When I entered the dining room to have breakfast, I found my anthro unicorn daughter, Pearl, huddled with my changeling daughter, Diadem. After listening for a few moments, I realized that Pearl was helping her sister with her magic homework. Being further into her studies than Diadem, she was able to assist her with concepts that the unicorn had already mastered. I gave a little melancholy sigh. As a student of Twilight Sparkle, I’d helped both my daughters until they had exceeded my knowledge. Being a full-time ruler with a commercial business on the side left me very few opportunities to further my own studies. In fact, the busy schedules of all three Triarchs cut down the frequency of Twilight’s lessons for Trixie and me from weekly to monthly. I had the benefit of virtually unlimited time to keep on learning, but it would not give me back those moments with the girls. It remained to be seen if my son, Spotlight, would take an interest in the same field. Just because he had a horn didn’t mean that I expected him to do so. My children were free to follow their destinies. Not even Gemini who was technically Trixie and my heir to the throne would be forced into that role. Frankly, they spent more time in the Crystal Kingdom with their husband, Shiny Button a.k.a. Prince Crystal Shield. I saw more significance in the joining of our two families than in the political aspects. It was cool to be able to call Shining Armor my brother-in-law though. As for my young batpony son, Verdant, right now he was only interested in bolting down his breakfast and hurrying out to meet his school friends so that they could play games before class began. He certainly wasn’t concerned about his future yet.
Wednesday morning was Twilight’s turn to hold public Day Court, so that left both Trixie and me free from royal duties. I had scheduled a meeting with the branch managers of Harmonic Composites and Smolder to announce my daughter-in-law’s placement in the company and discuss how it would affect them. The second item on the agenda was our planned opening of distribution centers in Europe and Australia. While the Australian market was relatively small, it was intended to be our gateway to the Oceania region. Besides, I had an ulterior motive for establishing a presence there – but that was for the future.
Works were also well underway to build a plant in the Anthro Equestria Universe which was proving to be our best market outside of Earth and locally. Their Celestia had given her approval with the proviso that it be staffed primarily with local workers. However, they had to be trained up to be ready to get to work the moment that the factory went into operation. That meant sending over some of my staff regularly, including the ones from Earth. Most of the time, that would be Jewel Petit. She was definitely the best teacher among all my engineers, but it was putting a considerable load onto the mare, even after passing on some of her managerial tasks to her branch manager, Jolene. We were already assessing some more candidates to be introduced to Equestria because of that.
My wife had her own pet projects to attend, and today she was going to one of her favorites. When I had only very recently arrived in Equus and Trixie had placed me in the role of Grand Vizier (a very pretentious title for Advisor that still embarrasses me), one of the first triumphs I’d had was uncovering a horrible Ponzi scheme that could have bankrupted the nation. The victim was the hospital that was purportedly going to be built with the investment funds. Trixie had been bitterly disappointed that it had been a scam because she’d had her heart set on getting it built. Years later, the cost had been budgeted and the Royal Canterlot Foals’ Hospital finally was built. Now my wife was its patron and, once a month, she would visit to mingle with the staff and patients. She loved to perform illusions for the sick foals.
We parted ways with a lingering kiss, then Smolder and I headed for the portal to the Ponyville factory of Harmonic Composites. In view of the occasion, the dragoness had dressed up in a smart business jacket and skirt. Smolder rarely went unclothed nowadays, preferring to only ever do so in the privacy of the family. None of us were pretentious about clothing and she had nothing to prove to us.
The meeting with the managers was fairly brief. Aside from introducing Smolder and her new role in the company, there were only a few business matters to discuss before everyone returned to their branches except for Jewel. The unicorn mare accompanied Smolder, Penumbra, and me to Anthro Equestria to see Princess Celestia first of all, and then inspect the progress of the new factory.
