//------------------------------//
// (28) - Storming the Castle 
// Story: A Pokemon Problem 
// by Solecism 
//------------------------------//

A Pokemon Problem

(28) - Storming the Castle




With Second Sight and Morning Dew added to our already large and varied roster, the ponies of Canterlot... while they didn't exactly ignore us, per se, they at least took it upon themselves to not look like they were as interested as they actually were. Most of their thoughts were on along the lines of 'My word, what are those despicable creatures doing in Canterlot' and 'Whatever are those two unicorns doing escorting those filthy creatures.'

To be fair, Second Sight got as many dirty looks as the rest of us did, what with his skull necklace and ragged appearance. Rather than telling everyone to mind their own business like I had done, he just gave every pony that met his glance his trademark evil eye, and they quickly looked away and returned to what they were doing.

In the illusion of peace that we moved through, Morning Dew was more than happy to answer some of my burning questions.

"What are you two doing here?"

"Well, Sight said that he needed some... um..." Morning Dew turned to Second Sight and asked, "What did you need again?"

"Potions, poultices, and other assorted ritual items. There doesn't seem to be any stores that sell any of the items I need, however... and by the odd looks I'm getting, it seems that shamanic practices have fallen out of use here."

I found that curious. Maybe if Ryder went around scaring ponies for a while, they'd return full force.

"Fair enough. How'd you get here so quickly? We traveled pretty much non-stop until we got here, yet you still beat us. How?"

Second Sight answered. "We took the train." From the not amused expression in my eyes, he said, "A train is a large—"

"I know what a train is. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how you got here by train: we took one too, and we had to go pretty out of the way to catch it."

The dark blue unicorn raised an eyebrow. "We walked to Fillydelphia and caught a train there after I realized that the store I usually purchase my goods from was no longer open."

Of course. Why didn't I think of that.

I grunted an amicable sound and put aside my questions for later: we were coming up to the castle, and I wanted to have my full concentration for whatever was going to happen.

If the rest of Canterlot looked similar to how it was in the future, than the Royal Castle was identical. The same white, marble walls shone with polished brilliance, and the same tall, grey unicorn guards stood outside the arched double doors.

To their credit, the two guards remained at their post even though there was a six foot tall bipedal fire chicken, an incredibly shaggy boar, a hovering and rather menacing looking Ghost, a giant spider, and a floating heap of metal with a majestic looking phoenix perched on one arm heading towards them with a purposeful stride. If I was one of the royal guards, I would've damned the consequences and ran like the wind.

"S—State your b-business!" the guard on the right barked. Well, not so much barked as asked loudly. I guess there was only so much you could ask from them: it was enough that they didn't up and run away screaming.

"We're here to see Princess Celestia."

"On what grounds?" asked the guard on the left. He seemed a lot less fazed than his partner.

"I am in possession of knowledge that the princess would find beneficial."

The guards shared a look. "If you tell us, we'll be sure to pass it along—"

"Nice try. Now, are you going to let us in peacefully, or are we going to have to force our way through?"

Almost imperceptibly, I saw the two guards tense. "I'm afraid that we can't do that," stated the guard on the left. "Princess Celestia is already in a meeting with two Pegasi delegates, and we're under strict orders not to let anypony in unless the Guard Captain—"

"Unless I allow them to enter," finished a deeper and more commanding voice. Both guards spun to look at the pony that had opened the doors without them noticing.

The pony in question was a unicorn, and his coat was burgundy coloured. His mane was hidden underneath an open-face helmet, and his eyes were the colour of amethyst.

Both guards immediately saluted.

"At ease."

"And you are?"

The unicorn made a bowing gesture, sweeping one hoof to the side as he bent down. "I am Guard Captain Overwatch. Princess Celestia has requested to speak with you—" he pointed at me, "—directly."

"And where will we go?" asked Morning Dew. A very good question, in my opinion.

"Everyone else—that includes you, Miss, and you, Sir—will be taken to a suite and treated as royal guests."

"Is it alright if I have a word beforehand?"

Overwatch nodded. "Take all the time you need."

Miranda didn't waste any time: she sprung towards me and wrapped me in one of her death-grips, tight enough that it made my mid-section groan.

"Can't... breathe..."

"Sorry! I didn't—hey!"

I buzzed, the closest thing to laughing that I could manage. "Hah! Gotcha. Don't go burning the castle down, alright?"

She hugged me again—softer this time. "Be safe!"

After Miranda let go of me, I addressed everybody, one at a time.

"Seth—don't eat any furniture, please."

"I don't know where you got the idea that furniture tastes good, because it doesn't."

"Caleb—I know we don't always get along, but hopefully we'll all be home in a jiffy."

He didn't say anything to that.

"Ryder—remember our discussion on the train?"

"Of course I do." He seemed affronted.

"Hope like hell it doesn't pan out that way." Turning to Morning Dew, I said, "Thank you for everything you've done, Morning Dew. Most ponies wouldn't go out of their way to help a poor little creature in the middle of a forest."

"Thank me? Thank me?! If anything, I should be thanking you!" she exclaimed. "I always wanted to see inside the Royal Castle, and thanks to you, Little Guy, that dream has come true!"

"Consider it part of my thank you, then."

I turned to the shaman beside her. "Second Sight—thank you."

He seemed genuinely shocked. "What for?"

"If it wasn't for you, I'd have never found my friend Ryder, and by extent, everyone else. So, in a way, I have you to thank for reuniting with everyone here. And besides: you were just doing your job." I extended a hand towards the shaman pony. "No hard feelings?"

Second Sight considered it for longer than I had anticipated, long enough that I was worried he'd refuse. "I'm too old for grudges," he finally said and shook my hand with his hoof. "Best of luck, Little Guy: you'll need it."

I waited until everyone turned the corner down the hallway before looking at the Guard Captain. "Shall we?"

He nodded. "Follow me."