Book 0: Twilight Sparkle
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Heading to Ponyville: A purple unicorn spends most of her time cooped up in her study room in Canterlot. Her little dragon, Spike, is always beside her to help her when needed. Then, one day, Queen Celestia, feeling that she's letting her studies get the best of her, gives Twilight Sparkle a brand new assignment: arrange the Summer Sun Festival and make some friends.
They touch down on some tracks located in a siding, and they go about their way to explore Ponyville. Everypony was having fun, and it was bustling. Twilight saw Pinkie Pie, who gasped and hightailed it, temporarily leaving behind her trolley. Then they met Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash in succession, and Twilight found herself feeling rather uncomfortable of the notion to make friends and cross at Queen Celestia for giving her the assignment.
When she went inside the Golden Oaks Library (her Ponyville home assigned by Celestia and granted permission by Mayor Mare), Celestia was waiting, acknowledging Twilight's frustration. She saw how Twilight spent her life in school in her dorm and Canterlot library, and she felt it was hurting her. That's a reason why Celestia gave Twilight this assignment.
But there's another, and it was more important.
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Preparation: Coming tomorrow morning's festival, Celestia won't be there. Twilight reacted incredulously, but Celestia softly gestured her to calm down. Using her horn, a book called Equestria: The Fall of Harmony was lifted from a book shelf, and Twilight began to read the passages.
Almost 1,000 years ago, both Queen Celestia and Queen Luna ruled Equestria harmoniously. The Elements of Harmony were a part of their lives.
Celestia: kindness, laughter, inspiration.
Luna: honesty, loyalty.
While their lives were fixated on the Elements, there was a bond the Queens and Elements had for each other. But it's more contractual and diplomatic.
One day, Princess Luna's night began to get less attention, and she was becoming ignored. She grew cold, angry, and jealous over the attention she got. Suddenly, she snapped and tried to steal the Elements of Harmony, particularly the ones Celestia held. However, because of her pain and forceful way to attempt to attain them, she channeled only the negative attribute of the Elements of Harmony, and when she tried to force the Elements onto her, the Elements fought back and sealed her soul into the moon. When Twilight asked why Celestia couldn't channel the Elements' power back, she said the Elements are very protective and strict in being handled with care. They don't tolerate being sabotaged. As a consequence of Luna's jealousy, both Luna's and Celestia's bond with the Elements brake.
She told Twilight this because tomorrow morning is the 1,000th anniversary of Luna being sealed to the moon. At sunrise, the seal will be broken, and Luna's demented state of Nightmare Moon will be freed. As a consequence, Nightmare Moon will be sealing Celestia to the sun. This circled back to Twilight: She believes she can bring Luna back to her old self, but the first step to do it is to make some genuine friends. Try to get more comfortable with Ponyville's citizens. Then Celestia teleported.
Twilight tries again and went to the Ponyville City Hall, where Rarity helped decorate the place. The two got along, and Spike found Rarity to be beautiful. They talked, and Twilight helped her arrange the chaos.
Rainbow Dash was next, and she was zipping through the sky, shunting the clouds and biffing them to the point of disintegration. The clouds groaned and giggled in their tricks; in Canterlot, clouds were never bumped or warned with their magic unless they misbehaved. Twilight warned her about treating the clouds with respect, but Dash said the sky has to be clear for the celebration tomorrow! Twilight suggested treating them not so roughly instead. Dash sighed and asked, but now without Twilight scolding her for her lack of manners. The silly clouds obliged and scuttled away, clearing the sky, but not after knocking Dash off at one point. Dash was cross at the clouds, but thanked Twilight for helping. She was excited for the Wonderbolts (her idols and inspiration for her toughness and will to join them) and wanted to show off her abilities. Spike confided to Twilight about her brashness, which Dash caught and assured her to not worry.
Applejack showed up and wasn't sure. And the two exchanged some cheeky barbs (particularly how Dash tricked Applejack into sinking into a ditch) before chuckling. Twilight introduced herself to the Earth pony, who brought her to Sweet Apple Acres for a little treat containing a boatload of Apple family snacks like apple fritters, candy apples, and a slice of apple pie (baked by Granny Smith herself).
