//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Palace // Story: Ink // by Cyanjames2819 //------------------------------// As we continued flying, I looked out and saw a large castle sitting beside a mountain. "Whoa, is that the castle?" I asked and looked at Luna. She nodded, "In the center of Canterlot" she answered. "It looks heck of a lot better up close" I said and sat back down and Fluttershy nodded. The carriage landed down and slowed. The door opens and we all got out. In front of us was a huge gate, being guarded by two royal guards, as Luna told. Luna stood up front, "These two are with me" she said and they both nodded. They both opened up the gate and saluted at us. We walked in the city of Canterlot. Everything was uptight and perfect like a butler waiting to get his order from his superior. The carriage got in and we were ushered in by Luna. I looked at her a little confused. "Sorry about that, but ponies around here expect the best and dress neatly" she apologized. "Okay, so rich uptight ponies?" I said. She chuckled and Fluttershy giggled, "Kind of" Luna said. We finally reached the palace and parked with in the walls. We got out and two more guards waited at the entrance. The two opened up the gates. As we got in, I just gaped and my eyes wide. The halls were huge and white with a few columns supporting the roof. "Whooaa…" I looked around in awe. "Are you coming?" Luna snapped me back to reality. "Oh! A, yeah" I ran up to them and Luna giggled. We got the grand tour, but Fluttershy already knew the palace. When my stomach growled in the huge ass library, a pony hushed me. Luna looked at the time, "Time for lunch" she said and we finally started going out for lunch. "Oh… My… God" I said in awe of what I was looking at. The Dining hall was huge, the table was super long, and the windows were more like master pieces of art. At the fair side of the table were two large chairs where the royal pony sisters sit. It took a moment to get to the end of the table. When we sat, servants immediately started going out to take our orders. Then a blond maid pony went up to me with a smile, "Hello, may I take your order" she said politely. "Oh, um…" I started thinking. "Any appetizers?" she asked. "Ah, a few strawberries would be nice" I answered. She nodded happily and went off. I took off my hat and rested it down on my knee. "So Winter" Luna said to me, "Do you want anything in particular?" she asked. "What? What do you mean?" I said, confused. "Anything you want" she said. "You sure? I mean" she cut me off. "Yes, take it as a welcome gift from me, my sister and Fluttershy" she answered. "Okay" I started thinking and looked back at her, "What kind of instruments do you have?" I asked. "Well, what do you have in mind?" she said to me. "Well, do you have any Fiddles or Violins?" I asked. "Yes" she answered. "Okay, one of those would be nice" I answered. "Okay, I will bring one for you after your visit here" she said with a smile. After that, the blond pony got back with a bowl of freshly picked strawberries on a shiny metal tray. "Nice, thank you… a. What's your name?" I asked and grabbed the tray from her mouth to let her speak properly. "Sundance Sire" she bowed respectfully. "Aaah… you don't need to bow, I'm just a visitor" I said her. She looked back up, "Okay Sire" she said. I brought out my hand, "I'm Winternight, Winter for short" I introduced myself. "Oh, nice to meet you Sire" we shook. "Just Winter is good" I said. "Okay Winter" she said. I grabbed the bowl from the tray and gave the tray to her, "Thanks again Sundance" I thanked her once more, she nodded and went off. "Hm, like making new friends Winter?" Luna asked and took a drink from her glass of water, using her magic. "Yeah" I answered simply and threw a berry in my mouth. After the main course and dessert, we decided to go and greed Princess Celestia in her throne room. It took a bit of walking but we reached it. Again, two guards were at the entrance. "Open it please, I want to introduce our guests to my sister" she said to the guards. They both nodded and opened up the gate for us. We got in and the room was huge. At the far end was a throne with a large white Alicorn sitting on it. She looked more intimidating then Luna and a little bigger. Her main and tail were a rainbow of colors, floating and waving in the air. We got up to her and stopped at the steps. "Dear sister, our guest are here to greet you" she said to her. The large pony looked at me with a sly smile, "Yes, I heard about you in Twilight's letter. It is nice to meet you Winternight" she greeted me. I bowed, "Likewise Princess" I replied and stood straight. Then all of a sudden, there was a loud bang on the doors. We all looked back, "What in the world?" I said. I and Fluttershy started walking toward the door, but she was hiding behind me, sticking close. Then we started hearing the guards yelling then two loud thuds hit the door. "Holly crap, we're in deep crap right now" I said. We got to the door and Fluttershy practically held onto my leg. When I pressed my hands on the door, it was a little warm like something applied something hot to it. I gulped and forced open the doors. When I opened them, two guards were lying on the floor, somewhat smoking. I looked ahead and saw a large dark mass. "Dragon!" a pony yelled from the other side of the scaly creature. It moved its body and I got a glimpse of a familiar pony. "Sundance! Run!" I yelled. But the creature started advancing towards her and she was petrified on the spot. I looked at Fluttershy, "Stay here!" I said. I started running, grabbed a large shield from one of the statues and raced towards the mare maid. I jumped over the large tail, slipped under its wings and slide towards the mare. I cover her with my body and covered myself with the shield on top. Then the creature breathed fire and hit the shield head on. I looked and saw the fire didn't engulf us. The fire stopped and I looked and saw the monstrous creature gaping its jaws towards us. I lunged the shield towards it and got it stock in its mouth. The dragon started thrashing furiously, trying to get the shield out of its mouth. I grabbed hold of the maid and started running back towards the throne room. I set the maid down and ran back to get the two guards. Grabbed their callers and dragged them in quickly. Then I grabbed the doors, but then the shield in the dragon's mouth flew off and glared death at me. It breathed fire and I quickly struggled to get the doors closed. Just when the fire reached, the doors were closed. Then the locks in the doors started clinging and rattle. I got down to my hands and knees and took my breath. I looked back and saw the Princesses and the two mares looking at me in awe. "So… Any… Plans…" I gasped tiredly.