Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie should be here somewhere. It still wasn't clear exactly why Luna needed their help, but it was with something in Canterlot somewhere. Celestia said she wanted to talk to all of us soon in her letter, but she wouldn’t be free for some time. She said my friends would be waiting for us in my house, since it seemed a fine place to start. Fluttershy and Applejack had followed me to the house, and up to the tower library, but in retrospect checking it first was rather silly. So now we were in the elevator, and with a flash of my horn the smallish platform began to move.
"This is kinda a odd house, ain't it?"
"Maybe by Ponyville standards." I said "The elevator is a bit odd, but it allows for more space while still leaving the whole house connected. Some ponies have to go back outside and down the ramp to get to the front door."
"I guess that makes even less sense, and it's sure a nice enough place. This seems ta me like a fairly swanky part a town too."
"Sort of."
Then the elevator stopped and I walked quickly through the hallway, which also had numerous filled bookshelves, though there were a few small statues or other objects mixed in here and there. Mom is probably right about me owning far too many books, but it's just so hard to some I don't need. Dash was on my couch, Ratiy searching the room, and I heard humming coming in the direction of the kitchen. Pinkie appeared with a tray of cookies a moment later. Directly behind me. I ended up in a pile with Applejack and Fluttershy, though I don't think AJ reacted at all. We quickly got to our hooves and untangled ourselves. Pinkie dumped the cookies on a plate then trotted in the direction of the kitchen.
"So, can we go home now?" said Dash
"We could, but the Princess wants to see us tomorrow so..." I smiled. "I was thinking sleepover, the princess herself suggested I show you around Canterlot."
"Oh that sounds lovely."
"Ah guess Big Mac can get on a day or so without me. Still, you sure your parents are okay with us all crashing here? Ah don't see them nowhere but…"
I gulped. "Oh, uh, this isn't their house."
"So what this is the library house or something?" Said Dash, waving a hoof about randomly. "Also why doesn't it have a sign?"
"Oh, no, that's not a library, well it is, but…" I sighed. "Girls. This is my house, all of it. All the books, all the furniture, everything."
"Even the scale cleaning kit?" asked Pinkie
I laughed. "Okay, that and a few other things are Spike's even if he bought less than half with his own money."
"Wait, do you pay that little guy or…"
"Not really, but I do have to provide housing, food, and though it hasn't come up much yet, instruction. The work itself provides the experience I'm supposed to give him."
Rarity suddenly turned away from me, ran over to the painting over the couch. It was of a starry sky, complete with galaxies and other features which couldn’t possibly be seen with the naked eye, or even all together like that at all. Despite the inaccuracy I do love all her night sky paintings. Rarity leaned in, looking at the corner with the signature in it. Some earth pony artists said putting something other than your cutie mark was just too weird, but unicorns could easily write out our name, so why not?
"They're all originals, aren't they? Not mere copies or prints, but original oil paintings."
"Uh, yes, they are."
"How rich are you exactly? I thought my family was well off, though new money obviously, but to have so many Twinkle originals, not to mention this house."
"I can explain both of those, though the house bit is a little more complicated."
"Well start with the dumb painting already. I mean it can't be that big of a deal."
"Really Rainbow, do you know nothing of fine art."
"Not a thing." Then she laughed.
"Twinkle is one of the greatest artists of our time. Her night sky paintings are her cheapest works as they are so numerous, but each has some value."
"Of course she makes so many because it's what she loves painting most of all."
"Wait, you know Twinkle personally?"
"I more than just know her."
Rarity took a step back. "Really Twilight? I didn't think you were that kind of mare."
"What do you mean by that. I meant…"
"She means…" Dash chuckled a bit "She thinks you and this Twinkle are all missy mare style kissy face and that's why you got all the free stuff."
"Eww, eww ewww, ewww."
I trotted around the room trying to get that horrible image out of my mind. It didn't help. Curse my traitorous imagination.
"Really Twilight. I didn't expect you were like that I thought you would be more tolerant of those with slightly different…"
"Twinkle is my mom Rarity." I shook my head. "Eww, eww, ew."
Applejack cringed. "Oh now why the hay did that image have to enter mah head."
"Oh my." Said Fluttershy, and blushed.
"I wonder if mom still tastes like rocks." Pinkie then shook her head. "Still, that's crazier than oatmeal."
Dash laughed. "You guys are so freaking out over nothing."
"Ah, yes. That explains…" Rarity shook her head. "Yes, that is a most distracting thought to be sure. So that is how you are able to afford this home?"
