Sex felt good, sex was marvelous, sex had made his night and his morning beautiful.

Sex had also busted his legs, his back, he could hardly breathe right and his neck had to be banged up to Sunday.

Nine out of ten would do it again every day, mostly because Olivia would probably kill him if he went at it every chance they got.

Oh, it also hurt a teensy little bit that he had to wake up at four in the morning to do everything.

Yea, okay, it hurt a lot. He really wanted to sleep for a long while, but luck decided to be a butt stabber.

He had been taking it easy for the last week, but this was the eight day since Cup Cake came here and it was the first day since he didn't have supplies or some reserves to ease his workload. Today he needed to bust his ass, and it was already busted from yesterday. Luckily Olivia really didn't care much for her own maleness or he would REALLY be fucked, though maybe he would've minded little to nothing... Better not tell her that or she may want to try it, and right now Alexander was really a gaunt visage at eight in the morning after he made sure to turn the sign outside to signal they were open.

This bakery wasn't the only one that woke up this early, and the suppliers that worked in town were more than ready to dish out orders with a smile if one had the cash. He was unsure if Harmony had been yanking him around with that shield or whatever had protected the house, if it ever existed. He had been able to go buy groceries and supplies quite early without a hitch in any case, so whether it was true or not it didn't block him right now, so no complains on that front. That did bring one of today's mood busters: One of the advantages of doing almost everything by hand instead of the usual prefabricated shit was that it was cheap, easy to get and abundant, plus it was fun to make.

The problem was that it took for fucking ever to make if you didn't have anything in the backburner and ready to warm up. Meh, could be worse.

Now, I am sure you are wondering: No, Olivia and Alexander didn't magic a reconciliation out of their asses. It wasn't exactly 'angry sex' what they did, but that they had talked, and sexed, it out had made a difference that wasn't enough to just let bygones be bygones. At least Olivia now talked with him, and she had been up alongside Alexander to prepare everything as she crafted a few things while her brother went for whatever supplies they had missing. Part of his good morning had to do with how playful Olivia was by trying to be cute when he asked how the hell could she do all those things with her mouth. It would've been faster with Mrs. Cake around but this morning Alexander had heard her snoring instead of awake as she usually was.

Maybe they had been heard? It could be possible, and knowing that the poor mare was close to her heat... Alexander had bitten the bullet and talked with Olivia about that, to which she was surprisingly warm when she said she'd invite Cup Cake to THEIR room. Olivia made it plainly obvious that they weren't going to sleep away from each other anymore.

At least it meant she wasn't going to bite Cup Cake's throat out, not in a bad way anyway, if she approached Alexander.

That conversation also allowed them time to look over Olivia and her changes: She was a thestral. Yea, yea, 'No shit, Sherlock', but she was a perfect duplicate of her ponysona, as in she was Creamy Oven, but then again she wasn't. Creamy Oven didn't have teats; she was a trap. Olivia had teats because as a human she had breasts, so she wasn't exactly a trap as much as a shemale as she had been as a human. She had an oven with a cream pie inside instead of the tame version of her plushy, and her fangs were slightly larger, and sharper, than those of the drawings she had asked for. It seemed that one thing was what the creator desired and what the magic thought said creator needed.

Alexander was happy to see Olivia at least... neutral, yea, let's go with neutral, about it. She wasn't happy about not being human anymore, despite not being a fan of her own species, like quite a few other humans these days (hey, there are always detractors, Alexander didn't hate). She was at least happy that Alexander didn't bat an eye when she asked for a kiss, because he was beyond happy to kiss his fruity tasting sister in the lips without a second thought. So if Alexander didn't mind, Olivia wouldn't either. She did miss her hands, though.

If you had told Alexander that he would've doing this a week ago, you'd be on the riverbed with a weight on your feet.

No, I am not joking.

Talking about Cup Cake had sparked a conversation too. With no fear behind the idea of her brother ditching her once more, Olivia had been quite open to share her agreement with her brother's desire to pursue Mrs. Cake, if she wanted to be pursued. That caught him by surprise, but Olivia had commented that she liked the mare, despite her outburst a few days ago, and she did want to meet Carrot Cake, much like Alexander, as he was also a very nice baker.

The idea of learning how to bake using one's feelings as part of the magic behind confection brought a spark to Olivia's eyes, because she wanted to know how Cup Cake had managed to make something as normal as a, heh, cupcake, look like pure culinary art while also tasting like heaven without doing anything too special.

Olivia also found Carrot scrumptious. She laughed her ass off when Alexander gave her a deadpan stare. This mare would hound the dreams, and nightmares, of any guy she happened to cross, Alexander was sure of it.

It was satisfying to feel no envy though. Alexander knew Olivia would still give him the cold shoulder from time to time, something he had earned because of how he had been, and if she wanted to visit others once they went to Equestria (because Alexander hoped that he would go with his sister, at this point the idea of her leaving him behind was just too much), then he wouldn't deny her the chance. It would be incredibly selfish to do otherwise and he had already suffered the consequences once.

Jokes aside, if there was one thing to tip the balance in favor of a good morning, and good mood as far as Olivia was concerned, it was the fact that she was sure they would both go to Equestria. It was one of her fantasies, and this one was going to be fulfilled! She also muttered a few other things, but she was so hyper that Alexander just tried not to laugh as they worked.

Today was a good day, despite having to wake up at an ungodly hour now that he had gotten used to take it more or less easy, it was good.

"Alexander, we need to talk."

Getting surprised by a very down looking mare, flanked by two tall and burly men, killed that happiness quite fast though.

"Sit down, Mr. Jacobs."

There had been three men, two of which hadn't uttered a word. The third one had waited at the entrance as he explained the earliest customers of the bakery that Alexander was needed for a private meeting and that the place would be closed for today. The men had made sure no one saw Mrs. Cake if nothing else, but it surprised Alexander that anyone would go away without being at least suspicious of the M.I.B.

Whatever had been said to keep the early birds away, Olivia had been another thing entirely.

She had started screaming in a way that literally broke the windows around her, as well as a couple other things. It was very hard to hear, probably because her vocal cords had changed and she wasn't exactly 'screaming' per se, but it hurt Alexander's ears like a damn bitch all the same. Credit when credit is due, because Cup Cake just grimaced and the men didn't even flinch while Alexander did his best to stop the sound for boring through his skull.

After she was done the men came into the kitchen to try and stop Olivia once she started literally screaming in a more human like level. That had been a bad move. Alexander wasn't sure how exactly they did it because he was left half conscious as he tried not to fall down, but Olivia had understood it as a danger. She had ended up kicking one of the men in the chest while the other apprehended her with ease, as if they knew perfectly well how to do it and what to sacrifice. It was surprising to see the one that had been hit just dust it off as if it was nothing though, because Alexander was sure Olivia could crack bones right now.

It had been quite an stressful start, and yet they had managed to ensure no one had decided to investigate.

That they had managed to make things this smooth on the outside only made Alexander's fears worse.

Why wouldn't Alexander be scared shitless? His questions ranged from the 'How did they know about this?' to 'Why had the third man act so calm?', also including the very important 'How could a guy, smaller and less bulkier than him at that, handle Olivia's kicks when she had manhandled him like he was nothing the night before?'. The last one was very important because, even with her size, she was still stronger now that she had changed. Alexander was sure that his thought about her hooves being capable of breaking bones was not wrong, hell, she could easily fling him to the bed this morning when she didn't want him leaving so early, and she hadn't put effort into it. A guy with less body mass should've been flung into the air then, right? This day wasn't making a lick of sense, and being upstairs, with the third man giving him his best poker face, didn't help for shit when it came to his mind fucking with him.

Formal black suit, a very nice tie, pants without a blemish in sight, shoes so shiny they reflect the faintest of lights and glasses that allow nothing to be seen. With his appearance you'd think he was one of those men in black with everything perfectly done and so much attention to detail that it would make the old movie green with envy.

The graying hair, small goatee, neutral expression and firm body said something else: The man was probably old, but Alexander got the feeling that doing something stupid would cost him his nuts if nothing else. He looked old and slightly crooked yes, but in a way that almost said he wasn't exactly 'right' in every way. It was hard to put his finger on what it was, but how weird could that be? There were two ponies in his house, one of which was his sister! To find someone else that didn't feel 'normal' should be practically expected. The frail appearance of the man in front of him was probably just that, an appearance.

Indeed, Alex was sure that the too slim body of the man probably could bench press his ass into the ground. There was an air about him that screamed to not fuck with him despite that eccentric hairdo that looked more fitting of Mega Man's villain than a normal person. Considering that he had been perfectly calm in front of both mares, and that he had communicated with the other two men without a single word, denoting at least military training of some kind, it was best to assume that he had enough power to do whatever he wanted, which included going around in whatever damn getup he wanted.

Bottom line: Don't fuck with the guy.

"I suppose you are scared, right?" Alexander gulped as the man got himself comfortable, arms in the table as he bent forwards slightly. It looked like he was ready to throw the table aside with a flick of his wrist and crush his windpipe... That, or his mind was going to dark places. "I assure you that I am not here to hurt you, unless you make it necessary."

Alexander ran his fingers down the chair's sides. He didn't want to sit down in front of this man. "It is not exactly easy to relax under these circumstances."

The man nodded. "Understandable I assure you, so don't worry about offending me." The man almost let out a chuckle, almost. "I have endured more than being called 'scary', son. I could tell you so many things... but that is for another time." He cleared his throat to call Alexander to attention, making the young man jump in place. "Right now I recommend you sit. We need to talk."

He sat. There was little else to do, and the man's voice sounded old, haggard, tired and wise, as well as commanding and hiding a hint of a smirk with every word he said. He probably found his fear to be funny.

Anyone that had someone else grabbed by the balls would find it funny. Alexander knew he would at least.

