Cause of Progress

***

"Seventy bottles of wine on the wall, seventy bottles of wine. You take one down, pass it around... heeey, I know what we could do this..."

"Finish that fucking sentence and you will be sleeping on the floor tonight, Fizzy. I'm not in the mood on replying to your horny attitude right now... Hah, horn-y..." - After that Abbi recieved a light pinch on her left tigh, wincing silently but chuckling afterwards.

They almost arrived to the Canterlot castle after four and a half hours of flight. Abigail and Tempest spend their trip mostly hanging out in their room, laying on the bed together and doing their preffered calm activities. They were both on the same bed, Abbi laying and Tempest sitting and having her legs over human's. Abigail was solving a 9x9 Rubbic's cube, while unicorn was reading some kind of an adventures book. They did took some time off of their activities, talking or walking around the barge, but ultimately were sticking together.

"What do you think will happen in next week or so? Do you think Celestia will keep her words?" - Asked Tempest, making the bookmark and closing her book for the time being.

"It's either we will work as we need to, or some form of shenanigans will occur. And honestly? I would prefer the shenanigans. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the quiet times of work and spending time together, but... it's like... all of the time." - She exhaled, lowering her cube and looking at Tempest. - "We did the same thing on the Isles day in and day out. It was too consistent. With this - we can do something different, and for me - I could see the other country of this world. Country you from, hun. As much as you dislike Equestria - it's still the place you from."

"Then... The real reason for you to ask Celestia that promise waaaas..."

"Oh, just to make sure she did want my help for a reason, not just because I'm one of a kind, like a collectable piece. If there will be problems like a specism or other dumb reason to despise me - I can have my fun and have a banter with them or even kick some faces. I won't have an argument, demanding with foam coming out of my mouth to respect me, that would be stupid and gross. I'm going there not just to work, but also to have a good time." - Abbi smirked, throwing the cubical object from hand to hand.

Fizzy just exhaled and with a smile and shake of her head said. - "You are, indeed, one of a kind, Abbi..."

"Hey, what do you think Celly-Belly doing right now?" - Human asked aloud, looking up in thoughtful expression, holding the cube in her right hand.

"Probably something related to her duties. Paperwork, maybe? Or just relaxing."

***

In the meantime, Princess Celestia, with both Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor, were sitting in a room, not far from the room of Abigail and Tempest. Twilight had time to walk around, trying to figure out the construction of this aircraft, taking numerous notes and having the time of her life. Shining Armor sat on one of the beds, mulling over what he saw in the Stormwind Isles and figuring out how he can improve his guards. Celestia was seated beside the round window in deep thought. She can't stop thinking about this Abigail Reznik and her supposed lover - Tempest Shadow. For starters - Celestia was curious of the reason to why the crimson unicorn had that amount of loyalty to the innovator and seemingly hostile to her. Next, she was astounded by the amount of work Abigail did and how it changed the population. Lastly, she was afraid and scared. Afraid of the possibility to have someone do harm to Abigail and null their agreement and scared of how she could retaliate. From what Celestia and everypony saw yesterday and today - Stormwind Isles could be a dangerous enemy, but at the same time - great friends. Raiju was pleasant and wise as a ruler and judging by the scratches and marks on his shell covered body - great warrior.

Twilight was back from her walk an hour ago and yet stopped to write or talk aloud about how this barge actually worked. No magic? Ha! Impossible! Or so she said.

"Twily, you talking aloud again." - Called out Shining Armor to his sister. In turn she didn't even aknowledged him, continue to write and talk. - "TWILIGHT!" - He said louder this time, frowning.

"Huh, what?" - She raised her head, looking questonable at her brother.

"You talking aloud again." - He said unamused.

"Oh... sorry..." - She sheepishly smiled.

"It's alright. Just what are you working on to have this much enthusiasm?" - He asked, standing up and walking to her, looking at the filled parchments.

"Ahem, I'm trying to figure out - what type of magic miss Reznik used to create this aircraft."

At this - both Celestia and Shining raised a single brow, looking at Twilight. Celestia decided to say her part. - "Twilight, I believe Abigail and King Raiju himself said that she don't have any type of magic and every piece of technology was constructed using her intellect and hands."

"But... But that's impossible! There must be some kind of a hinch..." - She tried to argue. - "If I could figure out - how she did what she did - our researchers will not be needing miss Abigail's assistance."

"Can I ask you a simple question? If what you saying is right - then do you feel any magic around you? Specifically in this barge?" - Said Celestia, looking calmly at the purple unicorn.

