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Journey to My Imagination

by DeiStar

Chapter 5: Luna's Suspicion

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Chapter 4: Luna’s Suspicion
*****

The streets of Ponyville became more active as the day progressed. The sudden presence of not only Princess Celestia, but Princess Luna as well started to alarm some of the ponies. Some others weren’t paying so much attention to it. There were all kinds of gossip already, but they could all agree on one thing: Something very important was going on.

*****

“Those are enough gems, Spike,” Rarity chimed. Finally, she was done collecting gems.

“Okay, Rarity, let’s go back to Ponyville,” Spike replied, pulling a small red cart. It was filled with all kind of precious gems, like sapphires, rubies, emeralds, even tiny bits of diamond. He was tempted to eat one of those delicious gems, so he snatched one small sapphire shard from the pile of gems, however, Rarity noticed it.

“No, Spike, I told you I’ll give you some gems after we get them back home,” Rarity said, levitating the small piece of sapphire he was holding with her magic and putting it back to the pile.

“Aw, alright,” Spike grumbled, pulling the cart.

“Now hurry up, the sooner we get back, the sooner you get to eat.” Rarity smiled, walking back towards town.

“Hey, wait for me!” Spike called, pulling the cart faster to catch up with the white unicorn. Finally, he managed to keep up with her.

“Thanks for helping me find more gems, my little Spikey-Wikey!” Rarity giggled at the little dragon, who began to blush at the sound of her compliment.

“Eh, n-no problem, Rarity, anytime!” Spike answered, trying to hide his blush with one arm. He liked helping Rarity as much as he could, especially when nopony else was around.

“And after we get back, I’d like you to help me deliver some dresses. If you don’t mind of course,” Rarity requested. Sometimes, she felt that she was overworking Spike, even when he always agreed to help.

“Sure thing, I’d be glad to help you!” Spike answered. It was the exact answer Rarity was expecting. “I’ll only go back to the library really quick to check on the girls and-” Spike quickly shut his mouth. He remembered that Twilight told him to say nothing about Lauren to anypony before leaving in the morning. Rarity stared at him with confusion.

“Girls? Who else besides Twilight is at the library?” Rarity asked, looking at the nervous dragon who didn’t know what to say.

“Eh, uh…” Spike mumbled, he had to come up with something, and fast. “Uh… Rainbow Dash! Yes, she is at the library with Twilight!” he lied, waiting for Rarity to buy the story. However, Rarity’s face became even more confused.

“Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked, with a surprised tone. “That is weird. Yesterday, I told her if she could help me with some modeling, but she told me that she was going to be harvesting apples with Applejack.” She looked at the nervous dragon, who was biting his lower lip.

“I, uh… I-” Spike mumbled. He couldn’t come up with anything. He was about to blow his cover, and began to nervously shake.

“Are you hiding something from me?” Rarity asked, although the answer was quite obvious to her. “I cannot believe that you are keeping secrets from me!” she exclaimed, lowering her head.

“No, no! It’s not that! I just… can’t talk about it…” Spike said, looking at Rarity who quickly raised her head and looked at him.

“You can’t even tell me?” Rarity approached Spike. “How rude of you!” She struck her front hooves on the ground.

“I- I’m sorry Rarity, but Twilight forbade me to talk about it.” Spike’s legs were now shaking. It was hard to keep Lauren’s secret to his beloved Rarity.

“I see… it’s okay Spike,” Rarity sighed, turning back. Suddenly, one gem from the cart was enveloped in a light blue aura. She levitated the gem right in front of Spike. It was an emerald. “This is a beautiful emerald, is it not?”

“Uh w-what do you mean?” Spike asked, staring at the delicious gem. It looked even more delicious than the heart-shaped fire ruby he gave to Rarity on his last birthday.

*****

“Oh, I see, that’s disappointing…” Twilight sighed, lowering her head. She couldn’t believe that her mentor didn’t know anything about Lauren’s situation. She looked back at Lauren with a disappointed look on her face. “I’m sorry.”

Lauren’s heart sank in her chest after those last words. It wasn’t Twilight’s fault; she knew Celestia wouldn’t know anything about the matter. “No Twilight, don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault,” she said, trying to cheer her up.

