Chapter Three
**********
"So where are you from?" Twilight Sparkle asked again to the strangers as the nine of them sat around a table.
"That's the problem, we're not sure. So we needed to see you." Allison answered.
"Me? Why me?"
"Do I have to pay for those cupcakes?" Drex asked derailing the conversation.
"Well you see, we heard that you're the student of Princess Celestia," Allison explained, completely ignoring Drex. "And we hope that only she could help us find out how to get back home."
"Well you don't need her help, we just have to go to the library and find a world map." Twilight said trying to reassure her.
"I'm afraid it's not that easy. You see, we have no idea where we are or how to get home. And no matter how big a map you may have, it's not going to make a difference seeing as though we don't even know the way home."
"Seriously, cupcakes that good can't go without a price."
"You mean you have no idea where you came from?" Allison nodded her head. "Then how do you know that you can get back?"
"Because we believe the Princess is the only one who can possibly help us."
"Not that I'm complaining if I don't have to pay, but they were delicious."
"Drex, shut up and stop goofing around!" Allison yelled tired of his single conversation. "I'm sorry about him, he can be an idiot when he likes to be. Oh, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. My name is Allison. This is Drex, unfortunately my friend."
"Nice to meet you both. As you already know I'm Twilight Sparkle, this is Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. And I can see that you've already met Spike." She introduced each of her friends. "Well, I can certainly ask Princess Celestia to see you, but I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific as to why you need to see her."
"We literally have no idea how to get home." Drex said before Allison could reply. "We don't know how we ended up in this area, how we got taken from our home, how we can get back, or even where it is. So we figure that the Princess can help out, but we can't just go up to the front gates and say 'honey, I'm home.' and expect to be allowed to see her. That's why we're asking you for help. So, can you help us?" Allison was a bit surprised by her friend. He wasn't an idiot or a goof twenty-four seven, he had a serious side to him. But it was how he assessed and took control of the situation that surprised her.
Twilight bit on her bottom lip and glanced down, thinking hard. "Spike, take a letter." She says. "Dear Princess Celestia. I've had the pleasure of meeting two creatures whom I've never seen before. They seem to be lost and need assistance getting home, the only problem is that they don't know where home is or how to get there. They've requested to see you personally and ask for help, it seems that they truly have no clue where their home is or how to get back and I've never seen anything like them before. Perhaps you would recognize them, and would be able to tell them where they need to go. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." She finishes and turns to her assistant. "Did you get all of that Spike?"
"With what?" He asks show his empty hands. "Everything I need is back at the tree house."
Twilight sighed. "Okay everypony, let's try this again." Everyone got up and started walking to the exit. It wasn't until they were outside that Drex realized the height difference. He was about a foot and a half taller than the rest while Allison was about head height to them. He was the tallest one around.
"So where are ya'll from exactly?" Applejack asks.
"You wouldn't have heard of it before." Drex answers trying to avoid the question. But they both knew that they couldn't dodge the question forever. "Still, doesn't hurt to know."
'You have no idea how wrong you are.' Drex thought to himself. "Well if you want a name, it's a little town called Rogsbin. Nothing too fancy about it. Or interesting really."
"And is everyone there like you two?" Twilight pushed further.
"No, we're all a little different like you ponies." Allison answered this time.
"Allison," Rarity chirps. "I couldn't help but notice how beautiful your coat is. Is that all natural? It's like gold darling." Rarity's compliment forced her to blush. They reached the tree house shortly thereafter.
"Okay,"Twilight said opening the door for everyone. "Let's try this again. Dear Prince--"
"Yeah yeah, I know." Spike said picking up a quill and paper and wrote down what Twilight said before, remembering everything. He rolled it up and sent it away via the usual method.
"So what else can you tell us about yourselves and where you're from?" Twilight asked while they waited for a response.
"Not much different from the rest of this place." Drex shrugged. Before anyone could say anything else Spike belched out a letter. Twilight picks it up from the ground and starts reading it to herself.
"Okay," She says with a smile after finishing it. "Princess Celestia graciously decided to help. I'll take us to the train station and we'll be off." They left the library as soon as they entered. Allison was relieved to know that they could go home. Twilight took them to the train station by herself and ordered three tickets. They boarded the train and went to their car; Drex sat on a seat in front of Allison and Twilight seeing as though he was a little too big. There were not many other ponies in the car, but Allison could feel them staring at her and shifted awkwardly trying to ignore them. Drex on the other hand didn't care what others thought of him, he probably wasn't going to be around much longer for them to wonder or ask him any questions; besides, he thought that he was pretty awesome, and that's all that mattered.
The train began to leave the station as they heard the whistle blow and the car jerk ahead. "Thank you for the help Twilight." Allison said talking to the mare beside her. "This really means a lot to us."
