Mordane sat in the back of the cart as it trundled down the muddy path his father insisted was a road. It meandered with the land clearly formed from ponies who simply followed the easiest path to get where they were going.

The cart was packed full of the extra grain, woven fabrics, and other assorted items from the village. Trips after all were a young ponies game, one his father was glad to cater to.

Mordane looked at the four books wrapped up beside him, considering once again if to reread them to alleviate his boredom. However, he had already practically memorized them line by line, plus he would have to unpack them.

He sighed, still bothered by what he had seen in the big book called Equestria, A Comprehensive History.

What little facts it had were context. It did list a long line of succession states as contributors to the ‘Equestrian Union’. Germanaia, Prance, names which seemed similar to nations of Earth. Confused, he had scoured the book to see if there was any connection back to humanity, but none popped up.

In the end he could only conclude that it seemed to just be chance. Prance had actually been named after a single pony who founded the country and formalized its language. Named because of the way he tended to trot. Germania was so named due to the legend of its founders interbreeding with diamond dogs in the distant past and the madness that was involved.

It was strange, but filed under random chance after what digging he could do.

What had not first been apparent though became clear as he continued through the book. Namely, as he understood it this couldn’t be called a history book.

It was a collection of single stories sparsely spread throughout the time period. Stand alone stories which were meant to convey something about the time period it took place in.

At first he had thought that this book was for foals but further questions led him to understand that this was what history was to Equestrians. The book contained barely three hundred pages and was considered comprehensive for the test.

The gap was so wide his confusion had been hard for his parents to understand. Only making a connection when his mother told him ‘those stories are the time’. A common phrase apparently.

Records existed. There were facts and other such things going back but there was no systematic preservation of events past a pony's lifetime. They recorded ‘quintessential’ stories from the age. Stories not written down at the time but instead what was remembered about the time a generation or so after. A ‘historian’ wasn’t a researcher but instead a pony that literally made history, choosing which tales were worth preserving.

Very little from before six hundred years ago mattered enough to tell everypony, so it effectively didn’t exist in the ordinary pony's mind. A simple question, ‘How old is Equestria?’ couldn’t be answered.

The concept had rocked his world and been the hardest to deal with. Ultimately, he resorted to memorizing the stories in order, breaking down the ‘lesson’ that could be gleaned from them.

As far as he could tell, that is how they saw the past: a series of lessons starting with the oldest—the story of the first Heartwarming and the Fire of Friendship.

It reeked of manipulation to him. Somepony had either revised the idea of history, unnaturally unmooring ponykind from the past. Or pony society developed it for some reason he didn’t yet see.

He took another note, his horn moving the spoon smoothly. The lessons there had been relatively easy, with his mother eventually giving a shrug and saying it was passable. It turned out the unicorns thought that regular writing was too plain and so made extra curly magically themed ones instead that he hated nearly as much as its general grammar. Still, he had learned it. At least, he hoped so.

He sighed.

“We really do need to get you some new books," his father said, looking back at him. Get a cup of water ready; your brother is coming back.”

Mordane nodded, and as his brother came in for a landing he presented him with the cup.

“There is a fork in the road ahead. The one on the left goes to a village. Right one goes down a weird road,” Flashwing said before drinking.

“That's right,” Stone grumbled. “I thought it was that way. Last year I ended up in the town. Ah well. That ‘strange road’ is the royal road. We should be close to Manehatten now.”

True to his father's word, they soon came to a ‘strange’ road.

Mordane recognized it as an actual road. It had a raised mound of dirt with two ditches, wide enough for two carts to pass each other. Where the paths crossed, there was also a stacked trough with flat stones slotted across. It struck him as Romanesque in design, though narrower.

A stone pillar sat at the corner of the crossroads, each direction marked on it. Below that, he could see a symbol of a sun carved into it with a silhouette of an alicorn in its center, wings outstretched.

“Yeah,” he thought “that looks like the symbol of a tyrant”

“That's her mark,” Stone said, seeing what he was looking at, “marks the road as hers.”

“And it means she raises the sun?” Mordane said sarcastically.

“Yes,” Stone gave him a withering look, “And that is what you will say you believe. Otherwise, ponies will think you are crazy.”

“Okay, okay.” Mordane waved him off. As they turned onto the road, Mordane leaned back in the cart and looked at the clouds slowly drifting off.

“Mordane.”

Mordane grunted, shifted and rolled against the grain bag which felt like a soft pillow.

“Get up, Mordane. You don’t want to miss this.”

Mordane groaned but sat up, rubbing the sand from his eyes.

“Are we close?” Mordane asked calmly.

“Yes. I see you're feeling better now?” Flashwing asked, grinning.

“Yeah,” Mordane mumbled. Stretching, he felt his sore shoulders pop before relaxing.

“Come oooon, it's something to see.”

Mordane grinned feeling more awake, he jumped back onto the seat behind his dad and beside Flashwing.

“What’s there to see? It's just a city, right?”

“Just a city?” Flashwing chuckled teasingly. “You’re going to love it! This place is like nothing you’ve ever seen! Just wait until you see the skyscrapers!”

“I’m sorry?” Mordane blinked twice before furrowing his brow.

“You’ll see. We are about to crest the hill.”

“But I don’t understand how ponies could make a–” Mordane’s eyes caught something as it crested the hill which drew his entire attention.

