - I sighed, fanning myself with the wing.

"Let us find a shade"

"There are so many different animals" - I was looking at the herds of ungulates, which were not known to me, in amazement.

"There are so many different kinds of me-ea-at" - Lairy replied in a sing-song voice.

"There is so much beauty around and everything you see is meat. You are dangerous and incorrigible"

"I am practical and consistent" - the cat countered.

Cheetah came to a branchy tree. I lay down in the shade. Having marked the trunk, Lairy lay down next to me, clinging to my back and wrapping paws around my shoulders.

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel good, thank you"

"And you will feel even better"

"Ca-a-at" - I moaned with a laugh, feeling sharp teeth caressing my ear carefully - "Are you harassing me again? Do you have no shame?"

Having released my ear, Lairy licked my cheek with a wet coarse tongue.

"I used to have shame once, but it was of no help in life, often it was a nuisance, so I got rid of it long ago"

"You are shameless, impudent, merciless torturer of princesses" - I sighed with mock bitterness, scratching the cheetah's chin magically - "Celestia had found you to my misfortune. There is no escape from you"

"Then do not escape. Just relax and enjoy yourself"

"Mind you, I am not saying that you are immoral. If you were, I would not be living with you now"

"And where would you be?"

"I would be in the basement, of course. I do not think that you would have come to my rescue, if you had different type of character"

"I brought myself up to be like that, according to the aspirations of my life"

Lairy was supporting my head with his paw. The warm tongue was roving across the muzzle tenderly, caressing the lips, nostrils, eyelids, ears. Having closed my eyes, I was quivering under those touches. The cheetah moved lower and began to lick the neck. My mind turned to the scene with the antelope, I was not able to overcome my fear and nearly pushed my friend away with telekinesis.

"I beg you, not the neck!"

Having backed away slowly, Lairy stepped over me and sat down, facing me.

"I see that my animal form scares you very much"

"Yes"

"Okay, look"

Having bent his legs slightly, the animal sighed, its body changed swiftly, gaining different features. The next moment the human was standing before me, leaning on his fingers and toes. His eyes had been retaining the amber colour for one more second, but when the werecat blinked and looked at me, the eyes turned grey. Only black stripes on his face remained unchanged. Lairy sat up and shook the soil from his hands.

"It is so interesting! Does it hurt?" - I touched the hand with my hoof curiously.

"No, it is as natural and easy for me as for the water to take the form of a vessel, when it flows from the spherical one to the cubical one. All that I need is a power of will. And the transformation depends on the laws of a particular dream. It is easy to change in some dreams and one cannot change at all in other dreams. But at the same time I control my transformations fully, they do not depend on the phases of the moon or other external factors"

"Do they not depend on my phases as well?" - I winked with a cunning smile.

"They depend. You have just had a phase of fear"

"That is so true. Could you also put some clothes on?"

"Is it a request or a question?"

"It is more like a request"

"It is just that I prefer to be naked, being close to nature" - Lairy explained, creating the same clothes, which he was wearing at home.

The sharp smell of urine disturbed my nose. Having noticed, that I was sniffing, the human pointed at the tree.

"My cat mark smells. You can also leave your mark somewhere, if you want to"

"I do not want that. It is some other person's dream, I am a guest here and I am not going to make any traces, especially in such an aggressive way. It is enough, that your apartment became permeated with my smell in reality"

"Would you like to eat?"

"Yes, please. But what food do you have?"

Lairy moved his palm down closer to the ground in silence. I felt a powerful surge of energy, which was flowing from his hand to the depths of the dream. The lush grass and many various flowers grew all around me.

"So that is how you can use magic. You have my gratitude"

"I can in a dream, yes"

I was grazing, lying on the ground, and Lairy was presenting me flowers from time to time. I was accepting those with a special feeling of appreciation. Having picked several small red and yellow flowers, Lairy interlaced their stems with the strands of my mane like in a simple plait. I was about to ask, what was the meaning of that, but remembered, that the human knew nothing about the ponies' customs.

"I have beautified you a little" - he explained, as if he had guessed my thoughts.

"Thank you" - I smiled softly - "I like that"

"Luna, is the world, which was created by the God, perfect, in your opinion?"

I chewed a blade of grass up musingly. "Perfection" was such a comprehensive concept...

"I know too little about the Earth world for my judgment to be impartial and profound. But according to what I had already lived through during my stay here, it is not"

"Did you take into account the landscapes, you had been seeing?"

"Those are just dreams, are they not?"

"No, those are real places on our planet"

"They are beautiful"

"The Earth is a large unique system, which does not have any random, incorrect, false element. Every living creature, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, is perfect for its role in the nature. Every one of them, from a huge tree right down to a tiny bug, fits the picture of the world perfectly. Only a genius could create such a picture and that genius is the God"

"The thing is, that I fall out of this brilliant picture"

"Yes. Do you remember my words about the neutrality of the world, which does not have anything good or evil about it?"

"I do"

"I will explain it to you by examples. The cheetahs were hunting in the movies, you had been watching yesterday. Tell me, what will happen to gazelle, if it runs away?"

Why was Lairy asking me about that? Did he not know, how bad I had felt after watching it? Yes, right, I did not tell him. And I also watched just one movie, which was on the first cassette I had looked upon, and did not even touch the others.

"If it runs away, it will stay alive" - I kept my composure. After all, we were just talking and sharing our opinions.

"Is that good?"

"Yes" - I replied, without a complete understanding of what the human was trying to say. Usually Lairy spoke his mind directly and unsophisticatedly, but sometimes he was talking riddles and the point was not obvious, like now or when I had been drawing a picture.

"And what will happen to cheetah, if gazelle runs away?"

"If it does not catch and eat the gazelle, it will be hungry"

"Is that good?" - Lairy asked again.

"No" - I admitted, having recalled, how it felt to go hungry and rummage in the humans' food wastes, trying to find at least a tiny bit to eat.

Lairy dug a shallow hole beside my head with his hands. I noticed a brief stream of magic again, and the hole was filled with clear spring water. My wizard friend quenched his thirst first, having drawn the water in loudly with his lips, then he let me have a drink at this improvised watering place.

"I am grateful" - I also took a long sip from the spring.

"A cheetah runs very fast, and all that running takes a lot of effort. If cheetah stays hungry, it will not have the strength to get up after several unsuccessful chases and it will die from starvation soon. Or rather it will be weakened and get killed" - Lairy said quietly. The drops of water were shining in the moustache and beard like a string of diamonds.

"Then what can be done?" - I asked.

"A gazelle can be killed"

The answer was predictable, unambiguous, and, despite not liking it, I admitted, that it was right silently.

"As you can see, what is good for gazelle is bad for cheetah, and vice versa. But the most interesting thing is that the God gives a chance to the both of them. A gazelle has a chance to run away. A cheetah has a chance to catch it. And they compete, struggling for life, on equal terms"

"Yes, it is fair" - I nodded.

Having moved from his place, Lairy leaned back against the tree and relaxed. I lay down near him, having put my head on his lap.

"Did you see, that cheetah and gazelle were adapted to running perfectly?"

"Oh, yes"

"And that was the intent of the Maker. The God is not only a creator and experimentalist, he is also a passionate spectator. Creating the living beings, he is watching them, empathizing everyone. But he cannot know the feelings and thoughts of another being. A sunray, touching leaf, does not know how this leaf feels it. Sunray can warm a leaf and give it strength, but also can burn it down and kill. One has to be leaf to understand, how leaf feels. One has to live through lives of cheetah and gazelle to understand cheetah's excitement and gazelle's fear. The God is omnipresent, he is inside everyone, he looks at the world with thousands of our eyes, feels it with all our nerves, lives through our joy and sorrow, love and hatred, offence and forgiveness with us. The God looks at me through your eyes as well, Luna"

"Does that mean, that I also have a part of the God inside me?" - I looked at Lairy with curiosity.

"You have, you are his beautiful creation as well, after all"

The hand slid over my head. That warm caress was very pleasant, I closed my eyes and began to wheeze quietly. Lairy scratched my nose, drawing my attention.

"And now, Luna, let us suppose, that you had been working hard for a long time, had put a large amount of recourses, time, effort and nerves into your masterpiece and had finally created a picture or a statue or something else, and it was beautiful and majestic"

"Hm?.. let us suppose" - Lairy's assumption flattered me. The last "masterpiece", created by me, was a paper dragon.

"What would you do? Would you hide your masterpiece, not showing it to anyone, or would you post it for public display to let everyone admire it?"

"Of course, I would show it to everyone" - I replied with a touch of rigidity - "If something beautiful cannot be shown, if it cannot be admired, then what is the point of creating it in the first place?"

"The God posed the same question. The Earth had become his masterpiece, but there was no one to admire it. No element of this grandiose picture was able to appreciate its greatness"

"I do not understand. How could there be no one?" - I moved my wing inquiringly.

"A flower does not know, that it is beautiful and smells nicely, it just blooms and smells. A butterfly, sitting on the flower, does not know, that it is motley and delicate, it just lives and flies. A lion, lying on the rock, does not know, that it is stately and formidable, it is just having a rest"

"About this lion, how does it look?"

"There is the pride" - Lairy waved his hand.

Having stood up, I looked at the direction, he was pointing in.

"They are manticores! Or are they?" - I took a better look - "No, they are not, but they look quite alike"

"Who does they look like?"

"There are predators in Equestria, who are similar to lions" - I explained, having turned around to the human - "They are manticores. They look like lions, but have wings, like bats, and tails, like scorpions. In their youth they are able to fly, settle in new places in search for the prey, but they grow heavier with age and start to use wings only to demonstrate their superiority"

"I see. So the picture of the World needed an external observer. And then the God created a human"

"Was human an observer?"

"Yes. It was a human, who praised the Maker and the World, where he lived. He admired the beauty of a flower and a butterfly, the grace of a cheetah, the elegance of a gazelle and the majesty of a lion. He called the Sun beautiful and the moon mysterious. He described the mountains..."

A butterfly, which was flying by between us, settled on the tip of my horn and started to squeak, moving its wings at a steady pace. I stared at it, trying to grasp the meaning of that.

"It is time to wake up, princess" - Lairy said.

"It is a great suggestion, I support it fully" - having burst out laughing, I winked.

Lairy faded silently like a ghost. Having tossed my head, I drove the butterfly away and then rolled over more comfortably, falling asleep to leave the dream and wake up in reality.

***

So, a new day was marked by the screams of the alarm clock. Today I was going to coach the people in a gym, the rehabilitation program was quite short, so I needed to shake myself out of the bed more quickly. Ah, it was good to spend time with Luna. I should ask her to take me for a walk through the dreams next night. I wondered, what she would show me.

I had been already sitting on the board in the bathroom, soaping myself, when Luna glanced in at the door.

"May I?" - the mare asked with a strained expression on her muzzle.

"Are you going here?" - I pointed at the toilet - "Yes, come in, what is the problem?"

Standing in the doorway of the bathroom, the alicorn rolled her eyes and shook her head. Maybe she was resenting my moral freedom silently or something else, but momentary physical needs got the upper hand of decorum and Luna sat down, where she needed to sit down, hastily.

"Thank you, it was pleasant to be with you in the dream" - she said.

"Sure, good morning" - having waited for all the processes of relieving to end, I splashed the water from the shower on Luna. She reacted momentarily, having covered herself with the half-opened wing, and threw the water back at me dashingly.

"I hope, you will rub my back" - I tossed a bath sponge up on my palm.

Having spent some time standing musingly, Luna stood up on her hind legs, rested the forelegs on the edge of the bathtub, and I handed the bath sponge to her.

"I will throw you under a cold waterfall in the next dream, roughneck" - the alicorn grumbled in my ear without malice, rubbing my back - "Your impudence in relations with a princess transcends all inconceivable bounds"

"I am always here for you, Your Majesty"

"Are you here to transcend the bounds?" - Luna's voice became sterner.

"And this as well"

Having burst out laughing, the sovereign hit my back with her hooves.

The pony and I headed from the bathroom to the kitchen.

"Hey, whoa" - I slowed Luna down by her tail.

"What?" - she turned around.

"You and I kind of agreed upon training your wings every day. So let us do that right now"

"Let’s do it"

I cleared the table quickly, having put the origami figures and all the things, which could fly away, into the cupboard. Luna was working up her wings, waiting for me to lie down on the floor. But I also went into the bedroom and came back not only fully dressed, but wearing snow goggles as well.

"We are ready to fly" - I commanded, having embraced the alicorn.

Now, when the wind was not blowing into my eyes, I was able to admire the movements of Luna's beautiful powerful wings. There was no euphoria, which we had experienced during the first time, but I felt the determination and the will power of the princess just the same. She lifted me above the floor noticeably this time.

"I got you now!" - the pony breathed out, having finished the "flight", and pressed me to the floor with her weight - "And I will not let you go easily"

"Yeah?" - I could have toppled her down sideways, but the alicorn had guessed my intention and set her opened wings against the floor - "And what do you want?" - I was scratching Luna's shoulder blades slightly, hoping that her wings would rise involuntarily.

"You see, you told me many interesting things in the dream. But I still did not get an answer to one question. Why did you turn from a cheetah to a human?" - Luna was studying me with her eyes from her lofty point of view.

"Do you remember my words about a soul returning to the God after the body dies? Depending on the results of the live, which it has led, the soul gets a new body and a new life. The God gives it tasks, which are sometimes quite unusual, and watches, if it is able to find a solution and what this solution is about. So, those are the experiments of the God. He was interested, what would happen, if the cheetah's soul was to be reborn in a human's body without erasing the memories of its past life. Would the cat be able to adapt and continue the spiritual growth? That is why he had send an animal to live in the world of humans"

"Thank you, Cheetah, you are free" - Luna wanted to get up, but she could not.

"But you are not" - I chuckled, holding the winged one tightly - "And you cannot go. You should fly easily, accurately, without falling"

"Very well" - the princess spoke solemnly, opening her wings majestically. I released her and put my palms against her chest in case Luna would need support. She did not need it. The alicorn flew up to the ceiling with a powerful wing-beat, then moved backwards, changing the tilt and the angle of her wing skillfully, and landed on the sofa smoothly.

"O-o-o-oh-h, I am so glad to feel my power again" - she sighed in satisfaction, stretching her wings upwards languidly and admiring feathers, which were shining dimly - "Thank you, Lairy"

She hugged me, when I came nearer, having thrown the goggles onto the sofa.

"Luna, you are incredibly beautiful" - I whispered in her ear.

The alicorn looked into my eyes warmly and sincerely, without looking for some catch, lie or falsity. We went to the kitchen silently. There was nothing to talk about. Both of us knew, what the other was feeling. And we knew that the feeling was mutual.

***

The days were passing by. Luna fit in my regular quiet life harmoniously, making the usual sequence "home-work-home" much livelier. I had been fine even earlier, before her. I used to come back to the empty apartment, leaving all the worries and troubles of the past day outside. I relaxed and had a rest, read, watched TV, developed my hobbies, making verses, writing essays, drawing, assembling airplane model or getting the new Chinese transformer, which I had got in the local market, into shape. I owed no one anything and I did not have to think about anyone, but myself.

The arrival of the alicorn brought new colours and sensations to my life. Now I was coming home, where I was loved and waited for. I was enjoying Luna's company, watching her grow prettier day after day. She was turning from a harassed animal to a confident sturdy little horse. I was always able to find an opportunity to tell Luna about her beauty and how I was glad to see her, and often those were not the words, but glances, gestures, touches.

I did not question pony, what her relationship with her sister used to be, for what reasons she was banished to the moon, how she found herself on Earth and what she had to live through on the streets and in the basement. It was not because of my disinterest in Luna's feelings. If she had asked for help or advice, I would have tried to help her. But then, I did not want to stir up the inward wounds of my bellowed mare. What for? We were not going to live together for long. I marked one day on the wall calendar with a drawing of a crescent. In less than two weeks Celestia would open the mirror-portal and Luna would come home. I was not going to hold her back or ask her to bring me along. I would be the same alien being without magic in Equestria, as she was in the Earth world. We were going along one road of life by the will of the God, but we were destined to part our ways. All, that I could do, was to give Luna love and happiness, while we were together. She should go back with a light heart and keep bright memories.

***

I picked up the scent of the human in my sleep: there was sweat and something else, which was pronounced and tart. Being half-asleep, I felt the fingers in my mane.

"M-m-m, hello..."

"Good morning, my love!" - the friend answered in a sing-song voice, kissing my cheek gently.

Every morning Lairy was coming to brush my mane and tail. I appreciated his attention a lot. And now, having stretched all my legs upwards with pleasure, I lay down with my back turned to the human to make it more comfortable for him to brush. Listening to the rustling of the brush against the hair, I was able to guess the movements of his hands. Lairy had finished with the mane and moved closer to the tail. Sometimes the brush was pulling the tangled hair, and I was twitching. And here the most tickling and pleasant thing in the morning was about to begin. Lairy bent over me, sleeking the strand of my mane near the horn and running the brush over muzzle, neck and chest. But he knew very well, how much it was tickling me, yet he repeated that anyway. Laughing and bouncing, I rolled onto my back.

"Boop" - I touched the human's nose with my hoof slightly. Having smiled, he kissed the hoof. The brush was wandering around legs and stomach. The muscles were responding to the caress with a pleasant shiver, which was spreading through the whole body like a wave. I put my leg on Lairy's shoulder, he hugged me and, having lifted me, clasped to his chest.

"I am glad to be with you, Luna" - I heard this dear voice, warming the soul.

"I am glad too" - I whispered, caressing my friends' shoulders and back with wings.

Lairy offered me black bread with butter and sugar for breakfast. I liked that simple dish very much.

"Somehow we never get to finish our conversations in dreams. Every time we start an interesting talk, "pi-pi-pi" begins and time comes to wake up. Frankly speaking, I want to pull that squealer off your bed"

"And then I will sleep past my work time, pu-u-ur-r-r. It will not do" - Lairy was eating crumbly brown buckwheat cereal, which he had cooked last evening.

I was nibbling on my bread musingly.

"Cannot you set apart just one day to spend it with me? Like it was on that day, when you had brought the leaves and we had been watching movies together"

"I can set apart even two days. The pressure on my work depends on the demand for the services and the time-table. Sometimes the schedule is busy, sometimes it is empty. But I will be with you in the evening and by night and also in the morning"

"Very well. What were you saying about the research in the dream?"

"The God saw the world of Equestria and wondered, what would happen, if this alicorn, who had been bored in the moon, was going to be transported to the Earth world. How would she behave, having found herself in alien and hostile environment? Would she be able to survive and adapt?"

"But I could have turned my hooves up, actually"

"You could have. In that case you would have failed the survival test"

"No-o, I am sure that the God has nothing to do with it. I had problems of another kind in the moon"

"You know, one of the humans' religions has great words, that explain everything and thus are remarkable: "If the God had not want something to happen, he would not have let it happen"

"What does that mean?" - having finished eating the bread, I leaned my elbows on the table and rested my chin on the hooves, closed together.

"Everything, that happens to us, is not a coincidence. The falling from the moon, cold streets and even that man, who was raping you, - all of that was written in the God's script, and everything should benefit you in the long run"

I had almost fallen off the stool to the floor.

"The holy hoofshoes of Celestia... I could not imagine anything crazier, than that. Go on, say, how did I benefit from being chased around the basement?.."

"All the troubles, which you had gone through, hardened your spirit, made you more sensitive and receptive. A tree stands straight on the crooked roots. Muscles grow stronger in work. A metal takes form after being heated. In order to understand goodness, joy, light, one needs to know evil, anger, darkness. We cannot perceive light without darkness. There is no darkness without light"

"I had seen a lot of evil, and what did I get?.."

"You got love, Luna" - Lairy put the empty plate away - "A sunray in the dark forest looks brighter, than in the well-lit room. All your misfortunes had been necessary, because after that you were able to perceive my care, endearment, love and attention to you fully"

"Is that so?.." - I muttered, being deep in thought. What I had heard did not seem so ridiculous anymore. It was true, that I had to reconsider and comprehend many things lately, although new thoughts led to new questions and doubts most often.

"That is so. I think, if you had come to me right from the moon, your behavior and attitude would have been quite different"

"Yes, that is most likely, you are right. I would not have appreciated you so much" - having looked at Lairy, I smiled.

"People call that the God's will, predetermination, destiny, fate, fortune. But the meaning is, that you should not yell "What have I done to deserve that?" if something is happening to you. You should rather look around and think how to take advantage of that situation. Everything can be very bad and life can seem cheerless sometimes. And often it takes years to see the positive aspects of something negative. It can take even hundreds of years in your case, possibly"

"Hundreds?" - having frowned, I whispered, lowering my eyes.

"And all those hundreds of years were necessary for our life paths to cross, so we could meet each other"

Having got up from the table, the human stroke my head. I hugged him, clung to him. Lairy had stood there with me for a while and then went to get dressed.

I saw him to the door, said goodbye and went back to the kitchen. Again, I had a whole day to spend. I made a new slice of bread and butter, having spilt half of the sugar bowl in the process. I ate the bread slowly with the sips of a hot tea, while looking at the cloudy sky through the window. Then I gathered all the spilt sugar via telekinesis, even though with a grit, and put it back into the sugar bowl. Having been inspired by this small feat, I moved the dishes into the sink, lifting them with my wings. What would Celestia think, if she learned, that I was keeping house by myself? It is not typical for a princess to pass time washing the dishes. However, it was immeasurably better, than vegetating in the odious moon, or making a grave face, attending the meetings, which were just as odious. I was wiping a plate with a towel, when I heard clank and jingle. I looked at the crockery in surprise, wondering, why it was clinking yet left intact in my hooves. Then I realized, that the noise was coming from the upper floor. I recalled Lairys words about the drunk neighbour. Well, I would not want to have such neighbours upstairs, living in Canterlot. Arranging the plates on the shelf, I caught a glimpse of some dark blurry silhouette moving across the polished side of the kettle. But when I took a closer look, all that I saw was just my disturbed reflection. Was I being paranoid? Yeah, wandering through the winter forest, eating needles of conifers, running from some hungry dogs, which wanted to tear me apart, hiding from humans, who wanted to kill me, could make anyone paranoid.

Having went back to the sofa, I lay down, remembering vicissitudes of my fate. The last conversation with my sister, which took place a thousand years ago, ended with quarrel and animosity. Celestia regretted that in the dream. I believed that my sister's feelings were sincere, but could I forgive her for what was essentially her betrayal of me? And what about Lairy? I kept comparing him to the griffons, probably, because I was more familiar with the life style of those predators, then of any others. I had learned a bit about his habits, but he still remained a mystery to me. Well, he could not be compared to the manticores, that is for sure. I was not able to get over myself and watch some other movies about cheetahs. But at least I stopped being on my guard, expecting aggression, anytime the naked human passed by or sat down, caressing me.

There was the smell. Why was it so exciting? I sniffed around the place, where Lairy was sitting this morning, when he was brushing my mane. Could the answer be hidden in his room? He seemed to call this room "a bedroom". I hesitated in front of the door. I entered the bedroom before several times, but it was not for long and the host was there. Would it be ethic to trespass on his private territory without permission? Lairy had already given a half of his apartment to me. There was the same smell, coming from the door-handle. But if I am careful and do not touch anything, nothing bad will happen. The door creaked quietly, giving in to my hoof.

It was bright. The walls were warm like the sun and had ornament on them. The lamp, resembling a ring on chains, was the same as the one in the living room. There was a massive wardrobe made of dark wood. The lamp, sheets of paper, pencils and some shaped light-grey plates in the box were on the table. The bed had high mattress, the bedspread was tossed aside casually, the clothes were hanging on the end of the bed. I did not see a pillow.

There were a lot of small pictures of different moments from cheetahs' lives stuck to the wall above the bed. I did not examine them closely. But the portraits on the door of the wardrobe caught my attention for a long time. The left one depicted a human, who was sitting, holding on to some curved iron device with one hand and carrying some instrument in the other. It, probably, was a tool for murder, but I could not know for sure. The human's face was severe, it seemed like he had never smiled or had a laugh in his entire life. And how could he see anything through that pitch-black thing, which was covering his eyes?

The creature on the right portrait startled me much more. At the first glance there was a human in front of the bright fire, but having a closer look, I was terrified. The remains of a human lacked flesh, bare skull and some part of a torso were glinting like metal with the blazes of fire. Immovable stare of the red lights in dark eye-sockets was mesmerizing. The picture was breathing with the unstoppable power and cruelty of some place, which I did not know.

Having lowered my ears, I took a step back slowly, recalling protection spells and realizing their uselessness at the same time. Why did Lairy have such scary pictures, what was the point of them? But it was just a picture, not a portal to tartarus. Having grasped that fact, I calmed down a bit and studied the depicted creature more intently. It was, probably, not a human after all. I had seen and hugged Lairy many times, touched his muscles and bones, and I did not remember him having such round and angular bones, like this red-eyed iron monster had, on his shoulders and neck. Oo-oh-h...

Having opened the wardrobe, I saw clothes and shoes, which were placed on the shelves neatly. There were suits on the hangers and one, which was stiff, dark-green and had many sparkling details, stood out among the others. It seemed to be a parade uniform. I felt it with my lips, the material was dense and rough. My tongue touched a shiny round thing, which was a button, as I understood. It had a metallic taste. I caught a faint trace of my own smell. Was it here in the wardrobe? Having closed my eyes, I let the sense of smell guide me through these unfamiliar items. A bit to the side... lower... I nuzzled the shelf. Was it higher? The smell became more subtle. Was it lower? My nose touched the wool. Oh, it was the same sweater, which I was wearing, flying on our first walk together. Having taken the piece of clothing with my hooves, I pressed my cheek against it with a happy smile and sighed softly, feeling my wings flutter in bliss. Thank you, Lairy, I will always remember that beautiful evening.

Having put the sweater on its place, I opened one of the drawers at random. There was a pile of socks, light clothes, which were, probably, meant for wearing in summer or at home. There also were sheets of paper and some worn yellow and white round things, which had tiny symbols engraved on them. Were they money? And what was that book? The cover was red with large golden symbols on top and at bottom. The pattern was complicated, consisting of tied wisps of plants, a star, a netlike circle, some instruments, which were overlapping one another. Having given it some thought, I recognized one as a hammer, and the other one resembled my cutie mark. Having opened the book, I started turning over the pages. There were a few lines, a stamp, a picture of Lairy. He looked sullen and displeased here for some reason.

Having put the book away, I pulled another drawer open. This one was lower. There were brushes, phials, which were filled with colourful liquids, reels with shining transparent threads, wound on them, laths, which had even lines on their ends. The light was reflected by the sharp edges of many cutting and thrusting tools for the delicate work. The massive knife hilt caught my attention, it had no blade for some reason.

Having taken it out carefully, I twirled it in my hooves. The metal had ornate patterned carving, the red wood was varnished. Suddenly there was a muffled click from inside of the hilt, and I, having shrieked out, dropped the knife on the floor. The wide long blade, which had appeared with lightning speed, had almost cut my hoof in half. Having made sure, that I had not been injured, I picked the knife up with the edges of my hooves and, having put it back into the drawer, closed the wardrobe. I did not want to find even more aggressive item, which could clutch at me after all.

The objects, which were standing in the corner between the wardrobe and the wall, reminded me of something. They were rather narrow, long, flat, had curved ends and some complex fastener system in the middle. But the human, who had wanted to kill me in the forest, was walking on something similar. So, Lairy could use items like that. Or was he that human? No, it was nonsense. What would be the point of that? There surely were a lot of people in the world, who had the same objects in their households.

Then I became interested in the door, which had the same colour as the walls and thus was not noticeable. A key was giving it away. Having turned it, I gained an access to the small room with shelves easily. There was a "little sun" there, but no matter how long I had been looking around, I failed to find a light plate. Either it was hidden really well, or one should turn the light on by the means, which were not known to me. The room itself was filled with boxes, bundles, parcels and other objects, which I was not able to see clearly in the dim light. I managed to recognize only the roll of paper, which had served as a material for my figures, from all I had seen there.

Having closed the door, I sat down on the chair next to the desk, turned over several sheets of paper with notes on them, the meaning of which I was not meant to know. I found a familiar drawing of sad Celestia and a couple of new drawings of me. One of them depicted me looking out of the window, sitting on the kitchen table, leaning my forelegs on the window-sill. Lairy had drawn me from behind and I did not see the expression on my muzzle. But could I really have such a beautiful back, graceful wings, wavy mane, elegant curve of the neck and guardedly-curious ears? What could I find so interesting outside the window? And as far as I remembered, I had never sat on the table in such a way, when Lairy was there. So, he did not copy, but came up with all of that, including the pose and surroundings. Another drawing showed me sleeping on my back in the relaxed, explicit pose. The legs were outstretched, the wings were spread across the whole sofa, the body bent a bit, as if it was drawn to the caresses of some invisible hands, the muzzle kept musing expression, the left eyebrow was raised inquiringly. What dreams was I visiting at that moment? Could I be talking to my sister? And the human finds me every morning in such a pose, admires me, caresses, wakes up and brushes. Of course, he takes a great pleasure in all of that.

Author - Lusilie

A-a-argh-h... having yawned, I shook my whole body. It felt so good to wake up in the mornings now in the embrace of the loved one. Hm-m, did I called the human the loved one in my thoughts?

Having stacked the papers up, as they were, I looked into the box, which contained grey plates. Some were separate, but the most of them were fixed in frames between straight twigs. There were convex, concave, angular, round parts of some machinery.

Having seen nothing interesting, I walked across the room, jumped onto the bed, sniffing Lairy's place, and I finally realized, why his smell seemed so attractive to me. It was similar to the smell of a stallion during rutting season. Did it mean, that I should be more careful around him now and stop "sleeping openly" to avoid provoking him? I was panicking for no reason, was I not? The human was not a pony, and I did not know, what this smell really meant, I could only surmise. Maybe, it was natural for a human. Besides, Lairy had seen me in every detail during those days. I was lying on my back in front of him more than once, and was standing with my croup to him, never noticing any aggressive gestures or actions, which I could interpret unambiguously as harassment and desire to commit a rape.

Having sprawled on the bed, I was looking thoughtfully at the artful designs of thin cracks on the ceiling. Celestia was right. Lairy was taking a keen interest in me, he cared. He was brushing my hair, evening and smoothing the feathers after the supper every evening, he had been lying next to me silently for a long time, caressing, admiring my beauty and grace. But at the same time he had set up a clear line, which he never crossed. I understood, that he liked to tease me, scratching the shoulder-blades. However, I could not even think about continuing the love play, going beyond those dizzy touches, which were making wings tremble and rise against my will. Every time I thought about something more, I started to feel sick and became tense like a bundle of strained muscles and aching nerves.

I smiled sadly, remembering, how embarrassed, awkward and scared I was during the first days I had spend with the human. I had always expected the worst from the humans, they had caused me a lot of pain. It took a tremendous effort to keep a firm grip on myself, avoiding the reiteration of that first evening, when I had been ready to hurt and, probably, even kill the human in self-defense. Being close to Lairy, it was difficult to get used to his caresses. I was afraid of being punched on the sly or stabbed between the ribs. It was most likely, that the human had no idea about how difficult it was to bring myself to do something, which seemed so simple, like lying down next to him, allowing him to caress me.

Still, despite my fears and all the horrors, I had lived through, I admitted, that the creature from this cruel cold world managed to do something, the hundreds of my congeners had been unable to do. Lairy found the way to my heart.

I lowered my eyelids, and the moisture, which gathered in the corners of my eyes, run down the cheeks to get lost in the mane.

He crashed into my life with bright light and the roar of a strange vehicle. He practically broke me free of the shackles of slavery. He brought happiness, joy, laughter, pleasure, trust back to me. I had been deprived of all of that hundreds of years ago. He revived my spirit, I started to feel my wings again. Being with him, I craved for living, thinking, sensing. And the one thing I still had not been able to explain was his love. He did not swear to love me for eternity, did not promise riches and power, did not kneel to kiss my hooves with fake adulation. He just was there for me and I thought of him as an equal. Ah, could I have imagined that, when the most famous and noble stallions in Equestria were trying to get my hoof or glance in vain. I allowed them to dance with me during the next Galloping Gala at the most.

Can it happen, that I will grow to love Lairy for his kindness and caring? How will it change my attitude towards him? And could I be deluding myself? We were so different, after all. But if he asks about my feelings with his sincere straightforwardness and simplicity, what shall I answer? And how will he react, if I say "no"? Can I reject him? And what the positive answer will bring to me? Will the human treat me the same as he did before my consent? And what will it commit me to in that case?..

Having let out an indignant snort, I plowed my hooves up through my mane angrily. Questions, questions... why was I failing to give a definitive answer to my own questions?.. And what will I say, if Lairy asks? I should have an answer at the ready, but what could it be, if I had not sort out my own feelings and thoughts?

Probably, the strange noises could have been heard for a long time already, but being too occupied with the personal questions, I have paid my attention to them just now. There was strained movement of something very heavy across the room with creaks and muffled strokes. I remembered the portrait of the red-eyed monster, which was hanging on the wardrobe, and my spine grew cold from the nape to the tip of my tail. Could it be, that I angered the guardian spirit, having been meddling around with the host's stuff without his knowledge, and it was going to wipe the floor with me?

The thumps of the heart in my chest were deafening. Having clenched my teeth and held my breath, I opened the eyes slightly to look around. The room became much brighter. The desk and the wardrobe were on their places. Then what was moving? The sounds repeated, and now I understood, that they were coming through the wall. Having caught my breath, I calmed down and pressed my ear against the source of energy on the wall. The noises could be heard the best at this exact place. Humans on the other side were moving something, dragging it. They were yelling irritably from time to time, giving someone orders to go somewhere, but it seemed that no one followed the orders.

"They are not organized at all" - I shook my head accusingly - "They do not even want to go to hell and help someone there"

There was a loud howl, gnashing, a BLOW just next to my very ear!

If somepony had been dead serious, telling me about the possibility of rather long-range physically movement in one second without using magic and teleporting, I would not have believed it. But I did it myself. I had left the bed faster than a thought, slammed the door to the bedroom shut, and was standing now with the wide eyes in the middle of the living room, trying to breathe normally. The shock made my head empty, and my legs were sinking under me. This cast some doubts about the materiality of what had happened. What if I had left the body on the bed in my fright, and was astral, standing there? I tried to pass through the cabinet with the figures carefully to find it out, and my nose pressed against the glass safely.

Having confirmed the presence of my physical part, I peered into the bedroom with caution. Could our wall be broken through? No, it turned out to be intact. Having closed the door, I lay down right onto the carpet to have a rest.

The blissful inactivity was disrupted by a sudden ringing with utter disregard. I jumped up and began listening. The noise repeated itself in the corridor, it was acute jingle of metal hitting a metal.

"What can be possibly ringing here and for what purpose?" - I wondered, standing near the front door. The jingle could be heard again, it was coming from the dark latticed box above the door. I stood on my hind legs and leaned my forelegs against the door, trying to examine the box more closely. And someone started knocking at the door suddenly. I leaped back in surprise, having flapped my wings quickly to keep my balance and avoid stumbling against the door. Was someone going to enter? I hoped that the locks were reliable enough. Having noticed a small hole, I looked through it carefully, trying not to make any noise.

There was a tall untidy human standing on the other side. The colourful clothes were decorated with geometrical figures. The features of the tired face were sharp, long black hair fell over narrow shoulders, the breast stood out noticeably. I assumed that that was a young female. She touched something near the door with her hand, and I felt the energy racing through the wall from the outside. The tuneful jingle sounded inside the latticed box again.

