The ward remained uncrossed until the next morning, and as a consequence, he did not awaken until after sunrise. He blinked, then nearly fell from the tree. He caught the trunk with one hind foot, then pulled himself back upright. He saw the position of the sun in the sky, and swore. The ward he dispersed by pulling a single thread of the complex weaving, and let it dissolve in the morning sun. He dropped thirty feet from the tree, landing on top of an unsuspecting and deeply surprised rabbit. It didn't remain surprised long. While it wasn't the meal he would have liked, it would suffice for the time being. He trotted to the edge of the forest, looked for signs of pursuit, and then spread his wings and took to the skies.

Cutting through the skies, he found the rail road running below. He swung west and followed it, wings beating quickly to keep up the time he had gained by going over the mountains. The split to Vanhoover from the ground appeared to descend two separate paths, but from the air, one could clearly see the tops of the sky scrapers. The trains would have to cross more low lands and skirt another mountain range to reach the city. Yet Robert was no train, and he aimed straight for the land marks ahead. Long sweeping dives and hard climbs gave him more go than just flapping, dives giving him a chance to rest as he traded speed for altitude. Just before noon, he landed on a snow swept mountain top to rest for a few minutes. Nowhere near so high as the mountains on the eastern coast, snow still capped the mountain on which he stood. Vanhoover was quite the impressive city, one to rival Canterlot, if not Manehattan. The traffic pattern over the city was surprisingly light. As he approached, the cold air whipping between the buildings explained why. Winging in to the landing zone, he asked the customs official for directions to the university. Naturally, it was on the other side of the city. Robert sighed. There was only one thing to do.

“TAXI!” Having lungs bigger than most ponies is quite the help when attempting to hail a cab. On stopped and he slipped inside. “Double your usual rate to get me to the University's High Energy Research building before five o'clock.”

“Hold on tight.” The earth pony said. Robert did. The pony took too steps then broke into a full canter. After a couple of close calls, and two-wheeled corners, he grabbed hold with his claws, pulling himself tight to the floor of the carriage. It rounded another corner, and he saw a bridge ahead. The draw bridge was rising, and Robert closed his eyes. The next moment, they were in the air, sailing between the two halves of the bridge, and then they were landing on the far side.

The first thing Robert did on arrival was to stumble off the cart, and be heartily sick in the bushes. He righted himself after a couple of moments, and came back. The box of gems landed gently on the ground, and he kept one eye on it as he moved around front. “So what's the damage?” the driver told him. Robert goggled. “Okay, fair enough.” he counted it out. “Note to self, demand larger denomination currency when getting paid.”

“Tell me about it.” the taxi driver said, lowering the bits into a safe in the front of the cart. “Need anything else?”

“No thanks.” Robert shook his head. Then he hefted the box of gems into place, and trotted into the building. The guard in the lobby stared at him as he walked up to the desk. “Delivery.” he dug out the paper with the instructions for delivery, and passed it over. The guard scanned it, then nodded.

“Wait over there a moment.” he stood and trotted to a speaking tube set into the wall. Robert settled down on the bench along the wall and was greeted shortly by the sight of a short, pudgy unicorn with a wizard's hat cutie mark coming out of the halls behind the desk. “The tiger there Professor Stibbons.” the guard pointed helpfully when the professor scanned the entry way blankly.

“Oh of course, quite right.” the unicorn, who appeared to be an adult snails aside from being rather brilliantly blue walked across the lobby to Robert. “Hello, I am informed you have my Fire Agates?”

“Yes sir.” Robert nodded.

“Jolly Good, follow me.” The unicorn led him back towards the desk. The guard sighed, and intercepted them.

“Professor, no visitors. You know the orders. Too dangerous back there for the untrained.” 'or the trained' he muttered under his breath.

“Pish tosh. I am in charge of the building. I can allow anyone I wish in. If the Archchancellor wishes to argue the point I shall see him in my office.” he pushed past the guard who looked helplessly at Robert, but waved him through. Robert flicked the guard a bit as he went.

“I know all about these types. Don't worry, I'll try not to blow up the building.” he said comfortingly.

“It's not the building I'm worried about.” the guard replied, and sat down, putting a helmet on.

---

The professor led him surprisingly deep into the building. Robert did a calculation, and realized either the building was bigger than it looked, or magic was bending the laws of nature here. After the second time his 'guide' opened a door that showed Cerberus guarding the portal to Tartarus, he decided it was the latter. Finally a door yielded the correct room and the professor ushered him in. A group of students was huddled around a table, and another group was huddled behind a protective bunker.

“Quick professor!” one of them behind the bunker yelled. The professor paused, then yelped. Robert had been near quite enough magical explosions to last him a lifetime or two and he simply shoved the professor ahead of him.

“What's going on?” Stibbons demanded of the students.

