//------------------------------// // Cultural appreciation day. // Story: Kitzumi the fox pony. Book one. [Edited] // by KittyrinnAiko //------------------------------// Kitzu’s wings rustled under her school cloak. Today her class was visiting government offices, and everyone in the class had to wear one. “Cloak bothering your wings?” Nova asked. Nova, that is to say, this world's Nova, was now attending the school as an exchange student, which had forced Kitzu to explain to her what had happened the other day. Up to that point Nova had been sure there were changelings in the palace. Portals being part of her family history, the idea that someone coming over from another world who was her double wasn’t that hard to believe. “Well, it is a little irritating,” Kitzu admitted stretching a wing and then folding it back up again. “Come along then, and stow that wing.” Mrs Inkwell said coming up to them. “Mr Shimmerhorn will be with the colts, and the fillies are with me.” “Look at it this way...” Alina began approaching. “It’s like you’ll be incognito. - Well at least to the ponies who don’t know you.” “If you are wondering about the cloaks, it’s to make it easier to keep tabs on you.” Mrs Inkwell said in her typical manner as if to say it should be obvious. After all, theirs wasn’t the only class visiting government offices, and there would be students from other schools. “Come along, fillies with me, colts with Mr Shimmerhorn. - Also, senior class-ponies Miss Starshine Twinkle is with the girls, and Kavelan Sword is with the boys. - And no dawdling.” “Yes, mam,” Starshine called as she joined the girls. A moment later Mrs Inkwell set out towards the palace setting a pace that tempted Kitzu to use her wings to assist. Starshine trotted up to Kitzu and asked if she was doing alright, Kitzu being the youngest in the group. “I think I can manage,” Kitzu replied as they approached the gate that divided the school from the palace proper. There they paused a moment as the guards looked the group over. There was a momentary pause as they checked the roster with the ponies in front of them. “They’re hiding my wings.” Kitzu offered, extending a wing, not realizing that that was exactly what was going on. “Ahh, yes, that’s what was bugging me.” The guard with the list offered. “I sure hope this isn’t going to be a problem?” Mrs Inkwell asked. The guards assured her they’d let the others on duty know. “How are they going to do that?” Miss Tara Star asked in a whisper. “Magical intercom in the helmets,” Kitzu whispered as they were ushered past. Mrs Inkwell led the group down the more public access ways skirting around the royal apartments. “Bet you see this a lot.” Starshine prompted as the group passed ponies going about their day to day business. “Actually I don’t. I’m looking forward to this just as much as every pony else. I don’t use the public access ways. It’s for my own safety as well as convenience. This is actually the long way, but at the same time I can’t go into public areas without an escort.” She’s a bird in a gilded cage who can’t even fly.” Alina offered as they rounded a corner. Before the group was a large courtyard where several groups of students were gathered, either waiting to start a tour or had just ended. Energy levels were running high. “Kitzu!” called a familiar voice as they crossed the court. Kitzu looked about to see a pegasus headed her way, the group made to shield Kitzu but was thwarted by Kitzu who rushed to meet the pegasus. “Scootaloo!” Kitzu called, and a moment later the two embraced. “It’s so good to see you.” Scootaloo offered as the two separated. She then added in a whisper that her little button of a horn had started to grow, and her mother was teaching her the basics of magic. Her whisper was perhaps a might loud. “Hush, someone might hear,” Kitzu cautioned. “So how is your mom?” “Going under the name Dawn Patrol,” Scootaloo replied still whispering. “The warrant was lifted, but she doesn’t want certain ponies knowing it’s her. Starlight Glimmer suggested a slight alteration of appearance.” “Miss Kitzu, it’s good to see you well.” Sunset Shimmer offered as she approached. Kitzu looked around Scootaloo to find that sure enough, Sunset Shimmer was right there in the palace. Minus her unicorn horn. Kitzu’s keen eyes were able to pick out the slight imperfection of the spell hiding the horn, but couldn't help but wonder if Sunset was going to get away with it. After all, she wasn’t all too welcome among certain circles. “Mrs Patrol.” Kitzu offered with a smile while conscious of a tugging sensation of her cloak. She turned about to have a look to discover Mrs Inkwell had adjusted the cloak. “You seem familiar, have we met?” Mrs Inkwell asked Sunset. “I don’t believe so.” Sunset lied. “My name is Dawn, Dawn Patrol.” “Hey, hey, what’s going on, we’ve got fillies to be keeping an eye on.” Rainbow Dash offered up, butting right between the two. “Say, it’s little Kitzu. Sorry about what happened to you the other day. Just so you know, most of our cadets aren’t like those bullies.” “Yes, the higher-ups came over to make a formal apology.” Kitzu offered. “I was a little disappointed you didn’t come by.” “Afraid the individuals from our school were in my flight, so it was kind of my fault.” Rainbow dash offered. “Say, isn’t Scootaloo in your flight?” Kitzu asked. “If I’d have known what they were up to, I’d have said something honest.” Scootaloo offered. “What exactly did they do anyway?” “Oh not much, just tied me up and fired me out of a catapult to see how well I can fly.” “What?!” Scootaloo, Sunset Shimmer, and Dash exclaimed at the same time. The details of the incident had been kept confidential. “How…?” Scootaloo asked nearly breathless. “Amazing Princess Luna didn’t have them plucked.” Dash offered. “Did someone – some pony caught you didn’t they?” Sunset asked. “I