Chapter 31
“A vacation?” Celestia asked.
“Yeah, Mom. A short vacation while all this mess blows over. Like, two weeks, maybe three.”
“I think it is a good idea,” Luna agreed. “But where would you go?”
“Actually, Applejack has suggested the perfect place, Appleoosa. She said it was a small and friendly town way out past the badlands. The way it was described to me reminds me of those cowboy movies my dad used to watch. I’m actually really excited.”
“Yes, but, what about the Summer Sun Celebration? It’ll be the first time we can celebrate as a family. Plus, Twilight will be there to perform her new duties. You don’t want to miss that, do you?” Celestia was nearly begging.
“No, I don’t want to miss it, but I can’t stand this mess. I’m sorry, I really am, but I need to get away from it all. I want to stay here with you, but if I’m going to keep my sanity, I just need some time away. I promise, it’ll only be a couple weeks, three at the most. By then, I should be back to simply being a monster instead of a deadbeat.”
Celestia wanted to keep debating, but she knew it was a lost cause. “Very well. Will you please at least take a guard? It would let me sleep better at night.”
“Mom, you know I’ve never liked having guards shadowing me. Besides, Aunt Luna can let us dreamwalk again,” Luna nodded and hummed an agreement. “It’ll be like I’m still here at home with you.”
“Well, I know I can’t stop you when your mind’s made up, so I have nothing left but to wish you a pleasant trip.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I hugged her and Luna, both of them nuzzled me in return. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to start packing.”
After about an hour, and a lot of help from Bunny (I’d never packed for a trip this long before, give me a break) I was nearly done. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. I was shocked when Blueblood entered. He had never dared to come into my room before, something about it smelling like an animal’s kennel.
“Chris, may I speak with you?”
“What do you… did you just call me ‘Chris’?” Even Bunny was speechless.
“Listen, I know we’ve never gotten along in the past and probably never will in the future, But I had to tell you something.”
“Fair enough. Go ahead then.” This I had to hear.
“I just wanted to say, I’m sorry for what happened to you. Being betrayed like that is not something that anypony should have to go through.”
“Wow, Blueblood. Than-“
“Even a monkey like you has feelings after all.” Having said his peace, Blueblood happily trotted back out of the room.
“Well, that didn’t last long,” Bunny commented. I had to laugh at her bluntness.
“No, no it didn’t. But it did help a little.”
Bunny hugged me tight. “I’ll never forgive her for what she did to you.”
I reached down and scratched Bunny behind her ear, she leaned into my hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever told you just how much I value your friendship, have I?”
“You’ve told me many times, Chris. You don’t need to say it again.”
“No, but I want to. As far as I’m concerned, you and your family are as good as blood to me. If ever the crown can be of service, you only have but to ask. I love you, Dust Bunny.”
“I love you too, Christopher Sol. But now that that’s covered, we need to get you to the train station.”
Celestia had insisted on riding with me to the station. She had been trying to convince me to postpone the vacation the whole way. I had refused, but promised to bring back souvenirs for everypony.
Even at the station in Ponyville, where I had to switch trains, there were pleas from a princess to get me to stay home a little bit longer. I had told Twilight that I needed this more than they needed me. Besides, if I didn’t leave now, Applejack’s letter to her cousin about a special visitor would be a lie, and we couldn’t have that.
It was odd that Fluttershy had offered to accompany me. I hadn’t considered it before then. I had no issue with bringing a friend along, but I reminded her that she had too many responsibilities in Ponyville, such as her animals and prep work for the Celebration, to take three unplanned weeks off. Again, I promised souvenirs.
*****
You know, there are times when it’s really nice to be a royal. For example, spending two days on a train with your own private car. Or, being allowed to speak with the engineer and learn about how the whole thing works. Also, nopony can really stop you if you wanted to, oh I don’t know, live out a foalhood fantasy and run along the tops of the cars pretending you’re fighting off outlaws.
What? I grew up hidden away inside a palace. Leave me alone.
We pulled into the station late in the morning. The air was dry and warm, but a constant breeze kept it from being too hot. The dryness did prevent there from being a lot of excess foliage as well, but that somehow added to the charm.
