Another day, another painful realization that this is not some really long lucid dream. The realization actually sunk in yesterday while helping Spike clean up. A book sitting atop the bookshelf fell, smacked him in the tale, and I got a face full of dragon breath for my troubles. From the brief experience I can tell you dragon breath smells of earth and burnt ash. Really surprising since the guy eats gems.
When Twilight came back we explained the incident, she gave me a quick examination to check how human skin reacts to magical dragon fire-breath, than used a spell to heal the burns, and after that I looked in to a mirror to see no real harm was done to myself.
We then wrote a letter to the Princess explaining the situation of a human being in Equestria. We also explained that I had no idea how I came in and that my point of origin came from the EverFree forest. On an added note Twilight said she had interviewed about my world on some key points and we sent off the letter. Well, more like Spike lit it up with his fire breath and I gawked while all that writing seemed wasted, upon my reaction Twilight assured me that it was one of Spikes special abilities as well as the fastest way to get a letter to the Princess.
"Question. is anything he breathes his fire on sent to the princess?"
"Ah, the scrolls are also magically enchanted so that it goes directly to the Princess."
Is everything in this world full of freakin' magic? I wonder how their sewer system works, or is it all just magically whisked somewhere.. I mean, if everything is magic why the hell not?! Magical toilets, that could make a killing back home.
As I heard a suppressed gag from behind me I saw Spike seem to clutch his stomach, after a moment a burst of flame erupted from his mouth. I lunged forward and landed on my belly with a grunt holding my hands over my head. "What the hell Spike!? You trying to go two for zero?"
I glared at Spike who gave me a sheepish grin, but than I noticed the scroll he was holding. "Did that just come out your mouth?!"
"Yea, it's kinda the way the Princess sends word back to Twilight. It's kinda annoying when the letters come at random or the worst time."
Thinking about it I imagined talking to friends or even a romantic interest and suddenly belching a letter from your teacher, or even more horrifying your mother. Suddenly I felt regretful for yelling at Spike.
"A-hem, so what does the letter say Spike?" Twilight seemed to take our exchange in stride and only care for the contents of the letter.
"To my faithful student,
I thank you for informing me of this event Twilight. I would like to meet this human tomorrow afternoon. I have cleared my schedule so arrive at your earliest convenience so we can discuss as much as need be and please bring your notes so I may be able to grasp a few ideas of what to ask him. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia"
Twilight went to grab her notes and began to organize everything while I stared at Spike, and sighed feeling apprehension for tomorrow. I would be meeting the ruler of Equestria and I had nothing formal to wear. Yea, maybe these ponies didn't wear clothes but that didn't mean I had to show up in front of royalty in my jeans and t-shirt with Batman insignia. My only course of thought was 'Oh please don't say anything stupid tomorrow.'
That was yesterday today I was seated watching the scenery of trees and grassland roll by with excitement wide-eyed wonderment.
"Trains, I can't believe you guys have trains. This is awesome, I mean I've never been in a train before. We had them in our history, transport trains for passengers but we went beyond that. This is so kick-ass, nothing beats a good ole' fashioned train ride."
I was excited. I mean really, I was acting like a child gushing over the scenery and could feel the stare of Twilight as she looked up from her book directed at me. I didn't care, I really never even been on a train ride before. I thought about finding one a few times, there were places that would let you take a train ride for the sights but those were just tourist attractions I had heard about. I also had no real desire to travel so getting the chance to train ride back in the states never presented itself. But here I was taking a train from PonyVille to Canterlot on my third day here in Equestria. Hot damn!
"How do you guys travel in your world than Ziggy?" Spike whispered to me from across my seat. I glanced at him with a grin and beckoned him closer with my finger. Leaning in he looked to see if the Twilight was listening in. I glanced at her and she pretended to not really care, though her ear was pointed in our direction to try and hear our whispered conversation.
"We have these things called planes, they fly over oceans and can hold dozens of people in them. They fly all over my world in the skies. We also have boats for people who are afraid to fly, and for personal transport a thing called a car. Think of it like a stage-coach."
Spike sat in awe at what I said, than looked down rather glumly. "All I've ever traveled in is this train and Twilight's air balloon."
