Equine Fiction

a fantasy novel.

by Sharpfang'2000

Thanks are going to:

Perrier for proofreading (main)

-

LV for proofreading (additional) and the mp3 ;)

-

Tpony for roleplaying the telnet session part

Equine Fiction

1. Found it!

I wasn't wrong, it had to be here. As I moved the curtain of ivy blocking my way I saw him! Through a narrow, barely visible path between high trees and thick bushes a magnificent white unicorn was charging me. I barely managed to avoid his horn, releasing the ivy and dropping to the side of the path. His front legs hit my legs painfully but I had no time to dwell it. The ivy and the collision with my legs slowed him down, and losing his balance he fell down. Two quick moves of crawling on my back toward him and I had my legs closed around his neck in position to break it.

• Move and I kill you! - I shouted. I was bluffing, I'd rather die than kill a unicorn but it seemed he really wanted to kill me and that weren't quite my plans.

The unicorn looked at me. - This is futile, others will arrive soon and if you think keeping me hostage will stop them from killing you, you're wrong. You can't leave this place alive.

• Who said I ever want to leave this place? - I replied loosening my gripping legs a bit. Suddenly I felt freezing cold on the back of my head, pain of pierced skin was surprisingly weak and I felt the spike of cold sinking in my brain, piercing it and reaching to the front of my head. I understood: My head was being pierced by a unicorn horn. I heard deep unicorn voice behind me.

• Make a wrong move and you die. Think an evil thought and you die. Lie to me and I'll kill you. Do what I order and you might survive. First release my friend.

I carefully lifted my legs releasing the other unicorn.

• Now tell me, what are you doing here.

• Looking for my wife.

• There are no humans here. What brought you here then?

• She's not a human. She's a horse.

Silence. Seems they didn't expect that. Finally he continued.

• What makes you think she's here?

• Where else could she be? She's not kept by any humans, she wasn't killed... She left like all the other horses that... I think live here.

• What are you going to do to her?

• Live with her... if she agrees.

• Here?

• Anywhere. Only with her. You see, I love her.

I felt the horn retreating from my head. I touched the place with my hand - just a tiny scar on my skin. I looked behind. Yes, a unicorn, higher, stronger and probably older than the one who attacked me. I stood up grimacing from pain, as the kicked legs hurt bad.

• Explain, why and how you found this place. Tell us your story.

2. Flashback.

It began twenty years ago. A nearby horse stable claimed bankruptcy and were selling all their horses at very low prices. Many meat horse traders participated in the auction and with a few friends I went there to save as many horses as we could from them. We spent all our savings buying thirty medium and low quality horses. We had no conditions to keep them, no money to feed them nor time to take care of them, just our hands to work hard to earn for food for them. Ten of the horses were crowded in small garden next to my house, two other friends kept the rest of the horses in their gardens. We were selling them at very low prices or just giving them away to people who could take care of them and before the winter came I was left with only one mare. I had no means to build a stable for her, so when the first frosts came I took her to my house. During the long winter nights we grew closer and after some time I understood that I loved her. And I think she loved me too... Whenever I came back from work she greeted me cheerfully, we slept and ate together and when the spring came she went in heat, and we... You know... - I looked at the two unicorns.

• Continue. How did she come to leave?

One night, over seven years later, when we had already been married for a long time and loved each other deeply, she woke me up during the night, touching my face with her nose. She was very upset but I didn't know why. We were cuddling for a long time that night, but finally I went back to sleep and when I woke up in the morning, she was gone.

I asked people, put ads in newspapers, I bribed the police to intensify their search efforts. No result. But then the bribe had some effect. The police told me this was not an isolated incident and horses from all over the world were vanishing in this manner as of late.. I followed this track, traveled through half of the world to find the answers, visited temples forgotten for ages and accessed most guarded secrets of ancient religions and of governments of most powerful countries. And in this way I learned where all the horses go. It took twelve years of my life and great effort to find her... it would be rather stupid to die now, so close...

The older unicorn lowered his head and touched my forehead with his horn. Darkness closed around me and I lost consciousness.

3. Welcome.

• Open your eyes! - I heard a strong, ordering female voice,

Wet warmth surrounded my arms spread wide, squeezing them gently all over. A warm dry wind of the jungle on my back, the coolness of a cave or big building on the rest of my naked body, cold, smooth rock under my feet. Smell of a horse... Of a mare.

• Open your eyes, I order you! - The voice was oddly familiar. In a flash I recognised it with a shock. Her! Speaking human language! I opened my eyes wide. She stood in front of me. Incredible! This smallish, shy mare was now a magnificent horse queen! Very expensive, tasteful jewelry, golden patterns and symbols dyed on her fur, single golden hairs in her black tail... but that was her! The gentle curve of her chin, the big pointy ears, the small break in her mane, the shiny jet-black fur... It was her, for sure!

• Rosie? - I asked.

• Rosie was a name humans designated for me. Now you're supposed to address me as Her Majesty Ravena of Three Black Stars. - she grinned with her beautiful grin I always adored so much. - At least in official situations.

I wanted to step forward, but the warm wetness holding my arms to the sides didn't let me. I looked at them... Oh, my! My arms were kept inside of two big, brown mares standing with their backs to me. Astonished I looked as my arms encircled with their vulvas just below my shoulders vanish in them as their tails touch my sides and back. The odd bonds were effective, I'd probably have to break at least one arm to break free. And they still could kill me in one powerful kick. I decided to be a little nasty and started moving my hands inside of the mares, stretching my fingers, closing them in fist again, bending my elbows and ankles a little, scritching their inside. Outside I stayed perfectly calm excluding a raging erection.

I looked around the room at what I could see. Was it some ancient temple or... I didn't know. The chamber was huge. Two rows of huge columns ran along the sides of the room, all covered with flowering ivy, the darkness broken by dim light filtering through vegetation covering numerous small windows in the roof. I couldn't turn to see the wall behind me but the one in front of me was plain rock, with small dark doorway in the corner. The floor was tiled with smooth square marble slabs, each four meters wide.

• I will take my revenge on you for all the years when I waited for you alone and bored in your house while you worked for our living. Here I will work for our living and you will be the one waiting politely for my return, complying to my moods.

Oooh, so this was to be my fate! I suppressed the smile appearing on my face. Ravena. I tasted this name in my mind. I subconsciously knew Rosie wasn't her true name, but how could I know? We understood each other well in common matters but without knowing the details of our languages... One of two guard mares squeezed her inside on me reminding me about my situation and I looked down at my erection.

• Now - she looked at me coming closer - My man, you will make love to me till I scream.

• Or? - That was just a question, I didn't want to refuse.

• Or I'll throw you away like a useless piece of junk! - she said, turning her back to me. She hadn't changed a bit! Whenever she was in control of the situation she was always proving me that she was, although she was never serious in her treats. Now she stood with her back aimed at me. I noticed the floor slab she stood on sunk down below the floor level and stopped with her pussy just straight in front of my cock. She stepped back a little lifting her tail and... This gentle touch, moistness on my tip... touching her for the first time in such a long time ... a subtle adjustment of my position and a gentle push... I craved to embrace her back with my arms but those two damned mares wouldn't let me. So I just hang on them and start moving gently in her, lightly pushing with my hips.

• Oh, yes! Faster! - she says in a delighted voice. I see the well-known reactions of her body, we are both so close to the top already, craving for the release but I slow down to prolong it.

• Don't slow down! I waited too long to wait any more!

I obey and she snorts loudly at my strong thrusts, grunts making the equine sounds of ecstasy and I hear the two mares gasping loudly too, clutching on my arms in irregular pulsation, and suddenly one after another three streams of the hot, milky-yellow strongly smelling mare cum drench my body, mixing with my own semen flushed outside by the power of mare orgasm. We all gasp a bit recovering the breath after the wonderful experience.

• That was good, but you didn't make me scream. You must try harder.

The slab rises, forming a big stone block over me, lifting Ravena's sex to my mouth level. So I bend forward and touch her vulva with my lips, realising I didn't feel this taste for... twelve years! But all the old tricks work, gentle tickling, touching her anus, licking the underside of her tail... I hear hooves behind me but don't stop. They stop next to me and... I feel equine mouth closing on my cock! I double my efforts on Ravena's sex, circle my tongue on the rounded bottom of her vulva, slide it into the narrow top, nip the firm lips and sink my tongue deep into her, and whenever she "winks" I lick and rub her clitty with my teeth. With the next wink she gasps loudly and winks again, when I nip her clitty gently. She's getting close, starting a whole series of winks and my tongue perfectly hits the spot each time, turning the equine snorts into human yelps of ecstasy... A loud cry escapes her throat growing louder as I mercilessly lick at the clitty exposed in the clutch of orgasm and I close my eyes to protect them from the flush of the strong urine covering my whole face.

She stands a moment enjoying the feeling and turns back to me on the slab which is sliding down into the floor. I look down and see a small black mare, not a foal but not a wholly grown young one either, sucking on my cock, ignoring the rest of the world blissfully.

• Good work, you made me scream, you may stay here and be mostly free. - said Ravena, but I decided to play and tease a bit more.

• You call that screaming? Tell those two to let me go and I'll make you cry in joy!

She looked at me suspiciously, tilted her head, looked into my eyes and equally teasingly answered.

• If you insist... But you will have to please young Erina in the meantime too!

I looked at the young mare crouching at me and sucking my now raging hard again cock oblivious to the world.

• Isn't she too young? - I asked.

• Too young for an adult stallion, too hot to be left without attention of a male.

Ravena snorted at the two mares and they stepped away from me, pulling my hands out of them, apparently displeased with her decision. One of them turned and nibbled my hair but with the next anxious snort from Ravena they both trotted away. I looked after them, behind me - They soon vanished in the bright light of big doorway leading out into the jungle. As I turned back to my lady, she was already standing with her back to me, straddling the young mare who was lying between her legs, her fresh pink vulva exposed invitingly. The slab moved up again leveling Ravena in front of my mouth and Erina shuddering with anticipation in front of my cock. My arms were thickly covered with the sticky wetness of the two guard mares, so I just gently rubbed Erina's sex, stepped forward and sunk my cock in her effortlessly, feeling as she squeezed it in heat of her lust. My sticky fingers gently rubbed my wife's vulva and I started working my tongue around it slowly. My hand wandered down to her nipples and I caressed them gently covering them in quickly cooling and drying thick love-juice from my hands, then gently massaged them, simultaneously starting to thrust slowly into the young pussy. The young one was incredibly excited, just a moment and I heard the known grunts of joy, felt her clutching and new spurt of so excitingly smelling urine soaked my pubic hair, leaking down my legs. Meantime Ravena's grunted louder pushing onto my face.

• Stand still - I said - or you'll fall down from that slab!

She obeyed and I continued teasing her, very gently and slowly, driving her crazy with slow, light strokes of my tongue, circling my finger around her anus and gently squeezing her nipples. My hand wandered up from her nipples and I sank two fingers in her, watching her carefully seeking her G-spot inside. A loud grunt told me I'd found it, so I caressed it gently, scritched with my nail, rubbed in quick motions. In her wink I pinched her clitty. Loud grunt , she was close to climax, but I removed my hand and only gently licked her outside feeling my own climax down there close. She patiently listened to the young mare's increasing grunts, my faster gasps and her loud moan connected with my quiet yelp as her inside caressed my cock with quick spasms and her juices mixed with mine spurted quickly. Without a moment of rest I return my attention to my love. My fingers find the G-spot again, the other hand rubs the nipples and my tongue caresses her anus. A wink and a strong pinch on her clitty followed by her loud surprised grunt. My hand wanders inside and I work on her G-spot with all my fingers. A wink and this time I massage her clit quickly, once more, I close my hand on her anus, she yelps quietly, winks again and I lap through her sex rubbing the exposed inside with my tongue, quick spasms, loud yelp and then the clutch of orgasm, then I suddenly push three fingers into her anus, nip on her clit and push my finger hard into her G-spot, as the urine spurts onto my face. She YELPS and her orgasm instead of fading down continues, blood raging in the stretched muscles, another thick spurt of hot urine washing my mouth holding her flesh with teeth and caressing the clitty with my tongue. I release her and her front legs bend under her so she almost collapses onto the smaller mare, but she recovers the balance and stands straight, stepping from over the younger mare and turning around to face me on the slab lowered to the floor again. Erina stands up and leans against me teasingly but Ravena orders her to go away and the young mare leaves, apparently not liking the order but accepting the authority.

4. New place, old love.

• Hey, you're soaked! Come, wash yourself. I need a bath too. - Ravena headed toward the large exit. I followed her and stood impressed, in the doorway. The lost city! Huge buildings covered with thick layer of ivy , with bushes covering the roofs, high trees growing everywhere, shading the terrain, turning the city into a jungle. Wide stone walkways were mostly covered with ivy, moss, grass and flowers, only thin paths of white stone were left in the middle. And all the horses! Of every breed and color! Sleek arabs, heavy clydesdales, small haflingers, strong percherons, and from time to time slim, tall, gentle unicorns, just like just another breed. Ravena led me around the building to a small lake at the foot of a thin but very high waterfall. The place was shady, but the jungle noon air was hot. The water was just pleasantly cool. I embraced Ravena's neck and we began swimming in the lake together. It was deep but near the middle I felt the bed under my feet and we stood next to each other.

• You like this place? I mean the City? - she asked.

• I think so! - I answered.

• That's good because you will have to stay here for a rather long time... Maybe forever.

• As long as it means staying with you... Tell me, who are you? I mean, did you become the queen of this place, or what?

• No, darling - she chuckled. - I'm not that important! You will meet Queen now and then, but I'm just the "voice of humans", defender of the wrong case, kind of moderator who must calm all the extremists down and pull in opposite direction if the debate is about to enter dangerous areas like some radicals demanding us starting a war against humans. I'm the one who in all official discussions says humans are not evil, that coexistence is possible, that humans can learn, think and that they can be friendly. "Advocatus Diaboli" - That's how my work is called in your world. You could say a professional black character. This is quite an important function and I have some privileges connected with it.

I dived a few times to wash my head and wash myself, and we swam to the rocky shore, rested on a small grassy glade between the big buildings, and lay next to each other. I kissed her silky black nose, shining in the sun and gently caressed her chin. The water washed all the golden paint off her fur, but she still wore all that impressive jewelry. I asked her about it.

• It's very easy for us to create it if you don't count the artistic design. We almost never use it, except of few small items like my ear clip, which indicates my function, I wore all the rest for you. The paintings are a different story, they are commonly used form of magic. They can protect us, give us strength or sharpen our senses. These I wore were sharpening my sense of touch.

She stopped and looked at me.

• There are things I must tell you about, and not all are pleasant - she continued. - My influences here are high but limited. It costed me a great deal of effort to convince every horse that you're harmless and you should be free to live with us, instead of being killed or imprisoned. They didn't trust you nor me enough to give you full freedom and there are some limitations that may cost your life. There are also laws that you may not know and they may cost your life too. You're not permitted to leave the Horse Valley ever, if any of the guardians of the Valley sees you, you will be killed. And if you trick them and run away, the horses will find you wherever in the world you hide. There are things you're not permitted to know, so if someone refuses to answer your questions, don't insist. There are places you're not permitted to enter. This includes the University, the Library and the whole Underground Network. I know your hunger for knowledge but you will have to wait, maybe in time they will trust you more and give you a limited access to the Library. Note, it's not well defined where the Underground Network begins, so better whenever you see a big underground chamber of unknown use or you go down more than two floors below the ground level, turn back. If anyone finds you in any of the illegal places, you will be killed immediately and without explanations.

• What is the Underground Network?

• Sorry, I'm not permitted to tell you.

I sighed in frustration.

• You also have to obey the orders of other horses. That's because now you're on the bottom of the hierarchy. You're not forbidden from climbing up the hierarchy, but in order to do it you'd have to fight bare-handed with all the stallions that you want to be placed above. I really discourage you from trying this. And if you refuse to fulfill the wishes of the horses, prepare to be punished. Personally I will try to protect you but I can't be always with you and I can't say "no" to those who are more powerful than I am. Ah, and while I'm working, you're free to see all the rest of the City and play with other horses, only don't spend yourself too much - When I finish my work you must be ready to please me, or I'll throw you away like a useless piece of junk!

• No, you wouldn't...

• Yes, you're right, I wouldn't. - she laid her head on my chest. - but I would be very jealous. I've boasted about our past in front of many of my friends and I'm sure they all will want to check if I told the truth about how good lover you are! And you can't refuse or they'll call me a liar... but I want you all to myself so much! Oh, my love, I'm so glad that you're here, that we are together again... I missed you so much all those years...

• Don't tell me you had no stallions all this time... Erina...