Something started to click and bang nearby. Another human, wearing repulsive green robe with a pattern of crooked flowers, came in sight. The grey hair hung down under a lacy head-dress. It was difficult for me to determine age and gender of this human.

"Natalia, why are you drudging here?" - the one, who had came up, asked. The voice was hoarse and unpleasantly high, it was grating on ears like the sound of a ragged hoof being rubbed against the glass.

"I am moving, Lena. So I am ringing the doorbell to ask for Lairy's help with the furniture"

"Ge-e-e, is that so?.. No, you will get nothing from this hermit. It would be easier to..." - having turned the wrinkled face, which was distorted by a scornful grimace, to the door, Lena spat.

"Yes, I know, he is a bit eccentric. But what can go wrong with moving two armchairs and a sofa?" - Natalia put her hands on her hips.

"Calling him eccentric is putting it mildly. To my mind, he is a total crackpot. Well, think for yourself, is there anything normal about him? You cannot even get a grasp of that foreign name, it is not like he is called Ivan or Boris. There is no name, no patronymic, what the hell, how should one address him? The phiz is weird, like a clown's face, those spots and stripes look like he has been crying for days. His glance, by God, is wild, like of some animal. He stares, as predator, without a clear though in his eyes, and one can guess, if the danger passes or if he lunges for the throat"

"Lena, enough with the blether" - Natalia waved her hand - "He had never been violent as far as I know. And everyone has some rats in the attic"

The door behind Natalia opened, two tall humans came out of there, carrying the wardrobe, which was tied up with cord, along the corridor.

"Well, Nata, do not shush me up. Listen, what old and experienced people say" - Lena shoved her withered fist against Natalia's shoulder - "The man is past thirty and still have neither a wife, nor a child. That is not normal, is it? One should work, support a family and a household, raise children at his age, not just hang about, being a bachelor. And he even does not hang about with some women"

"He has a job. And as for the women, probably he has not met the one to fell in love with yet"

"How could he not meet someone in all those years? I cannot believe it for the life of me. Do you know about his quirks? This vain egoist will drive any woman off" - Lena groaned and leaned back against the door - "When he was younger, I had tried to teach him. Do you know, what he said to me? "The problems, which I have, I always solve myself. Don't tell me, how to live, it's an advice I give" Tha-a-at is right, my eyes had been starting out of my head as well. I even memorized the words. Damn that rhymester, he replied so smoothly, and you know, there was such a furious menace in his voice, like if you had touched him, he would have ripped your hand off. Well, I told him to heck off, he sneered contentedly, said "thanks" and went away. Gee, where is this country coming to? There was nothing like that during Stalin's rule, youngsters listened to advice, respected the elders, and today they just broke loose. And this one is no different. So I had not been talking to him since then. And I warn the others. You give him a good advice, he will give you a punch in the face. Who would ever want to put up with such bitchy attitude? Deadset, it is better to tell him to get lost at once.

Natalia burst out laughing and threw her hands up dramatically.

"I am going to live on the other side of the town, I do not need to worry about his bitchyness"

"Call Grisha from the upper floor, he will move all the furniture in your apartment for a bottle. He will also thank you and kiss your hands. And I will go and make some tea to warm myself. My bones are aching, it seems it will be really cold soon. Have a safe journey!"

"Goodbye, Lena"

The humans went away, and I sat down at the door, being lost in thought. I did not understand many things in their conversation, but it was easy to take the point: humans do not like my friend at all and despise him. It seemed strange. Lairy was worthy of love and respect, was he not?

What does this "bitchy" attitude mean? Does it mean bitching about something or bitching up? And in what sense they used the word egoist?

I braced myself, having noticed the movement at the end of the corridor. Having turned around slowly, I saw my extremely pensive muzzle in the mirror, burst out laughing and patted down the mane. The opinion of those human strangers, who were unfamiliar to me, meant nothing, after all. They did not know Lairy as much as I knew him. Maybe, my friend was hiding some unpleasant aspects of his personality from me, but I was happy with him. Was it not the main point? He asked me to hide "Royal Canterlot Voice" as well, so it could be called a mutual agreement.

I walked around the living room, thinking of the means to pass the day, waiting for Lairy. I rearranged some figures of cheetahs and cars in the cabinet, having made their placement more natural in my opinion. Then I rummaged in the bedside-table. Its left part contained the cassettes, and on the right there was narrow, but massive grey box with a pair of big round buttons in the corners and the lid in the middle, which was also round and could be opened by pressing the right button. I tried to press the left one several times as well, but nothing happened. Two grey things, which were curved in a bizarre manner, were lying separately from this big box and had many small black buttons and movable mushroom caps. There was also stack of square transparent little boxes there, each of those contained very beautiful disc, scintillating with the colours of the rainbow.

Having found no system in the placement of Lairy's cassettes, I arranged them as I saw fit, placing those, which I had already watched, at the right wall of the section and the ones, which I had not, at the left one. I shove the box with the movie about cheetahs away to the farthest wall, so those meat eaters could not get into my hooves accidentally. Having taken another unwatched cassette, I smiled contentedly. An impressive amount of film on the left reel promised several hours of unusual, captivating stories, which I was learning so much from. I brought the stool, juice and bread from the kitchen, found the remote control, pencil, and made myself comfortable like a royalty on the sofa. So, what did I have here? "The Children of Captain Grant"? It sounded interesting.

The time flew by. Having watched "The Children" with a great pleasure, I wanted to have a rest, because I could compare watching the long movie to practicing a complicated magical spell or travelling around very intense dreams. But before I could turn it off, the picture of a strange and gloomy house caught my attention.

An egg rolled down from somewhere through the duct, fell into the tongs, which broke the eggshell, squeezing the contents out into the frying pan, which then found itself on some round table without legs. Some limb appeared from the left, it was unlike any hand, foot or paw of any creature, which I knew, and it poured hot liquid into a vessel with a tip-up lid, then the table grew, reaching for some place above. Some eerie head of a snake or a dragon at the end of a long neck hung off the ceiling. It had big eyes without any pupils, wide "triple" nose and four whiskers, which were moving constantly. Having yawned loudly, hoping to make sense of what I was seeing here, I tried to shake off the drowsiness, which was enveloping my mind softly and steadily.

A lump on the snake's head flickered with a red light from time to time, it helped me to determine undoubtedly, that this creature had magic. The doors were opened after the flash. The snake was waking some humans up, but there was black sand instead of them for some reason, which was falling in piles onto the floor, when the beds were raised. The creature reacted very aggressively on a bird, which flew inside through the window. Having grown three long teeth or horns, the snake was hunting the poor feathered creature, breaking everything in its way. The ending was unclear. Having broken through the wall and having damaged its eyes, the snake lost its prey and after that it crashed into the flashing red ceiling of the house. Obviously, its magic had gotten out of control and caused a big fiery explosion.

I would not have seen any sense in that story, if it were not for the song, which played at the very end. Having listened to it, I took the trouble to rewind and listened to it two more times.

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound… *

The lines were not only pleasant to the ear, they were filled with serenity, harmony, craving for life, eternal revival of the nature. It became a surprise for me, that there were good songs in the movies, I was more accustomed to finding them on audio tapes.

Rewinding the song, I heard a prolonged dry crackle. The sound, which had never touched my ears before, put me on my guard instantly. Having jumped off the sofa, I rushed into the corridor. The crackle could be heard from a white box, which had a perforated disk and some curved thing atop. It stood on the pedestal. I smelled the box carefully, feeling the electricity quivering inside it. Having touched the edge of the disc with my hoof, I found out that it could be turned round easily. Lairy had told me nothing about this device. I did not knew, what it did and what should one do with it, so I did not risk touching it. The box had been crackling for some time and fell silent.

"Oh, yes, I should sle-e-ep, at last" - I yawned, having taken a look at the blizzard, which started to rage outside the window. Having turned off everything I could, I curled up on the sofa, took the blanket by its corner with my teeth and covered my head over in one motion. Relaxing, I felt a pleasant languor, falling asleep.

***

A light warm breeze run over the grass, disturbed the still water of the lake, rustled the heads of trees, brought the aromas of the morning flowers, which had bloomed, to me and sped away along the paved paths of the park. I looked around. It was the new Canterlot as I remembered it. When king Sombra had been defeated, and Crystal Empire disappeared without a trace, Celestia decided to move the capital of Equestria to the cliff of the impregnable tall mountain Canterlot, which gave the city its name. The castle in its glorious beauty had already been built there and the park had been laid out around it. I remembered, how much I used to like going for a walk there, admiring the sunsets, enjoying the cool evenings, before raising the moon and making the night patterns. And I often flew there in the mornings, ending the night, and my luminary was giving the dome of the sky to Celectia's sun.

A-a-ah-h... tears came into my eyes, I sobbed, wiping them off with my wing. How many beautiful amazing places became nothing, but some mirages of memories in my dreams? I ate the flowers from one flower-bed, drank from the lake and, having raised my head, saw Celestia, who was standing on the far bank. We were walking round the body of water slowly towards each other. I was examining the elder sister closely.

"You are clone, are you not?" - I said, when we stopped next to each other, standing muzzle-to-muzzle.

"Celestia commissioned me with finding you and handing over the conditions, which must be met to move you from the Earth to Equestria safely"

"I heed"

Having taken a large scroll out of the saddlebag with magic, Celestia's clone gave it to me. There was a pentagram inside of a circle with many symbols on the top of the scroll. After that the moon and its rays of light were depicted, and the same pentagram was drawn on the floor in front of a standing mirror, being reflected in it.

I examined the scheme thoroughly, memorizing every symbol. My future depended on it. Celestia hugged me gently and whispered in my ear:

"I love you, Luna, and I am looking forward to your return"

She had disappeared before I could reply. Well, the capabilities of astral clones had always been very limited.

The Canterlot park drowned in thick white fog, I could hardly discern bright banners on the spires of the towers. It probably was caused by the clone's interruption of this dream. Having hesitated to make a choice, I moved to the dream of Lairy's apartment and put the scroll into the cabinet between the books on the shelf. I noticed suddenly, that there were only three rooms in this dream: the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom. The door to the bedroom was lacking. I tried to examine the dream in detail with a puzzled expression on my muzzle. The front door was a wall, as a matter of fact. It could not be opened even by the door-opening magic, and there was no space behind it. A white shroud of endless snow was everything, which could be seen through the window. I found the refrigerator filled with food to my great surprise, although I had took a lot out of it during my last visit. Without taking advantage of the host's generosity, I pulled just one heavy red fruit out. It was rather sturdy, and after I had cast a spell of destruction, it exploded with hundreds of ruby seeds, which scattered all over the kitchen. I could imagine, how much time I would have spent on this fruit without magic, using only my teeth and a knife. The seeds turned out to be very delicious, and I had fun, searching for them on the shelves, in the cups, on the dishes, behind the stove, under the table and the refrigerator.

Being full and happy, I flew to the sofa. I looked around, thinking of what to use those surplus powers on. My eyes fixed on the books in the bookcase. Oh, if that dream had recreated the interior of Lairy's home...

I snatched the first book out of the shelf at random, enchanted it with "all-reading" spell and the magic worked, turning the symbols of an unfamiliar language into those, that I could understand. The title on the cover page read: "Thomas Mayne Reid. The White Chief \ The Wild Huntress". Having opened the book, I snorted contentedly. The magic was working, changing the text on the pages while I was turning them.

***

"... heavy snowfall may cause the loss of electrical connection. There are records of traffic accidents"

Having sighed sourly, I punched a button with the edge of my hoof and the talking box went silent. I understood nothing of the voice's speech, which had been hard to hear because of the noise and crackle. Some connections were lost? Were there accidents?

Looking through the window, I pressed my nose against the glass and my breath fogged it up instantly. The elements were raging on the other side of a thin barrier. Snow was flickering in the reflected lights of windows, being shuffled by a mad wind.

Where did Lairy disappear? I was fidgeting anxiously, moving my ears, hoping to hear the long-awaited friend. I ran to the door happily several times, but each time the only thing I met was disappointment. The sounds of humans' steps were passing by, leaving me in the heavy silence.

Having jumped off the kitchen table, I walked into the living room and looked at the device, which was hanging on the wall, reproachfully. It was big, round, yellow and had twelve black symbols, which were evenly arranged along the edge of the circle. My human looked at this device often, when he was planning to go somewhere. It was making rhythmic clicking sounds, and now I was looking at it as well, but crossly, angrily, as if it was the device's fault, that Lairy has not come home yet. But the device was guilty of another thing. It was making me wait.

I lay down on the sofa, unconsciously watching the arrows moving. Lairy usually was back, when the smaller arrow pointed at the left symbol, which was the third from the bottom. But this arrow had crawled up to the fifth symbol already.

I had to wait. Was there a torture crueler, than waiting in complete uncertainty? Where was Lairy? What had happened to him? How could I find him in those stone mazes? How could I help? What if he would not come back? What should I do? Would I have to leave the house or stay here till the full moon?

I closed my hooves over my ears and shut my eyes, trying to find silence and inner peace. Alas, it had not come to pass, because my whole body felt something heavy falling nearby suddenly. Having opened my eyes, I saw the light in the corridor. And my heart stood still.

"Lairy!" - I rushed to meet him, hardly knowing myself for joy. The human, who was covered with snow from head to toe, was locking the door. I reared up and hugged him, without waiting for him to sit down.

"I have been worried about you so much, so much. I am so glad to see you" - I was butting my muzzle at the cold face, sobbing. I was not ashamed of my tears of joy as I was brushing the snow off with my wings.

"Yes, Luna. I am also glad" - Lairy whispered, kissing my lips and nose. He looked so exhausted, that I held back my elation, which was caused by his return. Having taken the shoes and outer clothing off, the human plopped down on the sofa. It increased my anxiety.

I bent over him, looking intently at his face, and sniffed. Maybe he was injured or poisoned. Nevertheless I learned to understand facial expressions of the human a bit. I did not see pain or suffering now, only an immense fatigue. There were no stains of blood or suspicious smells from his mouth. Being unable to decide what to do, I lay down next to him, placed my open wing on his chest and tried to make a quiet conversation.

"You came back later, than usual. Did something happen?"

"Ye-e-ah" - having made a faint sighing sound, Lairy turned his head to me - "I am dog-tired. I left work and was driving home, and then there was that accident.”

"Did you have an accident?" - I remembered a hard collision of two pegasi in the sky for some reason. One of them recovered on his own, but the magic was needed to heal the other one.

"No, I am fine, and my car is fine as well. But three cars in front of me were crashed. Everyone was getting out, looking into that, I was rendering first aid, then the police moved up, detaining, interrogating the witnesses. All of that really had gotten on my nerves. Well... here I am, having a rest now"

"Did anything bad happen to you?" - I inquired just in case.

"It did not" - The arm seemed very heavy to me, when it dropped down onto my wing. But the crumpled feathers were the least of my worries. Having pressed myself tightly against Lairy, I placed my head on his chest and was lying still, listening to the heartbeat. The rustle of the feathers under the fingers, which were quivering from time to time, could be barely heard.

Having had a rest, the beloved started to stir and I began to help him. Working together, we had got rid of all the clothes and then I brought dry trousers and vest from the wardrobe. While Lairy was putting the clothes on, I put the bowls of water into the oven. Having got to the kitchen, the human found me sitting on the stool sedately.

"Hm, you have the look..." - I rubbed my nose against Lairy's chest with a smile and gave the bowl to him.

"Well, if my appearance tells everything better, than me, I will not argue with it. Thank you. Bring that paper-bag from the corridor"

There were pasties in the bag. Lairy heated them up and piled on the plate.

"And what is the filling of each one?"

"If you want, you can smell and guess"

Having put a pasty on the hoof of each foreleg, I examined them, sniffed, licked.

"One is filled with vegetables, and I do not know about the other one, there is something burnt"

"The one with vegetables is for you, it has cabbage inside. And the one with meat is for me"

"Did you think of feeding me meat, monster?!" - I shoved the pasty into Lairy's hand with pretence of indignation.

"Thank you. It cannot be helped" - He winked, taking a bite - "Beasts live with beauties sometimes"

Walking out of the kitchen after the supper, I remembered another thing, which had happened earlier.

"You know, that box was crackling today" - I pointed my hoof at the corridor.

"Do you mean the phone? I had been calling you to tell that I would, probably, come back late because of the bad weather"

"And what was I supposed to do?"

"You should have picked up the handset to hear my voice in it" - having lifted the curved thing, Lairy pressed it against my ear. I heard the tooting.

"But you have not told me about the phone"

"Yes, I did not expect, that I would have to call home"

Having said goodbye to each other cordially, we went back to our sleeping places. I was rejoiced by Lairy's safe return very much.

***

There was a bone-chilling cold. The wind was tearing at my mane, tossing snow into the eyes. I looked around warily. Some dark shadows were flying past the trees from time to time. The creaking of branches and the sound of approaching steps caught my ears. Were those animals? Humans? Were they looking for me?

The thin icy crust was breaking with a crunch under my legs, sharp pieces of ice were pricing the hooves painfully, cutting the hide till it blood. There was no path, I was running, circling around the trees and snowdrifts.

I was caught by my tail. The sharp pain ripped into the sacrum, I fell muzzle down into the snow with a moan.

I looked back, but there was no one, the tail was tangled up in thick branches of a bush. Having destroyed the bush with magic, I broke free.

"There! She is there!" - the wind brought the words. There was a loud noise and something small flew over my ear with a whistling sound. Having jumped up, I scuttled away, despite the pain at the base of my tail, which was slowing my movements.

Where did I get to? Why was I being chased? I could not stop to think, everything in me was subjected to one blind urge to get away from the voices, from the creatures, which were chasing me, from the suffering, they were causing. A human, who had appeared suddenly from behind the tree, pulled something dense over my head. I stumbled, fell down, shaking my head in attempt to throw the fabric off, but several cold hands grabbed me by my legs, wings, horn, pressing me against the snow. Those touches made freezing terror crawl over my body. I was crying and screaming, kicking, but the all efforts were futile. Having strained myself, I rushed away with all my might, risking to be injured, and fell through the ground. My whole body struck something solid, I was wriggling, trying to break free.

"Luna?!" - the familiar voice could be heard through the shroud of despair, which had enveloped me. I was seized by the shoulders tightly and shaken. I cried out miserably, without realizing, what was being done to me. The fabric had been taken off my head and I, having opened my eyes widely, saw Lairy, who was bending over me.

"W-what?" - I whispered with numb lips. O-oh, by the whole Equestria... that was some dreaming, indeed.

"That was me, who was going to ask you about "w-what" was happening. You were crying, screaming in your sleep, and when I had come to comfort you, you got tangled and fell off the sofa at the end of it"

Struggling out of the blanket, I noticed a big hole to my dismay. That was it, I tore someone else's item. The owner would not be happy about that.

"Everything, I have lived through, is giving me nightmares. There is forest, there are dogs, humans. I am being chased, they want to kill me. I am sorry" - having sobbed, I pressed my muzzle against Lairy's cheat.

"How are you going to sleep now?" - he asked, caressing my neck and wiping the tears off. He did not seem to mind the hole in the blanket.

"Well, maybe, I am not going to sleep at all" - I snapped and flapped my wings angrily.

"Yeah, right" - Lairy replied crossly - "We are not living on Elm Street to avoid sleeping. Let us go"

I did not want to go anywhere, but I decided that it would not hurt to go, since the human winded my mane round his hand and led me to the kitchen almost forcibly.

"What now?" - I leaned my head against the table.

"Here" - Lairy put a tall light bottle in front of my nose - "It is vodka"

The human passed his pensive eyes over me, as if he was estimating something, and filled a quarter of a glass.

"You want me to drink it?" - I touched the glass with my hoof. The liquid looked like ordinary water, but had an unpleasant smell. There was a graceful dark horse, stamping the ground with its hoof, on the label.

"Yes" - having heated an orange juice, Lairy filled the glass up to the top and mixed the liquids.

"And what will it do?"

"I have no idea. If you are going to sing songs in "Royal Canterlot Voice", I will have to shut your mouth, tie you and put on the sofa. It is the worst scenario"

"And what is the best one?"

"You will sleep soundly till the morning"

"There are not many options"

"It is better than falling off the sofa"

I sniffed the warm drink once more. The juice drowned the disgusting smell of vodka, the cocktail seemed good enough.

"Ah, to tartarus with it" - having sighed, I took the straw from the table with my lips and sucked all the contents out. Wow-oh... there was a scary feeling, that I swallowed the full glass of liquid fire with a taste of an orange.

"How do you feel?" - Lairy squatted down beside me.

"Horrible..." - I began to snuffle loudly, trying to catch my breath. It felt like all my insides were about to catch fire. I had even doubted my trust in Lairy for a moment. This fire water might have been harmless for him, but for me... Hr-r-r.

"Wait, it will be over soon" - the human clang to me, embracing my shoulders gently. Probably, he knew the sensations, caused by his drink, himself.

"There is a heavy warm sphere in my stomach" - I reported later, listening to the changes, which were happening inside my body, keenly.

"Take several deep, slow breaths to let the sphere reach your head"

I breathed in deeply, sensing the warmth spreading all over my body, filling me entirely and rising higher and higher to the throat. At the third breath it felt like a hoot, it became warm and heavy in the head as well, I went limp and slumped my side against the wall clumsily.

"O-omph" - I hiccupped.

"It is called "the kick in the head". Let us go, I will help you to go to bed" - having smiled, Lairy hugged my neck and led me to the sofa, holding me with his hands.

I was staggering like a fragile boat, which got caught in the storm, having troubles keeping my balance and losing any sense of direction. The only one thing I knew for sure was that I was safe at Lairy's house. My consciousness was reluctant to perceive anything else, as if I had gotten into a repulsive kind of sticky, viscid, slowed-down dream.

Lairy put me onto the sofa, covered me with the blanket, and the world around me stopped spinning. I was surprised at the human's reaction to my clumsy attempt to lay my legs comfortably. He helped, as if he knew exactly, how I wanted to settle them.

"I am - hiccup - so ashamed, my friend, ashamed - hiccup - of my weaknesses" - I mumbled, hiccupping all the time - "My duty is to be the guardian of dreams, to rid the dreamers of nightmares, and I am scared of them myself. Well, tell me, what an awkward little cloud - hiccup - I am"

"Actually, fears are a part of mentality. All living creatures in the world are afraid of something. Fears protect us from death and injuries in particular. But fears can be laughable and absurd and even harmful sometimes"

The human stroke my neck, caressing arteries.

"Are you afraid too?" - I asked, having lifted my head slightly. The thoughts were shifting like heavy clouds of a dense fog.

"Me?"

Lairy hemmed contemptuously.

"I am really scared of insects, I startle from anything, that runs, crawls or flies even if that insect is harmless for certain. And I do not like reiterations and recursions in dreams. The dreams, which are like a corridor with infinite number of doors or some narrow burrows, which need to be squeezed through, drive me crazy. I try to avoid such dreams and wake up"

"Hm-m-m are there burro-o-ows with many do-o-ors?" - I tried to finish the phrase, but all my thoughts had totally flaked away.

"Lunie-dearie, go to sleep already" - Lairy whispered in my ear with aspiration, getting up from the sofa and covering me better to keep me warm.

That quiet whisper accompanied me on my diving into the blissful soft darkness without any dreams or nightmares.

***

I have almost fallen asleep, when I heard some rustling behind the door. It was opened a little later, and my eyes had a chance of looking at lovely Luna, who was drunk as a lord. Her mane was unkempt, emerald eyes were shining, and although I was not able to see her pretty muzzle in the dim light, I guessed, that there was a dreamy smile on it. The alicorn could scarcely stand even with her four legs spread widely, and the fixed unblinking look of her eyes was focused on one spot in front of her.

Having raised up on my elbow, I watched the little horse approaching, all her hooves were scuffing. That behavior of hers was alarming. She was supposed to sleep, not sleepwalk because of the alcohol. Having leant forward, my beloved breathed out the most "wonderful" exhaust of combustion products into my face.

"M-m-may I... c-come?"

"Yes" - I moved closer to the wall.

Luna put one foreleg on the bed. It seemed, that one third of a liter of the "screwdriver" slowed all the alicorn's reflexes. The pony was tilting over on one side slowly, and the narrowing of the pupils in her eyes was just as slow. She was gradually becoming aware of crushing on the floor in a moment.

Having hugged Luna, I strained myself to pull her into bed. The creaking of bed was followed by the princess' sigh of relief.

"I feel l-l-onely being al-l-lone..." - Luna mumbled, lying with her back to me. Having gotten my hand under the wing, I was caressing her side, feeling a steady heartbeat.

"Good night, my joy" - I bit the soft corner of her ear gently. The pony replied with something completely inarticulate.

"The sleep is sound, the night is young. Two hearts are beating now as one"...

I have been lying for a while, listening to Luna's tranquil breathing, then scrambled over her and sat down on the edge of the bed. My little animal was totally worn out. Having lifted the croup, I pulled the alicorn down the bed, so her horn would not rest against the headboard. It turned out to be a real pleasure to move the unconscious pony, she was like a big, warm, soft cuddly toy. Having placed her on her back, I stretched her hind legs down, folded the forelegs across her chest, straightened the wings a bit, so they would not become numb. Having bent over the princess, I ran my hand over her head, neck, chest, stomach, touched the udder, pressed my fingers to the nipples a bit. The mare did not react to the caress.

"Luna..." - I whispered with a happy smile. Probably, it was the first time, when the alicorn trusted herself to me so much, that she stopped being afraid for her life and health. She did not have to come, she could have slept on the sofa, but she came. Her trust was the greatest treasure. Having covered the pony with the blanket, I kissed her lips and left the room quietly.

Lying down to sleep on Luna's place, I decided that I would definitely have to replace the sofa, which became permeated with the smell of the lunar pony.

____________________________________________________
* "There Will Come Soft Rains" is a 12-line poem by Sara Teasdale.
The work was first published in the July 1918 issue of Harper's Magazine.

Author's Note

1) This book is being translated from Russian. It is not reccomended to use google translator to read it, because many beautiful moments will be lost that way.

2) The usual request is to feel free to point out any errors in the comments. We are also looking for the regular beta reader.

3) Be patient, the translation is a slow process.

ch. 8 - Games and roses

[ Lairy \ Lairy's apartment ]

Another portion of batter was spreading over the pan with splutter. Having left a new pancake to fry, I buttered the one, which was on the top of the pile of the already cooked ones.

"A-a-ah! Scooby Doo, ru-u-u-un!" - could be heard from the living room, and Luna's musical laughter followed. I grinned as well, having remembered that dullish man, who was always unshaven, and the muzzle of that scared dog, the height of whose jump could reach one meter, and he was able to speed away headlong in the air without touching the floor. Yes, those blockheads, created by "Hanna-Barbera", could give one a good laugh.

One more pancake was ready. I examined and buttered the high pile of orange circles with satisfaction. According to the wailing of the wind, crackle, ringing, sounds of something breaking, there was some natural disaster on TV. And Luna, who had changed a channel, grew quiet. There was enough batter in the bowl to make ten more pancakes.

"Lairy, come here!" - Luna shouted. It was good, that she used her ordinary voice and not the whole power of the "Royal Canterlot Voice". Having put aside an empty pan, I turned the gas off and went to answer the call of my darling winged friend, bringing a towel with me. Probably, I should really cover the mouth of the vociferous mare, during her watching of TV Shows.

"Can you explain, what it is?" - Luna pointed at the TV set with her leg.

"It is a hurricane. Why?" - I sat down next to Luna. She rubbed her chin, thinking about something.

"I will put it this way. What for was this hurricane created? It destroys dwellings, even kills. It is scary"

"Created"? My glare shifted from puzzled Luna to the film, I tried to comprehend the logic of this question. It was one of those interesting moments again, when Luna and I almost could not understand each other, looking at the situation from our own points of view. The statements of the magical little horse, which were well-founded in her opinion, left me confused.

"What do you mean by "created"?" - I inquired, willing to figure out, what she was talking about.

"Why, do you not know at all?" - Luna responded with a reproach, having closed her eyes a little. She forgot often that I was not an alicorn or unicorn and started to talk to me as if I was one of her species. And if I showed my lack of knowledge in the question, we were discussing during those moments of forgetfulness, Luna got upset.

"Maybe, I will be able to answer your question, if you explain the meaning of it to me"

"The weather in Equestria is completely under control. The pegasi have power over rains, winds and clouds" - Luna was explaining patiently. Did she felt wise and experienced, sharing her knowledge? Or was she totally irritated by my complete ignorance? Meanwhile, a car, which was lifted by the hurricane, crashed against the wall of a house with such clanging and grinding sounds, that Luna jumped up on the sofa. The springs underneath wailed in unison with the howling of the wind, adding their tragic note to the symphony of chaos.

"Why you..." - the pony stumbled, when she saw an indicator of sound being turned down on the screen. I handed the remote control to her with a polite smile.

"So what were you saying about rains and pegasi?"

"If it rains, than it was planned by the team of weather pegasi, who created the rainclouds on the schedule and brought them to the right place"

"So, the weather is being controlled there, in your world"

"Yes. And so I am asking, who created that deadly hurricane and what was the reason?"

"Remember what planet you are living on" - I brought the little pony down to earth from the clouds. It was a bit harsh, but it worked. Having frowned, the princess gave a disappointed sigh.

"It is a horrible planet"

"It is a power of nature, people have no authority over it. No one created this hurricane deliberately to kill and destroy"

"Is no one controlling this monstrous elemental power?"

"Yes, no one"

"So, humans do not control the weather, do they?" - Luna asked in surprise and suspicion.

"Yes. The weather is always on its own. People can only adapt to its whims"

"Hm-m..." - the alicorn rubbed her nose musingly. Despite this huge difference in body built, neural activity, way of thinking, behaviour, - the pony's expressions, poses and many gestures were very similar to the ones of humans. Besides, I did not apply the "human behavioural patterns" to Luna, and the expressions on her muzzle, gesticulation of her legs and wings were easy for me to understand.

"Then what was I watching yesterday? There was a talk about the weather forecast, a human promised that it was going to be sunny, and today it is bright and warm here" - Luna waved her wing at the window.

"Do you find -15 degrees Celsius warm?" - I shivered theatrically - "I would not say so, considering your fell. If you were on the streets, you should know, that it is bright and very co-o-old out there. It is warm here at home, but not outside. If you want proof, then poke your nose around the balcony door"

"Very well, I may have exaggerated the warmth, but what about the weather forecast? It was a planned management, was it not?"

"It was not. It was just an attempt to guess, what the weather would be. They can tell about the thunderstorm, but actually the storm-clouds would just be hanging above us for the whole day, and not a drop of the rain would fall"

"And can a disaster like that hurricane happen right here, to us?" - Luna was not trying to conceal her anxiety.

"It cannot. You and I are in Russia, and that hurricane is in Canada, which is very far from us. Live in peace"

"I will believe you" - the pony nodded. I scratched behind her ear and left to the kitchen. However Luna followed me soon.

"It is so delicious" - she sniffed the pancakes in delight.

"It is delicious and beautiful"

The alicorn was watching the process of frying pancakes with interest. Then boiling water in a pot caught her attention.

"What is there?"

"There is a le-e-eg" - having grinned rapaciously, I grabbed the boiled chicken leg with a fork and pulled it out of the pot.

The pony was frightened. Her muzzle seemed petrified, the pupils became smaller and ears drooped. Having sat down on the floor clumsily, Luna hunched instinctively, being unable to avert her eyes from the quartered chicken. She unfolded the wing slightly and raised her foreleg, as if she was ready to defend herself.

Having turned away, I threw the ham off the fork and back into the pot silently. Then I used the same fork to lift a pancake, which was ready. A nervous sigh, strained steps and creaking of the stool could be heard behind my back. Buttering the pancake, I looked at Luna, who grew quiet and was examining the pattern at the bottom of an empty plate. I should not have shocked her so much. Although, what was it with her nerves being so weak? Could it be, that she had never seen blood, death and dead bodies in two thousand years? But again, anything was possible.

Having flavoured the pancake with honey, I formed it into a roll and held it under Luna's nose. Having sniffed the food, she took a bite timidly. There, I needed to feed and bring the poor thing to her senses now.

"A pancake... what is inside?" - having licked her lips, Luna glanced up.

"It is honey"

"Well, you can say, that your joke was successful, you had scared me well all of a sudden" - the pony hiccupped - "I should have already gotten used to your gastronomical tastes. But to realise, that you are eating parts of killed creatures is..." - the alicorn flinched - "It is repulsive"

Having dragged a stool over, I sat down in front of Luna, took her head between my hands and met her sad eyes.

"I do not blame you" - she whispered - "Because it is stupid to blame a predator for following its nature. But it is painful for me to see that. Please, do not joke with me in such way"

The tears, which ran down her cheeks, warmed my fingers.

"I am sorry, my Blue Mane" - I kissed Luna's nose, catching the warm breath with my lips. She smiled.

***

[ Luna \ Lairy's apartment ]

Lairy was hand-feeding me with pancakes. He had been waiting for me to take a bite of a new portion patiently and silently, and only then he began to eat. Hot, tender bits were melting in my mouth, honey was enveloping my tongue and throat. I liked that very much, but it was awkward, that the human was feeling guilty because of my intemperance. Having held his hand, I met the questioning look of his eyes.

"Forgive me for being so nervous"

"What are you talking about?"

The aroma of honey next to the muzzle was tempting my sense of smell.

"I am talking about that "joke". I should have been calmer about that, really"

Yes, I could not compare to my sister's self-control.

"Gee, if someone showed me cheetah's pelt on the wall or human's hand in the pot as a joke, I would have been nervous as well"

"Well, speaking about nerves, I want to warn you..."

"Eat and do not be nervous" - Lairy touched my lips with a fragrant pancake, and I had to take a long pause.

"That is enough, thank you, I am full" - I sighed with gratitude, licking my lips.

"Now you can warn me about anything you want"

"The full moon is soon. At such times I become anxious, irritable, short-tempered. I may buck about anything, yell. If I am going to be aggressive, please do not be upset with me" - I put my hoof on Lairy's knee - "And at the same time do not try to calm me down. It is most likely, that the result will be quite the opposite"

"Gr-rhm-m, and are you often like that?"

"Always" - I spread my wings - "And everything I can do is to tell you beforehoof"

"At the full moon?"

"Yes"

"Point taken. I will keep that in mind"

"Thank you for understanding. I see that you are not hurrying to go outside?"

"I have days off today and tomorrow. I will spend these two days together with you"

"Oh, that is so great!" - I clapped the hooves of my forelegs together enthusiastically - "What are we going to do?"

"Doing anything in company of a charming lady, like you, will feel like a festival" - Lairy burst out laughing, licking honey off the plate - "We will come up with something. I got a rug for you to play with, let us go and try it"

"Very well!" - having kissed the human's stubble-covered cheek, I galloped away to the living room, dancing with joy. Two days together felt wonderful!

***

The resort town was languid with the heat of a midday hot weather. People were hiding inside their dwellings, refusing to part with various cold drinks of different strength. The water seemed to evaporate from the glass quicker, than it was possible to drink it. The sounds of the usual hits of the 1990s could be heard listlessly from the bar, which doors were opened slightly. The life slowed, waiting for the evening coolness to come from the sea. The dusty streets were empty and deserted. The air was floating over the scorching pavement, and the shifting haze made everything look like some illusive mirage, which allured the travelers, longing for water and shade.

