Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallions
Part 5: A Mare’s Dance

Pip sat a little forlornly in his room. It wasn’t a prison cell, but there were guards posted outside and the balcony was a sheer drop of over five stories. He’d hoped to see Princess Luna right after his grooming but she’d been delayed, then delayed again. Finally somepony told him that she’d announced that she was pregnant at the Nightmare Night festival. That had been three days ago. Apparently the Lunar Stallions were closing ranks around her, and refused to budge from their barracks or the palace. It was a sensitive time, and Luna could not see such a dangerous ‘guest’ at the moment.

The black stallion peered at himself in the full-length mirror. He studied the strange armor that clung to his body, and his golden eyes. They let off a light steam of yellow, as though their piercing gaze was as hot as it looked. The trails were like cigar smoke. It wasn’t as though they were treating him badly, but he longed to see his Princess very much. Ever since he was little she’d held a special place in his heart. He could admit he’d crushed on her for a bit, despite only actually seeing her once a year. Any mail he’d sent was probably lost in the mountain of other fan mail and important things that were addressed to her… he sighed, putting a hoof on his cheek and rubbing a little.

Not for the first time, he sighed in depression. “Ma… Papa…” he whispered, resting his forehead on the cool silvery surface of the mirror. “I’m so sorry…” he squeezed his hot eyes closed, trying to fight down the tears. “I’m so sorry!” he banged his head against the mirror, and it cracked because of his helm. He winced. Just one more problem. He sat on his haunches, wilted and feeling pathetic. How could he have done such a thing to them? Killed them, destroyed their home, fought Lunar Stallions until the Princess herself had to step in and stop him? They’d said something about the armor he was wearing making him crazy, but that was no excuse! He’d done what he’d done, and he was wracked with guilt. Maybe Princess Luna would be merciful and banish him to the nearest celestial body for his crimes. Whimpering like a foal, he rested his face on the cracked mirror.

Don’t cry, Pip. The first transformation is always the hardest. You could not have known.

Pip gave a start, looking around. It was that voice again. He didn’t dare call out to the guards. He was in enough trouble as it was. Gulping, he did a quick circuit around the room, checking under the bed. He even poked his head over the edge of the balcony. In the back of his mind, there was black laughter. Shuddering, the black stallion went back into his room and peered around. In his mind’s… ear, it seemed to be everywhere, and somehow above him. “Who’s there?” he whispered. “Where are you?”

I’m here with you, Pip. Follow that cold shiver that’s running down your spine.

Pip gulped a little, looking around fearfully. He almost checked under the bed again, but didn’t. Where was it coming from? He swept his gaze slowly over the high ceiling, the beautiful columns in the corners, the houseplant… he peered behind the vanity and nosed his muzzle into the linen closet.

I’m right here!

The black stallion jerked about in fear, only to find himself looking into the badly cracked mirror. “Wh… what?” he said. He approached the mirror and studied himself, then peeked behind it. “I… I don’t understand.” He said, pressing his back legs together to hide the tremble. He’d heard the voice many times before, and he was willing to bet it was the same voice that had granted him the horrific visions of the battle between Luna and Celestia.

I am your ancestor. My name is Pitch Dark the Ravager. You donned the medallion and spoke the words, so I came rushing back from beyond the veil to aid you.

Pip peered at himself, trying to find a facet of the mirror that was big enough to fit his entire head into. He was having trouble. “The words? The words on the paper?” he said, leaning back and forth as he spoke to the mirror like it was a window. “That funny language?” He thought he saw his golden eyes flickering a bit. Some sort of brighter, inner light took hold when the voice answered in his head.

That funny language was Ancient Equestrian, the language of the goddesses Luna and Celestia. I wrote what I could so that my descendants would don the necklace and free me once again.

“Why were you threatening me, earlier? At first you sounded like an evil spirit or something!” Pip squawked. The guards outside the door shifted, and poked their heads in. Pip smiled at them embarrassedly. “I’m fine!” he told them. They flicked their eyes around the room, then shut the door again. The young stallion lowered his voice and leaned closer to the mirror to whisper. “Why the personality shift?” he whispered.

It is our way. Midnight Stallions always open new relationships with threats. It is a show of strength.

“So you’re not going to take over my body or something?” Pip asked, deflating with relief.

