//------------------------------// // Chapter 21- Within These Walls (edited) // Story: Band of Five Attributes // by Dragonborne Fox //------------------------------// "So, no matter what she does, she cannot have a foal whatsoever?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, and a certified doctor told us so. After a bit of a hectic struggle, of course." Mikarya answered, shaking her head as she remembered that entire scenario in all of its embarrassing glory. "So, Ah shoulda dared them to do somethin' else?" Applejack said, her hoof connecting with her face. "Yes. But it's nothing to worry about, really." Mikarya replied with a hearty grin. "Speaking of foals, why's Koto's filly crawlin' along the ground?" Applejack asked, pointing to the tri-colored filly next to the couch. "She decided to let the filly explore. There's nothing wrong with that as long as the area explored is closely monitored." Mikarya said with an even bigger smile. "Okay. As long as she knows what's she's doin'." Applejack chuckled as she looked at the filly. "Sis, why does a streak of purple separate the red and blue?" Applebloom asked, pointing at Ocean Flame's mane. "Ah don't know." Applejack replied with a shrug. "I just noticed she has heterochromia." Mikarya said, pointing at the foal. "Hetero-what now?" Rarity asked, confused. "Heterocrhomia: a term used to describe someone whose eyes do not match." Mikarya repeated, still grinning. "When she's old enough to get her mark, I wonder what it will be." Rainbow chimed, crossing her forelegs. "Same here." Rekka said, picking up the filly. "Ditto." Tenmei called, cleaning his crossbow. "I know, right?" Pinkie said, hopping around the jet-man. "So, when's lunch?" Asked the jet-man. "Around one o'clock." Twilight answered, shifting her legs. "What time is it now?" Fluttershy asked, turning to the unicorn. "About twelve-thirty." Rainbow said, looking at a clock on the wall. ---- Twilight had just teleported everyone into Canterlot Castle. It was much more expansive than the Carousel Boutique. There were glass murals depicting many events of ponies achieving great feats. On the white tile floor there was a ginormous red carpet with gold trimming. Marble pillars held the ceiling in place, and beyond the hallway the group stood in and the pillars themselves was an enormous balcony from which to view the town. The sunlight peeking in between the pillars made it appear too bright for it's own good. "Holy....." 01 stammered, his jaw barely able to stay closed. "It's.......amazing......" Yuuki said as she turned to catch every glimpse of the palace. "Beautiful......" Koto murmured, her eyes dilating with awe. "This place is huge!" Called the batteryman, failing to take into account that the ponies were bigger than he was. "I've never.......seen anything like this before...." Tenmei chimed, sitting on his haunches. "There is.....no way..... this place is this......." Vending lady trailed off, her jaw agape. "These murals have their place.....I wonder..... if we'll have one." Misaki said, taking note that there were empty murals present. "It's not likely, but then again, the murals fill themselves in." Twilight answered with a grin. "And in them, we all have a place somewhere." "I had a dream where I had wings and a horn. If what Rekka said was true, then I looked into the future." Koto said, ears perked. "Enough dilly-dally, let's get to the throne room. Follow me." Twilight said, trying to hide her shock from Koto's statement. ---- "When will they get here?" Luna said impatiently, looking at her sister with a pouty glare. "I don't know, dear sister. But soon enough, they shall arrive." Celestia replied, shaking her head. "Princess, I brought the visitors!" Called a mare's voice as the doors opened. "Twilight, you did well. Luna was getting impatient." Celestia said, looking at the group now standing before them both. "These are the visitors?" Luna said, shocked. She had never seen a group like this. "Yes, so it would seem. Please, newcomers to Equestria, state your names for me. I already know of the organization you work for." Celestia said in her regal voice. "My name is 01, and I am the creator of the devices." "My name is Mikarya, co-worker of 01 and caretaker of the teenagers here." "My name is Mimi, and I assist Mikarya." "I am Miki. I bring help wherever it's needed!" "I am Misaki, formerly known as YONEKO. I was used to control all Q-hybrids, but now I am a free mare, more or less." "I am Rekka. I help take care of the hybrids." "I am Koto. My boomerang helps me and my friends quite a lot." "I am Tenmei. I help with the Special Task Force." "I am Nagare. Allow me to say I openly mocked the Quartet once." "I am Yuuki. I help cheer my friends up when a nasty hybrid tries wrecking everything they love." "Impressive. I heard two of you had a foal together. But that matters not now. What has the Quartet been partaking in?" Celestia asked, raising a brow. "They wish to wipe out the Special Task Force so they can start world domination using the hybrids. They almost succeeded in killing two already, though that was quickly thwarted." 01 answered, unable to frown or smile.