The idyllic scenery of this oasis town was disturbed by the growing sounds of engines. Some moments later ten cars rushed along the streets with a deafening roar, tearing apart stagnant silence. Even a viewer, who was not versed in the car racing, could see, that golden "Jaguar XJ220" and blue "Ford Mustang" were competing for the leadership.

The "Jaguar" glided away at the next turn, forcing the "Mustang" out to the roadside. Having bumped into a pole, "Ford" lifted its back bumper for a second, like a horse, who was going to kick, and fell on its wheels heavily.

"Are you pushing now? Could you be more careful?" - Luna was indignant.

"Oh, no, princess, it is life: you can either strive for the finish line or rot in a ditch" - having grinned, I raced away from the MVA scene.

"Am I to rot in a ditch?!" - Luna managed to get the better of the "Mustang". Having snorted with black exhaust fumes, it returned onto the track obediently - "When I catch up, I will bring the moon down to you!"

"You need to catch up first and bring the moon down later. You are already on the fourth place in the race"

"And I will catch up!" - the princess, who got really angry, floored the accelerator pedal. The "Mustang" made a run right off the bat, obeying Her Majesty's will.

The yellow "Chevrolet Camaro" with black stripes, which resembled a hornet, appeared in the rear-view mirror. The road led to a narrow bridge, which was suitable for only one car to cross it at once. Having slowed down a bit, I let the "Camaro" get closer. The driver wanted to gain an edge and leave me behind on the bridge, but I rushed the "Jaguar" to the attack near the bank. The "hornet" was not expecting this clash, it kissed the timber of the bridge with clanking and its inglorious trip ended in the river. "Flight of the Bumblebee", which could be heard inside the car, choked.

Luna was fighting the pushy green "Porsche" on the winding road through the palm forest. Sand was spattering from under the tyres, the "Mustang" was shaking, swaying at every turn, the alicorn had troubles straightening the car out, but she was determined to lead dozens of those "horse-powers", which were rampaging under the hood, to victory

Having cut the way short at the turn, she got ahead of the "Porsche". However, the opponent soon caught up to her.

"This is for you!" - having stopped suddenly, the "Mustang" kicked that green sticker with its back bumper. Having spun around, it wrenched off the road, met a palm tree, slumped against its trunk clumsily and toppled upside-down.

"Did I miss something, or did you get rid of the competitors?" - Luna gave me a rapid glance, when our cars neared each other again.

"I got rid of them" - I admitted - "But there are six more behind us"

"So you are my main opponent now"

"I am not an opponent for you"

Luna frowned, having noticed a cunning smile. This smile foreshadowed some unpredictable changes.

The barrier near the entrance to the town scattered into small splinters. The howling of engines and squealing of tyres filled the streets, the frightened echo started to jump between the walls from one building to another.

"Luna, move to the finish" - the "Jaguar" started to fall behind the "Mustang" smoothly.

"Yes"

"And I will be crushing these miserable auto-cans!"

Having braked sharply near the very finish line, I turned the car around, barring the road. The white "Mercedes" crushed into my vehicle at once, and someone else gave another good blow at its stern. The poor "Mercedes" raised the hood and climbed onto the "Jaguar" with a passionate gritting sound as if it was willing to have its way with it. Creaking and clanking, the tilted "Jaguar" was consumed by the iron bliss. It had crawled along the pavement on its side, scattering sparks and glass rubble, and despite the superior enemy forces, managed to cross the precious checkered line. The triumphal music sounded with all its might.

"Who was victorious?" - Luna asked, looking at the result of the race on the screen.

"You have won. You are on the first place, I am on the second one"

"Yay!" - the pony reached out her leg with a radiant smile, I slapped her hoof with my palm - "Oh, wait, put your fingers together. Yes, this way, "brohoof"!" - she pressed her hoof against my fist.

"Shall we play one more lap?"

"No" - having stepped away from the playing rug, Luna fell heavily onto the sofa - "My legs are shaking already"

Having put the gamepad on the floor, I sat up and relaxed. Stretching herself out on her back, Luna put her head on my knees.

"Have you got tired?" - I caressed her forehead with a smile and ran my fingers along the horn, flicking the coils with my nails slightly. There were seven coils, counting the one, which was covered with a cap.

"And how do you think? It is easy for you, you sit without any motion and only your fingers move. And I need to jump on the rug, remembering where to and what leg I need to place at every moment. Of course I got tired" - having stretched herself, the pony extended her legs with a loud sigh.

"You learned to play really well"

"Thank you, I liked it a lot, it was so funny and unusual"

Recently I have shown the latest development of the game industry and the pride of my household "Sony PS" console to Luna. To the alicorn's great chagrin, she was not able to participate in playing games, her hoofs were too bid for the gamepad. Luna could manage to move analog sticks with the edges of her hooves, but, alas, not the "cross" and buttons.

Having scoured the shops, I bought a dance rug for Luna and connected it to the console. That purchase consumed a lot of my money, but the look of the outrageously happy pony, jumping up and down energetically on the huge buttons, was worth of all those costs. To prevent Luna from damaging the rug with her hooves, I pulled a thick winter sock upon her every leg. It took Luna a quarter of an hour to get the hang of racing simulator and to learn the controls. Having been stamping on the rug thoughtfully for another half an hour, she began to drive a virtual car on tracks with confidence. And so she became a worthy opponent for me with a need for speed.

"Why did you give way to me, letting me come first and win? The beautiful eyes cannot be the reason"

Ah, what a curious muzzle it was with a serious look of the beautiful eyes, studying me. I waved my hand, touching the rough hairs, which were growing around Luna's mouth and nose, slightly. The tickling made her snort quietly.

"You are patient, smart, persistent. You were eager to win in an unfamiliar game and worked hard. I rewarded you"

Luna seemed to expect some other answer, since her eyes reflected the amazement.

"Would it not have hurt to find yourself on a roadside again, despite all the effort?"

"It would have"

"You see, and I have no reason to hurt you"

"And you are too condescending with me, in my opinion"

"Would you have felt better, lying in a ditch, in your opinion?"

"I would have been hurt by losing, probably, but I would not have been disappointed by you letting me win then. I would have known that the game was fair and square"

"Okay, there will be no mercy from now on. You have asked for that"

I stroked Luna's neck. Having smiled, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back a bit, reaching out for caress. Her nostrils widened and the breathing became loud.

"I am going out of my mind in your hands" - she whispered, feeling the fingers moving - "I am lost in pleasure, I am losing thoughts and myself. I do not know why it happens. It is like you are taking me from... me with every touch, slowly and inevitably"

Luna found my face by touch, I pressed her hoof against my cheek.

"I feel scared, weird, pleased. I am so vulnerable. And I agree to be vulnerable willingly. And I like this utmost openness"

Luna looked at me, and the power and wisdom in her eyes enchanted me for the thousandth time. Having bent over her, I kissed her tenderly and was surprised to notice the pony's unexpectedly pleasant response.

"My impudent one" - she sighed with a smile, having released my lips - "You see, I am not afraid of you anymore. I am learning to trust again and reciprocate the feelings. Thank you for spending so much effort, patience and time on me"

"You are giving me a lot as well" - I took the socks off Luna's legs.

"Tell me, what do you think of..."

The ring could be heard in a corridor.

"Did someone come to us?" - Luna half rose in surprise.

"It seems so. Go to the bedroom and keep out of sight. And I will go and look, who had turned up"

Luna went away quietly and the door closed behind her. I headed to the corridor.

This unexpected visitor turned out to be an old man, wearing shabby slippers, pants made by infamous all over the world "Adidas" company and a dingy sailor's striped vest, which could not hide imposing muscles. He had grey head of hair, stern weather-coarsened face, his square jaw was shaved clean, there was a pair of diagonal scars on his left cheek and one more scar was crossing his left nostril-wing. The black eyes were looking from beneath heavy bushy brows. It was the look of a person, who was used to giving orders.

We had been examining each other for several seconds, like predators, who had met on the border of their territories. The guest was taller and obviously stronger than me physically.

"Mr-r-rm, how can I help you?" - I stood leaning with my shoulder against the door-frame.

The old man smiled friendly with a flash of his silver tooth.

"May I ask you name?"

"Lairy"

"Daniel Abrupt" - he held out his hand, I shook it. I had a feeling that I had just greeted a bear.

"I am your neighbour, I have just moved in here"

Ye-e-eah, the aching fingers told me, that one should consider the presence of a neighbour like that.

"Were those loud noises and howls coming from your place, Lairy?"
"They were. I like to play console games from time to time and turn the sound on maximum to make it feel more real. Does it disturb you?"

"I do not care, actually. But my old woman is grumbling, convinced that the walls are shaking by the howling. Well, I went out to ask about that just to reassure her. And I also wanted to smoke. Would you like one?"

"No, thank you" - I refused to take the cigarette, which he offered.

"That is right, the health is much more important. And having had drawn one puff when I was twenty I have been smoking ever since" - having inhaled, Daniel waved his hand - "Damn that addiction, eh-h..."

"If the sound bothers you, I can keep it down"

"That would be nice, or else my Zinaida will keep nagging me. You see, she was a music major and has an ear for it. She should play a saw with that ear"

Daniel had grown quiet for a while, leaning against the door of his apartment and sending huge puffs of smoke to the ceiling. I would not have been surprised, if an acid rain had started to pour out of those clouds.

"Are you living next door?" - I inquired.

"Yes, in this apartment, next to yours" - he pointed at the door over his shoulder with the thumb.

"I see"

"Lairy, I do not want to appear nosy, but my curiosity will keep me awake at night, if I do not ask"

"What the matter?"

Daniel put the cigarette butt out with a spit and threw it down the stairs.

"I was born and raised in a village. It is hard to fool my nose, even though it was spoiled by the city life and tobacco smoke. Why there is a breath of such pleasant and dear to my heart aroma of the village about you?"

Oh, Lu-u-una...

"The horse lives with me" - I explained calmly.

"What are you doing, kidding me?"

"No. It is a national secret project "Equestria" on rearing an undersized breed of horses with advanced powers of endurance in the environment of a city apartment" - I reported with an ostentatious formality.

"Geez, give me a break!" - Daniel burst out laughing, waving me off with both hands - "The ignorance truly is a bliss. I shall go"

I gave several pancakes to my new neighbor as a parting gift. Having brought the inquisitive villager around, I sent him on his way and went to the bedroom. But just as I was about to enter, the doorbell came alive again.

"Here, it came to my mind to give your horse a treat" - the old man offered several pieces of lump sugar with a generous smile.

"Thank you"

"By the way, may I take a look at the horse?"

I could imagine Luna's reaction to an abrupt guest, appearing at home, which she regarded as the only safe place in the world. That could shatter the princess' confidence in me most likely. She was not a toy or a circus act to show her to everyone. And I also could not trust a person, whom I had known for a five minutes of a smoking break.

"No. She is cautious and afraid of people. She had a hard time getting used even to me. So, no, you may not"

"Okay" - this time Daniel went away without saying goodbye. And I returned to my beloved.

"Lu... what happened?"

The pony was lying on the bed with her head buried in a crumpled blanket. Her shoulders were shaking and the wings could rise hastily at one moment and fall feebly at another.

"Hey?" - having moved the wing aside, I sat down next to Luna and fingered her mane. Having raised her tear-stained muzzle, she spat the chewed up corner of the blanket out.

"Lairy" - Luna moaned gaspingly - "If I had not held back, my laughing could have been heard all over the apartment. Oh, my Tia... pray tell, where on Earth I am "an undersized horse with advanced powers of endurance"?"

"Did you hear everything?"

"I can hear well and I did not close the door tightly. So, what would you say?" - She pressed her nose against my palm, laughing.

"Did you see in movies, how tall the ordinary horses are, when they were near humans?"

"Yes, they are quite tall"

"Well, you are undersized in comparison with them"

"I understand. And what about endurance?"

I lifted the pony's head, scratching her nose with my thumb.

"You survived the flight from the Moon to the Earth. You were wandering hungry and were chased through the winter forest. You lived through the beatings, mockery, persecution and constant abuse. And after all of that you did not break, you did not become embittered, you associate with me and enjoy life. I think that you are very enduring. Not many humans or animals could have gotten through everything you had to endure"

"So you are not talking about the physical endurance?" - Luna's eyes followed my finger moving along her nose musingly.

"Of course, I am not"

Having sat up, the pony grabbed my hand with her forelegs and sniffed.

"Where have you been? Why are you smelling of smoke?"

"Smoke?" - I drew my hand away and sniffed it as well - "I talked to the neighbour in the doorway, and he smokes. I brought this smell of smoke from him"

"He smokes? What is he doing?"

"He inhales the fumes of burning leaves and resin"

"Does he breathe fumes?" - Luna was thinking tensely - "What for? It is disgusting and harmful"

"I agree, it is harmful. But sometimes humans cannot imagine their lives without smoke anymore. Here, this neighbour offers you a sugar treat"

I gave a piece of lump sugar to Luna. She took it with her hoof and, having wrinkled up her nose, put the sugar back on my palm.

"No, thanks, it reeks terribly. I hope, I do not have to eat this, do I?"

That was true. The sugar, which had been in the hands of a smoker, now emitted the smell of tobacco.

"It is okay, I will dispose of it"

"Maybe, we can play again? But how and what game?" - having folded her wings, Luna made herself more comfortable, lying on her back. She held my hand in her hooves.

"Let us play blind man's buff" - I passed my free hand over the elegant leg. The scar, which was left from the wound, has almost dissolved, and soft velvety hair was growing on the smooth skin.

"Like this?" - Luna closed her eyes.

"Almost like this" - having got up, I took a towel out of the wardrobe - "The main point of the game is to search with a blindfold on. So I will blindfold you, and you will try to find me. How does that sound to you?"

"Let me try" - the pony burst out laughing, having jumped off the bed.

Having covered Luna's eyes with the towel, I wound it round her neck and tied behind the withers, so the blindfold would not fall down accidentally.

"Keep several rules in mind. You should search slowly and accurately. If you try to catch me at full speed, you will risk stumbling upon something, hurting yourself, breaking your nose or a glass"

"Okay"

"I am going to prompt my location to you by sound or by touch from time to time"

"I understand"

I took Luna by the ear gently.

"Let us go to the living room. It is more spacious"

***

[ Celestia \ Celestia's chambers ]

There was a courteous knock at the door. Having looked up at the ceiling, I rubbed weary eyes with my leg and sighed. It was unfortunate, but the studying of an ancient tome explained nothing about Nightmare Moon. The reasons for those sudden changes in my sister's life remained a mystery to me.

"Come in"

The door opened without any noise. A mare in maid uniform entered, she was a graceful cream-coloured unicorn. Green magical radiance was flowing along her horn fluently, and the pile of books and several scrolls, which were blackened by time, were levitating beside the servant.

Author - AngryCritic

"Greetings, Your Majesty. I came from the library. Here is everything I was able to find at your request"

It seemed like it was the first time these curious purple eyes looked at me.

"Here" - I pointed at the edge of the table with my hoof.

Having put her load down, the pony stood waiting.

"Tell me your name" - I asked with a smile.

"Hardy Rose, Your Majesty" - the unicorn bowed, having tossed her black-and-yellow mane. Was it just me, or something was wrong with her right ear, which was hidden in the thick hair thoroughly? Hardy even was flattening it down to her head, and the left ear, which stuck out of the mane cheerfully, was only deepening the impression, that she had only one ear.

"If I can help you in any other way, tell me"

"You can" - I poured the remaining juice from the jug into the glass - "Here, bring me another serving of apple juice"

"Yes!" - having grasped the jug with telekinesis, Rose sprang away. I had a brief look at her mark of destiny. The roses were intertwined in a complicated manner: there were two yellow speckled roses in full bloom and a big black bud between them.

The closed tome creaked with its leather binding, the locks at the corners of the cover clicked faintly. Having put the tome away, I lifted one of the scrolls carefully. No, they could not be unrolled right away, they needed a restorative spell first, or everything would crumble away to the ashes.

The servant came back and brought the filled jug. Having put the vessel down on the table, she noticed my curious look and halted confusedly.

"Your..."

"Hardy, come closer, let me examine your ear"

"Er-r?" - She stepped around the table and bent her head. Having thrown the hoofshoes off, I pushed Hardy's mane aside carefully with the hooves on my forelegs. There was only one half remained of her right ear, and the edges of the diagonal wound fused together with a rough uneven scar.

"Do you mind if I try to cure your ear?"

The little pony looked at me upwards.

"No, Your Majesty"

The answer sounded ambiguous, so I decided to act. Having remembered "the spell of flesh restoration", I concentrated and focused my magic on the ear. The grey scar, which was fringed with golden magical aura, became pink, bubbled up and then burst, splashing the blood.

"A-aie, it hurts!" - the mare jumped aside, there was terror in her eyes, when she flattened her ear. The thin streams of blood were pumping from the wound. They interlaced with the strands of her mane like bright lively threads and adorned the marble floor with an intricate pattern.

"Rose, come back here" - I said sternly, having stamped my hoof on the ground - "You need to endure that. Consider it your new assignment"

She approached timidly.

"Lay down, it will be easier to endure this way"

I put my leg on Rose's back in order to prevent her from attempting to resist again. While maintaining the spell, I took a kerchief from the drawer of a cabinet, using telekinesis, and wiped the blood, which was running into the ear, off. Hardy was sobbing, the tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Being stimulated by the powerful magic, the new flesh was growing very fast. The primordial outline of the ear has shown itself, there was a thin layer of flesh with a net of blood vessels under the diaphanous skin. The muscles have grown, the skin became thicker and sturdier, covered with bright coat. The magic faded away, when the spell, I had cast, ran out.

"Everything is alright, my dear, do you hear me?" - I whispered in that new ear. It moved, - "Come on, move, get up"

"Is it alright? But what have you done?" - Rose asked timidly, having got up. I wiped the tears off her muzzle with a kerchief and pointed at the mirror.

"Look, you are going to like it"

"Princess Celestia, you have restored my ear!" - the mare was jumping with joy in front of the mirror, turning and tilting her head - "Thank you so much!"

She ran toward me, wanting to hug me in a rush of excitement, as it seemed, but held back at the last moment and bowed, having dropped to one knee.

"As you can see, it was worth of enduring the pain" - I smiled.

"Yes!" - Rose's eyes were beaming happily.

"I will be grateful, if you tidy this place up"

"It a moment!" - Hardy's horn began to glimmer, and she disappeared in a flash of teleportation.

She used to have half of an ear and was teleporting on the castle grounds recklessly...

"Guards!"

The guardsman, who was standing at his post outside the door, appeared in the doorway immediately.

"Hardy Rose. Bring any information, you can find about her in your archives, to me"

"It will be done, Your Majesty"

Having saluted, the guardsman went away. Hardy appeared in the middle of the room with a new flash of magic, levitating a bucket of water next to her.

"I forgot the mop" - she looked embarrassed, examining the blood stains on the floor - "Ah, whatever"

And she dipped her tail into the bucket.

***

[ Lairy \ Lairy's apartment ]

Having spun Luna around a couple of times, I moved aside and clapped my hands.

"Here we go! Find me!"

Being devoid of orientation and sight and forced to rely on her hearing and sense of smell, Luna changed instantly, as if all her animal instincts had awaken, striving to help the mind. Her tense muscles began to move under the fell, ears were catching every rustle, nostrils were quivering. She slightly unfolded her wings, which looked as if they were ready to face danger and take flight at once. With her head held high, Luna "looked around" slowly, sniffing, then she lowered her nose to the floor.

Having taken a wide step from my place, I waited for Luna to pass by me, approached the sofa stealthily and took the pillow. Having realized that she had lost a trail, Luna stood up and mumbled something under her breath. Having heard a deliberately loud sigh, she turned her ear, then her head and her entire body toward me in one smooth motion. I breathed in quietly, slowly and deeply.

There was step, then another step, one more step. She kept getting closer. Luna's muzzle was a sight to behold, when her nose bumped suddenly into the pillow, which I was holding at arm's length. Even the pony's ears stood upright motionlessly, expressing her bewilderment. Having sniffed the obstacle all over, she tried to walk around it, but I kept putting the pillow in front of her nose every time. Luna waved her foreleg in an attempt to understand, what she was facing, but became even more confused, when she found nothing. The obstacle disappeared suddenly.

I was trying hard not to burst out laughing in a most impudent way, while I was leading the princess a pretty dance. I put the pillow aside and lay down on the floor, when Luna waved her wing, trying to find me. Having realized the futility of her efforts, the alicorn changed the tactics. Holding her spread wings close to the floor, she was pressing me back to the table confidently and without giving me any chance to slip past her.

Rat-tat-tat - pencils were bumping one after another against the glass door, which led to the balcony. Having managed to throw two more pencils, I hid under the table. Having groped for the table, Luna checked what was underneath it with her leg. I had to bend like a cat, propping on my fingers. Still keeping her wings spread, the pony headed for the balcony. When a pencil crunched under her hoof, she stooped, sniffing it.

Having sneaked up to her from the side, I scratched Luna's cutie mark, caressing the crescent. Having given a snort, the alicorn drew her leg back. In a second I was clapped on the head with the wing, hugged, toppled over and pressed against the floor.

"I have found you!" - the princess announced triumphantly, lying on me.

"You have found me" - I confirmed, taking the towel off her eyes - "I had asked you not to rush"

"Did I hurt you? Are you injured?"

"No"

"That means I was rushing carefully. Besides, I had wanted to bring the moon down upon your head recently. You can say, that my wish came true just perfectly" - having smiled, she winked coquettishly and rubbed her muzzle against my cheek.

And how one could argue with such a lovely creature? It was easier to give up at once.

I embraced Luna's shoulders, enjoying the happy look of her bright eyes. She gave me a quiet snort of inquiry, as if she hesitated to ask a direct question.

"You know well, how much I love to admire you" - I stroke the magnificent mane, the soft glimmer of which was barely noticeable.

"I know" - having smiled, Luna took the towel with her teeth and put it upon my face - "Now it is your turn to search for me"

"Okay" - having sat up, I blindfolded myself and held up my finger, pointing at the ceiling edifyingly - "Luna"

"What?" - she asked behind my back

"Hide within this room. Do not run away into bedroom or corridor. There is no way I would ever find you, searching the entire apartment"

"Okay" - Luna repeated in the same tone. And she disappeared.

I expected her to act like me: to run away, giving me hints about her whereabouts. But the alicorn changed the rules of this game radically, altering everything according to her interpretation. Luna was circling in some unreachable proximity, I could feel her silent presence slipping away. Here she touched my leg with the hoof, tickled my neck with the wing, brushed her tail against my arm. Damn, what a clumsy clodhopper I was in comparison to her, who was slipping out of my hands gently. Having listened to the steps, I moved aside abruptly, and the illusion of intangibility was dispelled.

"Release me" - Luna demanded.

Having assumed a posture, which was suitable for musing, I rubbed my chin theatrically, while standing on Luna's tail.

"To release, or not to release this magnificent tail of Luna: that is the question" - I spoke with a solemn voice of the long-suffering character from Shakespeare's play - "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to set her free or to condemn her to imprisonment for eons?"

"Ah, what can be desired by the princess, who spent so many years in seclusion, if not the freedom?" - Luna sang. Stroking my back with her hooves, she slid down to my legs, embracing the hips. Luna's voice kept weakening with each word - "Milord, if you do not release the princess, she will die at your feet, for she needs the freedom like the air. Ah-h-h..."

The wings, which were trembling as if in the final death throes, fell on my shoulders. I caressed both wings, ruffling the feathers, and shrugged them off abruptly.

"If such is your wish" - I rumbled out with a wicked smile - "You will get, what you have striven for, poor creature. Enjoy your freedom and do not make me regret the decision I took, being advised by my heart, but not the mind. And be careful what you wish for in the future"

"Milord, you are so kind to me" - Luna sobbed. I lifted my foot and the released princess slipped away.

Having heard some bustle on the table, I wanted to take the blindfold off, but Luna stopped me with a touch of her wing.

"Wait" - my beloved whispered in my ear and the soft breeze, which was touching my face, carried a scent of a banana a bit later. The fruit touched my lips.

Keeping decorous silence, the princess lured her milord on the sofa step by step. The pony's breath felt warmer and warmer on the face with each new bite. Most likely, she was holding the banana in her mouth and, having given the last piece of it to me, she kissed me for the first time, shyly and timidly. Having chewed the banana hastily, I put my arms round Luna's neck and head and endowed her with a deep kiss in return.

"Lairy... what am I doing with you? What? I do not want to go that far" - the mare whispered confusedly, having pulled the towel off my head.

"We are giving love to each other" - I whispered, caressing Luna's muzzle. She was breathing in broken gasps, the ears were lowered, the wings were trembling. She seemed to be baffled by her own actions.

"Could you really be ready to accept me?"

"Do you remember the movie about White Mane?"

"Yes"

"Well, I have already given you the answer after the movie"

"But if I start to behave the way, you do not like, please, hold me back. Hold me back by force, if it will be necessary. I do not want to become like that horse. I do not want to draw you into the darkness"

Luna hugged me tightly, sobbing. She slid down slowly and nestled next to me with her head on my lap. Having settled myself more comfortably, I was combing the mane of the pony, who fell silent, with my fingers.

Into the darkness?.. She had some strange thoughts sometimes. But then, she was also strange. And that was what I liked about her, was it not?"

"Eh-h, it seems I have absolutely quailed" - having turned round, Luna looked at me - "I need to take myself in hooves and..."

"You need not" - I interrupted her musing.

"What? Why?" - It looked like the question marks were about to appear in her eyes.

"You should not suppress your feelings and keep them to yourself. Nothing good can come from that. You need to know how to express your feelings, especially love, which is one of the most powerful and bright feelings. If you are in love for the first time and it is the first time you express love, I understand your confusion. And I am really grateful to you. When you are showing your love and care, it does not mean that you are showing weakness and dependence"

I stroke Luna's head, brushed away a strand of her mane, which could not stay off the forehead. Here, I had not even listened to the end of what Luna had been trying to tell me, and have already given her a lection.

"Lairy, is there anything you do not understand?"

"For example, I do not understand, what will happen if you fall in love with me over head and ears"

"O-o-oh" - Luna scratched her nose - "I have never thought about it"

"In this case, let things unfold naturally, and then we will see"

"You are talking about intimate and personal things so freely and easily... I am getting lost" - Luna covered her muzzle with legs.

"Careful, if you get lost, where will I be looking for you?" - I massaged Luna's ears.

"In the Valley of Embarrassment" - she whispered from beneath the hooves.

"Lunie, and why did you become so shy?" - with some effort I pushed my hand through her legs and scratched her nose.

"I am a woman, I can do it. Besides, I have never get to discuss the questions of personal relationships so directly before" - Having moved her legs apart a little, Luna looked at me with one eye. My fingers felt warm and wet touch of the tongue.

"You know, the term "woman" usually applies only to humans. And to various fictional creatures, who have humanoid features. It happens, because humans want to emphasise their peculiarity, to differentiate themselves from the rest of the world. And they have a subconscious desire to see their features everywhere. And the term "female" is used for animals, birds and members of other species"

Holding my hand with her hooves, the pony moved her legs away from her muzzle. Her stare was uncommonly serious. Luna looked that way, when she was willing to know the truth, even the shocking one.

"Lairy, who am I to you? An animal? A female?"

"Yes, you are an animal. Smart and beautiful. Yea, you are a female"

I was looking at Luna expectantly, wanting to understand the purpose of these questions of hers. She was examining the ceiling above us musingly.

"I was concerned, that if I was an animal to you, then you would treat me like an animal"

"And that is how?"

"Badly. I saw, that humans treated animals very badly" - Luna shifted her gaze from the ceiling to me. - "And I has been expecting you to do the same. But your actions contradict my concerns. You treat me like... a human, I guess"

"Are you really still afraid of me?"

"No. I look at you, I watch videos" - Luna waved her leg towards the screen, - "I recall everything, I saw and lived through myself. And I am trying to sum it up into one logical picture. But I cannot do it"

"I will help you"

"How?"
,
"By giving a hint. All humans are different and they see the world differently"

"So, there is no unambiguous picture?"

"Yes. Now you are on the bright side of this picture. And you got to know the dark one before that"

I pressed Luna's head to my chest.

"Luna, I do not care, who you are, be that an animal, a mythical creature or a goddess from another world. Even though there is nothing human about you, you are a wonderful woman"

"Thank you" - she whispered gratefully.

***

[ Celestia \ Celestia's chambers ]

Although Rose had mopped the floor thoroughly, a faint scent of blood was lingering in the air, disturbing my sense of smell. Having rolled the last studied scroll up carefully, I yawned and stretched myself to my heart's content, even my joints crackled. The muscles, which have become numb from such a long time without motion, ached unpleasantly. I went out on the balcony, drew a padded stool under me with telekinesis and sat down.

The stunningly beautiful view on the country was in front of me. There were huge woodlands, vast meadows, veiled by the misty blur, blue ribbons of rivers were winding bizarrely among the hills, which were warming their rounded backs drowsily under the sun. The sky was clear with rare fleecy clouds, and Cloudsdale, the celestial city of pegasi, was drifting slowly at the distance.

My native Equestria. I had put so much work and so many centuries into creation of this paradise for ponies. One could not count. And I am responsible for the well-being of my subjects, who are living their happy everyday lives without thinking, that life can be very different, full of worries, fears, pain, mortal dangers.

I pressed my chest against the railing and hanged my head, admiring the view. There was a small provincial town, which had been founded by the Apple family and spread under the mount Canterlot. Its city-forming enterprise was an apple farm. It was a farsighted act, that I had given empty lands to the farmers. Earth ponies successfully revived a heath, having planted it with fructiferous apple-trees, and I provided daily fresh fruits and apple treats for almost entire capital.

I had planned everything in advance. Ponyville is not only strategically important source of food. First of all, it is my main hope in the battle against Nightmare Moon. I have spent years lining up the series of necessary events by the magical means, insensibly, to gather four different families in this unremarkable town. Very young mares, the future keepers of the Elements of Harmony, were living there. They were going to learn and live through a lot, before facing the Lunar mare in battle.

My plans were ruined in one night. Nightmare disappeared, having avoided the blocking magic of the Elements somehow. And it has not shown any signs of life yet. There were still thirteen years left before the thousandth fateful solstice, those mares, keepers of the Elements, were too weak and unable to activate them. And I barely survived myself, having endured unbearable magical overload, after the battle against Nightmare. I lost my connection to the artefacts. Since then they have been held in the old castle, that belonged to Luna and me. And most of all I was afraid to lose Luna herself now. But I found her, she was tormented, exhausted, thrown into the eerie cold world of cruel creatures, who were calling themselves "peoples". Fortunately one "people" agreed to help Luna. Or was that "human"? This weird difference in meaning and signification of those words was grating on my ears unpleasantly.

Although I did not show it to my sister, but I had been touched by Lairy's declaration of love for her, by his readiness to share the entire life with Luna. Motives of the human's behaviour remained obscure to me. He resembled queen Chrysalis a bit, who also "fed" on love, moreover, she sucked it dry. It seems, that the human, like a changeling, was susceptible to love and able to receive it. But Luna actually flourished near Lairy, so he was also giving her a lot of love in return. Could it mean, that people with all their cruelty were capable of love and good deeds? I recalled, how gently and carefully Lairy treated me on our first meeting in a dream: he had consoled, supported and fondled me. He had already given me a hope with all of that...

Luna lives separately from the spirit of nightmares. Where could it hide, what is it waiting for? I was already grateful to Lairy, because he had agreed to be taking care for Luna for two weeks. I did not have any right to interfere with this human's destiny, to break his life, asking to live with Luna thirteen more years until the Keepers of the Elements of Harmony grow up and get stronger. Since we had agreed to do it before the full moon, I needed to take my sister home at the appointed date.

Having returned from the dream, my clone reported, that the scroll with a pentagram on it was given to Luna successfully. I hope, she and Lairy will be able to recreate that complex scheme on the floor. But when Luna comes back to Equestria, will the spirit try to turn her into Nightmare Moon again? Being set free, Moon will not abandon her plans for the eternal night, and it will be very difficult for me to deal with her without the help of the Elements.

Having sighed, I turned my eyes to the sky, as if the answers I needed could have been inscribed on its blue linen. I saw only the sun, the clouds, several pegasi. What decision should I make? First of all, I should ensure safety of my country and subjects, but there was only one way to do that for sure: to avoid creating a portal. That meant, I should leave my sister in another world...

I was recalling Luna: her radiant eyes, kind smile, merry laughter. It seemed to me, that my sister was sitting next to me, consoling me, touching my back with her hoof. Tears were blurring my eyes, it was difficult for me to separate the reality from my imagination. Having rolled down my cheeks, heavy drops of grief rushed to the ground, sparkling in the sunrays.

"The family was split apart and still I have not seen".

And this is my fault. I cannot forgive myself, that I was not able to save my sister thousand of years ago.

Having dropped my head on clasped legs, I was crying quietly:

"No, Luna, no, I cannot let myself to lose you once again!..."

***

[ Luna \ Lairy's apartment ]

Boom! Having dropped the ring off my horn, I half-rose on my hind legs, waiting for the next throw. And three rings at once have been already flying towards me. I caught one with my horn, it went down the coils with crackle and hit my ear painfully. I put the second one on my foreleg, while it was flying, and managed to catch the third one with my teeth. However, those sensations, which I got, were not pleasant. I threw rings to the floor and rubbed my aching ear.

"Are you okay?" - Lairy asked.

"I hurt my ear. And that hit on the horn really echoes in the head. But those are trifles. Because it was very fun to play"

"Throw them to me" - the human smiled, having waved his hands.

Having slipped the ring on my horn, I swung it by moving my head. Then, having lowered my head abruptly, I threw the ring towards Lairy.

... I have recovered completely after my misfortunes, my body grew stronger and was craving for movement, action, opportunities to unleash the energy, which had been built up inside. In my dreams I was able to come up with hundreds of pastimes easily, but every time I got up, feeling sprightly and bursting with strength, I was compelled to be bored. I understood the reasons for my forced stay within the walls of this apartment under lock and key. And I knew, that Lairy would not let me out to go for a walk by myself, even if I promised him on oath to come back. Having got to know the world of humans well enough, I did not cherish any rosy illusions, realising, that I might not be able to come back at all. And I was taking comfort in thought, that I was going to stroll to my heart's content in Equestria. Even more so, I did not have to wait for a very long time now.

However, being tortured by boredom, today I asked Lairy to find some pastime, which would be energetic enough for me. I could not imagine any active movement in a closed space myself, except for running about the walls and ceiling.

Having delved into some room behind an unnoticeable door in the bedroom, Lairy brought a middle-sized box with planks, which were full of holes, pegs and rings from there. All of those became my entertainment. The name of that game was "ring-thrower", and in order to play one needed to throw rings on vertical standing pegs. Those colourful rings were large and light in weight, perfect to be caught by the horn or legs, so pegs had become obsolete at once. Lairy was throwing rings, I was catching them, standing at the other side of the room. The small distance between us suddenly became filled with exiting events.

Since the first rings were thrown, I realised that I had lost all the knack over the centuries. Five rings flew past me, I had not even touch them and had not caught a single one. Although one ring brushed against my horn, having caused ringing in my head, and another one happened to hit me exactly on the nose. Lairy wanted to stop the game, but I, sniffling with my nose, insisted on continuing this pastime. He agreed, however now he was throwing rings notably slower.