• I turned them all down. Erina is my adopted daughter. She lost her parents as a foal.

• My poor babe... All those years...

• You were present in my dreams. It wasn't so bad, sometimes I was waking up in the puddle of my cum.

I hugged her head. I knew it actually was that bad, I felt that every time she had woken up from such a dream she cried.

• But now everything will be fine! I know that here all the horses live way longer than outside, so we have many, many beautiful years before us!

• I'm so worried... There are so many rules you don't know about, so many things you're not supposed to do... One wrong step and... I don't want to lose you!

• I will be cautious, I promise! I don't want to lose you either! Better tell me of some of those rules now.

5. The Valley of Horses.

As I left the old unicorn mage's house, I swished my new tail and moved my new ears. I guess I looked a bit funny with the modifications, but there were no other humans to laugh at me and I looked less funny with them to the horses than without. I had to "wear" these so I could start learning the horse language. Less than half of the horses spoke any of human languages, so I had to learn their instead. Not that I would mind! As I walked the streets with Ravena many horses were curious about me, especially the young ones that had never seen a human before. I already knew some phrases of their language and was able to answer their greetings. It would be impossible without the tail and ears. I realised I knew much of their language already, from the years I've spent with Ravena. When she spoke no human language I was still able to understand her when she wanted to express something. Now just several minutes of explanation of the grammar changed several hundreds of simple phrases I could recognise into full, rich language. I just had to work on my "pronunciation" some.

• I will show you the Valley - said Ravena - Follow me.

Now she wore only the small clip in form of three black stars in her ear, the sign of her function. Without the paintings and jewelry she looked like I remembered her from home. The only difference was that we could talk. I had never hoped this could ever happen. Everything seemed so simple now!

We stopped by an apple tree and I stood on her back and picked a few apples for her and myself. Seemed all the fallen ones were already eaten.

• Better get used to eating fruits and vegetables, you will find no other food here!

Hearing this I picked a few apples more.

Behind the nearest building, the path sloped a bit up, rising to the top of a small rocky hill. Several horses were standing on its top, some chatting, some looking at what lay behind the hill.

• This is the Viewpoint. The whole Valley could be seen from its top. Now we are in the Upper Town. This is mostly the recreational terrain, also some horses who like this place, like me, live here.

We climbed the short slope and I stood on the top, impressed. The Valley was huge! We stood on top of a very high rock, rising high above the bottom of it. Its other end was obscured by the mist far in the distance. The high cliffs, reaching far over the hill I stood on, surrounded the city. The City. The whole bottom of the Valley was covered with different smaller and bigger buildings, all covered with plants and hidden between trees. I guessed that's why the satellite photos of this place didn't look suspicious at all. I recognised a few known shapes, but now they were real, not dead GIFs. The river snaking through the City, the #-like set of four main streets intersecting the City, the small lakes... The river vanished in a high crack in the opposite wall of the Valley. My eyes ran up its flow. It was intersected by multiple bridges, generally the City excluding the four main streets and several smaller was a great labyrinth of narrow passages, squares, streets and gates. The river vanished behind the rock on my left so I walked there to see it... and stood amazed. The river fell in a great waterfall into the Valley from above the cliff, hitting the big rock shelf the Upper Town was located on, and scattered into rain, down onto a small green grove below, to leave it slow and calm and enter the City.

• The Rain Grove - explained Ravena as I looked at it. - Because of the river it never stops raining there. A great place during hot days... if you don't mind raining smashed fish from time to time. - she smiled - Oh, I think that if you get bored with the fruits, you can go there to pick fish - nobody would mind you eating them.

• Fish! Oh... What did you do to my luggage?

• It's stored in a safe place, but you won't be permitted to access it for rather long time.

• No problem, I thought so. If you could just let whoever took care of it know that there's an opened can of fish in it and it will start smelling really bad very soon. Ask if they could just remove it and throw it away, or they get a nasty surprise.

• I think it will be no problem, I will take care of it. Now look there, this big building not far from the Rain Grove. This is the Bigger House of Gatherings. There we gather to discuss things. There's also the Smaller House of Gatherings, in the Upper Town - that's where we met.

• Why there?

• We use the marble slabs in the floor to rise above the crowd to speak, or to imprison a traitor by lowering the slab, luckily never had to try this. You must admit, the way I used them was more comfortable than your bucket! The Houses are my main place of work but don't enter them if you see the unicorn guards at the door. It means we are debating and nobody's permitted to disturb without really valid reason. Now look there - The Bigger House of Gatherings lies on the end of the Peach Road. This is one of the four main roads of the City, in fact the most crowded one. See where it intersects Auberge Road on this big square? It's the White Square, the favorite place of all plays. If you're bored and looking for new friends, it's the best place to go. The building a bit further down Peach Road, the shell-like one is the Frosty Cave. If you want to cool down you can go there and wallow in snow or eat some frozen fruits.

• Do you have any means of public transport?

Ravena looked at me as if I wasn't really serious, then chuckled. - In your old human cities, before you used the machines, what was the main means of public transport?

I felt like a silly human surrounded by beings superior to me in all respects. I hugged Ravena's neck. Her pet... That was the right position for me.

• There, next to Auberge Road, the park on both sides of the river - This is the Park of Lovers. Don't go there alone if you're not in mood for sex. Now the intersection of Auberge Road with the Fig Road. This group of bigger buildings is the University. You will find all kinds of scientists there. Unfortunately it's one of the restricted areas for you.

• Scientists?

• Mostly unicorns, but also many horses. This whole City has been created by the unicorn magic, and they started our migration. Now we cooperate closely.

• Why did the migration start?

• I can't tell you. All you have to know, is that its reason was more important than just our freedom. Far more important.

• Will you transport all the horses of the world here?

• No, only the ones of required psychical abilities. A few months more and the migration will stop, we will only transport young horses born after the end of the main phase of migration, and only those that suit us.

• Ah. Okay, back to the topic - the Fig Road?

• It leads from the main exit on the far end of the Valley by the river, crosses the City, turns in our direction and climbs the slope to the Upper Town, ending right here, on the Viewpoint.

Suddenly she leaned against me stronger. I knew something worried her, some bad memories.

• What's wrong, my dear?

• Come to the edge of the Viewpoint and look down, at the bottom of the Valley there.

I did so. Under the high rock there was a deep ravine located below the surrounding City, with just a few small trees, grass not quite covering white irregular rocks, its deepest end touching the base of the Viewpoint, the other joining the labyrinth of narrow streets. I saw many horses on the bottom lying in different positions. I wanted to ask what are they doing there but then I noticed some white bones peeking through the skin of one of them.

• The End of All Roads, that's how we call this place. Old and hopelessly ill horses, when feeling their end close, enter the labyrinth of the streets and find the hidden entrance to the ravine. But some horses that are in great pain but their body wouldn't just pass away enter the End too... From here, from the Viewpoint, straight down... I was spending here way too much time looking down and pondering joining them. Now I'm so glad I decided otherwise!

• Let's go from here if this place brings you unpleasant memories.

We walked down Fig Road and I tried to focus her attention to something other than her memories.

• What's this big building, on the end of Auberge Road? Is this where the boss of this whole business lives?

• Oh, there? Well, you guessed right. The Palace, house of the Queen and the site of... damn, sorry, can't tell you. Do not even try to enter the square around it, nobody is allowed to do it, not only you. I'm not permitted to tell anyone what's inside the Palace but some day, maybe in many years, when you least expect it, the Queen will request you to come and you will see the Palace from inside yourself. It's really an interesting place and Queen calls everyone sooner or later.

We saw three unicorns, apparently guards approaching us. They stopped in front of us.

• Your Majesty Ravena Of Three Black Stars - said the biggest of them - Queen wants to see your human. He will follow us to the Palace. You may follow us to the Palace too, but you may not enter it.

I realised it was directed to me, that was why they spoke human language - but they wouldn't address me directly.

• My husband will obey Queen's orders - replied Ravena. She seemed as astonished as I was. We followed the unicorns.

• When I least expect it, right? - I grinned to her. - Tell me if there's anything I should know about the etiquette.

• Just obey all the orders, even the most strange ones, do nothing nasty and don't talk without permission.

We talked a while longer about how I should behave, we walked past the University, turning from the Fig Road into Auberge Road and soon we stood at the edge of a big empty grassy square in front of the Palace, a big building resembling ancient Roman palaces.

• I'll stay here - Ravena said. - Kiss me once more.

I kissed her silky nose and followed the three unicorn guards across the square.

6. Royalty.

(Author's note: I'm not permitted to tell anyone what's inside the Palace but some day, maybe in many years, when you least expect it, the Queen will request you to come and you will see the Palace from inside yourself. It's really an interesting place and Queen calls everyone sooner or later)

I stood on a small grassy patio surrounded by the Palace from three sides, sticking to the wall of the Valley with the fourth. I was trying to understand, classify and recall the miracles I'd just saw when another unicorn came accompanied by two mares.

• The security rules don't permit you meeting Queen unbound. Queen decided the way you were bound for the first time will be sufficient now too. Spread your hands.

The mares stood on my both sides, their backs to me, tails up and to a side. I obeyed and placed my fingertips on their vulvas. They began slowly walking toward me. I was working my dry hands in and out, to lubricate them better with their juices. I was trying to be gentle but apparently this wasn't the way they liked it, as just as my hands got in above my elbows they pushed hard against me that I roughly sank in them until their vulvas pushed against my shoulders.

Now I was facing the wall of the Valley and couldn't see what was going on behind me. I couldn't see the Queen approaching but I heard the hooves on the grass and the sound of tiny bells. I could also feel a very pleasant smell similar to some fruits but I couldn't think which ones.

• So that's you... The human who spent twelve years to find his horse love. - I heard her voice and it was Queen indeed. Soft, gentle, beautiful voice was pure pleasure for ears. She nudged my neck gently from behind with her subtle equine nose.

• Your lady and I talk a lot. I could say we are friends if we didn't differ in our opinions in so many matters. Many times she has talked about you. She told me many things about your various virtues and I will not deny her words about your high intelligence, great love, readiness for sacrifices, strong will that leads you to victory in all arguments, nor your skill in using complicated devices. Be sure that we will find use for your abilities some day, but now I asked you to come to verify the words of your lady I couldn't believe.

She walked around one of the two mares, entering my field of view. A horse? I looked harder. Yes, a horse indeed! How can she keep such a mass on her? Her shape was barely visible under the heavy mass of jewelry. Pendants, golden chains, huge pegasus-like silver wings on her sides with each feather in them being a masterpiece of jeweler work. Tail sparkling with hundreds of different colors of tiny gems attached to the hairs. A big silver star on her forehead, with a big diamond in the middle, multiple thin chains hanging in loops over her mane. Not many places on her body were visible from under the thick layer of precious metals and stones. And even though so ridiculously overloaded, even though she didn't resemble a horse anymore, the whole composition looked somehow pretty. She stood in front of me, the silver star sparkling in the sun.

• Tell me if this is the truth that you can give to any mare more pleasure than any stallion could.

I suddenly felt repulsed by the thought of making love to this pile of gold.

• Yes, mostly, Your Majesty. I'm not sure whether I could outrun every stallion in it, but for sure few could compete with me. This also depends on the mare, I must be attracted to her and all my efforts will be futile if the mare doesn't want to feel the pleasure.

• You do it with... - she gently nudged my prick - ...this?

• No, your majesty. This can be used in the play and can give me a lot of pleasure, but I reach the heights of my skill using my fingers and tongue.

• Your tongue? How long is your tongue?

• Not very long, really...

• Show!

I obeyed, showing my tongue.

• I don't believe you. You will have to prove your words to save the honor of your lady and your own. Now excuse me for a while, but this jewelry is getting really hot in the sunlight and I will have to remove some of it

She walked away and the sound of bells vanished in the building. I was left with the two mares and it was really getting hot. One of them snorted quietly, a unicorn appeared and they talked a while. The unicorn agreed.

• I think you'd prefer to move into the shadow - he said.

• Yes, gladly.

The mares let me go and we all walked into the shadow of the building. Next to the wall there was a table with a big flat bowl with water.

• If you want to drink some, feel free. Queen won't come here for a while yet.

I gladly accepted the offer and together with the two mares lowered my mouth to the bowl sipping the slightly salty, herb-smelling water. The light wind was cooling the air. I waited looking around, sitting on the edge of the table. One of the mares stood next to me with her tail up, and I was lazily caressing her sex. Finally the unicorn told me to stand up and prepare. The well lubricated hands slid into the mares easily, the one I stimulated earlier grunted loudly. I kept caressing her inside while waiting for the Queen.

Finally she entered. I smiled nicely surprised. A cute, gray mare, not very big, very proportionally built, definitely not the sale of the day on an average horse auction, but also not bad at all. She still had the colorful gems in her tail and mane (first I didn't see them in her mane, obscured by golden chains), and the silver star on her forehead, apparently this was the sign of her function. Now I didn't feel repulsed at all and I thought this could be really fun. I noticed from nowhere a single stone step like the beginning of a stairway appeared in front of me, while I was looking at her. She came to me and sniffed at me nudging my head gently.

• If you bite me, I will kill you. - she said.

• Your majesty, biting is part of it. I can only promise I won't bite you painfully nor hurt you in any way.

• Good, but be gentle.

She turned around and walked with her hind legs onto the stone step, lifting her tail. I bent my head forward and began gently licking her outside. Suddenly I heard a loud snort on my right - I was still stimulating that guard mare. I had to stop doing it and concentrate on the Queen.

First I just gently tickled her outside with my tongue. The cool wind was my friend, tickling and cooling the wet vulva. Then I gently tried the inside, took the lip in my mouth and sucked on it a bit... then moved my attention up to her anus. First a nervous clap of her tail closed all access, but then she lifted it up again, relaxing and letting me do my work. I rubbed her vulva with my chin and my tongue caressed her anus, entering the hole a little, circling around it and probing all cracks and details of her skin. Suddenly she winked and before it ended I got to lick her clitoris. I licked her outside a while more and was rewarded with another wink. This time I sucked at it rubbing it with my teeth. She snorted loudly and pushed with her vulva against my head. I was licking her inside rather roughly now, resting with all my weight on the two mares on my sides, being pushed strongly back. The Queen grunted quietly and pushed on me harder. I breathed through my nose and was completely gagged by her sex, pushing my tongue deep in. A wink, I sucked at her exposed clitty sucking it, another wink connected with a strong push, one of the mares supporting me lost her balance, stepped a bit to a side, the other moved a bit too and I pushed by Queen's sex on my face felt as my hands slid outside and I fell onto my back on the grass.

Before I noticed what was going on twenty or more unicorn horns were pointing at my body keeping me to the ground.

• Let him go! - I heard Queen's voice. All unicorns but one walked away. I stood up slowly giving him no reason to attack. I felt his horn on the back of my head and the known feeling of spike of ice sinking in my head. Queen stood in front of me.

• I believe you. I felt like never before in my life. I was too impatient, and I couldn't lead it to the end. In this case I will not finish it now, but wait till our next meeting, knowing that the taste and waiting will sharpen my appetite only. It seems that all Ravena told me about humans is true. I will tame my tongue in the discussions about their future and reconsider the project of living together. And I will wait till the next time with you.

7. Quarrel.

Ravena was waiting for me impatiently.

• And? What did she... - She sniffed the air. Then she walked around me sniffing all over me, finally snorted loudly.

• That slut!! She raped you! I'd kill her!

• Now you're being dishonest, besides she's your queen!

• Being "Advocatus Diaboli" entitles me to exclaim any questionable opinions I desire and now I say our Queen is a slut! To steal someone's husband and rape him like this! Why didn't you stop her??

• You told me to obey all her orders!

• But not to go to bed with her at the first opportunity!

Go to bed? Where did she find this expression, I thought, surprised.

• She said she wanted me to confirm all you had told her about me.

• And how did you know what had I told her?

• She told me some and I guessed the rest.

• Oh, ho, ho, how smart you are! Couldn't you just say "Yes, it's true"? No, you had to "prove". And had a lot of fun with her while I waited here worrying about you. If you're like this, go back, live with her and leave me alone! I go my way, you go yours. We aren't created for each other.

She turned away from me, I turned away from her and walked my way.

• I will find a nicer mare than you for myself and I hope you will find a nice, faithful and well-hung stallion for yourself too. - I shouted.

• I will! - she shouted back.

I turned into nearest small street. I hoped she hadn't changed much since she left. I started counting.

