Alaskan Anon in Equestria Chapter 19

>Consciousness hammers into your eyelids with all the subtlety of a freight train
>You groan, and roll over, putting your arm over your face
>That would be the sun
>Hello, sun
>...Wait


>You roll over the other way and remove your arm from your face, checking your watch
>...The sun shouldn't be up now
>It hasn't been up this early for weeks
>This is summer timing
>You look up from your watch, still squinting against the bright sunrise
>And find AppleJack at the table, nursing a cup of coffee
>Twilight's bed, however, still contains a Twilight-sized lump that's moving steadily up and down
>As you watch, the sunlight on the ground lurches an inch toward the windowsill
>Then it slows back down to its usual pace


>You quietly pull your sheets off and sit up
>Then you look over at AppleJack, who is watching you
"Morning" you say quietly
>"Morning" she replies just as softly
>You rub your eyes, then put on your glasses
This ain't normal, is it?
>You ask, gesturing to the window
>"Whut?"
The sun rising so early in the winter... or jumping like that
>AppleJack considers the question for a moment, staring into her coffee
>"Well, it hasn't happened in recent memory.  So ah would say no."
>Your brow furrows a bit
>"Still, if ah would trust anyp0ny ta be tinkerin' with such things, it'd be Princess Celestia. She's got to have a good reason for it."
>You nod to her
>You don't really believe that the rulers of this place can control the sun and moon
>Although what you just saw is putting some serious cracks in that
>You shake your head
>It's too early to think


>You grab your clothes and head for the bathroom
>After tending to your bodily needs, you emerge
>By now, Twilight is up, nursing her own cup
>AppleJack is nowhere to be seen
Morning
>Twilight looks up at you, and blinks slowly
>"Good morning, Anonymous."
>Your stomach groans at you
>Twilight sets her coffee cup down and gets up from the table
>"I suppose I will see you at breakfast, then?"
Yeah.  See ya there
>She turns and canters into the bathroom
>You take your leave and head for the cafeteria


>You end up finding an empty table upon which to consume your waffles
>You didn't see anyone you know in the crowd, so you figure you'll just take this one
>You've finished on your first waffle and are pouring syrup on your second when a purple unicorn floats her tray down and sits next to you
>You nod to her
>Her mane still looks damp
How'd ya sleep?
>"I slept quite well.  Yourself?"
I slept pretty good
>You take a piece of waffle, and she takes a bite of a bowl of milk and oats, making a lapse in the conversation
>Several bites of oats later, Twilight speaks
>"I don't understand how you can function without coffee in the morning."
>You look up at her
I figure the brain's like an engine; ya gotta start it and then give it time ta warm up before ya run it hard.  There's no sense in jumping on the gas right away.
>Twilight's eyebrows contract for a moment
>You remember telling her about the operation of your truck before, but you're not sure if you covered that part
>Then the eyebrows resume their original standing, and she looks at you more fully
>"That... that's an interesting way to look at it."




What do you get up to all day around here, anyway?
>Twilight finishes chewing completely and swallows before responding with what could be mistaken for pride in her voice
>"Princess Celestia is continuing my education.  Although it's not quite as hooves-on as my previous time with her has been..."
Oh?
>Twilight nods
>"The Princess instructs me for around an hour a day, and I conduct my own research and experiments centered around the established subject of study on my own time.  She'll spend more time instructing me if we're trying out a spell, of course."
>You take a sip of orange juice
So yer done with yer studies of 'friendship'?
>Twilight cocks her head
>"Friendship is eternal, Anonymous."
>You shrug
>"No, my studies of friendship in P0nyville will resume once this... problem... is resolved"


>"And you work in the Royal Mechworks, correct?"
That I do.
>"That's not just something a p0ny can pick up in a day..." she muses
What do you think I did before I came here?
>"...Ah."
If I ever find a way back
>You say jokingly
I might jes' have to take you with me
>Twilight splutters, almost choking on her oats
>"I-I wouldn't presume-"
Presume nothing.  I made a living working on machines, and I know there's a bunch of technological wonderments you'd love ta see
>you idly pick your fork with your teeth
If it ever happens, that is.
>"Anonymous, you remember what the Princess said..."
Sure I do.
But this is a magical land, ain't it?
>Twilight nods reluctantly
An' anything is possible with magic.
>You lean back from the table
Until then, the best I can do is work on those wonders with what I got
>Twilight's brows contract once more
>"You're building things from your world?"
Sure!  What do you think I do in that workshop
>Her visage becomes furtive
>"You're not making any... firearms, are you?"
Nah.  Got plenty o' those.
>"What are you making?"
That's a secret.
>There's a momentary pause as the purple unicorn looks down at her plate, and then back up at you
>"May I see them when they're finished?"
Certainly.