After getting her fill of apple treats (and a laugh or two), she meets Fluttershy, who was instructing various birds on how to prepare a royal fanfare in a quiet hill away from the bustling town. In good old canon fashion, she's shy to Twilight, but pays attention to Spike, who she got along with quite well. Twilight soon became ignored and was starting to feel both jealous and cross, but didn't interrupt because Spike was also giving some details why they were in Ponyville: to inspect the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration.
At last, Twilight had seen enough and believed Fluttershy needs some more time to rehearse, so they said "goodbye" and went back to Ponyville. Spike was critical of her, but Twilight said she needs Flutterhsy to be alone for now. Plus, she feels worried about what Queen Celestia said. She's certain it won't be true, but Spike wasn't sure.
Twilight decided to go back to the Golden Oaks Library to review the
Guide
, only to find the lights off. One of the townsponies flipped the switch, and there was a gigantic "SURPRISE!" that surprised Twilight. Pinkie Pie led the charge, but Twilight was very critical of her for using a place that was designed to be
quiet
. Pinkie laughed at the hypocrisy, saying keeping what's now a private library quiet is null and void and
BORRR-ING!
Twilight argued no more and wondered why she was given the surprise. Pinkie excitingly claimed she knew she was new because she'd never seen Twilight or her cutey-widdy Spikey-Wikey. Spike blushed. Twilight laughed. But in the midst of all the excitement, she accidentally drank some punch mixed with hot sauce, causing her mouth to explode in heat. Luckily, somepony had milk, and she gulped it all down. When she felt better, Pinkie drank some punch with hot sauce and giggled. "Could be hotter." "Could be
HOTTER?!"
she coughed. "Anypony who eats that much hot sauce needs a fire extinguisher!" Pinkie and Spike teased Twilight and dared her to get into spicy virgin cider contest. Twilight passed and ran to her private room upstairs, but Spike and Pinkie dared each other (and accepted).
As Spike and Pinkie commoted downstairs, Twilight reread the book Queen Celestia gave her and glanced at the ancient, simplistic art style that was used thousands of years ago. Then she gazed up at the moon, where the Nightmare Moon logo was implanted on the surface. The moon glowed much brighter than normal, and the crater implants appeared much lighter than normal. She was sure it was an old fairytale, but she couldn't help but ask if the legend Queen Celestia told her was indeed true.
The time had finally arrived. City Hall was decorated in royal flags and the signature colors of Equestria: sunshine gold, off-white pink, and midnight blue with the sun and moon code of arms on the side of the flag. Mayor Mare gave her introduction, and flares of artificial sunbeams peered out…when they were suddenly replaced by midnight blue smoke. Nightmare Moon arrived, telling everyone Celestia is sealed and that the night will last forever.
As thunder clapped within City Hall, everyone ran out in fright into the calm night. Twilight scurried back to the Library.
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Search: Twilight Sparkle raced back to the Golden Oaks Library and rummaged through her shelves, doing whatever she can to find anything related to them. So far, no luck. Suddenly, Pinkie barges in and tells Twilight to leave and panic, but she refuses. She wasn't going to allow Nightmare Moon to fulfill her dreams. She was certain this was why Queen Celestia sent her to Ponyville: to help get Luna back. Rainbow Dash didn't believe Luna is capable of coming back, and Rarity agrees. Fluttershy then arrived, trembling, and Applejack consoled her. Twilight was going to try. Unfortunately, the book Queen Celestia was the only one referencing the Elements of Harmony. She hopes they can find others and asks her new friends to search for any.
It wasn't long before Pinkie Pie found a small book called The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide. It tells Twilight the history of the Elements, where they came from, and what created the magic to use the Elements. There are five: Inspiration, Laughter, Honesty, Loyalty, and Kindness. One other Element exists, called Magic. No one has conceived it, and it's unknown where it is. The last time the Elements of Harmony were used was in the abandoned ruins deep in the Everfree Forest, at an old castle called Florawood.
