Everen woke up to the sound of a camera clicking. He sat bolt upright as Milo stood in front of him and Karilyn, an expensive looking camera around his neck.
"I can use these pictures for blackmail." the earth pony said, a devious grin spreading on his face.
Everen tapped Karilyn to wake her up. When she saw Milo, she glared at him.
"Seriously?" she stood up, blushing. "Do you have to be such a jerk all the time?"
"Yup." he smiled even wider.
Everen stood as well, brushing himself off. His lit his horn up, and Milo was lifted into the air.
"H-hey! Put me down!" Milo yelled.
"Give me the camera." Everen demanded simply.
"No!" Milo refused.
Everen levitated him over the edge of the building. Being a three story home, the fall would most certainly injure Milo, and might also destroy the camera.
"You wouldn't dare!" Milo objected.
"Try me." Everen said calmly, looking up at the earth pony.
"Everen." Karilyn said between her teeth, putting a forehoof on his back. He turned and winked at her, not letting Milo see. Karilyn got the idea and prepared for whatever came next.
"Camera, now." Everen's voice was deadly serious.
"Okay, okay. Just don't drop me." Milo pleaded, taking the camera from around his neck and throwing it onto the roof.
"Thank you." Everen said, lowering the camouflage colored stallion to the street below.
Everen took up the camera and removed all but one of the pictures Milo had taken of him and Kari. He showed the remaining image to the pegasus. In the picture, Karilyn's eyes were just barely open, and she was nuzzling into Everen. The mare's face flushed a deep red, and she backed up a little bit.
"I-it's not what it looks like?" she attempted to blow it over, but Everen saw it for what it was.
"Really, cause it looks like you woke up sometime during the night, and snuggled up to me." the unicorn analyzed the picture closely.
"Okay, it is what it looks like. I-I'm sorry, please d-don't be mad." Karilyn begged, on the verge of tears.
"I'm not mad." Everen gave the mare a warm smile. "Why would I be? It's not like you did anything wrong."
"R-really?" the pink pony looked up, utterly surprised.
"Really. I'm a little curious as to why you did that, but if you don't feel comfortable telling me, I'll understand." the orange-brown stallion answered, moving closer.
"N-no, it's fine. I should tell you now so it doesn't get more awkward later." Karilyn started, taking a step closer as well. "I sort of like you. Like, a lot. I don't know what it is about you that I find so attractive, but you just seem very…" she paused, trying to find the right word. "Extraordinary."
"Well then, how would you like to go on a date on friday, the jazz club perhaps?" Everen offered.
"REALLY?" she asked, moving closer still. "Yes!"
"Great, what time would work for you?" Everen asked.
"Six thirty would be best." she replied, looking into Everen's emerald eyes.
"Six thirty it is then." he brushed Karilyn's mane out of her face. "I've got a something I have to do, I'll see you later. Oh, and can you please look after Tsui until I get back?"
"Sure, where is she?." Karilyn asked.
"In my room." Everen answered.
"I'll be there in a minute." the stood there, a little dazed.
Everen went inside and opened the first door on his right. It was a dark room to develope pictures. Everen took out the photo of his and Karilyn he had left and prepared it. he'd come back in a little while to check on the picture. He cantered back out of the room and went down to the second floor, where he ran into Milo.
"Can I have my camera back now?" Milo questioned impatiently.
"Here you go." Everen gave it back to the earth pony. "If you ever try to get dirt on me to use as blackmail, I'll break the camera."
"Got it." Milo gulped, certain that Everen meant it.
"Good. Now then is there something else troubling you?" Everen inquired, sensing some internal issue within Milo. "Don't bother trying to lie to me, I always know when somepony is troubled."
"Uh, yeah, there is something bothering me." the stallion surrendered. "I have to go to the training grounds today for a mandatory check-up." he began explaining. "And I have to bring somepony to spar with, but I haven't found anypony yet."
"You can bring me, I have nothing else to do today really." Everen suggested.
"Would you really do that for me?" Milo sounded shocked. "We've only just met."
"Of course, we should get to know each other better anyways." the unicorn started. "And I don't see any harm in a bit of sparring."
"Alright then, thanks." Milo smiled, looking overconfident. "I'll go easy on you then."
"Oh don't hold back on my account. I can hold my own in a fight." Everen promised.
