Aron was escorted to his room by two guards and after a short walk they had arrived. One of the guards opened the door then slammed it shut behind Aron leaving him to his new living arrangements. The room wasn't half bad. It had a bed, a desk with a book shelf beside it with a wide selection of reading material, a bathroom and a decent sized window which overlooked a courtyard with statues dotting the landscape. Aron's ghost had materialized again and began to scan the many books the shelf had to offer allowing him to gather what information he could in a matter of seconds. While doing this, Aron removed his helmet and set it on the desk then directed his view out the window.
"Fascinating." His ghost said while scanning the books.
Aron turned showing his ghost hard at work. "What is it?"
"This collection. It has everything you'd want to know about this place but were too afraid to ask." The ghost finished his scans and looked at Aron.
"Give me the quick version." Aron said.
His ghost made a few thinking noises then began. "They're history must be extensive as the book on it read 'one of two hundred and sixty'. They understand the basic principles of physics and mathematics. Astronomy is somewhat lacking as they seem to believe two beings work the day and night cycles, one we've already met. And they seem to understand a form of magic but nothing like the Void. I would have to see a more extensive library since its title read 'Introduction to Magic'."
Aron crossed his arms. "Tell me about their system of government."
Another series of thinking noises came from the ghost. "It seems to be a system where there are four heads in power. Princess Celestia whose title is ruler of the sun and day must have been the one we met earlier. Princess Luna whose title read ruler of the moon and night. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, ruler of love and the crystal empire. And Princess Twilight Sparkle, ruler of friendship. It seems one can make a move on a new law which the others vote on and with the introduction of the newest Princess a secondary system had to be put in place incase of a tie. Which involves a vote by the people."
Aron scratched his head. "How does that even work? Wouldn't the people want more of a say?"
"It's a relatively new system."
Aron was about to say more but was interrupted by a knock on the door which he walked over to answer with his ghost staying out of sight. When the door opened a guard stood staring up at Aron with wide eyes.
"Can I help you?" Aron asked.
The guard almost chocked on his astonishment as he remembered the message he was suppose to give. "Uh, Princess Celestia has set a meeting with you about your situation in two hours. I will return then to escort you."
Aron nodded. "Very well. I'll be here."
The guard backed away still unsure about what he had just saw as Aron closed the door and took a seat on the bed.
"Worried about something?" His ghost asked.
Aron pondered while staring at the floor. "We need to really sell it to them at this meeting. Like I said before, we're not here to make enemies."
Arons ghost continued to stare. "Well, lets get to work on a plan."
A pony wearing an apron brought in a tray of tea for three princesses that had gathered together in preparation for the meeting.
Luna stared at the cup in front of her. "Where is Princess Cadence?"
Celestia took a sip. "She couldn't make it. Apparently today was the day they had planned for the Crystal Castle to be remodeled. I told her not to worry about it, we can handle this ourselves."
Twilight took the initiative to learn more. "So you were saying it walks on two legs?"
Celestia refocused her attention. "Yes. It doesn't seem hostile. At first I thought it might be a trick from-"
"Discord?" Twilight finished her sentence.
"Quite." Celestia said taking another sip of tea.
"Ungrateful whelp. I never believed his lies of friendship." Luna said looking at her reflection in her cup.
Twilight mumbled. "Never really trusted him myself."
"We showed him friendship. What more could we have done?" Celestia asked openly.
Twilight furrowed her brow. "We could have turned him back to stone. I'm sure that with the powers the Tree of Harmony can give us it would make it easy."
Luna jumped in. "Then let him drift through the emptiness of space. A few million years later and he might have learned a lesson."
"What's done is done. For now he seems to be in hiding, he may never show his face around here again but if he does he will fail like always."
The three moved on to the situation at hand and began to talk more about Aron. Celestia described more of what he looked like and what he had told her in the throne room while Twilight started thinking of way to cross dimensions herself. If a strange looking bipedal creature could do it then so could she.
Aron pushed a couple books and some stray paper out of the way on the desk. "Alright, I think we have something here. Lets go over it one more time."
"Right, so you'll introduce me."
Aron nodded. "You'll appear out of my head then as I instruct you you'll display some imagines of Earth on a nearby wall and help reinforce our viewpoint."
"Seems simple enough." The ghost added.
Just as Aron was about to get up and get ready for his meeting a third voice seemed to come out of nowhere. "Oh yes. It seems simple enough."