Oh I’m still going to take over your body Pip. I just need to hammer away at your sanity for a bit longer. After all, who but a crazy pony stands and talks to a mirror like he’s having a conversation with himself?

“I’m not crazy!” Pip argued. His eyes widened as soon as he said the words, and he put a hoof over his mouth. There was a dark chuckle in the back of his head, and the voice once again went silent. “Hello?” he peered back and forth at the mirror, like he might see the voice’s owner in the glass. “Hello?” but he received no response. He was alone again.

=-----=-----=-----=

“There’s to be a ball, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said, peering at her with a frown.

“Is that like the Grand Galloping Gala?” Twilight said, peeking out from behind Stalwart Hide. The poor stallion had been standing perfectly still for a long time while Twilight took muscle measurements, had him hover in place for as long as he could, and measured his hooves. “I did have a great time at the Gala.” She said in a sing-song way, chuckling at the memory.

“The Lunar Academy is about to open and accept applicants.” Princess Luna smiled at the purple mare. “All of the Lunar Stallions will be attending, along with many other important ponies. I would only expect that the Archmage of the central region would be in attendance.” The alicorn twisted her arm a little, smirking when the unicorn wasn’t looking.

“So it’s… like a party then?” Twilight said cautiously.

“Well, there will be music, food, and so on.” Luna listed. “I’ll be giving a speech, cutting some tape, you know.” The alicorn smiled.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something?” Twilight mumbled, cocking her head. Something had the stink of alicorn mischief on it, she just couldn’t see it yet.

“Well, unlike the Gala, this ball requires an escort.” Luna said. Twilight flinched to a halt, leaning up over Stalwart Hide’s back and using him as a prop to see over him.

“But I don’t know any stallions here in Canterlot.” Twilight said, frowning. Stalwart Hide didn’t speak, but Luna saw the annoyed look on his face at those words.

“Well then.” Luna sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “We shall just have to make do with what we have then.” She made a show of peering around. “Stalwart Hide.” She said, smiling. The stallion flinched.

“Yes, your Majesty?”

“How would you like to escort Archmage Sparkle to the Lunar Academy ball?” Princess Luna smiled alarmingly. Twilight and the stallion looked at each other. Twilight’s face began to color a bit. Luna could see something pass between them, and she unfurled her wings. “She is a pony of high station, she should not be seen with just any street urchin.”

“Oh,” said Stalwart Hide, cocking his head a little. “That makes sense.” He turned his head about to peer at the purple unicorn whose fore-hooves were propped on his back. “Wanna go with me?” he asked her. Twilight looked back and forth between the Princess and the Lunar Stallion. She had the vague notion she was being railroaded or something, and scratched her head.

“Well if that is not enough for you to consider, Twilight Sparkle, consider this.” Luna turned towards the door and made her way to leave. “You’ve had but one Lunar Stallion to examine thus far in your studies. This ball shall host all twenty-four of them.” She winked over her shoulder, though at which one of them it was hard to tell.

Twilight Sparkle’s face lit up. “I could check for consistent data across a matrix!” she gasped. Not only would she have her own specimen, but she could observe the entire species! That would be amazing! Stalwart Hide cocked his head at her, then turned about so she would stand on all fours again.

“Eh, you okay?” he asked, cocking his head.

“Uh? Oh yes!” Twilight said. “I think we’re done for now. I need to go find a dress!” with that she turned, stuffed her things away in her saddlebags, and was off. “See you later, Stalwart Hide!” she called over her shoulder as she donned her pointed Archmage’s hat.

Stalwart Hide stood there, feeling a little confused. “Did… did Princess Luna just set me up on a date?” he asked the ceiling, blink-blinking. No answer. He frowned with a furrowed brow. He’d been studying with Twilight Sparkle for almost three solid days now, and had a rather cautious friendship. They both knew she was just there to examine a Lunar Stallion because the Princess said so, but it wasn’t as though she were mean to him or anything. After getting her over the initial thrill of being given a test subject and reminder her that he was still a pony, she was actually quite nice. Huh. Well, he could have worse dates, he supposed. The Princess forbade any Lunar Stallion from attending the ball without a dance partner. Balls had dancing, after all.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Rari-tyyyyyyyy!” Twilight Sparkle BURST into existence with a crack of parted air, right in the middle of Carousel Boutique. Rarity looked up with a jolt from her sewing machine, over half-moon glasses. “I need a dress!” she looked stressed.

