Boundary Point

8 Months before Twilight’s Entrance Exam for the School for Gifted Unicorns…

“Agghhh why can’t I win?”

“Because you don’t practice sis, that’s why.”

“I am practicing!”

“Twi, you’re reading 10 hours a day and practicing 2.”

“Reading is practicing!”

“Well, if that’s the case, you, who is my sister mind you, will never overcome me in magical finesse and might.”

“…Shining?”

“Yes.”

“Why was mom sent to 2nd bed?”

“… come here Twi. Listen close. Our mom got into a disagreement with Carat. She thinks that our mom’s latest book had a character that was just her as the principal antagonist.”

“But she writes the best stories!”

“I know, listen. Since Carat is our lead, she pressured dad and Ambien on it and rather than fight Carat on the matter, she deferred and accepted the punishment.”

“But I know she didn’t do it! She just hates our band.”

“Maybe. But try to look at it from her perspective, even though she is wrong. Clarity Shroud is described almost like Carat. Both are low royal Unicorns of nearly the same coat and mark. So how would you feel if I wrote a story about oooh, Dusk Nightlight that’s a Purple Unicorn who wants to read all the books and go to the School for Gifted Unicorns but never, ever practi-”

“Hey!”

“So you see?”

“I guess… but Carat is still wrong.”

“And I agree with you. But Twi, you can’t let your desire to be right all the time stop you from looking at things from a different perspective.”

“Shining, my legs are starting to feather.”

“… Really? Show me…”

“See?”

“Huh, I guess Ill need to teach you how to keep your legs trimmed so you can trot like a proper mare.”

“Shining, when you come back from those long camping trips, your feathering is thick. Like a lot thicker then dad’s… will mine be that thick?”

“Maybe. But if you don’t want the librarians poking fun at you, you’re going to need to keep it trimmed and clean.”

“… Shining, am I going to get into fights with my Stallion?”

“…”

“Shining?”

“Yes, you will Twi. But I am going to tell you something really important. What does mom and dad do after they get into an argument?”

“… They go calm down and wait awhile?”

“What you need to know, Twi, is that after an argument, what you do after is just as important, if not, more so.”

“Just like how dad hugs mom after they spend a little time away from each other?”

“Exactly. Just like mom and dad. And just like what dad does with Carat and Ambien.”

The rough, lumpy layer of the second bed ached Twilight’s side as she laid atop it in the dark. The moon had completely left the window, making the room pitch black. Stale air drifted around the room as Twilight shifted to her other side and she grunted. She slowly tapped her left hoof over her right front ankle, and she could feel it: Her feathering hadn’t been trimmed and cut the last few days and it was coming in full force.

Okay so I’ve tried being a take charge mare and it’s getting me nowhere… Twilight thought to herself. He even planned a trap, if I keep pushing him, he might lash out in anger… Okay okay okay Twilight. Do what Shining said. I’m Alien and...

…

Oh Celestia I have no clue how he thinks…

Okay okay calm down. According to the book, his species is patriarchal… so he should be in charge. Okay that’s why he’s challenged me at every moment. So I need to get him to stop bucking at me. He won’t let me take care of him, so I can’t reward him for good behavior. I mean I could just say good boy, but he might take that as being pedantic.

He’s obviously competent with a lot of things. So he must have a wide skill set. This implies a lot of experience, and he has no problem talking to mares if Golden Leaf is any indication. Like she said, he must be a fast learner to learn Commune… and he has a high tolerance for failure if he lost 4 times and went back for more.

Twilight lifted her head off the bed and looked into the abyss that surrounded her.

I wonder if that extends towards me and others? Okay so maybe the real question is: Can I convince him that letting me lead is better for- no, that won’t work. Okay, so he’s been in, apparently, dreadful pain for a very long time before I came along, so he’s probably learned to endure it. So no amount of arguing from my end is ever going to get him to let me lead.

So a take charge style of leading is never going to work with him. That means I am going to have to be diplomatic… extremely diplomatic with him. So I need to start with some kind of good faith offering. Maybe if I concede some points from earlier, it might be enough to have good faith communication.