>With breakfast done, you make your goodbyes and then head off to work
>The hallways are just as crowded as they were yesterday
>But they aren't more crowded
>Hell, You don't almost trip over some poor bastard like you did yesterday
>So you take it as a good sign


>At work, you see the assembly line firing up for another day of production
>You head to a steam curving station, but you feel a hoof on your upper leg
>You look down to see Tamper looking up at you
>He's got a paper in the hoof he's stopped you with
>"Not today, Anonymous."
Huh?
>He holds the paper up to you
>"We here at the corps handle all things mechanical in this castle.  An' that means when something breaks-"
We get ta fix it?
>Tamper grins at you
>"You're a natural, Anonymous"
>you grin back


>"Anyway, one of the doors in the outer castle wall has had its lock broken, and it needs replacing.  There's a fresh one on that shelf over there; take any tools you'd need to get it open, because it's the same as the one on the door."
>He pauses
>"Show me you know how to do this."
Alright Boss
>You say, taking the paper
>"Lug Nut here will point ya in the right direction when yer ready to go." He says, motioning to a familiar looking, singed p0ny beside him
>You nod to Lug Nut
I better get on it then
>You take the paper from Tamper and look at it
>It's a repair order for door number five, outer wall


>You pick up the lock and briefly look it over
>It's a square steel job with four securing bolts and handles on either side
>The operation is simple enough
>A huge keyhole in both sides leads to simple but robust internals
>It comes neatly in half once the proper bolts are removed
>And it's easy enough to put back together
>Once you finish working out the internals, you stow it away
>You've got all the necessary tools in your cloak already
>And then you tap Lug Nut on the shoulder
>He jumps


Ready ta go?
>"Yeah" replies Lug Nut
>You put on your jacket, follow him out the door to the outside
>It's cold out today, but nothing you aren't used to
>You pull your hat down a little tighter and squint


>"Hey 'Nonymous"
>You look down at your equine escort as he leads you along the cleared paths around the castle
Yeah?
>"Where's yoosah?"
yoosah?
>Lug Nut looks back up at you
>"Yeah, yoosah.  It's written on all your tools, made in yoosah"
"You mean the USA?" you reply, enunciating the letters separately
>"Yeah, that."
>You suck air in through your nose
>Part of the way you know it's not that cold out is that it doesn't feel like your sinuses are freezing
The USA is the place I came from.
>"Oh."
>There are more than a few seconds of silence
>"What's it like, there?"


Hmm.  A lot like here, actually.
>"Really?"
Yeah.  Well, the land looks a lot like this place, anyway.
>you rub your nose, and say almost absentmindedly
But the p0nies don't talk, or fly...  And there's no magic.
>"Yer shitting me" Comes the incredulous response
Not in the slightest.
>"Wow."
>You look to your left
>The brown earth p0ny is looking up at you with slightly widened eyes
>"So they weren't lying..."
Huh?
>Lug Nut looks down momentarily
>"Well, when your big red wagon showed up in one of the carriage garages everyp0ny in the shop went and had a look at it"
Yeah?
>"The unicorns said there wasn't an ounce of magic in the entire thing"
Yup.  That truck is 60% steel, 30% explosion, 5% gum and 5% duct tape.
>"So then... there are more of those?"
Yup.  I reckon we have machines that more or less fill in for most of the roles unicorns and pegasui preform here.
>You pause for a moment and rub your chin
Oh.  'Cept the weather.
>"...The weather?"
>Lug Nut is looking up at you again
Yep.  We don't control our weather; it just does as it pleases.
>Lug Nut looks up at you with wide eyes
>"Ya mean... Ya don't know what the weather's gonna be like the next day?"
We kin' predict it about three days in advance... semi reliably, at least
>This is obviously boggling someone's mind
>"Not controlling the weather..." he mutters
>Lug Nut is silent the rest of the way to the door



>You wave to your coworker as he departs
>Then you turn into the wind and trudge forward through the snow, following the single set of hoofprints
>The door is readily apparent; A small, metal bound wood portal set into the imposing castle wall, that comes up to a rounded top at neck height
>Although, as you get closer, you can't help but notice the scattered impacts in the snow in front of the door
>And most of the lock is gone, save for the four bolts on the corners and most of the metal plate, which has a large hole in it that goes clear through to the other side
>You frown
>Well, at least removing the original lock shouldn't be so difficult