While Smolder, Penny, and I retained our normal forms, Jewel always elected to use the adaptation spell to take anthro form. “It’s more comfortable working with the locals this way,” she explained. Her enchanted clothing reappeared in that form and, as always, she looked spectacular. Jewel was easily one of the most beautiful mares in two worlds and forms. Today, she was wearing a tight short skirt and a halter top that showed plenty of cleavage. It was not exactly business wear, but nobody ever complained about her outfits. Off-white hoof sandals and a small faux leather handbag completed her ensemble. The bag was deceptive in that it was enchanted to be bigger on the inside than the outside, and she carried all her needs in it including a laptop computer and high-vis safety wear.
In this world where nudity was the norm, Jewel drew admiring looks from both sexes. She enjoyed the attention, but it never went to her head. She was and always would be a self-confident mare who loved being herself and was a far cry from the male human she had once been. Motherhood had only increased her joy, and she looked forward each workday to going home to her foal and herdmates. But on the job, she was completely professional. I wished I had a few more like her in the company.
I had an appointment scheduled with the princess and we met in her office. Celestia complimented both Jewel and Smolder on their garments before we got down to business. Attending also were the project manager in charge of construction of the new factory, and the mare who would be managing the facility when it opened.
Sturdy Frame was an earth pony stallion and built like a weightlifter. While he didn’t have the jacked look of Bulk Biceps, he could lift half a ton in each hand without breaking a sweat. Despite being bipedal, the ponies of this dimension still possessed the typical abilities of their four-legged counterparts, and magically enhanced strength was Sturdy’s. He certainly wasn’t all muscle and no brain though. He impressed all of us with the depth of his knowledge and skill in his chosen field.
Precise Fit was a unicorn mare whom we poached from another company due to her reputation for managing complex manufacturing facilities. It was she and several others whom Jewel was familiarizing with our processes and equipment. After our meeting with Celestia was concluded, Jewel left with Precise to spend the rest of the day with the trainees.
Celestia invited Penny and me to have an early lunch with her before we returned to our world. I had to ensure to be back on time lest Twilight accuse me of being tardy. Today was Mad Scientist Day when I joined my co-ruler at a convocation of crackpot inventors and eager entrepreneurs. Wacky ideas abounded at this annual event, but so did some truly inspired examples of thinking outside of the box. We listened attentively to them all, giving support to some and disappointing others.
A unicorn mare talked about a novel way to mix magic potion components into thousands of combinations and test them simultaneously for different properties. She and Twilight brainstormed on that tangent for several minutes until I cleared my throat. “Couldn't that be dangerous?”
The mare laughed and gave a manic grin I recognized from seeing it on my co-ruler’s face too often. “That's why I always wear my lab goggles!”
Twilight looked a bit embarrassed. “Ah, OK. Message received, Mark.” She turned back to the supplicant. “Collateral Damage, please stop by my castle this week and ask to see my head magic researcher Bright Insight.”
The mare laughed even louder. “Oh, Collateral Damage isn’t my real name. That’s just what everyone calls me. No idea why.”
Despite my better judgment, I had to ask. “So, what is it?”
“Aerial Burst! My first foalhood experiment was super-successful! Much more exciting than even I expected!”
I believed her.
The next applicant was familiar to me. The young griffon hen Crosswind maintained the laptops across the Equestrian branches of Harmonic Composites. She proposed a virtual machine architecture for any future rollout of computers across the Equestrian government. After asking her a half-dozen questions, I realized she had studied enough new technology to be well beyond my outdated expertise on the subject. I arranged for Crosswind to meet up with Rosa the following week.
The last petitioner of interest was the minotaur scientist Steadfast Theory. His calculations showed that near-limitless energy could be derived from the splitting of atoms.
I had briefed Twilight on the worst aspects of my former world’s history. My co-ruler gave me a meaningful stare. This one was mine to tackle. “Do you think that the applications of this technology and the byproducts would be destructive?”
He scoffed. “I find the very idea to be offensive! Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but this is the future and it will come regardless of anyone’s wishes to simply ignore it.”
“That’s exactly what concerns me,” I said. “I’ll arrange for you to meet with Phil Martine next weekend. He’ll have some educational material to show you that I’m sure you will find enlightening.”
The minotaur bowed. “Thank you very much, Your Highness!”
