Wat? · 12:36pm Apr 8th, 2017
This part of Canterlot Castle was most certainly not the dungeons and calling it such was a bit no-no. Oh, it might have been the dungeons at some point in the very recent past, but it had been renovated, repurposed, and given a new name to reflect its many changes. It was now the residence of their very special guest. It was one of the most secure places in all of Equestria, built to purpose and guarded by the Royal Pony Sisters themselves.
The walls were lined with sheets of thaumaturgical-infused plumbum—making it nigh-impossible for teleportation to work here—and crystalline fibre sandwiched between panes of dense glass. If one did somehow teleport here, one would find themselves in a soupy state, squished between two panes of glass. The most amazing informational factoid about this place was the cost, which was a Crown-guarded secret.
The system had already been tried and tested by an unwitting volunteer, an infiltrator.
Gosling was walled in on all sides by Celestia’s Immortal Solars, unicorns of exceptional skill, loyalty, and bravery. They were trusted by Celestia, and he trusted them as well. What choice did he have? Being a kind, decent sort, he waved at one of the free roaming changelings, and was rewarded with a wave in return. The free roaming changelings were not the enemy, so what harm was there in being nice to them?
There was a group of older students from the school down here, and Gosling guessed that they had to be studying biology. He knew from listening to his wife that there were lessons right now about thaumaturgically charged chromatophores and how they functioned as illusion projectors. Celestia had plans—big ones—that involved growing the thaumaturgically charged chromatophores on specialised sheets of chitin, and then using it as a projector screen. Things like movies and moving images could be shown in a projected three dimensional field, offering unparalleled realism. And this was just the first step. Later steps involved armor applications and military improvements.
Blueblood was already down here and was chattering away with a group of unicorns wearing clean white lab coats. The prince was animated, excited even, and none of his dry, cutting snark seemed present. Being the Spymaster, this was Blueblood’s baby and he had sunk a great deal of his own fortune into the project to make it happen.
“How is the Bossy Bug?” Gosling asked, and he was rewarded with a great many snickers from everypony except the Immortal Solars, who had no sense of humour. Or so the rumours went, anyhow. “This is only my second time down here, and my first time down here since completion. I’m a little nervous.”
“Prince Gosling, it is wonderful to see you,” a unicorn mare said in a voice that could only be compared to claws being dragged down a chalkboard. She blushed and the cola-bottle-thick lenses in her glasses fogged over. “Hello, nice prince, could you sign my slide rule?”
“Maybe later,” Gosling replied, fighting back a smile.
“Oooh, that means I get to talk to you later!” The mare’s blush intensified and her glasses fogged over completely. “Oy vey, I’m schvitzing from my schplitzing, oooh my Ma warned me about this happening. I need air! Oy, air is needed, before the wheezing and the panting and the full-body schvitzing begins.”
Unable to stop himself, Gosling began chortling, understanding all too well the embarrassment that came with having your Ma’s warnings come true. Others too, began to laugh, and the merry mood was welcome. It was reassuring to find one of his own down in the depths of Canterlot Castle, and Gosling intended to sign to her slide rule, once his wings grew back.
If I said I was sorry, nobody would believe me.
Now that's some biological awesomeness there!
Interesting
My sides