"Better?" The man asked, not really interested in his answer. "It would be much less tempting to go for your sibling right now, am I correct?"

Intimidated or not, Alexander didn't welcome the man's tone. "What do you know about Olivia?"

"Quite a lot, but let me get to the part you probably don't know. So as a sign of friendship, do let me share this with you." Alexander looked at the man with a mix of worry and wonder. "Do you know that your sister was born as a true hermaphrodite?"

Okay, that floored him. The man just smirked for a moment and went ahead.

"True hermaphroditism is one of the available sexes that some humans have at birth, you know? Not as rare as many would like to consider, but not common enough for the public at large to care, or to know, about it. A large group of people consider hermaphroditism to be a medical condition, an illness, and many times it is removed via surgery in a way that makes the baby, once they are ready for the operation, 'fit in a single sex'." The man was calmly explaining while Alexander sweated a storm. This guy wasn't telling him what he thought he was, right?

He didn't stop though, instead he went along with his explanation. "Humanity has a problem with those that do not fit in the space allotted to them, we both know it. Male or female, that is supposedly the only thing most people want to see, but there are more. Be it physical or mental, attributes do not need to conform to a norm. Some don't like it, that rule, they feel, is forcing them into a body they hate." The man eyed Alexander intently "Our best example right now are those considered intersexed, such as your sister."

"Do you mean to tell me..." Alexander took both hands and clasped them under his chin while getting into a pensive position. He was doing his best to calm down the anger wheeling inside of him. Did his parents really do that to Olivia? Did they really decide for her just because they didn't want a 'weird' son or daughter? "Are you telling that my parents literally mutilated my sister just because she was different?"

"Yes." Alexander's knuckled turned white as he almost hurt himself as the anger just grew in intensity. He could feel his elbows attempting to dig into the table, and he had to be thankful that he wasn't as strong as Olivia or Mrs. Cake right now. "Most people do not understand what is outside of their comfort zone, or they don't care to, in most cases they just fear or hate it. Your parents found out that your sister had more male than female in her though, or their medic said Olivia had those attributes anyway, so they decided that she would be Oliver and that was all there was to it." The man directed Alexander a perfectly neutral face and look. "But there was more than that to it than just cut, cut and fix, fix, right?"

Neither man said anything for a moment, not until Alex asked something that was eating at him. "Why are you telling me this?"

As an answer the man produced a simple piece of paper that he handed without ceremony.

Seriously? The title had the 'Human in Equestria' acronym? Oh, wait, Alexander found out what it meant as he read the first words: Human Integration and Immigration to Equis Department. So they had simplified it to H.i.E?

"Do you know about the old My Little Pony shows, Mr. Jacobs?" Alexander grimaced at the question. If he disliked the newest cartoon he practically hated the old ones. The man just chuckled. "I suppose that means 'yes'. Well, you see, this is not the first time that Equis and Earth connect, nor will it ever be the last." When he lifted his head from the paper the man motioned him to stay silent. "I cannot tell you more than that, but there were many chances of this happening. How I know and why? Unimportant questions, unimportant to you, at least for now. What is important is that you understand what is in the paper."

Alexander grimaced but nodded. He wasn't happy about being feed scraps and then told to eat them without complain, but what else was there to do? The man wasn't giving anything away and he really didn't want to piss him off, he wasn't that stupid or that much of a klutz. He would find a way to fuck up later, right now he just wanted his sister and Cup Cake back.

'The H.i.E department was created to ensure safe negotiations between the world of Equis and Earth. It is composed of an older department with a similar intent...'

"Older department?"

"Keep reading. If you need to know anything else I will tell you in due time."

'... designed to safeguard temporal visitors and to keep both ends safe. This latest incarnation takes into account the newest iteration of both ends and the many new possibilities opened through their interaction. Thanks to the apparent focus of this iteration's magic towards adult individuals instead of children,' Alexander shot the man a questioning glance, but he just motioned him to continue. 'it is imperative to encounter those affected and to ensure the safety of all involved.'

'Since this time those affected by concentrated magic emanations are, most likely, adults in origin, at least at first, it is very important to remember the regulations associated with these encounters:

The department is tasked with maintaining order between the human public and the visitors from the other side. This means any species included in the manual such as diamond dogs, minotaurs, dragons (juvenile), centaurs, gargoyles (of any type), intelligent constructs and any pony subspecies such as seaponies (merponies and all variants), changelings or any hybrid of pony as well as any other species that has not yet been cataloged officially.

If bonds are in effect then the safeguard falls on the individual and visitor/s. This is the main concern of the H.i.E department as young individuals visiting previous iterations bonded quickly with the ponies in there, thus creating health hazards if they weren't permitted to sustain them. Adults are more susceptible to magic changes, thus may require time in Equis to stabilize the bond despite any objection from Earth's side, otherwise negative effects will take place within a week to a month's time after separation.

Once first contact is made the stipulated tests are to be done. If already paired and with bond, the test and individuals are to be made public to present the public with solid proof of life outside of Earth as well as to begin conditioning the populace to a more than possible new age of...'

"Okay, that is it, this is bullshit." Surprisingly enough, he said it with a totally neutral and serious face. "Do you mean to tell me that now that you are here and now that you know about Cup Cake and my sister, everyone is to know about them?"

"Yes." Was all the man said. That he didn't flinch when Alexander showed quite the reaction gave him credit.

Calm, he needed calm, he needed to BE calm if nothing else, because Alexander was about to yell. "Please, tell me my parents aren't going to be told about this."

"They have to." Shit. Just... just shit. That was all that Alexander wanted to say, but the man had more to share despite chaos reigning within Alexander's mind. "I cannot tell you everything, but changes such as hers were recorded during previous... times."

Alexander scoffed at the man. "That is bullshit."

"Whether you believe me or not, it is of no consequence to me. Here, take this." Much like the page, the man threw a card at him. It had a telephone number and the name 'Joshua'. "Call me J, you kids still have fun with that, shame I am not black to complete the joke." Once more his deadpan deliverance seemed to have something well hidden behind the level voice. Alexander said nothing as he took the card to his pocket. "Now, tell me. What scares you?"

What he was scared of? What he was SCARED of? He wasn't scared.

He was fucking terrified!

Granted that he was screaming internally, but it would soon be a more external thing once he had the time to do it alone. What the fuck had happened for this to be a thing!? Why did his parents have to get involved? They would murder Olivia, or they would try if nothing else, and then they would murder him! This was not the shitty movie of Trolls, this was a very serious damn problem.

Okay, so being stupid wasn't helping any. Usually it worked but right now any kind of thought that didn't have to do with the impeding visit of his parents was brutally erased with nothing more than a thought. This was exactly what he didn't want to deal with, so of course the world had to find a fucking way to get him to confront his parents about every single thing that would make them have an excuse to do the worst they could. There had to be a way out, a simple way out that didn't end with his parents too close to either his neck or Olivia's, because he was sure that meeting them would be the last thing he did.

"Kid, eyes on me." J had it easy, he could literally say anything and catch Alexander's attention. But as far as Alexander was concerned, and it was quite far mind you, this all could go to hell. "I said eyes on me." In the end he had to look at the man though. "There is no real danger for you. What are you afraid of?"

His gaze was probably devoid of anything but an incredulous look at the moment. Was this man for real? "You come here, knowing all you know, and you ask me what I am afraid of?"

"Of course." J said without even flinching. "I may know things, but I don't know what you think."

"..." Alexander had been this close to barking a retort that would have landed him in a worse situation that the one he was right now. Surprising, yea, but sometimes he didn't mess things up. "Can you tell me what you know now?"

"Many things, some of which no one else know, some of which have been told to you." J offered a toothy smile with a hidden meaning within those pearly whites of his. "Let's say that every time we are to meet with the other side, there is always someone that knows." He smirked a superior smile that didn't mean to gloat. It was simply the truth: J knew more than Alexander, and that had to be stated. "Now, if you mean to ask how much I know about you and your sister? Probably the same as you, if not more. And yes, it also includes your recently explored... relationship."

Alexander covered his face with both hands in a moment. The marks of his nails were obvious, and now that the pressure was relieved and fear gnawed at him more than anger he could feel the pain and a sliver of blood running against his nose. This had gone so bad so quickly that he wished that little drop of blood could turn into a fountain. It would be much faster and less hurtful.

"I can assure you that nothing wrong will happen to you, either through traditional law or otherwise." J's assurance was lost on Alexander as he shook his head from side to side. "Part of our duties include protecting you and ensuring people get to know our visitors, or those that have changed, such as your sister. She could have ended up as an anthropomorphic version, which is one of the possibilities in case of... communion between ponies and humans." The venom behind Alexander's glare as he took his hands away was so acidic it could melt metal. "That is, of course, a theory until proven true, but she still changed and that is all that matters. Well, that, and you are bonded to them, unless I am mistaken."

Alexander just snorted. "And if we are bonded?" Which was a stupid question to make, but hey.

"Don't get cute with me, child. While that paper could be tiring and beyond a bore, it is a necessity you should read fully. Unless something wrong happens you do know that more ponies will come here, don't you?" Alexander nodded with some reluctance at the man's question. J could have a certain something in his voice and mannerism, but Alexander was still angry and afraid with good reason. "We need to make the test, we need to ask questions, we need to record interviews and we need to show the result. Hiding this will only bring panic, or certain individuals, and too much pain."

"'Certain' individuals?" This time Alexander almost laughed. "You can't mean that there are people that would go for the ponies in this day and age, right? There is practically no crime left!" What smile he had formed died as J's face turned into a grimace. "You aren't joking."

"I tend to joke with certain tastes in mind for certain situations. Simply put: I am no stick in the mud unless I need to be." But his frown was saying something else. "Now, the dangers of knowing about the other side? The same as everything else in life. Would you be willing to bet that some people will hate ponies? Or that some ponies will hate humans? On this side we can take care of humanity's dislike, but the other world will have to fend on its own. The real problem is the magnitude of the danger and the power behind whoever decides that ponies should have certain uses."

