The Missing Bard
Chapter 6: Return to Canterlot
It had been a very long time since I ever felt the need to prove anything to anyone, and let alone be excited about it. I still couldn't believe that I was going to have an audience with the Princesses to prove that I was ready to step up to the plate. Not to mention I was going to be made an honorary member of the Elements of Harmony. While normally this wouldn't have phased me back in Midgard to be apart of anything above the norm, but here, I felt such a thrill, and such excitement. Yet I think I found it more exciting that I was to be considered special here in Equestria, I finally felt like I was going to belong somewhere fighting for what I believed in and what I stood up for was the right cause. This is something I had dreamed of my entire life, and now was my chance.
The train ride to Canterlot was nothing special compared to last time. We didn't get stopped by the attendant at the train station leaving Ponyville, unlike last time, as the Attendant recognized Twilight and offered Twilight and all of us free passage as offered previously. Pinkie Pie once again through another party on the way up to Canterlot, but her reasoning this time was "Riding the Train Party." However this time there was no Vinyl or any other pony for a DJ, instead Pinkie just played music from this device she called a "record player." But like I had said before, the thought of partying randomly did get annoying at first, but once the moment came, well you couldn't fight the urge to just let loose! But the party did help keep our minds off the trip and before we knew it we had arrived.
The train ride to Canterlot seemed much shorter this time compared to when I first made this trip as a human. Even with one of Pinkie's parties, time did seem to go much faster this time around. Perhaps it was because this time I was not worried about finding a way back home, or worried about Midgard.
"Canterlot Station!" Called out the attendant.
"Thats us I guess." I called out to everpony traveling with us.
"I reckon' it would be! Come on gals!" Called out Applejack.
We had all disembarked from the train, myself waiting till last to let all of the girls go first. Twilight waited till the other girls had left the car and she had put her hoof on my shoulder and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. She finally winked, smiled and then exited the car, and I followed behind her.
"So Kiniro think that you'll be able to give it your all and be as cool as all of us?!" Rainbow Dash had asked me
"Well... maybe not as cool as you Dash, but definitely cool enough!" I laughed slightly.
"Well that's true, no one can be as cool as me!" Rainbow Dash commented while putting on what looked like sunglasses.
"Rainbow, now don't be bragging!" Applejack responded.
"I wouldn't be bragging if it was true." Rainbow Dash mentioned as she took flight, hovered in front of us and crossed her front legs.
"Now don't you be startin' that again!" Applejack retorted. "Don't make me whip ya today in front of everypony here!"
"Is that a challenge?!" Rainbow Dash responded.
"You bet yer' hiney it is!" Applejack shouted. "Last one to the castle has to give up their cider privileges this next season and the winner gets the other's supply!"
Rainbow Dash gasped loudly! "You are so on! No one gets between me and my Cider! Not even Berry Punch!"
"On yer' marks', get set...GO" Applejack yelled. Both her and Rainbow Dash took off in a flash.
"Well... this w-wont end w-well... Even if I-i wanted to race, I-i'd never bet my s-supply of cider." Fluttershy squeeked.
Rarity sighed loudly. "I swear, I love them both to bits, but they can turn into ruffians like the turn of a stitch."
"Dibs on throwing the victory party!" Pinkie shouted. "Good thing I know who will win!"
"How do you know who will win Pinkie?" I asked.
"Well duh that's easy! I got a chance to talk to the writer, he keeps his key points of the story in a small little notebook!" Pinkie replied.
"Oh no... not this again." Twilight quickly placed a hoof in her face in shame.
"He's been keeping notes since he hasn't been able to write much! Plus he's been really busy, so I gave him a hoof in picking a winner!" Pinkie Pie smiled.
"Uh..... ok?" I said as I gave Pinkie a dazed look. As I looked at the other ponies still in our group, looks like my reaction was not alone. "Shall we press on to the Castle?" I asked.
"Yes! We should!" Twilight answered.
"Lead on!" Rarity commented.
"Um... only if you think we should." Fluttershy squeeked.
"Well I think the script says we should so..." Pinkie trailed off.
We had left the train station with the goal of arriving to the castle. I found myself constantly trying to point out landmarks or familiar buildings a we made our trip to the Castle. But I called out every familiarity with the area since my first arrival here as a human.
"Hey Twi, any chance that we will run into your brother here today?" I asked.