Florawood was a castle named by the royalty who once ruled Equestria, back when it wasn't Equestria: It was called Pangala and was settled by the old Queen who dwelled there: Queen Gaia, the first ever alicorn officially recognized. The castle itself was named such because for a long time, the trees surrounding it didn't bloom just leaves, but flowers from the beginning of the spring to the fall. The forest itself was called the Nox Forest for two reasons:
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When walking on the ground, the tree branches and leaves blanketed the sun and moon from peering below.
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One of the most common trees was called the Nox tree. They were some of the strongest and tallest, averaging 150 feet at the base and 350 feet tall. Also, due to previously spilled black magic and the lack of sunlight, the bark was always black.
The heirs of the throne, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, lived there after Gaia abdicated and later passed away, promoting the sisters to Queen in the process. However, following Luna's spiritual confinement within the moon, the Nox Forest as well as Florawood deteriorated, and the negative energy of the Elements of Harmony leaked into a large acre of the forest. Celestia and all of those who lived within Florawood relocated to a new land the Royals of Equestria founded called Canterlot. It began as a castle and later expanded beyond the mountain into what is now called the Celestial Plains below. The Nox Forest changed and eventually became what is now the Everfree Forest. Because of the negative energy, there are many things living unpredictably within the forest, so the Mane Six must proceed with caution.
With Rarity's and Twilight's horns blaring natural, electric light, they ventured deep into the forest. As strange as it was, it was calm and low-risen. The dark night sky blared and illuminated the forest grounds. However, soon the trees started to get taller and wider, and the light started to get darker and spookier. Fluttershy and Rarity were starting to get scared, and Rainbow Dash's ghost tale about trees being former spirits of once living ponies didn't help out. Twilight reassured them that there were no such thing as ghosts, but neither believed her.
Suddenly, Twilight felt a twig brush across her back, and she gasped. She didn't see the twig, but she was sure it was nothing. Then a long, low whistle in one ear and out the other, and it made her shiver. She turned around and saw nothing, then turned back around and couldn’t find her friends. Then scary trees were everywhere, and she suddenly screamed.
Fluttershy came by to console her, and the others followed her. Pinkie, meanwhile, saw the trees and just laughed at them. When Twilight incredulously asked why, Pinkie said she’s seen food coming out from the oven “scary.” This was nothing. She pulled a light out of nowhere and made shadowed faces to mock the “scary” trees, and everyone started to chuckle. Twilight was feeling better, and they continued.
Suddenly, there was a loud screech nearby, and they all ran over to see what had happened. A young dragon, Steven Magnet, was writhing in psychological pain from his mustache being snipped off. When they wondered how it happened, it turned out Magnet was grooming with a Ray Zor, only to squirm away and slice the perfect moustache as it flew off. Now he’s complaining about his look being
ruined
, I tell you! Dash scoffs and mutters about it being deserving for using an animal who doesn’t like to be treated as a tool, but Rarity still felt sorry and said he deserves another chance. So she pulls off one of Steven’s scales and slices off part of her mane. Then she asks Twilight if she could help shape it into a mustache, which she agreed. With two glows of the horn, Rarity’s mane was groomed and then popped into where the cut mustache would be. Magnet
LOVED
it and thanked Rarity and Twilight for helping. Then Pinkie asked Steven about the old Florawood castle, he said they have to cross the river, and he formed a small walk bridge by shaping his back.
During their trek, they find themselves at the bottom of a big cliff. Applejack said walking around it would be the best solution, but Twilight has never seen it before nor knows how to get to top. AJ told her and the others to trust her. She feels she knows. So they began walking around the mountain and found a small hill with trolley tracks. AJ said they can walk along the tracks, but told them to be careful.
The tracks were very old. Wood weathered, and metal rusted, often very loose from old nails and unstable ground. Applejack warned to be very quiet and follow her lead. Fluttershy stares at the long, high cliff above and hopes something bad doesn’t happen; Pinkie joked to not jinx, but Shy took her seriously and grimaced. The wind blew by, and her teeth shattered; Rainbow hushed her by clasping her mouth and stuffing a hoof in her mouth. But her rough actions scared Fluttershy more. Everyone stopped walking, and Rainbow loosened up. Fluttershy was scared and wanted to go home, but AJ said unless we find these Elements, there may not be a home to go to. Or no food for her animals. Fluttershy’s eyes widened and stomped ahead.