"You sure 'bout that?" Milo's grin grew larger.
"Pretty sure." Everen chuckled.
"Okay, let's go to the training grounds then." Milo made for the stairs.
"Be right with you, gotta put away my sword." Everen said, entering his room.
"Alright, I'll be downstairs when you're ready to go." the camo stallion replied, cantering down the staircase.
"I won't be too long." Everen assured him.
The unicorn entered his bedroom and put his sword and armbands in the chest at the foot of his bed. He picked up three small bags of different colored powder, getting the feeling he'd need them. Everen also grabbed a throwing dagger, not sure why it will be useful. He exited his room and went back up to the dark room, hanging the photo of him and Karilyn. When the green-eyed stallion made it down stairs, Milo was waiting for him by the door.
"Ready to go now?" he asked, putting a hoof on the door.
"Yes, let's be on our way." Everen said, trotting over to the front door.
The two went outside, Milo locking the door behind them. They cantered quickly through the alleys, heading south. When they reached the beginning of a large garden, Milo stopped Everen.
"We're going to want to go around this." he stated simply.
"What for?" Everen questioned, looking all over the garden, not noticing anything unusual.
"This is Pine Needle's garden. You don't go in there without an invitation or a raincloud." Milo said grimly.
"Why not?" Everen asked, wondering why Milo seemed so scared of this 'Pine Needle'.
"You just don't okay?" Milo began walking around the garden.
Everen followed the earth pony, continuing to look for anything out of the ordinary. He saw nothing of the sort. Then a thought dawned on the unicorn.
"How is it there's sunlight on the ceiling of the cave? I've been curious about this for some time but never thought to ask about it 'till now." Everen inquired, looking up at the sky blue dome above them.
"A powerful spell performed every year by all the unicorns in town. You'll have to learn the spell so you can participate in this to. It's coming up soon to." Milo elucidated.
"Okay so how will I learn this spell?" he asked.
"The captain of the defensive military force will teach you." the earth pony answered.
"Oh, Grey. I'll ask him about it the next time I see him." Everen stated, thinking he might see Grey very soon.
"You're on personal terms with Grey?" Milo questioned.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Not a lot of ponies can get close to him. He's rather hard to approach." he explained.
"Not to me. He a good guy." Everen stated nonchalantly, shrugging.
The two arrived at the training grounds, a large square surrounded by a moat. There were several stone pillars standing here and there and a few metal rods sticking up out of the ground. It was a great setting for all the elemental magics.
"Impressive, quite the training grounds you've got here." Everen whistled his approval.
"It's nothing special." Milo waved off the statement.
"Not to you, but this is great for magic fights." he retorted, his horn glowing with the tell-tale green aura of his magic. Everen summoned a gust of wind that blew right through the training grounds, sweeping a few ponies off their hooves. They threw a couple glares Everens' way, and he simply shrugged, not expecting it the wind to be so strong in a cave.
"That was very good. Are you a wind adept?" came a deep voice from behind the two.
They both turned around to see Grey Guardian standing there, tall as ever. Everen wondered how a guy that big could be that quiet, he hardly realized somepony was behind him even with his Spatial Awareness enchantment.
"Hey Grey, no I'm not a wind adept per say. I'm just well practiced in the element, as well as earth and lightning." Everen started, letting the light fade from his horn. "Do you specialize in an element?"
"Water magic. I'm fair with lava magic as well." the gray stallion answered. "What brings you out here"
"I'm going to be Milo's sparring partner. You?" Everen replied.
"I'm the one evaluating everypony. Let's see how you two do in hoof-to-hoof combat first. Then I might as well evaluate your magical abilities Everen, since you're here." Grey said, ushering the pair to an open space in the training area. "And, begin!"
Everen and Milo engaged each other, throwing punches and kicks, but both were so nimble, that neither one was landing a hit. It looked more like a dance than a fight the way the two stallions were jumping around. Finally, Grey raised a forehoof, signaling the combatants to stop.
"Well done, I see you are both good at not getting hit, but the question is, can you take a hit?" Grey jumped forward, turning suddenly and kicking both Everen and Milo at once. Milo flew into the nearest pillar and crumpled on the ground. While Everen used wind magic to regain his balance in midair, maneuvering himself onto one of the metal rods protruding from the stone floor. The brown maned unicorn then shot a bolt of lightning at the ground before Grey's hooves. The large unicorn reared back utterly surprised by Everen's competent display of magic.