I made a mental note to have Phil track down documentaries on the after-effects of the nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
After Twilight and I officially ended Mad Scientist Day for the benefit of the curious citizens who had attended the event, Penumbra and I retired to the sun room before dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find Loop Luna there, chatting with Trixie, Chrysalis, and Celestia. Unusually, Rarity was also in attendance. Either it was a relatively quiet day for the businessmare or she had an ulterior motive. I gave her and my other mares a kiss before turning to the Alicorn of the Night.
“It’s nice to see you during the week, Loopy. I thought you were usually too busy at this time though?”
While the time differential between our universes was minuscule and thus the length of a day was virtually identical between our worlds, hers was nevertheless a bit out of step with mine inasmuch that Luna was normally about to begin Night Court just as Day Court finished here. At least, the days of the week coincided which was pure luck considering that we had a one in seven chance of breaking the time-loop cycle on the same day – something we had not considered at all at the time. Fortunately for the infatuated alicorn, that gave her lots of opportunities to spend weekends with me and my herd.
“Nay, I exchanged Court sessions with my sister. Although this was in the manner of a favor, we occasionally do so anyway to ensure we doth both be familiar with our citizens’ needs, whether they be nocturnal or diurnal.” She grinned. “And ‘tis amusing to behold our little ponies’ expressions when they find the wrong alicorn awaiting their petitions.”
I chuckled in appreciation of that. “So – not that I’m unhappy to see you, but why did you ask that favor tonight?”
Luna glanced at my wives who nodded. She turned back to me and almost shyly replied, “Mating Season is almost upon us in my realm. In accordance with my long-held desire to have foals with thee, I believe the time is right to make a commitment. I have already gained the approval of your wife and herdmates, so I ask thee, Prince Mark Wells – wilt thou do me the honor of taking me as thy mare and allowing me to join thy herd? Wilt thou be my stallion and sire our foals?”
The formal wording may have differed between our dimensions, or perhaps Loopy used a more archaic form of the proposal, but the principle remained the same. “Princess Luna Selene – I would be delighted and honored to be your stallion and I welcome you into our herd.”
The alicorn did not quite squeal in joy, but the ensuing hug was fervent. My herdmates came over to give their hugs and congratulations too.
When the hugfest finally broke apart, I said, “I hope somepony ordered a special feast. I have a feeling I’m going to need the energy tonight.”
There were a lot of knowing chuckles.
Trixie had, in fact, ordered something special for dinner. After months of finagling, Trixie had convinced Coriander Cumin to allow takeout from the Tasty Treat. She had sealed the agreement by threatening to never have another argument session with the proprietor. The portly stallion so enjoyed bickering and debating with my wife that he agreed under two conditions: our family alone would have this privilege and Trixie had to return at least monthly for verbal jousting sessions. Once again, my beautiful lead mare recognized all aspects of the situation, applied her special genius to it, and found a solution that was win-win for everypony involved.
Tonight, there was much conversation centered around the new member of the herd. Luna and I took our time to savor the occasion before we bade our herdmates a good evening. While we usually did everything as a herd, there was one exception that I have always made since Rarity became my second wife. All mares added to the herd had their first mating night with me in the privacy of my old suite. When we consummated our union, I wanted them to know that I was focused on them and them alone for that night. Luna proved to be every bit as passionate as I thought she would be. Making love to her was both delightful and energetic. I was glad to have fueled up well!
When Loopy and I finally cuddled together to get some sleep, I briefly mused on having six wives now. That would have shocked my old human self, and even surprised the younger me back when I dared to take Rarity into my herd. Now, however, it seemed exactly right. My mares all had a good relationship, and although we had our occasional disagreements, our herd was a generally harmonious and happy one. Luna had learned how to fit in and bringing her into our family had been the right thing for all of us. I was a very content stallion.
Loopy is a dreamwalker too. Oh, what we got up to that night in the realm of imagination!