"You are going easy on me in the game again" - I snorted discontentedly and sat down, having folded my forelegs across the chest. - "It is not interesting at all"

"If catching a ring with your nose seems more interesting to you, promise me, that you will not complain afterwards"

"I promise"

The game became rougher. Rings were flying quickly, there were two or three of them at the same time. I was jumping, my wings were helping me to catch rings almost near the ceiling. Fervour, keen eyes, quick and precise reflexes, hot breath, heated muscles, - all of that was pleasant beyond description. And we had been enjoying ourselves that way for quite a long time.

"I suppose, that is enough, otherwise there will be lather falling onto the floor from you"

"Thank you" - I looked over my glossy sides and wings, wheezing in satisfaction.

"You know, what" - Lairy put rings into the box - "Go to the bathroom. Your smell after this game can knock a person cold"

"But you used to say, that you like my smell" - I winked.

"I like your smell, but not the smell of sweat, which is on you right now. Come, I am going to rub it off"

***

[ Lairy \ Lairy's apartment ]

Having opened windows and the door on the balcony to air the room, I followed Luna.

The little pony of action has already spread a rug in the bathroom and was taking a shower. Streams of water were interlacing with strands of her mane, sparkling and shimmering with every possible tint of blue. The matted coat revealed all the curves and every muscle on the graceful body. Feathers became sodden, swelled up, and heavy wings were hanging down to the bottom of the bathtub. Drops of water were glittering like diamonds, rolling down Luna's elegant neck, round sides and slender legs.

"Are you admiring me?" - she turned round. Her eyes flashed with azure sparkles beneath half-closed eyelids.

Wet Lunar princess was endearingly beautiful. And, having sweat, she smelled like a country workhorse. Anyway, I got a vivid picture of everyday aromas in Equestria. And instead of just rubbing off, as I have planned, it turned out to be a full-fledged bathing.

Luna did not like the shampoo, which I had bought for her earlier. Perhaps, the reason was an unnaturally sharp floral fragrance. So she preferred a common soap. Since Luna was not afraid or embarrassed now, the bathing did not entail any excesses. But suspicions started to stir in my mind, when Luna, having jumped out of the bathtub, asked me to brush her teeth with toothpaste of the particular brand, which I did not have. She had been persisting for a little time, but agreed to use different toothpaste, having examined the toothbrush critically as well.

"I wonder" - I thought, brushing Luna's teeth - "is it the end, or is the main fun yet to come?"

"Thank you" - Having rinsed her mouth, the pony inspected her smile in the mirror with satisfaction - "And do we have "Always" sanitary towels?"

My suspicions have been confirmed, everything fell into place, and my amusement was not long in coming. Lunie had been watching commercials on television. Having given a neighing laugh, I leant on the sink, and Luna had to wait until I neighed it off.

Eyes were wet with tears of laughter, so I had to wash my face. Luna poked my side gently with her hoof:

"Have I asked about something very funny?"

"No" - having sat down on the toilet, I started drying Luna's mane with a towel - "But this question sounds funny, coming from you in particular. How did you find out about sanitary towels?"

"I saw them on television. They also show toothpaste, a toothbrush and many other interesting things"

"It is an advertisement. You should not believe everything they show there"

"Why should I not? I like these taste and smell" - Luna rolled her tongue over her teeth - "They are pleasant"

"Turn round" - I patted the blue shoulder with my palm. With her forelegs resting on the edge of the bathtub, Luna turned her croup towards me. Having given a quiet snort, she twitched her tail reflexively, when I wiped the udder and folds of skin in the perineum, which resembled an elegant elongated figure of eight, carefully with a towel.

"Easy, Luna" - I asked, having noticed her sideways glance. She turned away in silence, letting me dry her tail.

"As for wings, we will do differently, than we did in the first time. Wait for me and arrange feathers"

In the bedroom I took two wide towels out of the wardrobe, closed the door to the balcony on my way and brought several phials of model paint into the kitchen. Having returned to Luna, I found her on the toilet. So I had to wait outside, until she was done with her personal business.

Having smoothed and evened feathers on Luna's wings, I folded them and wrapped in towels.

"Here, let them dry this way. Come, I will pour some hot drink for you"

"It is beyond my comprehension, that I allow you to take such liberties with me" - Luna grumbled, taking sips of warmed juice. Her grumbling was not spiteful, but rather thoughtful and amazed.

"Probably, I know, why you allow me to take these liberties"

"And why, know-it-all?" - Luna inquired with a provoking smile, hoping to catch me at that.

"You trust me, knowing, that I will not use this trust against you. That is the reason"

"You are right. But still, when I had just come here, I let you wash and wipe me dry. Although I did not have any reason to trust you back then"

"Did you have a choice?" - I poured milk into a large shallow plate and added drops of paint of different colours into it.

"I guess, I did. I could have refused to bathe, demanding food and explanation of everything, that had been going on"

"And after that you could have huddled into some corner to sleep, having remained dusty, dirty, smelly and infected with fleas"

"And that as well" - Luna nodded - "But I was exhausted mentally and, I am not going to hide it, I desperately longed for love and care. I could have reacted really seriously only to a threat to life. I had no strength left for anything else"

"I could say, that I had a right guess about your wishes, but it would be a lie. Actually, I had thought everything over in advance. And I was ready"

"How?"

"Thanks to Celestia, I had a general idea about your look and your condition after everything that had happened to you. The bathing helped you to relax, to feel warmth, cosiness and safety. It is very important for the first meeting. You had trusted me, even if just a little, and became more compliant"

"And what if I had not?"

"Well" - I shrugged my shoulders - "One good slap in the muzzle and a couple of harsh words would have made you obedient. And I would have become no different from the first slaver in your eyes. I did not like that solution. A brute force is an efficient method. But it ruins the relationship. And I see it as the last resort"

"Yes..."

"Therefore I used persuasion and caresses. Your sudden nervous breakdown partly helped, when you were crying and I was supporting you"

Luna was examining all that has left of juice in the glass sadly.

"If you had refused to bathe, I would not have forced you. But I would have raised that question on the following day. Otherwise it is easy to imagine, what an apartment with an unwashed pony inside would have turned into"

"It would have turned into a ponybarn" - Luna uttered, having finished drinking juice - "You did the right thing, when you had persuaded me to take a bath. I had slept well after that. And I am grateful to you for your foresight. And what are you making from the milk?"

"Take it" - I gave Luna an empty teaspoon.

"Wh-m-ph" - the spoon got into Luna's mouth.

"Hold it. And now look here" - I moved the plate closer to Luna - "See, there are a lot of drops of paint on milk. Touch milk between drops with an end of the spoon"

Having been intrigued, Luna was wheezing, touching milk with the spoon and watching, as spots of paint were moving, crawling away, stretching in intricate lines, interlacing with each other, forming whimsical patterns. I was sitting nearby, looking at this art. After some time the mixture, which had been decorated with bright pictures, stopped responding to touches, and the pony took the spoon out of her mouth, holding it with hooves of her forelegs.

"It is beautiful. How did it happen?" - having leant over the plate, Luna sniffed the picture.

"This whole milk is a canvas, paints are a picture, and the spoon, which has a bit of soap on its handle, is a brush. When you touch, soap enters into a chemical reaction with milk and it is moving, taking the paint with it. This movement would not have been visible without the paint"

Having turned the spoon over, Luna sniffed its handle.

"You managed to surprise me really well, easily and clearly. I liked that, Can you show me other similar things?"

"I can"

Having filled an empty beer bottle with cold water, I poured milk out into the sink, rinsed the plate, filled it with water from the bottle and put the empty vessel into the freezer. I brought a mirror, a coin, a couple of needles and a flashlight.

"Look" - having submerged the mirror into water, I pointed the beam of the flashlight at it.

Luna exclaimed in admiration, having noticed a rainbow on the wall.

"I cannot believe it" - she whispered, having touched the wall with her hoof - "You are doing the same thing, as pegasi are doing in Equestria, so easily and without magic"

Having turned the flashlight round, I moved the rainbow onto Luna's chest.

"Now I have the rainbow power!" - the alicorn laughed, having assumed a heroic posture.

Having taken the mirror out of the water, I threw a coin.

"And do you have enough power to get the treasure out without touching water?"

Luna looked at me, as if she was pondering over the seriousness of my challenge. Then she stared at the plate and sighed deeply. One, two... a dim bluish haze had enveloped the coin, the circle of metal turned sideways slowly and rolled across the bottom of the plate.

I took the cold bottle out of the freezer and placed it on the table.

"Put the coin onto the neck"

Having strained herself, Luna moved the coin on top of cold bottle.

"H-h-phu!" - the pony exhaled loudly - "I managed it"

"Excellent. I find it very interesting to watch your magic in action"

"And the cap on my horn does not keep me from doing it at all" - Luna smiled contentedly - "What is next?"

"We need to wait a bit and the coin will dance"

"Is it so? Let us wait"

"And there is a little more magic. Will you be able to put a needle on a water surface?"

Having hemmed sceptically, Luna took one of two needles with telekinesis. I was twisting the remaining needle in my fingers, watching the almost weightless little metal rod moving down towards the water. When the alicorn put her magic out, the needle sank to the bottom.

"It is clear, the metal does not float. Did you expect anything else?" - Luna had an indescribable smart air about her.

"We will see" - I tore a corner away from a newspaper, which was lying on the windowsill.

"But you have put the needle on the paper, not on the water, it does not count! You are not meeting your own conditions"

"Sh-h-h, be silent and watch"

Having absorbed water, the piece of paper sank soon. But the needle was lying on the surface, to Luna's great astonishment.

"H-how did you do that?" - the pony was baffled, examining this unnatural phenomenon - "Are you sure, that there is no magic?"

"In the area of magic the question should be addressed to you, not to me. You are the magical creature of us two, who can know magic better than you? The condition is fulfilled, the needle is lying. And nothing has been said about the means of achieving that"

"There is no magic here, except for my own" - while holding the needle with telekinesis, Luna squinted her eyes, examining the metal from all sides. - "But there is, hm... grease. The needle has been floating because of grease. Ah, Lairy, you are a sly one! And you have surprised me slyly once again!" - having thrown the needle onto the table, the pony smiled and applauded, tapping with her hooves. - "But what about the bottle and the coin? It does not seem to start dancing"

"We need to wait longer"

While we were waiting, I took the plate, the flashlight and the mirror away and treated Luna tangerines.

The faint sound of whistle and the ringing of metal against the glass could be heard. Having pricked up her ears, Luna moved her muzzle near the bottle. The coin jumped again, having given a whistle.

"Well, well, what do we have here out of place?" - having raised her brow in musing, the pony looked over the empty bottle.

"Do you want me to explain?"

Luna shook her leg in denial, thinking. I fell silent.

"The metal and the glass are ringing. The wind and the air are usually whistling. The bottle is not empty, it is filled with air. It is cold and the kitchen is warm. The bottle is being warmed up, just like the air inside it. The warmed air is going up and whistling, because the coin is in its way. Everything is clear"

Smiling triumphantly, Luna spread her forelegs. It seemed, that muscles of legs and wings in her shoulder girdle were connected somehow, so wings moved to both sides involuntarily. Towels fell down. I picked them up.

"Let us go to the sofa, we will finish drying them there"

We got settled in a peculiar, comfortable way. I was on the sofa, and Luna was sitting on the floor with her back towards me, spreading her both wings one after another, so I could wipe them and dry feathers well.

There were already two Luna's feathers in my collection. Not long ago, when I was caressing Luna, one of flight feathers suddenly gave in easily to my hand's movement and fell out of the wing. However, Luna was not bothered by the fact of this loss. She explained, that her new feathers would grow in time.

Then I noticed, that Luna was rubbing her ear with the hoof hard.

"Scratch inside of my ear, please" - she looked around - "I cannot reach and scratch it without magic"

"Go on, turn round"

Having moved from her place, Luna rested her head on my lap, and at the same time her horn had almost poked me in the throat. I would have been cautious of sitting in such pose with an alicorn without a protective cap. Having put my thumbs into acoustic meatuses carefully, I began to scratch vigorously, massaging ears on the outside at the same time.

"Ye-e-ea, m-my e-e-ears... well, you amaze me" - Luna wheezed, having rolled up her eyes.

"Move your jaw" - I suggested, having stopped the mind-boggling massage for a moment.

Luna followed my advice and found herself inundated with a surge of pleasure. Her entire body shuddered and one hind leg began to tap out a quick rhythm. I had to press the hoof against the floor with my leg to stop this enthusiastic Morse code. Luna kept bending her head on one side, as if she was trying to stick the finger deeper into the left ear, sitting with a happy look of an addict without a single thought in her wide-open eyes. It seemed to me, that she even stopped breathing, being overwhelmed with pleasure.

"Thank you" - Luna exhaled, trying to sit upright. She definitely felt dizzy. Wobbling, she climbed on the sofa. My fingers were coated with ear-wax. Having leant forward, I wiped them clean on the rug and lay down across from Luna.

"Living next to you becomes more and more giddy" - the pony gave a faint smile.

"And I do not worry, that you will disappear, having flown away on the wings of happiness"

"No matter how far I will fly, I will stay with you"

"Yes"

"Ah-h-how good is that" - Luna yawned.

"Does the remote control happen to be under you?" - I asked, having glanced around the sofa and the bedside table.

"M-m-m?.." - having half-risen, the pony fumbled drowsily with her leg - "Here" - she pushed the remote control out from under her side.

"Thank you"

I was channel-hopping aimlessly. It seemed, that Luna was sleeping, but her moving ears suggested, that she was watching the events.

On the first channel Boris Yeltsin was elucidating something about establishment of the order. Having listened to a couple of phrases with a languid attention, I switched to the next program.

"Lairy, do you take part in politics, in your country's life?" - ex-ruler of Equestria inquired, while she was "asleep". Her ear, which was tousled after the scratching, turned towards me, waiting for an answer.

"No, the country does not concern me personally. I am interested only in my own well-being"

"The well-being of one denizen depends on the whole country, does it not?"

"No way. Your well-being depends on you alone. Only you, your way of thinking, your actions determine, how you will live. Not country, not government, not people, nothing. Only you are responsible for your life and destiny, no one else is"

Luna half-opened one eye:

"Somehow I am sure that you are mistaken"

Having snorted, I turned off the television.

"And I do not pretend to have veritable judgements. It is quite possible, that I am mistaken. But do you know, what the most interesting thing is?" - I leaned forward to Luna - "I have been living my whole life with this wrong opinion, I have not died yet and I have not found myself in some serious trouble either. Probably, it is not so wrong, is it, mr-r-rm?"

"In that case, I have something to think about" - Luna settled down more comfortably, I kissed her on the nose and covered her with a blanket. The bathing and the massage had a beneficial effect on the alicorn.

Having opened the door of the storeroom, I looked at shelves, which were filled with odds and ends. Really, there were too much junk, which has been kept here since my childhood. My folks had a severe case of thriftiness and could not even throw worn shoes away without making a scene and accusing of every deadly sin. Well, in spring I was going to toss those bales and boxes of dresses, bathrobes, boots, linen and many other things out. And it would be even better to tear the entire storeroom down and place a normal cabinet instead.

I thrust the "ringthrower" onto the shelf, and at that moment a goldish thread on the side of a bale, filled with some rags, which was lying nearby, twinkled in the dim light of the lamp. Having reached it, I touched the thread. It turned out to be metallic. Having pulled the bale out, I untied it and found a skein of thick "golden" wire among crumpled socks and tights. Its end had pierced through the bag and stuck out. Heh, I remembered being fond of weaving various figurines out of the wire.

Should I engage in emptying this "hoardroom" right now? When I go outside, I will take this bag of socks with me. And I will do so every day. I liked this idea, the bag was tied up and thrown into the corner next to the door. Let it stay in sight.

Having sat down at the table, I seized pliers and started to untangle the wire.

***

[ Luna \ Dreams ]

Having yawned, I looked around, trying to figure out, where I had found myself. I was lying on the cloud, a cool breeze was blowing upon me, it was grey and misty nearby, like the dawn was about to come. The breeze was carrying vaguely familiar aromas of something, that was dear and close to me, but, despite of my desire to do so, I was unable to recall, where I had smelled them before. I felt inexplicably uneasy.

Drifting in the wind, the cloud was approaching a huge mountain. Inaccessible slopes, which were veiled with fog, looked forbidding and gloomy in the pre-dawn darkness. There was a reason for choosing mount Canterlot as a place for Equestria's capital.

Having hovered over the plateau, my cloud melted away, forcing me to step on a moss-covered rock. This thick and soft moss on the plateau resembled a carpet and was tickling hooves pleasantly. Why was I here? What do I need to find out in this dream? In any case, since there was Canterlot, it was a pony's dream. It could even be my own dream.

Shivering with cold, I looked around and noticed a small path, which ran past cliffs further down. It was unpleasant to follow this trail, many sharp rocks were pricking hooves. Without stopping, I created hoofshoes. They were appearing with every new step, enveloping my hooves and shimmering magically with moonlight. Several steps later my legs were wearing sturdy shoes.

Having circled around the mountainside, I saw the city below me. Canterlot looked empty, there was no sign of life. Citizens were not walking the streets, lights were not lit in houses, smoke was not coming out of the chimneys. The royal castle with a lot of towers, spires, pennons was rising above the city majestically. The dimly twinkling light could be seen through the window in one of the towers.

Having spread my wings, I dived sharply towards this tower. Hoofshoes clattered against the stone almost imperceptibly, when I landed on the balcony carefully. There was an ascetic interior, which included a torn tapestry, a cabinet, filled with documents and books, a simple wooden table, a candlestick with five almost burned out candles, several scrolls, which were piled up carelessly, an unsteady stack of papers, an upturned inkstand. The only chair was lying broken next to the wall. Celestia was writing something thoughtfully, leaning over the table and dipping the pen into a puddle of ink.

I knocked at the door frame delicately. No one heard me. Having found a latch below, I lifted it with telekinesis and opened the door. Celestia's ear turned at the sound of creaking hinges.

"Ah, Luna?" - my sister asked, continuing her writing - "Well, since you are here, I have news"

I lingered upon the threshold, having forgotten to fold my wings. News?

"Tia, what is happening? Why is Canterlot m-m... empty?"

I have almost said "dead".

"Do you have wings' erection because of me?" - Celestia inquired, having taken a brief look at me.

"Eh? No" - feeling embarrassed, I folded limbs, which had been raised in a suggestive gesture, hastily.

"And what about Lairy? Do your little wings erect firmly near him? Especially, when he is scratching your back?"

The pen, which was enveloped in goldish magic, kept tracing on the paper. I did not know, how to answer. Without a doubt, it felt good to be with the human, but the question about my "little wings" was outrageously tactless. Having learned all spicy details once, Lairy himself was very tender with my wings and did not make jokes, noticing the excitation, which I was unable to hide physically.

"I am busy preparing to defend Equestria from the monster. That is why Canterlot is empty. I had sent everypony out. Now I am living alone, finishing writing orders" - having folded the sheet of paper, Celestia sealed it and dispatched it with a magical cloud, which flew over my head out of the tower.

"From monster? From whom?" - I asked guardedly. Probably, all this nervousness of my sister could be explained with upcoming problems? Could I help her somehow?

"From you, of course. Do you know any other monster, besides you, Sombra and Discord?" - having sighed wearily, Celestia rested her chest and forelegs against the table, which gave out a muffled creak.

"From me? Am I a monster?!" - the balcony seemed to shake under my hooves. Or did my legs trembled?.. How could I be a monster?

Having picked up all scrolls from the table with telekinesis, the white ruler unrolled them simultaneously. Having taken a look, she threw one on the floor near my hooves.

"Do you recognise?"

Still being shocked and hoping, that my sister's words were only some bad practical joke, I picked up the scroll. There was a picture of a gracefully prancing black horse wearing a lightweight blue helmet and an elegant armour on her chest. Her green eye with a vertical pupil was squinted predatorily. The mane and the tail were formed by magical clouds, sparkling with constellations. But her destiny mark impressed me the most. It was a bright white crescent against some purple spots.

"This is Nightmare Moon. And this is you, Luna"

The scroll fell on the floor. This familiar name slashed my memory like a red-hot knife across the heart. I sobbed, looking at Celestia.

"Tia... why do you do that to me?" - my whisper could hardly be heard.

Still half-lying on the table. Celestia put scrolls away into the cabinet. Only the scroll with a picture of Nightmare Moon remained untouched beneath my hooves.

"I had been dreaming of bringing you back, Luna, and I had put a lot of effort into it, but everything turned out to be much more complicated, that I had assumed. And it brought only a lot of trouble as a result" - an intense weariness with a clear tint of bitterness and regret could be heard in Celestia's words - "And now more and more often I find myself wondering, whether your return is really necessary? It was peaceful without you, Equestria was living and prospering. And - hello, the sister is back with a bag of problems on her tail" - she sighed heavily.

"Tia, but I am not Nightmare Moon" - I exclaimed in despair. Bitter tears filled my eyes.

"Luna, hold yourself in leash. You are still the same stubborn mare, who have not got smarter in a tho-u-sand years" - measuring out her pace, Celestia was approaching me slowly with a stern expression on her muzzle - "First of all, I am responsible for my ponies' well-being. And I had a choice. But you wanted to conjure an eternal night, plunge the whole world into chaos and darkness, following some fancies of your unruly ego, thinking of nothing, but your wounded self-esteem. Were you able to forget all of that? Or do you think, I was able to forget?"

Sobbing quietly, I moved back and fell down. My legs refused to obey me.

The light alicorn came close to me, towering with her unwavering power.

"I remember. But I still..."

Celestia walked round me, having sent the lying scroll deep into the room with a kick.

"I stopped sleeping soundly because of you. The life of the capital is disturbed because of you. Several important events, which, if they had been successful, could have guaranteed my country five hundreds more years of prosperity, have had to be cancelled because of you. The very life in Equestria is now in danger because of you"

It was very difficult for me to realise, that I was causing troubles in my homeland. I tried to get up clumsily. Celestia looked over her shoulder at me:

"Luna, let us speak frankly. Who needs you here? Who still remembers the Princess of Night, except for me? No one cares about your fancy nights, and no one bothers about dreams, which you create. Your talent had become worthless long ago. It is time to understand and accept that at last. I move both luminaries by myself. Dozens of ponies' generations have been going to sleep and waking up just fine for hundreds of years. That is why everypony praises me, for I am bringing light and life into their world. And what are you bringing? An illusion of happiness and impossible dreams? What can you give to this world? Darkness and cold, death and oblivion? And if you come back, what other stunts shall I expect from you? In addition to all the problems with internal and external politics, I will have to control you as well constantly! If you, my dear sister, had paid more attention to your duties, instead of introspection and some silly filly's resentment, before, you could have understood, how difficult it is for me now!" - It felt like Celestia has thrown these words in my muzzle.

The white alicorn froze, as if she was a marble statue, one could clearly see disappointment and anger in her eyes. No, my sister did not touch me even once, but to hear her rebukes was scary and excruciatingly painful. Crying loudly because of my humiliation and weakness, I crawled to the fence, rolled over it and plummeted down like a stone from the balcony into the murky void, loosing my feathers. I spread my wings instinctively only over the very mountains, having avoided crushing by miracle, and straighten out my flight. Farther, farther from this nightmare.

Having stroke with my magic angrily, I flew out and found myself in someone else's dream, where the storm was raging. Having slammed into a huge black cloud, I buried myself in it as deep as I could and broke into tears again. Unceasing cracks of thunder were muffling my moans and cries. I felt foul, cold and empty at heart, because of my own sister's treatment of me.

And because I realised, that Celestia was right about something.

***

[ Luna \ Lairy's apartment ]

The sofa under my head was wet with tears and saliva. I felt awful. I have been rejected, devastated and crushed. And everything had been so nice, when I was falling asleep... Having tossed about for some time, I pulled off the bedspread and looked around the room sadly. Alluringly cosy line of light could be seen under the door, which led into the bedroom. Having moaned with a wrenching feeling of loneliness, I approached the door and touched it with my hoof hesitatingly. What if Lairy is busy and I disturb him? I listened, but heard only silence. Having braced myself, I pushed the door timidly. Lairy was sitting at the desk and weaving some circlet from a flexible golden thread, using an instrument, which resembled a bird's beak. Having noticed me, he covered his work with his palms and brushed it off into the drawer of his desk.

"I am making a surprise for you. You should not see it yet"

Indeed, I have disturbed him. Having thought of that, I wanted to leave.

"Luna, come here" - the human beckoned, moving his hand.

I approached. He pressed his palms against my checks with such a warm, familiar gesture of caring.

"You look exhausted"

"I have nightmares again"

"This is bad"

"Yes"

Having sat down, I put hooves of my forelegs on the human's lap and met his eyes.

"Lairy, please, drive me somewhere to go for a walk"

***

[ Lairy \ Lairy's apartment ]

Luna and I were admiring the sunset from the balcony. Gleams of sunshine were gliding by antennas on the roof of the house across the street. Some late birds were hurrying to find a place to spend the night. A plane has appeared like a silvery flash in the distance.

The princess wanted to travel somewhere tonight, but I was not in the mood to drive the car. I suggested, that as an alternative we could breathe the fresh air and look at the city, without leaving home, and opened the central double casement window on the balcony wide.

Luna was standing on her hind legs, having lolled forelegs out over the window-sill. She was looking around with interest, having stretched her neck. It seemed, that she saw the city in the evening with its billions awakening lights for the first time.

"There are so many things I do not understand..." - the pony narrowed her eyes, taking a good look at something below.

"What?"

"It has already driven away. There were red and blue fireflies on its roof. Hm, all of this resembles a huge hive"

I was not worried, that outsiders could notice Luna. People are inclined to look underfoot or inside their pockets, not around, let alone to throw back their heads to look at the skyscraper, if it is not some burning landmark. If someone below see the pony, peering down from the balcony, they will take her for a dog in the twilight, because this is the most logical explanation of an animal's presence in a town house.

"There is an interesting theory, according to which humans are descendants of apes. They say, some species of apes had been becoming smarter slowly and tediously in the process of evolution. Supporters of this theory quote a lot of facts, starting from similarities in appearance and finishing with ancient instruments of labour, which were discovered in stone caves"

"Hm, I saw apes." - Having looked at me through cottony eyelashes, Luna half-closed her bright eyes musingly. Sometimes it looked like she was embarrassed to make a close eye contact. - "Is there a similarity? Perhaps, there is." - she shrugged her shoulders and her wings moved, as if they wanted to be spread.

I arranged the warm blanket, which were covering the mare's shoulders, and held her close to me. When she was standing vertically, the alicorn was a head taller than me, if you do not count the horn. I liked looking up at her from below. In moments like this Luna's regal posture seemed especially elegant and fragile, and I felt like I was a loyal subject under the patronage of the Princess of the Night. Without a doubt, she understood and appreciated that.

"But if one looks at the situation from another point of view, it will become clear, that humans are descendants of ants" - with an outstretched arm, I swept over the city below us. - "Here, all of this is a giant ant hill, and the way of life of its inhabitants is quite similar to the life of insects. All of them wake up in the morning, run out into the street, bring food and stuff into their dwellings and freeze, when the night comes. And that continues their whole lives with a little variety. Like insects, people are always running somewhere, destroying something, digging, dragging, building. To make sure of that, it is enough just to take a look at the ant hill and at the city from above. You will not see a difference"

"It is a very good comparison. Tell me, but how are you different from the others?" - Luna asked with an interest. - "You wake up in the morning, go out into the street, bring food and go to sleep at night the same way"

"I am different, because I am able to see all of this from the outside, without being a part of the whole, I observe the movement. It is very interesting. Most of the people do not even realise, that they are "ants", and, while they are following the herd, they call it "being in the middle of things", "keeping up to date" and similar abstract pretty phrases"

"An "outside observer". I know this tactics. I used to be such an observer. Or rather I had to be one" - having sighed, the alicorn looked at the crimson sky, which was becoming darker quickly - "There are beautiful nights here. And there are a lot of stars. I cannot believe, that the night comes by itself. Probably, I will never understand, how can it be, that the night comes without my help" - she uttered with amazement and sadness.

I was scratching her neck gently, playing with random locks of the mane.

"Do you want me to tell you, how it was in Equestria?"

"Yes, tell me"

Luna bowed her head, remembering:

"Celestia lowered the Sun, ending the day, and I started the night, raising the Moon. And since the night was my calling, I was inspired, weaving the darkness, sounds of the night, the moonlight, constellations, trails of comets into a one harmonious whole. Every night I had been creating unique masterpieces"

The alicorn became absorbed in her remembrances, looking at the sky and speaking in an undertone, as if I was not there at all. I kept caressing Luna's neck, feeling her rapid pulse. Those moments of her life were dear to her heart.

"I had been creating beautiful dreams for ponies, helping them to forget troubles, conquer fears, find answers. So they could wake up well-rested, ready for a new day"

Having taken a step back, Luna put her forelegs on a window-sill and rested her head on legs. Her breathing was turning into light clouds of steam in the frosty air.

"I remember, you said, that the God had no one to show his Earth to. I understand his feelings. In the course of time I began to feel more and more disappointed. Waking up, ponies praised Celestia, hailed the new day, enjoyed light and warmth. And no one remembered me, complimented me, admired my beautiful nights. No one cared for intricate patterns of constellations, which I worked so hard on without keeping my hooves still for even a moment. And what about the incredible beauty of meteor showers?.. What about the twinkling of stars, the mysterious light of the full moon, reflecting in lakes, as if they were mirrors? And what about serenades of night insects, which sounded sweet in the ears? No one noticed that. Everypony was asleep at night"

The Night Princess turned towards me. Tears were glimmering in the corners of her eyes.

"I used to cry at dawn, seeing, that all my work was wasted. I tried to talk to my sister, hoping that she would understand me, but... well, you had heard her song: she "was consumed by state affairs". When the fate of entire country rests on the tip of your horn, heartfelt conversations are out of question"

Having got one wing out of the blanket, the alicorn hugged me. Having stopped caresses imperceptibly, I was taking heed of the princess' revelations.

"I had lost any hope of getting some simple attention, let alone understanding, from Celestia. And I felt lonely and undeservedly forgotten. There was no one in the palace, whom I could share my sadness with. And then a friend had started to come into my dreams. And I became utterly attached to him. At first I had been giving vent to my pain, grief and indignation, then I exhausted myself and listened to his advice. The friend was convincing me, that my sister was humiliating me, that she did not have any regard for me, she underestimated my power. But in fact I was strong and able to stand against my sister to make her accept me as her equal. For that matter, I could create an eternal night. Everypony would notice it and would be admiring it forever. I liked that idea very much. The friend had also said, that he sympathised with me and was willing to help, if I let him merge with my body"

The wing, which was embracing my back, was tense and twitched often. Being introspective, Luna has got into some personal thickets. I dare say, she will get it off her chest and then make me swear not to tell anyone royal secrets of national importance.

"And so, I refused to lower the moon. Of course, it instantly got me the attention I had been craving for. The sister tried to convince me, but I knew, that if I were to give in to her pleas, I would admit being forever weak and unable to do great deeds. "Giving in" meant letting Celestia keep wrapping me around her hoof, ignoring constantly, being unable to endure the idea that were equals. I remained adamant in my decision and announced that I was going to make the night everlasting. My friend appeared and merged with me as he had promised. I felt that I was changing, becoming different from my former self, but it was of no significance in comparison with something I obtained. That extraordinary power, which I was able to direct and form into whatever I wanted, made me dizzy. I considered myself the only one, who deserved to rule the world"

Having fallen silent, the alicorn searched for the night luminary with her glance. Having folded the wing, she shrugged her shoulders, feeling the chill. I lifted the blanket higher, wrapping up her neck.

"Celestia kept appealing to me. But I did not want to hear even my name and replied, that "Luna" was not here anymore. A new name appeared suddenly, as if someone from the outside had suggested it to me. However, I accepted it as a part of my new life. And I called myself "Nightmare Moon"

Having startled, I looked at the pony intently.

"... She ceased to be Nightmare Moon at that, and that is strange as well... And what is this Nightmare Moon? ...I would rather not tell about it. It is an old family matter"

Luna, who was in some kind of trance, did not notice my unrest. I was hanging on every word of the dark princess with the dark past. Now pride and bitterness could be heard in her voice.

"I was taking pleasure in the power, which I had gained. I drove my sister out of the castle, made her fly away from me. I pursued her without letting her recover. I was striking with magic, filling every blow with rage and hatred, but the sister was able to dodge in time. Finally, one my strike reached Celestia. Having lost consciousness, she broke through the roof of the palace and crushed in the hall. My exultation knew no boundaries, I was so happy, I could hardly move my wings. Now my defeated sister would understand, that I was not joking, she would take me seriously and admit, that it was her fault. I was even willing to be a bit kinder to her. Well, I was definitely not going to keep her in the prison under lock and key"

The pony's eyes were glimmering in the night gloom, showing, that she was very agitated.

"Alas, my happiness did not last. Having regained consciousness, Celestia did an extremely foul deed to me. Having said, that I had left her no choice, she used Elements of Harmony. They had magical power, which was far greater, than both her abilities and mine, so it was not safe to use them all at once. If I had known earlier, that my sister, who was blinded by autocracy and arrogance, would dare to do such a thing, I would have immediately thrown her unconscious to the sun. We faced each other in a direct battle, and there was nothing I could do..."

Nightmare Moon punched the window-sill with her hoof in frustration.

"And in the end it was you, who had been thrown to the moon" - I caressed her leg in a sympathetic gesture.

Having shrieked, the pony sprung aside, as if I had materialised out of nowhere. The terror reflected in her eyes, accompanied by the clank of a half-empty pot against the floor.

"Oh-h, forgive me..." - having sobbed, the alicorn took a step forward, hugged me and pressed me against her chest - "I fell out of reality completely"

"Luna?.." - I aspirated in whisper, caressing the quivering ear. Did she remember anything from her speeches, or did she have a shift in consciousness?

The pony has been looking at the sky for a long time. I felt her wings trembling under the blanket. Hot drops suddenly fell on my hand. Having craned her neck, Luna looked down at me, but her gaze was not patronising at all.

"I do not even know, whether I want to come back to Equestria. Here... I feel that someone needs me. You need me, at least. Even though I have no magic and it is not very comfortable here for me. But I have something to live for. I think of you, wait for you every evening, I believe, that you love and need me. And there? I will be lonely again, no one will need me, even my sister. I do not want it to be like that!"

Crying, she dropped to four legs and stuck her nose into my armpit. The blanket slipped down, mercilessly uncovering emotions of Luna, who was shaken with sobs. I was caressing her head and neck in silence. Tears were rolling down my cheeks.

***

[ Luna ]

Breathing heavily, I was regaining my calm slowly. Having squatted, Lairy wiped my tears with his sleeve. Having sobbed, I smiled sadly, pressing my muzzle against the hand in gratitude.

"Were you crying too?" - I touched his face with my wing in surprise.

"Yes. I really sympathise with you, Luna"

"I am sorry"

"It is alright. Let us go for a walk"

"But you had said, that you did not want to drive"

"And we will not drive. We will go to the park, it is not far from here"

***

"Moon Rise" translate - is cancelled.

