Beauty Lies Within
Chapter 12
A Temporary Home
In a blink of an eye, the group of seven people had arrived at the Castle of the Two Sisters. The ruins of the once great castle loomed against the faint fog of the early evening. Celestia had just finished lowering the sun, and Luna had begun to raise the moon.
Discord was looking at the castle with a peculiar and analyzing eye. "Are you sure that you girls want to stay here?" He asked.
"That's the plan." Twilight said, giving him a suspicious look.
"Let me make this palace wannabe a bit more comfortable." Discord said. But before he could snap his fingers, Rainbow Dash slapped his hand hard. "OWW!"
"Yeah, and while you're at it, why don't you put up a big sign that says, 'Hey, Chrysalis! The girls you're looking for to do away with are right here! Come and get them!'" She said sarcastically. "Are you that thick in the head?"
"Okay, all right!" Discord shouted in annoyance. "Geez."
"Maybe we can compromise." Fluttershy suggested. "Discord, is it possible that you can change up the castle a bit, but maybe only that we can see it?" She asked.
"My dear, all you have to do is ask." Discord said, and then finally, he snapped his fingers.
In a flash, the girls saw that the caste had been restored to its former glory. Not one stone was missing from the walls, and there were no ivy vines or moss draping them.
The girls were in awe. "Okay, not bad." Rainbow said.
Discord then appeared on the other side of the newly repaired bridge. "Come along, ladies!" He called.
One by one, the girls began crossing the bridge. "Ya sure that Chrysalis won't find this place?" Applejack asked the Lord of Chaos.
"Trust me, Applejack." Discord assured her. "She won't see this fine piece of architecture even if she had a telescope or a map."
Discord then popped up beside the doors, dressed as a guard with a red uniform and black puffy hat. "Welcome to your temporary home." He then opened the doors.
As the girls entered inside, they were amazed by what they saw. Because of Discord's magic, the interior walls were a cotton candy pink, the floor was bright blue with spiral patterns, and a chandelier above them was flickering light without candles.
"This is quite fantastic!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Yes, I agree it is quite some of my best work." Discord added. He then pointed up to the stairs, which were as white as marble. "You girls don't mind sharing a large room, do you?"
The girls shook their heads. "Then, your room is the third door on your right when you go up." Discord informed. "I'll be right back." Then, he teleported away in a white flash of light.
The girls all looked around the room. "I wanna know how the hay does that Discord does all this without breaking a sweat." Applejack wondered aloud.
"Me, too." Twilight agreed. "But then again, his magic doesn't make a lot of sense. It probably is the same with how it works."
"Good point." AJ said.
"Come on, girls." Fluttershy said. "How about we look around a bit?"
"Hey, check this out!" Pinkie was next to a large screen of some sort. Built into it near the lower half, there was a speaker with a button.
"I don't think you should mess around with that." Twilight said. But Pinkie had already pressed the button. "Pinkie!" The Princess of Friendship exclaimed.
"I think I'm gonna like it here." Pinkie said into the speaker. After removing her hand from the button, the screen suddenly lit up, showing a pale pink background with bubbles floating across.
"Okay, that was actually pretty cool." Rainbow said as the girls all placed their bags down.
Pinkie began skipping across a small water feature in the room, with small stepping stones across it. Then, she begin to sing.
Pinkie Pie: I think we're gonna like it,
I'm sure we're gonna like it,
I think we're gonna like it here.
As the girls explored the castle that would serve as their temporary home, they all started to sing. When they saw something that was a little strange, Fluttershy would help explain it, since she has been to Discord's home realm a few times.
First, Fluttershy showed Rainbow a magic machine that pours whatever drink one would want.
Fluttershy: So, think it and it shall appear.
Dash tried that, and soon, a cup of apple cider was poured for her.
Rainbow Dash: I think I'm gonna like it here.
The two of them then went off to explore some more, with Rainbow taking the cup and quickly drinking the cider.
Next, Applejack was shown how the screen worked, with Fluttershy's guidance.
Fluttershy: Because it knows just what you want to see.
Applejack: Wait. I think it and it comes to me?
She tried it, and then, out of nowhere, there was a dog that was wagging its tail on the screen. She quickly waved at the happy dog before running off again.
