The group of six walked through the castle hallway. There was a long, red velvet carpet laid out in front of them, guiding them to the main chamber, wherein the Princesses awaited them. The floors, pillars and buttresses were all masterfully crafted in intricate patterns, out of a fine marble white stone. To their left was the wall, while to their right was open to the castle courtyard, visible through open spots between the columns.
“This is quite the castle your princess has here,” Black Mage spoke up.
“Please don’t blow it up.” Twilight immediately retorted.
“No promises.” BM responded just as quickly.
While they were walking, Fluttershy leaned in close to Rarity and Rainbow Dash. “So, uhhh… when was the last time any of us spoke up?”
Before either of them could respond, however, the group had reached the large door to the throne room, where Princess Celestia awaited them therein. As soon as they arrived, the door opened up, revealing a large room. The long carpet continued into the room, stretched out in front of them, leading up to a throne at the far side of the room, which housed a large alicorn, about twice the size of a normal pony, with a pure white coat, an image of a sun emblazoned on her flank, as well as a flowing ethereal mane in all the colours of the rainbow, which waved about in a non-existent breeze. Standing next to her was a slightly smaller alicorn, with a similar mane, that shone with the stars of the night sky. She had a dark blue coat and an image of a crescent moon on her flank.
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight began as she approached the throne and instinctively fell into a bow of respect towards the white alicorn.
“Princess Twilight,” Princess Celestia responded in the warm tone of a loving mother. “It is good to see you too. You said in your letter that you needed to speak to me about an important matter?” Her gaze then fell on the ones behind her, specifically, the one in the blue robes and hat that covered his (she guessed it was a ‘his’) face. “Is this individual connected to that?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Twilight answered, gesturing beside her. “This is Black Mage, who…”
“Yo, what up, Sunbutt?” Black Mage greeted.
“Aaaand that just about sets the standard for how this meeting will go.” The Princess of Friendship added, quickly changing her tone as she did, not even bothering to act flabbergasted at the way he addressed her former teacher.
“I see,” Celestia said, noticing her former student’s sudden change in attitude. She then shifted her gaze to Black Mage. “So then, Black Mage, Princess Twilight has informed us in her letter that you came here from a completely different world.” She then suddenly gave a brief side glance. “She also told me that there was another with you.”
“Oh, right,” Twilight spoke up. “That would be Fighter. He fell behind a bit earlier, but he should be along shortly. I informed the guards outside to tell us when he showed up. He looks kind of like Black Mage, but with red hair and armor.”
“I resent in any way being called similar to that idiot,” BM added as an aside.
Twilight didn’t even dignify that with a response.
“I shall go fetch him, Sister,” Luna said, speaking up. “As I don’t believe I am needed at this time,” she added, giving an aside glance of her own to Twilight. She then made her way down the steps of the throne, passed by the ponies and Black Mage (wherein Twilight gave her an embarrassed smile), and left the large throne room.
“Now then,” Celestia continued. “While we wait for Luna to return with your friend, Fighter, why don’t you bring me up to speed on everything?”
Twilight was about to open her mouth to respond, but Black Mage beat her to it. “What? Do you want me to list out every evil thing that I’ve ever done?” However, before Celestia could tell him that that wasn’t what she meant, he continued. “I mean, I can, but it’s gonna take a while. Luckily I have it all written down in my ‘Atrocity Journal’, he said, pulling a book out from under his robes. He then started reading from it. “Number 1: When I was born, I stabbed the doctor on my way out. To this day, nobody knows where I got the knife. Number 2: …”
Meanwhile, just outside the castle…
“Sir, as I have said eighteen times, you are clear to enter the castle.” Biggs repeated. “You can stop telling us that ‘(you) like swords’ now.”
“…I like swords.” Fighter repeated for the nineteenth time.
“Okay, it was funny the first couple of times, but now it’s just annoying,” Wedge spoke up, looking over at his partner as he did.