>Further inspection reveals the door opens inward, and has been opened recently
>The bolt is also missing, so you swing the door open
>Whoever did this covered their tracks well
>The snow has been smoothed over on the far side...
>But not all of it
>you step through the door
>Seven feet out, there's an imprint in the snow
>A big one
>As big as the waffle you had for breakfast
>You mentally shrug
>So they want to fuck with whoever came out here
>You get out your wrenches and get to work

>When the second bolt is off, you hear crunching in the snow behind you
>You pocket the bolt and wrench, rise from your crouch, and turn around
>A blue unicorn approaches
>Clad in snow shoes and a scarf, he forges toward you
>You straighten up the rest of the way
"Hey Star Blaze, what brings you out here?" you ask when he's close enough
>"Many things, Anonymous, many things" he says, his head glancing about
>"For example: Did you know that Canterlot castle is supposed to be proof against changelings?"
>You think for a moment
Nope.
Am I s'posed to?
>"No, that is a good thing.  It's rather well kept secret."
>Star Blaze checks around once more
>"Around the castle is an invisible bubble, highly resistant to changelings, that is maintained by a dedicated staff of guardsp0ny unicorns constantly."
>"While it is possible for changelings to penetrate this bubble, it is very difficult; the act requires more than one.  Quite a few, in fact.  And in doing so, they alert us to their location."
>You glance behind you
>"You're quicker than they give you credit for.  That's right."
>Star blaze, it seems, caught the glance
>"Last night the unicorns on duty registered a rupture in this area.  This morning, we discovered the door was forced."


You didn't catch them?
>"The guardsp0nies on duty for such an occurrence were... distracted" he says with the slightest hint of disgust in his voice
>"The long and short of it is, they now have a bug on the inside.  Possibly several."
So what, you want me to keep an eye out?
>"Precisely."
>"Your superior has been instructed to give you preference in the event of any out of house repair call.  This will have you seeing as much of the castle as possible."
An' if I see one?
>"The guardsp0ny outside the mechworks will follow you whenever you go on a call.  You should be able to catch his attention relatively easily; alert him, and he'll take care of it."
That's pretty slick
>"It is our job, after all." finishes Star Blaze bemusedly


>"Do you have any other questions?" Asks the blue unicorn as he turns
What happens to 'em?
>"Oh, we've got a holding cell for them.  No windows and a nice thick door."
Right, right
>You nod
>"If that is all, I'll let you get back to your job"
Yup
>"Good day, Anonymous."
>And with that, Star Blaze turns and tromps off towards the castle

>With the mysterious Lunar guard out of your way, changing out the lock is a relatively simple procedure
>If a little time consuming
>The anchor holes in the door itself were undamaged, so all you have to do is slot it through and bolt it down
>The sun is well on its way into the sky when you pull out the key for the lock
>You test the lock's rotation a few times, and then make sure the bolt fits in its hole in the castle wall
>Once you're satisfied, you lock the door a final time and pocket the keyring
>Then you look again at the repair order
>"Replace lock"
>Done
>"Deliver second key to southwest guard station"
>Finally, something you know the location of
>You pack up the rest of your gear
>And take your leave of door number five in the castle wall


>The wind has picked up a bit since you began your day, and it bites into the exposed skin on your face
>You grin, watching it whisk away the clouds of billowing fog that are your breath
>It's a nice day out


>The southwest guard station is a squat, rounded stone building set a fair distance from the main body of the castle
>You've never actually been inside one of these
>Just seen it from the outside
>You roll up and knock on the door
>You hear a scraping noise
>"What the hay..."
>A viewing slit in the door has opened
>As is, it has a pretty good view of your belt buckle
>You crouch down and peer inside
Howdy
>A muffled exclamation comes from behind the door, before a pair of massive blue eyes appear in the view slit
>"..What is your business" comes a moment later
I Fixed door number five in the castle wall and I've got tha new key here for you.
>The door swings open, revealing a Celestial guard
>He looks up at you
>"'Bout time they sent somep0ny out to fix that lock."
>The glimmering guard beckons to you with a hoof
>"Come on in.  I'll have to sign that repair order."