It was straight out of a postcard from New York City, giant towering buildings and all. Mordane swept his gaze across the sprawling metropolis. A pressure rising in his mind as he began to feel dizzy. On a small island, he saw some pony standing in a parody of the Statue of Liberty. An equally large bridge spanning a small strait led to the island.

Everything in his mind ground to a halt. “Am I insane”

Flashwing fell on his back, laughing as Mordane stared slack-jawed at the city.

Mordane coughed, adjusting in the tead to cover his shock. Using the need to not concern his brother and father with a panic attack. Even so it was not enough to stop the panic creeping up his spine.

He wanted to keep staring, to scream, grab his head but something deep inside of him wouldn’t allow it. A steel he hadn’t needed since coming to this world, and in his panic he grasped it. He snapped his eyes shut and focused to recenter himself. A spilling of thoughts tumbled through him out of control as he tried to grab something to hold onto.

“There is a line between madness and reason. Think of what you have seen… your brother, mother, father, and sisters.” He breathed in deep, the words spilled through his mind like a mantra. “They are real. You are not smart enough to dream them up. This fact, this city means nothing. A torch can have many meanings, you shouldn’t make assumptions. With magic, who knows what can be built. A limited space practically forces a move skyward… The name Manhatten has something to do with man houses, right? Well, it certainly doesn’t mean hair. Hair houses? No, that translation isn’t exact. It’s ‘Mane’ as in hair and the later part–”

Mordane opened his eyes, focusing on the large building with a pony head on it, noting that there really was no equivalent in his own world. Looking at the giant pony statue with the torch, he decided he was unsure what it meant.

“What do you think, Mordane? Out of this world huh?”

“It is,” Mordane said flatly. “I can’t wait to learn more about it.”

“One must accept the evidence of their eyes” he thought, “Maybe pony society is more advanced than I thought?”

They approached a large bridge but something caught Mordanes' attention. As the royal road met the bridge there was a stark difference in the construction. While the royal road was of roman styled packed dirt, Manehatten’s was a deep black compacted stone and gravel bound together in a pseudo concrete mix.

He knew enough though to class this as a primitive concrete. Its texture was not smooth, nor was the stone uniform. It was in very large quantities, though. Even so, his eyes flicked to the suspension bridge.

At first, he thought it was steel, but upon closer inspection, the only steel was the suspension cables, while the towers were stone tightly fitted and painted red. He wasn't surprised to see wood supports under his hooves and the thin concrete of the road.

“More metal than I’ve ever seen.” Stone sighed, “Used for a bridge of all things.”

“It's very impressive, though,” Mordane commented, now looking at the towers.

“Wasteful is what it is.”

The next thing he realized was that there was a lot less concrete in the construction of most buildings. They had used brick and mortar for the vast majority of the buildings in the city he could see. The few skyscrapers topped out at around thirty stories.

As he slowly filled in what had been assumptions about how the city functioned, Mordane started feeling like he was together, forming a picture that, while strangely capable, was still limited.

The population density was surprisingly low for a city. He noted that many of the buildings were apartments, with shops and small businesses scattered about on the first through third floors.

The city was off, far too much brick and not enough space for trusses. A building under construction gave him a clue as he saw a thin metal rod sticking into the air with runes carved down its length. He saw clear water coming out of a fountain clean enough for ponies to drink from it. Pegusi flew overhead their flight patterns following the road below.

What struck out though was what he didn’t see. There were no watertowers atop buildings. This meant all the water had to be moved magically as no clear aqueduct was coming to the city. The lamps were glowing slightly even in the daylight which he assumed meant they were magically driven. He could feel the magic in the air and a thrum through his hooves.

“Hey dad, what's that feeling in my hooves?” Mordane asked.

“Too many ponies in the same place. It’s the city's harmony,” Stone muttered. “It's an earth pony thing. Don’t mention it to anypony.”

Mordane nodded, continuing to stare in fascination at everything in the city.

They moved through the center of town toward the far end of the island where townhouses and skyscrapers gave way to manors and gardens.

By the end, Mordane had claimed down. Seeing the city for what it was, not a construct of technology but instead of magic, layered over each other for perhaps hundreds of years. The manors though brought him a little smirk. Out here the thrum of the city was gone and he realized building a skyscraper here would be impossible.

Stone came to a stop in front of one of these manors. A white picket fence surrounded the property, which Mordane wouldn’t have exactly called giant, though he would have to admit it certainly was larger than most houses in the city.

“There it is,” he said flatly. “We will have to enter the side door.”

The three of them walked down the side road the house was pressed against until they came to a door with a small metal sign hanging over it.

Lord Railline Residencial offices

“Really,” Mordane groaned. “A side office?”

“That's right,” Stone sighed. “After this, I’ll drop you off at the exam location. Watch the cart.”

Mordane watched as his father walked through the door, inside was a small room with a secretary mare behind the counter.

“Why does the lord of our territory live here?” Mordane asked, scrunching his nose.

“Because living here is better.” Flashwing shrugged.

“I guess Celestia really doesn’t care.” Mordane motioned the way they came, and Flashwing nodded. Turning, Mordane faced the opposite direction and kept a lookout.

The part of the city near the school district was far from quiet. Mordane could hear ponies chanting as they passed the mayor's office.

“Corruption!”

“Bayleaf for mayor! Bayleaf for mayor!”

“Free Manehattan!”

Mordane’s father had left the cart at the market for the local ponies to unload, the three of them weaving through the crowd.

“They seem… peaceful,” Mordane said, looking around at the ponies. “Can we just step onto the street?”

“Hmm? No, that's for carts in the city,” Stone said. “Just step around the ponies.”

