The Mystery of the Iron Bird Festival

The fuselage is almost in tatters, the engine is completely destroyed, as are the fuel tanks... Kramarenko stated to himself, walking around his plane.
Two ponies carefully, with a spark of regret, watched the man's movements.

"Even if there is something useful left, there will be little sense in it. But it's worth checking." — the pilot turned back to the mistresses of the estate.

The idea of mares for the pilot was understandable, but how immoral would it be for fans if the "child" decides to dig into the insides of his "parent"? If you don't check, you won't find out.

The blue mare came up to the pilot and hugged him with her wings. Still unaccustomed to tenderness, he patted her on the soft back in a friendly way.

I'm attached, poor thing. In vain you are so, it will be more difficult to part with me. the pilot thought sadly, responding to the hug.

Calming down, pony released the man, looking at him encouragingly. Kramarenko's stomach rumbled treacherously, demanding to fill the empty space in his stomach. A smile slid across the filly's muzzle. Her love for the only person in this world grew by the hour and he did not doubt the sincerity of her feelings.

Returning back to the surface, the pilot was taken to the dining room. The round table in the center was simply bursting with a large number of various dishes. Like a caring mother, the blue pony made her wash her hands and face. If not for the circumstances, Kramarenko just stayed by her side until the end of his days. But a house is a house. One can only be touched by her assumed severity when she checked him for cleanliness.

While the pilot was washing, the second pony brought a chair upholstered with something soft. During all the time spent here, Kramarenko also learned that ponies never sit on chairs. But it is also correct, they are not supposed to be anatomically.

After the conversation in the room, the white mare no longer smiled as she had done before. The hands reached out to her by themselves, while the head was thinking of something of its own. Pulling her to his chest and gently, without touching the wings, stroked her silky fur. The pony shuddered at the touch and wanted to recoil, but the pilot squeezed his arms a little tighter, not letting go. After a little reflection on what was happening, the big filly responded to the tenderness from the pilot, letting out a heavy sigh. After standing in this position for a minute, Kramarenko released her. If this is not an everyday mask, then the pony really got better: a thoughtful and gloomy look left, and his eyes shone.

Before the pilot could move away, a blue one jumped on them from behind with a cheerful squeal. Now they were in an embrace, involuntarily clinging to each other. The feeling of family happiness also gripped the person. Laughter burst out, causing the others to laugh contagiously.

***

The family idyll is so close and so far away. One has only to stretch out a hoof and you will touch it, but at the same time your touch will crumble into dust, what your soul so desires. While Luna hugged her treasure and her sister, the fears matured and grew faster. His Son's laughter, sincere and good-natured, went against the ideas of all the legends of the Iron Birds. Now it was the turn of Celestia, the sister, to understand this.

A recent conversation gave away all her thoughts about all these too close relationships with her Son. For Tia, he remained an unattainable, unfeeling celestial being, whom one should fear and respect. For Luna to stay only with her sister was like death. She loved this creature so much. For several days now, none of the gods or celestial Iron Birds had come to Equestria for him. Then why should we give up the adopted foal is not quite a pony? Maybe the Iron Bird was expelled from its high clouds and no one should be expected. This idea was given by Luna to her older sister. It was difficult to challenge her, but she did not change her opinion. Changed all the sudden embraces on the part of the Son, settling doubts in Celestia.

"See, Sister, he's just like us. Luna whispered in Tia's ear.

"Not really, but love and friendship are not alien to him," the sister agreed.

Having finished hugging and untangled, pony and Son sat down at the table. Celestia's eyes were immediately riveted to the cakes and pies proudly standing in the center of all the dishes. Following this look, Luna indignantly said:

"No. Knowing you, you will eat all the sweets again and neither me nor my Son will get it. You've already eaten your croup."

"It's not true, I have a toned croup." the older sister replied with fake resentment in her voice.

The son only grinned at the playfully-minded mares and began, as it should be, according to etiquette, to fill his plate with different dishes. Celestia began to understand more why her sister became so attached and motherly in love with the Celestial. But it is impossible to take into account everything — her former student Twilight, now the beautiful ruler of all Equestria, has proved this in practice.

I wonder how Tway is now. Is she looking for a Son or has she already given up this idea? No, it's unlikely, she's stubborn and getting to the bottom of it is part of her character. Maybe we'll even see each other and I'll be proud to say that she solved another mystery and legend about the Iron Bird Festival. — thought Celestia, devouring the salad and looking regretfully at the sweets.

Today she showed her Son the remains of the Iron Bird, the Celestial Empire and his parent. There was a feeling that he was not sorry or sad at all, but even examined her with some composure. You can put it down to the fact that he was only recently born, but somehow does not fit with his knowledge and skills. Only one thing justifies everything that is happening — its unearthly origin.

***

The Guards steadfastly took blow after blow, and then counterattacked themselves, gradually moving towards the exit. Poorly disciplined soldiers of the Order could not break the soldiers of the Harmony squad who were prepared for almost everything. The whole dozen acted as a single organism: the spears of the Earth ponies did not allow them to get too close, the pegasi attacked the weakened flanks and, in case of danger, avoided a direct collision, and the unicorns could hold the dome of protection from the fire of young dragons and magicians of the Order or disable strong opponents themselves.

A small group of ponies managed to escape from the branched passages of the lair outside, leaving behind angry and beaten soldiers. Now the squad had to gallop and break away from their pursuers, which was not so easy: dragons, griffins and pegasus watched every step of the guards, sometimes attacking them in a dive attack. But the Harmony squad is elite enough to be able to go through such difficulties. And this case was no exception. The Guards skillfully repelled the attacks, increasing the distance between them and the main enemy forces.

Soon, the winged raids stopped and the soldiers were able to breathe more freely. My strength was at the limit, but my anger and thirst to regain my invincibility turned out to be higher. They were able to go out to a previously found cave in the Barren Lands and exhale. The lieutenant ordered to block the entrance with stones and announced a rest. Having posted sentries, everyone went to bed, only one could not sleep, the one who is responsible for the entire diversion.

It was hard, but not impossible. It's a small matter — to wait for the night and return to Canterlot under the cover of darkness. the commander of Harmony reflected, looking at the small flames of the already dying fire.