Twilight finally laid her head down and let the night take her as one last thought crossed her mind.

In Good Faith.

The background jubilation of drunk ponies and griffins stirred the common area. One mare suddenly shouted, “Let’s sing another -hic- song to Taper Sconce, the only mare ever to call Celestia a foalless git and live to tell the tale!”

Candlelight flickered as the giant hearth in the middle of the tavern roared and the tavern goers began to sing:

🎵Taper Sconce was a mare

The only one to dare

To call the Queen a nasty thing

Regardless of all the Worshiping!

She drank her fill

Then hobbled to Court

She didn’t speak and didn’t shout

She simply stuck her tongue out!

She lifted her tail!

And let out a wail!

She turned around for the Queen to see

Taper Sconce in her full glory!

The guards rushed in.

And surrounded the mare.

Unable to bare her derrière

So Taper Sconce gave a wink

To the Queen so distinct

Then with a clatter and thrust of her rear

She jumped straight into the air!

And so lept that mare

Into the night skies oh so rare

So there goes the only being

Who achieved her dream

Of winking at the Queen!🎵

The crowd of drunk patrons started to laugh and giggle as Golden Leaf moved two coins out of her treasury and took two wraps into storage, “She seemed pleasant enough,” Golden Leaf said, taking the first turn. “Disagreement on who to bring in as your first new member?”

Xavier shook his head as the singers finally quieted down. He examined the resources he had to work with, “Let’s just say that she and I have been having an argument since we first met and it’s just recently flared up again.”

“Isn’t that the way of things,” Golden Leaf said, moving her pieces around before nodding to Xavier. “You think it’s smooth sailing until someone brings up that they had a problem with something all along, something that could’ve been fixed months ago.”

“It’s not quite that,” Xavier said, watching Golden Leaf ’s moves. He pursed his lips as he saw Golden Leaf exchange 2 bolts of linen for 1 coin. “It’s more like she’s made a very important unilateral decision without checking with me.” Xavier then took his turn, and moved his resources around the board as well, “Decisions she should have checked with me first before just carrying them out.”

“Unfortunate,” Golden Leaf said, taking her turn. “Sounds like she was raised in the Farland style of hearding. But her accent is from Canterlot, I’m guessing that her herd may have moved from the Hinterlands to the capital when she was still very young…”

“Hinterlands?”

“Herds from the more agriculturally important regions tended to be far away from the capital before the war. Where old traditions hold strong, even amongst us unicorns.”

“I don’t know about that…” Xavier turned to look at the entranceway. “What I do know is that she is very different to what I expected.”

“Expected?”

“Sorry, this must be a bit confusing,” Xavier said, scratching the side of his cheek. “Let’s just say that the mare I thought that I read into early in the relationship isn’t exactly the mare that I’m seeing now.”

“Oh?”

“Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that I misread her list of accolades before even meeting her,” Xavier said as he moved worker ponies to the forest space.

“And you still agreed to form a herd with her? Did you recently find out about this?”

Xavier scratched the back of his head, “Let’s just say that that there was a tumultuous phase where I got scooped up in the chaos.”

“She didn’t just point and say ‘Come with me’ did she?” Golden Leaf giggled.

“Actually that’s a lot closer to the truth then I was trying to let on, but…” Xavier’s mouth stretched.

Golden Leaf froze, and eyed her opponent, “If she is holding you hos-“

“No, no,” Xavier shook his head. “It’s a long story, involving a very, very long game of hide and seek.”

“Who won?”

“Define winning,” Xavier looked up at Golden Leaf and grimaced, finally making another move. “Regardless, we’re touring the country side now. She said that she’s trying to show me the real Equus.”

“Hurm,” mumbled Golden Leaf , making her play. “Take my advice then, if you head west to Shoestone, keep your stay short.”

“Border dispute?”

