I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE

Chapter 5: Some Days Are Diamond

Twilight completed her fifteenth run through of her calculations, nodding in approval. A swipe of telekinesis erased the crudely drawn math in the dirt in front of her, and she eyed the mountain before her; or rather, she examined the hole in the mountain with her magical sensor and smiled.

“So what's the verdict, Twilight?”

The sensor swiveled to face Trixie who was sitting next to Cheerilee and Spitfire, as well as Spike and her friends, without the lavender unicorn turning her head; a disconcerting sight to the uninitiated. “Well,” Twilight began, taking a deep breath, “I've calculated the density, friability, and melting point of the rock, and factored in the structural strength of the shape, and come to the conclusion that a one-half hoof wide beam of non-elemental energy at one-point-eight six five terajewels, burning for four-point-two tenths of a second each at three key points at an angle of-”

“Twilight, hon; in plain Equish, please,” Spitfire interrupted.

A blush spread across her cheeks, and despite the blindfold, managed to look sheepish. “Aheh. Sorry. I think that I can take this problem down safely with three shots, leaving the clean-up crew with a minimum of mess with which to deal.”

“That is excellent news, then, my Faithful Student,.” Twilight's sensor swiveled up to see Celestia landing with an old, grizzled pegasus wearing a hardhat and bright orange safety vest. “Twilight, you remember Mr. Dolomite, your old engineering instructor.”

Twilight gave the old dark blue pegasus a timid smile. “Hello again, sir. It's been a while, hasn't it?”

The gruff stallion looked down at her with slightly grim expression. “Hmph. Blinded yourself again, have you? I would have thought you'd learn by now to be more careful about what you look at with that magic eye of yours.”

Sweat was beginning to break out on her brow as she answered. “At least it wasn't from looking at a vein of unrefined mythril this time.”

One corner of the dour pegasus's mouth turned up in a slight smile and his eyes twinkled a little. “At least that,” he conceded. “Well, let's have a look at your demolition plan, then.”

Twilight laid out her plan, going into details, and answering his questions when asked. She looked up at him when finished, and asked, “So what do you think, Sir?”

Dolomite scrubbed the stubble on his chin with a hoof. “I think you should have gone into civil engineering like I suggested to you when you were a filly.”

Celestia smiled at them. “High praise coming from you, Dolomite.”

The old stallion's cheeks actually colored a little and he scratched the back of his head. “Aw, Princess. Shame on you, making an old stallion blush.” Suddenly remembering that they had an audience, Dolomite straightened up and cleared his throat. “Why don't we begin, Twilight.”

Twilight stifled a giggle and concentrated on her magic. A white mist formed around her, coalescing into a cloud large enough for two ponies. Another moment to cast a spell, and she stepped onto the cloud, testing its firmness. Satisfied, she gestured for the Royal Geologist to board with her.

He stepped onto the piece of fluff, bouncing on it deliberately. "You've gotten better at making these too, I see.”

Shuffling her hooves, Twilight replied, “Well, you know what they say, 'practice makes perfect' and all that. It helps if it's a humid day or we're near a body of water.” Her sensor swiveled around her head to look over to Spitfire and said, “Ready?”

The golden pegasus dropped her goggles into place and took up a position behind the cloud. “Ready!”

“Then take us up to an altitude of four hundred fifty two hooves, on a vector of thirty six point two four degrees for point three two one kilotrots,” the librarian directed.

The speed at which the Wonderbolt complied nearly knocked the elder pegasus off of the cloud, but Twilight steadied him. He looked at her strangely, so she answered his unasked question, “I modified the original cloudwalking spell so that there's a little bit of an adhesive effect on the hooves. Prevents slippage.”

Dolomite chuckled to himself and shook his head. “I was wrong. You belong doing what you're doing.”

The cloud came to a halt with an inexplicable screech. “Here you go, Hon.”

The sensor swiveled around to the back of Twilight's head to face her lover. “Thanks, Spitfire.” It rotated around again to face front once more. The cloud changed shape slightly, gaining a low wall behind its passengers, and the unicorn planted her rear hooves against it as she spread her legs into a more stable stance. “Now hold on tight,” she said. “This is going to have quite a bit of recoil and backlash."