Unreleased chapters
Ch. 9 - Reality and Dreams
Ch. 10 - Refractions of the past
Ch. 11 - Locked up
Ch. 12 - Falling of the Sun
Ch. 13 - Moon Rise
Ch. 14 - Healing
Ch. 15 - Assorted Discoveries
Ch. 16 - Princesses and Warrior
Ch. 17 - ExtraTEAnary dreams
Ch. 18 - Reward for merit
Ch. 19 - A tale of the times of old...
Ch. 20 - The suffering of days of other years...
Ch. 21 - You are a Monster!
Ch. 22 - Eternal Night
Ch. 23 - Forks of Fate
Ch. 24 - Return of the Monster

You can to try read original russian story.

ch. 9 - Reality and Dreams

The following literary text has been translated from Russian to English
using the DeepSeek neural network.

[ Lairy \ Lairy’s Apartment ]

While putting away the paint bottles in the closet drawer, I noticed that my knife was lying open. To check, I folded and unfolded it a couple of times - the mechanism worked flawlessly. Playing with the weapon, I glanced thoughtfully at Luna, who was standing by the bed:

"Is it normal for a pony to rummage through other people's things?"

"No, but..." She stopped short upon hearing the dull clink of the spring.

With a reproachful smile, I tilted the knife, reflecting the lamp's light into Luna's eyes.

"But you were in my closet."

"Yes." Luna admitted guiltily, her gaze drawn to the shiny strip of steel.

"And why were you there?"

When I placed the folded knife on the table, the pony seemed to snap out of a trance. Had someone tried to stab her on the streets that she tensed up so much at the sight of a knife?

"I..."

"It would be better if you didn’t lie, so as not to lose mutual trust," I warned.

"I wanted to understand your life a little better. The part of it I can only guess about."

"Well, did you succeed?"

"No. I found even more questions, and I can’t answer many of them myself."

"Alright. Still, it’s not good to snoop through other people’s things."

"I’m sorry, Lairy, I know that."

"You know, but you still did it," I scolded the princess with annoyance. Luna lowered her gaze to the floor and meekly drooped her ears. "I appreciate your courage, directness, and honesty. You admitted your mistake. I won’t scold you." I touched Luna’s head, comforting her.

"That’s truly a fair decision on your part," she replied without a hint of pretension. "But listen, I almost cut my hoof with that knife. How does it work?"

"It’s simple," I picked up the handle from the table again. "There’s a spring inside, and a little lever on the side. When you move it..." I held the blade with my finger, showing its slow movement. "And back the same way."

"It folds inside? And it pops out so fast you can’t even blink."

"It’s a quick-combat weapon. That’s why it’s made like that."

I helped Luna put on her sweater and scarf. To keep her mane from tangling around her legs, I wrapped it around her neck under the scarf. Then I got dressed myself. I put the knife in my pants pocket. In the kitchen, I grabbed a pack of cookies and filled a thermos with hot water.

"Lairy, aren’t we taking this?" Luna pulled the skateboard from the balcony.

"Nah, the roads are covered in snow and ice," I gestured with my hands as if mixing something. "You can’t ride. Only walking."

The pony silently put the beloved board back.

"Are you comfortable?" I asked, checking if the clothes fit her well. Luna moved her legs, wings, and neck.

"Thanks, everything’s fine, I’m ready."

"Pay attention: it’s already late, and we won’t be taking busy streets. But if we meet people, please stay calm. Don’t shy away from everyone, and definitely don’t charge at them. Also, if someone’s nearby, don’t talk to me. To get my attention, you can snort, neigh, or whinny. But to others, you should look like an ordinary animal. As much as possible."

"Why are you telling me all this? Am I unstable?"

"Luna, we have a great relationship, but I don’t know how you’ll react around other people. Or should I remind you what you’ve been through because of them?"

Thoughtfully twitching her ears, Luna nodded with a serious expression:

"I understand, alright."

While putting on my shoes, I glanced at Luna’s hooves. Would it hurt her to walk through the slush of broken ice and snow? Regular horses have hard hooves, but hers are clearly different in structure. Well, if there’s a problem, she’ll tell me herself. Slinging the thermos bag over my shoulder, I let Luna out of the apartment.

The stairwell was quiet. The bright light of a single lamp stung my eyes. The scuffed walls were covered in slogans like “Tsoi is alive,” “Rap,” “Metallica,” and other graffiti expressing the musical tastes of their authors. The floor was crisscrossed with size 45 footprints, likely from someone pacing in anticipation. The air was thick with the familiar smell of smoke. Seems like Danil is now smoking out the entire floor.

"It stinks here!" Luna whispered indignantly. I locked the door, and we approached the elevator.

A floor below, the garbage chute clanged. Then came the creak of the railing and heavy footsteps. Someone was coming up.

Glancing at me in alarm, Luna moved toward our apartment. I grabbed her by the scarf:

"Stay calm. We won’t have time to hide anyway."

The elevator was in no hurry to do its job. I pressed the call button again.

A squat, overweight woman stepped onto the landing, wearing a vulgar red robe, brown knitted tights, and mud-splattered galoshes. Her purple, disheveled hair stuck out in silent protest, and her bloated, swarthy face bore an expression of disgust. As she passed by, the woman gave us a contemptuous look. Only a few seconds later did her frozen mind register the bright image of a blue, horned horse in a speckled woolen scarf, a black-and-white patterned sweater, and even a rope belt.

With a detached expression, I waited for the elevator. Luna, feigning absolute indifference, spread her wing and adjusted a few feathers with her lips, though they were already perfectly aligned.

"What the hell?" The old woman muttered.

Luna gave her a disapproving look but refrained from commenting. I scratched the “hellish creature” behind the ear, and she snorted contentedly. The harmless sound snapped the old woman out of her stupor, her disgust replaced by a grimace of fear. Shielding herself with a trash can and continuing to mumble incoherently, she sidestepped us, pressing against the wall so hard that old paint crumbled behind her. Finally, she disappeared into Danil’s apartment, rattling the bolts.

"Well, relax," Luna whispered, nudging my chest with her muzzle. Only then did I realize I’d been standing there with a pounding heart, in extreme tension, and even sweating. Exhaling, I leaned my shoulder against the wall. The elevator doors were closing, but I managed to stick my foot in, and they slid open again. When we entered, Luna pressed the button for the first floor with her hoof and turned to me:

"You shouldn’t have worried so much."

"M-pff..." I smiled and petted Luna. The touch of her thick, silky mane was calming.

With a clang, the elevator began its descent. Through the crack in the door, strips of light and shadow from the floors slid by.

"I was worried about you."

"If anyone should be worried about, it’s that woman. I don’t think she liked me."

"Forget her. Let’s think about our walk instead."

"What’s the plan?" Luna rubbed her head against my side.

"Wander the streets, admire the stars, breathe in the winter cold."

"A grand plan!" Luna laughed.

On the elevator door was a fresh sticker from a “Dinosaurs” gum pack - I carefully peeled it off and stuck it on the lining of my jacket.

"What’s that?" Luna asked curiously.

"A collectible picture. I collect them. I have an album at home."

"Oh, I’d like to see it. Will you show me?"

"Yeah, tomorrow."

"Good." Sitting beside me, Luna leaned against me, listening to the hum of the machinery.

Reaching its destination, the elevator stopped and reluctantly opened its doors, letting us out. A ginger cat darted under our feet, and before stepping out, I touched the control button, sending the cat to the eighth floor.

"Why does he run around?" Luna asked.

"The cat? He’s a local. I know where he lives. And he knows I can deliver him. Why wear out his paws on the stairs when he can wait for a familiar human? So he’s adapted."

"Smart. Should I follow you ‘step-by-step’ like before?"

"Yes, until we leave the yard. Then you can walk beside me."

The frosty wind, like an enraged bear, rushed at the entrance door. Luna and I pushed against it with our hands and hooves, forcing it open.

"What a wing-carrying wind," Luna said once outside, pressing her wings tightly to her sides.

"What wind?"

"The kind that’ll carry you away if you spread your wings."

"Should we go back home?" I glanced around the empty, snow-covered yard.

"I want to unwind, let’s take a walk."

***

[ Luna ]

We walked leisurely down the street, disappearing into the semi-darkness and then stepping into circles of light. To our right loomed buildings - now that we were outside, I could admire their grandeur and austere beauty. I couldn’t recall seeing such enormous houses in Canterlot or any other city in Equestria. Absolutely identical walls, windows, balconies. If I needed to fly to Lairy, I wouldn’t be able to recognize the right balcony in this giant human hive.

To our left, majestic trees lined the road, their sprawling crowns shimmering with intricate snow patterns under the streetlights. It was windless here, and I admired the winter beauty, as fragile and beautiful as crystal. Beyond the trees stretched another wide and busy road, devoid of people but filled with cars.

Standing on my hind legs, I cautiously peeked into a first-floor window. I was curious to see how other people lived. A young family was having dinner, and a little boy in a red shirt, sitting opposite the window, saw me, froze with a spoon near his mouth, his eyes filled with awe. The glass fogged up from my breath. Smiling warmly, I winked at the child and retreated into the night.

"Dad, there’s someone so beautiful outside the window!" I heard a high-pitched voice through the vent.

I lay down, pressing against the wall so as not to be noticed. Light from the window fell on the road. The shadow of a tall man appeared, he peered into the night, then closed the window with thick curtains.

"Whoever it is, Alyosha, they have no business here."

A bitter smile twisted my muzzle. Did they think of me like that in Equestria too? Perhaps I shouldn’t peek into windows anymore...

Lairy stood with his back to me, pretending he was alone, thus not revealing my presence under the window. I approached him, and he carefully brushed the dust off my side and wing, scratching my mane. I decided not to ruin my walk over a randomly overheard phrase.

The snow crunched under my hooves, and sharp pieces of ice often pricked, forcing me to step quickly.

"Look," Lairy pointed to a large shop window.

"To me, all this seems very shabby," I replied, examining the glasses and vases behind the glass.

"No, look at the reflections, they’re funny here."

A large, long car with a brightly lit interior drove by, and in the glass, I saw the car bend like a caterpillar crawling along a branch, and the distorted lights danced in a chaotic swirl.

"This glass is like a funhouse mirror! It’s really funny," I laughed.

From the darkness of the shop window, a sinister glow slowly approached, and ripples spread across the glass like water. Sensing danger, I stepped closer and froze in fear, seeing my dark reflection in the shimmering waves. My glowing mane spilled out from under a blue helmet, shimmering with blue and purple hues, my slightly open mouth smiled with a predatory grin, and my green eyes with vertical pupils shone with a malevolent gleam.

"Ah!" I recoiled from the glass. The man looked at me in surprise:

"What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen Tartarus."

"Worse!" I thought but remained silent.

"Shall we go?" I tried to ask as casually as possible and appear calm.

Lairy hugged me and pressed me to his chest:

"Luna, why are you hiding something? I can see you’re scared. What happened?"

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to lie and say everything was fine. But I also didn’t want to drag Lairy into my nightmares. How could he help with a tragedy he knew almost nothing about? And if he learned more, how would he look at me then? As a monster?

"I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll try to figure it out myself somehow," I sniffled, realizing how pitiful I looked. Lairy studied my face intently, and I felt utterly defenseless.

"Alright," he gently rubbed his cheek against mine. Then released me. I sighed with relief but felt ashamed of myself.

We approached the intersection. I knew Lairy wouldn’t let anyone hurt me, but I still tensed up when I saw people on the other street.

"Stay close," his hand touched my withers.

Looking at the endless line of cars, I closed my eyes, remembering myself. I am a Princess, a ruler, a proud and majestic pony. Even if not by my own will, here I am a representative of Equestria, and I must behave as befits a Princess. And as if echoing in my mind, I heard the words of a man spoken so long ago:

"A Princess remains a Princess in any world, even without a crown or throne. If she remains true to herself."

Smiling, I straightened up, wanting to spread my wings, but remembering the face of the woman we met at home, I realized people’s reactions might be unpredictable.

The cars stopped in a row, yielding the way.

"Let’s go," Lairy whispered, lightly tapping my neck.

The oncoming people looked at me with confusion and surprise. Well, their feelings were quite predictable. An old man with a piercing gaze and a mysterious smile, two staggering young men, a bewildered girl. I trotted past them with dignity.

"Dim, why are there cows walking around the city, huh?" A drunken voice rang out.

"Pet, what cows, are you completely out of it? Drink less. That’s a horse."

"Really? Where have you seen horses with horns, in Chernobyl? Let’s go back and check!"

"I’ll give you ‘go back’! You have work tomorrow, and you’re wasted! Go home, I’m not dragging you."

I chuckled softly.

"Well, Luna, it seems our walk will be remembered for a long time, not just by us."

A woman in high leather boots, a warm striped coat with a gray collar, and a red fur hat passed by, overtaking us.

"How people love to wear skins and furs," the thought almost made me nauseous. Fortunately, I got away with an empty stomach spasm.

A little girl skipping beside the woman turned around and noticed me. A delighted cry, as powerful as my "Canterlot" voice but in high notes, echoed down the street:

"Mom, mom, look, what a horsey-y-y! I want one too!"

Leaving her mother’s hand, the little wonder rushed to me and tightly hugged my front leg. Slightly stunned and embarrassed by the excess of attention, I hesitantly tried to push the girl away. Her mother, looking at me with annoyance, bent down to her child:

"Tamara, we already have a cat."

"That’s a cat, and this is a horsey."

"Excuse me?" Lairy grabbed the child by the sides, lifted her, forcing her to finally release my leg, and sat Tamara on my back. Stunned, I looked questioningly at my friend - he gently scratched under my chin. The child clung to me, hugging my neck, and my heart melted. It had been so long since I’d been with children… I looked up at the stars, feeling tears welling up.

"She won’t fall?"

"No, she’s holding on tight."

I walked almost unconsciously. Voices faded into the fog of memories…

The endless sky, the full Moon, the bright constellations, the peacefully sleeping city. The Moon’s light, mysterious and long, penetrated the windows, touching the little ponies. A magical, enchanting song awakened them from their sleep:

"Come little children
I'll Take thee away
Into a land of enchantment

Come little children
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of shadows"

Supported by the magic of the song, the foals rushed to the open windows. Earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi - they flew to me, and I saw awe and trust in their eyes. The children hugged me, nuzzling their muzzles against me. Together we flew through the clouds, playing and frolicking…

"Thank you," I whispered almost inaudibly. Shaking my head, I brushed away the tears.

I walked between Lairy and Tamara’s mother. The girl still clung to my neck. My heart was filled with joy and peace.

"It’s time for us to go home. Get down, Tamara."

Lairy lowered the happy girl to the ground, but Tamara wasn’t in a hurry to part, reaching out to me. I leaned down and received a kiss on the nose. "Muzzle kisses" are pretty much the same everywhere.

"Thank you!" Tamara waved goodbye. "Come visit us!"

Watching the green coat disappear, I turned to Lairy:

"She invited us to visit?"

My human shrugged:

"Kids are always like that. They sincerely believe that all the good and interesting people they meet will definitely come back to them. So they invite. But in reality, we’ll never see her again. Over time, children learn the inevitability of parting and stop inviting."

"Well, let this evening be a fairy tale for Tamara. But… Are we going to the park soon?"

"We’re already here," Lairy spread his arms as if wanting to embrace the vastness. "We’re in the park."

I looked around. This park was very different from what I expected to see: a large, orderly forest with paved paths. The occasional burning lanterns prevented getting lost, and the moonlight, silvery and sparkling everywhere in the darkness, beckoned with the promise of a miracle.

A blissful sigh escaped my lips in a white cloud. I walked along the path, enjoying the peace, listening to the crunch of snow under my hooves. Lairy walked slowly behind, allowing me to be alone with my thoughts but not feel abandoned. Stopping, I waited for the human to come closer and leaned against him.

"Want to play snowballs?" Lairy suggested.

"Is that throwing snowballs at each other?"

"Yes."

"With pleasure."

We left the path, and the pristine, untrodden snow was at our disposal. The man hung his bag on a tree branch. I quickly molded a few snowballs, pressing them firmly between my front hooves. And a sudden hit struck my shoulder. Lairy attacked without warning, and I got another hit on my thigh. Hastily, I launched a snowball at my opponent and, of course, missed - throwing things with hooves isn’t as convenient as using telekinesis. Lairy, taking advantage of my predicament - where could I go without magic? - smirked predatorily, slowly rolling a snowball the size of a good orange.

The path separating us seemed like the border of my kingdom, and I wasn’t about to give up so easily. Frowning, I watched the man closely, trying to anticipate his movements. Turning his back to me, Lairy threw a small snowball over his shoulder.

"Strange?.." flashed through my mind.

Before I could figure out the point of throwing over the shoulder, the man spun around, crouching on one knee, and the previously made orange-sized snowball hit me hard in the chest. Stunned, I shielded myself with my wing. And Lairy disappeared.

Snorting in displeasure, I examined the tracks, then with a sly smile focused my attention and magic on the branch of a nearby tree - I pulled the branch up and released it. A cry resembling a cat’s yowl sounded, and a snow-covered human jumped out from behind the tree.

"Well, Luna, just you wait!" Threatening with his fist, he rushed at me.

Laughing, I ran away, sinking knee-deep in the snow and flapping my wings. I heard the loud breathing of my pursuer behind me. He grabbed my flank and knocked me down. Suppressing the instinctive urge to kick, I struggled vigorously, flailing, pressing my hooves against Lairy’s chest as he loomed over me. After a brief and passionate struggle, I found myself lying on top of him.

"How dare you treat Us like this?" I asked with exaggerated severity.

"Like a Princess, Your Majesty." Lairy purred softly. His fingers caressed my head, slipping under the scarf, scratching my neck. "May I kiss you?"

Melted by pleasure, I pondered with an expression as if solving a matter of state importance.

"We have never heard such a bold question. But, so be it, We allow it."

Lairy looked into my eyes… as if trying to peer into my soul. How I wished I could read minds and understand what he was thinking at that moment.

The man hugged me, I leaned into him, yielding to the movement of his hands. His lips touched mine, softly and carefully. His tongue gently slid between my lips, our breaths merging into one. I tried to understand what was happening. It was like drinking thick, warm nectar, each sip giving me the strength of life. A strength I had never known before. I pressed back against Lairy’s lips, caressing - he froze for a moment, as if not expecting my reciprocity, but gently scratched behind my ear and kissed me again, more confidently and insistently.

"Oh…" I sighed, hearing the echoes of my heartbeat resonating throughout my body. A shiver ran through my wings.

Lairy pulled back, holding my head in his hands. I would forever remember his gaze.

"Get up, Lunnie, or I’ll freeze to the ground."

"If anything, I’ll cover you with my wings and warm you." Smiling, I spread my wings and pressed against the man. He gently touched my lips with his fingertips and traced intricate patterns from my lips to the tips of my trembling ears. Through the haze slowly enveloping my mind, I heard a melody:

Where can I find such a song,
About love, about fate,
So that no one would guess
That this song is about you?

"How," I whispered, struggling to emerge from the trance surrounding me like an impenetrable mirage, "how do you do this?"

"What?" Lairy ruffled my mane.

"I don’t know…" Reluctantly folding my wings, I stepped back, allowing the man to rise. "I’ve never felt so exposed before. It’s like you, playing with me, are playing a harp, touching strings that have never sounded in my life before. You penetrate depths I didn’t know existed. And I’m scared to realize that I don’t fully know myself, that there are unknown limits within me."

Brushing the snow off my clothes, Lairy adjusted the scarf that had slipped during the struggle.

"Luna, souls are like musical instruments. Like a harp, yes. And their sound depends on who touches them. You sound very beautiful and pleasant in my hands."

"I’ve learned so much new with you, it’s so hard to understand and believe everything I’ve experienced. Wait."

I walked around Lairy, brushing the snow off his shoulders and back with my wings.

"We’ve thoroughly rolled each other in the snow."

"It was unexpected and fun. Shall we sit?" I gestured toward a lantern nearby. Under it was a table shaped like a large red mushroom with white spots, and around it were several smaller mushrooms.

Clearing the snow off the “caps,” we sat down. Lairy pulled out the familiar knife and a cylindrical pack of some food from his pockets. With a sinister click, the blade opened, obedient to the man’s fingers. Cutting open the pack, he shook out round cookies, glued together in pairs with cream, and stood them on edge in front of me.

"Help yourself. Take your time, chew well."

"Thank you. And take some for yourself too."

The dry cookie crumbled in my mouth, but after chewing longer, I felt a warm berry flavor. Meanwhile, Lairy went to fetch the bag left on the tree. Taking out a large blue container with a white lid, he opened it and poured hot water into the lid, using it as a cup. I took a sip, but it was too hot. The cup pleasantly warmed my hooves. Lairy added a bit of snow to the water.

Above me stretched a cloudless starry sky, the bright golden crescent moon pleased the eye, a light breeze tickled my ears, unfamiliar and unsettling forest smells stirred my nose, the sweet circle melted on my tongue, and a cozy warmth filled my belly. After drinking, I passed the cup to Lairy, and we took turns sipping, enjoying the harmony and unity.

"You know, I…" I hesitated, unsure if I should bare my soul. Though, I was already much closer to Lairy than to my sister.

The man looked at me. His face in the lantern light was unnaturally pale green, and his eyes were black.

"I’m so sorry that I let evil into my heart and agreed to become Nightmare Moon. I’ve lost so much."

Lairy poured a new portion of water into the cup and crumbled the last cookie on the table.

"For the birds," he explained, "maybe someone will have breakfast in the morning."

"Yes, let it be."

"Luna, make it a rule - never regret anything you’ve already done."

"But isn’t that necessary to understand your mistakes? Otherwise, I’ll keep making thoughtless actions at every step."

"No, you won’t. You have enough experience and knowledge now to avoid foolishness."

"Yes."

"To understand mistakes, you need to examine them, think them over, and draw conclusions. But don’t regret. Blaming yourself for what’s already been done and lived through is pointless self-flagellation."

"Self-what?" I asked.

"It’s like if you were beating and humiliating yourself for your actions."

"Hmm, yes."

I wanted to argue about the pointlessness, but Lairy touched my nose with his fingers, and I fell silent. After finishing, the man set the cup aside.

"Luna, if you regret what happened, repent for what you’ve done - don’t punish yourself, but correct the mistake. Most mistakes are quite fixable, you just need to find the strength to take a step forward: write, call, meet, discuss the problem, admit guilt. Remember, I was brushing your tail for the first time, and you were scared of me then. But you came first."

"I could have not come. I was afraid you’d reject me."

"That’s how ordinary, simple mistakes become irreparable, out of fear of being misunderstood and rejected. And also because of stubbornness, stupidity, pride. And the more time passes, the harder it is to change anything."

Feeling the struggle of contradictions, I traced the edge of my hoof on the table, drawing the Sun and remembering Celestia’s humiliating words. My mind understood that Lairy was right, but my heart couldn’t accept it - it hurt too much. Lairy held my hoof - I raised my eyes, sliding my gaze along his arm and stopping at his face.

"Don’t blame yourself for anything. If you became Nightmare Moon, it means that at that moment in your life, that step had meaning, and moreover, it was the only right one for you. And if, years later, it seems to you that you could have acted differently, remember - you couldn’t have. But now, you’re more experienced, stronger, and better able to understand situations and avoid the mistakes of the past."

"Do you think I’ll be able to forgive… Celestia?"

It was hard for me to say my sister’s name. Lairy looked into my eyes:

"I don’t know, Luna. It’s up to you. I think you can."

I stood up and impulsively hugged the man. He held me tightly to his chest. This show of strength was comforting; I felt securely protected.

"Shall we go home?" Lairy asked as I pulled away. I liked how he smiled: his eyes turned into narrow slits, and many small, kind wrinkles gathered around them.

"Let’s go."

I assumed we’d return the way we came, but Lairy, after gathering his bag, led me through the park. The trees became fewer, the paths wider, the lanterns more frequent. Occasionally, brightly painted iron houses stood on the side of the road, tightly closed and, by all appearances, uninhabited, with flowers, birds, animals, and some faces painted on their walls.

"Luna, get on, I’ll give you a ride!" Lairy approached a large disk lying on the ground with a pole in the middle. Thick, curved sticks extended from the pole to the edges of the disk.

I jumped onto the disk, and the wood beneath my hooves responded with a dull rumble.

"Stand on your hind legs and hold onto the pipe with your front hooves." The man slapped the “stick.” Rising up, I grabbed it as he suggested, and Lairy, quickly grabbing the pipes with his hands, spun the disk. From the very first turns, the disk wobbled with a terrifying clatter, the grinding of rusty metal shook my body, piercing to the bone, creating a painful resonance in my horn. It even seemed like all my teeth had turned to dust - fortunately, the illusion disappeared when I opened my mouth. My head was spinning, as if caught in an iron whirlwind. Laughing, I threw my head back to the sky and spread my wings, enjoying the whirl. The air whistled through my feathers, the stars above me swirled in a mad vortex. Or were those stars already in my eyes? Feeling myself weakening, I let go of the pipe and tumbled into the snow.

Completely disoriented, I flailed weakly in the silence, as if floating on waves. Someone touched one of my legs. Was I lying on my head? No, it seemed I was on my side. And where were my wings?..

"No-no, don’t try to lift me." I grumbled in response to Lairy’s attempt to help. The dizziness quickly passed, and I was able to figure out where the sky and the ground were.

"Seems I overdid it spinning you." Lairy sat down near my head, scratching my ears.

"That was awful." I admitted, lying on my stomach and folding my disheveled wings. My legs still weren’t obeying, and my teeth and horn ached unpleasantly.

"Well, sorry about that."

"It’s fine, it was my first time experiencing something like that, and I couldn’t have known in advance."

Lairy waited until I got back on my feet and, once again, brushed the snow off my clothes. We walked in silence for a while, and I was still processing the dissonance.

"Alicorns are flying creatures, right? Vortices, whirlpools, air pockets - those should be familiar to you."

"They are, but not with such sounds. I felt like I was falling apart."

"Ah, yes, this carousel rattles like crazy."

***

[ Lairy ]

We weren’t far from the park exit when Luna grew nervous, and her usually relaxed, steady gait became tense and stiff.

"Lairy, is there somewhere I can relieve myself here, or do I have to hold it until we get home?"

I chuckled, bent down, and pulled up the sweater hanging on Luna’s back, exposing her flank, then pointed toward the nearest kiosk. Nodding, the pony disappeared behind the kiosk. Soon she emerged, adjusting her clothes.

"Thank you, you’ve made my life easier." Luna smiled coquettishly. I hugged her, hearing a happy sigh.

We walked down the deserted street again. The slowly falling snow adorned the alicorn with silver sparks, gently shimmering in the semi-darkness. Luna walked with dignity and grace, allowing me to admire her. Suddenly, two burly figures blocked our path, clearly gym-built for nighttime escapades.

"Hey, man, hand over the cash!" One of them declared. His baritone voice was pleasant to the ear, more suited to a ladies’ man than a robber.

Luna and I froze. My heart raced, and I relaxed my arms, letting my left hand brush against my pants pocket. But I was more worried about how Luna would react - she was snorting and nervously flicking her ears.

"Borya, look, what’s that thing next to him?"

"Huh? Hell if I know, looks like a horse." A hoarse bass voice replied.

"Listen, jockey, you probably show off this horse of yours at the circus, giving kids rides, huh? Rich guy? Share the wealth!"

Shifting my wary gaze from one to the other, I remained silent. I assessed their condition and capabilities, my own options, and the likely outcome of a confrontation. The “hoarse” one demonstratively swung a heavy piece of rebar, slapping it against his palm. Meanwhile, the “ladies’ man” continued to provoke:

"And she’s even dressed up, I see. In a scarf, a little dress. Or maybe you’re, you know," he made a suggestive gesture near his temple, "some kind of fucked zoophile? Traded a normal girl for a dirty animal? So, what’s it like, fuck a horse? Hot mare, rides well in bed, doesn’t kick too much when you go under her tail?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luna angrily shift her weight, her face turning furious. Oh, this loudmouth shouldn’t have touched that sore subject. Maybe Luna didn’t understand all the slang, but the tone of his voice and the phrase “go under her tail” were enough for her to grasp the context. If my mare lost her temper and kicked both of them in a fit of rage - I wouldn’t stop her. They asked for it.

"You deaf or just scared? Stop fooling around, empty your pockets."

"I’m sure my friend’s hearing is just fine. And do you know that attacking ordinary citizens, let alone interfering with a princess’s stroll, is against the law?"

We all froze in surprise. I didn’t even realize at first that Luna had spoken - her voice had changed unrecognizably, ringing with a metallic edge that could easily cut through that rebar.

"Wha-at? This beast can talk?!" The hoarse bass voice exclaimed in outrage.

"Yes, I can talk." The alicorn stepped forward proudly. "Who do you think you are, threatening us?"

"Maybe I should shorten that horn of yours, circus freak?" The thug swung the rebar.

"Close your ears." Luna tossed over her shoulder.

I plugged my ears with my fingers, knowing what was coming. And thunder struck. The “Royal Canterlot Voice” of the princess knocked the bastards to the ground, making them writhe on the asphalt, clutching their ears. Their faces were twisted in pain and fear, and one of them had blood streaming from his nose.

"Let’s go!" I slapped Luna on the back as she finally closed her mouth.

"I’m not done yet!" she snapped angrily. Jumping toward the "ladies’ man," she kicked him over and stood on his chest. He tried to shield himself from the enraged horse with trembling hands.

"What filth. To dirty myself with this?" Luna spat contemptuously. Slightly rising, she brought her front hooves down hard on the man’s chest - he groaned in pain.

"Have mercy on him!" I waved her off.

"Let’s go," the warrior-princess nodded protectively.

We ran past houses, past lit windows. I fell a couple of times but managed to get up and keep running. Luna, ahead of me, didn’t lose sight of me, stopping and ready to help. Finally, after winding through the streets and shaking off any possible pursuit, we collapsed onto a bench in some courtyard.

"Well done, Lunnie, you fought back well," I ruffled her mane, catching my breath. Luna snorted, clearly flattered.

"Phew, I said everything I thought about them, and I’m even a little embarrassed you heard it all. A princess shouldn’t express herself like a village pony at the market."

"I didn’t hear anything."

"What do you mean?"

"Literally - I covered my ears while you were giving them a lecture. And how did you know your 'Canterlot voice' would work like that?"

"Remember, you said my voice could kill on the spot."

"So, you used your voice as a weapon?"

"Yes."

"Luna," I sighed and tugged her mane. "You promised me you wouldn’t talk in front of people."

"Were those people? I didn’t know," she feigned surprise.

"But still, why did you take such a risk, exposing yourself to a blow? They could’ve easily smashed your head with that iron."

Without looking away, the alicorn stood on her hind legs in front of me, placing her front hooves on my chest and bringing her muzzle close. The bench creaked under us. Luna’s half-closed eyes glimmered faintly in the night. Her warm breath warmed my face.

"So, you think I should’ve let them beat you while I stood aside?" she exhaled sharply. Her voice clearly carried reproach.

I was ready for Luna to break the bench with my back. But no, easing the pressure, the Princess of the Night sighed thoughtfully and lay her chest on me, hugging me with her front legs. I gently stroked her tightly folded wings.

"According to one of Equestria’s ancient traditions, a mare must protect and defend her stallion. And I did the right thing," Luna explained with emphasis.

Well, if she’s following the traditions of her homeland, then I have no right to blame her for an act that could’ve cost us dearly.

"You’re absolutely right, my love."

Lifting Luna’s head in my hands, I kissed her nose. With a loud sigh, the pony perked up, releasing the tension, her wings becoming soft and supple again.

"Shall we continue our way home?" Luna suggested, stepping back.

"First, let’s figure out where we are."

"So, we’re lost?"

"Both yes and no. No, because we haven’t gone far enough from home and the park to be truly lost. And yes, because I’ve never been in this courtyard before. We need to find familiar streets."

The alicorn flew straight up, and I lost sight of her in the blackness of the night sky. A moment later, landing beside me, Luna pointed her hoof at a building:

"If I’m not mistaken, the park is that way. From above, the city looks completely different, and it’s very beautiful."

"Luna, since you can fly, you can enjoy it to your heart’s content. But see those poles? Don’t touch the wires stretched between them. And on rooftops, try not to touch anything at all. Otherwise, you might get tangled in your tail, legs, or get electrocuted."

"By what?" the feathered horse asked, sniffing the air.

"Electricity. The same thing that’s in the kettle and fridge."

"Yes, I’ve seen birds killed by that energy. I understand. And you, just stay in sight so I can find you from above. Okay?"

"I’ll be in lit areas. Good luck."

"Please, untangle my mane," Luna requested.

I unwound her mane from under the scarf, and the mare shook her head, letting her luxurious hair flow. In the night, it seemed like a faint starry rain was slowly cascading down her neck and shoulders. Running my fingers through the thick, silky strands, I admired the incomprehensible mystery of her beauty. Luna also leaned her head into my palm.

"Every time you look at me like this, you teach me to see ordinary things in a new light. Thank you," kissing my forehead, Luna soared into the sky, disappearing among the constellations.

***

[ Luna ]

Confidently flapping my wings, I looked down at the sprawling city below. Though unfamiliar stars shone above me, and the ground beneath my hooves belonged to another world, for the first time, I felt free. The wind of change swept over me, catching me off guard, whistling in my ears and tousling my mane. With a sharp flap of my wings, I regained my balance, but this jolt was a timely reminder that I couldn’t control the weather and create calm around myself.

Up here, everything looked stranger and more alien. The stern, indifferent eyes of the houses. The lights of cars flowed endlessly through the streets. The air was cold, mixed with something pungent that irritated my nose terribly. Clouds? From the windows of my home during the day, they looked quite familiar. But at night, I didn’t immediately recognize them as clouds - blurred, ragged patches of gray fog drifting at an incredible height. I didn’t even feel like flying up to touch them with my hooves.

From above, I saw Lairy, leisurely walking around the building toward the park. The man didn’t look up, didn’t search or call for me. Apparently, he was confident in my abilities, sure that nothing bad would happen to me, which is why he so calmly let me go. In that case, I shouldn’t abuse his trust and act recklessly…

A gust of wind suddenly hit my face, spinning me around and throwing me far to the side. Life flashed before my eyes in a whirlwind of bright lights. I flipped several times, nearly crashing to the ground, and, miraculously dodging some iron rods, landed quite neatly on a rooftop. Breathing heavily, trying to catch my breath, a terrifying image flashed before my eyes: me, bleeding, with broken legs and wings, lying on a stone road, weakly calling for help. And Lairy wouldn’t be able to find me. Or he’d find me too late. His trembling hands would touch my cold, lifeless body, my once beautiful blue fur bristling indifferently under his fingers, the lifeless feathers rustling softly. And the night streets would be disturbed by the wild howl of a lone beast.

I shook my head, dispelling the grim vision. It couldn’t end like this. Standing up, I immediately felt pain above my left hind hoof. Curving, I examined my leg - nothing serious, just a scratch. I got off easy, you could say.

I stood among strange iron structures resembling trees: smooth trunks crowned with sparse branches growing at angles to each other. Apparently, I’d scratched my leg on one of them during the fall. Clearly, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy a full flight. In Equestria, I sustained myself with magic. On Earth, I had to rely solely on the physical strength of my wings, and I tired quickly.

Stepping over thick wires, carefully avoiding the "trees" humming faintly in the wind, I stopped at the edge of the roof and, looking down, felt a chilling, quiet horror. Below was an unfamiliar street. Where was I? How would I find my human? If I didn’t find my way home, I’d lose my path back to Equestria! And if I were spotted during the day and hunted, I’d simply be killed without question.