"Mostly. Mom and dad were tired of my books being everywhere anyway. Celestia built the house of course."
Rarity gasped. "I know you are her personal student but to have her labor as a common pony to help build a home? It's just unthinkable."
I smiled. "It isn't like that. Celestia finds construction comforting. She built this house, as well as almost every other building in Canterlot, and with her magic alone."
"Oh my."
"Ah reckon I remember a story 'bout this. They say that Celestia built the whole a Canterlot in four days and four nights, all by her lonesome all them years ago. Pulling the rock from the mountain, and cutting and flying it around till she built the whole place."
"Yea, it's really amazing to watch. All of Canterlot is told so they can observe. Of course nowadays architects just send her the plans once it's been approved by the city commission, but the two palaces and a great deal of other buildings are still standing, and they set the overall look of the city."
"OOO. Plus I bet Celestia totally just did it all herself for you, right?"
I smiled. "Yes, we worked on it together for many nights before she built this place. She's so amazing. I'm still surprised how often recently she's admitted there are actually things she's not perfect at."
"Hmmmm." Pinkie put a hoof on her chin. "Does this mean you and Fluttershy can build your own cities if you want too?"
"Build…" Fluttershy shivered for a moment, then took a deep breath.
"Pinkie." I shook my head. "Stop exaggerating."
"I am?" Pinke then scratched her head with a hoof
"So every single block in this city really is placed by Celestia herself?" said Rarity
"No. She even let me help with this house. Also there are countless little things it just doesn't seem worth bothering your ruler about."
"Ah, like repair work and such, correct?"
"Well, not so much that. Rarity, I haven't been here since I left Canterlot. What do you think of that."
"But there is no dust, it's as clean as can be. Surely servants…"
I smiled. "The entire city is self cleaning."
Dash suddenly laughed. "Oh yea. Luna told me about this. You might think it's some show of luxury or power or whatever, but it's really just that Celestia wasn't fond of dusting, so just made the whole place clean itself."
"Woweee." Said Applejack "I guess when they say the magical city of Canterlot, they ain't kidding. That's mighty impressive."
"Indeed. But still, how much did this parcel of land cost, even if you did get a free house it must have been horrifically expensive."
Dash suddenly laughed. "Oh man, Twi, you totally got Celestia to make it super cheap before you got it right?"
"Dash, Celestia cannot simply…"
"No, that's about right." I said, then sighed. "As her personal student I get a large number of perks." I paused, since I was technically about to lie. "I get a ridiculous discount on any land owned by the crown. The former owner was sent to jail for some fiscal crime."
What I didn't say is while that was true enough, and the discount was a result of my position, simply being Celestia's student isn't why. Though I guess being her student was ultimately the reason, but it was still untrue. But I really hated telling ponies about the real reason, so I'd try to avoid mentioning it if at all possible.
"You mean he robbed a bank or something?" asked Dash
Rarity rolled her eyes. "I'm sure she means something along the lines of fraud, a pyramid scheme, or banking malfeasance."
I nodded. "Something like that. I'm not sure exactly. Thus the property came under the ownership of the crown to be sold off in an attempt to cover his debt. The house itself was teleported to some other property because Celestia thought that could get more money back for the ponies that lost money, and less the crown had to cover."
"Ugh, this is getting all boring. If we're going to get a tour lets go."
Dash was suddenly in the air, flying toward the door. Applejack grabbed her tail before she got very far. Dash didn’t say anything, just crossed her front hooves and turned around to glare at AJ.
"I think Dash is right. The day is wasting and we can talk while we walk."
"I have a few more questions about your parents and most especially about your mother. To think I had such a connection to the darling of the art world."
"How about we leave that until later. I am planning on taking you girls to meet both of them, once they wake up that is."
"What do you mean by that sugarcube?"
"Well dad works the royal observatory, and as I said mom likes to paint the night sky, even if she does add things most of the time."
Rarity laughed. "Ah yes, accuracy is very important, correct."
I laughed, blushing. "Sorry again Rarity. I was probably the worst, wasn't I?"
"In some ways. In truth…" Rarity stopped. "No, that matters not. Rainbow is right, lets begin this tour."
"Okay, first stop, is right next door." I smiled. "I think you'll like this Rarity."
"What do you mean?"
I smiled even wider. She's going to be surprised. I walked out the door confident my friends would be right behind me. We should have great fun, and with what I know about the history and inner workings of Canterlot, it will also be educational.