teleported myself to safety. - Sort of a panic teleport, and destroyed Luna’s chambers in the process. Well, it was the bigger bed, and I was going at a pretty decent clip.” Kitzu offered while omitting the fact she’d teleported herself right into the next dimension. “And got my cutie mark.” “Well you’ll just have to show them your cutie mark later, we’re running behind.” Mrs Inkwell cautioned just as Mr Shimmerhorn approached with his group. Mrs Inkwell wasn’t too keen on any ponies among the general public seeing Kitzu’s wings just yet. “Excuse me, Miss?” Mr Shimmerhorn began as he approached Sunset. “Might I know your name?” “Dawn.” Sunset offered. “Such a pretty name.” Mr Shimmerhorn remarked with a smile. “Amazing how much you look like my sister. Only she’d be much older.” “Sister!?” Rainbow Dash blurted out. “This old codger?!” “Honestly Mr Shimmerhorn, if you are going to flirt with a filly, don’t be telling her she reminds you of your sister.” Mrs Inkwell scolded. “Even if she does look remarkably like Miss Sunset. - Though Sunset was a unicorn, not a fancy pegasus. - Come along girls.” “I better go.” Kitzu offered. “I’m free after school lets out till dinner if you wanted to come by. Be nice to see some friends from Ponyville.” “Miss Kitzu, please.” Mrs Inkwell called. “Sorry, got to go,” Kitzu said, and rejoined her group. They were followed by Mr Shimmerhorn a moment later. “Mom?” Scootaloo asked. “That stallion?” “Afraid I’ve just gotten a taste of what being an alicorn is going to be like.” Sunset Shimmer offered in a quiet contemplative tone. “He looks like he’s old enough to be your father, is he really?” Dash asked. “I mean, is he your...” “If I’m not mistaken, that’s my little brother. - Come on – before our group scatters.” “So that’s it then?” Dash asked. “Celestia did lift the arrest warrant.” “No, that’s not it, but now is a bad time. Not with a dozen miniature versions of yourself who’ll take any opportunity to get into mischief waiting on us.” “Point taken,” Dash commented dryly, looked over at their charges, shouted hey stop that, and trotted back to their group. “Mom?” “Don’t worry Scoots, we’ll take Kitzu up on her invitation the first chance we get.” ⚜⚜⚜⚜🏰🌄⚜⚜⚜⚜ Moments later, Kitzu’s group had met up with their tour guide on time. This was an elderly unicorn, his color fading to gray with perhaps a hint of blue-green, with a silver mane and tail. His name, Silver Falls. Mr Falls welcomed them to the palace, introduced himself, said a few things regarding what would be expected of the foals, and bid them follow as he began going into the history of the palace. They stopped in a large courtyard a respectable distance from the staging area where he began pointing out various points of interest. When he’d said his bit, they moved on, down a corridor, and soon found themselves in the grand entryway of Celestia’s court, the Grand Audience Hall. Also known as the day court, this was a grand audience chamber built sometime after Night Fall and intended to meet the requirements of the coming modern era. The court was presently out, but they were still admonished to be quiet. "Here in this Grand Hall," Silver Falls explained, "is where the law of the land is decided on. Each sitting Lord casts a vote either for or against. Each getting only one vote. Princess Celestia casts what is known as a weighted vote in that her vote counts for twenty percent of the total. She has for a thousand years had the ability to sway the vote one way or another, but as you might guess, a determined faction that can muster enough votes would not have too much difficulty in overriding her vote in that only a simple majority is required to pass legislation.” He stopped for a moment as just the slightest hint of a smile formed on his face. “With Princess Luna’s return there is a whole new dynamic in that Princess Luna’s vote is equal to her sister.” “Does Princess Twilight, and Princess Cadence vote?” Gwyneth Cheer asked. “They each have a vote worth one percent, but typically only vote in special sessions. - Now...” He hesitated a moment. “The one percent vote was quickly pushed in by the Chancellor some time back in fear that Celestia’s Granddaughter Princess Sunset might ascend and become an Alicorn, and have an equal vote to Celestia. - Sunset Shimer was just an ordinary unicorn at the time, but a pony need not be an alicorn to be considered a princess. Princess Twilight actually counted as a low-level princess before she ascended do to her father's titles.” “Who was Princess Sunset?” Alina asked. “She was Princess Celestia’s hand-picked apprentice a while before Princess Mi Amore was discovered. - Now, we have a lot more yet to see.” “Did you know her?” Kitzu asked as Silver Falls showed them out a side door. His answer – he’d only known her by reputation. “Good or bad?” Well, that depended on who a pony asked. Kitzu letting her curiosity get the better of her asked Mrs Inkwell if Mr Shimmerhorn was Sunset Shimmer’s brother? “Sunset Shimmer was of the Shimmerhorn clan, and yes Mr Shimmerhorn is her brother.” Mrs Inkwell offered, giving Kitzu a calculating look. “They are among the noble families. Mr Shimmerhorn’s eldest brother even has access to one of the apartments in the royal apartment complex. - She was one of the first students I had the privilege to teach, and it was widely speculated that being Princess Celestia’s hand-picked student, that Sunset Shimmer might ascend someday. - I’m afraid she was under a lot of pressure, and it just got to her. - I don’t really know where she is now. - Do you?” “I might.” Kitzu offered with a wink. Mrs Inkwell looked at Kitzu, her eyes opened wide, and stopped in her tracks. She thought for a moment, shook her head, and then started walking again. From the Grand Hall, they continued down a passage that led to the offices of various leading