Suddenly, a small pebble tumbled onto the old mountain line. Then another, and everyone began to be very scared. Suddenly, aloud rumble, and the Cliffside crumbled. Everyone scooted away to safety; everyone was dusty, but uninjured. Rainbow Dash was on one side, while the others were trapped on the other side of the avalanche. Rainbow was told to go to the castle, but she stayed put and was going to help them. So, one by one, she hoisted each pony to the other side of the rockslide. When asked why, Dash said she wasn’t going to find the Elements, not without the others beside her. With the six together, they can beat NMM.
So they continued to follow the rail up the mountain. Strangely, NMM didn’t attack them.
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Nightmare Moon: At the top of the mountain lay a bridge. It dangled, and only Dash could pick it up for everyone to cross. But she didn’t, as blue magic tied the bridge tightly for everyone to cross. RD quipped that NMM was expecting them. Rarity wondered why, and Pinkie bounced about how books always liked to have the evildoers come face to face with the hero. Twilight rolled her eyes and said they have to go out, find the Elements of Harmony, and beat NMM.
They stepped inside the ruins. Everywhere, it was dark, with only the moon hovering above, but with the tapestries and hallways encompassing them. Twilight and Applejack tell the others to stay together and keep their eyes peeled.
Suddenly, a rush of wind, and a dark blue aura slunk from the moon. On the balcony, NMM stood above and said she was waiting for them. Nightmare glared at the Mane Six, and the Mane Six glared at Nightmare. Finally, Nightmare looked away and told the others to follow her. As she trotted away, everypony looked at each other. Twilight believed they all should follow her, and they did.
NMM explained the history of the old ruins, followed by the reason why it’s still in somewhat good shape. Because the Everfree Forest bled some of the Elements’ negative magic, it transferred back onto the castle. The Forest was a very peculiar part of Equestria: it never behaves normally. It tends to behave the way it just feels like it, and Florawood Ruins were like this. In typical weather, this castle and all of its unknown secrets would’ve weathered away, but apparently the negative energy of the Elements permanently bled on the forest and its inhabitants. When Dash asked NMM how she was able to know what happened to the old Nox Forest and the Summer Sun Celebration despite being sealed in the moon for a millennia, NMM said (in a snappy voice) just because she was sealed doesn’t mean she couldn’t hear or sense all of the changes in the environment.
And plenty of changes at that. The Everfree Forest evolved into its own ecosystem. Dragons, griffons, and other exotic creatures built strong kingdoms. Other former pony colonies grew abroad like Saddle Arabia, Caneighda (and the big city of Owlwa, the only country where a predominantly pony country has a non-pony capital), Mexicolt, and Greigh Briton. She witnessed it all, which was interesting because of how primitive the Earth was.
But even then, the night was never appreciated. Since she was Luna, she could feel the tense and shunning of her glorious night. Like the day, nighttime was beautiful and calm. All of the creatures that slept during the day woke up and hunted or bloomed, and nopony stayed awake to see it or appreciate it. This is what caused her to abandon the Luna persona. And this is why she’s here: to make sure the night is celebrated for everypony.
And she has the tool for it.
She opened the door to present an old observatory with five Elements of Harmony engraved in stone. It was over one thousand years since she last touched them, but she can’t now because her forceful lock on them banished her for so long and shattered her and Celestia’s link permanently. With them, they can use the Elements and create a new kingdom. A new world. A new nighttime life where her moon would finally be celebrated.
But the Mane Six rejected her and said they don’t wish to rule under such tyranny. And Fluttershy said that, with the moon fixated above Equestria and the rest of the continent, the whole world is imbalanced. The other side of this planet would be baking under the sun, and the diurnal and nocturnal animals won’t be able to survive such conditions. Twilight said NMM’s refusal to keep the cycle in order would hurt everypony, including NMM herself. Thanks, but no thanks. They won’t repeat the same mistake NMM, or they’d say
Luna
, made. To make matters worse, Applejack said her anger and selfishness was doing nothing except insult Celestia, all those who might’ve actually cared for her while they were alive, and the very moon she worshipped. The moon is ashamed of her behavior.
