“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Rarity looked him over, curious, “Are you from Canterlot too?”
“Uhh, yes.” He nodded, wondering why her eyes widened and she suddenly looked fascinated at that, “I’m the Captain of the Palace Guards.”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash asked as he herded them into the largest chariot, planning to get them back to Ponyville in it, “That’s so cool!”
“I’ll tell you more about it once we’re back in Ponyville, promise.” Shining Armour chuckled, gesturing for a couple of his strongest pegasi guards to take the reins as Spike scrambled onto Twilight’s back, hugging her neck tightly. Twilight adjusted slightly so he could get comfortable, but Spike refused to move.
“Not going anywhere.” He grumbled, “You were gone forever. I thought…”
“I’m sorry, Spike,” Twilight apologised as they lifted off, “I didn’t think…It took a little longer than I thought, can you forgive me?”
“Only if you promise not to leave me behind next time.” The dragonet, who had not slept properly all night, grouched as he started falling asleep.
“Hopefully there won’t be a next time.” Fluttershy whispered, her voice barely carrying over the sound of the wind as they travelled at high speed over the top of the trees.
Twilight did not say anything in response to that. She kind of hoped that there would not be a next time too, but she was almost certain there would be. The Shadows had made it perfectly clear that there was some pony out there, some other Princess, who would not be happy to see her if they ever met. Twilight could almost guarantee that at some point that Princess would come calling. So yes, this would probably happen again.
She did not think that this was the time to tell her exhausted, tired and injured friends though. In fact it was possible that it would not matter for much longer if the Ponyville crew knew or not. She was going home tomorrow after all. Her shoulders sank as she thought about it. She was not really looking forward to it.
While Canterlot was her home and she missed it a little, she did not want to go back to school and have to deal with the bullies again. The only highlights of her time in Canterlot were the rare moments she got to hang out with her brother, or her classes with her mentor. The entire rest of her time in school was spent either putting up with snide comments from her classmates or living in the library. She had had more fun in Ponyville in a day than she had had in Canterlot in years.
And soon it would be over and as much as she loved studying under Princess Celestia, she did not think she could easily go back to being lonely and hated by her fellow classmates. It would be boring and she would go crazy. At least, she supposed, she could always send the others letters. It would not be the same, but it was better than nothing.
“Twilight?” Rarity asked as she watched the part-time Princess’s head sink and rest against the edge of the chariot, “Are you alright, darling?”
“I’m…okay. I guess.” Twilight replied, the events of the last day and a bit catching up to her as she felt the weariness sink into every fibre of her being.
“Yer don’ sound okay.” Applejack frowned, nudging her lightly.
“I...” Twilight turned to look at them, a small, sad smile on her face, “I’m going to miss you fillies.”
“Awww, we’ll miss you too, darling.” Rarity hugged her, carefully so she did not awaken Spike, “But we’ll come and visit, right?” She asked the others.
“Totally,” Rainbow Dash nodded, lifting off and making the chariot judder slightly as she went, “I could get to Canterlot and back in a flash!”
“And the rest of us can get the train there, it’s just a little trip.” Fluttershy offered, with a nod, “I’m sure I can find some pony to look after my animals while I’m away.”
“And when we get there I’ll throw a big party!” Pinkie Pie giggled at her. “So you won’t feel so blue.”
“An’ I’ll bring some o’ ma apple pies for you ter share with yer friends in Canterlot.” Applejack promised, only to watch as Twilight’s shoulders sank further, “What? What’s wrong Twi?”
“I don’t…you lot are the only friends I have, besides Spike and my brother…” Twilight admitted, though she was embarrassed to do so.
“Well that’s no fun.” Pinkie pouted as she sat down and thought about it.
“Then we’ll just have to visit lots, darling.” Rarity promised, crossing her heart as she did.
“It’s just a shame you can’t stay in Ponyville.” Rainbow commented as Ponyville loomed on the horizon. “We’re way cooler anyway. By about twenty percent.”
“I don’t know about that, Rainbow.” Rarity partly scolded as they started coming in to land in the main square of the village, not far from the town hall. “Canterlot is very different from Ponyville, you really shouldn’t compare them.”
“If Twilight prefers here to there, then Ponyville’s obviously better.” Rainbow shrugged, unconcerned with Rarity’s irritation. The white unicorn opened her mouth to retort but she did not get a chance to utter a word before they touched down with barely a bounce.
Ponyville was much quieter than it had been when they had left and there were guards posted on most corners, helping the citizens of the small town where they could. When the chariots touched down however, they drew the attention of everyone. The mayor was the first to approach as Twilight clambered down from the carriage and then helped the others down. She looked them over carefully, noting the jewellery that adorned each of them.
Then her attention was drawn to the carriage that came down behind them and her eyes widened when she saw who it was carrying. “P…Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon?”
“No.” Twilight corrected as they landed, “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The two sisters reunited once more.” The mayor nodded, still looking a little nervous as she canted over to the pair. Twilight could not help but wonder how long it would take poor Luna to live down her possessed form. She had a horrible feeling that it would take a very long time before she was allowed to forget what she had done. Even if she had not been in control for any of it.
The ponies of Ponyville emerged from their hiding places, as well as several members of the Apple family. A pair of young fillies, so young that they had not even gotten their cutie marks yet, rushed out of the crowd and hugged Rarity and Applejack.
One was a white unicorn who looked rather like Twilight would image a young Rarity would. Her mane and tail had a very similar curl to the mare who was probably her sister but were a combination of pale pink and lavender. The other was a yellow filly that Twilight recognised from the Apple family introductions. Though the earth pony was a similar pale yellow to Fluttershy with a reddish pink mane and tail, the former of whom was tied with a pink ribbon, her similar facial features and the accent the part-time Princess heard as the filly babbled at Applejack labelled her as Applebloom.
As the two older ponies reassured and hugged their younger sisters, Twilight approached her older brother, a little nervous as she watched him order his men to start withdrawing back to the palace in Canterlot. “Shiny?” She asked when he was not busy, “Will you stay? For the party, please?”
“Sure, Twily.” The older stallion nodded, nuzzling her and smiling, “But you still need to tell me what happened. Were you really an alicorn?”
“I…temporarily.” Twilight nodded, “I found out a lot today and I need to write it all down before I forget it, but apparently I was an alicorn a really long time ago but I sealed away some ancient power and accidently locked away my alicorn powers at the same. Now I’m just a unicorn.”
“Just a unicorn?” Shining Armour sounded offended, though he had an odd expression on his features that meant Twilight was not sure if he was angry or not. “There’s nothing wrong with being a unicorn.”
“You know I didn’t mean…I like being a unicorn!” Twilight told him, “That’s not what I meant. I don’t entirely understand this mess myself, yet. But I will and when I do, I’ll share everything with you, I promise.”
“You’d better, Twily.” Shining Armour nodded as they watched Princess Luna receive a crown of daisies from some of the younger ponies in town. The part-time Princess was pleased to see a surprised but delighted smile light up the younger alicorn’s features, helping the townsfolk around them relax.
“You know what this calls for?” Pinkie Pie asked, pulling the party cannon out of her hair and reloading it in less than a heartbeat. “A party!”
Twilight did not get a chance to warn her brother before Pinkie fired her cannon and she found herself smothered in his protective embrace as the explosion went off.
“Shiny! Shiny it’s okay, it’s just Pinkie Pie!” Twilight giggled at him, trying to push him away. “Her party cannon only shoots streams and confetti.”
“Seriously?” Shining Armour looked sceptical as he let go of her and stared around at the aforementioned items scattered everywhere. “How…?”
No comments:
Post a Comment