I was enjoying the view when somepony interrupted my meandering. “Hold it right there, Monster!” Ah, that takes me back.
I turned around to see an earth pony stallion wearing a Stetson, vest, and a large star-shaped badge. “Um, can I help you?”
“Who are you ‘n’ what’s uh monster like you doin’ in my town?”
The monster thing was really starting to get on my nerves, but I couldn’t allow myself to give in to my desires to lash out. It would have reflected badly on Celestia. “Well, sir, my name is Chris, Prince of Equestria, and I’m here on vacation.”
“Yeah right. You’re the prince, ‘n’ I’m Nightmare Moon. Now tell me who ya really are.”
“I’ve already told you, I am Prince Christopher Sol, son of Celestia and second in line for the throne.”
“Now, I’ve had ‘bout all I can take. There ain’t no way you can be Celestia’s son. I may not know whut you are, but you ain’t no pony. You look more like a minotaur crossed with a gorilla. Tell me who ya really are right now, or I’ll arrest ya for impersonatin’ royalty.”
“You know what, go ahead.” I leaned forward and thrust a finger in his face. “And when Celestia finds out you had her son arrested because he’s not a pony, there won’t even be enough of your town left to build a bon fire.”
I was nearly shaking with rage. I’m a patient man, but this guy had already exhausted all I had. He was staring back at me, but I could see he was starting to doubt himself. He was sweating.
“Sheriff! Big news frum Cousin Applejack!” came a friendly voice froma stallion galloping toward us. “She says that her friend the prince is comin’ ta visit. She also said ta be careful, ‘cause he’s not a… oh, you found ‘im already.” Now the ‘sheriff’ was drenched in sweat.
I stood up and turned to address the new arrival. “Hello there, my name is Prince Christopher Sol, but there’s no need to stand on ceremony with me. Just call me Chris, and please stop the bowing.” I was tempted to give the ‘sheriff’ different instructions, but decided not to lower myself to that level.
An hour after that fun little meeting, “…’n’ over here’s the local saloon, ‘The Salt Lick’. ‘N’ that’s everythin’ of interest in town. So, what do ya think of lil Aa~aappleoosa?” Braeburn asked as he finished his tour.
“I like it, Braeburn. It seems like a real nice town. I only wish I had come out here sooner and under better circumstances.”
“Cousin Applejack said that there was some nasty goin’s on back in Canterlot. Well, let me assure ya here ‘n’ now, there won’t be any of that nonsense here. Applejack said all that mess was phony ‘n’ folks ‘round here know better than to doubt an Apple.”
“Glad to hear it.” I patted Braeburn on his withers. “Now, how about I get settled in at the hotel and then you show me the famous Appleoosian orchard?”
*****
The orchard was incredible. The mere fact that they were able to get a tree to grow in this arid environment was impressive enough, but this was thousands of trees. It was a dang miracle is what is was.
“Is this the trail the buffalo use for their stampeding?”
“That’s right. When we planted these trees here, we had no idea this was sacred land and we wound up havin’ a huge fight over it. Luckily, we were able to reach an agreement ‘fore anypony got too badly hurt.”
“That is lucky. I only wish the settlers and natives back on my world been able to settle their fight so well. I was only a kid when I left Earth, so I don’t know much, but I do know there was far more than a food fight that took place. There are times I’m glad I came here.”
“So the legends are true then.” A small buffalo female stepped out from behind a tree. She wore a headband with a single feather stuck in it. I assumed right away that she was from the nearby native tribe that ran on these grounds.
“’Legends’? What legends are those, Little Strongheart?” Braeburn asked.
“That there was a visitor from another world roaming the lands.” Braeburn and I looked at each other, then turned back to the buffalo with a look of confusion. “Admittedly, it is not an old legend.”
I approached her and knelt down so as to be at her eye level. I held my hand out in a greeting. “Hello, my name is Chris and I’m very pleased to meet you.”
“I am Little Strongheart and it is an honor to meet you, Son of the Sun,” she told me as she shook my hand.