>The guardsp0ny steps aside, and you duck through the door and into the building
>Fortunately for you the ceiling is high enough to stand up straight, so you do
>The warm glow of the lights reveal a cozy interior
>A small, potbelly stove burns away merrily next to its supply of firewood on the left
>On the right, you see a flat wooden table with a steaming mug of hot something on it
>On the wall are a number of cupboards, one of which has a roster sheet pinned to it
>You pull out the keyring and detach one of the two keys on it, holding it out to him
>The other one goes back to the shop
>He takes the key and pulls open one of the cupboards
>On the inside of the door are a number of labeled hooks, all of them occupied by a key
>He pulls a key off one hook in particular and places the new one in its stead
>Then he holds the key out to you, which you take
>"You know what to do with this?" He asks
Melt it down
>He nods approvingly
>"Good"
>You pull the paper out of your jacket, which he takes from you
>He then signs it with the quill from the roster, and gives it back
>You stow it away


That it, then?
>You inquire, turning towards the door
>"That's all that's required of you, yes."
>You're halfway down to get out when he speaks again
>"How are things going in the royal mechworks?  I heard you colts are mighty busy"
You could say that.  Got a new project the higher ups are all over.
>"Hey, good luck with that"
Thanks
>you nod over your shoulder, and then depart




>Back at the workshop, you head for Tamper's office
>You're lucky enough to catch him inside of it
>It's about time for lunch, so he's packing up his stuff
>You set the paper down in front of him
Job's done
>The grey unicorn examines the repair order briefly
>"Looks good ta me"
>So said, he picks it up and dutifully files it away in a drawer of his desk
>Shorty afterward, he gets out from behind his desk
>"Lunchtime"
Yup
>You follow your boss out the door of his office
>And then join the general flow of p0nies headed for the cafeteria


>Today, you opt for soup and mashed potatoes
>There are several advantages to your comparitively extreme height, you decide
>And being able to see most of the tables in the cafeteria from just beyond the cashier's station is one of them
>So saying, you spot a familiar conglomeration of colors
>And decide you'll have lunch with your friends today


>AppleJack, on the opposite end of the table, is the first to see you
>"Howdy, Anonymous!"
Hey AppleJack
>"It's Anonymous!"
>"Hello, Anonymous"
>"Hi..."
>"Heya Anon!"
>And so the greetings go around the table
How have you folks been holding up?
>You ask as you circle the table
>The six p0nies glance at each other
>"I'm scrum-diddly-umptious!" Blurts Pinkie
Hah
>You move AppleJack's hat aside and set your tray down, and then take a seat next to her
>It's the only space open big enough for you


>You sit back and allow the conversation to wash over you as you consume your lunch
>Pinkie is deep in discussion with Fluttershy about her pet...
>Aligator?
>She's worried.  She left him with her employers, and she's afraid he'll get fat from being pampered.
>Rarity is asking Rainbow Dash where she got the goggles currently around her neck
>Rainbow's smiling and teasing her with the location
>Cheeky mare


'Ey Twilight
>You swallow
>Twilight looks up from her daisy sandwich
>"Yes, Anonymous?"
Whatcha studyin' today?
>"Transmogrification"
>If she had said that any less matter-of-factly, you might have trouble believing her
Transmogrifiwhut now
>The purple unicorn looks all too happy to elaborate
>"The school of turning one object into another."
Huh.
Like with water and gas?
>"Yes, exactly."
Sounds tough
>"It's rather difficult to explain..."
>"That's a first!" snorts Dash



>You feel hot breath on the back of your neck
>Something the diameter of a softball slams into your back
>"Anonymous, what are you doin' all the way over here?"
>It wasn't THAT hard, admittedly
>You pivot to see a brown earth p0ny grinning at you
Hey Lug Nut, I could ask you the same question
>He steps forward
>"I'm just wonderin' why you ain't over here with the rest of the stallions" He says, pointing a hoof behind him
Well Lug Nut, these are my friends.
>"Are they now?"
>He takes a second look at the table
>you turn to your friends
Girls, this is Lug Nut.  I work with him at the Royal Mechworks.
>"Hi!"
>"Pleased to make your acquaintance"
>"Hey"
>"Hello!"
>"Howdy"
>"H-hi..."
>Your friend's responses host varying degrees of enthusiasm as they size up the newcomers
>"Well ain't it nice ta meet you all"
If it wasn't for these fine ladies, I wouldn't be here right now
>You say with no small amount of pride
>"Is that so?"
Yup.  Why, AppleJack here was kind enough to take me in when I first arrived here.
>You ruffle her mane affectionately
>"S-shucks.  Ah wouldn't leave nop0ny out in tha cold ta freeze.  It just ain't raight..."