"Are my sister or Cup Cake in danger?"

J considered that a good sign that Alexander was way beyond saving as far as bonding was concerned. First the ponies, then himself? There was no question about it.

"No, they will be the lucky ones." At Alexander's horrified expression J explained. "I do not mean anything negative with it, in fact there is a great chance that, if the worst was to happen, they would be taken away before it took place. A failure, a bond broken, but everyone would be all right... more or less." Alexander didn't think so. What would he feel if his sister or Mrs. Cake were to be yanked away from him? The thought made him sick to the point of turning green. "Don't think about it, young man, your mind will do all it to mess things up, instead hear me out."

Alexander threw him a disdainful glance before looking away. "Hearing you is what is screwing me right now. Yesterday things were shitty, but they ended nicely, now..."

"Okay, let me make this scenario better for you." Their eyes meet once more, or at least Alexander thought J was looking right back. It was hard to tell with those glasses. "Not only the 'good guys' know about you, got it? This is the first appearance and we already arrived too late because we use less... strenuous methods than the other guys. Magic is here, but it is still underdeveloped, so it is easy to locate the general area of an emanation like the one that is centered in this house. Even then we had to visit a massive number of areas I cannot name thanks to greater probabilities and focal points." Alexander's questioning look was not lost on J. "No, I cannot tell you about those. What you must learn lies on the other side, your stay here is only temporary if you keep playing your cards right."

"Come on! You are throwing all this shit at me, the least you could do is tell me what is happening." Truth be told, what he said had merit, but Alex regretted his words when the man just relaxed against the chair, crossing his arms with a huff. He was not amused.

"I suppose I could, for example, tell you that if your sister decided to travel with you to one of the focal points within the city, located in the river if you want to know, she would be compelled to submerge and explore, only to mutate. Why, magic is so unstable in this world now that it is flowing again, that your sister could easily change from a thestral to something else. If she was lucky she'd end as a seapony of some kind, if not..." J didn't finish, he had done his job. Alex was horrified and it showed. "If I told you about those places and you let it slip to your sister, the magic could very well call to her. Until she goes to Equis and learns to control her instincts, until her magic becomes part of her, it is better for you to remain in the dark about a few things. Natural born ponies aren't in danger, but I am sure you don't want to risk Olivia."

Alexander shook his head, submissive. "I think I will be happy with whatever you tell me."

J got up, startling Alexander despite how methodic and slow his approach was. It was hard to not be jumpy when you went from a bad situation to another with just a mere night of sleep, and hardly any sleep at all. Whatever he tried, his mind was full of fears and doubts, fears that made him literally jump as he felt J's hand on his shoulder.

"Miss Cake and your sister are being told the same things, as well as other pieces of information that are very important for those that will come after you."

"Why after me?" Alexander gave J a quizzical look.

"I will tell you a few things, but you won't need to worry about most of them." J let go of Alexander's arm as he enumerated. "The first one is, of course, about focal points on Earth. This is important because once enough magic has been pumped into the atmosphere the world will start producing its own instead of needing more ponies." Alexander seemed uncomfortable with that part for obvious reasons. "I understand that you had a very special 'guest' explaining why your sister had to change. While it may not be necessary for others to change like your sister did, it may still happen, probably quite a few times. Know that you won't be thrown on the spotlight just on a whim and that this is necessary to ensure safety."

Alexander nodded, basically begging him to go on. That one part wouldn't be as much of a headache as explaining his relationship with his sister to his parents. If nothing else, at least the biggest problem was already known and smaller ones would just be explained away with ease.

Yea, it didn't appease his fears much that 'Hey, my sister is a pony now!' was considered a 'minor' problem.

"Now, once those focal points became active they will attract those transformed much easier, and for that reason we need to show a test with your sister so the public understands that it is basically hypnotic in nature." Alex was this close to getting up, but J showed incredible strength by pushing him down with a single hand for the size the man had. "It will NOT be dangerous, believe me, but it has to be done. She will feel weird for a while, but it is just one of the many tests we will make and show. We are here to protect, and it may mean crossing a few boundaries you and your sister may not like."

Alexander's fear didn't want to go away though. "No danger, right?"

"No danger." J assured. "We found you first, we have a lot of operatives around the city and the others will not have a chance with you, your sister or Mrs. Cake. This is the only time I can guarantee safety, except whatever danger was already within the city." He paused for a second. "Or the possible drama with your parents."

This time J allowed Alexander to get up. While the size comparison was similar to that of Olivia and her brother before her change, it was obvious that, unlike in the previous size muscle difference, J could very well stop asking and start ordering. The man, however, seemed to find it funny to be nice. That or he was genuinely nice, but cryptic, and a bit of an ass.

"The only problem right now is how this will work." Alexander looked at J's hidden eyes as the man talked. "I have no doubt that you will make this work. You love your sister, I know that much, I know it like those that are alongside of me in the department. None of us judge. Human laws and customs are not inflexible, for they are not the only ones. Your only obstacle will not be doing what was asked for you. Your challenge will be turning yourself from this." J pointed at him. "To this." Then at the letters that meant what he was going to be, if one was to look back at the old meaning. "You will be a human in Equestria, and everyone will know it. No hero, no champion, just the first man to cross, the first to test boundaries."

"You know." Finally, after who knew how long with a frown, anger and fear, Alexander found himself laughing. "I would prefer to turn into a champion overnight and risk my ass if it meant I wouldn't need to be in front of anyone, talking about how I am in love with my sister."

"What we want, what we need and what we get usually appears so far apart from each other that it surprises you when you finally notice how close they truly are." J gave him a pat in the back. "Now come. There is a safe house for us under the town hall."

Okay, bad vibes once more. "What do we need a safe house for?"

"First: We need at least two men situated around your house. That will take at least a day. Second: We need the base tests done. We can kill two birds with one stone and ensure that few people, other than those we deem safe, see your sister or Mrs. Cake until we have enough effectives around." The seriousness in J's voice and his terse posturing spoke of a heavy strain to the mind. It was like the man got a migraine all of sudden. "This is the part that I dislike most, and it has to do with prodding a sleeping beast with a stick."

Oh boy, that didn't sound good. "Sleeping beast?"

J sneered. "Mostly politicians, but in this case it is the press."

"This is so surreal."

Taken from their home, told way too much for them to be able to digest, then 'politely asked' to be a public image. This was not exactly the weirdest thing ever, but Olivia sure as heck thought it was weirder than being turned into a pony. At least the men of the H.i.E had allowed them to pack a few things. Since she began changing Olivia had her second tablet close at all times.

Funny thing is that the tablet had been the deciding factor. When the man with her had told Olivia that the tablet could be a hazard, she bucked him in the nuts. Yea, testament to the man's resilience that one; he stood tall and excused himself without a sound. He didn't even complain after returning, though Olivia wasn't able to do jack without his eyes following her behind those glasses.

Olivia had the art of making friends perfected.

"I suppose that being herded into a civilian version of an A.P.C after being drowned in some data is something different, yes." Alexander did his best to show at least a hint of a smile.

"What? Nah, I don't care. That seems pretty much normal now. I mean about going into some kind of secret base and shit." Of course, Olivia had her priorities right.

Once more Alexander laughed. Part embarrassment still smarting his ass as he had slipped from the seat when he tried to sit down, his clumsiness and butterfingers had taken a whole week off after all, part... something else. Olivia just made his worries go away now. It was unlike any other time in the past as he didn't have his old fears eating away at his mind. At the same time however, there was a problem at his sister's side.

When they had reunited Mrs. Cake had been... distant. She was looking away, she had hardly said a word at all and she seemed, for a lack of a better word, permanently miffed, if her expression was anything to go by.

For how she talked and thanks to what she had shared Alex could swear that sex behind closed doors was something that would not disturb a pony in the slightest. It could probably make them blush or make them slightly uncomfortable, yes, but she said that it was a perfectly normal part of everyday life. Their customs were extremely liberal when compared to human ones after all, so to see her like that after tonight just didn't sit well with Alexander.

It was true that their way of life was different because children seem to develop much faster in Equis, thus they learn faster in every sense. Estrus, or heats, help towards that end too. Alexander didn't exactly enjoy that part of their culture, but it seemed like it would make Mrs. Cake quite resilient to midnight activities even if they had been... loud, very loud in fact.

Yesterday she had been supportive, she had basically managed to charm her way around Alexander's defenses and convince him to get close to his sister in the way Alexander and Olivia both wanted, but he feared. She had genuinely smiled, enjoying the fact that, if nothing else, Alexander would stay with her and share the night together in an embrace before she lost all she had left as far as her human body went. Alexander owed Cup Cake much right now, but she was distant, and it was hurting him more than he thought possible. Was this the bond or was it the fact that someone he cared for was giving him the cold shoulder? He wasn't sure.

Alexander tried to get up and extend his hand to her, the car was not too big, maybe double the size of a normal one, a reinforced limousine if you will, just not too fancy. Despite being utilitarian, compact and hardy, it had space, and when the hand inched closer Cup Cake moved away, casting her gaze down and away as if she didn't want to even steal a glance his way.

It was like a slap to the face. What just happened stung, and it had been something as simple as shying away from him. It could be natural you know? A fearful reaction towards a human now that she had been basically imprisoned. Yes, it would be for a day, two at worst. Yes, she had been promised this was done to help her. But how much did that matter when you weren't presented with any option at all? This was all shown to be done for a greater purpose, but they hadn't been given any other choice.

But that doubt lingered: Was it something else?

Bonds of any kind could be as true as Cup Cake wanted, but she was the one on the receiving end of all this. Olivia had turned and she hadn't said anything, but if what J said was true then she may very well need to go to Equis to have the same magic, thus the same capability of feeling magical things that Cup Cake did. She hadn't been born a pony, and it didn't matter at all if she had some instincts because she could not tell what was wrong with Mrs. Cake anymore than Alexander could.