“Oh please, nothing as exciting as that,” Golden Leaf rolled her eyes. “But there’s something wrong with the local inhabitants. Even before the borders between the Kingdom and Union were drawn, the Princess’s government allowed that town certain, shall we say, privileges. If hearsay is to be believed, at the negotiation table, the Kingdom practically gave the township to the Union.”

Xavier’s head rose, “Interesting. I guess the kingdom left them to fend for themselves?”

“You could say that,” Golden Leaf gulped. “I only visited them once when I was young and was ready to follow the sun to evening,” Golden Leaf slowly raised her eyes to Xavier. “They’re uncharacteristically dry Earth Ponies. Even the stallions show little, if any emotion.”

“Stoics?”

“Maybe,” Golden Leaf looked up at Xavier, then glanced right before continuing. “But when I was there, there was no Basilica. Not even a shrine,” Golden Leaf twisted her neck, looking away from Xavier.

“They didn’t participate in state worship?” Xavier raised an eye.

Golden Leaf shot a smile at Xavier, “State worship? Yeah, I guess you could say that. I’ve never put too much stock in Celestia’s word. But nearly every town and city from Manehatten to Vanhoover will have at least a shrine for rudimentary ceremonies. But not Shoestone. Nothing for Celestia, nothing for Luna, despite the reintegration. And it gives me the creeps.”

“Sounds more like some sort of vassal town,” Xavier said, rubbing his chin.

“That’s a very good way to put it,” Golden Leaf said. “Obviously they used to send a baroness to Canterlot, and Canterlot was in charge of its defense. But,” Golden Leaf once again took her eyes off the human. “It’s obvious that they run things their way. As far as I know, the Union hasn’t even sent a delegation to survey the town.”

“Both are treating the town as if it’s some kind of quarantine zone?”

“If I didn’t know trade was happening between them and other towns, I would dare say that’s exactly what’s going on,” Golden Leaf replied, turning to the hearth and watching the flames dance.

Xavier gulped, then grimaced, “What is their primary export?”

“Stone. For building construction,” Golden Leaf said, turning back to Xavier. “Maybe crops and gem stones as well, but their main export is slabs of granite.”

“Granite is incredibly hard,” Xavier said. “If they don’t use magic, the techniques and tech required would imply that they locally have iron and the skill to mine and mold it.”

Golden Leaf shrugged, “Every town has it’s blacksmith, but not every town has a mine. Though you might be right, when I talk to caravans headed there, there’s not much talk of a lucrative iron trade. And with regards to techniques, a group of Earth Ponies working in harmony would be sufficient.”

“Overwhelming strength?”

“No, overwhelming coordination. If you ever get a chance to see seven or more Earth Ponies who have known each other for a long time tackle an obstacle, I would recommend just watching them go to work,” Golden Leaf tipped her head and looked up at Xavier. “It’s almost like watching mu-“ Golden Leaf froze. “Oh, so that’s why they seemed so off…”

“Huh?”

“Sorry,” Golden Leaf said and made her move. “I just realized not once during my two visits did I hear them sing. I was going to say music in motion, but now that I think of it, even back then…”

“Not once?”

Golden Leaf shook her head, “Maybe it’s just coincidence… I didn’t stay there for any long periods of time, but I distinctly remember not even hearing a pony singing to themselves, or even whistling.” Golden Leaf looked up at Xavier. “Seeing as you’re from somewhere far away, let me explain. Earth ponies have this sort of, special relationship to singing and work. I’m not exactly clear on the detail, but when earth ponies typically work together, they do their damnedest to sing together while they work. Far as I can tell, it helps make the work easier, but the song also helps coordinate things. Kind of like a sea shanty.”

“You mean a work song?”

“Exactly! Exactly! So you see, not hearing any kind of singing whatsoever?” Golden Leaf shook her head, “They’re not terrible or awful ponies, but there’s obviously something amiss.”

“I’m just surprised that the kingdom’s government permitted such deviation from Alicorn worship,” Xavier scratched his chin. “Maybe they had a special agreement?”

