Chapters I sat on the edge of my bed, another vision kept me from sleeping tonight. The dark ones had been sending them since I had decided to save them, I guess this was their idea of calming?
"Artyom! Twilight! Princess! Harmony!" these words rattled around in my head as the vision of a pristine landscape "Artyom! Twilight! Princess! Harmony!" the words echoed. As if the vision couldn't get any stranger the landscape was dominated by four legged creatures, before the war I believe they were called ponies. The vision began to fade when I heard a frantic knocking on my door, I looked up to see one of my comrades.
"Artyom come with me! One of them has shown up!" He said nervously, I hopped to my feet and grabbed my Rifle. Running through the metro was comparable to a Prewar Marathon in my armor, but after what seemed like ages I found myself at the main gate staring at a dark one. Slowly I approached it, it extended its claw.
"Listener" a voice echoed in my head "Follow Vision" I nodded, suddenly it grabbed my hand and a bright light enveloped us
"What do you ask of me?" I said nervously
"Save man, save us." It said in a raspy voice "Follow vision, change world. Make better. For Surface" I felt a tingling around my body, it looked into my eyes "Follow Vision, do good!" It said before I felt a pulse of energy hit me and everything went dark, My ears popped as I felt the air turn from dark and dank to light and sweet. When the lights came back on I felt the wind rushing past my face and I saw I was falling through what looked like trees. When I hit the ground I heard a crack and felt a sharp pain in my hand, staggering to my feet I saw the world around me was identical to my vision though I wasn’t in the same place. The shock almost made me forget the pain in my hand. Almost.
“FFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!” I shouted angrily stomping and jumping up and down. My shouting was interupted by a loud roar from behind me. I turned to see a monstrosity the likes of which I had never seen before, it had a barbed tail that oozed venom. With my good hand I flipped my mask up revealing my face, then I grabbed my Magnum which hung at my waist. The creature charged at me with fury, it moved so fast that I was lucky that I got several rounds off. It crashed to the ground sliding to a halt right at the edge of my feet, I stomped on its head splattering blood all over the ground. As if my day couldn’t have gotten any worse another one showed up, this time I was only able to fire after it had plunged its barbed tail deep into my arm. It slumped to the ground as I felt the pain in my arm burn and sting, quickly I pulled out my medkit and dressed the wound but I felt the blood flowing like the pre war american landmark niagara falls
After dressing the wound as best I could I attempted to move, so instead I lay on the ground waiting for death. Why had the Dark ones sent me here to die after I let them live? Conceding to my fate I stared up and watched the clouds, when I heard voices my eyes widened.
“HELLO! OVER HERE! PLEASE HELP ME!” I shouted
Twilight whipped her head around when she heard the strange noises, she and fluttershy were checking on the massive bright light they had seen earlier. Quickly they followed the noises to their source, a creature in what looked like armor was lying on the ground in a pool of red blood next to two dead mantacors
“W-What is that?” Fluttershy said softly, Twilight looked over at her and shrugged
“Well whatever it is it’s obviously hurt.” Twilight replied as she flapped her new wings, she hovered over the scene and analyzed what had happened. The Creature had dropped several metallic objects.
“GET AWAY FROM ME DEMON! Wait you’re from my vision! You are Princess aren't you! YES I SEE YOUR CROWN! HELP ME!” I shouted as loud as I could, I noticed they were speaking English. I struggled to find the right words. “H-Help me, Please” I stammered out before everything went black.....
A stranger in an even stranger land
When I woke up it was dark, over my head I saw a white ceiling. The bed I was in was very small and everything from my knees down was was hanging off the end. I heard voices and looked around to see the princess I had seen before with two others. How there were three I had no idea but there were.
“I don’t understand how this thing got here nor do I want to. If it can take out to mantacor I don’t want it here period” I heard the white one say, her mane looked like it was flowing in a wind that didn’t exist. An Indigo one spoke up next
“Sister we do not think that removing it will be a good Idea, somehow it knew who twilight was from what we can tell. Think of the things we could learn from it.” she said, the lavendar one I had seen earlier spoke next.
“Luna is right, we cannot pass up this opportunity. This is a being totally alien to us and obviously it is far more advanced, we must study it and help it not destroy it.” The Lavender princess said nodding in agreement with the indigo one. The white one sighed and nodded as if to say she too agreed with them.