Luna was still silent, listening to the conversation. She stared at her sister. What was that? I swear a while ago I heard… She shook her head. No, it had to be my imagination. She stared back at her sister, waiting for her to speak.

“I’m really sorry, I wish I knew something about the matter.” Celestia lowered her head, looking at the small alicorn who returned the stare. “I assume you forgot how to use magic, right?”

Lauren blinked, surprised by the sudden question. Huh? How did she know? Twilight didn’t mention that. “Uh, yes, I forgot how to use magic.”

“I see.” Celestia stood up from her seat and approached Lauren, lowering her head to hers. She touched Lauren’s horn with hers and it began to glow.

What… what is she doing? Lauren felt a warm, fuzzy feeling within her body, which she thought was being caused by Celestia’s magic. She felt a sudden pulse in her head, followed by dizziness. Ugh, my head. She placed a hoof on her head.

Twilight and Luna looked at each other, quickly looking back at the two alicorns.

Celestia’s horn stopped glowing and she raised her head from Lauren. “Try using magic now,” she said, gazing upon a book that was on one of Twilight’s tables. “For example, with that book.”

What was that all about? Lauren rubbed her head with her hoof. “Use my… magic?” she asked, looking at the book Celestia was pointing out.

“Indeed. I analyzed your magic flow to check if it was blocked; fortunately, it wasn’t. I only gave you a little magic power boost, which will help you to cast magic with ease,” Celestia explained, sitting back on her cushion. “Now, focus your power on the book and try to bring it here from the table.”

Can I really do it? Can I use magic just like that? Lauren thought, looking at the book. So just focus my power, right?

*****

The four mares were heading towards Carousel Boutique. They were running, except for Rainbow who chose to fly instead.

“What if this Lauren pony is actually evil?” Rainbow asked. She didn’t want to think that somepony like Lauren would be evil, but the sudden appearance of an alicorn was far too mysterious.

“I don’t know, Rainbow. As I said, she seemed like a good pony to me,” Applejack replied, keeping her eyes on the road.

“But for all we know, Twilight might be in danger!” Rainbow exclaimed, rapidly flapping her wings.

“Now, Rainbow, lets not jump to sudden conclusions, alright?” Applejack turned her head this time to look at her concerned friend. She could understand why she was worried about Twilight.

The four mares turned around the corner and sprinted towards the Boutique, but found there was nopony to be seen. They looked around, unable to find any signs of Twilight or Lauren. Rainbow stomped her hooves on the ground in frustration. Fluttershy was trying to catch her breath. Maybe she had too much cider. Applejack gave up looking around and looked back at her friends.

“Well, I guess they’re gone,” Applejack said, walking towards the Boutique. “But I wonder if Rarity is at home.” She knocked the door, but nopony answered.

“Um, she’s not home yet…” Fluttershy muttered. Suddenly, she noticed a figure walking towards them.

“Well what do we do now? We have no idea where Twilight and that Lauren are,” Rainbow asked, looking at Applejack, who was just as clueless as her.

Fluttershy remained silent, staring at the approaching figure. After a moment, the figure split into two, one smaller than the other. The larger figure began to take the shape of a familiar pony, while the smaller one took another familiar shape. “Uh, excuse me…” she whispered, turning back to her friends.

“Oh well, does anyone want some cupcakes?” Pinkie added, holding a basket of cupcakes which she pulled out of nowhere.

“Pinkie, this isn’t time for cupcakes!” Rainbow answered, looking at the pink overjoyed party pony. “We have to find Twilight!”

“Excuse me, but…” Fluttershy whispered.

“Rainbow’s right, Pinkie. How about we split up and look around Ponyville?” Applejack said, looking at Rainbow.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Pinkie, you can go to Ponyville Square,” Rainbow said, pointing her hoof at Pinkie, who was eating her cupcakes. “Pinkie! Are you listening?”

“Oh, of course!” Pinkie exclaimed, putting the cupcake she had in her mouth back in the basket.

“Um girls, I think…” Fluttershy whispered, again.

“All right then, Applejack!” Rainbow moved her hoof towards the orange pony. “You can go to-”

“Excuse me!” Fluttershy squeaked in a louder tone than her usual voice. She finally caught the attention of the other mares, who stared back at her.

