//------------------------------//
// Rude Awakening 
// Story: Angels and Demons 
// by lunabrony 
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A cafe, huh? Wonder how that worked here. Did ponies drink coffee? He got up, and made a pact with his legs. If you guys behave nicely, I won't have to land on top of you. What she was doing was faster than walking, it was definitely trotting, bouncing on the hooves elegantly. He did his best to follow. Feeling the strength of his legs. It made him feel almost as if he was soaring across the ground. The look on his face was probably very goofy. Most people that experienced these joys he were experiencing now, they had all since forgotten them. If a baby could recognize his situation it would have sympathy.

There was something Angel was hiding. He wasn't sure what it was, or why, but she was definitely hiding something, presenting a puzzle for him to solve, or at the very least to get to the bottom of. Many other ponies were staring at him. Was there something in his mane? Did they... know? How would they know? She brought him to the cafe, and sat him down at an outside table. 

He noticed the staring, once he was trotting confidently. Noticing how some of their heads turned, following him. At first he thought they had been looking at Angel who was the shining image of beauty, even in this world where everything looked colourful. No they were looking at him. Bald? No he could feel his mane. Was something hovering above him? Following Angel into the cafe he had tilted his head to see if something was hovering just above him. It was a new business maneuvering into a sitting position. He decided not to ask her what it was, he wanted to figure it out for himself.

They were sitting near the reflective surface of the cafe building. A large plate of assorted flowers had been placed in front of them, and Angel was already nibbling on one, seemingly expecting him to do the same. His reflection revealed the large horn on his head, but without proper training and tutorage, it was absolutely useless. As far as he could see, he looked as normal a stallion as any of the other ponies around. Angel sat on the ground, but there were chairs as well if he chose to use one.

He decided to park his rump on the grass in a fairly controlled maneuver. He was a bit self conscious about his motions, he probably looked odd to people. However presently he didn't mind that. He hadn't even sensed the horn, there wasn't much in the way of feel or weight, at least not that he'd noticed. Leaning his muzzle down to the flowers he sniffed them a bit, lifted one with his lips and began the process of emaciating and swallowing. He had expected something dreary.

Instead, he got sweet. Sweet, and slightly crunchy. It could be assumed that different flowers had different flavors, and these were absolutely delightful. Angel smirked at his caution, she seemed to be enjoying her time with him. "Enjoying yousel- oh! Oh, look!" She pointed a hoof upwards. "There's a storm scheduled for tonight, you can see the preparation team!"

"Pretty good, I once ate all the tulips in a garden when I was little." That's why he had been a bit apprehensive. The result had not been pleasant. It had made him very sick. "Thank you, do you eat these every day?" What did these people eat? Horse like things it seemed, only it there was preparation to things. Perhaps these flowers were served raw, but he noticed other ponies having things that, though it was hard to recognize, looked battered and deep-fried, or cooked, served buns... was that hay the lady a table away was eating?. At her mention he looked up to see the flight team. Weather control via flying ponies. He smiled. It felt right that things should happen like that, as crazy as it seemed.

It was his first real look at the pegasus race. They were criss-crossing across the blue sky, racing back and forth. Most were carrying dark grey clouds, and placing them in place as if putting together an enormous jigsaw puzzle. Each cloud seemed to have a designated spot, and each pegasus seemed to know exactly where that spot was. Angel commented cautiously. "I should note, that while I am on vacation this week, if an emergency comes up I will have to leave you temporarily. I apologize in advance, but sickness never goes on vacation." She warned, a bit regretfully.

He was a little worried by that, but he understood that she had a lot of things to do. "No, of course not. I'll find a room to sit in quietly if that happens." It was always hard for him to express what he felt. His excitement about seeing something that was probable a common day thing for the people -why does that word taste funny- here could probably be read from how he'd looked at them. However how did he explain to her how grateful he was? "If you think you can count on me, then I'm not worried. This place is strange... the good strange, but it seems familiar. I don't know how to put it."

