The Fugitive

Dr. Hooves has always been an ambitious stallion - even during those moments of his incredibly long life, when he did not walk on four legs at all. He has achieved a lot and seen a lot. His knowledge was many times higher than the knowledge of the greatest sages of this world and, to be honest, they were not at all shy about being ahead of their time. But what he saw by one fact of his existence proved that all his experience is nothing more than dust.

She was the animated embodiment of a wild, uncomprehending force, before which he, with all his feigned importance, seemed only a pitiful puppy. And this could not but frighten.

''Meters...sensors...even light! Everything, absolutely everything!..'' the honored scientist muttered nervously under his breath, turning his own office upside down. In the very center of a small room by the standards of the complex, a filigree even circle of burnt linoleum was blackened ''Damn it...where are these unfortunate scribbles?!''

An even more miserable table took a desperate blow from the hoof. His crates flew forward with a strained creak, making the dock almost squeal with pleasure.

''Aha-ha-ha! Here they are, my dear ones! My darlings! he burst out laughing no less nervously, shoving papers into the pockets of his robe as quickly as possible''

A few moments later Hooves from all hooves rushed into a special room, known only to him, just designed for such, a little out of control situations. The whole degree of the perfect discovery could not fit in my head.

His plans were interrupted by an extremely disgusting scene, which the scientist was not lucky enough to witness around the next turn. The crowd of guards beat each other with wild frenzy, not disdaining to use their own teeth. The armor, so lovingly made for them by the best gunsmiths in Canterlot, by the time the customer arrived, it looked like rubbish unsuitable even for scrapping. The naked bodies of the madmen were full of numerous glimpses of torn skin, mixed with the remains of bloody wool randomly scattered between them. The hooves were breaking their legs. The clubs shattered the ribs. Foam gushed in a fierce stream from mouths bared in mad grimaces, exuding animal whinnying and roaring from themselves. The picture was completed by the unhealthy glow of visibly yellowed eyes.

She stood behind them. The same filly he had seen a few hours ago. Something strange lurked in this nurse from the very beginning - the instinct and wearable devices never let Hooves down ... but he had too much to do. Now everything fell into place. These annoying noises, now and then covered the cameras all day. Sparks ejected from computers. Power outages. Finally, the maddened magical locators, which he met everywhere while jogging.

Having barely escaped death, he was from her at an extended hoof's distance. And she just smirked insidiously, with a wave of her stopping the carnage and turning the slaves towards Khuvs.

''Food is served, boys. Bring me his head''

It took Officer Little a few seconds to comprehend what had happened, during which something that flew into the examination room managed not only to take a liking to a bulky machine called a ''computer'', but also made this strange thing work. The latter especially strongly struck the stallion, who was forced to crumble the skull of the mechanic assigned to the apparatus - until recently, the only one who understood at least something in this new-born misunderstanding.

''Mr. Hooves, praise to the sisters - you are saved!''

''Entrance, block this discord entrance!'' muttered the scientist who was busy with the control panel.

''Stawn's group is stuck in the lower sectors!'' the stallion began to turn the steel valve, blocking the only passage with a dense barrier ''As I understand from the radio, several civilians are with them. Why were they allowed here...''

''You will have to forget about the group''

''What? But this thing can open and close doors in any part of the complex!''

''Energy is running out, - without taking off his focused gaze, - It is enough for only one action''

''Sir, I don't understand you...'' the guard approached the console ''What prevents us from spending it on them?''

''This is absolutely pointless. Even if the passages are open, they will somehow meet with your defective colleagues. As regrettable as it was for me to state this, the survivors simply have no chance of salvation''

There was a noise of interference from somewhere, immediately followed by intermittent voices.

''Everyone... hears... we're... trapped...''

Heart-rending screams were heard in the background.

''Do not hold back...''

An ominous rumble and the last, shrill.

''HELP!''

The connection was interrupted. Little swallowed, looking worriedly at Hooves.

''How is it so ... we didn’t even try. It is our duty to protect them...''

The doctor turned and met the stallion's gaze.

''Think Little, what is more important for the country - a few lives or the lives of millions? Understand that we are facing a threat never seen before. This is a forced, inevitable sacrifice. But by sacrificing them, we will save everyone else''

He knew he was lying. I knew that the device was self-powered. But he didn’t want to waste a single extra minute in this damned place.

''What are you going to do?..''