Golden Leaf shrugged, “It wouldn’t be the first time that the kingdom made compromises to incorporate territory. Though typically such levity is reserved for ports and major metropolitan zones.”

“Is it hard to get quality stone?”

“Maybe that’s it,” the mare trailed off. “As you said, working with stone is hard enough and if they have skill that they can leverage that doesn’t use iron? They could literally be the ones providing the stone and marble to build the building of a nation.”

“One town to build a nation? Either they’re extremely industrious or something else,” Xavier looked up. “But why would Canterlot just give it up? Also, now that I think about it, I don’t see too many stone buildings outside of cities. Even here, I think I only saw a stone complex at a blacksmith…”

“That’s not too surprising, really stone infrastructures only reserved for government buildings and places you don’t want burning down. Otherwise it’s wood.”

“Yeah but,” Xavier pinched his lips together. “How much stone do you think Canterlot uses?”

“… You’re right,” Golden Leaf nodded. “I’ve only made one pilgrimage in my lifetime, but just Celestia’s castle, I remember that some of the more public areas were marble. But the ones behind the scenes were granite. And that’s ignoring the building that continues while the Kingdom is being run.”

“Wait, there’s still building?”

“Yes, but in two different ways. First is obviously the renovations. Nothing lasts as long as the princesses, so of course they have to get builders to come on down and repair and maintain the structures. But there are also other sections of the castle that are being expanded on. A new dining hall here, a small library there. The only time they really stop such construction is well… Wartime,” Golden Leaf snorted.

“Constant building doesen’t make sense,” Xavier said. “Renovations and restoration, fine. But continuous expansion? At some point they’ll be trying to build atop of some pony’s home.”

Golden Leaf shook her head, “Have you ever seen Canterlot?”

Xavier shook his head.

“While the main city was constructed around the castle, the city was only constructed around the front half. The rear half is what undergoes expansion,” Golden Leaf said.

Xavier nodded, “That makes a lot more sense.”

“And that is ignoring any expansion skyward or beneath the ground,” Golden Leaf continued. “Rumor had it that the eventual goal of the castle was to grow so tall as to reach into the clouds, but even with magic reinforcing the castle, there were worries that if the magic were to fail, it could collapse onto the main city. It had this weird feel to it where you could tell the ponies in charge really wanted the capitol to reach into the heavens, but smarter heads kept telling them they would just be giving any enemies a weakness to exploit. Never mind poor construction material or accidental mishap being just the push it needed to come crashing down. So they build the opposite direction of the city instead.”

Xavier didn’t move, looking down in thought before lifting his head, “Is it as grandiose as I’ve been told?”

Golden Leaf turned and smiled as her eyes drifted towards the ceiling and her ears fell back, “Yes. That and more. I remember it like it was yesterday.” Golden Leaf looked up, blinked, then started, “Towers of yellow gold and purple scraping the sky, white walls kept immaculate. A portion of it jetted above the public entrance, even casting a shadow on everyone at midday. Two giant arches greeted you, and beyond that, there was the grand column that took a full hour to be raised from the lowest depths to the highest floor. The scent of baked goods and the Princess’s personal Royal Guards, each one strong and tall, among other things,” she gave a wink at Xavier.

“It’s said that the main atrium was so large that it had it’s own peagasi weather corps. That mining for precious metals was still undertaken by the strongest Earth Ponies. The University of Canterlot had a branch within the castle that was just as good as the main campus, if not, better. Electrium decorated the domed ceiling mural above, with scenes of the Kingdom’s history. At the center was Equestria proper, with the six scenes. When Celestia and Luna gained Alicornhood and took on responsibility for the realms of the profane and dream. When the two challenged Discord and brought order back to us. When Sombra rose up, only for the two to lose the Crystal Empire to him and time. When the two tamed the Dragons with treaties and convinced the Gryphons to give up before war even started. When Celestia welcomed the last of the Pegasi, uniting the kingdom. And finally, when Luna rebelled and Celestia exiled her to the moon.”

“Wait, the exile of Luna is still prominently displayed?” Xavier asked, raising an eye.

