Bleach, me and Golden Sparkles are waiting for our escort, who is supposed to be here by now.
I'm trying my best to look very important, but it must not be working, because Bleach is looking at me weird, like I'm making a strange face or something.
And now there's a pony in front of us. She's a light violet, with blue eyes and an orangy-yellow mane tied up loosely at the end so that it forms a little bobble.
"Well, good..." She glances around. "Morning?"
"Why haven't you got a horn?" Bleach bursts out.
The pony flaps her wings. "Why would I?"
"Because you-"
"Bleach," I interrupt. "Ponies on Equestria have either wings, a horn or neither."
"That's weird," Bleach says.
I shake my head. "It means they're more powerful in their fields."
"Yeah!" The pony grins and flaps her wings again. "I betcha none of you can break the light barrier!"
"The-?"
It's the first time Golden Sparkles has spoken.
"Yep. I'm even faster than Rainbow Dash." She grins again.
"Alright. One of you, get on my back and hold on tight."
Golden Sparkles bites her lip anxiously and climbs onto the pony's back.
"I'm Plumage, by the way."
She spreads her wings and....she's gone.
"Who's next?"
Her voice shocks me, how can she be back that fast?!
"You. Little silver dragon thing. Hop on."
Bleach does. His claws are shaking.
"You need to hold on tight."
He hugs Plumage's neck.
"Hold on."
She's gone.
Plumage comes back in just over ten seconds, and she says,
"Okay, last one. Hop on, miss."
"I...."
She looks at me. "Oh, right."
My size in comparison to hers doesn't make too much sense.
"You...could....fly alongside me?"
I spread my wings. I was never very good at PE.
I was the second lowest in the class above Discord, whose ganglyness sort of didn't help with his coordination.
"Come on. It's easy. Just... Flap your wings...."
Uncertainly I flap my wings a couple of times.
"That's it! Real fast though."
She demonstrates.
I follow, shakily but still managing to keep up. I laugh. Plumage grins.
"Wanna race, your Royal Klutziness?"
I take off, not waiting for the winged pony, grinning, laughing. This is the most fun I've had in months. I wouldn't mind a student like this!
Plumage is easily keeping up. She nods for me to go faster.
She's pulling ahead.
Trying to speed up, I notice I'm getting tired, but obviously I can't take a breath. I'm in space.
Faster.
Somehow I manage to speed up. Plumage is pointing to a very bright planet. She bows her head and pours on the speed.
I'm trying to keep up. But I can't go any faster!
We hit the atmosphere and I realise how hot I'm getting.
Plumage pulls up and I follow suit. It would be best to copy her since I don't know this planet.
She finds a cloud and lands. "Wow, miss." She's panting. I tired her out.
"Well...it was a pleasure meeting you, Plumage." I realise I'm puffed too.
"You...too. Go to...the big castle. That's...Canterlot. Shining...Armor will...let you in."
I nod. I take a deep breath and head in the direction of the castle.
The two guards that stand at the entrance to Canterlot nod at me and let me in. Flying up to a small balcony with a telescope, I spot a little dragon tottering into a very fancy looking apartment.
Upon closer inspection I realise the dragon is purple.
"Greetings, Dime."
Spinning around, I see Luna.
"I can imagine your surprise. Last time I spoke to you I was a different mare."
"Why are you here?" I snarl.
"Peace. I have served my thousand-year stay on the moon."
A thousand years? Isn't that a bit harsh?
"Hey, Luna....You free for a - "
A figure has appeared in the doorway. A draqonecian figure.
"Discord?" I ask eagerly.
"Discord?" the figure imitates. "Who is that guy? I keep hearing about him."
He walks into the light and I see it isn't Discord. His black mane has streaks of blue, green, purple and pink in it. The normally curved over blue horn has been straightened out, and he has a pinkish-white wing and leg.
Most of all, his eyes are different.
"What?" he says.
He sounds JUST LIKE DISCORD.
"Dime, this is Celestia's son Dionysus."
"Hi...Dime." Dionysus says.
"Hello," I reply.
"Your dragon and servant are waiting." Luna says. She trots out of the room, and I follow, feeling yellowish-pink eyes watching me as I go out the door.
"Dime!"
"Bleach," I say, wanting to look regal.
"Dime," says a voice. "How long has it been since I have last seen you?"
Oh my God.
Celestia's much bigger than I remembered, with a mane that twists and turns like mine. She still wears that crown and neck piece that I crafted for her.
"Celestia!" I exclaim. "Wow, you look..."
"Different?" She smiles. "So do you."
Blushing, I look down. "Is he here?" I ask.
"No. He's....away," Celestia says vaguely.
Looking around at the small Uppercrust audience who have gathered, I stand up tall and say very formally to Celestia,
"Take me, my personal dragon and my hoofmaiden to our rooms, if you would."
She nods, also formally, and makes a small motion for us to follow her.