/V/irgin In Equestria - Chapter 7

>It's your third day in Equestria, not counting the night when you first materialised here. While it was Monday back home according to your calculations that were in all likelihood wrong, here you had no idea what the name of today was. What was important was the fact that you were free of any and all responsibilities so you were going to take it easy. Try being the imperative word as you had a number of things you needed to do.
>When you got up, you noticed that Spike had moved his cot away from Twilight's bed, positioning it roughly between yours and hers. What happened yesterday must have driven a wedge between the dragon and the unicorn. While it was poetic justice for Twilight not to get her way, you didn't fancy yourself as the crowbar to pry the two apart. You may be a lot of things but a home wrecker you aren't.
>Your clothes were also in desperate need of cleaning. By a process of deduction, you came to the conclusion that since the p0nies didn't wear clothes on a regular basis, there wouldn't be a local laundrette you could visit, not to mention there wasn't a laundry room in Twilight's home either. That meant having to wash everything by hand. It took a while to get all your clothes scrubbed clean. Some improvisation was needed when it came to finding a detergent to use: half a bottle of Kaleidoscope’s shampoo formulated for greasy manes made for a good substitute. After wringing as much water out of everything, all your clothes were now presentable. You then had to find somewhere to dry them. Some Macgyvering skills with a number of objects around the bedroom allowed you to construct a frame to air everything off. All you had to do was wait.
>And boy did you wait. Even after breakfast and taking an abhorrent amount of time in the bath, due to a fixed shower nozzle that wasn't designed with someone of your height in mind (meaning you had to crouch down like the T-800 the entire time so you could get wet), your clothes were still damp an hour later. Not that it wasn't fun pretending to be the Terminator but your time could have been better spent.

>Right now, you are back in bed reading some impressive tomes on Equestria itself. Whether or not the name referred to a domain or the entire planet was ambiguous. With Celestia raising and lowering the Sun every day and Luna apparently keeping the Universe running (though why that didn't make her the stronger Princess by default was unclear), it made sense that no-one dared to oppose the two Sisters, lest the destruction of the whole world be a consequence. Oh yeah, geocentricism ruled supreme here. Galileo would have a seizure if he turned up.
>The topic of animals came up early. P0nies, while the dominant species in Equestria, weren't the only ones capable of speech and higher thinking. Those able to do so included zebras, sheep, mules, donkeys, buffaloes and... cows.
>You glance sullenly at your backpack. No one must ever know about your packs of seasoned shredded bovine produce.
>It turned out your suspicions of there being other mythological creatures made real were right on the money too. You already knew about minotaurs in the world when Luna said you resembled one but you didn't realise they were sapient and had their own settlements, many of them underground. Griffons fell under that category too, preferring to live high in the mountains. Dragons were an interesting topic. Unlike other species, they had migrating colonies, preferring to take what they needed and move on rather than settle down. Spike was an exception to the rule it seemed.
>As for other fictional beasts, manticores, cockatrices, sea serpents and phoenixes had a number of paragraphs devoted to them. Even God damn Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of the Underworld was real, though it prevented the escape of a number of imprisoned malevolent entities as opposed to the souls of the dead. The bestiary also included the names of other creatures you weren't familiar with, such as parasprites, timberwolves, quarry eels, Ursæ, Changelings and windigos. If you're ever going to go anywhere by yourself, you're going to be heavily armed the entire time.
>You linger on the entry of creatures called Draconequi. According to the book, they were a mischievous and currently extinct hybrid species that had the appearance of being made from the parts of different creatures. Chimeras to put it simply. Huh... why do you feel you've seen something like that already?

>It was another twenty minutes before your clothes were reasonably dry. What you didn't put on went into your rucksack. The books you had been reading went back to their respective places on the bookshelves: you didn't want to mess up the hard work Spike was forced to do yesterday.
>Now... where are your boots?
>You look high and low for your footwear but they're nowhere to be found.
>As you're about to look under your bed for the second time, you glance out of the window. Suspended by a branch are your boots, tied together by the laces. You try to grab them but they're too far out of reach. There's only one person, or should you say p0ny, who would do this.
>You stroll out to the main library. Your target is at her desk doing research, pouring over some books and writing notes, not noticing you beaming at her from on high. You also notice Spike on a ladder dusting the shelf by the front door. Celestia's pronouncement about the change in cleaning arrangements must have gone over his head.
“Ahem.”
>Twilight looks up from whatever it was she was researching. Spike meanwhile, startled by the noise you made, has fallen off his ladder. Any fears of him injuring himself are dispelled once he gets back up and resumes his removal of dust bunnies.
>“I'm kind of busy Anonymous.” She cocks her head towards the desk.
“Hello to you too. Still sore about yesterday?”
>“Hardly, but for your information, I've got better things to do than listen to you taunt me. Now what do you want?” The sourness in her voice was all too apparent.
“Lighten up, seriously. Anyone would think I stole your favourite childhood toy. Can you come up here? I need your help with a... smelly situation.”
>She rolls her eyes, well aware of what you mean. As she tears herself away from the pile of papers, you hear Spike giggling to himself. Without so much as a 'get out of the way,' the mare pushes past you. Unbelievable.
“Well excuuuuse me Twilight!”

>As soon as you step into the bedroom, your boots are thrust in front of your face.
>“Happy now?” The unicorn asks, annoyed.
“Adequately.” You reply as you catch the shoes once Twilight releases her spell.
>Maybe you should keep them outside from now on dude, your brain suggests, the smell isn't strong enough to strip paint now.
Yeah and maybe I'll get myself feeling all twiddly, douse my little soldier with honey and jam it into a hornet's hive repeatedly. Does that sound like a good idea?
>PENIS DOES NOT LIKE THAT IDEA.
No-one asked for your input. In any case, the boots stay indoors. I'll have to find an air-tight box I can keep them in or something.
>A minute later and your footwear is on. You kick the air a couple of times to make sure the laces are good and tight.
>“Can I go now? Unlike you, I have important studies to complete.”
>She tries to make an exit but you speedily position yourself between her and the door. Sneering as best you can, you wag your finger at her in a way that would have made Sonic proud.
“Forgetting about something else, aren't we Twilight?”
>You see the gears turn in her head before the scowl she's perfected over the last couple of days makes a reappearance. Her horn starts glowing and a trunk by a dressing table slowly opens. Out of it hovers the ten ceramic cylinders full of Bits given to you by Celestia and, more importantly, your zip-pack. She rests the objects on the nearby surface before glaring back at you.
>“Can I go now please?”
>You step aside, allowing her to pass. Going over to the table, you open the zip-pack to make sure everything was still there. DS, games, styluses, solar charger and connector, all present and accounted for. You climb up the ladder and get your rucksack by your bed, bringing it back down and stuffing the cylinders into the main compartment.

