//------------------------------// // Canterlot // Story: Dreams and Consequences // by Kro Dragon //------------------------------// Starting the dreaded path away from Ponyville was no easy task, Twilight Sparkle had already been feeling down and low, and it didn’t help that her five friends would soon, if not already, start feeling the same way she did. Pinkie Pie kept quiet through whole trek towards Canterlot. Normally the happily buzzing pink maned earth pony was now at a loss for words. Even her mane seemed a bit… flat… flatter than usual at least. Rainbow Dash, instead of speeding off quickly towards their destination at mach speed, kept at an even pace walking with her friends, her eyes always looking at the sky as if in thought. Applejack had started looking as glum as Twilight Sparkle did, Fluttershy looked even worse. It was bad enough she had to leave her animal friends, but knowing the path Equestria was leading into, it wasn’t going to be easy for her to let go of her animals if Equestria ended in turmoil. Last but not least, Rarity had been sighing as much as Twilight did earlier. Unable to fully hold her weight on the current situation, Rarity’s mind now pondered on Ponyville and Sweetie Belle begging to Celestia that if they should fail, that she would keep Ponyville and Sweetie Belle out of danger. The long slow pacing towards Canterlot was quiet. No pony would speak a word to the other; unable to relieve their mind off of the horrid image they were just introduced to. Twilight started to look stronger than the rest of her friends, but that was probably because she had time to readjust to the current situation. Twilight then suddenly stopped to look at her friends. “What gives, Twilight?” asked a somber Rainbow Dash. “Why are we stopping?” “I just wanted to talk about what you just saw…” Twilight spoke. Suddenly everypony looked either away or down at the ground. Twilight groaned “I know it’s not going to be easy after what you’ve seen, but…” “But what?” Applejack retorted. “It ain’t right for somethin’ like that to happen! Only makes it worse if we start talkin’ about it right away…” “I’ll have to agree with Applejack there, dear.” Rarity commented. “We have yet to fully grasp what we just saw… It… It was too much for us to handle…” “I know it was!” Twilight renounced. “By Celestia I know it was… and—and she had asked me not to show anypony else—“ “Then WHY did you?!” yelled Rainbow Dash “We could’ve been fine and dandy not knowing!” “Because you asked! You ALL asked!” Everypony suddenly became quiet. Silent sobbing was heard from Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie had started comforting her, hugging and holding her close. Twilight Sparkle slowly sat down and looked at her friends. “I’m… I’m sorry, I know you weren’t ready and… and I should’ve warned you, but what else could I do? I couldn’t just ask you to come on this mission without you knowing. That wouldn’t have seemed right! I believed it was only fair that we all saw it. I’m sure I’ll be scolded for it later but…” Unable to finish her sentence, the young purple unicorn looked down at the ground. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. Applejack walked up to Twilight Sparkle and placed a hoof on her. “C’mon Sugarcube… Don’t cry. It’s only gunna’ make it worse fer’ the rest of us.” Twilight couldn’t hold it back, she let out a long sob and started crying aswell. Applejack just held her close as Twilight cried, looking a bit embarrassed.”Twi” Applejack said softly, Twilight slowly stopped crying and started sniffling. “Twilight, we’re not gunna stop this mission wit’ya just cuz of some silly vision. Heck, we can’t just leave you alone even If we wanted to! We’re best friends, the six of us, and we wouldn’t abandon you, none of us would!” Twilight Sparkle smiled softly and hugged her. “Thank you…” “Don’t go thankin’ me just yet.” said the orange earth pony. “We got a long road ahead of us. And at this rate, we won’t even make it to Canterlot by nightfall…” Twilight cleared her throat and nodded her head “You’re right… Thank you, all of you.” Everypony smiled and nodded, greatly brightening up the mood. Applejack smiled aswell. Happy that her friend was now eager and better to get going, but secretly happy to herself that she wouldn’t have to talk about that vision… At that moment, she wanted to cry as well. --- Arriving at Canterlot was more troublesome that anypony would’ve thought. Not only was it already sundown and everypony was already tired, but the small amount of food they had was completely gone. “Ya’ think that would’ve lasted us a TON longer than it did…” Rainbow Dash laughed. “I honestly believed that would’ve held us for the rest of the way!” “I wouldn’t worry about the food.” Applejack started. “I’m sure we’ll bump into towns and such on our way practically around Equestria. They’ll have food, right?” “Well