“H-Hello” I said in very poor english, they just stared at me for a moment. My hand and arm felt almost completely fine so I sat up, then I stood. I was taller than the tallest one and obviously she was nervous. “I-I am Artyom”
“It just spoke” The lavender princess said in amazement “Like it did in the forest”
“We are Princess Luna” The indigo Princess said “This is..”
“Artyom! Twilight! Princess! Harmony!” I heard a raspy voice in my head say
“Princess Twilight” I said in russian thinking they couldn’t understand me, to my surprise Luna replied with a nod. “You speak Russian?”
“No we speak griffon, why do you call it ‘Russian’? More importantly tell us how you know Princess Twilight.” Luna said with a confused look.
“The dark ones, they sent me visions of this place. They said it could help my people and my world.” I said as I looked at my arm, the gash from the creature that attacked me looked almost fully healed but how?
“Dark ones? Evil Creatures?” Luna said suspisciously
“No, they live in the shadows. That is why they are called Dark ones. I am a Listener I can hear what they want to say. Sometimes they influence me to do what they require though not without my knowing.” I replied trying to calm her
“We see, you seem to be taking this very well.” Luna said still raising an eyebrow.
“Where I come from there are much scarier creatures than that one that attacked me, Ive seen baby lurkers that are scarier than those.” I said triumphantly though I felt like shit.
“What is a lurker?” Twilight interupted, I looked at her and sighed.
“Allow me to tell you a story?” I said, they all nodded. “My name is Artyom, I was born in Moscow Russia in 2013 though I remember nothing of that time. Thats when the bombs dropped, myself as well os thousands of others were saved by hiding in the metro. That was 20 years ago, now I am a ranger who guards his station like a hawk. The Dark Ones made contact with me first and I saved them from total destruction, they are one of the many types of mutations that run rampant through my world. The Lurkers are another, a cross between dog and human they are bald and uglier than the ass end of a pig.” I saw the white one gag a bit but I had to continue. “My world is cold and dark, death is rampant. I don’t know how many bad men I have had to lay to rest.” Twilight held up a hoof.
“What about friendship? What about solving problems with words?” She said, I sighed and reached into my pocket. From it I pulled a small picture and tossed it to her. She looked at it and then back to me.
“Friendships don’t last long I’m afraid, that is me and a friend of mine from the ghost station. A demon got him, he was a crazy bastard but he was alright.” Artyom said sadly, a tear came to Twilight’s eye. Not seeing this I foolishly continued by saying “Friendship is probably the first thing that died in the aftermath.” At this Twilight began to cry, the white one snorted and looked ready to charge. I stood up and walked over to Twilight, kneeling down I looked her in the eyes. “I need your help to bring it back, can you do that?” She nodded, The white one took a step towards me.
“Celestia! No!” Twilight exclaimed “He is not like the others we have encountered, I can sense it.”
“Well if you want me gone I will leave, I would hate to cause problems to you your highness.” I said feeling slightly deflated by what was obviously the head Princesses dislike of me. As I stood I looked for my things, upon finding them I walked towards the door but felt a tug on my pant leg.
“Wait, Celestia is skeptical of humans. She thinks you’re violent at heart.” Twilight pleaded
“She’s right, When we’re pushed killing is as easy as breathing.” I said feeling like an outcast now, it must have hung in my words. “Thank you for your time and for patching me....”
“FAIL! MUST NOT! SAVE ALL! MUST COMPLETE! ARTYOM! TWILIGHT! PRINCESS! HARMONY!” the dark ones were screaming at me, I felt my body go weak as I fell to the ground. Twilight rushed over to me and looked into my eyes, she must have seen what I saw. A land fo prosperity where the Metro was abandoned and the world was green. The I saw home as it truly was but worse, people were rushing out of the metros to their death. “FAIL! ALL DIE! COMPLETE TASK! SAVE ALL!” As the vision faded I saw Twilight staring into space.
“You saw didn’t you?” I said as I regained my breath, Twilight nodded. A look of horror on her face. She looked over to the others who stood speachless
“We have to help him! The lives of thousands hang in the balance!” She exclaimed
“Verywell I have seen enough to decide that you are no more a danger to us than a diamond dog. I will help you as will Luna and Twilight.” Celestia said with a smirk
“Does the word harmony mean anything to you? That is the word they put the most emphasis on?” Twilight looked at the others and then turned to me......