“Professor Dean is at it again.” the one who'd called out said, an instant before a unicorn head poked up from the huddle at the front.

“I've got it this...” magic exploded out from the middle of the huddle, throwing students and what Robert presumed was Professor Dean, helter skelter around the room. The blast wave slammed not into the bunker, but a honeycombed barrier in front of it. Each cell was a different and frequently clashing color of magic. Rarity would have called it a travesty. It dissipated as the blast wave did, and the smoke began to clear. Professor Stibbons let out a groan and Robert glanced at him. He was no longer bright blue, but now a Metallic Pink to make Pinkie envious.

“Not again.” he moaned. “Every time.”

“I'll get the first aid kit.” one of the unicorns volunteered and disappeared through the door way. She returned instantly, as if she'd never left, and looked at the room. “Oh no, not time dilation again.” she turned and trotted to the professor lying against the wall, unconscious but alive.

“Oh, well, who's turn is it to pull the lever?” Stibbons asked, stuffing in an unnecessary a into the word. Two students began fighting. He rolled his eyes.

“What lever?” Robert asked. The unicorn didn't hear him and neither did one of those outside the bunker. One of them sparked up her horn and the magic went out of control. The minor explosion turned Stibbons into a deep midnight purple, much to his relief.

“Right, let's not try that again shall we?” he said, administering to the now comatose unicorn.

“I presume things like this happen often?” Robert asked.

“All the time, all the price of doing magical research.” Stibbons replied. “I say, do you know anything about non-magical healing?”

“A little.” Robert replied. “I know it is less than ideal compared to magic. And it hurts. What can I do?” he knelt and helped the professor as the two students stopped fighting and disappeared through the door. Several minutes later, there was a hissing sound and purple gas dispersed through the building. Mundane in nature it soaked up excess magic and stored it away in tanks in the basement.

“There, that should be good enough until the nurses can find us.” Stibbons said. “If you'll set those down in the safe there, I'll sign your paperwork and you can flee to safety.” Robert chuckled, and slid the box into the magic proof safe. Of course, it was also proof against most other things, weighing several tons. The professor shut the door, and presented him the papers.

“Thank you. Need anything else before I go?” Robert asked. The professor shook his head.

“No thanks, I have enough 'professionals' messing about.” The professor escorted him out, getting lost only once on the way.

The guard was still behind his desk, still wearing his helmet. He quacked as they walked past. Stibbons sighed. “Not again.” then he turned back to deal with the latest disaster.

Robert, now freed of his burden, took a good look at the city. Compared to Manehattan, it didn't seem impressive at first glance, but a second look showed it beautiful for it's own merits. A classical theater, a massive art gallery, and now that the sun was falling in the sky, a night life that was hard to believe.

The hardest part however, was finding a hotel that was not filled. Wings or no, finding a place to park for the night was more difficult than finding an honest politician. Finally he gave up, and found a night club. The hard, driving beat of the music wasn't a lullaby, but after a few drinks it didn't really matter. Eventually he was thrown out, but by then it was nearly morning. He staggered out into the early morning, just as the moon was falling towards the horizon. Stumbling towards the train station, he found his path blocked by a rather large earth pony stallion.

“Hand over you bits.” the voice rumbled, sounding as though it came from the bottom of a cave in the pits of Tartarus.

“No.” Robert replied.

“Okay then.” the stallion started to step aside. There was a noise as a hoof hit a face.

“No, you idiot. When they say no you threaten them.” said a voice from behind him.

“Hand over you bits or else.” the stallion said, not terribly convinced he knew what 'or else' was.

“No.” Robert replied.

“Look, my friend isn't very smart, but he's big and strong, give us your money or he'll pounds ya.” said a lanky unicorn, stepping out behind the earth pony.

“Listen. I'm sure you're an exceptional criminal duo, and I'm probably supposed to be quaking in my boots. The trouble is that I've had a long night, I have a crick in my neck from sleeping in a night club, and I am going to be late for my train.” Robert raised his head to look directly at the unicorn. “If I have to go through the pair of you to get to my train, I am going to have new luggage.” And then he smiled, showing as many of his teeth as he could manage.

“Yeah, I'm sure you're real scary. Now...” he cut off as Robert charged forward, knocked him on his back and put a paw on his throat.

“Tell him to stop.” Robert let the pressure off.

“Wait!” the unicorn managed.

“Now, I've not even had my breakfast.” the unicorn swallowed. “But fortunately for you, I do not like raw food if I can help it. So I am going to let you up, and you are going to run. Far, far away from me. If I see you again, I will put aside my distaste for raw food. Do you understand?” the unicorn nodded as much as he was able. “Good. Count to ten, then run.” Robert removed his paw and began down the alley. He smiled when he heard the pair sprinting away.