lords, and ministers. The who’s who list didn’t really interest Kitzu until they reached the offices of Minister Night Light. Kitzu looked about eager and hoping to spot the pony who would be her grandfather, knowing she’d not likely see him. Not today when every pony was away. She was about to give up when her keen hearing picked up the sound of some pony in the back out of sight of the tour group. Kizu looked about, hung back a bit, and quietly crept away from the group. Stealth mode activated. In the back office, she found him, Night Light. “Um, hi.” Kitzu offered, standing on her hind legs and putting her front hooves on the desk to look up at the big stallion. He shot back in his chair startled, and then relaxed realizing he’d only been interrupted by a curious filly. He looked her over critically. “Oh, it’s you.” “Oh, it’s me? - How do you know who I am, when we haven't even met yet?” “Should you maybe be somewhere else? - Like in school? - I’m busy.” “For a pony who’s about to be my grandfather, you aren’t being very nice.” “Well forgive me.” His tone was perhaps a bit harsher than it needed to be. “Kitzu, what are you doing in here?” Nova called entering the office. “Oh hi.” “There are two of you?” “Her name is Nova Silvermane. - She’s sort of related, or soon will be. - I’m Kitzumi. A wayward filly from another dimension? Did Twilight tell you nothing? - No of course not. Not coming from a family that can’t even be bothered to tell her, her own brother is engaged. - Princess Luna adopted me because I’m stranded here.” There is a scolding manner to her tone. “You sure aren’t like the grandfather I remember.” Kitzumi dropped down. “Now hold on one moment, young filly. - I know full well who you are, you’re that filly of Luna’s. - I’m a busy government minister. - Wait, you said…?” What Kitzu had said about being from another dimension had started to sink in. “Not like you haven't had ample opportunities to come by to visit and find out first hoof who I am. like when Twilight is here. - Didn’t I just say I was from another dimension? - Did Twilight say anything to you? - Did you not hear a word I said?” Kitzu scolded. She’d thought surely Twilight would have told him enough to know that she wasn’t just some illegitimate filly. “Come on Nova, before we are missed.” “Kizu Nightfoal – Nova Silvermane. - Minister Night Light; I’m so sorry they bothered you.” Starshine said entering the office. “It’s alright.” Night Light offered. “Miss Kitzu is going to be my granddaughter after all.” His tone had softened. Kitzu looked up at him for a moment, let out a sigh, turned, and left quickly followed by Nova. “What just happened here?” “I think I blew it. - I kind of had the wrong idea about our Miss Kitzu and never bothered to find out for myself. Rather amateurish of me to make a blunder like that.” “Sorry to hear that. If you’ll forgive me I better get after them. They are normally very well behaved but prone to mischief.” Starshine then turned and followed after Kitzu and Nova. When Kitzu returned to the group her mood had soured considerably from the cheerful pony who’d left them. Nova followed, with Miss Starshine bringing up the rear. “Short with you was he?” Mrs Inkwell asked. “Next time stay with the group.” “Try not to let it bother you. You just caught him at a bad time.” Miss Starshine offered going up alongside Kitzu. “Can I trust there will be no more ponies wandering off?” Mr Silver Falls asked sounding about as annoyed as Night Light had. “What’d he say?” Nova whispered as the tour guide marched them outside, and past several large forums each a little higher up on the mountain. “He seemed to know who I was, but by the tone in his voice he seemed to have gotten the wrong idea.” Kitzu offered, ascending a long flight of stairs on a narrow strip that overlooked much of the palace. “Oh. Say no more. I’d say I caught enough of it to know exactly what’s going on with him.” Nova replied softly as they came to a stop outside the doors to the castle keep which was itself a castle within the castle that made up the palace. Here too was the royal apartments of Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and guest accommodations for those privileged enough to be allowed to stay there. Also, unlike a typical keep, this one was in many ways more like a grand manner house than a keep. Beyond the gate a short passage to another gate on the right, and a modestly sized courtyard beyond that. Here was the front entrance to the manner house through a grand entryway which led to a great hall, on either side of which were the audience halls of the sun and the moon, and a grand staircase at the far end. Beyond these were dining halls, a kitchen, libraries, and the personal offices of the Princesses and close staff. Above that were the apartments. “Beyond this gate, are the personal apartments of The Princesses, and honored guests.” Silver Falls announced in a stern tone. “I trust every pony will be on their best behavior.” He gave Kitzu a withering look which didn’t help her mood one bit. An exchange that did not go unnoticed by the guards at the gate who in turn gave Silver Falls a rather stern look as the stallion was known to be rather acidic in his nature. Silver Falls took one more moment and then escorted the group inside the entry gate. He made a quip about this entry being known as the murder hall while pointing out holes in the ceiling above and then announced welcome to the bailey as they passed through the second gate. “So is that where you live?” Alina asked looking up at Luna’s tower. “No, I’m in the East Wing.” “Ah, you’re interested in Princess Luna’s tower?” Mr Silverfalls asked. “Most ponies assume that Princess Luna lives in the tower, but in reality, she lives somewhere else. - Any pony want to hazard a guess?” “Might that be the East wing?” Alina asked. “Well yes, but it’s