>"Hey, come on Lug Nut!"
>"Yeah, we got a new fella who thinks he can take ya!"
>Lug Nut peers over his shoulder at the calling
>"Well Anonymous, this is a fine buncha mares you've found yourself here.  If you ever feel like sharin' a herd like this, you go right ahead and give me a holler"
>The mood at the table sours in an instant, and your eyes narrow
>You had taken Lug Nut for the good sort
>Not... a womanizer
>The very thought makes your blood boil
>You smile down at him, your cheeks pulled back off your teeth in a feral grin
>Then you return the favor, and slap his back
>Hard.
Yeah, we'll see.  You better get the hell out of here.  The guys are calling.
>"Yer right.  I better go show that new guy who's the king of the hoof."
>The well-built stallion half-steps backwards, before turning on a hoof and cantering off



>And just like it came on, it's gone
>You shake your head
>More of a jerk
>Dislodging nasty thoughts
>That was odd
>When you look up at the table, a good portion of it is staring at you
>"Anonymous..."
"Nobody treats my friends like property." you say simply
Not even my other friends.
>"Hmmph!" snorts Rarity
>"Ya did tha right thing, Anon" Says AppleJack
>Whatever
>If he's mad, you can deal with him later
>You stand up for your friends

>After lunch, you head back to the workshop
>And this time, Tamper doesn't stop you
>So you head for that steam curving station, and get to work


>Something pokes your back, and you almost jump
>You look back to see Tamper
>"Hey, Anonymous..."
Yeah?
>He's got another sheet of paper that looks suspiciously familiar
"Awww come on" you say jokingly
>"Hey, there's a real reason this time!" he jokes back
>"There's a busted light fixture that needs replacing, an' if I sent anyp0ny else it'd take 'em twice as long."
>You grudgingly finish the runner you were working on, and set it on the finished pile
>Then you step away from the machine with a sigh of defeat
>"There's a good stallion!"
>"Sparks, get over here!"
>"Gotcha boss"


>Tamper holds the paper up to you, and you take it
>"Aux. Room 47, fixture replacement"
>Sure enough
Is it bolted on?
>"Just like the lock, yep"
I'll be back in a jiffy
>You say, and Tamper nods
>You head to the stores where you previously got a lock
>And pick out a lamp
>Upon further examination, it's actually pretty interesting
>it's got a circular base with a golden cover that goes against the wall
>And under the cover are two holes, presumably for bolts
>Sticking out of this brace plate is a similarly golden tube, at a 60 degree angle
>And mounted vertically on this tube is a white ovaloid about the size of your head
>There's a small, cut out circle in the strut of the thing, and when you're picking it up your thumb depresses it
>The lamp glows to life in front of your eyes, which you promptly close
Fuck
>You feel around the thing until you find the switch, and then turn the light off
>Then you tuck it under an arm, and grab a few bolts for good measure
>And head out the door
>A glance behind you reveals the guardsp0ny that was at the door is now tailing you at a fair distance
>Good



>you stalk the halls, light fixture in hand
>The place isn't quite as crowded now
>They're all out of the castle, trying to enjoy themselves and forget about their woes
>That's what you think, anyway
>You're just glad you don't have to step over anyone



>You arrive the designated room, and you're proud of yourself
>You only had to ask for directions once!
>Your tail is currently out of sight
>The wooden door before you would be imposing, you suppose
>If it came up higher than your nipples.
>You knock purposefully upon it
>After a moment, the door opens
..Twilight?
>"Oh, hello Anonymous!"
>The purple unicorn smiles guiltily up at you
You wouldn't happen to know anything about a broken light fixture in here, would you?
>"I, uh, well..."
>Twilight looks down and shuffles her hooves
>Conveniently moving backward, so you duck under the door and step past her


>The inside of the room is fairly tidy
>There are few shelves lining the walls
>And a thick mat leaning up against the far wall
>In front of the mat is a small table with various odds and ends on it
>And just above the mat you see your objective
>There's a lamp bracket on the wall with a post sticking out of it
>But there's nothing on the end of the post
>Just a clear looking point that glimmers at you
>As you approach the table, you get a better look at the objects upon it
>...wait
>There's a tiny, ruby red teacup
>Another ugly looking cup that appears to be made of some sort of white stone
>A figurine made of black stone, a teapot of smoky green glass
>And a chunk of the mat that's yellow
What have you been doing in here?


>"Practising trasnmogrification spells"
Ooooh
>Now you remember
Is that what happened to the lamp?
>"I'm afraid so, yes."
>you bend over and pull the table out of the way, and then step up to what's left of the lamp to examine it more fully
So you just missed?
>"I'm not quite sure what happened, actually"
>You hear hoofsteps behind you getting closer
>Upon closer examination, the clear and twinkling point on the end of the mount isn't just a point
>It's ovaloid
>On a hunch, you reach up and press the power button
>The lamp shines to life in front of your eyes, even brighter than the one you've got in your right hand
>You squeeze your eyes shut and push the power button again
>"I had been intending to turn that coaster into emerald, but the spell... just went wild."
>You rub your chin, and pop the bolt cover off
Does this happen often?