Then Olivia scrunched her nose and looked to the side.

Cup Cake had flickered her tail and Olivia had made a face. In the series it was considered cute and all, but in many cases it didn't mean anything good. Mrs. Cake had looked his way when she had flickered her tail, it was then that Olivia had made that damn face, as if she had caught something she shouldn't. Alexander's good mood evaporated as suspicion was born.

"Cup Cake, what is...?"

The stop was harsher and more sudden than any of the occupants had thought. The town hall was not as far as one would expect, but with traffic and all that? Hell, tinted windows, reinforced car, someone would've stopped just to look at what the hell was happening in this sleeping city. Arriving in a few minutes like that? Well, apparently it was so because the doors opened and the morning light hit Alexander right in the eyes.

"Okay lovebirds, time is up. Out of the car." J's tone was chipper, his face was not. "Mrs. Cake, what you asked is ready and waiting."

Cup Cake nodded, but Olivia beat her brother to the punch with her question. "What did she ask for?"

"I-I am in heat." Ooooo-kay. Alexander almost broke his neck at that, Olivia just scrunched her nose again. "I have decided to... to take a remedy for it."

Neither brother said anything. The feeling of being slapped was back again, only this time it hurt both and it was much stronger. Stupid, isn't it? If Cup Cake didn't want to go through heat then she was perfectly free to do so, perfectly normal if you asked either Alexander or Olivia, but there was something to it. To Alexander it was the simple and proverbial slap to the face, by a girl you liked: It told you all you needed to know and then some. For Olivia it was like being rejected when you had offered your friendship to someone, something you held as sacred, as much as her love for her brother.

In both cases hurt despite being something similar to simply taking the pill for the morning after.

"I see." It was something so stupid, but it still made Alexander's smile as fake as it was obvious. "I am surprised that there are enough similarities between to make a remedy for you guys and your heat."

J gave him a pointed look. "There are not. We have our ways to get some supplies from the other side. They are limited for the time being but our..." He sent him a look that said all that needed to be said about the next word. "... benefactor was gracious enough to give us what we needed in case some of our dear equines required specific care. Their comfort comes first while they stay here, as well as their safety, of course."

There was something the man wasn't telling Alex, and if he hadn't caught on that fact he should be thankful for his sister, as Olivia was more than perceptive enough for the two of them. Neither thestral nor human opened their mouths though. It was quite clear that these guys knew way more than they let on, and taking care of them didn't mean sharing their whole cache of knowledge in one go.

When J allowed them a moment to get up and about Alexander looked to his side again. Something else was amiss here, and it wasn't hard to see when Cup Cake was the first to get out, disregarding whatever kind of caution she could've had before this. There were a few gasps and this time it was clear that J and his guys hadn't been able to clear everyone out of the street. Early or not, the area around this place was pretty packed at all times.

Now this was a conundrum. A few days ago he had a very awkward and hurtful conversation, if you consider all that happened. It had been bad, yes, but at the same time it had been that what had prompted yesterday's end, the whole conversation and all that. Cup Cake had been so convinced about nurturing those bonds, those feelings, and now she was avoiding Alexander like the plague, not to mention that she was doing the same to Olivia too.

Alexander could be dense, a coward, he could need anger management and many other things, from time to time if nothing else. He was simply imperfect, like everyone else. But there was one thing he wasn't: Stupid.

She went on and on about those bonds, about how it could hurt like nothing else if they broke, or worse. They needed nurturing, they needed to be strong, and if nothing else, if you just let them go, it didn't have to be in a way similar to what Alexander almost did because he was afraid of everything. Now Cup Cake had turned from a nice and helpful mare to a jittery bag of nerves and an ice queen that couldn't look his way, she wasn't even directing much of her attention to Olivia. She was in heat, and she didn't want to approach him. Alexander was willing to bet this was because of Carrot.

New week, new problem. Surprising that he hadn't caught on earlier.

"Hey." At least that Olivia bit his pants to catch his attention even before saying anything was cute. Those amber eyes could calm him any time. "Relax. Breath in, breath out. We will talk with her in a moment, okay?"

"Give it some time and we will turn telepaths." His smirk wasn't as sincere as he'd wanted. "I don't like how this feels."

Olivia gave him a nod as she finally exited the armored car. "Weird isn't it?" She still didn't use her wings, Olivia wasn't confident on how she could even move the things without hurting herself or someone else, but stretching them when they became uncomfortable was something she could, and needed to, do. A few gasps coming from the side made her giggle when she unfolded them fully. "Seems like we know each other like brother and sister. So shocking!"

Alexander didn't need Olivia to turn, they both knew he was flipping her off as he touched the ground. "Don't be a smart ass."

She turned to look at him with mirth in her eyes. "I am a smart pony, smart, pony, like smart phone but without all those nice functions and satellite connection. In return I am sexy, warm and a good lay." Alexander gave her a deadpan look. "What? I read thestrals are supposed to like puns."

"Don't know about puns but I am this close to punting you." Olivia blew a raspberry his way. "Can we be serious for a minute?"

Olivia was about to say something else, a smirk on her face, until one of her ears swiveled to the side and she heard something. "You are about to get that serious moment you wanted."

Alexander didn't like the sound of this, neither did he like what he saw when he turned to look at what had soured his sister's mood.

The public face of the city: Anthon Kennedy. At simple glance your usual politician: Well kept hair, blonde if you are interested, beautiful baby face, not a single speck of hair to mar his features. Bouncy, short nose, shining blue eyes, white teeth, ever present smile and a very gentle demeanor. He didn't have a strong or exceedingly thin body, in fact he was quite normal for a man that was a bit on the hedonistic side, with certain... manners you could say. Very liberal, but very nice if you managed to get past his ego. He wasn't really a bad guy if you were seeking one.

If you were to find a problem with him it was as simple as his voice. Why? He liked to hear himself talk a bit too much when he was in any official event. Once again, he wasn't a crooked individual, but try to get him to shut up and he'll make you uncomfortable until you allow him to speak again, he is that kind of guy. At least he had fine taste in clothes, from suits to shoes, as far as it didn't hide his face or his eyes, that or his manicured hands. He took pride on the porcelain white color of his complexion, and his hands were the crown jewels right there.

Good orator, hardly ever made a promise he couldn't accomplish for the city, and if J was so willing to talk with him then the guy was sincerely clean. Surprising for a politician, right? Hey, not all of them are snakes, but if Olivia disliked something about him, then Alexander did too.

"Not that one." Olivia caught Alexander's attention quickly. She nodded to the figure to Anthon's side. "His little brother."

Oh yea, Anthon Kennedy had two brothers: Clayton and Kenneth. Clayton was the oldest, and he didn't live in the city. he was a scientist somewhere else, hated fancy shit and only came here to talk with his younger brother Anthon from time to time. It usually meant finding the mayor plastered somewhere during the morning after a night partying with the good doctor.

Not all that surprising; a lot of people liked having fun with the man, no one cared if he had a drink once a month.

Now, Kenneth was a name that wasn't uttered much, not because the youngest of the three was the blackest of sheep, but because he was a womanizer, a misogynistic asshole and because he did his best to screw everyone up. He wasn't the typical bad dude that would shank you, he was just an asshole and he knew it. A very big, strong, fancy and easy to anger asshole.

Anthon was more or less normal sized, but Kenneth was close to one ninety, he had a broad back and pumped iron like there was no tomorrow. He wasn't the smartest guy you could find but he wasn't stupid, which meant he also didn't get into fights unless they were verbal ones because he knew well enough what would happen if he did it. He worked as his brother's bodyguard for a reason, so he was not a man you wanted to go beyond words anyway, but he also knew that, connections or not, he was not allowed to do as he pleased. To have connections with a politician with integrity meant that 'privileged blood' didn't go around the city as if they owned it. He still got in enough problems anyway.

How could he not? Anthon was a lady killer, yes, but he was more a guy killer, if you know what I mean, though he swung as many ways as he could and he was proud of it, which made Alexander make a mental note about Anthon not getting close to Cup Cake or his sister. Now, Kenneth was a lady killer proper, meaning that there was almost no night he didn't get a nice girl home. Be it money, sweet talk or looks, he usually what the girl wanted.

It didn't help any that in this day and age the 'bad boy' look still had its charm. While Anthon had refined clothes Kenneth wore leather pants and jacket with usually brutal shirts, and reinforced boots that made Alexander's own pale in comparison. That was one privilege of having your brother as your boss, one that Kenneth did abuse, because proper clothes didn't mean shit to him and he didn't mind showing it. He was equipped for the job and the clothes didn't mean much other than being that, clothes, an outfit, one he didn't like and thus one he didn't wear in favor for a more casual approach.

This has probably shown you more than enough about him, but that permanent sneer plastered on his face, one that looked more fitting on a biker than on a man related to the gentle looking guy on his right, would be enough to scare children. It was easy to file him under 'don't approach' if you had enough common sense.

"Mister mayor, thank you for allowing us visit with so little time to prepare."

J didn't seem to care much about the man, or a good chunk of the police department around the perimeter in civilian clothing. Alexander had seen enough of them stop at his bakery to know that not every passersby was there to ogle at the ponies. Just three men from the H.i.E and a buttload of city people with guns.

Normal Monday? Meh, it works. Alexander had too much in his head to worry about the policemen.

What worried him was what he saw when he looked around. There were too many people. Even for a Monday morning around this hour, even if it was a work day instead of summer, there were too many people around here considering the damn humid heat after all this rain. Most of them were looking at Cup Cake or Olivia, but some were looking his way and it unnerved him. It was like they were looking at the biggest freak ever.

