Hogwarts the next day
It was now Saturday there were no courses for the students, like most Saturdays students usually go on with their own business either enjoying their time with friends, writing home and in most cases do their homework that they probably haven't done, alongside students was the usual patrol of robots and the activity of the teachers. Saturday also been the day when mail was coming, owls came in and brought letters and packages alongside the Dailey Prophet for the colonies. Ron Harry, Twilight and Hermione were right now staying at the table in the grand Hall enjoying a breakfast and while there Ron was reading threw the pages while eating some toasted sandwiches.
"Hey Ron, anything new?" Asked Twilight who was staying near Harry, hoping that her friends managed to solve the problem with the attacks.
"Well nothing much to say aside from the fact that there hadn't been any attacks this week." He answered.
"Ron, please try not to speak with your mouth full." Hermione said.
"Sorry." He murmured swallowing his food.
"I do am glad that there hadn't been any kind of attacks at this moment." Harry said.
"Who isn't glad?" Ron asked turning to the next page which showed another article. "Hey guys look the Lord of Dragons and her entourage had just left in their Grand Embassy with the Hippogriffs at the same time."
"Really!?" Twilight exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"It said right here, that there could be a possibility to join with the Changelings pretty soon, probably after they reach Berlin." Ron said showing to his friends.
"It also mentions that the Yaks and Griffons will also leave tomorrow." Harry said reading the article.
"I hope the yaks will not go on a rampage and then be considered savage beasts." Hermione said knowing about their possible issues.
"I don't think they will go on a rampage while there, I mean surely they will behave properly." Twilight said.
"The magical ministers everywhere in the galaxy informed all the Prime Ministers and heads of states off each nation the Embassies will go and of course how to please each one of them. If there will be a problem they will know how to solve it. One back up plan might be to tire each one out when visiting the armies during exercises." Ron said.
"This will surely work in some cases." Harry said before taking a slip from his orange juice.
"At least some things will be solved with them, by going to our home nations it will be possible for all the high political figures to learn more about what is happening here and hopefully prevent radicals from gaining more support."
"Hopefully this will happen, of course this depends now if the attacks will go on more violently." Harry said.
"Hopefully they will not get more violent or more frequent otherwise people will live in the fear and hysteria when You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters were around doing their stuff." Ron said shivering only thinking what was during that time.
"But how they were doing when they were active?" Asked Twilight and of course they looked at her with either confusion, or a look surprise because she doesn't know anything.
"You really don't know anything about that?" Asked Ron with a look of confusion.
"It isn't as if I came from nowhere. It is just that I lived in an environment where I didn't hear of what they did and my parents didn't spoke about this at home or my teacher at school." She explained.
"Lucky you I could say."
"It was a bit like now but far worst. I also learned about this when I came here in the first year." Harry began.
"And what do you know."
"They were attacking at night, usually wearing masks to cover their faces destroying and burning things around them and using curses on people both wizards and muggles. Their primary targets were muggle-born wizards like Hermione, wizards that stand in their way, that want to stop them or that refused to join them. They also attacked muggles that either know or don't know about the magical world or married with wizards, they considered them sub humans and inferior. They could also attack magical people that married with them considering them to have betrayed the wizard kind." Harry explained, horrifying Twilight for her it was as if unicorns would start to attack earth ponies and Pegasus just because they don't have magical abilities like the unicorns have, good thing this never happened.
"And, what kind of curses did they use?"
"They were using three forbidden curses; one of them is the Imperious Curse, which a caster uses to control a person and makes it do the things the caster wants, Snape told us when we learned about Dark objects for control the only way to escape from is to try to fight it off by showing determination and stubbornness. This one is considered in a way less dangerous." Hermione explained.
"I have to admit that in no way I was taught anything regarding curses, especially those, it never was in the curriculum I had at my school." Twilight said.
"And consider yourself lucky for that and that you never had to witness what they could do." Ron said.
"But why is the Imperious Curse considered less dangerous than others?"
"Because you can escape from it if the caster uses it on you. The others are far worst." Harry said.
"Which is the second one?"
"The second is called the Cruciatus. It is the torture curse, a caster points it's wand to the victim and when used, it is as if your whole body is exploding and is ripped apart in repeated ways starting from the bones, it is as if you are ripped from inside out and in this case you can't do anything to stop it, you must be helped." Hermione explained horrifying the girl even more.