“Son of the Sun, huh?” I rubbed my chin in thought. “I like it. Heck, I bet Mom’d get a real kick out of it. May I use that title?”
“Of course. I’m sure the chief would be happy to know you enjoyed the name he chose for you when we first heard of the legend. Actually, I’m certain he would love to meet you as well.”
“Well, I don’t know about Braeburn here, but I would very much like to meet him also.”
Half an hour later, I was sitting with the buffalo chief, Thunderhooves. He was massive, easily big enough to give even Big Macintosh a tough time, let his deep voice spoke of only wisdom and care for his tribe. With no more than a simple greeting and a single gesture, I could tell this buffalo was one who led his tribe with tradition in mind, but their well-being valued above all else. He reminded me a lot of my own family.
Chief Thunderhooves welcomed me into his tribal village. We spoke for a long time about the history of his tribe and we discussed many of their traditions. He even shared some of their meal with me (I wouldn’t recommend it to a human). In all, it was a very informative and interesting discussion. I only wished I could have spent more time there. Unfortunately, after everything that we had done that day, it was starting to get late.
*****
“Mom, it’s not that I’m not happy to see you, I am, but why are you a human again? Better yet, why are both you and Aunt Luna human?”
“What,” Celestia asked innocently as she held me to her chest, “you don’t like it? Besides, I enjoyed the form last time and Luna was curious.”
“True enough,” Luna said as she inspected her new shape, “though I find myself thankful this is the dreamscape. I do not think I could stay upright as you do without much practice.”
“Hmm, I agree. But that just means my baby is that much more impressive.” Celestia rocked me back and forth a little more before releasing me. “Now, tell us how your trip’s been so far.”
“You mean all of today?”
We all laughed briefly. “Yes, Honey, the whole day. I want to know.”
“Alright,” a small hill covered in grass, flowers and a single shade tree appeared with a blanket spread for us to sit on, “take a seat.”
I watched as Luna and Celestia both tried to figure out how to sit with their legs bend the wrong way. Luna’s first attempt was her trying to sit on haunches that she didn’t have, causing her to roll backward down the hill. Celestia had given up and simply laid on her side. I walked over to her and rolled her onto her back so I could lay my head on her stomach. Again, I know it was kind of foolish, but who was going to say anything in the dreamscape?
And so I told them. I told them about walking on the train, Celestia didn’t like that very much, and touring the town with Braebrun. I talked about the orchard and omitted dealing with the sheriff.
“…then the chief gave me a bag of turquoise for Spike. Oh, and get this, Chief Thunderhooves made me an honorary member of their tribe. He also wishes to send his respect and warmest greetings to you both.”
Celestia was stroking my hair as she listened. “Well, I’s say you’ve had a great first day of your vacation, Honey. I only wish you’d reconsider staying there through the Celebration.”
“I agree. I am happy you are finding your time relaxing, but I did wish to enjoy my first Summer Sun Celebration with my whole family.” Now Luna wasn’t playing fair.
“So did I, but I’m afraid I won’t be there. I’ll be back in two weeks though, so we’ll see each other again then.”
“You know, we could hold the Celebration there,” Celestia offered hopefully.
“No, you can’t. Everything’s ready to go there and you would have to take it all down just to reassemble it a hundred miles away in the course of two days. Could you imagine what that would do to Twilight? She’d explode.”
Both princesses burst out laughing. “You may be right. She and her friends arrived at the palace today to prepare. Do you want me to tell them you’re thinking of them?”
“Please do. Also, tell them I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”
“We shall, but sadly, we must say farewell for now.”
We all stood up and hugged each other tightly before the dreamscape faded away.
At another part of the palace that night, there was an entirely different kind of conversation going on.
“Wait, ya’ll got crush… on who?”
The only response to the farmpony’s question was a series of incomprehensible squeaks.
And that was my first day of vacation.
Nah, Twilight wouldn't explode.
She'd explode twice.
i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Harry_Lita683/Kryptonite%20lNarutol/Gai-Sensei.jpg
Blueblood is being nice? ...... Not only has Tartarus frozen over, but the Canterlot Castle has turned into a pile of rum truffles.