"It is the least I could do to help my fellow citizens, and guests." Anthon gave a nod to both Olivia and Cup Cake. Mrs. Cake looked away, Olivia just wiggled her eyebrows at the man. "Interesting pair at that."

"Yes, well, there was a situation, which is why I notified you and asked for no press today." J threw a look to the three tailing him and his two men before lowering his voice. "There is only one guest, the other one is a citizen." Anthon's smile had turned into a question he was about to mouth, only for his lips to form an 'o' almost perfect in shape. "No danger is present for any of your citizens' integrity I assure you, but this will be talked about at a later date with the public."

"I thought those that needed to know had been informed that we were to help this transition go along smoothly?" Anthon eyed the two ponies and human with wary eyes. "Did I miss something?"

"If we tell everyone EVERY single thing, we are going to have a small riot, if we are lucky. The instructions were to make the tests, have their house under watch to ensure no one would try anything and to keep them safe while we let the public know." J's face hardened. "Didn't the message tell you all this?"

Anthon shook his head quickly. "It just told me I had to be ready to receive whoever came, that this city was the first one."

J pursed his lips. "We may have a problem within the organization then." He looked around with as much calmness as he could muster. Alexander had heard everything and was sure that the man was searching for something, or someone. "Better get inside. The elevator is still hidden I suppose?"

The mayor was quick to nod. "Of course. I may have been about to call the press until you warned me, thank god for that, it would've been a very big faux pas I am sure." He offered a smile at the other two H.i.E members that seemed to be taller than ever before all of sudden. "But the installations are still secret except for the few members within the city. That part, at least, was very clear in the previous message before the instructions for today were sent."

"Good." J patted Anthon's shoulder with a very slim smile gracing his lips. "Then let's get going before someone jumps us." However, before they did anything, J whispered something to Anthon. The mayor looked at his brother and gave him a silent command, dismissing him. "Perfect. Authorized personnel only after all."

It was either that, or J liked Kenneth as much as Olivia. Alexander made a mental note, just in case.

The descent had been uncomfortable despite the large elevator. To think that there was a big chance of one facility under every damn city or big enough town in the world just for this? Suddenly the fact that there had been so many things made for ponies despite the obvious decline made a bit more sense. The question was who knew, why they knew it and for how long. Seriously, Olivia was asking it every five seconds and Alexander had to wonder if the H.i.E members were going to explode or not.

"My dear, if you keep asking 'Are we there yet?' the joke will stop being funny." Surprisingly enough, Anthon was pretty understanding.

"But I am bored." And Olivia was being a child. "I thought going to a secret base would be much more exciting."

"I would like you on such high spirits during this whole ordeal, to say the truth." J turned to the thestral, prompting her to look up to him. "For what I heard you are as eager as your brother to see your parents." She huffed, saying more than enough. "So allow her all the fun she can have, within limits of course. This installation is not exactly new and I am sure Olivia would be able to wreck it all with ease." He glanced towards Alexander. "Though her brother may be a perfectly valid candidate for that one."

"Hey! I am not that clumsy." No one said anything about that, but Olivia was doing her best to try and contain a snicker. "By the way, how old is this place?"

"Good question." Anthon could have all the patience in the world, but this new topic was better than waiting in this slow elevator hearing Olivia complain. "I have been wondering about that as well since I got told about this surprising development. Some of the names in the list in the 'know' have been working here for many years after all, I did check."

"I suppose you wouldn't know that much after being told the bare bones version of things. Few people are part of the organization, and after being told that your message didn't have all the information I suspect we may have a few more than necessary." J pursed his lips in distaste at the thought. "But I can tell you all that this installation was made before the show started. Originally we had theorized that ponies would appear much earlier, but as you can see it wasn't the case." He gave Cup Cake a little nod, the only thing that had seemed to reassure the mare at all since Alexander laid eyes on her. "It has been maintained and upgraded, the elevator too, in case you are wondering. This is going slow because we are being cleaned and also scanned with one of the few magical devices that work within Earth at the moment."

Cup Cake was the one to ask the obvious question. "Scanned? What are they looking for?" Her voice made Alexander grimace though. She sounded nervous, on edge, and he was sure that if he tried to ask her what was wrong she would get worse.

"As a pony you should know about harmony better than most, my dear Mrs. Cake." The mare nodded, blinking a few times. What did that mean? Alexander was wondering the same thing. "On your world it would be near impossible to notice whether or not an individual is downright evil or dangerous, except in those cases where their nature warp their appearance a bit. In here we can easily notice through their magic, magic that right now is mostly present around you three and your house."

"What, the scanner is like Jedi vision that shows red when you are evil and blue when you are good?" Alexander just had to geek out at that. Surprisingly J nodded.

"In a sense." A section of the elevator moved to reveal some kind of screen. "This would show you what you lean towards. The lighter the color, the more positive the alignment, so to speak. It basically reads your personality, something that wouldn't be possible with too much magic creating interference."

Curiosity perked, Alexander turned to look at the screen. It showed him, his sister, Cup Cake and Anthon in bright colors, while the members of the H.i.E were completely grey. Olivia was bright a mix of purple and pink, Cup Cake was light purple, Anthon was orange and he was red, almost crimson colored.

"Cup Cake is a very generous mare that tries to make everyone happy with her food. Anthon is a very sincere person that got his position to help the city grow. Alexander is loyal despite his faults, and that loyalty is what ultimately got you here. Now, Olivia is simply lusty." Said thestral turned to snort at J's comment. "Not everyone has a definite characteristic that can be traced to an harmonic element." J shrugged her way, making Olivia huff as she sat on her rump with a pout in her face. "You are a nice kid, you just aren't poster material like the element bearers."

Neither did she have the integrity. She managed to flip him off with hooves in less time than it took to blink.

Just then the elevator stopped. "Okay, we are here and everyone is scanned, so first test is already done." The doors opened, leading to a large white room that looked perfectly new and very well maintained. "We need to get some things prepared. You four will wait here, and I recommend you get to know each other since the mayor will need to contact you." J took a moment as his men went ahead. "And you lot will probably have to deal with him as much as you will need the press, so hope you get a nice taste of the politician before it sours."

"I assure you that I taste sweet, or so I have been told." The amused expression on J's face was shared by Olivia, but not by the other two. "I assure you I will be in my best behavior."

"It not only your behavior I am worried about, it is theirs." J pointed at both Olivia and Alexander. "I have enough dirt on the three of you to know how things could go down, and I worry for poor Mrs. Cake's sanity above all else." J shook his head with a light smile before he turned to walk away. "Play nice, children, I'll be back soon."

The silence that fell after J left was staggering. Alexander and Olivia quickly zoned Anthon out before the poor man could even say something, instead zeroing on Cup Cake.

Mrs. Cake practically shrank under their gaze. It felt like pain what she was receiving from their end, the bond was basically burning. It had been all positive, too positive, since yesterday night, it had made her sleep soundly despite the situation behind the sudden departure she had from the land of the living. Going to sleep with her state of mind back home would've meant the need of a visit from Luna, but the bond made her feel secure within her mind despite her doubts.

Was it her body the one trying to betray her, or was it part of her own self? That had been the question haunting her when she found out two burly men outside of her bedroom. She had expected the knock to come from Alexander or Olivia, maybe a conversation would happen afterwards. Instead she found the men of the H.i.E, they had arrived without alerting the brothers.

After that situation had been defused she got a private talk, like Alex and Olivia did.

They were here to protect them. They were here to make this public. They would show everyone if they had a bond, what happened if a human got transformed, anything they could so everyone would understand. Whatever she would've wanted to do was now moot because everyone and everypony would know she had bonded with someone that wasn't Carrot.

It terrified her to no end. She had lost the chance to have a choice, she was still so confused and she had really, really, REALLY wanted to talk things out before she did something she would regret. Instead of that, instead of having a few moments with Alexander and Olivia, she was told she would have these things done. There were ways to know if a bond was formed between ponies, which usually meant spells designed for detection or a very sincere pair (or group) of ponies, so she would be unable to even lie her way out of this to gain some time. She hadn't decided she wanted this to happen, not yet, so she had asked the man about something.

If they knew so much about Equis, did they have their remedies?

One of the problems that took place with a remedy for the heat was the basic one: It messed up a pony's system. Alcohol didn't create the same problem with ponies since it was usually just fermented fruit juice that all of them could stomach better than humans, but even then they still had hangovers similar to a person, more or less. The morning after kind of pill would also destabilize their system in the same way, only they usually drank them as draughts, teas or the like. Few ponies could afford the pill form, which was much less 'harmful'.

The real problem behind that remedy was when somepony used it to literally get away from somepony else.

When that was the case it usually ended hurting a bond very badly, it could go to the point of severing it clean off. It was not like refusing a date or some other petty thing just to spite, hurt, or because one of the parties was doubtful, even fearful. It was something more primal that meant literally refusing somepony else's feeling when one of the parties just outright didn't want what they had. It would hurt, it would be very painful and uncomfortable, but some ponies did not want bonds of that kind. It was something so big that even those not attuned to it, like Alexander and Olivia, were feeling it. Cup Cake had it even worse.

She could talk it out, she could ask them if they would mind for her to take the remedy, but it would mean a slow severance with less complications instead of the fast fix that would snap it in two. It would take months to distance herself from the brothers, maybe even years, and by then it would already be too late.

This was more selfish than anything else she had done in a very long time, it felt wrong, and she didn't like it, but she was afraid. Betraying Carrot and hurting her children or abandoning her friends, that was it. Right now she could only be mean and endure it, because those were things she had never wanted to do, but the first two, hurting Carrot or his children, would be the turning point. If she had to chose between hurting Celestia and doing those things, she would send Celestia to Tartarus with her own hooves.

It scared her that she was thinking such dark thoughts, but there were no assurances of this working between all of them. She wasn't going to hurt Carrot, not now, not ever, and she wouldn't allow it to hurt her foals either. If it meant damaging herself and hurting Alexander and Olivia... she... she could stomach it, she could endure. She would.