"Very well done Everen! You'll make an excellent addition to the defensive force." Grey exclaimed, astonished at the prowess of the unicorn in front of him. "Let's test your magic a bit more. As for you Milo, go and train with Kinetic."
"Okay, just give me a second." Milo groaned, still collapsed in a heap on the ground.
"You alright Milo?" Everen asked concernedly, cantering over to him.
"I'll be fine, Grey's kicked me harder before. I can tell he went easy this time." Milo responded, getting up and moving over to another spot to spar with a unicorn who was two shades of tan, and had a green crew cut for his mane and tail.
Everen trotted so he was standing about five meters away from Grey. "Ready?"
"If you are." Grey said confidently.
"Okay then." Everen lit his horn up and concentrated. He threw a strong gust of wind at Grey, who stood his ground and responded by creating a large wave and sending it right at his opponent. Everen created a dome of stone and prepared his next three spells, taking out one of the pouches he'd grabbed earlier. Grey melted a hole through the earthen dome, only to find an empty space. A rock spire shot up right beneath him, sending him straight into the air. A he began to fall back down to earth, Everen emerged from the ground, flying towards Grey. Everen punched Grey directly in the stomach and gently lowered the two of them to the ground.
"You, you used two elements at once." Grey sputtered, clutching his gut. "Without either one losing effectiveness. How is that possible?"
"Sorry Grey, but I can't tell you that." Everen offered Grey a hoof.
"That's okay. I'm still curious, but I don't have to know." he said taking the hoof so Everen could help him up. "I'm just glad you're on our side."
Everen looked over Grey's shoulder and he had such an internal panic attack, that it almost showed on his face. On the other side of the training grounds, stood Azure Streak.
"Oh, I just realized I have to go. I'll see you around Grey." Everen lied, turning and trotting off to the garden he saw on his way here.
"Where're you headed?" Grey questioned, suspicious.
"Home, I have a few things I need to get in order." Everen sped up, wanting to get away from the training grounds as quickly as he could.
"I'll see you saturday then, I guess." Grey's voice faded away, as Everen trotted into the garden.
Everen slowed his pace as he got the eerie feeling he was being watched. He looked all around in search of any pony, and he saw an odd shape hanging from a nearby tree. He cantered over to it, and it opened up, revealing a yellow-green mare with red eyes, and an amber mane. The mare was holding onto a tree limb with her tail, and Everen noticed that, what had opened up, was a pair of leathery bat-like wings. The mare smiled at Everen, showing off sharp fangs.
"Hi there." her voice was a little screechy and hissy, but still easy to understand. "You know, most ponies avoid me and my do have good reason, I can be rather lethal when angry. But you're cute, so I don't want to hurt you."
"Um, thanks?" Everen stood absolutely still, not sure how to react to the mare hanging upside down in front of him.
"I'm Pine Needle, but I want you to call me Piney." she dropped from the tree and landed gracefully on her hooves. "What's your name?"
"Everen Shamrock, forgive my ignorance, but, what exactly ARE you?" the stunned unicorn inquired, tensing up his muscles.
"It's fine, I get that question a lot." Pine sounded unconcerned. "I'm a bat pony, the last of a long line too."
"So, there aren't any more of you?" Everen pressed on, wanting to know more.
"Not that I'm aware of." Pine sighed, preparing for the next statement she expected to come.
"Well then, I envy that part of you." Everen said, causing Pine to look up.
"What?" the surprise on her face couldn't have been more absolute.
"For one you have the knowledge of what it feels like to be the last of your kind, I can't even begin to comprehend how that must feel. You also must know what it is like to be pitied, I have never experienced this myself." he explained giving the mare a small smile.
"How can you envy that?" Pine questioned, hardly believing her ears.
"I know different pain. The pain of having to sever all connections to the ones I loved, and leave them all behind." Everen elucidated, holding back tears. "I wish we could trade pains, just so I'd have to deal with something else for a change."
Tears started welling up in Pines' eyes. "Would you mind if I gave you a hug?"
"Not at all." Everen held out a forehoof, welcoming the hug.