"Who was victim of it?" Asked Twilight.
"We told you about Neville's parents haven't we, Bellatrix Lestrange used the curse on them till they lost their minds and we saw how they became." Harry said thinking with sorrow and pain at what the boy had to experience.
"I do now regret even asking about them." Twilight said with shame, thinking that probably all the students experienced those kinds of things and only bringing them up and caused enough pain to her friends.
"You know, at least now you were informed about this because who knows if there is a possibility to be given those at the exams or make a review on them sometime late. Or even have one who might use them on you." Harry said.
"Maybe, but it is horrible to think about them." Twilight said.
"We can see this; do you wish to know about the last of them?" Asked Ron.
"I prefer not to." She said, in her mind vowing to herself to prevent those things that they experience to happen again to no pony and no human.
"One thing is to know however. Don't say to Neville everything and anything about the Cruciatus. Even thou the one responsible isn't alive anymore when he thinks about or sees it he remember what happened to his parents, it passed a lot of time since then but he is still affected by it." Harry said.
"I don't intend to, moreover I do hope none will have to live once more those days, neither you nor the natives."
"Only one who enjoys or profits from this would want that to happen." Ron said with his mouth fool again this time eating some sausages.
"Yeah." Twilight said thinking now about the group who is encouraging this, in a way now she compares them to the Death Eaters although no wizard was injured she hopes those attacks will stop as soon as possible in a way who knows what kind of reprisals would the radicals try to do if will be given the chance. Thinking a bit more on this, why would that group encourages all of this to happen, why do they want all this to happen. In a way encouraging the rumors to cause fear, teaming up with shabby ponies and others with devious intentions been near the princess means only one thing, they are doing this to profit out of everything and gain power. Problem was the fact that no pony knows that this could lead to unwanted consequences for both wizards and them.
'By Celestia, I hope my friends managed to convince the princess to accept the students to come to Canterlot, for all to see the truth.' She said to herself in thought.
Several miles from Hogwarts in the forest
Applejack and Fluttershy were in the forest that was near Hogwarts, going towards the castle both were escorted by 2 royal guards, whom thankfully were the same that came on Halloween and knew what was the situation, Shining Armor picked them himself because he knew that they wouldn't try something, they were officially immune to any kind of influences coming from either Mislead or any other of his henchponies and possible supporters. They of course were there to ensure nothing bad happens to the two messengers. In a way they thought that the robot guards especially in those times when the settlements are still harassed by different groups might not be very welcoming and the ones that guard a magical boarding school, who knows how their electric mind would make them do, thinking what might have happened to the changelings that attacked.
"I do hope that the guards wouldn't be very aggressive to us." Said Fluttersy she was of course very fearful of the robots and knows for what exactly.
"We should be safe if we mean no harm to them and say that we only have a letter for the headmaster." Applejack said.
"Yet I really wonder what happened to the changelings that were controlled by the dark crystal when they attacked the school."
"They returned home Fluttershy, you know Twilight told us that Ron and Harry destroyed the crystal that controlled them."
"I know that, but I mean what the robots did during the battle with them."
"In a way I ask this thing myself. How good did they fight against Chrysalis compared with us in the first invasion?" Said the white Pegasus guard, the group didn't noticed that they had been watched by a regular battle robot that was between the trees and went to his unit.
"By how they look, who knows how good they fight." Said the dark beige guard.
"Let's just hope that they will let us in to give the message." Applejack said while walking on forward till they saw a group of robots patrolling that saw the ponies.
"Here they are." Applejack said while they were approaching, a robot marked with a three colored sign in a circle like a target and near having an insignia of an officer came.
"Stop, you crossed the border. State your business." He ordered calmly while 8 others came as well, each having a small shooting device while the last two, sticks with some barrel and a knife attached near it.
"Ahh, we came with a letter for the headmaster of the school." Fluttershy said showing them the parchment, the robot at the front moved his hand and took it with his three fingers up, he then opened it to read.
"We wish to make an exchange program." Fluttershy said but the robot didn't paid attention to her.
"Hmm, everything seems all right." He said raveling the parchment back giving it to the pony. "You must come with us then, and no tricks."
"Lead the way then." Applejack said and he and the others started to move on towards the school, when they were close to it several other robots came in with a more variation of weapons alongside them were also students from all the years that were either chatting between them, reading or playing, some even started to come to them out of curiosity to look at what could be happening. When they reached the bridged, a black robot with glowing eyes came to them.