“What is it, Fluttershy?” Rainbow quickly asked. Fluttershy pointed her hoof at the road. The other mares looked in the direction she was pointing.

“Rarity!” Rainbow gasped, eagerly flying towards the unicorn.

“Oh! And Spike too!” Pinkie added, jumping towards them.

Rarity and Spike noticed their friends who were quickly approaching. “Hello, girls.” Rarity smiled in her usual fashion.

“Rarity! Where were you?” Rainbow anxiously asked, staring at the white unicorn.

“I was collecting some gems with Spike,” Rarity responded, pointing her hoof at Spike and the small cart filled with gems behind him. “Why? What’s the hurry?”

“Rarity, did you happen to see Twilight around?” Applejack asked.

“Twilight? No, I haven’t seen her all day,” Rarity answered, “although.” She looked at Spike, who was staring at the ground. “Didn’t you say Twilight was at the library?”

“Uh yeah…” Spike mumbled, still staring at the ground.

“The library! Right! Why didn’t I think of it before?” Rainbow pressed a hoof against her face.

“Hold on, Rainbow,” Applejack said, “Rarity, have you heard the news?” She looked at Rarity, who had a smug look on her face.

“Why, yes of course I have!” Rarity exclaimed, pointing her head at Spike. “Spike was kind enough to tell me.”

“She caught me off guard, I swear! It was a beatiful, delicious emerald!” Spike suddenly squealed.

“So you knew about Lauren, eh?” Rainbow said to Spike.

“Yes, I did, but please don’t tell Twilight! If she finds out I broke my promise… oh… it won’t end well.” Spike grabbed his tail in fear.

“Don’t worry, Spike! We won’t tell anypony that you told somepony about a huge secret that Twilight told you not to say to anypony!” Pinkie smiled, grabbing a cupcake from her basket. “Cupcake?”

“Uh, no, thanks. And thanks. I mean, if Twilight finds out…” Spike said. His legs began to shake.

“Um but… why would Twilight go back to the library?” Fluttershy asked, a bit confused. “When I went to meet her, she was leaving the library with Lauren.”

“Did Twilight tell you that she was going to leave?” Applejack asked Spike, who stopped shaking for a moment to answer her question.

“Well, she did mention she was going to run some errands, but I never thought she would take Lauren with her. I mean, how could she hide those wings and horn from-” Spike suddenly got interrupted.

“What did you just say?” Rainbow immediately asked in a loud tone, dashing in front of the purple dragon. Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie stared at him with surprise, except for Rarity who let out a faint chuckle.

“I uh- I said… hide those wings and-” Spike got interrupted again.

“What do you mean with ‘wings’?” Rainbow asked again, holding the dragon's shoulders with her hooves.

“Please!” Rarity intervened, “Spike, are you still joking with that?” she chuckled.

“It is not a joke! I swear! Lauren is an alicorn! She's got a pair of wings and a horn!” Spike replied, looking at Rainbow’s eyes.

“Nonsense! We all know only the Princesses are alicorns,” Rarity said, fixing her mane with her hoof.

“Actually, Rarity…” Applejack walked towards her. Rarity looked at the orange pony with a confused look. “We suspected that Lauren was an alicorn.”

“What?!” Rarity gasped, “how in Equestria can you think that?” She looked at the other ponies, who nodded in agreement with Applejack.

“Well, that’s what we thought at first, but now with Spike claiming that she's an alicorn… I don’t know.” Applejack looked back at Rainbow, who was still holding Spike with her hooves.

“So, what are we doing here? Let’s go to the library, now!” Rainbow released Spike.

“But what about my gems?” Rarity said, looking back at the cart.

“Oh, for pony’s sake, just leave the cart in front of your door!” Rainbow quickly answered, “now let’s go!” She flapped her wings, flying into the air.

Rarity enveloped the entire cart with gems in a light blue aura, and quickly placed them near her front door. Rainbow and company began to run towards the library. “Hey! Wait for me!” Spike said, running as fast as he could. Applejack stopped and turned back.

“Hop on, Spike!” Applejack ducked, letting Spike hop on her back.

*****

“Just think that you want to raise the book,” Twilight said to Lauren, who was still trying to levitate the book with her magic.