View Online
Arrival in Ponyville/ A concert like no other
Well I was shocked, apparently Twilight was the most powerful element of something called the Elements of harmony. Walking out of that massive castle felt nice, so this is what the world was like before the bombs I had no idea that it had been so nice. Twilight was forced to remain at the castle but she sent someone or rather somepony with me. She was a color that was known to the Pre war world as Mint with a lighter colored mane. A harp was on her flank as it was called, When I inquired I was told it was a ‘cutie mark’. I smiled at the thought of knowing your true talents, that seemed like something I could do. This little ponies name was Lyra and she was simply adorable.
“So you’re a ‘human’” Lyra asked “I always found your kind interesting, most people called you fake.” Unlike the Princesses Lyra didn’t speak Russian so he simply nodded in approval before thinking of the proper response.
“T-Thank you Lyra, Y-You seem......Nice?” I stammered sounding like a complete fool, I could understand english why not speak it?
“Thank you Artyom, you seem very nice aswell. Is it true what you said about your world? Is it true that friendship is dead? Lyra asked, her normally cheerful smile was replaced for a moment by a look of sadness. I figured that I should be honest and I nodded. “You think you can revive it?” I nodded with a confident smile, at that she perked up “Lets hope!”
“Speak! Freely! THEIR LANGUAGE IS YOURS! SPEAK! SPEAK!” I heard in my head, as if something clicked I found myself forming words in english. Thank you dark ones!
“I-I can speak english! HAHAHAHA YES!” I said triumphantly, Lyra smiled at me. Soon the village of Ponyville came into view, one of the first things I needed was a stiff drink and a cigarette. Soon I entered the town with lyra and was greeted by a crowd of onlookers, I smiled and politely bowed. One caught my eye though, she had a treble clef as a cutie mark and looked like a pony of refined class. One who would be worth knowing in the future. Slowly I approached her and she back away, I put my hands up as if saying ‘I wish to talk’
“May I help you?” she said in a slightly shocked voice
“Yes, I was wondering if you knew where I could find a violin?” I said, my knowledge of that instrument was vast though you wouldn’t know it by looking at me I was quite the violinist.
“You play?” She said in disbelief, I nodded with a smile. Removing my mask to show my face and extending a hand.
“I play as often as I can though I doubt that you know any of the music I play.” I said, I figured making friends with the locals as well as the other five elements was important. “Would you mind pointing me in the correct direction miss....”
“Octavia” she said with a warm smile, I returned the gesture and when she placed her hoof in my hand I kissed it as any gentleman would. She blushed slightly and smiled “Please follow me Mr...”
“Please call me Artyom, Miss Octavia” I followed the grey pony to a small house where I heard many odd noises that sounded like radio malfunctions.
“YO! TAVI! WHAT'S UP WI-” a pony shouted over the noise but when I poked my head in the noise stopped. “what is that?” the White pony said lifting her glasses off with her magic.
“This is Artyom, he’s a human. He asked if I knew where to find a violin.” Octavia said almost as if I had placed her in a trance, Lyra was waiting outside. I smiled at the white pony whose mouth was now hanging open.
“Tavi that is the COOLEST thing you have ever brought home!” the pony said rushing over to me.
“Vinyl please don’t make such a big deal over this.” Octavia said as Vinyl got closer to me “please Artyom sit and I’ll get you that Violin.” I sat in one of the tiny chairs while the white pony just stared at me.
“Da?” I said questioningly, she smiled
“You’re into Tavi’s kinda music aren’t ya?” she said with a smile that would have seemed seductive if not for my self vow not to do anything stupid while I was here. I nodded in agreement and heard Octavia coming back into the room with a violin that was just the right size for me though I didn’t know how she had one.
“What shall I play?” I asked, they shrugged “Okay how about my favorite song?” I said, they nodded. When I had tuned the violin I prepared to play The 1812 overture by Piotr Iilich Tchaikovsky. Specifically the finale, for four minute they watched entranced as I played like an entirely new man. Music had an affect on me that just changed me into a fluid movement of pure joy. When I hit the final minute they were on the edge of their seats practically ready to applaud and on the final note when I removed the bow from the Violin I got the standing ovation I had dreamed of since I was a child. Two whole ponies plus lyra who had heard the entire song from the outside.
