No sooner had Rumble a chance to process what was going on, he was suddenly being pulled across the station platform and into the waiting carriage as the engine was moved off to be cleaned and watered. The driver (whom he identified from his last visit as the Grand Duke) glanced back to them. "Your Royal Highnesses, his Majesty sends his best wishes and commisserations over your unfortunate breakdown."
"Tell him we thank him," Thunderlane replied. "We're just glad to be here!"
The Duke nodded. "Very well, sir. Driver, away!"
It only then became apparent that the Duke was not the driver, but a man who was sitting next to him (though it could just have well as been something else, given what Rumble had heard of the events of two years ago). The driver cracked his whip, and pulled on the reigns. The carriage started away quite suddenly, and bounced along the cobbled streets as even more people turned out in the streets to cheer them by.
"It's quite the reception, eh?" Thunderlane smiled. "If their royalty comes to Munchendorf, we must remember to return the favour!"
"That we must!" Rumble smiled, who, despite how very tired he was, was smiling from ear to ear. Even so, the day and the long time since sleeping was beginning to take its toll on him, and as the coach came to a stop in front the royal palace, which towered over the rest of the skyline with its impossible towers and great hallways stretching on for miles, it seemed as though the scene was sliding in and out of focus, as Rumble was struggling to keep his head up. Piling out of the coach, the guards came out to provide a security escort. Shaking his head, the young prince followed them as they sped along through the corridors, as they had much time to make up for. Rounding another few bends, he was clearly not focusing on what he was doing, as when they entered the Great Hall, his boot slipped on an exceptionally slippery piece of polished floor, and Rumble turned into a sliding bowling ball, crashing through several court officials and into a table, smacking into a chair leg with a loud bang.
"Oww," he moaned, and sat up as best he could. "Sorry, that wasn't the best of entrances."
"Excuse me?" a female voice asked, one that sounded oddly familiar. "Do you need a hand?"
Rumble looked up, though his vision was still swimming in circles, and saw a faint white blob before him. Moments passed, and then his vision cleared. He looked into the face of a girl with orange skin and purple hair, wearing a white ball gown with prominent panniers and a skirt that dropped to the floor.
He had last seen her at the Royal Wedding those years ago. It was Scootarella. He extended his hand to reach her gloved one, and she pulled him up. "Hey, thanks. I appreciate it."
She smiled. "No problem, buddy. It's great to see you again, Rumble."
"Ah!" said a jovial voice. Both the prince and the princess looked over to see the King had seen them, a little older but having lost none of his jovial character and warmth. "I see that you two have already met again."
Scootarella took this as the opportunity to take her leave. "Shall we catch up in the palace gardens? I imagine we have much to discuss."
"Of course," Rumble said, and they both dissappeared out through a side door, closing it behind them moments later.
Not long after that, Cinderella and the Prince entered. "Where has Scoot gone?" asked the Prince.
"She's already met Rumble," the King informed her. "They went out into the gardens to talk with one another. I imagine they don't want to get in the way of the preparations for tonight."
"And we really do need to be getting on with those," the Grand Duke reminded them, stepping forward. Unfortunately, his boot then slipped on the incredibly slippery piece of floor that Rumble had slipped on, and he went face first into the same chair with a bang.
"Ouch," he said, getting up and adjusting his monocle. "I really need to make the piece of floor less slippery. Somebody could get hurt."
"Somebody has been hurt," the King sighed.
As all the shenanigans concerning floors was going on, Scootarella and Rumble walked through the palace gardens, the only sounds being the spraying of water fountains (set to go off on a timer), the singing of birds, and the gentle rustle of the fabric of Scootarella's skirt as they walked along. As they walked along, Scootarella was busy telling Rumble all that had happened.
"So, since we last met, the Royal Family has been across the continent. Our goodwill tour was seen by thousands, and it helped to secure new trade deals and national ties. It's being jokingly called the 'glass slipper alliance'!"
"That's handy to know," Rumble said. "We don't really get around much. Thunderlane and me. We spend most of our time at the palace, which does somewhat lose its novelty value after a while. Do you have any siblings yet, or is something else going on?"
"Mom isn't ready to adopt another child," Scootarella replied. "She feels that, given there are so many children who are orphaned and in need of good homes, that having children would simply be irresponsible. So she wishes to set a good example through adopting kids instead."
"That's sensible really," Rumble said. "Father was the second of eight. Five brothers, two sisters, all of whom have considerable broods of their own. Two is a very small number by Munchendorfian standards."
"Now that's a long word," Scootarella laughed. "My tutor, Miss Cheerilee, has stated that too many of her students use long words in a sentence to sound clever, not because it actually makes sense. Check this one out; 'Esquire Jones decamped via farcical exchange'."
"What on earth does that even mean?" Rumble asked.
"Mister Jones went to the market," Scootarella told him. "I'm pretty good friends with her daughter, and two of the noble families around here pop over regularly. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are such good friends, the one thing I lacked for so long."
"Me too," Rumble sighed. "It's been pretty lonely at times with nobody to talk to. And here I am, pouring my heart out to you. Not that that's a problem, it's always nice when there's somebody there to listen."
"I know how you feel," Scootarella answered. "But remember to 'have courage and be kind'. Mom shows both qualities and has been richly rewarded for it, so I intend to stand by those qualities as well."
As they sat looking at the water, two voices called over.
"Howdy, Scoots!"
"Hello, sir! Who are you?"