She had to, even if she felt that she was being a horrid hypocrite about it all.

"Do you really feel that bad, Mrs. Cake?" When Cup Cake felt Olivia's hoof touch her shoulder, she almost jumped. "I don't know what you are thinking or why... But it hurts that you avoid us."

Alexander was at her side, kneeling in front of her. "I am sorry I brought you into this. I probably should have said nothing, it would've made things much easier for us all." However he did offer a smile as she scooted closer to his sister. "I... I am afraid and angry for a myriad of reasons right now, but I thank you, if nothing else, for the help you provided to help me close to my sister."

"I know I said it already, but I am sorry about that night, and I am also sorry about all the little outbursts I had when you came to talk to me, to comfort me." Olivia looked like she was about to hug Cup Cake, but she decided not to. "You brought my brother to me, though it probably helped that I kicked him in the nuts too." Alexander shuddered at that, even Anthon, a few steps away, flinched at the thought. "I... understand his hesitance, his fear, and I am not happy about this being public, any of it, but we will help people by being here, and that is the only reason I am going along with it." She offered her fellow mare a smile. "Much like us, you are worried, I know it, I can practically feel it. If I had to guess I'd say that being fair to your husband is probably what takes most of your mind, most your worries, right?"

Cup Cake nodded, sobbing a bit as she took air. "I don't want to hurt anypony, I never wanted to, that has been the only thing I wished to never do. I was scared when your brother told me; I thought it would go away, but I was mixed in your bond, in the love the both of you shared." She gave a little hiccup. "I was snared from the start, which meant it could also work for Carrot, I was willing to test it if you two managed to salvage your own bond but... but I am afraid." She tried to hid her face between her forehooves. "If it doesn't work I will feel like I betrayed him, no matter what. I don't want our relationship souring because I am a bad wife, because I am selfish. Some ponies may find it easy to cope but I am not one of them."

"Do you feel you would betray him for us?" Alexander inched closer to the mare. "Do you really think we would want to hurt you, or him, after you helped us?"

Cup Cake shook her head fervently. "I know you two wouldn't. I know you two are nice, but how can we rush such a thing? How can anypony expect this much of me?" She didn't even dare to look at Alexander or his sister. "I know I preached and preached about nurturing bonds, but what about the one I already have? What if it doesn't spark the same way with you two?"

"Cup Cake." Alexander took her chin with one hand and lifted her gaze up to meet his e yes. "If you really want to quit it we... I can ask J for a way out. You go somewhere else, Olivia and I stay home."

"B-but after all you did to make me feel comfortable, after you made that room for me..." She was so confused. Cup Cake knew she was going to hurt someone, but she wasn't sure who she hated to hurt more now. "I just want everypony to be happy."

Olivia stopped the mare with a serious face, her hoof firmly against her lips for a moment. "Mrs. Cake, what do you feel if I do this?" Olivia's question caught Cup Cake by surprise. The kiss she gave Alexander surprised both mare and human alike.

What she felt? Did Olivia want to know? Because she felt envy, pure and simple envy. She had helped them get together, just by virtue of being there, of forcing confrontation and being a hard head in something as simple as bonds. She had said what needed to be said and what Alexander needed to know. Because she was here this had happened, otherwise she didn't see them going anywhere knowing what she knew now. It made her feel cheated when she saw what she feared doing.

This was why she thought it was a mistake to keep these feelings. She just wanted what she thought was due. Cup Cake was not like that. It would be a mistake to just go for it because she wanted it instead of this being there to share the love.

She knew it would not work the way she wanted if her reasons were selfish. Either way it would hurt, so better it didn't hurt Carrot alongside her and the two brothers. If nothing else, despite her base desires, she at least had a shred of integrity she would like to retain. One thing was to want what she could not have, another was to bring pain to everypony around here because she acted on those desires and ended up getting said thing by betraying everything else. Having hurt Carrot with her ire had already made her feel awful, but hurting the brothers by using them and then breaking everything to pieces would be the last straw.

And they had noticed that instead of looking, or even saying something, Cup Cake had turned away, lips forming a thin line.

The kiss was shattered shortly after. "Do you really dislike this so much?" Olivia sounded genuinely hurt at that. Even if she didn't feel as much as Cup Cake did through their bond, even if she wasn't as much a pony as Cup Cake, she knew there was something wrong. "I am sorry for how I reacted just now. I thought I could goad you to do something, or to talk, but..."

Cup Cake shook her head. "This is wrong because it is selfish. I have never done anything like this, it could hurt my husband, it WOULD hurt him if I did it. You cannot impose these feelings, these bonds, and mixing with yours was probably a fluke, something that would not happen with my husband." She eyed Olivia, giving her a sad smile, then looked at Alexander with regret. "I do not want to say you are bad people, or that you would not fit if it was different... but I can't do it." Mrs. Cake was shaking by now. "I cannot bring myself to hurt my husband just because of what I want."

Alexander had a level tone and look when he opened his mouth. "That is not fair of you, you know?" Cup Cake didn't fault him, she just nodded. She was this close to crying and Alexander knew it. "I know you didn't ask for this, but you told me to do what would make me happy despite what everyone else would think. I took your advice, and I know it is not exactly the same, but you are hiding from what you want."

"It is not the same." Cup Cake's gaze steeled. It looked wrong on her to seem as angry as she turned in the blink of an eye. "I cannot hurt my husband. I promised I would never do that and I will do what I promised above anything else." She was just shy from raising her voice above what either Alexander or she would consider tolerable.

"Of course it is not the same, every situation, every person, has it differently. But you told me to go for what I wanted and to basically say 'screw it' to everything else." Alexander pushed down until he was at Cup Cake's eye level. "Give me one kiss, just one, and tell me you don't like it." She opened her mouth a few times, about to refute that, but she didn't, so Alexander pushed that advantage. "You say you are selfish, but this would be the first time you have done something for you because of you and because you wanted to. You told me that basically all that was seen in the series was close to the truth or spot on, then that means you are gentle and nice beyond what is literally healthy. Your husband gave you permission, you WANT it. But if it is too much too bear, then something as simple as a kiss would feel utterly wrong, wouldn't it?"

"And if I like it? Then what do I do?" She was gritting her teeth and her eyes had small tears forming. "Go with it? Simply do it?" Cup Cake was to say more, but she stopped when Alexander gave her a look that said more than any word could. This was eerily similar to his own words, wasn't it? Angry and confused or not, Mrs. Cake knew she wasn't being fair to him.

Alexander remained quiet for a seconds until she calmed down a bit. "Whether you like it or not, what you do is your choice, now and after the fact." He took a hand to her neck and gave her one of those rubs she seemed to like so much. If there was one thing his hands were good outside of the kitchen, it was this. "I won't force you to do anything you don't want to, I never intended to. I have placed you in a very compromised position, but I also know I like you, I don't do this because I want you just in my bed." He looked at Olivia. She just gave him a nod and nuzzled on his side. If she said it was okay, then it was okay. "Just one kiss. Be sincere with me, with Olivia and with yourself. Then you decide on what you do."

Cup Cake lost most of her ire by now, but there was one thing they all shared, and it was fear. Little by little the bond was making all their feelings mingle, and not only was Alexander's fears and doubts the one to cloud his mind, but the ones from Cup Cake and those coming from Olivia. Day by day, hour by hour, time went by and they became closer. Cup Cake knew, and she also knew what she would feel if she did what he asked of her.

But she nodded. How could she not? If she wanted to deny this and be done with it, then this was as good a way as any.

"A kiss, a simple, chaste kiss on the lips, all right?" She knew she could say no. Just a kiss, then a little heartbreak. It would hurt, but it would be the right thing.

"Of course. Nothing naughty unless you want." Olivia chuckled, shoving her brother forward. "Now kiss the lady, and be nice about it too, or else."

Alexander gave his sister the stink eye, but he smiled in the end. In high spirits they were not, none of the trio had a reason to be at the moment, but a smile sometimes did wonders. In this case it just lifted Alexander's mood enough to offer that same smile, sincere and hopeful, to Cup Cake. It practically disarmed her.

He wanted nothing but her sincerity. He could accept rejection, any kind of it, even angry as he was. Fear and doubt was mixed with already existing anger, but it was not overwhelming. All three of them were feeling it, yet even if she turned her back on them at least Alexander would understand, and Olivia would be quick to follow on her brother's steps. Even if she hurt them, they would still want her, at least as a friend despite how much it would pain them both to let her go.

Suddenly she didn't want to kiss him. Cup Cake wanted to back against the closest corner and stay there, away from him. It dawned on her that doing this would seal the deal. They cared for her, deeply, and she knew that what she needed was distance, not this contact.

He didn't allow her the chance though. Alexander pressed forward, gently easing himself against her, and gave Cup Cake a kiss.

It was a simple, shy kiss on the lips. No tongue, no force, not even too much passion or pressure to literally suck face. Just a peck in the lips. Despite how simple it was, it worked as intended. She felt an electric current ripple through her body and she saw her husband within her mind when she closed her eyes. It was the same feeling, or close enough to be similar, not perfect, but close. It felt of home, tasted of home and Alexander literally smelt of home right now. Yet like it came it went, and the kiss was broken in a mere second. A simple, chaste kiss, as she had been promised.

It broke her resolve and whatever was stopping the flood gates from cracking open.

Cup Cake cried, she fell forward against a surprised Alexander that tried his best to catch her, only for Olivia to save the day when Alexander fumbled and fell backwards. The mare wouldn't fault him, this was her fault, hers only. She had wanted to just say 'buck it' and get it over with, to have some pain and be done... It wasn't going to work like that. It would not kill her but it would hurt too much, enough for it to be felt by those she didn't want to hurt, more than just the pain of rejection.