My first blind desire was to leap off the roof and fly low over the street. But I lay down, tucking my legs, closed my eyes, lowered my ears, and tightly folded my wings. Shutting myself off with my fears, I tried to focus.

"I’m lost, that’s for sure. Lairy knows the way home; I need to find him. How? There are many streets in the city; I can’t fly over each one, I’ll exhaust myself. Lairy won’t abandon me, and he won’t go home alone; he’ll wait for me to return. But where?"

A strange, warm feeling of my beloved nearby. As if we were lying on the bed again, Lairy thoughtfully running his fingers through my mane.

"You’ll find anything but the exit.
If I’m lost, I can fly up and look around.
That’s exactly what I’m suggesting - fly above your patterns to understand that everything’s different with me."

I perked up, feeling the right answer almost within reach…

"I saw him heading toward the park… Fly higher and look around? Right, find the park, then look for the human nearby."

The world greeted my return with cold silence, but it was for the best - at least the wind wasn’t throwing me around. And without delay, I left the inhospitable roof.

Once again, my wings spread over the ocean of lights. The park stood out as a dark mass with faint fireflies of lanterns. Descending, I searched for Lairy on the streets nearest to the park. There he was! I joyfully glided down, landing in front of him.

"Hi, here I am, back…"

And I froze. It wasn’t Lairy. The man only vaguely resembled him: similar build, dark clothes. But he didn’t have a bag, and in his hand, he held a cane.

"Sorry, I made a mistake," I apologized politely, backing away.

"Begone, Satan!" With a face twisted in anger, he lunged at me, swinging the cane.

Dodging the blow, I bolted around the corner of the building. Fear gave me strength - on a single breath, I flew up twenty floors and barely managed to stay airborne, having to land on a rooftop to rest - my overworked wings ached terribly. One more high-speed or prolonged flight, and I, born winged, would be doomed to walk. Hopefully, my wings wouldn’t drag on the ground.

Leaning tiredly on the edge of the roof, I looked down in confusion. Foam dripped from my lips. Snorting, I wiped it with my fetlock and spat - to top off all the troubles, now my teeth were gritty with stone dust. Hay in my mouth, what a twist. What a mess I’d make for Lairy if he had to freeze on the street all night because of me. He trusted a foolish mare who wanted adventures on her lunar flank, oh…

Catching my breath, I continued scanning the streets, hopping from roof to roof and carefully examining the few passersby. And with each departing person, hope of returning home gradually faded. Fear crept back into my soul.

There was another one, in black clothes and a hat, standing under a streetlamp, hands deep in his pockets, occasionally looking around, clearly waiting for someone. Me? I wasn’t in a hurry to descend, squinting, noting the details. I couldn’t see his face, but my heartbeat quickened at the sight of the familiar bag slung over his shoulder.

Circling high above the street and landing at a considerable distance, I cautiously approached the man. What if I was wrong again? But he stepped toward me, spreading his arms welcomingly:

"Hello, Luna, I’m glad you’re back. How was the flight?"

Running up, I pressed against Lairy’s chest, reveling in the fingers buried in my mane. The icy horror that had tormented my soul melted in the warmth of loving hands. My wings ached so much that I knew without a doubt - this was my last flight on Earth. Enough adventures for me. I want to go home to warmth and comfort. And, perhaps, I’ll keep my shame to myself, not telling him how I crashed onto a roof at the first gust of wind like an inept pegasus. And I’ll keep the awkward encounter to myself too, so as not to make Lairy worry about me unnecessarily.

***

[ Lairy ]

We stumbled into the apartment in silence, utterly exhausted but content. Luna seemed completely drained - all her legs gave out at once, and she collapsed onto the floor along the wall, breathing heavily. Sitting on a chair, I slowly started undressing.

"Had enough fun?" I asked, untying my shoes. Her response was a heavy sigh. "Yeah, thanks to you too for the great walk."

After wetting a floor rag with hot water, I sat down next to Luna:

"Roll over, let’s clean your hooves."

"Ugh," she sighed. "If you’re capable of doing anything, feel free to flip me however you want. Because I’m done…"

With some effort, I rolled the alicorn onto her back. Where had she been flying? Her sweater was covered in dust.

"You’re heavy," I commented, cleaning the dirt off her hooves.

"When that man lifted me out of the basement, he cursed, saying I weighed seventy kilos… grams," Luna replied, not moving. "Though I don’t… know if that’s a lot or not."

I assessed the size of the mare sprawled out in exhaustion. When Luna stood calmly on all fours, her eyes were almost level with mine, and I’m 1.7 meters tall. Celestia, if the dreams were to be believed, was a head taller than me as a human, and as a cheetah, I could easily walk under her.

"Hmm, compared to an Earth pony, you should weigh about twice as much. But for your size, your weight is normal."

Luna groaned softly and twitched her hind leg. Moving the rag aside, I saw a shallow, diagonal scratch. The fur around it was bloodied. Leaning in and holding her leg a bit firmer, I gently licked the warm wound, feeling the uneven edges and the salty taste of blood. With another groan and a twitch, Luna lifted her head. I kept licking, the clean flesh glistening wetly in the lamplight. I met Luna’s surprised gaze. I don’t know what she read in my eyes - I acted calmly, even with a certain detachment, doing what I thought was necessary. Smiling slightly, the princess nodded gratefully.

"Come on, get up," I scratched the center of her hoof with my nails.

"Hey!" Luna protested, pulling her leg away. Laughing, I stepped over the pony and, tossing the rag into the bathroom, headed to the kitchen. The commotion in the hallway was replaced by the sound of hooves approaching. Yawning tiredly, Luna sat on a stool.

"Thanks, I had my fill of walking."

"You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it."

Untying the cord holding her sweater together and unzipping it, I carefully removed the dusty clothing from the alicorn and took it to the bathroom. Then, supporting each wing in turn, I wiped them with a damp towel. Judging by Luna’s expression, this care was very pleasant for her.

A simple late dinner - a bowl of millet porridge filled to the top, shared between us, and hot water.

"Thank you," Luna wiped her lips with her hoof and finished her cup. "I have questions about our walk, but…" Her speech turned into a long yawn, modestly covered with a hoof. "I’ll ask everything tomorrow."

"Sure."

"Wait," Luna reached out to me, touching my chest with her hoof. I expected her to kiss me, but instead, she carefully plucked grains of millet from my beard and mustache with her lips. It was ticklish to feel her sweet, reciprocal care. And Luna must have guessed this - she looked down, embarrassed.

"The embodiment of embarrassment," I ruffled her mane on top of her head. "Lunyashka, don’t be shy."

Dodging my hand, my beloved smiled mischievously:

"Oh, you’ll get kick from me for calling me 'Lunyashka.'"

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, Lunyashka, everything will be tomorrow," I waved her off, clearing the plate. "Go to sleep already."

Luna left, and I immediately heard strange sounds - like a cat sharpening its claws on the carpet. Curious, I stepped out of the kitchen to see an equally strange sight: the pony was walking toward the couch, struggling to lift her legs off the carpet, making a scraping sound.

"What’s that?" I asked, turning on the light.

"My hooves are all jagged after the walk, so they’re catching."

"Need help?"

"Well?.. Try," Luna arched her neck, waiting for my actions.

Approaching the pony from behind, I bent over her flank and, grabbing her by the shins, lifted both hind legs.

"Walk."

Luna snorted softly, more like a stifled laugh, and walked to the couch on her front legs.

"Do you always help so directly?" she asked with a laugh, settling down. Mischievous sparks danced in her eyes.

"Always," I replied obediently, covering Luna.

"That was very quick and unexpected help. I didn’t expect to be lifted like that."

"Good night," I said, kissing the beauty on the cheek and covering her head.

"Wait, I keep forgetting to tell you," Luna peeked out from under the blanket. "When you walk past me in the morning while I’m sleeping, please walk normally. I can hear well, and sneaking steps scare me much more than normal ones. It’s much more important not to scare me than not to wake me."

"I understand, okay."

"Thank you."

In the kitchen, I washed the dishes, turned off all the electronics, and walked to the bedroom in complete darkness. Taking off my clothes, I approached the window to close it and glanced outside. Winter reigned there, generously scattering snow over the city. The houses squinted sleepily through frost-covered windows.

Leaning my hands on the windowsill, I pressed my forehead to the glass and quietly sang a verse from some forgotten song:

"Time watches mysteriously,
Through millions of eyes it peers.
What’s eternal, what’s gloriously -
Is not for us, not for us here."

Luna is not for the world of Earth. And she lives only thanks to my care and affection. I only know fragments of the misfortunes she endured, told in dreams by Celestia, and a little from Luna herself. Apparently, it was very hard for my princess to survive here. Could it be that, having rejected Equestria, she decided to stay for me?

***

[ Luna \ Dreams ]

A ringing. Ringing. Ringing… I twitched my ears. Somewhere very close above me, metal rhythmically struck metal, ringing dully and vibrating. Slightly opening my eyes, I tried to look around. Numerous trunks of unfamiliar, sprawling trees. And I was lying under a tree, its low-hanging branches almost touching my back. It smelled damp, moldy. One of the heavy branches, cracked, swayed in the wind, hitting other branches. Clang. Ring. Clang.

Getting up, I crawled away from the tree. Clang. Ring. The branch fell right where I had just been. Had I hesitated a little longer - its sharp end would have pierced me between the shoulder blades. The falling branch, or perhaps my presence, disrupted the balance of the strange forest: the trees, creaking with branches and leaves, collapsed into pieces with a crash. I barely dodged a trunk split in half. The relentless clanging shook the space. Nearly deafened, I managed to break free into the air.

"What kind of nonsense is this? Why am I here?" Clamping my hooves over my ears, I skeptically looked at the chaos below. Something was already smoking there, and the smell of scorched metal touched my nose. As a pony who controls dreams, I understood - something was wrong, requiring my attention. Something I needed to deal with. Apparently, this dream was a reflection of my fears after the failed flights and falls.

"But why me?!" I grumbled angrily, flapping my wings. Why am I always dragged into some mess, as if I don’t have enough problems in real life? And if I want to rest in peace and quiet?

Turning around, I flew away. The fabric of the dream reluctantly let go, stretching around me, intertwining, cracking, and breaking, as if I wasn’t flying but forcing my way through a thicket of grapevines. Using magic, I finally broke free from the dream, hovering in some "in-between" space. I brushed off the remnants of negativity and pondered: where do I want to go? Summer sun, a sky with cirrus clouds, a quiet ocean, a sandy beach, a cool cocktail. And a deserted island to boot. Cheerfully kicking, I flew off to rest.

***

[ Lairy \ Dreams ]

I lay on the shore of a lake, comfortably resting my head on my crossed front paws. A gentle wind ruffled my fur, lightly swayed the reeds, and ripples barely visible on the water greeted me, while the sun warmed me kindly. Occasionally, waves lapped at my fingers, immediately retreating. Dragonflies zigzagged over the water, and midges buzzed around.

The scent of a living creature reached me, followed by light footsteps. Rising slightly, I bowed to the mistress of the dream.

"What brings you, Lairy?" Celestia asked, lying down beside me. Her voice was tender and soft, as if the white ruler had never raised her tone in her life, convincing with logic and affection.

"I want to know how the portal will open and if it could be dangerous."

"I’ve already given Luna a scroll with a pentagram that creates the portal. You’ll need to draw all the symbols on the floor exactly as shown in the scroll, and then place a mirror so that the moonlight falls directly on it and the drawing. I’ll handle the magical part myself."

Plucking a blade of grass, the alicorn drew a star in the sand, a slightly shaded oval for the mirror, and rays from the Moon.

"Is it dangerous?" She repeated, looking at me penetratingly. "Yes. The portal itself isn’t dangerous; it might look like a simple window or the surface of water with ripples. But the portal’s magic depends on the moonlight falling on the drawing. If a cloud covers the Moon - the portal will fade. The main thing is that at the moment it fades, your bodies and limbs aren’t in the portal, or they’ll be severed. I hope the Earth’s sky will be clear on the night we need."

I snorted vaguely, which could mean either indifference or slight disdain for the potential problem.

"The full moon lasts three nights; surely one will be clear. If not, I’ll live with Luna for another month, until the next full moon."

"Lairy, please clarify one more thing for me."

"I’ll try."

"The two weeks remaining until the full moon have already passed. But why haven’t you and Luna prepared the portal and let me know? Are you having problems?"

"What do you mean, passed?" I was surprised. "The full moon is still a few days away."

"Apparently, our time flows the same, but we count it differently," the alicorn said thoughtfully. "How many hours are in a day in your world, Lairy?"

"Twenty-four."

"And in my world - sixteen."

Celestia quickly drew a few formulas. I watched the calculations with interest, not trying to grasp the details.

"I see," she nodded contentedly. "Equestria’s day is a third shorter than Earth’s. That’s why I got confused with the timing. This also explains why your Luna sleeps so much - almost half a day by our standards. Your night alone lasts eight hours, right?"

"It depends on the season. In winter, the dark time can last up to ten hours. And in summer, only four to five hours. You barely fall asleep - and it’s already time to wake up."

"Amazing," Celestia didn’t hide her surprise. "The pony world is more orderly in this regard."

"And on Earth, there are places where day lasts half a year, and then night lasts half a year."

"Half a year of night? I think Luna would like such places."

"I doubt it. It’s beautiful there, but terribly cold."

"Thank you, we’ve clarified the question about the length of days."

"That’s why Lunyashka sleeps so much at my place while she has the chance."

"Lunyashka?" Celestia’s gaze saddened, and the alicorn lay on her side, now giving me her full attention. "I haven’t seen my sister again. Tell me, how’s life with you?"

"Everything’s great with us," I smirked into my mustache. "Lunyashka has settled into my world, gotten used to civilization, technology, and enthusiastically cooks dinners for both of us while I work. She’s adapted to life without magic. We live together peacefully, eat, sleep, play. Yesterday, I took her for a walk around the city, and she walked until she dropped. She really likes bathing. When she returns to you, she’ll probably demand the same comforts as at my place. A bathtub and shower, for sure, heh-heh."

"‘Shower’ - what’s that?"

"Water pouring from above. It’s like rain, but just for you alone."

Celestia thoughtfully rubbed her jaw with a hoof.

"If I understand bathing correctly, she won’t need to demand a shower. I’m glad everything’s fine with you."

A blade of grass, supported by a golden shimmering aura, swayed between us. Celestia twisted it into an intricate "rune" and ate it.

"I’ve always used magic my whole life. It’s hard for me to imagine what it’s like for Luna in your world without telekinesis and other basic things."

"Normally - with lips, teeth, hooves, wings. A bit of ingenuity, skill, practice, and everything will work out."

"Interesting. So, Luna lives like an Earth pony."

"More like a pegasus. She flies confidently."

"Really?" Celestia twisted a new "rune" from a long blade of grass with particular care.

"Why don’t you try living without magic for a week? I think it’ll give you many new impressions and valuable experience."

"Perhaps," the grass "rune" disappeared into Celestia’s mouth.

"Wait!" I jumped up at the sudden thought. "If two weeks have already passed for you, then the full moon has passed too. What then?"

"I control the movement of both celestial bodies and can shift the Moon to any phase if needed."

"Thanks for the answers. Now I know what to do," standing up, I stretched, arching my back.

"Lairy?.."

Turning around, I saw the alicorn’s pink eyes. The eternal loneliness of an eternal being… and for a moment, a carefully hidden longing for sympathy, warmth, and affection flashed.

"Go, you’re free," she nodded, returning to her usual good-natured demeanor.

I froze, feeling the contradiction. For just a moment, Celestia had opened up to me. But she didn’t ask for anything, didn’t hold me back. Should I leave, pretending I didn’t notice her vulnerability? To hell with that! I’ve always hated "double standards," hypocrisy, and duplicity!

Growling throatily, I shifted into my human form. The white pony watched the transformation in surprise. Still leaning on my fingers, I approached Celestia and gently touched her muzzle with my palm.

"Why?" she sighed softly, not looking away. "I told you, you can go."

"I won’t leave, Tia. Unless you throw me out," I replied firmly.

I slid my hand over her head, caressing her cheek and ear, making her close her right eye. I weaved my fingers into her rainbow mane, carefully massaging her nape. Celestia hesitated, her front leg twitching, wanting to push my hand away, but the sensual caresses, penetrating her soul, melted the centuries-old ice of alienation, urging her to savor every moment of unexpected pleasure.

Stroking her side and trembling wing, I pressed against Celestia’s chest, lying between her front legs, hugging her shoulders and neck. Carefully, as if with caution, she also hugged me, touching my back with her hooves - the cool metal of her horseshoes brushed against my skin. We looked into each other’s eyes, she - questioningly, with doubt; I - openly, with a trusting smile. The loudest sounds in that moment were the beats of the alicorn’s heart.

She rested her head on my shoulder, and the snow-white wing quietly rustled open, covering me.

"You’re strange. But thank you for this," came a barely audible whisper.

Celestia’s horn glowed faintly - the Sun dimmed, yielding to the serene velvet night. From somewhere far away, a nightingale’s whistle sounded, the air filled with the delicate scents of night flowers, and, perhaps for the first time in the Princess of Day’s dreams, the Moon shone.

***

[ Luna \ Dreams ]

The waves slowly washed over the shore, as if trying to caress every grain of sand, rolling in again and again in an endless dance. My nostrils twitched, catching the scent of the ocean carried by the breeze. Occasionally, the cries of birds flying above the shore reached my ears. Closing my eyes, I lounged in a chair, holding an elegant glass of cocktail with my front hooves. I could have levitated the glass with telekinesis, but living without magic had taught me to appreciate the sensitivity of my hooves. The smooth, cool glass felt pleasant to hold. I took a sip of the greenish cocktail - thick, sweet, slightly cloying - it was delightful. It was a shame I couldn’t treat Lairy to something like this in real life; I think he would have liked it.

As I gazed at the world, I noticed that its colors had faded, and long gray shadows stretched across the shore and water, constantly shifting their shapes.

"What’s going on? This is the second time already," I grumbled, setting the glass down on the sand and, peeking out from under the large awning, looked up at the sky. A piercing cold wind tousled my mane. I watched anxiously as the dream gradually changed. The dull disk of the sun was barely visible through the gloomy veil of clouds that had instantly covered the once-clear sky.

I shuddered. Something sharp and cold touched my nose. A large, irregularly shaped snowflake lasted only a moment before melting from my warmth. Another one tangled in my mane as it swirled. And another... Staring into the distance, I watched in fascination as the snow slowly blanketed the shore in a white carpet. A ringing silence enveloped me like a cocoon.

There was something mysterious in this bizarre beauty... something alluring, enticing, but also making me feel an unpleasant chill deep in my chest...

A new, fierce, and biting gust of wind slapped me awake. Shivering from the bone-chilling cold, I realized it was time to leave this place before I froze completely. Spreading my wings, I pushed off the ground and soared into the sky. Below me, instead of a living, moving ocean, stretched an endless icy desert, and above my head loomed an impenetrable curtain of ominously dark, gray clouds that seemed ready to crush me with their massive weight.

"Calm down, Luna," I said firmly to myself, trying to steady my flight against the relentless wind. "This dream is just an echo of yesterday’s experiences, nothing more. Just understand that and leave it as quickly as possible."

The clouds sank even lower, and my chest felt as if it were bound by tight hoops, making it hard to breathe. This entire world seemed to want to close in around me and suffocate me in its icy embrace. I darted between the clouds, desperately trying to break free from this prison, but when panic finally overwhelmed my mind, I suddenly noticed a small, misty gap and lunged toward it with all my strength. A moment after the white, prickly fog swallowed me, I heard a terrible crack and crash behind me, as if the sky had collapsed, and felt the fabric of the dream tearing and crumpling, destroying this ephemeral, icy, and inhospitable world...

I flew cautiously, almost blindly, unable to even see my own nose. The silence was so profound that it hurt my ears.

"This is unnatural, wrong," I turned my head in different directions, vainly trying to disperse the enveloping clouds of white fog with flaps of my wings. The uncertainty of this strange place pressed down on me, making me even more nervous.

I could swear - a sound reached my ear, so faint that even in this silent realm, it was barely perceptible, but I heard it! Almost twisting my neck, I tried to see anything through this milky veil, vainly attempting to pierce its impenetrability with a beam of sparkling light glowing at the tip of my horn. But everything around remained unchanged.

Slowly, I moved forward through the fog, straining my hearing so much that the ringing in my head only grew louder.

My heart sank - I felt a barely noticeable touch on my leg. It was weak, like a gentle breeze brushing against the hairs on my coat. Kicking, I bolted forward, panicking more and more. Suddenly, the fog around me began to move, the clouds that had hung motionless now swirling intensely.

"Who’s there?" My weak, trembling question seemed to drown in the white abyss.

And just as I thought I was slowly losing my mind, a faint whisper cautiously reached my ears...

I couldn’t make out the words, but it seemed to come from all directions. The fog turned into a whirlpool, sucking me deeper into the depths of my own subconscious. Gasping for air, I tried to break free, but in vain. I didn’t have the strength to call for help - my throat was gripped by an unknown vise, and all I could do was wheeze, as if in the throes of death. And just before I plunged into the abyss, I managed to notice dark silhouettes watching me with empty voids instead of eyes...

I shot out of the fog like an arrow, piercing the barrier between worlds and shattering it into thousands of fragments. Tumbling several times, I fell rapidly through dark clouds, tearing them apart. An icy, sharp gust of stormy wind mercilessly flung me aside like a tiny snowflake. The curtain of clouds suddenly ended, and I finally saw the ground far below, dotted with trees like needles. But I had no time to enjoy the clear and distinct landscape - the ground was rapidly approaching, and not wanting to die so ignominiously, I began to steady my flight with strong, sharp wingbeats, desperately battling the cruel elements. My sweaty flanks instantly crusted over with ice, my feathers stuck together and turned into icicles, dragging me down. Trying to support myself with magic, I realized with surprise and horror that I couldn’t, and in a few moments, I would crash under the weight of my icy armor. My lungs filled with the disgusting black, acrid smoke carried by the wind from somewhere below.

Desperately, I continued the unequal struggle with the raging storm, whose force didn’t weaken for a moment, draining my last strength...

The whirlwind carried me somewhere down. My wings refused to obey, and the world merged into one dizzying swirl.

One second. Two. Three...

I braced myself for the crushing impact.

Five. Six...

The crack of breaking branches and the crunch of my own bones deafened me. Like a projectile, I tore through the forest thicket. Impact, darkness.

Gasping for air, I jerked upright on the couch. My body shuddered with insane pain, as if I had really crashed into the ground. My heart pounded, my throat was dry, and my fur was sticky with foul sweat. Exhausted, I collapsed, feeling a tremor in my legs and tail. Before my eyes was the same vision that had visited me on the roof: a bloodied, mutilated, disfigured body, unnaturally twisted and lying in the snow...

I waited for the pain to subside. The suffering I endured in the dream echoed in reality as fatigue and aching throughout my body. Finally, my head fell weakly onto the blanket. But as soon as I closed my eyes, that nauseating, dizzying sensation returned, as if I were still falling somewhere far below... Snorting, I whispered softly and soothingly to myself:

"Calm down, Luna. It was just a dream... so realistic, so terrifying... but just a dream. You need to stop seeking adventures on your own flank in reality."

Catching my breath, I trudged to the kitchen, fighting the carpet with every step. Biting the corner of the juice box, I gulped down half its contents. The cold apple juice diluted the bitterness of my torment. Almost dropping the box, I returned it to the shelf and went to the bathroom, wanting to wipe the sweat from my body. However, I was disappointed - only cold water flowed from the tap. Angrily tossing the towel onto the rack, I returned to the couch and was about to lie down when I remembered Lairy. How was he? Stepping as quietly and carefully as possible, I crept over to him. He was sleeping facing the wall, wrapped up to his ears in a warm blanket like a cocoon. Bowing my head, I froze by the bed, listening to his slow breathing, and a faint smile touched my lips. It was good that my human didn’t have nightmares.

I went back to my place.

I struggled to pry open my frozen lashes. I couldn’t feel my body... it was as if it had frozen into a block of ice and become part of the snowdrift in which it lay. I managed to open my eyes slightly, but I couldn’t focus my gaze.

...How long I lay there - I didn’t know. It felt as if time had stopped, and the world around me had frozen...

Gradually, my senses returned to me, and their increasing sharpness finally pulled me out of my numb stupor. Carefully, I tried to lift my head and shake the snow off my muzzle. This simple movement caused terrible pain in my neck, shooting down my entire spine and wrenching a muffled groan from my lips. Weakly, I dropped my head back, trying to catch my breath. My eyes clouded over with darkness again.

I pulled myself together. Another attempt. A new wave of pain. Gradually, I lifted my head from the frozen ground, fighting my disobedient body. Finally, I managed to raise my muzzle enough to look around and understand where I was.

The image before my eyes stopped blurring and became clearer. I scanned the area of my crash - a wide clearing surrounded on all sides by a wall of dark, twisted fir trees. Behind me was a deep furrow plowed by my rough landing. The blizzard had eased slightly, but it still howled loudly in the treetops of this wild forest, shaking snow from the gray, inhospitable sky that had so fiercely rejected me. I lay in a snowdrift, as if wrapped in a snowy blanket, dazed and battered.

My ears caught a crack, sharp and dry, cutting through the cold air. Slowly, I turned my head toward the source of the sound. Behind me were strange, crooked poles with crossbeams, tangled in a thick network of ropes hanging like thick, disgusting tentacles. At the ends of some of them, wild, cheerful sparks danced, emitting this unusual, piercing crackle.

The deadly energy flowing through these cables gradually filled the air, this entire place, flowing through every particle of my exhausted body. Though belatedly, I finally understood what it was: "electricity," as Lairy called this merciless creation of human civilization.

From the other side, something crunched loudly. I turned my head sharply and was hit by another wave of pain. A small but bright flash blinded me. The sparks flared more frequently and fiercely; the crackling hum didn’t subside, growing louder and now coming from all sides. These cursed poles seemed to appear out of nowhere, emerging where they hadn’t been a moment ago...

"Run." This thought pounded against the walls of my skull, beating a frantic, discordant rhythm. RUN! AS FAST AS YOU CAN!

A terrible fear, spreading like a cold, sticky slime, clouded my mind. Obeying it, I jerked sharply and couldn’t suppress a cry: my body was indeed frozen into the icy crust on one side. My wings were strangely broken, lying limp behind my back. Horrible pain shot through me with every sharp movement, as if my bones were being ripped out of me while I was still alive.

I tried in vain to stand, attempting to lean on my trembling front legs, but the ice held me in a death grip. My strength was rapidly leaving me, and darkness crept into my vision again. I gave up these futile attempts, hoping to catch my breath.

For a moment, it seemed like the poles had moved closer to me... no, it was just my imagination. They still stood like black, crooked crosses at the edge of the clearing.

I resumed my attempts to break free. Overcoming myself, barely holding back screams, I continued to struggle with desperate determination, but the ice wouldn’t yield.

Lifting my head during another break, I realized my eyes weren’t deceiving me. The poles had somehow closed the distance, and now it was noticeable. While I wasn’t looking, they had slowly been moving closer to me...

Feeling the terror gripping my throat, I made one last desperate lunge, trying to pull my disobedient body free. My blood boiled in my veins, my head spun, and even the pain faded into the background - there was only fear, lashing me like a whip, forcing me to fight the deadly, icy trap.

The circle tightened... the sparks flared faster and angrier...

COME ON!

A crunch - and the ice gave way. Another lunge - and I managed to tear my frostbitten side free. Unable to stop myself, I tumbled into another snowdrift. But that couldn’t stop me... My trembling, numb legs gave out, barely obeying me. Stumbling, pouring all my strength into it, no longer feeling the pain, driven by animal terror, I crawled, jumped up, and fell again, lunging forward, consumed only by a desperate desire to get as far away from here as possible. Spotting a gap in the nearly solid ring of poles surrounding me, I rushed toward it with all my might...

A strong blow to the back of my head slammed my muzzle into the frozen ground. Jumping up, I moved forward without looking back, until something hit me hard in the back again. A sharp, piercing chatter erupted above, flashes lit up, and a rain of numerous dead birds fell from the sky. Gasping, I bolted as fast as I could, mixing snow with feathers under my hooves, sinking into this mush, while the birds kept falling, hitting me with the weight of their warm, soft bodies. The crackling was unbearable, deafening, turning into a terrible thunder mixed with the death cries of the birds. A twisted, smoking bird in agony fell onto my forehead - I screamed in fear, jerked away, and, tripping, tumbled into a snowdrift. The next moment, I was on my back with my limbs splayed out involuntarily. Chaos reigned above me, a whirlwind of blinding flashes and black, blurry blurs... In despair, I squeezed my eyes shut and covered them with my hooves, but the unbearably bright dance of deadly lights continued to swirl before my mind’s eye...

Suddenly, I felt a touch. Cold as ice, it seemed to burn my skin. What other horrors did my subconscious hold?! What was this?.. Hands? Paws? At the same moment, my chest was tightly squeezed in a choking grip. Sharp pain shot through me - my broken wing was yanked hard, as if trying to tear it from my back. In terror, I resisted, but in vain - I only rolled onto my side. My tear-filled eyes were blinded, not allowing me to see who was holding me. Claw-like, icy fingers gripped my head, squeezing it so hard it felt like they wanted to crush my skull. I kicked, resisting with all my might, but my legs were grabbed one by one, immobilizing me and preventing me from continuing the struggle. Hands pulled me deeper, and I sank further into the snow. The world around me grew dim, hazy, like a mirage, and the cold, the blizzard, the cries of the birds slowly faded away...

...when suddenly I heard a strange hiss:

"Shh-shh-shh..."

Right next to my ear. I twisted my head in a futile attempt to overcome the pressure, my wide, unseeing eyes straining to see anything. My heart was ready to leap out of my chest.

"WHO ARE YOU?!"

I thought I was screaming. But only a faint moan escaped my lips, and with one last jerk, I fell still, utterly exhausted.

***

[ Lairy ]

My foggy consciousness still felt the warmth of Celestia's body. The alicorn and I had spent the entire night in each other's arms. Smiling happily, I stretched and rolled onto my back. I doubted that a being whose age was measured in dozens of centuries had discovered anything new in her interaction with me. But I had given her what she needed in that moment.

Yawning loudly, I sat up. The alarm clock blinked its colon reproachfully - on weekends, I always silenced this simple device. Deciding what to do today, I walked over to the window. The city was covered in a beautiful snowy blanket, but it wasn’t even nine in the morning, and pedestrians had already woven threads of their footprints into the fabric of winter harmony.

Quietly opening the door, I glanced at Luna. She was sleeping, sprawled in an awkward position, one hind leg draped over the back of the couch, her head hanging to the floor, and her wings awkwardly spread as if trying to catch her balance. The crumpled blanket lay on the floor.

"How hasn’t she dislocated her wings, lying on them like that?"

Approaching the alicorn and carefully embracing her, I lifted her, laying her more comfortably on her side. Gently massaging her crumpled wing, I pulled it out from under her, adjusted her head and legs. Groggily grumbling, the pony weakly kicked.

"Shh-shh-shh…" I whispered into Luna’s ear, stroking her neck. She must have been hot while sleeping: her damp, sticky fur emitted a pungent smell, just like after the ring game yesterday. Looks like I’d have to bathe my beloved horse again. Good thing I’d replaced the couch cover with an easily washable one long ago.

The pony suddenly tried to get up. Barely awake, she lifted her head and looked at me. The alicorn’s eyes, veiled by a translucent film of the third eyelid, looked strange, even slightly frightening. Muttering something unintelligible, Luna fidgeted a bit and then stilled.

After completing my usual morning routine, I grabbed my jacket and sweater from the hallway and, with the same cat-like gait, walked past the princess into the bedroom, tossed the clothes onto the bed, and pulled out a few Sony game discs from the cabinet under the TV. Once dressed, I left the apartment.

The winter storm had raged through the night, but the morning was quiet and clear, the yard sparkling with snowy idyll. In the crisp, winter-fresh air, there was a faint trace of car exhaust. Putting on dark glasses, I headed to the bus stop.

On the bustling street, the stench of civilization was much stronger, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the walk and reading the emotions on the faces of the hurrying people. I felt like a predator observing a herd of bipeds. They passed by - calm, focused, sullen, preoccupied, determined, arrogant, indifferent, occasionally curious and cheerful. Everyone had their own thoughts and feelings, different lives, and unique attitudes toward them. It was always fascinating to watch from the sidelines, not being part of the general movement.

I let the first two buses pass, not wanting to participate in the beloved national sport called "crowding." Though, to be honest, I didn’t like any kind of sport, especially mass ones. The next bus was a spacious "accordion," where there was always enough room for everyone. Sitting by the window, I half-dozed while watching the familiar streets. Ah, the repair crews were at it again, digging up half the yard, and of course, they had to do it in winter, hmm-pff.

Here was the stop near the market. People were picking up their bags and baskets, slowly filtering through the narrow front door. After paying the fare, I got off.

The street adjacent to the market was famous for its weekend bustle - private sellers peddled embroidered clothes, flowers, and "man’s best friends." Along the road were many cardboard boxes and cages with huddled birds, hamsters, puppies, and kittens of various "noble" breeds.

Leaning against the last kiosk at the entrance stood a one-legged beggar in camouflage, propped up on a crutch. I studied the hunched figure, the swollen face, the dull and indifferent gaze. No, he was too young and weak for a Chechen veteran, and I bet both legs were intact - one was just tucked into his pant leg. I wanted to give the budding actor a couple of useful tips on how to make himself look more battered by life and thus increase his hourly earnings. But I decided it wasn’t my business - let the poor student learn the art of evoking pity on his own, not just stand there like a post.

The seemingly endless rows of identical iron kiosks, lined up side by side. Food, lighters, cigarettes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sponges, towels, keychains, souvenirs, laser pointers, books, magazines, adapters, remotes, watches, calculators, headphones, flashlights, batteries, lamps, empty audio and video cassettes, small electronics, knives, bottle openers - a little bit of everything one might need in life.

At the game kiosk, two boys were discussing "Dendy" cartridges. The seller, knowing my preferences, pulled out a box of discs from under the counter, and for a good ten minutes, I meditated, studying the titles and descriptions of the games. This time, the gamers had brought a bunch of new discs for exchange, and the selection was surprisingly rich. I picked up "XenoGears," "Tenka," "Descent Maximum," "Spyro," and finally, "Mortal Kombat," which had somehow migrated from the "Sega."

Next, I visited the "fishing row." Besides fishing gear, they sold a great variety of metal junk: worn-out plumbing faucets, valves, pipes, chains, antennas, phones, wires, cables, plugs, sockets, nuts, bolts, mechanical alarm clocks, scales, tape recorders, radios, circuit boards, keys to unknown locks and locks without keys, bicycle, car, and unknown machinery parts, ancient Soviet toys, coins, cutlery, tools of varying degrees of rustiness and usability. Occasionally, with a bit of digging, you could find interesting rarities at a bargain price.

They also sold pet food here. I bought two kilos of oats. The seller’s face bore an unhealthy smile as he weighed out the feed.

"Feeding parrots for slaughter?" he asked, taking my money.

"Thanks. Raising a crocodile," I replied phlegmatically.

The last stop on my route - the children’s row. Stalls crudely welded from angle iron and covered with sheet metal. Goods hung on metal grids and lay on folding tables. I carefully examined the walls, noting dolls, construction sets, and figurines of heroes. This one’s here, that one’s junk… Nothing worthy of my collection.