The school building was across the street.

Being the end of October, colts and fillies were few and far between in the school.

Going to the front office, Stone gestured to the mare sitting at the front desk.

“Marigold?” Stone asked. “I spoke to you last year…”

“Yes! Stone Stronghoof. Is this Flashwing?”

“Yep!” Flash stood up tall, grinning at the mare.

“Gooood,” she practically coed. “The exam is comprehensive. Are you ready, little stallion?”

“Of course! We are both ready!”

Marigold’s grin faded as she looked down at the small pony.

“And how old are you?” she asked in a pained voice.

“Twelve,” Mordane lied.

“You are a little small for twelve. Are you sure?”

“Yes. I just have a small build,” Mordane replied.

Turning to Stone she clipped her hooves together and gave him a questioning look.

“This is Mordane, the one I sent you a letter about? He is ready to take the test.”

The mare looked him over, scrunching her nose, she looked back at Stone who seemed a little nervous.

“My understanding was that he was just one or two years early…”

“I’m quite serious. He is ready.”

The mare pressed her lips together before breaking out into a big smile.

“Okay! The two of you colts need to come with me, you will need to wait here, Mr. Stone.”

Stone frowned, his brow creasing as he widened his stance slightly.

“And why would that be?”

“Only test takers are allowed in the back,” she replied quickly. “You can wait here, there are some forms you’ll need to fill out.”

Stone stared down the mare for a few moments before sighing and relaxing. Giving a little bump to both colts.

“Very well. Go with her.”

“Don’t worry, I got this dad!” Perked Flashwing before following after the mare.

Mordane looked at his father for a moment. Giving a small nod. He turned, his eyes sharp as he kept an eye out for something that would put his father on edge.

Mordane gulped water from the fountain. Its water wetting his dry throat and feverish head.

“That test was ridiculous,” Mordane hissed, staring at his hooves. “How did Flashwing finish before me?”

He trotted back to the waiting room. His father was waiting for him.

“How did it go?”

“I’m certain I passed. That test was ridiculous, though. What did Flashwing say?”

Stone frowned.

“He said it was easy. Your advice helped him.”

Mordane matched his father's steely look.

“I’d guess that means my test was harder,” Mordane said simply. “Did his test come back?”

“Passed. I’m still waiting for you.”

“I just finished ten minutes ago.” Mordane took a breath before jumping up onto the chair beside him. “Where is Flashwing?”

“Let him go to something called an ‘arcade.’”

“Ah.” Mordane leaned back, his eyes hardening. “It's got to be him.”

“Who?” Stone whispered while looking intently at the secretary mare.

“Who has connections with the government and would have an interest in me failing this test?”

Stone thought for a few moments before snorting in anger. “Bucking bastard.”

Mordane chuckled, grinning at his dad, who cracked a smile in return.

“Well, insults I made aside. I’m sure–”

A loud bang ripped out as the crooked tax pony Mordane and his dad knew charged in, followed by the examiner Mordane had taken the test with earlier, who had introduced herself as Studious Heart.

Stone stood, a few bones cracking as he glared at the stallion.

“Mr. Stone,” the stallion said coldly. “It is a pleasure to speak to you again.”

“I’m happy to say it's not the same, Lord Goodwick,” Stone grunted. “What do you want?”

Goodwick's wide smile dropped immediately into a smirk. “Would you mind if I spoke with Mordane? Is this him here?”

“I think I would.” Stone raised his hoof. “Mordane is still unhappy about your visit to your village as Her Majesty’s tax pony.”

Goodwick shook his head.

“I believe I have explained my condolences for the situation and have filed an anonymous complaint at the capital. You may want to cooperate with me, Mr. Stronghoof. Your son's future is at stake here.”

“That would be mine and my wife’s concern,” Stone snapped.

Goodwick's smile brought bile to his throat.

“Unfortunately, your son has not performed as expected for somepony of his age. It would seem that you have been falling short on his education.”

“No, I didn’t,” Mordane said flatly, causing both ponies to jerk to look at him.

“Confidence is a good trait,” the tax pony said, “but skill needs to back it up. You really must be misleading him, Mr Stronghoof. I’ll be filing a form with the local constabulary. I’m certain they will gladly–”

“Uh, Lord Goodwick?” Studious Heart spoke up. “That is what I was trying to tell you.”

He turned, looking down at the mare with a frown.

“Mordane’s score was uhhh, yes, out of the expected range for his age group… but not negatively.“ She looked at him curiously. “He took the graduation test, in fact.”

“What are you saying?” Goodwick replied, his hooves closing together and ears folding back.

“I guess I’m saying…” She stepped forward, holding out a thick-papered document to Mordane. “Congratulations, Mordane… you have graduated school.”

Stone broke out into a grin as Goodwick gawked like a fish. His eyes bugged out.

“B-but the magic section–”

“It was his worst score but… he passed.”

“By what standard!” Goodwick roared “How can he have passed if magic was the worst! He is a unicorn!”

“Because,” she said firmly. “Manehattan standards are not set by the Royal Court, Lord Goodwick.”

Goodwick stepped toward the mare glaring at her, “That's an outrage, do you know who donates the most to your school, you–”

“Mr. Goodwick,” Mordane’s tone cut through the air with a small echo down the hallway. He stared down the stallion before turning to Stone, “Dad, would you mind going on? I would like to have a few words with the royal tax pony.”

