Striving for Perfection

"Sir, are you going to be all right?" Rising asked with genuine excitement in his voice.

"I hope so," I replied, finishing my procedure for a second. Experimentally, I was able to create a sequence of taking medications that allows me not to get too severe wounds from burning skin. First, I pour cold water all over my body to stop the burning process for a second. Then I treat the burns that have already appeared with antiseptic and bind them with bandages. In the end, in order to fight increasing fatigue, I inject myself with something similar in effect to adrenaline. The process is repeated until the fire ceases to flare up again. Fortunately, a whole box of medicines provides me with enough equipment.

"Are you sure?" Rising asked wanting to make sure.

"Yes! Where do such questions come from?" I asked, beginning to lose patience.

"It's just that you kind of saved me, there next to the mountain." Said Rising diligently trying to form a thought.

"So what?" I asked without much interest, while the fire on the skin faded for a couple of seconds.

"I thought this was the end. But you, sir, you saved my life!" Continued to say Rising.

"I still don't understand what you need."

"Why did you save me?" Rising asked with such expectation in his voice as if he was a child waiting for a birthday present.

"You are more useful to me alive as a loader and not dead as bad food." I said, noticing the fire flaring up again on the skin, which had already begun to burn through the bandages. I quickly turned my attention to the fire and started looking for cold water.

"But there must be something!" Rising exclaimed as if he wanted something more and could not believe that I was telling the truth.

Can really be something? Maybe you are a father captain and your soldiers are a new big family?

I shook my head from side to side at the same time rejecting my idea and the assumption of Rising. Having dealt with this, I quickly switched my gaze to the fire and poured cold water over it. It took a whole liter bottle of cold water to make the fire go down, but I coped with it. Having reduced the fire on the skin to a minimum size, I quickly took an antiseptic, treated the wounds with it and transported new burns. After that, my eyelids began to close again, as if every second in this state spends all my energy. Having worked out the actions to automatism, I took another syringe and injected it into my chest. Fatigue eased, and I remained conscious.

I raised my gaze higher and saw that everyone was busy with their own affairs. Rising started looking out the window with a look like he still doesn't believe I'm telling the truth. Flying rummages in a box of provisions in search of something delicious. Fortunately, I have already opened both boxes and they are freely available. It's amazing that the cashier and the conductor didn't care so much about two huge boxes and a safe.

Although I can't find the strength to condemn them.

Suddenly Flying climbed so deep into the box that he fell inside. I got up for fun and looked into the drawer. In it, among canned food, biscuits and bottles of water, there was a Flying that fell into a box. I leaned one hand on the edge of the box and put the other on my back.

"How's the weather down there?" I asked with a malicious smile.

"Everything is fine." Briefly replied Flying, continuing even in this position to look for something.

"Since I have nothing to do, I will ask. What are you looking for?" I asked, when grabbing one of the packages of galettes.

"Normal food."

"Is this abnormal?" I asked, pointing my finger at the pile of food that was literally right next to him.

"I don't eat metal." Said Flying, putting me in a stupor.

"You've never seen a conserve, have you?" I asked, being almost completely sure that I was right.

"Con what?" Flying asked, stopping searching the box for a second and focusing his gaze on me.

"Look. Now a representative of the developed world will show you, a barbarian, the wonders of civilization and in return you will become a slave." I said while reaching for the nearest canned food. Taking it, I pulled a knife out of my pocket and pierced the upper part of the side with the blade. Driving a knife through metal like scissors through paper, I eventually opened canned food. As it turned out, among all the preserves, I chose the one in which there was corn.

"Catch it." I said calmly, throwing a Flying can of corn. He managed to react at the last moment and grab the jar with his wing. Seeing that there was food inside the metal jar, his eyes widened and he quickly began to devour the contents of the jar. After licking everything that stuck to the knife, I returned it to my pocket and went to my place.

Sitting down in my rightful place, I realized one very pleasant look. It seems that after a lot of spent bottles of water, medical bandages, antiseptics and syringes of adrenaline, I was able to cope with self-igniting skin. I hope this will not have unpleasant consequences. I calmed down and having received a minimal semblance of rest, I opened the package with biscuits and slowly began to eat them one at a time.