Spitfire braced herself against the cloud when she saw Twilight's horn began glowing its lavender aura. A faint hum could be heard as the aura shrank back down into the horn again. A beam of white light shot forward from her magical appendage, followed shortly by a deafening sonic boom. The beam reached out and touched the damaged mountain, leaving another neat hole bisecting the tunnel precisely.

Dolomite straightened his hardhat, which had been knocked askew by the back blast. “Well,” he said, “that was more impressive than I had thought it would be.”

Spitfire rubbed her hoof in her ear. “WHAT?” she shouted.

“SORRY ABOUT THAT!” Twilight yelled. “I SHOULD HAVE WARNED YOU THAT IT MAY GET NOISY!”

“WHAT?” bellowed Spitfire and Dolomite.

Twilight's horn glowed again, and everypony's hearing was restored. “Sorry. I forgot about the noise. I threw a spell on us all to protect us from further deafening,” she said sheepishly.

The golden pegasus came around and kissed her on the lips. “Thanks Hon. You're a real doll.”

The old stallion beside them gave an attention-getting cough. “Ahem. Not that I'm against watching two mares kiss, but maybe you should save that for later? You know, like when you don't have an audience?”

Spitfire wrapped her forelegs around Twilight's neck and blew him a raspberry. “You're just jealous that you don't have a Twilight of your own.”

The unicorn blushed and gently pushed her back. “Spitfire, please. We're in the middle of a demolition here. Speed and timing are of the essence, right now,” she said, trying to sound professional.

Holding up her hooves in defeat, the Wonderbolt said, “Alright, alright. Just remember you owe me for this favor. Stockings and gar-”

She was silenced by Twilight's forehooves being shoved into her mouth. The librarian looked over her shoulder at Dolomite and gave a nervous chuckle. “Shall we get back to work, then?”

Without waiting for a reply, Spitfire pushed their cloud to Twilight's next designated spot. The procedure was repeated twice more, leaving a mountain that resembled Swiss cheese, groaning as it tried to continue supporting its own weight. The unicorn levitated a rock the size of her head, and dropped it on the mountain's peak. A deep rumbling filled the air, turning into an ear-shattering, thunderous cannonade. The peak collapsed in on itself in an almost slow-motion manner; or at least, that's the way it seemed to the audience. All told, it took almost three minutes for the rubble to finally settle, leaving a dust cloud hanging around the “peak” which now stood over five hundred hooves lower.

“Well, that was spectacular,” said Spitfire.

Twilight turned to throw her a grin. “Hush, you. Take us back down to the others, if you please.”

The pegasus happily pushed them back down to the ground again, where an appreciative audience were giving a hearty round of applause. Twilight hopped down as she dissipated the cloud. “I trust this concludes my community service?” she asked.

Celestia smirked down at her knowingly. “It's a good start.”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

As she silently trotted through the forest, the mare looked everywhere as if she was sightseeing in a park, rather than walking through one of the most dangerous pieces of wilderness known to ponykind. The creatures of the forest had little to say to the gray earth pony however, ignoring her presence entirely. She adjusted her saddlebags, which were unbalanced due to the large, flat box carried in one of them, as she kept a wary eye on her surroundings.

A hooded and cloaked figure separated from the woods and stepped onto the trail, putting a halt to the mare's walk. The two stared at each other for long minutes, neither moving a muscle. A gust of wind blew through, rippling the shrouded figure's cloak, dozens of brown and gold leaves eclipsing their vision momentarily.

“An ill wind blows through these woods; what it brings does no pony any good,” the cloaked figure said in a low, but clearly feminine voice.

Plain Sight adjusted her flatcap, and slowly walked closer a few steps. “So you've told your liaison. What we need are details. We need to know what we're dealing with here.”

The hood came down, revealing Zecora's face to the light of the early morning sun. “Have you seen the zap apples, lately? I hear they are quite tasty.”

A frown found its way to the earth pony's face. Plain Sight didn't frown often; and when she did, violence often followed. It was an effort, but she held her anger in check. Just keep calm. She's never steered us wrong as a source before; and a mare of her age an experience wouldn't use this line of communication frivolously. “What do zap apples have to do with anything? Their season has already passed.”