"Spike don't be down man, I haven't even been in a plane myself, or a boat. Besides you breath fire dude, I'd love to have that ability. Make s'mores with ease for me."
He licked his lips at the mention of s'mores. After Twilight had left us yesterday to attend a friendly get-together with her friends I showed him what peanut butter s'mores tasted like. He never thought of it before but I think I just got him addicted to it now as well. I turned my attention back to the passing scenery. "You know if your Princess can send me back it was nice knowing you. Your actually the coolest dragon I've ever met."
"I'm the only dragon you've ever met."
"Irrelevant." Twisting my body so I sat in the seat properly I heard Twilight set her book down.
"You realize that the Princess will have questions for you. Inquire about why you are here, if you are a spy working against Equestria. I want you to understand in no way did I promise you a way home, please don't set yourself up for disappointment if she cannot send you back."
My eyes evened with Twilight's as I spoke trying to hide the desperation in my voice. "We don't know, right? So all we can do is try, hell, she might know someone who can send me back or point me in the direction of anything that could send me back."
We passed a bridge over a river and I watched the outside pass by without another word, Spike decided to take a nap and Twilight went back to her reading. Our worlds looked so much alike, and yet I couldn't believe the resemblance, a world full of magic and yet the trees and grass still looked the same on Earth as it did Equestria. If I was stuck here, at the least the place wasn't going to feel COMPLETELY foreign.
I was shook awake a moment later, Spike's voice began to cut through the haze of sleep. I didn't realize I had dozed off but as I cracked open my eyes I noticed Twilight looking at me curiously and Spike continuing to shake me awake.
"Ziggy, wake up, c'mon we're here in Canterlot. The train's stopped already."
I shook my head to clear it, feeling heavy and stiff from sleep while in a seated position. I turned my head to the side slightly and saw a pony dressed in a conductor uniform, I eyed him skeptically as I noticed that he carried the hat and blue vest jacket buttoned up except the very top button. He eyed me with the same skepticism and Twilight began to explain the situation to him.
...wait, a conductor uniform?! Oh great, these ponies even wore clothes, I looked at my outfit again and really felt my earlier embarrassment return as I noticed I really was under-dressed. Maybe she'll think the Batman symbol is a flag of valor I wore proudly on my chest. ...oh hell who am I kidding?!
"We're here to see Princess Celestia my good sir. This human here has an audience with her, and we are expected, so please try not to make a scene."
He nodded dumbly and continued his rounds. As Twilight placed her saddlebags atop her back with her magic, me and Spike made our way for the exits. Stepping off the train I could feel the stares, I could feel them when we left PonyVille, I felt them on the train, I could feel them now analyzing me, burning into my my skin as if it were a rash. I drew in a shaky breath and exhaled trying to steel my nerve.
"How much farther to the castle? I do assume it is a castle the Princess lives in, correct?"
"Yes, your correct in that assumption Siegfried." Twilight answered for me as she brought up the rear of our small group. Spike started to nervously play with his tail between his claws and I almost wish I had a tail to take my mind off their eyes gazing at me.
"I would like to get there soon Twilight. Can we hurry along?"
"I am here to escort you to the castle." A pegasus clad in armor had trotted up to us and stared at me before his eyes fixed ahead. I noticed the armor was suited for ponies with a helmet that looked to be from the roman period. I gawked at the resemblance and began to reach out to touch the top to see if it was real. The soldiers eyes quickly made contact with mine and I suddenly had the distinct feeling he'd twist my arm the soon as I made contact so I slowly pulled my arm back.
"Sorry, it's just your helmet. It's something that used to exist in my world. A long time ago."
His eyes flashed curiosity very briefly before regaining their serious poise. It was long enough for me to notice however, and I smiled gently before placing my hands in my pockets and looked to Twilight.
"Ready to go?"
I nodded and we began the trek as the guard lead our group. Several of the ponies began to separate in the crowd and made me think this was what it looked like when Moses split the red sea. Only you know, instead of water these are ponies, and I didn't have some staff raised in the air, all that jazz, y'know? Yea, whatever I watched the Charlton Heston version as a kid, okay?