"What is going on?" He asked in a thicker voice then the regular ones.
"They are messengers' sir. They want to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore." Said the other one, the black one then went behind and pulled out a device and out from it came a small image of another robot.
"I do hope they will let us in." Said Fluttershy fearful.
"Try to keep calm Fluttershy everything will be fine." Said Applejack before the black one came back.
"You may enter now." He said before turning to other two like him. "Keep the students out of site and away from them."
"Yes sir." They said and went out joined by regular ones and some bulky ones, while Fluttershy and Applejack were advancing to the bridge followed by the two royal guards. However two regular ones on guard duty came before the two Pegasus to stop them.
"It is strictly prohibited to carry weapons especially on the other side of the bridge; you either leave them here or stay on this side of the bridge." Said a regular one.
"But we have orders to watch over them." Said the white Pegasus in protest.
"Those are orders from the commander." Said the other one and tracking the attention from the other two ponies.
"But we also have orders." Said the other one.
"The safety protocol has no exceptions." Said the second one.
"But we-"
"Wait, they are only doing their job like you do, let them be." Fluttershy said.
"We will finish this very quick you only stay here." Applejack said resuming their advance while the Pegasus guards remained at the entrance of the bridge, on the other side of the bridge columns of robots were forming on each side, each having different shooing devices all standing up straight with a very strict discipline in honor guard position. Their presence wasn't kept much secret since some students that were outside started to come and look at what was happening, the robots that were behind the ones in the honor guard on the right side were however trying to keep them away from coming too close even trying to push them aside.
"Hoy, not even the Princesses are guarded in such a way like we are now." Applejack commented while both going between the guards.
"I am thinking if Twilight is between them." Fluttershy said.
"If she is, there is no way to get to us especially threw this wall of machines. I really wander, what happens when they use their weapons." Applejack said.
"Go back to your stuff. There is nothing to see here, nothing to see here." Said another one in a strong German accent, the two ponies went on till they reached a corridor where there was a giant statue of a raven the droids that were marching suddenly stopped.
"Hay why are we stopping?" Applejack asked.
"OM 275, go upfront and say the password." Ordered the commander ignoring what the pony said, the robot went up close to the statue.
"Cherry Pops." The robot said and the statue started to move forming some stairs in the process.
"Carry on." The commander said and the march continued to the staircase.
"OM 773 go upfront, OM 3721 behind the messengers." Said the commander and the first robot went first while the second remained behind.
"Well let's go Flutters." Said Applejack and both earth pony and shy yellow Pegasus moved on upstairs till they reached a big wooden door, the robot knocked at the door and a voice came.
"Who is it?" Asked a male voice from behind the door.
"You have visitors' sir, messengers." Said the robot.
"Let them in." He said and the robot opened the door for the two ponies to enter. The sight of the room was really interesting, a bit wacky by the stuff that was all around. It a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises, a number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were leaning on their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tainted wizard's hat. Right up front there was a great bearded man with glasses wearing a long silver wizard costume, who was smiling at them. Dumbeldore reminded them of Starswirl the Bearded in a way.
"Ah good day to you, welcome to Hogwarts." He said in a soft and calm tone.
"Ah, good day headmaster." Fluttershy said shyly.
"What would be the purpose of your visit? We usually don't have ponies coming too often." He said.
"Our Princesses wishes to invite you and some of the teachers and students of your school to an exchange program." Applejack said giving him the parchment, the elderly wizard took it and started to read threw the lines.
In the meantime.
The four friends Harry Ron, Hermione and Twilight found themselves in the Library doing their Transfiguration, Potion and DADA homeworks for the next week, the advance was however a slow one, luckily they had managed to finish their DADA and Transfigurations homework one thing that even Twilight learned is the fact that both McGonagall and Snape give the longest and hardest to make homeworks in the whole school. But despite all this she was managing to do them, even helping others that need, thing that everyone was always grateful for.
"At last, I thought I will never finish it." Complained Ron placing the last point.
"I do admit that it really was long this one." Harry said.
"I wonder who didn't struggle on those two. I will take a break." Ron said moving away from the group.
"Ron come back soon we still have to do the one at Defense against the Dark Arts." Hermione called. "I really wonder what will learn next week."