>As you leave the library, you toss Spike the zip-pack. Your heart skips a beat as he fumbles with it for a second before getting a sure hold.
>“Anon... you're giving this to me?”
“Lending it. You did pretty well on the first dungeon, I want to see how far you can get while I'm out.”
>“You got it Anon! I'll finish it before dinnertime!”
>You chuckle at the dragon's over-estimation of his power level; he reminds you of yourself back in the day. You surreptitiously look over your shoulder at the unicorn before gesturing at Spike to come over.
“Why don't you see if you can get Twilight interested?” You whisper.
>He looks at you skeptically, “I don't think she would be, not after yesterday.”
“Try anyway. Don't force it on her, just sit in a corner and play with the volume turned up. You remember how to do that?”
>He nods, “The slidy thing on the side.”
“Good. Sooner or later she'll come over to see what you're doing and eventually she'll get sucked in.”
>“You think so?”
“I know so. Games have a habit of taking over your life, especially the more challenging ones. You plan to spend an hour playing, then when you look outside, the Sun's already setting.”
>“You're the boss.” He gives you a salute, “Where are you going anyway?”
“Fluttershy's. There's a... mess that needs cleaning up.”
>“Do you want my mop and bucket?”
“Nah, it's not that sort of mess. Incidentally, where can I buy an axe around here?”

>You wonder what the p0nies of P0nyville thought of you as you walked around town with your new chopping tool resting on your shoulder. The mare who sold the implement to you was understandably wary but a handful of Bits easily quelled any negative feelings she had. Unfortunately, being designed for creatures half your size meant the axe was more suitable for felling saplings than fully grown trees. You would have purchased a spade as well if it too didn't suffer from the scaling issue.
>After getting the axe, you walk around to see what other services P0nyville provides. You find a spa, a bookshop, a jewellery store, a number of cafés, a bowling alley of things, and so on. Tourist traps in other words. Did anyone here actually do hard labour?
>The clanging of metal on metal answers that for you.
>After rounding a few corners, you discover a blacksmith's place of business. Outside, a bulky  unicorn stallion, with a ruby coat and darker mane and tail, is using his magic to temper a block of metal with a hammer and anvil. His handlebar moustache is dripping with perspiration as he repeatedly strikes the metal, sending sparks flying. Clearly, he is more alpha than you will ever be.
>“Vulcan! More heat!” He orders as he levitates the metal into a forge.
>An amber-coated p0ny with a grey mane and tail bolts out from inside the workshop and hops onto a pair of bellows. He begins pumping furiously so much that the flames are jumping out of the furnace. Strange, that hat he's wearing is giving you serious déjà vu.
>“Good! Stop!” The unicorn barks. Immediately his assistant gets off the bellows and watches with bated breath as his master hammers the metal again. After the last impact, he tosses the hammer aside and dips the metal into a trough.
>“Did we do it?” Vulcan asks through the steam.
>“Yes, yes we did!” He answers, holding the metal slab high.
>The slamming of a door from across the road interrupts the celebrating of the two p0nies. Out comes another stallion, also a unicorn but leaf green and dark brown for his coat and mane respectively, more wiry than the blacksmith p0ny and wearing glasses. He's levitating a chisel and a file, not looking too happy.
>“Hephaestus! Your blasted steam is ruining my engravings!”
>The big unicorn spins around to meet his accuser. Hephaestus and his assistant Vulcan... why did that amuse you more than it should?
>“Oh I am sorry Lugh, sorry that your blasted pieces of wood were a casualty in the name of progress!”
>“Progress? PROGRESS? Art is not something to be casually thrown to the timberwolves!”

>As the two unicorns continue arguing, Vulcan notices you watching the drama unfold from a safe distance. Without any warning, he flings his hat high into the air, long enough for him to shake the dust out of his mane and tail before it lands back on his head. A neat trick, you have to say.
>“Pleasure to see you here Anonymous.” He says once he canters over to you, tipping his hat backwards so he can get a good look at you, “What brings you to the artisan's corner of P0nyville?”
“Artisans?”
>“That's right. Stone masons, carpenters, painters, potters, we all make a living here. None of them match up to being a blacksmith of course.”
“You're a blacksmith?”
>“An apprentice, for now. I hope to have my own forge in the future. I'm Vulcan by the way.”
“I heard already. Your name suits you. You handled the pump very well.”
>He chortles at your compliment, “I had a lot of practice. Master Hephaestus only expects the best.”
“I could see that, he's a stallion possessed. When I was walking around town, you wouldn't think there was a forge here. I never would have found it if I hadn't been trying to see where everything is.”
>“Very open minded of you. Most visitors tend to stay close to the town square but... you aren't most visitors are you?”
>You really wish he would stop leering at you like that, it's rustling your jimmies in ways you're not used to. Why do you feel you've met this p0ny before? It's driving you mad trying to work out...
>“Vulcan!”
>You look up to see that Lugh has returned to his gallery, leaving Hephaestus without anyone to direct his anger towards.
>“Yes master?”
>“Go sweep up and pour the embers out. It's like a Diamond Dog's mine in there.”
>“Right away.”
>“And once you've done that, get to work on cleaning the tongs. They're going to leave marks on everything otherwise.”
>“Yes master!”
>As the earth p0ny gets to work, his boss canters over to you.
>“Can I do something for you?” He asks impatiently, not fazed at all by your alien appearance.
“No.” You respond, “I was just passing by when I heard the noise. Sounded like you found out how to turn lead into gold.”
>“More like turn gold into lead. Cheap metal, too malleable, only good for distracting mares with. No, what I've done is help p0nykind secure its future for the next thousand years. An invention that will inscribe my name in the annals of history!”
“And what's that exactly?”
>He strains his neck to get closer to your face.
>“Steel.”