It didn't seem far to the castle honestly, I was so wrapped up at the sites of Canterlot that I had hardly enough recognition of time as we kept passing regal buildings and small business stores. I had been so lost in observing that I had hardly time to remember I was being gawked at through town. As we continued to walk I didn't notice we left the city until the buildings seemed to stop and we came across a paved path that led to the drawbridge of the castle. We continued on and I than started noticing that some of the guards were ignoring their duties staring at me while we walked on.
A few moments later I was passing these huge golden doors that led to a large room, in front of us were some stairs and two guards stood at the bottom of the steps. The room was adorned with flags, wooden polished trimmings seemed to highlight the archways that lead to other adjacent rooms. Atop the stairs were paned glass that had murals of the sun on the left and the moon on the right. That's where she stood, a regal looking unicorn-- no wait, she had wings?! A Pegacorn?! ...is that even a race on Equestria?
I looked to Twilight and Spike, but they were bowed deeply to the Princess in regal fashion. The guard even bowed a bit lower to show his respect. I was hesitant to take their cue so I merely gave a small nod of acknowledgement toward the Princess. The guards at the bottom step seemed to glare at me for not showing their Princess the proper respect but I steeled my nerve and continued to stare at her. She seemed to raise her eyes in surprise and gently smiled descending the steps.
"Hello there. I am Princess Celestia of Equestria." ...is she trying to rhyme? As she finally came off the last step I noticed her height was quite larger than mine, and before my brain could stop it my mouth was open in a minute showing the shock that was first to come to my mind.
"Holy hell your huge!!" My arm raised above my head to show the difference in height and I had my arm stretched to see where it would reach the tip of her horn. Damn!! Is she part amazon?! That's when I noticed what I had said and immediately face-palmed, the sound actually echoed the walls and it sounded more painful than it felt.
Everyone in the room stared at me wide-eyed with disbelief that the first words I uttered to their Princess was that she was taller than me, and I didn't just say it I seemed to yell it at her. Okay, I'm zero for three now, I knew I was going to fuck this up, and I did, Hurrah for persistence! The Princess seemed to stand there in shock wondering had I done that on purpose before she suppressed a giggle and than just let out a melodious laugh that had everyone stare at her in disbelief.
"Oh.. Oh my, Twilight I think you failed to mention he had a witty charm." Twilight started to laugh apprehensively and Spike began to chuckle content to share a laugh with his Princess.
"I'm.. I'm sorry your highness." I said now owning up to my mistake. "I swear I usually don't.. well honestly I think I do. I seem to have screwed up every introduction since I have arrived in Equestria. I'm really sorry, I don't mean to but I can't seem to control my reactions to you all. Everything is sorta.. perplexing. I mean I'm amazed, I even feel like a child having stepped into a story-book, but I really am trying to not insult any of you."
She shook her head that smile not leaving her face. "Oh I assure I take no insult to your actions at all. I am merely impressed that despite your situation you still seem to have a strong showing of courage being in a world outside your own element."
I felt my spirits lift at her praise. In the back of my head I knew she was right, I had not thought of it because I had no chance to. However her words echoed inside my head and forced me to realize my situation. I was in another world and I had no idea of how to get back home. What's more, I wasn't huddled in a corner telling the natives to stay back with some sharpened stick I would use as a weapon. No, I was just boldly stepping forward as if this was just another day in my life.
"Princess? What's to happen to Siegfried? Can you send him home or is he stuck here?"
Finally the smile on Celestia's face fell, and her eyes held a sadness that tugged at my heart. I swear she really was beautiful for a regal looking pony and I wanted to say something witty to make her smile come back, but I felt I had to listen to her response just as eager as Twilight to the question.
"I'm afraid I have never heard of a magic spell that can open a rift between worlds. I know that there exists a magical artifact to see into other worlds, but I'm afraid that to open a path so one can cross is simply unheard of. It is my greatest regret that I do not posses the knowledge to aid him in returning home."