''Transfer myself to Canterlot and inform the princesses of the incident'' Hooves returned to the device, hammering in the final commands and stepping back, observing the result ''This is the best I can do for Equestria''

The guard exclaimed in surprise. Before his eyes, the wall behind the panel parted to the sides, revealing a spacious and completely empty domed room, in the very center of which there was a pedestal entwined with upward wires.

''One of my greatest inventions. Teleport. A machine that is able, with the help of magic condensing in any pony, to move anytning to anywhere like a unicorn''

"Is it somehow connected to this thing in your forehead?"

''Directly. The only difference between them is that this ''horn'' is a portable prototype. Together, they should give a truly impressive result''

A great hiss was heard behind those who were contemplating. Beams of orange light shot out from under the steel screen. Sparks rained down on the floor in fountains. No matter how imposing the obstacle seemed, it was obvious that it could not delay the breaking ones for long.

''That's it. Goodbye, Little...'' without turning around the scientist went to the pedestal.

''Goodbye, doctor'' notes of undisguised irony were heard in the stallion's voice.

But Hooves ignored them. Standing on the dais with closed eyes and turning his face to the exit, he focused his thoughts on the desired place. A dazzling radiance enveloped his horn. Lightning struck the wires. The convex circle surrounding the pedestal began to rotate slowly, spinning faster and faster with each passing moment. The flash consumed the false unicorn, who saw his sight a second before the point of no return.

A predatory gleam stood in the narrow slits of his bloodshot eyes.

''So this is what you are, Doctor Hooves...to admit, I expected more from you''

The insane flow of changeable energies has already replaced absolutely everything. But he could not forget that look.

''However, you will still play your part in this game''

When the world cleared up, he found himself standing in the middle of a huge hall, decorated with luxurious stained-glass windows, leading to two thrones, only one of which was occupied. A figure, woven from pure light, it seemed, rose above the crowd of parted subjects, heading towards him with a dignified step.

The rays breaking through the mosaics of the windows played in her hair fluttering in the invisible wind, dazzling with shimmering colors, which only emphasized the snow-white wool bound with gold. The head of the walker was crowned with a pointed diadem, in the center of which a flawless amethyst shone.

The legs knocked themselves down. The velvet carpet was covered with charred fragments of a wonderful device that fell from under the mane of a stallion hanging over the ground, frozen in the lowest bow that he could make.

The greatest living and living. Ruler of Equestria. The one that raises the sun.

Celestia.

''Stand up, Hooves''

Although the aura of warmth and calmness surrounded the princess, her voice was as cold as ice. The majestic face burned with anger so righteous that it was even afraid to be near - not like talking face to face. The stallion obeyed the order.

''Princess, I arrived here so quickly on...''

''Silence''

The voice immediately refused him.

''You let me down. Let us all down'' despite the absence of even a hint of rage, pronounced cut like blades ''Do you remember your words? I remember them clearly. You have sworn that the project you lead is not a threat. You lied, because I am already being told of numerous casualties. You assured that you could keep the unfortunates entrusted to you under control - you guaranteed their recovery. And where are they now?'' with each uttered word the doctor's heart squeezed harder and harder ''Finally, you promised that the fruits of the project will lead to prosperity. But all I see is chaos. I know that the most dangerous threat he generated has found freedom...so tell me, Hooves. Why, having come here, you dare to count on my grace?

A lump stuck to his throat.

''I-I-I can explain...''

''I don’t need your explanation. You have already earned the highest possible punishment for your atrocities''

The stallion's face turned white. The lump began to crush unbearably, blocking all access to oxygen.

''How...but I just wanted...''

''Hooves, also known as The Doctor. I deprive you of all titles and titles, sentencing you to death by hanging. Execute the sentence at dawn. Guards!''

A detachment of pegasus in golden armor surrounded him on all sides.

''Take away''

And they grabbed him, dragging him out of the hall under the condemning and alarmed looks of the whispering crowd.

''Unheard of!''

''Horrible...''

''The first execution in the last 200 years...''

''What kind of pony does one have to be to receive such a sentence?..''

''And I also considered him a well-mannered and trustworthy stallion!''

''Shh, you shouldn't talk about this in front of the princess...''

But Celestia did not care about the hubbub of the servants. Without changing either grace or dignity, the mare walked towards her chambers, meeting with a gloomy gaze a shadow that appeared from the side.

''Is your decision justified?'' walking beside she said.

''Leave me, Luna...'' the princess turned away, hiding behind the heavy doors.