Night had fallen over New Humansville. Within the restaurant and lounge owned by Alex Ludwig called 'The Melting Pot' Humans and Ponies were celebrating. Mike Joyner was off duty and enjoying what the Ponies referred to as 'beer'. The translation was rough as Ponies seemed to not like alcohol anywhere near as much as Humans, though many of the Ponies commented that the Gryphons had mead halls where one was not only encouraged but expected to get drunk. Alex Ludwig had opened at noon and already had customers overflowing from every table and booth in the place. Ponies were cautious when offered the selection of wines and even some of the few liquors Alex had acquired, but the Humans were only too eager to partake. The legal age for alcohol was only 17 in Equestria so everybody who could, was enjoying the drinks. Alex had insisted on a five drink maximum for everybody, for the first night at least, and maintained the prerogative to 'cut off' anybody he deemed too intoxicated.

The Humans found it hilarious that the Ponies were such lightweights about alcohol. After only two drinks most couldn't even stand, yet the Humans were taking down five and seemingly barely feeling any effects at all. Mike polished off his fifth beer and looked around feeling happy about the turnout. He had come to grips with the fact that he had to start a new life in Equestria and he was on the lookout for a potential girlfriend. His eyes roamed the crowd of young women all around. There were a great many young women, but Mike found himself unable to see a future with any of them. They were too immature. He wanted a woman, not a girl. He didn't want somebody who he might have to babysit, he wanted an equal, somebody who could meet him on the same level without all the insecure drama which tended to accompany younger ones. He sighed and kept searching until his eyes found Tina. He looked closely to ensure she was not drinking in her pregnant condition, but his concerns were unfounded, she only had a glass of tea. A flash of blond hair caught his attention and he began looking over the owner of said hair, 'Rachel. Hmm, she's mature and serious enough but she's not uptight...'

His musings were cut short when one of the Earth Pony C.W.G. Officers entered The Melting Pot and looked around. Mike took one look at the mare's expression and knew it was important. He stood up from his booth and made his way over to her. The mare spotted him and motioned for Mike to follow her outside.

Once out the door, Mike crossed his arms and addressed the mare,
"Report."

The mare saluted with a snap,
"We just received a message from Canterlot sir. Princess Celestia asks that the residents of New Humansville prepare for a very large number of visitors. She left the specifics in your hands but she also stated that the construction workers would be busy for some time more."

Mike listened and pondered the meaning briefly before snapping out orders,
"Gather the other members of the C.W.G. and go house to house. Inform every household to prepare to house at least one additional being for a period of time."

"What do you think the Princess meant sir?" the mare asked.

Mike pursed his lips,
"I'm not certain yet, but I have a strong hunch that it's linked to why she came by and asked Eduardo to go with her. Go, spread word, reach every household, quickly."

As the mare departed Mike scratched his clean shaven face, 'If I'm right we'll need to dip into the excess clothing stores we have.' With that thought in mind, Mike turned back to The Melting Pot and headed back inside, 'I have to let Alex know, quickly.'

* * *

The Royal Air Carriage passed over the trees and caught a view of New Humansville. Veronica, still sitting up front with Celestia, rose to her feet and gazed down at the town. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she saw the torches and lanterns laid out all over the roofs of the buildings surrounding Town Square. People and Ponies holding torches stood in rows on the ground, ready to motion the carriages to stop to offload their cargo. Pegasi in the air carried crystal powered lanterns hanging from their necks as they began directing the carriages where to land. Town Hall itself was lit up like a Christmas tree with candles in every window and a number of Humans and Ponies on the roof helping to direct the Pegasi.

The Royal Air Carriage came in for a landing first. The Humans and Ponies on the ground directed the flight team where to land. As soon as the carriage came to a stop the Humans and Ponies moved to another designated area to direct more carriages. The front doors of Town Hall were already open and the Captain of the C.W.G. stepped out toward the Royal Air Carriage. Behind Mike within Town Hall, Veronica could see people and Ponies rushing around carrying clothing and papers frantically.

Mike casually walked up to the carriage and opened the side door locking eyes with Celestia as she stood,
"Looks like my guess was correct after all. Cessily owes me twenty bits now." his eyes fell onto Veronica before flickering over to Eduardo and Artex, "How many?"

Artex rose to his feet as Eduardo spoke,
"Veronica's initial count was off by a bit," he said gesturing to the Hispanic woman, "There are 641 people from Argentina here and not a single one speaks a word of English or Velensovth."

Mike's palm met his face with an alarming crack,
"So we need translators. I've already taken the liberty of telling Long Wind she's likely to have a lot of new students soon. I've organized some of our stockpile of food to be cooked up for our newest residents. We also have clothes and every single home in town has opened its doors to whoever is in need. We know how it feels to be without and everybody is willing to help out."

Celestia said nothing, but her heart swelled with pride as Mike continued to explain how he had organized everything he could for the new arrivals,
"... and that's just what we figure we can get done tonight. I've already spoken to our harvesters about expanding our borders in order to grow more food. If your count is correct, we're going to need a ridiculous amount of land to feed everybody. It's already going to be a lean winter..."

"Not in the least, Captain." Celestia interrupted quietly, "I will see to it that if anything, the residents of New Humansville will actually put on a bit of weight during the winter. The Royal Coffers still have well more than enough to take care of this. Each of these people will receive their own home and money, in equal amount to what you received. I made a great many mistakes with your group Captain, I will not make them again."

