Forest Treasure

by MirroredHawk

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Death, Alternate Universe, My Little Pony Comic, Original Character
Length: 10013

Small group of students went to test a prototype during the extremely inappropriate time

Small group of students separated from the trip to the sawmill in order to test their own prototype. After getting to the place they were met with unexpected situation resulting in sad consequences.

This story is written for the Fifth Equestria at war Write Off: "Magic making way for technology". (2022)

Don't read the spoiler if you want to play a little guessing game.

Events happen in a mirrored EAW world, where everypony resembles their reflection.
Celestia returned earlier than expected resulting in a long and bloody civil war, shattering Equestria.
This world is heavily based on IDW comic issues #17-20

Published 2022-06-09 20:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-06-09 20:40:00 UTC

Hippogriffe-Falls

Calmly sleeping light-brown pastel-dotted unicorn suddenly woke up with the loud train whistle. His green eyes glanced through the window on the slowing snow-covered trees. Approaching the station, he thought to himself. With him in the same compartment were two second-year students sleeping in the different corners.

“Get up, students!” came a loud and husky voice of a lecturer from the corridor. “We will be in Hippogriffe-Falls in fifteen minutes. Get ready!”

Door into the compartment opened with the knocking. Orange unicorn with light-blue eyes looked inside at the awoken unicorn and said, “Fire Sense, Mr. Sort Foam asked you to meet him in the corridor, he wants to talk about something.”

Fire Sense was an assistant accompanying second-year students on a field trip to Hippogriffe-Falls, one of the northernmost settlements in Equestria. He sighed, “Is he going to ask me to check the whole trip route again?” Fire and student both smiled, “Thanks Frist, how's your prototype?”

“Fine. There was a bit of shaking near Dufrost, but it's nowhere near to damage it. We wouldn't have ever gotten out of the university otherwise.”

Fire Sense got up and exited the compartment while Frist Lighthoof continued his way. Fire turned right on the direction of lecturer's voice.

Students were getting ready, sounds of hustle coming from every compartment. Sometimes somepony was checking corridor through their doors. Soon Fire was able to see Sort Foam, a fade-green old unicorn with grey short mane. He was talking to two second-years, light-grey pegasus mare with lilac eyes and brown mane, and an earthpony. Fire listened closely.

Lecturer said, “I just cannot let you go with Frist and Byrk. Especially not in such disturbing times.”

“But Professor Sort, this trip is mainly made for us. Why cannot we help them with prototype tests?” pegasus protested.

“Mistral, dear, I know you helped them with the project, but we have planned trip to the sawmill, and aren't you interested in seeing the unique greenhouses?” lecturer tried to convince her.

Fire Sense decided to announce his presence, “Are students ruining your plans again, Mr. Foam?” he asked jokingly. Lecturer turned to him and cheered.

“Oh, Fire Sense! How was your sleep?” he chuckled a bit.

“Apart from the shaking and constant loud complaining about mediocrity of Hope Hollows' command during the hoofball championship from the next compartment...” Fire smiled, “All in all nothing can be worse than Luna Nova's enchanted wagon.”

Brown earthpony laughed, Mistral turned her face to him and said, “Tiny, you haven't gotten to tell me, what happened there.”

“Later,” answered young stallion.

Fire turned to the lecturer and asked, “You wanted to discuss something?”

Sort Foam coughed and answered, “Well, you remember that two fourth-year students are going to the Castle Danger to test their device in the harsh conditions?”

“That K.O.P.Y.T.T.F.B of theirs?” Fire Sense asked.

“Never mind,” waved off the acronym Sort Foam, “Anyway, small group of raiders from the Crystal Empire was seen in the surroundings. It's not that I'm concerned about them or something, our patrols are on high alert, but it will be calmer if you will go with them.”

“Oh please. It isn't likely that raiders will try to attack us again, especially after our forces beaten them near the Freeze Shores and...” Fire wanted to add that fourth-years aren't foals, but he really didn't want to wander around Hippogriffe-Falls. Helping students to test their invention sounded much more interesting than listening again about some magical mechanisms.

“Yeah, but anyway... Fire, please. It will be calmer for me, and you can benefit from the new experience and change of scenery.”

“Well,” Fire started, “I agree.”

“Professor Foam!” Mistral protested, “we helped to gather materials for the saw. I literally circled whole Whinnyapolis for this. It's unfair that we cannot go with them!”

Professor rolled his eyes, “Mistral Blossom, don't you understand that it can be dangerous!” raised his husky voice lecturer, “I am responsible for all of you and I cannot let you go without the confirmation from the university.”

Behind the mare's croup, Tiny Crunch, the brown earthpony, glanced at Fire Sense with hope, as if begging for interference. Fire rolled his eyes and interrupted the professor while he was ranting about the college rules, “Foam, I can vouch for their safety.”

Sort Foam turned to Fire Sense, “Have you all decided to turn on me? Fire, you are still young.”

“With all respect professor, they aren't foals already.”

“In old days second-years used to be more disciplined...” — Foam sighed.

“I'm sure, there's nothing to worry about, Mr. Foam. I have been in charge of tours already, including freshponies trips. I'm fully aware what I'm up to,” convinced the old pony Fire.

“Alright...” lecturer sighed again, “If you are so confident then—” he gazed at Mistral with a hint of approval.

“We're very grateful,” she replied cheerfully.

“All four of you?” asked Foam. Mare nodded. There was a sudden sound of brakes and station appeared in front of the window. Everypony leaned forward a bit. Foam said, “We will talk about the details later,” he slightly smiled.

Mistral and Tiny galloped into their compartment to share the news with friends, while Fire nodded to Foam and went to take his luggage. Train stopped, Fire attached two small bags to his back and left the train. Early December freeze struck his face. He immediately used magic to get scarf and hat out of his bag, he didn't want to get cold after all. Students gathered around the lecturer diving into the groups from 2 to 6 ponies. There were 25 of them, 21 second-year, 2 fourth-years, lecturer and Fire himself.

They arrived in the late evening and the sun was already setting. The other half of platform was covered with the snow and ponies hastily left the station. Fire joined them and caught some of lecturer's words, “...after sleep we will go to the sawmill.”

Most students looked tired. Fourth-year Frist was holding some kind of long-shaped package on his back. They were heading North to the building, which was used by the builders for accommodation in the summer. Now it was empty and college got the permission to use it for two nights. Fire was organising the cleaning and furnishing of the rooms. Now he was thinking about a bunch of unsolved matters in the Whinnyapolis when suddenly a shadow flew above them. Some students shook from surprise, but most of them knew that to the North-East from Whinnyapolis was home to the thestrals, which are nocturnal. On the way, lecturer told Fire that the next morning during the trip to the sawmill Fire and his students will have to leave and go to the Castle Danger. They must return the day after.