Zecora sighed and shook her head sadly. “It is plain to see you have not read your history. When the timberwolves cry out, the zap apples are ready to sprout.” As if on cue, a lone wolf-like howl could be heard in the distance; followed by an answering howl.

“Couldn't that just mean that they're on the hunt? Or settling a territory dispute?” Plain Sight asked.

Zecora looked towards the sound of the howls, more joining the first two. “Allow me to be blunt; timberwolves do not hunt. Though territory is another story, they do not howl to be contrary.”

As the zebra fell silent, Plain Sight put a hoof to her chin in thought. If the zap apple season has already passed, and the timberwolves only howl when they're about to bloom, then why are they howling now? The gray mare looked to the zebra again, one eyebrow arched up. “Have the zap apples ever been known to bloom more than once a year?”

“Though I have lived here for just a few short years,” Zecora said with an approving smile, “the occurrence you speak of never reached my ears.”

Plain Sight stood silently in thought for a moment. “Have there been any other unusual events in the forest lately?” she asked after mulling things over.

The zebra nodded sagely. “I would not tell a lie, but manticores are in short supply. Though what worries me most, is there seems to be some sort of host.”

“A host?”

“Indeed, it's most perplexing,” Zecora elaborated, “but I find this intensely vexing. Beneath the life most verdant, there lies an undercurrent. There's a feeling that can be read, one that fills me with nameless dread.”

Another howl got Plain Sight's attention, and she looked off into the distance. “You don't mind if we send some ponies in to investigate further, do you?” She looked back to Zecora when no answer was forthcoming, only to find that she had disappeared. With a wry smile, she said, “Huh. So that's what it's like to be on the receiving end.”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Twilight huffed and puffed as she lay on the grass. Ponies in a similar state were scattered across the field, all gasping for breath. She looked over at Trixie who was sprawled out on her back, a sheen of sweat covering her from horn to hoof. Cheerilee still managed to be standing, but her legs were like rubber, and shaking visibly. Spitfire was sparring with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, the only three ponies left standing as far as the eye could see. Princesses Celestia and Luna excepted, of course.

“Ah didn' think you'd be that good at runnin', Miss Spitfire,” Applejack said as she dodged a playful punch from Dash.

“Of course I am,” the golden pegasus replied. “Running is great cardio, and as a Wonderbolt, I have to keep in tip-top shape; more so as the captain of said Wonderbolts. And please, just call me Spitfire.” she added with a wink.

“I still think I would have won if it weren't for you,” Dash said to Spitfire.

The Wonderbolt just shrugged off her comment. “Hey, I just asked you if you really thought you couldn't win a hoof race without using your wings, is all. You're the one who took it as a challenge.”

Twilight was oblivious to this exchange. All her attention had been drawn to Celestia; or rather, the pony that was whispering into Celestia's ear. This pony was dressed as a royal guard, but was much scrawnier than any guard she had seen. It was impossible to tell what they were talking about from this distance, but from the subtle way she noticed Celestia stiffen up, it was rather serious. When the guard had ducked back into the crowd, Twilight found the strength to stand again and saunter over to her mentor. “Something wrong, Princess?”

“Just a scouting report, Twilight. Nothing to worry over, yet,” the Princess replied. “I'll tell you about it later, if you like.”

Twilight gave her a nervous smile in return.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Sweetie Belle looked on nervously as Apple Bloom cinched the unicorn's harness a little tighter than was comfortable. “Are you sure about this? I did promise Rarity that I wouldn't try anything dangerous to get my cutie mark any more.”

Scootaloo poked her head up from where she was inspecting the wheels of the soapbox dragster. “Of course it's safe. You got the helmet, don't you?”

Sweetie Belle looked up to the helmet adorning her head, then back down to what could only be charitably called a “racetrack”, and gulped. “It's just that we're awfully high up.”

The orange filly gave a noise of dismissal. “Pfft. Please. You're not going to get your cutie mark by being a scardey-cat. If a little excitement is what it takes to get it, then why not try it? Besides, it's better than getting a cutie mark for something boring like reading books or collecting buttons. Right, Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom gazed down the track- no, make that ramp, and bit her lower lip. We didn't have time to clear the path as much as ah would have liked (what with Scootaloo wanting to do this before we're called home for dinner), and the cart did look like it could use a little more time in the garage, and maybe Sweetie did have a point about the height... “Ah dunno, Scootaloo. Maybe we should do a little more work on it first? Ah'm all for gettin' our cutie marks an' all, but it won't do us any good if we end up in a fiery wreck a'fore we can enjoy them.”

