//------------------------------// // 9. Respite // Story: Alchemical Empire // by NineOneThree //------------------------------// "... You want me to take her to Ponyville?" Celestia nodded. "Yes, Twilight. Princess Template appears to be feeling a good deal of stress and worry, though I can't get her to admit what's on her mind. I suspect some time in Ponyville might help to ease her nerves, as well as getting people more acquainted with our golem visitors. I would like you to do this, but I leave the details up to you, my brilliant student." Twilight thought, blinking. It would be great to be back with the girls, and it might be fun to introduce her admirer to them... but the idea of bringing the crown princess of a foreign empire to a small town was a little daunting. "Princess Celestia, I don't think it would be the best idea to bring Crown Princess Template to Ponyville." She felt just a little impish as her teacher gave a questioning expression. "... But," she continued, "I'm sure bringing a nice golem pony there would be fine. After all, Ponyville's residents do have a bit of a track record of getting uptight around royalty, even their own." Celestia blinked in brief surprise before smiling with a hint of what might have been pride. "Looks like you've learned more from me than you let on, Twilight." Template had admittedly been a little more reluctant to go than first expected, but her siblings and both Royal Sisters' reassurances that her ship's crew would be well-looked-after eased her into agreeing. From there it was actually quite easy to convince her to leave her imperial regalia and simply go as Template, no princessing involved. Now, as the Day Guard pegasi brought the chariot down for a landing a little outside Ponyville, Twilight looked over at her guest. Template had spent the whole flight eagerly looking down at the lands unfolding before them, overflowing with questions. Stepping off the chariot, the Equinculus looked about in excitement, as if everything were new to her. Twilight reminded herself that, based on the descriptions the Equinculi had given of their homeland, that wasn't far from the truth--the flora and fauna of a southeastern nation of tropical islands would probably be decidedly different from those of Equestria, and this was likely the grey mare's first time seeing them up close. Walking next to the alicorn (and occasionally adjusting the distance between them when she drifted closer), Template wasn't shy about asking what those trees were, what that animal in the brush was, what those flowers were called. Of course, the brainy mage had little trouble giving out information. First stop, Sweet Apple Acres, since it was near the edge of town on the side they were approaching from. The barn caught Template's eye, but it was the vast orchard that really got her interest. "I've never seen so many apple trees before... but the seasons here are more extreme than back home, you said. Don't they have to use lots of workers to harvest the crop in time?" Twilight shook her head, leading Template toward the sound hooves meeting wood. "Actually, it's usually just Applejack and my other friends, since her brother and sister have different duties around the farm. AJ's a very efficient harvester, though---look over there." She pointed with a forehoof to where the orange mare was positioned in front of a tree. Her rear hooves came up, her front legs locked in place, and thwack! Template watched how the apple farmer's whole body went into the buck, not just her rear legs; though some unripe apples clung on, a good deal of ripe red fruit tumbled down into a basket right up against the trunk. AJ smiled in satisfaction at her work, then noticed her friend. "Howdy, Twi! Mornin', Miz Crown Princess!" She waved as they came over. "Actually, Applejack, Template's leaving the whole princess thing behind while she's visiting Ponyville." Twilight smiled. "I figured it'd be better for ponies to meet her without a royal title in the way... unless the press has already let that cat out of the bag." Horseapples, how could she have overlooked that?! There's no way the press hadn't at least reported the arrival of a whole ship of golems, even with Celestia trying to keep it from turning into a huge sideshow. "Yer in luck, Twi'---newspapers managed to miss the Imperials' names. Pro'lly too busy gettin' worked up over the whole golem empire airship deal." AJ grinned, not oblivious to the Equinculus's newfound interest in her toned physique. "Oh, don't be so impressed, sugarcube. This here's just the product of hard work and diligence, nothin' to fuss over." She giggled. "Go on, why don'cha try givin' that there tree a