Already in the dark they reached the accommodation and were greeted by the kind-hearted thestral who led them down the corridor with the separate rooms. Everypony was exhausted and after lecturer's announcement to get up at 6, they all went to bed. Fire was alone in his room, which appeared to be an opportunity for him. Since he rested in the train, Fire materialised a stack of student works he volunteered to check and got to work, expecting to spend on it an hour or two.

Sawmill

Fire woke up from a door knocking. He went to bed too late, because of the urge to finish everything. He quickly gathered his things and left the room, meeting Tiny Crunch in the corridor. Students were slowly walking down to the main hall.

“Thanks,” Tiny spoke friendly.

“Nothing to thank for,” Fire yawned, “Is Golden Robe with you?”

Tiny got a bit confused, but quickly found himself, “Yeah, of course. He's already downstairs.”

“That horny one seems to have over-experimented. In his work he wrote that there's no need to use manipulative magic for the automation of object movement. Even the leading academicians of Order of Belladonna would argue with that.”

“He said that he found a new method to enchant object for the automation. Was happy as a foal,” answered Tiny, starting to go downstairs.

“I can't remember the last time his work wasn't parsed by our best unicorn lecturers,” Fire laughed.

“But the enchanting magic is one of the least studied, isn't it?”

“Yeah, but it involves highly questionable practices. It is as if Golden takes his conclusions out of nowhere. They checked him, right?” asked Fire, when they appeared in the hall.

“Good morning, Mr. Fire,” a short young turquoise unicorn with a golden mane greeted him with his eyes of pale yellow.

“Have you decided to ignore the study material again?” Fire asked bluntly.

“Did you get to check my work again?” Golden answered with a sarcastic tone.

“Golden, toying with the enchantments never ended well for anypony,” Fire said seriously.

“I assure you that I'm very—” Golden Robe was interrupted by the lecturer, who declared, “Onwards to sawmill!” Foam first left the building, briefly nodding to Fire and to thestral, who was about to leave for bed.

Group of four ponies walked in front of Fire, he knew Golden, Mistral and Tiny already, but he saw a blue earthpony with a light-green mane for the first time. They were merrily chatting as Fire approached them, looking questionably at unknown stallion.

Being the most energetic one, Mistral quickly introduced them, “Fire Sense, lecturer assistant,” she pointed at him, turning her wing onto the earthpony, “Silver Toll, he's studying agriculture in parallel with Tiny.”

“We met during the automatic plough project. Sadly, it did not work out,” Silver said.

“Yeah, unicorns screwed up again,” Tiny added.

“It is much harder to set up a magical crystal than to dig out potatoes, one mistake and everything goes to Scorpan,” Golden pointed out indignantly, “I told you that they are not to blame for lacking information in which conditions this crystal will operate.”

“Even fool could guess that in the field!” Tiny exclaimed.

“Yeah, but you forgot to tell them about the rain,” Golden calmly retorted.

“Pegasi made a mess that day,” Mistral spoke, “Cloud equipment malfunctioned making a rainy cloud.” She sighed, “We haven't got any new equipment from Cloudsdale for ages.”

“Defence preparations?” Fire asked.

“My brother is there, last time he wrote me three days ago. They've prepared firing points, cloud and weather barriers as well as special encapsulated storms. They nearly released one due to the provocation near Ponyville. As if nightmares became true...” Mistral sounded worried.

Fire sighed, “Yeah, it's horrible when war becomes part of everyday routine. Celestia returned 7 years ago and from that point everything went straight to Scorpan. And every time when you think that it can't get any worse—”

“—Somepony proves you're wrong,” Tiny finished Fire's monologue.

“Mistral, you said that you helped Frist and...” Fire forgot the name of second student.

“—And Byrk,” Mistral corrected him. “Yeah, we helped them with the saw. Tiny met Frist and offered our help, since he had acquaintances in a logging camp on South-West from Whinnyapolis.”

“And I helped them with enchantments,” — Golden added.

“For how long I haven't spoken to students...” Fire sighed, “I hope this time there were no flying feathers obsessively chasing mares?” he laughed.

“Fire, I've been making stupid mistakes then,” Golden was embarrassed, “And besides, nobody was able to reproduce this spell yet, including myself.”

“Some would desperately want to,” Fire ironically remarked and whole group burst in laughter.

They were met by the crystal unicorn and an earth-forepony near the workshop. They started to show the sawmill. It was mechanical with the water wheel controlling the saw movements. Unicorn decided to tell students how they deal with the sturdier logs.

“There must be several unicorns capable of casting elemental and manipulative magic,” unicorn started, “One or two unicorns reinforce the saw with magic while other two are moving the saw synchronously with the water wheel, and the last unicorn is pushing the log from the back. The resulting force will be just enough to deal even with the sturdiest wood, as well as this way the sawmill is able to sustain efficiency even when the current is slowed down. Of course, such methods are not always needed and unicorns are working as part of personnel.”

He coughed, “That's about summer, of course. In winter this becomes a necessity. We have 3 unicorn crews. Two crews are performing already described actions if needed and one is working on the wheel”

“Is the sawmill active?” lecturer asked.

“Not at the moment, but to the North in Castle Danger logging is done only in winter because of the swampy terrain, so the sawmill is operating from time to time,” unicorn replied, “We will have to cut 530 logs next week and send those to Sundown woodworks, for example.”

The unicorn-guide led them to the wheel. It was situated in the small ditch, which was fenced off from the main stream by the wooden gates. There they met another three unicorns, one of which also was crystal.

“Now we're going to demonstrate you how it works,” guide announced and unicorns placed themselves.

“Launch!” one of them shouted. Four horns lit up and ice in the ditch started to melt.

“Ice is heated by the elemental magic,” professor explained.

“Open up!” shouted the same unicorn and crystal one jumped to the position with better view on the gates. His horn lit up and the gates started to lift, allowing the current of cold water into the ditch. All the broken ice was melting on the way. Wheel started to rotate and saw in sync with it was moving up and down.

Guide moved back and said, “Here. Now it's possible to cut a log in half.”

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, came forepony bringing half-sawed log, slightly covered with snow, to the start of the chute.

“Oh, you're lucky,” guide said, “we forgot to finish it last time.”

Forepony placed log in the chute and hit the lever. Moving part started to push log on the saw and after around 30 seconds two quarters of the log fell into the pile of the same quarters.