>"It's not a common occurrence, no.  There is a chance for every spell cast to go wrong, but it is a very small one."
>You pull out your toolbox and set it on the free space on the table
>Then you pop it open and pull out your set of sockets, and try them until you find one that fits
>Lucky these guys have similar standards to your own
>You pull out the ratchet and stick the socket onto it, and then fit it on the nut
>The bolt is slow to start, but when it finally does it comes off easily enough
>You pull the washer under it off, and then work on the second bolt
So, do you have any idea what this is?
>You ask, pointing briefly to the tiny sphere
>"Some kind of precious stone, I should think"
Huh.
Mind if I take it?
>You get the last bolt off, and the washer with it
>"That IS what you're here for, right?"


>oh yeah, that's right
>This place has such a goddamn abundance of precious stones, they're used more for decoration than to as a compact means of wealth transportation
>You give the fixture on the wall a tug
>But it doesn't move
>Huh
>You pull on it harder, but it still refuses to budge
>you squint
>son of a bitch
>The holes in the plate are set just a little too close together, and the tops and bottoms are catching in the threading of the bolts
>Still, they had to get it on here somehow
>You should be able to get it off


>You brace on the wall with your other hand, and then pull
>The fixture slides out a few threads, stops momentarily
>And then it releases completely, sliding right off the bolts
>You were pulling too hard, and you overbalance
>Your leg snaps back, catching you and preventing you from falling over
>But also bumping into the table, its rounded edge impacting close to a certain bandaged area
MotherFUCK
>Hisses from between your teeth
>You set the recently removed fixture on the table and bend over
>"Anonymous, are you alright?"


>Big, concerned purple eyes peer at you two feet away
>"What happened?"
>you roll up your pant leg to check your bandage
I bumped my cut on that table
>You say
>The pain is starting to fade now
>"How did you get that?"
Scaring off muggers
>Twilight backs up a bit
>"I wouldn't think a p0ny would try to mug you..."
Wasn't me they were trying to mug
>The unicorn sits down abruptly
>"Did you at least report it to the guard?"
There is no doubt in my mind the intended target of the mugging managed to.
>Twilight's gaze switches back and forth between your face and the bandage
Although I doubt those two will be bothering anyone for quite a while.
>"I'm just glad you're alright."
Yeah, I'm glad it didn't need stitches too
>You roll your pant leg back down
>The scab wasn't broken, and it just stings a little now


>"I can have a look at it tonight, if you like"
That'd be great.
>You get back up, and pick up the new light fixture
>Fortunately for you, the holes are further apart than on the original one
>You're able to slot it onto the bolts with no trouble at all
>Behind you, you hear hoofsteps once again
>You glance over your shoulder
>Twilight is stowing the items away in a bag
>And pulling out new ones, which she sets on the table
How long are ya gonna be at this?
>"Until dinner, I think."
Speaking of
>you muse
Did you ever end up figuring out how to make gas?
>"I made some progress, but all the results I've had so far have been rather... sticky."
If it's what I think it is, that has its uses too


>You're screwing the first bolt on when another question occurs to you
So, Twilight
>"yesh?"
>You pause and look back
>She's got a bunch of miscellaneous objects floating around her, and the statuette in her mouth
How exactly does transmogrification work?
>"It's... Hmm."
>Twilight sets the statue down
>"It's fairly simple, really.  You just turn a given material into another material."
>She pauses for breath before continuing, and you finish tightening the first bolt and put the second washer on
>"The more... different two materials are, the more effort the spell takes.  Effort also scales with quantity"
>You thread the second bolt on
So how did you create that cartridge back in P0nyville?
>Twilight blows and errant strand of mane up out of her eyes
>"That was more than just a transmogrification spell..."
Was it?
>"Yes.  I had to retrieve brass, lead and copper from my supplies, and set a search spell for... the components of the powder.  I then had to make slight adjustments to compositions and assemble it all in front of me."
"Thet's pretty damn impressive" you say as you tighten the second bolt
>"I suppose it is... and it worked, which is always a good sign."
>"The search spell was the real power sink, but now that I know what it drew it'll be easier in the future."
>You pick up the cover and stick it over the bolts
>Then you click the light on and off a few times, making sure it works



>Your final click leaves the light glowing warmly with its brethren
Well, I won't be gettin' in your way here any longer
>"No, no, it was good to have a break" says Twilight
>"I haven't seen much of you since we arrived here."
Huh
Well, I should be around tonight.
>Twilight nods
>You pull her table back into position
I gotta get back to work, so I'll see ya
Alright?
>"See you tonight, Anonymous."