“Steel.” You repeat.
>“Yes, steel, are you deaf?
“Only when I choose to be.”
>You swear his moustache twitches as the unicorn stares you up, “Got a smart mouth, have you?”
>God damn you and your fast tongue. You didn't mean to piss him off. Last thing you want to do is get into a fight with a p0ny. You don't think Celestia would take kindly to it if she found out.
>Any fears of that are swept away once Hephaestus laughs like only an Olympian would and slaps you on the back with a foreleg, knocking you forward a step.
>“I like you. You're not afraid sticking your head into a manticore's jaws after poking its backside.”
>Nope he's just really dim-witted, aren't you dude?
Shut up brain.
“Yeah.” You say nervously, “So what are you planning on doing with this steel?”
>“That's for somep0ny smarter than me to figure out. I've only just made the stuff.”
>Some visionary if he can't decide what to do with it.
“Well it was nice meeting you but I've got to get going. Good luck with your... discovery.”
>“Wait!”
>Before you even manage to turn 180 degrees, the axe you are carrying is pulled from your grasp. You're getting tired of these unicorns just helping themselves to your stuff without asking.
>“Where did you get this from?” He asks, looking it over.
“A general store in town. Can't remember the name. Why?”
>“How much did you pay?”
“Twenty-Five Bits. Managed to talk the mare down from Forty once I told her what I needed it for. Can I have that back?”
>“If I was some amoral Griffon, yes, but I can't in good conscience do that. LUGH!”

>The skinny unicorn re-emerges from his store, still looking miffed.
>“WHAT?”
>“Stop moping and get over here. Take at look at this.”
>The thin unicorn sighs and does as he's commanded. He adjusts his glasses and glances at the implement.
>“It's an axe. What of it?”
>“I can see that, you idiot. What's the handle made of?”
>Taking it from his bulky counterpart, he gives the tool a better examination.
>“Where did he get this from?” You detect a hint of concern in his voice.
>“A store in town.” The blacksmith pony says on your behalf.
“Can someone tell me what's wrong with my axe?”
>“Everything!” The two unicorns say in unison.
“What?”
>“The handle is made from pine, poor quality too.” Lugh points out holding the axe up, “It would shatter the moment you struck anything.”
>“Never mind that, this axe head is a joke.” Hephaestus says, snatching the axe away, “It's made from bronze but there's too much tin in the alloy, you can tell by the way it reflects the sunlight. Not only that, whoever sharpened this had no clue what they were doing. The angle on the blade is too fine. It'll chip the moment it makes contact.”
“So I've been swindled, is that what you're saying?”
>“Well and truly. Celestia damn these imported goods, are items made in Equestria not good enough for some p0nies?”
>And you said to the cashier you didn't want a receipt. Same shit, different location it seems.
>“What's your name stranger?” Hephaestus asks, “I got so worked up, I forgot to ask.”
>“Like you've never done that before.” The other unicorn mutters under his breath.
>“Lugh, I swear! If Mother was here...”
“Hold on, you two are brothers?”

>“Twins actually.” Lugh says, “Non-identical as you can tell.”
>“I popped out first.” Hephaestus states proudly.
>Lugh rolls his eyes, “And please tell us how you know that.”
>“Mother loved me more than you. They say a mother always cares for her first-born the most.”
>“She only waited on you every minute of the day because you kept walking into things when you were a foal.”
>“You're the one with the glasses!” The shorter unicorn shouts, getting defensive, “You're not mixing memories up, are you?”
>“I'm never wrong.” Lugh divulges with an air of superiority, “I remember she used to tuck me into bed and sing me lullabies to help me sleep.”
>“That's because you were scared of the dark! You used to have a glowstone in a red glass vase that you used as a night-light until you were twelve!”
>“Says the p0ny who still has his safety blanket.”
>Hephaestus goes quiet.
>“You promised me you'd never talk about that in front anyp0ny that wasn't family.”
>“Yes but our friend here isn't a p0ny though, is he?”
>Both of them look at you.
>“Shall we get on with it then?”
>The bulky unicorn silently nods at his brother before heading to his forge.
“Sorry, what's going on? My mind went elsewhere whilst the two of you were bickering.”

>“We,” Lugh begins, “are going to construct an axe more suitable for your body type. I have some leftover hickory wood that I was going to throw out if you hadn't arrived. It should make a nice handle. Yes... If I make it roughly as long as one of your arms, you should be able to get more power into your swings. If you'll excuse me, I need to start carving.”
“...Yeah. Sure, don't let me stop you.”
>As Lugh returns to his workshop, you move over to the smithy. Hephaestus is sitting on an ash-laden cushion, his front hooves holding his head up with a determined look on his face. There's a loud knock as Vulcan comes out from behind a stack of crates, holding a broom between his teeth.
“Give that here.” You say, holding out your hand, “You'll get a cramp in your neck doing that.”
>“Well aren't you considerate?” He compliments, giving you the broom.
>You don't take your eyes off Hepaestus as you tidy up.
“What's he doing?” You ask the earth p0ny. While making himself comfortable in order to ogle you, he's taken his hat off and you notice the lack of a horn.
>“Visualising. Don't disturb him, he'll...”
>Before he gets the chance to finish, Hephaestus springs upright.
>“Vulcan, fuel up the forge. We're going to need it hot if we're going to melt the steel we've just made.”
>He looks dumbstruck, “Master, are you sure? I mean we've only got...”
>“Do you take me for some kind of fool? I've been keeping notes the whole time we've been working on our endeavour. We can make more steel any time we want. Now fuel up the forge!”
>“Yes master!”
>As Vulcan scampers off, Hephaestus shoots you a smile.
>“I think I've figured out what to use steel for.”

>It was fascinating to watch the stocky unicorn ply his trade. Metal went into the fire, then the metal came out. He hammered it, then looked at it. If he liked what he saw, it went back into the fire. If he didn't, it still went back into the fire. To you, all being a blacksmith seemed to involve was heating metal up to a high enough temperature and hitting it. There was definitely more to this facet of metallurgy than this limited exposure permitted but you briefly fantasied about having the skills to create magnificent sculptures that would end up in a museum in a few centuries time.
>Every now and then, Vulcan, when he wasn't pumping the bellows or running back and forth between the brothers' buildings, sat next to you and asked questions about yourself and Earth. After an extended session discussing the relationship between humans and equines back home, you decide to switch gears.
“Do you mind if I ask you something personal?”
>He lights up at the opportunity to talk about himself, “I'd be happy to.”
“A few days ago when all the p0nies were outside the Mayor's place and I was answering their questions, was that you who asked me if I...”
>“Wanted the mares or the stallions?” He finishes on your behalf.
“I knew it was you.”
>He rubs the back of his head with a hoof, laughing like a schoolgirl, “I was curious. That's not a crime where you're from, is it?”
“No, it's just something the whole world doesn't need to know.”
>“Can't you tell just me then?” He queries with a cheeky smile.
>This guy is completely incorrigible.
“No I won't. It will remain one of the great mysteries of the Universe that the best scientists in Equestria will never find an answer to.”
>“Ah! You're no fun.” He pouts.
“Anyway, that wasn't what I wanted to ask.”
>“And you were...?”
“Why is your voice different? Back at the meeting, you sounded like you swallowed some razor blades and gargled with pebbles afterwards.”
>“Ah, ash from the forge, I breathed some in by accident since I was in a rush to see you. What's the matter, do you prefer it husky and gruff?”
>You don't think your jimmies can take much more rustling from this guy.