“Stop!” forepony shouted. Crystal unicorn closed the gates stopping the water.

“Wooden gates aren't great, but our mayor wasn't able to finance the sawmill more,” guide pointed out. Unicorns stopped watching over the water and relaxed.

Guide and forepony started to explain the details of the sawmill mechanism. Lecturer came to the Fire and said, “You need to go already. Frist and Byrk are waiting.”

Fire nodded and gestured his four students to follow, trotting out of the building.

“Good morning,” Frist greeted them, “Are you ready for the mountain crossing?”

“It will take around 4 hours,” Byrk said with obvious Severyanian accent. He was dark-red grey-maned unicorn, “Here, we've found some winter clothes for you.” He placed a bag on the ground with five jackets, hats, scarves and fur-shoes for hooves.

Mountain trail

The sky was cloudy with the slight wind. A group of seven ponies walked one by one on a mountain trail, which led to the Castle Danger.

“How long are we walking?” Mistral asked.

“For two hours,” Golden answered, flashing his horn in order to determine time.

“Two hours and seventeen minutes to be precise,” Fire flashed his horn from the Tiny's back.

Byrk was in charge, Frist was carrying saw after him, then there were Golden, Silver, Mistral and Tiny. The path was not dangerous. Crossing Welcoming mountains was like jogging compared to the Ruby mountains or Goatcasus, nevertheless, everypony was cautious.

“Crap, this rag pinches my wings!” Mistral angrily complained, trying to adjust jacket with her hoof.

“We haven't found anything for pegasi,” Frist answered, his voice reflected tension from the saw weight.

Byrk stopped on a small hill and turned, “You may give it to me to carry,” after that he looked at Mistral, “all jackets for pegasi were reserved and we couldn't take even one for a day. Probably some kind of pegasi wing will arrive into the town tomorrow.”

“You... better... take it...” Frist grunted.

Byrk used his magic to levitate package on his back and commanded, “Let's go. Small shelter is not far away. There we can rest a bit.”

Passing 300 meters they appeared in front of small hollow in the rock. Group decided to hide to rest from the gradually building up wind. Fire thought he saw some silhouette back on the trail, but he decided not to pay attention to it since he already was a bit tired and seeing things. He created magical fire and everyone gathered around it. Fire's horn glowed green light, making the same-coloured warm fire.

“I've never learned that spell,” Frist spoke.

Byrk carefully dropped the saw and sat nearby. “It's definitely elemental magic, but I haven't seen somepony keeping such flames for so long,” he said, being kind of interested in such performance.

“I personally had to work with the formula,” Fire answered, being a bit shy. The flames began to twist in unnatural patterns. “It's heavily dependent on the emotions and feelings for now and far from being as straightforward as simple fire spell is. It's not that you need to be emotional for this, on the contrary, you must be calm,” flame started to calm down.

Frist exclaimed, “That's the reason why I'm bad at complex spells! Manipulation – easy! But casting more abstract magic... It's too hard to hold my emotions,”

“I would like to learn that,” Byrk calmly answered, as if Frist wasn't there.

“Look, first you need to remember something, like, warming your soul,” started Fire, “Imagine it close to you, but keep it abstract. Then you need to fool yourself with being cold, it's not necessary here, it's already cold enough. Combine this with the fire spell and you should get something like this fire,” Fire pointed at the twisting flames, “Try it!”

Byrk closed his eyes, his horn flashing from time to time. On the third flash very small bright-red flame burst out of it quickly disappearing mid-air.

“Wow, that's a great result!” Fire cheered.

Byrk shook his head from side to side. “I thought it would be easier.”

“How you say in Severyana? Hard in training, easy in battle?” Fire smiled, “it's easy to sustain the spell, just don't lose a feeling of warmth.”

Fire continued to help Byrk in his attempts to create flames, while Mistral asked, “By the way, Tiny, will you tell me about that wagon or not?”

“The one from Luna Nova, right?” specified Tiny receiving positive nod from Mistral. “Weeell... It was a thesis project of two graduates from special talented unicorn academy. Fire was escorting us on a trip. No idea what we have to do with the unicorn academy though—”

“—Royal Decree №542: All creatures must receive broad education regardless of their body's ability to apply learned skills,” Silver said as if reading it from somewhere.

“Anyway, no idea why we need this. I won't be able to enrol there,” Tiny shrugged his hooves.

“Doesn't matter, your child might be a unicorn, for example,” Silver answered.

“I don't know. Knowledge about cloud engineering wasn't very helpful for me,” Frist pointed out.

“Yes, but—” Silver wanted to answer, but Mistral interrupted him, “—What happened with the wagon for Luna's sake!” Silver shut his mouth and leaned back.

Tiny continued, “So, they made magical automated wagon, without any mechanical propulsion. But they forgot that magic stored in crystals can have different origin. They've got a crystal from different batch for the demonstration. During it wagon suddenly turned into the crowd. Fire swiftly reacted pushing ponies to the sides. Wagon nearly hit him when he teleported onto it and together with the students and lecturers tried to stop it. They managed to stop only in the end of the street.”

“Yeah, enchantments are painfully complicated,” Golden remarked,” consider magic origin, mood, emotions, Moon phase and so on...”

“How aren't you afraid to study it?” asked Mistral.

“It's fascinating!” exclaimed Golden, “Greatest inventions come from the enchantments.”

“Golden, enchantments are dangerous. During my first year one third-year student was kicked out of the university for being too careless with the rules of the enchantment school,” Frist warned.

“I know what I'm doing. No hate or other vicious feelings while casting, never experiment alone and so on... I know the rules by heart,” Golden answered.

“You will get yourself in trouble one day...” Frist replied.

“Hey!” everypony heard a mare's voice from the outside of their space. Yellowish earthpony with light-yellow tail appeared from the corner of the trail. She wore brown jacket and ushanka. She looked at everypony with her red eyes and said, “If ya' want to get to the Castle Danger before the sunset then ya' better hurry, it's nearly evening already. It's two hours of walking from here.” Her eyes stopped on Mistral, “And hide ya'r wings if ya' don’t want to freeze 'em.”

Mare stepped into the hollow space hiding from the wind. Fire greeted her, “Fire Sense, manipulative and elemental schools' specialist,” he lightly bowed his head.

“March Gustysnows, nice to meet ya'. What a group of students is luuking for in the Castle Danger?” she asked.

Frist answered, “We need to test our prototype in the harsh conditions,” he rose from the fading green flames and shook his head in the package direction, which Byrk put on his back.

“And how—” Tiny wanted to ask how she knew they were students, but March nodded in their direction without waiting for him to finish his question, glaring unequivocally once more at Mistral's bared wings. She hid them embarrassedly under her jacket before the flames finally died out.