“That....Was....Incredible!” Octavia said in shock “The power you put into the notes! The Passion!” I stood and took a bow. “You can keep that violin and bow! Celestia knows you deserve them!” She said as if catching her breath, Vinyl was just sitting there as if she had been hit with a rock. A blank look of happiness on her face, I think I even saw tears in her eyes.
“Thank you Miss Octavia, I will cherish it always” I said with a grin, after several more songs I decided it was time to leave and reluctantly Octavia let me. Lyra escorted me to the Library which now sat unoccupied since Twilight had moved out, my new home. The Light was getting dimmer and so I decided to call it a day, as I lay in the soft bed I looked out the window and thought “I hope I never have to Leave.”.......
Loyalty Lost/The Trip of a Lifetime
I found myself in a similar place to the one I saw when I saved the Dark Ones, But this time I saw clearly what would happen to the metro. A creature we thought only a myth will drive every man woman and child into the unforgiving wasteland.
“STOP HIM! STOP HIM! IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED!” The Dark ones cried loudly as I watched thousands die. “ARTYOM! RAINBOW! SPEED! LOYALTY!” Their cry was different tonight, In my vision I saw a pony with wings and a multicolored mane. Could be the next step? “STOP THEM! RETRIEVE THE POWERS! DOGS! MUST BE STOPPED!” Now I saw dog like Bipeds digging under the ground with what looked like jeweled necklaces “MUST BE STOPPED! ARTYOM! RAINBOW! SPEED! LOYALTY!” With that I awoke to a sun filled room, my head ached but I payed it little mind. Slowly I got out of my bed and put on my clothing, I left my armor off. When I went downstairs I found a basket full what were known before the war as apples, grabbing one I took a bite and smiled.
“This just keeps getting better, I may never leave.” I said aloud, walking outside I felt the sun’s warm embrace wash over me again. It turns out that in the metro you have a lot of spare time so to pass it I learned music, Guitar, Violin and Piano whenever I found a working instrument I would play till it fell apart. So sitting outside just relaxing for a moment prmpted me to take out my new Violin. I began to play Katyusha and began to sing the words by heart.
Apple and pear trees were blooming.
O'er the river the fog merrily rolled.
On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode.
As she walked, she sang a sweet song
Of her silver eagle of the steppe,
Of the one she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept
O you song! Little song of a young girl,
Fly over the river and in the sunlight go.
And fly to my hero far from me,
At this point a group of substantial size gathered around me, just watching me play my violin. The song was meant to be played on guitar but I had to use what I had at my disposal.
From his Katyusha bring him a sweet hello.
Let him remember this plain young girl,
And her sweet song like a dove,
As he stands guarding his proud nation,
So Katyusha will guard their love.
Blooming pears and apples all around her
With the morning mists beneath her feet
Walked Katyusha slowly by the river
On the rocky riverbank so steep.
She was walking, she was softly singing
Of her silver eagle of the steppe
Of the one for whom her heart was beating
Of the one whose letters she had kept
Oh you tender song sung by a maiden
Spread your wings and fly towards the sun.
Find the soldier in the distant trenches
Bring him from Katyusha greetings fond.
May he then remember his beloved
May he hear her sweet song like a dove
To his last breath may he guard his homeland
Like Katyusha guards their tender love.
When I had finished the crowd just cheered, I guess music from different worlds still had quite the effect on people. I could tell today was going to be a good day, I even saw a rainbow in the the sky that seemed to get closer, no it actually was getting closer. When It got closer I saw it was infact the pony I had seen in my second vision. She gracefully landed in front of me with a look of fear on her face.
“HELP! MY ELEMENT HAS BEEN STOLEN!” She shouted at me, my heart stopped
“STOP THEM! IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED!” The Dark ones cried out, I motioned to the pony to follow me inside. I put my Violin down and grabbed my AK-47, Quickly I slipped my armor on and looked at her
“Who took it and where are they?” I asked, she was crying. I had no choice so I slapped her which calmed her down but made her hit me twice as hard. “LETS TRY AGAIN! WHO TOOK IT AND WHERE ARE THEY!”
