//------------------------------// // An Audience With The Queen // Story: The Cost of a Sunrise // by No one is home //------------------------------// “Why would you take them to a place like this?” Twilight seethed, “I trusted you with my most promising students!  Why would you show them a future like this?” “I think you’ve answered your own question.” Discord beamed with glee from the aisle of the bus.  “Because 100% of your former graduating students have destroyed the world at least once.” “Hey!  Starlight wasn’t even my student yet when that happened!” Twilight argued. “My point still stands.”  Discord crossed his mismatched arms and grinned. “Uh, Discord,” Thorax asked uncertainly, “I have a question about that changeling?” “Technically not a changeling,” the draconequus supplied helpfully, “They’re called doppelgangers, and he’s not even one of those.  There was some confusion with that last time… the Magic School Bus translates on the fly, and there was an issue with the translation. The ones that look like changelings are actually just blessed by the goddess of the ones who basically are this worlds changelings, but look nothing like changelings.  It’s convenient, why would a changeling want to look like a changeling after all, the whole point to being a changeling is looking like something else, am I right?” “That’s… kinda racist?” Thorax sounded vaguely uncomfortable. “This way, dear,” Margarine led the young, insectile unicorn towards a large covered wagon, “We’ll have proper tents pitched by tomorrow, I think, but for now you can stay with Magpie and Daisy in the Queen’s wagon.” “The Queen?” Slapstick asked. “Sunrise Flare,”  the bearded cow explained, "she’s the troupe's magician, and the head of the sideshow.  She seems like she’s putting on air’s sometimes, but it’s best to just play along.  She’s really a wonderful pony when you get to know her. Just remember to call her ‘your majesty’, and tell her she’s pretty and she’ll warm up to you quickly enough.” The cow clopped loudly against the wagon door, “Your Majesty?  It’s Margarine, there’s someone here you should meet!” “By all means, bring them in!” A dulcet voice answered.  “There’s always room for one more friend.” The wagon’s interior was lavishly furnished, by waste standards.  With the majority of the space being taken by an elaborate padded couch.  On the wagon's floor two young earth fillies apparently huddled together beneath a blanket, only their blue heads peeking out to examine the new-comer with four pretty, green eyes.  But it was the figure reclining on the couch itself that captivated Slapstick. A regal alabaster mare, replete with the wings of a pegasus and the horn of a unicorn tossed back her rainbowed mane and smiled coyly. “And who is this charming young colt?”  The dazzling creatures eyes locked onto Slapstick LeFaux and his heart at once froze and melted in his chest. “His name is Slapstick, your majesty,”  Margarine said with a sad smile, “He seems to be the only survivor from the raider attack.” “How terrible!” Proclaimed the filly on the left. “Is he going to join our circus now?”  The Filly on the right asked. “He can perform with us in the sideshow!  I’ve never seen a pony like him before.” Slapstick was trapped like an animal before a bright light, not even hearing two fillies kind words, his eyes unable to pull away from the regal mare before him, without reaon his mouth released the first full thought to cross his addled mind, “She's the most beautiful pony I’ve ever seen!” “Oh, I like him!”  Sunrise giggled. “Daisy, will you and Magpie kindly fetch our young guest a bite to eat?” “Of course, your majesty!”  The two replied in tandem. Finally breaking the spell as they rose from beneath their blanket, revealing that both heads were, in fact attached to one body. “It’s not polite to stare, young colt.” Sunset spoke with kind firmness.  “Magpie and Daisy aren’t on stage and you didn’t buy a ticket.” “Oh… I’m sorry…”  The youth stammered, drawing a cheerful giggle from the two headed filly. “It’s alright your majesty,” Daisy smiled, the thought being finished by her other head, Magpie, “We don’t mind the attention, especially from a handsome colt like Mr. Slapstick.” Slapstick’s blush was visible even past his clown makeup, “A lot of ponies stare at me too… I haven’t learned to disguise myself yet, and it’s awkward… looking like a bug all the time…” “Why would you want to disguise yourself, dear?”  Sunrise leaned forward. “You’re a perfectly handsome pony just as you are.” “I know, right?” Magpie chirped.  “We were just saying that.” “Margarine!” The lanky human clown came running to the wagon. “Mr. Deadlift wants every adult but Sunrise to meet by the head wagon!  We’re going to try to sort through the wreckage before it gets too dark. He said he wants Sunrise to watch after the young ones.” “Of course, Ziggy,” Margarine smiled, before turning to Slapstick.  “You try to get some rest. In the morning we’re going to speak some words over the departed, you can say your goodbyes then.  For now it’s best that you wait here until we’re sure those raiders won’t be coming back.” “How terrible!” Magpie exclaimed, as Daisy interjected, “I don’t know how we’ll ever sleep tonight, knowing those fiends could still be out there!” “Don’t worry,” the human flashed a goofy grin, “Me and the Wormers are keeping watch tonight… I’d never let anything happen to you.” “Don’t you let Mr. Deadlift catch you flirting with those little fillies like that, now.” Margarine raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Oh...n-no!  I didn’t mean it like that…” Ziggy stammered, “I meant… you guys… I’d never let anything happen to you guys!” Daisy giggled as the human beat a hasty retreat, and Magpie rolled her eyes, “Uncle Deadlift is too overprotective!  We’re not foals anymore!” “Your uncle just wants to keep you safe,” Sunrise said serenely, “He cares about you very much.” “I know,” Magpie groaned as Daisy smiled serenely, “But Ziggy is really nice, and he’s sweet is own way… not like that pervert Rollo.” “Who’s Rollo?” Slapstick asked in confusion. “He’s just a stupid fat pony who’s idea of putting on a side show is lying about and being  disgusting pig,” Magpie grumbled. “Now, girls,”  Sunrise chastised the pair, “As unpleasant as he may be at times, Rollo is one of my loyal subjects, and a part of this circus.  Be nice. Just don’t go anywhere alone with him…” “We’ll introduce you to everyone in the morning,” Daisy said with a smile, as Magpie sat a basket full of dried rations before the colt, “Most everyone is super nice… except Rollo and Franklin.  Tomorrow we’ll have the mess wagon running too, and we can fix you a good, hot meal. Until then, we’ll all just have to make do with dried fruit and bread. But it’s better than nothing. There’s plenty of space on the floor, but we only have the one blanket, but we’d be happy to share it with you!” “Nonsense,” Sunrise rose from her recline, offering the space to the younger ponies, “I won’t have my newest subject sleeping on the floor after all he’s been through.  I should sleep in front of the door anyway, just to be safe.” “Thank you your majesty!”  The twins exclaimed, eagerly pulling the young colt into place beside them. “T-thank you… all of you!  I don’t think I would have made it alone, without… I mean...” Slipstick stammered as his mind tried to process the events of the day. “It’s okay to cry.” Magpie nuzzled against the colt as his emotions finally burst free of their dam and Daisy placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, “Just let it all out… you’re not alone anymore.” The young colt softly sobbed long into the night, but with time sleep did come.