“Probably not anymore, I undertook my pilgrimage well before her return. Ever since she came back into the fold, I remember the kingdom was doing everything in its power to rehabilitate her image. The ancient basilica were always designed with the duality of night and day,” Golden Leaf’s mane shifted over as she shrugged. “After the Lunar Rebellion, the old Basilica were repurposed to fully embrace Celestia while newer buildings didn’t even have the twin design. Thousands of craftsmares were put to task to either restore the oldest shrines or remodel the newest in accordance with Luna’s return.”

“I was told that Celestia’s pardons for Luna’s crimes were considered contentious,” Xavier said.

“They were and they weren’t,” Golden Leaf nodded. “You have to realize that her return took nearly all of us completely off guard. Then there was the discovery that Celestia had only sentenced Luna to a thousand years of exile, so there was no pardon for the rebellion. Luna had served her time. But her attack when she was let free was pardoned, and many had issue with it. Despite the fact that Twilight Sparkle put a stop to her,” Golden Leaf turned her head and looked out, beyond the tavern and towards the direction of the guestrooms. “Your companion, now that I think about it,” Golden Leaf shook her head.

Xavier froze. His eyes slowly raised themselves from the game to the mare ahead of him while his skull remained unmoving, then said, “You think she looks a lot like her?”

“I’ve seen drawings and paintings of the Element of Magic, even some photos, but…” Golden Leaf continued to shake her head. “She looked regal and refined, young, and not to put too fine a point on it, your companion looks frumpy, and a little worn out. Her mane and coat are duller than Twilight’s is. And that’s ignoring the difference in cutie marks. Also, there’s no way Twilight Sparkle, the mare that saved us twice, would be like your lead,” Golden Leaf laughed.

Xavier cocked an eye at Golden Leaf , then returned his gaze back at the game, “What do you mean? You’ve never met her right?”

“Right.”

“So for all you know, she could be an utterly deranged piece of work that assaults strangers on the street,” Xavier raised an eye.

“No, no, no,” Golden Leaf chuckled. “I’ve read all about her in the papers. She use the elements of Harmony twice, so she has to be a generous, kind soul that, honestly is loyal to her friends and would much rather laugh and enjoy a good time than anything deranged.”

Xavier shrugged, “What if that’s just how she appears in public?”

Golden Leaf took a sip of her cider and shook her head, “She was able to use the elements of Harmony, I refuse to believe that THE Twilight Sparkle is anything but a humble, wonderful mare whose very light saved this land twice.”

“Right,” Xavier looked into the hearth’s flames that danced along the edge. “That’s what I was told too.”

“I still need to get the maps,” Twilight said as the rays of the sun hit the window to the end of the room. The second bed was made, but with wrinkles while next to it, the main bed looked just as it had yesterday. “The ones at the local library are to my liking, but since your a bit stingy on money,” Twilight froze as she bit her lower lip.

“Stingy?” The human said as he wringed one of the many pieces of clothes he was cleaning. Water dripped down into a bowl as he squeezed it.

Twilight’s eyes widened as her ears fell back slightly, “Sorry, what I meant to say,” Twilight verbally stumbled for a second, “was since you are very careful about the finances, I’ll go out and get the price now, then you can give me the money to go back and get it.”

“As long as you bring back the receipt, I don’t really see a problem in giving you a chunk of cash.” Xavier said.

Twilight turned and raised an eye as one of her ears swived towards him, “Seriously?”

Xavier stopped and looked up. Then he turned to Twilight, “How good are you at haggling, be honest.”

“If I had to be honest? Pretty good.” Twilight said as she lowered herself between her saddlebag and stood up, the band beneath her tightening taut, “Though I could ask the same of you, is it true that where you come from, you almost never haggle?”

“That… depends.”

“That depends on what?” Twilight asked.