While I was eating biscuits, I could only contemplate what was happening around me. Rising all the food is sitting by the window with a thoughtful look. Flying, in turn, judging by the banks regularly flying out of the box, arranged itself for a combined breakfast, lunch and dinner. But if he doesn't have a knife, that means only one thing.

He opens all the canned food with his fangs.

I turned away from this sight and began to peer into the landscape. Most of the way has already been covered, so I was able to see the skyscrapers of Manehattan in the distance. Among the sparse, lonely trees and long bridges, the city was getting closer. Despite the injected adrenaline, I still began to feel a little tired, forcing me to squint my eyes. When, after a couple of seconds, fatigue did not progress, I decided not to inject additional adrenaline and just aimlessly enjoy the scenery.

Okay, I still have work to do. First of all, you need to come to an interview and answer all sorts of stupid questions. Previously, I need to leave everything that I took from the mercenary base for temporary storage in the hotel room and leave the thestrals as guards. I hope there won't be any overly curious looks from the outside.

I heard the brakes of the train creak and strike sparks on the rails, informing me that I had reached my stop. Getting up from my seat, I gestured to Rising that it was time to carry the safe. He nodded and stood up from his seat. While he was doing everything, I went to the food box in which Flying was still sitting and looked at him. It looks like he has satisfied his hunger and just sat down in the box with a grin.

"Get up, we've got things to do," I said, tapping my knuckles on the food crate.

He groaned in displeasure and grabbed the edges of the box with his wings and began to pull himself out of the box. While he was getting out, I noticed that a solid number of cans he had opened had accumulated on the floor.

"By the way, collect the garbage." I said out of the corner of my eye looking at Flying and pointing to my hand at the opened canned food.

"You don't have to." Flying said with his trademark hoarseness and impudence.

"If you don't take it away, I'll start getting angry." I said, annoyed that he was refusing.

"So what?" He asked defiantly.

"It's better to see once than hear a hundred times."

Despite some fatigue, I instantly shifted my weight to my right leg and lunged with my left. The left foot came into contact with Flying's hoof like a soccer ball and moved it to the side. Because of this, Flying lost its balance and fell forward. I took a small step back and slowly, as if I was just scratching, put my hand on my head. In fact, after such tricks, I had a hell of a headache.

"Enough?" I asked, continuing to secretly suffer from pain.

"Okay, so be it, nerd." Grumbled Flying getting up again and starting to collect cans. After making sure that everything was fine, I put earplugs in my ears and went to the sports bag and hung it over my shoulder. Then I walked over to the open medicine chest and shouldered it. Due to the lack of balance, most of my strength was spent trying not to fall. Seeing that Flying collected all the garbage and threw it into the food box, I shouldered the second box on my left shoulder. This restored my balance and allowed me not to waste energy on its artificial maintenance.

"Let's go." I said when I saw that the Thestrals had already put the safe on their backs. I didn't hear their answer, so I just had to rely on their loyalty.

When I got off the train, I saw a city that was both so familiar and so draining of my strength. Without giving in to thoughts, I looked around to find signs in the direction of the hotel. On the way to the hotel, I couldn't stop enjoying the moderate frost. After a killing and life-threatening cold, it is very pleasant to return to a moderate frost. Clothing is again able to protect from the cold and seems to create a distance from the outside world. The snow is no longer high and almost does not interfere with walking.

After a short walk, I got to the hotel and stopped in front of the door. Due to the fact that my hands were busy with boxes, I had to invent an alternative solution. I carefully, so as not to break the door, pushed it with my foot and, entering the room, held the door with my foot so that the thestrals could enter. When they entered, I stopped holding the door and approached the woman sitting at the reception desk. I put the boxes on the floor and pulled out a bag of money to pay. After a few rounds, I laid out the required amount in one hundred bits and again shouldered two boxes on my shoulders. While I was doing all this, I felt the lines bend and take the shape of two thestrals. They had already gone to the second floor and left me alone.

I shouldered two boxes and started walking towards the stairs. Without much difficulty, I climbed the stairs step by step and got closer to my goal. Having overcome the stairs, I saw two thestrals standing in front of the door to the room, who were still holding the safe on their backs. I put the drawer back on the floor and pulled the room key out of my pocket. I inserted the key into the lock and gently pushed the door with my elbow. I picked up the second drawer and entered the open room where the alarm clock was still lying on the bed. I put two drawers and a gym bag in the corner of the room and for a second succumbed to the desires, lay down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling and just breathed slowly. Unfortunately, I heard some mumbling that made me move to a sitting position and pull out the earplugs.