March commanded, “Come on, we don't want to be lost in the dark. A blizzard is gathering.”

Now March was in charge leading them through the trail. After an hour they could see pegasi clouds, but the blizzard was getting stronger. Gladly, they have past the dangerous part and now it was just a matter of time when they will get to the village.

Castle Danger

Finally, they came to the wooden building, situated under the big cloud with several pegasi buildings on it. March knocked the door. Tired earthpony opened it from the inside, “Students, right?” he looked at the group, “Isn't it too many of you?”

“Plans have changed a bit,” answered Fire, “nopony warned you?”

“Neigh. Anyway, get in,” he moved inside letting everypony into the medium-sized room. It was a guest-hall and a dining room. Some pegasus was sleeping on the bench. Blizzard outside started to rage.

“Just in time,” Byrk said.

“Let's find you a place to stay,” earthpony went down the corridor with 4 doors disappearing in the farthest one.

Mistral again freed her wings, cursing the jacket while some feathers fell on the floor. “How do they live in such cold?” she asked shaking the snow off herself.

“Crystal ponies are more resilient to cold,” Silver answered, sitting on the bench. Byrk put the saw on the table and together with Frist started to inspect it.

Fire decided to look around. It looked more like a mountaineer camp than an apartment. There were all sorts of unusual souvenirs, oddly shaped stones. A couple of magic crystals were lying close to the heated stove, which became a point of Golden's interest. Fire decided not to stop him and started to listen what Mistral, Tiny and Silver were discussing.

“...So what?” Mistral asked, “Now crystal ponies can move West to Lopia and Roania or to Ametrin, for example.”

“Have you ever opened any history book?” Silver laughed, “They lived here for around ten generations since Princess Luna allowed King Sombra and his crystal ponies to settle in the Northern Equestria.”

“Wait. Isn't King Sombra from Equestria?” Tiny asked, surprised.

“Well, it's obscured. First time Sombra was mentioned in the context of crystal mutiny against some Radiant Hope.”

“Against whom?” Now was the time for Fire to be surprised.

“Am I the only one interested in history?” Silver asked, irritated.

“Well, unlike us, you have access to the archives, thanks to your parents,” Tiny said.

“Alright, alright,” Silver calmed down agreeing with Tiny, “As far as I know she was some kind of tyrant there. Sombra was leading rebels, being forced to move to Equestria for some reason.”

“Sounds like Cadance, are they related?” asked Fire.

“Maybe yes, maybe not,” Silver shrugged his hooves, “Strange, why they cannot update these records. The book was old and barely holding together.”

“Yeah, history is usually disregarded nowadays,” Fire replied, “You can count leading historians with your hooves. Who knows, maybe you should reconsider your university choice?”

“Everypony cares only about practical skills now,” answered Silver, he looked sad, trying not to meet eyes with anypony, then he suddenly spoke, “Where is the mare who led us here?”

Fire turned looking around. March was nowhere to find. “Where to—” the door in the corridor opened and earthpony came back with dark-grey raven-maned thestral.

“It's Night Seer. Today you can stay at his place. We have no free space here,” he nodded at the sleeping pegasus on the bench.

“Fire Sense, nice to meet you,” Fire introduced himself, “Thank you for help.”

“You’re welcome. The life is harsh in the mountains, so we have to stick together,” thestral looked at everypony with faint-yellow cat eyes, smiling and showing his two fangs.

Mistral leaned to Silver, whispering, “Shouldn't crystal pegasi live in the Castle Danger?”

Night Seer moved his ear in their direction, replying, “Thestrals lived here long before pegasi. Doesn't matter though. Let's go, you need to rest after the long trip.” He took light scarf and went out. All followed him by the slithering mountain paths.

Quickly they reached the door in the rock. Night knocked on it and shouted, “Darling! I'm with guests!”

After some time, door opened by the slightly lighter thestral, but her eyes were more of deep yellow colour. “It's Dark Seer, my wife,” Night introduced her.

“Don't just stand there! Come inside,” she left the door open. Fire expected to enter some kind of a cave, but from the inside it appeared to be a simple wooden house. “So many of you,” gasped Dark, letting everypony in. When Fire was removing his jacket, he noticed that thestrals have one old jacket for pegasi.

During the lunch Fire asked, “So, you live here alone?”

Night answered, “Here were our children earlier, but the son gone to Whinnyapolis to attend the military academy. Daughter left with some Trotsylvanian husband... There are some letters, we are writing to each other sometimes.”

“And how your live is going?”

“I'm helping with wood transportation during the daytime. Already got used to it. My wife is mostly doing the home chores. You know, you never have free time here. Always something breaks, pegasi need help or the crops... cursed crops...”

They were left in a heated guest hall for the night and tired ponies fell asleep immediately.

K.O.P.Y.T.T.F.B

Fire woke up from Night's movements in the corridor. He was getting ready to go. They greeted each other and began to wake up everypony to have breakfast and get ready. Thestrals gladly gave away the pegasi jacket to the Mistral when Fire asked them to. Mistral was very happy to know that she won't have to wear the uncomfortable jacket any more. After preparations everypony headed out North to the loggers' camp, taking yet another slithering path. “I'm sorry for bad tracks, we usually fly here,” apologised Night.

They came down reaching the camp near a small and sparse forest. There were couple of huts, long shed with stored logs in the middle and a narrow forest road leading to the river and taking turn on its right bank to the Hippogriffe-Falls. There was a half-loaded wagon with logs which should be pulled by at least six stallions. The lumberjacks already got to work.

Unlike in ancient times when mainly conventional saws and axes were used, now stationary saws were attached to the trees. Saw itself was mounted on a moving element with plates on both sides. Usually, earthponies were bucking the plates making the moving element slide to the other side, stopped by the construction until the next buck. The result was that the saw drove over the trunk thus cutting it a bit and a whole mechanism pulled the saw closer to the trunk. When it was enough, mechanism was pulled away and lumberjacks finished off the tree with simple axes. This mechanism allowed to use earthoponies' bucking force for tree cutting, which made the whole process much easier.

There were also magical saws powered by the crystal energy pulling the chain around the axis at such speed that it allowed to cut through the tree like a knife through butter. Though it was considered to be a waste of magical crystals and educated unicorns, who had to constantly use their powers on the crystals. Unicorns were irreplaceable in other areas of production, which involved far more complicated manipulation than hooves could allow.

So, the crystal pegasi and earthponies clanked their stationary saws, bucking plates as the group of students decided to find a quieter place to test their invention. Night led them away from the main tree cutting and flew away to help lumberjacks.