The bat pony hugged Everen tightly, and she cried into his neck. Everen struggled to keep his own tear ducts in check. They held the embrace for a good forty seconds before Pine let go. She backed up a little and wiped the tears from her face.
"Thanks for that, nopony has ever been this kind to me." Pine sniffled, looking into his emerald eyes. "When can you come by again?"
"I don't have anything planned for tomorrow. I'll try and come back then." Everen said, taking out another of his pouches. "Take this and sprinkle some of it into a glass of water. Drink the water and then you'll be able to contact me any time you need me."
"How does it work?" Pine inquired, not sure of herself.
"Normally a telepathic connection can only be between unicorns and alicorns. But this powder, when diluted and consumed, will allow another of the pony races to have a telepathic connection to somepony. This powder is synced to my magical signature." the stallion explained, placing the pouch in Pine's hooves.
"Are you sure you're fine with me intruding into your mind?" the mare asked. "I'd be able to see your innermost thoughts."
"My mental barriers would prevent you going too deep. And I feel I can trust you." Everen assured her.
"Okay, I'll drink it in a little bit." Pine put the pouch in the tree.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." Everen turned. "Goodbye, Piney."
"Goodbye Everen." Pine said, blushing slightly upon Everen calling her by the name she requested.
Everen left the garden, and went to his new home. Upon entry Everen noticed Karilyn holding Tsunami. The dragon was crying, and Karilyn seemed rather distressed.
"I'm so sorry Everen. I don't know what to do." she said when she saw Everen come in. "I tried feeding her but she just kept saying 'no', and then some word I couldn't understand."
"What did you try to feed her?" Everen asked, pulling some turquoise out of one of his pockets.
"Rubies, emeralds, sapphires. She doesn't like any precious stones we have." the pegasus said, distressed.
"She'll only eat turquoise, it's what she was raised on." Everen explained, holding the stone out to Karilyn.
"Oh, I had no idea." Kari apologized, taking the stone and putting it to the dragons lips. Tsunami started chewing on the stone.
"It's alright, that's my fault not yours. I should've told you." Everen consoled the mare. "Sorry for the trouble."
"I-it's fine, I know now, and for the most part taking care of Tsui was easy. I'd be willing to foalsit her again." Karilyn offered, moving her hoof away from Tsunami's mouth when she finished eating the stone.
"Really? That'd be great!" Everen said, pleased.
"Sure, she's really cute. So, now what?" inquired Karilyn, putting the dragon on her back.
"I was planning on going shopping, I need to get a few things. Care to join me?" Everen said, checking his pockets to see what money he had on him.
"Sure, I don't have any plans today either." she said, moving for the door.
"Alright then, let's be going." Everen held the door open for Karilyn.
"The two cantered out and onto main street west, where an open market was located. Everen looked left and right, looking for a stall that sells turquoise. He noticed a stallion selling precious stones nearby and cantered over there. Everen looked over the stones, but he didn't see the stone he was looking for.
"Do you know where I can find any turquoise?" Everen asked the stallion running the stall.
"'Fraid not, sorry." the pony responded, shrugging.
"That's okay, come on Kari, lets keep looking." Everen said, looking around a bit more urgently.
"Is something wrong Everen?" Karilyn asked, concerned. "You seem troubled."
"It's just that the turquoise stone Tsui just ate was the last one I had." Everen explained, continuing to look all around.
"That sounds like a problem, how are you going to get more?" Karilyn questioned, moving in front of the stallion, forcing him to look at her.
Everen looked into the mare's blue-green eyes. "I don't know. Are there any turquoise deposits in the caves?"
"I'm not sure, there could be." Karilyn looked up in thought. "Wait a minute, I think I remember seeing some turquoise once."
"Where? Do you remember where?" Everen inquired.
Karilyn closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. "Over by the caves that lead to the farm. I went down a side tunnel, and I think I saw turquoise lining the walls."
"Thank you!" Everen kissed the pegasus' cheek. "I'll go get the turquoise. Can you please pick up a few things for me?" Everen took a pen and notepad out of one of his pockets and wrote a few items down. He then handed her the notepad, and a small pouch of bits.
"Sure thing, where should we meet up afterwards?" Karilyn said, taking the notepad and money.
"How about Sugar Cane Bakery? I'd wager we could both do with a meal." Everen suggested, to which both of their stomachs grumbled.