Mike smiled and offered his hand to help Celestia step down from the carriage,
"Princess?"

Celestia rolled her eyes while sporting a huge grin,
"Captain, I am more than capable of stepping out of a carriage by myself, but your offer is very much appreciated."

Mike stepped out of the way and offered his hand to Veronica. The young woman took the offered hand, looking all around in amazement. Artex waited for Razor and Oriana to disembark before he stepped down. Looking at the other carriages that were offloading people, he saw the landing crews directing the new arrivals toward Town Hall.

Seeing that the people would be taken care of, he walked up to Celestia,
"We need to talk somewhere private. You, me, Razor, and Oriana. It's important."

Celestia gave him a faint nod,
"Let's meet up on the third floor of Town Hall."

Artex turned to Razor and Oriana,
"Come on, my friends have this well in hand."

The two mares followed Artex curiously. Celestia led the way up the stairs to the second floor and up again to the third floor. She pulled aside the concealing curtain on the first room on the left as soon as she stepped up onto the floor. Artex, Razor, and Oriana followed her. Artex closed the curtain and turned to the three waiting mares. He put his hand on his mouth and began to pace as his thoughts raced for an answer.

After a few moments of pacing, he looked up at Celestia,
"We're going to have a problem here very soon."

Celestia looked concerned,
"Well then, what do you see that problem being?"

Artex ran his hands through his hair and continued pacing as he spoke,
"Okay, the Humans we rescued today, they had no way of knowing the animals they were killing and eating were protected and intelligent. You gave them a royal pardon for that, thank you for that by the way. The problem is that the Veronica and her group were all wearing skins and their camp is strewn with the remains of dead animals. The Guards who arrested Veronica saw her skins and I'm betting more than a few of the Palace staff did too. The doctors and Guards who went with us today also saw all that. They're going to go home and talk about that. Rumor is going to circulate and the press is going to catch wind of it. Humans have only just been unveiled and when the press starts to talk about how Humans were murdering animals it's going to be a catastrophe. Kavim are naturally leery of anything new and that kind of information could and most likely would, lead to a negative mentality in regard to the view of Humans. We want to work and live together peacefully, but if this thing comes to light, we're going to be seen as murderous monsters." Artex stopped pacing and faced Celestia directly, "I'm calling in my boon. You said that every Human has a single boon to ask of you and I'm using mine now. This whole situation with dead animals and skins... bury it."

Celestia's eyes widened,
"What?" she asked aghast, "Artex I... I cannot outright lie to my subjects."

Artex' jaw clenched,
"I don't care how, just ensure this never reaches the press or if it does, that the skins and dead animals aren't mentioned." his voice became deathly serious, "We cannot afford that kind of negative attention. We have worked our flanks off to do what we have. We have bled and some of us have died to get to where we are right now. I don't care what it takes, bury it." he stepped up nose-to-nose with Celestia, his voice hard as granite, "Unless you want anti-Human protests and riots, you will bury this. I do not have the means to do so or else I would have already."

Celestia's eyes took on a sad slant,
"Are you asking me to go against the honesty I have tried to hold to? It is one thing to ask for temporary silence, but you're asking me to lie to my subjects. I have stretched my morals quite a lot during this series of events surrounding Humans, but to force my subjects, my citizens, my Ponies to silence? To permanently restrict their voices? You're not asking me to arrest the spread of words and release them from speaking later, you're asking me to force them to permanent silence. I thought that same thing was why you didn't trust your own government back on Earth. How? How can you possibly ask this of me? To destroy the faith they have in us? To destroy more than a thousand years of work, of proof that we're not hiding secrets, that we are honest with our subjects? Artex..." Celestia shook her head, "I cannot do this. I refuse to do this, even if it is for their own good, I cannot do this."

Seeing Artex getting more worked up, Razor had an idea,
"P-perhaps," she began hesitantly, "I think what we really need here is what you mentioned about Changelings the other day at breakfast, Artex. We need to spread knowledge and understanding. The interviews helped, but we need more."

Artex' face calmed as he turned toward the Unicorn mare,
"I'm listening."

Oriana looked to Celestia,
"I think I know where she's going with this. Will you listen as well?"

The solar Alicorn nodded,
"I try to listen to reason, no matter the source."

Oriana nodded and turned to Razor,
"You mean to write a publication about the world Humans come from in order to explain their mindsets and mentality. Correct?"

Razor cocked her right eyebrow at the Zebra,
"Right, I think with some help we can put together a basic information packet about Humans and their cultures, to be distributed among the different libraries across Equestria. We would make a formal announcement about the information as endorsed by the crown and not just speculation and the occasional quote from interviews. Ponies are skittish, but curious. We need to use that curiosity to our advantage. With your help, Artex, we could have a basis for the packet in under a month." she turned to the Princess, "Could you ask that the Guards and doctors keep quiet about everything regarding the new Humans until there is a second press release about the new group? By that point we would have already put out the information packets and it will also give the new Humans time to settle in, at least partially."

Artex chewed his cheek briefly,
"That sounds workable to me." he turned to Celestia, "What do you think?"

Celestia smiled warmly at Razor,
"Your name suits you indeed my little Pony. Your proposed solution is elegant and clever. It meets our needs without causing harm and no voice needs to be silenced for long. It will be done."

Razor breathed out a heavy sigh of relief,
"Thank goodness."

Thanks to my co-author, who is also my editor, for helping me with this chapter when I ran into a brick wall of my own making. Take out any typos you see my Readers!