Easier said than done! Lauren kept staring at the book. Okay, think that you want to levitate the book. Focus your mind in that sole objective. She thought to herself. Suddenly, a pearly white aura emanated from her horn. A huge grin formed on Twilight’s face.

“You’re doing it!” Twilight cheered, waving a hoof in the air. Luna and Celestia stared at the alicorn, who was indeed releasing magic from her horn.

Suddenly, Celestia’s mouth twitched for less than a fraction of a second. Luna quickly rolled her eyes back to her sister. What? She moved her eyes back at Lauren.

“Ow!” Lauren cringed, causing the glow on her horn to fade away. She pressed a hoof on her forehead. “My head, it aches!”

“Oh, that’s perfectly normal,” Twilight said, “When I was a filly, I got headaches when I first practiced my magic.”

Lauren stared back at Twilight. Well now that is something I didn’t know about Twilight, or unicorns. She shook her head and stared at the Princesses. “Let me try again.”

“Take your time,” Celestia said with a smile on her face. Luna rolled her eyes back at her sister. Something was wrong.

Lauren focused again on the book. Her horn began to glow again, with an even shinier glow. The same white aura surrounded the book. “Good! Now try to hover it!” Twilight chimed.

Hover… the book. Lauren kept staring at the book. Only think of hovering the book. Finally, the book levitated just a few centimeters above the table. Lauren cringed again, causing the auras from both her horn and the book to disappear. The book fell back on the table. “Ugh, headache.” She pressed her hoof again on her forehead.

“That was excellent!” Twilight clapped her hooves in joy. “Not bad for your first time using magic!”

Lauren panted, looking at Twilight. “Heh, thanks, Twilight,” she chuckled.

“Quite impressive indeed. With a bit more practice, you’ll get how to use magic,” Celestia added, “by the way, I couldn’t help but notice your interesting cutie mark,” she said, pointing her hoof at Lauren’s flank.

“Oh, thank you,” Lauren replied, looking at her cutie mark as well.

“What’s your special talent?” Celestia asked.

“Oh, uh, I guess you could say that I’m a writer,” Lauren answered, smiling at Celestia.

*Crack*

Luna’s eyes opened wide. She looked back again at her sister, with even more surprise than before. I just heard it again, I’m sure of it. It came from Tia!

“A writer you say? Interesting,” Celestia said, standing up from her seat. Twilight looked at her mentor.

“Princess?” Twilight asked while standing up from her seat as well.

“It has been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Lauren,” Celestia said, looking at the little alicorn. “I certainly wish to see you again some time,” She added, walking towards the door. Luna slowly stood up from her seat, looking at her sister.

“Are you leaving already, Princess?” Twilight asked, looking at her mentor who looked back at her.

“Yes, Twilight, I’m sorry for the short visit, considering that I've just met your friend.” Celestia opened the front door with her magic. “But I promise I will try to find someway to help her,” she added, slowly walking out of the library.

“Thank you, Princess. We need as much help as we can get.” Twilight smiled at her mentor. She looked back at Lauren. “Did you hear that? The Princess will help us!” she chimed.

Lauren smiled at Twilight, not giving a direct answer. Well, that’s good I guess. Although, I still doubt she could help me.

“In the meantime, please don’t reveal yourself to anypony,” Celestia said, looking at Lauren. Her head turned immediately towards her sister. “Luna.”

“Yes, Tia?” Luna quickly replied, startled by the sudden mention of her name.

“I will go to fulfill some duties now. You can return to Canterlot now and resume your sleep,” Celestia said, walking outside of the library.

“Duties? What duties?” Luna asked, walking behind her sister.

“Just… royal duties, don’t worry about it,” Celestia replied. Lauren and Twilight walked outside of the library as well.

“But wait, you sent the Royal Chariot back to Canterlot, how am I supposed to go back?” Luna asked, striking a hoof on the ground.

“Well, you have a pair of wings, don’t you? Maybe you can stretch them a little,” Celestia chuckled, giving Lauren one last look.

“You’re so mean, Tia!” Luna yelled. Celestia only laughed.

“Well, if you excuse me, I must go now. Please, take care,” Celestia said. Her horn began to glow, surrounding her entire body in light. With a flash, Celestia teleported herself out of sight, leaving a few sparks behind.