called the Night wing,” Silverfalls replied. “The tower itself once housed Princess Luna’s Shadowbolts where they could send out a deadly barrage from the small slits you see in the sides of the tower.” “Is that an observation platform at the top where those large windows are?” Hester asked. “It was at one time.” Mr Silverfalls offered. “It’s a grand reception hall now known as the Moon Viewing hall. - I know it’s difficult to see it from here, but there is another smaller tower on top that one at the very top of which is I’m to understand a rather sophisticated observatory. - Now, can anyone tell me anything about the garden beds here before we move on?” “Oh, I know.” Gwyneth offered. “Because the front wall blocks most of the sunlight, the garden is planted exclusively with deep shade plants, and sometimes referred to as the night garden.” “And the guards affectionately know it as the frost pit.” Kitzu quipped. The fillies all giggled realizing the garden must get mighty cold, but Mr Silverfalls scolded her for speaking out of turn. He then turned and directed them to the front doors. “Welcome to the Frost Pit Mr Silverfalls.” One of the guards at the door offered. “She’s not wrong you know. This may be the south side of the building, but that wall blocks all but the noon sun.” The other guard offer. “Gets mighty cold here.” “Indeed.” Mr Silverfalls replied indignantly. “May we enter?” “Indeed you may.” The guards offered and opened the doors for the group. They stopped in the grand entry hall where Silver falls talked for a bit noting the offices along the front hallway, and then they moved to the entry of the Hall of the Sun. Here was a grand reception room with a large staircase at the south end which they had to climb to get to the audience hall. The Hall of the Sun was a large open expanse with a lofted ceiling and large stained glass windows on either side, The structure had been built out on the top of a massive stone that jutted out from the mountainside. In the windows were depicted many important events to include the defeat of Nightmare Moon, the return of Luna, the defeat and reform of Discord, and other notable events in Equestrian history. Such was the depiction of Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna that it gave the viewer the impression the two were completely different individuals. “Hey Kitzu, what’s the sunrise like?” Alina asked in a whisper in response to Silver Falls commenting he’d heard the sunrise view from the Hall of the Sun was quite spectacular. “Don’t look at me, I’ve never been awake during sunrise,” Kitzu muttered. The fillies all did their best to stifle a giggle, garnering a dirty look from Silver Falls. “A pony can’t actually see the sunrise from here anyway.” “That will be enough out of you, young filly. - Now that you’ve seen the Hall of the Sun, let's go over to the Hall of the Moon.” Silver Falls offered, escorting them back out to the grand entryway. As they entered the hall of the moon he informed everyone that the hall of the moon was the original audience hall shared by the two sisters over a thousand years ago in which they were called upon to administer government concerns and the occasional personal petition brought forward. It also just happened to be the original central courtyard of the structure over which a vaulted roof had been installed. Inside it was quite dark and was a stark deviation from the previous audience chamber. Here there were no windows, only slits high up to allow some natural lighting via shafts that ran out to the outer walls. The room was lit with lamps and had very much the look of perpetual-night about it. Kitzu couldn't resist the temptation to slip away into the darkness, to be momentarily followed by Nova. The other fillies taking note of the absence of the two quietly whispered among themselves. “Alright, what’s with all that whispering while I’m talking?” “Alright, what’s going on?” Mrs Inkwell asked not too sure she was going to like the answer. “They think the place might be haunted.” Miss Starshine offered having spotted Kitzu and Nova’s eyes reflecting light back at them. She also couldn't resist a little teasing. “Well I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was haunted,” Silverfalls commented with an air of conspiracy. He then looked about the room to see if he could spot some dark shape he could torment the girls with and froze on spotting two pairs of glowing eyes looking back at him. To the astonishment of everyone there, he took a couple of steps back, turned, and rushed out of the room. Mr Silver Falls?” Mrs Inkwell asked. “You lot, don’t leave the building.” She hesitated for a moment, and then followed after him. “If I didn’t know there were a couple of mischievous fox fillies in the room, I might have done the same,” Starshine whispered. Kitzu trotted over to them. “Any pony want to see my room while we are here?” Kitzu asked. “Mom should be up by now.” “But we couldn't.” Starshine cautioned, but the others wanted to see her room. “But Mrs Inkwell, and the tour guide?” “There’s a back way.” Nova offered as she rejoined the group. “Won’t we get in trouble?” Sharik asked concerned. “Yes, that is a strong possibility. Just not with my mother or anyone under her.” Kitzu offered. “I already got permission for the girls if I got the opportunity, but you’d better decide fast.” “Mrs Inkwell will be furious, but she’ll forgive us.” Starshine offered. “I say we do it.” “Well, what are we waiting for?” Alina asked. “And she never said we had to stay in one spot, just not to leave the building.” “Alright then, follow me,” Kitzu replied with a grin, turned, and led the group up the center aisle and then around behind the stage up front where the princesses’ chairs were located. Mrs Inkwell returned to the audience hall with Mr Silver Falls just as the last girl slipped through the