NMM was furious and unleashed a ball of angry magic across the ruins. Twilight unleashed her magical shield to protect them, and the Elements of Harmony began to tumble on its pedestal. After a few tense seconds, her angry aura died down. After putting in so much effort into getting them to join her they reject her. And she bellowed out in anger at AJ for disrespecting the moon, the only thing in Luna’s life that respects her and comforts her when her heart’s in pain, which was nearly all the time. She fired an angry beam at AJ, cracking the shield and pushing the Mane Six back. NMM fires at her again, only for Twilight to shoot her beam back, canceling them out. At last, NMM sighs and looks away, disgusted at the Mane Six so much, she doesn’t even want to look at them anymore.
(Rarity for disrespecting Snowdrop. She wasn’t going to let her desecrate Snowdrop, who was her only friend and only person who actually respected the night. She fired an angry beam at Rarity, hitting and cracking the shield and pushing the Mane Six back. NMM fires at her again, only for Twilight to shoot her beam back, canceling them out. At last, NMM sighs and looks away, disgusted at the Mane Six so much, she doesn’t even want to look at them anymore.)
She requests everyone to leave and just sits there, crying. Whispers broke out in trying to pry the Elements of Harmony out of its slumber, but Twilight reminded them of how NMM got trapped in the moon in the first place. But she looked at NMM and felt…sad. Fluttershy and Twilight walked to NMM, and Shy put a hoof on NMM’s shoulder, only to flinch and soon cry again. Fluttershy consoles her and allows her to cry. NMM wonders why they’re still there, even after she lashed out at them and nearly hurt them and after the cold way she treated Ponyville tonight.
Dash says she can feel pain inside her. She knows what it’s like to feel cold and angry, and it hurts her to see NMM like this. She went from a pony terrorizing Ponyville and the whole country to quitting. Legend tells her that Luna is a strong, powerful, capable alicorn with the ability to co-rule Equestria.
Then AJ asked NMM if she ever tried to get herself truly acquainted with her people while co-ruling Equestria. Instead of just ruling, talking and meeting with others. Luna said no. AJ figured it out; she got scared and felt she wasn’t worthy. She merely raised the moon and that was that. Nopony really got to see her and, thus, found her to be a mystery, from the fact that she rose to the moon to the fairytale of her being sealed in the moon for 1,000 years.
Rarity butted in and told NMM that she was just a legend. A fantastic legend, but one nonetheless. When NMM asked how she could change that, Rarity said she should be more of a presence. NMM’s a recluse, and that won’t help her in the long run. This is why she sometimes takes breaks from designing all the time. If she didn’t calm down and relax, she would have a breakdown (and Dash joked that it was every week, earning a teasing raspberry).
Fluttershy then explained how she was able to realize her worth. When she was younger, Cloudsdale didn’t feel like home because she felt she didn’t belong. When she dropped into Ponyville and its suburbs, she finally found a place to call home: with other ponies who didn’t care what you did. And she feels NMM feels the same. She wanted to feel like she was home, and the moon was her house only.
And for Pinkie, this is what Ponyville is, too. Sugarcube Corner is her house. She feels warm and safe after a long day’s work in her house, but Ponyville is her
home
. NMM hasn’t felt like she was home for over a thousand years. She can’t go home, because there is no home
to
go to.
Twilight bent and faced NMM directly and said NMM is in pain and wants to go home, but somehow can’t. With the six, she’ll lead her home. When NMM asked if she’ll be alone, Twilight said she won’t. And she won’t because she felt alone for a long time, too. She confined to her books in school and couldn’t understand why anypony would waste time with friends. She didn’t feel friendship was worth it and scoffed at Queen Celestia’s order to arrange the Summer Sun Celebration. But during her brief time in Ponyville, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time: bliss and joy. The books gave her artificial comfort, but it never gave her
true
comfort. The others aren’t just friends. They’re family.
And she told NMM by her given name (Queen Luna) that she’s one of them, and she’s always welcome in Equestria. Because Twilight does, and the others do, too.
With that, she hugged NMM, and the others followed suit, group-hugging her with NMM in the center.
Suddenly, five warm flashes of light popped, all encompassing each Element of Harmony.
