Invasion to harmony worldby GoldRChaptersPrologue. Part 1/6. Another WorldPrologue. Part 2/6. Another WorldPrologue. Part 3/6. IntegrationPrologue. Part 4/6 IntegrationPrologue. Part 1/6. Another WorldAuthor's Note Я ебал этот ваш фимфикшен, он глючит на 15 тысяч слов блять. Поэтому я поделил первую часть пролога на две части. Благодарю за понимание translation: Due to problems with the publication of this part of the prologue, we decided to divide it into two separate parts. I repeat, the author's staff is looking for an assistant who can bring the text into a readable state. Prologue. Part 1/6. Another World So the two sisters maintained balance in their kingdom and among their subjects: ponies of all breeds and colors. But as the years passed, the younger sister harbored a grudge. During the day, the ponies frolicked and played under the rays of the bright sun, did not hide and slept during her beautiful night. And the fateful day came when the younger sister refused to lower the moon from the sky, preventing the dawn from coming. The older sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the heart of the younger one turned her into a fierce mistress of darkness - Nightmare Moon. She swore that she would envelop the world in eternal darkness. The elder sister had to resort to the most powerful of the known forces of magic — the Elements of Harmony. With the help of the power of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her to the moon forever. The elder sister began to manage… General Strasse reading aloud was interrupted by the nearby Sturmbannfuhrer Heinrich Koenig, who clearly did not share the General's fascination with Equestrian mythology. June 1966. Reichskommissariat Equus, the new fortress "Skulls". Elevator. ''Herr Totenkopf, personally, it seems to me that a person… Ahem, a general with your fame should not get carried away with such myths and legends...'' Koenig said with slight fear and contempt, staring at the elevator doors. ''Don't worry, Herr Koenig, I'm trying to find ways how we can resist them. In addition, do not forget that all these "myths and legends" of Equestria are real phenomena, and disregard for them is simply unacceptable," Strasse replied cryptically, closing the book and putting it in his saddlebag. ''I'm sorry, Herr Strasse. I probably should have realized that it's none of my business, but don't you think that as long as an ordinary pony can be killed in the ways we know, we have nothing to fear? Yes, your knowledge of Equestrian magic allowed you to exterminate the spirits of Windigo, but still I trust the usual methods...'' the officer replied dryly, without taking his eyes off the doors. ''We have no need to exterminate the enslaved population, as long as we get magic, knowledge and resources from Equestria. But I am stressed by the threat of the rebels, who are rapidly gaining momentum, which is why we need ways by which we can exterminate them without destroying everything and everyone,'' the general replied, looking at how the elevator doors began to open. Another second — and he left it, heading straight down the corridor, moving closer to the topic. ''So that… What is her condition? You know very well who we are talking about, Herr Koenig.'' ''She's in the torture room, in good health...'' The officer said, following him. ''Who could doubt it? But I need to know more… Did you do everything according to the instructions?'' ''Yes, a week before the daring rebel attack, we transferred her to your fortress, and we pulled her out of chrysal'ds three days ago, on your first order. She was undergoing therapy with an increased dosage of medications, in accordance with her, um, large size... Doctors believe that her mental and physical abilities have been successfully restored. Now she's ready for questioning,'' Koenig explained in more detail, stopping at the door they needed. ''How would you assess her condition as a whole, Herr Koenig?'' Strasse asked with interest, looking at the door needed. ''She looks like an excited child who can't connect even a couple of words, and is afraid of every rustle.'' he answered immediately and with concentration. ''Hmm-m-m… Let me conduct the interrogation without your intervention...'' Strasse said, opening the door with telekinesis. ''Jawohl, herr Strasse!'' Entering the interrogation room and closing the door behind him, General Wilhelm Strasse first looked at the two guardsmen at the entrance and at the torture chair to which she chained... *** Six years before that. Equestria is familiar to us "A long time ago, the magical land of Equestria was ruled by two sisters. Together they created harmony throughout the kingdom. The elder sister used her magic horn to make the Sun rise every morning, and the younger sister made sure that the Moon shone at night. This was the only way the sisters could maintain harmony in their country between all the ponies. But over time, the younger one began to change. Thanks to the care...” Luster read without taking her eyes off the paper, as if the text interested her very much, and she was reading it for the first time. Luster's serene pastime could have lasted until the evening, but suddenly the library doors opened broke this silence, which caused the unicorn to drop the book from her hooves with fright and almost fell off her chair herself. The book fell to the floor with a thud, and Luster looked at the intruder of silence. Twilight Sparkle Castle. Ponyville. A beautiful summer day. Luster, with a tired look with wrinkles and bags under her eyes, looked at Starlight, who, with a wide smile on her face and a stack of books in an aura of a delicate mint color hovering nearby, went into the library with curtained windows and the only light source in the form of a dim candle standing on the table. Starlight was followed by a thoughtful Sunburst, who was skeptical about the state of Luster and the library. Starlight's wide smile instantly disappeared and she tried to reason with Luster, breaking an unspoken vow of silence. “Luster, you are reading this book for the fifth time, without leaving the library for the second day!” Starlight looked at Sunburst, puzzled. “Have I told you I'm worried about her?” "Is this all because of Twilight's errand? Even you weren't so worried about it during your training..." Sunburst joked, for which he was rewarded with a contemptuous look from Starlight, which instantly disappeared when she turned to Luster. "Luster, I beg you, don't worry about this! You won't be able to find friends..." then Starlight quietly added, "Or a friend..." turning around again and lifting her leg, she continued: "You should go out in a pony and try to talk to someone at least! Think about what Twilight would do in your place!" Luster continued to look at the intruders with displeasure, for a second it seemed that she had fallen asleep, but then she lifted the book with the help of telekinesis and shook it off with a hoof, and only then did Starlight's words reach her. "What would she do..." she fixed her gaze somewhere to the side and, having come to a conclusion and literally revived, cried out: "Exactly! She would have created a plan! Thank you, Starlight and Sunburst!" Luster threw the book on the table and jumped up. Running up to the desk and opening the drawer, she prepared to take a stack of papers, but then stopped and thought: "And in what situation would she do it?". Sunburst intervened and approached Luster, putting his hooves on her shoulders and trying to stop her: "Wait… In another way! Think about it, you already have friends! I, Starlight, am the same Princess Twilight and her friends!" Luster took a step back, breaking out of the grip, which almost caused Sunburst to fall, and then she sat back down in her seat, resting her head on the table, drearily responding to Sunburst's attempt at suggestion: "No… Twilight demanded to find friends not related to you or her..." "So, maybe we'll go to the Friendship School? I'm sure you'll find a friend or girlfriend there!" there was no limit to Starlight's enthusiasm, but her face twisted a little when she saw the chewed cupcake molds with the remains of these cupcakes. "Wait, are these the cupcakes that Pinkie Pie gave you?" "Yes... but their crust is very strange - hard and tasteless… But I have nothing to do at the Friendship School… It hurts too much..." she didn't have time to finish because Sunburst opened the curtains with the help of telekinesis with the exclamation "It's time to let the light into this room!" Luster squeezed her eyes shut and muttered in a pitiful voice: "Please leave me alone..." "Well, no! It's time for you to come with us!" a stack of books that hovered in the aura flew up to the table, and then the aura dissolved and the same aura appeared around Luster, lifting her from the table and forcing her to soar after the departing Sunburst and Starlight. "Yes, you're kidding..." exhaling dissatisfaction and relaxing, realizing that there is nothing you can do now, Luster said. *** Some time later. Friendship School Sunny weather stood over Ponyville and the Friendship School, where the school day had just ended, but the students were in no hurry to run away, enjoying communication with other creatures and a pleasant summer day. It was perfect for everyone except Luster, who had not slept for the second day, spending all this time rereading the same book. The surrounding people looked skeptically and with pity at the Luster floating in the magical aura, some even found something funny about it, but meanwhile the trio came to the door of the school. “Starlight, can you let me go?” Luster asked with obvious displeasure, not even trying to move in the magical aura. “Yes, exactly...” scratching her mane and laughing uncomfortably, Starlight apologized and slowly lowered the Luster to the ground, removing the aura. A pink unicorn with a dissatisfied and tired expression slowly got up on her hooves and dusted herself off, looked at Starlight, who stood in front of the entrance and, stretching out a hoof in her direction, began the story: “Welcome to the Princess Twilight Sparkle Friendship School!” “Well, what's the point? I know all about this damned school!.. What will my teacher say at all when she finds out that I am wandering around some Friendship school instead of doing her errand?” then she thought again and was horrified “What if she gets disappointed in me? He will understand that I am not capable of carrying out such a simple task..." she began to whimper, pressing herself to the ground and clutching her head with her hooves, going over all possible options for the outcome of the event. It is possible that this rampage was also affected by lack of sleep and the strain exerted by the inability to fulfill the princess's errand. "She reminds me of Twilight in those moments when she started to sparkle," Sunburst grinned, but he definitely could not expect that instead of a remark, his punishment would be a saddlebag with Starlight's textbooks, which she would throw at his head. Lying on the floor and catching the most contemptuous look of Starlight, he muttered, smiling awkwardly: “Sorry, I couldn't resist…” Exhaling and rolling her eyes, Starlight helped Luster to get back on her hooves and tried to comfort her: “Luster! Princess Twilight trusts you completely and will be only too happy when she finds out that you are looking for friends at her school!” Starlight smiled a little in order to convey her mood to Luster. “Yes... you're right...” having calmed down, Luster exhaled, looking simultaneously with a positive attitude and a slight fear at the doors of the friendship school, which opened in front of them with the help of Starlight telekinesis. Luster, with some apprehension and distrust, examined the hall of the school, in which students were peacefully communicating with each other, and someone was in a hurry to go about their business. Among the visitors were various creatures from all over Equestria. Students, parents and teachers calmly conducted conversations and discussions in various circles, but during a walk through the hall, most of the creatures waved their hooves and paws in greeting to the director of Starlight and Luster, who was walking uncertainly behind. Starlight noticed Osellus, who peacefully hovered over the floor and, chirping her wings, enthusiastically watched the younger group of students playing, who were under the supervision of their parents. Turning around and seeing Starlight running up to her, she descended to the floor and folded her wings under her shell. “Hi, Starlight!” she greeted in a soft pleasant voice and asked the question that interested her: “Didn't you have business in Canterlot?” "Trixie... Trixie has business in Canterlot... and she ran off without telling me!" - Starlight monotonously remarked, and then moved closer to the topic: - And yes, hello, Osellus. You have seats in the classroom, don't you? She turned back with interest to look at Luster, who was still looking around warily. Osellus had the right to believe that her answer could make Starlight angry, or she was just afraid of offending everyone. "I'm sorry, Starlight, but I've finished my classes for today..." she raised her head back and smiled nervously, waiting for Starlight's reaction. In fact, Starlight's reaction was surprise, not anger. "Is it three-thirty already?" Starlight asked, looking around the room for a watch. "Yes, but don't worry! You can ask the "Seekers of insignia" ... Maybe they still have lessons left..." Osellus spread her wings and apologized: - Sorry, Starlight, I promised to help Silver Stream! Bye-ah! - flying away, Osellus stretched out, waving her hoof. Starlight waved after her with a puzzled expression and said sadly: Starlight buried her hoof in her muzzle and barely intelligibly said “Until...” then she thoughtfully muttered to herself: “And where do I even look for "Seekers...?" Turning around once more, she caught sight of a brown stallion intending to address her, but bounced back from a sharp U-turn. “Excuse me, Director Starlight?” Still, he said it with the characteristic manner of speech peculiar only to aristocratic ponies. “I was told that you can help with one question.” “Yes, but not now... contact the school counselor or my deputy!” Starlight replied, walking around the pony and smiling flatteringly. “Your deputy is not in place, and there is no news from the adviser at all! And there's a queue outside your office!” indignation began to be felt in his voice. Starlight buried her hoof in the muzzle and barely said clearly: “So that Trixie would leave somewhere at least once more without warning me...” she removed her hoof and answered, trying to maintain composure. “Yes, I'll be right there!” at the same time, she noticed several ponies standing at the door to the director's office, looking around wearily and perplexed. When the pony tried to show something or say something, Starlight had already moved away from him and returned back to Sunburst and Luster, with the second leading a lively discussion with a pony she did not know. "How lovely! You've become friends!” closing her eyes with happiness and the realization of victory over the isolation and fear of Luster, Starlight said, approaching them. “Oh, no… We just bumped into each other... ”Luster replied with an awkward laugh. “Watch where you're going, you clumsy!” Pony snapped and went about her business, throwing a bag of textbooks. Such an answer did not have the best effect on Luster, but Starlight was rather surprised by such a response from a student of the Friendship School. Starlight frowned after her for a while, then walked up to Sunburst and, pointing to the queue in her office, gave him an assignment in a tired voice: “Just take her to the library… I have a lot to do right now, and Luster needs help…” Sunburst realized a simple truth: “Exactly! In the library she will find new friends of her interests!” lifting a hoof, he declared, to which Starlight smiled with peace of mind and went to her office. “Well, what's the point of dragging me from one library to another?” Luster asked, having once again lost hope of success in her business and training. “Okay, let's go already,” pushing Luster, Sunburst said, simultaneously voicing his thought: “Think about how many students go to the school library! How many friends in your hobbies can you find there!” "That's not what they go to the library for..." Luster remarked, striding to her destination with displeasure. Luster had been here more than once, so the neat rows of bookshelves and the cozy atmosphere, which included tea tables and sofas with carpets, did not surprise her a bit. They walked deeper into the room, while Luster tried to keep up with Sunburst. The library visitors looked friendly, but she was still afraid of them, without knowing why. Sunburst put his saddlebag on the table and took out a stack of papers, pens and ink from it, simultaneously giving a parting word to Luster: “Believe me, the best thing you can do now is to join some reading group and discuss interests with them...” Luster took a few hesitant steps towards a group of students engaged in reading, among whom were both ponies, werewolves and hippogriffs. “Well, you go, and I have a lot of paperwork…” “Maybe I'll go back to the castle after all?” turning around abruptly, she asked in a pitiful voice. “Luster, I'll tell you honestly that Starlight is very, very worried about you… And now is the time when you need to worry about her condition and about...” Sunburst interrupted Luster: “Yes, you're right, but it's just...” the smile faded from her face when she realized that it was she who needed it, and Starlight was suffering because of this, and her prevarications only aggravated her guilt. “Okay, I'll do it...” she confidently stepped towards the students, which from the outside would look ridiculous if at least someone was looking at her. “Good luck, Luster” Sunburst waved his hoof, buried in the papers. The thought flashed through Luster's mind that she was definitely not ready for this and she needed more theory, but the further she postponed it, the higher was the chance that the princess would notice the neglect of her errands. On the other hand, a new theory could help Luster with this, and she promised herself that no matter what, as soon as she was ready, she would start looking for friends herself. Looking around, she noticed a secluded place for reading, located behind the bookshelves… It remained only to find the right books and get the right knowledge… *** A few hours later. The same library It's been less than two hours since Princess Twilight Sparkle lowered the sun and raised the moon. Meanwhile, Starlight entered the dark library with a lamp hovering in a magical aura nearby. The school, as well as the library, was already closed, but Starlight could not find Luster, who was supposed to be looked after by Sunburst, who was peacefully dozing at the moment at the table surrounded by scribbled papers and an extinguished candle. "Sunburst..." Starlight's voice broke the silence, but the answer to it was the unintelligible mooing of the sleeping Sunburst. "SUNBURST!" this time she shouted, thereby waking him up. "Aahhh! No, what? I'm not sleeping, no! he exclaimed, jumping up in his chair half asleep. "Starlight..." he noticed and calmed down. "Have you seen Luster?" she asked in a tired voice, yawning along the way, but then she heard a strange snoring, and the need for an answer disappeared. "Hmm, I don't know… Maybe she's..." Sunburst paused, letting Starlight put forward her suggestion about this, but she had her own plans. "No, it's something else… And I can even guess where she is," turning her ears in the direction of the sap, Starlight reported, and then headed for the source of the sound. Sunburst stared at her blankly until she disappeared behind the bookshelves. Deciding not to interfere with the strange habits of the exhausted Starlight, he began to pack his things, intending to leave the library. "Eh... Luster, Luster..." Starlight's voice was heard, followed by her footsteps. She came out from behind a bookshelf with a sleeping Luster floating next to her in a gentle mint magical aura. Starlight's gaze fell on Sunburst and she gave him a new assignment: "Okay, I'll take her back to the castle, and you put away the books that she threw in a pile..." "Eh... well, anyway, I have a lot of paperwork..." Sunburst said sadly, looking at the departing Starlight. When the door closed, he used magic to light a candle on the table and spread out the papers again. *** The next morning. Twilight Sparkle Castle. Luster was sleeping peacefully in her room, as they say — without hind legs, after yesterday's gatherings in the library — do not forget about two days of lack of sleep. But this time her head was not filled with the idea that Twilight's assignment would not fulfill itself... This blissful dream could last until the middle of the day, but Starlight, who entered, had other plans in this regard. "Luster! Get up, we were urgently called to Canterlot," Starlight said, holding an expanded letter with the stamp of Princess Twilight with the help of telekinesis. Luster muttered something into the pillow with displeasure and, forcing her eyes open, looked at her. "Where to? Back to the Friendship School?" judging by the sluggish voice and the stupid question, she still did not fully understand what was happening. Starlight opened the curtains with the help of the same telekinesis, to which Luster, closing her eyes, buried her head in the blanket. The next step of the director of the Friendship School was an attempt to pull off the blanket, which ended in success. "Get up, come on, Princess Twilight personally calls us to Canterlot!" throwing the blanket on the floor, Starlight said, and then began to look around the room, thinking aloud along the way: "Well... I'll have to leave school for Sunburst… Although, because of the festival of the two sisters, there will be no classes..." "What?!" Luster jumped up in an instant. "Two Sisters Festival? When?!" Starlight began to carefully roll up the blanket while Luster sat on the bed and waited for an answer. "Exactly three days later, but the princess called you personally to Canterlot… Well, and me for the company ..." Starlight replied with admiration, trying to move the Luster to make the bed. "Wait... aren't you friends with her? And why am I there?!" Luster clutched her head with her hooves again, thinking over the worst-case scenario. "Yes, we're still friends, but because of our new responsibilities, we don't even have a minute to talk, and besides, this is an official invitation." "What?! Luster's eyes widened in horror, and then, with a growing tone of despair in her voice, she began: "Personally, I… She wants to embarrass me in front of the whole Canterlot by showing that I couldn't complete such a simple task!" she fell on the pillow and stared at the ceiling in despair. "No, you'll just have to stand on the stage like Her Highness' best student… Although she doesn't like to be called that." Starlight noticed in time, continuing to look at the lying Luster. It seems she didn't even hear Starlight's words, instead developing her thought out loud. "HERE'S A DISCORD! The princess is waiting for me!" she jumped up abruptly and, pulling a suitcase out from under the sofa with the help of telekinesis, began to throw into it all the things that came under the hoof, but Starlight stopped her in time, lifting her with the help of telekinesis and pushing aside. Luster's indignation knew no bounds. "What? What are you doing?! We're late! And stop doing that! "Luster continued to float helplessly in a gentle mint aura. "Firstly, the train is still four hours away, secondly, are you sure you need ALL your things?" Starlight asked, looking at the blanket that Luster was trying to shove into the suitcase, simultaneously slowly lowering her to the floor. "Yes, I'm sorry..." Luster began guiltily, watching as Starlight began to make the bed. "This is the first time I will be in front of the whole Canterlot..." "Well, let's start with the fact that there will be a maximum of a packed square, but not the whole of Canterlot, and let's continue with..." Starlight stopped thoughtfully and threw the blanket. "Why am I cleaning your room at all?" Luster didn't have time to answer, just mumbled something unintelligible in a dumbfounded and thoughtful way, and Starlight continued: "Don't burden yourself... Well, and try to clean up your room and not get stuck in the library, as you know how..." the headmistress admonished and left the room, leaving Luster alone with her thoughts, but she just stared out the window, looking at the Canterlot looming in the distance. *** The Pegasi worked all night and all day so that the sky during the festival of the two sisters was perfectly clean, but even such wonderful and beautiful weather, which left no one indifferent, still could not solve the problem hanging over the princess's pupil. And now she and Starlight were sitting in a passenger car of a train that had almost reached Canterlot station. It is noteworthy that neither the view of the decorated Canterlot nor the happy faces of the ponies helped to tune in to the festive mood of the Luster... Starlight's attempts to somehow correct the situation and cheer her up turned out to be the same "success". Soon, the tense silence, accompanied by Starlight's worried look, was broken by the creaking of the brakes of the train that stopped at the platform. "Well, here we are," Luster excitedly remarked, while her pupils narrowed with horror, which she tried in vain to hide from Starlight. That, tired of the endless excitement of Luster, noticed with a slight dissatisfaction in her voice: ''Luster, I've already said this many times! She can't just give up on you over this little thing…'' Luster's even more excited cry interrupted her: ''A TRIFLE?!'' this cry attracted the attention of several ponies, boring her with glances, to which she smiled uncomfortably and apologized, returning to the dialogue with Starlight. ''A trifle?! I've done everything all my life without a hitch… I just can't not do her errand!'' Starlight stood up, taking her saddlebags from the shelf, and, putting them on herself, responded to another surge of excitement Luster: 'There are no perfect ones among us and we all make mistakes sometime ... Even to this day I remember the mistakes of my youth with not the most pleasant consequences ...'' she tried to keep silent about her village, although she had long been forgiven, and this story was even more forgotten. Then she took Luster suitcase from the shelf, which that picked up with the help of telekinesis and followed her to the exit. To Starlight's surprise, the station was not packed to the brim with ponies, but there was still one interesting unicorn who had boldly escaped to Canterlot "on a very important matter" and was now walking around the station. ''TRIXIE LULAMOON! COME HERE IMMEDIATELY'' Starlight shouted, dropping her saddlebags and running after her, leaving Luster alone with the extra load. Trixie jumped on the spot when she saw Starlight rushing in her direction, and tried to get lost in the crowd. Luster, after looking at the bags for some time, still decided to take them into her telekinesis and walk to the castle alone... she did not forget the road this week - it pleased her. *** Luster walked slowly through Canterlot, calming down for the first time in a day and just strolling around the city, casually heading to the castle. Expensive boutiques, fine restaurants — this was exactly what attracted her excited mind to a large extent and gave hope for a bright future… For herself, she decided to find a side job - in case everything goes according to the worst scenario for her. Despite the inner calm, there was a new fear - to disgrace yourself in front of the whole Kanterlot, banal by taking an extra step on stage… Well, or Twilight will publicly declare that Duster is no longer her student. From the outside, it's hard to understand why Luster's head was visited by such terrible thoughts about Twilight Sparkle, but she had her own motives for thinking so… "Stop! Who's coming?!"the Luster was stopped by the formidable bass of a guardsman standing at the entrance to the castle. Luster was well aware that the two guards recognized the student Twilight Sparkle, because even she already remembered these two faces, not for the first time stopping her and interrogating her. "You're kidding me..." "Say the name!" the second guardsman intervened. Luster's face showed obvious displeasure caused by this guards clowning, but then she remembered that their superiors could be watching them. "Luster Dawn… Her Majesty's student Twilight Sparkle..." she gave out with unprecedented rejection, looking back at the castle windows, in search of the very "big brother" that haunted them. The guards, hearing the answer, looked at each other and nodded. "Good afternoon, Luster Dawn!" the first one reported, simultaneously opening the doors into which Luster went, rolling her eyes and barely whispering: "Well, kindergarten...". The doors slammed shut, and Luster found herself in the hall of the castle, in front of a wide staircase with a red carpet. As always, she climbed the steps and approached the carved white door leading to the throne room. Luster had already put her hoof on the handle, anticipating the shame and grief that awaited her behind this door, but a guardsman walking down the corridor distracted her: "Hey! Luster! Good afternoon!" he greeted affably and, stopping next to the door, noticed: "The princess is not in place..." "Oh... good afternoon..." Luster replied, but immediately heard the guardsman's message. "Wait, but then where is she?" "Receives an important guest in the dining room of the castle… Even I was not informed about this guest," the guardsman replied with slight discontent and embarrassment, scratching his mane and continuing his patrol. "Receives an important guest in the dining room of the castle… Even I was not informed about this guest," the guardsman replied with slight discontent and embarrassment, scratching his mane and continuing his patrol. "A good guest, since he is met in the dining room," even in her condition, there was a bit of irony. "Yes, thank you so much!" the answer to this was "please" from the mouth of the departing guardsman. After standing a little longer and looking at the doors, behind which there was no one, Luster rushed to the dining room, thinking over everything, starting with the ways of greeting the princess and the guest and ending with her report to her. *** The dining room door, surrounded by Luster's magical aura, began to slowly open, and then Luster herself looked into it, seeing Princess Twilight sitting alone at a rectangular long table, looking at the door with interest, simultaneously pouring tea into a cup. "Princess Twilight?" Luster asked, raising her head sharply and in a trembling voice. Entering the dining room, she bowed and began: "Your Highness, I have arrived at your first request!" Twilight was instantly delighted to see that her best student was right here and now. "Luster! Hello!" The princess, in response to Luster's words, smiled without malice, completely unintentionally not noticing her suffering. "Please, Luster, I hate such formalities from friends! Come on in, you must be tired..." She invited Luster to the table, putting a cup of tea and an empty plate for her… It wasn't hard to guess that Luster would have to put on the food herself, which was in abundance on the table. "Yes... of course," Luster meekly trudged to a chair, staring at the floor. Twilight stopped laughing, looking at her worriedly. The princess had no idea what exactly her student was worried about, but then she put forward the most logical assumption. "Luster, I understand that such an unexpected call could greatly bother you, but I think things can be left on the floor..." Luster froze in horror, and drops of sweat began to flow down her face, only after a couple of moments, she turned her head in the direction of the suitcase hovering nearby, which she had forgotten about. In order not to look stupid in front of the princess, she threw off her saddlebags and put a suitcase next to them, simultaneously justifying herself. "No… I'm not nervous… Simply… Well, let's say I practice magic..." Luster pretended to smile, but it was impossible to tell from Twilight's face that she believed in this excuse. "Did you do something wrong?" Twilight asked, trying to figure out what was wrong with Luster. "Tell me, together we will find a way to fix it!" "Well... it's just that I..." Luster began, but stopped because of the creaking of the door, accompanied by Twilight's dissatisfied muttering, "Oh, we'll have to get the workers to lubricate this door...". The same guest, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, appeared in the aisle, holding a tray with beautifully laid out oatmeal cookies and another porcelain teapot next to her with the help of telekinesis. "Luster! You've finally arrived!" Cadence was delighted, skipping up to the table, which seriously worried Luster. She tried to bow while sitting on a chair, which caused her to lose her balance and fall on the suitcase with a characteristic thud. Cadence stopped and looked at the pink unicorn lying on the suitcase with a slight fright, and then decided to go around the table and sit next to Twilight, putting the tray on the table. Luster got up and sat on a chair, trying not to look into the eyes of the princesses sitting in front of her. Then Cadence broke the oppressive silence by asking the question: "Luster, are you all right?" "Yes… That is, no! Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I couldn't cope with such a simple task..." tears appeared on her face, and she, like a guilty filly, stared at the table, trying to restrain herself and not whimper, preparing to suffer the deserved punishment. Twilight and Cadence exchanged glances, and then Twilight comforted Luster while Cadence tried to hold back her laughter. "Luster, did you seriously worry so much about such an insignificant little thing?" "Oh, Luster, you look so much like Princess Twilight right now..." Cadence remarked, burying her muzzle in a hoof and laughing softly "What, really? Won't you give up on me? I will not go into exile from Equestria and will not live out my days trying in vain to avoid ridicule from others?" calming down and wiping her tears, Luster asked again. Twilight's surprise knew no bounds, and then she blushed and turned to Cadence."Hey, I wasn't that worried!" "But I remember being told that you staged in a fit of panic because of an unsent friendship lesson..." replied Cadence, trying not to laugh. Then she took a cookie and poured herself a cup of tea, starting to eat. "You... were you really that worried?" finally calming down and smiling sincerely for the first time in recent times, Luster asked. Twilight, seeing that her student had returned to normal, also couldn't help laughing, remembering her stupid actions from the past. "And yes, please don't call me 'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'. Of my family and friends, only Flurry, when she is naughty, calls me by my full name with a title... Well, or Shining..." Cadence noticed, as if immersed in pleasant memories of her native home, where she will return only in a couple of days... "Just call me..." she didn't have time to finish because of Rarity's voice, which was heard from behind, to which the whole trio turned around. "Cadence! And Luster!" Then the white unicorn, lifting her muzzle and elegantly approaching the table, turned to Twilight: "Oh, Twilight, if you only knew how much effort and time I spent searching for materials and sewing..." "Yes, Rarity, your work is invaluable, but how are things going with the dress for Luster?" asked Twilight, fully supporting her best friend. "Exactly! A dress for Luster!.." Rarity came to her senses and ran up to Luster, took out a centimeter and smiled, turned to that one. "Luster, darling, I'm sorry, it's just for a couple of moments!" A magical aura appeared around Luster and she rose up. "Can you ask my opinion at least once?! Luster was indignant, floating helplessly in the aura again, while Rarity was taking the necessary measurements on her body, and Twilight and Cadence were carried away by their conversation. *** Two days later. Luster's chambers in Canterlot Castle. Despite the favorable outcome of the story of Luster's unrest, during these two days everything returned to normal again, when the upcoming holiday became a new cause for concern, in which Luster played a far from secondary role. And so Luster was once again doing what she can do best-reading books and worrying about every little thing, thinking about something important that she probably forgot. "It doesn't look like a textbook, more like a work of art..." Luster remarked in frustration, falling on the pillow and putting the book on the shelf. "Maybe I should tell the princess about this after all?" she mumbled, continuing to look at the ceiling. "Tell me about what?" came an eerily familiar voice, which Luster did not immediately recognize because of her distracted state. "Oh, I'm sorry we didn't knock, but we have an hour and a half left..." this voice belonged to Cadence, and Luster realized this by raising her head and looking into the aisle, and Rarity appeared next to Cadence, holding a new dress with the help of telekinesis. "Yes… I'm still not sure if I should go on stagе… Precisely! Cadence, can you ask Twilight not to make me come out?" Luster perked up at her own idea. Cadence, with her typical kind expression, tried to say something that Rarity was faster. "No, dear, I don't want one of my best works to be in vain!" She looked with admiration at the work she had done. "Rarity, you say that about every job you do," only after saying that, Cadence realized that it could sound insulting, so she corrected herself immediately: "Although, I don't deny it." "Yes, it's beautiful..." Luster agreed very unconvincingly, so as not to offend Rarity either, and then, realizing that she would have to try it on, got up from her bed. It seems that Rarity was flattered by such praise from Luster, or simply did not pay attention, throwing the dress behind the screen and returning to the dialogue with Cadence. "By the way, Cadence, who did you leave the Crystal Empire for? By any chance, not on Flurry Heart?" Rarity asked with interest, while Luster was looking for privacy behind a screen. "No, what are you… Of course, she has grown and changed beyond recognition since your last meeting, but she is still too young to take over the reins..." having delved into herself, Cadence explained the situation. Rarity came to an unprecedented delight, sharing her expectations: "I can't wait to see her!.." After a sad sigh, she added: "It's still a pity that she stayed in the Crystal Empire..." the moment of sadness almost instantly disappeared when Luster came out from behind the screen in a pink dress with a shade slightly darker than the color of the new owner's wool. "Luster! It's like it was created for you!" "Maybe the sequins are too much?" asked Luster nervously, trying to get used to the dress. "I don't think so… Maybe it's worth adding more, or... exactly! Ribbons! Wait a couple of minutes!" Rarity was overwhelmed with enthusiasm for ideas to improve the dress. "I don't think we have enough time… It looks so cute and beautiful on the Luster ..." hinted at another unfinished business of Cadence, in which Rarity's sophistication is needed. "Sorry, I got carried away... okay, let's go," Rarity apologized. Soon Rarity disappeared into the aisle, and Cadence stopped in the doorway to cheer Luster up a little. "Luster, the dress really suits you, but the main thing is not to worry about such a trifle… Ponies are not so cruel to laugh at you or mock you if something goes wrong..." Cadence smiled to cheer her up, but then involuntarily looked at the grandfather clock, started up and also disappeared into the aisle. Luster, after thinking a little about what could be done two hours before the inevitable, decided to just walk around the castle and, if lucky, personally talk to Princess Twilight, if she is not busy preparing for the holiday. *** A few minutes later. The second tier of the castle hall. Princess Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer were surprised to see a magic mirror that had just been delivered from the east, standing against the wall and outwardly indistinguishable from an ordinary mirror, of which there were plenty in Canterlot Castle. An oval mirror with a gold glossy frame, quite worthy of being in the chambers of Princess Twilight, was not just a mirror… At least, this was stated by the workers who brought him here. After taking a closer look at the mirror, Princess Twilight uttered a loud "AHEM", making it clear to Starlight that it was time to tell the reason why the princess was distracted from important matters and brought to look at the mirror in a gilded frame. Uh, yeah… It's magical," Starlight explained after an uncomfortable silence. "Well, at least the griffins told about the strange glow coming from it..." "Okay, then we'll figure out what to do with it, and now we'll move it to the archive," a magical aura appeared around the horn with a characteristic sound, but Starlight's cry stopped it. "STOP!!! Don't! The workers reported that it reacts very strangely to magic!" Starlight said it so quickly and clearly that later she wondered how she could even speak so quickly and confidently. "Well... come on, I'll call the workers, and you write a letter to Star Swirl… Perhaps only he can know what to do with it," Twilight ordered, looking at her reflection in this mirror and afraid to come closer. "Yes, exactly! Star Swirl! I'm going to get the parchment!" said Starlight, galloping into the next corridor, while Twilight began to descend the stairs with a majestic gait. The hall was empty for a short time. Because, a saddened Luster entered it from a corridor decorated with paintings donated by the best Equestrian artists for Princess Twilight, whose attention was attracted by a mirror with a gold frame. After making sure that she was alone in the hall and no one could see her, she went to the mirror and straightened her mane with a hoof, but realizing that something was wrong, she decided to make herself look better. "Maybe Rarity is right and it's not that bad? Although, I think I could use a hairpin," After looking at herself a little more, she removed the hoof from the mane and thoughtfully raised her muzzle up. "I began to turn into a Rarity… But still..." she lowered her muzzle again and examined herself with interest, continuing the monologue, "Yes! The light and the play of shadows... let's fix the mirror a little..." her horn lit up with an aura and the same magical aura appeared around the mirror, slightly tilting it down. "Luster, what are you doing... run!" Starlight shouted, accompanied by the clatter of hooves. "what? Starlight? What to run from?" Luster began to look around in panic, not noticing how the mirror began to shine with white light brighter and brighter. Luster noticed the mirror only when the light became blindingly bright. At that moment, Starlight, closing her eyes tightly, tried to push the Luster away in a jump, but it was too late. The light disappeared, as did Luster and Starlight, and there was a parchment with ink on the floor, which splashed on the floor... "...Drag the mirror to the archive without magic? Easy as pie!" boasted one of the workers, walking in front of the princess. "Wonderful… And what is this?" The smile disappeared from Twilight's face when she saw the things left over from Starlight on the floor. "Hmm... I don't remember Starlight throwing everything around..." *** The fortress of the "Skull". The Baltic Sea coast, near the Polish border. 1960. The "Skulls" fortress, located almost on the very edge of the rocky coast and rebuilt from a medieval castle, became perhaps the most reliable and indestructible fortress back in 1946, during the invasion of the Americans, whose main goal was to eliminate the culprit of the technological superiority of the Third Reich — General Wilhelm Strasse. This place has become a historical monument and a reminder of the triumph of General Strasse and the small garrison of the fortress, which, thanks to the technical achievements of the "Skull", managed to fend off the airborne assault and destroy an entire air fleet even on approach… The few lucky ones who managed to land on the shore or survive the crash became victims of automatic turrets, a Baltic monitor and prototypes of panzerhunds, which did not leave the invaders a chance. But on the orders of General Strasse, they did not rake the wreckage of six-engine bombers and P-51 "Mustang" fighters, leaving them as a reminder of the massacre in which the Skull Guard and the SS emerged victorious. It is also worth mentioning that this place was chosen for his fortress not just because of the natural protection in the form of rocks that prevent landing from the sea, and not because of attempts to hide the most important person of the Reich from the SOE and Soviet intelligence… Rather, the general agreed to this because of the terrible weather conditions and frequent storms, which allowed him to tune in to the right working mood, and this place itself was exactly where he wanted to spend the rest of his long — only this year he turned one hundred years old — life, continuing to work for the good of Germany. General Strasse continued to conduct his inhuman experiments on people to this day, trying to unravel the mystery of the artifacts of the ancient order "Daat-Ihud", and with the acquisition of the necessary experience, things went uphill. Even despite such an advanced age, no one dared to call Strasse a decrepit old man or an old senile — he did not experience health problems, having managed to keep his composure and clarity of mind, but the general was in no hurry to tell how he achieved this. And so, on one of these days — during another strong storm, which did not affect the beautifully constructed fortress, which will remain in the same condition for several centuries, if not millennia, General Strasse conducted an autopsy of a test subject that had not suffered an experimental anti-aging serum. The "skull" (as it was called) ceased to be afraid of death itself, but he was afraid that without it the Reich was waiting for a slow but sure decay, so at the moment he was trying to find a way for the future, how to prolong his life. Everything could have gone on as usual, but the Hauptsturmfuhrer Friedrich Boer, who entered, brought important news that Strasse was obliged to hear, significantly changed the local way of life. Herr Strasse, in the archiv..." the officer stopped abruptly when Strasse waved his hand away, tearing his concentrated gaze from the body, whose head was covered with a cloth, and Boer already knew the reason why the general did exactly that, and it was clear from one of his quotes: "I don't want to see his Jewish face!", although Boer did not yet know what nationality the "patient" Strasse was. The general turned in his direction, putting his hands behind his back. His general's uniform was wearing a bloody apron and long white protective gloves, acting as gloves, fastened with straps on the shoulders of the tunic. The cap was lying on the shelf of a steel table on which surgical instruments were laid out. Judging by the general's normal cold and slightly narrowed gaze, he was dissatisfied with such an invasion. "Herr Boer… I asked you not to let anyone in to me!" he spoke with displeasure, removing the straps of his mittens. The general turned in his direction, putting his hands behind his back. His general's uniform was wearing a bloody apron and long white protective gloves, acting as gloves, fastened with straps on the shoulders of the tunic. The cap was lying on the shelf of a steel table on which surgical instruments were laid out. Judging by the general's normal cold and slightly narrowed gaze, he was dissatisfied with such an invasion. "Herr Boer… I asked you not to let anyone in to me!" he spoke with displeasure, removing the straps of his mittens. "It's urgent! We have an emergency in the archive!" it seems that the situation in the archive seriously frightened Boer, "so much so that even Strasse's discontent did not stand as high as his fear." Strasse reacted with interest to these words, throwing off his mittens on an empty operating table, simultaneously taking off his apron. "Emergency in the archive?" he said it with such a neutral and detached expression, as if he could not believe Boer's words, considering them nonsense. "One of the artifacts spontaneously activated... well, artifact C-979..." Boer straightened his back and put his hands behind his back, waiting for orders while Strasse adjusted the sleeves of his tunic and put on his cap. Hearing the familiar name, he looked in surprise somewhere to the side, and then, heading for the exit, voiced his thought. "C-979… I've always thought of it as an ordinary trinket..." Strasse walked slowly out into the corridor with his back straight, followed by two of his guards who were guarding the entrance to the operating room. Boer immediately caught up with him and, continuing to keep his hand behind his back, trying to keep a distance behind the general. Suddenly, he made a gesture with his hand, because of which both guards instantly stopped, and gave them an order: "No, no!" he pointed to the two escorts, who instantly stood at attention, listening to him. "Get this garbage out of my operating room… I have no plans to play with rot, because my plans have changed!"the guards silently nodded, turned around and went into the operating room, while Boer continued to pretend that he had already understood Strasse's intentions, although he could not even understand what was going on in his head. "So how did you say it activated?" Strasse finally addressed him. "Was he dropped? Touched? Have you tried to recycle it?" "No, the attendants reported that he spontaneously activated," Boer replied with firm confidence in his voice, continuing to look straight, not even moving his eyes and not looking at the general. "Maybe it's a weapon? Or an energy storage facility? Hmm... whatever it is, I feel that a new scientific discovery is coming… Something that gives the millennial Reich a new technology..." Strasse continued on his way again, adding along the way: "Time is running out, Herr Boer, and we have a lot of work..." TO BE CONTINUED... Prologue. Part 2/6. Another WorldAt the same time. Unknown where Luster woke up in a strange room with bare concrete walls and the same floor, on which construction debris was scattered. She was brought to her senses by an unfamiliar sound, resembling the roar of something, and this something rushed under the window. The strangest find was an anthropomorphic creature without fur and in a decent black suit that lay right in front of her, but Luster had every right to assume that it was "she" and not "it" in front of her. "What… What are you? Where am I and what did you do with Starlight?! Luster screamed in panic, trying to escape, but some strange changes in her body prevented her from jumping on her hooves. The only thing she did well was to crawl back. The creature rose to its feet and, holding its head, gently reached out to Luster with a worried expression on its face. "Luster, it's me! Calm down and don't shout like that!.." "What?.." Luster tried for some time to remember where she had previously heard this voice, but then she realized that it was Starlight. "Starlight? What's the matter with you?" "Well... let's start with "what's wrong with us," and continue with the fact that we are people," Starlight explained, but from the expression on Luster's face it was impossible to say that she believed, although as soon as she looked at herself, she almost panicked. Starlight had to grab her by the shoulders and shake her hard to bring her to her senses. "Calm down! Princess Twilight has been here before, and more than once… And so am I. A couple of times..." "Was the princess here?.. And how… How are we going to get back?" It seems that Luster had endless questions on this topic in stock. Starlight's attitude suggested that there wasn't much time, but she had a plan to get back. "There's nothing to worry about, this world is as friendly and hospitable as Equestria, but only something has obviously changed here… Okay, get up, we need to figure out where Kanterlot High School is..." then she helped Luster to her feet, and the new form of movement somewhat confused her. "How do these people walk on two hooves?.. Luster mumbled, balancing so as not to fall, simultaneously trying to feel something on her forehead. "And the horn? Where is my magic?" "Let me tell you right away..." Starlight began to inspect the abandoned building, simultaneously scratching her chin and rummaging through her pockets. "Humans don't have tails, magic, hooves and wings… They have legs and arms," she pointed to this and that in order. "On the feet are feet, and on the hands are hands and fingers similar to the claws of griffins or hippogriffs… Well, then you'll figure it out yourself..." Luster leaned on the window sill without a window frame and pointed at something, simultaneously calling out to her friend. "Starlight, does this look like a school flag?" Approaching the window, Starlight saw a narrow street previously unknown to her, and several red banners with a white circle and an unknown black symbol inside hung on the neighboring three-story beige building. "Hmm... No, but maybe we just happened to be on the eve of the Night of Nightmares in the Crystal Empire and they hung up such flags?" panicked Starlight, realizing that in the Crystal Empire the Night of Nightmares is not celebrated, and remotely it looks like the banners of the King of Sombra... "Well, we'll have to walk along the streets and ask the locals where we are..." Starlight concluded, moving away from the windowsill and heading for the stairs leading to the first floor. Luster, after admiring the architecture of the neighboring building a little more, followed her, but experienced some difficulties during the descent due to the new body. "How do people walk on two legs at all?" she moaned, gripping the metal railing tightly and slowly going down. The situation on the street resembled the situation in an abandoned building… There was a lot of garbage on the street, and in places there were piles of broken concrete and glass, some of the windows on the ground floors were boarded up with plywood and boards, and some buildings near the lower floors had sandbagged fortifications ... Not to say that there were battles in the city - rather, no one dared to rake these rubble or someone specially created similar conditions. "Starlight, are you sure everything's okay here?" Luster asked, looking at the squalid state of the street. "I can't be sure of anything right now..." Starlight turned around and saw a radio tower and an ominous massive building. After seeing all this, she boldly began to draw analogies between the Crystal Empire under the yoke of King Sombra and this place. "Maybe Sombra showed up here?" "You have ideas, don't you? Judging by this hefty clock, we have about an hour left before the opening of the festival," Luster said, looking at the large clock tower standing next to the tower and this building. Surprisingly, she kept calm, and the prospect of missing this ceremony because she was "stuck in an unknown world" looked very tempting, if not for the question: how to get back from the world in which King Sombra won? "I have no ideas… But there is a firm belief that there is no point in going to the Crystal Castle ..." suggested Starlight, stepping over a pile of garbage and heading in the opposite direction from this "castle". "So, let's try to find at least one of the residents and ask what happened at all! - Starlight announced the further plan of action, although she was well aware that there is nothing to do here without Princess Twilight and her friends..." *** About an hour later. The fortress of the "Skull". General Strasse's office In a modestly furnished office with gray-painted walls, in addition to Strasse, there were several guards of the "Skull", silently digging through stacks of documents, because of which the almost deathly silence was broken by the rustle of pages. The general himself was sitting at his desk with a self-written dictionary "Daat-Ihud" and untranslated parchments found in the same repository where the artifact was spontaneously activated. Suddenly Strasse discovered an interesting pattern between a half-translated parchment with unknown runes and the same illuminated runes on the artifact, and, without thinking twice, voiced it to himself. " «Map», «Invasion», «Other World» and «Space»... Oh no, it's not a weapon!" He stood up from his chair with the parchment in his hands. "This is a map..." a sinister grin appeared on his face, indicating another success in solving the mystery of Daat-Ihud. The guards, seeing this look, silently exchanged glances and began to put the documents back in place, waiting for further instructions. “Great, take everything to the archive!” he pointed to the boxes of documents and parchments extracted from the archives. “And close the office behind you!” the guards, standing at attention and nodding, began to collect papers even faster, while the general moved with a confident step to the exit. *** The elevator with the general stopped at the right floor of the laboratories, and there was already readiness for anything. Strasse remembered perfectly well that he was advised to evacuate the entire complex in case this artifact was a bomb, but having extensive experience with artifacts and vast knowledge gained from parchments and these very artifacts, he knew for sure that this was not a weapon. In fact, Strasse knew almost more than ordinary members of the cult, although he had been raking out all the knowledge and secrets with incredible effort for seventeen long years... After going into the armored room where the artifact was stored, he demanded to open it, but one of the scientists with the ''Wolfenstein'' badge, who belonged to the ''Daat-Ihud'' researchers under general Strasse, left the guarded observation room. Adjusting his glasses, he tried to reason with the general: "Herr Strasse, I still insist on the evacuation of the entire complex... If there is a bomb there, it threatens not only the loss of such a brilliant general as you, but also all the equipment, personal personnel and archives with invaluable knowledge..." Two soldiers without helmets and with SS buttonholes opened the armored door, and Strasse, waving away the scientist, answered him by stepping over the threshold. ''Excuse me, Herr Furst, I myself know what to do and how to do it, but I will take your warnings into account!'' A golden multi-faceted artifact appeared before the general, inside of which was a raging yellow energy sphere. Without thinking twice, he approached the artifact and reached for the first rune, but he Furst's exclamation distracted him. ''Herr Strasse, maybe we shouldn't make everything out of your personal assumptions?'' it seems that this exclamation distracted Strasse for only a couple of seconds, because he touched all three illuminated runes, while Furst closed his eyes, expecting an explosion. There was no explosion, but instead an energy sphere burst out of the artifact, forming a detailed map of the Earth in the form of a hologram with a strange blue mark in the south of the British Isles. "You see, Herr Furst? It's time to finally remember that the ''Daat-Ihud'' Order did not store weapons in such small vaults… But I dare say that I already assumed that this is a map… But what does she have to show us?'' Strasse scratched his chin thoughtfully while the scientist adjusted his glasses and stared at the map in shock. After a little thought, Strasse tried to touch the map, and it reacted to the touch by zooming in on the blue dot. It became clear that this point was in London. After repeating this movement a couple of times, Strasse was even able to see the area and the street on which this point was located. After a little reflection and remembering that he had already read about this map in one of those parchments, he concluded that it shows anomalous objects that came here from another world… And that means… No, for Strasse, this was not a reason for panic, but rather a new source of knowledge that he could not just miss. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Friedrich Boer enter the room, who was assigned to keep Strasse informed of the latest developments, but there was no urgent need for that now. ''Boer, I heard you're from London… Tell me, what can you say about this street?'' It was about the intersection of streets with a blue mark, and Boer understood it perfectly. ''The sixteenth district at the intersection of Vauxhall and Black Prince Road ...'' Boer immediately replied, but then dared to ask: ''Is something serious, Herr Strasse?!'' The general did not answer the question, went to the exit and gave a new order to Boer and another assistant standing at the door: ''Tie me up with the commandant of the city and prepare my plane to London!'' The Boer and the assistant nodded meekly, and the first one got out in front of the Strasse and went to a protected room, and the assistant hurried to hide in the corridor. No sooner had the general followed him in, than Boer was already rummaging through the phone book in search of the corresponding number. The patient and cold gaze of the "Skull" directed at Boer made it clear to him that procrastination could cost a lot. Having found and dialed the desired number, he exhaled calmly and handed the phone to the general. Several rings passed before a man's voice was heard on the phone, but it was so quiet that the still-standing Boer could not make out anything. After listening to the standard speech from the commandant's secretary, but then, when he was contacted directly, he also coldly and neutrally began: ''Herr Falk?.. I have an urgent assignment for you, on which the fate of the Reich may depend…'' *** London. The sixteenth district All this time Luster and Starlight wandered aimlessly through an unpleasant, one might say, creepy city, in which even passers-by tried to avoid two strangely dressed and no less strangely behaving girls — by the way, they got strict black suits with fedoras, which is why they were constantly mistaken for someone, and they could not figure out who. Special attention was attracted by strange metal carts, which, apparently, moved independently and no one needed to be harnessed to them... But only along the way they met only a few such carts standing on the side of the road and they could not know about what these achievements of local technology were called cars. Starlight found several more confirmations of her theory when she saw soldiers in the streets wearing strange helmets similar to those worn by Sombra on their fighters, and they were armed with a very strange weapon, which Luster compared to a broken black piece of a wooden fence. In any case, they decided not to check the effectiveness of these pieces of wood, avoiding meetings with patrolmen and continuing to wander aimlessly. It seemed that this walk through a new, creepy and mysterious city could last for a long time, but suddenly a long and booming siren sounded. An alarm was raised over the city. Hearing her, rare passers-by disappeared into buildings and alleys, and people in houses hurried to close the curtains and move away from the windows. "Starlight? I don't like it here..." Luster said worriedly, not even assuming that Starlight herself didn't like it here either. "Wait, do you hear that?" Starlight noticed strange distant footsteps and the clang of machinery getting closer and closer. "Perhaps we should go..." Luster did not have time to finish, as a mechanical voice with a strange accent was heard, the source of which, apparently, was hiding somewhere behind the building. "Residents of London! A curfew has been imposed in the city, return to your homes immediately for the sake of your own safety and justice." Several rocket blocks of a huge robot peeked out from around the corner, which peeked out from behind the building more and more with every step. Here, stepping over one of his three legs through an apartment building and stepping on the asphalt with a characteristic sound of hydraulics, he appeared to his full height and turned towards Luster and Starlight. Without thinking twice, Starlight dared to assume that he was about thirty meters tall… Useful knowledge in a similar situation. "Listen, can we really go?" nervous and looking around, Luster asked, pulling her friend in misfortune by the sleeve. "Dangerous terrorists have been detected! Residents of London do not leave their shelters!" the voice from the speaker was heard again. He took a few more steps, looking sternly at the intruders from another world. Suddenly the doors of his "eye" opened and the red light illuminated them like a searchlight. Judging by the sounds characteristic of faulty electronics and the red lightning that occasionally appeared around the eye, the robot was either faulty or was preparing to open fire... "Raise your hands and surrender, scum of society!" an order followed, after which the robot opened the doors of all six rocket blocks. Several armored personnel carriers and army trucks rushed to the scene at full speed, which surrounded the intersection with Luster and Starlight standing on it in complete bewilderment. In the blink of an eye, several detachments unloaded from them, some of the fighters from which grabbed heavy shields and lined up in a row, while the rest with assault rifles took cover behind them, aiming at the intruders. Realizing that this world is not so friendly and very dangerous, Starlight quickly raised her hands, and a little later Luster followed her example. One officer grabbed a loudspeaker and carefully peeked out from behind the armored personnel carrier's armor. "Terrorists! You are surrounded! Surrender immediately and ease your lot!" "Look, this is a mistake, we don't pose any danger!" Luster tried to defuse the situation, but Starlight had her own plans in this regard. "Okay, we give up!" Starlight replied loudly and nervously, slowly kneeling down and putting her hands behind her head. Then she turned to Luster: "Listen, now it's better not to show aggression towards them, but to do as they say..." All the fighters were closely watching their movements, and a good part of them were preparing to pull the trigger with trembling fingers. "Jurgen, I've never seen such reckless terrorists!" the soldier turned to his comrade, gritting his teeth and preparing for the worst. It seems that the officer did not like such conversations in the ranks, so he turned off the loudspeaker and made a remark: "Put aside the conversations in the ranks! They are from another world and we have no idea what they can pull off!" noticing that the imaginary threat had surrendered, he made a gesture with his hand, thereby giving the appropriate order to the capture group. Several fighters ran forward and knocked them to the ground, putting handcuffs and bags on their heads. The officer exhaled with calmness when this operation passed without consequences, although the reaction of some fighters to such a "brilliant" detention of two fragile girls with the involvement of three Waffen SS detachments, two armored personnel carriers and the London Monitor, which continued to monitor the detainees in full combat readiness, left much to be desired. Luster and Starlight were packed into an APC and it started moving... Now they could only guess where and why they were being taken and what awaits them next… *** A few hours later. London Nautica General Strasse was in the elevator, accompanied by his guards, who stood quietly and silently behind him. The incident in London and Strasse's statements raised the ears of the entire oberkommandorstvo, and while an emergency meeting was planned in Berlin, General "Skull" personally arrived in London to interrogate the intruders from another world. Stepping onto the right floor, the general and his guards saw that everything was turned upside down… In the sense that the guards could not find a place for themselves, being in full combat readiness, but the nautica staff was nowhere to be seen. Gray corridors with orange stripes and plastered with propaganda posters, most often on the subject of science or space, accompanied Strasse to the very laboratory where the perpetrators of this chaos were kept. Finally, the procession came to the armored door, near which the commandant of London Klaus Falk personally wandered in confusion, who was waiting for the general's arrival. Phew, Herr Strasse, you have finally arrived!" the commandant greeted the general with relief, extending his hand to shake. "We don't have time for formalities..." picking up the white suitcase that the guardsman handed him, the general replied, immediately getting to the point. "Get to the point, Herr Falk… Do they understand our language? Did they say anything?" "Yes, they understand him… But... We didn't start the interrogation without you, and so far one of them tried to assure us that we were wrong, and the other tried to shut her up..." wearing a black glove, Falk said with a degree of uncertainty, and then decided to clarify the question he had been interested in for a long time: "I heard that the oberkommandor is planning to drop atomic bombs on London… Is it true?" While waiting for two SS soldiers to open the armored door, the general replied: "They will give such an order only if London is lost… They haven't even had time to get together to make a decision yet," having finished and decided not to waste any more time, Strasse went into the room, the guards followed him. The first thing Wilhelm Strasse saw in an empty room with bare walls and floor were two decently dressed girls chained up with bags on their heads, behind which stood two super soldiers, closely watching them, holding heavy machine guns at the ready. "Take the bags off them!" He gave the order to Strasse, getting down on one knee and putting the suitcase on the floor. Obediently nodding, one of the fighters stepped forward and, in order not to keep the general waiting, pulled the bags off the girls' heads as quickly as possible. Squinting against the light and trying to peer into the figure in the olive-colored general's uniform, Starlight unconsciously asked out loud: "Is... the local King Sombra?.." Hearing this, one of the guards tried to restrain a burst of laughter caused by the analogy with a sombrero, but the second poked him in the side with the machine gun, which calmed him down. Strasse didn't even move an ear, putting on white medical gloves taken out of a suitcase. "What nonsense is this?! I'm not a king... hmm... it doesn't matter..." he couldn't remember the name of that king, continuing: "I'm just a citizen of the Reich concerned about your invasion! Can you introduce yourself?" seeing the worried and confused looks of the captives, he began himself: "Okay, I'll start first… I'm General Wilhelm Strasse, or you can call me Totenkopf!" he said, carefully examining the Starlight. "Yes… I think I was told that you are able to speak our language… So, can you finally introduce yourself?" When the general's gaze fell on Luster, her pupils rounded with fear and she, trying not to stutter, introduced herself: "Yes... I... my name is Luster… And this is..." she looked away, "... my friend, Starlight..." Judging by Starlight's look, she was ready to hit herself in the face, but the chains did not allow her to move at all. Strasse also noticed one point of interest to him. "These are names, or… So you're from SOE... so… In your world, the Reich has fallen… Ahem..." He looked at the situation with interest, trying to figure out exactly how British spies got into another world. "No! These are our full names - Luster Don and Starlight Glimmer! We are local… But we live in..." 2 the attempt to deceive from Luster ended in complete failure, given that Strasse was no longer listening to her, only looking at them with interest. "Luster, that's enough!" Starlight made a loud remark. "They have already realized that we are not local and..." "...that you're from another world?" the general interrupted her. "I have to note that your intelligence has deteriorated greatly since the Second World War, if it began to send people like you… And how many of your agents do we have?.. "fear appeared on the faces of Starlight and Luster, which Strasse could not help noticing. "Well... tell me about your world… You know, we don't get visitors from another dimension every day..." he turned to Starlight. "Maybe Frau Glimmer can tell me something?" "What? No… How do you know?" "Listen up… I am a busy man of age… Do yourself and me a favor - don't aggravate your situation and don't take up my time..." Strasse waved his hand to the super soldier and he growled something maliciously and took the machine gun in one hand, grabbed Starlight by the neck with the other and lifted her off the ground. She began to wheeze from suffocation, while Luster was hysterical from what was happening, and tears appeared on her face. "STARLIGHT! NO!" she shouted with unprecedented fear in her voice, being ready for any conditions. "Good! Well… I'll tell you everything, just don't kill her!.." she lowered her gaze and squeezed her eyes shut so as not to see her friend's death. "The right and wise decision..." Strasse gave another signal with his hand to the super soldier, and he threw it on the floor. Starlight, coughing and not believing that she was still alive, tried to catch her breath, greedily gulping air. With his hands behind his back and looking down at Luster, Strasse was waiting for the promised recognition, and Luster understood this perfectly well. "We came here from the magical land of Equestria, where earthly ponies, pegasus and unicorns live in peace and harmony!.." One of the