buck, see if y'can coax down another apple or two?" Eagerly, Template took up Applejack's former position. "Front legs lock, back hooves up, kick. Front legs lock, back hooves up, kick..." She muttered to herself before trying. Her motions were halting and a little awkward, unlike the smooth and practiced technique of the veteran bucker; when her hooves met bark, she ended up throwing herself forward, face lucky enough to meet soft grass. Chuckling, Applejack helped the Equinculus up with a hoof. "Good job tryin' to copy me, Ah can give ya that much. Kept yer front knees and ankles good 'n steady, but yer shoulders was too loose, that's why all yer energy went into pushin' ya for'ard, 'stead of into the trunk." She smiled, putting an apple into Template's front hooves. "Don' worry 'bout it, sugarcube." Swallowing her first bite of a freshly-fallen apple, Template smiled and nodded. "Thanks for letting me try anyway, Miss Applejack, and thanks even more for this!" She bit into the fruit again, eyes closing as she appreciated the sweetness, the juiciness, the hint of tartness. As Twilight steered her back toward the farm's main path, Applejack followed alongside. "Aw, don' go Missin' me, 'specially since Ah'm not s'posed to be Crown Princessin' you. Nice meetin' ya, and nice to see you back in town, Twi!" --- Fluttershy had just finished collecting her chickens' eggs when she saw Twilight at the gate, Template beside her and looking quite excited to see so many animals in one pony's property. "Oh, Twilight, you're back, how lovely. And I see you've brought, er, a guest. Hello, Miss Template..." "Hi Miss Fluttershy! I'm not being a princess right now!" Template smiled eagerly. "There's a bird in your mane!" She pointed with her nose to the small feathery ball curled up in the soft pink waves of Fluttershy's hair. "Ooh, is that a hummingbird? I didn't know you'd have them here too!" Letting her friend and guest into her yard, Fluttershy smiled back. "Why yes, dear, they're fairly common in the warmer months. They migrate south for the winter; from what Twilight told us in her letters, your empire sounds like just the place they'd go when it gets cold here. Hummingway is napping right now, so let me get you both a nice cup of tea." Inside the cottage, Template was enamored with Fluttershy's animal friends; the pegasus let her have her fun while she got caught up with Twilight, though she kept an eye out lest the grey golem mare repeat the antics of a certain trio of excitable fillies. It wasn't long before she felt a tug at her tail, looking down to see Angel looking cross with her, complete with crossed arms and tapping foot. The bunny pointed at the object of his displeasure as she stared up at the birds perching in the rafters, jade eyes bright. "Now Angel," Fluttershy frowned softly, "Miss Template is from far away and probably hasn't seen a lot of what we have here in Ponyville, so please try to be understanding even if she's a little over-eager." She watched the white bunny mime out a series of actions, tilting her head. "You say she... doesn't smell good? No, okay... oh, you mean she doesn't smell like a pony? And she moves strangely?" Blinking, the yellow pegasus watched the golem mare. She had to admit, as sweet as she was, everything about Template seemed very slightly... off---her movements, her strange eyes, her smooth grey surface in place of a coat. "... Yes, she is a bit different, but she's a golem pony. That's just how they are... Template, dear, your tea will get cold if you leave it here." She called over to the grey mare, smiling as her guest trotted over immediately to have a sip. "Template, I'd like you to meet Angel Bunny. He helps me take care of the other animals and he's one of my oldest friends." Template bent down to the small animal's level, eyes wide. "Hiya Mr. Angel Bunny. I'm Template, nice to me---eep!" She made a decidedly Fluttershy-like sound as the bunny scampered up her foreleg and onto her back, starting to squirm a little as he clambered through her mane, sniffing. "His whiskers are all tickly!" She giggled; Angel emerged atop her head, seemed to take a moment of thought, then gave a shrug as if to say 'I will tolerate her.' "Oh, I think he likes you. Sort of." Fluttershy gently removed the bunny from the golem mare's head. "What sort of animals are there in your homeland?" Twilight watched the two chat, glad Template seemed to be fitting in alright so far... --- "Twilight, so good to see you again, and I remember your guest, if I'm not mistaken." Rarity smiled, glancing toward Template, who was surprisingly not excitedly looking around at all the pretty fabrics and dresses. Happy that Template