Scootaloo sighed as she looked down the track they built into the steep hill in the woods, then looked to the sky in an effort to estimate the time they have left. “Fine,” she said, hanging her head in defeat.

Sweetie Belle breathed a sigh of relief and made to unbuckle herself from the cart while Scootaloo turned around to head down the track and begin clearing it better, Apple Bloom following her. So it was, that the unicorn filly was the only one to notice that Scootaloo had accidentally knocked loose the chocks that were holding the cart in place. “Uuuwwwaaaahhhh!” Sweetie Belle screamed as she raced past her friends.

“Sweetie Belle!” they shouted in unison before running after her.

The unicorn was trying desperately to apply the brakes, but they were far too weak to be effective. She saw a large rock loom in the road and frantically tried to veer away. She dodged that rock, only to have a tire hit another so hard, she snapped the steering wheel off at the shaft. She looked at it dumbly, then resumed her screaming at double volume.

The cart had nearly reached the bottom of the hill (and the earthen embankment they had made to act as an emergency stop), when the nose of it dipped down, finding a sinkhole previously undiscovered. The front end sank into it, sending the rear up into the air. Sweetie Belle was securely strapped into the seat. Unfortunately, the seat wasn't as secure in its seating; and Sweetie Belle, still strapped in, went flying into the woods, seat and all.

“Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom cried out. They had almost reached the cart when two very large figures jumped out in front of them, blocking the way. The fillies found themselves staring down the jaws of two timberwolves.

Sweetie Belle groaned weakly as she saw the ground come closer, only to see it retreat, then repeat again. She looked around to find that the seat had become attached to a tree through sap, and was bouncing back and forth like a bungee cord. Sweetie herself, was naturally, covered in sap and pine needles as well. She would have facehoofed from this development, but had learned early on, that to do so would only make the situation worse when that hoof became trapped by sap to her head.

Instead, she tried using her teeth to work the straps loose. A rustling in the bushes stopped her cold, and she called out, “Apple Bloom? Scootaloo? Is that you?” Silence met her hails. She looked about nervously, but her frantic turning only managed to set her spinning as well as bouncing. “Girls?” she squeaked out. “I'm gonna be sick.”

“We can't have that, now can we?” Cried out a feminine voice heroically.

Sweetie Belle gaped as she saw who walked out of a nearby bush. “Mare Do Well! I thought you retired!”

The mysterious mare shrugged her shoulders. “I still do a little heroing on the side. But there's no time for that now. We need to go help your friends!”

“My friends?” Sweetie asked as the older mare pulled her down, snapping the sap like an overstretched rubber band. “The only help they'll need is keeping me from tying them up and running them down the hill in that deathtrap!”

A pair of screams reached them through the woods, quieting the filly's rant. Mare Do Well put her up on her back, attaching her with the sap. “Sorry about this, but we need to get there fast.” As soon as the filly was in securely in place, the mare ran through the forest, faster than Sweetie Belle would have believed a pony could. With a single leap, she reached a low- hanging tree branch, and bound from branch to branch in a way that squirrels would envy.

They bounded into the clearing where the fillies had built the ramp to find them cowering under the wreckage of their racer, seeking cover from the two large timberwolves that were trying to dig them out.

Mare Do Well wasted no time in scaling the tree she was in, practically slithering her way up through the branches until she was nearly to the top. She wrapped all four legs around the trunk and began swaying it back and forth until she could reach another treetop and clamp down with her teeth. “Hurry! Oh please hurry!” Sweetie Belle urged as the mare used her forelegs to bend the tree in which they sat until it was nearly doubled over. Taking careful aim, she let go of the other tree, catapulting them straight into the two wooden creatures, hooves first with a great THWACK.

The timberwolves shattered in an explosion of wood scraps as she sailed right through them. Mare Do Well landed on her hooves, coming to a skidding stop facing the frightened fillies. They gasped in surprise and ran out to her. She ripped Sweetie Belle from her back and hoofed her over to them, still in the seat. “You girls take her home while I make sure that these two don't follow you back.” Already, a green glow was surrounding the wood shards as they moved closer together.

