Chapter 4: A Decision in Canterlot
Little Shine stepped off the train, and stared down the brightly colored street, his eyes in a state of wonder. Ponies prowled around in fancy dresses and magnificent suits. The buildings towered ominously over his head, dwarfing anything that he had seen back in Manewood. The scale was nothing like anything Little Shine had ever felt before, and its vastness sent a wave of unease through him.
In Manewood, there had been an unshakable sense of peace. At any given time, one could have strolled around the village and listened to nothing but the sound of the birds singing or the wind through the trees. There had been the occasional laughter of school foals playing, or a family enjoying their time together. In the evening, one could have relaxed by the town center, where activities such as group singing and dancing had occurred. In a small village, almost everypony knew each other, and a strong sense of community bound them all together.
This place, however, was completely different. It felt like a machine. Everypony knew their place in the order of things. There was sense of formality that dominated each and every encounter. Everywhere Little Shine looked activity was occurring, and thus, the noise was a lot more prominent then he was used to. Carts and carriages rumbled through the streets, and ponies were everywhere.
It was a place that Little Shine had always dreamed of going. It was a name that had always filled his mind with desire and wonder, and at one time, he had been the happiest colt alive to find out that his family planned on visiting here. This was Canterlot.
It had been one week since the disaster at Manewood. Little Shine moved with a crippling limp, but he could walk. His strength, as weak as it was, was starting to come back. He had to be careful, of course. As his injuries had not fully healed, one wrong fall would set him back for a long time.
Fluttershy hopped off the train behind him. She noted the wondrous stare he was wearing, and smiled.
"You've never been to Canterlot before, have you Little Shine?" she asked.
Little Shine looked back at her. "No. We were planning on coming as a family, before. . . you know."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something painful."
"It's okay. I promised myself that I'm not going to cry anymore."
Despite his declaration, he found it difficult to suppress the tears that were attempting to form in his eyes. The memory was a painful one. He had been so happy when he had found out, and then his whole world had turned upside down.
Fluttershy put her wing over him and nuzzled him. "I'm really proud of you, Little Shine, and I'm glad that you're trying to be strong. Just remember that it's okay to cry. Even grown ponies do it sometimes."
Little Shine leaned against her. "I know. My mom used to cry sometimes. My dad would always comfort her." Little Shine looked up into Fluttershy's eyes. "Thank you for being with me."
"Oh, you're welcome, sweetheart."
The two of them continued to walk down the street. Little Shine was content to watch all the ponies that passed by, and marveled at their high class couture. Half an hour passed, and they finally reached their destination.
It was a white and gold complex. Great towers reached for the sky, and were connected by giant walkways. The main gate loomed over a drawbridge that drew a safe path over top of the water. Little Shine's eye widened as they walked through the gate.
"Here. We get to stay here!" he exclaimed.
"That's right."
"But. . . This is the royal castle of Canterlot!"
"Oh, yes. Princess Celestia offered us all rooms here."
Little Shine stopped walking. "Wait . . . Princess Celestia. As in the Princess that raises the sun every day? As in . . . The pony that rules all of Equestria."
"Along with her sister, Princess Luna, yes."
For the first time in a week, Little Shine forgot the tragedy. It was the single most exiting piece of news that he had heard, and had he not been so recently injured, he would have jumped up and down out of joy.
"Oh, wow! We get to stay in Canterlot Castle!" Little Shine's voice suddenly dropped. "Do you think we'll get to meet the Princess?"
"Um, she might come in and say 'hi', I suppose."
Fluttershy noticed a drop in Little Shine's stance. He was silent as they stepped up the stairs to the main entrance.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, I never actually thought that I would meet the Princess, and . . . well, I guess I'm a bit nervous."
Fluttershy giggled. "Oh, don't worry about that. She's the nicest pony you will ever meet."
"Really?"
"Really."
It was a long trek up the spiral stairway leading up to one of the tower suites. Little Shine shivered as the wind of higher elevation whisked across his body. They reached the top of the stairs, and opened the door leading inside.
"Wow! I've never seen anything so fancy," Little Shine said.
The room was large, and was decorated to suit royalty. Each of the four beds had beautifully embroidered blankets, along with multiple frilly pillows. The floor was covered with a carpet that bore the sigil of the sun and moon. There was a private bathroom with a glass shower and gold bordered mirrors.
Little Shine felt like a king. Upon noticing the third and fourth bed, however, he up at Fluttershy questioningly. "Are there other ponies staying with us?"