>You hear a bell strike twelve somewhere in the distance. It's been an hour since you got here: Hephaestus is still busy shaping and sharpening the steel to his satisfaction while his assistant has happily stopped probing for kinks in your mental armour. Just as well, you were close getting up and walking away from the gruelling inquisitor that is Vulcan.
>“So gold is rare in the world you come from?” The amber p0ny asks, breaking the silence.
Talk about out of nowhere, “What makes you think that?”
>“I was just recalling what you said. What was it again, turning lead into gold?”
“That's right.”
>“Why would you want to do that? A hoof's worth of lead can fetch a few hundred Bits.”
Brain, new objective: Find some lead.
>And not get poisoned while doing so. It's on the list dude.
“Gold's valuable back home. Humans are so desperate for even a fleck of the stuff that we hollow out mountains and move tons of soil and rock just to do so.”
>“Seriously?”
“Yep.”
>“Huh. Come to think of it, you didn't seem all that impressed when Hephaestus was talking about the steel either.”
“Noticed huh? It's hard to be when you've grown up with it your entire life. Believe me, it's everywhere back home.”
>“Everywhere?” The thought made him shiver, “The human who first made it must be famous.”
“Sorry to disappoint you but... no-one remembers. In a few thousand years, no p0ny will remember what Hephaestus has done either. As much as I hate to say it, time isn't kind to any of us.”
>“Then what's the point if you can't make a name for yourself?”
“I don't know. The thrill of the discovery? Making everyone else's lives easier? That should be good enough. Fame and glory is nice but it doesn't last long.”
>“I guess.” He says morosely.

>“Vulcan!”
>“Yes master?” The apprentice leaps to attention.
>“Get my brother over here, it's time to put this axe together.”
>The p0ny bounds off and returns a moment later with Lugh, levitating the hickory handle ahead of him. It's an impressive piece of workmanship: the unicorn took the time to engrave the wood with patterns reminiscent of Celtic knots and spirals. Hephaestus snatches it away and immediately groans.
>“How is he supposed to get a good grip on this?”
>“Not everything has to be purely functional, my brother.” Lugh replies, “Pleasing aesthetics can make all the difference.”
>Huffing, Hephaestus begins the assembly process. For the first time, you can see what the smith had been working on. The dinky little head on your old axe hardly compared to the grandiose monstrosity the unicorn had created: It looked more suitable for beheading criminals than cutting trees down. Clearly, it wasn't going to have a problem for what you had in mind for it.
>“Blast it all! I can barely force it on!” He shouts between grunts
>“You wanted it tight, didn't you?” His brother calmly replies, shaking his head, “The last thing you want is the head slipping off the moment it needs to do its job.”
>Hephaestus groans a few more times before dropping the handle and axehead, panting for air.
>“I can't do this by myself. Get your sorry flank over here and push on the other end Lugh. This stick is going all the way in, whether it wants to or not.”
>“I object to you calling the fruits of my labour a stick!”
>“Quit your whining and help me!”
>Lugh huffs as he stands opposite his brother, the axehead and handle hovering between them. Both the brothers' horns flare and you feel that familiar prickling sensation all over your body again. Even though their magic isn't directed at you, you can tell Hephaestus and Lugh are pushing themselves to the limit right now. Their Dragonball levels of screaming affirm your deductions somewhat.

>The energy subsides when a resounding 'shunk' reverberates through the air. Suddenly, the two brothers collapse onto the floor simultaneously, completely burnt out from their mental exertion.
>“Master!”
“Are they all right?” You ask, rushing over to them.
>“I don't know” Vulcan says, “They say over-exertion of magic usage can put unicorns in the hospital.”
“Let hope they won't need a visit to A&E then. Give me a hand... hoof. We might as well make them comfortable.”
>You and Vulcan prop the two brothers up by a wall. Hephaestus and Lugh seem to be all right: both of them breathing is a good sign.
“Go get some water. They'll probably want a drink when they wake up.”
>“Good idea.” The p0ny says before galloping off.
>Once he's out of sight, you stand back up and walk over to where the two unicorns had been Force Pushing against each other as best they could. Lying on the ground was what had you sitting around the whole morning waiting for. The axe had a satisfying weight as you hefted it up to get a better look. Looking down the edge of the blade, there aren't any defects you can spot. The hickory handle, varnished to a near-mirror sheen, fits snugly in your hands. To say you're impressed is an understatement: Only the largest of console controllers have ever managed such a task. This axe screams quality unlike that sweatshop-grade hunk of junk you bought earlier.
>“Like it?”
>You spin around. Hephaestus has returned to the land of the waking. He shakily gets back on all four hoofs and shakes his head.
>“By Celestia's Beard, it's been years since I've pushed myself that far.” He says, trying to will away a headache.

“You sure you're okay?” You ask after Hephaestus walks into his anvil.
>“I'll be fine, it's my brother who's probably given himself Horn-Shock. He never could lift more than his own body weight. I told him I did, you've got to lift Lugh! You don't lift, you go soft like marshmallow!”
You laugh. You remember your old physical education teacher saying the same thing, “So how much do I owe you?”
>“What, you mean money?”
“Yeah. You take Bits right?” You take your backpack off to get a cylinder out.
>“Keep your coin friend. This is an experiment, I won't have you paying for a product that I don't know will work or not, especially after you already lost some of your earnings on that joke of an axe.”
“What about your brother? It was his wood.” You point out, holding up the axe.
>“He probably won't remember when he wakes up. He said he was going to throw it out anyway, so what's the problem?”
>His Renagon reasoning does have a ring of truth to it, though you'd still feel more comfortable paying him.
>“Tell you what.” He says once he notices the conflict on your face, “After you're done using that axe, come back and tell me how it felt. You like it, you pay whatever you decide is enough. If you don't, then you can return it and I won't send Vulcan to hunt you down. Deal?” He holds up a hoof.
>We have another candidate for 'All-Time Best Bro' here!
“Deal.” You say, shaking his hoof strongly, “You're going to get your money, don't worry. This axe is going to make short work of that Hydra's body.”
>The unicorn's face suddenly goes pale.
“Something wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.”
>“You're that human creature that Vulcan was rambling on about?”
“Took you long enough to work that out?”
>“I heard the rumours, I just thought everyp0ny was talking out of their tail holes. You really killed a Hydra?”
“Sure did. Now I'm going to chop it up with this axe you've made.”
>“Why? Are... are you going to eat it?” Hephaestus starts to look sick.
“Not after three days out in the elements. I need to bury it, but in order to do that, I have to cut it into easier to manage pieces.”
>“Huh.” He paces around, thinking, “This could be good for me. The advertising could send p0nies stampeding for a steel axe. 'Handles Hydras Without Hindrance.' You wouldn't mind doing an endorsement once you're done? I might even end up paying you.”
“A free axe and free cash? I'd be an idiot to say no.”