Stone frowned and seemed ready to say no before seeing the look in Mordane’s eyes. An unspoken conversation passed between them before Stone nodded.

“I’ll see you shortly, Mordane. Meet at the shop from this morning. I’m going to go find your brother.” He turned and trotted out, leaving the very surprised two ponies behind.

The confused stallion looked at Mordane before turning to the mare.

“Mordane will be coming with me. You will inform his father–”

“No. I will not,” Mordane once again spoke up. Glaring at the stallion.

Goodwick turned to look at Mordane, he looked at him with pity.

“Mordane, I’m sure your parents love you, but you must understand–”

“I understand perfectly. You wish to take me with you. You believe this is for my own good. You believe my parents have deprived me of information they could not provide.”

“It is not that they are not trying,” Goodwick replied, looking down at him sympathetically. “It is only through proper education can you reach your potential. Our country needs every unicorn.”

Studious Heart’s lips began to pull slightly down as her brow furrowed at the comment.

“Why would I care about the country?” Mordane replied flatly. Both adults jerked to face Mordane. Goodwicks mouth opened slightly.

“Mordane, the country is what protects all ponies. Now I understand this situation–”

“Due to your meddling,'' Mordane cut him off before repeating, “This situation is entirely due to your meddling. You are the one who made my test more difficult. What? Did you think I wouldn’t ask my brother about his test?”

Studious Heart had been glowering before, but now she looked absolutely furious. Slowly, she stepped around to stand between Mordane and the stallion.

“I had my suspicions… but I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, Mr. Goodwick,” she sneered.

“Mordane,” Goodwick carefully answered Mordane while ignoring her. “I can see now that my approach has pushed you away. Perhaps I was overzealous in my duties. Callous in my application of the law with your family.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Mordane cut in, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, but please don’t let my mistakes rob you of your future. I can see now that you are a smart colt. You have a great potential for magic with your internal well so large.” He stood up giving a firm nod. “If you come with me today I can help your family. You won’t need to separate from them. He stepped closer. “I can give your father a job in Canterlot that will earn enough to do well for an earth pony.”

Mordane’s eyes opened wider slightly as Mr. Goodwick waited expectantly.

“You can even continue to live with them, and I will personally sponsor your entry into the school for gifted unicorns. I know what I did was forceful, but I truly had your best interest at heart.” He nods sagely. “Kindness is a virtue of Harmony, and I now see what my callousness has brought. I’ve pushed you away. Forgive me, Mordane. I’m truly sorry. The nation needs ponies like you.”

Mordane stared silently at the stallion for a few seconds before answering.

“I think there is something you misunderstand, Goodwick. I am not interested in working for the government.”

“It's not just the government. We serve the Princess, I was not speaking in jest about the school!” Goodwick blurted. “You could meet Celestia!”

Mordane’s heart seized. Under his cloak, his wings shivered ever so slightly, and before he knew it, a snarl escaped his lips.

“Celestia can sit on my horn and spin!”

Studious Heart did a little jump, turning to look back and gawking at him, matching Goodwick, who also had his ears splayed back.

“You- YOU–” He stopped, pulling himself up and sending a scathing glare at the audacious colt. “You’re a lost cause.”

He turned, stomping out of the room.

Mordane glared at the mare only to blink in surprise. She was grinning at him.

“I’ve never heard a non-Manehatinite say anything close to that about the Princess.”

“Well… I just wanted him to leave me and my family alone,” Mordane said sheepishly, looking down.

“Well, come to my office. Let's get your diploma signed.” She gestured to Mordane to follow her, which he did after a moment of consideration. They made their way to a corner office, the mare gesturing to Mordane to sit in the chair across from her desk.

“Coffee?” she asked before clipping her hoof against the table. “Oh yes, that's right. I’m used to having parents here. Tea instead?”

“Coffee would be fine,” Mordane replied. “Black if you don’t mind.”

The mare snorted but complied, taking a pitcher of water from the cupboard and a fancy-looking cup.

Setting it down carefully, she placed a gem on the pitcher, which began to hum. With a patient pour, she filled the cup.

Mordane raised an eyebrow when accepting it in his magic, floating the cup to the desk in front of him.

“It's a runic object, powered much like the trains,” she explained, making Mordane frown.

“I only know a few runes my mother taught me…”

“But more than most ponies ever learn,” she beamed. “Runes are expensive things; only unicorns can make them effectively.” She waved her hoof. “This little contraption might not be something spectacular in Canterlot, but here it cost me a week's pay in bits.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Studious,” Mordane said, floating up the steaming cup to take a sip. “Hmm, not bad.”

“They call that the scrubs drink, expensive inland. But you can get it on any corner in this city for a single bit.”

“Really, expensive even in Canterlot?”

“Very much. The only way to move it after all is on the trains, and there is a very large tax for any cargo,” she said flippantly. “Just another way Celestia is holding Equestria back.”

“I see,” Mordane replied, looking out the window. “This is an earth pony city, yes?”

“How could you tell?” she asked. “No, wait, you're a clever youth, was it the lack of doorknobs?”

“I’m not sure, a guess really,” he replied honestly. “So, my diploma?”

“In a minute,” she replied, waving her hoof dismissively. “My assistant should be producing it now, as an official Royal document it will of course have to be enruned by a unicorn.”

“Unfortunate.”

“Yes, what I do wonder though, is what you plan to do after your ‘graduation’.”

“Well, I’m still a little young to go on my own,” Mordane replied, looking at the mare wearily.

“No interest in furthering your education?”