“That depends on the situation and context. Most of the institutions where I would exchange monetary goods, the price is set and it is what it is. But there are plenty of places where haggling is still in full force. If I was trying to negotiate the production of several thousand cogs for example, I would be definitely haggling with several different companies, but just a loaf of bread in the supermarket? Prices set, I can take it or leave. The only thing I can do then is try to find another place that has it cheaper, but the time and money wasted going somewhere else might not be worth the savings.”

“Supermarket?” Twilight turned to Xavier and raised an eye.

Xavier looked up and let out an exhale, “A supermarket is a place where…” Xavier paused and place the cloth he was cleaning next to the window sill. “Have you ever been to a bazaar?”

“There really wasn’t a bazaar in Manehatten, but there was a large marketplace…”

“All right, and at this marketplace, you had a lot of different individuals selling their produce and wares right?”

Twilight nodded, “Honestly, that’s where I got a lot of my haggling experience from.”

“A supermarket is a similar place, except there isn’t really any haggling, and it’s all owned by one corporate entity, so you could, in principle by bread, flour, sugar, pots and pans, chairs and tables, electronics,-”

Twilight froze and both of her ears shot forward towards Xavier, “Electronics? You mean your world’s magic?”

Xavier thrust his hand out and waved it back and forth for a second, “For a given definition of magic, yes.”

Twilight froze in place, fidgeting about, looking left and right.

“Go ahead…”

“How does your world’s magic work? Is it true anyone can use it? I’ve read that of being can get fluent in your type of magic just by messing around with what you would call an electronic computer?”

“What would you call a computer?”

Twilight looked up, “Simply somepony who does arithmetic calculations.”

“Our version of a computer is a device that can do such calculations accurately without anyone actually going through the calculations themselves,” Xavier explained. “And since we can get our computers to perform such calculations accurately and quickly, we can start going beyond what simple math can be done, like attempting to predict the future or, create simulations. And once we get these computers to interface with the real world, they can start doing things like real work.” Xavier looked over at Twilight, “Not to throw shade on earth ponies, but we’re nearing a point where we can create, what you might call a golem. They would be stronger than any earth pony, have more dexterity than any human, and are able to perform tasks that are beyond us both without needing to sleep or rest. We even have flying drones that fly faster and longer than an untrained Pegasus just to make simple deliveries.”

“You’re making life?” Twilight yanked her head back, a fearful look covering her face.

“No. They do not feel, they do not have cognitive processes beyond the task at hand and they don’t reproduce. But I understand the apprehension,” Xavier frowned. “Look, Twilight when you cast magic to, say, levitate a glass of water to you. What you are functionally doing is moving that glass of water from point A to point B. Having a small drone that can grasp a glass and carefully change its position from point A to point B is functionally similar. It’s just that instead of mediating the change by manipulating a thaumaturgic field, our manipulation starts as the transmission through the electro-magnetic field, which causes a chain of events to occur until the electromagnetic field manipulates a mechanical system that grasps the cup of water and changes its position.”

“Thaumaturgic field?”

“It’s what my kind call that which intermediates between your will and its effects on reality. Or at least our attempts to model it.”

“I mean, using mathematics to model magic isn’t a bad idea, but,” Twilight shook her head, her mane swaying from side to side. “But magic is complicated and you can’t predict every interaction perfectly.”

“For some of us humans, the relation between the two are enough to start seeing patterns arise. An example would be in that it allows us to see that the unicorn using nothing but brute magical strength can be less effective then a Unicorn that has mastered finesse.”

“True, but trying to use magic like that is no substitute for study and practice.”

Xavier waved at Twilight, “It’s just a different kind of study and practice.”

“I don’t think you understand,” Twilight said. “Reading and practicing magic is how a unicorn grows in magical might. Especially if your mark is the gift of knowing magic itself.”

“You know, I really never understood how unicorns who don’t specialize in magic suddenly figure out how to cast the ones spell they’re good at,” Xavier said.

“That isn’t always the case,” Twilight said, snorting. “Not every unicorn’s cutie mark is associated directly with magic. Say you are a good writer, the only spell you would need is the standard telekinesis spell. And even then you don’t have to be very good at the writing spell itself. It’s the writing that matters.”