1. 2. 3... She'd never stood longer than to 250. 7. 8. 9. So we have the first quarrel since we'd reunited. And if... 15. 16. if she won't give up this time? No, I won't let her win. I never did. 23. 24. But if... Okay, I count to 300 and start looking for her to apologise. 30. 31. 32. And if she won't accept? 35. No, she will. I saw her, she missed me so much that she will forgive me. 44. She may humiliate me but she won't turn me down. 49. 50. I wish she came now apologising me as she did so many times in the past. 57. But she never did so below 80 so I have to wait some more. 66. But why can't it be me who apologises this time, to come to her and to say I was wrong, 73, that I did wrong and that I love her, 78. Would be really stupid to lose her now, when after all those years I found her, and I feel so bad about making her feel the same way I feel now, making her fight with herself like I do now and 92, worrying so much. I really should stop it. 100. Silly game, what am I trying to prove, that I'm the 109 master and she's my animal? 112. But this time I'm her pet and it's me who should apologise 121. I will turn back now and find her as fast as possible. 130. No, 40 more and then. 135. 136. 137. She has her reasons. She's too jealous, I know. 142. But in the other hand she must say I'm unfaithful and I betray her. 150. 20 more. And if it's those 20 too long? 154 No, she will forgive me. And wouldn't I be jealous on her place? 162 I don't know, she's always been faithful. 166. What is this approaching sound of hooves? Can it be her? 170. No, it can't be. Now or never!

• Please, stop! - She gasped. That's her!!! I won again! By a fraction of second! PMS factor 173, she had to be really upset!

Playing offended I turned to her.

• Please, don't leave me! I will never find a stallion to replace you and I couldn't stand seeing you with other mare, while being alone and unable to return. I can't live without you. You can live without me, but without you I can't. I'm your wife, you swore me to live with me until death parts us... Damn, I'm your property, according to human laws you have bought me! Can you dump me like this? You can, but for the sake of all our happy moments together, I beg you not to do it!

I thought about teasing her some more, but suddenly the image of the white bones I saw in the End of All Roads flashed through my mind. I hugged her head and kissed her nose gently as I was always doing, forgiving her all her faults and her anger, knowing that if I asked her to forgive me, she would too.

• So? What do we do now? - I asked her hugging her neck.

• I will introduce you to my friends, fine? Just get on my back, it's on the other end of the Valley.

On our way she asked me.

• Tell me, did you really want to leave me or you thought about turning back?

I thought for a while about the answer.

• I can't tell you. If I tell I was ready to leave you, you will worry that I don't love you, and if I say otherwise you will never give up first again!

• I knew! - she shouted cheerfully, kicking high in air that I barely stayed on her back. - If you hated me you'd say so! You really wanted me to go back! - She calmed down. - I was silly, being jealous about you like this. Don't let me behave like this again!

• How? - I asked as I really had no idea how could I stop her.

• You could... - she stood, thinking for a while - Damn, can't you think of something yourself?

8. Friends.

The fourth of the main streets was called the Plum Road, and as I looked closer I understood these aren't empty names - The trees growing by the roads were matching the names. Also smaller streets had similar names and in this way you could easily identify any street if you only could recognise the plants. I saw the huge building of Library and in reply to my notice about its size Ravena said it's just the top of the iceberg and most of the resources are hidden under the ground level. I asked Ravena what technique of writing they use as I saw no writings anywhere in the City and she answered the City is filled with different signs and writings only the technique they use differs a lot from ours so I won't be able to read anything without proper training... which I'm not supposed to pass yet.

We crossed the Peach Road and continued up the Plum Road toward the wall of the Valley. Here the houses were lower, completely covered with the plants that just cave-like entrances were visible and I would think I'm just going through a typical jungle ravine if not the wide white path of perfectly flat stone road appearing in the middle from under the moss.

Ravena looked at the sky. - Hold me tight, I must run if we're going to get there before the rain.

• Rain? - I said hugging her neck as she started light gallop. I tried to see the sky between the trees but couldn't see any clouds. But yes, it was the time for the tropical afternoon rain. She stood in front of one of the cave-like doorways and I felt the first drops of rain on my skin. As we got inside it was already pouring and the street turned into a river. I saw a young horse outside sliding down the street carried by water and I wanted to run to help it, but Ravena stood on my way.

• Hey, stop! Don't you dare spoiling his fun!!

• Fun??

• It's favorite play of the youth during the rain, to swim down the streets! There's no danger really!

I was feeling silly. I looked around the room. A pub was my first conclusion. Several different horses, small one-leg tables with flat wide bowls like I saw in the Palace, fruits, a long bar with a big black stallion behind it like a barkeeper, small dim bowls of light in different soft colors floating under the ceiling, quiet music... (Music? Well, indeed, though I never heard anything like this before. Anyway, it was nice.) A small pony mare came to us and talked to Ravena. From what I understood from horse language it was that they all have been waiting very impatiently to see me and Ravena was explaining that I was taken to the Palace. The small mare stood in front of me. Her voice was more of horse snorting and whinnying than human language, apparently she was just learning.

• Hi, I'm Philis. You want make love to me?

• Nice to meet you Philis. I'm not sure what Ravena says.

• A moment later, okay Cy?

• Cy? - I asked Ravena.

• Philis as well as Cy is short from Syphilis. That's her nickname because she's the greatest slut in the City, most enjoying the stallions three or four times bigger than she is.

• Phive! - Interrupted Cy.

• You found a stallion five times bigger than you?

Cy whinnied cheerfully and I saw all the horses in the pub laughing, in their way. - Fiohhhding! Yestehhhday!

• So you see, everyone's wondering how she managed not to catch any bad disease, and that's where her nickname comes from. Now you can imagine how she behaved as she heard you came after all those stories I told about you. Let me introduce you to the others. This is...

• Kars - The big black stallion from behind the bar introduced himself. - I had been owned by a woman that I loved a lot and she loved me too, though not sexually. I miss her badly and you can understand easily I and Ravena are close friends.

• Best friends - added Ravena.

• Yes, best friends. I can't count the times we pulled each other from depression. Now I think I won't have to cheer Ravena up any more, only she will have to take care of me from time to time. Do you maybe know anything about a woman from Iowa, US, called Pamela Rogers?

• I don't know... I'm not sure, I visited hundreds of people whose horses vanished, possibly her too. The name tells me something but can't remember her... If I've ever seen her, she's in the database I have on my laptop in my luggage.

• Could we check it later?

• If I could access my luggage and there's enough sun to recharge the batteries with solar panels.

• I will talk about it with the right persons. Thank you. I'd love to receive any sign of her life.

• Hi, I'm Sekken - a small but lean white stallion nudged my shoulder.

• Hi, pleased to meet you. Tell me, am I wrong or there's something Asiatic in you? - I asked as he had definitely Asiatic accent.

• I was born and brought up in Japan. - he answered. - Ravena wanted me to teach her all the modern technology and computers usage as she wanted to know what you saw in them - and so we became friends.

• A hi-tech horse from Japan? - I smiled - I'd love to learn about your technologies here, but for now I'm not permitted I think.

• Most of its technical side is based on human technology, especially the software. By the way, maybe you know where I could download the Linux kernel modules with advanced optic disk support including reading strongly damaged disks? I have some very important data on a damaged disk and can't get my box to read it, nor find anyone who could.

• I don't remember the URL but I was on that page, could find it at the next opportunity. Or... moment... Try Altavista search for 'trampled disk', I think that was how they called it.

• Thank you! If this works, you saved a month of work!

I felt the strange-known coolness on my arm. I looked in this direction and saw a unicorn. A wave of fear ran through my body.

• Hi, my name is Roal - he said. - No need to be afraid! I'm really not going to kill you nor terrorise you with my horn!

• Glad to hear it. So far most of the unicorns I've met wanted to kill me so you must understand my reaction.

• I do and I assure you that you'd have to be really very nasty to make me attack you. And very drunk or not very conscious as I'm not trained in fighting and you could beat me easily if you wanted.

• Unless you used your magic, tell him Roal - interrupted Ravena.

• Well, if you were quick enough I wouldn't get to do it. But yes, I know a few tricks that could save my skin.

• A few tricks? - Ravena grinned. - Don't believe him, he's one of the most powerful wizards around!

Roal examined my tail and ears. - Histan's work, I recognise it. Give me some time and I will make ten times better. You think these are fine but when I finish you will feel the difference!

• Tell me, if I'm allowed to know, what is the Magic really? Is this some form of advanced control of known forms of energy or does it use something that's not known to humans, or reaches different dimensions...?

• All of them. There are several completely different branches of science all covered with the name of Magic. Brain Control, Multidimensional Transfer, Mass Raw Data Transfer, Probability Control and a few more that have no names in any human language. But you're not permitted to know what I told you already anyway.

• What? - I didn't understand quite what he meant.

• Roal is in opposition to Queen and all the majority, negates all their decisions and ignores their laws and regulations. They would kick him away long time ago if he wasn't such a great wizard. So you see, with my function and his attitude no wonder we are friends. What? Hey, calm down, little germ! - Ravena laughed at impatient Cy who was nudging her leg.

A snort in the corner of the room attracted my attention. By one of the tables Erina was standing. Cy walked to her and they talked in horse language. I recognised "twice", "tired", "patience" but couldn't make out the whole conversation.

I tried my skill in horse language and snorted invitingly at Cy.

• Hey, I didn't permit you to... - began Ravena.

• Getting jealous again?

• Yes! I won't let you go alone with her or she'll fuck you to death!

Philis looked at me, a bit surprised. I repeated the snort and gesture of rut. She trotted toward the back door and tilted her head invitingly. I smiled at Ravena with the "come with us" horse gesture and followed Cy but I was stopped by an asking snort of Ravena, directed toward Kars.

• What's between you and him really, my love? - I asked.

• We are close friends... I was tempted to make love to him many times but I always wanted to stay faithful toward you... but if you wouldn't mind...

A spark of jealousy bit me but as I realised its source I fought the feeling and moved my ears in confirmation, then grunted friendly at Kars who whinnied loudly at this, apparently waiting for Ravena's permission for many years, dreaming about this moment and trotted to Ravena nibbling her mane gently.

I entered the other room after Philis, Ravena and Kars after me. Here the light was even dimmer and the floor was soft like plush. I was looking around, watching the room, made another step forward without looking and... Hey, this lil one is skilled!! She stood in such a way that I just filled her without even noticing!

"Clever" - I winked to her, resting my hands on her back and starting thrusting into her without any further introductions. Kars and Ravena played with each other a very gentle and soft foreplay.

• Youhhh small... - noticed Cy a bit disappointed.

I continued more roughly. She started enjoying it but seemed still disappointed. I wondered why but as I continued her disappointment seemed to vanish. I understood she was worried it takes me as much time as for an average stallion and as I continued she was grunting louder and louder. And then, to her sudden disappointment I came. She looked at me as if saying "This all was just a great hype" but I sat on the floor, put my fingers into her and started caressing her inside. The sound of hooves attracted my attention - Kars prepared to mount Ravena. He rested his strong body on her back and I saw the huge penis rising, seeking for her opening. She pushed back at him when it touched the right spot and I started thrusting my hand into Philis in his rhythm. I knew the lil one isn't into subtle oral plays, she wants a heavy fuck, so I was quite violent, pushing my hand hard into her, until I got it in above my elbow reaching to her bottom. I kept thrusting my hand in and out quickly, watching fascinated as Kars sinks his whole length in Ravena, snorting loudly and I saw the squirt of her orgasm pouring onto the floor. But then as Kars retreated I continued, opening and closing my hand, bending the wrist, grabbing the inside and pulling on it and feeling as Cy spasms, as if she was gagging on my hand, only this wasn't her throat! A few strong spasms and she squirted onto my hand.

• That was ghhhhhheat! HHHavena tell thhhuth! Youhhh the best! - she turned to me slipping off my hand to nibble cheerfully at my hair.

• Want once more? - I asked, seeing as Ravena and Kars don't seem to be satisfied with one time only too.

• You can?

• My hand doesn't get tired as easily as my cock.

I didn't have to invite her any more. She stood there, all open for me. The wet hand slid in easily. With the other hand I scritched her nipples and watched as her body freezes in delight. I moved my hand from her nipples to the underside of her tail and scritched it gently while still playing with her inside with the other hand. That was simple, a wanting and hot mare, no need for any great skill, just relaxed play driving her crazy from joy. And I saw Kars on top of Ravena again, this time doing this much more sensually and gently. First time in my life I saw a stallion prolonging the intercourse... and then he sped up again and they both grunted loudly orgasming at the same time. Cy was wriggling on my hand, pushing with her ass against it, apparently wanting more and faster. I knelt up and started turning my hand in her and grasping her slippery flesh inside. This time she came in silence, it was just one quick clutch, short release and the hard clutch connected with the orgasm and squirt of urine. This time she stayed on my hand and wriggled wanting more but I slapped her ass.

• My hand is starting to ache. We will do it again another time.

• Youhhh best! I love you! - she cheered turning to me. I grabbed her mane and pulled her ear to my mouth.

• I'll tell you a secret. - I whispered. - I can do it ten times better.

• I don't believe - she stared at me unbelieving - Can't be bettahhh!

• Turn around.

She obeyed. I crouched and licked her vulva teasingly. I inserted my tongue a bit and she cried from joy! Slid it up and down and and her cry was long and loud! I retreated my face and slapped her ass. She gasped hard staring at me.

• Take me, own me, all I have, I'm all yohhh only finish it!!

• Not today. If you wait for me knowing what you can expect, the pleasure will be way stronger.

Three gestures. I recognised two first, but didn't know the third. Ravena was standing there resting her neck on Kars' neck. I moved my ears in a question to her.

• She said "Don't close my heaven" - she answered.

• Cy, the more you wait the sweeter is the prize when you get it! - I smiled to the pony mare. - And I'm tired today.

She went away sad as if I had beaten her. As she entered the main room I heard a question. I didn't see her answer but the answer to it was the burst of laughter everywhere and her angry and offensive comment about the laughing horses. I must have seriously pissed her off!

9. Project Genocide.

Ravena and Kars stood there, head on neck of each other, enjoying their closeness. I wondered if they loved each other. Possibly, but that didn't change the fact that Ravena loved me. I lay on the soft floor, resting. I heard another horse entering. In the dim light I recognised Erina standing over me. She lay down next to me, then placed her head on my chest, looking into my eyes. I scritched her head gently, playing with her mane. She was really pretty. Not a foal anymore, not a fully grown mare yet. Freshness of look, the mistaking atmosphere of innocence. I knew what I saw: Ravena twenty years ago. The first evening when I took her inside my house. She laid her head on me in the same manner. I smiled and gently kissed the soft nose. The images of my past came. The auction, horses in my garden crowded together during the rain, farewell to the last of the horses, Ravena cold in the first snow, and then curled by the radiator, her young face just like Erina now... Then our first time, the joy of greetings, human friends from the net, the pagan ceremony of wedding, the night of farewell and my fear when she vanished. Investigation, bribes, questions... Then the hack to obtain the database and first escape from the police. Traveling through half of the country visiting the people who lost their horses, the crazy man who saw the unicorns and later others who saw the same... Then long weeks of digging in the biggest libraries and mad escape from the police with a scrap of paper containing the name of the ancient sect worshiping the unicorns. Travel to Asia under fake ID, search, then the third level of experience required to learn the secret of a martial arts school and six years of studying the meditation and martial arts in order to access it, finally the most promising apprentice leaves the school to the great disappointment of the masters and starts seeking some miracle that existed in their teachings but no one believed in it. Then wandering through the highest mountains and finding the hidden entrance to the forgotten temple. Ancient writings code cracked by modern technology, and again great escape from the Indian police chasing me for hacking the most powerful computer in the country. Crossing Pakistan and Afghanistan on a stolen horse, then stalking into Russian nuclear missile silo and hidden in the core of their computer, hardwiring my laptop to it and hacking the code of their spy satellite. Then the longest half of a day before the satellite reached the spot over the middle of Africa. No time to return it to safe orbit as they burst into the computer core and under the avalanche of bullets destroying the advanced devices I dash outside and steal a helicopter. Crazy improvisation on the controls as all I know about helicopters I learned in computer games, and finally crash landing in some lake. I recognise shapes of horses on the photos from the satellite. News about the satellite crashing on the territory of US. Three months of frenzied escape, blowing up two gas stations, three hotels and countless cars meantime, and seeing my name on the first pages of the international news. And finally one night while running from a town under the bombs of fighters attacking me on the main street I turn into a small street to fall under the feet of five guys in black suits and black glasses. And instead of gunshots into my head I hear perfect American English: "Good evening. Would you like to work for CIA?" I sign a three-year contract in exchange for getting me out of there and keep working as a secret agent, stealing most secret documents of Russia for the US government. Three years pass finally and I get another offer: Either I prolong my contract or I die. With the head of CIA as a hostage I demand a fighter plane with extra fuel tanks, then fly it to Africa. (luckily as a secret agent I passed the pilot training) It runs out of fuel two thousand kilometers from the target and I drop the hostage off with a parachute, then jump myself a few minutes later. Three weeks of hiding in the jungle from commandos hunting for me and finally "a relaxing calm walk" through the wilderness toward the target of my search. Two unicorns and Ravena mixed in my head with the other images, angry faces of the head of CIA, the agents of KGB, the assassins and policemen... And then there was only the soft touch of warm equine head on my chest and calm sleep covered me.