The pale unicorn eyed her friend up and down. “Why, Twilight! You look positively frazzled!” she watched the unicorn dance fretfully on her four hooves, looking back and forth like there might be something on one of the racks she could just grab and end her troubles with. “What do you need a dress for? Some special event?”

“I was invited to the Lunar Academy opening ball and the Princess set me up with one of her Lunar Stallions as an escort!” Twilight fretted. “I don’t even know how to dance! With a partner! Don’t know how to dance with a partner!” she looked like she was doing an I-have-to-pee dance, and it would've been funny if not for her face.

Rarity took off her half-moon glasses sympathetically, smiling gently at her fuse-blowing friend. “Now Twilight, that’s no way for a lady to act. You’re the Archmage! Take a deep breath---” she waited for Twilight to obey, which she did, “And out again. There. Much better.” She tossed her purple mane a little, coming over. “If you’re going to a military ball, there are certainly customs to be observed, and dances to be known, of course.” She was already going through one of her racks, sliding garment after garment to one side. Twilight was surprised she hadn’t come forward with a measuring tape. Rarity used to make everything to order, but the success of her business in some upper circles had allowed her to branch out and think creatively on her own terms. As a result, she had a wonderful collection of dresses to choose from. “What color is our stallion, pray tell?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Grey. With purple armor and… gold eyes.” She said after a moment. The mild tone of whisp made Rarity look at her sideways. The pale unicorn had heard mares, in the past, tell certain details about their stallions.

“Well I can’t have you wearing purple, dah’ling.” Rarity said. “You’re already purple. It's redundant.” She pawed through a few more dresses. “Yellow or gold would clash with your mane… hm.” The fashionatta rubbed her chin for a moment, considering. “How do you feel about frills and black? Perhaps silver?” she was talking to herself more than Twilight. “Ah! Black with flecks of silver!” she seized a dress from the rack and yanked the purple mare behind the dressing curtain. She stepped back when she’d gotten it over Twilight’s head. “Oh my! You’ll look simply divine in this!” she smiled.

Twilight looked down at herself, then at the tri-mirror. She tilted her head. “Really? It’s not too fancy?” she asked, looking over at Rarity.

“Dah’ling! You’re going to a ball hosted by a Princess! You’ve got to look your best!” Rarity was already applying needles so that the dress could be adjusted. “When is this ball, now?” she asked.

“In a few days. Luna said there would be dancing, though.” Twilight wilted in her dress a little, turning her ears down. “I don’t know how to dance with a partner. Just the wild dancing we used to do at some of Pinkie Pie’s parties.” She started to get upset, but once again it was Rarity to the rescue.

“Twilight, you don’t think I would send you off to a ball without learning at least one dance, do you?” Rarity said. “A lady must always be prepared for the events of high society!” she lit her horn and began moving furniture out of the way. The shop’s sign flipped to say ‘closed’, and Rarity’s dusty record player hovered out of the closet.

“You’d teach me?” Twilight said softly, her eyes getting big and soft.

“Well how else will you impress your stallion if you don’t dance with him?” Rarity chuckled, leaning over a stack of records while she hunted for the right one.

“He’s not my stallion! I’ve only known him a few days!” Twilight squawked way louder than necessary, dancing fretfully on her hooves. Rarity glanced over her shoulder with a smirk, but said nothing for awhile. When she’d found the proper record, she stuck it onto the turn table and turned the crank gently. “Princess Luna is letting me study him so that I can help her with another stallion that’s got a big problem.”

“I see, I see.” Rarity said with an amused smile. Even she could smell the alicorn strings being pulled around her poor friend. “Well if that’s the case, all the more reason to treat him nicely, yes?” the white unicorn tossed her mane a little, gesturing that Twilight join her. “Now, Twilight, the traditions of a military dance function are very important. You’re there to honor the soldiers, or in this case, the Lunar Stallions, yes?” Twilight nodded at her words. “Well then, you must learn a dance that celebrates the masculinity of your partner.”

“Wh-what?” Twilight was blushing heatedly.