seemed to be behaving herself a little bit more, Twilight nodded. "Template is just Template for now, so if you could ask Sweetie Belle not to let anyone know she's a princess... er, Template?" The grey golem mare was staring at the white unicorn, looking more than a little like a certain young dragon. It took a few nudges from Twilight's wing to get her to snap out of it. "Uh, um, you'rereallypretty." A pause. "... I meant to say 'nice to meet you'. Sorry." The elegant unicorn couldn't help but giggle a little. "It's quite alright, darling... you know, I daresay you look better without the silver jewelry, as nice as it is. Would you mind terribly if I asked to do a little something with your mane, perhaps?" Twilight watched as Template nodded eagerly, following Rarity; walking with the other two, the lavender alicorn blinked. She really hadn't expected Template's apparent crush, but at least Rarity had experience enough to deal with it properly. The golem mare was persuaded fairly easily to sit still as Rarity went to work with brush and comb. Soon Template's mane and tail were brushed out, her forelocks gathered and treated to hang over her right eye. Rarity said it made her look "just a little mysterious", which the grey mare ate right up. She soon was marveling at the unicorn's model dresses as Rarity and Twilight got caught up with each other; it was nice to be able to get the excitable Template focused on something. --- "Who are we going to see next?" Template trotted alongside Twilight, looking very happy with her new manestyle. "I remember... two more I think?" Twilight nodded. "There's Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie's probably at Sugarcube Corner, so we'll just head over there fir-" "TWILIGHT!!" A pink blur narrowly missed the alicorn, but bowled Template over; when the dust cleared, Pinkie was sprawled atop the golem mare. "Oh, wow, my aim was off... oh, hiya Not-Princess Template!" She grinned down. Twilight shook her head. Typical Pinkie... "As glad as I am that you apparently know the 'no princessing' bit already... Pinkie, get off her. I'm pretty sure Template doesn't appreciate being squished." "Actually, it's fine." Template smiled up at Twilight, seemingly quite happy. "She's warm and smells sweet and I'm a lot more durable than you'd think; I'm pretty much okay with this." Lavender face, meet lavender hoof. Pinkie grinned in what she must have imagined to be some sort of victory, shifting her position. "So, how've you been?" It was surreal, to say the least, to chat with a pony while they sprawled atop another's back. Twilight managed to get through her conversation with Pinkie somehow. "Ooooh, so you're gonna be looking for Dashie soon? I was gonna find her myself, I think she's chilling at home!" Pinkie finally got off Template, who sat up and adjusted her mane as if she hadn't just been a living throw pillow. "Tempy can test out something I've been working on!" As the three trotted for Rainbow Dash's impressive cloud home, Twilight shook her head. "Oh, Pinkie, I don't even want to know what it is, do I? Template, please don't let her make you do anything dangerous or ridiculous. So basically don't let her make you do anything." When Pinkie pulled out what looked like a modified trampoline, she eased up. "... Okay, well, just be careful on that. When you two finish screwing around, I'll get you up onto that cloud house for real." She obligingly cast the cloud-walking spell on both of them, knowing there was very little likelyhood a simple trampoline would get them high eno--- SPROING. PWUMF. "... Or that could happen." Twilight swallowed, flying up to where Template was buried headfirst in Rainbow Dash's front doorstep, wiggling and trying to push herself out of it. The blue pegasus herself arrived, mane damp from a shower. "... Hey Twi, hey Pinks, hey... um... mare whose sister I raced?" She helped the golem dislodge herself, then patted the cloud material back into shape. "Anyone care to tell me why a foreign princess was neck-deep in my front yard, or do I have to figure this one out myself?" Twilight brushed Template off, biting her lip. "Sorry, Rainbow... Template's here to relax and get to know Ponyville, but Pinkie wanted her help testing a new trampoline to get up to your house." Pinkie bounced to her side, grinning like a loon as usual. "Oh." RD rolled her eyes. "Coulda just stopped at 'but Pinkie'. Well, nice to meet you... like, again and stuff, Template. You guys wanna come in?" As they relaxed in the pleasant living room on soft cloud couches, Twilight found herself feeling close to normal again, even if Template started looking a little... fidgety. Worried, almost.