yes.” It was Twilight’s turn to talk. “But you have to think how long it would take us to get each key. It could be like a small cave to a dungeon, you never know.” “Then we’ll pack in stock and eat in restaurants or somethin’ while we’re in town. Seems smart in my sense!” “That sounds keen for now.” Twilight nodded. “I’m going to go meet with the Princess and talk about this whole situation and where we should and shouldn’t be heading. You can all make your way to the Library. I’m sure if I recall correctly there are separate rooms there.” “Do you still OWN that library?” Pinkie Pie asked with her squeaking voice. Twilight just laughed. “I didn’t really own that Library, I just happened to… always be there.” The recollection of memories soon flooded her head before Ponyville and her friends when she would constantly be studying and worrying over nothing. Good times. “Heh… well anyway. We should set up sort of a base there so we can read on about the places we will be heading towards.” Without much reconsideration, the ponies had nodded in agreement and went their separate ways. Rarity led the way towards the Canterlot Library. Other than Twilight Sparkle, Rarity seemed to have some basic knowledge about and around Canterlot. Once at the Library, the room was full of papers and books spewed across the floor. Rarity just looked in horror. “Normally I’m the one making the organized chaos, but I never thought it would apply this chaotically…” “Organized what now?” Rainbow Dash asked. The white unicorn just shrugged her off. “It wouldn’t hurt to tidy up the place, now would it?” “Now hold up.” Applejack walked forward. “If this is somepony else’s work, we shouldn’t mess with it. They might’ve done this purposefully and if we throw somethin’ outta place, it’ll cause’em all sorts of trouble. Wouldn’t it?” Rarity seemed to know EXACTLY what her orange earth pony friend was talking about. But that raised two new questions for the five. Where would they stay now, and who caused this mess? As if an answer to a prayer, the front door burst open to a red maned yellow stallion unicorn pony holding way too many books. The stallion then dropped every book he was holding and noticed the five mares infront of him. “Uh… HI!” said the unknown yellow unicorn. “Uhm… are you lost?” “Not as lost as we thought…” Rarity frowned slightly. “Who might you be?” “Oh, I’m Ethal, Ethal Co, but you can just call me Hets…”the yellow stallion chuckled slightly. “Hets?” Rainbow Dash remarked “Hets doesn’t exactly tie in with ‘Ethal’” Hets just shrugged and laughed, “I’ve been called Hets for I don’t know how long. But that doesn’t matter. What matters to me right now is what you guys are doing in my Library?” “Your Library?” Pinkie Pie said “I thought this Library belonged to Twilight?” Rainbow Dash face-hoofed “Pinkie, Twilight just told us she didn’t own the Library…” “Twi-who?” asked Hets, who started picking up the books he had dropped. “I’m not sure who you’re talking about. I’ve been running this Library for a little over a few months now. Princess Celestia allowed me to live here and study under the name ‘Current Owner’” “She must’ve given someone else the space in the library…” Applejack said under her breath. “I mean, who else would run it?” “You have a point…” Rarity replied in the same under the breathe tone. “But that still doesn’t answer where WE’RE going to stay…” “So what’re you gunna do? Seduce a way out of him?” Rarity smiled, Immediately Applejack looked in awe. “You wouldn’t…” “Would I?” Still smiling, Rarity slowly walked up to the stallion unicorn “You know, Hets…” she said cooly and smoothly as possible “You have a nice mane there…” she said examining his figure “and such broad muscles…” Hets blinked at the sudden connection and had a blush brighter than a stop light. “Uh, well you know, a Stallion has to look his best, right?” He nervously chuckled. “You know…” Rarity started again. “My friends and I have been looking for a place to stay…” She motioned to the four mares”and we heard that there are a few rooms in the library…” “Y-Yeah, there’s a couple of bedrooms here…” Hets pointed a hoof over at a few doors behind a giant hourglass. “There’s… really nothing in them…” “What’s say you let my friends and I stay here for… awhile?” Rarity smiled “I’m sure we won’t be a bother to you at all.” “Well…” Hets set the books down on a table, looked around, then at the four watching mares, then back at Rarity. “What’s… in it for me?” Rarity rolled her eyes and kissed Hets on the cheek, practically melting him in place “Alright, Alright! You can stay!” he exclaimed. Rarity smiled and galloped her way back towards the sitting mares. Applejack just shook her head. “You toy with Stallion’s hearts…” “Oh dear Applejack” Rarity grinned “What fun is there if you can’t play with some stallions’ hearts every now and then?” The orange earth pony sighed. “Let’s just