I asked, looking with displeasure at the two thestrals who had already put the safe next to the drawers.

"Mr. Sir Boss, I'm confused. What should we do now?" Rising asked hoping for further guidance.

I turned my attention to the alarm clock. Taking it in my hand, I saw that it was half past twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Considering how long the train was traveling today is the thirtieth of December. And that means what?

I have an interview today.

"Okay, I have a plan. I'll go to the interview and the two of you will share the money I gave you, Rising. You can do whatever you want with them " I said before getting out of bed and slowly heading for the door.

"Are you going for an interview? I'm with you!" Rising said with unknown enthusiasm.

"No, you're not going to the interview with me," I said flatly.

"But why?" Asked Rising as a child who doesn't get a new toy.

"There are many reasons. First of all, there will be nothing banal for you to do there. Secondly, I consider you to be my area of responsibility only as long as I see you in my field of vision. That is, while I don't see you, I calmly exhale and cannot think about you. Thirdly, you have no idea how disgusting it is for me to stoop to such a speech in order to convey my thought. Only silence and peace allows me to bounce away from the licked leather ideal and jump to the contradictory heavenly squalor in order to reach the ultimate truth. " I said at the end, tired of simple speech. After hearing the last sentence, Rising froze like a computer unable to cope with the task.

"In short, you're not coming with me." I said, shaking my head and putting earplugs in my ears. Having finished with this, I left my room, deciding to leave it open.

With a quick, energetic step, I descended the stairs and found myself in the lobby. Keeping a fast pace, I walked through the lobby and yanked the door open and went outside. Once on the snow-covered sidewalk, I pulled out a map that had been folded many times from my pocket and started looking for eighth Avenue. Unfortunately, it turned out to be on the other side of the city, so a quiet walk will not work.

Okay, we need to at least minimally prepare for the interview. Ideally, play an ultra-positive social liberal and get the approval of the public. Answer all questions like a real good girl. Family is good, the state is our friend, nothing needs to be changed, everything will be fine. . . Yes, this is not a very funny joke, let's move on to the real plan. To answer all questions in the most terrible way. Honestly and openly. But with a small detail. Using big, complicated words, we will confuse everyone and put ourselves in the best light.

After running an impressive distance, I stopped in front of a real skyscraper. Resting against the sky is a huge building that towers over all living beings like matter over a young mind. But the great mind nourished by matter begins to change it for itself. I looked up and saw a sign with the inscription proudly hanging in front of the double doors. The Manehatten Times.

I pushed the door forward and entered a really stylish building. Clear, perfectly smooth doors without pretentiousness. Ceiling lamps with a simple black shade. Pointers that say in simple words where the stairs are, where offices are, and so on. After making my first impression, I took out the earplugs and put them in my pockets. I noticed a pony sitting at the table who is most likely a secretary. While I was approaching the secretary, I noticed the clock that shows the time almost twelve o'clock in the afternoon.

Barely had time.

"I was recently invited for an interview and here I am." I said to the secretary.

"Ctumer am I right?" The secretary asked in a calm, measured and professional voice.

"Yes, it's me." I replied, wanting to start the interview as soon as possible and finish it.

"Hot News will accept you. She's in the seventh interview studio. It's on the second floor. Everything is indicated on the signs. " The secretary explained briefly.

I nodded and started walking calmly towards the stairs so as not to make the lines worry too much. Unlike the stairs in the hotel, this one has higher steps, as if even the stairs have a high and low social status. Although I'm not really surprised by this. Having overcome the stairs, I began to look for signs that would guide me along the heroic path. I saw one clean and smooth pointer on which it was written in white on black that the interview studios from the first to the seventh were waiting for me ahead. It's like I'm going through a recount of my sins.

I walked along a well-groomed, in a sense, licked corridor and reached the cherished door to the seventh studio. I put my hand on the door handle and slowly opened the door. In the room I was greeted by a quite cozy landscape. A modest chandelier on the ceiling illuminating the room with warm light. Two armchairs, one blue, the other red, both seem privileged, and in front of them is a strict wooden table at which a maybe familiar blue Pegasus with a chestnut mane is sitting.

