//------------------------------// // Entry 4 - Time to Explore // Story: My Adventures in Equestria // by Lotus Moon //------------------------------// Dear Azure, Sorry I've been absent the last several days, but I've been keeping myself pretty busy. Normally I don't get antsy, but being in such a huge and magnificent castle with absolutely nothing to do almost drove me insane. Being waited on hand and foot makes me feel weird, especially since it feels like I'm taking advantage of such perks from time to time. So I decided to contribute. I've been helping Sparkle Dust with her chores around the castle. It was a bit more than expected. There are just so many rooms in just one wing, I mean that’s expected of a castle, but to have only a handful of ponies caring for so many rooms seemed weird. Thankfully although it took a few days, the other maids started warming up to me and letting me help out. I even got to explore a few other parts of the castle. The other day, I got to see the Throne Room. Princess Celestia wanted to talk to me about how things were going and if I was having trouble adjusting. She even mentioned, how she was aware that I'd been helping out the maids with their chores. I was worried she'd get mad, but oddly enough she wasn't. In fact, she actually laughed and told me that all the maids were enjoying my infectious positivity. I was actually relieved to hear this, since making others smile has always the best moments of my day. But what Princess Celestia told me next made me more than ecstatic. She was allowing me to go into town to explore (with a few guards by my side of course). I wasn't able to write about it the day it happened, but I did record it on my camera. Let me show you! Through the camera Celestia's guards walk in front of me, so I have to focus the camera ahead of them to avoid getting flanks in the view. As we walk around town, I see all of the upper class ponies walking around in the finest attires, many of which would the clothing brands from my world to shame. As expected, I felt all eyes on me since I walked on two legs and (from what I heard one pony say) was dressed in rags. This made me feel a little self conscious, so I opted to do a little window shopping at the various stores and jewelry boutiques. I know nothing might fit me since my sizes are so obviously different, but seeing all the beautiful gowns made me imagine what I'd look like in them. Something modest or even a little saucy with my hair tied up, wearing the most beautifully complimenting jewelry. I'd look like the daughter of a Count or a Duke or something. I asked the guards to let me check out the inside of one store and they let me, staying at the entrance to the store. As I looked around, a very small male Pegasus pony approached me and stared to stare. He was very adorable with his hazel coat, tiny wings, silver-grey mane and tail, and large round caramel eyes. I knelt down and smiled at him. My real instinct was to pick him up and carry him around till I found his mother, but that might not have been a good idea. "Hello little one. What's your name?" "Silver Flash" "Silver Flash? That's a very nice name." It was then that the little pony went into rapid fire series of questions. "What are you? Why do you walk on your hind legs? Where's your tail? What kind of Cutie Mark do you have?" He asked me all of these questions in one shot. "Curious little one, aren't you?" I giggled "Well, I'm a human, it's normal for humans to walk on their hind legs and I don't have a tail or a Cutie Mark." "Silver! Get away from that thing!" A female voice called, practically charging at me. It was a full grown Earth pony mare. She was a bluish purple with highlights of white in her mane and tail to compliment the sky blue base. She stopped mere inches away from me and swept up her son. "Stay away from my child you...you monster!" Her outburst caught the attention of every other pony in the store. "What? Ma'am, I wasn't going to hurt little Silver. In fact I had every intention of finding you in case you didn't realize he had wandered off. Honest." I tried defending myself, but I guess I made myself look worse. "Liar! You were going to foalnap him!" "What? No! I'd never do such a thing" The guards came in and stood by my side in defense, much to everyone else surprise. The mother became more furious. "Guards! How dare you protect this criminal! She was going to take my child!" "This 'criminal' as you rudely called her is a guest of the Princesses" One guard said, causing every pony to gasp in surprise. "We witnessed the ordeal. She was in no means going to harm or take your child. He approached her and merely started a conversation" The other said before turning to me. "Are you hurt?" I shook my head, trying to hide how badly I wanted to cry, though I managed to keep the tears from flowing. After remedying the incident, the guards escorted me back to the castle. I went straight to my room and set the camera on the desk by my bed before crying my eyes out into the pillow. By sheer coincidence, Sparkle was coming by my room when she heard me crying. "Lotus? What's the matter? Did something happen?" She asked and I tell her about the misunderstanding. "That's awful. Some ponies are just like that...but you did nothing wrong. I know it." "How do you know?" "Because you're too nice a person to do anything that mare accused you of." Sparkle smiled at me, placing a hoof on my head. And with that, I hugged Sparkle and her hoof gently rubbed her back as I cried. After some time, I finally managed to cry myself to sleep. While I was asleep Sparkle stayed with me, letting me hold her small body against mine. Princess Celestia came in to check on me. "Princess Celestia, I'm so sorry for this. I'll get back to work now" Sparkle was about to move when she was stopped by me gently pulling her closer. "It seems as though she'd like you to stay" Celestia giggled as she came closer. "It's quite alright for you to stay where you are. The guards informed me of the incident and I simply came to see if she's alright. I see she's in good hooves." "Yes Princess. She fell asleep not too long ago. She was crying the entire time." "I see. She had quite the difficult time, however in a few days time, I know something that might cheer her up." Celestia smiled. She noticed my camera was still on and used her magic to bring it over to herself. "And I think it would be best to let it remain a surprise." With that, she turned off my camera.