"I-I-I am so sorry." Mrs. Cake buried herself against Olivia's neck and mane, her fellow mare patting her in the back while gently hugging the older woman. "Since I came here everything has gone to Tartarus." She just let the water flood afterwards, crying against Olivia's neck with seer abandon.

"It is not your fault, and this is not a mess, just a complicated situation." Olivia made sure to hug Cup Cake as tightly as she could, her wings covering the mare as she gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Everything will be okay, no matter what you chose to do." She gave her brother a nod so he would come closer. Mrs. Cake needed all the support and gentle words they could muster. "I am sure we can remain friends if nothing else, so please calm down."

Alexander came closer once more, joining the hug with care. "If you want to take the remedy and just go away I... would appreciate if at least we could talk from time to time." He pressed his chest against the two mares, holding them close. "Whatever you chose will be fine, Olivia didn't lie. I just wish you to be happy." Alexander bent lower to place his cheek against Cup Cake, both brothers holding her the best they could to give her their warmth and love. "I don't want to see you cry because of us, because I was stupid and got you mixed on our problems."

Cup Cake wasn't able to do much more than nod and stay in place. She didn't know what to say either. Any other mare would have it much easier than her, this was like a big prank forced on her for some reason. Was she going to be happy or was this something that would haunt her until it broke her? She wasn't even sure of what she should do or think anymore.

Meanwhile Anthon and J were watching from the sidelines. The poor mayor had been forgotten by the group and J didn't have disturbing them as part of his priorities.

"Good thing you told me to dismiss my brother, he dislikes the touchy feely stuff." For the time being Anthon was trying to wrap his head around what was happening. "Speaking of which, do you mind explaining to me all this?"

J nodded. "Do you remember the little 'event' spawned by the newest incarnation of My Little Pony?"

"Well, it wasn't as much an event as it was surprising to see a lot of grown men and women fall for a cartoon technically designed for little girls." Anthon chuckled. His big brother had been a fan for a bit, but much like most his interests that didn't have to do with science he did grew out of it. "It was in the media for a while, heck, some people bashed on them like they did once with furries, metal heads or other sub culture fans. People seem to go that route when something doesn't click right away."

"Simply put: That decided a lot of things." When Anthon gave him a look that basically asked for more J clarified. "This world has magic, it always had magic, but it grew towards technology and only technology with time. Both forces are in constant clash and in the end every world has to lean towards one of them. The world of Equis, the one the ponies are from, leaned towards magic."

Interesting bit of information, but it didn't tell Anthon all that much. "And that has to do with us because?"

"Bonds are a common thing in Equis: They form between friends, family, lovers, rivals, enemies... It is a common thing, so common that it is literally natural since magic is part of the innate biology of almost all creatures in that world. The world itself is also a living thing, much like ours." J didn't need to look at the mayor to know he had a sudden realization. "Earth and Equis are bonded in a sense, and every iteration of the cartoon had an iteration of Earth to compliment it. Humans did visit the old versions of Equis, though in most cases they were indeed visited by kids and only kids, until they grew up of course."

"What happened when they grew up? I never saw the old cartoons." Though if they were anything like the new series, or like what was happening in front of him, Anthon thought of a very likely possibility for humans and ponies.

"In most cases they bonded with a pony, or a few of them, instead of going with a fellow human, much like our friends here. However, unlike us now, there was more magic in those iterations. Our world has grown bleak and full of dread, though we have begun to change that little by little." It was sad to see so many people suffering because of a select few wanting more without regard of their actions and the consequences they would unleash. "Because of that, because all the negativity, the lack of magic and the many fears humanity has, this first bond has been... tested."

Anthon hummed in understanding. "I suppose you mean this emotional mess is a result of that."

"Mostly." J nodded. "Little by little Alexander is growing to pump out more magic instead of having just the base all humans have now, all of it because of the bond and prolonged contact. Olivia has turned into a pony, so she now produces more magic than humans, even if hers is unfocused and she doesn't know how to control it. Mrs. Cake is a natural pony, so she is a fountain in a desert right now." He motioned for Anthon to come with him as the group grew quiet and just snuggled. Better not to bother them.

"Bonds are complex." He continued after walking far enough. "Those in a bond share their feelings to a depth depending on the bond they have. Friends will know when others are down, they will share on the sadness and try to make said friend feel better if they are touched enough, though it is not always the case and it depends in how good a friend you are. Family will have it much easier, usually going so far as to know when others are in danger, alive... or not. But the greatest connection is love, as it is one of the more powerful magic effects, and feelings, in Equis."

"Magic? I mean, like one of the chapters my brother gushed about with a pink pony princess?" Anthon was about to laugh, only for J to nod. That made him stare at the man in confusion. "You have to be joking. I know ponies have magic and such, but..."

"Most humans feel love as a mix of hormones and the desire to mate, not all, but most. Ponies feel love as a deep connection, like a few, very few, humans can. Despite how romanticized love is, which is a lot, not many humans can really feel true love with how bleak the world is and how disconnected we are to nature. Such a sad thing..." J shook his head, a frown marring his face. "The opposite happens on Equis as most ponies will never join others just for the desire of sex alone or because one of them is beautiful to their eyes. It still happens, yes, and there are many bigoted or idiotic ponies and other creatures. Sadly that is a thing that always happens, more so to those that think themselves superior." The man smirked, probably thinking of a pony in special. "But in most cases it is because a bond forms between two, or more, ponies, even with other species too, and they form a couple or a herd."

"Now mix them up." The room had a few chairs, as if it was a waiting room, which probably was the case. J sat on one and pulled another in front of him so Anthon would do the same. "Humans aren't prepared for bonds, and it will take at least a few more weeks for enough magic to pool around the world to ensure the bonding experience isn't scarring to a certain degree, and even then most of us will have so little magic that it will have an adverse reaction one way or another." He nodded towards the group as they cuddled in silence.

Both men watched the scene for a moment before J resumed his talk. "Fear, doubt, anger... Despite being people that connect with each other their feelings grew so strong that it hurt each other. Ponies, at worst, are unable to connect the same way with one another, or they break their bonds willingly, which hurts the mind and soul a great deal, if they feel unable to bear the pressure or if they do not wish to be bonded. Not everyone desires what could be considered a soul mate and the emotions associated with a possible unwanted bond could be compared to being a nervous wreck at best. Others are just dicks, despite how hard it is to find a truly bad or evil pony, but there are some out there."

Anthon waited to see if J was going to share anything else, but the man remained quiet after he said his piece. He wanted to see if Anthon had deduced something or if he needed more breadcrumbs to follow. Anthon really didn't fancy that, but being given every answer was never fun.

"So they are hurting because they have many conflicting feelings with one another despite basically sharing true love?" J nodded, offering a smile to the man. "This is partially because magic is basically on the fritz right now, and it shouldn't be this bad once it stabilized?" Again J nodded, though he also waved his hand in a 'so so' way. "What other factors are there?"

"Herds are common, marriage less so, but even then it is a sacred bow because you are literally sharing a part of yourself with others. Hurting them hurts you, and allowing someone new to join without the others' permission, without them feeling the same as you do, is a gamble." J pointed at Mrs. Cake with a quick nod so Anthon would follow his eyes. "Mrs. Cake fears she will hurt her husband because it would literally destroy her to harm him. She loves him as much as she loves their children. If magic was stable here they would be able to talk it better, to feel it resonate, to see if they really click. There is even a chance for those bonded to even test said bond with the ones already formed, but it is just a theory. It is better they don't know this option since it won't help them, and even future groups may have a hard time checking." A sad outcome, but nothing he could do about it.

"But how much would it hurt to break, or even modify, a bond? I know you are wondering, and I have to say it is a good question. To answer said question do let me put the more powerful bond, that of love, in layman terms for you." J scooted closer to Anthon, just inching really, but it scared the man to death. His face was beyond serious. "Dragons CAN live a few thousands of years. If one dragon was to love a pony enough to bond, then that dragon would probably die after its lover passed away. Ponies can live up to three hundred, though most of them don't last that long since adventure, curiosity or an accident do them earlier." He returned to his seat afterwards, though he remained serious and firm as he talked. "So imagine how much it is hurting Cup Cake to just think about the pain she may inflict her husband if she goes ahead with what her mind, her heart and her body are waging a war over."

The thought made Anthon shudder. Dying for love was a very romantic ideal and all, but literally dying when the flame of the one you love is snuffed out? You have to really love someone for that to be even in the mind of someone these days. Call him a monster, but Anthon wanted to live well past his hundredth birthday.

Something struck him though.

"How do you know about all of this?" J raised an eyebrow at that. "I mean, how did all of this come to happen? I am sure you probably told them but many things, but this level of knowledge screams of something you would keep hidden."

"Alexander has an idea of how things work, but you I need on my side to help them out." Anthon shut up immediately. "Magic has aspects, it is a living creature after all, and they have certain jobs. Harmony, as shown in the cartoon, strives to make all things equal and 'good', at least in our eyes. Too much good hurts things however, it is as if too much light snuffed the shadows, and life can't go on without them. Harmony, the creature, the living embodiment of this magic, is what tends to bring Earth and Equis together so they can balance each other, unless Equis or Earth are beyond saving or they don't need each other in certain iterations. And yes, if you are wondering I do mean different 'universes' or 'realities', the word matters little to me."

"So this is just another version of Earth? Are you really saying that?" That he was dumbfounded would be putting it mildly. Anthon would be hard pressed to believe it if it wasn't because of the ponies in the room.

"Infinite versions for infinite space, magic is what generates more and more as time goes on, so don't worry about it." J offered a knowing smile to the man. It was better to just nod and accept it. "In this instance we were lucky: Harmony came to us and told the original group that formed the H.i.E about other incarnations. After being convinced of the truth behind its words the group was formed in here and we prepared. We were given information, we were given tools, we were given ways to contact the other world in a safe way so we could talk with Harmony whenever we needed, if it deemed it fit to talk to us again." J smirked at that. Anthon didn't find it at all funny thought. It was an alien mind playing with the common person in his eyes. "We were to pave the road, but not to make it completely safe."