door behind the stage. “And they’re gone.” Mrs Inkwell muttered. “That’s not possible?” Mr Silver Falls stated. “This is the only way in or out.” “Miss Kitzu lives here. I’ve no doubt she knows another way.” “Kitzu?” “That filly you were so annoyed with. Princess Luna is her mother. - Mr Silver Falls?” ✨✨✨ Meanwhile in a back hallway. “Excuse me, what are you doing in here?” “It’s alright, it’s me,” Kitzu announced to an office worker. “Mom gave me permission to show the girls from my class around.” “Wait, shouldn't you all be at school right now?” “It’s our day to tour the palace.” Starshine offered as a way of explanation as they walked past. “It’s highly irregular though.” “Our tour guide left us on our own. Mrs Inkwell our homeroom teacher went to see if he was alright.” Nova offered. “We were told to stay in the building. We’re just going to run upstairs real quick in case anyone comes looking.” “Fine then, but stay clear of Princess Celestia’s apartment, she is entertaining a personal guest.” “Yes, Mam,” Kitzu called back having a fairly good idea of what was meant by personal guest, and who it might be. A moment later they were in the main hallway that connected to the entry hall. At the end closest to them stood a couple of guards, and a large door. The guards gave them a curious look but did nothing. “Behind that doorway to our right is the grand entry hall and the grand staircase,” Kitzu explained. “Granted we won’t be going that way.” She then turned towards the guards. “They turned their backs on us. Be so kind as to stall if any pony comes looking for us.” The guards smiled. “Come on, this way then,” Kitzu offered to the fillies and led them in the other direction. They passed a large dining hall with an enormous bay window, a library, and passed through a door at the far end which led to a stairwell beyond which could be seen the kitchen through an open door. There were two flights of stairs there, one going up, and one descending to a lower level. Upstairs was very much the grand manner house. Several doors opening into grand apartments to their right had been left open to allow natural light and ventilation into the hallway, there was another library, a reading room, and a hallway that led to the top of the grand staircase where two guards stood watch outside the entrance to Princess Celestia’s apartment. They passed all this noting only a blank wall to their left till they came to a sunroom at the end of the hallway with windows that looked out over Canterlot at the front of the building. “Come on, the view is even better from Princess Luna’s tower,” Nova offered. “Besides, the front wall blocks most of the view from here.” “And we’d better get going before Mrs Inkwell thinks to try the stairs,” Kitzu added, her mood had returned to her cheerful self. “She’s bound to realize where we’ve gone.” So off they went along a wide corridor along the front of the building. The corridor itself seemed to serve no other purpose than to be one long sitting room at the end of which was another flight of stairs to the next level. At the top of the stairs was a short hallway leading to a small door in the direction from which they’d just come and in the other direction a large ornately carved set of double doors outside of which stood two guards. “Miss Kitzu, what pray tell has become of your tour guide?” Asked one of the guards. “And your teacher?” “No idea,” Kitzu admitted. “Mr Silverfalls left, and Mrs Inkwell went after him. - I thought I’d take the opportunity to show the girls in my class my rooms. Oh, and this is Miss Starshine Twinkle. She’s our chaperon in Mrs Inkwell’s absence. - There isn’t something wrong is there? - I mean other than Mrs Inkwell will probably be mad we took off without saying anything. - She said we should stay in the building, but didn’t say anything else.” “No, you’re alright.” The other guard offered. “Mmm-kay...” Kitzu said studying the demeanor of the two unicorn guards. Something wasn’t quite right, but then she reasoned that if she needed to know they’d tell her. She then used her magic to levitate her moon pendant and placed it in the position where there was a carving of a moon in the doors. Within could be heard the sound of bolts rolling back, followed by the doors swinging open towards them forcing Kitzu and the others to back away. She retrieved her pendent and escorted the fillies into the chamber inside the doors closing behind them. Outside one of the unicorn’s horns lit up. “Miss Kitzu and the other fillies just arrived, can someone locate Mrs Smith, and let her know they are without supervision? - Oh, so that’s what happened?” The two guards looked at each other trying to hold back laughter. Mr Silver Falls had apparently fainted on being told Miss Kitzu was Luna’s daughter. 🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘 “Welcome to the third floor,” Kitzu offered as she closed the door. The room was a large circular entryway and lounge area. To their left, there was a large shouldered arched opening into a hallway with an ornate ascending staircase that hugged the tower walls a short distance beyond. Beneath the staircase was an enclosed descending staircase with an ornately carved door. Beyond that, and to their right there were seven shouldered pointed arches in which large windows had been set separated by fairly thick spaces between, each window having a stained glass inset at the top showing a phase of the moon, and within the room itself, seven large tree trunks complete with branches supported the ceiling. Each tree had been stripped of bark, cured in some manner unknown to Kitzu, and either bleached or painted white. Kitzu simply couldn't decide how the color had been achieved as the trees themselves had been enchanted to provide light for the room. The room itself was decorated in colors of blue and white, with banners