Something familiar but I can't remember.

"You've come! I was afraid you wouldn't come, but you did. So. Please sit down and we will begin the interview." She said abruptly switching to a professional voice that had not yet been practiced.

Without saying a word, I took a few steps and sat down on a red armchair with my legs spread wide apart and stretched forward. When I got closer to Pegasus, I saw that she seemed to be unaccustomed to this place, as if this was a choice not agreed upon by anyone but accepted by everyone.

"So questions are questions. Let's start with a simple one. What were you doing before our conversation?" Pegasus asked, looking at the notebook with notes.

It's better not to call it Hot. We'll call her Miss News.

"I was in an incredible state similar to the battle of the infinitely low with the tiny high. I experienced the euphoria of a fool and the contempt for everything that exists of a wise. It was as if I felt in a radical form the endless conflict of nature and reason."

"Excuse me, what?" Miss News asked as if she didn't understand anything.

I laughed without genuine mirth and justified myself: "I have a very poetic and philosophical mood today. Soon I have an important day of the year, so I'm a little excited and can't keep myself in check. I just want to succumb to momentary desires and go along an unknown, crazy interplanetary path in search of a door from the plastic world just for myself. "

"Um. " The only sound Pegasus could squeeze out, as if he couldn't stand such a stream of consciousness.

Stop doing nonsense and turn on the regime of a radical dissident. YOU came here to gain fame and support in society.

I heard someone writing very fast. Turning my head to the sound, I saw how the feather itself quickly writes everything on the sheet. The feather even has its own separate mini table where there are papers and a jar of ink.

"Has exploitation even reached inanimate beings?" I asked, turning to Miss News, but watching the feather out of the corner of my eye.

"This? It's just an enchanted feather. It records everything it hears, but there are more advanced and very rare feathers that may not record something unnecessary, such as swearing. This is an ordinary enchanted pen that does not prevent it from being incredibly expensive, but the newspaper can afford it. "

"Poor feather. It was a happy, carefree instrument and became a slave, doomed to eternal suffering of the mind. " I said, trying to squeeze sincere empathy out of myself.

"Can we continue the interview please?" Miss News asked.

"I am not your boss and I have no right to tell you. Let's continue the interview." I said, slightly lowering the degree of poetry. Quite a bit.

"Thank you. Next question. How did you end up in Equestria?"

Say that you don't remember otherwise they will call you crazy and refuse any cooperation.

"It was a very surreal experience. I remember how after a long hard day where I as always opposed the plastic world, something attacked me. Something like the pure light of purified squalor wanting to consume me. I tried to run away from him but it didn't work out and here I am. In this country, which is even more plastic than the past." I told the truth.

"Good." Miss News said slowly, as if she didn't believe a single word.

"I am an honest person. The next question." I said a little disappointed and leaned on the back of the chair.

"Yes, the next question. Why did you attack Ponyville then? Or was it done by someone very similar to you?" Miss News asked as if she had no believe that I did it.

No lies. The only way to convince someone is to surpass them physically. Beat, wound or break. To teach you, plastic men to live, you need to be beaten very well.

"I think to convince someone, you need to beat him. Only physical defeat and the emptiness that follows it can make someone change their point of view. I came to the city to once again confront the plastic world and win over one of its tiny molecules."

"How's it going?" Miss News asked as if she had already stopped looking for logic in my words.

"I defeated the guards. I defeated supposedly folk heroes in front of the eyes of that very people. And I fought until I lost consciousness. I did it all alone! Without material and moral support from anyone! Considering the ratio of losses, I am sure that this is my victory." I said remembering my success and a little upset that it wasn't complete.

"OK, next question. Where were you for the three months between the battle in Ponyville and the encounter with the monster in the city in the south of Equestria? By the way, that was the first time we met, if you haven't forgotten."

So that's how I know her. In any case, I have nothing to hide here.

"I was in Canterlot Castle and trained under the guidance of Luna. It was like a three-month death. For three whole months I was part of the plastic world and obeyed its restrictions. Luckily, I'm alive again. " I said, pointing with my hands at my moon-like face.

"Yeah. Shall we move on to the next question? " Miss News asked as if she needed permission.

