//------------------------------// // Chapter 29: Pony helmets // Story: The Reader // by GnollReader //------------------------------// Catching her hadn't been easy, she simply knew the castle much better than him. Still, he had managed to catch up to her somehow. There were a few dents in his costume now but it would still serve its purpose. "Let's stop here, I think my sister will have a fit if any more servants complain to her about us." Celestia smiled as they both walked down the halls. Scar had taken off his costume and was observing the large hall they were in. Everything was clean and sparkling, the floor was polished to a degree were he could see himself in it. He didn't like it, the floor was too slippery and he had trouble to find a hold on it without digging his claws in the floor and scratching it. "Also,..." she stopped and turned around to face him, "Thank you." The gnoll nodded and patted the costume he was carrying under one of his arms, "Is no problem, Scar can come and chase Celestia again." She smiled, "Actually, I didn't mean that. Although I greatly enjoyed it. I wanted to thank you for protecting Twilight Sparkle, she means very much to me. In doing so, you also protected the other elements of harmony. Had anything happened to them, it would have been a terrible day for us." "Celestia find any more evil rats?" "Sadly the information I was able to obtain from the live one you brought was not very helpful. They received their orders in the lands behind the great desert, nopony has ever gone beyond it. We have allies living in Saddle Arabia, but even they only seldom wander to the fringes of the desert. I have sent a message to them in hope that they can help us shed some light on the situation and to warn them of the possible dangers." While they had talked Celestia and Scar had reached her chambers again, "And friends have answered?" he watched as she put on her crown. He leaned his costume against one of the walls. "Sadly no, I am still waiting for them to reply. Until their answer arrives we will need to remain careful." she thought for a moment, "Could I ask something of you?" "Celestia wants to chase again? Scar thought Lulu gets mad?" She chuckled, "No, I don't think I'm fit enough for another chase." She got more serious, "The representatives of the major equestrian cities as well members of the important noble families will come together shortly to hold a council. Most of them only know little of what actually happened since I was careful not to risk a panic, but I will have to explain to them why I placed my guards at the equestrian borders and within their cities." "And what does Celestia want Scar to do?" "You have an important part in what happened, and I will have to tell them of your presence when I inform them of the current situation. As far as I know rumors about you have already started to spread. I would like to take this chance to introduce you to them and negate any wrong rumors. Actually, two of them have personally requested to meet you as soon as possible." "Scar will come and help." Scar answered firmly. He had only understood half of what she had said but if his presence would help he would be there. He thought for a moment, "What two ponies wish to meet Scar?" "Princess Cadence and her husband Shining Armor. She is a good friend of Twilight Sparkle and he is her brother, and they both wish to thank you personally for protecting her. However, I am afraid they do not know what to expect yet." "Scar will meet ponies then. Where is pony meeting?" "It will start in the audience chamber shortly. Come, I will lead you there." --- Scar followed Celestia as she led him towards the audience chamber. When they arrived at the large doors he could already smell that there were many ponies inside it. "Please wait outside, I shall call you in when the time comes." He nodded and she went inside, leaving him with the two guards standing perfectly still next to the doors. One of them was casting him nervous glances. Scar noticed and stepped a bit closer, he took in the guard's scent. "Scar knows this one." The guard started to sweat. The gnoll thought for a moment, from where did he know this pony? The other guard was getting nervous by now. "Aha! Gnoll remembers! Is from Fat Mare! It chewed on pony helm! How is helm pony?" the gnoll greeted the guard friendly, he was still a guest after all. As long as he paid his drinks and behaved of course. "Wait, wait, wait, you chewed on his helm?" the other guard spoke up. The first guard gave a defeated groan, "I thought you said you lost it during flight practice, Cloud Dancer?" "I just told that to the captain! What was I supposed to say? 'Sorry, but the gnoll ate my helm?' She would have kicked my flank for such a story!" Scar turned to the guard, just as the first one she was a pegasus. She eyed him curiously, "You chewed on his helm? Seriously?" "Scar is bouncer at Fat Mare, helm pony misbehaves so gnoll gives warning." She snickered, "You threw away your helm because of a few dents and some spit?" "Actually, there weren't just a few dents..." "Pah, I bet he just looked at you and you soiled yourself." Scar wasn't sure about this one, she sounded disrespectful and overconfident. The way she moved signaled aggression. Or maybe he was just reading her wrong? "I bet you he's just as tame as a puppy, why else would the princess allow him to run around?" Cloud Dancer didn't like where this was going, he knew Star Glaze was always looking for a way to prove herself. "I don't think that..." She turned to Scar, "I bet I could take you on without so much as a fight, I know your kind, you just look tough." Cloud Dancer gave a groan. Scar was slowly starting to get the impression that the pony before him was insane. Either that or she was simply impolite. He didn't actually want to fight her, this wasn't the bar after all. Maybe he could intimidate her to prevent a conflict. "Glaze, don't try and pick a fight with him, okay? I don't think you'd enjoy it." She turned to Cloud Dancer, "Oh, what's wrong? Did the big fluffy dog scare you? Grow some bHEY!" she whirled around as Scar plucked her helm off her head. "Here we go..." sighed Cloud Dancer. --- A few minutes later another guard opened the door from inside, "Scar the gnoll? The princess requests your..." he looked at Star Glaze, "Where is your helm?" "The gnoll ate it." she replied sourly. Scar was still giving her an indifferent glare, he had made his point. The digestion would take some time though. "Are you... no time, we'll talk about this later." He turned to Scar, "Come this way please." After the doors closed behind them Cloud Dancer couldn't help it anymore, "Told you it was a bad idea." "Ahh, shut it. Help me come up with an excuse for the captain instead. She's going to go nuts!"