//------------------------------// // Princely Pleasure // Story: 'Versing Space // by Shadowhawk //------------------------------// Your private tea party was excellent! You've been so busy clothing your friends, your clients, your patrons that you haven't had a chance to simply enjoy Celestia's sun in nearly a month! Is this what Rainbow feels when the sun bathes her in illumination in Cloudsdale? Truly, the pegusus ponies do not understand their blessed good fortune! Your admiration for the sun is broken by the two creatures that walked out of the everfree forest. Oh. By the Princess! The first creature is taller than a pony and is covered from hoof to head in polished dark green scales. Its head is larger than a pony's and faintly egg shaped. It walks on its hindhooves. It steps proudly, like a soldier wearing full regalia at some imaginary parade. As it gets closer, you notice that it has many items attached to its scales. Some look like pockets, others look like strange boxes. Its forehooves end in strange, dull looking claws. As you look up, you notice the head seems to have the outlines of facial features. Boxy looking eyes and mouth. No nose to speak of. It carries a large dull-silver boxy tube on its back, it looks heavy, but the creature appears not to notice the weight at all. The second creature is slightly taller than the first. Its dark green scales are scuffed and marred with dirt. The scales themselves seem marked with symbols, leering pictures and text. It is difficult to look at, it is so complex. Its head shares similar features with the other. Except there is another picture there. A yellow circle, with what appears to be two eyes and a smiling mouth. As it follows the first creature, it's walk betrays a certain frenetic energy and speaks of impatience. You're not as afraid of these creatures as you might expect. They did not appear to be carrying weapons and they're obviously not diamond dogs. The scales they wear remind you more of Spike than anything. Perhaps they were small, unusual dragons? Dragons with diamonds, perhaps? The neat one raises his foreclaws slowly as he gets to within a comfortable, yet not too close distance of you. You feel a flicker of fear and stand which causes the creature to stop and hold his claws up in a placating palm forward gesture. The other creature steps to one side, then suddenly drops to one knee and bows his fearsome head to you. "Forgive us, Queen of these lands, we intrude upon your royal rest only as visitors to your kingdom." Its voice comes from what you'd call its 'head' and belies that the creature is male. It thinks I'm a Queen? You give it a small smile. "Farle, did you just call that horse a queen? Of all the stupid..." Fenris begins to say over private comms. "Ah shut it! I'll just screw with it politely, we're newcomers in this land, they'll probably give us alot of leeway! Besides, who doesn't like being compared to Royality?" The creature smiles at you, you rise from your knee and grin to yourself. Fuck yea! "And what, creature, are you?" It asks in a upper class accent. "Me and my royal handservant/guard, Fenris." You reply, almost feeling the rage from your friend, "Are of the 'Human' race. We come seeking knowledge of new lands." When it heard the term 'Royal handservant' it perked right up! Oh this is going to be good! What shall you be?! A king? No too flashy, a knight? No too obvious. What about a prince? YES! "And your name?" It demands. "I am Farle," You give it a deep and royal bow, "Prince of the 12th Dynasty, liberator of the Captial Wastelands and hero to the Spider creatures of Veritus Primus." The horse looks massively impressed at your absolutely fake accolates. Well, you think it looks impressed, its practically salivating through its poorly held façade. "....You're so fucking full of shit, Farle." Fenris interrupts over the comm, "I can't believe you, a prince? What the hell do you think you're doing?" "Kiss my ass, look at this thing! Its drooling! I rock!" You reply comm. "Well, 'Prince Farle', I am....Lady...Rarity, will you and your manservant accompany us to our friend so that we might learn together?" "Lady Rarity, we would be most honored. Fenris, collect the Lady's possessions! We have an engagement with a friend!" Fenris collected up her stuff, he did it with all the grace of a butler, but even with his helmet on, you can see the rage. You have to laugh, fucking with him is the only real consistant entertainment you've ever had and boy, WAS IT GOOD! The trip to 'Lady' Rarity's friend took nearly an hour thanks to her massively overweighted piece of luggage. Whatever these horsey creatures were, they obviously had the strength and stamina of a rhino. Farle just could not stop talking to the infernal creature! Relating yet another over the top tale of the last time he met royality from another world, this time a true one, but still full of obnoxous self-congratulatory swill. Who packs a trunk full of clothes for a picnic! "And this is our...." The horse paused, "....COUNTRY RETREAT!" Why is this creature yelling? Its obviously lying but WHY IS IT YELLING?! "A fine retreat, M'lady." Farle replied with sarcasm so rich you could bank on it, the creature seemingly didn't notice it. "We.....don't normally entertain new guests here, but fate conspires to its own ends, does it not?" "Indeed! Although I must say fate surely has smiled on you, this is a wonderful village! Such colors and sights!" Farle replied, surveying the collection of retro, pastel buildings that had come into sight. "My friend lives just here!" She gestures to building. That is a house. Built into a tree. You'd call it a treehouse but that really doesn't do it justice. As you get with about ten feet, Farle holds out an arm to stop you. The creature 'Rarity' notices the gesture, then turns and looks at you both quizzically. "Problem, Prince Farle?" she enquires. "I believe it would be best to give your friend some space, I am quite sure the sight of two new creatures from afar would be better than risking a close-quarters surprise, M'lady." The creature considers that a moment, then graciously nods at Farle before turning to knock on the door. It opens after a moment, revealing another purple unicorn who begins to speak. "Rarity! What can I..." She see's you, "Errr?" "Twilight, darling, this is Prince Farle and his handservant Fenris. They are humans, looking for..." she pauses, Farle takes that as a cue to bow. "Knowledge, Lady Rarity, we seek knowledge in all its forms and would be more than happy to share ours in return." He says. The purple one looks unsure for a moment, then after a moment's consideration offers a small nervous smile at you two. The white one looks at her friend with a twinkle in her eye, she seems pleased with the reaction. "Well, if you'd like to come in to the library," Twilight says, "I'm sure we could find you some books.." "...Library?" Farle finally squeeks out, "Did you say 'Library'?" Oh no. Now both of the creatures look at him in a not-insignificiant amount of fear. "Yes?" the Purple one offers tentatively. But Farle is no longer listening. You are Farle and LIBRARY! LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY!LIBRARY! "Lady Rarity, Miss Sparkle, please remain calm." The manservant says to you both, "This always happens when the...prince finds a library, especially so long after the last one." You notice the taller creature, who Rarity said was called Prince Farle, has started to shake. The other creature drops the trunk he was carring. It reaches his claws up to what presumably is its master's head and begins to push and pull the scales on its neck. It starts to hiss, then with both claws he begins to pull the other creature's head off. Rarity gasps. "Don't worry, I'm just removing his helmet so he doesn't deafen himself." It explains. The dark green helmet is eventually detacted, revealing a fleshy head. It has two eyes that are much smaller than a pony's, a small nose and mouth. A tuffed of black fur is atop its head. Finer details are impossible to disern because the creature, inside that thing, is apparently vibrating. Then, abruptly, it stops and spins towards the other with an absolutely massive grin on its face. "LIBRARY!" It screams with glee at him, before throwing its claws into the air, turning on its heel and running around the manservant cheering. You hear a hiss and notice that the other creature has also removed its helmet. It's face looks similar in basic construction, but instead has lighter fur on its head, its eyes are blue and it wears a tired smile on its face. It turns to face you as the mad prince starts skipping around him. "I think you just made his day, week, month AND year, Miss Sparkle." The manservant says to you as Farle leaps at least 4 feet into the air and lands with a thud. "LIBRARY! YESSS!"