>With your new axe resting on your shoulders, you make your way to the town hall. Asking p0nies for directions to Fluttershy's house had been... unfruitful to say the least. Most of them didn't even acknowledge your presence, some even ran away at the sight of you.
“Relax! I wasn't thinking of going on a rampage, but now I'm awfully tempted!” You shout out to no p0ny in particular.
>Maybe you should get a helmet to go with the axe dude, go for the complete Germanic berserker look.
Going to need to find some animal skins then, preferably from owners that won't plead for their lives while I take them.
>As you walk, you contemplate the offer Hephaestus gave you. It may not pay much but it's still a source of income. Still, it probably won't last, not at the rate you're spending what cash you have. As much as it will suck, you're going to need to find a job soon.
>You're given a wide birth as you walk up to the front door. The axe's hickory handle makes for a good knocker as you hear the two loud thuds resonate inside.
>“Just a second!” A mare's voice answers. A moment later, the door opens and Nimblina, the Mayor's assistant, is standing in front of you. Her eyes quickly focus on the axe.
>“C-Can I help you Anonymous?”
“I need a map of P0nyville and the surrounding area. Can you get one for me?”
>“S-Sure, just wait here.” She slams the door and you hear a number of locks clicking into place, followed by the sound of rapidly retreating hoofsteps.
>All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, am I right dude?
Too true brain, too true.
>The hoofsteps return, fainter than before. There's a rustling of paper as the map you requested is pushed through the crack at the bottom of the door.
“Thanks.” You say despondently.

>It doesn't take too long to find the chocolate box cottage. Someone has gone to the effort of repairing Fluttershy's door but there are some large splintered holes in the frame where the door had been attached to the rest of the house originally, obviously created the moment you kicked it in.
>You're about to knock on the door when a hulking bluebottle fly starts buzzing around your head. You shoo it away but it returns a second later, this time bringing some friends with it. You back away from the annoying swarm and go around the side of the house to try and escape it.
>...
>onlythedeadcanknowpeacefromthisevil.jpg
>It's worse than you thought. Much worse.
>The dead Hydra hasn't puffed up and popped in your absence as you had feared. What has happened is the corpse has transformed into something that wouldn't look out of place in an Umbrella laboratory or on the streets of Silent Hill. The knife wounds you had inflicted on the body have turned a putrid green colour that flies have laid eggs their in. Even from this distance, you can see maggots eating their way through the runny, decaying flesh. Not only that, all the eyes on each of the Hydra's heads have been pecked out, leaving dark hollow recesses. And the stench! Oh well, it's not like you wanted to sleep or anything.
>Returning to the front door, you gently knock on it a few times.
>Slowly, it opens of its own accord. Where the yellow pegasus should have been, there wasn't anyone.
“Fluttershy?”
>A sharp cough draws your attention. You look around but can't see where it came from. A second, more forced cough draws you back to the open door.
>You look down.
>Sitting there with an annoyed expression on its face is...
>A white rabbit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3erBcUTj0U

>Reasoning.exe has recovered successfully.
“Right...”
>The rabbit taps its foot impatiently.
“Is... Fluttershy in?” You ask.
>The critter maintains its grimace.
>Dude, it's a rabbit, not a butler.
Yes brain, I can see that. Got any more amazing facts for me?
>Sighing, you step over the bunny and walk inside. It grabs onto your trousers in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent your entry. You try shaking it off, but it's not letting go, no matter what.
“Come on! You little bugger, get off!”
>You swing a leg and the rabbit loses its grip and goes flying, landing hard on the floor. It gets back up and gives you the evil eye as best as it can.
“You want some of this, do you?” You beckon, “You little... What the Hell happened in here...”
>Your attention is diverted from the hostile lagomorph to the home's interior. Inside is a mess: there's bric-a-brac scattered on the floor, not to mention pet hair and feathers from multiple sources on everything. Good thing you don't have any allergies... that you know of.
>“Hello?” Comes a tired voice from upstairs.
“Fluttershy? It's Anon.”
>There's a pause before you hear hoofsteps coming to meet you. As she trotts down the stairs, you're shocked to see the pegasus looking like she was coming down from a month longer bender. Her mane is matted and tangled. Her yellow coat, once bright and clean, is now dull and dirty. She has bags under her eyes so dark, you might have thought she painted them on. In short, she looks a wreck.
>“H-Hello Anon... I...” She yawns and immediately nods off.
“Wish I could sleep standing up.” You say to yourself.