Byrk placed package on the flat rock and opened it revealing the saw, which looked like the magical one, but with way bigger handle and a pair of belts. Frist noticed curious eyes around and started to explain, “This isn't just a simple wheel on the axis as in the magical saw, it has a whole small engine turning it, burning part of the gas,” — he stopped, letting Byrk to continue.

“Originally, we wanted to simplify stationary saw, but later I found out about automatic K.O.P.Y.T.T saw developed and tested two years ago in Severyana. Altydian Imperial court researches still try to make a lighter fully mechanical design of it. We decided to move away from the ‘completely mechanical’ rule,” while his friend spoke, Frist was looking for a suitable tree for the first test.

“We proudly added our names to the name of the prototype: K.O.P.Y.T.T.F.B. There are two pitfalls that had to be dealt with using magical components: Fuel supply and acceleration. It can be done with mechanical details for the cost of making it much bigger and costly. Here you can see much smaller saw which uses magical components instead of mechanical for these purposes. Let me show you how to use it.”

Byrk placed the handle on his back and secured bigger belt around the body using his teeth. Then he reached another belt and secured it around his front right leg so that chain was horizontal to him and perpendicular to his hoof. “Now I can control the axis with chain using my leg,” he said.

“This tree will do nicely!” Frist shouted, pointing to the medium-sized pine tree.

Golden after inspecting the saw asked, “So, do you need magic to start it?”

“Already not,” Frist answered, returning, “We managed to make a mechanism which hits the enchanted plate that affects the crystal starting the whole mechanism. This button,” — he pointed at the button close to the belt on the hoof. “After that you need to pull this string in order to give it initial acceleration and crystal will do the rest.”

“So everypony can use it?” Mistral asked.

“In theory,” Byrk answered, “But it's not working sometimes. I guess it is because of the poorly calibrated plate.”

“Haven't you tried to add several plates to use different frequency? Crystals have different sensitivity, you know...” Fire said.

“Yeah, but it is hard to implement such complicated system, separating plates' magic emission and stuff.” Frist answered.

“Well, you could have asked me,” Golden said, “I've made 60-plate isolated systems, I can make one in my sleep.”

“We have concentrated on making it work first. We will improve it later,” Byrk said, pressing the button. Saw started to puff.

“Well, it worked,” Frist cheered.

“Give me a moment,” Byrk forcefully pulled the string, releasing it afterwards. Saw started to squeal and chain began turning, “Now it works!” — he shouted.

Byrk walked to the pine, placing himself in such a way to have trunk slightly to his right. He raised his right hoof and barely managed to hold it from shaking, bringing chain to the tree. With a distinctive crack it slammed into the trunk pretty quickly making its way through it. After a few seconds Byrk backed down and pine collapsed in front of him, while the unicorn stopped his saw.

“Just like during the tests!” he shouted.

“Gentlecolts, you managed to make an automatic saw! Congratulations!” Fire exclaimed.

“Byrk, try to cut broad one!” Frist pointed on the bigger pine close to Byrk. Red unicorn immediately started the saw cutting the pine in 10 seconds. Unfortunately, it fell onto another pine.

“Scorpan! To* *a**!” Frist shouted, “*ire, *el*!” he shouted as loud as he could. Fire understood him right away. Their horns lit up and fallen pine started to slowly descend to the ground separating from the other. Byrk have cut off another one which fell without any problems right close to the magickly lowered one. The saw stopped again.

“Wit-t-th such inst-t-trument-t-ts we can cut-t-t whole forest-t-t!” Byrk shouted, trembling.

“Relax, let me get the saw off you,” Frist shouted lighting up his horn and unlocking belts. Fire lifted the saw, placing it on the stone in front of Frist, who began to inspect it. Something thundered to the South on a distance.

“Was that thunder?” Tiny asked, surprised.

“In winter?” Silver sneered. Everypony was nervous. Mistral freed her wings and got ready to fly.

“Stop!” Fire shouted. Mistral nearly took off, barely managing to stop and not fall headfirst into the snow. She glanced questionably at lecturer's assistant. “There is no reason to risk. Let's get back to the camp,” Fire said. Frist nodded and packed the saw. Tottering Byrk came to them.

Sky lit up in a white flash for a second. Thunder roared second later. Warmer wind started to blow from the south. “An accident in Cloudsdale?” Frist hypothesized, taking saw on his back.

“Tiny, Silver, help Byrk,” Fire commanded and students quickly stood to the Byrk sides, supporting him. “I'm afraid that it's more than an accident.”

“Don't you think that—” Frist was interrupted by another roar from the skies.

“I'm afraid that Celestians started the attack,” Fire said, “Scorpan!” he cursed and began to lead students back to the huts. They were confused, but tried to walk as close to Fire as possible.

Trouble is never alone

Every now and then sky lit up in a white flashes of lightning. A huge thundercloud rolled from the south covering the sun and cold wind picked up the snow. Blizzard reduced visibility to mere meters. Sound of the saws disappeared and Fire had to navigate by some trunks and stones. After a sharp turn he nearly hit the stationary saw. He checked that everypony is following him and found that Mistral and Frist are literally standing muzzle-to-tail with him.

“Frist, there is an open space ahead!” Fire shouted with a loud thunder. The storm clearly arrived. “The hut isn't far away, but I'm afraid that we can lose somepony! Do you know the protective sphere spell?” he asked raising his voice.

“I think so,” replied Frist.

“Try to support my spell!” Fire shouted. His horn lit up and green sphere began to form around them, blinking. Frist's horn lit up with light-blue and sphere finally formed, being turquoise colour. It stopped the wind from getting inside making snow fall on the sides. “Nice one, Frist,” Fire complimented the student and checked that everypony is inside. “If I remember correctly, huts are right there,” he pointed with a hoof into the blizzard, “Let's get going.”

They slowly made their way through the empty field. Fire and Frist were struggling to keep such a large protection spell. With a lightning strike to one of the pines, sphere dangerously blinked. “There is a light!” exclaimed Mistral pointing into the faint yellow light from the window. After a few minutes of struggling with the storm they reached the door. Mare opened it from the inside. It was March Gustysnows! They quickly ran into the hut. Five lumberjacks were standing in the room and right in the centre of it lied bound pegasus, actively moaning something.

“Shut up!” March exclaimed, “Do ya' understand that raiders will come here now, don't ya'!? Venal bastard!” she shouted as lumberjacks and students were standing around, unable to move from shock. Mare finally noticed clueless gazes and spoke, “He's a traitor. Hippogriffe-Falls police department got news that some raiders manage to avoid our patrols and I've decided to investigate. The reason for that is in front of you,” she nodded at the pegasus and looked at the window for a moment, “I guess others are in the second hut. Where this storm came from?”