“Stand up straight! A lady doesn’t hunch like somepony is about to beat her over the head!” Rarity was already launching into the lesson, prodding Twilight sharply to help her stance. "I make quite a few bits teaching ettiquite these days, Twilight Sparkle, and I shan't have one of my best friends hunching at a ball!" The purple mare could sense she was in for a long lesson.

Two Days Later…

“Legs straight! Don’t lock those knees! Lunar Stallions don't slouch!” Aegis Shield was hosting physical training for the entire Lunar Stallion corps, the first one they’d done together in a long while. Having gathered around Princess Luna during the tender time of pregnancy, they were all once more stationed in Canterlot while they waited for the foal to arrive. It made them a little nervous and jittery. If there wasn’t at least two or three Lunar Stallions with the Princess at all times, they would start to sweat and worry like crazy. But for now, she’d pleased them all by watching their training from her high balcony. “One! Two! One! Two!” they were doing side-straddle-hops, well, as best as horses in armor could. The Princess watched with pride while they sweated and worked for her.

Luna looked over her shoulder when she heard somepony knocking at her door. “Who comes?” she asked, holding her slightly bulging belly.

“Twilight Sparkle.” said a meek voice.

“Ah, come in!” Luna shifted on her sitting pillow, careful of her belly, and not leaving the lip of the balcony. She didn’t want to worry her stallions. “I’m here on the balcony.”

The Archmage entered, in cloak and hat, bowing. The bell jingled animatedly when she straightened. “Your highness.” She smiled, her eyes going down to look at the coming foal. “How are you feeling?”

“Well enough, for a pony gaining weight so quickly.” Luna mused, rubbing a slow circle on her abdomen. “It isn’t kicking yet, but I can feel it growing.” She mumbled, smiling in a soft way. Twilight smiled, nodding.

“I wanted you to know--” Twilight turned and produced a tied stack of papers. “I’ve finished my studies on Stalwart Hide, and I’m ready to examine the Black Stallion.” She said. Moving, Archmage Sparkle pulled the string, fanning the papers out a bit. Luna leaned over them, admiring the drawings, charts, and fancy mathematics had been used. “If Stalwart Hide is the exemplary Lunar Stallion, then I’ll have a broad cloud of data when I see the others at the Lunar Academy Ball.” She smiled, throwing her chest out to be praised.

“Shouldn’t you be paying attention to Stalwart Hide at the ball?” Luna cocked her head with a frown. Twilight wilted a little when she was not immediately praised for her days of concentrated study and reports. The Princess eyed her a little, frowning. “He is the exemplary Lunar Stallion, everything they are supposed to be and more. You need not study the others.”

“Uh-h… oh.” Twilight said, looking to one side.

“Does it not seem disrespectful to think of others and not your escort at such an important event?” Princess Luna pressed, slowly pawing through the pages. She found one with a rather impressive set of drawings on it. Twilight had drawn Stalwart Hide’s face from all angles to show off his eyes, teeth, and jaw structure. She pawed through a few more to find detailed anatomical drawings, complete down to the last masculine detail, drawn with all the dryness of a scientist. Everything was labeled, accounted for, explained, and referenced properly. His eating habits were contemplated over. The weight of his armor versus the versatility of the metal’s malleability matrix. The extent of his nightvision. Everything Twilight could think of was detailed. The report was many pages long, probably longer than it needed to be, but Luna made a show of inspecting it. Twilight Sparkle’s writing was scratchy at best, she had no idea how her sister had managed to read all of those friendship reports… oh wait, she’d had an assistant writing for her. Hmm.

“I… went and got a dress.” Twilight offered. “And I learned a dance too.” She smiled. Luna looked at her, smiling with approval. Straightening the papers, the Princess gave them back to her.

“I am pleased. When the ball is over, we will examine the Black Stallion together and make comparisons between your findings on a normal Lunar Stallion—and our guest.” She gestured mildly with a hoof. “And good work learning a dance. Some will attend and not know how, a shame.” She chuckled just a little, and Twilight smiled a little embarrassedly. She’d learned to dance with Rarity, in the privacy of the Carousel Boutique. But soon she’d be in a huge ball room surrounded by other ponies, real music, and a real stallion. It didn’t matter how much practice one got with a mare, stallions were much bigger and stronger partners. Twilight felt a light warmth in her face. Luna pretended not to notice.