the likes of which the girls had never seen. Instead of the usual banner depicting two alicorns representing day and night with the sun and moon, each banner depicted a white tree reminiscent of the supporting columns each having arranged about the canopy of the tree, seven phases of the moon. The girls moved slowly into the chamber. “Welcome to the moon garden,” Kitzu said quietly, “few outside the royal family ever get to see this place.” “One does not simply walk in here,” Starshine said mesmerized. “And that door...” “Always open to friends.” Kitzu teased. “OK, it’s really for show. There are other ways in and out of here. I seldom go that way myself. Every pony who lives and works here for any length of time soon finds the back passages. - Oh, and these windows are positioned so that the passage of the sun and moon can be fully observed. Well except when overhead, but a pony can still view most of the arc.” “So what’s the deal with these banners?” Alina asked. “Don’t know?” Kitzu admitted. “I just figure they were designed to complement the room. Not like they are some remnant of a long-forgotten kingdom defended by horse lords of old or anything like that? - Anyway, we have one more flight of stairs.” “More stairs?!” Several of the fillies protested. “This floor is just for visiting family. - Tell you what, since there’s no pony using any of the rooms right now, a quick look can’t hurt.” Kitzu then led the others through the archway. They were surprised to find that the arch opened out into a long open room to their left that looked out on a private patio garden that had been built right over the old audience hall. To the right was a wall with paintings and doors to small apartments. “Retreat!” Kitzu commanded emphatically on spotting Celestia having tea with Rarity. “What?” “Celestia. I don’t want her to see us, she might make us go back before we’ve had a chance to get upstairs.” Kitzu announced, having reversed direction. The others quickly followed and ascended the sweeping spiral staircase to the next level at the top of which was a richly adorned landing, and another ornately carved door. What they found beyond the door was in stark contrast to the large chamber they had just left. The room was round, but it was much smaller and adorned in soft pastels and warm wood paneling. Gone were the trees replaced with large hand-hewn posts and beams along the outer walls with four large posts central each supporting open beams forming a crisscross pattern on the ceiling. About the only thing that indicated that these were the apartments of Princess Luna was familiar dark blue banners with depictions of seven phases of the moon. There was the door leading to the fourth-floor apartments in the east wing, and another leading to a large rooftop greenhouse on the top of the south wing, each with a shouldered arch. The remaining arc of the turret room was lined with windows separated by massive columns, with a central door looking out on a balcony. “Welcome to the watchtower,” Kitzu announced. “Ooo balcony!” Itzel Aurora said headed for the door. “Waite!” Kitzu called. “Don’t go out there till you’ve checked the pennants.” “Pennants?” Itzel asked stopped while looking back. “The wind can get really bad in the afternoon. Bad enough to sweep a grown pony right off. - See how the doors slide open instead of opening in or out? That’s so the wind can’t grab hold of the doors. If the pennants are more then halfway unfurled, think twice, all the way – don’t go out there at all. - Well, we are really high up on the mountain after all. It’s my understanding this smaller section was built later because of the wind, and a need for a second way to get in and out of the fourth floor of the Night wing without getting blasted by the wind. - The observatory at the top serves both for looking at the stars, and watching for signs of enemy troop movements.” The fillies went to the window, looked at the pennants, and decided they’d best not tempt fate. As for the view, they could swear they could see all of Equestria from there. “I usually eat my first meal of the day in here.” Kitzu offered, pointing out a table and chairs big enough for a dozen ponies. There was even a small pantry built under the stairs up to the next level; stairs accessible from the fourth floor of the lunar wing. “And the sunsets are incredible.” It didn’t take long before they ventured from the tower to the bedrooms where once again the layout was much the same as the third floor. Here at least the windows to the courtyard had lace curtains to obscure their presence. The first section on the right was a landing for the stairs up, and after that was Princess Luna’s bedroom which had been decorated with a variety of blue, leaning towards dark blue and accented in golds. The bedroom doors were large glass doors of the verity we might call a French door, with heavy curtains that were presently pulled back and tied up with cords. The room inside was very large for a bedroom and accommodated a bed large enough for a half dozen standard-sized ponies. At the far end of the room was a doorway leading to a changing room, necessary, and bath. From there they continued on down the inner corridor past Luna’s apartment where the corridor opened out to a library. Here they were able to look out small windows on the outer wall that looked out over the valley. “Wow, we are high up. The school looks like a toy from here.” Elidi Sungift commented looking down. “The ponies all look like ants.” “My room is coming up next.” Kitzu prompted after a bit. “Well, then we should hurry up,” Alina suggested and made for the corridor. A short time later they were outside Kitzu’s rooms as evidenced by a number of textbooks on a table out in front. Here too was a pair of French doors, the bedroom was decorated in off white, golds, and earth tones accented with reds. Kitzu