"As I know, you, as a presenter, make decisions and I just answer questions." I said stretching his hand forward as if he was passing the baton of the board to Miss News.

"I know it perfectly well! That is the next question. There are rumors that you have come into conflict with one of the most influential nobles in Equestria. Is it true?" Miss News asked, consulting her notebook.

Yes, I came into conflict with a dirty bourgeois to save the world proletariat! I am sure these words will immediately arouse the sympathy of ninety-nine percent of the public.

"Yes, I have entered into a conflict against another representative of the plastic world. I live to destroy the plastic world and in the future, with a calm soul, begin to live a truly free life." I said out of the corner of my eye looking at the enchanted feather. It completely exhausted the strength of the next sheet and picked it up from the side and put it in a small pile of other tired sheets.

"An unscheduled question. What is the plastic world that you talk about so much? " Miss News asked in the hope that an explanation could enlighten her.

"The plastic world is all that exists now. Good and evil, the perception of each being's life as a value, any laws and, of course, love. All this is not real, not realistic, not alive. This is a meaningless mass of non-existent things that make up the current world. Plastic world." I said, saying the information as it turns out.

"If this is the "plastic world", what will happen if you theoretically destroy it?" Miss News asked as if she was communicating with a mental patient.

Slow down before it's too late!

"A society united by perfection, that is, a person who has achieved absolute authority, the ultimate truth and will give up everything plastic will lead society in the free world. In the free world there is only infinite freedom for everyone and from everything. Some sectarians will be able to continue to worship plastic, but they will never take away freedom from others again. "

"So you're an anarchist?" Miss News asked as if that was the only description she could come up with.

"An anarchist in most cases is someone who wants the plastic world to remain like this only in a slightly freer form. I want to break the plastic world like glass so that freedom from everything and for everyone reigns in an empty room. " I said refuting her statement.

"Let's just move on to the next question. What do you think of the Griffonian Republic?" Miss News asked as if she no longer expects a normal answer from me.

"The Republic? Democracy, fake liberalism and other plastic toys? These are instruments of stability and moderation. Such management methods, if they are not threatened by something, will simply stagnate. Only authoritarian management methods can contribute to progress. "

"Finally a normal answer. What do you think about the current situation of the Solar and Lunar Guards?" Miss News asked, glad that the dialogue had become useful.

"Like a torn rag. The division into two separate and independent guards does not make sense. If you really think about it, there is simply no higher management that can use all the forces at once. For example, according to the information that I have, Wonderbolts are still considered an air force formation, but at the same time does not conduct any combat exercises. Now they are just artists and nothing more. At the same time, only their commander can change the situation! I personally saw that the Solar Guard does not obey its captain. To fix all this, us need to create a vacancy for the supreme commander-in-chief who will control all subdivisions and reform them as he sees fit. Otherwise, everything will remain in the state of a torn rag."

"Thank you for the detailed answer. Only the last question and the blitz poll remained. Do you have any close relationship with the royal family?" Miss News asked, not believing that she was asking such nonsense.

"No, and it can't be. It's like the relationship of paper and fire. They will not be able to work under any circumstances. " I said, answering surprisingly briefly.

"Okay. So only the blitz poll remained. Describe yourself in a nutshell. "

"Eternal revolutionary. "

"What is the most important thing in life? "

"Freedom. "

"Cats or dogs? "

"Horse meat."

"What's the scariest thing in your opinion?" Miss News asked swallowing after my answer.

"Lose yourself."

"Would you like to have a book written about you?"

"I don't need it, but if they write it, it will be nice."

"Which book should everyone read?"

"No one owes anyone anything."

"Is there a song that can characterize you?"

Say that the anthem of the international.

"I am a full-fledged, multi-faceted personality. More than one song is not able to describe or characterize me."

"Okay. Truly last question. Your ideology?" Miss News said as if she didn't understand my answer.

Ultra Social Liberalism

"I am beyond these concepts. There is no word that can convey my struggle. The closest thing that looks like me is some kind of a jumble of words. Individualist authoritarian ultra liberalism? Liberal Leninism? Something else? Choose what you like best. "

"You can go. " Miss News said after taking a deep breath.

I got up from the chair and walked out of the room. Putting my hand on the door handle, I pulled the door open and entered the corridor. As I walked down the corridor, the gears in my head began to move.