“Well,” Mordane scowled, “I’m too poor to afford it.”

“Plus there are the restrictions, only the good little unicorns get access to Celestia's book club,” the mare said with a smile.

“Really? I didn’t know that.” Mordane sighed. “Just another barrier then…”

“Yes, most unicorns are part of Canterlot, and many of them went to normal schools but the pointiest horned ones go to Celestia's school, and almost all of those join the Rune Guild.”

Reaching into the folder she had handed Goodwick she took out his test, flipping to the third page she placed it down and turned it toward him.

Mordane frowned, looking up at the mare in confusion for a moment before eyes lighting up in recognition.

“My hornwriting was proficient? I believe I knew the questions concerning magical law and telekinesis.”

Studious Heart giggled. “That's right, he didn’t ask, but you scored well in your magical questions, just not as well in the arcanum. Though knowing that isn’t needed to pass the Manehatten exam… I thought he was going to complain that you cheated. Canterlot unicorns assume their plans will always work. Magic was indeed your worst score, but considering this is graduate level, it means you are one of those ‘gifted’ unicorns they cart off to Celestia’s school.” She looked him seriously in the eyes. “But I think that is something you would like to avoid?”

Mordane nodded, smiling. “Would you happen to know where I could buy a book of advanced runes?”

She smiled, giving a small nod. “I can do better. A stallion I know runs a little shop, I’ll give you a note. That should get your hoof in the door, at least. He will give you access to what you need. Study hard, and you may even get an apprenticeship.”

Leaving the city center, little was preventing Mordane from making his way to the shopping district. Already, the crowd protesting earlier had dispersed.

He spotted his brother and father waiting but took a detour down another street, finding the small store described by the schoolmare.

The shop was at the back of a barren alley. A small sign in the shape of a donkey hung to show ponies that there was anything at all..

Inside, there was a single desk across its length. Behind it hung shelves, tables, and carpets blocking the view. Trinkets, tiny jewels, and bottles could be seen everywhere.

A unicorn looked up to see him enter, smiling as he came to a stand.

“Hello, little one. Are you in the wrong place?”

Mordane didn’t answer at first, making sure to step up directly to the right side of the counter.

“I’m here for a tart.”

The stallion blinked. Frowning a moment before scratching his nose. “We don’t sell tarts.”

“I know,” Mordane replied flatly. “That was the passphrase given to me by Studious Heart.”

“...Aren’t you a little young for forbidden magic?”

Mordane smiled, chuckling a bit.

“Yes. I’m just looking for a book on enchanting, something like what you could get in Celestia’s school.”

The stallion laughed, leaning over the counter.

“Well, if that's what you're here for, I am not against it.”

Mordane sat down, his ears folding back.

“Uhh, do you even sell black magic?”

“Hmmm. Well, if I did, I wouldn’t sell to just anypony. There are some legitimate reasons to want that stuff. Mainly those making protection for it. Getting approval through… legal channels could be difficult. There is also a record kept of those who even request access. That can hurt a career.”

“Worse than death then,” Mordane replied flatly, looking over a displayed scroll.

The stallion plopped down a book in front of Mordane, who promptly flipped through it before hoofing it back over.

“Funny. I will need something more advanced than this.”

“Hmm. More advanced? So you mean Celestia’s gifted school, then.” He reached out, placing another book atop the first, “Does that thump your horn?”

Mordane checked the contents before slowly nodding. The book covered more than just the basics of enchanting; it also had sections for more permanent craft. Instead of being merely descriptive of the process, it discussed theory. Still, from what he could tell… it was all rather surface-level.

Nothing hazardous, though perhaps…

Mordane and the stallion looked into each other's eyes, trying to find something.

“I will take this one,” Mordane replied. “And in a few months I’ll send it back for the next level.”

“We sell books here, little un’. This ain’t a library.” The stallion snorted.

“I will return it in good condition, with more money. And yes. A few months is all I’ll need. Returning the book is a matter of confidence.”

The stallion arched an eyebrow before slowly smiling.

“So, not a one time purchase. But I don’t do catalog sales.”

“You will for me.”

“And why would I do that?” the stallion replied flatly.

“Because of where you will be sending it.” Mordane chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m from the northern territories.”

The stallion blinked before shaking his head and breaking out into a mirthful laugh. Shaking his head he stood up and went behind a bookshelf, returning a bit later with a thick book.

“There ain’t no way you're a guard coming from there. Look closely now. See how this book looks normal? Just math? But if you pull off the spine…”

Mordanes eyebrows rose as the stallion pulled away said spine, revealing a compartment slightly deeper than the book itself.

“I suppose necessity breeds invention,” Mordane mumbled.

“Just use this to send the book. I don’t have many of these so if you don’t send in this you’re cut off got it?”

Mordane nodded intently, he listened as the stallion instructed him on how to communicate and when. It took a lot of his strength to not become giddy with excitement.

The stallion took Mordanes bits, plus a deposit for the false back book. Mordane was certain it wouldn’t actually cover the cost but the stallion seemed to like him. One question still irritated him.

“You're quick to make a deal without sharing a name.”

“And you haven’t shared yours!” The stallion leaned over, grinning. “Which is one of the reasons I am willing to give you a chance. Most ponies don't have a good instinct for secrecy.”

He clopped his hoof onto Mordane's shoulder.

“Our names can’t be stolen if we don’t have it! Choose a pen name and stick to it in this business. It will do you good.” He frowned seriously. “Call me Copper. What should I call you?”