“The Diamond Dogs! They took it! They’re in the Everfree Forest I can take you!” She said frantically, I nodded and followed the pegasus to a field of holes in the ground. My good day had gone from great to total shit storm in about ten seconds flat (No pun intended, okay maybe a little) I stared down the a hole and grumbled as I flipped my mask down and turned on my flashlight.
“Okay If I’m not back in three hours go get lyra!” I said as I began my descent into the deep pit. The rainbow one had explained who she was on the way and I remembered to make a not to call her by her name. “Rainbow Dash!” I shouted she looked at me “I’ll get it back.” With that I slid down the hole into a tunnel, the metro put this one to shame but it still looked like I could get lost down here. I left several shell casings behind me as I walked, I switched my NV goggles on and that revealed that the tunnel was soon coming to an end. After an hour and a half of walking I saw a massive room, from within I heard noises that sounded remarkably like Lurkers. I pulled the bolt on my Rifle back and readied myself. When I saw several dozen large dog like creature I knew I had found the right place, I quickly over charged my Flashlight and flicked my NV off. When I was ready I turned on the Light.
“GAH! WHAT IS THIS BLINDING LIGHT!” a voice shrieked, I secured my Flashlight to the wall before stepping forward.
“Give me the Element and I won’t hurt you. I said, I wasn’t going to let these ‘Diamond Dogs’ keep me from saving my people. They laughed at me until I fired a shot into the ceiling. “TELL ME!” I said lunging at them, the fury I had was unbearable. Soon I found myself clutching one by the neck with my rifle pointed at his face, his comrades stood back.
“I do not know! I swear.” It screached
“LIES! IT LIES!” I heard in my head
“You know how this works?” I said taking the barrel of the rifel away from him to fire a shot. He shrieked with fear.
“OKAY IT IS WITH THE OTHERS! I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY ARE!” It said, I knew it was telling the truth so I let it go. After another hour of following my tracks I climbed out of the hole covered in dirt and mud. Standing there was Celestia and Luna, their faces were grim.
“I take it you already know they have they others?” I said with a sigh, they nodded. “Well how do we find them? Some magic Spell?” The Princesses shook their heads sadly, I felt my blood begin to boil. I wasn’t about to let my people die.
“FAILED! NOT YOUR FAULT! FORGIVEN!” The Dark Ones screamed in defeat, this was the first message I had ever communicated back to them.
“Over my dead body” I shouted over the link, soon an image of a mountain appeared in my mind. I was staring right as this mountain.
“Artyom?! HELLOOOOO?” Lyra said, I blinked and pointed to the mountain.
“There! The dark ones have told me they are there!” I looked at the princesses who just frowned.
“I’m so sorry Artyom.” Celestia said, The rage I felt was now replaced by guilt and sadness. I had failed my people. Tears welled up in my eyes and I looked to Luna, she just walked over to me and put her hoof on my shoulder. A feeling of determination washed over me and I simply began walking towards the mountain. “Where are you going?”
“To finish this, Lyra you up for a little trip?” Lyra nodded, soon a musical note came out of the bushes. Octavia stepped out with a guitar and a bag, she had been eavesdropping the whole time. “No! Its too dangerous” I said in protest but she just continued. “Damn it” I said just conceding to her will to follow me. And so we were off, the clouds grew dark as we moved and soon we were all bathed in rain....
The rain stopped after a few hours, the mountain was still far in the distance but it was getting closer. Lyra was tired and I carried her sleeping in my arms while Octavia walked next to me, a noise caught our attention. A loud shriek filled the air as a chicken-snake abomination appeared. I set Lyra on on the ground and leveled my rifle at the creatures head, my legs started to tingle but I ignored it and fired a burst into the creature. It fell writhing in agony, the tingling in My legs stopped and I walked over to the creature putting the barrel of the rifle to its head and pulling the trigger. Octavia looked at me stunned as did lyra, my face hidden by my mask was sad and they could tell. I just put my rifle on my back and walked on like nothing had happened, Octavia rushed over and gave me the guitar she was carrying.
