The Mystery of the Iron Bird Festival

"Princess, the Harmony squad has been built," reported a young, ardent stallion, who received the rank of lieutenant the day before.

It was the same dozen who guarded the remains of the Iron Bird and so shamefully buried them. Now another, more brutal and decisive, was appointed commander. No one from the Guard knew what Twilight's choice was due to. As they say: the orders of the great princesses are not discussed, they are carried out.

"Great," the lavender alicorn said with a hissing sound. "Go to the Barren Lands immediately. There you need to find a certain pegasus, who calls himself Blood Tuf. This is one of the followers of the Order of the Red Dragon."

The tall mare leaned towards the young officer with a devil's own grin.

"S-remember: if this colt refuses to come to me, then feel free to cut his throat, as well as anyone else who decides to resist…"

"That's right, my princess. Kill anyone who resists."despite the awe and fear of her, his voice did not waver.

Nodding contentedly, Twilight teleported in front of the lieutenant a letter with an impression of red sealing wax in the form of a royal cutie mark and a tablet with detailed maps.

"This is everything you need. Now go away."as a sign of her words, Alicorn turned her back to the soldiers, thus ending the conversation.

The Harmony squad left the main hall, preparing to immediately march into the Badlands.

***

The light of an alien moon flooded the pilot's room. The feeling of peace did not leave him, as if it had always been so. In the semi-darkness, his washed clothes could be seen hanging on the door. Thanks to these cute ponies.

Quickly putting on his undershirt and underpants, he left the bedroom barefoot. I really wanted to get some fresh night air. Without breaking the silence, the pilot overcame a creaking staircase and a corridor dimly lit by magical lights.

The garden greeted the pilot with a rustling of leaves, and the chirping of crickets. Squatting under a young apple tree and bending his legs, Kramarenko looked at the Moon, so beautiful and close, only a hand is worth stretching out. Thoughts flowed slowly, slowly. Everything was there: the past hard life under the tracers of messers, and the new one in Korea, and the current situation in the world of ponies, dragons and other myths. Here, too, there are those who dislike the Soviet officer, whom fate-the villain threw here. But are there also friends here to entrust life into their hands?

And so the man sat, looking at the night sky and not counting the moments that had passed, merging into long minutes. At one point, he wasn't the only one in the garden. Turning his head, changing his position, the pilot looked at the blue pony, so inconspicuous even in the blue light of the satellite of the planet.

***

Luna looked with mixed feelings at her Son, who was sitting under a tree and smiling affably at her. Dressed in his white shirt, he looked more and more like a faded star. Sadness and loneliness devoured the young celestial.

He patted invitingly next to him, inviting her to admire this warm, serene night. Sitting down next to him, the mare felt her Son snuggle up to her blue side and hugged her. In response, her wing covered her back, agreeing to these hugs. It was all she could give him now.

So gentle and good—natured, unlike his death-bearing Parents, he could have been raised by his sisters on the basis of the Elements of Harmony: honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty and the magic of friendship. He is a child, albeit unusual, but also alien to pain and suffering.

The moon was moving further and further away from the canons and stereotypes of Iron Birds, further and further away from her sister.

Usually silent, the Son began to sing softly. Other people's words were only a few lines like that when the blue mare heard them in her head:

"Kak ya lyublyu glubinu tvoikh laskovykh glaz!" (How I love the depth of your tender eyes!)

"Kak ya khochu k nim prizhatsya seychas gubami!" (How I want to press my lips to them now!)

"Temnaya noch razdelyayet, lyubimaya, nas." (The dark night divides us, my love,)

"I trevozhnaya, chernaya step prolegla mezhdu nami." (And an alarming, black steppe lay between us.)

Pony's heart beat faster and her breathing quickened, and her lips already picked up the tune and words themselves, clearly singing them:

"Veryu v tebya, v doroguyu podrugu moyu." (I believe in you, my dear friend,)

"Eta vera ot puli menya temnoy nochyu khranila." (This faith kept me safe from a bullet on a dark night.)

"Radostno mne, Ya spokoyen v smertelnom boyu." (I am happy, I am calm in mortal combat,)

"Znayu. vstretish s lyubovyu menya, chto b so mnoy ni sluchilos." (I know you will meet me with love, no matter what happens to me.)

Now, in trembling admiration, the Son opened his mouth in surprise. These were not Russian words, but the miracle of music allowed him to hear them as his native speech. His eyes met the moon, tears glistening on them. The mare pulled him in, wrapping both wings around him now. The head fell on the soft breast and the Moon kissed him on the top of his head, like a loving mother of a foal. Her foal. Pony was ready to cry. How many years of dreams, how many heavy loads of eternal life behind fragile shoulders. Now she is ready to forget, reset everything and start from scratch.

"I... I love you... you won't be alone anymore." the moon sniffed, smiling through tears of happiness.

From a dark room, through a panoramic window, Celestia looked at it without expressing any emotions. After seeing enough, she lowered her head and wandered back into the room.

Dark night (Тёмная ночь)

***

Dawn found the Harmony squad at a halt in the Barren Lands. Two scouts returned with good news: there is a secret passage to the lair through the old temple of dragons. According to one of the pegasus, it has not been used for several decades.

The lieutenant immediately ordered to act. Tired, but ready to atone for their past failure, the warriors moved forward. They won't disappoint their princess anymore.