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.