4963705 I thinking more supernova myself
Poor Fluttershy.
*loud cough* racist ignorant sheriff stereotype *louder cough*
4963760 I never thought I would see the day when cops grew wings... jk
4963760 Not even Discord could have seen this coming...
Curious. When Chris is in the dreamscape, is he in the form of a child again?
It's a little difficult to rock a full grown guy after all
Do any of the authors on this site knows how digitigrade skeleton works? There is no such thing as 'reversed knees' amongst mammals, there is only long sole and walking on toes.
Pony skeleton:
th00.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/282/d/9/mlp_skeleton_by_tickedoffspoonbender-d4cbsrj.png
Some joints view:
derpicdn.net/img/2012/6/25/20931/full.jpg
Digitigrade skeleton:
ohsewgeeky.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Digitigrade1.png
I sense a shipping of fluttershy~! (Singalong tone)
I sense drama between the gurlz.
Armored trees? Neat.
4963705 MLD reference...
4963870 They might, and they might not. Sometimes, it's just easier to write, or understand, it like that. Also, he may be taking the readers into consideration; as everyone that reads this might not have a DVM or the ability to read at a college level.
Those are some cool pictures though.
4963870 You DO realize that they were "human" in the dreamscape?
4963870 THank you!!!! Finally some one who has found that pic showing digitigrade. Yes, we have the same bones as dogs and cats for our legs as they do, its just arranged differently and are different lengths.
4963868
maybe celestia is just a giant!
4963875
with fluttershy? But she aint no farm pony XD
Nah If i'm not mistaken it's Applejack. But Rarity could try and butt in i guess. We'll see
4964138 Hmm, it's a fair point, after all the writer himself didn't exactly tell us who it was that spoke, or giggle for that matter.
eesh that sheriff, first its the buffalo and now its the son of celestia and friend of applejack. that dude has like career suicide on his mind.
4963868 your talking about the sun of celestia an (nefue) of luna don't queston it
4964016 Dude, I don't know where you live, but that's grade school level of knowledge. Basic biology. Besides, intentionally misleading people by not fixing mistakes like this should be punishable. Thanks to that attitude, whole generations were lead astray from facts, into darkness of superstitions.
4964025 Your point? Human knee, pony/horse knee, it's all the same. It looks a bit different, but it's the same joint that works the same. There is no reversing or bending the other way.
4964031 Your welcome.
4963973
wat
The only thing I know MLD to stand for is "My Little Dashie, and no. I don't even like that story.
It's a reference to the show, you know the one all these thousands of fanfics are based on? Specifically the Feeling Pinkie Keen episode.
4963868 He's full grown, but she rocks him side to side, not in a cradle fashion.
4963705 I think the sheer strength of the explosion would cause an implosion in the cells of her brain, giving her an Aneurysm
4964188 That might've been general knowledge back when you or I were in grade school, but nowadays you're lucky if your TEACHER knows it (Talking about over here in the US, of course. Don't know what the situation is across the pond.)
Hell, when I was in high school, my geometry teacher had an art degree, my physical science teacher had a childcare degree, and my chemistry teacher would randomly go off on tangents about scuba diving and kidney stones.
My biology teacher was probably the best teacher I had. He was one of those teachers that would take the time to make sure everyone understood the material, instead of just moving on and saying "study more". As a result, we only learned about half of what we were supposed to, because the amount of stupid in my class was overwhelming. He sometimes had to explain things 3 or 4 times before people would get it.
Also, explaining something in simpler terms isn't misleading. It's just making it easier to understand for people that have a hard time grasping complex subjects.
Keep in mind, this site is about writing and sharing fanfiction, not academic journals. If things aren't 110% correct, it's not the end of the world.
4963760 in other news, Celestia turned down cake, and pinkie refused to throw a party.
4963973 I think you mean MLP there buddy.
4963844 mabye he could... mabye he did... mabye he made it happen... drnkntst is discord... that or discords free again... wait was he freed... hmmm... reread time
Has anyone else noticed that the font is different or is it just me?