Well done, genius! Great job! You came here to gain popularity and support in society and now you will walk around with the stigma of a madman. Thanks at least for not freaking out, cry baby.

I went out into the cold, snowy street and headed towards the hotel. I didn't pull out the card and decided to trust my memory. Putting my hands in my pockets, I began to move through the snow-covered city with a calm, measured step. Each step pushing through the snow created a sound similar to a crunch. There was practically no wind and clouds, which allowed the winter and not at all warm sun to illuminate my road. There was no one on the street, as is typical for Manhattan. A solid curtain of silence, snow and cold light.

The sun had already begun to move slowly towards the horizon, but still seemed to cling to the predestined time. To my left, I saw the already familiar door to the hotel and pushed it forward. Once in the warmth of the hotel, I slowly began to make my way to the room so as not to agitate the magic lines. Carefully, taking small steps, I climbed the softly creaking stairs. After taking a few steps down the corridor, I reached the open door to the room. While I was opening the door, I was able to catch the dialogue inside.

"What happens?" Rising asked in an expectant voice.

"Quiet! I need to focus." Flying replied in a surprisingly focused voice.

I went into my room and saw an interesting picture. Flying sits in front of the safe and using a medical stethoscope tries to find out the combination. Next to him are two bottles of white wine that have not yet been opened. Rising has bent down to see the situation better and is watching his friend's work. Realizing that a difficult task was being performed for me, I decided to quietly go to the bed in order to better observe everything. I tiptoed to the bed and carefully sat down on it with one leg crossed over the other. I saw an alarm clock nearby. Or what's left of it. The alarm clock seemed to have been killed by a few hoofbeats. No wonder these idiots couldn't turn off the alarm.

"Okay, I won't interfere. How long have you been here!?" Rising asked, abruptly flustered after he turned around.

"Enough to not understand anything. What's going on here?" I said, using my knee as a support for my arm and propping my head with my hand.

"I kind of thought what would captain do in such a situation and came up with this. I thought that the medical..." Began to explain Rising but stopped after Flying abruptly shushed. I showed him with a hand gesture that he should stop for now. He nodded and continued to observe the work of his friend, but took a different position to keep an eye on me out of the corner of his eye. I also watched Flying work from my far stand. He turned the round lock very carefully and nervously, as if doing it for the first time.

I don't know anything about safes. There will be no smart comment.

Suddenly, there was a click of mechanisms and the safe slowly boiled off. I stood up in disbelief and walked closer to the safe. Truly! There were various papers in the safe. Some were tied with a rope and in the center was a huge scroll. Pushing the idiots aside, I sat down in front of the safe and began to examine the contents. In the safe there were scrolls tied with rope and one very large sheet. After removing the rope, I began to sort through and quickly familiarize myself with the contents of the scrolls. When I finished with the scrolls, I took a large long sheet. After seeing its contents and mentally comparing it with the map, I started laughing. Laughing hysterically. So much so that I couldn't breathe properly.

"Are you all right Mr. Sir Boss?" He asked Rising as if he was worried about me.

"Do you see this? This is the compromising material provided right on a beautiful saucer!" I said, showing the thestrals the letters and a large sheet. The letters carefully negotiated every mine, town, and even a tiny village. There was something like a contract in the big sheet. The document states that all the signatories are ready to implement the final decision. In other words, when the discussion is over, no one will question it. And the cherry on the cake! The contract has many red signatures. About fifty if you count offhand.

"I already have an incredible idea!" I said, charging with incredible enthusiasm.

"What idea?" Rising asked with a mixture of joy for me and fright.

"I called it the night of the long swords. I just need to hand it over to Luna along with a careful sketch of the plan and everything else will be done for me." I said, couldn't take the big smile off my face.

"So we're going to Canterlot?" Rising asked as if he was waiting for a direct order.

"What? No! By doing such an outstanding job and taking a lot of additional factors, I can expand my holiday from one hour to a whole day."

"That is?" Two thestrals asked at the same time.

"Tomorrow I will live by the rules of the free world all day. I'm going to have real fun tomorrow."

Flying in honor of this took a bottle of white wine and solemnly began to drink it. Rising stood rooted to the spot and seemed to get a punch in the gut because of such words. Before going to the flea market for another alarm clock, I formed one thought.

It's going to be terrible as always.