"It's no problem." She answered with a smile, but that soon faded as she asked something. "You said you were taken from your home. What do mean by that?"
Allison froze, not sure what to say. "We just woke up in that abandoned castle way out in the forest." Drex answers without turning around. "We have no clue how we ended up there, we just did."
"Wait, you mean you came out of the Everfree forest?" Twilight asks shocked, not sure what to think of them now.
"Yup, surprised we didn't run into any trouble along the way. Just strolled right out." The rest of the trip was silence. Not a single word was said. The got out of their seats and stepped off the train when they finally reached their destination. Canterlot was magnificent. The tall wall around it looked like it was polished daily, and the structures themselves were elegant and just as white. And the castle off in the near distance was even more impressive.
"I must say," Drex said admiring the architecture as he and Allison stepped off the train. "This place does seem to have its perks."
"Yeah," She notices something was bothering him. "Something wrong Drex? You don't seem like your idiotic self any more."
"Yeah Ally, I guess it was more so a self-defence mechanism so I don't go nut house crazy. Truth be told, I'm a little scared. You know, waking up somewhere you've never seen, in a new body, and find out your not even on your own..." He caught himself before he would say that they were aliens, there was already a large number of ponies staring at them, no need to draw more attention.
"Hey, don't worry, we'll be home shortly."
"Okay," Twilight came off the train after them. "Now all we have left is a short trip to the castle and you'll be on your way home." They strolled down the streets of Canterlot, more stares and gossip was heard wherever they went. This time it bothered Drex, not because he cared for what they were saying, but how they were saying it. All around them were high-class aristocrats; the snobby, uptight type.
"Ugh, look them. Since when did they start letting mangy animals in the city?"
"What are they?"
"Somepony should put them in a collar."
All of them, they all pissed him off. Normally he wouldn't care what they would say about him, but they weren't talking about just him. They were talking about Ally too. Then a group of three high-class preppy boys said something that Drex couldn't ignore. "Look at the small one, nine tails. What a freak."
Drex stops walking and looks at their general direction. They notice he's staring at them and they snicker. "Forget about them." Allison whispered, trying to stop him. He didn't listen and strided towards them.
"Hey, hey, looks like Fido didn't like what we said about his play mate. What's wrong pooch; did we hit a soft spot?" One asks. Drex towered over all three, but they didn't look frightened, just amused. Drex could tell their type, the kind that acts all high and might because their parents are rich and can be bailed out of any situation.
"Do ya see these teeth?" Drex asks curling his lips back to show his fangs. "They're not meant for crunching up leafy greens like you ponies. They're designed for something better. Like ripping flesh; same with my claws." He presses down on his paws to the claws hidden underneath. In one fluid motion he lifts his arm and swipes at them. His claws stop short of their heads, embedded in the wall of the building behind them and leaving three gashes through the thick wood; and to make sure he got his message across he brings himself down to their eye level, staring at them with a fire, the element his pokémon type was categorized under and whispers. "That was not me being merciful, that was me being kind. You don't want to see me when I'm angry." When he could see that they got the message he removes his claws from the wooden wall and sauntered back to Twilight and Allison with a satisfied toothy grin plastered on half of his face. He noticed that he's attracted even more attention and took a moment to reflect on all of their expressions. They were shocked, appalled, afraid, offended, and disgusted. He didn't care what they thought of him, but he did care what others thought of his friends.
"Let's continue." He says to the girls and continued a head of them, Twilight gave him a look of worry. She didn't think that he'd do anything so impulsive, and began to wonder if bringing them to Princess Celestia was the right idea. Allison's expression was worse than worry though, she had a look of disappointment.
It didn't take long for them to reach the gates of the castle. The guards were reluctant at first, not letting Drex or Allison enter without proper authorization. But thanks to Twilight, they soon had their 'proper authorization.' They lowered the drawbridge and opened the gate and stood at attention as the three passed.
"Wow." Allison gasped as they walked through the castle. She couldn't form any words that could possibly describe the beauty of the Princesses home. The drapes that hung from the walls shone in the sunlight, as did the red carpet they followed. The walls looked were pure white and looked to be polished daily. Truly, this was a place where royalty would live.
Two gilded doors were opened for the three of them as they entered the throne room, the red carpet leading in. This was no great bewilderment for Twilight, she knew these halls like the back of her hoof. Drex and Allison on the other hand couldn't take their eyes off the stained windows that foretold great events. The fall of Discord and bringing Equestria into a new era of harmony, the banishment of Nightmare Moon, the defeation of the two previous enemies dealt by the hooves of Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
'Just like in the show.' Drex thought to himself. Not just like in the show, but exactly like in the show. 'Hm, something's missing though.' Before he could think of what it was that he thought to be missing, Allison nudged him to bring him out of his trance.