A soft nudge woke me up. I was relaxed and refreshed, I had to spend at least a few hours sleeping.

• Wake up my dear, it's morning! - the beautiful voice of Ravena rang in air.

• Not "open your eyes, I order you?" - I grinned to her.

• I decided there's no need to turn you down and force you to anything. This way it's much nicer, isn't it?

• Hi! - I heard the voice of Philis. I looked at Ravena with a question.

• She returned a moment after you went to sleep and waited here all night.

• Did you sleep at all? - I asked Cy.

• Yes, some. - she answered.

• I think she won't let me out if I don't finish what I started yesterday - I said to Ravena.

• Abandon any hope that she will give up afterward.

Cy stood by me with her tail up already. I started methodically licking her and doing my best to build up strongest excitement as fast as possible. And then I just stopped. This turned me on so I looked at my prick, at Ravena and she nodded approvingly. I saw no step, no bucket nor anything like this unfortunately. Cy looked at me as if I was a criminal leaving her in this state but I just told her to lie down behind Ravena, climbed her back and started making a passionate love to my wife. We both reached orgasm easily and quickly and it was very relaxing, not tiring. Again I licked Cy to the edge and again stopped just before her top. She was frustrated and angry when I simply asked if there was anything to eat.

• This is Plum Road. Orange Street runs halfway to Auberge Road just a few steps left from the exit and the smaller streets are the Blackberry Street and Wildberry Street, just behind the corner.

I chuckled at this geographical lecture and decided a few oranges and plums would do. The main room of the pub was almost empty, only Kars was behind the bar talking with Sekken and some unknown old brown gelding stood in the corner of the room. We all decided to go outside for "breakfast". I ate several plums, a few oranges and Cy a few times, always keeping her on the edge. I asked Ravena about the rules of easing physiological needs here (as I saw the streets clean and no toilets anywhere) and she pointed at thin dead end between two buildings. There was a grate there and a plant with leaves big enough to work as toilet paper for me. With the whole group I went to the wall of the Valley and there was a stream pouring down the wall entering a small depression in the ground, then falling into another, flat, shallow and wide, forming a large puddle. The depression was for drinking, the puddle for washing. The horses looked so careless and free when they wallowed in the water. Again in the pond I ate Cy and she begged me to finish this time. I still refused. On our way back to the pub I teased her sex with my fingers and when we were there I told her to stop and step off the road onto the soft moss. This time I used all my experience making her orgasm grow and grow instead of ending. Her vagina was clutching madly, her yelps of ecstasy were getting more and more frenzied and then they faded down weaker and weaker - and suddenly she fell onto the soft moss, unconscious, as if hit with a deadly blow. I checked if she was breathing, smiled to the others and we entered the pub.

• Amazing - said Sekken - I've never seen anything like this!

• We have to do it soon too, haven't done this in a while - added Ravena.

• Hi. What have you done to Cy? - voice of Roal greeted me.

• She passed off, just outside. She will wake up, all aching in half an hour and will leave me in peace for a few days.

• A few days? You underestimate Cy.

• You underestimate me - I grinned to him.

• Do I really?

• You do - confirmed Ravena grinning.

Sekken told Roal the whole story with details. He was still very impressed with my performance.

A sudden thought struck me.

• Am I mistaken or you're all some secret resistance against the establishment? - I asked Ravena.

• Nooo! - She answered surprised - We aren't any secret resistance! We are absolutely official and open opposition! Our plans aren't secret at all and we are an absolutely legal organisation! We all here in this room are human friendly and against... eeh, can't tell you.

• Against the destruction of the human race. - finished Roal

• Roal!!! - Ravena shouted at him.

• I'm not feeling loyal to anyone and I think he deserves to know.

What? So that was the purpose of this all? I couldn't believe it. Horses had their reasons to dislike humans but... the destruction of the human race? Would they be so aggressive?

• But you endanger his life! Now tell him the whole truth or we all may get in even worse trouble than now. I hope they won't decide to kill him when they learn that he knows.

• Okay. Time extrapolation... Future telling told us that quite soon, in about fifteen years, the human race will start a nuclear war. This can happen a bit earlier or a bit later, this country or another can start it, but it's sure it will be and the result will be at least 80% of life on Earth killed, at worst the globe fracture and total destruction of the planet. Only a very strong influence can prevent it. The only method of stopping them permanently is to destroy them. In a quiet, painless, non-destructive way. Some extremist say they don't deserve it and that they should be killed in pain and terror. But we say the selection must be made. The hostile ones will vanish, the friendly ones will be invited to cooperate in creation of the new world together.

• That's impossible - I sighed. - You'd still have to destroy 80% of the humanity and would the rest forgive you?

• We thought of it much longer than you did and it seems it is possible, though much more difficult than simple genocide. The project is very complex and some details still require a lot of work but it has more than 70% chances of success.

• Seventy percent? And the rest?

• Terrible bloody war between humans and horses. I hope we can gain a few percent more working on the details.

• And the chances of the genocide project?

• Almost 100%. Tiny chance of mistake.

• Damn you, I'm against you! Kill me, kill all the other humans, only prevent this bloody war!!

• Hey, calm down! Listen. We must try! Imagine, this is killing the whole species!

• Do you really? Humans kill several hundreds species every year, why can't you kill one, ending the carnage?

Roal sighed. - You're using the same arguments as our opponents. Why? Because we are not humans!!!

I sighed too. Maybe I should really listen? - Tell me the details - I asked.

• Not 80% to be killed but over 99%. Leaving only those who agree with us. And choosing them carefully. The genocide project is a special selective virus, but there's a vaccine. We just give the pills to the chosen ones... and then let the virus work. And then broadcast a signal of activation. In one moment, without pain, fear, without any feelings, they will all just die. And this will be just a few days before when they would die in much more painful way.

• Sounds reasonable unless we are infiltrated.

• That's the danger. Almost 30% of chances that we let at least one hostile secret agent join in.

• I'm in. I think I could be helpful if you succeed in your plans. Since I passed the training of a secret agent and it included recognising other sec...

• You passed WHAT??? - shouted Ravena.

• Training of a secret agent. Did I tell you I also mastered martial arts, learned two dead languages and used virtually every weapon Russians produced?

• Russians... - Sekken a bit puzzled began - Don't tell me you're...

• The guy who blew up half of Russia three years ago. Yes, that's me. And all this to find this innocent black mare - I winked toward Ravena.

• This changes things a little... - she said. - I was presenting you to everyone as completely harmless, friendly human...

• ...while I'm extremely dangerous friendly human. - I smiled.

I noticed Roal stood behind me but didn't consider it being dangerous in any way, finally they were friends, weren't they? And then darkness surrounded me.

10. Home

Very angry snorts of Philis woke me up. I opened my eyes. My head ached terribly.

• All you told us is true - said Roal.

• I know - I answered a bit senselessly.

• You are free to stay with us. You are given all the rights every horse here has - said Queen. What was she doing here? Where am I?

I tried to sit up but my muscles protested with terrible ache. I only managed to turn my head and saw Cy very upset, cursing all the other horses for what they have done to me.

• Don't move. You need rest. - I heard Ravena's voice from the other side.

• What happened? - I asked. My throat felt as if I had been drinking concrete a few hours ago.

• First we took word from Ravena that you're harmless - Queen began - We neglected the very strict security rules, only limiting your rights instead.

• But then - I heard Roal - as you revealed your abilities we couldn't let you remain on your current status. We had to examine your psyche. Very thoroughly. This is a very complicated process and also exhausting for your organism. But you passed the tests. We were watching your memories like an action movie! You really passed all this for her!

• Now sleep. You have to rest. - said Ravena.

Roal lowered his horn and touched my head. The darkness soon turned into colorful dreams of me and Ravena. Even awakening later wasn't bad. The ache in my head and muscles had almost completely vanished.

• Slowly! - I heard Sekken's voice when I was sitting up. I waited a moment and a wave of dizziness came and passed. I was sitting on a big, warm block of metal in a not very big room, ivory-colored walls, the same room I woke up in earlier, only now no one but Sekken was here. He stood behind a big console of screens in the corner. My laptop was lying at his hooves. I slowly stood up and rested against the solid metal table waiting for second wave of dizziness to pass.

• How long did I sleep?

• Nineteen hours.

• And you, all the time...

• No, I just came here to change the technician who was watching over your life functions before. I hoped when you wake up you could answer my question before the mares come to kidnap you for sex.

• Ask.

• What kind of protection did you use in your laptop? Examining its disk contents was to be the part of learning about you and I was to partake, but I failed completely. All your main partitions look like total junk at the hardware level, completely unformatted.

• Been trying to hack me? - I grinned and wasn't surprised at all with his failure.

• This is part of my job. Seems I failed. I tried everything but I have to surrender.

I grinned, walked to my box, rebooted it holding my hand on the secret '9th bit' button. Login, password, I'm in. Talking about this partitions? - I displayed the list, which seemed perfectly okay.

• Y..yes.

• This box is strongly modified. All parity checks both on harddisk and in memory are off. A small checksum checking subprocess uses a little of CPU time and all the parity bits extend standard byte size. This computer by default uses 9-bit long bytes.

• You had to rewrite the kernel, BIOS, everything!

• We were free to choose the method of meditations in the school of martial arts. Six hours of constant work every day on it, for four years without break. And no test runs, no test compilation, pure source writing. After I left the school I typed 'make' and the whole system compiled without a single warning. And it was 100% bug free, still is. There's real Zen in this computer. - I smiled. - It's still faster than all the computers that were produced since then.

I started browsing the database. - What was that Kars' woman's name?

• Pamela Rogers I think.

I found it quickly. Pamela Rogers, lost her horse, big thoroughbred black stallion called Blazer. She offers prize of $100k for any info that would help finding him. She saw nothing suspicious. Phone nr. Email.

• Shall we write her?

Sekken smiled to me. He pointed with his nose at USB cable plugged into the console. I plugged the other end into my computer and typed in all the network parameters. ifconfig usb0 UP! ssh... Works! His login, his password. Moment... This hostname, this login...

• Sekken? MD7 encryption. Was that you who got the idea of splitting the hash into four crackable sections? About a year ago...

• Yes, I was discussing it on emails with one hacker who was very interested in it. How did you know?

• That hacker was me, trying to decrypt some documents I stole from Japanese spies while I worked in CIA.

• This net is so small! - we laughed.

• Damn, if I knew you were a horse! All I'd have would be to follow the wires... But by then I knew the Valley location anyway.

• You'd get nowhere. Our net gateway is well hidden.

• I hope her email is still valid.

I started the mailer. To: Pamela Rogers <[email protected]>, Subject: Kars...erm, del del del del Blazer.

Dear madam. Maybe you remember a man who visited you eleven years ago, asking you about the circumstances of vanishing of your horse. That was me, I was looking for my mare then. Now, after eleven years I found her and your horse together with her. - I thought for a while, erased the end of the sentence and replaced it with "too". - I'm not permitted to reveal any details, but I can say he's safe, healthy and lives in comfortable conditions. Your horse is mostly happy where he lives now, he only misses you very much. If you're still interested in seeing him, in next email I will pass a bit more details and with some luck maybe some possibility of visiting you or sending a messenger. For now I want you to know that your horse hasn't been kidn...del del del del stolen, and you shouldn't contact the Police nor try to trace this email as this wouldn't help only cause unnecessary trouble. I know this all sounds very mysterious, but the situation is much more complex than any of us had expected, but it's now all under control and there's no need to worry. Faithfully...

ps. His true name is Kars, not Blazer.

• This is lame - I looked at Sekken - This won't calm her down.

• Will be sufficient. Send it. - he said.

Three quick keystrokes. Sending...done.

• What now?

• I will let you know when I get the reply. We may go.

Suddenly a young stallion I had noticed earlier in the Pub trotted in, looking rather upset.

Sekken introduced me. - And this is Sheen, works in teleportation dept, transporting all the newcomers to the Valley, so some call him Scotty.

• You watch Star Trek here too? - I asked but didn't get the answer as Sheen interrupted.

• What have you done to Philis? - His speech wasn't quite clean but he spoke better than Cy for sure.

• What's with her? - I asked.

• She's sick! I was horny this morning and asked her and she turned me down! She never had never done that before to any stallion!

• She's just fed up with sex and will remain such for a few days, but not longer than for a week. Then she will be her old self again.

Sheen seemed to accept this. - You made many stallions unhappy. Seems I will have to look for another mare for now... may take some time...

• My fault, I have to repair this. Sekken, Join you out-P?

• Ack. - he replied in hacker jargon and trotted outside.

• Stand here and relax... Hmm, I think I need some protein supply.

I sat down comfortably under Sheen. He snorted a bit embarrassed but I repeated "relax" and he did so as my tongue touched the opening of his sheath. I didn't touch his balls until I felt his tip in my mouth. I gently chewed the big head and massaged his balls. It took rather short time until I couldn't reach the balls anymore so I crawled a bit back to adjust my position to the growing cock. My mouth was filling with precum. I spat some of it onto my palms and began rubbing his cock with them, massaging it, squeezing and scritching. I felt him starting thrusting into my mouth and his flare growing so I rubbed his cock stronger, with both hands, closed my mouth tightly around his huge tip and just allowed him to pump all his load down into my stomach. I held him a moment yet, feeling as he enjoyed the afterglow, squeezing the cock from the base to tip, pushing the remaining semen out and swallowing it, then gently held the limp cock up, releasing from my mouth as he retracted it back to the sheath. As I stood up I just saw speechless, satisfied "thank you" in horse language of his body. We both liked it.

I unplugged my laptop, took it and Sheen asked me to follow. We went out through the exit and entered a short corridor sloping gently up. Then there was a node of a few corridors, and Sheen took one leading up, more steeply. This one was rather long so we walked for a while and just as we were by the exit Ravena appeared from behind the corner. Sekken was following just behind her.

• Hi - I said nicely surprised.

• Hi. I was going to visit you to see how are you feeling but seems I'm late - she sniffed curiously at me. - Since when are you into stallions?

• Since my escape from India. I met... stole a very nice stallion there and while crossing Pakistan and Afghanistan, I'm not sure whether I spent more time on his back or under his belly. But there was a reason - He could find grass for himself and I couldn't find food as easily. Finally as I found the secret Russian base in Kazakhstan I let him live wild life in the green steppes. You probably know the next months of my life from news.

• Great explosive tournee through Russia? But don't tell me you're starving here!

• Right now I am. I'm pondering going to the Rain Grove to pick some fish, I don't think the fruits will be enough now. Would it be possible to make fire somewhere here to fry the fish?

• I think microwaving them would be simpler. I have a microwave at my place - interrupted Sekken. - But now it's raining outside and the Rain Grove isn't a very safe place at the moment. You can get flushed down to the river and you won't stop on a grate like the foals swimming down the streets. And even if you don't drown, the river is full of nasty snakes and crocodiles just below the Valley. Better we all go to my place, I have some protein pills and a good supply of fruits.

• You must excuse me - said Sh... What was his name? Okay, let's say Scotty. - I have some work to do yet.

We said good bye and he left.

We walked through the labyrinth of wide, bright corridors in different colors, sometimes with interesting drawings on the walls, sometimes the drawings were animated. It wasn't dark and the walls didn't shine but I saw no source of light anywhere. I asked Sekken about it.

• Simple texture properties - he answered without explaining it any further.

• We are in that mysterious Underground Network? How do you find the way here?

• Yes, we are. Simply, signs everywhere.

• You must teach me your writing technique - I said to Ravena.

• Not me. Roal will, when he finds some time. He's always very busy.

We turned from one of the corridors into a short passage ending in a not very big room. I recognised most of standard human house equipment but some of it was unknown to me. A fridge, a big computer panel with many screens and no keyboard, a big mattress in the corner in a shallow depression in the floor, the table with flat bowl with water on top like ones I've seen before - They must have some special meaning - I thought. On the walls plants in pots were hanging and a big stereo tower with many shining lights was lying on top of one of four huge speaker columns lying in four corners of the room. A cupboard with some modern sculptures on top of it was standing by the wall.

• I have a very human-like lifestyle - said Sekken - Horses say I'm eccentric. I even lie down on the mattress when I sleep.