"Something much easier I hope, especially for DADA." Harry commented.
"It is doubtful now with the attacks, even if they aren't every week." Hermione said.
"I am sure things will calm down for a time with the natives." Twilight said.
"Are you sure about this Twilight, even if this week there weren't any attacks who know when and where it will be." Hermione said paying attention to her notes.
"In a way I hope something will come out that might mark a change." Harry commented he knew what he was saying since what Collins told him, when he was alone the boy showed him today an article from last week in which some more panicked wizards would want him called up to stop what was happening. The 6th year student knew that this isn't like with the Dark Lord but in a way some things found a bit of resemblance only to motivate that argument. The only thing that is missing is that no one was afraid of a specific name whom once spelled could bring a Death Eater or even Voldemort himself on the street or at one's door.
"I am sure that something will happen that might change things for the better." Twilight said, in her mind hoping that her friends succeeded, he didn't notice when Ron came back in a full rush.
"Guys, I have news, two messengers from a nearby native Kingdome came to Dumbledore to speak with him." Said Ron tracking the group's attention.
"Really, two messengers?!" Twilight said excited they are probably her friends; possibly they had convinced the Princesses to accept.
"Let's go and see." Hermione said and all busted out of the library to go to the school grounds to see what was going on.
At the school grounds in the meantime.
"Change the ones at the bridge." Professor McGonagall ordered.
"But professor, why to change them?" Asked a commando one with number 25 on its chest.
"You should know better, the ones that don't have numbers are more unpredictable and aggressive they know more of fighting while the older ones know some more things aside that, I want them change with two veterans." Professor McGonagall said with a stern look and the agile robot pointed with his three fingers to two that were put on sweeping up.
"They are the closest ones." He said and McGonagall rushed to the two one had number 3279 the other 7555 on the chest. "You two!" She called and the two stopped their work and stood up straight to the deputy headmistress.
"Prepare your laser blasters and come with me." She said and both detached their blue laser blasters set on stunning mode and went with her over the bridge.
"You two really don't talk much I guess." Murmured the white Pegasus.
"We are not to give information." McGonagall then came to them with other two, he took up a long whistle and blew threw it tracking their attention.
"I relive you two of your duty, go on patrol in the forest. Those two will take your place." Said McGonagall.
"Roger, Roger." Said both them and moved away replaced by the other two.
"Sorry if there were any problems, those new very cheaper ones are "a bit" rude. Those will know better how to be polite." Said the woman to the two guards before leaving.
"And how it is to guard a school?" Asked the white one.
"It is our duty."
Back in the Headmaster's Office
"I do have to say that the invitation from your princess is unexpected yet thrilling." Said Dumbledore smiling at the two ponies.
"Many ponies heard a lot of thing about Hogwarts and would like to see some demonstrations on what you are teaching." Applejack said.
"It is indeed a real honor to accept an invitation from a crowned head and indeed one shouldn't refuse something of such proportions like this invitation." Said Professor Dumbledore, the ponies smiled at this everything seems to go exactly the way it was hoped.
"Unfortunately the times aren't quite perfect for something like this. The governors and the ministry wouldn't accept me to go, although it would be rude to turn this down." Said the headmaster his smile fading.
"Why not?" Asked Fluttershy.
"Did you heard of the attacks that started to happen at our settlements? No one knows who the ones responsible are, and locals like you whom we didn't encounter are suspected for those attacks." He explained.
"We know about those things actually." Said Fluttershy.
"The rotten apples that provoke all this are different groups of bandits and thieves, who try to legitimize those acts by different rumors that started to circulate around." Applejack said not wanting to get into more details.
"What kind of rumors?"
"They are different rumors and made up stories whom some invented because of possible bad encounters with your authorities and possible misunderstandings." Fluttershy said, of course the ones responsible are also some who try to get as much influence as possible, that meaning Mislead and his group.
"But if they are bandits and thieves why no one tried to capture them and stop them?" He asked.
"They haven't done anything on Equestrian soil on one hand and no pony had ever though what they are doing." The Pegasus said.
"I see; however there is something that isn't right, they seem quite well organized for some thieves and bandits."
"Well they are well organized after so much time of raiding plus there is another thing to know, some ponies even support them because of the rumors, they also make new ones to look as if they are heroes, even thou they are not and many ponies doubt all they say about you." Said Applejack.
"I wonder why they haven't attacked Hogwarts as well."