>The rabbit lets hops over to its owner. It beats on one of Fluttershy's legs until she wakes up.
>“Oh Angel...” She says drearily, “What is it...”
>The rabbit points a paw at you.
>“A-Anon? When...” The mare yawns again, “When did you get here?”
“Just a second ago. What's going on Fluttershy? It's madness in here!”
>She looses her balance for a second before Angel sets her straight again.
>“My animals... I couldn't leave them... leave them outside... with... with...”
>You think you've gotten the picture.
“Exactly how long were you planning on living like this?”
>“W-Why are you here?” She asks after drifting off again, missing your last question.
You heave the axe off your shoulder into your hands, “I'm here to make good on that Pinkie Promise.”
>“W-What are you g-going to do with t-that?” She stammers, the sight of the sharpened steel energizing her somewhat.
“I'm going to chop up that body outside so it's easier for me to bury.”
>“B-Bury? Anon, you don't need to...”
“Yes Fluttershy, I do. One, you can't have a dead body just lying around: It's a health hazard and it'll put p0nies off from visiting you. Two, you can't live in a house full of animals. It's unhygienic and it'll drive you insane eventually. Three, it's my fault anyway and I should deal with it, not you.”
>The pegasus stares forlornly at her abode. You recall what it looked like when you first came here, though it was the middle of the night and you were more concerned with not getting eaten. No one deserved to have their home destroyed in such a manner.
>“Okay Anon... if you think it's the right thing to do.”
“It is, thank you. I hope you've got a spade, I'll need one to dig a pit to toss all the parts in.”
>Squeamishly, she turns to the white rabbit and nods at it with half lidded eyes. Angel glares angrily at you before bouncing off. What a bitter bunny. It returns a few minutes later, dragging the digging tool and dropping it at your feet. It's as small is the one you were torn between buying or leaving back in town, though more worn from use, so you don't feel too bad about not bringing your own.
“This'll have to do. Go and have a nap Fluttershy, you look like you need it.”
>She nods at you before heading over to a couch that has had its upholstery torn in a number of places. As soon as the mare lies down, she's out like a light. Poor girl.
>Angel hops over to its owner and sits above Fluttershy's face. It gently strokes her mane a few times before turning its attention to you. It points outside and frowns at you.
“Okay you little blighter, I'm going.”

>This is now your life: Bent double, shifting soil and covered in flies.
>For some reason, Dwarf Fortress comes to mind.
“STRIKE DA EARTH!” You shout as you scoop our another spadeful of dirt.
>You're digging a trench as close to the dead Hydra as you dare with the miniature spade you were provided with, doing your utmost not to inhale through your nose. At a guess, you would say the body is about thirty feet long from the tail to the head with the longest neck and ten feet wide at its thickest point. What you've decided on as the torso is about as tall as you are. Therefore, the hole you're digging is going to be rectangular in shape to accommodate the dimensions of the beast and at least eight feet deep, hopefully enough to discourage feral scavengers from exhuming the corpse. Not being an idiot, you've also carved out some makeshift steps so you can climb out after you're done.
>Whilst digging, you consider other alternatives to burying the Hydra. Cremation would have been the easiest option but seeing as the p0nies didn't have petrol, you couldn't douse the body and set fire to it. Constructing a pyre was also well and truly outside the sphere of your experience, not to mention that even if you managed to build one, getting the body on top of it would be a hassle. That didn't even take into account the charred skeleton that would need disposing of, as well as the lingering smell of burnt flesh in and around Fluttershy's home. You remember a time when you were cooking breakfast back home and managed to burn a packet of streaky bacon. The smell didn't get out of your clothes for weeks.
>You miss bacon so much.
>Back on topic, you consider other disposal methods. Quicklime. Now that would be handy, that stuff is supposed to dissolve anything in no time at all. Getting your hands on the substance would prove to be tricky. First, where would you buy it from? Second, you're going to need a shitload for something as big as this Hydra and no one is going to give that much to you for free, so how much would that cost you? Third, even if you had the money to pay for it all, how would you get it back here?
>Would pigs eat a dead Hydra? Maybe, if you could gather enough of them. You know that they'll eat anything back home but here, they'd probably want to be served at a five star restaurant while a quartet played classical music to go with their food. Also, you don't think Fluttershy would approve of you using animals to be rid of other animals.
>Nope, digging is your only option at this point.

>PLEASE! PENIS BEGS YOU NOT TO DO THIS!
Shut up.
>PENIS APOLOGISES FOR EVERYTHING! PENIS DOESN'T MEAN TO GET EXCITED ALL THE TIME!
Tough.
>You climb out of the completed hole and go over to where you've left your backpack and axe by the wall of Fluttershy's house. Looking to the sky, you see the Sun is halfway to the horizon. If you're lucky, you might be finished before the Sun completely sets.
>PENIS WILL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT!
You really think that will stop me?
>...YES.
Wrong.
>You strip down to your skivvies. All your clothes go into your bag. The only thing you're still wearing are your glasses. Breathing deeply a couple of times, you pick up the axe and march over to the Hydra.
>You ready for this dude?
As ready as I'll ever be brain.
>PENIS DOESN'T WANT THIS! PENIS DOESN'T WANT TO BE COVERED IN MUSHY MONSTER AND FALL OFF!
Will you be quiet? If I don't concentrate, the Hydra won't be the only thing get the chop.
>...PENIS WILL BE QUIET.
Good.
>Seeing as what you're about to do might affect your sanity considerably, I want to say it's been a pleasure knowing you dude.
You too brain.
>PENIS REGRETS EVERYTHING, SO MANY THINGS PENIS HASN'T DONE YET. PENIS WANTS MORE TIME, IT'S NOT FAIR!
I'm ignoring you now.
>Want some music dude? I think you're going to need it.
What do you have picked out?
>I was going to pick Hip To Be Square but that's so cliché, don't you think dude?
Definitely. What did you choose instead?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ7Xf7fr19g
Perfect.
>Happy hacking dude.

>Angel had been trying to get to sleep for the last few hours. Like Fluttershy, he too had been busy trying to keep the other animals from running riot without success. Speaking of animals, he didn't like the strange monkey that showed up without warning, the lack of fur on most of its body made him uneasy. He also didn't like the way it spoke to Fluttershy, like it was a friend, and barged in like it owned the place. Whatever it was doing outside had kept Angel awake. No amount of pillows could block out the wet thuds, damp cracks and wild screams the monkey was making. Those had stopped a while ago but now they were replaced by grunting and the sound of dirt being thrown around.
>The noises outside stopped abruptly.
>Angel didn't take that as a good sign. He hopped up and went over to a window that was near where the monkey had been disturbing him. It was gone. So too was the multi-headed monstrosity. Next to where it had been lying, the ground was raised as if there was a bubble pushing it up from underneath.
>The sound of the front door opening, as well as the stench blowing in from that direction, caused Angel to dart around. What he saw chilled him to the bone. Silhouetted against the setting Sun was the monkey without any of the coverings it had on earlier, save for a slimy pointy hat that it was holding over its waist. The hair on its head was sticking up and he could see something stringy stuck between the strands. Its body was covered in mud and streaks of dark brown sludge, with unidentifiable chunks of matter stuck on at intermittent intervals. But it was the feral look it had that terrified him. Angel had seen it once before, the day when Fluttershy rescued him from being attacked by timberwolves. Those eyes, they were a predator's eyes.
“I know you can understand me little rabbit, so listen good.” It said as it walked towards him, “You don't like me and I don't like you so I'm in no mood for any antics, otherwise you'll be feeling the business end of my little friend here.”
>The monkey levelled the axe at Angel, using the metal head to nudge his chin.
“I want you to go upstairs and get the bathroom ready for me. If there are any animals in there, get them out. In fact, get all the animals out of the house and back in their pens outside. It's safe for them now. If you understand, tap your foot.”
>Angel did so.
“Good. One more thing: male or female? One tap for dude, two for chick.”
>He taps once.
“Right. Get to it then.”