"Oh, Rainbow Dash and Rarity will be staying here, too. I hope that's okay," Fluttershy said.
"Um, I guess."
"It's okay, Little Shine. Rainbow Dash is a really nice pony. She can be a little bit cocky sometimes, but she has a good heart. Rarity is a bit of a fashion queen, but she's also got a gentle heart."
"Okay."
Little Shine jumped up and lay down on one of the beds. He rested his head on his hooves. "Feels good to just relax."
Fluttershy trotted beside the bed. "That's good, sweetie. You walked a lot today. Now, I'm going to go out for a bit. Will you be okay here."
"Ya, I guess."
"Is there anything I can get you while I'm out?"
Is there anything I need? Little Shine scanned the room and contemplated his answer. After a few moments with his hoof to his chin, his eyes lit up.
"Do you think you could get me some crayons, and paper?"
Fluttershy smiled as she headed toward the door. "Of course."
Little Shine rested his head once again on his hooves and closed his eyes. The bed was so soft. Is this what pegasi feel when they lay down on a cloud?
* * *
"Fluttershy, my dear, you really ought to stand still. Otherwise this will take a rather long time."
"Oh, right."
Rarity gripped a roll of fabric with her magic, and draped it over Fluttershy's body. She stared at it inquisitively, then returned it to its place on the shelf. She repeated this process several times with different colors and textures. She looked at her design on the paper she was suspending, then around the store. A multitude of small objects, like flowers and beads, floated toward Fluttershy. They circled around, testing new locations on her, trying to find the perfect spots.
"That's better, Fluttershy. Thank you for being so helpful. These inspirations come quite suddenly, you see, and I didn't want to wait until we got back to Ponyville," Rarity said.
"I don't mind. I just need to pick up a box of crayons before I head back," Fluttershy responded.
Rarity took one last look at her design sheet and then levitated all her chosen items into a shopping bag. "Whatever do you need crayons for, dear?"
"Well, Little Shine asked me if he could have some. And some paper, I guess."
Rarity trotted up to the cashier, a young mare, shopping bag in tow. She smiled, laid out several bits for her to take, offered her thanks, then headed toward the exit with Fluttershy.
"Hmm, I can't help but feel awful for that colt. I can't imagine what he must be feeling," Rarity said.
"He seemed pretty calm when I left him. Actually, now that I think of it, he was pretty good the whole trip here."
"Well, it has been a week, I suppose." Rarity snared the door handle and opened it wide. "It's good to hear that he's starting to adjust."
The two mares exited to the street of Canterlot. They trotted, side by side, until they reached the Living Art. It was a magnificent looking crafts store positioned just a few blocks down from the fashion store that they just left. A brown stallion carrying a bundle of paint brushes came out of the door. He smiled and held the door open, allowing Fluttershy and Rarity inside.
"Why, thank you kind sir," Rarity said.
"My pleasure ma'am."
Rarity allowed her eye's to follow his movements for a moment, before shaking her head and following Fluttershy into the store.
Fluttershy made her way down to the aisle where the crayons were. Despite the many different boxes to choose from, she trotted toward the first one and prepared to grab it in her teeth. She was quickly stopped, however.
"Fluttershy! You can't just take the first one you see. We have to find just the right one," Rarity scolded.
"Um, I don't think he'll really mind what-"
"We simply cannot allow anything less than absolute fabulosity to grace his artistic will!"
"But-"
"Honestly, Fluttershy. He just lost his family and home. We can't just give him something that's just mediocre."
"Oh, okay. If you say so"
The next few minutes were filled with the sound of many different variations of the word 'no', and the occasional sigh. Several more minutes passed, and every crayon box in the store had been thoroughly analyzed. Upon comparing several most likely picks, a victor was finally chosen.
"Oh, yes. This is the one. Don't you agree, Fluttershy," Rarity said.
"Yes."
"Look at it. It's got the most variable of colors. They're the perfect size for a little colt his age. And, oh, look at this!" Rarity looked at the back of the box. "'The only box of crayons endorsed by River Veil.' Oh, how fabulous."
"It looks nice."
"Do you even know who River Veil is?"
"Not really."
Rarity's mouth dropped open. She didn't even hear the store door open behind her. "River Veil is only the most established artistic talent in all of Canterlot! Her work is absolutely fantastic."
"Well, I don't know about 'all' of Canterlot, but thank you for your kind words," a soft voice said. "I didn't know that my work was so well known. I don't really pay attention to that fame stuff."