Twilight concentrated, lighting up her horn and closing her eyes for a couple of seconds, but her face took dissapointed expression after couple of seconds. She opened her eyes and looked at her notes. - "No... not a single spark of magic. But... How is that possible?..."

"This is going to be explained, hopefully... I notified my sister about arrival of our guests. I just hope that nobody will provoke miss Reznik." - Said Celestia, looking out of the window again at the familiar scenery. - "Looks like we will arrive soon. It indeed took us couple of hours to get back to Equestria."

***

The landing the castle grounds was successful. Guards of the Princess Celestia left first, leading her and the guests on a small tour, showing both Abbi and Fizzy - where they will be sleeping, eating and where the innovator will be working. The new workshop was... spaceous. Forty by fifty five meters was enough to fit every machinery Abbi brought with her and more. As they were about to leave - Abigail asked Celestia to stay for a minute to have a pip talk. They currently were alone in the workshop.

"Look, Celestia, let's talk like adults. Not by our ranks. Can you do that for me?" - Abbi asked the mare, jumping and then sitting on the high workbench, taking a relaxed pose. Her stuff was already brought from the barge and placed as she asked in the workshop.

When Celestia slowly nodded with a raised eyebrow - human continued. - "Alright. First of all - take a breath and relax, I'm not going to make threats or anything. Just clarify something. And that is - how I hope this will going to work between you and me. I'm not an uptight, conniving bitch, just someone with ideas. So please - feel free to drop the act of a princess and behave like an actual being with emotions."

The white mare was stunned for a couple of seconds, but then actually took a breath in, exhaled and answered. - "Well, thats a relief... I honestly took you for a major... bitch, as you described yourself."

Abbi just grinned in reply. - "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for that, my beloved taught me about Equestria, as I said before, and I had some reservations. Still - we should not have any problems. I promised to give you the benefit of a doubt and decided to actually talk to you face to face without political bullshit. My point is - I'm more simple than you might think. The reason I'm agreed to this whole shindig is to see what Equestria is about. Sure, as to our agreement - I will work on modernization of your country. But I wouldn't throw a fit if some pony said something mean to me. Sure, I can get angry if the right buttons pushed and punch someone in the face for that, but most of the time - I'm laid back and asking for you to act the same if we are alone, or with Tempest. I'm not going to judge the real you and neither she will. Tomorrow day will come a shipment of details for me to work with and a catalog of what blueprints we could share with adjustment's to your country. So... are we good?"

Celestia gave a small smile and nodded again. - "Yes. That's a major fear out of my mind..."

"Peachy. Now, let's go have something to eat. Pretty sure you are starving as well as I am." - She jumped off of the workbench, heading to the exit and leaving Celestia behind.

The mare herself had a moment to process everything that was said, having a genuine smile for a second or two, not before it vanished and the word 'Blueblood' left her lips, as she hurried to catch up with Abigail.

***

The scene looked comical for human. In span of half an hour Abigail was called an animal by prince Blueblood, which earned him a mental nickname Ballsy. He almost got his face caved in by Tempest for those words, but luckily - Abbi quietly bribed her with a midnight cuddles if she will do nothing for now. Twilight and Shining Armor didn't yet knew about the talk between Abbi and Celestia, so they started to innerly panic about human retaliation for the act of a prince. Then, Ballsy threw a hissy fit to 'Auntie Celestia' about 'that dirty animal', at what Abigail almost exploded with laughter, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. She still wore that coat, gloves and sunglasses.

After this incedent was dealt with and they finally were seated at the table (without Ballsy) - came the second princess. When she arrived - waiters took their respective orders for dinner. Tempest took an eastern fish soup, name of which was oddly sounded like something from Terra, while Abigail requested the only thing that caught her attention - dumplings with potatoes and mushrooms. The name itself was a heavy throwback to her childhood. Being an ex-citizen of the United Federation of Terra, or 'First United and Capitalised Kingdom', as she loved to call her former home - her mother cooked dumplings with miced beef or lamb on weekends. It was a long time since she had something among the food that would remind her of home. She should cook something herself... Fizzy might enjoy it.

"Ahem... While we waiting for our dinner - I should introduce myself. My name is Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria along with my sister - Princess Celestia. And your name is... Abegail?" - Asked Luna, looking at the human.

Abbi in turn slowly removed her glasses and looked at the Princess of the Night with calm expression. - "It's Abigail. Abigail Reznik. Innovator of Stormwind Isles. Beside me is my guard and beloved one - Tempest Shadow." - She said, after which put her sunglasses in the inner pocket of her coat. After the glasses - gloves came off and were put in the outer pockets, revealing her metal hand. Fizzy in the meantime just nodded politely.