fighters burst out laughing, even Strasse found it funny, but did not show it. "Yes... Leprechauns and elves... it's a pity that your friend won't share our laughter and fun..." Strasse was preparing to give the order that was supposed to take Starlight's life. "No! Please! I have no reason to lie!" Luster became hysterical, starting to think about the worst again. This trick distracted and briefly persuaded the general. "Unnoticed… But, in that case, tell me, how did you get into our world?" Strasse walked up to Luster and knelt down in front of her, preparing to listen to another excuse. "I... I accidentally used magic on a magic mirror… We didn't even imagine all the danger and now we don't know how we'll get back! Please let us go!" Luster still believed that it was possible to achieve freedom by polite conversation and persuasion, but she did not know Totenkopf's future plans. "It would be a great pity to lose such beautiful samples..." Strasse closed the suitcase and got to his feet, holding it in his hand. Turning his back to the prisoners, he turned to the guardsman: "Even if they are the only, but beautiful samples... Ahem... Let's have this one!" He turned abruptly and pointed at the Luster. "What? What are you going to do?" she screamed in panic, looking at the approaching guardsman, who lifted her by the chain and dragged her to the door, but suddenly the girl began to shine, and with every second brighter and brighter. The General couldn't help but notice this glow. Turning to its source, he quickly realized what was going on. "Don't let them get away!.. Liquidate!" Strasse shouted when the light became so bright that he had to cover his face with his hand. The super soldier was already preparing to crush Starlight's head, but the light became unbearably bright. When the supersoldier kicked Starlight with all his weight and strength, she was no longer in this world. The same fate befell the guardsman who tried to grab the glowing Luster. "Got it!" he joyfully declared, but when the glow disappeared, he saw that he was holding the general's tunic. "Oh... I'm sorry." Strasse unhooked his hand from his tunic and pushed the guardsman away, and with obvious dissatisfaction caused by the loss of samples, went to the exit. "We don't have time… I have to be in Berlin..." gritting his teeth, he said, holding his hands behind his back and leaving the room in thought. Several officers were waiting for him in the corridor and Klaus Falk, who had been personally supervising the interrogation all this time. "Nice work, Herr Strasse… It's a pity that we lost them. Just think how much knowledge they would have given us!" Falk tried to ingratiate himself with the general with his approach, and Strasse understood this perfectly well. "Thank you for your comment, Herr Falk," Strasse said confidently and loudly, walking with a firm step towards the elevator, "But I know all this without you..." "Still, I hope you didn't listen to their pathetic excuses..." "Maybe they were lying openly, considering me an imbecile..." he continued with unprecedented calmness, "... but I have knowledge that is more expensive than their pathetic attempts to distract my attention..." the general stood in front of the elevator doors, waiting for him to go down to the right floor. "There are other worlds, and most importantly - it is possible to move between them… Believe me, this matter does not concern your mind further," he summed up in a rude manner and entered the elevator. Falk tried to follow, but the guards stopped him, which is why he, being in an awkward position, was forced to step back, realizing that he had just fallen in the eyes of Wilhelm Strasse and the entire security of the nineteenth floor of the London Nautica… *** Canterlot Castle. The living room on the ground floor Fluttershy was resting peacefully on the sofa, enjoying the singing of birds that were sitting on the windowsill of an open window, and looking at the burning fireplace. The serene pastime of the yellow pegasus could continue to take place at such a leisurely, pleasant pace, but, according to the law of meanness, something had to spoil it.) This something became Luster and Starlight, materialized in the air in a large glowing sphere. Fluttershy, not expecting such surprises, jumped up in fright and jumped behind the sofa in order to hide from the glowing threat. The bright light also scared the birds, who almost flew right out into the street. Soon there was a thud, followed by a groan from Starlight. ''What? Where are we?!'' Luster asked herself, without realizing it, jumped on her hooves, but only after a few moments did she realize that they were back in their real bodies. ''Starlight! We are ponies!'' she squealed joyfully, no longer restraining the flow of joy caused by relief from their miraculous rescue. Slowly lifting her body, simultaneously holding onto her sore neck, Starlight noticed Luster rushing towards her with tears of joy. Jumping to Starlight and hugging her tightly by the neck, Luster not only knocked her over, but also caused a new wave of pain, since her neck still hurt after the grip of the cold steel hand of the super soldier. ''Neck! My neck!'' Starlight screamed with a groan, pushing the Luster away with her hoof. ''Oh, I'm sorry ...'' Luster laughed nervously, realizing her annoying blunder. "It's you!'' Fluttershy, who looked out from behind her hiding place, modestly declared with fear, but when she saw familiar faces, she calmed down and exhaled with relief. ''I was so scared… You won't believe..." she came out from behind the sofa, looking at her friends in a relaxed way. ''Fluttershy! You won't believe what we've been through!..'' Luster exclaimed with joy, but one of the princess's best friends reminded her about an important event - the festival of two sisters. ''Festival! Can I still catch?'' she asked, coming to her senses. ''No, the opening ceremony ended three hours ago ...'' Fluttershy replied modestly, and then looked away and quietly added: ''And also… Twilight didn't like your absence much…'' Starlight looked at Luster, stunned by such a discovery, who had already mentally put an end to herself and her future life… An unpleasant situation… *** Somehow Fluttershy and Starlight still managed to calm Luster, who had fallen into despair, and Starlight completely reminded her about everything that had happened that day, managing to convince her that once Twilight heard about their adventures, she would no longer be up to Luster's absence at the opening ceremony. This story was told personally by Starlight at the moment when all six heroines gathered in the throne room, who silently listened to them, opening their mouths and creating mental images of the horrors experienced by both unicorns. As it turned out, the reason for this miraculous rescue was Rarity, who could not help but approach such a wonderful golden mirror standing at the magic door to the archive - she accidentally broke it… But, despite this, the fragments were still placed in the archive, so that no one else would end up in this cursed world.… Maybe this story ended well… Yes, but no one thought that that other world also continued to exist, and the news about the possibility of getting into parallel universes and worlds seriously stirred the minds of the top of the Reich, and Strasse volunteered to be the one to solve this riddle… Moreover, he received approval personally from the Fuhrer. *** The presenter carefully adjusted the microphone attached to his jacket and began his speech: "Good morning, citizens of the Reich! Today we gathered in this modest studio to discuss one wonderful news! But first I would like to ask just one question: have you already planned how you will spend your weekend?" the presenter paused a little, as if waiting for an answer. "Yes or no - it doesn't matter! It is important that the residents of London, after a month, can finally breathe easy and take to the streets, because the state of emergency has been lifted! On such a significant occasion for everyone, the Commandant of London, Klaus Falk, personally came to us!" Loud applause was heard, but as soon as the commandant spoke, they subsided. "Thank you, Jurgen, but there is no need for such an ovation… We were just doing our job..." "Why such modesty, Herr Falk? This news will certainly spread all over the planet, and I just have to ask this question that interests everyone: has the terrorist threat really been eliminated? I heard that you even connected the London monitor!" "Monitor… Yes, it was an extreme measure to ensure security! The damned terrorists made false calls about mining, and a couple of times our sappers actually found explosive charges… And as for the detention... Hmm, isn't that an indicator of SS skill?" he said confidently. "Wunderbar!" the announcer applauded, and the audience immediately supported him. "I am sure that it is because of this news that we came here and... Gentlemen, hold your hats and ladies, and meet - Die Käfer!" the applause became even stronger. *** A month later, after the incident in London. South of Germany, at the entrance to Wolfburg. Wolfburg is a city that fell due to the invasion of the dead, who appeared due to the ancient curse of King Otto ... It is still unknown how this hell on earth began, however, and how it all ended, too, no one knows. The staff Mercedes Strasse was moving along a serpentine, and from the window the pitiful ruins of Wolfburg were visible… But General Strasse did not come here to admire the view, and, even more so, the company of the local leader Ralph Brun, whom for some unknown reason everyone called "Herr Oberst", was not very pleasant to him. A self-satisfied officer with a very unpleasant character and a tendency to bad habits, appointed head of this remote Alpine region, sat next to the general, sipping champagne from a glass. Trying not to pay attention to the burden, Strasse tried to mentally solve the riddle of this artifact, which, after a detailed study of the parchments and new combinations of runes, showed a single green mark standing on the Wolfburg. Considering that he had previously encountered references to certain "gates", he had every right to believe that this golden trinket was leading him to them. Meanwhile, Oberst, having heard the announcer say that Die Käfer was about to perform, leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and anticipating good modern music that could brighten up his boredom accumulated during a long trip to the south of Germany, but Strasse's indignant order upset his plans. "Otto! For the sake of the bright future of the Reich, turn off the radio! I can't stand these "Bugs"!" "Yes, Herr Strasse..." the driver muttered, turning off the radio. Sighing softly and squeezing the glass tighter, Herr Oberst decided to ask how things were going at the facility. "Hephaestus Group, report on the progress. The artifact has already been delivered," he listened to the commander's report without any desire. "I understand you, prepare the object for the arrival of the general!" after receiving another answer, he took his hand away from the headset and turned to Strasse. "Herr Strasse, the catacombs have been cleared, and the artifact is still on the way!" "Good… So far, everything is going according to plan..." the general replied distantly, staring at the ruins of Wolfburg while the officer poured more champagne from the bottle. *** The staff Mercedes drove up to the sagging gate, which is the entrance to the territory of the Wolfburg cemetery. If the general was interested in the local view and the dead "shamblers", who for unknown reasons managed not to rot for more than fourteen years and lay next to the gate, then this was an excuse for Oberst to smoke… So he did - he took a cigarette out of his cigarette case, lit it from a captured American lighter given to him by his father, and, lazily adjusting his cap, put the cigarette case back into the inner pocket of his black raincoat. A walk through the cemetery did not cause any special emotions, and all Strasse's thoughts were occupied with the upcoming refutation or confirmation of his theory related to this unfortunate artifact. Soon they reached the entrance to the crypt, next to which, in addition to several cleaning squads consisting of heavy infantry "Fire Squad Fighters", there was also an army truck, and next to it - an unarmed super soldier, waiting in the wings. The first thing the commander of the operation ran up to them - a fighter in armor with red inserts. "Commander, do the catacombs pose any danger to the General?" Oberst asked with complete indifference, asking just for show. "Jawohl, Herr Oberst! Recently, the last creature was nailed..." "Fine!" said Strasse. "Lead us, Commander… We don't have much time left," he stated, following the Oberst further down the road. As soon as the trio approached the truck, the super soldier saw the general and began unloading the artifact C-979, recently delivered to the crypt, from the body. "Be careful! This artifact, although large, may be fragile!" Strasse worried and, approaching him, began to drive in a new combination of runes. A yellow energy sphere lit up inside the artifact, which began to beat against the invisible walls of the artifact, indicating the entrance to the crypt. Strasse now had enough evidence that his target was in the bowels of these catacombs. *** The way lay through the Wulfburg catacombs, so Strasse and Oberst were accompanied by heavy infantry, although the commander assured them that the catacombs were completely cleared. Several times Strasse witnessed how the soldiers of the cleaning group carried out the bodies of the walking dead, who were called "shamblers". But even despite the numerous questions of interest to the general related to these dead, he could not give up his important business to try to solve their riddles. After ten minutes of wandering through the ancient catacombs, in which, in addition to the bodies of the long-dead, buried here under King Otto, there were also mummified bodies of German soldiers, the group got out into a spacious part of the cave, where the catacombs ended with a sharp descent down. The general was distracted from contemplating the structures built for the descent by the familiar voice of an officer. ''Heil, Herr Strasse!'' Boer greeted the General. ''I see you've finally arrived…'' The general walked past a skeleton with a strange corset and a system of straps on his left leg. Special attention was drawn to his officer's uniform… ''General Strasse, please, let's not waste time on the dead here ...'' the Oberst noticed abstractly, who clearly did not care about this body. ''For your information, this is the body of Helga von Schabbs ... and I must note that it is extremely unpleasant for me to work with a person who does not know the name of this significant leader ...'' Strasse replied with disgust. It is unlikely that such "praise" from the general will have a good effect on the officer's personal file. And there wasn't much point in going down after him so now. Strasse calmed down and turned his attention to Boer, who stood silently waiting for his turn and put his hands behind his back. "Well, Herr Boer, is everything ready for the descent?" ''Yes, General! Everything is ready, I dare say that the design can withstand even a super soldier with his load..." Boer replied, looking at how several heavy infantrymen fixed carbines on their belts, while helping Strasse to put on a vest with carbines. *** When Strasse touched the ground, he easily took off his vest on his own and threw it on the ground. Fighters with headlamps were already waiting for him from below, the light them which ran along the walls of the cave, but at one moment all the rays concentrated on the gilded doors that were the entrance to the next ''Daat-Ihud'' storage. As soon as the super soldier with the artifact approached the door, the energy sphere broke out of the artifact and hit the door. The runes and lines on the door lit up with yellow light, and they began to slowly open, revealing to the general and the fighter a small room with a recess in which there was a pool with a diameter of no more than five meters, and a depth of no more than three. Among other things, a multi-faceted cell in the floor caught eye, which perfectly matched the shape of the artifact. If the general's entire entourage tried to remain silent, and the fighters only signaled to each other with gestures, then Strasse had an assumption. ''You!'' He held out his hand, pointing at the super soldier. ''Leave the artifact there!'' he pointed to the box. The super soldier, muttering something unintelligible, went to the cell and put the artifact in it. The cell scrolled and sank slightly down. The stripes and runes lit up yellow again, and the bottom of the pool began to sink, and soon light also appeared on the bottom, but dim and blue. ''This is too much ...'' the commander shared his opinion, hitting the speaker on his helmet, so that he did not junk. Strasse walked to the edge of the pool and looked at the light source hiding under the thick water. It seems that the bottom was no longer visible… Remembering the description of the "gate" and drawing analogies with what he saw, it became clear to the general that this was the very "gate" that transported the person who entered it to another world… But the question still remained relevant: is the local population ready for battle and how many worlds can be obtained from one such portal? To answer this question, a detachment of heavy infantry was sent to the gate, which slowly sank into the water and disappeared… It took less than a minute, as, to the surprise of the already dumbfounded officers, one of the heavy infantrymen got out of the water, and he got out completely dry. ''What? What did you see there?'' Strasse asked with interest, approaching the pool. ''I ... don't... well, I ...'' the fighter answered dumbfounded, unable at the moment for some reason to connect and two words. 'Were you resisted? Have you seen soldiers or locals?'' Strasse voice was already showing obvious impatience. ''No… But I can't understand ... there... in general '' the fighter was watching the general when he began to dive into the water without warning. ''What are you... No! Wait!'' he tried to grab him and pull him to dry land, but he had already disappeared under the water. ''Damn it… Should I follow now?'' He turned once more to the officers. They silently made it clear that the answer to his question was "yes", and the fighter followed the general. TO BE CONTINUED... Prologue. Part 3/6. IntegrationUnknown where It seemed that just a couple of moments ago Wilhelm Strasse plunged into the pond, but he had already climbed out of it again, and the bright daylight hit his eyes, already accustomed to the dim light of portable lamps in the catacomb, prompting him to close his eyes and turn away. Even now, he felt that there was something wrong with his body... It was as if he had become young again, and the senile wretchedness and pity disappeared in an instant. Without paying attention to this and finally with an effort opening his eyes, he saw a fascinating and simply stunning view of the castle built on the mountain... No, it was a whole city with a wonderful white and gold castle, whose towers proudly towered over the city. Such a sight could amaze and delight anyone... Of course, if this "anyone" is not General Wilhelm Strasse, who considered looking at this castle a waste of time. At the same moment, he finally noticed the oddities of his body, in particular, that it did not look like a human. His worst fears were confirmed at the moment when the familiar voice of the commander of the "fighters the Fire Squad" called out to him: ''Herr General?'' Turning sharply to the source of the voice, Strasse found four... A pony? Without exaggeration, they were ponies, and, judging by their behavior and meaningful views, they were reasonable. What else interested the general was that there were unicorns and pegasi among them! ''Talking horses...'' he remarked dryly, immediately turning on a cold calculation in his brain. ''That prisoner wasn't lying when she told about... ''Equestria''?'' frowning, he again gave attention to the fighters, noting that they were completely naked, without armor, equipment and weapons. ''Commander!'' The general shouted sharply, and a grayish-blue unicorn immediately came out of the crowd, proudly answering "I am!". ''Great, where is the equipment of your fighters? The one who returned back to our world was in full uniform!'' It was clear from his tone that he was demanding an explanation. Immediately! Alas, the commander had none, but even he had something to say to the general. ''Herr General! I have no idea, but you are also a horse, and you don't have your uniform on!..'' having explained, he did not fail to emphasize one detail. ''I'd say you're a unicorn!" Squinting in disbelief, Strasse still turned around and walked up to the pond, trying to see his reflection in it. If the least surprising thing was that the bottom of this cave lake was not visible, although the water was crystal clear, then when he saw a pony in the reflection, he was really surprised. And really! A gray unicorn with clear blue eyes and two barely visible scars looked at him from the water surface: on the left side of his forehead and under his left eye. It was also noteworthy that he did not have a mane as such, and his age was no different from the age of all the other ponies in this cave. ''That doesn't explain much.'' he voiced his thoughts aloud, turning back and trying to examine his tail, discovering at the same time that he was wearing only a dark brown robe. As it turned out, there was no tail either, although a pathetic bunch of gray hair remained from it. It seemed that this mantle was supposed to cover his deformities, he was even glad that the time allotted to him by nature in this world had turned back, rolling back several decades. At the same moment, it popped into his head: "Fine... It was only thanks to my pure Aryan roots and my painstaking work that I managed to live to such a venerable age, but this world has given me a new time! I have not even lost what pure-blooded Germans should be proud of: purity of thoughts, ideality and a bright mind!" Confidently heading for the exit of the cave, he gave the last orders to the commander, preparing to take an extremely risky and rash step. ''Tell Herr Boer that from now on he will be appointed commander of the field base in Wolfburg, and he will also be responsible for the arrangement of the base and preparation for a full-fledged invasion!'' here he again drew attention to the peculiarities of movement and the fact that only people themselves are transferred here, and things return when they return to the world of people. ''I need to solve the riddle of this lake, and only then can we bring our troops here... Yes, apparently, Equestria has gone no further than the Middle Ages, but a crowd of unarmed ponies will not solve our problems...'' looking up again and looking literally into the commander's soul, he added: ''Do you understand the order?'' ''Jawohl, mein general!'' he answered clearly, taking a step back and standing in a row with the rest of the fighters without uniforms. ''Follow sure that not a single living soul gets into this world during my absence! And yes, if I don't come back in three days, send someone else for me! I won't stay here for long, but if this world is as rosy and good as Luster presented it to me, there won't be any special problems.'' In fact, at that moment he continued his monologue with himself, heading to the exit while the fighters headed back to the lake. After getting out of the cave and getting into the fresh air, the first thing he did was to look around the impenetrable thicket of the forest and that mountain, as if it were his new landmark. Perhaps he had no other options, and he did not notice any other settlements in the area. Throwing on the hood of his robe, he began to descend from the hillock, while trying to think over the further plan of his actions. "As far as I can tell, it could be the castle of a local king, or the possession of a feudal lord... If the history of this place is no different from the history of our world, then it remains only to understand where I am and what century it is now! In addition, the prisoner Luster Dawn claimed about a kind of magic mirror that brought them to our world... Whatever I come up with, first of all I have to find out about this mirror!" *** Some time later. The wilderness of the forest. It seemed like wandering through an unfamiliar dense forest was a bad idea, and seeds of doubt began to sprout in the general's mind, although his thoughts were busy searching for a possible solution and everything related to this world and its inhabitants. In fact, there was little food for thought, because he did not even establish contact with the local population, did not see an ordinary town or village. In fact, this world was almost of no interest to the Reich, because Germany had no problems with resources, slave power and territories, and the only gap between the worlds - the magic lake - could not only greatly complicate the invasion of German troops, but also put the presence of the contingent in Equestria at risk, because once this gap is closed, there will be no supplies and communications. Of course, there was hope for the modernization and industrialization of Equestria, with the subsequent transfer of the Equestria garrison to self-sufficiency, at the expense of local infrastructure, but again - the lake... It is too small and will not allow you to transfer construction equipment here... A whole mountain of piled-up problems forced Strasse to think about the expediency of the invasion, and he seemed to have already wished to curtail his operation, return to Germany and seal up these gates to Equestria forever, but then he heard a pleasant and soft female voice... Although for this world it would be more correct to have a "mare's voice". ''Oh-h! Oh, come on! No, thank you for your patience!'' said this voice, just at the moment when the general stuck his hooded head out from behind the bushes. A yellow pegasus with a pink mane appeared before him, looking at the birds sitting on a branch with such a kind and caring look that the newly-made unicorn felt sick. But the main thing that the general noticed was the brand on her rump, representing three butterflies. At that moment, there was a feeling that she understood these birds and was talking to him. ''Of course, but next time try not to...'' the rustle of bushes and the general who came out prompted her to be silent, and the birds flew away in fright. Trying not to lose her mood, Pegasus, smiling kindly, tried to make contact. ''Hallo... Uh-um... Don't take it as an impertinence, but won't see in local area... Such ponies...'' she finally quieted down, just afraid of the mysterious unicorn. "If she were an ordinary peasant woman, she wouldn't look so healthy and happy... Either the Renaissance era is on the street, or there was no slavery here, and everyone lives in happiness and prosperity... Stupid theory! There are no utopias, but for now I will try not to stand out." The general thought to himself, looking up at her. ''Why such fear? I am an ordinary traveler lost in this forest. Please tell me who I have the honor to talk to, what is your title and what is the name of this wonderful city towering above us?'' he looked around this mysterious castle, looking with interest at a representative of the local intelligent fauna. Realizing that the mysterious traveler does not pose a threat, Pegasus cheered up a little, introducing herself more confidently. ''I'm a Fluttershy!'' almost immediately, she fell silent again, trying to find at least one logical answer to the rest of the questions. ''I-I-I, I don't even know if we have titules... And this is Canterlot!'' immediately a realization came to her. ''Oh, you're not a local?! How silly I am, you have come from far away! Yes, and-and-and... What is your name?'' looking with interest, probably a new "friend", she also asked. "Hmm, and this is a good excuse for my ignorance... If I can get more information out of her by pretending to be an ignorant fool, it will help me in the future." ''I think my name is not so important, and where I come from, they don't give names.'' Thus preserving his incognito, he continued his inquiries, simultaneously walking to a nearby path, which he found thanks to a wooden sign. ''Can you tell me, Fluttershy, the name of the local king and how long to go to Canterlot?'' At the same moment, all innate kindness seemed to flare up in this pegasus. She just couldn't help but help! ''There's a town nearby called Ponyville!'' This news surprised Strasse, but still he continued to listen to the filly, following her as she walked to the path. ''You can get to Canterlot in an hour by train! And I'm sure you'll like the friendly residents of Ponyville or the students of the Friendship School! Well, our leader is Princess Twilight Sparkle!'' here , involuntarily , a thought popped up in the general 's head: "Train? Friendship School? This world has entered the era of the industrial Revolution, but there are special educational institutions where they teach friendship? And how strange the name "Ponyville" sounds, I don't even want to know how these intelligent horses came up with such nonsense!..." By this time he stopped listening to Fluttershy's nonsense, silently following her to a mysterious settlement with a rather stupid name, in the opinion of the general. *** Twenty minutes later. On the way to Ponyville. Almost all this time, Strasse simply followed Pegasus, marveling at her simplicity, kindness and modesty. For a couple of seconds, he even had a theory that absolutely all Equestria is inhabited by a pack of such idiots that they will never take up arms in their lives and certainly will not be able to "object" to the presence of the Reich, but this was just a theory, and the problem with the features of the Equestria gate has not gone away. Finally leaving the forest, Strasse noticed a small village located on a fairly hilly area, and separated by a river. At the same moment, Fluttershy continued to talk modestly about Ponyville, as if she herself had lived in this city, almost all her life, but the general did not even listen to her, trying to assess the scientific and technical development of Equestria, considering this town: "Primitive frame houses with thatched roofs, cobblestone paths and something vaguely resembling a town hall... What a huge gap there is between ordinary peasants or civilians and the ruling class and the elite, given this castle from... crystals? And this academy..." Then his attention was attracted by a steam locomotive that drove up to the station platform, which only confirmed Fluttershy's words and even more confused Wilhelma Strasse, given all this confusion created in his head by primitive houses and luxurious castles, in a state that had reached the industrial era, judging by steam locomotives... These trains were not even so primitive as to be sure that they appeared relatively recently. Did this mean that such a stratification of the population was allowed on purpose, or did the development of the various regions of Equestria differ greatly from each other? ''I'm sure you'll figure it out without me, it's just that I didn't finish with those birds, and it was too inconvenient for me to refuse you... If you don't mind, I'll fly," she added, abruptly quieting down, waiting for an answer. Such determination of this pegasus greatly irritated the general, but he did not show it, because the idea popped up in his head that Equestria could be on the verge of industrialization, and the first steps had already been taken in this direction. ''No, I'm sure your affairs can't wait for you. Who am I to detain and distract you? Of course, go... Then I'll figure it out myself, thank you again!'' politely thanking and bowing, Strasse said, realizing that he gradually began to understand the local temperament and that he was about to be able to come up with a suitable model of behavior. Having only time to look back at Fluttershy, he noticed that she had already flown back into the forest, leaving him alone with his thoughts... Still, he was well aware that in this backwater he was unlikely to find information about the mysterious magic mirror, and it was unlikely that the owner of the castle would even let him into his possession. The only logical solution was to bypass the city and walk to Canterlot with your own feet, because the general had no money for a ticket, and no other options came to mind. ''Anyway, I have regained my youth... Although in the new body of a sentient unicorn pony...'' aloud he remarked, heading to the right in order to make a detour around Ponyville. *** A few hours later. Not far from Canterlot Already on the way to the capital city, which could rightfully be called a miracle of architecture due to its unique location and laudable decisions made by builders and architects, sincere surprise was caused by the fact that the sun, which stood at the zenith for a couple of seconds more, dropped sharply below the horizon, and at the same moment the moon reigned in the sky, plunging the whole Equestria into night twilight. At that moment, a real anarchy reigned in the general's head due to the influx of theories and attempts to find a logical explanation for this incident, but it all came down to one, the most hated phenomenon for General Wilhelm Strasse — magic. Although she alone could explain almost all the oddities that the general encountered while moving to the Equestria capital, and he was ready to take up the study of this magic, overcoming his hatred for her, if this work was useful and could benefit the Great German Reich... Approaching the main gate, he looked around without unnecessary emotions at the ponies crowded in the clearing in front of the bridge, who, apparently, were just having a good time, as if the city itself was not the purpose of their visit... It is not surprising, because as soon as the general approached the drawbridge, he was immediately honored with the attention of several passing ponies, who looked at him with surprise and some apprehension, as if they were trying to figure out who exactly was under this shabby mantle. Needless to say, this excessive attention greatly not pleased Strasse? The general atmosphere in the clearing and the ponies calmly passing by suggested that these gates and guards were standing here just for beauty. And indeed, they were just standing at the entrance for show, because they paid absolutely no attention to the strange and mysterious unicorn that calmly passed by them. Once on the territory of the capital city, the general immediately raised his head, looking back at the castle, towering not only over Canterlot, but also over the whole Equestria. No matter how symbolic it was, the attention of the Strasse was attracted by tourists who followed the guide, enthusiastically looking around and admiring the beauties of Canterlot... Photo cameras... That was the most amazing thing... They were quite modern, as if in some way superior to German-made cameras... "Their level of development is probably not inferior to ours... Is it possible that they have achieved such success, thanks to magic? It seems like I should stay here longer than three days..." Unfortunately, he was distracted from his thoughts by another guide, who was gathering a crowd of onlookers around him, and who now gave him attention as well. ''Welcome to Canterlot, the capital of Equestria! The most sophisticated and elegant city on the whole continent, if not in the whole world!'' smiling, a beige earth pony in the form of a guide told, looking back at the crowd of tourists at the same time. ''Mister, would you like to join our group? I am sure you will not remain indifferent. And yes, it's absolutely free!'' with a sharp smile even wider and staring straight at Strasse, he added. ''It is unlikely that there is such an urgent need for it...'' the general replied incredulously, backing away from the annoying pony guide. ''I'm sure the most you can help me with is to tell me about the shortest way to the castle gate...'' ''Yes, of course! Follow this alley and you will definitely reach the royal castle! Oh, so you're on an official visit to Princess Twilight?'' he joked, but when he came to his senses, the trace of the mysterious unicorn in the mantle was already got a cold. Looking around, he noticed he that's was already walking along that alley to his goal. ''Glad to help!... Maybe...'' with fading enthusiasm, he said uncertainly, waving a hoof after him. All this time general Strasse was making his way through the streets of Canterlot, trying not to cross the eyes of the locals and not even try to talk to them, but still a strange feeling gnawed at him from the inside... felt like there was something wrong in this world. A kind of "Friendship School", Equestria princess, theoretical magic, strong social stratification — and all this against the