Rarity snapped around, and her eyes became dinner plates. Standing before her was the very unicorn that she had praised so highly of. Her pink mane sparkled in the sunlight, and she stepped toward the two. "I'm River Veil. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Rarity blinked, then lightly smacked herself with her hoof and extended it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too. I'm Rarity."
"I'm Fluttershy."
River Veil accepted Rarity's hoof. "Rarity. Why do I know that name? Oh, yes! Fancy Pants mentioned you. You're a pretty big shot dress maker from Ponyville, aren't you?"
Normally, Rarity was able to keep control over her excitement. But being regarded as a 'big shot' by a very high status pony in Canterlot was just too much for her. Her legs wobbled and her eyes glazed. Fluttershy quickly jumped beside her to offer a stable support, which Rarity instantly took. She took a moment to stable both her body and mind before responding.
"Yes, I . . . Um, I do live in Ponyville. Fancy Pants mentioned me?"
"Yes. He came to support my newest unveiling at the Royal Canterlot Art Gallery yesterday. We got talking for a bit afterward, and your name came up."
At the mention of the Gallery, Fluttershy tilted her head. Hadn't somepony mentioned the Gallery to her not too long ago? "Um, excuse me, Miss Veil. Was your art the only piece being shown yesterday."
River Veil looked up in thought. "Hmm, now that you mention it, there was supposed to be another pony unveiling her work. She never showed up, though."
A pang of emotion shot through Fluttershy, and she was the one who needed support. Rarity put her hoof around her, and River Veil extended a concerned hoof.
"Are you alright, dear?" River Veil asked.
Fluttershy was unable to answer right away. Rarity spoke in her stead.
"You see, Miss Veil, Fluttershy is currently looking after a small colt, a survivor of Manewood," -River Veil's eyes widened- "and his mother was going to showcase her newest work in the Royal Canterlot Art Gallery sometime this week. Unfortunately she . . . didn't make it."
River Veil put her hooves around both Rarity and Fluttershy. She lowered her voice. "That's just awful. I'd heard about the tragedy in Manewood, but I didn't stop and think . . . is there anything I can do?"
Fluttershy met her eye, and was finally able to speak. "No, it's okay. I don't know why I'm so sad. I barely know the colt. I've only been taking care of him for a week, and he was asleep for most of that."
The three ponies stood in silence together. River Veil took her eye off of Flutterhshy and down at the box of crayons. She chuckled. "That, is my son's favorite artistic tool in the world."
Fluttershy perked up. "Really?"
"Oh, yes. He loves drawing. I always buy him that type because it lasts the longest. The company offered me some bits if I endorsed them, so I thought 'sure, why not." River's eyes lit up as an idea presented itself. "Hey, would you like me to sign the box for you."
"Oh, I bet Little Shine would like that," Fluttershy said.
River's horn lit up and drew out a quill and ink. She then suspended the box in the air and began to write. Fluttershy and Rarity waited patiently, and looked upon the message once River was done.
To a little shining star.
-River Veil
* * *
Fluttershy entered the tower suite. She gazed at the bed where Little Shine was sleeping, and trotted closer. Rarity was just behind her, levitating the box of crayons and a roll of paper.
"Oh, what a little darling he is," Rarity said.
"Isn't he?"
Rarity placed the box and paper down on the small bedside table. "What is going to happen with him?"
"Twilight said that she was going to check the equestrian records when we arrived to see if he had any family."
"And if he doesn't?"
Fluttershy looked stunned. "Rarity, how could you say something like that?"
"My dear, obviously I don't want to think that he has no other family, but all the other survivors from Manewood met theirs when they got off the train in Canterlot, or they left on their own accord to reconnect." Rarity looked down at Little Shine's sleeping form. "But with Little Shine, there was no meeting at the train station. No one came to find him at the camp. There wasn't even any letters of concern regarding him from anypony. Did he ever mention any others?"
Fluttershy looked at the floor. "No."
"So my question still stands. What does Twilight plan on doing if she can't find anything in the records?"
A cold chill passed through one of the windows. It was as if the weather, itself, could somehow sense the grim situation for the poor colt. Rarity shivered, and shut the window with her magic.
"The only downfall with staying in a suite so high, I suppose," she murmured to herself.
"Rarity, do you think that if . . . you know. . .do you think that he could come home to Ponyville with us?"
Rarity pulled Fluttershy into an embrace.
"If it comes to that, then we'll make it happen."