“Music is good for you, just play a bit. For Me?” She said, I smiled and took it from her. I began to play a sad song and I heard her sob a bit, to lighten up the mood I played Kalinka. That helped them smile a bit which in turn made me smile. Celestia had began to lower the sun so we stopped for the night. I made a small fire and sat with my two companions.
“Tell me what your world is like.” Octavia said, I removed my helmet and sighed
“Its a dark place, I live in the metro. Its a series of tunnels that saved thousands during the war, its dark, cramped, cold and cruel. I would rather live here than there for obvious reasons.” Octavia looked upset but nodded for me to continue “I am one of the few that has seen the surface, it is cold, snowy and highly radioactive. You need a gas mask just to stand there for a minute, the creatures there are horrendous.” By this time Lyra was sitting on her haunches and paying close attention.
“What about magic?” Lyra asked, I just shook my head
“When the bombs fell, they took heave and hell with them. The only Magic there is is the ghosts of cursed station.” I said sadly, from my pocket I pulled a postcard with the American Red Wood Forrest on it. “This is what the surface used to look like.” I said handing it to the two ponies, looking at it made my eyes water a bit. “When we are done, hopefully I can go home and make the world like that again.”
“A noble cause Artyom.” Octavia said smiling to help my spirits, I nodded and then wrapped her in a big hug. The first hug I had ever felt and it was with Octavia, I liked that. I finished describing the world I lived in and soon was asleep.
The next morning I awoke to the bright sun on my face, I rose to a sitting position to see Octavia and Lyra curled up into cute little balls of fur. The fire was still going but only just. I added more wood and sat waiting for the little Ponies to stir from their slumber and making a crude soup, It occurred to me then that maybe the Dark ones were going to relieve me of my duties. I had already done so much for them and to be honest I would be happy to stay here.
“Morning Octavia.” I said as Tavi woke up, she yawned and then trotted over to me. Plopping her rump down next to me she smiled “I’m making some breakfast if you are hungry.” I said stirring the soup, she smiled at me
“I would love some.” She said in her fancy voice, If I didn’t know better I’d say I was falling in love with that voice. I spooned her some soup and she lapped it up hungrilly “What is in this?” She asked when she finished
“Just some rations I had on me, potato mostly.” I said proudly, she smiled and ate some more. Lyra woke soon after and I kicked the fire out, we walked for hours and I passed the time by playing the guitar. Finally we came to our destination, Lyra used her magic to Teleport us up to the cave.
“We’re right behind you on this Artyom.” Lyra said, I shook my head
“No, I will not let you be caught in the crossfire. Wait here.” I said before unholstering my magnum and walking into the cave. It was dark and dank, my nostrils flared at the scent of dirt and death. It was eerily like the metro, I switched my Night Vision on and saw that there were at least a dozen diamond dogs staring at me from up ahead.
I raised my magnum and switched on the flash light. They cringed in the bright light just as the others had. I walked forwards while they kept their distance, then I felt something heavy ding off my helmet. Turning on my attacker I saw the dog was shocked to say the least, I pointed the muzzle of my Magnum in its face and pulled the trigger sending a spray of blood and gore onto one of its compatriots.
“Consider this your warning! Return the elements to me, or face certain death.” I said in my most menacing tone. Deep down I knew that this could very well be the end if I wasn’t careful. One of the dogs howled and charged me only to get a hole the size of a american half dollar put right between its eyes. Another came at me then another, and another. All were treated the same, some I had to kick or punch away from me while others simply lost limbs to the power of a 44. magnum.
I battled my way forwards into the main chamber of the cave, piles of gems and gold were strewn about. I growled as I began to search every single one whilst battling the hordes of diamond dogs charging me and truly testing my armor. Whether it was hours or minutes I have no idea to this day, but I found the Elements strewn through out the cave. Soon the diamond dogs realised the futileness of their attack and began to retreat, I could say safely that I was dfinatley going to need a doctor. My arms were covered in claw and teeth marks, blood ,both mine and the dogs, dripped from me like the water of the Ulga river and the gash on my head was enough to blur my vision.
As I stumbled out of the cave I found Lyra and Octavia, when they saw me they gasped as I limped out of the cave holding the golden necklaces in my blood stained hands. My body was in agony and I barely was able to keep from crying out, all I knew that they could help me. When I got to them I handed the elements to Octavia and collapsed into a heap on the floor.