>The rest of the day passes by surprisingly quickly
>Your tail resumes his post at the door of the shop when you get back
>And you retake your position at the steam curving station with a vengance
>Getting to and from the replacement of the light fixture took long enough that ther isn't much time left in the workday
>At dinner, you decide to eat with the rest of the guys
>Lug Nut doesn't say anything about lunch, which is good
>You don't really need an enemy at this point
>And after, you retreat to the solitude of the workshop once more to work on your projects
>One of which is to cut the base off the light fixture you removed earlier that day
>And to attach a removable tube, so that it can be used as either a torch or a directional flashlight


>When the moon is high in the starry sky, you prepare for your final activity of the night
>You pull on your snowpants, your jacket
>Your hat, your gloves, and even your scarf
>The night brings the cold, and you don't intend to succumb to it on your journey


>The shop door thumps in the doorframe as you pull it closed and lock it
>Then you pull your gloves back on
>The stars and the moon are your only light as you crunch out across the castle grounds


>A good walk finds you in that place that was your home for your first week here
>The snow covered hedgerow
>You can still remember the layout of the thing, if you push a little
>But you're not here to remember
>You're here for a break
>This is the closest thing you'll get to the woods without stealing a key to get outside the castle walls


>The entrance of the hedgerow looms before you, the moon's palid light rendering the path beyond in a stark contrast of black shadow and white snow reflecting even whiter light



>You wander in the hedgerow, taking turns left and right as your heart compels you
>There's no shouting out here
>No yelling, no screaming, no crying children
>No newsp0nies trying to sell you a paper
>Nobody to trip over
>No hammering or rattling or running sinks off in the distance
>No, the only sound out here is the crunch of the snow under your boots
>And your breath going in and out, generating billows of crystalline fog that swirl briefly in front of you before you pass them
>You could get a good night's sleep, out here
>And you did for a whole week too


>Your wanders eventually take you to the center of the maze
>To the mismatched statue you vaguely remember from your earlier explorations
>it is, of course, still here
>The arms, the top of the head, and any other protrusion that pesents a flat surface is laden with snow
>But even under its powdery load, the statue manages a wild and unpredictable look
>You give props to whoever carved it
>They did a good job
>It's as your eyes wander to the head level of the mishappen creature that you notice a flicker of movement
>And then nearly jump out of your boots
>Did...
>Did it wink at you?


>You stare harder at the statue for a moment, not moving a toe
>The statue, however, remains as immobile and solid as every other time you've seen it
>you mentally shrug
>Perhaps your mind playing tricks on you
>or the light
>You've certainly "seen" stranger things lurking out in the woods
>A statue is a statue, and it's not going anywhere
>You roll your shoulders, and head for one of the myriad exits of the clearing
>Your eye contact with the statue, however, is only broken when the hedge comes between you and it


>By design or luck, you end up in the same clearing that sheltered you during your exile
>You walk up to the massive snowbank that marks your former home
>Pivoting on your heel, you spread your arms wide
>And then fall backwards onto it, sinking into the snow until your front is about level with the surface


>The silence is serene
>Clearing your mind and allowing you to admire the cold, alien constilations
>To pick your own shapes among them, as one might see items in clouds
>there, for example, is an axe
>And there, a snowmobile
>There's a log cabin
>A great warrior
>An owl, an eagle
>A wizened old wolf
>And even, perhaps, a p0ny


>Presently you hear something
>A soft whisper that pushes through the silence
>Slowly at first, but then with increasing volume
>Until it sounds like a great pair of wings beating the air
>Which is coming from behind you
>You sit up and turn around
>A great pair of wings, indeed, are bearing down upon you
>Suspended between them is a familiar looking blue alicorn
>The wings snap shut before they hit the hedges, and the alicorn falls
>She lands in the snow with a muted thump in front of you
>"Good evening, Anonymous" she says carefully
>Quietly, as if respecting the very peace and quiet you came out here to enjoy


Good evnin' ta ya, Princess
>She closes the distance between the two of you, her longer legs affording her a faster pace of movement thorugh the snow than the average p0ny
What brings ya out here at this hour?
>"I could ask the same of you"
I was just out lookin' up at the night sky.
>"Were you now?"
Yup
>"Pray tell, what do you think of it?"
>Woah
>Those are some serious eyes she's leveling at you
Well, I've always been partial to stargazing.
>You say, stretching your arms
An' while coming here has had many ups and downs...
>Luna leans in closer
I gotta say, havin' a brand spankin' new set of stars to gaze at is one of the pluses.
I think it's beautiful
>You look expectantly at the blue alicorn, who regards you with an inscrutable expression before responding
>"Well, I was out for a flight to... clear my mind, as it were.  I saw you laying in the snow and curiosity rather got the better of me."
>Luna smiles at you
>"Were it that more p0nies shared your views of my night sky..."