He walked to a the cupboard and a drawer in it slid open.

• Please, serve yourself - he said. - The brightly pink ones. Three or four should suffice... Oh, but you're a human. Two at most then.

I saw the drawer contained a few flat open boxes with different colorful pills. I asked Sekken about the rest of them.

• Anticonception, activity pills preventing sleep, anti-depressants, luckily never needed those, vitamins, basic medicaments, B.Re.P., salt...

• Big Red Pill? - I decoded the shortcut.

• Take one. Something between beer and marijuana, also contains pain killers, aphrodisiac, horse kind of Viagra and some other stuff. OH! Damn, too late, you swallowed. As a human you shouldn't take more than half... But this has no negative effects on health, you will just feel good, rather horny and in great mood for a few hours. Ravena, take one too.

• I usually don't take those but... - Ravena smiled and swallowed one, then I noticed Sekken taking two. I felt the big pill got stuck deep in my throat.

• May I drink some? - I pointed at the bowl.

• Sure, feeling you're getting old? - he replied, grinning.

• What do you mean? - I asked bowing to drink from the bowl which was attached to the table.

• These tables - Ravena began - We call them fountains of youth. This is the secret of the horses staying young here for many years. It will work on you too, the effect strength may vary from species to species but shouldn't be that different.

The drink from the bowl tasted like alcohol free beer, so I didn't like it too much, but it wasn't very bad. The pill slid down to my stomach.

• Sorry, couldn't find real beer taste anywhere in the Valley - said Sekken.

I drank some more. I turned 45 and my body wasn't as effective as it used to be, even some of my hair was getting white. Only my soul returned to youth since I found my love.

• So you're practically immortal?

• No... Let me explain. In a few weeks you will get much younger and will have to drink it more rarely... until your organism starts building immunity over many years and you have to drink much more, and finally give up as no amount is sufficient to keep the effect. For an average horse it gives seventy years of live extra. It wasn't designed for humans so it won't be as effective, but I think you should get back to youth and remain young for thirty years or so yet before you start aging again.

• I have some rather dangerous and difficult work to do. Would you help me? - Sekken asked.

• What's that?

• Log in. - I found the USB wire in his console and quickly logged in with my laptop.

• Passwd.txt. That's what I retrieved from the damaged disk our messenger brought us and I passed through Crack on our mainframe. Thanks for telling me about that 'trampled disk' module!

I looked at the file. Yes, output from Crack on some server. And then I began recognising the names and logins of my old job partners...

• Shit! Sekken, this are the passwords of the main CIA mailserver! - I looked down the list... Quite innocently between agent Rooster and agent Roovan, there was the root login with sophisticated password next to it. - Where did you get this file from?

• Some friends over the ocean, with similar interests as I, only not knowing that I'm a horse. A few weeks ago they even invited me to a meeting, unfortunately I had to turn down the offer... even though they bought me a first class plane ticket. Well, bought doesn't mean paid for it. I always listen to some loud music when I work, doesn't that disturb you?

• Nope. What do you listen to?

• Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

• Cool. You horses play heavy metal too?

• Nope. But I have downloaded a ton of mp4 of it!

The tower behind us came to life. I recognised first notes from the most recent album of Metallica. The exit from the room was closed by a terribly heavy, sophisticated door, the kind you find on low decks of ships.

• Do you maybe know which of those people have anything to do with nuclear weapons, radioactives, military research, nuclear war planning etc?

I looked at the list and began selecting the names I knew about, a few executives, later these I suspected and finally these who had too many cases not to be engaged in it. I passed the new file to Sekken.

• Begin from the top, these are the most probable.

• Ready? Follow the path I tell you, we don't want to leave two separate trails in case they detect the intrusion.

We began logging in, jumping from one server to another. I stopped Sekken once, telling him I know that given provider cooperates with NSA logging everything and we took other route. After seventeenth jump I still didn't see any connection quality loss, and made my appreciation to Sekken. Two more protocol changes, one encrypted gateway, a trusted PC on CIA subnet and we were ready.

• Okay. Root on that box can't access private user mail. I need to log in with each of these usernames separately to download the data. You log in as root, disable loggers, remove our tracks and prepare a safe stealth exit. And monitor the box for unwanted programs and users. - he shouted over the loud music.

• Ready? Let's go!

First login as normal user. last | head ; who. Clean. su -. Password: 13^a@L-)6z{_ and I'm in! I quickly create fake security stream to remote logging host, shut the loggers down and start editing the system logs removing our login. Then I upload a small script which will remove all the tracks of our presence after our logout, return the system to normal state and self-destruct. Loud music, fast connection, very secure server... really hard ride! Ravena rests her neck on my shoulder and I sweep through the user list.

• How much longer?

• Got over half by now.

• Skip Derek, he's logged in.

• Ack.

I see our secretary just logged in and I suppress the urge to send her a greeting. She never understood computers really, so she wouldn't understand what that meant, root sending her a smiley. I primed the logout script to one minute. If it takes longer I will reset it, but if we get disconnected our tracks will be removed. ps aux | more. Dead silence in logging. netstat. One incoming mail transfer, three normal remote users and two our connections looking just like normal users too. who. OH SHIT!

• Sekken, LOGOUT!!!

Script to 3 seconds, unconditional poweroff in 5 seconds. logout!

• What happened?

• The admin logged in to his personal account. He always reads his fortune cookie before logging in as root. Then first thing he does is checking the access log. Not finding his login he would find out we're in immediately. With the poweroff he will think it was just power failure and the computer didn't write the cache to disk.

We began retreating, wiping our tracks after us.

• Got over 80%. You said the most probable guys were on top?

• Yes.

• So I got all the stuff I needed. Thanks for a great ride together! Now I gotta crack the code. I will be assigned to some boring job until the mainframe cracks it... And then will spend a few weeks on reading it. I've downloaded over 100 megs of text.

• You may find this helpful. - I uploaded a few files to Sekken's disk from my laptop. - As I was leaving CIA in that rather loud way I thought I may need this. They may still work.

• Code keys! Master key! And it works! Cool! You just saved another 4 weeks of work!

• No problem. Damn, this BReP is great! I feel really superb! Ravena, darling?

• Am I hot? - she guessed my thoughts - Yes, I am.

• And what about me? - complained Sekken.

I was feeling very brave and after (mostly) successful hack, ready for all experiments.

• I'm still a virgin from behind. - I said - Time to finish it!

• Are sure you know what you're asking for? - Ravena asked.

• Nope. But that's insignificant. I want it.

• The lowest drawer - said Sekken.

I opened it. Full of electronic parts, but there was a big bottle of lube too. I smeared a lot of it over my ass and wiped my hand on my penis. Ravena lay down on the mattress, I knelt behind her and aimed... She was tight like never before! I bent forward and Sekken walked over me, reminding the space cruiser from the beginning of Star Wars. Here he goes! How is he going to fit THAT in me? A sudden thought hit me and seemed very funny, like a guy who tries to wear shoes 5 numbers too small. And then I understood, as he did. Oh well I understood!

I yelped loudly as the thick cock invaded me stretching me painfully. He wasn't trying to be gentle, and I cried as the powerful thrusts began sinking the hard shaft deep in me. Before I even fully understood what's going on I was cumming inside of Ravena, without getting any softer.

He pushed harder. Now he wasn't getting any deeper, but his powerful thrusts were pushing me hard into Ravena. AARGH! He's flaring!! I can't take any more, please, stop, and I feel Ravena clutching on me, waves of her orgasm, my own, Sekken's cock feeling like fire in my anus, shooting his load into me, aaaah... and over, again, without any break, I thrust into Ravena's soaked pussy, Sekken into my bleeding ass, the pain is not important, I feel the cum dripping down my legs, and that incredible feeling, when I feel the pleasure equal to orgasm, but it's not going to explode and stop, only grows with each second, ah, Ravena, the miracle of Nature bringing me to new heights and without any sign of end! More, more even more! I was crying and gasping, pushing harder...harder... being filled completely from behind... And if it never fades down and I have to live in the state of maximum orgasm forever, what then? A silly thought, but then I clutched my teeth as if a fountain of sparks ran through the inside of my body, my cock caressed, pressed, squeezed, on its whole length including what I had inside of my body, then warm fluid tickling its back, another wave of different fluid caressing and biting the tip and (AIEEE!) it's inside, all along, the feeling doubled as I felt a ton of fluffy fur collapsing onto my back, smashing me in a huge furry sandwich, and I felt as my inside in orgasm flails trying to push the alien fluid outside with my sperm and searing pain wandered up two paths toward my stomach, then turned and leaving two trails of fire inside of me flamed down toward my balls. I limply slipped from between the horses, pulling my cock out from Ravena and Sekken's cock from me.

Next thing I saw was Ravena standing over me, whole covered with foam as if after a long run, looking at me.

• Are you okay? - she asked with trembling voice.

• It hurts... - I muttered.

• Sorry for being so... rough - gasped Sekken.

• No... it hurts... here - I pointed below my stomach. My whole lower body was like on fire, the anus too, but that didn't matter so much. Something was terribly wrong within me.

• I'll better call a doctor. You may have some internal damage. - Sekken stumbled toward the console. - Damn, I can't concentrate to dial the number, you try.

Ravena sighed. - I just found Roal, he was passing by nearby, he will be here in a moment. Open the door.

The door slid open and I heard Roal galloping in. He stopped in the middle of the room and looked around. The door slid close behind him.

• Well, well, well... What do we have here... A small orgy on BReP. I'd say you got what you deserved. That was really stupid! Let's see... You two seem undamaged, but you... - he lowered his horn onto me - What a mess! You're filled with mare cum! You're lucky the main blast hit the bladder, otherwise you'd have your testicles damaged. But anyway, I can do nothing before you cum.

• In this state? Are you kidding?

• And better do it quick. You must get rid of her urine from your inside before you get any inflammation.

• How?

• You're after BReP, this shouldn't be difficult, only very painful.

• Don't worry, I will do this - Ravena said - I surfed the net some and saw how humans do it.

She stood over me, took my cock in her mouth, and began sucking gently. Roal was right, it was easy. The slow strokes made me forget about all the pain and sink in a happy bliss, with pleasure spreading wider, growing faster and then suddenly I came and prayed for it to end faster as the fierce pain covered all my pleasure. I gasped hard as it ended.

• Bleah, that's my piss! - Ravena spat.

I felt a tingling sensation as Roal lowered his horn and the awful pain began vanishing in different places of my body, one after another. Finally only my anus was hurting. Roal told me to turn onto my belly.

• No internal damage, only slightly torn anal ring. I'm pondering leaving it like this to teach you a lesson. Eh, I won't be so nasty... but next time you do something equally stupid, don't count on my help! - and the last source of pain in my body vanished.

• Next time when you try anal, start with ponies and make sure your partner didn't take BReP, the same applies to mares you're with. A stallion cums with much bigger power than you so at worst they can have their bladders filled with mare cum, while you can damage your testicles permanently. Now you all should take a bath. And you, babe - he winked to Ravena - I didn't know you can be so tight! What about some...

• Hey, she's mine! - I shouted.

• That's how grateful humans are! - Roal complained.

• And I'm mine and only mine - added Ravena - and that's me who decides who I want to be with. Thank you, Roal, sometime for sure, but not without my man, and not in very close future. Fine?

• That's the spirit! She makes love to half the City and still remains faithful to her husband! - joked Roal.

• What a half of the City? Yesterday I had my first stallion for... Oh, hell! Kars was the first stallion in my life! And I always considered myself "experienced"! - She suddenly looked at me suspiciously. - And you! Did you have any human women while I wasn't with you?

• Please, forgive me! I did, but I didn't enjoy them at all! That Russian girl would sell me out to KGB if I didn't do it, and earlier in India I found no other way of getting the password of their firewall computer than to seduce their network administrator, rather elder woman.

• Liar!

• No, I swear, she was old and unattractive! I really didn't enjoy it at all!

• And you told it to her while you seduced her? Either then or now, you lie.

• I surrender. What should I do so you forgive me?

• Promise you will never touch any woman in a sexual way.

• As long as you're with me!

• NEVER!

• Harsh condition. Okay, I promise!

Roal left while we were arguing so I didn't get the opportunity to thank him for healing me. I also noticed the mattress vanished from the depression in the floor. Sekken stepped into it and invited us too. Suddenly warm water began pouring onto us from the roof! A shower! Nice! I washed myself, then noticed Ravena demanded her back be washed. Sekken asked her to help him with his mane, I began helping myself in cleaning Ravena with my tongue and before we noticed, the bath degenerated into an orgy. This time I remembered Roal's warning and only used my tongue to clean "very thoroughly" first Ravena's undertail and then Sekken's underbelly, while Ravena began "cleaning" my prick too. This time it felt just normal, without any crazy fireworks, what doesn't mean it didn't feel good. Ravena's tongue was very gentle and soft, and big enough to cover my whole length and caress it tenderly, pressing against the soft palate. She was very talented but unfortunately I was just drained and after she finished my balls protested painfully and I got this silly feeling that I need to pee and I can't.

Then the water stopped and a strong stream of warm, dry air hit us from below. Strong? This was a hurricane! I looked amazed at the horse manes and tails standing straight up. I spread my arms, shook my head and I was almost dry in a moment. I noticed both the floor and the roof are in fact a very fine net, pushing and sucking the air through tiny holes. Suddenly the air flow changed direction and pushed me down to the floor. I couldn't hear anything in the noise but I decoded the rather complicated sentence in horse language, in which Ravena asked me to flip her mane to one side, so it would look neat after the wind ends. I did so, bending under the artificial typhoon. A while of drying yet and it ended. Clean and dry we stepped off the depression and I saw the net-like floor sliding aside and the mattress, clean and without all the stains we had left replacing the net.

• If I had a comb, I would comb you both nicely now. - I smiled.

• Oooh... I'd give a fortune for a nice grooming... - Sekken sighed.

• I haven't been groomed in ages too! - Ravena smiled. But you won't find a single comb in the whole Valley unless you brought one with yourself.

• No, sorry.

• Wait, I'll try to create one quickly. - said Sekken. I saw him booting AutoCAD and quickly drawing a sphere, a cylinder of the same diameter, attaching the sphere creating the round end of the cylinder, stretching it quickly into longer form, the sphere morphed into ellipsoid, then he quickly marks the object, 1D array creating a very long stick, sorry, by X, not by Z - undo, array again, now it's a row of the thin, blunt-ended sticks one next to another, a single simple rectangular handle on the base joining all the comb teeth. "fillet" and the sharp corners of the handle turn into gentle curves. He quickly marks everything, selects material properties, steel. He enters another menu I didn't see in original AutoCAD and clicks OK before I can read anything. - Here it is.

I heard a quiet metallic knock as something fell on the floor behind me so I turned around and looked at the middle of the room and saw the small simple comb, just like he projected a moment ago, lay on the floor.

I picked it up and looked at it. Cool, solid iron, shining with untouched mirror surface. With a shrug I started combing Ravena's back. I looked at the floor and stepped over a puddle of one of our body liquids, not even trying to recognise which and whose it was. - I think I should clean it up later too.

• Don't bother, the floor is virtual here too. - answered Sekken.

• What do you mean by "virtual"?

• This room is a part of the Underground Network. Most of things here aren't real. This computer is, this stereo isn't. The plants are, the pots aren't. The door, the floor, the mattress, the walls, most of the furniture is created from force field imitating look and behavior of normal materials and objects. Every virtual object is controlled by a powerful machine called Master Creator, a hybrid of magic and technology.

• AI?

• Nope. Just a very fast and big computer with some magical extensions, with software specialised in maintaining the force field. Look at the stereo, it's a fake I created from gifs of not very high resolution.

I stopped combing Ravena looked at it closer. Incredible, I was seeing separate pixels on its surface! I tried pressing "eject" of the CD tray. A fake, the button couldn't be depressed! It was fixed to the rest of the tower, as well as all the other buttons, although all the cool shining lights and the colorful display were in working order.

• Look at the bottom, I had no texture to place there.

I picked the surprisingly light box and turned it over. Absolute darkness. No ray of light reflected in the black surface. A virtual cube with one wall missing! This answered my earlier unasked questions about the heavy door and the machinery required to propel the air to dry us, or cleaning the mattress so easily. I grinned to Sekken understanding. I came back to him and began combing him.

• Are you watering the plants from cron? - I asked.

• You bet - we both chuckled.

• I always wanted to do that too but always missed the technology!

• It will be dark soon... Would you both stay here overnight?

• Thank you, Sekken, but my man will sleep at my place. - said Ravena - I don't want him to hack into the Master Creator during his sleep and accidentally create some terrible monster.

• Or a mare prettier than you - I chuckled.