“So, Princess, are you leaving now?” Twilight asked, looking at the royal blue alicorn.

“No, Twilight Sparkle, I need to speak with you, both of you in fact,” she replied, staring at the two ponies. “It’s about Tia.”

“The Princess? What about her?” Twilight asked.

“Well, I believe… that my sister is hiding something from us,” Luna replied.

“Hiding something from us? What do you mean, Princess?” Twilight confusedly asked while trying to figure out what could it possibly be.

What? Celestia… hiding something? Lauren stared at Luna.

“I’m not entirelly sure, but Tia has been acting odd all day.” Luna slowly walked away from the library. “Listen, for now I’ll go back to Canterlot to rest. After I raise the moon tonight, I’ll come and pay you two a visit, and then we can talk about the matter. Please, don’t tell anypony, I only want you two at the library tonight.” She opened her wings, ready to take flight. “Take care.”

“Wait, Princess-” Twilight couldn’t finish her sentence. Luna soared into the sky, quickly flying towards Canterlot.

“What was all that about?” Lauren asked Twilight, unsure about what could Luna possibly know.

“I’m not sure but-” Twilight suddenly gasped. “Oh, right! Lauren! Get inside, quick! Somepony might see you!” she exclaimed, looking at Lauren.

Lauren looked around, but there was nopony to be seen. “Relax, see? There’s nopony around here.”

Twilight looked around to confirm it, and indeed, the streets and roads around the library were empty. “Still, I think you should go inside, we never know when anypony might-”

“Look! There she is!” Rainbow shouted, flying towards the library. “It’s Twilight, and… Lauren?” The other four mares and Spike were galloping behind Rainbow.

“Oh, shoot! Quick! Go inside!” Twilight exclaimed. Lauren quickly sprinted back inside the library.

“Aha! There you are!” Rainbow yelled, dashing towards the entrance. She flew inside the library, tackling Lauren on the way.

“Oof!” Lauren squeaked. Rainbow tackled her so hard that both ponies rolled over a wall, knocking over several books Twilight had inside. What? What just happened? Twilight quickly stepped inside the library to see what had happened.

Rainbow stood up from the pile of books, shaking her head. “Ugh, my head, I-” She looked at the pony she met a few hours ago. Her eyes and mouth opened wide as soon as she realized the pair of wings she had on her back. “It’s… It’s true!” she exclaimed.

“Rainbow! What do you think you’re doing?!” Twilight yelled at her friend.

Rainbow ignored Twilight and stomped her hooves on the floor, both of them on each side of Lauren’s head, who was staring at her with a skeptical look. “Alright, missy, spill the beans!”

“Rainbow!”

“Who are you? Why do you have wings and a horn?” Rainbow loudly asked.

“Rainbow!”

“What are you doing here? When did you-” Rainbow got interrupted.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight shouted, enveloping the pegasus with magic and moving her away from Lauren. She walked towards Lauren to check on her. “Are you okay?”

“Twilight! Let me go!” Rainbow was struggling in the air, trying to break free from Twilight’s magic. However, it was hopeless.

Lauren slowly stood up from the floor. Well that was kinda rude… “I’m fine, Twilight, thanks,” she replied, smiling at her.

“Rainbow! Why did you do that?!” Twilight yelled at her friend, releasing her from her magical aura. Rainbow fell to the floor, quickly standing up.

“I’m sorry I just-” Rainbow tried to explain, but she drove her attention to the front door.

“We're here! Why the sudden-” Applejack and company stepped inside the library. They all gazed upon Lauren, looking at her body for her wings.

“Oh… my,” Fluttershy squeaked.

Well, seems like everypony’s here, even Rarity. Lauren looked at the confused ponies, giving them an awkward smile.

“Everypony, please calm down and let me explain what’s going on,” Twilight intervened, walking towards her friends.

*****

“Alright, class, time for recess!” Cheerilee exclaimed.

Fillies and colts cheered in unison, making their way out of the classroom. Cheerilee cleaned the chalkboard with an eraser. “At least it’s midday now,” she whispered to herself. After she was done, she walked outside the classroom to check on her students. She stepped outside and stood next to the door, with a perfect view of the entire yard.