# # # # # # # # #
Thank you for the update. It was delicious ♡
camo.fimfiction.net/HGKOVNTrPh_dQIegq-4XQTTfq37sBPSPcGN3_7ZAMFg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fderpicdn.net%2Fimg%2Fview%2F2014%2F7%2F10%2F671941.gif
Mark Wells,
ALICORN Waifu HORDER
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》》A Week In The Life - Thursday《《
- 9:00
All Alicorn Lunas that Mark knows are in attendance.
The Alicorn Stud sharing pact.
- 11:00
All Alicorn Celestias that Mark knows are in attendance
The Alicorn Foal raising pact.
- 13:00
All Changeling Queen hear about the last hours and want to join the pact...
- 15:00
A Stallion proposal to join Marks herd.
A Stallion open for both Railroads.
15:08
Mark Wells jumping out the window when Penumbra smiled at him.
- 18:00
Mark returns and all his Wife's have a laugh about his reaction
Is Mark preparing for the Gene Wars?
Also mark those two bombs saved more lives then they took. A conventional invasion of japan at minimum would cost the allies over a million troops and that is the low ball estimate. Every single purple heart used since ww2 was made on preperation for that invasion. They have yet to run out of supply of those. So likely death with out those bombs would be in the millions easy.
Then you look at the power that tech generates. You want green energy there it is.
And you are afraid of nukes. You have beings in your world who can easily be just as destructive. Heck you saw a solar flare universe were all life but her was dead.
So yes should him the dangers but temeber the good nuclear energy gives.
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I disagree on nuclear power, but only because thanks to the Housepath universe they have better alternatives to it.
Otherwise it seem a nessecary evil.
Shouldn't Equestria perhaps consider contacting the United Kingdom as their official first contact?
- Similar offical structure
(even if Earths are mostly figureheads)
- Isolated land mass, in case America or Russia get funny ideas...
- Because American first contact had been done to death. At this point I would even take Poland as first contact nation for something new and unpredictable...
- Equality bad to reach location and trade situation for most nations.
- I just want to see a Prince of the realm outrank the Queen of the British
The rick with the minotaur is to show him reactions that do what he claims, that dont have highly dangerous decay products etc. There is at least one known, researched by DARPA etc, but movies have polluted it to the populance.
A fission fusion reaction thats tricky to set up, but uses cheap readily available materials and only has one set of radiation which is difficult Not to shield against, and only one decay product, which is a resource in short supply and totally safe.
If anyrealm was going to get the Boron-Proton to Helium and Energy reaction to work compact and reliable apart from fictional Iron Man, would be fictional Pones etc?
Dont buy Cold Fusion, at 625keV energies its a Lot hotter than NIF fusion, buy Light Fission instead.
just like it looks like its time for Marks Hot Coffee?
I get the feeling that Equestria just isn't ready for fission technology. The advantages aren't as great for them due to less usage of pollution generating power, in contrast to the risks of weaponizing it.
And with Mark's luck, it would be a Banner event...
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Caught that
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its not evil its safer and more green then so called green energy
While Nuclear energy is to humanity a double edged sword, especially when in today's times many countries are being somewhat stupid with it. Equestria really doesn't need it per say due to magic and their own learning of developing magitek of their own.
Interesting to see the progression of Mark's world here Goldy.
I just wonder when he'll get an alternate
Twibright SnarkleTwilight Sparkle.11484900
It's true that fission power has a much lower carbon footprint and higher energy density than most current renewables. Kyle Hill has done some great videos on this exact topic. However, it is still worth recognizing the logistical issues surrounding the procurement (mining, extraction, and enrichment) of fresh fuel and the safe disposal or recycling of spent fuel. It's also not a bad idea to continue developing and improving renewable technologies, if for no other reason than to have more options and more power available.
Nuclear power. Something I know a stitch or two about.
I see no reason why Wellsverse (to use a handy term) has to go in the same direction as here, what with PWR's and BWR's to generate many megawatts of power. Why not focus the research into atomic batteries, like those used on the Pioneer, Voyager and New Horizons probes?
Start with that knowledge, then back fill until the processes are learned before increasing in scale.