“Should you really go near the Black Stallion while you’re pregnant? What if he attacks somepony? You could be in serious danger.” Twilight said, concerned. Luna considered this for a time, so the Archmage quickly added, “Your companion would be unhappy with you going near something dangerous while you have a foal.” She gestured gently to Luna’s belly.

“He does not command me.” said Luna indignantly, crossing one of her front hooves over another. She winced as soon as she said the words, letting her face fall a little. “S-sorry. Hormones.” She mumbled. “You are right.” Luna sighed, running a hoof through her starry mane. Opening and refolding her wings for comfort, she was silent for a time before she spoke. “Aegis Shield takes very good care of me.” She gestured for Twilight to look over the lip of the balcony they were on. Twilight peered down at the group of Lunar Stallions exercising in the courtyard. Now and then they would glance up at Luna’s balcony, as though to see if she was still there. There was a very real tension down there. “They are nervous about my weakness.” She whispered to Twilight softly. “Alicorns lose most of their powers while they are pregnant. That’s why the gestation is so short.” the mare whispered to the Archmage. Twilight nodded her understanding. “They are preparing to close ranks around me while I wait for the foal to come.” She looked down at her belly and sighed for the thousandth time. The purple unicorn smiled lovingly. She’d heard many expecting mothers make that sound. A sort of happy, weak little sigh that a mare makes when she knows she’s going to be a mother. “Very well, we shall delay examining the Black Stallion until a little after the foal is born.” She finally conceded with a nod.

Twilight smiled thankfully, letting out a greatful sigh. One less thing to worry about. “Oh hey, there’s Stalwart Hide there.” She pointed, leaning over the lip a bit. After Twilight had released him from their study and called it done, he’d gone to report for ‘PT’, or Physical Training. “He’s really nice, y’know.” She said to the Princess.

“I know.” Luna smiled at Twilight sideways, but the unicorn didn’t notice. She was too busy watching Stalwart Hide fall into line next to Aegis Shield. When the stallion saw the rhythm of the exersizes they were doing, he joined right in. Soon, he was sweating and grunting along with the rest of his comrades.

When the stallions ended their current exercise, the entire group startled Twilight back when they bellowed out a chant. “MORE PT SIRS, MORE PT! WE LIKE IT! WE LOVE IT! WE WANT SOM'ORE OF IT! MAKE IT HURT, CAP’NS, MAKE IT HURT! H’OAH!” Twilight giggled behind her hoof. They were like colts, what a silly thing to say! Luna smirked a bit, settling down to continue watching them.

“Sit with me, Archmage.” The Princess offered. Without taking her eyes off the group, Twilight joined her on the sitting pillow. “My stallions tend to like it when I watch them do physical training, perhaps with another mare of high station they’ll feel twice as good?” Luna chuckled.

Twilight found herself staring at Stalwart Hide. With the balcony they were sitting on above and in front of the corps, Luna and Twilight had an excellent view of Aegis and Stalwart’s backsides. The two of them led each exercise, and the other Lunar Stallions copied what they did. In full armor, each thing was a sweat-inducing endeavor that made even the earth pony stallions grunt loudly with effort. The Archmage cocked her head a little to one side, leaning a little to get a better view. Her brother Shining Armor had described leading PT a few times, but she’d had no idea it could be so back-breakingly difficult. Why, with all the running sweat and shivering muscles and… and… stuff... What was she thinking about again? Stalwart Hide was doing wing-ups, his front hooves tucked against his under-carriage as he pumped furiously up and down. Twilight frowned, her train of thought completely gone. Luna was watching Twilight Sparkle out of the corner of her eye, smirking silently. So that’s how it was, was it? Interesting. The Lunar Academy ball was tomorrow night. It was going to be interesting too.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Ah, Twilight Sparkle. Welcome back.” The elderly mare behind the desk said. “Finished with those already?” she whistled softly at the high stack of books Twilight had levitated up onto the library desk. The Royal Canterlot Library always had an amazing selection, and she’d gotten a little carried away. Anatomy, muscle structure, sports records, medical journals on stallion development, everything she’d borrowed for her studies. The librarian cocked her head as she checked each of the respected titles back in again. “You’re not building a Frankenpony are you, Twilight?” teased the librarian with a smile.