"Well they are not quit interested in a simple school not to mention the fact that we heard about the school from the changelings and the griffons." Said Fluttershy.
"Ah yeah, the changelings I wonder how they are. The battle that was fought because of Chrysalis was a real mess and many had been injured badly by the robots."
"But how did your guards fought?" Asked Fluttershy already thinking something bad had happened.
"Please understand that it wasn't something we wanted, the robots alongside our senior student, teachers and myself had to fight for ourselves. Unfortunately some new robots weren't quiet lenient as I heard people would expect here. The robots fought with ferocity and unfortunately many changelings had been severely injured in the process; however the fight stopped once their former queen was brought down. She controlled the poor creatures with a cursed object that one had destroyed and they stopped, been liberated from the spell and went home."
"We are glad to hear that everything turned out well in the end."
"And yet isn't there any kind of way to convince the ones in charge that there wouldn't be any kind of problem, surely there should be a way." Applejack said.
"Well there might be if you would come out with something to convince them. Isn't there another reason for this invitation?" Asked the elderly wizard with suspicion and the two ponies only exchanged looks.
At the castle's main gate
Twilight and her friends just arrived at the entrance where many students from all houses were outside trying to get a glimpse of what was happening outside. However the robots both regular skinny ones, super battle robots, commando and some special ones were preventing them from approaching any further they also had weapons on stunning mode in case of emergency. The special Magna Guards aside from electric stuffs they were also having some metallic shields not circular ones like royal guards but in rectangle shape and bats usually to stop demonstrations in colonies but in the cases of attacks they use them against possible natives who want to make trouble. Harry, Twilight, Hermione and Ron who just arrived went outside to see how the things were.
"Do you see them?" Asked Twilight.
"No they probably entered in the headmaster's office." Hermione said.
"I wonder if there will be a possibility of seeing them." Ron said.
"Good luck there is no way of seeing them." Came Seamus Finnegan with his friend Dean Thomas.
"The robots don't allow anyone to go closer not even to peek on them." Dean came.
"But didn't any of you saw who they might be?" Harry asked.
"We barely saw who escorted them here, two Pegasus in ancient Greek armor style that is everything we will be able to see. They are over the bridge." Seamus said giving Harry a small magical telescope, looking at the bridge he saw the two Pegasus waiting with the robots watching over them and also preventing students to come close, it seems that they came from some sort of guards and in a way they don't quite like the way the robots do their job.
"I don't think they like how the safety protocol is put into practice here." He commented giving the telescope to Ron to watch.
"I wonder if they complain on how the robots are doing with them and with us." Ron asked.
"I heard one who commented before the robots were changed with two older ones with numbers by McGonagall. From what it seems they don't quiet like how the robots do their job, mostly they don't like how they tend to go overboard with the guarding stuff. Especially that they don't allow us to even approach them to only look." Dean said.
"Seamus, couldn't you try to do something to track the attention of the robots?" Twilight asked in her case she sensed that two of her friends are there and she wishes to see them.
"This is very hard now Twilight, the robots are fools sometimes but when it comes to things like having visitors from the natives or fighting, it is hard to fool them, they stay on their position. You can fool them only when they consider that there is no danger or there is no problem of either protecting friendly ones or keeping possible trespassers out." He said.
"That is why I am not very fond of them, especially the cheaper ones that don't have a number, it seems that they are more for fighting and nothing much, also behave like hypocrites when on regular duty and been arrogant to the older ones we had good terms with." Ron commented, Twilight was now disappointed about this not so much because she isn't able to see her pony friends but also because her other friends and classmates couldn't meet them to at least give a warm welcome. 'Stupid attacks, the robots aren't to blame, they only do their job, but they wouldn't have to do this if it wasn't for the ones that encourage them.'
Back in the headmaster's office.
"Well the main reason is that many ponies didn't know and haven't met you before and not having solid information some are expected to believe whatever they are told." Fluttershy explained.
"And of course, the only few good things were mostly about Hogwarts and many are more likely to accept you visiting then others, in order to clarify some things. Of course it is the case for ponies who don't believe in the rumors and the speculations and the ones that want to give a try to see what is so mysterious about you." Applejack explained while Dumbeldore rubbed his beard.
"Misinformation and ignorance is a good weapon to manipulate the people who have nothing to do with it to stay silent, while the ones who do those acts are doing their evildoings I do admit."