She shook her head. "I will always keep my eye on you, Silver. If you ever get in trouble I will help you." She said gently. "As long as you are in Equestria, I will be with you until you're comfortable." She promised. "Who knows? Maybe I'll help you get your mark." She teased.

[DAY SIX]

It was Normans first night in Equestria, and Angel had bought him a night at the Canterlot Inn. He couldn't help catching a glance at Angels money pouch, and surprisingly noted she seemed to be VERY well off. He had stayed up attentively watching the sky, expecting the moon to be cast in some sort of magical glow when it appeared. But it rose as subtly as it did on Earth. If Angel hadn't told him it was controlled, he never would have guessed it. His dreams were odd, filled with flashes of light. He caught glimpses of a large dark blue alicorn, who told him something in a gentle, reassuring voice, but when he woke, he couldn't remember what it was. He had spent almost every moment in Equestria with Angel thus far, and she seemed to have taken quite an attachment to him. When he woke, he expected her to be sleeping in the second bed across the room from his, but she was gone, and it didn't appear to have  been touched.

He rolled, legs gathered up funny below. Stretching your forelegs worked pretty much the same as with arms, the joints were a bit different, what had been hands were now the long sleek legs that terminated in a hoof. Pure blue smooth fur. Just the strange new way that light seemed to behave here was a wonder to study. Noticing Angel's absence he lifted off the covers, and rolled out of the bed onto his legs, shaking his head a bit. The day before had been filled with gentle introductions to various small things, opening doors for instance. The art of picking up stuff. And it was an art. Was there a bathroom in this in? Morning routine? Did you stink of sweat here too? He stuck his snout under his armpit and gave it a testing sniff.

There was no bathroom, which was confusing. He realized he hadn't had the urge to do anything bathroom related in almost 12 hours. Was that part of life not needed here? There WAS a showering room, which was basically just a shower in the wall with a drain below it. He was starting to smell slightly, so that cleared that right up. Angel had said he could use his mouth for most things unless she taught him magic, which she hadn't had a chance to do yet.

He didn't puzzle too much about the toilet situation. It would come up when it would come up. The knobs and tabs were all mouth friendly, he could use that, though he could also paw them into action with his hooves. There was some uncomfortable experimentation until he found the right settings for lukewarm water… how did you soap yourself? There was a brush, though new to him it was a fairly elaborate maneuver he applied some shampoo to it, picked up the brush with his teeth and started working it in. Puzzle solving from the morning, not bad. It was too much fun to be really frustrated by. 

One thing that DID exist in both worlds was incredibly inconvenient timing. No sooner had he gotten in the shower and completely covered in soap, there was a pounding at the door of the room in which he was staying. It was not a patient, light knocking, more like an aggressive 'I'm respecting your authority by knocking but asserting my authority as a high ranking official by coming in anyway!' knocking.

Quickly! Do something. "One moment!" He pulled the tab for water and was doused in icy liquid. Shivering and teeth and clambering out he shook himself to get the worst heat off. No full body hair drier anyway. Clothes, where did I put my clothes?!! He stomped around for a moment until he realized they were unneeded and went over to the door, fumbling with the lock. "Hello, can I help you?"

He hadn't any clothes, they had disappeared upon his entering to Equestria. He found himself face to face with two stern looking Guards, clad in armor. With the glow of a horn, he found himself completely warm and dry. "Are you Silver Key?" The one on the left asked.

Angel had been consistently using that name ever since he came here. It still sounded a little funny. However whatever fun there was to be had in it, drowned by the fact that these two armor clad guards were staring him down. "Ye... yes... I'm Silver Key, visiting here from Manehatten." Manehatten? He still doubted that there really was a place called that here. I mean, there has got to be limit to how many similarities there can be.

The guard on the right nodded. "Search him." He asked, without really asking, as the one on the left pushed him to the floor. "And just what is your business here in Canterlot, Silver?" There was a tone indicating he was believed, but just barely.

