//------------------------------// // Chapter Six // Story: Second Chances at a New Story // by Vulpibard //------------------------------// Let's see, where was I? It looks like time flies when you haven't written anything in your diary for months. Is this a diary? Yes, yes it is, and soon I'll write something that pleases me so much I'll hug it to my chest and roll around in my bed, and ~that day is going to be perfect~ Ahem, so as I was saying. I'd just given my guards the scenic route back to the hedge maze and uncovered that they were changelings. So either another invasion is on the way, or they were just remnants of the first. I got a message from some bloke named Cecidet, but I don't know if that was telepathic, time freezing, or one of those 'vision' things so many cultures believe in. "Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin' to be so quiet? We sit here stranded, though we’re all doin’ our best to deny it" "Pardon?" Oh that's right, and now I'm being escorted to lunch by Princess Celestia. I guess it's obvious who wears the pants in this relationship. Nobody. "Nothing," I replied quickly, luckily we had just entered the dining hall. "Huh, I was hoping we'd use the lunch-room for lunch." I looked around at all the artwork and architecture, pointedly ignoring the seven ponies waiting for me to sit down. The reality was that I was trying to create a plan of attack in my head, but it was more interesting anyway, their artistry and construction seemed up-to-date with earths, even though their weapons and transportation were so... Primitive? Primitive, yes, with their crystal goblets and intricate golden silverware. Why the only classy, modern lady in the room was fiddling with her hat in her lap looking very uncomfortable. I'm talking about Applejack of course, though you probably guessed that. "Won't you please sit down?" Celestia gestured to a seat next to Pinkie Pie, which I pulled out and sat two chairs away next to Celestia. At that moment Luna walked in from... wherever and looked startled that I took her seat. But resigned herself in a perplexed manner in my offered place. "You really do remind me of somepony." Tia commented, do you mind if I call her Tia? "Really?" "Yes, an old friend, he's... not around anymore, but if he was I'm sure you would get along well." "Fascinating, now I have a serious question to ask." "You can ask me anything you'd like." "Are we all going to be as starving as Anne of Green Gables over there by the time we start eating?" Tia followed my nod down to A.J. who was leaning over to nibble at a pie on the table, but sat straight with alarm at being caught. "Oh, of course, help yourselves." The ice broken of course everyone started up some friendly chatter with one another, and Apple Jack practically dive-bombed the food. I always knew she was a practical mare, kind of like my pinky toe. All joking aside, I turned my attention to Luna, the one pony other than me that wasn't talking. Before I could say anything, though, Pinkie jumped to it first, literally, and started talking from atop my back. "Hey Phasma, how’s it going? Did you get a welcome to Canterlot party? Ooh, that's right! You’re an alicorn, and if you’re an alicorn and I haven’t heard about you, you must be new to Equestria! Haaaaaaaaaah~" Her mouth opened to take a breath as big as the table we were eating at, and I stuck my hoof in the space despite myself. "Ms. Bubblegum, I presume?" "No, that's silly, my name's Pinkie Pie!" "I see, so Hubba Bubble-" "My name's Pinkie-" "-I see you're very energetic, doubtlessly the one I want to go to if I'm holding parties or something like that." "Yup! Number one party mare in all of Equestria, that's our gal Pinkie!" Apple Jack jumped in, bits of pie crust fly from her mouth, making Rarity cringe. "I see, well I have a question I'd like to ask Luna so-" "Ooh, is this a super-secret alicorn thing?" "No, it just a simple question is all." Besides, if it was it would include Twili- Oh, she doesn't have her wings yet. Pfft, Twilicorn not yet cannon. "Oh okay then." Pinkie moved back to her chair and began shoveling food in her mouth at a rate to rival Apple Jack. "What is your question?" Luna asked, head drawn with everyone else’s by the noise. "You wouldn't happen to know anypony by the name Cecidet Quem Magus, would you?" "The fallen mage?" Luna clarified. "So you do?" Celestia shook her head, "No, I'm afraid not." Tch, too bad. "Oh, well. On my way here I ran into a charming fellow who said his name was Deus, he directed me down the road that led me to the one calling himself Cecidet who claimed the first was a liar." "Well that's not very nice," Celestia interrupted. "He also went so far to call himself a liar." "Well that's confusing." Twilight commented "On the contrary, I think their friends." "How does that make sense? If you trust one with that logic, you need to believe the other, but at the same time believing the other means you can't trust either... Oh" "Since I especially can't trust the other, that means I have no way of telling if the former is trustable, so I'll only trust the one and not the other, that way I only risk falling for half of their lies." "...What?" Rainbow Dash spoke the word written on everyponies faces. "Well I think that was a great breakfast, see you all around, then." I got up to leave, but Celestia's voice made me cringe. "Not so fast, my student has been very interested in hearing about your home, so please, sit down." "Ball locks" Ugh, just what kind of story is this? If I have to mentor the elements or something I'm going to hang... a teddy bear. "Pardon?" "Ball locks." I repeated, standing straight. After a beat of silence I spun around and walked back to my seat, "They're an interesting invention, they were used in a strange time when people were needlessly worried about others touching their balls." "What's that got to do with your home?" Twilight asked. "Nothing, I just think it's a fun thing to say." "Ball locks!" A squeaky voice called to my right. Get Pinkie Pie to swear; X'ed off my bucket list. "Hey it is fun to say!" Pinkie laughed, "Ball-" "My home country’s name is Avalon." I said hastily, leaving my hoof in Pinkie's mouth this time. "Avalon? The name sounds familiar..." Luna mused "It's no pony land, that's for sure." Our favorite country beverage answered. "Yes, Avalon, and if you give me a moment I can tell you all about it."