On my way out of the market, I stocked up on cabbage, carrots, sweets, and beer.

"Oh, sonny, my dear, my striped one, take a portrait of a gypsy girl, it’ll bring you happiness and wealth," an old woman sitting by the exit latched onto me. I gave her a quick glance: a thick, faded brown coat, a black shawl over her shoulders. A wrinkled, pale face, eyes watering from the cold, peeking out from under a yellow down hat. Next to the old woman, on an upside-down cardboard box, lay icons, crosses, stars, and some attributes of made-up beliefs.

Happiness? Wealth? I remembered the eyes of a happy Luna, her quiet laughter when I scratched her ears. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Thanks, I already have happiness and wealth, I don’t need m-m...”

Feeling movement to the side, I sharply turned and grabbed a nondescript man in a thin gray sweater by the collar.

“Are you out of your mind? I was just passing by!” he protested. But he fell silent upon hearing a deep, guttural growl. Baring my teeth, I leaned in close:

“I get nervous when random passersby try to rummage through my pockets. Get lost!”

The nearest passersby paused for a moment, turned around, and indifferently walked on. Shaking the man, I pushed him away - the unlucky pickpocket disappeared into the crowd. The old woman, having turned away, remained silent. I sighed, feeling a powerful wave of adrenaline rush through my body, and headed to the bus.

***

[ Luna \ Dreams ]

I woke up to sharp gusts of cold wind. The “birdfall” had stopped, and the clearing was littered with the corpses of the unfortunate creatures that had just been killed. Overcoming myself, I rose on trembling legs, my vision doubling and blurring from the burning veil. Wiping away tears, I tried in vain to stop the trembling. Taking a sharp breath, I took a step forward and suddenly noticed movement out of the corner of my eye, instinctively freezing…

It glided silently just above the ground, resembling a dense tangle of intertwining tentacles, the longest of which writhed beneath the elongated body of this… thing. Chains of multicolored lights ran along the length of the black, vile appendages. They flickered continuously, stretching and bending, forming intricate patterns, loops, rings… This mysterious creature, resembling a jellyfish, slowly approached me.

I felt a strange burning in my eyes and powerful streams of energy passing through me. It was as if thousands of needles had been driven into my body, as if the flickering lights on the jellyfish were piercing my flesh, with particularly sharp stabs to my head and along my back. I backed away, trying not to lose sight of the creature. It began to circle me slowly, apparently choosing the moment and preparing to attack.

I leaped to the side with a wild scream - something had stabbed into my leg like a multitude of needles! I hadn’t noticed another jellyfish sneaking up behind me. The ends of its tentacles sparked like live wires. So that’s what it was... From one of the poles, the cables that had previously wrapped around it fell onto the snow. They stirred, twisting into a single, vile, spark-covered mass… A new individual joined the ranks of the predators.

From one pole to another, more and more electric jellyfish fell. Feeling my legs and lower abdomen grow cold with terror, I retreated, trying to keep all the creatures in sight, not letting any of them get close. Their numbers grew, and the stronger I felt the discharges passing through my body. The pain was almost unbearable - only the desire to survive kept me on my feet and allowed me to focus on the numerous enemies. The jellyfish floated leisurely, carefully extending their tentacles toward me, keeping their distance but methodically surrounding their prey, trying to weaken it with fierce and precise flashes.

I slowly but surely backed away, moving toward the gap in the ring that the poles had previously enclosed me in. I felt that these creatures wouldn’t follow me into the forest - the dense spruce thicket was my only hope for salvation. I moved cautiously, trying not to make sudden movements and not provoke the jellyfish into attacking, as without magic, I wouldn’t be able to fend off a deadly strike.

Suddenly, something entered my mind, forcing me to stop in a stupor. A subsequent electric shock snapped me out of it. Threateningly and sharply jerking my head, I thrust my horn forward, driving away one of the jellyfish that had gotten too close. I felt something behind me. Something so horrifying that my mind couldn’t even imagine it in the worst nightmares. My heart sank, my body convulsed, refusing to obey me. Obeying an unknown will, I turned to face my mysterious enemy.

Before me, blocking the path to the saving forest, loomed a charred, bent pole, growing in size right before my eyes and twisting into a cross. At its ends were wide, glowing disks, hanging in clusters like garlands. The cables on it constantly moved, entwining it in a thick, coal-black, sparkling web.

I realized I was slowly losing consciousness and will. The last remnants of strength left me. My legs buckled, bringing me to my knees before the cross. It leaned over me. I could only helplessly watch as it extended its tentacles toward me…

“NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!”

With all the power of my lungs, tearing my own eardrums, a deafening cry erupted from my lips. Another electric shock brought me to my senses, and I summoned the last weapon I had left. The sound wave hurled the cross away, causing it to explode with a deafening crackle and dissolve into the air. A deep breath - and all the jellyfish followed it, thrown back by another cry. Shuddering, I looked around. Out of nowhere, the entire clearing was filled with white, prickly fog, hiding the remaining poles behind its thick veil. I lunged forward, trying to reach the trees as quickly as possible, but the fog caught up with me, obscuring my vision and forcing me to move almost blindly. My ears rang with the terrible echo of the “Canterlot Ceremonial” that had saved my life, drowning out the whispers of voices coming from behind the snowy curtain…

…Knee-deep in snow, futilely trying to cover my groin with my tail against the icy wind, dragging my broken wings, I trudged forward. The forest around me thinned, and the few trees couldn’t shield me from the relentless slaps of the blizzard. The fog had finally dissipated, but visibility didn’t improve due to the snow constantly falling into my eyes, making it impossible to even slightly open them. Where was I going?.. I didn’t know. Just walking.

Hoping to find shelter, I hid under the sparse branches of a sickly, crooked spruce. My stomach cramped, but I couldn’t satisfy my hunger - spruce needles would only make my stomach worse. My eyes burned unbearably from despair and fear - but I couldn’t cry. Tears would freeze into an icy crust, causing extra pain and worsening the situation. Though, it seemed, things couldn’t get any worse.

At some point, I stopped understanding that what was happening to me wasn’t real. That all of this was just a product of my fears and horrors, things that had happened to me not so long ago. That this entire unreal reality was just a reflection of the nightmare that would forever poison me with its bitter venom, never, NEVER letting me forget. Forget my weakness and helplessness in the face of a world alien to me. It seemed I had won a victory in one of the battles, turned unknown monsters into dust, monsters that embodied my fear of the energy tamed by humans - but what did it matter if I still couldn’t withstand the cruelty and mercilessness of Earth’s nature, and I was still doomed to slowly die one way or another? What was the point of this small victory if the outcome would still be the same?..

I pulled myself out of my sorrowful thoughts. I raised my eyes. For a moment, I thought I saw a strange, barely noticeable silhouette far beyond the trees. The blizzard raged with renewed force, and the ghost disappeared behind the veil of snow. Suddenly, my nose caught a scent - such a delicious scent, making my stomach clench into a knot and growl loudly…

***

[ Lairy ]

The strengthening wind threatened to ruin the weather, spitefully spoiling the children playing in the yards. But I made it home without incident, even as the gusty wind nearly knocked me off my feet. Inside the apartment - silence. Kicking off my shoes, I peeked out from the hallway. Detached from the world, Luna slept, her muzzle buried in the couch cushion. This was the perfect moment to surprise my beloved. Quickly shedding my outdoor clothes, I knelt by the couch.

“Turn to the other side, and I’ll give you a sack of oats,” I whispered into Luna’s ear.

“M-m-m, oats. Oats?..” she mumbled in her sleep.

I brought a handful of oblong grains to her nose and blew softly. The horse’s nostrils flared energetically, but she showed no signs of waking, convinced the smell was part of her dream.

I blew again. Sniffing, Luna licked her nose. The grain I placed on her tongue disappeared into her mouth, and the alicorn shuddered, her face reflecting deep thought with a shadow of doubt. After a pause, the pony opened her eyes.

“What’s this?” she sighed, rolling onto her side. “Hi. I thought I’d learned to pull things from dreams into reality.”

I handed her a handful of grains - Luna cautiously tasted them, as if not trusting her lips and tongue.

“Oats… It’s been so long since I’ve had real oats,” the pony quietly sobbed. “Where did you get them, especially in winter?”

“Bought them at the market,” I replied, placing a full sack near Luna.

“My friend, I feel so ashamed and awkward around you,” Luna whispered, pushing the sack toward the back of the couch. Placing her front hooves on my shoulders, she looked at me with tear-filled eyes: “You do so much for me, and I have nothing to give in return. Forgive me.”

Holding Luna’s legs, I sat beside her. Embracing me, she lay back on my lap.

“Is this really enough for you?” she asked as I gently scratched her muzzle, admiring the enchanting gaze of her eyes.

“With you - yes. But a little more wouldn’t hurt.”

“A little mhm-m?..”

I sealed the princess’s lips with a long kiss, slipping into her half-open mouth and caressing her tongue with mine. Ruffling Luna’s fur with my fingertips, I felt her side twitch amusingly from the tickling. Her hooves pressed against my back, clinging to my T-shirt and scratching. Finally, I pulled away. A shiny thread of sticky saliva hung between our lips. The pony closed her eyes, and heavy tears rolled down her face.

Tossing the blanket from the floor with my foot, I caught it and used a corner to wipe Luna’s tears. She pressed against me, and I noticed how strongly she smelled.

“Were you hot while sleeping?” I rubbed the damp side of the alicorn.

“No. I had nightmares, woke up several times in a cold sweat.”

“Nightmares again…” I wiped my fingers on the blanket in frustration.

“What can I do?” Luna guiltily spread her legs. “Living here, I’ve seen and been through many cruel things. And even with you, I can’t forget them.”

Sniffling, she lowered her ears.

“Come on, let’s get you washed.”

***

[ Luna ]

Elastic, hot streams caress me, washing away sweat and stress. Lairy’s soapy hands glide over my neck, body, and legs, soothing and relaxing me. I quietly snort, enjoying the massage. The man smiles, apparently also enjoying himself. His fingers move across my back, confidently outlining the edges of my shoulder blades - I fight the reflex to press my wings to my sides. But nature takes its course, and I obediently release the relentless instinct, letting my stubborn limbs rise with a joyful rustle, betraying all my feelings. With a smirk, Lairy soaps his hands again and starts on my wings. Even knowing the peculiarities of my physiology, doesn’t this excite him? Trying not to show concern, I sneak a glance at his groin. It seems not - nothing is protruding under his clothes. Or maybe he has much better self-control than I do.

“Here, near the shoulder, massage a bit more,” I suggest, feeling a pulling pain in my muscles - my wings are still sore from yesterday’s maneuvers. “Gently, don’t press so hard…”

“Tired from flying?”

“How did you guess?”

“Easy, I suppose.”

Once again, I’m under the hot shower, now standing on my hind legs, pressing my chest against the wall. I spread my wings, helping to thoroughly clean each feather. For some reason, my left leg aches. Ah, there’s a scratch there. I’ll endure it; it’s my own fault. But Lairy acted strangely yesterday. Why did he lick the wound? He could have washed and bandaged it, like he did the first evening with my other wound, from the iron. But he licked it, like an animal. And his gaze - I can hardly explain it. It was as if I glimpsed a different life, with different laws.

“Let’s brush your teeth,” I suggest after Lairy dries me, wraps my wings in towels, and trims my hooves.

“After eating,” he replies, shaking wood shavings into a bucket. “Brushing teeth before eating is pointless.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ll just dirty them again with food.”

I have no argument against that logic.

Groomed, beautiful, and happy, I sit in the kitchen, enjoying a hot cup of coffee-cocoa. Lairy unpacks groceries from his bag. Mentally calculating the bits spent on carrots, cabbage, a bunch of greens, and oats, I add the total to the reward promised by Celestia. Taking a cabbage head in my hooves, I tear off a tough leaf with my teeth.

“But I won’t give you this cabbage,” Lairy snatches the head from me and places it on the floor.

“Why?” I try to chew through my surprise.

“Because it’s for borscht. I bought it for that. But I have tastier treats for you, I think you’ll like them.”

He shakes out a few candies from the bag. Besides the familiar ones that jump on my tongue, I recognize others - their delicious-smelling wrappers I used to find empty when I was a homeless vagabond rummaging through trash.

I arrange the treats, trying to give them some order. My hoof lingers on a black wrapper with bold red letters.

“M-Mars?”

“Bravo, you’ve learned to read?”

Intrigued, I examine the other candies.

“‘Bounty,’ ‘Snickers,’ ‘Twix,’ ‘Nuts,’” I point out, touching them with my hoof. “I can’t read, I just saw them on TV and remembered.”

“That’s a good way to learn too.”

Pushing the groceries into a large pile against the wall, Lairy sets out breakfast - porridge and milk. Quickly finishing my portion, I wash my plate, earning an approving ear scratch, and sit down to sort through the candies. A pack with an image of horses pulling a covered wagon particularly catches my eye. I try to tear the edge of the wrapper with my teeth but accidentally crush it in my hooves.

Lairy helps me open the pack. Inside are two small cream-filled wafers covered in something brown and sweet, tasting like cocoa.

“How lovely,” I chew slowly and with pleasure until the last tender crumb melts on my tongue, lick the edge of my hoof, and wash it down with milk.

“Enjoy, I bought all this for you.”

“I’m very grateful.”

Thinking about how much such treats would cost in Equestria under my and my sister’s rule, I mercilessly add another thousand bits to Lairy’s “reward fund.” I rummage through the candies with my hoof.

“Oh, is this the one that doesn’t sink in milk?” I pull out a white-and-blue wrapper with stars.

“Let’s check.”

After swallowing the last spoonfuls of porridge, Lairy pours milk into his plate, and I manage to carefully extract the candy from the wrapper and, holding it with my lips, lower it into the milk.

“Yes, this chocolate bar floats. I wonder why?” The man tries to sink the dark bar with a spoon.

“Because it’s made of milk, right?” I laugh.

“Maybe.”

“What else is here?” I take a long pack from the pile, its sides adorned with images of fruits and berries.

“Frutella, chewy candies,” Lairy opens the pack and takes out a small yellow candy. “Like this.”

With a sly smile, he places the treat on my nose. Deciding not to make a circus act, I carefully lick it off. The candy turns out to be lemon-flavored.

“Quite…”

“And you never know which one you’ll get next,” the man pops a purple candy into his mouth and stands up, clearing the plates. He pours the milk into my cup. After washing the dishes, Lairy sits at the table with a knife and a bowl of potatoes. Wanting to help, I take a large tuber and start peeling.

“Last night, I slept with Celestia.”

“He? With her… Slept?!”

I nearly choke on the peel. Lairy continues:

"I entered her dream to find out what we should do during the full moon and how the portal will open. Celestia said all the instructions are already with you. Is that so?" He looks at me.

"Instrucsh…" I spit out the peel. "Yes, she gave me a scroll with a diagram in my dream. I memorized everything."

"Good. I found out what I wanted and left for another dream so as not to disturb her rest. But when I looked back, she seemed…" Lairy thoughtfully waves the knife in the air, searching for words. "Lonely, tired, and somewhat lost, I guess? Feelings in dreams are sometimes hard to explain. Because you experience them so intensely and fully in that moment, but then they scatter and fade."

Nodding, I place the peeled tuber in the bowl and take a new one.

"Celestia loves you very much and worries about you. And despite all her power, she herself needs love and care. Though she doesn’t show it. But hiding emotions is easy only in reality - the physical body expresses little. In dreams, it’s completely different; all your feelings and thoughts radiate from you like waves. Any emotion of a nearby being is perceived very clearly, feelings fill the entire space and everyone in it. If you’re tired, afraid, or hateful - those around you in the dream will feel it."

I felt that Celestia was very worn out. Perhaps she couldn’t even admit to herself that she needed support.

"And what did you do?"

"I stayed with her, despite her request to leave. I caressed, hugged, and comforted her. She conjured a wonderful night, and we slept in each other’s arms. A dream-within-a-dream is a rare and interesting event. I think I helped her relax. At least by morning, she wasn’t radiating such a heavy sense of despair and longing."

"If only, my dear sister, you had paid more attention to your duties earlier, rather than self-reflection and silly foal-like grievances, you might have understood how hard it is for me now!"

Lowering my ears, I continue silently peeling the potatoes.

"Why so gloomy?"

Putting the knife aside, Lairy moves closer, takes the vegetable from my hooves, and hugs me. His fingers bury into my mane, gently tousling it. Pressing my nose into his cheek, I quietly sniff, inhaling the faint scent of sweat. Loving hands caress my shoulders and slide under my wings, scratching the sensitive skin at their base. Shaking off the towels, I press against Lairy, embracing him with my wings. The still-damp feathers shimmer mesmerizingly in the daylight, and it seems as if waves of light ripple across them with every movement, casting bright reflections on the edges.

Blissfully closing my eyes, I listen to Lairy’s breathing. Is his heart beating faster than usual? I shiver, feeling his teeth gently nibble the corner of my ear.

"M-m-m, what are you doing?" I playfully grumble, shaking my ear to free it. But I don’t want to let go of the embrace. Lairy releases my ear, giving it one last bite, a bit longer.

"Don’t cry, everything will be fine," my beloved, holding me by the shoulders, kisses my nose - it’s warm and a little ticklish.

"Everything is already fine," I smile, closing my wings over our heads. Lairy’s hand slides over my muzzle and neck; he enjoys touching me, though I don’t fully understand why. Perhaps because of the difference between fingers and hooves.

He picks up the knife again. I smooth my feathers and take the towels to the bathroom, hanging them to dry on the hot pipe. Meanwhile, Lairy cuts the cabbage head.

"Can I help you with that?"

"Try," he hands me the knife.

Sitting on the floor by the table and holding the knife in my teeth, I start shredding the cabbage, holding it in my front hooves.

"With your teeth?" The man skeptically eyes my work. "Seems damn inconvenient," he mutters, leaving the kitchen.

I shrug, continuing to cut. What choice do I have?

Lairy returns with a large red coil of something I initially mistake for a thick cord, but when he unravels it slightly, the cord doesn’t dangle but bends stiffly, holding its shape.

First, Lairy tightly wraps the cord around the handle of my knife.

"Give me your leg, let’s try to adapt the iron to you."

Placing the knife underneath, he tightly winds several loops around my hoof, cuts the cord with another knife, and firmly twists the ends. The result is a hoof-knife contraption that holds the blade firmly in place. I shake my leg - the makeshift hoof-knife holds well.

"Okay, but can I take this hoof-knife off?"

"If you can’t, we’ll unwind it, no problem. Try cutting."

The blade wobbles slightly with movement, but cutting with my leg is much more convenient than holding the knife in my teeth.

"Luna, tell me, what’s it like to be immortal?"

"W-woah, why do you ask?" I glance at Lairy curiously.

"The topic of eternal life always interests mortal beings. And since I live with an immortal pony, why not ask her about her impressions?"

"Impressions? There are many. And not all of them are pleasant."

"If you don’t want to, don’t tell."

I lick the cabbage bits stuck to the knife.

"At first, it’s truly fascinating. You’re filled with love for the world, a thirst for adventure, a hunger for knowledge. You want to go everywhere, experience everything, touch everything, and most importantly, nothing limits you. It’s an overwhelming feeling, um… how to put it?"

"Omnipotence?"

"Yes, exactly. It’s exhilarating, inspiring, dizzying. The world before you is vast, majestic, full of mysteries. Every answer you find brings new questions, and you strive to uncover them all."

Listening to the wind outside, I pile the shredded cabbage high. The man gathers the cabbage into a large plate, warms up cups of juice, and offers one to me.

"Thank you. Let me finish cutting what’s left."

Listening to the crunch of the leaves under the knife, I continue reminiscing:

"However, the more you develop and learn about the world, the more you think about the differences between your life and others’. Over time, the euphoria of discovery dissipates like smoke, and the thrill gives way to disappointment."

I grew very slowly, and it happened that without me noticing, my childhood friends grew up, became adults, gradually distancing themselves from me. I stopped recognizing them: their manners, appearance, habits changed, they started families. And I remained the same foal, able to play with their children and then grandchildren. Time flowed differently for me.

One of my first friends, whom I still remember, was Diamond Syllable, a unicorn from a noble family, misty-gray in color with a wavy golden-purple mane and a cutie mark of "three quills." Syllable’s talent was speech - he was one of the best orators I’ve known. With just words, the power of his voice, without moving or using magic, he could inspire and bring melancholy, comfort and disappoint, elevate to the heavens and cast into the abyss, guide and halt, make you love or hate him. Usually, he was as silent as a rock, but when he spoke - silence reigned around him. Valleys and hills, forests and mountains listened, and the echo answered.

In society, Syllable was considered a snob; people avoided him and tried not to chatter in his presence. His piercing sky-blue eyes left an indelible impression.

I had been friends with Syllable since foalhood; we played, walked, ate, and slept together. I watched him grow and mature, leaving me in the gardens of happy childhood. When he visited, I learned to express thoughts and feelings eloquently, powerfully, and beautifully. We met less and less, and I missed his speeches. But one day, he came to the garden not alone - a beautiful mare and a lovely foal walked with him. They turned out to be his wife and daughter. I was delighted and befriended both.

Over the years, Syllable became more withdrawn and irritable. His coat faded, and his mane lost its luster. His magic often failed, flickering out when he tried to hold something with telekinesis. This way, the unicorn broke more than one cup. He walked slowly, often freezing in place for long periods. Noticing my friend’s weakness, I solemnly vowed to find spells that would restore his strength. Syllable, as always, was very kind to me and, with a smile, replied that he expected me with the spells in ten days. I wanted to run off and search immediately, but my friend asked me to stay with him until nightfall. When I raised the moon, he whispered that this night was the most beautiful in his life, and the moon the most beautiful he had ever seen. Realizing my friend had fallen asleep, I covered him and left, trying not to make noise.

The following days, I dedicated to searching, forgetting about games and practically moving into the royal library. Exhausted from reading, I fell asleep on the pages of an open tome and continued my search in my dreams. Besides the needed spells, I gleaned much other useful knowledge.

Finishing the cabbage, I push the pile of leaves toward Lairy and, on the second try, pull my leg out of the hoof-knife. The hastily assembled contraption turned out to be quite convenient.

"That’s too much for borscht. Here’s some for you, enjoy."

"Thank you."

"And did you manage to restore your friend’s strength?" the man asks, standing by the stove.

"After ten days, returning to him with the learned spells, I couldn’t find him anywhere. His relatives evaded my questions. Finally, one of Syllable’s granddaughters admitted that he had fallen asleep that night when I left him and didn’t wake with the new dawn."

It was a cruel blow for me, the first loss in my just-beginning life. And the first broken oath. I couldn’t understand why my friend hid his ailment from me - I could have supported him then. Why did he let me go, spending days among books? Over time, I realized the reason: Syllable wanted me not to grieve in vain, as I couldn’t help him anyway. But that realization came later. For Equestria, dark moonless nights had come.

I sigh, watching Lairy pour the chopped vegetables into the pot. As if sensing my gaze, he turns and nods encouragingly.

"The worst part of immortality is watching, over centuries, as new friends enter your life and live with you for a while. And then they leave, some later, some sooner, but always. And each time, you see your helplessness to change anything for those who became like family. Yes, you can pull them from the abyss, from water, from under a collapse, you can heal mortal wounds, make their heart beat again, but old age is inevitable. And it’s very hard to accept that everyone you care about will eventually become ghosts of memories."

Stuffing my mouth with cabbage, I fall silent. After the sweet "Frutella," the cabbage seems tasteless and bland. Like my memories.

"I know how you feel," Lairy tosses the peels into the bucket.

"How would you know? You haven’t lived hundreds of years."

"To see death, to know the bitterness of losing loved ones and friends - one ordinary life is enough. Sorry, it seems I shouldn’t have asked about immortality. It’s a sore topic for you."

"Hm, no…" I chew slowly, pondering my words. "Not sore. I’ve rarely discussed this side of my life with anyone. I don’t know how my sister copes with the burden of eternal losses. Especially since you sensed her emotions in the dream."

"Yes."

"For myself - I’ve learned not to get attached to mortals. I’ve realized that life is a river, and I stand on its bank, watching those who float by. Some drift slowly, thoughtfully, looking around, picking up what they desire, enjoying the current. Others live frantically, grabbing at whatever they can and losing it just as quickly, jumping from wave to wave, diving, disappearing in the whirlpools of events and resurfacing further downstream. Some linger near me, but no matter how hard or persistently they paddle - the river of life carries them away."

Taking a sip of juice, I twirl the cup in my hooves, examining the painted red flowers.

"When I grew up and became a very attractive mare, many stallions sought my attention, offering their hearts and hooves. But, not wanting to ruin their lives, I refused them all."

"And why would it ruin their lives?" Lairy puts the knives away and sits at the table.

"Because an ordinary mortal stallion should live with an ordinary mare. He should feel psychologically comfortable as her equal: living together, loving, growing old, building a relationship, raising children, facing old age. Now imagine - my husband has aged, weakened, we have grown children, grandchildren, and I remain the same strong, young, and beautiful as he remembers me in my prime. Wouldn’t that be a blow to him? I had no right to subject my friends to such a cruel test."

Groaning, Lairy slaps his forehead with his palm, covering half his face. From his smile and the movement of his shoulders, I can tell he’s laughing.

"This doesn’t mean I lived as an unapproachable recluse, far from it. I swam in the river of life alongside everyone: there were interests, fears, competitions, victories and defeats, quarrels and reconciliations, friends and enemies, admirers and lovers. Everything was there. But as soon as the conversation turned to marriage and family with me in the leading role, I put my foot down: either we remain friends, or we part ways, no family is possible. And I didn’t explain the reasons."

"Har-r-rdcore…" Lairy groans, still laughing. I set the cup on the table.

"Some stallions left without a word. Others stayed. And over time, they created ordinary families with other mares, and their interest in me faded, or, in rare cases, we continued to be friends. If my mare friends asked me how I managed to look so good after so many years, I explained it with proper self-care. Though I didn’t spend hours in beauty salons or fuss over every fallen hair like some fashionistas. I’ll note that at the time, very few ponies knew about the immortality of alicorns. And I didn’t tell everyone about this peculiarity of mine."

"And rightly so," Lairy takes a sip from his cup. "As if we needed them all wanting to become immortal too."

"Strictly speaking, immortality isn’t the same as invulnerability. You have to take care of yourself, or your body will respond with weakness and illness. Like Celestia, I live infinitely long by the standards of ordinary ponies, but that doesn’t mean I’m invulnerable, that I don’t feel pain, hunger, thirst, suffocation, that I can’t be wounded or physically killed."

Lairy noticeably tenses at the last words. I sigh sadly.

"Luna, when you got angry with me at the beginning of our acquaintance, and then I combed your tail with a fork on the couch - you said then that you weren’t immortal. But now you’re talking about an infinitely long life."

"Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it?" I smile. "Being in Equestria, I didn’t think much about it. I had magic, I knew martial arts, and I could stand up for myself if needed. But after coming to the world of humans, I’ve had to reconsider, reevaluate, and realize how fragile my life truly is. At times, I fought for every step and breath. Lairy, it’s simple. Remember the wound on my leg?" I run my left hoof over my right, long-healed forearm. "Deprived of magical powers, I’m almost defenseless. You saw that from the very beginning. And I was afraid you wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of that to force me into something."

"But your fears didn’t come true."

"Yes, and you showed me another side of them: that being open and vulnerable can be very pleasant."

"It’s just very hard to find someone with whom you can be open."

"Fortunately, he found me." Laughing, I wink at the man.

"Yeah, thanks to the vulnerable and defenseless horse who protected me so well last night."

"Oh, yes, about last night’s events, I want to ask you something."

"Ask."

"Those people we met - I was very angry listening to them, though I didn’t understand everything they said. They insulted and belittled you, trying to provoke you. Didn’t their words offend you?"

"No. Because I don’t accept such gifts."

"Gifts?"

"Imagine you receive a gift you don’t like, and you don’t take it. Who does the gift belong to?"

Thinking, I recall the names of some persistent suitors who caused me more trouble than pleasure. Then I realize Lairy is asking about the gift in a different sense.

"If I don’t accept the gift, it remains with the giver."

"Exactly. And so it is with insults - they remain with those people. They wanted me to get angry, lose control of myself and the situation, and make mistakes. They didn’t succeed."

"They managed to anger me. Calling the princess a 'dirty animal,' can you believe it? I haven’t cursed so heartily in a long time." Snorting with a smirk, I rub my chin. "They called you a 'fucked zoophile' - what does that mean? Is it somehow related to me?"

"First of all, it’s another provocation. 'Crazy' is just an insult. And a zoophile is a person who feels sexual attraction to animals and practices sex with animals."

I touch Lairy’s hand with my hoof, tugging slightly to get his attention. Though he’s already looking at me and listening.

"You’re not going to deny that you’re attracted to me, are you?"

Lairy exhales shortly, something between a snort and a laugh.

"Of course not. I not only don’t deny it, but I constantly show this attraction."

Laughing, he scratches my neck. Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back, feeling the edges of his claws combing through my fur, sliding along my muscles, over my arteries, as if listening to my pulse. A vague sense of imaginary danger stirs in my soul: what if suddenly?.. A deep breath makes my head spin slightly.

"And yet, I don’t understand why 'zoophile' sounds so negative? Even knowing that to you, I’m an animal, I wasn’t offended." I look at Lairy, waiting for an answer.

My man ponders. The pot on the stove bubbles quietly. Outside, the wind howls, and the unpleasant pressure in my ears means the weather will get worse soon.

"Luna, you probably know: nothing in the world can be judged unambiguously as good or bad. Good and evil are intertwined and have many facets and shades."

"I know. But give me a clear example so I can understand exactly what you’re talking about."

"A lioness catches an antelope. It’s good for the lioness - she and her cubs are fed. It’s bad for the antelope - it’s dead. What’s good for one is bad for the other."

"Um, couldn’t you have chosen a less bloodthirsty example?"

"And less vivid? No, because it’s in my nature."

Seeing no point in arguing, I lean over the table for more cabbage. Lairy touches my nose with his finger and whispers in my ear in a scary tone:

"Here, a naughty pony killed the cabbage, brutally chopped it into pieces, and now sits, feasting on the juicy, crunchy leaves."

Choking on laughter and the aforementioned leaves, I nudge the man’s chest lightly with my hoof:

"Okay, I get it, enough joking, or I won’t be able to eat an apple without seeing it as a victim. Besides, the cabbage’s role in the world is to be food for ponies."

"The antelope’s role is to be meat for the lion."

"I give up," turning to Lairy, I raise my front legs in a conciliatory gesture and spread my wings for emphasis. "But answer my question."

"About the negative attitude?"

"Yes."

Lairy leans his elbow on the table. He answers slowly, thoughtfully, carefully choosing his words. He must not want to hurt my feelings:

"Zoophiles can be roughly divided into two categories. The first and, unfortunately, the largest - irresponsible. Those who only want to have fun, get pleasure, and that’s it. For them, an animal is just a toy to roughly play with and discard. Usually, these are narrow-minded people with low intelligence and self-esteem."

"And the man who enslaved me was one of them, the irresponsible ones."

"Yes," Lairy presses his lips tightly, probably recalling the unpleasantness. "He even fed you only so you wouldn’t die and he’d have someone to play with."

Though Lairy wears loose clothing, I notice the muscles in his neck, chest, and arms tense. Wanting to calm him, I stroke his shoulder with my wing.

"You’ve described the first ones, what about the second?"

"Careful ones. These are people with clear minds and high levels of emotional development. Educated, knowledgeable in psychology, valuing feelings. They treat animals as equals, without self-aggrandizement like 'king of nature.' They don’t derive pleasure from subjugating and humiliating others; they value life, freedom, and choice. They intuitively understand the feelings and thoughts of their four-legged friends, perceiving the pain and suffering of animals as their own. They give animals attention, friendship, and love first, and only then can it turn into sex. And again, no violence."

"It’s not hard to see that you belong to the second group. Right?"

"Yes. Maybe I can be called a zoophile because I love you, care for you, value you as a person. And this despite the fact that, formally, you’re an animal. And completely dependent on the moral 'framework' of the person you’re forced to be with. On his upbringing, mood, whims, and desires."

Without looking away, Lairy cups my head in his hands, stroking my cheeks.

"Luna, I can’t even imagine how you’d live if you ended up with an ordinary person who isn’t interested in animals…"

"I can guess: at the very least, I’d be fed, I’d heal my wounds and recover physically. I’d live in less comfortable conditions. Perhaps, they’d ignore me or try to communicate somehow. But I’d remain the same arrogant, haughty, cold mare as before. Lairy, your love warmed my heart, and I’m very grateful for that."

He nods.

"Well, I’ve heard almost everything except the reason for the negative reaction to zoophiles."

"The reason is simple: the 'irresponsible' ones are condemned and despised because their actions deserve condemnation and contempt. And the 'careful' ones are almost unknown. Hence such a one-sided, initially incorrect judgment of all zoophiles as bad people. It’s easier for people to judge something by seeing only one side of the coin, rather than making an effort to flip it. Because the other side might completely shatter their cozy, established views on life."

Lairy kisses my nose - I barely suppress a sneeze. And I hug my beloved, expressing gratitude for everything he’s done for me.

***

[ Lairy ]

I kissed Luna between her nostrils, causing her to immediately squint and her nose to wrinkle adorably like an accordion. The princess was fond of cuddles: once she stopped being shy, Luna would hug me at every opportunity. I especially loved her wing hugs - like a warm, soft cloud enveloping me.

"There’s one more question for you personally," she whispered, leaning close to my ear. "But I feel like I’ve stepped onto shaky ground, and I’m not sure I want to hear the answer."

"Since it’s my ‘day of questions,’ go ahead and ask, and maybe I won’t even answer."

Pulling back and folding her wings, Luna looked straight at me. Her eyes showed curiosity and hope, with a hint of hidden fear.

"Do you… want to have sex with me?" she stammered, averting her gaze.

I smiled softly and nodded:

"I would, but I won’t ask."

"Why not?" Her ears twitched in surprise. I gently turned her face toward me with my hand:

"I don’t want to hurt you."

"Thank you. I knew you’d understand. I’m sorry if I’ve tired you with my questions."

"Not at all. Conversations like these are a great way to learn about yourself and others."

I added pepper and salt to the borscht, stirred it, and returned to the table.

"The division I described is conditional: an ‘irresponsible’ person can, with the right approach, be re-educated into a ‘caring’ one, if they’re not completely hardened and want to grow."

"That proves that not everything is as bad or as clear-cut as it might seem at first glance. But is the opposite possible - can a caring person become irresponsible?"

Rumbling thoughtfully, I scratched my mustache.

"Transforming one’s personality is a complex and unpredictable thing. I can only speak for myself: no, it’s not possible. It’s like climbing a mountain - the higher the peak you conquer, the more beautiful the world around you becomes, and the more painful it is to fall from that height. A person who has reached a high level of spiritual development won’t act like a lowly person. The very thought would disgust them. They would never, even under threat of death, lower their ‘standards.’"

Luna studied my face as if trying to read the hidden lines of my soul.