wasted no time in taking her cloak off and throwing it over a rather expensive looking antique chair. The bedroom and bed were considerably smaller than Princess Luna’s, but by no means was it a little bedroom. It also boasted its own walk-in closets, changing room, necessary, and bath. It also had fairly substantial windows allowing for a grand view. Nova followed Kitzu’s lead in taking her cloak and throwing it over another chair, as Kitzu stretched out her wings. “They are letting me stay here too,” Nova explained. “Lucky.” Several of the fillies chimed. “She doesn't have parents, and she’s Prince Reynard's Ward,” Kitzu supplied. “He took her in when no one else would. Kind of makes us sisters. - Isn’t that right, Nova?” Nova looked back at Kitzu her eyes looking like they are about to start to water up, so Kitzu went over to her, and gave her a hug. “Excuse me, but what do you fillies think you are doing in here? How did… Kitzu? Why aren’t you in school?” It was Princess Celestia. “Tour day.” Kitzu offered rather sheepishly. “Our tour guide sort of left us, and Mrs Inkwell went to see what the matter was.” In my defense, I was left unsupervised. “Well don’t you think you should go back, and find them?” Princess Celestia prompted. “Yes, mam,” Kitzu replied, looked about, grabbed a knit hat, stuffed it on her head effectively hiding her horn, and hurried out followed by the others. “Which way did you come?” Celestia called. “Front door, my pendant acts as a key,” Kitzu called. “Well, that’s good...” Celestia said as the fillies hurried down the corridor. ✨✨✨✨🌞✨✨✨✨ It took Kitzu and the others considerably less time to find their way back to the grand entranceway where they ran right smack into Rainbow Dash’s group. They were immediately set upon by the tour guide. “Where’s your guide, and teacher?” the tour guide demanded. Kitzu thinking quick, flashed her palace ID, and the moon pendant, using her magic. “They got separated, do you know where Mrs Inkwell or Mr Silverfalls is?” Kitzu asked. The guide stammered out that he hadn’t heard. “OK, we’ll see if we can find out where they went. Maybe we might just head back to the group area. Thank you.” Kitzu then leads the group out the door missing the pegasus whispering about the possibility Kitzu was an alicorn and then realizing she was the same filly Scootaloo knew. “Um, ya, we met in Ponyville. She was staying with Princess Twilight.” Scootaloo offered. ✨✨✨✨✨✨ A short time later back at the private patio garden… Princess Celestia has rejoined her date. “Now where were we? Ummm Rarity?” “There seems to be some pony else up there now.” Rarity offered. “They seem quite frantic. - Oh, they’re gone now.” “I wonder who might be up there now? There isn’t supposed to be anyone up there. Luna is talking to wedding planners. - Oh, and the fillies were Miss Kitzu and the fillies from her class in school. They’d slipped away from their tour group.” “Miss Kitzu? - Doesn’t really sound like her to do something like that. Not unless something had happened to set her off. Otherwise, she’s usually very well behaved.” “So what sort of things does she do?” “Oh, just some devilishly clever pranks is all. It’s rather interesting, it’s like she has known every pony for years, and knows every ponies week spot.” “Sound’s just like my sister… Say...” “Oh, there she is again, foxy red coat. On our floor now. Seems to be checking all the rooms. It looks like she’s got a cloak or something as well. - Oh I know who that is, that’s Miss Pudding. - She’s running around like a chicken with her head cut off.” “Mrs Smith now.” “Oh you found out, did you?” “I found out, but… Oh, don’t tell me she’s looking for Miss Kitzu?” Celestia said watching Pudding race down the hall in search of the fillies. “A thought just occurred to me. I may have done something I shouldn't have.” “How’s that?” Rarity asked. “Well, I chased Kitzu and her friends out without knowing the full facts of the matter and Kitzu grabbed a hat to hide her horn from the tourists. When she checked in with the tour groups she would have been wearing a cloak and counted as a unicorn.” “Oh, and without that cloak and her horn hidden they’ll assume she’s a pegasus.” Rarity supplied with a grin. “I’m almost tempted to go down there just so I can witness the confused looks on the faces of the tour people.” ✨✨✨ “You did that deliberately didn’t you?” Miss Stargazer accused as the group made their way back to the group meet up area. “What, showed them My ID, and moon pendant?” “You hid your horn, presumably so you wouldn't have to hide your wings, and then you used your magic.” Alina supplied. “I – whoops?” Kitzu said realizing the flub. “Well if you are trying to hide that you’ve both wings and a horn, you need to be more careful.” Starshine offered. “And be consistent.” “Wasn’t exactly my idea.” Kitzu protested. “Wasn’t a problem in Ponyville?” “Home turf of the Princess of Friendship.” Calista Amber offered. “I’d imagine they’d just be more accepting, that or they don’t realize a pony with wings and a horn is a big deal, and we get a lot of ponies who just respond in bizarre ways to anything out of the ordinary, or different from what they see as mundane. - I mean, just look at the way some of the tour groups we’ve passed have been looking at us.” “Ya, I noticed that.” Nova offered. “Probably should have grabbed our cloaks.” “Likely more than that. We are wearing school livery after all.” Elidi Sungift offered. “And wandering about the palace like we have free run of the place.” Tara Star teased. “Even I don’t get free run of the place.” Kitzu offered as they turned a corner. “I think it’s this way?” “Wouldn't that be funny if you get us lost?” Nova said bemused. “On second thought...” Kitzu said changing directions. ✨✨✨ “Where are they!” Pudding demanded of a guard. “Somewhere.” The guard replied with a barely