“Most probably something happened in Cloudsdale,” answered Golden earlier than Fire.

“Seems that Celestians started their attack,” she turned back, “This would explain the raider activity in the North. ATTENTION!” she suddenly shouted, startling everypony. “Raiders from the Crystal Empire can arrive at any moment! What weapons do ya' have?”

“Only our instruments,” — replied first lumberjack.

“And since when ya''re in command?” second asked indignantly.

March quickly pulled out her Whinnyapolis police chief officer's badge and put it back with her teeth. “Ya' must have something!” she said, “Law demands to have firearms in the remote settlements.”

“Pegasi in Castle Danger surely have somethin',” third lumberjack said.

“There is a double-barrel rifle in the other hut,” answered fourth lumberjack, getting poked by his comrade on the side.

“Scorpan, this is bad,” March said, “Can we get to the other hut?” she asked looking at the Fire.

“Me— well— where?” Fire tried to get himself intact. The worst has happened and now he was responsible for the lives of six students in the extreme conditions.

“I'll show ya', come with,” March said, adjusting her earflaps, as she walked to the door, “We will come back later,” she said to the students and gazed onto the Fire. He nodded and flashed with his horn.

“Let's go,” he said and exited the building with March, making very small sphere around them, barely covering the tip of his horn. They had to lean very close to each other. March pointed somewhere to the left and they started making their way to the second hut.

“What happened in here?” Fire asked.

“Haven't I told ya', eh?” March was completely calm, even though she had to shout recently, “I'm sure that small group of raiders managed to avoid our patrols undetected. A patrol-pegasus went missing yesterday and I've seen a couple of armed crystal ponies rushing into the forest, when I was on the observation post. Later I found out that patrol-pegasus flew away with this traitor to check the snow level behind the forest. Traitor returned alone.”

Sphere blinked. Fire was getting tired. “And how you—" Fire wanted to ask, but March again intercepted the question.

“—Putting two and two together I convinced him to be cooperative,” she said and nodded forward, “Here, there's a hut,” they quickly reached the door and knocked.

Night opened the door and let them in. “That's one Tartarus of a storm! Where it came from?” he asked, “I've never seen such in here.”

“Cloudsdale,” Fire and March answered simultaneously. Fire continued, “It seems that there was an accident due to the Celestians attack.”

“Raiders will suun come,” March said straight, “do ya' have weapons?”

Lumberjacks were stunned. “Weapons?” Night asked again.

“A double-barrel must be somewhere in here.”

“Well—” Night hesitated.

“One moment,” said one crystal pegasus stallion and flew up. After several seconds he came down with a double-barrel in his mouth, taking gun into the wing and presenting it to March.

“We won't put up much of a fight with that,” she said.

“There are some ‘Lilys’ on the cloud in Castle Danger, if I'm not mistaken,” said pegasus.

“We won't get there during blizzard,” replied March.

“And how—" Night wanted to ask.

“Luuk, when ya''ll be able to, fly for the rifles,” said March.

“March, but—" Fire wanted to object.

“Now luuk,” March interrupted everypony, “they aren't expecting to see rifles in here. So, it is the best opportunity to repel them. Who knows how to shuut?” Everypony looked at each other. March rolled her eyes, “And what do ya' need it for, eh?”

“I can,” suddenly replied Fire, “I've been in shooting range with the lighter version of ‘Lily’ several times.”

“Won't help,” March replied, “Who owns this double-barrel?”

“Sturdy Planks. He's probably in the other hut,” answered pegasus.

“'Faine', give it to me,” March took double-barrel rifle over her head, “How many rounds do ya' have?”

“Give me a sec,” Pegasus quickly jumped up and gave to the March ribbon with 20 rounds.

“Now we talkin',” cheered March.

“I... I can try to fly to Castle Danger right now,” Night said unconfidently.

“That's madness, you will crush into the first tree in such blizzard,” Fire answered.

“Wai',” said March and turned to Night, “Every second is important now. Ya' sure ya''ll be able to get it and come back?”

“I've already flown in blizzard,” Night's voice mixed with the thunder, “Not the one like that though... But I have more chances to get rifle than any pegasus. At least I'll be able to navigate.”

“Try to. We need to return to other hut,” March said, “Let's get goin'.”

March, Fire and Night left the hut under the small protective sphere. Night nodded and disappeared in the blizzard with the flap of his wings. Bat squeaks were heard through the blizzard, probably it is how Night was finding his way. March poked distracted Fire and they started to crawl back through the darkness. It was harder and harder to hold sphere around them and Fire was not up for talking. They had to press to each other's side with their tales being outside of the sphere already. Fire felt something solid attached to the jacket on the mare's backside. By form it resembled a revolver. The sphere blinked for a second letting in a gust of cold wind with the snow. Something blinked from a far and March suddenly pushed Fire to the right. Sphere disappeared; cold wind hit their bodies as they fell behind a log under the shed. A gunshot sound mixed with the thunder and howling of blizzard.

“Raiders,” whispered March, “they weren’t aimin' at us.” Another couple of gunshots. March peeked out from behind the log and quickly hid back, “Can't see a thing. Hut is close. One quick dash,” March yanked Fire, “Distract them.”

“Wha—” but Fire was too late to ask, March swung over the log and galloped to the hut. Fire started to run through the options. Distracting light. But I need something pleasant for the cast. It was hard to concentrate. He peeked out and saw several flashes in the forest, they were getting closer. Sound of gunshots were getting louder, but he hasn't heard any bullets hitting the ground. March's silhouette was already at the door. Fire gathered his thoughts and the horn flashed. Green light appeared making its way to the other end of his log. Two gunshots fired right near the left wall of the hut hitting the lightened end of log. Fire quickly hid his head; it was too dangerous now.

Get out of here!

Door slammed and March hopped into the hut with a revolver, “Who 's Sturdy Planks?” To her surprise she found Byrk doing something with the saw in the centre of the room.

“Oh, March,” Frist exclaimed, “Raiders are here.” Right at that moment two gunshots roared behind the wall. All lumberjacks took what was close to their hooves: axes, saws...

The ochre unicorn stood up from the wall close to the window and said, “I'm Sturdy, ya' hav' my rifle?” March took it into the teeth and thrown to unicorn. Sturdy caught it with his magic and took the ribbon with shells, loading the double-barrel. “Now we’ll talk with 'em.”