• Don't even think about that! - she growled at me.

• She's right, sorry - said Sekken - You aren't allowed to own a room in the Underground Network unless you can control your dreams. Even though this, some horses wake up in strange environments here. A skilled hacker like you without training in dream control could be really dangerous sleeping here.

• Cool, I must try this! - I joked.

• Don't you dare! You could send the whole Valley into space! - grinned Sekken.

• See you tomorrow! - I scritched his neck, put the comb away and we headed to the exit.

On our way through the labyrinth of the corridors Ravena interrupted the silence.

• Sekken was serious about the possibility of sending the Valley into the space. We are ready for this. That's the most pessimistic scenario - evacuation in case we are detected. The Valley is a full ecosystem, we have almost inexhaustible sources of energy and Master Creator may generate a shield over the Valley. The whole City is built on top of a huge spaceship, unicorns say they came with it thousands of years ago, but even they don't know its origin. It can lift us up into space and propel us toward stars in search for new home. But that's what we'd prefer to avoid.

We walked outside the network in the upper part of the Fig Road, where it turned 90 degrees to climb the slope to the Viewpoint. It was dark already. We walked up the road in silence. We never needed words to express our feelings, even now when we could, we didn't need to say anything, understanding each other without words... without any language. When we stood on top of the Viewpoint, the huge orange African Moon was rising over the edge of the Valley. I knew what she wanted to tell me. She used to stand here for many hours, thinking about jumping down, and whenever the Moon was rising, she used to think that I was somewhere there thinking about her and missing her... and wishing her to live. I knew she's crying now, though you couldn't see horse's tears and for the first time since she left I felt tears in my eyes. I tightly hugged her neck and pressed my cheek to her neck. We stood for a while and I felt she wasn't crying anymore.

• I'm so sorry that I left you... - she whispered. - I was told the fate of the world depends on it... and your life too... so I agreed... If I only knew it would be like this!

• But now we are together... This time nothing can separate us.

She led me to a small room in a low building in the Upper Town, it looked like a stable. The floor covered with fresh hay, a bigger pile of it in the corner, walls around covered with ivy, a simple grate in the corner with the rain-pipe outlet over it, a box with apples... Erina sleeping calmly in a corner... I realised my stomach is totally empty and ate some apples before digging myself into the hay. It was a hot, African night... I closed my eyes and in a moment I was asleep.

A gentle touch woke me up much later. The sky was still dark, but the first light of dawn could be seen.

• Oh, sorry love that I woke you up... Sleep well - whispered Ravena.

• I always wondered... - I smiled whispering to her - why you always wake me up in the middle of the night. This time you can answer me.

• Your breath is so weak when you sleep, that I can't hear nor feel it. You don't move... As I stand over you I'm starting to be more and more worried if you're alive.

I kissed her lips gently.

• I'm alive... and I intend to stay that way for quite a long time yet... At least as long as you are.

• That's good, because now, when we are here together, I intend to live very long!

I kissed her and caressed her soft fur and we were cuddling and kissing for a long time yet before we went back to sleep...

11. New life.

We woke up at dawn. It seemed to be normal time for all the horses to start their activity. The streets filled with them quickly. We went to the pond to take a bath, Ravena drank some water from it, and I found a fountain of youth in the shadow of a big mulberry tree and ate some of the sweet fruits, then together we swam for a while in the warm water. The bath was refreshing, but then it appeared to be the start of a busy day.

First Philis came, just asking if I was ok, but apparently this wasn't what she really wanted to know... in fact she was trying to arrange our next meeting. I definitely refused repeating the faint play, as I explained her how her services are needed and that I can't disable her like that so stallions had to seek another mare... but I promised that when I only found some time I would show her other, milder techniques.

Then before I dried in the Sun, Kars came, very excited. His lady wrote back and Sekken had let him know. Kars asked me to support him when he asks Queen for permission to bring her here, and to help him with it if he got permission.

And just as I promised him I would, three unicorn guards came. This time they addressed me directly, but I didn't need to listen, I knew what I was supposed to do.

The Palace from inside looked totally different than it did during my last visit. I was led to the patio again and saw Queen waiting there. She hadn't any jewelry on her this time, except the big star on her forehead. I greeted her like an obedient servant.

• I've been waiting for you impatiently. That happens rarely to me, usually that are the others waiting for audience. - she began. - I heard about your amazing performance with that pony mare and all your recent problems and help we received from you. Today we will discuss your future, but I hope I could receive some nice service from you... Only please, I can't afford being unconscious for a whole day like that pony!

• Whole day? Impossible, that are just rumors.

• No need for this modesty. Eighteen hours, no less, that's confirmed information.

I was feeling my face turns white. Some more and I'd kill Cy! I took Ravena's measure, but that pony was way hotter and smaller...

• Calm down - Queen smiled to me. - Ah, and I know how jealous Ravena got after the last time so I thought...

• You leave him alone! - I heard angry Ravena's voice behind me.

• ... that a triangle wouldn't be bad. - Queen finished.

• You're jealous again, darling - I smiled to Ravena.

• Darling, darling. You two are just about to fuck and I'm supposed to watch you calmly?

• Wrong! - said Queen - We three are about to fuck and you're going to participate... darling!

Ravena stood astonished. - What do you mean?

• Turn around. And lift your tail. As we had been discussing important matters for long hours this fantasy was disturbing me all the time, but I knew you were longing and I didn't want to hurt your feelings. But yesterday I was alone in the Palace again and I thought, hell I'm the Queen, and I have some rights, don't I? Like I can give orders and I order you to stand here with your tail up and try to enjoy. And you - she told to me - Please me meantime.

She walked to Ravena and dug her mouth under her tail. I barely suppressed laugh as I saw Ravena's flabbergasted face. But then, I had a work to do. I began my best on Queen's sex. It took only a very short time before I saw first signs of her climax coming... and then she snorted loudly and sprayed me with her urine in her climax, which to my surprise was all but strong. She stopped eating Ravena and looked at me.

• Go, rest a bit, you'll be called later. - she said. I knew it wasn't just a kind offer, but an order. I walked to the door where an unicorn was waiting for me already. He led me to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . where I was told to wait till he comes back. I sat down on . . . . . . . and began counting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. I heard some weak noises in the distance. I listened. Can't be! Ravena was grunting from pleasure! A moment and I could almost feel her powerful climax! Another short while and I could hear similar sounds, this time made by Queen. My ego was hurt. "That bitch! Not only she just threw me away like useless toy, but now she fucks my wife like this!" I heard Ravena coming again. No, it can't be! All these years to lose my wife to a lesbian mare? No! Impossible!

I was shattered. Just a pet, that is told to go away and wait while his lady is having fun with more interesting partner. And now again! This time they both, simultaneously! In such a short time!

The unicorn came and led me through . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . outside. I was in dark mood, while the mares were chatting cheerfully, gossiping about all the recent events and new ideas and agreeing on everything... and I needed a moment to notice that in fact it's always Ravena displaying new ideas and Queen agreeing for everything that she proposed. And so Kars could take his woman here, I was assigned to finding people who would qualify to participate the psychological tests and then stay here and receive the vaccine, Roal was assigned to teaching me magic for five hours a day (I guessed he had better things to do but couldn't refuse Queen's order) and Sekken was to cooperate with me in my work, leaving his current (terribly boring I must say) task to someone else. As I listened I was just nodding, sometimes saying a single world to add or correct something, but I didn't have much to say. Finally Ravena nibbled Queen tenderly saying good-bye and we left.

• Don't be silly! - she said as we were walking through the Palace square toward the Auberge Road - I love you and only you! She's not bad lover but you are my true and only man!

• That's not it... I know it... But I failed as a male completely!

• All men react in this silly way to lesbians.

• Tell me.. Honestly! Was she better than I was?

• Honestly? No. She's good but can't compete with you. Just remember the time in the Smaller House of Gatherings, when you came here first. You were at least twice as good as she was. And I had even better moments with you since then.

She calmed me down, now I was just curious. - Like?

• The best moment... in my life. When I was standing on the Viewpoint watching the moon rising and you hugged my neck. All the time before I just couldn't believe it could be true that you had returned. I was feeling as if it was temporary, as if you were to vanish, to die, to leave soon... You were close to it anyway, the tests are really harsh and it was very probable you could be killed if they found something hostile in you... And then, when you hugged me, for the first time I really felt you are true, you are here and you are going to stay with me. You made my dreams come true.

12. Acquisition.

(3 weeks later)

• Do you think she's alone as we told her? - I asked Sekken.

Kars looked at me with hurt look, as if it was heresy.

• We must try. - replied Sekken.

• Good. We're ready, Scotty.

A flash. Teleportation looked different than in Star Trek. It was way faster. I'm inside of a big, old house, on the first floor of the big entrance hall. The furniture is covered with dust. I walk along the balcony over the hall, passing by different doors. Kars behind me. The military clothes I have on me feel uncomfortable. I feel lame without movable ears and tail, unable to use horse language properly.

• We're in. Looks calm - I say to the tiny microphone attached to my T-shirt. I enter a big old-fashioned bedroom. A woman in her late forties is sitting in front of a big mirror, brushing her white hair.

• Lady Rogers, I came as I promised.

She turned to me.

• If it's not true, tell it now. Tell me it's a joke and don't torture me any more. Kars would be long dead by now. No horse lives that long.

She seemed not noticing that I looked as young as eleven years ago, when I visited her first time. I still found it amazing how easily she accepted the name Kars, she was using it since the first reply to my email.

• This is neither a joke nor an experiment, nor a mistake. He is here, behind this door. But before you see him, you must agree to a few conditions. Very harsh conditions.

• Do this quickly then.

• You must agree to everything I order you. Unconditionally, immediately and without questions. I will not misuse my power, all my orders are necessary, although some of them may sound strange.

• I do.

• You will leave this place forever. You will never come back to any of the places you know. You will take only as many personal belongings as you can keep in your hands.

• I need nothing.

• Then just take your hair brush, we are short on those.

She loaded it into her pocket - What more?

• You will pass a very complicated and exhausting psychological tests. No secret of yours will remain hidden.

• I have no secrets.

• If you fail the tests and don't comply to our strict psychological standards, you wont be able to stay with us. But until then you will know too much about us to leave. That means one: death.

She was quiet for a while.

• Will I be able to see him before I die?

• Yes.

• I agree.

• Finally, you will face a morally questionable project. Very questionable. Many people will die as result. You can refuse to help in it, but you're not allowed to disturb.

She looked at me and I saw the last condition didn't impress her at all, just unnecessary question for which the answer was obvious.

• I agree.

I stepped away from the door. Kars walked in. She walked to him slowly, unbelieving. She touched his cheek, his ears, his nose... He gently nuzzled her face. She closed her eyes and touched his nose with both hands. She began crying quietly.

• My dearest! All these years of waiting... Now I'm old and rusty, a piece of junk for such a handsome and strong stallion... Too long, too long...

• You will be young again, and we will be the happiest pair that ever existed! My love, my long-lost love! - he was whispering into her ear. She accepted him speaking as the most normal thing in the world.

• We must go, lady Rogers.

• The computer! - I heard Asiatic chirp of Sekken in my earphone.

• Lady Rogers, your computer. We must destroy it!

She looked at me with empty look, then understood.

• Come! - she rushed through the door with energy I didn't expect from her. We ran after her to another big room, it was a library. An old PC, one of the last of Pentium class, one that belonged to museum rather than to a house stood on a table in a corner.

• I kept it because you told me you would send me an email if you find Kars. - she told ripping the cables. - Seems it fulfilled its function well.

I detached my pistol from my belt and placed the computer on the floor. Three bullets across the harddisk. I noticed box of DVD-RW on the table. I aimed at it.

• Wait! I have photos of me and... No. Finish with the past! Shoot!

One bullet along the box shattered all the disks.

She suddenly began running along the shelves dropping the books to the floor.

• I have all kinds of things that reminded me him, all over the house! We can't let them find them!

• What kind of "them?

• Those you're hiding from!

She ran outside and returned a few seconds later with an ancient petroleum lamp. She threw it onto the floor breaking it and then dropped all the books from a bookcase onto the oily puddle. I had a match ready. I dropped it and we stepped away, she hugged Kars' neck.

• Let him go for a moment. Prepare for the transfer.

She obeyed.

• Beam us up, Scotty.

A flash. Four unicorns lead her away, to the examination room, Kars follows.

• Thanks Sheen, good work. Sekken... This was harder than I thought.

• What? No strangers, no trap, no Police... She even didn't hesitate with the answers.

• Not this. It's hard to tell someone calmly "if you fail, you die." And what if she fails now?

• She won't. Preliminary tests show she qualifies, she'd have to lie to us to fail.

I detached the earphone and began removing my clothes and hiding them in a locker, then re-activated my tail and ears - I could make them vanish or appear at any moments, one of the extensions Roal included in them.

We headed to the exit. Ravena was conducting a debate on speeding up the program of importing humans. Now she was the leader of the leading party and I was amazed how three weeks of contacts with some horses can change the attitude. Cy was out too, on a "conference" with Queen. All the stallions were displeased with the change but Queen's decision was final and after the first "conference" Cy wouldn't exchange her position of personal royal adviser for anything else. I had over an hour of time to the classes with Roal, so I and Sekken decided we will spend the time online. To avoid wasting the time I climbed his back and he galloped through the corridors toward his room.

That was true that the corridors were full of signs. I was reading them from Sekken's back, training quick reading. The horse way of writing and reading was so easy and simple... if you knew how to do it, and learning it wasn't easy.

Horses rarely used letters or words in their writings. The writings were mostly feelings, expressions, impressions and images. The technique was simply projecting your thoughts onto any flat surface, in such a way that they remained there. Reading was the ability to see and feel them. The road signs were just feelings of awareness of presence of some object on the end of the given road. Warnings were the imaginations of pain and danger that the signs informed about. Scientific texts consisted of the awareness of facts and understanding of the relations between them, and also abstractive images of some unimaginable objects like atoms and symbolical references between them.

Most difficult of all to write was poetry. Good poet had to feel the emotions he was expressing in the poem. They couldn't fake, hoping the reader will be surviving this stronger than they did.

And computer interfaces accepted raw ASCII input, words, command names, with special shell extension command meanings (in case you forgot the command name) and the cursor movement. You could also define your macros for common operations, and an imagination input extension to AutoCAD was in final development stage. Gimp had such one already and I had spent hours drawing images from my imagination and after posting some of them to the newsgroups I was called a genius artist and so many people wanted to buy my artwork that I had to give up all my artistic activity to avoid revealing my location.

Whenever I walked across the City, it was very big for me, but I could understand why horses didn't need any public transport. With light trot Sekken crossed almost whole Network in a few minutes.

• Know the world news? - Sekken said when I was getting off his back - The government of Sierra Leone asks President of United States to extend the search for you onto his country, the number of American soldiers engaged in the action leaves so many dollars while trading with the locals that the economy of all the countries where they are looking for you goes up faster than ever! And the poor fools don't know you're far from the western shore already! I wonder when they give up...

I felt the cold floor under my feet and remembered about activating another recent modification of my body. After some horse stepped on my foot Roal decided I need something against it or such accidents will keep happening forever - and he turned my feet into hooves. At first it was a bit difficult to walk using them but I got used to it and was using them all the time... I just deactivated the spell for the time of visit at lady Rogers and now remembered to switch it back on.

The entrance to Sekken's room this time resembled a spaceship airlock, with twin doors with small glass windows on both ends. The inside of his room imitated a pilot cabin of a starship designed for horses. Sekken was changing the style of his room periodically, whenever he had some cool dream.

The lights were dim. Most of the far wall of the room was occupied by a huge screen displaying 3D image of deep space in front of us. (Holographic textures were the most recent addition to the system, and recently a number of corridors in the Network had been turned into bridges over high canyons, walkways through airport and railway terminals, glass pipes lying in the middle of the desert, or passages between buildings of underwater base.) The captain's and second pilot places were really strange kind of "seats" in which horses could stand and sleep, eat, work, sustain high accelerations and operate controls. The main computer panel with some more "blinkenlichten" than usually was located next to the captain "seat" which was surrounded by screens, most of them in working order, not only dummies.