"Probably not Kini, he's actually on leave from his post he's spending time with Cadance out in Baltimare. Mostly sight seeing but I know that its a late Honeymoon trip!" Twilight answered.
"Oh... that's good for them, but I was kinda hopping to run into him again." I said with a slight disappointment.
"Oh cheer up Kini, I'm sure you two will get the chance to run into each other soon!" Twilight reassured.
"It would be nice." I responded. Considering most of my friends were female, a bit of guy time would be nice. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed spending some quality time with Big Mac also, but he's usually really busy, and a stallion of few words. So unless we were working on something together at the orchard, we was usually very quiet. But I had been hoping to run into Shining Armor this time around, maybe get a different perspective on magic and who knows, maybe bond a little more, considering, more and more I kept looking at him like a brother figure. Considering Twilight and I had been together for 5 months, I was hoping to establish that bond soon.
"By the way darling. Kini, you do need to stop by the boutique soon, I'm just finishing the final touches of your wardrobe. The designs of your human clothing while simple, are rather hard to replicate for in pony form! But good thing you have good ol' Rarity and her fabulous fashion sense to make sense of it all!"
"Ah, good to see you're close to finishing them. It did take a while, but I knew you wouldn't let me down!" I responded. "I can't wait to see the finished results!"
"Oh but I do have to admit, I did add a little bit of my own... personal ideas into the ensemble of yours, and I do hope you like it!" Rarity continued.
"I'm sure it will be amazing Rarity. Considering I saw the dress that you made for Twilight, she looks absolutely amazing in it." I commented.
"Oh I know! Does she just not look fascinating and gorgeous in it!"
"Well that would be one way to put it!" I smiled. I looked over to Twilight to see what she thought only to see her blushing heavily due to my comments.
"Well I have had her model for me on a few occasions, when she's not not buried in book work and I need some new opinions, but truth be told. Twilight has an excellent figure for a unicorn, but I hardly ever get her to model for me!"
"Rarity, I would have to agree, she should model more often, considering that figure of hers." I said as I winked at Twilight. Suddenly I saw Twilight again put her hoof in her face in shame and Rarity had noticed this also.
"Oh sweetie. Twilight, Kiniro is only complimenting you! Considering the matter, I think he got a good catch! As did you!" Rarity tried to explain.
"Um..." Twilight tried to respond but couldn't gather her thoughts.
"I do have to admit Twilight, you are very amazing, and not just in your personality! I have to admit you are kinda cute." I added in. Only to see Twilight turn even more red from blushing.
"See! He adores you Twilight! Besides you got a nice catch yourself, outside of his talents, look at him! Very nice soft beige colored coat! A midnight blue colored mane! Plus he himself is very well built for a stallion if I must say so myself. Plus he does have a bit of cuteness to him, but mostly its his cheery personality that does it for him! Honestly Twilight, you have a keeper!" Rarity explained.
"Oh stop it you!" I blushed slightly and chuckled. "Rarity I swear if I wasn't already taken, I swear you've been keeping your eye on me." I laughed.
"Oh, perhaps, but I'm not that type of mare Kiniro! As you do recall I am a fashionista! I do have an extreme eye for detail! But I you two are perfect for each other!" Rarity commented.
"Thank you Rarity!" I responded as I went in for a kiss on Twilight's cheek. Only to see her bury her face into her hoof. After the kiss I whispered into Twilight's ear. "You know I love you and you know that you have an amazing figure." The only response I got was a small giggle and a hoof punch in my front right leg.
"Hey look the castle is up ahead!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
"Yay!" Fluttershy said lightly.
"We shouldn't be much longer now dears!" Rarity commented.
"To the castle!" I shouted. "Onward!"
My moment with the princesses was drawing nearer. Unlike our last meeting, where dread and despair was a constant feeling of what I knew I was surely going to leave behind. This time, the excitement and joy ran through me like the sugar rush of eating one of Pinkie Pie's cupcakes. I knew that now I was going to accepted as a pony here in Equestria, whether or not I passed my trials in becoming an honorary Element of Harmony. I was now able to call this place my home, after the months of struggle, My initial entrance into this world with its many trials and the suffering from my past world. Even though I was accepted by my friends, I knew that I was going to be in a world that accepted me for who I was, and that moments was coming soon.
End of Chapter 6.