Soon, Fluttershy showed Twilight a large piano in a different room that was made of different colored gems, with the seat made of real marshmellows.
Fluttershy: Here's something grand for you to play.
Twilight sat down and started to play it, even though she knew a little song. But surprisingly, the notes were perfect.
Twilight: Wait. I couldn't do that yesterday.
She removed her hands from the piano and saw that the piano can play its keys by itself.
I think I'm gonna like it here.
Rarity then appeared in a nearby doorway, gesturing to them to follow her.
Rarity: It's very hard not to, my dear.
Soon, all the girls were dancing throughout the hallways.
All: Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Think we're gonna like it here.
I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes I think we're gonna like it here.
Think we're gonna like it here.
Down a separate hallway, the girls saw that there was a swimming pool in one room. Fluttershy remembered that Discord had told her that he can actually adjust the temperature of the water by thinking of the specific temperature.
Fluttershy: Look, it knows the temp you're comfy in.
Pinkie: That's great. Can it teach me how to swim?
Rainbow rolled her eyes playfully, knowing perfectly well that Pinkie knows how to swim. But still, she went along with her, knowing that most of the time, it's pointless to comprehend what Pinkie is thinking or saying. She then gestured to herself.
Rainbow Dash: We have a coach, no need to fear.
Pinkie smiled brightly at her athletic friend, even though she knew that she knew she was just kidding.
Pinkie: I think I'm gonna like it here.
Soon, Fluttershy and Applejack saw that there was an indoor greenhouse that spilled out to the outside, filled with dozens of apple trees, except the apples were as big as their heads.
Fluttershy: There's a big apple for you to eat.
Applejack: I'd have been full with just a seed.
Next, Fluttershy saw that Rarity was admiring herself in a picture mirror in a different room. She looked inside and saw her reflection, but she was back home in Ponyville. Rarity was probably seeing herself somewhere else; most likely Canterlot.
Fluttershy: There's a whole new world in that mirror.
Rarity: I think I'm gonna like it here.
A few seconds later, the girls found the way outside, and saw that the yard stretched out for miles around, but there was a large cement wall that surrounded the grounds with blue ivy vines that had pink leaves.
All: Yes, yes I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes I think we're gonna like it here.
Think we're gonna like it here.
I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Think we're gonna like it here.
Soon, they all were dancing away as they grabbed their luggage and started heading up the stairs.
Fluttershy: Everything you've ever dreamed
Is at your fingertips.
And if you haven't dreamed it yet,
Add it to your wish list.
Finally, the girls checked out the room that they will be sharing. It was a large circular room that had a balcony outside. Six canopy beds were positioned against the walls, following the surface, and four of them were each under a small circular window, while the other two were beside the glass doors leading out to the balcony. Also, there was a large red oak chest in front of each bed to hold belongings.
"This is just lovely!" Rarity exclaimed, going towards the second bed that had velvet blue sheets and white plush pillows.
"This is really our room?" Twilight asked amazed as she went on over towards the sixth bed which had deep purple sheets and lavender pillows.
"I guess it is." Fluttershy confirmed, touched that Discord was doing all of this for them. It was showing that he is really allowing friendship into his heart. She gently ran her fingers over the lime green sheets of the first bed, and saw the soft pink pillows.
"This is so awesome!" Rainbow Dash excitedly said, setting her bag down on the fourth bed; one of the beds beside the balcony doors. It had light blue sheets and white plush pillows.
"Yer right about that!" Applejack agreed, as she went over to the other bed that was beside the balcony. It had velvet red sheets with apple green pillows.
"This couldn't get any better!" Pinkie cheered as she ran over to the last bed; the fitfth one. It had pink sheets and white plush pillows.
Pinkie: I think we're gonna like it,
Twilight: I know we're gonna like it,
Fluttershy: I know we're gonna like it,
Applejack: Darn right, we're gonna like it,
All: I think we're gonna like it here.
Then, the girls all went outside to the balcony and started to dance while singing.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Think we're gonna like it here.
I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes, I think we're gonna like it here.
Think we're gonna like it here.
Yes, yes!
Right before they finished singing, the girls went back inside and flopped down onto their new beds. They then all started to laugh. Well, at least the day won't end too badly now.