I took the standard "human" seat of a space shuttle navigator by the side wall, it was embedded in whole sophisticated computer console, with huge screen in the middle, countless small screens, indicators and controls all around and my own laptop embedded in it as the main keyboard and additional display. It was powered from the virtual power supply, the mind reader was plugged into external keyboard socket and the video output was connected to the new kind of display I was finishing developing. I pressed a few buttons below the main screen and it extended into a big cube of very thin bright green lines, splitting it into 3D matrix of small identical cubes, shining brighter on the intersections, almost invisible elsewhere. I reached to it and as my hand entered the cube, it sunk in the dark matter, becoming invisible, only a small cursor existed where my index finger tip was actually. Four other fingers worked as four "mouse keys" with different functions... but that was just a "devel" version, the final version would operate reading my mind. I grinned remembering my first experiment with the new holo GUI. First I created the plan for the cube's look and behavior when my hand entered it. Then to make it possible to put my hand inside, I had set the material it was build of to NULL. I executed it, touched the surface and was sucked into the cube by vacuum. Luckily Sekken quickly deactivated the device. I learned the lesson that the "3D floating illusions" like this screen should be made of AIR.

Now the new X server to use the new output device was almost ready, I just had to perfect the mind interface and beta-test it. I took 1/8 BReP from a tiny drawer in the console. Password. Login. The bright green letters floating with no support in the empty black space looked really cool. Two emails, nothing important, I decided to answer to them later. Right now I had more important thing to do - A young mare called Anaaka had talked to me two days before about a man she had left and she missed. Yesterday with Sheen and a few horses from intelligence and research we located the man and the talker he visits on Internet. It was surprising, I had been visiting this talker a lot while looking for Ravena, and even recently I had been there, seeing the man, but never talking to him much. He was rather quiet and kept his life in secret. I opened xterm. tf. /world pp. Login, password... Only two people, one of them is him. I tell him to go to a private room, as I have something very important to tell him. We do it. I begin.

You ask: Tell me... 8 years ago, you had a mare, yes?

Tpony says: yes i did

Tpony says: arab quarter horse mix

Tpony says: dark dapple gray with light mane and tail

You ask: Yes... That's her. What would you say if I told you I know what happened to your horse?

Tpony says: id be very interested in finding out where she is and what happened

Tpony says: very very interested

You say: I can't tell you this... Sorry, I'm just not allowed to.

Tpony asks: well why the hell not?

Tpony asks: you involved in this somehow?

You say: The case is much more complicated than you think.

Tpony says: come on talk to me

You say: She wasn't stolen...

Tpony says: explain yourself

Tpony says: this is confusing

You say: She didn't run away...

Tpony asks: well what the hell happened?

You say: If you tried more thorough research... or maybe you did...

Tpony says: where is she

Tpony says: this is nuts

Tpony says: shes gone

You say: You'd find out, that for almost 13 years horses keep vanishing all over the world like this...

Tpony says: missing from my life and now you tell me you have information and you cant tell me

You say: Believe me or not, but I survived more than you to find my mare. And I succeeded. She's here and I'm with her. And your mare is here too. And all the other horses too.

Tpony says: what are you telling me

Tpony asks: little green men took her?

Tpony says: ok ok

You say: Something like this.

Tpony says: tell me what you know

Tpony says: start from the beginning

Tpony says: but i have to know

Tpony says: it has been years of pain and horrible dreams

Tpony says: and now this

Tpony says: talk to me

You say: I know much, but I can tell little. This case is one big secret, and if wrong people learn about it, some big disaster will happen...

Tpony says: i have to know

Tpony exclaims: i give a damn about other people i want to know what happend to my horse!

You say: All the horses are now alive and happy... but if someone finds out, they will be destroyed. Your mare too.

Tpony says: that makes no sense to me

Tpony says: explain

Tpony says: now

You say: I saw her this morning... Talk^H^H^H

Tpony asks: what???

You say: sorry. Wrong terminal settings.

You say: But if you tell... We may try this otherwise.

You say: I may try meeting you IRL...

You say: I will ask you a few questions...

Tpony says: ok if my keeping my mouth shut to find her then i will

Tpony says: go for it

You say: Very harsh questions...

Tpony says: go on

You say: If you disagree, I will go, and you will just think I'm another madman...

Tpony says: ok

You say: But if you agree, you will be able to see your love.

Tpony says: ill do whatever it takes

Tpony says: i want to be with her again

You say: I know she loves you too and misses you very much. Don't ask me how I know this, but I know.

Tpony says: ok

You say: Do you have time this sunday?

Tpony says: For her always.

• Ping?

• Nak - Sekken turned his head to me.

• What are you doing on Sunday?

• Helping you in getting the guy you just found here.

• What a pity! You won't have time to help me getting the guy I just found here then!

• What a pity!

• So, if we can't do it on Sunday, we will do it on Sunday-P?

• Ack. Who's that?

• Just some hoopy frood. I'll start gathering the preliminary data and tell you later when I know more.

• HUP. - we returned to our screens.

You say: Then... This sunday... Evening...

Tpony says: what

Tpony says: dont drag this out

You say: You will be alone at home.

Tpony says: ok

You say: You will bring no Police, they could cause a lot harm...

Tpony says: that can be arraged

Tpony says: i understand

You say: You will free the area in the middle of the living room from any objects, move your table to the walls.

Tpony says: ok

Tpony says: go on

You say: You will lock the door and wait for us, in your bedroom, in the green old armchair you have there.

Tpony asks: how did you know that?

Tpony says: never mind

Tpony says: ok ill do that too

Tpony asks: and then what?

You say: You will hear me. You won't come. You will wait until I personally tell you the conditions.

You say: If you agree, the same evening you will see her...

You exclaim: But remember, you must have clean soul... You must NOT have any bad intentions!

Tpony says: this sounds utterly insane. I dont know why i should belive you but ill do anything to see her again, Anything

Tpony asks: dammit what bad intentions could i have against her?

Tpony says: i love her dammit

You say: This evening you will leave the house... If you have any bad intentions, if you're psychically not proper for us... You will die.

Tpony says: what the hell

Tpony says: explain this

Tpony says: i dont understand

Tpony asks: proper in what manner?

You say: Not only against her... Just being ready to do evil is enough.

You say: to die.

Tpony says: either you are nuts or i am

Tpony says: but ill do it

Tpony says: i want to see her

Tpony says: that is all that matters

You say: You may still say "no" and we forget it... But I don't want it... She doesn't want it...

Tpony says: then lets do this

Tpony says: my entire soul belongs to her

Tpony says: im lost without her

Tpony says: i need her

Tpony says: lets do this

You say: Alone. This evening on sunday. In your bedroom. Living room freed from furniture.

Tpony says: ok it will be so

Tpony asks: is there more?

You say: Then... See you in sunday.

Tpony says: ok

Tpony says: one thing

You ask: Yes?

Tpony says: dont cross me on this

Tpony says: this is my heart and soul on the line

Tpony says: i mean it

You say: This is not a joke, I swear you. If you fulfil all conditions, we will come... If we don't come, it means someone was there, someone else than you.

Tpony says: there will be no one but me here

You say: Then if you didn't do this on purpose we could talk of another meeting..

Tpony says: the conditions will be met

You say: Okay, I must run now...

You are removed from this reality...

You were logged on from site skitter.icebusiness.com

On Thursday, 24th March, for a total of 0 hours and 19 minutes.

• Time to run, Roal is never late!

A few corridors, turns, exit, two small streets and I run onto the class square. A few elder horses that recently arrived, some young ones, several foals grazing on the low green grass, under high, old oak, between a few buildings. Roal walks in from the other side of the square.

• Today we will learn recognising feelings and intentions of someone who tries to hide them... Like our human friend today doesn't seem as smug at all as he is really...

Later that afternoon, after all the others had left, I asked Roal about their past, and how the horses, so intelligent race hasn't been discovered as such by humans...

• Let me start from the beginning... which is a few million years ago, where mammals were taking over the world which was recovering from the disaster that killed the dinosaurs. Then our spaceship landed on Earth... and we, unicorns, woke up from the sleep. We remembered nothing from our past and the great libraries of the ship contained nothing about it... seems whoever sent us here took care of hiding from us... although the ship contained incredible treasure of knowledge and technology. We began learning and soon we gained knowledge greater than humans ever had. We also discovered we are not aging, but also can't reproduce. We decided we'd try to create the race similar to us, only able to reproduce and live in harmony with this planet. The project took many years, but we finally engineered the genes of some race of simple mammals that lived on earth, inscribing their future in their DNA - They were about to evolve into beings equal to us... Into horses. Then, we couldn't do much. Special devices could provide us with water and food for millennia without waking us up from sleep... And so it lasted until the beginning of this century. Sorry. One exception. Every three thousands years a small group of unicorns was woken up to see the progress and eventually wake up the rest in case of problems. The last group never returned, we suspect they were all killed by humans... and they left the tracks you followed. Three thousands years later the situation was so obviously wrong that we all woke up. You can imagine how disappointing to us it was that horses, fully psychically and physically evolved but not making any use of their great intellectual potential are still equal to all animals, while another race, cruel, careless and greedy evolved to the level which built civilisation... We re-checked our plans, then noticed that if not humans, horses would begin "waking up" a few hundred years ago... and even now the ones living need just a simple impulse to wake their high intelligence... and curious about the close future wondering what would happen when humans discover there's another intelligent race amongst them, we fed all the data we gathered to the computers and emulated the future... And shocked, we saw all the possible scenarios lead to nuclear war! A disaster far worse that the one which destroyed dinosaurs... Taking evolution aback by hundreds of millions years, to primitive one-cell organisms living in depths of oceans... if only the globe stands the massive damage and doesn't break into pieces... We had to act and we had to act quickly. There were too few of us so we began gathering the help... Taking horses to the Valley. We just didn't know about the margin of human race which deserved to survive... And some horses, including Ravena, told us about them. Together we created the virus and the broadcast device... and the vaccine. And you know all the rest...

13. Assault.

(12 years later)

"Hi", "How are you?" - Friendly voices and snorts of humans and horses were greeting me as I was walking up Peach Road home from the Library. Almost 10 years ago I moved with Ravena to a new place in the Underground Network, leaving our old room to Erina and Sheen. I dropped in to the Frost Cave, picked some frozen bananas, and then nibbled them on my way. I politely excused myself while crossing the White Square, when a group of foals and children demanded I played with them. A while later I sat on a big stone barrier by the wide stone platform from the street to the entrance of the Bigger House of Gatherings and greeted two unicorn guards. We chatted for a while and I told them about the most recent newcomers who just passed the tests and vaccinations today. A short while later a crowd of horses and people began pouring outside from the building. Every of them, absolutely everyone greeted me. All they knew me and many (most?) of them were my good friends - Those I brought here, those who were brought here by those who I'd brought here, those whose loves I brought here and just those who I had sex with during the past years. I waited patiently, answering the greetings. Finally Ravena appeared in the crowd, walked to me and I hugged her and kissed tenderly. We walked to our home, talking in horse language. I was feeling that I was slowly starting to forget human speech and it started resembling horse snorts... I was almost sure Ravena's human speech pronunciation was clearer than mine.

• I need a good relax. - she smiled. - Brush my back and then... Then you decide what else.

• Fine, and what do I get from it?

• No worries, I can be very grateful, really!

We arranged the daily schedule a long time ago. Whenever we come home we take care of each other and every work even most important problems must wait until we finish.

We entered our room in the Network. It looked exactly like the inside of my old house from our early years. it was Ravena who wanted it to be arranged like this, and she rebuilt most of the old furniture as I didn't remember it anymore. I took a big horse brush, real piece of virtual art made by one of artists who joined us some time ago, and began brushing Ravena, massaging her mane, back, sides, thighs... Then I combed her mane and tail with a comb and kissed her forehead. All the years and we loved each other even not a bit less... In fact our love grew stronger and the ability to communicate helped us in understanding each other's needs better and we could avoid old mistakes that had kept hurting or annoying each of us in the past.

We kissed for a long time. I remembered as Ravena told me that earlier she had been kissing me because she knew I liked it, but it felt strange to her... but later she began enjoying it so much that I couldn't tell her "Hi" or "Bye" without a kiss... not that I would mind!

I walked to her back and began massaging the base of her tail. Then I began the "relaxing massage" with my tongue on her sex. My gentle licks were matching her breath. The purpose wasn't a screaming orgasm, late evenings were the right time for wild frolics. Now it was to be a calm, easy and pleasant release, a relax after a tiring day of work. Feeling her deeper breath I began licking a bit deeper and massaged her with my hands too. Feeling her tension I slipped my tongue inside for a second, then gently rubbed her thighs and continued caressing her outside with my tongue very slowly and gently. Her breath still slow got deeper, slightly faster and I just kept touching and licking her vulva. A deep sigh of pleasure, shudder, deep breath... and she was calm again, turning to kiss me. "Dry orgasm" was something we discovered recently. No heavy spasms, no exhausting winking and clutching her vagina. All her muscles remained loose and the orgasm instead of concentrating in her sex flowed through her whole body in a gentle relaxing wave...

• That was wonderful - she broke the kiss - What can I do for you to thank you?

• I want you to drive me crazy from lust this evening. Several hours of advanced foreplay and caress... and you won't let me cum before midnight!

• But not a minute later! I will be so hungry for you until then that... So shall I start now?

• In an hour or so, I'll just check my emails and get us something to eat.

• Fine. True, I'm getting hungry. You check emails and I'll get us something to eat.

I sat at the computer as she left the room. The first two letters were from my old friends, Sekken and another horse hacker. We discussed the plans of upgrading the OS on the mainframe. Together we three were the administrators of the whole computer network of the Valley including the Master Creator - controller of the Network, Skitter - the mainframe - an ultra-fast supercomputer and the secret gateway in the fake company of icebusiness.com.

Ravena came back, followed by a floating cart of fruits and grain. I picked a few juicy mangos and began eating them while reading the third email.

• Ravena? We received an invitation to the wedding!

• Who's getting married?

• Queen with Cy! High time for it, don't you think?

• Yes, indeed!

I quickly confirmed that we will come and skipped to the next email. What??? This guy can't know this email address! - I began reading the letter carefully.

"When we worked in CIA together you saved my ass risking a lot once. I never had the time to tell you "thank you" because shortly after that you started that burt with Husker and ran away taking him as a hostage. Now Husker works elsewhere and I'm about to take his place. Risking my career I want to pay my old debt to you back and to save your ass this time."

"Leave the horses alone, you won't save them. You won't have the time to save anyone except of yourself. Run away as quickly as you can and you may survive. Our hackers will strike today at 5PM universal time, the commandos will enter five minutes later. Your heaven goes to hell, nothing will remain alive in the Valley. We'd nuke it but we want to save the technology so we attack with conventional forces. The soldiers have orders to kill everything that lives there. Run away from the horse city and you may hide from them."

"Delete this message now or I get in serious trouble."

I hit the D key and looked at the system clock. 17:02. ssh skitter. Connection refused. The first thought: Manual override on the mainframe and then broadcasting the signal! Everyone in the world is infected with the virus, the commandos are too - Only the citizens of the Valley will survive.

A quick login into Master Creator, they didn't take over it yet. su - I disable the object creation and modification ownership and security rules. Are you sure? Yes, hell, this place is my only advantage! I lock the input to my brain, now I can feed commands to it with my thoughts.

• Ravena! Stay here and don't go anywhere or they'll kill you! I'll try to repair this mess! Seems I'll have to broadcast the signal three years earlier than we expected!

I run outside. Object entrance to my room remove now. The wall extends closing the entrance as if it never was there. I hear the rumble of helicopters descending over the Valley. I project the thought of warning onto the wall and order the computer to copy it all over the Network, ordering everyone to hide inside of the walls of the corridors, making the walls thicker and the corridors narrower. Running down the corridors I hear the first shots outside. Hell, Skitter is on one side of the City and the broadcast device on the other and both have to be activated manually in order to broadcast the signal successfully. I enter the Nexus, the central chamber of the Network, a huge pit with a spiral walkway leading down from the top to the bottom with a number of tunnels by the walkway. I'm on top, I must get to the bottom. Many horses and people hide in the side tunnels and I see a man pierced by many bullets runs from an exit half a floor below me and falls down over the barrier while commandos start emerging from there, cutting my way down off. No time to lose! I dive with headfirst over the barrier and see checkered floor of the bottom rushing at me. cube, edge 7 meters, placement middle of bottom of Nexus, material water, create NOW! I dive into the block of water which left without any boundaries to hold it in this unnatural form flushes into all directions, taking me to one of the corridors, just in time as the first bullets splash the remaining water on the bottom of Nexus. I run down the corridor, a few turns, other passages, and I hear the noise of boots in front of me. No one in the Valley uses boots! I turn into another long corridor. Cone. Diameter 1 centimeter. Height 2 meters. Orientation X. Array 2D 60x60 distance 5x5 centimeters surface YZ. Mark as object. Material steel. Save as spikes. Location this corridor. X axis equal to axis of this corridor, orientation behind me. Speed 20 m/sec direction X. Execute in 20 seconds. I adjust the placement to the position just behind my back. Here they come! I turn behind the corner by the end of the corridor, just as first bullets rattle on the walls next to me. I gasp waiting there. A hiss of air, shouts of panic and then of pain, I look into the corridor and see a few corpses. I deactivate the trap and continue running. A few more turns and I enter the room of the mainframe. This room is excluded from the network. In the middle Skitter, the huge computer of the size of a small house stands, in its front panel several big buttons, a big red pedal and a few screens. I jump onto the pedal and hear the hiss of a falling blade on the other side and the sound of thick cable being cut. All the screens go dark and flash with startup messages. The huge disk arrays come to life rebooting the system in emergency mode. I turn to run when I hear "Hands up! You repair this now!"