>To Fluttershy.
>Job done. Left your spade outside. Sorry for the trouble. I'll see you around.
>Anon.
>You set the quill down and read your message by the candlelight. Short but adequate. Your mind is in no condition to write anything longer. Standing up from the table, you go over to Fluttershy's sleeping figure and slip the piece of paper underneath the cushion her head was resting on.
“Sleep tight girl.” You whisper and gently stroke her face.
>There's an brash cough from behind you. It's the white rabbit, manhandling a chicken and looking exasperated. He doesn't take his eyes off you as he pushes the fowl out the back door. A hard little worker but definitely in need of an attitude change. You admire his protectiveness though.
>Sighing, you go back to the table and pick up the hat you had used as an impromptu shielding device. You had found it the moment your axe punctured the Hydra's stomach, allowing its pressurised contents to come gushing forth. After you had finished heaving your guts up, you briefly wondered how it ended up inside the creature, before coming to the grizzly realisation that its owner, in all likelihood a p0ny, had been eaten along with the piece of kit, though there were no remains to be found in the sludge. The design was reminiscent of a wizard's hat like the one worn by Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, only this one was violet in colour and adorned with gold and pale blue stars. It cleaned up nicely once you washed the slime out and it actually fits. You don't think you'll wear it in public though, it's not really your style.
>As you don the headgear, you hear Angel returning. He walks up to you and dusts his paws off, then gets on his hind legs and crosses his front ones as if they were arms.
“Closing time?”
>He nods once.
“You're a harsh little bastard, you know that?”
>You swear you see the critter slyly smile at you before hopping off. You shake your head and pick up your rucksack and axe. Even though you cleaned it to the best of your ability, there's a lingering smell of the acrid fluids you were knee deep in. It almost made you prefer the smell of your boots after a ten mile hike.
“Hey Angel.” You call out before leaving.
>The rabbit comes back into view, holding a dustpan and brush.
“You look after Fluttershy, you hear me?”
>He nods before going upstairs. If the bathroom was anything to go by, the whole of the upper floor was going to need a thorough mucking out.

>It is well and truly dark while walking back to P0nyville. If it wasn't for the Moon, you wouldn't be able to see where your feet are. The noise of tree branches rustling in the calm breeze as well as the regular snapping of twigs has put you on edge somewhat, so you're whistling a tune to keep yourself calm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJD-Ufi1jGk
>Yeah, your axe skills have gone through the roof today. Dagoth Ur with have no chance against you armed with a Chitin War Axe, even with the Heart of Lorkhan.
>A bridge later and you're back in town. Lights are on at a number of residences but all the shops are closed. You really could do with something to eat and you didn't feel like raiding Fluttershy's fridge again. A shame there aren't any restaurants open, at least any where you are. Even if it was to get a slice of pie, anything edible would have been fine There are always places open late, it's one of the fundamental foundations of civilisation, but you honestly can't be bothered to search for them. Bed is calling for you.
>“Hey Anon!”
By the Nine, what now?
>Looking to your right, there's an amber p0ny cantering towards you, wearing a hat and a carnal smile.
Stendarr, if you're as merciful as they say you are, help me!
>“You're out late Anon. What have you been up to?” He sniffs the air once he gets close enough to you, “Been working up a sweat, have we?”
Kynareth, stir up a tempest and whisk me away!
“You could say that Vulcan.” You respond, “Be sure to tell Hephaestus his axe worked great. He's got my endorsement.”
>“Fantastic. I'll tell him first thing in the morning. Hey, I've got an idea. Why do we go celebrate? I know this great bar we can go to.”
Mara, if you're truly the Goddess of Benevolence, strike me down now!
“Thanks for the offer Vulcan, but I'd rather get some sleep.”
>“Oh that's a shame. Let me walk you home at least, I wouldn't want anything to happen if I left you all alone.”
Akatosh, if I end up unconscious in an alley with my trousers around my ankles...!
“Follow me.” You say reluctantly.

>Thankfully, nothing happened on the way back to the tree house, though whether that's because you had an escort or if Vulcan merely restrained himself is thankfully something you'll never find the answer to. You exchange goodbyes with the stallion, who adds a licentious wink to his farewell before cantering off, swaying his rump and flicking his tail aside as he does.
I'm switching to Daedra worship.
>You knock on the front door but there's no answer. The lights are still on, so someone must be home. You knock again, firmer this time, yet no one comes to let you in. You try the handle and the door swings open. Instantly, you're met with the sound of laughter and excited speech. Where Twilight had been strenuously working this morning, now she and Spike were huddled together, getting worked up over something on the desk.
>“What do I do?” The unicorn asks, panicking.
>“Use your Arrows!” Spike shouts back.
>Twilight's horn, which had already been glowing, grew brighter as she issued a number of rapid taps onto... wait, it couldn't be...
>“I got one!” She can barely contain herself from jumping on the spot.
>“That's great Twi, but you've still got five more!”
>“Oh right! Woah, that was close!”She says while instinctively dodging, “Do I keep using the arrows?”
>“Yeah! Great! That's another one! And another one!”
>“Eee! Just three more! I just have too... Yes! Now there's only two! And now... just one left! This is too-”
Here it comes...
>“Ahh! Spike! It turned red! What do I do?”
>“Don't let it land on you, just keep moving and when it stops, use your sword!”
>“Right, I can do this...”
>Both of them go quiet as Twilight ups her concentration.
>“I can do this.” You barely hear her mutter to herself.
>Hurried taps are all the noise you can here in the library before Twilight's horn stops glowing.
>“I did it? I did it. I DID IT! YES!”