She looked to me with those sad eyes and I felt the color drain from my face. No way of getting back home? I'm stuck here? Alone?! I began to panic, my breathing became erratic and my legs suddenly felt wobbly. I threw my arms to my sides knowing I was losing my balance and fell right upon my ass and felt a sharp pain shoot up my arms as my hands also took the impact of my fall. I was swallowing air into my lungs as if I was going to lose the ability to breath.
"Oh no, I'm sorry. I truly am, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there really isn't anything in our archives that has ever shown a way to open a path to another world."
I could see the sadness in her eyes and it was all too much. I held my head in my hands and tried to steady my breathing. Focus... I just need to focus. Ask her, ask her what you need to know.
"So do you know of ANYONE who can help me? Anyone at all? Anything that might show me a way to get home?"
She shook her head sadly. Spike came up to me and placed a claw on my shoulder. Twilight just looked at me sadly and helplessly. I assume like me she had hoped the Princess had some sort of an answer. Any kind of an answer. I was stuck, millions of miles from home. Hell LIGHT-YEARS could be my assumption as well.
Taking one last gulp of air I steadied my breathing and stood up defiantly. No way home? I will resist. The only of my kind on a planet of ponies? I will resist. Should this planet have prejudice and fear of me?! I will fucking resist. I once read a saying and drilled it into my head that courage was never the absence of fear, it was the resistance to fear. And right now I needed all the fucking courage I could get, I was screwed if there really was no way home. So better start showing backbone now.
"Thank you Princess Celestia. I know you must've tried, and I sincerely thank you. If you don't mind I'd like to.. walk to sort out my thoughts. Is that a problem?"
She shook her head and smiled apologetically to me again. "I would like to review the notes over with Twilight. If you could though, please stay on the castle grounds. I will have questions for you later and wish for you to remain close when I must call upon you to answer any inquiries I have."
I nodded thankful for the chance to walk and sort my head out. Walking always calmed me, settled my nerves and I really needed that right now. Staring down at Spike I gave a sad smile to him. "Sorry Spike but could I take it alone? I really need the privacy."
He nodded in understanding and mumbled something about visiting an old friend named Joe. I quirked an eyebrow at his back and started to walk the regal halls of the castles interior. All the halls were adorned with flags, and some even had portraits of what I could only guess were regal ponies from the past and ponies of importance in their history. After much fumbling around in the halls I saw an archway lead to an outside garden and said a silent thanks to no one in particular.
Ah, Finally you are alone, I've been waiting for this opportunity since you arrived.
I stopped abruptly at the sudden invasion in my head. That.. that was most definitely not my voice. Wait.. "No, no way!"
Oh yes, I'm afraid. I know it was your mind I touched before you came here. I can very vividly remember the taste of your thoughts.
"You.. Your the voice I heard when I was back on my world. The one before I stepped into this world! Who are you!?" I whispered harshly, I could hear it loud within my head but frantically looking I could see no other pony beside me who could be doing this.
Me? You care about knowing who I am? I'm touched. Really I am.
The voice let out a haughty laugh and I felt my skin begin to chill slightly. Whoever it was had to be very powerful at magic, but for some reason they seemed to be toying with me for their amusement more than trying to torment me. "Are you going to tell me who you are? Or should I just assume I've finally snapped after hearing I can't go home and you are a part of my psyche? A coping mechanism that I'll need to use to get by for awhile here in this magical pony land."
Oh now you just insult me. Really, do I sound like something you would dream up? You humans are far more interesting than I would have imagined.
"Enough with the games. You going to tell me who you are or not you fucking hallucination."
My, my. You humans have such colorful language. I wonder if Celestia would still be kind to you if she knew half the things in your thoughts. Or dare say half the things you say in private. You are such a delightful creature. So full of chaos, angst, fear, and so little joy in your life. I have peeked into your mind, such painful memories. So little triumphs, and yet you persist. I have to wonder why though, what do you hope to win? Admiration? Self-satisfaction? Or merely you have no other goals in life you just think going forward is your only choice.
"Your name." I demanded now becoming irritable. This was getting old, fast. I really was about to turn after a moments silence but the bastard finally spoke up.
Fine, fine, I will tell you. Are you always so impatient? I am known to these ponies as Discord.