I see a soldier standing on top of the mainframe, aiming at me. Another one walks from behind it aiming at me too.

• Okay, I will, but it will take at least two days!

• You lie!

• No, it's designed in such way! Come and I'll show you what has to be done.

I led him around the mainframe and picked the main cable of access to Internet. It was cut just by the computer by a special guillotine.

• See this? Repairing it is simple. This cable contains 580 wires in different colors. Just attach each to the matching wire on the computer side and reboot the system and it will be back online.

• Shit! - he raised his weapon ready to kill me.

• Wait! - I shouted - There's a backup server we use in such situations! I can activate it!

• Do it!

• Follow me, it's not far, just some 50 meters up that corridor.

• Bravo Charlie 5 here! Sir, we need your decision - the soldier began explaining the situation on the radio. - We have a naked man with silly ears, hooves and tail here, who just broke the mainframe but he says he can activate a backup server. I don't trust him, you decide what I should do.

• We need the gateway running, our hackers still do good work. Wait there, I will send the reinforcements!

Not longer than 20 seconds later a squad of soldiers ran in. Their leader looked at me, at a handheld webpad, then at me again.

• Oh, precious prey! General will be glad! Guard him well! He's the one General wanted alive, but he's extremely dangerous, kill him at the first sign of misbehavior!

The soldiers were professionals. They stayed in safe distance and aimed at me at such angles that they couldn't kill each other. They led me up the corridor I showed to them. Sphere. Radius 50 meters. Midpoint me. Material glass. Exclude area: sphere diameter 1 meter midpoint me. Create... I waited until the last of the soldiers entered the corridor, then crouched suddenly. NOW!

The corridor behind me was filled with glass, the soldiers like strange sculptures. I was seeing a small network of fractures where one of them managed to shot his gun. I saw as they run out of air, their faces grimacing painfully in the glass trap. Suddenly the whole glass turns milky white. last object refresh now. The glass is transparent again, in place of one of the soldiers just red bloody mess mixed with smoke under high pressure. I guess he had managed to detonate a grenade. I crouch tighter. last object size modify -20% now I can feel the glass trembling with the sound of broken bones. radius 50 meters around me all changes created within last 2 minutes undo now. The smashed corpses fall to the floor.

Hell! The broadcast device is on the other side of the City, it will take me an hour to get there and each second may mean life of a few of my friends. How could I... Sheen! The teleportation room is just a few corridors away! I start running in that direction. A long corridor sloping gently up. Steps of heavy boots behind me. Object: this corridor. Properties modify: width 1 cm, height 1 cm. As I run out from the corridor I duck under the bullets whizzing over my head. The steps rumble up the corridor. "We got him!" - I hear. Execute now! The stream of blood, meat, metal parts, cloth and some other stuff splashes on the opposite wall, and subsiding splashes over my back, just to continue leaking slowly from a thin hole that used to be the corridor behind me. I continue running and start thinking that I enter hell. From all walls, floor and ceiling stick outside limbs, faces, heads, pieces of clothes and dead soldiers. I guess Sheen fought a heavy battle.

• Please... Kill me... - I hear. A soldier half-sunk in the wall is still alive. His hands, legs and back are in the wall, the chest and head sticks outside. I pull the pin on the grenade on his belt and run behind the corner of the corridor, hearing a quiet "thank you" behind me and then the explosion. One more turn. Here the whole corridor is covered with the corpses, most of them intersecting with each other, some terribly deformed. It's very quiet. Wouldn't be nice to end up as the rest if Sheen gets too nervous so I shout "Sheen, it's me!". Silence. I enter the teleportation chamber. Even more corpses in gas masks, a few used up gas grenades on the floor and Sheen... Pierced by many bullets. I crouch by his head, touch the soft, long ears, put my hand on his nose... close his eyes gently... Good bye my friend... I hear a movement behind me and the anger feeds the raw data into the Master Creator. Smash! The walls of the corridor retreat revealing just bloody blur where the coming soldiers were. I stand up and go quickly away. A group of soldiers running in my direction down a corridor... A ball of glowing plasma strikes the group and I just walk over another group of corpses, burnt alive. A bunker with heavy machine gun and I come there, surrounded by transparent bullet-proof shield, and smash them all with it against the walls... The few who run away enter a bridge over a high room... and fall down screaming as the bridge vanishes. There's no thud of the bodies only awful sound as they land on a forest of spikes. I cross the room and... hear my name called somewhere. I stand to listen... and hear a far speaker, loudly and clearly ordering me to go to the Nexus or to surrender to the nearest patrol in 60 seconds or my mare dies. Then I hear Ravena's voice, screaming "Don't come here, they will kill you!"

Oh NOOO!

They will pay for this. Nexus is close, I will get there in less than 60 seconds but I want to use my time well. I set up all kinds of traps all around it and in it. Wearing only thick layer of blood of those I've killed I don't look funny to the soldiers who I pass by anymore. I enter the walkway and look at the huge chamber converted into their base. Crates with equipment, radio station, many soldiers, the command quarters and Ravena, tied by her legs to heavy crates, guarded by whole platoon of soldiers. Their commander looks at me and I recognise him.

• Husker! You will pay for this! - I shout. Last adjustments, safe place for me and Ravena, execute NOW!... Nothing?!? What the... Diagnostics... Access denied! Debug... Access denied! Status... Access denied! The radio next to Husker says they just took over some strange computer... No! Not now!!!

• Wrong, you will pay for this! Twelve years of seeking for my revenge! Come here...

I walk down the walkway.

• Kill me, let her go...

• No! - shouts Ravena.

• I have different plans. I will kill you but before that I will make you watch her dying.

• You bastard! You will all fry in a nuclear explosion!

• Really? I know this city has no self-destruction devices... Ready!

• Ravena!

The soldiers aimed at her.

• Aim!

• NO!!!

But there's no shot. I find myself without breath. The whole Nexus, the whole Network is filled with water and I feel I have the access to the Master Creator again. Air! I create small self-refreshing ball of air over my mouth, and over mouth of Ravena, the kind we were using while diving in the huge swimming pool of the Network. I look around... All the soldiers swim up quickly seeking for air, emerging from the corridors, trying to find the exit... Only one remains... Husker aims from his personal pistol at Ravena. I see the trail from the bullet and a cloud of blood rising from Ravena's back. No! Before he can shot again a small shining blue ball strikes him and a thick layer of ice surrounds him and starts floating up slowly... I swim to Ravena. Suddenly all the water vanishes! I lose contact with Master Creator and fall from not very high to the floor. All the virtual objects vanished. Now Nexus is just a raw huge cave with exits from many tunnels in all its walls. The soldiers high above us fall left without any support, killing themselves against the floor, breaking their limbs and some finally surviving, landing on the numerous corpses... I try to free Ravena from her bonds, but as I finish I look around and see the survivors standing up from the floor, in the exits from the corridors all over the cave, looking at their general torn in pieces by the breaking ball of ice, at others lying dead all over the floor, and they pick up their weapons and aim at us... I can feel their hate. They aim at me and Ravena. They wait as if not sure which of them deserves the honor of killing us...

This is the end. All is quiet, only the military radiostation is hissing quietly... Ravena proudly rises her head, ignoring the bleeding wound in her back. I place my hand on her neck, feeling her close in the last moments... One of the commanders who survived shouts loudly "Kill them!!!" and I close my eyes feeling only Ravena's neck and hearing the overwhelming rumble of thousand thunders...

14. The world after.

• Damn you, Sekken, half a second later and we'd have half a ton of bullets in our bodies! How did you do that?

• A miracle I guess.

• But you don't believe in miracles!

• I don't believe in miracles. I rely on them.

• But seriously?

• Seriously I was hesitating, standing there with my hoof on the broadcast button. It was very quiet. A dead soldier with his radio turned on was lying there. Suddenly someone on the radio shouted "Kill them!" and so I did. Strange. I killed seven billion people and I don't feel sorry about them.

• Tell me yet, a moment earlier Ravena was saved from being killed by water filling everything. Was that you too?

• Always me. Seesh. Well, yes. I just took over the Master Creator again when a soldier with a flamer set me on fire. While burning I couldn't think nor plan, just ordered the computer to turn everything into water. The current took me to the broadcast room, but as I was getting there I decided I'm moving way too fast, so before I would hit the wall I just had time to think 'poweroff now' and concentrate on not smashing the broadcast device with my body.

• We really owe to you Sekken...

• So pay me back now. I just see the crowds adoring me as the hero of the Valley and I don't like the idea at all. Hide me for a month or so somewhere until it gets more quiet.

• Will be hard. As soon as you appear they will start cheering again, this won't work...

• Seesh, you're right, besides what would I do then? 95% of the Internet is down! I can't get used to the fact that so many things are gone.

• Cheer up! There's so many mares waiting for you to help them populate the world with beautiful foals! You won't be bored!

• Naaah. That's all boring stuff.

I crouched by him and rubbed his underbelly. - Are you sure?

• In the other hoof... But then you're not a mare.

• So what? Whenever you're with a mare close your eyes and imagine that's me.

• Silly! - he grinned. - But know what? I really need a holiday. At least a week out. Could you manage something calm but interesting for me?

• I've got an idea! The new Scotty after Sheen...

• What happened to Sheen?

• He lost his body. He was dead for almost 20 minutes and the unicorns couldn't save his body. Now you can meet him online, his brain closed in a bowl with a thousand of electrodes pinned in it. Seems he will never touch a mare in his life again...

• I still hope some day he will. Anyway, he survived... Shit! I just realised! There will be no more Star Trek! And what you say about the new Scotty?

• He's my good friend, he could take us anywhere we desire. What about a monthly tour through all the major military bases of the world, dropping all the military satellites down to the ocean? I have some experience in it and it's real fun!

• Dropping satellites into ocean? Sounds cool! I like it! But we will have to restore the power first!

• Yes... Have you ever operated a nuclear power plant?

• No, and you?

• No... but there's always this first time!

• I listen to you guys - interrupted Ravena - And the more I listen the more I'm sure you two are completely crazy. But then... I've never dropped a satellite into the ocean yet, I'd love do it some day too!

• You can become a true hacker some day, Ravena!

• I'm learning, you know... If you only saw the entrance to our room during the assault!

• What happened?

• I copied myself 120 times and each copy of me was fighting... If they didn't use the sleep gas they would never catch me.

• Copied yourself? How did you do it?

A copy of Ravena, identical as her stood by her.

• Cool! What code are you using?

• My own proggy, nothing great...

• Show us the source!

Ravena displayed the code on the virtual screen. I and Sekken almost dived in the screen looking at it. Small, smart, simple, a few very clever tricks, a few useful hooks, and several fine features a.k.a. bugs. I tried executing it myself... and there were two of me!

• Cool! Look Sekken, what a pearl grew unnoticed!

I was slowly getting used to having two bodies. I was seeing double, two images overlapping, but I could see a single image by closing eyes of the other copy. I had only my own old sense of touch, but signals from both bodies were passed to it, so I couldn't tell which of the bodies touches something, and operating the two bodies was most complex - I had to split my attention, or switch between one and the other.

• Ravena! This opens new horizons!

• What do you mean?

I kissed her mouth and caressed her ears, and simultaneously began scritching the base of her tail gently, slipping the other hand under it. I copied myself two times more and began caressing her nipples and scritching her mane and back.

• Oooh, that's what you meant! - whispered Ravena while her copy took my cock in my mouth and began sucking it gently. We caressed each other slowly, smiling and whispering sweet nothings until I heard hooves behind me. Without stopping I generated another myself to look at who just came and saw Sekken in two copies and Erina in the door. One of the Sekkens was looking around apparently flabbergasted with the situation... Finally he spoke with Sheen's accent...

• Oh my! In equine body again! I can see, I can smell, I can hear, move and I can... - Erina rubbed herself against him seducing him... she was so happy! - Oh yes, I can!

• I thought I'll invite Sheen too... And Erina was just passing by... so I thought I'll tell her...

New copies of Sekken (or Sheen?) began appearing, nibbling Erina gently, seducing Ravena, and I didn't stay aback especially that there just appeared a few more virtual Ravenas and Erinas to caress... Oh, this was really decadent! Nibbled, licked, kissed, caressed, rubbing against the soft fur, and making love with twenty mares at the same time! I gasped louder as the gentle mouth sucked stronger and the orgasm came as quickly and rapidly as never before. But I was engaged in too many situations to stop for a rest... I just continued fellating one Ravena, making love to other, kissing mouth of yet another, and caressing Erina's ears, massaging Sekken's balls, Sheen's shaft, Ravena's anus, then I made a mistake while creating the new copy and I found myself with four hooves, seeing with horse eyes, standing on horse legs and scenting a hot mare in front of me way stronger than ever before! I rose on the hind legs and mounted Ravena without hesitating! I closed my eyes and instinct drove my cock directly into her wet opening... And then the thrust, strong, deep, oh, I never before felt anything like this... In many places of the room, in my mouth and hands I felt horse cocks throbbing and suddenly spurting with semen rapidly, but I didn't think about them too much, I was now in her, as a horse! I nibbled Ravena's neck, thrusted faster... Oh, this felt good, better than ever! I grunted loudly as my new huge shaft together with a hundred small human cocks everywhere began swelling and the itchy sensation grew up driving me to the powerful, wonderful orgasm...

• That's you... - whispered Ravena as I was slipping slowly off her - I recognised, it's you in horse body! How?

I told her about my mistake, how I activated myself in Sekken's body instead of next to him, then smiled suddenly and repeated it, creating a new copy in her body. I nibbled Ravena's ears playfully and then yelped surprised as the weight of a stallion dropped onto my back... - Sekken, Wait, No, that's me!

• I'm not Sekken - the stallion smiled. - I always wondered how does it feel from a male's side, love! You don't mind?

• Please, Ravena, be gentle, it's my first time as a female!

But then the cock pushed up below my tail and I had no time to do anything... filled with the size stretching me wide but acceptably... The feeling first very funny, suddenly became pleasant and I pushed against the heavy stallion's body, and found one of my human clones just behind, so I massaged the heavy balls, and saw as the thick, hard shaft sinks in MY body! I felt the flare growing, filling my inside, semen spurting into me and mare urine splashed all over the room, many times onto my face or body... I gasped... I was just about to come again, when the weight retreated from me and the cock slipped outside... And then I felt something yet different, gentle tongue, human tongue on my horse vulva! The hands gently caressed me, the tongue dived deeper and I felt as my stallion's body gently caressed by someone under my belly is ready to shot, my female equine body winks violently and my multiple human copies madly writhe in the ecstasy! I didn't even notice the second wave of horse cum and mare urine together splashing around, as I closed my eyes feeling the sensation beyond my comprehension, the tongue tickling, the gentle teeth rubbing the tender lips and then I couldn't stand it more... My body drained from semen just trembled, froze in orgasm far beyond all my past experiences and in loud grunt I reached the heaven clutching my body in painful, thick, heavy, hard grasp of ecstatic fever.

I opened my eyes again, gasping hard... I was exhausted... I slowly began deactivating the virtual clones, I saw others were very tired too, foam covering their sides like after a long run, and finishing in gentle cuddling they began dissolving in thin air... I saw Sheen still in good condition was still mounting Erina, apparently his new body didn't get tired, but as they came rather quickly he dismounted her and nibbled her gently thanking her for great time...

The world was spinning around me. Too much fun. I sat down and it was better. Ravena crouched by me, lay down and we kissed gently lying there, cuddling... and warmth of two stallion bodies on my back told me Sekken and Sheen joined. I smiled seeing as Sheen manipulates in his personal data, changing his appearance to his original, his fur darker, ears longer, tail black... Erina snuggled up against my legs lying there too, and I just rested happily surrounded by horses... By my dearest horses... I smiled. World belongs to us.

I heard hooves approaching and saw the long unicorn horn and under it puzzled Roal's face. Four totally exhausted horses, the room covered with amounts of cum a whole herd would have trouble creating, a totally exhausted human in the middle of the pile of horses...

• Did I miss something? - he asked.

. . . . by Sharpfang Wed Mar 29 20:21:20 CEST 2000