March nodded and quietly opened the door. Any sound except the loud gunshots drowned in the blizzard. She hopped out and hid herself behind the small wheelbarrow from the approaching raiders from the left of the hut. She saw small green light above the log. Guud work, she complimented Fire in her thoughts.

Ponies in the hut were careful not to walk past the windows. Blizzard was raging on. Suddenly an eye appeared in the window, looking right into the muzzle of a rifle. Loud gunshot, broken glass and cold wind rushed into the hut blowing out the only lantern.

It was unbearably hard for Fire to hold the "firefly". Suddenly the feeling of cold disappeared and everything started to flow before his eyes. Three more gunshots and the "firefly" disappeared. Strangely loud gunshot came from somewhere near, but Fire already lost his sense of reality. He watched at the starry skies lying on the warm snowy field. No more raiders or sawmills. It was just a bad dream.

“STOP, RIGHT, THERE!” Fire heard the mare's voice behind him. It was strangely familiar to the one that he heard in the Canterlot...

“Princess!?” he asked bewildered, lifting his head. Fire turned and saw Princess Luna, her horn glowed brightly with turquoise-blue light and she was quite tensed.

“Don't you dare to lose consciousness!” she shouted, her horn glowing brighter. Fire was completely stunned. “A bit more!” Luna shouted spreading her wings. She flapped hopping right close to him. “Wake up!” she hit him on the croup with her hoof. He shrieked in surprise. Cold wind once again hit him in the muzzle.

First March heard gunshot from the hut. Second later she noticed a flash on the right side of the hut. She peeked out and shot there from the revolver. Two more gunshots were heard from the left, soon they will be in front of wheelbarrow. Suddenly in the end of the shed something light turquoise-blue flashed with the loud shriek of Fire.

Byrk decided that now it is the moment. His horn flashed and saw started to roar, mixing with the blizzard. “Golden! Davay!” he shouted. With a light yellow flash saw was brought up with a magic quickly rushing through the broken window outside. Loud shrieks of fear came from the left side of the hut with several gunshots. Shooting came much closer to the hut.

Turquoise-blue flash soared into the skies and with the last thunder roar wind disappeared. All snow suddenly fell down in an unnatural manner, covering everycreature on the ground. Fire jumped up and noticed to the hut's left a pony with a rifle, in horror looking at the blood-stained saw chain. A pile of snow close to him was covered in blood. Close to the hut entrance there was a pile of snow behind the wheelbarrow. Several crystal ponies were hiding behind the trees not far away from the pegasi in the Whinnyapolian uniform. All gunshots went quiet as all ponies suddenly were able to see their surroundings. Fire felt the pain on his croup and fell behind the log.

“Fire! Rifle!” a voice shouted behind him as gunshots roared again. Something heavy have fallen close to the Fire. Unicorn raised his head noticing Night. He wasn't moving, holding rifle in his teeth. There's a raider, a thought rushed in his mind. He took rifle with his magic and checked the bolt.

March shook off the snow and searched for revolver. She crawled from behind the wheelbarrow and noticed a terrified pony with smoking rifle in front of her. He looked at her with his wild eyes and turned the rifle in her direction. Loud gunshot came from the shed, pony's eyes froze and he fell on his side. March gazed at the shed seeing Fire with "Lily" peeking from the log. Her gaze fell on the revolver on a distance of an outstretched hoof. March quickly grabbed it and peered around the corner to see three raiders hiding from the pegasi wing behind the trees.

“Get out of here!” shouted Sturdy from the hut shooting his double-barrel from the window to the crystal unicorn behind the tree. Pony only managed to scream in fear. Two bullets immediately landed next to the window.

Fire saw five crystal ponies behind the trees from his side. One of them aiming at him. He barely had time to hide before a bullet whizzed over his horn. He jerked the bolt handle and crawled along the log to the right side.

March fired a single aimed shot from the revolver before hiding behind the corner. Some disordered screaming and shouting came from the raiders. Several bullets landed on the hut and on the Fire's log. From the roof of the second hut came a single shot. It was a pegasus who returned with a second rifle.

Several shots fired from the forest. Somepony loudly screamed. Fire peeked with one eye out of the log and saw a raider hastily reloading his rifle. He was covered by the hut from the other raiders now. Fire showed his head and brought rifle to aim. Come on, it's like in the shooting range, he tried to reassure himself. Exhale and shot. Raider gasped in surprise when his rifle's stock shattered in two. Fire immediately ducked down and continued his way to the other side, clinging the bolt handle. Second shot came from the pegasus on the roof.

Another shot from the hut, three shots from the forest. One bullet flew through the hut breaking window on the door's side and landing right into the log in front of the Fire's tail in a way that he twitched. March galloped switching the corner and now looking on the left side of the hut. She nearly got the bullet, destined for her when she looked around the corner. Not hesitating, she drew her revolver shooting at the crystal pegasus, who tried to get closer. He screamed in pain.

“We surrender!” shouted somepony from the forest in unison with 5 shots from pegasi wing. Somepony screamed in pain again.

“Drop ya'r weapons!” a shout came from pegasi. Fire crawled to the right side and peeked out seeing a raider who threw his rifle away. Fire drew "Lily" to aim without the intention to shoot. March checked her side seeing two crystal ponies dropping their weapons and moaning pegasus on the ground.

Pegasus on the roof shouted, “Central one hasn't dropped!”

“Drop it!” shouted another pegasus.

“Show ya'rself!” shouted the first pegasus, who commanded to drop weapons. Raiders from March's side left their covers. “On the ground!” — he commanded. Raiders obeyed.

“Traitors!” shouted somepony in the centre, gunshot from the hut followed. Earthpony on the Fire's side started to gallop away.

“Get him!” shouted third pegasus and two of them got off, quickly reaching and pinning the raider to the ground.

War on the background

As the pegasi approached the huts lumberjacks started to leave their covers. Fire stood up and stared at breathless Night. He couldn't believe what just happened. The light-blue pegasus with the violet mane and a Hippogriffe-Falls' pegasi wing badge on his chest approached Fire, “We're grateful for ya'r help, I'm captain of the Hippogriffe-Falls pegasi wing, Falling Tear,” he held out a hoof to Fire. Covering pegasus flew down from the roof.

“F-Fire S-Sense,” he shook the captain's hoof, trembling.

Door into the hut opened and March struggled to drag out the bound pegasus. “That's their canary,” she thrown pegasus in front of the porch.

“Thanks, March. Pity we couldn’t get here suuner,” replied captain, glaring at the moaning pegasus. Captive's eyes fell onto the breathless raider and he started thrashing trying to free himself. One of the pegasus flew close to him, hitting bound pegasus with the rifle stock, calming him down.