“But I still know situations where the unicorn seems to, out of nowhere, figure out how to cast a particular spell there suited to.”

“I can’t speak for other unicorns, but when I learned something that’s easy to grasp, it’s very much like,” Twilight looked up and murmured for a moment. “Going to the restroom late at night.”

Xavier turned and lifted an eye at Twilight.

“Hold on, Let me explain. It’s like you know what you have to do, you know how to get there, and you’re not really thinking because, well, you’re just that good at finding the restroom. In fact, you could say that trying to think about where the restroom is at late at night would only end up confusing you.”

“I get it,” Xavier said. “But it still doesn’t explain how they just know.”

“And that’s a bit of the magic of cutie marks,” Twilight smiled to herself. “At some point it takes immense study to understand what’s going on and even after that there are still questions to be asked.”

“Sounds like any other discipline with rigor to me,” Xavier said as he sat on the bed. “Now, explain to me the plan.”

Twilight twisted her head, throwing her mane to the other side as she wrinkled her nose, “While I was at the library, I was able to request copies of a better map than we have on hand for the road ahead. I’m going to go pick those up, then saunter by the town’s noticeboard to see if there’s any information about the road ahead, afterwards I’m going to go visit the caravan stop and try and get us a ride to the nearest town.”

“All right, while you’re doing that, I’m going to double check for supplies and try to get a walking stick.”

Twilight tilted her head, “Walking stick?” Twilight approached Xavier and pursed her lips. “You seem to be good enough on two legs…”

“At the café, you were correct,” Xavier said, looking at the mare. “I’ve traveled long distances before and any kind of walking stick helps.”

“… Oh, stability”

Xavier nodded, “Not just that, but it helps with rhythm and with the weight. What about your joints?”

“I mean, I don’t think there’s going to be too much, –“

“We don’t have access to your unicorn magic,” Xavier grumbled. Twilight took a step back as she frowned, looking at Xavier. “You’re probably going to need to head to the apothecary to gather ingredients for, at the very least pain relief.”

“I’ll be just fine, thank you very much,” Twilight turned from Xavier and approached the door.

“Not good enough,” Xavier turned. “I’ve seen unicorns who were well toned with muscle because despite having access to horn magic, they didn’t let their bodies atrophy. You on the other hand…” Xavier thrust out his right covered arm at Twilight, its palm open. “You could barely keep up with me during our chases. Once we get to a point will we have to enter into the wilds, whose to say that you’re not going to just shut down after an hour on rough terrain? And that’s ignoring the earth mare that got the better of you –“

“Do not remind me of my failings Ritter,” Twilight grumbled back. “While I see your point with respect to getting potions to help endure the travels, if I didn’t have this ring on my head, a ring you developed,” Twilight looked at Xavier eye to eye. “Then I would be able to cast the proper spell to make me lighter.”

“Then let me level with you,” Xavier said, walking past the two beds. “We both are not in the best physical condition to tackle this expedition. But I’ve acquired the strength to go 30 km on a good day, and I have a feeling it would only take me about a month to regain that. But you?” Xavier tilted his head at Twilight and narrowed his eyes, just like that night at the café, he was once again evaluating her, “Three months minimum.”

“Are you implying we shouldn’t do this? Is this another attempt at trying to get me to tell you the location?” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“No.” Xavier sat up and began circling Twilight. “What I am saying is that you might not be as enduring as an earth pony.”

“Are you implying that I can’t do this? I’ll let you know that my brother-”

“Not what I was implying at all,” Xavier said, glaring at Twilight from the side. “Since I cannot extricate the location from you, and you insist on coming, you will need to come up with a travel and rest cycle such that you won’t break after the first three hours.”

“I won’t break,” Twilight snorted

“And what if you do? The only thing that will treat DOMS and exhaustion is food and rest,” Xavier exhaled. “Lots of food and rest.” Xavier continued, “Don’t play the marian mare here Twilight, we get into a situation where it’s either you or myself or even the supplies? Or worse yet, we run out of food? Or even worse yet winter hits because we have to keep stopping for you?”