Before them, on a throne sat the elder sister of Equestria, Celestia. And beside her stood Princess Luna, mistress of the night; their gazes locked onto the newcomers, intrigued by their forms. A solemn expression was on Celestia's face, an expression that Drex and Allison felt as though was not staring at them, but past them. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight said happy to see her teacher. Celestia's expression soon shifted and looked more positive when her eyes are set upon her student.
"Twilight Sparkle," she rose from her throne and walked down to greet them, followed by her younger sister whose eyes never left Drex or Allison. "And these must be your friends who need help returning home." She was taller than Drex was, but Luna was about eye level to him. Allison and Twilight were sadly dwarfed.
"More so acquaintances than friend your majesty." Drex corrected her. He soon regretted speaking as the eyes of Celestia were upon him again, and for just an instant he felt a shiver down his spine.
"You say that you are lost, and don't know the way home. Is that correct?" Drex nodded stiffly, was it fear or entrancement that paralysed him? "Well, I'm afraid that we've never seen a species quite like yourselves, a dog with stripes like a tiger or zebra, and fox with nine tails. Truly remarkable." She paused for a dramatic moment, and even though she was smiling, Drex and Allison could see past her mask while Twilight was oblivious. "Twilight, could you please give us some privacy? This may take some time."
"Um, okay?" She answers a little confused that her teacher would ask her to leave. "Don't worry, they can help you. And then you'll be home in no time." Twilight walked out of the throne room knowing that Drex and Allison were in good care.
As the doors closed behind the purple unicorn, Celestia turned to face them once more. "Now then, who are you?"
"My name is Allison, and this is my friend, Drex. As you know we've come to--"
"No," Celestia cut Allison off. "I mean who are you? We believe that those are your names and you do need help. Who are you exactly though?" Allison and Drex looked at each other. They knew they'd have to tell Celestia and Luna if they have any hopes of returning home, but they never expected that they'd be found out.
"Busted." Drex commented.
"How did you know?" Allison asks.
"We have been around for a long time, long enough to know how to tell when somepony is lying not or holding something back." Luna answers for her sister. "If returning home is truly what you want, then you will first have to answer us."
"Eh, fine. Okay, first off, these aren't our real bodies." Drex began a little too relaxed. Celestia raised an eyebrow like one would when they are intrigued, urging him to go on. Drex found that odd seeing as though ponies don't have eyebrows. "When we woke up this morning, we found we had these new bodies, something completely different from our old ones."
"And what were you before?" Celestia asked.
"Have you ever heard of a human?" The answer took the royal sister by surprise. "I take it you have."
"Yes, but they're supposed to be stories for young fillies and colts. Not real creatures." Luna objects.
"Yeah well where we come from so are talking ponies with horns and wings." Drex countered, forgetting for a second that he was talking to royalty. "So anyway, we've been taken from our home, placed in new bodies, and thrown in a different world both alien to us and our new forms."
"You say this place is alien to you and your new forms." Celestia pointed out catching him, Drex froze up again. "What do you mean by that?"
"Uh... well you see your highness... it's uh... well it's sort of..." He stammered trying to find the right words.
"Where we are from there is a... story about magical animals that take on elemental powers" Allison explained, seeing Drex reverting to his normal idiocy. "We are two of such creatures now, and have been brought here in their form despite them being just a tale in our land."
"So you have both been not only warped of home, but also body?" Luna asked understanding their predicament. Allison nodded.
"We come from the planet Earth, in the Milky Way galaxy." The transformed girl answered for them.
"So uh, are you able to send us home and in our original bodies?" Drex asked hopefully.
A long pause is carried through the room as the mistresses of day and night stare at them. "I'm afraid not." Celestia answered with a pained expression.
"What? Why not?" Drex asked taking a step forward. "You're practically gods! You can send us through time and space! Can't you?"
"Yes, we can. But there is one problem." Luna began.
"To know where to send somepony, we first have to know where you come from, exactly." Celestia explained. She lifted a hoof to silence Drex's question before he could ask it. "And we must know of the place. Luna and I have neither seen nor or heard of your home. And if we were to try, there is no telling where you may end up. You may very well end up in deep space." Drex and Allison stood there, listening but not hearing. They had come so close, they had all their faith poured into this. And it was taken from them.
"What do we do now?" Allison asked, her ears have flattened back without her command. Drex couldn't look at them, his head hung low.
"If I may," Luna interjects. "I too once had trouble fitting in. I was banished to the moon for a thousand years, and when I came back I had found that time had taken a significant leap. But with the some help I was able to fit in." Drex and Allison looked back up to the moon goddess, listening to what she had to say.