“Yes, Ma'am!” Apple Bloom answered, and the two fillies raced off with their precious cargo.

The costumed vigilante examined said costume, lamenting the damage to it. She hadn't meant for that to happen when she “borrowed” it from the Carousel Boutique, and would have to repair it before returning it. She just hoped that the cape would cover the patch of gray coat that showed through the hole on the back.

When the timberwolves had fully reformed, she smirked at them. “Why don't we see how well you play 'follow the leader'?” Without further preamble, she ran at the creatures, and slid under them, regaining her hoofing to run off, leaving them to chase after her away from Ponyville.

As the three departed, a figure arose from the ground regaining his normal gray color from the brown hue he had taken as he hid among the dirt. Ponies have a protector? No matter. All ponies will fall to the might of Ro- He stopped in mid-thought. No. Rover is not a name to strike fear into the hearts of ponies everywhere. I need a new name. He thought for a moment and grinned. “Yes. From now on, ponies everywhere will learn to fear the name of BLACK DIAMOND!” Laughing maniacally, he sank once more into the earth.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

“Do yah think she's gonna be okay?” Apple Bloom asked as she looked back over her shoulder.

Scootaloo looked at her friend as if she had just grown a second head. “Of course she'll be okay. That's the Mysterious Mare Do Well back there! You saw what she did to those timberwolves! BAM! POW!” She stood on her hind legs and started shadowboxing.

“Whoa, hey! Easy up there,” Sweetie Belle cried out. “If you're not going to let me out, then at least keep it steady. I already feel like I'm going to hurl.”

“APPLE BLOOM!”

“SWEETIE BELLE!”

“SCOOTALOO!”

The fillies were surprised to hear their names being called out in the distance, though their faces lit up when they recognized the callers. They ran through the underbrush, heedless of briars and small animals who scattered before them. They burst out of the bushes to find family and friends welcoming them with open forelegs.

Rarity plucked Sweetie Belle up from her friends' backs and cradled her close, heedless of the mess. Apple Bloom ran to her sister and brother who immediately swept her up in a hug, and Scootaloo, after a moment's hesitation ran to Rainbow Dash and began telling her all about their rescue from the timberwolves by Mare Do Well, helped along the way by her two friends.

After hugging the filly close, Applejack clocked her on the head just hard enough to let her know that she had done wrong before leading her home, and a thoroughly scandalized Rarity whisked Sweetie Belle away for a clean up and scolding. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie escorted Scootaloo home, leaving Twilight, Fluttershy, Spitfire, Trixie and Cheerilee behind.

Twilight sent her gaze out over the forest, a worried frown on her face. Trixie came up beside her with a nuzzle. “What's wrong, dearest? You look troubled.”

If anything, Twilight's frown deepened. “Some things about their story don't add up. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and myself all played the part of Mare Do Well when she originally hit the scene. Not only did we agree to retire that... persona, we were all accounted for before, during, and after the race. There is no way it could have possibly been one of us, and as far as I know, we were the only ones with the costumes, and Rarity has those.”

Cheerilee walked up behind her. “But it's not those things that are bothering you, are they?”

“You know what it is, Cheery,” Twilight replied.

“What are timberwolves doing this far from the Everfree?” they asked in unison.

Twilight turned to face them. “AJ built the treehouse in this area specifically because it was so far from it, but if they're coming out this far...”

Spitfire came up to her. “You're thinking of going in there to investigate, aren't you?”

She nodded in reply. “If the town is in danger, I need to do what I can to protect it.”

“Not without us, you're not,” Trixie said vehemently, with Cheerilee nodding.

“Trixie, Cheerilee, please understand that I can't lead you into this kind of danger,” Twilight pleaded. “It's one thing to bring Spitfire in since she's a soldier or Applejack since she knows her way around the forest, but I can't ask that of you two.”

“So who's asking?” Cheerilee responded. If you're going in there, so are we; end of story.”

“But-”

“I believe,” Trixie interrupted, “she said 'end of story'.”

Twilight hung her head in defeat.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Plain Sight looked across the ruins skeptically. “Is this really the place, Your Highness?”