start unpacking…” --- Night came quickly, and after a bit of cleaning up, the Canterlot Library looked a bit more organized than it was when the five mares had first arrived. Fluttershy looked outside the large window inside the Library that overcastted much of Canterlot. “Nice, ain’t it?” Applejack came from one of the rooms they were staying at. Startled, Fluttershy quickly turned around to face her. “Oh, Sorry there, Sugarcube. Ya’know how I am.” “It’s alright…” Fluttershy practically whispered. Applejack smiled and looked out the window with her. “I’ve never been one for sight seein’, but Canterlot’s really got that givin’ feel to it.” Applejack attempted to start a conversation with the butter yellow pegasus. Fluttershy smiled and nodded softly, and continued to look at the bright night-life that Canterlot gave. “I wonder if Twilight’s alright…” Applejack nodded “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s with the Princess afterall, ain’t she? She shouldn’t be any sort of trouble we would have to worry about.” She looked at Fluttershy who still seemed doubtful and gently patted her back. “Now we ain’t got nothin’a worry about. I promise you she’s safe. She’s can take care’a herself.” Fluttershy smiled and attempted to say something. When she opened her mouth, Pinkie Pie came bursting through the front door bouncing up and down with a massive cake, she even blew a party whistle. “Argh, Pinkie Pie!” Applejack yelled “What’s the sudden surprise for?” “For our new friend Hets, of course!” Pinkie Pie’s smile practically filled the room. “I thought it would’ve been nice for us to throw him a party because he let us stay in the library! I’ve never lived in a library, I bet there’s SO MUCH you can learn just by LIVING in one! Like some sort of Book Ninja! And instead of shurikens, you throw PAPER shurikens!” “Pinkie, what’re you yammerin’ on about now?” Applejack laughed “You’re a crazy pony, ya’know that?” Pinkie Pie just continued smiling and placed the enormous double layered cake on a coffee table that somehow managed to support the weight of the cake. The legs of the table literally bent from the weight of the cake itself and it seemed at any moment the cake would break the table. “I just thought I’d be nice” Pinkie Pie smiled again. “I’m sure he’ll love it…” Fluttershy said softly. Tilting her head at the giant cake and table. “Where is he anyway? and Rarity and Rainbow Dash? and has Twilight returned?” Pinkie Pie bounced from her spot. “Ahh, well Rainbow Dash went out to do a bit of flyin’…” Applejack fixed her hat. “Ya’ can’t keep that pony still, if she was a cow, she’d extract butter immediately, ah’ swear…” she laughed. “Hets said something about meeting the Princess for an… urgent matter?” Fluttershy placed a hoof on her chin in curiousness. “Rarity started complainin’ about her ‘beauty sleep’. An’ if she didn’t get it, she’d go bananas on us about it the next day.” Applejack frowned “…So we just left’er alone…” “And Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked once more, already digging into the cake. “She must be still with the Princess… at least I hope she is…” Fluttershy turned her head towards the window and stared again. “I… I mean I know she is…I think…” Applejack just whimsily smiled at the butter yellow pegasus. “She’s goin’ ta’ be okay, Fluttershy. I promise.” “Well then! Who’s gunna help me finish this cake!” Pinkie Pie had face-planted herself into the cake and started eating. The table finally broke causing the cake to make a massive “thud” on the ground. Pinkie Pie continued eating it without consent. “It ain’t gunna finish itself with just me here!” --- “…And that’s all…?” Twilight Sparkle had been with Princess Celestia for most of the time she had been inside Canterlot. The map she now held was completely charted with lines, dots and “X”’s. “These are the places to where we must go?” “Yes, Twilight Sparkle.” Princess Celestia smiled “I’m sure you’re readily up for the task?” Twilight nodded her head examining the map carefully. This map marked all around Equestria, Even on Cloudsdale. How would that work? “This is really… complex…” Twilight then gently put the map in her saddle pack “But I promise you. I will not let you down.” Princess Celestia nodded happily “I know you won’t Twilight Sparkle, that’s entrusted you with this task. But now it’s getting late, and I would believe you would like some rest before your journey.” Twilight Sparkle nodded and bowed. Then started making her way out, “You can count on me, Prince—Oof!” Twilight Sparkle bumped into a yellow unicorn. “Oh! I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking.” said the unicorn. “I wasn’t looking either… It’s my fault.” Twilight quickly regained sight and looked at the Unicorn. “Ethal Co? Is there something wrong?”asked Princess Celestia. “Oh right” the yellow unicorn bowed to Princess Celestia. “Uh, well