background of the simplicity and friendliness of the locals... Did this mean that Equestria would not be able to offer any resistance at all, and its subsequent occupation and assimilation would not be a problem? But it was still a long way off, because the old problems had not gone away, and there was still no information about the mirror. By this time, he had reached, as it was clearly clear, the entrance to the Canterlot castle, and this time the guards were more determined, although at that moment the guard was being changed. Before he knew it, the doors opened and two unicorns came out of the castle, with four mannequins with expensive pony dresses hovering next to the first one, wrapped in a strange magical bluish aura, exactly the same was around her horn, which told the general that it was she who was carrying them. "Very interesting... If ordinary magic allows you to do this, then what impact will it have on our soldiers or workers? It is enough to imagine how in battles with primitive untermensch, our brave SS soldiers will be able to drag their wounded comrades with the help of this magic, or our glorious workers will be able to increase the productivity of their labor to unknown heights with the help of the same magic!... It remains only to come up with a way how it can her "taken out" beyond Equestria and adapted for humans. If I understand correctly, these unicorns can become my ticket to the castle, the main thing is to find the right approach to them..." After this decision made by the general, he began to follow them and try to find out at least something from them. Or sneak into the castle and, pretending to be an "important pony from distant lands", ask the princess personally about everything. *** ''So you just want me to help you in your boutique?'' Luster asked dejectedly, clearly not wanting to leave the castle at night, especially to help Rarity with her next "idea", but, alas, she was the first one who turned up under her hoof. ''Listen, can't those workers who are busy with the mural carry these mannequins for you?'' Stopping, Rarity answered, resorting to her typical mannered speech: "Honey, these workers might get their hooves on my dresses, or...'' her eyes widened with the realization of the full scale of the problem, ''to tear... Just imagine what would happen if they tore up my creations! Oh, the stars! They are now in my boutique without supervision!'' coming to her senses abruptly, she put the mannequins on the road, rushing to her boutique as fast as she could. ''Thanks for reminding me, Luster!'' ''Oh-h-h... Well, of course, she's offended for that dress from the Two Sisters Festival …'' Luster mumbled with slight resentment, lifting the mannequins with the help of the same magic. Suddenly a strange stranger appeared behind her and, smiling mysteriously, spoke to her. ''May I ask you for help?'' but General Strasse clearly did not take into account that, firstly, Luster Dawn is a timid person, and secondly, it is not worth sneaking up on a pony from behind, especially at night. ''OH, WHAT?!'' The unicorn screamed, turning sharply back with a mannequin in a magical aura, which immediately flew into the head of a mysterious pony in a robe. From the impact, the mannequin itself fell apart into a couple of pieces, and now on the account of the Luster, the second expensive dress was recorded, which now fell on the dusty city paving stones. After a cursory glance around, she noticed the victim lying motionless next to the pillar... But he was breathing! ''Oh, no! No, no, no, NO! What to do?! What should I do?!'' losing her composure, pony mumbled, running up to the unicorn. She began to walk around him, trying to figure out what to do now. With mute horror in her eyes, Luster looked around, lifting the body with the help of magic. A couple more moments — and she rushed to the entrance to the castle garden, leaving the scene of the crime together with the general injured by her fault. *** Two and a half hours later. The free chambers of the Canterlot Castle With difficulty opening his eyes, the general found himself lying in a luxurious double bed, under a snow-white blanket. After a cursory glance around, he also realized that he found himself in a real mansion, or in the chambers of the castle, which he was trying to get into... A rather specific method, but it worked, although the main goals were not fulfilled. Jumping up abruptly, he instantly regretted it, feeling incredible dizziness and pain. In addition, it turned out that there was also a palace unicorn-doctor in this room, who had been taking notes all this time, and as soon as the patient began to show signs of life again, he jumped nervously on the spot and screamed. ''What are you doing? Stop it!'' in an instant, a white magical aura appeared around the general, preventing him from moving even a little, and he did not even have time to recover, as he was again in a prone position. ''Let's start from the beginning without unnecessary movements! I'm immensely glad that you've come to your senses, but still... Do you understand me at all?'' he asked, abruptly switching to a slower and more intelligible tone, as if trying to chew everything up for a small child. ''Good evening! I am Dr. Ancil, your attending physician...'' "Yes, I understand you perfectly...'' the general answered quite politely, although his thoughts were somewhat different now: "What does this upstart allow himself?! I will not hand over my life even to Berlin charlatans, preferring to trust only myself!... Hmm, if Equestria has problem medicine, I can easily play this circus..." ''Tell me, where am I?... And my head is just bursting at the seams!...'' "Don't worry,"exhaling, the doctor replied, continuing the examination. ''You're at Canterlot Castle. Luster Dawn accidentally injured you with a dummy. Can you tell me your name and where you come from?.. Don't get me wrong, it's just necessary to fill out your card" he explained, continuing to write something into the tablet. At the same moment, Strasse realized that medicine in Equestria was really lame, since for such a serious blow, which, however, did not cause serious damage to the general, minimal diagnostics were carried out, which meant that it was enough to play a real show in order to draw a couple of non-existent diagnoses... ''Let me think about it... My head is so empty, I just remember that I turned to some unicorn, and found myself here... I don't even remember my name! Doctor, is this normal?! I-I-I..." he began with feigned excitement, trying to play amnesia. ''Sad, sad...'' the doctor said, lifting a glass of water from the table with the help of magic. Another moment — and the glass flew up to the general. ''Here, drink some water, I'm sure you should come to your senses first.'' As soon as he finished, the aura dissipated, and the glass fell to the floor, breaking on it. Puzzled, looking first at the glass, and then at his patient, Ancil, adjusting his glasses, still added: ''Is it really that bad with your reflexes? Try to take this frame!'' he pointed with his hoof towards the photo frame standing on the bedside table next to him. Having finally ceased to understand what this "doctor" wanted from him, the general nevertheless resigned himself to the fact that he would have to play the fool, becoming like the locals. Getting closer to the edge, he tried to reach frame with his hooves, but Ancil stopped him again, enveloping his entire body with a white magical aura. ''No, no! With the help of telekinesis!'' "Tele-what?... How did I not immediately guess that it was telekinesis!... Hmm, it seems that only unicorns can use telekinesis and other magic." Noticing this important moment for himself, Strasse shrugged his shoulders questioningly. ''But how? I understand nothing...'' this answer surprised the doctor even more, which made him dumbfounded, as if he did not believe his theory about him. At the same moment, a Luster burst into the room, holding a plate of soup in an aura of telekinesis. She was extremely agitated and tired, and her mane was disheveled — it was safe to say that there was no living place on her. ''Dr. Ancil, what's wrong with him?'' The unicorn asked nervously, looking from the doctor to the general. Of course, now she finally saw him without a hood, and the lack of mane scared her seriously, because she had every right to assume that it was her fault. ''Perhaps it's even worse than I could have imagined. He has amnesia...'' There was a deathly silence, and if this diagnosis was a good sign for the general, then Luster, nervously smiling and giggling, left this world for a couple of moments, peering into the void with eyes full of despair. ''And-and-and... what should we do?'' somehow she squeezed out of herself, completely losing faith in the bright. ''Nothing... At least right now we can't help him much. It will take a long time before he remembers anything. But if we really want to help him, we should try to find his relatives or friends... Oh, yes, you can put the soup on the nightstand, I'm sure he'll figure it out on his own.'' The last time he turned to the patient, he also said, simultaneously watching Luster take the plate to the bedside table: ''Miss Luster and I need to discuss something, we won't be long. I am sure you will have time to refresh yourself and take a break!'' At the same moment, he literally began to drill the door with his eyes, giving a clear hint to Luster that she had nothing to do, or rather, they had nothing to do here at the moment. When the door slammed shut and Strasse was left alone, the first thing he did was think about his next step: "Who would have thought that amnesia would be my cover? Now it remains only to stick to your legend... I am glad that Luster Dawn did not recognize me, and her accomplice Starlight Glimmer is nowhere to be seen. Hmm, if the Luster is here, it means that I am close enough to my goal, and the mirror is located in this castle! It is impossible to delay and relax, if they take my illness seriously, I will lie here for more than a month, and there is little time left." Also paying attention to the plate of soup, he came to his senses and at the expense of the fact that the last time he ate something yesterday evening... If the general's human body got used to scanty portions of plant food, as his diet suggested, then the new body had completely different views on this. Having carefully examined the bedside table, he did not notice the most important thing on it - a spoon. Alas, the feeling of hunger overshadowed the sense of aesthetics, and the general was forced to drink soup, although he could not expect any other barbarism from this place. After emptying the plate, he put it back on the nightstand, and then abruptly jumped on his hooves, not noticing that his body stopped obeying him for a couple of moments, which almost caused him to fall to the floor. Fortunately, he managed to rest against the wall and, starting up, wandered to the exit, continuing to lean on the wall. Having somehow managed to press the handle and open the door, he also went out into the corridor, changing the fulcrum to the door jamb. Willy-nilly, he also managed to eavesdrop on the conversation between Dr. Ancil and Luster, who were slowly moving along the corridor. ''What should I do? What am I going to tell Princess Twilight?!'' Luster mumbled dejectedly, drooping. ''Luster, calm down, please! You're on the verge of a nervous breakdown! And don't worry about Twilight... You are her best student, and it's not your fault! Anyone would have reacted the same way, but not everyone would have tried to help.'' Ancil said, bypassing Luster, who was frozen in place and immediately jumped into forward in an attempt to stop him. ''No, no! Please don't do this!'' She continued plaintively, trying to delay the inevitable. ''I'm even afraid to imagine what she will do to me when she finds out about this!'' ''Princess Twilight is the kindest and most caring pony in all Equestria, and I repeat that this is not your fault! Come on: inhale-exhale... Pause... Inhale and exhale...'' the doctor tried to reason and calm her down. ''Just relax and take a break, you're on the verge of a breakdown!'' Ancil added and, patting her shoulder sympathetically, headed for the exit. Sitting helplessly on the carpet, Luster followed him with a doomed look, realizing that it was not worth waiting for good. Suddenly she heard someone's footsteps behind her and, turning sharply, gasped at what she saw. Now she was able to see the victim of her fear and that mannequin in full height and without a mantia... The absence of a cutie mark was also noteworthy, which raised even more questions about its origin. "Is that me?" Is it my fault?'' pressing a hoof to her mouth and sighing with horror, she said. "Oh, I'm so sorry... Forgive me for that!'' she fell to the floor, burying her muzzle in her hooves. "How disgusting it is! So low and pitiful! But, since I volunteered for this, it means Im need to behave like a local pack of degenerates..." Trying to give his face a meaningful and mysterious expression, he calmly said: ''It's unlikely that this is really your fault, and you didn't do it on purpose either... Don't worry, I don't hold a grudge, and I have no reason to be angry. Better tell me, did I tell you something about myself or the place I came from?'' A little perked up, Luster rose to her hooves, grinning a little nervously. ''Thank you!'' she thanked me uncertainly, not really understanding why. After a moment, she continued, "No, you didn't have time to say anything at all... Well, yes, your appearance suggests the opposite. Speaking of him..." she took a mirror off the wall, holding it up to Strasse. Admiring himself in the reflection of the mirror, the general noted to himself that he was quite satisfied with the new appearance... He was extremely unique and gray for this world of colored and colorful ponies. "Hmm, Dr. Ancil didn't mention that you mutilated me... In fact, I even like it that way.'' In response to this, Luster only gave him a puzzled look, not even daring to say something in response, although she considered such a strange opinion very specific. ''LUSTER DAWN!'' Rarity shouted indignantly from somewhere in the corridor. ''Why are my mannequins just left on the street? Why didn't you even bother to warn me?'' heading in her direction, she did not notice the general... didn't notice it until Luster lowered the mirrors. ''And here's how... Ba-a-a-a! Who is this?!'' Standing up abruptly, as if rooted to the spot, horrified, she added. ''Why doesn't he have a cutie mark and what's wrong with him?... And who is it anyway?'' ''I-I-I... I accidentally badly injured him with your dummy... He has amnesia, and it seems that he even forgot his purpose in life...'' Luster said sadly again. ''My mannequin?!'' she reacted instantly, immediately quieting down from the realization that now there are more serious problems than her mannequins with dresses. ''Oh-oh... Well, why doesn't he have a badge of distinction? This is the first time I've heard of ponies losing them simply because of amnesia...'' at that moment, the general's faith in his plan cracked, but Rarity herself put forward a suggestion that completely corrected the situation. ''Maybe he's not from Equestria? Twilight talked a lot about white spots on the map, and about the fact that there are still many unknown peoples outside Equestria...'' ''Oh, you mean your drawings?'' Strasse made himself felt sharply, meaning the distinctive mark. ''No!'' Luster retorted sharply. ''These are not just "drawings"! These are the marks that show your true purpose! Every pony that has found its purpose has them!'' now Rarity and Luster have two theories, starting with the fact that it was a unicorn from a unique pony tribe that simply did not have a cutie mark, and ending with the fact that the cutie mark disappeared by itself due to the fact that he forgot everything at all... "Is that a brand?" the general asked more intrigued, making the first assumptions about this interesting phenomenon. ''What?! No, of course not!'' Luster immediately replied, trying to get her point across correctly. ''That's-oh... It's quite difficult to explain, but only thanks to the distinctive marks of the ponies and know what they are good at and in which direction they should strive!...'' at the same moment, she doubted her words, thinking over everything she had said. Her thoughts were interrupted by the tall and easily recognizable figure of Princess Twilight. A couple more seconds passed, and now she could clearly see the sleepy princess walking along with Dr. Ancil, discussing something. ''Oh-oh... Here she is...'' Luster whispered, cowering, trying to hide behind Rarity. Of course, Strasse and Rarity also paid attention to the majestic and sleepy princess, who came up with a face full of indifference, as if Luster openly bothered her with every new influx of excitement, especially when she was woken up in the middle of the night because of this. ''Is this this Princess Twilight?" Strasse said emotionlessly, actually quite interested in such a large size and the presence of her horns and wings. Trying not to make the first bad impression on the princess, he asked Luster, who at the moment was even afraid to look at her. ''Is it normal that she is bigger than us and combines a pegasus and a unicorn?'' ''She is an alicorn ...'' whispered Luster Dawn softly, however, without really giving a clear answer to the general's question. Immediately, he noticed a strange worn piece of cloth that Ancil was carrying with him. Less than a moment later, he stepped forward, lifting her telekinesis and bringing it to the general, added: ''I'm sorry... Ahem, we don't know your name yet, so it's not the point. So, I forgot to give you your mantle, in which Luster brought you here.'' Returning the mantle to the owner, he went further down the corridor, while not forgetting to say. ''If there are complaints, please contact!'' Glancing once more at the sleepy alicorn-princess, the general threw on his mantle, also assuming that the ruler of Equestria did not care about what was happening at all. ''A nightmare, it's a crime against fashion!'' Rarity was immediately indignant when she saw this piece of cloth called a mantle in all its glory. Unsurprisingly, she was rewarded with an indignant look from the princess, who perked up a little at the same time. Realizing that in such a state she clearly would not be able to make the right decision and certainly resolve the situation, Twilight said sleepily. ''Dr. Ancil has already told you about what happened and about your worries, Luster. I ask you, don't be overburdened about this, we've been through this many times ...'' closing her eyes and looking at the victim, she staggered, also continuing. ''I'm sure tomorrow we will be able to sort out what happened better and be sure to figure out how to help you and what to do with you, but in the meantime you can stay in the castle chambers... I'm sure you'd better follow the doctor's recommendations and rest. Luster, Rarity, come with me...'' After another sleepy glance at the others, she turned around and headed back to her chambers, even more surprising Strasse with her compliance and the fact that she allowed a stranger from the street to stay in the castle. "It's amazing - even this Princess Twilight Sparkle is as soft-bodied as everyone else in this world... But it is necessary not lose vigilance and forget about the mirror. I'm sure it's worth listening to her and going to bed, rather than wandering around the castle at night, trying to figure everything out on your own." Having finished with his thoughts, he retreated back to his temporary shelter, continuing to build theories about this world. *** The next morning. Canterlot Castle dining room. This night was the strangest for the general, considering that he slept in the castle of the magical land of Equestria in the body of a unicorn pony, trying to find a way to open the way for German troops. Another obstacle to his search was the persistent Luster, still trying to atone for her guilt, not even listening to the fact that she does not have this very guilt. It was she who woke Strasse up early in the morning, it was she who invited him to the table, it is she who follows him around, as if she became his servant of her own free will. It was not necessary to say that she simply interfered with him, not allowing him to concentrate on his thoughts, not to mention the fact that such attention could prevent him from finding out at least something useful about Equestria or the mirror. Entering the dining room, general Strasse immediately noticed the Princess Twilight Sparkle, familiar to him since yesterday evening, tiredly having breakfast with a piece of apple pie. It seems that waking up in the morning was hard for the royal person. The dragon, who was carelessly reading a comic book, also attracted special attention. If the general considered it a mental aberration that an adult dragon at court reads such low-grade literature, then in fact there was nothing terrible about it. "Is that a dragon?" Still trying to confirm his guesses, Strasse asked, letting Luster go ahead. Without thinking twice, he also decided to sit down at the table, realizing that he was here at the invitation of the princess. ''Does anyone else wonder about dragons?'' the dragon himself asked wearily, looking up from the comic and looking at the ignoramus. Instantly noticing the stranger and remembering Twilight's story, he came to his senses, also introducing himself. ''Oh, I'm sorry... I am the right hoof and faithful assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle, a dragon named Spike, I greet you..." immediately quieting down, he turned to Twilight, whispering. ''Hey, what's his name?'' ''I already told you that he doesn't even remember his name...'' sipping from a cup of tea, she also said hello. ''Good morning, Luster and greetings to you, our new friend.'' ''Good morning, Princess Twilight!'' surprisingly, very calmly, even a little joyfully, Luster replied, also paying attention to the footman rolling a cart with silver trays to the table. When Strasse tried to take the tray with his hooves, he did not even have time to react to the fact that his unspoken assistant Luster had already lifted him with telekinesis, placing him in front of the general. A wave of indignation and rage filled him, for he perceived it as if he was being mistaken for an infirm and fragile. Among other things, he also recalled one case when his old assistant persuades him that robot assistants and robot servants would not replace human help. Of course, in response to this statement, Strasse invited him to personally check who is better: a robot or a human? Alas, for the upstart, it turned into a ten-second battle with an unarmed robot guards who simply crushed his skull with his foot. ''Thank you, Luster, but let me repeat — I don't need help and excessive attention. I'm sure you have your own business and responsibilities, too.'' Spike and Twilight were somewhat confused by this answer. After exchanging glances, they came to the conclusion that these were the characteristics of the stranger's character, nothing more. At the same moment, a bright purple aura appeared around the white teapot, and then Twilight poured tea into the general's mug, putting the teapot in the middle of the table. Such a gesture from the royal person greatly embarrassed General Strasse that a somewhat strange analogy even popped up in his head: "Such an appeal from a princess? I was just dragged from the street, and now the Equestria ruler personally pours me tea!... It's like the Fuhrer of the Great German Reich, Adolf Hitler, pouring tea or coffee to an ordinary citizen of Berlin!" ''Thank you, Your Highness!'' trying not to betray his rejection, he replied, to which Twilight nodded amiably. A few moments later, he decided to inquire about the contents of his silver tray. Removing the lid from the plate, he saw a beautiful vegetable salad — everything, as befits his diet. It is not surprising that they do not eat meat in these places, given the local pacifism and friendliness. ''I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but why do you show such leniency to an ordinary unicorn?'' ''This is the basis of the magic of friendship. Oh, I completely forgot about the visit of my best friends in a couple of hours!'' finally coming to her senses, she said with a smile: ''I'm sure we'll figure something out with them!'' ''Wonderful!...'' trying to squeeze out a feigned joy, the general replied, still harboring the same aversion to these "friends". ''Now we will definitely be able to return my "cutie mark" to me, right?'' Feeling a little sad, Spike put down his reading, noting very correctly. ''Who would have thought that he not remember about your friends either... It's amazing that he remembers how to breathe and walk... Hey, Twi, you remember about Star Swirl's arrival, right? I'm just sure that this case will interest him no less than the sprouts of the golden flower...'' ''Exactly! Star Swirl!'' the princess finally cheered up, as if she had just found a solution to this pressing problem. Even Strasse wondered how this Star Swirl could help, and why the princess reacted so strongly to the news of his appearance. ''So I have some free time?'' casually asked the general, trying to get closer to the first clues of his goal. ''Can I inspect the lock while idle simple? Maybe I can remember something at least...'' ''Of course... Luster could very well give a tour, and you can't tell from her that she's against it.'' Twilight answered, thinking about something, and pushing away a plate with a half-eaten piece of cake and a saucer with a cup, she got up from the table and headed for the exit. ''Come on, Spike, I think I have an idea.'' ''Oh, she's started up again ...'' Spike said wearily, getting up from the table and following her. ''Yes, there are no plans for today and I can!'' Luster immediately replied, looking after the departing princess. At the same moment, she smiled, glancing at the general, tired of her companies, who tried to simply ignore her. "If only I could find a way to detach this clingy from myself without resorting to violence, which could reveal me, I would be immensely happy..." After finishing his meal and finishing his tea, he also hurried out, hearing Luster following him behind him. *** Two hours later. The throne room. Even despite the heated discussion and the long-awaited meeting of friends, an ordinary atmosphere reigned in the throne room, full of grandeur and tranquility. The voices and laughter that gradually turned into the usual unintelligible echo, combined with the general atmosphere and atmosphere, simply inspired and made an indelible impression. Not surprisingly, apart from the everyday discussion, all the topics were reduced to a mysterious unicorn with amnesia and deformities, representing the missing mane and tail, as well as a scar on his face. "Twilight, darling, don't you think it's too much to leave him in the castle?" Rarity asked a little mannerly, glancing at the thoughtful princess sitting on the throne. ''I can't figure out where he's from... We have never heard or seen bald ponies, especially those wearing such old shabby mantle.'' Thought fully burying her muzzle in the hoof and mumbling, Twilight added uncer tainly. ''It seems to me that he may be a noble scientist or a magician...'' Her message was mirror-clear, even though she didn't plan to forcibly keep him in Equestria. ''The most amazing thing is that he forgot even about the legends of Equestria!'' Rainbow Dash chuckled loudly. ''He forgot everything, don't forget!'' Applejack immediately intervened, but this discussion ended as quickly as it began, as soon as two guardsmen opened the doors behind which Strasse and Luster Dawn were standing. Following the annoying unicorn, unsuccessfully trying to drown out a sense of guilt, Strasse enthusiastically examined the stained-glass windows, the paintings on which he took for an artistic representation of ancient legends, or for interpretations of historical events of Equestria. ''Holy apples, who is this?...'' Unable to restrain herself, Applejack gave out when she saw a stranger following the princess' student. Noticing that the other five looked at her disapprovingly, she added. ''What? It's the first time I've seen a pony without a mane, and to be honest, it's creepy...'' By this time, Luster and Strasse were already at the steps leading to the throne, inspecting the six legendary heroines of Equestria. "Don't worry, I'm already used to it anymore," Strasse also pretend to answer, hating this group in his heart. ''Princess Twilight, are these your wonderful friends?'' rising after Luster, he asked. When Twilight smiled steadily, already preparing to introduce him to the others, Luster flew forward, introducing this unicorn. ''Meet! He... Well, he even forgot his name, so I...'' her enthusiasm quickly faded from this hitch, she only managed to finish: ''I-I-I... I accidentally hit him on the head with a dummy, and he forgot who he was... Well, he forgot everything, but-oh...'' she smiled awkwardly and, realizing that she had started all this in vain, just smiled nervously and became quiet. ''She follows me around all day trying to atone for her guilt, even though I told her that I didn't need help, and I don't see her fault in yesterday.'' Strasse abruptly interrupted the growing tense silence, stepping forward on his own and continuing to look at the princess's friends. ''I'm Pinkie Pie! - the pink earth pony called herself. In all Equestria, you will not find a happier and more cheerful pony than me!'' with a huge smile, jumping up a couple of times on the spot. ''I know, I know! I have to sing about it!'' she was already getting ready to start chanting, when a bluish magical aura of Rarity appeared around her muzzle. "Please, Pinkie, not now...'' slightly wincing, she said, trying not to spoil the first impression of herself. ''My name is Rarity! I am the personification of generosity, and I can safely call myself the queen and trendsetter in Equestria!'' Another Earth pony made itself known. ''I am an Applejack - an element of honesty. You won't find a more honest and hardworking pony in all Equestria! My whole family has been growing the best apples for decades! Well, yes, maybe your bald head is a badge of honor?'' she suggested, trying to cheer him up, but he didn't even move an eye. ''Ha!'' Rainbow soared sharply into the air, also starting with pride. ''Coach and Wonderbolt leader Rainbow Dash is here! You've heard about them, right?'' at the same moment, Rarity hit herself in the face with a hoof, while it dawned on Pegasus that he didn't remember anything at all. ''Oh, yes... Well, then I'll fill you in. This is the best squad of flyers in all Equestria, which takes only the best and most skilled Pegasus!'' she said it with such pride, as if she herself dreamed of joining this squad, even without considering the fact that she had already led it. "The best in all Equestria, the kindest, the most caring, the most generous and honest... But none of them will admit that they are the most selfish and mean in all Equestria. What do they mean by this "Equestria" at all?!" the general noted to himself, while trying to figure out what to answer him. ''It's interesting, and I'll say again that I'm also very pleased'' in fact, his observant and indifferent look said the opposite, but the six heroines could not even guess what was really going on in his head. ''Let's say, who is this?'' he also drew attention to Fluttershy, who tried to stay away, even though this pony was familiar to her. "This Fluttershy... If she only pushes things in the right direction, it may ease my situation, but who knows what can be expected from her?" ''I'm Fluttershy...'' modestly smiling, she introduced herself, not trying to develop this conversation further. Even the general thought it was strange, realizing that just yesterday she was more willing to make contact. "Well, Fluttershy! Don't you want to introduce yourself and talk about yourself like everyone else?'' he tried to show interest, noticing out of the corner of his eye how Twilight was looking at her friend's behavior with surprise. ''I remember you... Yesterday I accompanied you to Ponyville, meeting you in the vastness of the ever-wild forest...'' she said uncertainly, as if feeling sorry for the one with whom she had a friendly dialogue yesterday. ''You... You what?!'' Princess Twilight immediately came to her senses. ''Why didn't you say so right away, Fluttershy?" ''I thought it wasn't him... But it's him! The same predatory look, but exceptional politeness and kindness!'' to be honest, after such a "compliment" the general almost turned inside out, however, he himself was amazed at how well he got used to the role of a local fool. ''So...'' having moved away, Strasse began anyway. ''I told you something, didn't I? Maybe a name? Where do I live or where am I going?!'' continuing to skillfully feign interest, he asked. ''You said that where you come from, they don't give names, and that you are heading to Canterlot, but you didn't know anything at all! You were even surprised when I mentioned the name of Princess Twilight!'' having given out exactly what Strasse wanted, she finally quieted down, looking uncertainly at Twilight sitting on the throne. ''We need Star Swirl... Without him, the case will come to a standstill!'' the princess concluded, which is the case went strictly according to the Strasse scenario. Mumbling thoughtfully, Rainbow Dash noticed a very interesting moment. ''Don't you think that he has a look like an eagle? ... and even without a mane, he looks like a hawk!'' perhaps only Pinkie Pie, jumping over Rarity and Applejack, supported this observation! ''Oh! Oh! I know! Let's come up with a name for him!'' she began uncontrollably, suddenly being next to the general, causing him to jerk in surprise, because a second ago she was five meters away from him. ''Hawk! No, no, no, no!'' she also quickly disappeared, but as soon as the general stepped back and looked around, he noticed her indefatigably joyful face in close proximity to him, and her head was hanging from somewhere above. ''How are you? ...'' he only managed to ask, looking up and noticing that she was hanging in the air. At the same moment, she fell to the floor, also abruptly jumping up on her hooves and asking: ''What I?... So that's it! You ascended, do you understand?!'' she tried to convey her thought to him by running her hoof through the air upwards. ''Rise! Hawk, Rise! Do you understand? Hawk Rise!'' During these couple of seconds, she has already managed to bore him, because he seriously thought about performing a vivisection of the brain in order to make sure that this deviant behavior is caused by biological abnormalities or deformities... Alas, that unique device fell into disrepair, and the general's hands never reached the point to bring it into proper shape. "Hey, Pinkie, not a bad name! I think it will suit him just right!'' Rainbow Dash replied thoughtfully, thinking that the matter was over. In response to this, Twilight and Applejack nodded approvingly, and the whole six plunged into discussing this new name, while Strasse, or rather, Hawk Rise, as he was now called, had time to think: '' "Hawk Rise.".. They just couldn't come up with a worse name, or is today the case of mass idiocy? If they choose names for everyone, then nothing here will surprise me! But still I am glad that they accepted me into their society..." Realizing that they had forgotten about him for a while, the general came forward, also sharing his opinion regarding the name. '' "Hawk Rise?" Not bad... At least that name doesn't affect my deformities!'' he chuckled, starting to hate them more and more. His salvation from further conversation with the unwanted company, taking into account the Luster Dawn, was Dr. Ancil, who also suddenly entered the hall and walked briskly towards the throne. ''There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! I completely forgot to tell you about the planned procedures!'' without looking up from the notes on his tablet, he said, already approaching the steps. The general immediately turned around and headed towards the doctor, continued play the fool. ''Doctor, of course! Luster, please rest for a couple of hours... I'm sure you deserve it.'' He also finally added Luster, who was already preparing to follow, because of which she stood up in confusion, as if rooted to the spot. ''And yes, Dr. Ancil, now you can safely call me Hawk Rise! Wonderful friends of Princess Twilight Sparkle gave me such a name!'' ''Wonderful!'' the doctor replied with indifference and immediately continued: ''Well, Hawk Rise, please follow me... Don't worry, it won't be long!'' turning around and heading for the exit, he added, once again writing something down on the tablet. Hawk, following him, tried not to look back at the annoying Luster, from which he was finally able to get rid of at least for a couple of dozen minutes... to be