"Sometimes I hear from people that I’m overly arrogant, that I should be simpler, and then others would be drawn to me. But I ignore such talk and stand my ground. Because ‘arrogance’ literally means a high measure, a high ‘standard’ of personal development, a high value of one’s self. Contrary to the saying, ‘Don’t judge others by yourself,’ I always evaluate people by my own standards, and I’m rarely wrong. I don’t need everyone to flock to me. I’d rather be alone than surrounded by mediocre people. I’d rather have one friend I can always rely on. I’d rather have a few reach out to me, but the best, and I’ll cherish their friendship. I’d rather have a handful who truly understand and value me than a faceless crowd who just nods along. I prefer to be with those I consider worthy of my level of spirit."

"You’ve even looked at arrogance from a different angle, and it’s not at all the pretentious haughtiness of courtiers or the desire to ‘show off’ to ordinary ponies. Now, perhaps, I understand Syllable, Star Swirl, and some others better. And do I meet your ‘standards’?"

"You? More than enough."

"It’s nice to hear that."

Embarrassed by my affectionate gaze, the alicorn covered her muzzle with her wing. I gently touched the soft feathers of her wing. The incredible combination of wisdom, magic, and animal and avian traits in one creature still amazed and delighted me. Luna slightly lowered and straightened her limb, allowing me to stroke its entire length.

"You know, there’s a contradiction in your reasoning," my companion said, carefully folding her front hooves at eye level. "I don’t think you’re a zoophile, if only because I’m not an animal."

"Then what are you?" I shrugged, chewing half of a Milky Way bar. I set the other half aside for Luna.

"A pony-alicorn, I’ve already told you that."

"A pony is a subspecies of horse, and a horse is an animal. Seems clear enough…" I washed down the chocolate with juice.

"Oh, may you tread a hundred roads," the pony grumbled. "I only resemble a horse, nothing more."

"If something looks like a horse, neighs like a horse, and acts like a horse - I call it a ‘horse.’ And no matter what you call it, it won’t stop neighing."

The horse wanted to argue, but I rudely interrupted her, wanting to end the debate:

"The girl yesterday called you a horse as soon as she saw you. Even a child immediately understood what you are. Anyway, why are you so worried about being considered an animal?"

Giving me a sad look with her emerald eyes, Luna shivered, as if suddenly feeling cold.

"When I first came to your world, Lairy, I met people a few times. Needing food and warmth, I tried to talk to them, cautiously and politely. It hurt me deeply that they didn’t acknowledge me, not as a princess, nor even as a sentient being in need of help. They were afraid of me and ran away, they hunted me, wanting to kill me. I also saw how people kill animals. I felt lonely, hurt, and scared."

Wrinkling her nose, Luna sniffled rapidly, suppressing sobs. I bit my lip, mentally cursing the people Luna had encountered. Pushing the stool closer to the alicorn, I hugged her. Startled, she awkwardly pressed her front hoof against my chest, as if trying to push me away.

"Shh, my dear, shh," I murmured, holding the resisting pony, stroking her back and neck. "I’m sorry, Princess…"

After a while, Luna quieted down, occasionally trembling. With my hands, I felt her heartbeat slow. When she tried to move away, I relaxed my arms but still held her sides. Even sitting on the floor, the alicorn looked down at me. I smoothed her disheveled mane, wiped her muzzle dry of tears, and straightened her feathers.

"I forgive you," Luna whispered with a smile.

I decided to avoid the topic of animals, which was so painful for the pony. Some people also react nervously to the mention of the theory of their kinship with apes, though personally, I never found anything shameful in it. Probably because I wasn’t looking for it. What difference does it make where we came from: animals, aliens, God? What matters is where we’re going and what we’ll achieve.

The calmed Luna finished her cabbage, occasionally turning her ear toward the sounds of my movements.

Reducing the heat under the nearly cooked borscht, I set the wheat porridge for Luna to cook.

"What if we add some oats?" the gourmet suggested.

"Sure."

After taking the bag of candies to the couch, I grabbed a handful of oats and added them to the porridge. Then I gathered the clothes scattered in the hallway - some needed to be put in the closet, others hung to dry. The bored Luna followed me into the bedroom.

"Tell me, what’s in this room?" She tapped her hoof on the storage room door.

"In there? Just a pile of junk. I haven’t looked in there for five years, and I don’t even know exactly what’s there. Though… we could dig around and find out." I shrugged.

"Why haven’t you looked?"

Luna stepped aside, letting me approach the door.

"No mood. Everything I need is in accessible places, so there’s no reason to rummage around."

Pulling the cord of the ceiling lamp, I turned on the light. The tiny space in front of the door barely fit me alone, but the pony managed to squeeze in between me and the doorway. I suspect she wanted to be closer to me. I myself enjoyed feeling the lovely pony pressed tightly against my side, hearing her breathing, sensing her muscle movements, and touching her soft fur.

"Hey," I tugged her ear. "We can’t both fit in here. Let’s do this: I’ll pull something out, and you sit on the bed and examine it."

Before leaving, Luna rubbed her shoulder and chest against me with obvious pleasure. Marking me with her scent, perhaps?

"Here." I tossed her a wide-brimmed yellow hat, woven from what looked like straw but was actually strips of hard cellophane. Then I dove back into the depths of the storage room.

"Uncomfortable and inedible."

"What?!" I was stunned, quickly crawling out. "Inedible?"

The edge of the hat bore tooth marks.

"Yes," Luna nodded, holding the hat on her front hoof. "Grass hats are good because you can not only wear them but also eat them if you want. There are special types of grass just for weaving hats. But this… it’s not even straw."

I laughed, watching the pony explain the intricacies of her culture with a serious expression.

"True, it’s not straw. I didn’t expect you to try eating the hat."

"If only you knew how many hats I’ve eaten in my time, oh my. I miss fresh grass."

"Alas, it’s winter. The grass will be back in spring."

"Yes, I’ll probably reach Equestria sooner and feast there. Or I’ll just conjure some." The pony licked her lips dramatically. The leaves gifted by the balcony garden owner had long been eaten.

"Just don’t chew on anything here."

Tossing the bitten hat onto the table, I handed Luna a large bag.

"Excavating and studying artifacts of an unknown culture is one of the most fascinating activities." Skillfully untying the knot with her teeth, the alicorn began rummaging through the human clothing.

"And what do these items tell you?"

"Among other things, that people tend to accumulate many things in their homes without bothering to sort them, even in the simplest way." With the air of a professor giving a lecture, Luna examined a gray stocking from all angles, then tried to pull it over her hoof.

"Let me add: things they can easily live without because they mean nothing in their lives."

"Hoarding is generally a hard-to-cure disease." Trying on a knitted hat, Luna set it aside and dove back into the bag.

"What disease?" Half-listening, I alternated between watching Luna and the shelves in the storage room, deciding which bag to pull out next.

"Collecting useless things in a storage room. Yes, some ponies suffer from this, just like people, it seems."

The first bag contained nothing interesting: stockings, socks, handkerchiefs, a hat. I stuffed everything back and sat on the bed with Luna, holding the second bag.

"Wow!" the princess exclaimed delightedly, pulling out a huge handmade lace shawl, snow-white with red embroidery along the edge. The intricate pattern hinted at exotic flowers woven into a whimsical design.

Taking the shawl by the corners, I carefully unfolded it, making Luna freeze in admiration, her eyes wide. Thousands of delicate silver threads sparkled like sunlight on fresh snow.

"Lairy, I couldn’t have imagined such a wonder," the appreciator of beauty whispered, reverently pressing her cheek to the patterns.

This shawl was a family heirloom, about which I only knew that it was knitted by my great-grandmother on my father’s side, long before the Great Patriotic War, passed down through generations, and worn at the most important events.

However, now the owner of this relic was me, who never understood the meaning of "family values." And in my princess’s eyes, I saw unending delight.

"Bend down," I whispered.

Looking surprised, Luna lay down on the bed - I draped the ancient shawl over her back with a grand gesture. Her cheek was warmed by a sigh of contentment. But tying the corners with a simple knot would have insulted both the item and its owner.

"Wait a moment."

Rummaging in the closet behind a stack of clothes, I pulled out a tin tea can. It held more "family" treasures: wedding rings, earrings, chains, stones, pendants, lockets. Well, they finally came in handy.

Folding the shawl over the Princess’s chest, I pinned the corners with a silver brooch adorned with several blue crystals. The elegantly curved petals gave it the appearance of a tropical flower.

"Ohhh…" Lifting the shawl with her wings, Luna examined herself curiously.

"Ah, wait a bit more."

Inspired, I dug through the can and pulled out a thin silver chain, adorning Luna’s neck with it.

"Go to the mirror, admire yourself."

While the beauty enjoyed her reflection in the mirror, I checked the food. Everything was ready, and the kitchen was filled with aromas.

"I look stunning!" Luna declared from the doorway.

Her lush mane cascaded in a steep wave down her chest, almost reaching the floor. The snow-white shawl sharply contrasted with the dark blue of the Princess’s body, the large lace patterns emphasizing her grace and stature, the silvery threads shimmering faintly with every movement. The brooch and chain perfectly complemented the majestic image of the alicorn, and the culmination of the masterpiece was the grateful smile playing on her lips and the slightly shy gaze.

"Yes!" I exhaled loudly and sat on the table. "You’re incomparable. Turn around a bit."

The passage was a bit narrow, but the mare turned around, allowing me to admire her.

"Bravo! That shawl suits you perfectly." Stepping toward Luna, I caressed her. Sniffing excitedly, she stepped slightly aside:

"Thank you. That’s enough, though, or you’ll stare holes in it."

"What do you mean, ‘enough’?" I caught a strand of her mane with feigned surprise. "I feed you, warm you, bathe you, adorn you - I have the right to look as much as I want. And you know what? I’m giving you the shawl."

I managed to stun Luna before she could come up with a compelling argument against "looking as much as I want." Now it was my turn to come up with arguments.

"You’re giving it to me? Seriously?" The pony looked at me with confusion and even a bit of offense.

"Yes, to you." I added my "signature" smile, the meaning of which Luna already knew.

"But why? What have I done to deserve it?"

"For making me happy with your joyful presence."

"Lairy, come with me." The pony spoke in a quiet, firm voice and left the kitchen. I realized that for the first time in our life together, Luna had practically ordered me.

Hopping onto the bed, the Princess sat upright.

"Take it off." She touched the brooch with her hoof. Her voice still carried a note of unyielding will, and her face remained stern. Seeing Luna in such a state for the first time, I silently obeyed: I unfastened the chain, the brooch, removed and folded the shawl. Spreading her wings, the alicorn carefully checked them, under them, examined her mane, legs, body, tail - apparently wanting to make sure she had no foreign objects on her except the cap on her horn.

"Good. And don’t give me anything else." She declared in a indifferent tone, looking down at me.

Perhaps I should have acted like an Eastern knight: bow and whisper a flowery "I hear and obey, mistress" and leave. But instead, I asked a dumb question: "Why?"

The mistress shuddered as if hit hard on the head with something heavy, the fake sternness instantly vanished, and my beautiful pony was looking at me again - alive, sensitive, with eyes shining with excitement. With a trembling hoof, she touched my chest, her voice breaking:

"I’m sorry, I was too harsh with you. I’m ashamed to respond to your generosity like this. But I won’t accept this gift. I understand that I can’t repay you, and that’s very humiliating for me. I feel terrible! I’m sorry, but don’t play with me like this. Let me keep at least a drop of self-respect, or I’ll turn into an ordinary court mare, and you won’t like her at all."

Moving closer, Luna hugged me and pulled me to her chest.

"I know you’re giving from the heart, and I don’t want to offend or hurt you by refusing. Please, don’t hold a grudge against me, Lairy. Oh… You cunning thing, do you still want to get back at me?" Luna groaned as I gently scratched between her shoulder blades.

"I don’t hold a grudge, but my heart is filled with love for you," I replied, delighting in watching her inner struggle: trembling at every touch, the mare struggled to keep her wings pressed to her sides.

"You’re playing on my nerves, you tempter. I shouldn’t have told you about the back-scratching, oh, I shouldn’t have."

"So I’m a bitempter now?" I playfully bite Luna’s ear.

Letting out a thin cry, Luna, weakened by the caresses, barely broke free and, thudding against the wall, slid down, spreading her wings against it. Even though I was just scratching the pony’s back, she looked as if she’d been fighting for her life. Pressed against the wall, with a disheveled tail and mane, she lay with her legs spread, not even trying to cover herself. Her chest heaved, her wings fluttered, utterly naked in her vulnerability, so close that I could hear her breathing. She didn’t take her wary eyes off me. She looked without fear but didn’t know what to expect.

Sitting down slowly beside her, I gently hugged her, trying not to touch her tense wings.

"You’re cruel," Luna whispered reproachfully, resting her head on my shoulder. "So kind, and so cruel. You enjoy my weaknesses."

"I enjoy them exactly as much as you allow. And isn’t that better than being a block of ice?"

"You melted the ice," Luna pressed herself against me. "I don’t know if it’s for better or worse, but thanks to you, I’m different than I was before meeting you. Please, help me fold my wings."

I ran my hands over the alicorn’s unruly wings, which seemed to crave affection.

"Let’s get you more comfortable," I suggested.

The tension still hadn’t left the pony. Following my advice, Luna lay on her stomach closer to the edge of the bed, while I stood beside her, massaging her wings. The soft downy feathers rustled pleasantly under my fingers, and I was happy to have another chance to pamper the lady of my heart.

"Can they get stuck like this for long?" I asked, carefully working the strong muscles from her back up to the tip of her wing with my fingers. Luna didn’t need to know that I was completely ignorant of alicorn anatomy - or massage techniques.

"They can," the pony said, resting her head on her front legs. "And it would be very inconvenient, both aesthetically and physically."

Holding the wing by the shoulder, I tried to gently fold it at all the joints, but the limb resisted reluctantly.

"Well, the physical part is clear - they’d get tired. But what does aesthetics have to do with it?"

Craning her neck, Luna looked at me like a teacher scolding a misbehaving student.

"I was about to reprimand you," the princess said with a condescending smile. "But then I remembered you’re not a pony. For pegasi, raised wings mean readiness for immediate flight or excitement. With alicorns, it’s a bit different. The tradition of majestically raising wings in public was set by Celestia, probably even before I was born. And in her case, it really does beautifully emphasize the status of a ruler."

Considering Luna’s current state, I fell silent, not wanting to push her over the edge with my questions.

"Finally, they’ve relaxed," the pony said, folding her wings and yawning sweetly. "What else is in your treasure chest?" She waved her hoof toward the can.

Knowing the eternal passion of the fairer sex for beautiful things, I tipped the can over, spilling the modest pile of treasures near Luna. She stirred the pile with her hoof. Realizing it was awkward for the pony to dig through, I picked up and showed each piece one by one so Luna could examine them properly.

"Who creates such beautiful things?" Luna asked, admiring the women’s gold watch I tried on her front leg.

"People. There’s no one else but people. The only intelligent race on Earth."

Setting the watch aside, I held up a chain with an amber pendant to Luna’s neck.

"The only one?" The alicorn lifted the pendant with her hoof, examining the amber against the light. "How is that possible? The world of Earth is quite large, isn’t it? In my world, there are ponies, seaponies, zebras, yaks, griffons, dragons. I don’t know what the current situation is, but when I ruled with my sister, all the races got along quite well."

"There’s no world where humans live in peace. They’re aggressive and won’t tolerate other intelligent beings beside them. They’ll either kill them or enslave them."

"That’s sad. I wouldn’t have believed your words, but I’ve already personally witnessed their truth. What’s this?"

Handing over the pendant, Luna touched a knotted handkerchief with her hoof. I untied it - inside were several precious stones.

"Ahhh!"

A blue tornado flew past me, knocking me over. The jewelry scattered across the bed and clattered to the floor. The bedroom door nearly flew off its hinges. A crash and a muffled scream came from the living room. Then everything went quiet.

I touched the back of my head - I’d hit it hard on the headboard when I fell. Growling softly in pain, I looked around: just a moment ago, Luna had been lying here, and in an instant, she seemed to have vanished, leaving only a couple of swirling feathers. What had gotten into her?

Cautiously peeking into the living room, reasonably fearing a hoof to the forehead, I found silence. Okay, the pony couldn’t have escaped outside - she could open the locks if she wanted, but I had the keys. The balcony door and windows were closed, so she hadn’t thrown herself off the balcony. But where had Luna gone?

Between the couch and the wall was a small space where papers, pencils, newspapers, the remote, and clothes I was too lazy to deal with sometimes ended up. There, pressed into the corner with her back, legs tucked in, and wings tightly wrapped around herself, sat Luna. Terrified, she stared with animalistic fear in her eyes. Her ears twitched nervously, and her wings shuddered.

Without looking away, I slowly stepped into the middle of the room, then moved toward the pony.

"STOP!" she screamed in a wild voice. Staggering from the direct hit of the acoustic attack, I almost fell.

Alright, since she’s having some kind of episode… I sat on the floor.

"Luna, what’s wrong?"

The alicorn stared at me as if I were invisible. Silently moving her lips, as if she’d lost the ability to speak.

"The stone," she finally exhaled.

"Which stone?" I understood Luna was referring to something from my treasures.

"Green, with golden veins," she replied in the same uncertain, quiet exhale.

Returning to the bedroom, I looked on the bed and under it. The sought-after mineral lay under the table. Sitting back down at a respectful distance in front of Luna, I showed the stone on my palm:

"This one?"

"Yes."

"It’s peridot. So what?" I shrugged.

Raising her gaze, Luna looked into my eyes, and suddenly, gritting her teeth, she lunged at me. Hitting my hand from below, she knocked the stone out, sending it flying into the corner behind the TV. The pony pinned me to the floor, stepping on my hands with her front hooves.

"Don’t move," she hissed hoarsely. Her sides heaved, and her nostrils flared noisily. Her gaze became sharp, hard, as if the princess had rushed into battle.

I tensed up for real. It’s no joke to be in a house with a crazy, uncontrollable horse who, on top of that, knows the layout well. And who’s showing sadistic tendencies by biting my ear. I turned my head to the side, hoping to save my ear while figuring out how to get out from under the mare.

"Strange, no signs of chrysolysis," the pony muttered puzzled, chewing on the hair on my head. "Open your mouth."

Luna practically shoved her nose into my mouth, then carefully examined my face - I realized she was studying my eyes. Seeing the pony so serious and concerned, I suppressed the urge to blow into her nostril.

Finishing her examination, she sat on me, still pinning my hands to the floor. Her long, silky mane tickled my skin.

"Tell me, do you feel any changes in your condition: pain, fever, dizziness, weakness?"

"Well, do you think it doesn’t hurt when you’re standing on my hands?!" I barked right in her face.

"I have to hold you down. Of course, with magic, it would be much gentler, but without magic, this is the only way I can." The alicorn squinted, examining me like some strange prey. "You’re angry, that’s a worrying sign."

"First, you need to let me go, and second, explain the reason for your madness. Get off."

"I’ll let you go only when I’m sure you’re okay. No other way," the pony said firmly, her expression stern.

"And if I’m not ‘okay,’ what then, you’ll sit on me until I die?" I quipped.

This option clearly hadn’t occurred to Luna: her resolute expression turned to confusion.

"You’re like a poisonous thorny bush, beckoning with beautiful flowers," the princess sighed, backing off. "How many times have I been pricked?.."

"You get pricked, cry, but keep eating the flowers."

Sitting up, I rubbed my hands, restoring circulation. Red marks from her hooves were visible on my forearms.

"Lift your shirt," Luna demanded, coming around behind me.

Probably, by the standards of the new doctor, I was a slowpoke: without waiting for a reaction, Luna grabbed my T-shirt with her teeth and pulled it up, pinning it to my neck with her hoof. With her other hoof, she pressed down, counting each vertebra. The sensation was far from pleasant.

"Take it easy, or you’ll break my back," I growled over my shoulder.

"Presumably, you’re fine," the gloomy Luna said, sitting cross-legged in front of me.

"Alright, what’s all this fuss about, and why were you scared of peridot?"

"Peri… It’s ‘chrysolite,’ and it’s extremely dangerous for ponies. On direct contact, it turns their magic into unbearable suffering, weakens them, and prolonged exposure to this stone can even lead to death. Lairy, help me destr - "

The doorbell rang.

" - oy the chrysolite," Luna finished, jumping at the unexpected sound.

"We’re not destroying anything. Go to the bedroom."

Walking into the hallway, I looked through the peephole and was surprised to see my new neighbor. Of all people, I hadn’t expected to see Danil. The doorbell rang again. Sighing, I unlocked the door.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, hi, Lairy. I don’t even know where to start," the gray-haired giant said thoughtfully, rubbing his palms.

"From the beginning, I guess."

"Well, if from the beginning," the old man tapped his temple with three fingers. "My grandma, Zina, went completely nuts last night. She was throwing the trash can, running around the rooms with a knife, and screaming that there was a dark striped guy with some horned winged monster on the stairs, and we needed to call the police immediately to sort it out. I took the knife from her, made her drink a bottle of valerian, and cut the phone cord."

"Okay, and what does that have to do with me?" I spread my hands, listening to the tale of the madwoman with genuine interest.

"There’s a grain of truth in the sea of nonsense," Danil leaned his elbow against the wall. "The only striped guy I know is you, Lairy. Your stripes are hard to forget. And yesterday I asked you, and you said you live with a horse. So, was it you who scared my grandma?"

"What does she look like?"

"Zina? Sloppy and purple."

"Yeah, that’s who we saw yesterday. But we didn’t scare her."

"No? Then what?"

"We were standing silently by the wall, waiting for the elevator to go down for a walk."

"In the elevator with a horse? Holy crap!" Danil muttered in surprise.

"Why not? The elevator’s capacity is six people, technically it’s possible. It’s not like she can hop down thirteen flights of stairs. And the stairs aren’t comfortable for hooves."

"That’s true, but a horse and an elevator - that’s a mix I can’t digest."

"Sorry it turned out so absurd."

"There have been crazier mix-ups," Danil smiled, reaching into his pocket, then froze, looking over my shoulder into the apartment. I also turned around, hearing the clatter of hooves: Luna, with her wings nervously spread, cautiously approached and, hesitating, pressed against me, warily examining the guest. I silently hugged the alicorn by the shoulders. Outwardly, Luna held herself steady, but with my palm, I could feel how fast her heart was beating.

"What a wonder…" Danil said, forgetting he was about to light a cigarette in his surprise, and shoved the lighter back into his pocket. "Forgive my grandma, but calling such a beauty a monster - you’d have to be out of your mind."

"We forgive her."

"But… this isn’t quite a horse, is it?" Danil reached out to touch Luna’s head, but the alicorn snorted and pulled back, not allowing herself to be touched.

"It’s a pony."

"A pony? And what’s your wonder’s name?"

"Luna."

"‘Luna’? With the accent on the ‘u’?"

"Yes. Any more questions?" I asked in an official tone.

"None at all. Thank you." The guest saluted, closing the front door.

"I remember I’m not supposed to appear in front of strangers," Luna said softly, watching me turn the key. "But I came to support you."

"Thank you," I kissed her ear loudly. Shuddering, the pony shook her head.

"Now, please, help me get rid of the chrysolite."

Moving the nightstand aside, I retrieved the stone. It was intact, without cracks or chips. And I didn’t want to throw it away just because of Luna’s strange aversion.

"Do you have acid or anything caustic?" The pony stood a few steps away.

"No, I’ll keep the chrysolite."

"B-but it’s dangerous!"

Rushing toward me, Luna rose on her hind legs and pressed her front hooves against my chest. Her eyes shone with worry, and deep down, I was very flattered that the pony was so concerned for me. Unexpectedly for Luna, I lightly tapped her nose with the chrysolite - gasping, the alicorn jumped to the ceiling and nearly knocked over the chandelier with her wing.

"Hey, don’t joke with this!" she exclaimed, rubbing her nose with her hoof. I steadied the swaying light fixture and silently walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

Putting the jewelry back into the can, I stored it in the closet.

Luna, deep in thought, lay on the couch. Sitting beside her, I caressed her, stroking her ears, head, and neck. The pony happily squinted and sniffled, leaning more and more to the side and exposing her belly. I gently massaged her belly, scratched under her wing - as she lifted it, Luna shuddered and laughed, giving me a tender look. Leaning in, I kissed her lips. The princess froze, tensing slightly, feeling my fingers sliding along her side.

"I hope you know where to stop?.." she whispered breathlessly.

"Right here," I smiled, gently stroking the crescent moon on the alicorn’s flank with my fingertips. "Do you feel good with me?"

"Yes…" Luna stretched out, taking up almost the entire couch.

"Please, don’t pounce on me like you did earlier. I really didn’t like that."

"Why don’t you want to listen to my experience when I say it’s dangerous?" The pony propped herself up on her elbow, looking at me reproachfully.

Just in case, I moved further away, to the other end of the couch.

"Luna?.."

Lowering her gaze, the alicorn shuddered with fear: on my palm lay the chrysolite.

"I was caressing you with this," I calmly confirmed her terrible guess.

"You were touching me with the stone?!" Luna recoiled, pressing her ears back.

"Yes. And you felt nothing. No pain, no heat, no weakness. No dizziness or aggression. You just melted from my touch. Even though I rubbed the chrysolite all over you. So what’s the point?"

The stunned pony silently opened and closed her mouth, finding no retort. Her eyes reflected utter astonishment. Sitting closer, I carefully turned her front left hoof upward and placed the stone on it.

"Is this chrysolite? Yes, it is. I can’t believe it myself," Luna whispered, examining and sniffing the mineral sparkling in the sunlight. "I was even afraid to touch it."

"Why were you afraid?"

"Once, I visited an open chrysolite deposit. And when I pressed my hoof to the chrysolite vein - I almost died. The stone turned my magic into an unquenchable fire, consuming me from within. I was burning alive in terrible agony: it felt like my nerves were scattering into burning sparks, my muscles were drying up, and my bones were melting. I was lucky that the accompanying pony was nearby and pushed me away from the vein. Then he carried me away, and I spent the rest of the day recovering in the camp."

"That’s cruel," I nodded, taking the artifact from Luna’s hoof.

"Very much so. Chrysolite brought great misfortune to ponies: its destructive effect triggered horrific mutations in one of Equestria’s intelligent species, turning once charming creatures into aggressive insect-like energy vampires."

"Holy sh - t…"

"Now I realize how foolish I must have looked in your eyes, panicking like that for no apparent reason. And even attacking you. But you already know the reason for my behavior. The only thing I don’t understand is: why doesn’t it work?" Luna pointed her hoof at my palm.

"You forgot something important in your panic," I squinted, looking at the alicorn through the crystal.

"I could’ve even forgotten my own name in that panic," the pony snorted mockingly.

"Chrysolite turns your magic into fire. But here, on Earth, you have no magic. You’re empty, like a stove without firewood. So there’s nothing to burn inside you."

"You! Compared me! To a stove?! Oh, you country bumpkin!" Almost crying, the indignant Luna threw a pillow at my face and, before I could understand what had gotten into the pony this time - she hugged me tightly and kissed me. "Thank you for solving this riddle for me, or I’d have kept running from that green pebble."

Walking over to the closet, I placed the chrysolite in a small decorative wagon made of matches. Lying on her back at the edge of the couch, Luna swayed and, gracefully sliding off the pillows, stood up.

"Shall we go left?" The alicorn stretched luxuriously, raising her wings high. Her back arched in a soft, rounded hump, and a wave of shivers ran through her body, down her straight legs and wings, fading at the tips of her feathers. Yawning loudly, Luna energetically shook her mane, and her tail whipped the floor like a lash. If the pony could extend her claws, she’d probably happily scratch the carpet.

"What’s with you?" she asked, looking at me.

"Seeing you like this makes me feel good," I replied, also yawning and stretching.

The kitchen was located to the left relative to the living room - and we unanimously "went left." I gave Luna her porridge and took the borscht for myself.

"What will you drink?" I asked.

"Double water! Boiled!" Luna declared, dramatically raising her nose and giving me a sly look.

Laughing, I scratched her neck and poured two cups of water.

"Your food smells delicious, can I try some?"

Well, why not? I fed her a couple of spoonfuls of borscht.

"It’s kind of tasty, but something’s off," Luna said thoughtfully, chewing. "It’s too salty, thick, and heavy, though not coarse. I can’t even describe it…"

"It’s really strange that you’re eating delicious borscht with meat and fat," I remarked sarcastically.

"With mea - ?!" Luna glared at me indignantly, covering her mouth with her hoof as if she was about to vomit on the table. I pointed to the sink:

"Go over there."

"Ugh, you’re impossible!" Luna growled hoarsely, finally catching her breath. Contrary to expectations, she didn’t rush to empty her stomach. "How dare you feed me something like that? You should’ve warned me this food isn’t for ponies!"

"And how dare you stick your nose into every plate?" I snapped fiercely, piercing the bewildered horse with my gaze. "And why should I warn you, huh? You’ve got your own head on your shoulders, so think before you eat. You know exactly where your food is. Eat that. What do you need from my plate?"

I shoved her porridge toward her and moved to the other side of the table. Luna silently shifted her gaze between the porridge and me. However, I wanted to eat in peace, without delving into other thoughts and feelings, and Luna understood that.

Lunch passed in tense silence, without any mutual jabs. It was a bit strange to see Luna silent and unsmiling, but I wasn’t in a hurry to restore peace. She messed up - she should be the first to make amends. After washing the dishes, I went to the couch.

Trying to dislodge a piece of meat stuck between my teeth, I flipped through my notebook, making plans for the weekday. Once again, I’d have to drill into the whiner Dima’s head that life with just one arm isn’t as bleak as he believes. It wouldn’t be so bad, but Dima, a burly guy who’d survived a couple of armed conflicts, lost his arm in a simple car accident and had since sunk into "vegetable mode," turning into a spineless shadow of a man in just a few months. Even his wife had dragged this living log to therapy sessions, hoping to carve at least a decent totem pole out of him. But the longer I worked with him, the more I wanted to drop this dead weight and focus on helping truly promising people in need. Though I still had a couple of aces up my sleeve: I knew a guy who lived without arms at all. He was an optimist, graduated from school with honors, and worked as a programmer, typing codes with his toes. Maybe I could challenge Dima: "Look, armless people don’t lose heart, they earn and live, while big guys like you just wallow in self-pity."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something white move above me and nearly jumped. The cause of my fright was a "crane of happiness" flying over my head, its chest and tail shimmering with faint blue reflections. Flapping its wings, the paper bird gracefully landed on my forehead, and the ethereal wisps supporting it dissipated.

Tossing the notebook onto the table, I examined the figurine. It was my crane, the first one I’d made for Luna. Strange that she hadn’t folded another one yet.

I pulled up my legs, making room for Luna - she sat down and rested her head on my raised knees.

"So, Luna?"

"As I warned," her gentle gaze settled on my face. "The full moon is approaching. And I’m getting more and more nervous. You put me in my place well - there’s really no need to poke into other people’s plates. I can be overly curious."

I spread my knees - and Luna’s head slid between my thighs, resting on my stomach. Sniffing softly, the pony closed her eyes, the alluring green glint shimmering under her thick lashes. The princess knew how to attract attention and charm without magic. With light touches of my fingers, I caressed her head, "drawing" patterns from her lips to her ears, running them over her horn. When I accidentally touched the rare light hairs, Luna shuddered, twitching her lip and ear, but remained relaxed, lying on me.

Outside, the muffled lullaby of the blizzard could be heard…

***

[ Celestia ]

This morning, I woke up surprisingly easily. With a habitual magical gesture, I set the Sun on its path across the sky. I leisurely ate a salad for breakfast. Listened to a report about the successful suppression of a parasprites outbreak in Appleloosa. Approved a petition to rename East Old Pegasus Street to New Dawn Street. Another meeting was coming up, though I was considering canceling it. And between tasks, my thoughts kept returning to Lairy. His behavior wasn’t something inexplicable or mysterious to me, yet vague shadows of doubt kept urging me to examine his actions from different angles. From Luna’s words, I knew that Lairy was free in his judgments and actions, and such freedom always meant loneliness. Could this explain his feelings for Luna? An attempt to fill the void in his life by connecting with a foreign being. And my sister, understanding him perfectly, reciprocates. Two lonelies simply met.

What also worried me was Lairy’s behavior last night. His sudden transformation, assertiveness, even his categorical refusal to leave. I could have easily removed him from the dream, but his feelings, his emotions, overwhelmed me like a magical strike from a skilled fighter. He openly gave love, unafraid of rejection. Accustomed to serving as an abstract symbol of unwavering strength and harmony for everyone, I faltered for the first time in centuries and didn’t dare refuse the man’s desire to comfort me. Perhaps this is how Luna feels next to Lairy. And if I’m right in my judgments, then Lairy’s love is truly the greatest gift Luna has ever received.

The two towers of Canterlot Castle are connected by a large covered bridge, offering a marvelous view of the city and its surroundings. Here I stand, enjoying an unexpected moment of peace. My half-spread wings are lifted, caressed by a light breeze, the faint rustle of feathers soothing my ears.

Turning at the sound of hurried hoofbeats, I smiled at the approaching little unicorn. Reading as she walked, she effortlessly levitated a hefty book in front of her.

"Good morning…" she mumbled, not looking up from the text.

I shifted my hind leg slightly - the book bumped into it, and a moment later, the focused filly "arrived" nose-first between the pages and, startled, plopped onto her haunches. The magical aura around her horn faded, and bookmarks spilled out of the dropped book.

"Oops!" Snapping out of her trance, the pony rubbed her nose with a hoof, her violet eyes wide. "Sorry."

"Twilight, I believe ‘reading while walking’ isn’t the best habit," I gently suggested, leaning down. "Are you hurt?"

"No… Your Majesty!" The filly fussed, gathering her intellectual treasures into a pile.

"Please, calm down. Why are you here?"

"Right, well…" Flipping through the book hurriedly, the lavender unicorn levitated it, showing the desired page. "I found the ‘Search for a Teacher’ spell and started studying it, but I think it’s wrong. I didn’t see any effect, no visible result, and soon forgot about it while reading about other spells."

"What happened when you cast the ‘Search’?"

"Only one thing: lines appeared on a separate piece of paper. And nothing more."

Turning the page, Twilight opened the inserted sheet, and I read:

"Between the towers, where the wind whispers low,
You’ll find what your soul yearns to know."

"Twilight, why do you think the spell didn’t work?" I smiled.

"But… nothing happened?.." The young sorceress spread her hooves in confusion.

"Where are we now?"

Approaching the railing, Twilight looked down and around.

"On the bridge. And the bridge… is between the towers," she finished thoughtfully.

Feeling another gust of wind, I spread my wings, and the filly’s ears twitched at the rustle. The eyes of the turned unicorn shone with the joy of solving a complex problem.

"And I found you, my teacher."

I nodded, folding my wings:

"As you can see, the spell works."

"But not immediately."

"Yes, not all spells act instantly and visibly. Some require more time, effort, or a specific place to work."

"I’ve studied a few new ones and am ready to show you."

"Show me."

After all, watching the progress of my best student was a good way to distract myself from heavy thoughts. Including the imminent return of Nightmare Moon.

Author's Note

Author's Note:

1) This book is being translated from Russian. It is not reccomended to use google translator to read it, because many beautiful moments will be lost that way.

2) The usual request is to feel free to point out any errors in the comments. We are also looking for the regular beta reader.

3) Be patient, the translation is a slow process.

Special edition: Alicorn's songs

«Repentance» - Celestia's song

Celestia released the waves of magic again. Then she made several steps back and stood motionless with her glimmering horn pointed to the sky. The sun faded away, winding flashes of Aurora Borealis blazed up in the starry sky. The voice of the white alicorn resounded in the universal silence.