Mordane grinned,

“Call me Zinc.”

A half an hour later Mordane trotted down to the cafe where he saw his family. Their conversation was still going as he sat down.

“–stand this place. It's noisy, smelly, I can’t fly without a document that costs twenty bits, and everything is taxed.” Flashwing grumbled sitting with his hooves crossed and ears splayed back.

“It's just the way these ponies want to live. The city has many opportunities,” Stone replied, waving his hoof to the city around them. “Your brother is here now. Let's go to the bank.”

The bank was small and worked out of a hole in the wall. Small enough that only a few ponies could fit in at a time.

Inside, Mordane met a sight he had not expected. Two Royal Guards stood in line partially in uniform, their helmets hanging off of their waist.

“You will have to wait for the transfer,” the secretary mare mumbled. “It should take a few minutes. Please make way for other customers.”

The two guards looked at each other, the mare gesturing with her wing to the side.

“Told you they would hold us. What about my lunch?” the mare groaned. “We need to get back to our patrol.”

“Do your flanks really need it?” the stallion snickered, getting a wingslap to the back of his head.

“I don’t want to bucking hear it.”

“Come along,” Stone whispered, stepping forward with the rest of the line. Mordane nodded and pushed aside his shock.

Stone stepped up to the counter a few minutes later, passing a slip to the mare.

“Any for deposit?” the bored mare asked.

“No, I–”

*BANG*

Eveypony jumped as two earth ponies bucked open the doors and strode in with crossbows loaded. They swept the room with them and Mordane’s stomach did a flip.

For a moment his mind honed in. Taking stock of the situation as the older memories asserted themselves. The crossbows where smaller than ones on ancient earth, but he could see runes carved into them.

“Those royal guards will handle this.”

“Nopony move! Dis is a robbery!” The two ponies swept the room as everypony dropped to the floor.

“Yah goin’ ta do anything? Heh!” spoke the tall thief gesturing her hoof to the two guards.

“Yeah, you wouldn’t want to break da law, huh.”

The two guards scowled but stood still. Both stepping back and out of the way. Mordane’s brother scowled and Mordane’s eyes widened.

“What are they doing!” Mordane thought. “They should be able to take them! The unicorn should be able to do something!”

The robber ponies nickered before they trotted up and hoofed a large bag to the mare behind the counter.

“Toss da bits in da bag,” the stallion grunted.

“W–what!?” she stuttered wide eyed, staring at the two.

“He said toss da bits in da bag! Hey!” The mare thief pointed her bow at another customer. “Gimme your necklace!”

“Leave her be!” hissed the pegasi guard, rising to her hooves.

“Silverstreak…” the other hissed. “We’re still in Manehattan.”

But the guardmare only snorted before shouting, “FOR THE PRINCESS!” and charged the robbers with wings outstretched.

“Oh ponyfeathers,” groaned the unicorn guard. Mordane felt something in the room ripple toward him. In a moment, the guard’s horn flashed alight and fired an arcane blast at the mare, hitting her bow, which blew apart.

“Buck!” shouted the stallion before he swung his bow around and fired toward the charging pegasi guard.

The arrow flew true, but before striking runes flashed to life on the guards armor and it was deflected off an invisible wall into the ceiling.

“Buc–” The thief didn’t get a chance to finish before being tackled by the pegasi.

The mare robber tried to escape only to holler in fear as the remnants of her bow sprouted vines which wrapped her.

Mordane watched, eyes focused on the unicorn guard's horn trying to pull in everything he was feeling as another part of him tried to understand what was going on and why the guards had been so hesitant.

“So cool…”

Mordane flicked his eyes at Flashwing and raised an eyebrow at the stars which sparkled in his brother's eyes.

The two robbers were soon wrapped in vines and constrained with their bows lying broken on the floor in front of them.

“Well buck,” mumbled the guard, Silverstreak.

“Yeah…” agreed the unicorn. “We are so getting our ears chewed off for this.”

“I’m sorry bud, I just couldn’t–” her ears drooped

“I know, I know you silly mare,” he nickered.

A few moments later four Manehatten police officers came rushing into the room being led by a large Earth pony who scanned the room before immediately scowling at the two guards.

“Get on the ground. Now.” He said to the guards flatly as his fellow officers dragged off the robbers. As the two guards complied he approached, pulling out two links of chain with cuffs.

“Are manicles really necessary?” Silverstreak asked.

“You know the law, Royal dog.”

The two guards sighed, laying down and allowing the officers to cuff them.

“Hey!” Flashwing shouted trotting over. “What are you doing! They were saving ponies.”

The officer stepped toward Flashwing putting out a hoof.

“Don’t interfere, Manehatten police business. These guards broke the law.”

“What! That's not fair!” Flashwing shouted coming to a stop.

“Let it go, colt. Guards can’t enforce laws in the city. He has the authority to arrest us.” Silversteak spoke up before mumbling, “Though it’s a stupid rule.”

“You should have said that before breaking our laws. Now get up.” Scoffed the officer and gestured to the door.

Flashwing watched them go. His ears were still standing tall, but he held a scowl. Looking up at Stone, he asked. “But they didn’t do anything wrong?”

“Sometimes laws are unfair, Flashwing,” Stone said, pulling him and Mordane close into a hug before turning back to the secretary.

Mordane stared back at Manehattan as his dad pulled the cart down the royal road. His ears splayed to his head as he thought about what he had experienced in the city.