>The unicorn hasn't stopped bouncing around the room and cheering for a good three minutes when Spike comes up to you.
“So I take it my advice worked?”
>“Boy did it ever!” Spike says while throwing his hands in the air, “As soon as you left, I did what you said. An hour later, she wanted to have a go. She hasn't stopped playing since!”
You chuckle, “I told you Spike, always.”
>“You weren't kidding. Hey, I thought I should let you know, the little green light on the side changed red a little while ago. What does that mean?”
“Nothing bad, just that the battery is running low. I'll have to recharge it tomorrow.”
>“Okay.”
>“ANON!” Twilight yells.
>In a flash, Twilight appears right in front of you.
>So it appears she can teleport. Handy.
>Her pupils are pinpricks in comparison with her huge eyes. You recognise that face she's making, however. You've made it yourself on a number of occasions, most recently when you completed House Of The Dead 3 at your local arcade with just five tokens to do so. That moment when you defeated The Wheel Of Fate? That was an afternoon you'll never forget.
>“Anon, it was so great!” She begins, “There I was in this place called the Eastern Palace, you might have heard of it, going from room to room looking for this pendant thing I was sent to find, but then I find this Boss Key thing instead. So I was like, 'Okay, might as well see what's behind this door.' Then these six huge metal monsters start trying to flatten me but I was like 'Just try and squish me!' I didn't know what I was doing but then I used my bow and arrow to take them down and like that, I was all 'Yes!' But the last one got angry with me so I had to change it up, try and outsmart it, then it went down and... ERGH! It felt so good!”

>Wow, you think you might not have done the right thing by introducing her to gaming.
“Okay! Okay, you had fun, that's great! But you'd better save your game quick if you don't want to lose your progress.”
>“Huh? Oh right! You would know, right Anon?”
>She rushes back to the table and her horn lights up again. There a few taps and soon after, a cheesy grin grows on Twilight's face.
>“Here you go Anon.” She says, handing the DS back to you, “Oh! I have to write a report about this to Princess Celestia! She'll want to know all about it! Spike!”
>“Yeah?”
>“Fetch some paper and a quill. We've got a lot of writing to do!” She says, waving a hoof enthusiastically.
>“Err... Twi? Don't you mean, I've got a lot of writing to do?” The dragon counters.
>“Not tonight! I'll write a report and you'll write one too! Celestia will need two different viewpoints if she's to understand how this 'DS' machine functions! Should I include visual aids? This is way is more complex than anything I've done before! Oh, this is so much fun!”
>Twilight ventures upstairs to the bedroom, joyfully recounting the events of the game to herself. Spike just sighs.
“Thought you'd gotten out of doing any work ever again, didn't you?”
>“Nearly.” He says, crestfallen, “Hey Anon, I'll tell Celestia that Twilight gave you your stuff back so you don't have too. We put the pack and everything else on your bed since we didn't need it.”
“Thanks little guy.” You hold up a fist and he bumps it.
>“No problem.” He chuckles, “Hey! Before I forget, a letter came for you.”
>He wanders over to a different table where the pile of paper and books Twilight had been going through earlier today had been hastily moved to. Spike sorts through the documents before producing a rolled up scroll, complete with a red wax seal.

“Is it from Celestia?” You ask while he gives it to you.
>“I guess so. Open it.”
>You crack the seal and unfurl the scroll.
“Huh.”
>“Well? Who's it from?”
“It's not from Celestia, I'll say that much.”
>“Really? Who's it from?”
“Ah-ah! It's private. You wouldn't like it if I want through your mail, would you?”
>“I don't get any.” He answers plainly.
“Well the principle still applies.” You let out a yawn, “But right now, there's a mattress with my name on it. Good night Spike.”
>Just a few steps and soon you'll be embraced by that fluffy bed and whisked straight off to Dreamland.
>“Hey Anon, where'd you get the hat?”
>You freeze. You had forgotten you were wearing it the whole time.
“I... found it.”
>“Where?”
“You really don't want an answer to that Spike, believe me.”
>You hear the dragon huff in annoyance, “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see you.”
>As you walk up the stairs, Twilight comes out from the bedroom levitating an assortment of writing materials. As she passes you, she too looks at your hat and scrunches her face in a way normally reserved for that awkward moment when you pass someone in the street that you recognise, but can't remember their name.

>Dear Anon,
>I hope you are well and enjoying your stay in Equestria. What have you been doing since we last spoke? I have been busy performing my usual duties, although I forgot to lower the Moon the same night we met. Not because of you, I was in my chambers painting and lost all track of time. Silly me! Celestia wasn't too happy but we made up like all good sisters do. That's what I get for not concentrating! Has that ever happened to you before? Not forgetting to lower the Moon I mean, I meant being busy with something you enjoy so much that you forget about everything else.
>I'm going to stop writing now before I end up sending you a book. Has that ever happened to you before? You know, getting carried away until- Whoops, see what I mean?
>May the Moon guide your way.
>Princess Luna.

>Wow.
>You don't know what to make of this. Are you penpals with Princess Luna now?
>Seems that way dude.
Thank you Captain Obvious.
>You roll up the scroll and tuck it into your rucksack. You can deal with this new dilemma tomorrow. Picking up your axe, you lean out of the window and swing downwards as hard as you can, gravity assisting your manoeuvre. There's a pleasing 'THOK' as the blade sinks into the wood of the tree and you give the handle a jiggle to make sure the axe is secure.
>Sitting down, you then take off your boots and are struck by the overpowering smell of eau de feet. Yeah, this is one night they can't stay indoors: Twilight and Spike don't deserve to be exposed to this biohazard. It's not long before you come up with an idea. You tie the boots together by the laces and gently lower them down the shaft of the axe that's wedged outside. They drop and the tool doesn't even shift. One point in your favour for the use of ingenuity!
“Thank you Twilight.” You say to yourself, recalling this morning.
>It's only a temporary solution though. Spiders or any sort of insect making a nest in your shoes and you discovering so by putting them on is a fear you never want fulfilled. That airtight box is the first thing you're going to buy tomorrow morning.
>The DS returns to its zip-case and also goes into the backpack. Hopefully there's a ledge somewhere that you can put the solar panel on so the handheld can get its energy back. But for now, everything is right with the world. You sincerely hope Fluttershy will appreciate what you've done for her, once she's in a better state to voice said appreciation of course. The more people... p0nies you've got at your side while you're here, the better.
>You climb into bed and, after removing the wizard's hat and sticking it on a bedpost, drift off to sleep.

[spoiler]>“I can't believe this.”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“Are you going to deal with this?”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“Of course. Aren't you going to help?”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“Why should I? He's your acquaintance.”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“So where are you going?”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“You don't need to know. Find me once it's over.”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“You're a real pain, you know that?”[/spoiler]
[spoiler]>“I've had a lot of practice.”[/spoiler]