continued... Prologue. Part 4/6 IntegrationSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Prologue. Part 1/6. Another WorldAuthor's Note Я ебал этот ваш фимфикшен, он глючит на 15 тысяч слов блять. Поэтому я поделил первую часть пролога на две части. Благодарю за понимание translation: Due to problems with the publication of this part of the prologue, we decided to divide it into two separate parts. I repeat, the author's staff is looking for an assistant who can bring the text into a readable state. Prologue. Part 1/6. Another World So the two sisters maintained balance in their kingdom and among their subjects: ponies of all breeds and colors. But as the years passed, the younger sister harbored a grudge. During the day, the ponies frolicked and played under the rays of the bright sun, did not hide and slept during her beautiful night. And the fateful day came when the younger sister refused to lower the moon from the sky, preventing the dawn from coming. The older sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the heart of the younger one turned her into a fierce mistress of darkness - Nightmare Moon. She swore that she would envelop the world in eternal darkness. The elder sister had to resort to the most powerful of the known forces of magic — the Elements of Harmony. With the help of the power of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her to the moon forever. The elder sister began to manage… General Strasse reading aloud was interrupted by the nearby Sturmbannfuhrer Heinrich Koenig, who clearly did not share the General's fascination with Equestrian mythology. June 1966. Reichskommissariat Equus, the new fortress "Skulls". Elevator. ''Herr Totenkopf, personally, it seems to me that a person… Ahem, a general with your fame should not get carried away with such myths and legends...'' Koenig said with slight fear and contempt, staring at the elevator doors. ''Don't worry, Herr Koenig, I'm trying to find ways how we can resist them. In addition, do not forget that all these "myths and legends" of Equestria are real phenomena, and disregard for them is simply unacceptable," Strasse replied cryptically, closing the book and putting it in his saddlebag. ''I'm sorry, Herr Strasse. I probably should have realized that it's none of my business, but don't you think that as long as an ordinary pony can be killed in the ways we know, we have nothing to fear? Yes, your knowledge of Equestrian magic allowed you to exterminate the spirits of Windigo, but still I trust the usual methods...'' the officer replied dryly, without taking his eyes off the doors. ''We have no need to exterminate the enslaved population, as long as we get magic, knowledge and resources from Equestria. But I am stressed by the threat of the rebels, who are rapidly gaining momentum, which is why we need ways by which we can exterminate them without destroying everything and everyone,'' the general replied, looking at how the elevator doors began to open. Another second — and he left it, heading straight down the corridor, moving closer to the topic. ''So that… What is her condition? You know very well who we are talking about, Herr Koenig.'' ''She's in the torture room, in good health...'' The officer said, following him. ''Who could doubt it? But I need to know more… Did you do everything according to the instructions?'' ''Yes, a week before the daring rebel attack, we transferred her to your fortress, and we pulled her out of chrysal'ds three days ago, on your first order. She was undergoing therapy with an increased dosage of medications, in accordance with her, um, large size... Doctors believe that her mental and physical abilities have been successfully restored. Now she's ready for questioning,'' Koenig explained in more detail, stopping at the door they needed. ''How would you assess her condition as a whole, Herr Koenig?'' Strasse asked with interest, looking at the door needed. ''She looks like an excited child who can't connect even a couple of words, and is afraid of every rustle.'' he answered immediately and with concentration. ''Hmm-m-m… Let me conduct the interrogation without your intervention...'' Strasse said, opening the door with telekinesis. ''Jawohl, herr Strasse!'' Entering the interrogation room and closing the door behind him, General Wilhelm Strasse first looked at the two guardsmen at the entrance and at the torture chair to which she chained... *** Six years before that. Equestria is familiar to us "A long time ago, the magical land of Equestria was ruled by two sisters. Together they created harmony throughout the kingdom. The elder sister used her magic horn to make the Sun rise every morning, and the younger sister made sure that the Moon shone at night. This was the only way the sisters could maintain harmony in their country between all the ponies. But over time, the younger one began to change. Thanks to the care...” Luster read without taking her eyes off the paper, as if the text interested her very much, and she was reading it for the first time. Luster's serene pastime could have lasted until the evening, but suddenly the library doors opened broke this silence, which caused the unicorn to drop the book from her hooves with fright and almost fell off her chair herself. The book fell to the floor with a thud, and Luster looked at the intruder of silence. Twilight Sparkle Castle. Ponyville. A beautiful summer day. Luster, with a tired look with wrinkles and bags under her eyes, looked at Starlight, who, with a wide smile on her face and a stack of books in an aura of a delicate mint color hovering nearby, went into the library with curtained windows and the only light source in the form of a dim candle standing on the table. Starlight was followed by a thoughtful Sunburst, who was skeptical about the state of Luster and the library. Starlight's wide smile instantly disappeared and she tried to reason with Luster, breaking an unspoken vow of silence. “Luster, you are reading this book for the fifth time, without leaving the library for the second day!” Starlight looked at Sunburst, puzzled. “Have I told you I'm worried about her?” "Is this all because of Twilight's errand? Even you weren't so worried about it during your training..." Sunburst joked, for which he was rewarded with a contemptuous look from Starlight, which instantly disappeared when she turned to Luster. "Luster, I beg you, don't worry about this! You won't be able to find friends..." then Starlight quietly added, "Or a friend..." turning around again and lifting her leg, she continued: "You should go out in a pony and try to talk to someone at least! Think about what Twilight would do in your place!" Luster continued to look at the intruders with displeasure, for a second it seemed that she had fallen asleep, but then she lifted the book with the help of telekinesis and shook it off with a hoof, and only then did Starlight's words reach her. "What would she do..." she fixed her gaze somewhere to the side and, having come to a conclusion and literally revived, cried out: "Exactly! She would have created a plan! Thank you, Starlight and Sunburst!" Luster threw the book on the table and jumped up. Running up to the desk and opening the drawer, she prepared to take a stack of papers, but then stopped and thought: "And in what situation would she do it?". Sunburst intervened and approached Luster, putting his hooves on her shoulders and trying to stop her: "Wait… In another way! Think about it, you already have friends! I, Starlight, am the same Princess Twilight and her friends!" Luster took a step back, breaking out of the grip, which almost caused Sunburst to fall, and then she sat back down in her seat, resting her head on the table, drearily responding to Sunburst's attempt at suggestion: "No… Twilight demanded to find friends not related to you or her..." "So, maybe we'll go to the Friendship School? I'm sure you'll find a friend or girlfriend there!" there was no limit to Starlight's enthusiasm, but her face twisted a little when she saw the chewed cupcake molds with the remains of these cupcakes. "Wait, are these the cupcakes that Pinkie Pie gave you?" "Yes... but their crust is very strange - hard and tasteless… But I have nothing to do at the Friendship School… It hurts too much..." she didn't have time to finish because Sunburst opened the curtains with the help of telekinesis with the exclamation "It's time to let the light into this room!" Luster squeezed her eyes shut and muttered in a pitiful voice: "Please leave me alone..." "Well, no! It's time for you to come with us!" a stack of books that hovered in the aura flew up to the table, and then the aura dissolved and the same aura appeared around Luster, lifting her from the table and forcing her to soar after the departing Sunburst and Starlight. "Yes, you're kidding..." exhaling dissatisfaction and relaxing, realizing that there is nothing you can do now, Luster said. *** Some time later. Friendship School Sunny weather stood over Ponyville and the Friendship School, where the school day had just ended, but the students were in no hurry to run away, enjoying communication with other creatures and a pleasant summer day. It was perfect for everyone except Luster, who had not slept for the second day, spending all this time rereading the same book. The surrounding people looked skeptically and with pity at the Luster floating in the magical aura, some even found something funny about it, but meanwhile the trio came to the door of the school. “Starlight, can you let me go?” Luster asked with obvious displeasure, not even trying to move in the magical aura. “Yes, exactly...” scratching her mane and laughing uncomfortably, Starlight apologized and slowly lowered the Luster to the ground, removing the aura. A pink unicorn with a dissatisfied and tired expression slowly got up on her hooves and dusted herself off, looked at Starlight, who stood in front of the entrance and, stretching out a hoof in her direction, began the story: “Welcome to the Princess Twilight Sparkle Friendship School!” “Well, what's the point? I know all about this damned school!.. What will my teacher say at all when she finds out that I am wandering around some Friendship school instead of doing her errand?” then she thought again and was horrified “What if she gets disappointed in me? He will understand that I am not capable of carrying out such a simple task..." she began to whimper, pressing herself to the ground and clutching her head with her hooves, going over all possible options for the outcome of the event. It is possible that this rampage was also affected by lack of sleep and the strain exerted by the inability to fulfill the princess's errand. "She reminds me of Twilight in those moments when she started to sparkle," Sunburst grinned, but he definitely could not expect that instead of a remark, his punishment would be a saddlebag with Starlight's textbooks, which she would throw at his head. Lying on the floor and catching the most contemptuous look of Starlight, he muttered, smiling awkwardly: “Sorry, I couldn't resist…” Exhaling and rolling her eyes, Starlight helped Luster to get back on her hooves and tried to comfort her: “Luster! Princess Twilight trusts you completely and will be only too happy when she finds out that you are looking for friends at her school!” Starlight smiled a little in order to convey her mood to Luster. “Yes... you're right...” having calmed down, Luster exhaled, looking simultaneously with a positive attitude and a slight fear at the doors of the friendship school, which opened in front of them with the help of Starlight telekinesis. Luster, with some apprehension and distrust, examined the hall of the school, in which students were peacefully communicating with each other, and someone was in a hurry to go about their business. Among the visitors were various creatures from all over Equestria. Students, parents and teachers calmly conducted conversations and discussions in various circles, but during a walk through the hall, most of the creatures waved their hooves and paws in greeting to the director of Starlight and Luster, who was walking uncertainly behind. Starlight noticed Osellus, who peacefully hovered over the floor and, chirping her wings, enthusiastically watched the younger group of students playing, who were under the supervision of their parents. Turning around and seeing Starlight running up to her, she descended to the floor and folded her wings under her shell. “Hi, Starlight!” she greeted in a soft pleasant voice and asked the question that interested her: “Didn't you have business in Canterlot?” "Trixie... Trixie has business in Canterlot... and she ran off without telling me!" - Starlight monotonously remarked, and then moved closer to the topic: - And yes, hello, Osellus. You have seats in the classroom, don't you? She turned back with interest to look at Luster, who was still looking around warily. Osellus had the right to believe that her answer could make Starlight angry, or she was just afraid of offending everyone. "I'm sorry, Starlight, but I've finished my classes for today..." she raised her head back and smiled nervously, waiting for Starlight's reaction. In fact, Starlight's reaction was surprise, not anger. "Is it three-thirty already?" Starlight asked, looking around the room for a watch. "Yes, but don't worry! You can ask the "Seekers of insignia" ... Maybe they still have lessons left..." Osellus spread her wings and apologized: - Sorry, Starlight, I promised to help Silver Stream! Bye-ah! - flying away, Osellus stretched out, waving her hoof. Starlight waved after her with a puzzled expression and said sadly: Starlight buried her hoof in her muzzle and barely intelligibly said “Until...” then she thoughtfully muttered to herself: “And where do I even look for "Seekers...?" Turning around once more, she caught sight of a brown stallion intending to address her, but bounced back from a sharp U-turn. “Excuse me, Director Starlight?” Still, he said it with the characteristic manner of speech peculiar only to aristocratic ponies. “I was told that you can help with one question.” “Yes, but not now... contact the school counselor or my deputy!” Starlight replied, walking around the pony and smiling flatteringly. “Your deputy is not in place, and there is no news from the adviser at all! And there's a queue outside your office!” indignation began to be felt in his voice. Starlight buried her hoof in the muzzle and barely said clearly: “So that Trixie would leave somewhere at least once more without warning me...” she removed her hoof and answered, trying to maintain composure. “Yes, I'll be right there!” at the same time, she noticed several ponies standing at the door to the director's office, looking around wearily and perplexed. When the pony tried to show something or say something, Starlight had already moved away from him and returned back to Sunburst and Luster, with the second leading a lively discussion with a pony she did not know. "How lovely! You've become friends!” closing her eyes with happiness and the realization of victory over the isolation and fear of Luster, Starlight said, approaching them. “Oh, no… We just bumped into each other... ”Luster replied with an awkward laugh. “Watch where you're going, you clumsy!” Pony snapped and went about her business, throwing a bag of textbooks. Such an answer did not have the best effect on Luster, but Starlight was rather surprised by such a response from a student of the Friendship School. Starlight frowned after her for a while, then walked up to Sunburst and, pointing to the queue in her office, gave him an assignment in a tired voice: “Just take her to the library… I have a lot to do right now, and Luster needs help…” Sunburst realized a simple truth: “Exactly! In the library she will find new friends of her interests!” lifting a hoof, he declared, to which Starlight smiled with peace of mind and went to her office. “Well, what's the point of dragging me from one library to another?” Luster asked, having once again lost hope of success in her business and training. “Okay, let's go already,” pushing Luster, Sunburst said, simultaneously voicing his thought: “Think about how many students go to the school library! How many friends in your hobbies can you find there!” "That's not what they go to the library for..." Luster remarked, striding to her destination with displeasure. Luster had been here more than once, so the neat rows of bookshelves and the cozy atmosphere, which included tea tables and sofas with carpets, did not surprise her a bit. They walked deeper into the room, while Luster tried to keep up with Sunburst. The library visitors looked friendly, but she was still afraid of them, without knowing why. Sunburst put his saddlebag on the table and took out a stack of papers, pens and ink from it, simultaneously giving a parting word to Luster: “Believe me, the best thing you can do now is to join some reading group and discuss interests with them...” Luster took a few hesitant steps towards a group of students engaged in reading, among whom were both ponies, werewolves and hippogriffs. “Well, you go, and I have a lot of paperwork…” “Maybe I'll go back to the castle after all?” turning around abruptly, she asked in a pitiful voice. “Luster, I'll tell you honestly that Starlight is very, very worried about you… And now is the time when you need to worry about her condition and about...” Sunburst interrupted Luster: “Yes, you're right, but it's just...” the smile faded from her face when she realized that it was she who needed it, and Starlight was suffering because of this, and her prevarications only aggravated her guilt. “Okay, I'll do it...” she confidently stepped towards the students, which from the outside would look ridiculous if at least someone was looking at her. “Good luck, Luster” Sunburst waved his hoof, buried in the papers. The thought flashed through Luster's mind that she was definitely not ready for this and she needed more theory, but the further she postponed it, the higher was the chance that the princess would notice the neglect of her errands. On the other hand, a new theory could help Luster with this, and she promised herself that no matter what, as soon as she was ready, she would start looking for friends herself. Looking around, she noticed a secluded place for reading, located behind the bookshelves… It remained only to find the right books and get the right knowledge… *** A few hours later. The same library It's been less than two hours since Princess Twilight Sparkle lowered the sun and raised the moon. Meanwhile, Starlight entered the dark library with a lamp hovering in a magical aura nearby. The school, as well as the library, was already closed, but Starlight could not find Luster, who was supposed to be looked after by Sunburst, who was peacefully dozing at the moment at the table surrounded by scribbled papers and an extinguished candle. "Sunburst..." Starlight's voice broke the silence, but the answer to it was the unintelligible mooing of the sleeping Sunburst. "SUNBURST!" this time she shouted, thereby waking him up. "Aahhh! No, what? I'm not sleeping, no! he exclaimed, jumping up in his chair half asleep. "Starlight..." he noticed and calmed down. "Have you seen Luster?" she asked in a tired voice, yawning along the way, but then she heard a strange snoring, and the need for an answer disappeared. "Hmm, I don't know… Maybe she's..." Sunburst paused, letting Starlight put forward her suggestion about this, but she had her own plans. "No, it's something else… And I can even guess where she is," turning her ears in the direction of the sap, Starlight reported, and then headed for the source of the sound. Sunburst stared at her blankly until she disappeared behind the bookshelves. Deciding not to interfere with the strange habits of the exhausted Starlight, he began to pack his things, intending to leave the library. "Eh... Luster, Luster..." Starlight's voice was heard, followed by her footsteps. She came out from behind a bookshelf with a sleeping Luster floating next to her in a gentle mint magical aura. Starlight's gaze fell on Sunburst and she gave him a new assignment: "Okay, I'll take her back to the castle, and you put away the books that she threw in a pile..." "Eh... well, anyway, I have a lot of paperwork..." Sunburst said sadly, looking at the departing Starlight. When the door closed, he used magic to light a candle on the table and spread out the papers again. *** The next morning. Twilight Sparkle Castle. Luster was sleeping peacefully in her room, as they say — without hind legs, after yesterday's gatherings in the library — do not forget about two days of lack of sleep. But this time her head was not filled with the idea that Twilight's assignment would not fulfill itself... This blissful dream could last until the middle of the day, but Starlight, who entered, had other plans in this regard. "Luster! Get up, we were urgently called to Canterlot," Starlight said, holding an expanded letter with the stamp of Princess Twilight with the help of telekinesis. Luster muttered something into the pillow with displeasure and, forcing her eyes open, looked at her. "Where to? Back to the Friendship School?" judging by the sluggish voice and the stupid question, she still did not fully understand what was happening. Starlight opened the curtains with the help of the same telekinesis, to which Luster, closing her eyes, buried her head in the blanket. The next step of the director of the Friendship School was an attempt to pull off the blanket, which ended in success. "Get up, come on, Princess Twilight personally calls us to Canterlot!" throwing the blanket on the floor, Starlight said, and then began to look around the room, thinking aloud along the way: "Well... I'll have to leave school for Sunburst… Although, because of the festival of the two sisters, there will be no classes..." "What?!" Luster jumped up in an instant. "Two Sisters Festival? When?!" Starlight began to carefully roll up the blanket while Luster sat on the bed and waited for an answer. "Exactly three days later, but the princess called you personally to Canterlot… Well, and me for the company ..." Starlight replied with admiration, trying to move the Luster to make the bed. "Wait... aren't you friends with her? And why am I there?!" Luster clutched her head with her hooves again, thinking over the worst-case scenario. "Yes, we're still friends, but because of our new responsibilities, we don't even have a minute to talk, and besides, this is an official invitation." "What?! Luster's eyes widened in horror, and then, with a growing tone of despair in her voice, she began: "Personally, I… She wants to embarrass me in front of the whole Canterlot by showing that I couldn't complete such a simple task!" she fell on the pillow and stared at the ceiling in despair. "No, you'll just have to stand on the stage like Her Highness' best student… Although she doesn't like to be called that." Starlight noticed in time, continuing to look at the lying Luster. It seems she didn't even hear Starlight's words, instead developing her thought out loud. "HERE'S A DISCORD! The princess is waiting for me!" she jumped up abruptly and, pulling a suitcase out from under the sofa with the help of telekinesis, began to throw into it all the things that came under the hoof, but Starlight stopped her in time, lifting her with the help of telekinesis and pushing aside. Luster's indignation knew no bounds. "What? What are you doing?! We're late! And stop doing that! "Luster continued to float helplessly in a gentle mint aura. "Firstly, the train is still four hours away, secondly, are you sure you need ALL your things?" Starlight asked, looking at the blanket that Luster was trying to shove into the suitcase, simultaneously slowly lowering her to the floor. "Yes, I'm sorry..." Luster began guiltily, watching as Starlight began to make the bed. "This is the first time I will be in front of the whole Canterlot..." "Well, let's start with the fact that there will be a maximum of a packed square, but not the whole of Canterlot, and let's continue with..." Starlight stopped thoughtfully and threw the blanket. "Why am I cleaning your room at all?" Luster didn't have time to answer, just mumbled something unintelligible in a dumbfounded and thoughtful way, and Starlight continued: "Don't burden yourself... Well, and try to clean up your room and not get stuck in the library, as you know how..." the headmistress admonished and left the room, leaving Luster alone with her thoughts, but she just stared out the window, looking at the Canterlot looming in the distance. *** The Pegasi worked all night and all day so that the sky during the festival of the two sisters was perfectly clean, but even such wonderful and beautiful weather, which left no one indifferent, still could not solve the problem hanging over the princess's pupil. And now she and Starlight were sitting in a passenger car of a train that had almost reached Canterlot station. It is noteworthy that neither the view of the decorated Canterlot nor the happy faces of the ponies helped to tune in to the festive mood of the Luster... Starlight's attempts to somehow correct the situation and cheer her up turned out to be the same "success". Soon, the tense silence, accompanied by Starlight's worried look, was broken by the creaking of the brakes of the train that stopped at the platform. "Well, here we are," Luster excitedly remarked, while her pupils narrowed with horror, which she tried in vain to hide from Starlight. That, tired of the endless excitement of Luster, noticed with a slight dissatisfaction in her voice: ''Luster, I've already said this many times! She can't just give up on you over this little thing…'' Luster's even more excited cry interrupted her: ''A TRIFLE?!'' this cry attracted the attention of several ponies, boring her with glances, to which she smiled uncomfortably and apologized, returning to the dialogue with Starlight. ''A trifle?! I've done everything all my life without a hitch… I just can't not do her errand!'' Starlight stood up, taking her saddlebags from the shelf, and, putting them on herself, responded to another surge of excitement Luster: 'There are no perfect ones among us and we all make mistakes sometime ... Even to this day I remember the mistakes of my youth with not the most pleasant consequences ...'' she tried to keep silent about her village, although she had long been forgiven, and this story was even more forgotten. Then she took Luster suitcase from the shelf, which that picked up with the help of telekinesis and followed her to the exit. To Starlight's surprise, the station was not packed to the brim with ponies, but there was still one interesting unicorn who had boldly escaped to Canterlot "on a very important matter" and was now walking around the station. ''TRIXIE LULAMOON! COME HERE IMMEDIATELY'' Starlight shouted, dropping her saddlebags and running after her, leaving Luster alone with the extra load. Trixie jumped on the spot when she saw Starlight rushing in her direction, and tried to get lost in the crowd. Luster, after looking at the bags for some time, still decided to take them into her telekinesis and walk to the castle alone... she did not forget the road this week - it pleased her. *** Luster walked slowly through Canterlot, calming down for the first time in a day and just strolling around the city, casually heading to the castle. Expensive boutiques, fine restaurants — this was exactly what attracted her excited mind to a large extent and gave hope for a bright future… For herself, she decided to find a side job - in case everything goes according to the worst scenario for her. Despite the inner calm, there was a new fear - to disgrace yourself in front of the whole Kanterlot, banal by taking an extra step on stage… Well, or Twilight will publicly declare that Duster is no longer her student. From the outside, it's hard to understand why Luster's head was visited by such terrible thoughts about Twilight Sparkle, but she had her own motives for thinking so… "Stop! Who's coming?!"the Luster was stopped by the formidable bass of a guardsman standing at the entrance to the castle. Luster was well aware that the two guards recognized the student Twilight Sparkle, because even she already remembered these two faces, not for the first time stopping her and interrogating her. "You're kidding me..." "Say the name!" the second guardsman intervened. Luster's face showed obvious displeasure caused by this guards clowning, but then she remembered that their superiors could be watching them. "Luster Dawn… Her Majesty's student Twilight Sparkle..." she gave out with unprecedented rejection, looking back at the castle windows, in search of the very "big brother" that haunted them. The guards, hearing the answer, looked at each other and nodded. "Good afternoon, Luster Dawn!" the first one reported, simultaneously opening the doors into which Luster went, rolling her eyes and barely whispering: "Well, kindergarten...". The doors slammed shut, and Luster found herself in the hall of the castle, in front of a wide staircase with a red carpet. As always, she climbed the steps and approached the carved white door leading to the throne room. Luster had already put her hoof on the handle, anticipating the shame and grief that awaited her behind this door, but a guardsman walking down the corridor distracted her: "Hey! Luster! Good afternoon!" he greeted affably and, stopping next to the door, noticed: "The princess is not in place..." "Oh... good afternoon..." Luster replied, but immediately heard the guardsman's message. "Wait, but then where is she?" "Receives an important guest in the dining room of the castle… Even I was not informed about this guest," the guardsman replied with slight discontent and embarrassment, scratching his mane and continuing his patrol. "Receives an important guest in the dining room of the castle… Even I was not informed about this guest," the guardsman replied with slight discontent and embarrassment, scratching his mane and continuing his patrol. "A good guest, since he is met in the dining room," even in her condition, there was a bit of irony. "Yes, thank you so much!" the answer to this was "please" from the mouth of the departing guardsman. After standing a little longer and looking at the doors, behind which there was no one, Luster rushed to the dining room, thinking over everything, starting with the ways of greeting the princess and the guest and ending with her report to her. *** The dining room door, surrounded by Luster's magical aura, began to slowly open, and then Luster herself looked into it, seeing Princess Twilight sitting alone at a rectangular long table, looking at the door with interest, simultaneously pouring tea into a cup. "Princess Twilight?" Luster asked, raising her head sharply and in a trembling voice. Entering the dining room, she bowed and began: "Your Highness, I have arrived at your first request!" Twilight was instantly delighted to see that her best student was right here and now. "Luster! Hello!" The princess, in response to Luster's words, smiled without malice, completely unintentionally not noticing her suffering. "Please, Luster, I hate such formalities from friends! Come on in, you must be tired..." She invited Luster to the table, putting a cup of tea and an empty plate for her… It wasn't hard to guess that Luster would have to put on the food herself, which was in abundance on the table. "Yes... of course," Luster meekly trudged to a chair, staring at the floor. Twilight stopped laughing, looking at her worriedly. The princess had no idea what exactly her student was worried about, but then she put forward the most logical assumption. "Luster, I understand that such an unexpected call could greatly bother you, but I think things can be left on the floor..." Luster froze in horror, and drops of sweat began to flow down her face, only after a couple of moments, she turned her head in the direction of the suitcase hovering nearby, which she had forgotten about. In order not to look stupid in front of the princess, she threw off her saddlebags and put a suitcase next to them, simultaneously justifying herself. "No… I'm not nervous… Simply… Well, let's say I practice magic..." Luster pretended to smile, but it was impossible to tell from Twilight's face that she believed in this excuse. "Did you do something wrong?" Twilight asked, trying to figure out what was wrong with Luster. "Tell me, together we will find a way to fix it!" "Well... it's just that I..." Luster began, but stopped because of the creaking of the door, accompanied by Twilight's dissatisfied muttering, "Oh, we'll have to get the workers to lubricate this door...". The same guest, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, appeared in the aisle, holding a tray with beautifully laid out oatmeal cookies and another porcelain teapot next to her with the help of telekinesis. "Luster! You've finally arrived!" Cadence was delighted, skipping up to the table, which seriously worried Luster. She tried to bow while sitting on a chair, which caused her to lose her balance and fall on the suitcase with a characteristic thud. Cadence stopped and looked at the pink unicorn lying on the suitcase with a slight fright, and then decided to go around the table and sit next to Twilight, putting the tray on the table. Luster got up and sat on a chair, trying not to look into the eyes of the princesses sitting in front of her. Then Cadence broke the oppressive silence by asking the question: "Luster, are you all right?" "Yes… That is, no! Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I couldn't cope with such a simple task..." tears appeared on her face, and she, like a guilty filly, stared at the table, trying to restrain herself and not whimper, preparing to suffer the deserved punishment. Twilight and Cadence exchanged glances, and then Twilight comforted Luster while Cadence tried to hold back her laughter. "Luster, did you seriously worry so much about such an insignificant little thing?" "Oh, Luster, you look so much like Princess Twilight right now..." Cadence remarked, burying her muzzle in a hoof and laughing softly "What, really? Won't you give up on me? I will not go into exile from Equestria and will not live out my days trying in vain to avoid ridicule from others?" calming down and wiping her tears, Luster asked again. Twilight's surprise knew no bounds, and then she blushed and turned to Cadence."Hey, I wasn't that worried!" "But I remember being told that you staged in a fit of panic because of an unsent friendship lesson..." replied Cadence, trying not to laugh. Then she took a cookie and poured herself a cup of tea, starting to eat. "You... were you really that worried?" finally calming down and smiling sincerely for the first time in recent times, Luster asked. Twilight, seeing that her student had returned to normal, also couldn't help laughing, remembering her stupid actions from the past. "And yes, please don't call me 'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'. Of my family and friends, only Flurry, when she is naughty, calls me by my full name with a title... Well, or Shining..." Cadence noticed, as if immersed in pleasant memories of her native home, where she will return only in a couple of days... "Just call me..." she didn't have time to finish because of Rarity's voice, which was heard from behind, to which the whole trio turned around. "Cadence! And Luster!" Then the white unicorn, lifting her muzzle and elegantly approaching the table, turned to Twilight: "Oh, Twilight, if you only knew how much effort and time I spent searching for materials and sewing..." "Yes, Rarity, your work is invaluable, but how are things going with the dress for Luster?" asked Twilight, fully supporting her best friend. "Exactly! A dress for Luster!.." Rarity came to her senses and ran up to Luster, took out a centimeter and smiled, turned to that one. "Luster, darling, I'm sorry, it's just for a couple of moments!" A magical aura appeared around Luster and she rose up. "Can you ask my opinion at least once?! Luster was indignant, floating helplessly in the aura again, while Rarity was taking the necessary measurements on her body, and Twilight and Cadence were carried away by their conversation. *** Two days later. Luster's chambers in Canterlot Castle. Despite the favorable outcome of the story of Luster's unrest, during these two days everything returned to normal again, when the upcoming holiday became a new cause for concern, in which Luster played a far from secondary role. And so Luster was once again doing what she can do best-reading books and worrying about every little thing, thinking about something important that she probably forgot. "It doesn't look like a textbook, more like a work of art..." Luster remarked in frustration, falling on the pillow and putting the book on the shelf. "Maybe I should tell the princess about this after all?" she mumbled, continuing to look at the ceiling. "Tell me about what?" came an eerily familiar voice, which Luster did not immediately recognize because of her distracted state. "Oh, I'm sorry we didn't knock, but we have an hour and a half left..." this voice belonged to Cadence, and Luster realized this by raising her head and looking into the aisle, and Rarity appeared next to Cadence, holding a new dress with the help of telekinesis. "Yes… I'm still not sure if I should go on stagе… Precisely! Cadence, can you ask Twilight not to make me come out?" Luster perked up at her own idea. Cadence, with her typical kind expression, tried to say something that Rarity was faster. "No, dear, I don't want one of my best works to be in vain!" She looked with admiration at the work she had done. "Rarity, you say that about every job you do," only after saying that, Cadence realized that it could sound insulting, so she corrected herself immediately: "Although, I don't deny it." "Yes, it's beautiful..." Luster agreed very unconvincingly, so as not to offend Rarity either, and then, realizing that she would have to try it on, got up from her bed. It seems that Rarity was flattered by such praise from Luster, or simply did not pay attention, throwing the dress behind the screen and returning to the dialogue with Cadence. "By the way, Cadence, who did you leave the Crystal Empire for? By any chance, not on Flurry Heart?" Rarity asked with interest, while Luster was looking for privacy behind a screen. "No, what are you… Of course, she has grown and changed beyond recognition since your last meeting, but she is still too young to take over the reins..." having delved into herself, Cadence explained the situation. Rarity came to an unprecedented delight, sharing her expectations: "I can't wait to see her!.." After a sad sigh, she added: "It's still a pity that she stayed in the Crystal Empire..." the moment of sadness almost instantly disappeared when Luster came out from behind the screen in a pink dress with a shade slightly darker than the color of the new owner's wool. "Luster! It's like it was created for you!" "Maybe the sequins are too much?" asked Luster nervously, trying to get used to the dress. "I don't think so… Maybe it's worth adding more, or... exactly! Ribbons! Wait a couple of minutes!" Rarity was overwhelmed with enthusiasm for ideas to improve the dress. "I don't think we have enough time… It looks so cute and beautiful on the Luster ..." hinted at another unfinished business of Cadence, in which Rarity's sophistication is needed. "Sorry, I got carried away... okay, let's go," Rarity apologized. Soon Rarity disappeared into the aisle, and Cadence stopped in the doorway to cheer Luster up a little. "Luster, the dress really suits you, but the main thing is not to worry about such a trifle… Ponies are not so cruel to laugh at you or mock you if something goes wrong..." Cadence smiled to cheer her up, but then involuntarily looked at the grandfather clock, started up and also disappeared into the aisle. Luster, after thinking a little about what could be done two hours before the inevitable, decided to just walk around the castle and, if lucky, personally talk to Princess Twilight, if she is not busy preparing for the holiday. *** A few minutes later. The second tier of the castle hall. Princess Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer were surprised to see a magic mirror that had just been delivered from the east, standing against the wall and outwardly indistinguishable from an ordinary mirror, of which there were plenty in Canterlot Castle. An oval mirror with a gold glossy frame, quite worthy of being in the chambers of Princess Twilight, was not just a mirror… At least, this was stated by the workers who brought him here. After taking a closer look at the mirror, Princess Twilight uttered a loud "AHEM", making it clear to Starlight that it was time to tell the reason why the princess was distracted from important matters and brought to look at the mirror in a gilded frame. Uh, yeah… It's magical," Starlight explained after an uncomfortable silence. "Well, at least the griffins told about the strange glow coming from it..." "Okay, then we'll figure out what to do with it, and now we'll move it to the archive," a magical aura appeared around the horn with a characteristic sound, but Starlight's cry stopped it. "STOP!!! Don't! The workers reported that it reacts very strangely to magic!" Starlight said it so quickly and clearly that later she wondered how she could even speak so quickly and confidently. "Well... come on, I'll call the workers, and you write a letter to Star Swirl… Perhaps only he can know what to do with it," Twilight ordered, looking at her reflection in this mirror and afraid to come closer. "Yes, exactly! Star Swirl! I'm going to get the parchment!" said Starlight, galloping into the next corridor, while Twilight began to descend the stairs with a majestic gait. The hall was empty for a short time. Because, a saddened Luster entered it from a corridor decorated with paintings donated by the best Equestrian artists for Princess Twilight, whose attention was attracted by a mirror with a gold frame. After making sure that she was alone in the hall and no one could see her, she went to the mirror and straightened her mane with a hoof, but realizing that something was wrong, she decided to make herself look better. "Maybe Rarity is right and it's not that bad? Although, I think I could use a hairpin," After looking at herself a little more, she removed the hoof from the mane and thoughtfully raised her muzzle up. "I began to turn into a Rarity… But still..." she lowered her muzzle again and examined herself with interest, continuing the monologue, "Yes! The light and the play of shadows... let's fix the mirror a little..." her horn lit up with an aura and the same magical aura appeared around the mirror, slightly tilting it down. "Luster, what are you doing... run!" Starlight shouted, accompanied by the clatter of hooves. "what? Starlight? What to run from?" Luster began to look around in panic, not noticing how the mirror began to shine with white light brighter and brighter. Luster noticed the mirror only when the light became blindingly bright. At that moment, Starlight, closing her eyes tightly, tried to push the Luster away in a jump, but it was too late. The light disappeared, as did Luster and Starlight, and there was a parchment with ink on the floor, which splashed on the floor... "...Drag the mirror to the archive without magic? Easy as pie!" boasted one of the workers, walking in front of the princess. "Wonderful… And what is this?" The smile disappeared from Twilight's face when she saw the things left over from Starlight on the floor. "Hmm... I don't remember Starlight throwing everything around..." *** The fortress of the "Skull". The Baltic Sea coast, near the Polish border. 1960. The "Skulls" fortress, located almost on the very edge of the rocky coast and rebuilt from a medieval castle, became perhaps the most reliable and indestructible fortress back in 1946, during the invasion of the Americans, whose main goal was to eliminate the culprit of the technological superiority of the Third Reich — General Wilhelm Strasse. This place has become a historical monument and a reminder of the triumph of General Strasse and the small garrison of the fortress, which, thanks to the technical achievements of the "Skull", managed to fend off the airborne assault and destroy an entire air fleet even on approach… The few lucky ones who managed to land on the shore or survive the crash became victims of automatic turrets, a Baltic monitor and prototypes of panzerhunds, which did not leave the invaders a chance. But on the orders of General Strasse, they did not rake the wreckage of six-engine bombers and P-51 "Mustang" fighters, leaving them as a reminder of the massacre in which the Skull Guard and the SS emerged victorious. It is also worth mentioning that this place was chosen for his fortress not just because of the natural protection in the form of rocks that prevent landing from the sea, and not because of attempts to hide the most important person of the Reich from the SOE and Soviet intelligence… Rather, the general agreed to this because of the terrible weather conditions and frequent storms, which allowed him to tune in to the right working mood, and this place itself was exactly where he wanted to spend the rest of his long — only this year he turned one hundred years old — life, continuing to work for the good of Germany. General Strasse continued to conduct his inhuman experiments on people to this day, trying to unravel the mystery of the artifacts of the ancient order "Daat-Ihud", and with the acquisition of the necessary experience, things went uphill. Even despite such an advanced age, no one dared to call Strasse a decrepit old man or an old senile — he did not experience health problems, having managed to keep his composure and clarity of mind, but the general was in no hurry to tell how he achieved this. And so, on one of these days — during another strong storm, which did not affect the beautifully constructed fortress, which will remain in the same condition for several centuries, if not millennia, General Strasse conducted an autopsy of a test subject that had not suffered an experimental anti-aging serum. The "skull" (as it was called) ceased to be afraid of death itself, but he was afraid that without it the Reich was waiting for a slow but sure decay, so at the moment he was trying to find a way for the future, how to prolong his life. Everything could have gone on as usual, but the Hauptsturmfuhrer Friedrich Boer, who entered, brought important news that Strasse was obliged to hear, significantly changed the local way of life. Herr Strasse, in the archiv..." the officer stopped abruptly when Strasse waved his hand away, tearing his concentrated gaze from the body, whose head was covered with a cloth, and Boer already knew the reason why the general did exactly that, and it was clear from one of his quotes: "I don't want to see his Jewish face!", although Boer did not yet know what nationality the "patient" Strasse was. The general turned in his direction, putting his hands behind his back. His general's uniform was wearing a bloody apron and long white protective gloves, acting as gloves, fastened with straps on the shoulders of the tunic. The cap was lying on the shelf of a steel table on which surgical instruments were laid out. Judging by the general's normal cold and slightly narrowed gaze, he was dissatisfied with such an invasion. "Herr Boer… I asked you not to let anyone in to me!" he spoke with displeasure, removing the straps of his mittens. The general turned in his direction, putting his hands behind his back. His general's uniform was wearing a bloody apron and long white protective gloves, acting as gloves, fastened with straps on the shoulders of the tunic. The cap was lying on the shelf of a steel table on which surgical instruments were laid out. Judging by the general's normal cold and slightly narrowed gaze, he was dissatisfied with such an invasion. "Herr Boer… I asked you not to let anyone in to me!" he spoke with displeasure, removing the straps of his mittens. "It's urgent! We have an emergency in the archive!" it seems that the situation in the archive seriously frightened Boer, "so much so that even Strasse's discontent did not stand as high as his fear." Strasse reacted with interest to these words, throwing off his mittens on an empty operating table, simultaneously taking off his apron. "Emergency in the archive?" he said it with such a neutral and detached expression, as if he could not believe Boer's words, considering them nonsense. "One of the artifacts spontaneously activated... well, artifact C-979..." Boer straightened his back and put his hands behind his back, waiting for orders while Strasse adjusted the sleeves of his tunic and put on his cap. Hearing the familiar name, he looked in surprise somewhere to the side, and then, heading for the exit, voiced his thought. "C-979… I've always thought of it as an ordinary trinket..." Strasse walked slowly out into the corridor with his back straight, followed by two of his guards who were guarding the entrance to the operating room. Boer immediately caught up with him and, continuing to keep his hand behind his back, trying to keep a distance behind the general. Suddenly, he made a gesture with his hand, because of which both guards instantly stopped, and gave them an order: "No, no!" he pointed to the two escorts, who instantly stood at attention, listening to him. "Get this garbage out of my operating room… I have no plans to play with rot, because my plans have changed!"the guards silently nodded, turned around and went into the operating room, while Boer continued to pretend that he had already understood Strasse's intentions, although he could not even understand what was going on in his head. "So how did you say it activated?" Strasse finally addressed him. "Was he dropped? Touched? Have you tried to recycle it?" "No, the attendants reported that he spontaneously activated," Boer replied with firm confidence in his voice, continuing to look straight, not even moving his eyes and not looking at the general. "Maybe it's a weapon? Or an energy storage facility? Hmm... whatever it is, I feel that a new scientific discovery is coming… Something that gives the millennial Reich a new technology..." Strasse continued on his way again, adding along the way: "Time is running out, Herr Boer, and we have a lot of work..." TO BE CONTINUED...
Prologue. Part 2/6. Another WorldAt the same time. Unknown where Luster woke up in a strange room with bare concrete walls and the same floor, on which construction debris was scattered. She was brought to her senses by an unfamiliar sound, resembling the roar of something, and this something rushed under the window. The strangest find was an anthropomorphic creature without fur and in a decent black suit that lay right in front of her, but Luster had every right to assume that it was "she" and not "it" in front of her. "What… What are you? Where am I and what did you do with Starlight?! Luster screamed in panic, trying to escape, but some strange changes in her body prevented her from jumping on her hooves. The only thing she did well was to crawl back. The creature rose to its feet and, holding its head, gently reached out to Luster with a worried expression on its face. "Luster, it's me! Calm down and don't shout like that!.." "What?.." Luster tried for some time to remember where she had previously heard this voice, but then she realized that it was Starlight. "Starlight? What's the matter with you?" "Well... let's start with "what's wrong with us," and continue with the fact that we are people," Starlight explained, but from the expression on Luster's face it was impossible to say that she believed, although as soon as she looked at herself, she almost panicked. Starlight had to grab her by the shoulders and shake her hard to bring her to her senses. "Calm down! Princess Twilight has been here before, and more than once… And so am I. A couple of times..." "Was the princess here?.. And how… How are we going to get back?" It seems that Luster had endless questions on this topic in stock. Starlight's attitude suggested that there wasn't much time, but she had a plan to get back. "There's nothing to worry about, this world is as friendly and hospitable as Equestria, but only something has obviously changed here… Okay, get up, we need to figure out where Kanterlot High School is..." then she helped Luster to her feet, and the new form of movement somewhat confused her. "How do these people walk on two hooves?.. Luster mumbled, balancing so as not to fall, simultaneously trying to feel something on her forehead. "And the horn? Where is my magic?" "Let me tell you right away..." Starlight began to inspect the abandoned building, simultaneously scratching her chin and rummaging through her pockets. "Humans don't have tails, magic, hooves and wings… They have legs and arms," she pointed to this and that in order. "On the feet are feet, and on the hands are hands and fingers similar to the claws of griffins or hippogriffs… Well, then you'll figure it out yourself..." Luster leaned on the window sill without a window frame and pointed at something, simultaneously calling out to her friend. "Starlight, does this look like a school flag?" Approaching the window, Starlight saw a narrow street previously unknown to her, and several red banners with a white circle and an unknown black symbol inside hung on the neighboring three-story beige building. "Hmm... No, but maybe we just happened to be on the eve of the Night of Nightmares in the Crystal Empire and they hung up such flags?" panicked Starlight, realizing that in the Crystal Empire the Night of Nightmares is not celebrated, and remotely it looks like the banners of the King of Sombra... "Well, we'll have to walk along the streets and ask the locals where we are..." Starlight concluded, moving away from the windowsill and heading for the stairs leading to the first floor. Luster, after admiring the architecture of the neighboring building a little more, followed her, but experienced some difficulties during the descent due to the new body. "How do people walk on two legs at all?" she moaned, gripping the metal railing tightly and slowly going down. The situation on the street resembled the situation in an abandoned building… There was a lot of garbage on the street, and in places there were piles of broken concrete and glass, some of the windows on the ground floors were boarded up with plywood and boards, and some buildings near the lower floors had sandbagged fortifications ... Not to say that there were battles in the city - rather, no one dared to rake these rubble or someone specially created similar conditions. "Starlight, are you sure everything's okay here?" Luster asked, looking at the squalid state of the street. "I can't be sure of anything right now..." Starlight turned around and saw a radio tower and an ominous massive building. After seeing all this, she boldly began to draw analogies between the Crystal Empire under the yoke of King Sombra and this place. "Maybe Sombra showed up here?" "You have ideas, don't you? Judging by this hefty clock, we have about an hour left before the opening of the festival," Luster said, looking at the large clock tower standing next to the tower and this building. Surprisingly, she kept calm, and the prospect of missing this ceremony because she was "stuck in an unknown world" looked very tempting, if not for the question: how to get back from the world in which King Sombra won? "I have no ideas… But there is a firm belief that there is no point in going to the Crystal Castle ..." suggested Starlight, stepping over a pile of garbage and heading in the opposite direction from this "castle". "So, let's try to find at least one of the residents and ask what happened at all! - Starlight announced the further plan of action, although she was well aware that there is nothing to do here without Princess Twilight and her friends..." *** About an hour later. The fortress of the "Skull". General Strasse's office In a modestly furnished office with gray-painted walls, in addition to Strasse, there were several guards of the "Skull", silently digging through stacks of documents, because of which the almost deathly silence was broken by the rustle of pages. The general himself was sitting at his desk with a self-written dictionary "Daat-Ihud" and untranslated parchments found in the same repository where the artifact was spontaneously activated. Suddenly Strasse discovered an interesting pattern between a half-translated parchment with unknown runes and the same illuminated runes on the artifact, and, without thinking twice, voiced it to himself. " «Map», «Invasion», «Other World» and «Space»... Oh no, it's not a weapon!" He stood up from his chair with the parchment in his hands. "This is a map..." a sinister grin appeared on his face, indicating another success in solving the mystery of Daat-Ihud. The guards, seeing this look, silently exchanged glances and began to put the documents back in place, waiting for further instructions. “Great, take everything to the archive!” he pointed to the boxes of documents and parchments extracted from the archives. “And close the office behind you!” the guards, standing at attention and nodding, began to collect papers even faster, while the general moved with a confident step to the exit. *** The elevator with the general stopped at the right floor of the laboratories, and there was already readiness for anything. Strasse remembered perfectly well that he was advised to evacuate the entire complex in case this artifact was a bomb, but having extensive experience with artifacts and vast knowledge gained from parchments and these very artifacts, he knew for sure that this was not a weapon. In fact, Strasse knew almost more than ordinary members of the cult, although he had been raking out all the knowledge and secrets with incredible effort for seventeen long years... After going into the armored room where the artifact was stored, he demanded to open it, but one of the scientists with the ''Wolfenstein'' badge, who belonged to the ''Daat-Ihud'' researchers under general Strasse, left the guarded observation room. Adjusting his glasses, he tried to reason with the general: "Herr Strasse, I still insist on the evacuation of the entire complex... If there is a bomb there, it threatens not only the loss of such a brilliant general as you, but also all the equipment, personal personnel and archives with invaluable knowledge..." Two soldiers without helmets and with SS buttonholes opened the armored door, and Strasse, waving away the scientist, answered him by stepping over the threshold. ''Excuse me, Herr Furst, I myself know what to do and how to do it, but I will take your warnings into account!'' A golden multi-faceted artifact appeared before the general, inside of which was a raging yellow energy sphere. Without thinking twice, he approached the artifact and reached for the first rune, but he Furst's exclamation distracted him. ''Herr Strasse, maybe we shouldn't make everything out of your personal assumptions?'' it seems that this exclamation distracted Strasse for only a couple of seconds, because he touched all three illuminated runes, while Furst closed his eyes, expecting an explosion. There was no explosion, but instead an energy sphere burst out of the artifact, forming a detailed map of the Earth in the form of a hologram with a strange blue mark in the south of the British Isles. "You see, Herr Furst? It's time to finally remember that the ''Daat-Ihud'' Order did not store weapons in such small vaults… But I dare say that I already assumed that this is a map… But what does she have to show us?'' Strasse scratched his chin thoughtfully while the scientist adjusted his glasses and stared at the map in shock. After a little thought, Strasse tried to touch the map, and it reacted to the touch by zooming in on the blue dot. It became clear that this point was in London. After repeating this movement a couple of times, Strasse was even able to see the area and the street on which this point was located. After a little reflection and remembering that he had already read about this map in one of those parchments, he concluded that it shows anomalous objects that came here from another world… And that means… No, for Strasse, this was not a reason for panic, but rather a new source of knowledge that he could not just miss. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Friedrich Boer enter the room, who was assigned to keep Strasse informed of the latest developments, but there was no urgent need for that now. ''Boer, I heard you're from London… Tell me, what can you say about this street?'' It was about the intersection of streets with a blue mark, and Boer understood it perfectly. ''The sixteenth district at the intersection of Vauxhall and Black Prince Road ...'' Boer immediately replied, but then dared to ask: ''Is something serious, Herr Strasse?!'' The general did not answer the question, went to the exit and gave a new order to Boer and another assistant standing at the door: ''Tie me up with the commandant of the city and prepare my plane to London!'' The Boer and the assistant nodded meekly, and the first one got out in front of the Strasse and went to a protected room, and the assistant hurried to hide in the corridor. No sooner had the general followed him in, than Boer was already rummaging through the phone book in search of the corresponding number. The patient and cold gaze of the "Skull" directed at Boer made it clear to him that procrastination could cost a lot. Having found and dialed the desired number, he exhaled calmly and handed the phone to the general. Several rings passed before a man's voice was heard on the phone, but it was so quiet that the still-standing Boer could not make out anything. After listening to the standard speech from the commandant's secretary, but then, when he was contacted directly, he also coldly and neutrally began: ''Herr Falk?.. I have an urgent assignment for you, on which the fate of the Reich may depend…'' *** London. The sixteenth district All this time Luster and Starlight wandered aimlessly through an unpleasant, one might say, creepy city, in which even passers-by tried to avoid two strangely dressed and no less strangely behaving girls — by the way, they got strict black suits with fedoras, which is why they were constantly mistaken for someone, and they could not figure out who. Special attention was attracted by strange metal carts, which, apparently, moved independently and no one needed to be harnessed to them... But only along the way they met only a few such carts standing on the side of the road and they could not know about what these achievements of local technology were called cars. Starlight found several more confirmations of her theory when she saw soldiers in the streets wearing strange helmets similar to those worn by Sombra on their fighters, and they were armed with a very strange weapon, which Luster compared to a broken black piece of a wooden fence. In any case, they decided not to check the effectiveness of these pieces of wood, avoiding meetings with patrolmen and continuing to wander aimlessly. It seemed that this walk through a new, creepy and mysterious city could last for a long time, but suddenly a long and booming siren sounded. An alarm was raised over the city. Hearing her, rare passers-by disappeared into buildings and alleys, and people in houses hurried to close the curtains and move away from the windows. "Starlight? I don't like it here..." Luster said worriedly, not even assuming that Starlight herself didn't like it here either. "Wait, do you hear that?" Starlight noticed strange distant footsteps and the clang of machinery getting closer and closer. "Perhaps we should go..." Luster did not have time to finish, as a mechanical voice with a strange accent was heard, the source of which, apparently, was hiding somewhere behind the building. "Residents of London! A curfew has been imposed in the city, return to your homes immediately for the sake of your own safety and justice." Several rocket blocks of a huge robot peeked out from around the corner, which peeked out from behind the building more and more with every step. Here, stepping over one of his three legs through an apartment building and stepping on the asphalt with a characteristic sound of hydraulics, he appeared to his full height and turned towards Luster and Starlight. Without thinking twice, Starlight dared to assume that he was about thirty meters tall… Useful knowledge in a similar situation. "Listen, can we really go?" nervous and looking around, Luster asked, pulling her friend in misfortune by the sleeve. "Dangerous terrorists have been detected! Residents of London do not leave their shelters!" the voice from the speaker was heard again. He took a few more steps, looking sternly at the intruders from another world. Suddenly the doors of his "eye" opened and the red light illuminated them like a searchlight. Judging by the sounds characteristic of faulty electronics and the red lightning that occasionally appeared around the eye, the robot was either faulty or was preparing to open fire... "Raise your hands and surrender, scum of society!" an order followed, after which the robot opened the doors of all six rocket blocks. Several armored personnel carriers and army trucks rushed to the scene at full speed, which surrounded the intersection with Luster and Starlight standing on it in complete bewilderment. In the blink of an eye, several detachments unloaded from them, some of the fighters from which grabbed heavy shields and lined up in a row, while the rest with assault rifles took cover behind them, aiming at the intruders. Realizing that this world is not so friendly and very dangerous, Starlight quickly raised her hands, and a little later Luster followed her example. One officer grabbed a loudspeaker and carefully peeked out from behind the armored personnel carrier's armor. "Terrorists! You are surrounded! Surrender immediately and ease your lot!" "Look, this is a mistake, we don't pose any danger!" Luster tried to defuse the situation, but Starlight had her own plans in this regard. "Okay, we give up!" Starlight replied loudly and nervously, slowly kneeling down and putting her hands behind her head. Then she turned to Luster: "Listen, now it's better not to show aggression towards them, but to do as they say..." All the fighters were closely watching their movements, and a good part of them were preparing to pull the trigger with trembling fingers. "Jurgen, I've never seen such reckless terrorists!" the soldier turned to his comrade, gritting his teeth and preparing for the worst. It seems that the officer did not like such conversations in the ranks, so he turned off the loudspeaker and made a remark: "Put aside the conversations in the ranks! They are from another world and we have no idea what they can pull off!" noticing that the imaginary threat had surrendered, he made a gesture with his hand, thereby giving the appropriate order to the capture group. Several fighters ran forward and knocked them to the ground, putting handcuffs and bags on their heads. The officer exhaled with calmness when this operation passed without consequences, although the reaction of some fighters to such a "brilliant" detention of two fragile girls with the involvement of three Waffen SS detachments, two armored personnel carriers and the London Monitor, which continued to monitor the detainees in full combat readiness, left much to be desired. Luster and Starlight were packed into an APC and it started moving... Now they could only guess where and why they were being taken and what awaits them next… *** A few hours later. London Nautica General Strasse was in the elevator, accompanied by his guards, who stood quietly and silently behind him. The incident in London and Strasse's statements raised the ears of the entire oberkommandorstvo, and while an emergency meeting was planned in Berlin, General "Skull" personally arrived in London to interrogate the intruders from another world. Stepping onto the right floor, the general and his guards saw that everything was turned upside down… In the sense that the guards could not find a place for themselves, being in full combat readiness, but the nautica staff was nowhere to be seen. Gray corridors with orange stripes and plastered with propaganda posters, most often on the subject of science or space, accompanied Strasse to the very laboratory where the perpetrators of this chaos were kept. Finally, the procession came to the armored door, near which the commandant of London Klaus Falk personally wandered in confusion, who was waiting for the general's arrival. Phew, Herr Strasse, you have finally arrived!" the commandant greeted the general with relief, extending his hand to shake. "We don't have time for formalities..." picking up the white suitcase that the guardsman handed him, the general replied, immediately getting to the point. "Get to the point, Herr Falk… Do they understand our language? Did they say anything?" "Yes, they understand him… But... We didn't start the interrogation without you, and so far one of them tried to assure us that we were wrong, and the other tried to shut her up..." wearing a black glove, Falk said with a degree of uncertainty, and then decided to clarify the question he had been interested in for a long time: "I heard that the oberkommandor is planning to drop atomic bombs on London… Is it true?" While waiting for two SS soldiers to open the armored door, the general replied: "They will give such an order only if London is lost… They haven't even had time to get together to make a decision yet," having finished and decided not to waste any more time, Strasse went into the room, the guards followed him. The first thing Wilhelm Strasse saw in an empty room with bare walls and floor were two decently dressed girls chained up with bags on their heads, behind which stood two super soldiers, closely watching them, holding heavy machine guns at the ready. "Take the bags off them!" He gave the order to Strasse, getting down on one knee and putting the suitcase on the floor. Obediently nodding, one of the fighters stepped forward and, in order not to keep the general waiting, pulled the bags off the girls' heads as quickly as possible. Squinting against the light and trying to peer into the figure in the olive-colored general's uniform, Starlight unconsciously asked out loud: "Is... the local King Sombra?.." Hearing this, one of the guards tried to restrain a burst of laughter caused by the analogy with a sombrero, but the second poked him in the side with the machine gun, which calmed him down. Strasse didn't even move an ear, putting on white medical gloves taken out of a suitcase. "What nonsense is this?! I'm not a king... hmm... it doesn't matter..." he couldn't remember the name of that king, continuing: "I'm just a citizen of the Reich concerned about your invasion! Can you introduce yourself?" seeing the worried and confused looks of the captives, he began himself: "Okay, I'll start first… I'm General Wilhelm Strasse, or you can call me Totenkopf!" he said, carefully examining the Starlight. "Yes… I think I was told that you are able to speak our language… So, can you finally introduce yourself?" When the general's gaze fell on Luster, her pupils rounded with fear and she, trying not to stutter, introduced herself: "Yes... I... my name is Luster… And this is..." she looked away, "... my friend, Starlight..." Judging by Starlight's look, she was ready to hit herself in the face, but the chains did not allow her to move at all. Strasse also noticed one point of interest to him. "These are names, or… So you're from SOE... so… In your world, the Reich has fallen… Ahem..." He looked at the situation with interest, trying to figure out exactly how British spies got into another world. "No! These are our full names - Luster Don and Starlight Glimmer! We are local… But we live in..." 2 the attempt to deceive from Luster ended in complete failure, given that Strasse was no longer listening to her, only looking at them with interest. "Luster, that's enough!" Starlight made a loud remark. "They have already realized that we are not local and..." "...that you're from another world?" the general interrupted her. "I have to note that your intelligence has deteriorated greatly since the Second World War, if it began to send people like you… And how many of your agents do we have?.. "fear appeared on the faces of Starlight and Luster, which Strasse could not help noticing. "Well... tell me about your world… You know, we don't get visitors from another dimension every day..." he turned to Starlight. "Maybe Frau Glimmer can tell me something?" "What? No… How do you know?" "Listen up… I am a busy man of age… Do yourself and me a favor - don't aggravate your situation and don't take up my time..." Strasse waved his hand to the super soldier and he growled something maliciously and took the machine gun in one hand, grabbed Starlight by the neck with the other and lifted her off the ground. She began to wheeze from suffocation, while Luster was hysterical from what was happening, and tears appeared on her face. "STARLIGHT! NO!" she shouted with unprecedented fear in her voice, being ready for any conditions. "Good! Well… I'll tell you everything, just don't kill her!.." she lowered her gaze and squeezed her eyes shut so as not to see her friend's death. "The right and wise decision..." Strasse gave another signal with his hand to the super soldier, and he threw it on the floor. Starlight, coughing and not believing that she was still alive, tried to catch her breath, greedily gulping air. With his hands behind his back and looking down at Luster, Strasse was waiting for the promised recognition, and Luster understood this perfectly well. "We came here from the magical land of Equestria, where earthly ponies, pegasus and unicorns live in peace and harmony!.." One of the fighters burst out laughing, even Strasse found it funny, but did not show