Inspiration: Rarity.
Loyalty: Rainbow Dash.
Kindness: Fluttershy.
Honesty: Applejack.
Laughter: Pinkie Pie.
Then, smaller lights broke away and hovered above Twilight, giving her the Element of Magic. Her element was formed in a tiara, while the others were necklaces, each of them a very abstract shape of what the symbol stands for.
Twilight held out her hoof and asked Luna if she was ready to come home and co-rule Equestria.
NMM nodded and clasped her hoof with Twilight’s.
The power combined into a rainbow and twirled around her, blinding Florawood in a ball of white light.
When it was over, Twilight and the others were amazed by what happened. Fresh power…but happy power. The jewelry they donned fits them all, and they looked at where NMM once was. Princess Luna, in her glory, was waking up from her sleep. She looked around, seeing her new friends and her own self. She no longer felt cold anymore, but warm. Her pain, hatred, and jealousy…gone. She looked at the Mane Six and said thank you.
And a new wise voice said, “You’re welcome.” The sun slowly rose into the sky to replace the setting moon, and a spec of light formed as Queen Celestia. Twilight ran to her and hugged Celestia. Celestia was proud of her, but Twilight won’t take all of the credit. Her new friends helped her heal and grow, and Luna wouldn’t have healed if it weren’t for them, too.
Celestia could sense the transition, even when she was sealed. She could feel her confidence and love for her friends grow and ebb onto each other. That love and friendship ebbed onto her little sister. She walked to Luna, who was bowing, and she told her to rise. For the first time in 1,000 years, she could see Luna again, and she missed her. Luna said, “hi,” meekly. Queen Celly knelt and said it’s been 1,000 years. The two ruled together as one, and Equestria needs that. It’s not just about one alicorn ruling all of Equestria. It’s both co-ruling in harmony. And she said it’s Luna’s rightful place to rule right beside her again…if she wants it.
With her magic, Luna’s dark moon crown appeared. The Queen of the Moon touched it and felt it calling her. With her magic, she donned it back onto her head.
“Welcome home, Queen Luna.”
Suddenly, the Elements of Harmony lose their shape, slowly hover in the sky, and finally vanish. Rarity grumbled about how she was getting used to the Elements, but Celestia said now that Luna is back, the Elements of Harmony are now free and in peace. And despite not wielding the Elements, it doesn’t change how they all represent them. Celestia tells them all to use that gift and use it to their advantages. Luna said she doesn’t want anypony to fall rock bottom. They all promise.
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie had an idea to create a “Welcome-Home-Queen-Luna” Party. In a chariot-on-rails, the two queens are rolled into the heart of Ponyville, stopping at one of the buffered stables. Everyone bowed down at the two queens, and Luna was given a bouquet of flowers in appreciation. Celestia then nudged Luna to deliver a speech, which she did in Old Equestrian. She said it’s been a long time, but she promises she will be a great Queen for Ponyville and all of Equestria, granting an applause.
Soon, the party was ending, and one of the guards told her that Twilight Sparkle wants to talk to you in the Golden Oak Library. At the Library, they conversed about her friends as well as her time in both Canterlot in Ponyville. She thanked Celestia for giving her the opportunity to be the unicorn who should be rather than who she wanted to be. Celestia is grateful, but she noticed that something troubled her. Twilight admitted that although studying was great, she doesn’t want to lose her friends, and she feels that studying made her feel distant, ignorant, and cold. And she doesn’t want to lose that warmth.
So she told her something that was very hard:
She took out her School for Gifted Unicorns contract and said she'll drop out. There was more to her life than studying in a cramped dorm away from society, and she wants to contribute. She feels is the best way possible and by doing it in Ponyville permanently. She just hopes Celestia isn’t disappointed.
Surprisingly, she wasn’t and thought it was very brave of her to admit it to her. No matter what happens, Twilight is always her most faithful student; if she wished, she can always re-enrole and finish her studies. Plus, she’ll be there to help if Twilight desires.
They hugged, and Celestia left the Library. Twilight and Spike left, too, and as they rendezvoused with the others in a café, she said this is going to be the beginning of a great friendship and the first day of their new lives.
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