concealed smirk. Pudding had been to the group gathering point twice now, and she was desperate to find Kitzu. Day shift guards just infuriated Pudding at times. “Come on, they are still in the palace. I hear they are having fun. - Miss Pudding?” “Mrs Smith to you.” Pudding growled, her teeth showing menacingly. About her, a mist had formed and was now circling about her. She whispered fox fire find her, the mist spiraled up into the air forming into tiny plasmic balls and zipped off into different directions. “Is-is that magic?” “Yes.” ✨✨✨ “Hey, we made it!” Gwyneth declared on sighting the group gathering area. “Well, it’s not like we didn’t have fun looking.” Nova offered. “Well come on, let's check-in, and see what became of our tour guide and Mrs Inkwell,” Starshine suggested moving forward. “Come on, let's get this over with,” Kitzu muttered as they all followed. “Um, who are you, and where’s your tour guide and instructor?” Asked a tour coordinator as they approached. “Mrs Inkwell’s class.” Starshine offered. “We, um, sorta got separated.” “It’s my fault.” Kitzu offered. “Mr Silver Falls was our guide.” “Mr Silver falls? Oh my! - Everything must have happened so fast, you all got left behind. - Oh dear, I hope this doesn't cause a problem with the nobles though.” “There shouldn't be a problem. I mean our families are kind of high up.” Starshine offered. “Um, what exactly happened?” “Mr Silver Falls fainted. - Oh, he’s alright, but they took him to the horsepital just to be safe.” “Horsepital?! - Fainted?!” The fillies chimed, and then wanted to know what had become of Mrs Inkwell? Mrs Inkwell they were told was fine and had gone back to the school with the request someone could escort the fillies back to the academy once they’d been located being she had other students to attend to. “I get the impression she wasn’t too worried about us,” Idalia whispered as they were shown to an area where they were to wait till someone was available. “She likely has a good idea where we all snuck off too.” Starshine offered. “Shame about Mr Silver Falls. He was such a nice man.” “Seriously?” Kitzu asked, looked at Starshine to find she was watching Kitzu with a smirk on her face. “Oh, yes, you are right, he was such a charmer.” The fillies all suppressed a laugh as they were ushered to a holding area that looked suspiciously like a paddock for animals. They were told to make themselves comfortable, and that they’d have to wait just a little while. “I suppose this is their way of punishing us.” Nova offered after they had been there long enough to see several groups returning to include Dash’s pegasus group. “Ha, looks like you lot are in the penalty box.” Dash offered as their group approached. “They’re making us wait.” Starshine offered. “Not like we can’t find our own way back to school. Our school is part of the palace grounds.” “Hey, are you really an alicorn?” Asked one of the fillies in the pegasus group of Kitzu. “Kind of sort of,” Kitzu admitted. “I’m no Flurry Heart if that’s what you are thinking? - I’m a Pegasus, only I grew a horn.” This the pegasus fillies thought was amazing, even more so when Kitzu admitted to starting out as a button head. They proceeded to barrage her with a bunch of questions and even managed to talk her into showing them her horn. “No, I can’t fly yet, but I expect I’ll be able to once I’ve had a proper molt.” Kitzu offered while putting her hat back on. Otherwise, I do my stretches and exercises daily so I won’t be too far behind once I’m rid of my baby fluff.” “Alright, you’ve asked her enough questions; time we got going.” Dash prompted, and herded her reluctant charges along with a little help from Ms Dawn, and Scootaloo. “I probably won’t see you till the wedding.” Scootaloo called as she went.” “I’ll probably be grounded till then,” Kitzu called back. “Well, that was an interesting diversion.” Alina mused after they’d sat there for a bit. “Hang on. Someone is coming.” “Bout time,” Idalia muttered. “So you’re the group who run off on your tour guide and teacher.” A middle-aged unicorn mare offered as she approached. She entered the paddock and looked at a clipboard. “Alright, I’m going to read out your names. Speak up so I can hear you when you hear your name because no pony is going anywhere until I know every pony is accounted for. - Alina Sunbeam?” “Here.” “Calista Amber.” “Here.” “Elidi Sungift.” “Present.” “Gwy-neth” The mare stumbled over the name for a moment. “Gwyneth Cheer.” “Present and or accounted for mam.” “Just say here.” “Yes, mam. Here mam.” “Hester Aureolin.” “Here.” “Idalia Sunglow.” “Here.” “Itzel Aurora.” “Here.” “Kit soo Nightfoal.” “Here. And it’s pronounced Key-Sue.” “Now hold on.” The mare said eyeballing Kitzu. “You’re a pegasus.” “Yes, mam.” Kitzu offered confused as to why that would be an issue. “And with no school livery either.” “We accidentally left our cloaks behind.” Nova offered. “And you are?” “Nova Silvermane. Mam.” “Says here that our Miss Key Sue is a unicorn. - That’s a problem. - Neither of you has your cloaks.” “Supposing I were to keep you here till some pony can verify who you are, and your cloaks have been retrieved?” “Um, excuse me, but...” Starshine began. “I’m in charge here Missy. If you lot hadn't skipped out on...” Kitzu had been growing more and more apprehensive as that mare went on, and when she felt some heavy fabric being rudely thrown over her, her mind was filled with images of being foal napped by the bat ponies from when she’d found herself shot out of a catapult, let out a frightened squeak, and teleported to the first place of safety that crossed her mind. “Kitzu?!” Pudding called dismayed. Pudding had let herself get into quite a mood, and had never meant to take it out on Kitzumi by so rudely throwing the cloak over her. “Kitzu, come on, I’m sorry. If you’re nearby, come on out already. - Kitzu?”