Luna beside her, nodded. “Verily. We needst only knock here thusly,” she knocked on a half-buried stone wall that vaguely resembled a square archway that was later filled in, “et voila!” She pushed aside some moss to reveal three gems that glowed with a golden light, making the “door” semi-transparent.

The alicorn of the night walked through with confidence, followed shortly by the more hesitant earth pony. The trip through the black marble passage gave way to the enormous lobby of the immense library. Plain Sight was startled by the sight of the black dragon who appeared to be working at a receptionist's desk.

Onyx noticed their entry and removed the ridiculous half-moon glasses he wore. “Princess Luna! How good to see you again. We weren't expecting another visit quite so soon.”

Luna smiled grimly at the dragon. “We art afraid it is business most troubling that prompts our visitation, rather than thy company. Pray, is Nyx otherwise occupied?”

The soft padding of leonine paws as big as a pony could be heard, and all three turned their attention to the massive form of the librarian. Plain Sight let out a gasp and tried to look as small as she could before the sphinx. “I'm here, Luna. I sensed your troubled emotions when you entered. Is there anything with which I can help?”

The alicorn stepped aside and pushed Plain Sight in front of her. “Sooth, we doth have need of thy eyes and ears. Plain Sight?”

The gray mare stepped forward and bowed. “Plain Sight, Ma'am. It's an honor to meet someone the Princess esteems so highly.”

Nyx nodded towards her. “Likewise. What did the Princess mean by what she said?”

Taking a deep breath, Plain Sight asked, “Have you noticed anything odd going on in the Everfree forest? Unusual creature behavior, weather patterns, terrestrial phenomena, anything at all out of place?”

The sphinx arched an eyebrow at her. “You realize just which forest you're talking about, correct? Unusual anywhere else would be just another day here.” Plain Sight rolled her eyes, causing Nyx to chuckle. “I kid, I kid. I know of what you speak,” she said, suddenly growing serious. “There is some sort of... elemental spirit out there. I haven't been able to pierce it's shrouds with my divinations, but I have been able to determine that it is a fairly new to this particular area, but extremely old.”

She looked off further into the library, a concerned expression on her face. “I'm sure that if we were to meet in person, it would be a different story; but for anything to be able to hide from even my simplest auguries is worrisome.” Without warning, her eyes suddenly became solid black pits, allowing no light to escape, and her voice took on an odd double echo quaver.

An evil as old as time,
returned to sate Its hunger,
though It alone could undo,
everything done when younger,
It seeks a much worse crime.

Twice and twice before It has tried,
to rend unity asunder,
each time through a new avenue,
to take, pillage, and plunder,
and twice and twice before, It has died.

The time grows near,
this opportunity It cannot waste,
Its final chance a desperate attitude,
heedless of mistakes made in haste,
It knows only fear.

With a thunderous BOOM, Nyx reeled back as if physically struck, falling to the floor. In a flash, Onyx was at her side, cradling her head, which appeared to bleed an inky liquid from her eyes.

“Nyx!” all three shouted.

The dragon placed an ear fin next to her nose and nodded. “She's breathing, but I'm afraid you'll get nothing more than that from her today. I haven't seen a backlash this bad in many centuries.” He turned to his guests with an apologetic smile. “You may as well go home. It will be some time before she recovers.”

“Mayhap there is some assistance We might be able to render?” Luna asked.

Onyx shook his head. “I'm afraid not, Your Highness. After an event like this, the only thing that can help is rest. Though I will tell you something that she was reluctant to part with earlier, but you will find intriguing and worrisome. Only a being equal to or greater than either of you would be able to hide from Nyx's divinations.”

Author's Notes:

It wasn't until I had finished this chapter that it was mostly about the stuff going on in the background. I was tempted to call it "Advent of the Background" or something silly, but decided not to. Don't worry, Twilight and her relationship will take more prominence in future. It's just that a lot of things that needed to be shown, and they all piled up here. Funny how it works out, sometimes.

Anywho, on to the not-so-fun-stuff. Everything but the arrangement of the words, Nyx, Onyx, Dolomite and Plain Sight belong to Hasbro and Lauren Faust. Those are mine. I'm just playing in the sandbox they were kind enough to leave out.