"So, is it possible for you to come this mainly to clarify the situation?" Asked Fluttershy.
"I would give it a try. Yet why you haven't gone to other places and came here?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Well with what is happening at the moment many including us were afraid to go to other settlements especially that no pony knows what might happen right now with those tensions and how we might have been received especially in the places where the bandits attack." Applejack said, but of course the elderly wizard had some doubts.
"Hmm, well if this was the case I will see what can be done. But like I said I doubt that this proposal will be accepted easily."
"We know, but in a way many do started to doubt the rumors and most would wish that things would be clarified." Fluttershy said.
"On the other hoof, if we let those bandits go on they wouldn't stop and they surely wouldn't be given their just desserts for what they are doing." Said Applejack.
"I can see this, but question is why your monarch doesn't know about this? Could there be a possibility that a member of her inner circle might encourage those acts, a traitor or a corrupt official who secretly supports those bandit groups."
"There is one, a smooth talker whom for some he is too close to the princess and always tries to play too much innocent around her." Applejack said.
"Is he really the only one?"
"Well there are also other 4 companions but they aren't so often near the princess, they are for other stuff their boss orders, one of them I could say is too irascible with words."
"And probably reckless." Dumbledore said thoughtful of what he was informed. "I shall write a letter to your princess thanking her for the invitation and also informing her of what could be done in this case." He said and the two ponies already smiled at this, things seem to go fine for now. Dumbeldore took out a piece of parchment before snapping his fingers and the feather started to write on its own. The two ponies were really impressed by this, no spell, no levitation the quill was moving on its own. Twilight must surely love this castle.
"To Their Majesties; Princesses Celestia, Luna and Mi Amore Cadenza." The wizard started to dictate while the quill was writing down the letter. The professor snapped his fingers again and the feather was back in the quill.
"If you want, you could take some candies from the bowl." Said the headmaster pointing it to the ponies, "Small warning, some of them. especially the licorice are a bit stinging." The ponies went to the sweet bowl and they started to look at the sweets not wanting to take something too weird to eat. Fluttershy took a piece of jelly warms to eat while Applejack took a piece of licorice to try, it was the usual taste a bit biting and nothing much, he then placed his hoof to take another two only to suddenly move up and bite her.
"Ouch." She said dropping the confectionary that ran away.
"haha. Told you." The professor giggled smiling to them, and they returned the gesture, this surely was a real joke plus candies that can move and act due to a spell is another thing out of ordinary. Dumbledore then finished the letter and handed it over to the two ponies. Fluttershy immediately put it in her backpack.
"I shall make copies of your letter and send them to the governors and the ministry, hopefully this will be accepted. It will really be a pity to miss something like this, plus small deeds like this one really can do long term relationships, if we take the example of the French and Saddle of Arabia." Dumbledore said.
"You know about Saddle of Arabia?" Asked Fluttershy.
"Yes the nation of Saddle of Arabia met wizards from one of our nations, it is said that the students had the first initiative to make this encounter possible. Forgetting about formalities of everything, like meeting politicians and diplomats to in the business of nations it is half of what could have happened." He said opening a drawer getting two chocolate bars. "It is actually the smaller people and the smaller deed that they do is the real thing that leads to great things." Dumbledore said taking two bars of chocolate and covered them with his hand and enlarged both them giving it to the two.
"This is something we will surely remember." Applejack said smiling.
"We thank you headmaster." Fluttershy said.
"I do hope however that our guards weren't too harsh for your own."
"I guess we are about to find out. Have a good day sir." Applejack said.
"Hope we will meet again." Fluttershy said and both left the office and again were escorted by the two robots till they reached outside. Nothing had changed the robots were standing in their honor guard position however the number of curious students had increased and some were even trying to move in more closer to look but to no avail some were even trying to climb up on some things like poles, benches or the fountain above the statues to try to have at least a glimpse of them. The ponies in a way could see at least some faces but they weren't able to notice Twilight or her new friends.
"Stay back, stay back, special business nothing to be seen." Said a robot officer.
"Come on we want to see who they are." Shouted a student.
"Permission rejected, for your own safety."
"Could you stop that for Celestia's sake?" Fluttershy shouted, this time she had enough, everything was now really stupid, the students only want to watch and take a glimpse of them out of curiosity and they don't have any reason to harm them. She was of course heard by Twilight and the others in the back. "We are only messengers; we don't have anything with the students."