Sturdy came out of the hut with the students behind him. Captain complimented the lumberjack for great "shuuting". Students fixed their eyes on the body. All, except Byrk and Mistral backed down a bit.

“Is it over?” Mistral asked.

“Y'ah, now it's safe,” answered Falling and flew up the roof to speak with one of his pegasi. Byrk moved pass the body and found his damaged saw handle and a blood-stained chain. He turned his snout a bit, then magickly cleaning the chain with the snow and levitating all saw parts with him back to the students.

March walked over to Fire. “Thanks for help. It could've been much worse without ya',” she said looking at pony's body with Byrk walking past it again. She noticed Fire's frozen gaze on the corpse, “Don't feel sorry. They brought it upon themselves. Ya' saved much more lives than ended today.”

Without getting an answer, March headed towards the Castle Danger, but Fire suddenly spoke up, “I saw the Princess. She's the one, who stopped the storm.”

“Then we'll definitely see her later,” March replied calmly, making her way to the path.

Following the students to the Castle Danger, Fire heard captain talking, “Tell ma'am Seer our condolences.” One pegasus took off, flying past everypony towards the pegasi cloud.

A couple of days later Fire was in Whinnyapolis, sitting in his small room given by the university. He read the newspapers for the 15-17 of December, year 992 after Celestia's Banishment: "Cloudsdale disaster! Hundreds of thousand casualties!", "What waits Equestria?", "March Gustysnows appointed general secretary of Whinnyapolis", "P. Sullivan announced winter recruitment for the autonomous Governorate army". There was a small heater in his room with a natural fire inside it. He liked to use magical more, but after Castle Danger he felt drained out. Fire barely was able to use manipulative spells aside of levitation. There was no chance to use more complex spells, demanding concentration, control over emotions and thoughts. He felt as if his horn barely let through any magical energy.

During the tour days Celestians started the attack in the central area, capturing Ponyville and laying siege to Cloudsdale. All pegasi were evacuated to the Dale, quickly established "tent town" around the small village in the Canterlot valley. Siege resulted in the magical catastrophe that destroyed Cloudsdale and buried over three hundred thousand soldiers from each side in a magical storm. Any fighting was out of the question and both sides concentrated on dealing with the aftermath. Magical storm echoed throughout all of Equestria, from the feudalist Vanhoover to the Baltimare Kingdom. Slave raids from the Crystal Empire were pretty common, but during the onslaught they doubled in strength, and not all villages were as lucky as Castle Danger.

Fire lied on his bed, tired from checking student exams and projects. He couldn’t stop thinking about the events in the lumberjacks' camp. Now there was blood on his hooves. Not that it was anything special, constant wars and battles roared in all of Equus. In Crystal Empire thousands enslaved ponies were dying every day in the mines. It happened somehow on the background, but now he became a part of it. Fire closed his eyes recalling the events. He tried to remember the moment he fainted, when the Princess spoke to him.

How do you feel? she asked. Wait, it isn't what she said, Fire thought to himself, How in Equestria!? he shook his head. “Of course it is not. It was quite tense then,” her voice spoke again clearer than the last time. No, I'm sure I'm not hearing things, thought Fire.

“Princess?” he asked, his body was unable to move.

“Wanted to thank you for your help. If it was not for you than I would have to fly to Castle Danger in person,” suddenly a dark-blue alicorn mare appeared from the dark shroud on his left. Fire finally was able to move, but he couldn't find a solid ground as if everything around him was a black soft blanket.

Luna giggled. “Had to interfere with your dream a little. Such things tend to happen when I do it with the strong magical users.”

“I-I don't understand,” Fire started to rotate headfirst around the horizontal axis.

“Thanks to your magical skills I was able to use you as a catalyst for stopping the storm. It is complicated; thus, I will not elaborate on it just yet,” she approached rotating Fire and stopped him with her hoof. Fire's muzzle resembled total confusion. Luna smiled, “Do not be afraid, you should be intact,” she then thought for a second, “I hope.”

Her horn flashed and Fire felt a solid ground under his hooves, though nothing changed visually. “Thus,” Luna began, “First, I recommend you to use as much of spellcasting magic as possible in order to restore your abilities. You let through yourself gigantic amount of directed energy that day, therefore your horn is completely drained and out of sync with you. Try to start from simple directed spells and avoid using natural for unicorns manipulative magic such as levitation; you will harm your progress dulling your senses otherwise.

“Second, Byrk Pegin's and Frist Lighthoof's invention was noticed by some high scientific circles of Canterlot, hence you can be calm for them. Furthermore, I have sent Golden Robe an invitation to the school of talented unicorns in Canterlot. His talent for the enchantments was not left unnoticed,” she winked.

Fire couldn't believe this. Princess casually speaks with him; it was both frightening and fascinating. He knew, of course, that Princess visits ponies' dreams, but usually she does it imperceptibly. There were rumours that her foes get such nightmares that they have to deal with insomnia. Some even lost their minds.

Nevertheless, Fire couldn't be silent, “Your Highness,” he said.

Princess, abashed, interrupted him, “Merely Luna, royal etiquette is needless in a dream.”

“Princess,” Fire corrected himself, “These four students I looked after... They are close friends to each other. I don't think it's wise to separate them.”

“So that's why heretofore I haven't got a response from Golden,” she mumbled, as if Fire wasn't listening. Then Luna realised that she's not alone and smiled, “Indeed, I will take that into consideration. But it is not all, I am afraid. Recent events took many lives, with consequent lack of lecturers in the new school for talented unicorns. I hope, you will not object moving to Canterlot?” she asked with ambiguous intonation as if it wasn't a question.

“I haven't planned—” it's all what Fire could think of.

“Well, I advise to commence then. School opens in the start of next Autumn and personnel already prepares documentation.”

“I don't know... I've recently finished studies and—” Fire had no idea how to react.

“Do not force me to order you,” Luna said sternly, “There is one unallocated room in the Palace quarter,” she started to go up the invisible stairs slowly disappearing behind the veil. “Also, you will surely need help with your recovery and in Canterlot it will be way easier to receive it,” she winked again vanishing behind the veil.

Fire jumped in his bed. A letter with a royal seal lied on his table. It was an order appointing him as a lecturer. It certainly hasn't felt like an invitation. Equestria was torn apart by the civil war and rulers had no time for toying. All of Equus was in the flames of war and a famine was about to happen in the gryphonian North. The era of compromise was over after Celestia's return. Now the sword did what feather could not and there was no hope for it to end soon.