"Sounds good to me." the mare replied with a chuckle.
"Seeya at the bakery then." Everen turned and made for the caves that led to the farm, southeast of the main part of the town.
"'Till then." Kari blew a kiss after him.
Everen made a catching movement with a forehoof, and then placed the hoof in one of his pockets. Everen made it to the cave entrance that led to the farm. He used a light spell so that he wouldn't be blind in the caves. The unicorn moved into the cave, looking for a side tunnel. Everen cantered down the cave for a couple of minutes, passing by a few side tunnels that Everen looked down. He saw no signs of turquoise down them so he moved on. He soon came across a smaller side tunnel, he entered the tunnel, having a good feeling about it. Not long after entering the tunnel, Everen found what he was searching for.
"Hey! What're you doing down this way?" an orange-brown stallion appeared out of the gloom.
"I could ask you the same question, couldn't I?" Everen retorted. looking at the stallions blue-green eyes.
"I work on the farm, I was just explorin' the caves cause there's not much else I can do for entertainment." He answered.
"I'm here looking for turquoise, and I just found some, so I'll just harvest a bit of it and I'll be on my way." Everen responded, preparing a spell to break off some of the cave wall.
"What gives you the right to?" the other pony questioned.
"I have a dragon to feed, and this is the only kind of precious stone she'll eat." Everen elucidated, ready to use his spell.
"Likely story." the stallion raised an eyebrow.
Boom
Everen used his spell to cut a large chunk of turquoise out of the cave wall.
"What the hay was that?" the pony yelped, startled by Everen's sudden use of magic.
"That was me, getting what I came for." Everen levitated the stone.
"Oh no, you're not getting off that easy." the stallion said, blocking Everen's way out.
"And why not? Is a bit of turquoise really that important?" Everen asked,glaring at the pony in his way.
"No, but you can't come this close to the farm without meeting the family." the stallion grabbed Everen's forehoof and dragged him along.
Everen tried to protest, but the stallion was too strong for him to break free. Everen was dragged out into a cave about twice the size as the main cave, where the town was located. The land in front of him was expansive, he looked out upon a large farm with many fields containing a variety of fruit trees, and other crops such wheat and barley. When they moved out of the darkness Everen saw the the stallion dragging him was an earth pony with a blonde and light brown mane and tail, both cut short so they'd be easier to manage. The earth pony dragged Everen up to a home with a cream colored mare sitting on the front porch. She had a blonde mane and tail, with a red mane-band on her head.
"Who's this?" she blinked her emerald green eyes at Everen.
"Everen Shamrock." Everen said when the stallion had let go of him, bowing in his usual manner.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Barley." she responded, getting out of her chair. She was an earth pony too.
"And I'm Wheat." the stallion said, proudly.
"Let me guess, fraternal twins?" Everen surmised, taking into account their apparent ages, and the fact that they're probably related.
"How'd you figure?" Barley asked, curious.
"You two look and act as though you're closely related, and you appear to be the same age. Also I don't see any signs of marriage." Everen summed up, looking between the two.
"Yeah we're twins. Do you have any siblings?" the mare asked.
"Not as far as I know. I'm an only foal." Everen replied, placing a forehoof to his chin.
"You know, you kinda look like," Barley looked down, trying to think. "Hmm, I'll get back to you on that. Gotta check on something." she went inside, closing door behind her.
"Is there anypony else you wanted me to meet?" Everen inquired, wanting to move along.
"Just one more for now." Wheat said, looking to the house. "HEY SANDY, WE HAVE A VISITOR!"
The little colt Everen met the day before cantered out of the house. He saw Everen and him a look of mixed emotions. Everen detected a bit of distrust, surprise, and something else Everen couldn't quite put his hoof on.
"Oh, hi Sandy, good to see you again." Everen said, smiling.
"Hello again." Sandy replied, smiling in return.
"Wait what? You two already know each other?" Wheat questioned.
"Yeah, we met yesterday, me and the others registered Everen in our archives." Sandy explained, looking to Wheat.
"So is Sandy your little brother?" Everen asked, looking one to the other.
"That's right." Wheat ruffled the colt's mane. He had a little trouble getting his hoof out again though, with Sandy's mane being so messy.