it. "Yes... Leprechauns and elves... it's a pity that your friend won't share our laughter and fun..." Strasse was preparing to give the order that was supposed to take Starlight's life. "No! Please! I have no reason to lie!" Luster became hysterical, starting to think about the worst again. This trick distracted and briefly persuaded the general. "Unnoticed… But, in that case, tell me, how did you get into our world?" Strasse walked up to Luster and knelt down in front of her, preparing to listen to another excuse. "I... I accidentally used magic on a magic mirror… We didn't even imagine all the danger and now we don't know how we'll get back! Please let us go!" Luster still believed that it was possible to achieve freedom by polite conversation and persuasion, but she did not know Totenkopf's future plans. "It would be a great pity to lose such beautiful samples..." Strasse closed the suitcase and got to his feet, holding it in his hand. Turning his back to the prisoners, he turned to the guardsman: "Even if they are the only, but beautiful samples... Ahem... Let's have this one!" He turned abruptly and pointed at the Luster. "What? What are you going to do?" she screamed in panic, looking at the approaching guardsman, who lifted her by the chain and dragged her to the door, but suddenly the girl began to shine, and with every second brighter and brighter. The General couldn't help but notice this glow. Turning to its source, he quickly realized what was going on. "Don't let them get away!.. Liquidate!" Strasse shouted when the light became so bright that he had to cover his face with his hand. The super soldier was already preparing to crush Starlight's head, but the light became unbearably bright. When the supersoldier kicked Starlight with all his weight and strength, she was no longer in this world. The same fate befell the guardsman who tried to grab the glowing Luster. "Got it!" he joyfully declared, but when the glow disappeared, he saw that he was holding the general's tunic. "Oh... I'm sorry." Strasse unhooked his hand from his tunic and pushed the guardsman away, and with obvious dissatisfaction caused by the loss of samples, went to the exit. "We don't have time… I have to be in Berlin..." gritting his teeth, he said, holding his hands behind his back and leaving the room in thought. Several officers were waiting for him in the corridor and Klaus Falk, who had been personally supervising the interrogation all this time. "Nice work, Herr Strasse… It's a pity that we lost them. Just think how much knowledge they would have given us!" Falk tried to ingratiate himself with the general with his approach, and Strasse understood this perfectly well. "Thank you for your comment, Herr Falk," Strasse said confidently and loudly, walking with a firm step towards the elevator, "But I know all this without you..." "Still, I hope you didn't listen to their pathetic excuses..." "Maybe they were lying openly, considering me an imbecile..." he continued with unprecedented calmness, "... but I have knowledge that is more expensive than their pathetic attempts to distract my attention..." the general stood in front of the elevator doors, waiting for him to go down to the right floor. "There are other worlds, and most importantly - it is possible to move between them… Believe me, this matter does not concern your mind further," he summed up in a rude manner and entered the elevator. Falk tried to follow, but the guards stopped him, which is why he, being in an awkward position, was forced to step back, realizing that he had just fallen in the eyes of Wilhelm Strasse and the entire security of the nineteenth floor of the London Nautica… *** Canterlot Castle. The living room on the ground floor Fluttershy was resting peacefully on the sofa, enjoying the singing of birds that were sitting on the windowsill of an open window, and looking at the burning fireplace. The serene pastime of the yellow pegasus could continue to take place at such a leisurely, pleasant pace, but, according to the law of meanness, something had to spoil it.) This something became Luster and Starlight, materialized in the air in a large glowing sphere. Fluttershy, not expecting such surprises, jumped up in fright and jumped behind the sofa in order to hide from the glowing threat. The bright light also scared the birds, who almost flew right out into the street. Soon there was a thud, followed by a groan from Starlight. ''What? Where are we?!'' Luster asked herself, without realizing it, jumped on her hooves, but only after a few moments did she realize that they were back in their real bodies. ''Starlight! We are ponies!'' she squealed joyfully, no longer restraining the flow of joy caused by relief from their miraculous rescue. Slowly lifting her body, simultaneously holding onto her sore neck, Starlight noticed Luster rushing towards her with tears of joy. Jumping to Starlight and hugging her tightly by the neck, Luster not only knocked her over, but also caused a new wave of pain, since her neck still hurt after the grip of the cold steel hand of the super soldier. ''Neck! My neck!'' Starlight screamed with a groan, pushing the Luster away with her hoof. ''Oh, I'm sorry ...'' Luster laughed nervously, realizing her annoying blunder. "It's you!'' Fluttershy, who looked out from behind her hiding place, modestly declared with fear, but when she saw familiar faces, she calmed down and exhaled with relief. ''I was so scared… You won't believe..." she came out from behind the sofa, looking at her friends in a relaxed way. ''Fluttershy! You won't believe what we've been through!..'' Luster exclaimed with joy, but one of the princess's best friends reminded her about an important event - the festival of two sisters. ''Festival! Can I still catch?'' she asked, coming to her senses. ''No, the opening ceremony ended three hours ago ...'' Fluttershy replied modestly, and then looked away and quietly added: ''And also… Twilight didn't like your absence much…'' Starlight looked at Luster, stunned by such a discovery, who had already mentally put an end to herself and her future life… An unpleasant situation… *** Somehow Fluttershy and Starlight still managed to calm Luster, who had fallen into despair, and Starlight completely reminded her about everything that had happened that day, managing to convince her that once Twilight heard about their adventures, she would no longer be up to Luster's absence at the opening ceremony. This story was told personally by Starlight at the moment when all six heroines gathered in the throne room, who silently listened to them, opening their mouths and creating mental images of the horrors experienced by both unicorns. As it turned out, the reason for this miraculous rescue was Rarity, who could not help but approach such a wonderful golden mirror standing at the magic door to the archive - she accidentally broke it… But, despite this, the fragments were still placed in the archive, so that no one else would end up in this cursed world.… Maybe this story ended well… Yes, but no one thought that that other world also continued to exist, and the news about the possibility of getting into parallel universes and worlds seriously stirred the minds of the top of the Reich, and Strasse volunteered to be the one to solve this riddle… Moreover, he received approval personally from the Fuhrer. *** The presenter carefully adjusted the microphone attached to his jacket and began his speech: "Good morning, citizens of the Reich! Today we gathered in this modest studio to discuss one wonderful news! But first I would like to ask just one question: have you already planned how you will spend your weekend?" the presenter paused a little, as if waiting for an answer. "Yes or no - it doesn't matter! It is important that the residents of London, after a month, can finally breathe easy and take to the streets, because the state of emergency has been lifted! On such a significant occasion for everyone, the Commandant of London, Klaus Falk, personally came to us!" Loud applause was heard, but as soon as the commandant spoke, they subsided. "Thank you, Jurgen, but there is no need for such an ovation… We were just doing our job..." "Why such modesty, Herr Falk? This news will certainly spread all over the planet, and I just have to ask this question that interests everyone: has the terrorist threat really been eliminated? I heard that you even connected the London monitor!" "Monitor… Yes, it was an extreme measure to ensure security! The damned terrorists made false calls about mining, and a couple of times our sappers actually found explosive charges… And as for the detention... Hmm, isn't that an indicator of SS skill?" he said confidently. "Wunderbar!" the announcer applauded, and the audience immediately supported him. "I am sure that it is because of this news that we came here and... Gentlemen, hold your hats and ladies, and meet - Die Käfer!" the applause became even stronger. *** A month later, after the incident in London. South of Germany, at the entrance to Wolfburg. Wolfburg is a city that fell due to the invasion of the dead, who appeared due to the ancient curse of King Otto ... It is still unknown how this hell on earth began, however, and how it all ended, too, no one knows. The staff Mercedes Strasse was moving along a serpentine, and from the window the pitiful ruins of Wolfburg were visible… But General Strasse did not come here to admire the view, and, even more so, the company of the local leader Ralph Brun, whom for some unknown reason everyone called "Herr Oberst", was not very pleasant to him. A self-satisfied officer with a very unpleasant character and a tendency to bad habits, appointed head of this remote Alpine region, sat next to the general, sipping champagne from a glass. Trying not to pay attention to the burden, Strasse tried to mentally solve the riddle of this artifact, which, after a detailed study of the parchments and new combinations of runes, showed a single green mark standing on the Wolfburg. Considering that he had previously encountered references to certain "gates", he had every right to believe that this golden trinket was leading him to them. Meanwhile, Oberst, having heard the announcer say that Die Käfer was about to perform, leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and anticipating good modern music that could brighten up his boredom accumulated during a long trip to the south of Germany, but Strasse's indignant order upset his plans. "Otto! For the sake of the bright future of the Reich, turn off the radio! I can't stand these "Bugs"!" "Yes, Herr Strasse..." the driver muttered, turning off the radio. Sighing softly and squeezing the glass tighter, Herr Oberst decided to ask how things were going at the facility. "Hephaestus Group, report on the progress. The artifact has already been delivered," he listened to the commander's report without any desire. "I understand you, prepare the object for the arrival of the general!" after receiving another answer, he took his hand away from the headset and turned to Strasse. "Herr Strasse, the catacombs have been cleared, and the artifact is still on the way!" "Good… So far, everything is going according to plan..." the general replied distantly, staring at the ruins of Wolfburg while the officer poured more champagne from the bottle. *** The staff Mercedes drove up to the sagging gate, which is the entrance to the territory of the Wolfburg cemetery. If the general was interested in the local view and the dead "shamblers", who for unknown reasons managed not to rot for more than fourteen years and lay next to the gate, then this was an excuse for Oberst to smoke… So he did - he took a cigarette out of his cigarette case, lit it from a captured American lighter given to him by his father, and, lazily adjusting his cap, put the cigarette case back into the inner pocket of his black raincoat. A walk through the cemetery did not cause any special emotions, and all Strasse's thoughts were occupied with the upcoming refutation or confirmation of his theory related to this unfortunate artifact. Soon they reached the entrance to the crypt, next to which, in addition to several cleaning squads consisting of heavy infantry "Fire Squad Fighters", there was also an army truck, and next to it - an unarmed super soldier, waiting in the wings. The first thing the commander of the operation ran up to them - a fighter in armor with red inserts. "Commander, do the catacombs pose any danger to the General?" Oberst asked with complete indifference, asking just for show. "Jawohl, Herr Oberst! Recently, the last creature was nailed..." "Fine!" said Strasse. "Lead us, Commander… We don't have much time left," he stated, following the Oberst further down the road. As soon as the trio approached the truck, the super soldier saw the general and began unloading the artifact C-979, recently delivered to the crypt, from the body. "Be careful! This artifact, although large, may be fragile!" Strasse worried and, approaching him, began to drive in a new combination of runes. A yellow energy sphere lit up inside the artifact, which began to beat against the invisible walls of the artifact, indicating the entrance to the crypt. Strasse now had enough evidence that his target was in the bowels of these catacombs. *** The way lay through the Wulfburg catacombs, so Strasse and Oberst were accompanied by heavy infantry, although the commander assured them that the catacombs were completely cleared. Several times Strasse witnessed how the soldiers of the cleaning group carried out the bodies of the walking dead, who were called "shamblers". But even despite the numerous questions of interest to the general related to these dead, he could not give up his important business to try to solve their riddles. After ten minutes of wandering through the ancient catacombs, in which, in addition to the bodies of the long-dead, buried here under King Otto, there were also mummified bodies of German soldiers, the group got out into a spacious part of the cave, where the catacombs ended with a sharp descent down. The general was distracted from contemplating the structures built for the descent by the familiar voice of an officer. ''Heil, Herr Strasse!'' Boer greeted the General. ''I see you've finally arrived…'' The general walked past a skeleton with a strange corset and a system of straps on his left leg. Special attention was drawn to his officer's uniform… ''General Strasse, please, let's not waste time on the dead here ...'' the Oberst noticed abstractly, who clearly did not care about this body. ''For your information, this is the body of Helga von Schabbs ... and I must note that it is extremely unpleasant for me to work with a person who does not know the name of this significant leader ...'' Strasse replied with disgust. It is unlikely that such "praise" from the general will have a good effect on the officer's personal file. And there wasn't much point in going down after him so now. Strasse calmed down and turned his attention to Boer, who stood silently waiting for his turn and put his hands behind his back. "Well, Herr Boer, is everything ready for the descent?" ''Yes, General! Everything is ready, I dare say that the design can withstand even a super soldier with his load..." Boer replied, looking at how several heavy infantrymen fixed carbines on their belts, while helping Strasse to put on a vest with carbines. *** When Strasse touched the ground, he easily took off his vest on his own and threw it on the ground. Fighters with headlamps were already waiting for him from below, the light them which ran along the walls of the cave, but at one moment all the rays concentrated on the gilded doors that were the entrance to the next ''Daat-Ihud'' storage. As soon as the super soldier with the artifact approached the door, the energy sphere broke out of the artifact and hit the door. The runes and lines on the door lit up with yellow light, and they began to slowly open, revealing to the general and the fighter a small room with a recess in which there was a pool with a diameter of no more than five meters, and a depth of no more than three. Among other things, a multi-faceted cell in the floor caught eye, which perfectly matched the shape of the artifact. If the general's entire entourage tried to remain silent, and the fighters only signaled to each other with gestures, then Strasse had an assumption. ''You!'' He held out his hand, pointing at the super soldier. ''Leave the artifact there!'' he pointed to the box. The super soldier, muttering something unintelligible, went to the cell and put the artifact in it. The cell scrolled and sank slightly down. The stripes and runes lit up yellow again, and the bottom of the pool began to sink, and soon light also appeared on the bottom, but dim and blue. ''This is too much ...'' the commander shared his opinion, hitting the speaker on his helmet, so that he did not junk. Strasse walked to the edge of the pool and looked at the light source hiding under the thick water. It seems that the bottom was no longer visible… Remembering the description of the "gate" and drawing analogies with what he saw, it became clear to the general that this was the very "gate" that transported the person who entered it to another world… But the question still remained relevant: is the local population ready for battle and how many worlds can be obtained from one such portal? To answer this question, a detachment of heavy infantry was sent to the gate, which slowly sank into the water and disappeared… It took less than a minute, as, to the surprise of the already dumbfounded officers, one of the heavy infantrymen got out of the water, and he got out completely dry. ''What? What did you see there?'' Strasse asked with interest, approaching the pool. ''I ... don't... well, I ...'' the fighter answered dumbfounded, unable at the moment for some reason to connect and two words. 'Were you resisted? Have you seen soldiers or locals?'' Strasse voice was already showing obvious impatience. ''No… But I can't understand ... there... in general '' the fighter was watching the general when he began to dive into the water without warning. ''What are you... No! Wait!'' he tried to grab him and pull him to dry land, but he had already disappeared under the water. ''Damn it… Should I follow now?'' He turned once more to the officers. They silently made it clear that the answer to his question was "yes", and the fighter followed the general. TO BE CONTINUED...
Prologue. Part 3/6. IntegrationUnknown where It seemed that just a couple of moments ago Wilhelm Strasse plunged into the pond, but he had already climbed out of it again, and the bright daylight hit his eyes, already accustomed to the dim light of portable lamps in the catacomb, prompting him to close his eyes and turn away. Even now, he felt that there was something wrong with his body... It was as if he had become young again, and the senile wretchedness and pity disappeared in an instant. Without paying attention to this and finally with an effort opening his eyes, he saw a fascinating and simply stunning view of the castle built on the mountain... No, it was a whole city with a wonderful white and gold castle, whose towers proudly towered over the city. Such a sight could amaze and delight anyone... Of course, if this "anyone" is not General Wilhelm Strasse, who considered looking at this castle a waste of time. At the same moment, he finally noticed the oddities of his body, in particular, that it did not look like a human. His worst fears were confirmed at the moment when the familiar voice of the commander of the "fighters the Fire Squad" called out to him: ''Herr General?'' Turning sharply to the source of the voice, Strasse found four... A pony? Without exaggeration, they were ponies, and, judging by their behavior and meaningful views, they were reasonable. What else interested the general was that there were unicorns and pegasi among them! ''Talking horses...'' he remarked dryly, immediately turning on a cold calculation in his brain. ''That prisoner wasn't lying when she told about... ''Equestria''?'' frowning, he again gave attention to the fighters, noting that they were completely naked, without armor, equipment and weapons. ''Commander!'' The general shouted sharply, and a grayish-blue unicorn immediately came out of the crowd, proudly answering "I am!". ''Great, where is the equipment of your fighters? The one who returned back to our world was in full uniform!'' It was clear from his tone that he was demanding an explanation. Immediately! Alas, the commander had none, but even he had something to say to the general. ''Herr General! I have no idea, but you are also a horse, and you don't have your uniform on!..'' having explained, he did not fail to emphasize one detail. ''I'd say you're a unicorn!" Squinting in disbelief, Strasse still turned around and walked up to the pond, trying to see his reflection in it. If the least surprising thing was that the bottom of this cave lake was not visible, although the water was crystal clear, then when he saw a pony in the reflection, he was really surprised. And really! A gray unicorn with clear blue eyes and two barely visible scars looked at him from the water surface: on the left side of his forehead and under his left eye. It was also noteworthy that he did not have a mane as such, and his age was no different from the age of all the other ponies in this cave. ''That doesn't explain much.'' he voiced his thoughts aloud, turning back and trying to examine his tail, discovering at the same time that he was wearing only a dark brown robe. As it turned out, there was no tail either, although a pathetic bunch of gray hair remained from it. It seemed that this mantle was supposed to cover his deformities, he was even glad that the time allotted to him by nature in this world had turned back, rolling back several decades. At the same moment, it popped into his head: "Fine... It was only thanks to my pure Aryan roots and my painstaking work that I managed to live to such a venerable age, but this world has given me a new time! I have not even lost what pure-blooded Germans should be proud of: purity of thoughts, ideality and a bright mind!" Confidently heading for the exit of the cave, he gave the last orders to the commander, preparing to take an extremely risky and rash step. ''Tell Herr Boer that from now on he will be appointed commander of the field base in Wolfburg, and he will also be responsible for the arrangement of the base and preparation for a full-fledged invasion!'' here he again drew attention to the peculiarities of movement and the fact that only people themselves are transferred here, and things return when they return to the world of people. ''I need to solve the riddle of this lake, and only then can we bring our troops here... Yes, apparently, Equestria has gone no further than the Middle Ages, but a crowd of unarmed ponies will not solve our problems...'' looking up again and looking literally into the commander's soul, he added: ''Do you understand the order?'' ''Jawohl, mein general!'' he answered clearly, taking a step back and standing in a row with the rest of the fighters without uniforms. ''Follow sure that not a single living soul gets into this world during my absence! And yes, if I don't come back in three days, send someone else for me! I won't stay here for long, but if this world is as rosy and good as Luster presented it to me, there won't be any special problems.'' In fact, at that moment he continued his monologue with himself, heading to the exit while the fighters headed back to the lake. After getting out of the cave and getting into the fresh air, the first thing he did was to look around the impenetrable thicket of the forest and that mountain, as if it were his new landmark. Perhaps he had no other options, and he did not notice any other settlements in the area. Throwing on the hood of his robe, he began to descend from the hillock, while trying to think over the further plan of his actions. "As far as I can tell, it could be the castle of a local king, or the possession of a feudal lord... If the history of this place is no different from the history of our world, then it remains only to understand where I am and what century it is now! In addition, the prisoner Luster Dawn claimed about a kind of magic mirror that brought them to our world... Whatever I come up with, first of all I have to find out about this mirror!" *** Some time later. The wilderness of the forest. It seemed like wandering through an unfamiliar dense forest was a bad idea, and seeds of doubt began to sprout in the general's mind, although his thoughts were busy searching for a possible solution and everything related to this world and its inhabitants. In fact, there was little food for thought, because he did not even establish contact with the local population, did not see an ordinary town or village. In fact, this world was almost of no interest to the Reich, because Germany had no problems with resources, slave power and territories, and the only gap between the worlds - the magic lake - could not only greatly complicate the invasion of German troops, but also put the presence of the contingent in Equestria at risk, because once this gap is closed, there will be no supplies and communications. Of course, there was hope for the modernization and industrialization of Equestria, with the subsequent transfer of the Equestria garrison to self-sufficiency, at the expense of local infrastructure, but again - the lake... It is too small and will not allow you to transfer construction equipment here... A whole mountain of piled-up problems forced Strasse to think about the expediency of the invasion, and he seemed to have already wished to curtail his operation, return to Germany and seal up these gates to Equestria forever, but then he heard a pleasant and soft female voice... Although for this world it would be more correct to have a "mare's voice". ''Oh-h! Oh, come on! No, thank you for your patience!'' said this voice, just at the moment when the general stuck his hooded head out from behind the bushes. A yellow pegasus with a pink mane appeared before him, looking at the birds sitting on a branch with such a kind and caring look that the newly-made unicorn felt sick. But the main thing that the general noticed was the brand on her rump, representing three butterflies. At that moment, there was a feeling that she understood these birds and was talking to him. ''Of course, but next time try not to...'' the rustle of bushes and the general who came out prompted her to be silent, and the birds flew away in fright. Trying not to lose her mood, Pegasus, smiling kindly, tried to make contact. ''Hallo... Uh-um... Don't take it as an impertinence, but won't see in local area... Such ponies...'' she finally quieted down, just afraid of the mysterious unicorn. "If she were an ordinary peasant woman, she wouldn't look so healthy and happy... Either the Renaissance era is on the street, or there was no slavery here, and everyone lives in happiness and prosperity... Stupid theory! There are no utopias, but for now I will try not to stand out." The general thought to himself, looking up at her. ''Why such fear? I am an ordinary traveler lost in this forest. Please tell me who I have the honor to talk to, what is your title and what is the name of this wonderful city towering above us?'' he looked around this mysterious castle, looking with interest at a representative of the local intelligent fauna. Realizing that the mysterious traveler does not pose a threat, Pegasus cheered up a little, introducing herself more confidently. ''I'm a Fluttershy!'' almost immediately, she fell silent again, trying to find at least one logical answer to the rest of the questions. ''I-I-I, I don't even know if we have titules... And this is Canterlot!'' immediately a realization came to her. ''Oh, you're not a local?! How silly I am, you have come from far away! Yes, and-and-and... What is your name?'' looking with interest, probably a new "friend", she also asked. "Hmm, and this is a good excuse for my ignorance... If I can get more information out of her by pretending to be an ignorant fool, it will help me in the future." ''I think my name is not so important, and where I come from, they don't give names.'' Thus preserving his incognito, he continued his inquiries, simultaneously walking to a nearby path, which he found thanks to a wooden sign. ''Can you tell me, Fluttershy, the name of the local king and how long to go to Canterlot?'' At the same moment, all innate kindness seemed to flare up in this pegasus. She just couldn't help but help! ''There's a town nearby called Ponyville!'' This news surprised Strasse, but still he continued to listen to the filly, following her as she walked to the path. ''You can get to Canterlot in an hour by train! And I'm sure you'll like the friendly residents of Ponyville or the students of the Friendship School! Well, our leader is Princess Twilight Sparkle!'' here , involuntarily , a thought popped up in the general 's head: "Train? Friendship School? This world has entered the era of the industrial Revolution, but there are special educational institutions where they teach friendship? And how strange the name "Ponyville" sounds, I don't even want to know how these intelligent horses came up with such nonsense!..." By this time he stopped listening to Fluttershy's nonsense, silently following her to a mysterious settlement with a rather stupid name, in the opinion of the general. *** Twenty minutes later. On the way to Ponyville. Almost all this time, Strasse simply followed Pegasus, marveling at her simplicity, kindness and modesty. For a couple of seconds, he even had a theory that absolutely all Equestria is inhabited by a pack of such idiots that they will never take up arms in their lives and certainly will not be able to "object" to the presence of the Reich, but this was just a theory, and the problem with the features of the Equestria gate has not gone away. Finally leaving the forest, Strasse noticed a small village located on a fairly hilly area, and separated by a river. At the same moment, Fluttershy continued to talk modestly about Ponyville, as if she herself had lived in this city, almost all her life, but the general did not even listen to her, trying to assess the scientific and technical development of Equestria, considering this town: "Primitive frame houses with thatched roofs, cobblestone paths and something vaguely resembling a town hall... What a huge gap there is between ordinary peasants or civilians and the ruling class and the elite, given this castle from... crystals? And this academy..." Then his attention was attracted by a steam locomotive that drove up to the station platform, which only confirmed Fluttershy's words and even more confused Wilhelma Strasse, given all this confusion created in his head by primitive houses and luxurious castles, in a state that had reached the industrial era, judging by steam locomotives... These trains were not even so primitive as to be sure that they appeared relatively recently. Did this mean that such a stratification of the population was allowed on purpose, or did the development of the various regions of Equestria differ greatly from each other? ''I'm sure you'll figure it out without me, it's just that I didn't finish with those birds, and it was too inconvenient for me to refuse you... If you don't mind, I'll fly," she added, abruptly quieting down, waiting for an answer. Such determination of this pegasus greatly irritated the general, but he did not show it, because the idea popped up in his head that Equestria could be on the verge of industrialization, and the first steps had already been taken in this direction. ''No, I'm sure your affairs can't wait for you. Who am I to detain and distract you? Of course, go... Then I'll figure it out myself, thank you again!'' politely thanking and bowing, Strasse said, realizing that he gradually began to understand the local temperament and that he was about to be able to come up with a suitable model of behavior. Having only time to look back at Fluttershy, he noticed that she had already flown back into the forest, leaving him alone with his thoughts... Still, he was well aware that in this backwater he was unlikely to find information about the mysterious magic mirror, and it was unlikely that the owner of the castle would even let him into his possession. The only logical solution was to bypass the city and walk to Canterlot with your own feet, because the general had no money for a ticket, and no other options came to mind. ''Anyway, I have regained my youth... Although in the new body of a sentient unicorn pony...'' aloud he remarked, heading to the right in order to make a detour around Ponyville. *** A few hours later. Not far from Canterlot Already on the way to the capital city, which could rightfully be called a miracle of architecture due to its unique location and laudable decisions made by builders and architects, sincere surprise was caused by the fact that the sun, which stood at the zenith for a couple of seconds more, dropped sharply below the horizon, and at the same moment the moon reigned in the sky, plunging the whole Equestria into night twilight. At that moment, a real anarchy reigned in the general's head due to the influx of theories and attempts to find a logical explanation for this incident, but it all came down to one, the most hated phenomenon for General Wilhelm Strasse — magic. Although she alone could explain almost all the oddities that the general encountered while moving to the Equestria capital, and he was ready to take up the study of this magic, overcoming his hatred for her, if this work was useful and could benefit the Great German Reich... Approaching the main gate, he looked around without unnecessary emotions at the ponies crowded in the clearing in front of the bridge, who, apparently, were just having a good time, as if the city itself was not the purpose of their visit... It is not surprising, because as soon as the general approached the drawbridge, he was immediately honored with the attention of several passing ponies, who looked at him with surprise and some apprehension, as if they were trying to figure out who exactly was under this shabby mantle. Needless to say, this excessive attention greatly not pleased Strasse? The general atmosphere in the clearing and the ponies calmly passing by suggested that these gates and guards were standing here just for beauty. And indeed, they were just standing at the entrance for show, because they paid absolutely no attention to the strange and mysterious unicorn that calmly passed by them. Once on the territory of the capital city, the general immediately raised his head, looking back at the castle, towering not only over Canterlot, but also over the whole Equestria. No matter how symbolic it was, the attention of the Strasse was attracted by tourists who followed the guide, enthusiastically looking around and admiring the beauties of Canterlot... Photo cameras... That was the most amazing thing... They were quite modern, as if in some way superior to German-made cameras... "Their level of development is probably not inferior to ours... Is it possible that they have achieved such success, thanks to magic? It seems like I should stay here longer than three days..." Unfortunately, he was distracted from his thoughts by another guide, who was gathering a crowd of onlookers around him, and who now gave him attention as well. ''Welcome to Canterlot, the capital of Equestria! The most sophisticated and elegant city on the whole continent, if not in the whole world!'' smiling, a beige earth pony in the form of a guide told, looking back at the crowd of tourists at the same time. ''Mister, would you like to join our group? I am sure you will not remain indifferent. And yes, it's absolutely free!'' with a sharp smile even wider and staring straight at Strasse, he added. ''It is unlikely that there is such an urgent need for it...'' the general replied incredulously, backing away from the annoying pony guide. ''I'm sure the most you can help me with is to tell me about the shortest way to the castle gate...'' ''Yes, of course! Follow this alley and you will definitely reach the royal castle! Oh, so you're on an official visit to Princess Twilight?'' he joked, but when he came to his senses, the trace of the mysterious unicorn in the mantle was already got a cold. Looking around, he noticed he that's was already walking along that alley to his goal. ''Glad to help!... Maybe...'' with fading enthusiasm, he said uncertainly, waving a hoof after him. All this time general Strasse was making his way through the streets of Canterlot, trying not to cross the eyes of the locals and not even try to talk to them, but still a strange feeling gnawed at him from the inside... felt like there was something wrong in this world. A kind of "Friendship School", Equestria princess, theoretical magic, strong social stratification — and all this against the background of the simplicity and friendliness of the locals... Did this mean that Equestria