"Huh?" He was frightened and got to the ground. Something was wrong. Silver doubted that this was something that Angel had planned. How did they even know about him? "Tourist, I'm visiting here to see the sights." It was true. Of course he couldn't say that he'd been transported here. Angel had been adamant on that.

"Out of my way!" A female voice barked. The two guards instantly stepped aside, as a large, stunningly pretty alicorn stepped in. She was adorned with gold jewelry. Her coat was dark blue, and her mane was a lighter blue with a white stripe through it. The guard on the left coughed. "On your hooves, Silver Key. Make way for Princess Novaria." Novaria glared at him. "What's wrong with you? I told you to question him, not rough him up. What do I pay you for?" She turned to him, her tone calm. "My apologies, sir."

Princess? Royalty? This was quite a morning. He was still shivering from fear and shock from what the guards had done. His felt like a melon being squeezed in a vice. However watching her walk in, a pony taller and more beautiful than anything he had seen he shivered. Awe, that was the word. He wasn't sure whether he should genuflect, but he did so any way as she came close.

The room was starting to get crowded. He barely had room to back up, and his head was starting to throb again. The guards backed off to the side. The princess approached him. "I apologize for all the inconvenience, but when you accompany royalty, you must surely expect some background checks. And wasn't I surprised, Silver Key, to find out that you... do not exist. No records, nothing." She looked concerned. "So I trust you will not lie to me. Who are you, and what do you want with my-" "MOTHER!" Angel appeared in the doorway, her horn carrying several bags of groceries. The bags dropped in shock, and something shattered. "Oh my gosh, mother. Seriously?! I told you to leave him alone!" Novaria didn't budge. "It's standard procedure, love. I-" "Standard procedure my flank! Leave him alone!"

For a moment Silver couldn't keep up with it. His head was murdering him. Angel, her mother, royalty. The implications were obvious, but they made his head spin, and at the moment it objected to that violently. He was still genuflecting, he had no idea what was proper here. Angel, a princess? She hadn't told him, hadn't asked him to do that. Perhaps she didn't want to. The other, he didn't know. He gathered himself up a little, feeling woozy. It was hard to concentrate. "Uhm, I'm confused.. your highness." Princess, huh? Come on mind, straighten yourself out for a little bit. "If I was under escort by another member of the royalty, how do you have the higher authority to overrule her?" The question revealed that he didn't live here of course. In principle she should already know that, and it would answer her question. Likely answer, this wasn't her jurisdiction and Angel didn't have any power here. That would be a traditional royal family. She wasn't the queen.. Angel had only explained a little about the politics of the town they were in. They didn't have a warrant either, did a princess power extend beyond a law? Perhaps they had no constitution of rights. "And come here? Can you just do that?" He didn't look at her defiantly. His head was killing him now, his legs were becoming unsteady.

Novaria frowned. "Canterlot is under Celestia and Luna's jurisdiction, but that does not mean I cannot protect my daughter as I see fit, especially when she's out galloping with strangers." Angel was livid. "This is EXACTLY why I gave all that up! Now leave us! You've done enough." The guards exchanged a look, and Novaria looked hurt. "....Very well. But we WILL discuss this later, Angel." She whisked through the doors, flanked by her guards. Angel, sweet, petite, always calm and collected Angel, snorted with rage and slammed the door with her horn, breathing heavily and glaring at the floor.

He had won. He didn't care. He fell onto his side, eyes shut. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts… He didn't know of anything around him. What was up or down, where he was or who he was. It hurts. The pain was there and had always been there, and all the rest of it was just a thin illusion. It hurt. Was he crying, yammering, everything around him felt thin and frail, soft and cushioned, as if his whole body was numb. It was... compared to the pain.

He was vaguely aware of the alicorn rushing to his side, even less vaguely aware that he'd collapsed. Her horn touched his, usually reserved for intimate encounters, but there were always exceptions. She had tears flowing from her eyes, but said nothing regarding them. The pain receded, as it always had, and Angel just lay next to him, for once her composure was shattered.