"Well, I'll just be on my way then. I don't want to keep my friend waiting." Everen made for the exit, his stomach grumbling. "I have plans for lunch already. It was nice meeting you."
"Oh, okay. See you later then." Wheat called after him.
"Goodbye Everen." Sandy rose his voice so that Everen could hear him.
Everen left the farm and made his way towards the bakery. He cantered through the front doors, and was met by a mint green colt with a white mane.
"Hey Everen, how's it goin'?" Spearmint asked. "Is somepony expecting you, or are you here alone?"
"Hey there. I'm fine." Everen responded, looking around the bakery. "There should be a pink pegasus with an auburn mane waiting for me."
"Right this way then." the colt began leading Everen through the tables and chairs.
"So I'm guessing you're related to Pepper Mint and Candy Cane. With this being a family business and all." Everen guessed, keeping an eye out for the red stallion.
"Yeah I am, I'm the youngest. Pepper Mint is the oldest." Spearmint stated, they arrived at table, where Karilyn was sipping some tea, waiting for Everen.
"Took you long enough." the mare said when she saw Everen. "What kept you?"
"The farmers decided I needed to meet some of their family." Everen shrugged, taking a seat across from her. "Thanks Spearmint."
"Just doing my job, may I offer you something to drink to start you off?" Spearmint said,pulling out a pen and notepad.
"Just water, thank you." Everen looked back to Karilyn. "Did you find everything on my list?"
"More or less, I couldn't find any stardust. How do you even get that?" Karilyn rose an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, sorry. Um, I'll have to get that myself." Everen took back the notepad and what was left of the money he gave her, as well as the bags she put everything in. "Thanks for doing that for me."
"Sure thing. I'm happy to help." she said, noticing that he didn't answer her question.
"Did you order yet?" Everen asked, picking up a menu.
"Not yet, I was waiting for you." she said picking up her own menu.
"You didn't have to do that you know." Everen made up his mind of what he wanted and put down the menu.
"I know, but I wouldn't feel comfortable eating in front of you if you didn't have food." the mare stated, setting her menu down as well.
"Nor would I in your situation." Everen smiled.
"Are you two ready to order." Candy showed up at their table then, pen in mouth and notepad in hoof.
"I believe we are." Everen said, looking to Kari, who simply nodded. "I'll have a whole wheat pasta with white sauce, and a side of applesauce."
"And I'll have the veggie salad with balsamic dressing, and a baked potato." Karilyn added.
"Alright, I'll be back wit your orders once they're ready." Candy took their menus and moved into the kitchen.
"Hey, maybe you could get a job here. I know it's a family business, but with only four or five ponies working here, I'd guess they could use some help." Everen suggested, watching Candy canter off.
"Well, maybe." the pegasus started, hesitantly. "I guess I could try."
"That's the spirit." Everen encouraged her, reaching across the table and grabbing one of her hooves in his own. To which Karilyn blushed.
Their lunch arrived a short while later, Candy balancing a tray on her rump. Everen forced himself to look at her red eyes. Candy placed the meals on the table and looked from one to the other. "If you need anything else, just give me a hollar."
"Thanks Candy." Everen smiled, trying not stare as she trotted to another table, the tray still perfectly balanced on her bum.
"I saw that." Karilyn grinned at Everen.
"Saw what?" Everen replied, not meeting her eyes.
"You staring at Candy's rear end." her grin widened, she had him cornered.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Everen tried to play it of, to no avail.
"It' okay you know, you're hardly the only stallion to look at her that way." she said gesturing around the room.
Everen noticed several stallions staring at Candy. Some of them were even drooling a little.
"I don't mind if you look, even you do become my colt-friend. And don't you expect me to not stare at other stallions." Karilyn pulled his attention back to her.
"Sounds fair to me." Everen said, starting to eat his pasta.
The two ate in silence, too hungry to continue the conversation. When they had finished they split the bill. Leaving a tip for Candy and Spearmint. The two went home and spent the rest of the day chatting, getting to know each other. Milo got home sometime later, and Karilyn made them all dinner. After they ate, they all went up to their rooms, Everen taking back tsunami, and they all prepared to go to sleep. Everen wrote a letter to send tomorrow, along with his other letter, he had to remember to find the post office tomorrow. He got in bed and drifted off to sleep.