Twilight giggled, shaking her head. “Afraid not.”

“Good good.” The mare chuckled good naturedly. “Need some light reading, I take it?”

“Mythology and Old Equestria?” Twilight said with big sparkling eyes.

The librarian sighed and smiled, shaking her head. “Alright, but you remember the rules. No check-outs from that section.” Taking a golden key from under the desk, she handed it over to Archmage Sparkle, who took it in her teeth with a bow. “I’ll swing by in six hours or so to make sure you eat something.” She winked. Twilight smiled, practically skipping away. Being so late at night it was in the wee hours of the morning, the purple mare knew she would have the entire section to herself.

But no, she was wrong. There was one more pony in the locked, glass-framed room of the Royal Canterlot Library. “Xoh o0oj noho u thoum0 feec ev cagiat jkuhcawxk…” a whispery, male voice was mumbling over a dusty old tome. Twilight stuck her head down to unlock to place and whine the door open on its hinges. The key flickered, then burst into glitter and vanished after she’d stepped beyond the threshold. It closed behind her, clicking into place and locking. “Adt xoh mudo u hiddadw haloh ev shoum0 uihehu… hu… hu… uihehu.” The voice was struggling to read the language, whatever it was. It sounded old and a little feral, but it pleased Twilight’s ears. She’d never learned any of the old scholar’s tongues, having been so busy studying magic and modern facts. She wished she had room in her brain to learn a second language, but supposedly the older you got the harder it became. Being a middle-aged mare, Twilight knew she could learn more and a variety of subjects, rather than devote herself to one. She did respect those that learned other tongues, though, very much. “Jxo seict dek ro ev kxo ouhkx eh kxo… jb0.” It sounded unsure. The purple mare moved slowly through the stacks, peeking through them to see the study area to see—Stalwart Hide? Twilight squinted, trying to make sure. Sure enough, it was him! She knew by the brick wall cutie mark. He had a little mound of books splayed out, all open to various pages, while he scribbled and spoke aloud what he was writing. He would stop now and then, flip some pages, squint, and then write a bit more. She felt her heart flutter a little bit. Did he… study? Oh my! “Udt xoh cowj… rouikavic cakkco rhudsxoj… ev… ev jkhodwkx…” he said the last word with some force in his voice, then smiled at what he was writing. He thought he was alone, it was easy to see. She watched him lean back, scratch a bit, then rock his chair forward with a clack of tiles. His wings subtley were on the rise as he continued. “jfcu0ot eik 'doukx mo. M0 uvvoskaed udt… udt xoukot--!” His quill jerked to a halt and he looked wildly around. “Who’s there? I feel you watching.” He spoke aloud, hunching over his work like a foal who didn’t want to be copied from. His ears turned back and he squinted around.

“I-It’s me.” Twilight came out before he became angry. Stalwart Hide’s eyes widened, and he started slamming books closed as quickly as he could. “Oh n-no please, don’t go.” She went to stop him, but he was already stacking the books up in a tall stack.

“It’s alright, Twilight Sparkle.” Stalwart Hide cleared his throat a little, looking really rather embarrassed. “I study a little bit at a time. I hear you can go for hours and hours, so it’s all yours.” He said, smiling bashfully as he forced his wings to close before she noticed them.

“What’re you studying?” Twilight tilted her head to one side, squinting at the titles. She blinked a few times while he squirmed. “Darn… I can’t read any of those titles. What language is that?”

Stalwart Hide deflated in relief, then quickly composed himself. “It’s Ancient Equestrian. I study it for a hobby. Princess Luna and a few others speak it, but it’s a mostly dead language.” He started shoving books onto a little wheel cart so he could put them back where he found them.

“No language is dead if somepony still speaks it.” Twilight said with… affection? She smiled at him, genuinely impressed at his dedication. “I bet it means a lot to the ponies long gone. You should be proud.”

“Thank you.” Stalwart Hide smiled. “I don’t get to use it often, but you’ve gotta keep the mind sharp.” Clearing his throat a little, he turned and started to push the cart with the top of his head. “See you at the ball!” he said, disappearing behind the stacks. Twilight waved at him, wondering why he had gotten so jittery when she appeared.

End of Part 5

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