She was hurtling through a vortex of electricity and light. It was not an unfamiliar feeling, but it carried the same sense of disorientation as it always had. The lightning prickled at her fur, making her giggle as the tunnel opened up and deposited her at her destination.
“Ooh, tingly.”
She rubbed her antennae as the static electricity crackled around them, before turning to address her tail as well, waving it around as she twirled in place. She had always enjoyed this form—something about it felt more connected to her roots. Looking around, she found herself to be in a courtyard, adjacent to a castle.
“Halt! Who goes there?!”
Grace turned to see a winged white horse in gold-plated armor galloping over to her.
“Oh, hello Mr. Pegasus Horse, sir. My name’s Grace and—”
“Who are you, and what are you doing in the Canterlot Gardens?”
“Well, my name’s Grace, and...” Grace scratched her head for a moment and gazed upward. “Well, I’m not really sure what I’m doing here. I don’t even know where this ‘Canterlot’ place is. Where exactly are we?” she asked, turning back to the guard.
“You are in the royal courtyard, just outside of Canterlot Castle.”
Grace’s eyes became all sparkly and her mouth opened wide in a big smile. “A castle! You mean, like, for a princess? Oh this is so cool. Where is she?”
The guard motioned to his right. “She’s right over—Wait, hey! No, I’m not letting you see the princess!” His eyes narrowed as he turned back toward her. Grace's smile vanished, her lips drawing tightly together as she leaned away from the horse's accusing glare.
“What are you, exactly?" the horse said. "Clearly you are not equine."
Grace's smile returned at the mention of her appearance. “Ooh, would you like me to look like a horse? I could do that.”
The horse became even paler. “I—What?!”
Her antennae melting back into the rest of her head, Grace began to morph into a horse. Her bushy tail from earlier returned, and her hands and feet became hooves at the end of far more horse-like legs. Dropping onto all fours, she addressed pegasus, mare to stallion. “Hi.”
“What in Celestia’s mane are you?” he exclaimed, shivering as beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face.
Grace looked up, as if trying to see the fuzzy brown horn now protruding from her forehead. “Well, technically, I’m what’s called a seyunolu.”
“And just what in the hay is that?” The pegasus took a step backward.
“Just a human–uryuom hybrid, with some lespuko DNA mixed in as well.” Grace squeed.
“What the buck is a uryuom?!” The pegasus was now slowly retreating.
“Shapeshifters.” Grace shrugged.
“And t-the les—whatever thingy?” His voice faltered as his wings proceeded to pin themselves to his side.
Grace put a hoof to her chin. “The lespuko? A super powerful alien race with incredible magical abilities.”
The white winged horse froze. “I— you—” He tried to give her a stern look, but Grace could hear his armor rattling as he stood there. Whatever he had been trying to say, however, was silenced by the appearance of an even larger and much more majestic-looking pegasus. Upon closer inspection, Grace noticed that this one was also a unicorn.
"Quiver, what's going on over here?" said the large white unicorn pegasus, with a soft but firm voice. The guard still nearly jumped out of his fur.
"Wha—oh, it’s you, princess.” He gathered himself to gether and stood up taller. “We have an intruder, Your Highness," the guard tried again. "This—this creature just appeared out of nowhere and asked to see you. It could be dangerous, Princess. We should send it away."
The taller one eyed Grace for a moment, before looking back to the guard. "No, that's quite alright, Quiver. I'm actually very interested to learn how she got here."
"But, Your Majesty—"
"It's alright, Quiver. I think I'll be perfectly fine. I am Princess Celestia after all, am I not?" She stared at the guard for a moment.
"Of—of course, Princess," Quiver replied, stuttering a little.
Celestia turned to Grace, then nodded her head in the other direction, and followed the motion with one of her wings."Why don't you tell us, Miss... "
"Grace!" Grace answered.
"Miss Grace." The unicorn nodded, and began walking toward the castle.
~ ~ ~
“So then he shot me with the gun, and that’s how I ended up here.”
Celestia turned to look at the guard. He lifted his wings momentarily in response, and she returned her gaze to the dark brown unicorn standing next to him.
“And, what is your name again?”
“Um, Grace, your majesty,” the unicorn replied, scratching at one of her hooves with the other.
“And you are a... what, exactly?”
“A seyunolu. I’m a human-lespuko hybrid.” The unicorn’s mane then sprouted two very thick tufts of hair, which she proceeded to wave around like antennae. “See?”
“I do.” Celestia smiled.
“Oh, and, um... squirrel, your majesty,” Grace added.
“Squirrel?!” the guard exclaimed.
Celestia ignored him. “Well, Grace, there’s really no need to be so formal. You can just call me Tia, if you’d like,” she added, walking over to where Grace stood.
Grace laughed. “Do you drink a lot of it?”
Tia blinked. “I’m... sorry?”
“Tea,” Grace replied. “You asked me to call you ‘Tea’. You must drink it a lot if everyone calls you that.”
Celestia thought about it for a moment, then let out a chuckle. “You know, I think I might know somepony you would get along with very well. You said you were stuck here, and you don’t know how to get home?” she asked, walking over to her balcony.
“That’s correct, Tia,” Grace replied, nodding fervently.
“Excellent,” replied Celestia, turning back toward Grace. “Quiver, see Grace to the train, please. Next stop: Ponyville.”
“Of—of course, your majesty,” the guard replied with a quick salute, before turning on his hoof and exiting the room.
When they were gone, Celestia let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Whew, at last. I thought I’d never get them out of here.” She trotted back up toward her throne and knelt down. “Thank goodness she has no clue who I am. And a lespuko, no less.” She rubbed her head with her hoof, before lying down to take a rest. “Oh well, she’s out of my hair now.” She laid her head down and closed her eyes.
“Tia!” a familiar voice called from just around the corner.
Oh, no. She had forgotten.
“Sister, we seek your counsel at once.”
Luna.