“Then they were on them! Just like that! And then they were punished for it! But they knew!” Mordanes' ears perked as his brother squeaked in excitement.

“Those same ponies also came to collect her taxes. You should have seen how they treated mom,” Mordane mumbled.

Flashwing wilted a bit at that before stomping his hoof.

“I’m sure those were some of the corrupt ones. If they got heroes like that in their ranks, they gotta be mostly good!”

“You are being naive. A tyrant may have good ponies under them,” Stone spoke up. “But in the end, they will never mind what the common pony thinks. Celestia does whatever she wills with ponykind.”

Mordane watched as a train pulled out of Manehattan. Its chimney released a puff of smoke, followed by another discrete puff of smoke, which increased in frequency as the train picked up speed.

“The shape is different. I don’t know what I think of pink as an aesthetic. But the steam stacks are there, even though it's a little too spindly to not be using some magic. I could really improve that design.” He smiled, his eyes shining as he considered a career working on trains. Shifting in the cart to see a little closer, he jumped a little. His wing sent a spike of pain to a ruffled feather.

Mordane frowned, looking at his covered back.

“Ah… I guess not.” Mordane ears drooping.“the state controls them all”

“Ah, you just don’t get it,” Flashwing said, flapping to land beside Mordane. Reaching down, he massaged Mordane's wings a little through the cloak.

“Hey Morty, what did you think of those guards?”

“...I think Dad is right. Even under a tyrant, any group will have a few good apples.” Mordane’s eyes continued to track the train, which his brother noticed. Grinning, he poked Mordane.

“You want to drive one of em?”

Mordane snorted before smiling. “...build one.”

Flashing chuckled. “Lot of work. But your noggin gots the joggin.”

“My wings would get in the way of schooling.” Mordane sighed, turning away from the train. He tapped the book, “But with enchanting, I might be able to earn some money.”

Flashwing snorted, shaking his head. “I’m looking for something with some action.” He grinned, and leaning down, he whispered, “Maybe I’ll join the guard?”

Mordane snorted and shook his head. Stone hummed in disapproval as they continued down the road, Manehatten disappearing over the hill.

Just a few months later, several tears and shouting matches had settled into a dull roar. Mordane had confirmed through his new contacts that the guard did not search one's memory. But in the end, taxes were what made his parents agree, and learning just how much Mordane’s books would cost.

“You promised to teach me to fly,” Mordane choked out.

“I’m sorry, bud. I’ll visit and teach you then. I promise.”

Mordane’s ears drooped. Something telling him this was untrue. His brother leaned down, pulling him into a hug.

“No more experiments like that fish, right?” his brother whispered.

“Yeah. None,” Mordane said, embarrassed.

Flashwing released him and stepped back. He took a moment to look Mordane over trying to remember him.

“Learn all you can,” he whispered, smiling softly.

“Thank you,” Mordane mumbled.

Turning, Flashwing took a small jog before flying to the air. Mordane watched him go. His ears folding flat as his brother took to the horizon.

The next year flew by for Mordane, each day was largely the same. He would do his chores, read, and practice enchantments then repeat.

His brother would seldom send letters, but when he did it added a little punctuation, separating the monotonous days of the cold. Instead he would be swept up to learn of guard training, the capital, and the rest of Equestria.

He would practice enchanting every day. Even after he ran to the ends of his mother’s knowledge. Even when he had long realized that he had no special talent for it. Even his mother told him as such.

Dinners became a place of interrogation which he tried to avoid. Questions about his future and what he wanted to do with his life.

A question to which Mordane had no answer.

His days began to gray, then blended together. Frustration slowly built.

In one of the abandoned homes Mordane had converted the living room to a work area, a kind of shop where he could experiment with carving tools, vises, and any note material he would need.

Mordane focused, drawing as much power into his horn that he could.

He shivered. Reaching down he traced the rune with his horn. Focusing intensely on the wood wedge.

The rune flared, and in a few moments he breathed out.

Opening his eyes he lifted and examined his work.

The small block was glowing slightly, as intended. On one side several sharply carved runes, extra deep. He smiled slightly before carefully lifting it with his hoof.

He held it for only a few seconds, and it began to smoke, the edges of the runes blackening.

Cursing, Mordane tried to toss the cube out of the window, only for it to hit the sill and bounce back.

“Shit.”

The runes' glow began to strengthen. Realizing that it was already too late, he fired his horn.

Energy from the room was pouring into the rune at an accelerating rate, making it where he could find no free energy to fuel his spell.

Cursing again, he rushed over to his current book, grabbed it, and ran from the building as the block burst violently into flame.

The fire burned down the empty house and soon spread to the hay field near it. The entire village had to be called out to prevent it from spreading too far out of control as they cut down and cleared a stretch to act as a fire break.

Mordane sat in their living room with soot all over his body, looking down at the floor as his tired father came in shortly after.

“What were you doing?” he asked in an even tone.

“Practicing enchanting,” Mordane snapped. “The block couldn’t take the spellwork.”

“How many runes did you use?” Sunnyfield asked, still fretting over him. She lifted his chin with her hoof. “How many?”

“Three,” Mordane mumbled. Charging his horn, he began to clean himself with a spell.

His mother's lips pressed together with her eyes, saying what he already knew. That three was pushing it for wood.

“I don’t have access to anything else.” Mordane defended himself. “I’d need metal to do it perfectly safe. I kept it low power…”

His mother and father looked at each other and then back to him.

“I see… Did you complete your chores?”

Mordane stiffened before frowning.