some mares came by into the library and they had asked if they could stay there for awhile. I already agreed they could, but I really need your permission for it.” He smiled sheepishly. “Oh, I see your friends are here too, Twilight Sparkle.” Princess Celestia looked at the purple unicorn. “Yes Ethal, the Library can be free of Twilight Sparkle and her friends use for now. I’m sure they would need it for their task.” “Oh, so YOU’RE that mare they were mentioning to me earlier.” Said the unicorn, he then extended a hoof towards Twilight. “My name’s Ethal Co, I’m guessing you’re going to be another roommate in the library then, eh?” he smiled widely Twilight looked at Ethal then at Princess Celestia then back at Ethal. “I’m… a bit confused at the moment… more than I’d like to be.” Almost hurt, the unicorn stallion let down his hoof. “It’s alright. I’m just as confused as you are. What with the whole pony invasion going on at the library.” “Not to mention tired…” Twilight sheepishly smiled at the unicorn stallion. “It’s been a long day for the six of us.” Twilight turned and bowed to Princess Celestia once more. “I shall be on my way then, Princess Celestia.” Princess Celestia nodded “I wish you luck, my faithful student.” With that, the princess receded into her chambers, leaving the two young unicorns by themselves. Twilight Sparkle started making her way towards the exit. Ethal Co slowly followed. “So Ethal—“ Twilight started. “Oh, You can call me Hets.” The unicorn stallion said. “All of my friends call me Hets.” Twilight smiled. “Alright then, Hets” she giggled gently at the inconsistency of his nickname. “So you live at the library?” “Yup!” Hets smiled. “It’s real nice and quiet living there, but it gets lonesome. As much as I like reading, I hate being alone.” Twilight continued walking eventually outside of Canterlot Castle, and towards the Library. “I use to live there… awhile back when I first became the princess’ student…” “She did call you her ‘faithful student’.”Hets recalled. “That would mean you studied under her?” Twilight nodded her head. “For a good 15 years. Heck, I’m still studying under her.” “Wow.” The unicorn stallion admired. “I bet there was a lot of vigorous training to be done there.” The purple mare’s mind quickly went to the loving and care that Princess Celestia had administered to her. If Twilight knew any better, Princess Celestia might have well been her mother. She quickly shook her head at the thought, her mother was with her father living happily together, she was sure. “So how do you think of my friends?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “not really the kind of bunch you’d see on a day to day basis, now would you?” “I agree” Hets nodded, climbing “They say first impressions make everything. I think you’re real lucky to find a bunch like them.” Suddenly Twilight started remembering what Applejack had told her this afternoon. That just because of some vision they had saw, none of them would ever abandon her. Twilight’s mind then raced thinking of the vision, remembering it clearly in her head. That unicorn pony… who were they? The face was so darkened and so hidden that she could hardly remember what it looked like. “Ms. Sparkle?” Hets waved a hoof infront of Twilight, reawakening her senses to reality. “Are you alright? You look like a train just smacked right into you” The purple mare shook her head and rubbed her eyes. “Oh… Yeah, I was just… recalling memories.” She lied, smiling meekly to the unicorn stallion. Hets tilted his head gently then smiled. “I’d bet! This is probably just one big’ole nostalgia trip for you, ain’t it?” Twilight laughed, but inside she was unable to control the fear that crept inside of her. --- “Oh look look look!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed from the window. “Here comes Hets! And he’s with Twilight! Ooh! We can surprise them both in one go!” “Jus’ not so loud, Pinkie Pie.” Applejack moved Pinkie Pie out of the way. “We don’t wanna go wakin’ Rarity’n Fluttershy.” “They were really really tired after all!” the pink party pony smiled. “Fluttershy went out like a light! Hehe.” “We all are. Pinkie” Applejack deadpanned “We all are…” There were a quick few hoofsteps outside and then the door slowly opening. Pinkie Pie popped from behind the Hourglass and jumped right infront of both Hets and Twilight. “SURPRISE YOU TWO!” She practically yelled, knocking back both unicorns. “Oh Hets! Thank you for letting us stay! I got you a cake but…” Pinkie Pie pointed a hoof at a broken table with the remains of some cake crumbs. “I already ate MOST of it.” She giggled Hets looked at the broken table somewhat wide-eyed. “Uh heh! No problem.” He smiled then got back up, along with Twilight who just placed a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Pinkie! You know I hate it when you do that…” Twilight muttered. “Oh I’m sorry Twilight, I’m