would not be able to offer any resistance at all, and its subsequent occupation and assimilation would not be a problem? But it was still a long way off, because the old problems had not gone away, and there was still no information about the mirror. By this time, he had reached, as it was clearly clear, the entrance to the Canterlot castle, and this time the guards were more determined, although at that moment the guard was being changed. Before he knew it, the doors opened and two unicorns came out of the castle, with four mannequins with expensive pony dresses hovering next to the first one, wrapped in a strange magical bluish aura, exactly the same was around her horn, which told the general that it was she who was carrying them. "Very interesting... If ordinary magic allows you to do this, then what impact will it have on our soldiers or workers? It is enough to imagine how in battles with primitive untermensch, our brave SS soldiers will be able to drag their wounded comrades with the help of this magic, or our glorious workers will be able to increase the productivity of their labor to unknown heights with the help of the same magic!... It remains only to come up with a way how it can her "taken out" beyond Equestria and adapted for humans. If I understand correctly, these unicorns can become my ticket to the castle, the main thing is to find the right approach to them..." After this decision made by the general, he began to follow them and try to find out at least something from them. Or sneak into the castle and, pretending to be an "important pony from distant lands", ask the princess personally about everything. *** ''So you just want me to help you in your boutique?'' Luster asked dejectedly, clearly not wanting to leave the castle at night, especially to help Rarity with her next "idea", but, alas, she was the first one who turned up under her hoof. ''Listen, can't those workers who are busy with the mural carry these mannequins for you?'' Stopping, Rarity answered, resorting to her typical mannered speech: "Honey, these workers might get their hooves on my dresses, or...'' her eyes widened with the realization of the full scale of the problem, ''to tear... Just imagine what would happen if they tore up my creations! Oh, the stars! They are now in my boutique without supervision!'' coming to her senses abruptly, she put the mannequins on the road, rushing to her boutique as fast as she could. ''Thanks for reminding me, Luster!'' ''Oh-h-h... Well, of course, she's offended for that dress from the Two Sisters Festival …'' Luster mumbled with slight resentment, lifting the mannequins with the help of the same magic. Suddenly a strange stranger appeared behind her and, smiling mysteriously, spoke to her. ''May I ask you for help?'' but General Strasse clearly did not take into account that, firstly, Luster Dawn is a timid person, and secondly, it is not worth sneaking up on a pony from behind, especially at night. ''OH, WHAT?!'' The unicorn screamed, turning sharply back with a mannequin in a magical aura, which immediately flew into the head of a mysterious pony in a robe. From the impact, the mannequin itself fell apart into a couple of pieces, and now on the account of the Luster, the second expensive dress was recorded, which now fell on the dusty city paving stones. After a cursory glance around, she noticed the victim lying motionless next to the pillar... But he was breathing! ''Oh, no! No, no, no, NO! What to do?! What should I do?!'' losing her composure, pony mumbled, running up to the unicorn. She began to walk around him, trying to figure out what to do now. With mute horror in her eyes, Luster looked around, lifting the body with the help of magic. A couple more moments — and she rushed to the entrance to the castle garden, leaving the scene of the crime together with the general injured by her fault. *** Two and a half hours later. The free chambers of the Canterlot Castle With difficulty opening his eyes, the general found himself lying in a luxurious double bed, under a snow-white blanket. After a cursory glance around, he also realized that he found himself in a real mansion, or in the chambers of the castle, which he was trying to get into... A rather specific method, but it worked, although the main goals were not fulfilled. Jumping up abruptly, he instantly regretted it, feeling incredible dizziness and pain. In addition, it turned out that there was also a palace unicorn-doctor in this room, who had been taking notes all this time, and as soon as the patient began to show signs of life again, he jumped nervously on the spot and screamed. ''What are you doing? Stop it!'' in an instant, a white magical aura appeared around the general, preventing him from moving even a little, and he did not even have time to recover, as he was again in a prone position. ''Let's start from the beginning without unnecessary movements! I'm immensely glad that you've come to your senses, but still... Do you understand me at all?'' he asked, abruptly switching to a slower and more intelligible tone, as if trying to chew everything up for a small child. ''Good evening! I am Dr. Ancil, your attending physician...'' "Yes, I understand you perfectly...'' the general answered quite politely, although his thoughts were somewhat different now: "What does this upstart allow himself?! I will not hand over my life even to Berlin charlatans, preferring to trust only myself!... Hmm, if Equestria has problem medicine, I can easily play this circus..." ''Tell me, where am I?... And my head is just bursting at the seams!...'' "Don't worry,"exhaling, the doctor replied, continuing the examination. ''You're at Canterlot Castle. Luster Dawn accidentally injured you with a dummy. Can you tell me your name and where you come from?.. Don't get me wrong, it's just necessary to fill out your card" he explained, continuing to write something into the tablet. At the same moment, Strasse realized that medicine in Equestria was really lame, since for such a serious blow, which, however, did not cause serious damage to the general, minimal diagnostics were carried out, which meant that it was enough to play a real show in order to draw a couple of non-existent diagnoses... ''Let me think about it... My head is so empty, I just remember that I turned to some unicorn, and found myself here... I don't even remember my name! Doctor, is this normal?! I-I-I..." he began with feigned excitement, trying to play amnesia. ''Sad, sad...'' the doctor said, lifting a glass of water from the table with the help of magic. Another moment — and the glass flew up to the general. ''Here, drink some water, I'm sure you should come to your senses first.'' As soon as he finished, the aura dissipated, and the glass fell to the floor, breaking on it. Puzzled, looking first at the glass, and then at his patient, Ancil, adjusting his glasses, still added: ''Is it really that bad with your reflexes? Try to take this frame!'' he pointed with his hoof towards the photo frame standing on the bedside table next to him. Having finally ceased to understand what this "doctor" wanted from him, the general nevertheless resigned himself to the fact that he would have to play the fool, becoming like the locals. Getting closer to the edge, he tried to reach frame with his hooves, but Ancil stopped him again, enveloping his entire body with a white magical aura. ''No, no! With the help of telekinesis!'' "Tele-what?... How did I not immediately guess that it was telekinesis!... Hmm, it seems that only unicorns can use telekinesis and other magic." Noticing this important moment for himself, Strasse shrugged his shoulders questioningly. ''But how? I understand nothing...'' this answer surprised the doctor even more, which made him dumbfounded, as if he did not believe his theory about him. At the same moment, a Luster burst into the room, holding a plate of soup in an aura of telekinesis. She was extremely agitated and tired, and her mane was disheveled — it was safe to say that there was no living place on her. ''Dr. Ancil, what's wrong with him?'' The unicorn asked nervously, looking from the doctor to the general. Of course, now she finally saw him without a hood, and the lack of mane scared her seriously, because she had every right to assume that it was her fault. ''Perhaps it's even worse than I could have imagined. He has amnesia...'' There was a deathly silence, and if this diagnosis was a good sign for the general, then Luster, nervously smiling and giggling, left this world for a couple of moments, peering into the void with eyes full of despair. ''And-and-and... what should we do?'' somehow she squeezed out of herself, completely losing faith in the bright. ''Nothing... At least right now we can't help him much. It will take a long time before he remembers anything. But if we really want to help him, we should try to find his relatives or friends... Oh, yes, you can put the soup on the nightstand, I'm sure he'll figure it out on his own.'' The last time he turned to the patient, he also said, simultaneously watching Luster take the plate to the bedside table: ''Miss Luster and I need to discuss something, we won't be long. I am sure you will have time to refresh yourself and take a break!'' At the same moment, he literally began to drill the door with his eyes, giving a clear hint to Luster that she had nothing to do, or rather, they had nothing to do here at the moment. When the door slammed shut and Strasse was left alone, the first thing he did was think about his next step: "Who would have thought that amnesia would be my cover? Now it remains only to stick to your legend... I am glad that Luster Dawn did not recognize me, and her accomplice Starlight Glimmer is nowhere to be seen. Hmm, if the Luster is here, it means that I am close enough to my goal, and the mirror is located in this castle! It is impossible to delay and relax, if they take my illness seriously, I will lie here for more than a month, and there is little time left." Also paying attention to the plate of soup, he came to his senses and at the expense of the fact that the last time he ate something yesterday evening... If the general's human body got used to scanty portions of plant food, as his diet suggested, then the new body had completely different views on this. Having carefully examined the bedside table, he did not notice the most important thing on it - a spoon. Alas, the feeling of hunger overshadowed the sense of aesthetics, and the general was forced to drink soup, although he could not expect any other barbarism from this place. After emptying the plate, he put it back on the nightstand, and then abruptly jumped on his hooves, not noticing that his body stopped obeying him for a couple of moments, which almost caused him to fall to the floor. Fortunately, he managed to rest against the wall and, starting up, wandered to the exit, continuing to lean on the wall. Having somehow managed to press the handle and open the door, he also went out into the corridor, changing the fulcrum to the door jamb. Willy-nilly, he also managed to eavesdrop on the conversation between Dr. Ancil and Luster, who were slowly moving along the corridor. ''What should I do? What am I going to tell Princess Twilight?!'' Luster mumbled dejectedly, drooping. ''Luster, calm down, please! You're on the verge of a nervous breakdown! And don't worry about Twilight... You are her best student, and it's not your fault! Anyone would have reacted the same way, but not everyone would have tried to help.'' Ancil said, bypassing Luster, who was frozen in place and immediately jumped into forward in an attempt to stop him. ''No, no! Please don't do this!'' She continued plaintively, trying to delay the inevitable. ''I'm even afraid to imagine what she will do to me when she finds out about this!'' ''Princess Twilight is the kindest and most caring pony in all Equestria, and I repeat that this is not your fault! Come on: inhale-exhale... Pause... Inhale and exhale...'' the doctor tried to reason and calm her down. ''Just relax and take a break, you're on the verge of a breakdown!'' Ancil added and, patting her shoulder sympathetically, headed for the exit. Sitting helplessly on the carpet, Luster followed him with a doomed look, realizing that it was not worth waiting for good. Suddenly she heard someone's footsteps behind her and, turning sharply, gasped at what she saw. Now she was able to see the victim of her fear and that mannequin in full height and without a mantia... The absence of a cutie mark was also noteworthy, which raised even more questions about its origin. "Is that me?" Is it my fault?'' pressing a hoof to her mouth and sighing with horror, she said. "Oh, I'm so sorry... Forgive me for that!'' she fell to the floor, burying her muzzle in her hooves. "How disgusting it is! So low and pitiful! But, since I volunteered for this, it means Im need to behave like a local pack of degenerates..." Trying to give his face a meaningful and mysterious expression, he calmly said: ''It's unlikely that this is really your fault, and you didn't do it on purpose either... Don't worry, I don't hold a grudge, and I have no reason to be angry. Better tell me, did I tell you something about myself or the place I came from?'' A little perked up, Luster rose to her hooves, grinning a little nervously. ''Thank you!'' she thanked me uncertainly, not really understanding why. After a moment, she continued, "No, you didn't have time to say anything at all... Well, yes, your appearance suggests the opposite. Speaking of him..." she took a mirror off the wall, holding it up to Strasse. Admiring himself in the reflection of the mirror, the general noted to himself that he was quite satisfied with the new appearance... He was extremely unique and gray for this world of colored and colorful ponies. "Hmm, Dr. Ancil didn't mention that you mutilated me... In fact, I even like it that way.'' In response to this, Luster only gave him a puzzled look, not even daring to say something in response, although she considered such a strange opinion very specific. ''LUSTER DAWN!'' Rarity shouted indignantly from somewhere in the corridor. ''Why are my mannequins just left on the street? Why didn't you even bother to warn me?'' heading in her direction, she did not notice the general... didn't notice it until Luster lowered the mirrors. ''And here's how... Ba-a-a-a! Who is this?!'' Standing up abruptly, as if rooted to the spot, horrified, she added. ''Why doesn't he have a cutie mark and what's wrong with him?... And who is it anyway?'' ''I-I-I... I accidentally badly injured him with your dummy... He has amnesia, and it seems that he even forgot his purpose in life...'' Luster said sadly again. ''My mannequin?!'' she reacted instantly, immediately quieting down from the realization that now there are more serious problems than her mannequins with dresses. ''Oh-oh... Well, why doesn't he have a badge of distinction? This is the first time I've heard of ponies losing them simply because of amnesia...'' at that moment, the general's faith in his plan cracked, but Rarity herself put forward a suggestion that completely corrected the situation. ''Maybe he's not from Equestria? Twilight talked a lot about white spots on the map, and about the fact that there are still many unknown peoples outside Equestria...'' ''Oh, you mean your drawings?'' Strasse made himself felt sharply, meaning the distinctive mark. ''No!'' Luster retorted sharply. ''These are not just "drawings"! These are the marks that show your true purpose! Every pony that has found its purpose has them!'' now Rarity and Luster have two theories, starting with the fact that it was a unicorn from a unique pony tribe that simply did not have a cutie mark, and ending with the fact that the cutie mark disappeared by itself due to the fact that he forgot everything at all... "Is that a brand?" the general asked more intrigued, making the first assumptions about this interesting phenomenon. ''What?! No, of course not!'' Luster immediately replied, trying to get her point across correctly. ''That's-oh... It's quite difficult to explain, but only thanks to the distinctive marks of the ponies and know what they are good at and in which direction they should strive!...'' at the same moment, she doubted her words, thinking over everything she had said. Her thoughts were interrupted by the tall and easily recognizable figure of Princess Twilight. A couple more seconds passed, and now she could clearly see the sleepy princess walking along with Dr. Ancil, discussing something. ''Oh-oh... Here she is...'' Luster whispered, cowering, trying to hide behind Rarity. Of course, Strasse and Rarity also paid attention to the majestic and sleepy princess, who came up with a face full of indifference, as if Luster openly bothered her with every new influx of excitement, especially when she was woken up in the middle of the night because of this. ''Is this this Princess Twilight?" Strasse said emotionlessly, actually quite interested in such a large size and the presence of her horns and wings. Trying not to make the first bad impression on the princess, he asked Luster, who at the moment was even afraid to look at her. ''Is it normal that she is bigger than us and combines a pegasus and a unicorn?'' ''She is an alicorn ...'' whispered Luster Dawn softly, however, without really giving a clear answer to the general's question. Immediately, he noticed a strange worn piece of cloth that Ancil was carrying with him. Less than a moment later, he stepped forward, lifting her telekinesis and bringing it to the general, added: ''I'm sorry... Ahem, we don't know your name yet, so it's not the point. So, I forgot to give you your mantle, in which Luster brought you here.'' Returning the mantle to the owner, he went further down the corridor, while not forgetting to say. ''If there are complaints, please contact!'' Glancing once more at the sleepy alicorn-princess, the general threw on his mantle, also assuming that the ruler of Equestria did not care about what was happening at all. ''A nightmare, it's a crime against fashion!'' Rarity was immediately indignant when she saw this piece of cloth called a mantle in all its glory. Unsurprisingly, she was rewarded with an indignant look from the princess, who perked up a little at the same time. Realizing that in such a state she clearly would not be able to make the right decision and certainly resolve the situation, Twilight said sleepily. ''Dr. Ancil has already told you about what happened and about your worries, Luster. I ask you, don't be overburdened about this, we've been through this many times ...'' closing her eyes and looking at the victim, she staggered, also continuing. ''I'm sure tomorrow we will be able to sort out what happened better and be sure to figure out how to help you and what to do with you, but in the meantime you can stay in the castle chambers... I'm sure you'd better follow the doctor's recommendations and rest. Luster, Rarity, come with me...'' After another sleepy glance at the others, she turned around and headed back to her chambers, even more surprising Strasse with her compliance and the fact that she allowed a stranger from the street to stay in the castle. "It's amazing - even this Princess Twilight Sparkle is as soft-bodied as everyone else in this world... But it is necessary not lose vigilance and forget about the mirror. I'm sure it's worth listening to her and going to bed, rather than wandering around the castle at night, trying to figure everything out on your own." Having finished with his thoughts, he retreated back to his temporary shelter, continuing to build theories about this world. *** The next morning. Canterlot Castle dining room. This night was the strangest for the general, considering that he slept in the castle of the magical land of Equestria in the body of a unicorn pony, trying to find a way to open the way for German troops. Another obstacle to his search was the persistent Luster, still trying to atone for her guilt, not even listening to the fact that she does not have this very guilt. It was she who woke Strasse up early in the morning, it was she who invited him to the table, it is she who follows him around, as if she became his servant of her own free will. It was not necessary to say that she simply interfered with him, not allowing him to concentrate on his thoughts, not to mention the fact that such attention could prevent him from finding out at least something useful about Equestria or the mirror. Entering the dining room, general Strasse immediately noticed the Princess Twilight Sparkle, familiar to him since yesterday evening, tiredly having breakfast with a piece of apple pie. It seems that waking up in the morning was hard for the royal person. The dragon, who was carelessly reading a comic book, also attracted special attention. If the general considered it a mental aberration that an adult dragon at court reads such low-grade literature, then in fact there was nothing terrible about it. "Is that a dragon?" Still trying to confirm his guesses, Strasse asked, letting Luster go ahead. Without thinking twice, he also decided to sit down at the table, realizing that he was here at the invitation of the princess. ''Does anyone else wonder about dragons?'' the dragon himself asked wearily, looking up from the comic and looking at the ignoramus. Instantly noticing the stranger and remembering Twilight's story, he came to his senses, also introducing himself. ''Oh, I'm sorry... I am the right hoof and faithful assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle, a dragon named Spike, I greet you..." immediately quieting down, he turned to Twilight, whispering. ''Hey, what's his name?'' ''I already told you that he doesn't even remember his name...'' sipping from a cup of tea, she also said hello. ''Good morning, Luster and greetings to you, our new friend.'' ''Good morning, Princess Twilight!'' surprisingly, very calmly, even a little joyfully, Luster replied, also paying attention to the footman rolling a cart with silver trays to the table. When Strasse tried to take the tray with his hooves, he did not even have time to react to the fact that his unspoken assistant Luster had already lifted him with telekinesis, placing him in front of the general. A wave of indignation and rage filled him, for he perceived it as if he was being mistaken for an infirm and fragile. Among other things, he also recalled one case when his old assistant persuades him that robot assistants and robot servants would not replace human help. Of course, in response to this statement, Strasse invited him to personally check who is better: a robot or a human? Alas, for the upstart, it turned into a ten-second battle with an unarmed robot guards who simply crushed his skull with his foot. ''Thank you, Luster, but let me repeat — I don't need help and excessive attention. I'm sure you have your own business and responsibilities, too.'' Spike and Twilight were somewhat confused by this answer. After exchanging glances, they came to the conclusion that these were the characteristics of the stranger's character, nothing more. At the same moment, a bright purple aura appeared around the white teapot, and then Twilight poured tea into the general's mug, putting the teapot in the middle of the table. Such a gesture from the royal person greatly embarrassed General Strasse that a somewhat strange analogy even popped up in his head: "Such an appeal from a princess? I was just dragged from the street, and now the Equestria ruler personally pours me tea!... It's like the Fuhrer of the Great German Reich, Adolf Hitler, pouring tea or coffee to an ordinary citizen of Berlin!" ''Thank you, Your Highness!'' trying not to betray his rejection, he replied, to which Twilight nodded amiably. A few moments later, he decided to inquire about the contents of his silver tray. Removing the lid from the plate, he saw a beautiful vegetable salad — everything, as befits his diet. It is not surprising that they do not eat meat in these places, given the local pacifism and friendliness. ''I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but why do you show such leniency to an ordinary unicorn?'' ''This is the basis of the magic of friendship. Oh, I completely forgot about the visit of my best friends in a couple of hours!'' finally coming to her senses, she said with a smile: ''I'm sure we'll figure something out with them!'' ''Wonderful!...'' trying to squeeze out a feigned joy, the general replied, still harboring the same aversion to these "friends". ''Now we will definitely be able to return my "cutie mark" to me, right?'' Feeling a little sad, Spike put down his reading, noting very correctly. ''Who would have thought that he not remember about your friends either... It's amazing that he remembers how to breathe and walk... Hey, Twi, you remember about Star Swirl's arrival, right? I'm just sure that this case will interest him no less than the sprouts of the golden flower...'' ''Exactly! Star Swirl!'' the princess finally cheered up, as if she had just found a solution to this pressing problem. Even Strasse wondered how this Star Swirl could help, and why the princess reacted so strongly to the news of his appearance. ''So I have some free time?'' casually asked the general, trying to get closer to the first clues of his goal. ''Can I inspect the lock while idle simple? Maybe I can remember something at least...'' ''Of course... Luster could very well give a tour, and you can't tell from her that she's against it.'' Twilight answered, thinking about something, and pushing away a plate with a half-eaten piece of cake and a saucer with a cup, she got up from the table and headed for the exit. ''Come on, Spike, I think I have an idea.'' ''Oh, she's started up again ...'' Spike said wearily, getting up from the table and following her. ''Yes, there are no plans for today and I can!'' Luster immediately replied, looking after the departing princess. At the same moment, she smiled, glancing at the general, tired of her companies, who tried to simply ignore her. "If only I could find a way to detach this clingy from myself without resorting to violence, which could reveal me, I would be immensely happy..." After finishing his meal and finishing his tea, he also hurried out, hearing Luster following him behind him. *** Two hours later. The throne room. Even despite the heated discussion and the long-awaited meeting of friends, an ordinary atmosphere reigned in the throne room, full of grandeur and tranquility. The voices and laughter that gradually turned into the usual unintelligible echo, combined with the general atmosphere and atmosphere, simply inspired and made an indelible impression. Not surprisingly, apart from the everyday discussion, all the topics were reduced to a mysterious unicorn with amnesia and deformities, representing the missing mane and tail, as well as a scar on his face. "Twilight, darling, don't you think it's too much to leave him in the castle?" Rarity asked a little mannerly, glancing at the thoughtful princess sitting on the throne. ''I can't figure out where he's from... We have never heard or seen bald ponies, especially those wearing such old shabby mantle.'' Thought fully burying her muzzle in the hoof and mumbling, Twilight added uncer tainly. ''It seems to me that he may be a noble scientist or a magician...'' Her message was mirror-clear, even though she didn't plan to forcibly keep him in Equestria. ''The most amazing thing is that he forgot even about the legends of Equestria!'' Rainbow Dash chuckled loudly. ''He forgot everything, don't forget!'' Applejack immediately intervened, but this discussion ended as quickly as it began, as soon as two guardsmen opened the doors behind which Strasse and Luster Dawn were standing. Following the annoying unicorn, unsuccessfully trying to drown out a sense of guilt, Strasse enthusiastically examined the stained-glass windows, the paintings on which he took for an artistic representation of ancient legends, or for interpretations of historical events of Equestria. ''Holy apples, who is this?...'' Unable to restrain herself, Applejack gave out when she saw a stranger following the princess' student. Noticing that the other five looked at her disapprovingly, she added. ''What? It's the first time I've seen a pony without a mane, and to be honest, it's creepy...'' By this time, Luster and Strasse were already at the steps leading to the throne, inspecting the six legendary heroines of Equestria. "Don't worry, I'm already used to it anymore," Strasse also pretend to answer, hating this group in his heart. ''Princess Twilight, are these your wonderful friends?'' rising after Luster, he asked. When Twilight smiled steadily, already preparing to introduce him to the others, Luster flew forward, introducing this unicorn. ''Meet! He... Well, he even forgot his name, so I...'' her enthusiasm quickly faded from this hitch, she only managed to finish: ''I-I-I... I accidentally hit him on the head with a dummy, and he forgot who he was... Well, he forgot everything, but-oh...'' she smiled awkwardly and, realizing that she had started all this in vain, just smiled nervously and became quiet. ''She follows me around all day trying to atone for her guilt, even though I told her that I didn't need help, and I don't see her fault in yesterday.'' Strasse abruptly interrupted the growing tense silence, stepping forward on his own and continuing to look at the princess's friends. ''I'm Pinkie Pie! - the pink earth pony called herself. In all Equestria, you will not find a happier and more cheerful pony than me!'' with a huge smile, jumping up a couple of times on the spot. ''I know, I know! I have to sing about it!'' she was already getting ready to start chanting, when a bluish magical aura of Rarity appeared around her muzzle. "Please, Pinkie, not now...'' slightly wincing, she said, trying not to spoil the first impression of herself. ''My name is Rarity! I am the personification of generosity, and I can safely call myself the queen and trendsetter in Equestria!'' Another Earth pony made itself known. ''I am an Applejack - an element of honesty. You won't find a more honest and hardworking pony in all Equestria! My whole family has been growing the best apples for decades! Well, yes, maybe your bald head is a badge of honor?'' she suggested, trying to cheer him up, but he didn't even move an eye. ''Ha!'' Rainbow soared sharply into the air, also starting with pride. ''Coach and Wonderbolt leader Rainbow Dash is here! You've heard about them, right?'' at the same moment, Rarity hit herself in the face with a hoof, while it dawned on Pegasus that he didn't remember anything at all. ''Oh, yes... Well, then I'll fill you in. This is the best squad of flyers in all Equestria, which takes only the best and most skilled Pegasus!'' she said it with such pride, as if she herself dreamed of joining this squad, even without considering the fact that she had already led it. "The best in all Equestria, the kindest, the most caring, the most generous and honest... But none of them will admit that they are the most selfish and mean in all Equestria. What do they mean by this "Equestria" at all?!" the general noted to himself, while trying to figure out what to answer him. ''It's interesting, and I'll say again that I'm also very pleased'' in fact, his observant and indifferent look said the opposite, but the six heroines could not even guess what was really going on in his head. ''Let's say, who is this?'' he also drew attention to Fluttershy, who tried to stay away, even though this pony was familiar to her. "This Fluttershy... If she only pushes things in the right direction, it may ease my situation, but who knows what can be expected from her?" ''I'm Fluttershy...'' modestly smiling, she introduced herself, not trying to develop this conversation further. Even the general thought it was strange, realizing that just yesterday she was more willing to make contact. "Well, Fluttershy! Don't you want to introduce yourself and talk about yourself like everyone else?'' he tried to show interest, noticing out of the corner of his eye how Twilight was looking at her friend's behavior with surprise. ''I remember you... Yesterday I accompanied you to Ponyville, meeting you in the vastness of the ever-wild forest...'' she said uncertainly, as if feeling sorry for the one with whom she had a friendly dialogue yesterday. ''You... You what?!'' Princess Twilight immediately came to her senses. ''Why didn't you say so right away, Fluttershy?" ''I thought it wasn't him... But it's him! The same predatory look, but exceptional politeness and kindness!'' to be honest, after such a "compliment" the general almost turned inside out, however, he himself was amazed at how well he got used to the role of a local fool. ''So...'' having moved away, Strasse began anyway. ''I told you something, didn't I? Maybe a name? Where do I live or where am I going?!'' continuing to skillfully feign interest, he asked. ''You said that where you come from, they don't give names, and that you are heading to Canterlot, but you didn't know anything at all! You were even surprised when I mentioned the name of Princess Twilight!'' having given out exactly what Strasse wanted, she finally quieted down, looking uncertainly at Twilight sitting on the throne. ''We need Star Swirl... Without him, the case will come to a standstill!'' the princess concluded, which is the case went strictly according to the Strasse scenario. Mumbling thoughtfully, Rainbow Dash noticed a very interesting moment. ''Don't you think that he has a look like an eagle? ... and even without a mane, he looks like a hawk!'' perhaps only Pinkie Pie, jumping over Rarity and Applejack, supported this observation! ''Oh! Oh! I know! Let's come up with a name for him!'' she began uncontrollably, suddenly being next to the general, causing him to jerk in surprise, because a second ago she was five meters away from him. ''Hawk! No, no, no, no!'' she also quickly disappeared, but as soon as the general stepped back and looked around, he noticed her indefatigably joyful face in close proximity to him, and her head was hanging from somewhere above. ''How are you? ...'' he only managed to ask, looking up and noticing that she was hanging in the air. At the same moment, she fell to the floor, also abruptly jumping up on her hooves and asking: ''What I?... So that's it! You ascended, do you understand?!'' she tried to convey her thought to him by running her hoof through the air upwards. ''Rise! Hawk, Rise! Do you understand? Hawk Rise!'' During these couple of seconds, she has already managed to bore him, because he seriously thought about performing a vivisection of the brain in order to make sure that this deviant behavior is caused by biological abnormalities or deformities... Alas, that unique device fell into disrepair, and the general's hands never reached the point to bring it into proper shape. "Hey, Pinkie, not a bad name! I think it will suit him just right!'' Rainbow Dash replied thoughtfully, thinking that the matter was over. In response to this, Twilight and Applejack nodded approvingly, and the whole six plunged into discussing this new name, while Strasse, or rather, Hawk Rise, as he was now called, had time to think: '' "Hawk Rise.".. They just couldn't come up with a worse name, or is today the case of mass idiocy? If they choose names for everyone, then nothing here will surprise me! But still I am glad that they accepted me into their society..." Realizing that they had forgotten about him for a while, the general came forward, also sharing his opinion regarding the name. '' "Hawk Rise?" Not bad... At least that name doesn't affect my deformities!'' he chuckled, starting to hate them more and more. His salvation from further conversation with the unwanted company, taking into account the Luster Dawn, was Dr. Ancil, who also suddenly entered the hall and walked briskly towards the throne. ''There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! I completely forgot to tell you about the planned procedures!'' without looking up from the notes on his tablet, he said, already approaching the steps. The general immediately turned around and headed towards the doctor, continued play the fool. ''Doctor, of course! Luster, please rest for a couple of hours... I'm sure you deserve it.'' He also finally added Luster, who was already preparing to follow, because of which she stood up in confusion, as if rooted to the spot. ''And yes, Dr. Ancil, now you can safely call me Hawk Rise! Wonderful friends of Princess Twilight Sparkle gave me such a name!'' ''Wonderful!'' the doctor replied with indifference and immediately continued: ''Well, Hawk Rise, please follow me... Don't worry, it won't be long!'' turning around and heading for the exit, he added, once again writing something down on the tablet. Hawk, following him, tried not to look back at the annoying Luster, from which he was finally able to get rid of at least for a couple of dozen minutes... to be continued...
Prologue. Part 4/6 IntegrationSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