And that was enough to tell him that he was right on the money. Make it ready but don't make it safe? The first thought that came to his head seemed the more sound when he thought about it. "Don't tell me; this harmony stuff means balance, which means hardship too?" J nodded. For some reason Anthon didn't feel happy when he found out he was right. "So that is why you let them cry it out?"

"And why we riled them up, why we gave them choices, why we told them a few things and why we allowed them a week before we went for them." Anthon blinked a few times. Did he really hear those words? Because it looked like this was turning more into a controlled bomb testing area the more he heard. "We are here to protect them and we have the perfect capabilities to find everyone right from the start. We are NOT meant to do so."

As a politician Anthon had to be pragmatic, partially neutral so to speak, going for the best for everyone. It didn't mean he liked it though. This was one of those times when he now had some resources, some information, that he wanted to share, to use, to help, and he was sure it would be impossible to do so.

"If we were to help them make the right choices, if we stopped any danger before it was faced, then they would not grow and the bond would be tainted. Harmony's objective is our own, which means certain dangers or problems will be faced by them. If they cannot surpass their limitations... then they fail and we make sure everyone goes the way they have earned without any damage to the group." J pursed his lips. "I do not want them hurt, but one doesn't win without risk and harm."

Anthon could see that the man didn't exactly like this either, but what was he to do? He had his job, and as impossible as it seemed to Anthon, there was something powerful enough to say 'Pony goes to Earth' and make it so because it found it the perfect solution for something. Doing something against its wishes didn't seem exactly smart.

"So yes, I could have barged in and helped them or demanded their attention earlier, but unlike those that will come after them, this group is safe from everything except themselves and some drama."

J gave a soft smile as he turned to look at the group that was now talking and trying to console a tired looking Cup Cake. Despite everything, her sadness, confusion and anger, she seemed to finally smile again. It didn't reach as far as her usual smiles, but it was something. "But if we intervened before today it would have hindered all possible progress. Not only that, but the magic that is prompting this, the magic that will allow for more ponies to visit Earth until all is well and good, makes a protective barrier around the original location for a week before expanding. We would've been barred from doing anything anyway, so the eight day is the earliest point in time for contact in these cases."

Anthon remained silent for a while after that. He too turned to look at the group. Despite a few tears here and there, they seemed well enough. He wondered how long that would last.

He also knew the answer to his next question. "Will you tell them about this?"

J shook his head. "No need to upset them. If they need to know Harmony will tell them, but I doubt that will happen. It offers one single hint to those it visits, no more, no less, and this group already used it. If they were part of the H.i.E Harmony may decide to give them a holler, but even it decides when it is time to share more." That still didn't sit well with Anthon. What could he do about it though? "Alexander knows quite a bit, from the reason to why this is happening now to what will happen if he messes up. He knows what he wants to do and he knows what he will lose if he fails. For Harmony that is more than enough, thus it is one and the same for us." He paused for a moment, only to show a frown. "Personally I would prefer this went well, this world needs more good, but I am not one to say what should happen."

Anthon gave a simple nod. He knew very well about what one wanted and one could do. He did make many people happy in the city, but he was unable to do all he WANTED to do to make everything better. Despite being regarded as a nice person, for a politician, he had his own closet full of skeletons. It was simply more roomy than most. Harmony however... that thing seemed to have a whole graveyard, but voicing his concerns would probably have negative results.

"Once Cup Cake, Alexander and Olivia go through this, once they manage to do the right thing or fail trying, another mare, or group, will come, more people will change too, maybe." The little concern he showed about someone turning into something they may not want to be startled Anthon a little bit. J probably found it normal though. "This means more trials, more bonds, more drama or more happiness. After some time doing this there will be more real danger, and after a while this world and Equis will be connected if said danger is done for. Once that happens everyone will be happier, everything will be more balanced." J let out a very tired sigh. The man looked old as dirt for a moment. "When that is done I will retire. I have been working towards that end for decades." J let his glasses fall a bit, a spark of some kind shining behind his eyes. Anthon was sure that asking about it would not be smart.

"I could ask about your age but I feel I better not." Anthon chuckled as J mouthed 'Smart boy'. He did have a question though. "Do these test mean to attract danger as well as possible positive feedback?"

"Smart boy indeed." J smirked to himself. "There are those that know of magic and that will do anything for it. They are a necessary evil, for now, and they are required to test some of those that will come after Alexander and his group. There are things they need to do before we take them out, and luckily none of them has to do with our friends here."

He didn't seem to like that part. Anthon could say many things about this man now that he had been told this much, but he wouldn't say he was cruel out of simple choice or without reason.

J looked at the three huddled together in the middle of the room. "He has his own little problems to overcome, one of which he just solved." The man's smile grew as he saw Cup Cake accept another kiss from Alexander, even if it was only on the cheek. "I am sure Cup Cake will ask for a mild blend instead of what she was going to take originally. Calm mind, still in heat, but perfectly capable of doing things normally. She will talk things with him and Olivia soon enough, but hurting them just because she is fearful is as bad as being selfish and wanting this bond because she desires a bigger family that her husband cannot give her." He turned to look at Anthon. "So yes: We are to invite problems for the future. Without them people won't grow, the bonds will hold no strength and the balance Harmony seeks won't happen."

Anthon wasn't convinced about how necessary any evil was. Once again though: Not his place to say, not that it would do any good if he did. "Is this why you and your men were grey in that magic scanner of yours?" J nodded. Good or evil? That was a good question, but Anthon was basically told they were neither, unlike whoever was at odds with them. The screen had just showed it in a way that could be seen. "Why do you want them to succeed then? You are 'neutral', right?"

J chuckled. "Good and evil are abstracts despite what humans think. Me and my men, those of the H.i.E, we just understand it better than others. Some of us lean towards one thing more than others of course, it is hard to be perfectly objective." He finally got up and stretched. "I am an old fart that likes romance a bit too much." He patted Anthon's shoulder. "Now come with me, they all need to do a few tests." A mischievous smile crossed his face. "And I want to scare the crap out of Alexander once he knows he knocked up his sister." He chuckled under his breath. "Isn't it wonderful how some information can prepare you for a lot of fun sometimes? I am sure Pinkie Pie feels like this from time to time."

J almost fell as he was told THAT. This man was indeed one of a kind. Hopefully he would be allowed to go back and do mayor things instead of stick around this group more than necessary. His little brother called him weird more than enough as it was. The temptation to just go and get as much information to do something about this possible danger, or share it with the group of three, was also way too strong for him. If he poked his nose too much it would end badly one way or another.

His reticence also was there because something had been made obvious.

Anthon's little brother could be an asshole, but he was quite direct, and he had called Anthon very smart, smarter than it is healthy. This could mean many things, but right now it just meant one: He had been perceptive enough to outright tell that J was lying through his teeth in many ways.

Not only J, but also Harmony. Whatever that thing was, even if it was what it said it represented, it was lying. Not surprising though, and Anthon was sure that, sooner or later, anyone and anything that got to know it, even from a single talk, would find it out. Why? Because if Harmony meant that, balance, then it meant that truth or lies were of little consequence. How much good could a few true words do? How much good would a lie generate? And then... how much evil? Whatever was needed would be done.

Anthon's worry for the group grew as the obvious question prodded his mind. How likely was it? How likely was it for them to be in real danger? When J turned to give him a very serious, almost depreciating and menacing look, it told him more than enough.

He didn't know and he wasn't meant to. He was here to do his job, that was all.

Author's Notes:

So yea, this happened. There are two points I want to bring to attention.

One: This is 'real life', shit happens.

How often do you find someone that avoids the obvious problem until it smashes the person's nose in? We introduce Cup Cake. I do have her as a very faithful, loving and overall nice person, but as said in this chapter: It goes well above eleven. She goes out of her way to help others in ways she is sure they need help, but usually forgets about herself since she has her husband, her kids, even pinkie, before her person. She is basically a very dedicated mother.

Then a problem that has no solution happens and she may very well break down.

I do like the idea of the bonds being something just magical, but it is also something that can screw you over. This is an example that I wanted to hammer in: Cup Cake likes both Olivia and Alexander, and they like her, but she already has someone she loves and she is sure that he is the only one for her despite what she feels. The fear of the brothers rejecting Carrot, or her children, literally eats at her.

With more time and a different situation this would've been much easier and much more cute, but I wanted to show that things can very well get fucked up, because when one's feelings are on the line you can end beyond burned. It doesn't help that they can indeed develop rater fast, and in most cases such a thing instills fear in those unsure of it being a pasing fancy or something deeper.

Feelings: Hormonal or magical, they always toy with you.

Second: What is the H.i.E?

Simply put? I wanted a group capable of easing things along. How does that work? Well, we are humans. Humans have grown to fear what they don't know to the point of stupidity, so how do you combat that little problem? You force feed information until the others understand all you know. This, of course, doesn't always work as intended.

My desire was to make a group that could ease the process of integration of humans with all of those on the other side (A.K.A: Equis), as well as to control immigration (Because it is going to happen sooner or later). The acronym 'H.I.I.E', or Human Immigration and Integration to Equestria was way too close to H.i.E, so I decided to give the guys that made that group a big ass nod and made it simply 'H.i.E', also nodding at the fact that in this universe there were people that knew about how real ponies were for quite some time.

Now, how good or how bad they are? Heh, remember: Good and bad are up for interpretation. They are part of the plot and are there to safeguard Harmony's interest on Earth and Equestria's balance, which may very well mean anything you can think of.

So are they good, or are they bad? You decide.

On a side note, go here. While this story is far from complete (I'd say it is either half the way there, more or less), you may want to check this right now. Decide on what to do after you are done.