“What do you have for lunch, Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Well, let’s see.” Apple Bloom opened her lunch box. “Sweet! Applejack made me an apple tart!” she exclaimed.

“Lucky you, my parents only gave me a dandelion sandwich…” Sweetie Belle said, after opening her lunch box. “What about you, Scootaloo?”

“Uh, I got two pears and some grapes,” Scootaloo said, “not too shabby.”

The three fillies began eating their lunches. They gave each other a piece of their own lunch, as usual. They had to get energy for their next class; Equestria History.

“Wait, did any of you do the homework?” Sweetie Belle asked her friends, with a grape in her mouth.

“What homework?” Apple Bloom asked, with a piece of sandwich in her mouth. “Oh, the math homework? I asked Big Mac to help me with it.”

“Oh no, I didn’t do it! Miss Cheerilee is going to be so mad at me…” Scootaloo squeaked with some tart in her mouth.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo exchanged worried stares at each other. Suddenly, Sweetie Belle looked at the sky. “Hey, what’s that?” She pointed her hoof at the sky.

“Hmm?” both fillies hummed, turning their heads towards the sky. They saw a royal blue mare flying at the distance. “Isn’t that Princess Luna?” Apple Bloom asked her friends. “Is it Nightmare Night already?”

*****

“So that’s what happened.” Applejack looked at Lauren, still shocked about the fact that she was an alicorn.

Twilight and her friends were sitting in a circle. Spike was picking up the books that were on the floor, climbing up the ladder and re-organizing them on the shelves. Rainbow was glaring at Lauren. Fluttershy and Pinkie were looking at Twilight. Rarity was still skeptical about the whole matter.

“But wait, how did you all figure out about her wings? She was wearing my birthday dress to hide them,” Twilight said. She believed that her dress did a good job at hiding Lauren’s wings.

“Well, Rainbow noticed the wings anyways, and Pinkie Pie did as well,” Applejack explained.

“Oh, Twilight! The dress I made for you was specifically for a unicorn or earth pony! You couldn’t expect a pegasi to fit well in it,” Rarity commented.

Come to think, I felt extremely uncomfortable after a while. Lauren was only staring at the ponies. I still don’t know what to do, Craig and the others must be worried sick.

“So, what are you two planning to do?” Applejack looked around the library.

“Well, Princess Celestia is going to help us, so in the meantime she is living with me,” Twilight replied, looking at her new friend. “We’ll work it out!” Twilight smiled at her.

“I know, thank you, Twilight.” Lauren smiled back at her. I hope… I hope…

*****

Luna was accelerating her flying speed. What was that? What was that 'crack' that came from Tia not once, but twice back at the library? She flapped her wings, trying to fly even faster. She was almost there. And also, I still have that feeling… the familiar, yet unknown presence, I’m sure it’s that alicorn Lauren.

Luna finally arrived at Canterlot, descending upon a castle balcony. She walked through a hallway; it had a long red carpet, along with windows adorned with blue curtains. An alicorn… a third alicorn… why does this sound extremely familiar? She kept walking through the long hallway, turning left to a flight of stairs. Well, I will get some sleep for now, I’ll talk about the matter with Twilight Sparkle and the alicorn later tonight. She finally arrived at her room, ready to have some rest.

*****

Lauren went to Twilight’s kitchen. The sandwiches from earlier in the morning were still there. It was the perfect opportunity to test her magic. She focused on one sandwich, trying to do the same thing she did with the book. For her surprise, the sandwich was enveloped with her pearly white aura faster than the book. And now… up! The enveloped sandwich raised from the rest. Yay! I did it! She looked at the hovering sandwich. Now… move it? She tried to move the sandwich, but instead, she dropped it. Ugh, another headache! Well never mind, I’ll just grab it with my hoof.

Lauren came out from the kitchen with a daisy sandwich in her mouth, sitting back at her spot. Pinkie quickly stood up and jumped right in front of her. “So you are new in Ponyville!” Pinkie exclaimed, looking at Lauren, who softly nodded, holding the daisy sandwich with her mouth. “Well, do you know what this calls for?”

Lauren knew that line; she knew what Pinkie was going to say next.

“A party!”

Next Chapter: Endless Night: Part I Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 50 Minutes
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