just so grateful that we’re here! It’s like a home away from home! Well technically for you it’s a home away from home that use to be your home! Homeception! HA! Well anyway, What did the Princess tell you? Some important stuff I bet! I wanna know! I’m sure we all wanna know! But I wanna know too! I bet it’ll be fun, and I love fun things!” Applejack quickly placed a hoof over Pinkie Pie’s mouth, shuddering from hearing anymore. Pinkie Pie seemed to continue talking as if not even noticing Applejack. “Pinkie” started the orange earth pony. “Wouldn’t it be better to wait until tomorrow for this?” Pinkie Pie looked at Applejack and quickly nodded. Then said something too muffled to even hear. The pink party pony then removed Applejack’s hoof from her mouth and hopped her way towards their room. “G’night everypony!” she smiled then closed the door. The orange earth pony removed her hat and started massaging her head. “One of these days, that pony’s gunna give me a migraine…” “So is everpony here?” Twilight asked Applejack, looking through some of the bookshelves. “Oh… I don’t think Rainbow Dash’s here.” Applejack sheepishly smiled. “But I’m sure she’s just asleep on some cloud or other. The purple unicorn looked at Applejack but nodded. She knew Rainbow Dash wasn’t one for getting settled in one place right away. She was sure Rainbow Dash would eventually come back. One night alone wouldn’t kill her. Hets slowly made his way to another bed room on the upper floor. “Well girls, I’m going to bed as well. If ya’ll start rummaging through books, please put them back where they are.” He grinned. “Night!” “Night.” Applejack called after. Twilight was already dug into a book. Hets then closed the door to his room. “That… use to be my room…” Twilight started. “Oh Twi, I know how ya’ must feel, reentering somethin’ you havn’t been at fera’while then slowly startin’ to miss what you had…” Applejack patted Twilight’s back. Twilight sighed then continued reading the book she had. “Ya’ not tired?” the orange pony asked. “I am, but this book will be useful. Atleast that’s what the Princess said.” “I ain’t one to bug, but ya’ should really get some sleep…” The purple unicorn looked at Applejack who stared back with a worried look. Twilight closed the book and placed it in her saddlepack. “Alright… but… I think I’m going to sleep out here…” “Fine.” Applejack smiled “Just get sleep, alright?” “You know it!” Twilight smiled and hugged Applejack. The orange pony then retreated to their room leaving the purple pony by herself. Twilight always loved how this room at night gave such a nice and vibrant glow from the moon. It gave her goose bumps and memories once more. But everything just seemed wrong. What should’ve seemed like something nice and interesting turned into a nightmare quickly. If what Princess Celestia said to her was true, there shouldn’t be anything scaring her. So why did she feel this uncontrollable fear? Why was she so scared at nothing? She dropped her saddlebags and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the novel that Rarity had picked out for her. “…Maybe… this’ll get my mind off things…” Twilight picked up her book and opened the page where she had last left off, laying down on the couch and slowly drifting off to sleep. --- Rainbow Dash loved feeling the wind on her face. It gave her meaning to life and everything she ever wanted. It seemed that when it came to flying, nothing else mattered to her. She longed for it like a bee to the sweet nectar of flowers. The cyan Pegasus came to a halt and rested on a lone cloud in the sky that overlooked Canterlot. She normally wasn’t a pony for being so awe-struck, but the night-life of Canterlot made her smile. “So cool!” She said to herself “But whoa, It’s real late. I didn’t realize how long I’ve been flying!” Rainbow Dash nestled up on the cloud and yawned. “I’m sure they won’t mind me… leaving for one night… they know that I hate new places…” But slowly fear started to envelope her. Where did it come from? Rainbow Dash quickly stood up and looked all around where she stood. “Who’s there?” She called into the night. There was no pony around obviously, and Rainbow Dash doubted that there would be any reason anypony would be up at this hour. Rainbow Dash slowly sat back down and started getting comfortable. Once she closed her eyes, the unknown fear appeared once again. “Wah!” Rainbow Dash got up and quickly sped off toward another cloud. Much further away from Canterlot, but close enough to still see it. She then pestered around looking and waiting for somepony or something to appear. After about ten minutes. Rainbow Dash once again rested herself upon the cloud. But the fear attacked right into Rainbow Dash’s mind. “It’ll go away, Rainbow Dash…” she told to herself “It’ll go away… Don’t think about it and it’ll go away... It’s all in your head! It’s all in your head!”