“I was going to do it after…”

“So now I’ll have to help you tomorrow,” his father said. “Plus the cleanup, the explanations. Our neighbors–”

“I get it,” Mordane hissed. Standing abruptly he pushed past the two of them and left out the door.

“Where are you going?” Stone asked.

“To do my chores!” Mordane snapped.

They watched him as he stomped out into the now-darkening town, his horn flashing to produce a beam of light.

Stone's visage softened as his son left, replaced with worry as he trotted to sit down, Sunnyfield coming over to help him clean.

“He is restless,” Stone whispered. His ears dropped. “It's as I feared. His destiny is much too big to fit into this little town.”

Sunnyfields pressed her muzzle against his ear. Her nose was smudged with soot.

“He is an alicorn,” she replied flatly. “It's still hard to believe it sometimes. Ever since you went to Manehatten and his brother left he has had his eyes on the horizon.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just hugging each other.

“I think we should take a lesson from Equestrian culture,” Stone said. “I think it's time for him to find his destiny.”

Mordane sat alone in the dark on top of the town's tower. The wood creaked underneath him as he heard what sounded like his father coming up.

“Mordane?”

“Hey, dad. Up here.”

Mordane waited as his father looked for a way up, and with a thunk, his dad made it up and came to lay down beside him.

“The stars look beautiful tonight,” Mordane spoke quietly.

“Do they?” Stone asked. “I suppose. I’ve never looked at them.”

“Yeah… That coloration on the moon as well. In the shape of a mare. Luna Moon. Guardian of the night. Sister to Celestia. Who apparently rules from Canterlot.”

“Mordane…” Stone said quietly.

“And an alicorn. Like me.”

The two sat silently looking up at the moon hanging overhead.

“I don’t know much about alicorns,” Stone said quietly. “But I know that you're my son.”

Mordane scooted a little closer to Stone, who pulled him into a hug.

“Well, me and your mother have been talking. I think this town is a little small for you to stay.”

Mordane said nothing, his ears drooping a bit.

“A clamped boiling pot explodes. Me and your mother have been talking and we think it would be a good idea for you to look for your destiny elsewhere.”

“My destiny?” Mordane frowned looking at the sky, “That’s a heavy word. I’m not sure I believe in it.”

Stone lifted Mordane's chin looking him in the eye. “Everypony has a destiny. It might not be grand, or it might shake all of Equis.”

Mordane looked away, “What about free will?”

Stone sighed. “Free will? You are what you are Mordane. You can’t choose differently from that, only to ignore it. In the end water runs clear. Time will tell.” Stone sat up, pulling Mordane with him. “Equestria has a tradition, one your mother and I didn’t want to have you participate in. We kept you close to home hoping Celestia wouldn’t find you.”

Mordane tilted his head to look up at Stone. A bit of fear in his eyes.

“Next week, when the mailpony comes, you're going to ride with him to the nearest train station. You should pick a place to go to.”

Mordanes' nose scrunched up confused. “Ponies just send their foals away?”

“No. It's… well, it's considered normal for older foals who don’t have a mark to travel and seek it.”

Mordane frowned. Looking into the distance.

“Dad, I'm eight.”

Stone blinked, then snorted, shaking his head.

“I was there, and it's hard to believe. But you’ve aged faster, and… you have something else in you.”

“... dad.”

“You are my son. Alicorn or not. Destiny or no.” He pulled Mordane in closer. “Eight years I’ve had you, and I’d like to have you more… but you’re restless, and I know when it's time.”

Mordane stared up at his father and compared him to his human one.

He thought about his earth mother and father again and felt a slight twinge at the thought of never seeing them again.

Despite everything, they had still been his parents. But so was Stone. In him, though, he saw what a father was meant to be—strong as his namesake, a solid block to build something on. Looking back, he could see echoes of that from his first parents.

“Maybe I should have been more forgiving of them while I had them.”

He hugged him harder.

“I'm sorry.”

“It's okay,” he whispered back as the stars twinkled above.

The next day, Mordane was alone, far from the town, and covered by a canopy. Steam billowed out of his mouth as he breathed hard.

He turned and pointed his horn, and there was a loud explosion. A puff of steam, as moisture in the air compressed, puffed out from the origin. Looking across the clearing, a roughly block-shaped stone sat atop a boulder. Around it, small pits of chipped stone could be seen.

Mordane floated up a small stone; the wind around him slowed sharply as his horn glow went from soft to a rippling miasma around the pebble.

The pebble blasted out, cracking into the stone and throwing it into the air.

Mordane’s legs wobbled as he gave a firm nod.

“It's not much, but I won’t be defenseless.” He looked back at his small town, pulling his cloak close. His mother had sown it thick and long, with a few enchantments.

His eyes filled with concern as he could visibly see how much the cold affected the land.

With a sigh, he nodded.

“This town doesn’t have long left.”

He had to admit it to himself. He cared about these ponies. His new life. That pain seemed further away than he had ever thought it could.

“Well, I died,” he chuckled.

He sighed and looked around him, staring into the cold.

“My parents don’t have the money… My brother had to go to join our worst enemy because of money. This land–” He ground his hoof into the frozen dirt. “Well, I’ll need some land further south. So I guess my destination is clear.”

Floating up another rock, he spun it up again.

“I’ll get what I need at Manehattan.” Practicing his telekinesis for as long as he could, he quietly returned home with his heart set on his goal.

Author's Note

Hey Everyone I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

I'm looking for a new editor, please let me know if you are interested via direct msg