Twilight’s eyes narrowed at Xavier

“I’m thinking were going to need at least three times are estimated food supply. Five times are water sanitization equipment.”

“Fine! I’ll…” Twilight slammed her eyes shut as her nostrals flared and she tapped her hoof three times. Opening them again, she said in a calmer voice, “I’ll go to the apothecary, happy? I’ll need more bits –“

“No, I’m not happy.” Xavier scratched his skull, “that is only going to last so long. Sure, we won’t have to carry as much as we once did, but I have no clue if by then you’ll be physically fit enough to go 30 km a day. Even while you are on the road here, you’re going at a snails pace.”

“Then, Xavier,” Twilight sat down and closed her eyes. Her lower lip stretched across her face as she looked up at Xavier and her ears folded slightly towards the floor. “What do you suggest?”

Xavier froze, then tilted his head at Twilight. She kept a straight face, watching the human and awaiting an answer, “We deviate from our initial plan. We should take a caravan out of here, but rather then making a b line, we make sure the furthest we need to travel to another town is two, maybe 3 days walk. So if it turns out you need to make frequent stops, well…”

“Alright,” Twilight said, nodding, then spoke with a calm, level voice. “But I don’t know if we can make it to the Abby before winter, so if we do this, you need to prepare yourself for a winter layover at a small town. You might even be the first human they meet. Are you prepared for that kind of situation?”

Xavier put his arms on his sides, “I, I can’t tell, are you lowkey mocking me?”

Twilight shook her head.

“What are you doing?” Xavier asked.

“I can’t fight you Xavier,” Twilight said. “Not for a trip as long as this. Not every step of the way. So…” Twilight finally looked away from the human and closed her eyes again as she enunciated each word carefully, “Either I have to give you some leeway and work with you somehow, or we start tearing each other apart.” Twilight stopped and blinked for a few moments, “As much as I want you to just follow me, if you are having problems just touching me, then I have sorely misunderstood you. So as a knight to her ritter, I am sorry and I would like to understand you better.”

“Look, this is all, just, really new to me,” Xavier started.

“Xavier, you were sleeping on the floor this morning.”

“So?”

“So,” Twilight motioned towards the herd bed. “Neither of us slept in it. The best place to sleep goes wasted because I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, and you just ignore it because of some human culture thing I do not grasp yet I assume.”

Xavier looked over at the bed. Still made. Pillows still in place from yesterday.

“The message to me is clear,” Twilight continued. “If we continue on like we have been the last few days, there might come a point where I need you to listen to me and do as I say, but you will ignore me or worse because you won’t trust me. Xavier,” Twilight face grew sullen, “believe me when I tell you that I didn’t save Luna alone, nor did I defeat Discord by myself. I had friends who I trusted and trusted me. So for now, lets just try being friends, even if you don’t trust me.”

Xavier looked away from Twilight, biting his lower lip, then closed his eyes as he exhaled. He then started to unroll his bindings, slowly revealing the scarred appendage.

Twilight watched as he reached out to her with two of his fingers, the longest and the one he used to point with.

“I don’t understand,” Twilight carefully looked up at Xavier.

“I would like to touch the top of your nose and touch you,” Xavier replied, looking away for a brief moment.

Twilight looked at the hand, then back up to Xavier. Closing her eyes and taking a breath, Twilight opened her eyes again and took two steps forward, letting the nub of human flesh make contact with her nose. And then Xavier began to slowly stroke her snout, from tip of her nose to the bridge between her eyes. He was softer then she expected.

Then he started to quietly, softly sing:

🎵The wind was roaring and the canyon weathered,

The tide frothed and roiled as the spirits gathered

From Dusk till Dawn

They sat unmattered🎵

Xavier stopped, and lifted his hand away from her, then once again, he slowly rewrapped his bindings, “Alright. Okay. I can do friends.”

Twilight nodded as his voice slowly faded from her ears, and he was back to cleaning his cloths.