"Protocol is not to be questioned." Said the robot tracking McGonagall's attention.
"Is there a problem?" She asked making her way through the students.
"Yes, could you make them to let their guard a bit, I mean we don't have anything against you or the students who are only curious to see us." Applejack commented.
"Right." McGonagall said turning to a regular robot officer. "Could you let the students only to watch them a bit?"
"It is impossible; the protocol had been introduced on direct order of the ministry." He said.
"Maybe but I am the deputy headmistress of this school. Usually the headmaster and the school's stuff don't intervene in the cases of security or protection but I don't think this is the case with messengers."
"Actually it is, especially with the attacks that are still happening."
"Let the students get a glimpse of them even if the messengers move on." She ordered before the British TA droid came, looking at his electric watch he decided to grant the permission.
"Permission granted only for 5 minutes while they move." He said and the robots in front of the students started to let them take a look. At last both ponies and wizards could see each other, for the students it was impressive to see equines that could talk, of course they were sheepishly smiling and waving at them or making signs of congratulations for commenting the guards and the ponies did the same, one of course tried to move closer and was stopped by the robots, they still had their orders.
"You can watch but not move over the line." Said one of them.
"You sometimes really spoil the mood, you know." Said another student monotonously.
"Can't agree more." Applejack murmured.
"Ahh, the commander said 'while moving on' to the exit." Said another robot.
"You really do spoil the mood sometimes." The ponies walked on to the exit still looking at the students; even if they were under strict control they were really happy that they could see friendly faces and the students looked more excited than frightened. Between the crowds of students, in the back they were able to see a familiar face trying to reach them, Fluttershy looking closely it was a girl with dark lavender main, it was surely Twilight.
"Applejack, Fluttershy I knew it." Twilight said trying to get to them.
"Twilight wait." Hermione said grabbing her by the shoulder. "I know you want to see them much close, but we wouldn't be able to, they are too many students that bump into one another."
"Plus the robots will not allow us to go too much near them. Not to mention that they will try to put them to leave as fast as possible." Harry said and the girl disappointed stayed behind with the wizards while watching her friends having to leave. Plus she knew that only trying to talk to them and might blow her cover after only a short look she alongside the others started to move away back inside the castle. Fluttershy saw the action and she knew by their faces that they didn't want some accident to happen to her. 'It isn't their fault; they care for her and don't want something bad to happen.' She said in her mind.
"No pushing, no pushing." Said the robot officer to the students.
"Come Fluttershy." Applejack said taking her by the shoulder and the Pegasus started to move away across the bridge to the guards who seem to have some nice talk with the robots now.
"In a way we really hope that things will be better soon." Said one royal guard.
"Let's hope we wouldn't have to meet on the battlefield in the trenches." Said the one on the left and was nudged by the other to shut up.
"We finished." Applejack said and the robots made way for the two ponies.
"Have a nice day." Said the other one.
"You too." Said the beige Pegasus while they started to move away escorted by some unnumbered robots, till they reached outside the campus where they met the first patrol.
"Twilight was there but she couldn't reach us, her friends were worried of some accident to happen." Fluttershy said.
"It is good to know that they don't want something bad to happen to har. We are sure that she is safe there."
"Safe indeed with her human wizard friends and the guards they have. Never imagined that they guard the place in a much harsh and severe way then we do. No wonder they withstood the changelings that were controlled by a dark crystal." Commented the white Pegasus.
"And by how this safety protocol is. Probably their rulebook is much harsh, not even the Princesses have so much protection." Fluttershy said.
"You know what the irony is; you are royal guards that have to protect Equestria and the Princesses, and Twilight who became a princess whom right now lives between the wizards whom Misleads shows them in the darkest shadow possible. And she is much better protected by the wizards and robots at Hogwarts then she is in Equestria." Applejack said.
"And the problem is that, we ponies are the ones fooled by Mislead to attack them and indirectly we attack Twilight. It almost seems that the title of Princess of Friendship is now mere formality and the idea of magic of Friendship has no meaning and value anymore." Commented the beige Pegasus with distaste on what is happening.
"The Magic of Friendship will prevail and Mislead and his gang will pay one day for what they are doing." Applejack said determined, she swore on her honesty that she will make sure that liar will experience the worst thing possible in life no matter from where it will come.