Aron said nothing as he looked at his ghost. "Don't look at me."
"Yeah, don't look at your floating ball of light, Aron."
Aron jumped to his feet sending his chair over backwards and took a quick glance around the room. "Where's that voice coming from?"
The voice continued. "Stop asking so many questions. You know, that's how your people got to where they are now. So many questions."
"I'm not one for games. I won't take you serious until I can see you." Aron said while still searching the room with his eyes.
"Fair enough." Suddenly a disturbingly mismatched creature appeared sitting on the bed with its legs crossed.
Aron hesitated. "I've seen you before."
"Oh yes. The window. I meant to get to you before you saw that."
The ghost moved up closer to the creature. "Who are you?"
"I thought you'd never ask! My name's Discord-"
The ghost finished his title. "Master of Chaos."
Discord smiled at the ghost. "Oh I bet you feel smart now, don't you?"
"Why are you here." Aron asked sternly.
"I wanted to offer you a deal." He replied with a smile.
"No thanks."
"Now don't be so quick to push this away. I'm offering a get out of jail free card for your precious City."
Aron and his ghost quickly exchanged glances. "How do you know so much about me?"
A knock came from the door while Discord rolled his eyes. "Listen human, your City has less time then what you might think. I can help you but you have to do something for me."
Another knock catching Arons attention then being followed by a guards voice. "Sir, your meeting is in two minutes!"
Aron turned back around but Discord had vanished leaving behind a fading sentence. "Think on it. You don't want to mess this up."
A third knock. "Sir?"
"What do we do now?" The ghost asked.
Aron began moving towards the door. "We go meet the Princesses. Hold on to my helmet for me." With this his ghost dematerialized his helmet and vanished into Aron.
"Welcome. I believe you told me your name was Aron Williams, correct?" Celestia offered a warm greeting and motioned him to a seat on the other side of the table.
"That's correct."
"Allow me to introduce Princess Luna and Princess Twilight. Princess Cadence was unable to join us."
Aron took a seat. "I understand. I'm sure you have no end of questions for me."
Twilight spoke up. "If you don't mind. I'd like to know how you got here."
"A spell that allowed me to traverse the barrier between our worlds. It took years of study and hard work."
Luna was next. "How do we know we can trust you?"
Aron thought for a moment, it was a really good question. "I wish I could convince you. Maybe if I tell you more of my story. Ghost?"
With that Arons ghost appeared out of thin air and exchanged looks with all three of the Alicorns.
"Wait, that's a ghost?" Twilight asked.
The ghost responded for itself. "Its a play on words. I brought him back to life and now we're linked. The term 'ghost' seemed to stick."
Twilight nodded in response as Aron began his long tale of Earth and its golden age. His ghost displayed images of cities that were built around the world and on other worlds beyond their solar system. As he continued he explained his enemies known as the darkness and how they were in a losing war against them. Aron didn't hold back, He discussed the Traveler, the last city, he even gave an explanation of the void and its various uses. After what seemed like hours he rested his case and waited for a response.
The three were silent as Celestia spoke up. "I'm so sorry to hear this. It must be....difficult for you and your people."
Aron sighed. "We get by."
Twilight scratched her chin. "I don't know if we can help you. What you're fighting is on a much more massive scale then anything I've ever imagined. It sounds like something straight out of a science fiction book."
"We could aid in supplies." Celestia said while looking at Twilight.
"Supplies would indeed help." The ghost responded.
"Could you send man power? Maybe troops to help us push back."
The three looked at each other with concern forcing Celestia to speak. "We will need to discuss this matter further. Its grown late, I'm sure you must be tired."
Aron sat still while his ghost looked at him. "What aren't you telling me?" Three faces met his while Aron leaned forward. "Your people are afraid of something. I could see it when we first arrived."
"Perhaps its none of your concern." Luna stated as she stared down Aron who looked at each of the three individually.
Aron tapped his fingers on the table. "I see. I'll be on my way then."
Aron moved to exit the room with his ghost close behind with him stopping by the door as Celestia gave a final statement. "You are free to move around the castle if you wish, but please stay indoors. We don't need another incident like earlier."
"Of course." Aron left the room and moved down the hallway at a slow pace allowing his ghost to scan things as he walked.
Luna dug at the table with her hoof. "That may not have been the wisest thing to do sister."
Celestia didn't respond as she lost herself in thought.