Disposing of waste, there is a method I heard about a long time back that we should look into. Take the spent fuel, vitrify it (making a silica-based glass), take the glass and break it up into sub-critical pieces before dropping the glass chunks into a deep water subduction zone? Or, with the Wellsverse portals, dump the glass onto a line/world with no life, so there will be nobody to hurt? A portal built in the fashion of a check valve or diode will be of use in that.
Just some food for thought. Wonderful chapter, Goldfur!
A.L.MacManx, NNPS class 7903-11.
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Yeah but the issue is forcing tech before its ready. That isnone of the big reaspn Stadia failed. The tech isn't ready yet.
One of my.gripes is thay people hate hiroshima not realizing that was the lesser evil
oh, "Mad Scientist Day" reminded me of this story:
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/456157/proof-of-concept
it's about a junior magic fair...
with a bunch of magic students...
So do I
I would imagine so
Fission energy is the way to go. And we are well on are way to fusion
Sunday might see a Nightmare Moon asking from a alternative universe for Marks hoove in become one of his Mares perhaps?
It's not that nuclear is "bad" in and of itself. It's the dangerous and unsafe engineering practices that comes from cost-cutting money-grubbers all trying to maximize the inflated profits by minimizing the skimped investments.
Fukushima should never needed to have happen.
The reactor didn't have a runaway meltdown because of the earthquake.
The reactor melted down because it relied on needing to have a cooling system that was not built to tolerate any sort of interruption to its power source.
And the engineers who designed it and the project managers who had it constructed were quite aware of that flaw.
IOW, it was purposefully built with a single point of failure while everyone involved gambled the single point of failure wouldn't occur in their lifespans.
This could easily have been prevented by designing the reactor in segmented sections that would simply roll apart in the event of any sort of power loss to the cooling system.
The Bible certainly got it correct: "The love of money is the root of all evil".
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An inverted demon core? Not sure that I ever heard of thus concept,
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Not sure of what it's called, but nuclear devices are actually pretty simple in design--depending on what you're wanting to use them for.
A bomb primarily relies on a factor called "critical mass", which is normally the minimum mass of fissionable material needed to initiate a runaway reaction. A "slightly safer bomb" relies on a factor called "critical density", where the total mass of fissionable material is just under the "critical mass", but a runaway reaction can still be triggered by a number of properly timed & directed high explosives that forces the material into a runaway reactive condition. The point of the nuclear bomb is you WANT that runaway reaction to go off as planned.
A reactor, however, you NEVER want to go into a runaway reaction state! A reactor, primarily relies on "critical density" with substantially more "mass" than what is actually needed to maintain a steady reaction in the core. As a result, you have to have some pretty sophisticated methods to remove the excess radiation and heat so that things don't get that far. But just as Mr. Scott pointed out: "the more they overwork the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain." So they frequently build reactors which need a constantly active cooling system, perhaps some amount of thought is put into radiation absorbers like cadmium control rods, and often with very little thought put into about how to easily remove fissionable material from the core in the event of a catastrophic emergency.
Fukushima happened because ALL three such systems failed in a very spectacular fashion: the coolant system lost power from the reactor and could no long cool down the core, the mechanisms for inserting the cadmium control rods as well as the mechanisms for removing the fuel rod pellets were also damaged due to the shaking from the quake.
Be one system that could have prevented the disaster would to have built the reactor in sections, on a steel/concrete "hill" where the sections should be held in place with manual brakes. In the event of any situation where you need to quickly shut the reactor down, all they have to do is release the brakes, allow the reactor sections to roll apart down the slopes of the hill, and the simple increasing the distance between the reactor sections brings the core well below the "critical density" needed to maintain the reaction.
Of course, there's a substantial increase in construction costs in designing the reactor to manually separate in that manner--which, unfortunately, is why we never hear of a properly designed reactor.
All these technological things and characters that I can’t remember who they are is making my head spin.
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Yeah but there is always someone who puts something not great in front of safety and health.
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Agreed, I could do with another character spreadsheet/family tree.
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Interesting information. This is a definite bonus to my nerdy side
Awake and asleep, Mark get all the snu-snu ♡