Luna was mildly disturbed by the sight of black and yellow mechanical eyes, but didn't dared to ask about it, avoiding to look directly into them. - "I-I umm... I s... Ahem... What can you tell us about your home? We didn't knew that there was an archipelago that technically advanced. From what my sister wrote me yesterday - it's quite the sight."

"Oh, it's lovely. I always preffered misty and cold coastal cities and towns. Mornings with fresh, salty smell of the ocean that comes trough the open windows... As to the technologies - most of them are mine inventions. And I'm not boasting, not in the slightest. When I came to live on the Isles - it was more ragged, disorganised... Previous ruler was... not very bright, and even this description is generous ... oh, what was his name, dear?" - Abigail asked Tempest with a small smile.

"He didn't had one, my beloved. As long as I remember him - he always called himself by the title 'Storm King'." - Calmly answered Tempest, giving out a small smile to Abigail.

"Interesting... And what happend to him?" - Luna asked, intrigued.

"His ultimate goal was to 'steal the magic of alicorns' and... ugh... rule the world. What a foolish goal that was, never understood that kind of mentality. He wanted to use my knowledge and his magic-stealing staff to do that, making me in process his... for a lack of better words - concubine. I declined and when he was about to attack - I killed him. After that - King Raiju risen to the throne, citizens were cheering when they learned about the death of former King. Raiju gave me a permission to stay as long as I wanted to and in turn - I decided to modernize Stormwind Isles. After almost a year I finished the essential work and now just bring up things that are not vital but netherless making the life easier."

Both alicorns and unicorns were dumbstruck by this. They didn't even knew about the danger and tragedy that could happen, if Abigail did nothing, or worse - agreed to help. They literally dodged the deadly arrow by sheer luck. - "And... What about that 'magic-stealing staff' you mentioned?" - Asked Celestia with a drop of cold sweat on her forehead.

"Destroyed. I turned it to ash and fishers dumped the remains into the ocean. So yeah, you welcome." - Abigail smirked, looking at the Princess of the Sun.

"Yes... You... indeed prevented a disastrous incedent. On behalf of Equestria and from myself and my sister's very being, we thank you, Abigail Reznik. I can't even imagine the scale of destruction this invasion may cost us..." - She lowered her head, holding it in both arms. While she was in that position - doors to the dining room opened and waiters with trails of food started to put everything in place.

"Hm, I could answer that question... But it's not the time for being gloomy. Our dinner is arrived and honestly? I'm pretty famished." - Abbi said, picking up her fork.

***

With dinner finished and nothing better to do - Abigail decided to visit gardens, as Celestia advised. Tempest was whisked away by Shining Armor, who wanted to try himself in a friendly sparring match against the unicorn mare. While it was tempting to watch Fizzy in action on the ring - it was more tempting to hear it from her before they would go to sleep.

Walking around the garden - Abigail lit up a cigarette, smoking as she walked. Her robotic eyes trailed the forms of statues and smooth edges of flowers, calming her down. Among the statues were warriors, magicians, poets and important noble figures, but one of the figures was put away from everything. It was not decorated by the flowers around it, nor it was in any inspiring pose. It was a female in her maybe late twenties or early thirties, wearing a toga with an exposed shoulders and left leg without any form of a footwear. Long, straight hair that was turned, like the owner whipped her head in the direction she was now staying. Her hands were raised, cowering her twisted in fear face that was braced foe an impact. It looked like she was turned into stone, or the author was incredibly talented in making faces of his creations. Abbi looked down to find a name, only discovering a dust covered tablet. Swiping away the dust - she finally learned the name of a mysterious figure. Eris, Spirit of Chaos. She now remember this name. According to history books - Eris pledged Equestria into disharmony, creating chaos everywhere she go. Eris was imprisoned by Celestia and Luna by turning into stone for her crimes. But...

"...are you really deserve that fate, Eris?" - Whispered Abigail to the statue, her face gained a sorrowful look. - "History is written by winners, after all, and there is no word about you killing someone. If anything - you actually could be victim here... I wish I could ask, there is a lot of things that didn't explained your history. But with anything I know about you for now - I would like to think that you are misunderstood." - She finished, plucking a cream rose from a nearby bush and laying in before the feet of a statue. Looking at the scared face of a statue a little more - she gave out an exhale, turning away and walking back to her and Fizzy's room. This night she would be the one who will be hugged, Abigail felt like she need that. Human didn't heard nor see the crack that formed on the right cheek of a statue after she left the garden.