T...ock

[multaekappae]

 The 'reporter' nodded emphatically, slapping Scribble on the back. "Finally, somepony is talking something that resembles sense!" He grinned, waggling his eyebrows, "Let's go find one of the most successful fiction writers in recent history and tell him your bizarre story that lacks any physical evidence in order to obtain some weird thing he was willing to pay what was probably a lot of bits, am I right?"

As the crowd of mixed personages filed into the libarary, Hualpa bit her lip as she tried to remain as far from either side of the hallway while also simultaneously trying not to make eye contact with Ako while attempting to keep what she likely imagined was surreptitious watch on the griffon. Dusty voices whispered into her ears from the multitude of tomes housed withing the compound, and the llama shuddered involuntarily.

One the other side of the griffon, Cain tried to offer as much support as he could, though his ears twitched and his nose seemed to move of its own accord. The smells, the movement, the knowledge stored in this place... the drafty halls and hard white surfaces reminded him of 'home' at the same time the pressing multitude of ponydom and the outlandish costumes, loud conversations, and general level of cheer were alien to him.

The red furred llama's cheeks puffed as he waited, impatiently, for anyone else to bring up the subject. Nopony, griffon, llama, or shape-shifter did. He let the breath go and stopped when they were in the common area. "What do you mean you might never fly again?" He asked, the touches of both concern and exasperation raising the pitch of his voice.

---

The blue pegasus held the wireless communication device gingerly. "Yes, they just went right in." he paused, listening as his ears twitched, betraying his agitation. "No, sir, they'd been standing still for like five minutes and then they just suddenly...." he sighed nodding, "Of course sir. But we were... no, but... but it's a really really public pla–" He reactively jerked the device away from his head as the voice coming out became a staticky squawk of nearly incoherent rage. Eventually it subsided and he reluctantly placed it near his head again. "... yes, ok. I understand, sir. Protocol Blarq is in effect."

Blue Streak grinned. "Boss says to forget about keeping public exposure minimal." The smile widened, "We get to use all the toys."

Golden Dawn sighed. "What about her M–"

"Well, we can stick to the non-lethal gear, to start with, I guess." The pegasus shrugged. "But c'mon, we get to save the world here... I think that's worth a royal tantrum, don't you?"

The goldenrod unicorn adjusted her sunglasses and kept her opinion to herself.