4964434
In other news, Rainbow Dash has decided to donate her wings to a library and has gone off to become a scholar in Theoretical Physics while the CMC have successfully started a disaster-relief organization that has nothing to do with their onslaught of destruction. Also, Discord has ceased to try and make anything a funny event, and Half-Life 3 is confirmed.
4964688 the story takes place between season three and four. Discord's free and Twilight's a princess.
4964415
For persnickety posters preferring precise particulars pertinent to ponies, (heres looking at you, Twilight!) Uncle Wikipedia tells us that equine skeletons are not in fact digitigrade, but are a separate classification known as unguligrades.
Not particularly relevant to the lovely post full of delightful bones, yes I do see OP's point but yeah....
Tl;dr - trololol
It isnßt my favourite chapter, but a good one again, i like that "eep" at the end the most.
He was immun against normal Unicorn Magic right? Only Alicorn could do something to him right? (i had read a similar story and have to be sure again.)
I would like him to play an important role in a more serious fight in the future, just to show that he can do something big even as an Human.
I would love it if the story don´t end if he and Fluttershy like each other, or at least please make a sequel with them having children, let them adopt a filly or Cold at the same Age as the Cutie Mark Crussaiders, i would not want a time skipp or something like that.
4966489 he's mostly immune. it takes multiple unicorns to even scan him.
4966125 All I really know for sure is that equine legs bend in the opposite way a person's does.
4966670 Ok thank you, that was something i thought i had maybe forgot.
4964415 Than I'm sorry about state of education in US. Here in Poland, if you don't have the degree in the subject you intend to teach, all you can hope for is to be laughed at and showed the door.
4966680 The part that you talking about, that "bends the other way" is AN ANKLE. Tell me, does your ankle bends forwards?
I don't want to be an ass, but knowledge can save your face. You lack that knowledge, and refuse to accept help when you need it.
Wow while Chris is visiting the place the place a farmer is having an conversation with a chipmunk, poor Chris he is missing so much.
Also who else is in favor of Cadence wanting to take a dream escape with Chris on human form too? I will be so lovely if the whole family had a dream picture, all in human form…ah what the hell put Blueblood there too he earn it.
Its looks like he finally took the first step into becoming a better pony, and that is awesome
4968322 Yeah, it's pretty dismal here, but it could always be worse. I'm pretty sure those teachers did eventually get sacked, but the damage had already been done.
4968322 i never claimed to be an expert. For example, i didn't know a horse's ankle was halfway up their leg. Also, i think my ankle is a ball joint, so ... yes? Either way, i don't want to sohnd like an ass, i just ant to wright a story.
4970466 You're right, it can, but after that you won't walk on that leg for a long time.
Good for you, write it and I'll read it, but tell me, why do you accept help with fixing grammar errors in your story, but you're reluctant to do so when I point out substantive mistake in your world view? You know I'm right, you admitted it, so why won't you change it?
Another pic, if you need more proof. This time with human leg to comparison.
3.bp.blogspot.com/_GhcCFcMfw-k/TSn5cqQIx2I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/31yKPe5LIVw/s1600/ACorless_equine%2526human_312.jpg
4971607 I don't know. I guess I'm just being stubborn to the point of idiocy. Just pretend it say legs instead of knees and it'll be fine.
4971842 Sorry, but I can't. Batting an eye on such misrepresentation of anatomy could lead in the future to another catastrophe in education like creationists opposing biology in schools.
You know how many teenagers visit FiMF? You making them disservice not teaching them what's right and what's wrong.
Don't ad your own to the creation of "Idiocracy". Please.
One more:
i.imgur.com/cO8n2Ga.gif
4971857 i've never described him so readrrs could picture him however they wanted
4971898There, I changed it, now we don't have to hear about it anymore
4976424
Change this
to this
and I'll never speak of this again.
Unless you made that mistake again :P
Welp apparently in this story Blueblood has a teensy tiny bit of a heart after all. Hardly noticable by the amount of prick he oozes though.
4977082 No I know you're trying to make sure it's correct, but now you're just pushing too much. I've already made a change that I'm happy with and I'm gonna leave it as is.
4977082
... Don't you mean "make," because I don't think he's had them as humans any other time, lol.