Yer night sky?
>You ask
>Maybe you heard her wrong?
>"Why, yes.  I take my duties as the keeper of the stars very seriously."
>She looks wistfully up at her supposed creation
>"I just wish more p0nies would take the time to enjoy them..."
>You're about to open your mouth when you follow Luna's line of sight
>her massive pupils aimed at the sky, her horn shrouded in that peculiar blue vapor
>A small nebulae glows briefly brighter, and then begins to move
>You suck in a breath as the impossible seemingly occurs right before your eyes
>First the haze of otherworldly fireflies spins in a circle
>And then they form a pentagonal star
>"Do not your people arrange their heavens?" Asks Luna almost absentmindedly, her eyes never leaving her work
>The stars form, in their little portion of the sky, a very familiar face
>A face that smiles down at you
No...
>you respond softly
No... we don't.


>The stars stop their movement, still smiling down at you
>You look over at their master, who looks back at you
>"Yours must be a strange world" she says slowly
"Aye" you muse, laying back in the snowbank
'bout as strange to you as yours is to me, I think
>This draws a chuckle, before silence retakes its place of prominence
>You stare up in the sky in wonder
>How much of it's original?
>And how much, molded and reshaped by this alicorn sitting not so far away



>Eventually, the alicorn in question rises from her seat in the snow
>"It has been a pleasure, Anonymous."
Likewise
>"I must be going, however.  I have... duties to attend."
>And with that, the Princess of the Night opens her massive, feathery wings
>Her ascent into the cold night sky marked by a flurry of ice crystals that slowly settle on your prone form
>You yourself sit up, and brush off
>your ass was starting to get cold anyway


>Your boots are mostly dry by the time you get back to your room
>That's how long of a walk it is
>You roll up to the door and knock on the door
>"Come in!"
>The knob gives to your grip and you pull the door open


>The first thing you see is a fire crackling away merrily in the corner
>The lights are on, your bed is as you left it
>And sitting on her own bed is one Twilight Sparkle
>A book laid out in front of her
>"Oh, hello Anonymous!"
Hi Twilight
>You step inside and close the door
>"How was the rest of your day?"
>you shrug
Alright.  You?
>"Did a little more practice in on stone transmogrification spells, and now I'm reading more about liquids."
>You hang your jacket on a hook next to the door


>You're getting a glass of water when you hear a popping sound
>"I need to look at your leg!"
Alright
>You're fully confident in your own ability to dress a wound
>But if Twilight feels obligated to do the same thing she did for you in her library
>Then you're not going to stop her
>You sure as hell could live with the damn thing not twinging every time you bump it
>So, you walk in the bathroom and grab a fresh towel
>And then you pull up your chair
>And your pant leg
>And lay out your leg on one of the stools next to the table


>Twilight, for her part, gets up and walks over
>She inhales sharply when she notices the scab on your leg
>"That hurts just looking at it."
Only bugs me when I hit it on stuff
>"...I hope you don't do that intentionally."
Hell no.
>You lift up your glasses and rub your eyes
>When you open them again, Twilight is seated next to your leg
>"Are you ready?"
Ready as I'll ever be
>Twilight's horn lights up, and your wound is smothered in an eerie purple glow
>It's an odd feeling, no denying that
>It feels like a million little fingers are poking the inside of your wound, all at once
>It should feel like needles
>But... it just isn't painful
>It also itches something fierce, but you know better than to reach down and scratch it



>it's not even a minute before the glow fades away
>"Well, everything should be in order" says the purple unicorn
>"...Or as in order as it gets for this situation"
>you chuckle
Well thanks for taking a look at it.
>"It's no trouble at all"




>you stretch your arms, roll down your pantleg and stand up
>You can tell right away she did some work on it
>It doesn't bother you nearly as much as it did getting up before
>As soon as you get all the way to your feet a massive yawn overcomes
"I think it's high time we both headed to bed." you say when it finishes
>"it IS getting late..." replies Twilight