//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Rude Awakening // Story: Equestria, I Choose You! // by BronyDJ //------------------------------// Celestia, Luna, and the four Elements of Harmony arrived at Canterlot Royal Castle in a matter of minutes. The guards had to enter through a different entrance, so as not to scare the civilians with Stephen's sleeping form. The six regrouped in the main Throne/Court room. There was much to discuss and elaborate upon, especially since the ponies had gotten their hooves on Stephen's backpack and ball-sash. "What are these items?" Luna asked. A scientist pony was asked to come forward and try to figure out what the two retrieved objects were. "Well, this item," The scientist held up the backpack. "Is most similar to our own saddlebags. It probably holds many important items. Should we investigate its contents?" "No," Celestia said sternly. "It is rude to go snooping around in a stranger's belongings. We could ask him about his bag's contents later." She looked at the ball-sash, which held six little Pokeballs. "Ah, of course, Princess," the scientist bowed in apology, "Now onto this item. I can tell it is a sash, but I have no idea what those little orbs are." "May I?" Twilight spoke up, and all heads turned to her. She blushed from all of the attention. "I've seen him use it, I think I can try to replicate the use." At this, the Princesses reluctantly agreed and the scientist pushed the sash over to the purple alicorn. She picked up one of the balls, and the Princesses and science pony gasped as the Pokeball increased in size. "How is that even possible? The science pony asked. "What kind of magic does this creature have?" "I don't think it's that bipedal creature who has the magic," Twilight replied. "I think it's these pets of his." She then called out, as Stephen said, "Go, Nova!" However, the ball did not open. It just stayed in Twilight's telekinetic grip. She turned it around until she saw a message on a small screen of some sort. which she read aloud, "'Unauthorized User'? So it has to be Stephen to use them, I suppose. These are his, after all." "What if," Luna spoke up, "We smashed the the capsule? Would that work?" Fluttershy was immediately concerned. "But it might hurt the creature inside!" The normally shy pegasus would not have an innocent creature be harmed by an experiment. Then she added, "We can ask Stephen. He'll know what to do." The Princesses both thought for a moment, and Luna spoke up before Celestia. "Very well." Fluttershy was very happy about that. "However, Twilight shall be the one to ask and, if need, bring him to us. If he comes to us with violent intent, we will have to keep him down there." Twilight raced from the throne room and down to the dungeons. "Why did you send him to the prisons, Luna?" Celestia grew tired of her younger sister's unreasonable logic sometimes. "Again, he was trying for peace and asking for help." "Once again, sister," Luna responded. "His pet attacked our guard. Imagine if we let him roam freely in a normal room." "Nevertheless, Luna," Celestia scolded; she did not want to have this argument again. "You shouldn't have acted so rashly on one that was playing for peace." The younger sister looked down at the tiles, guilty. "We are sorry, sister." Luna looked up to her loving and forgiving older sister. "We will try to restrain ourselves this time." ~~~Stephen's POV~~~ I finally woke because my back was very itchy. My eyes shot open as I immediately sat up and started scratching the annoyance away. I looked around one I stopped, taking in my surroundings. I was in a grey stone room, a small barred window above me, and a barred door to my right. I could tell we were underground; it smelled dusty yet moist, and the only natural light came from the small window and some torches in the outside hallway. The second thing I realized: my bag and ball sash were gone. "So I'm in jail," I asked no one in particular. "What the hell for? I didn't start anything." I looked down at the bed I was lying on. It felt very different to regular beds when I felt it, and when I reached under the bed skirt, I pulled up some straw. "Hay filled beds?" it made sense, I supposed. They're horses, pegasi, unicorns, whatever. Hay would be a common resource. I saw a small, empty tin cup in the corner of the room by the door. I got up and did the natural thing in this situation: picked up the cup and started rattling it against the cell doors. "Hellloooo!" I called out. "Anyone out there?" After I heard no answer, I kept rattling the cup on the bars. It took a while, but soon enough, a white horse came galloping to my cell, quite irate. "In the name of Celestia," The white pegasus pony looked like I had just woken him up. "Stop making that noise!" He ordered. I stared at him with a bored expression, then continued with my small, noisy rampage. "i swear if you don't stop doing that, I'll-" The guard was about to threaten me. "What?" I cut him off. "Hurt me? I'm going to guess you've never seen anything like me before, right?" The guard seemed unnerved by the gall I had to interrupt him, but he nodded. "I bet they're trying to figure out just what I am, and they wont get jack squat unless I'm up there to tell them. Now what makes you think that harming a lone specimen of a completely different, sentient species is a good idea?" The guard stood there, trying to think of a good comeback, but was was distracted by a galloping from behind him. He turned, and I looked behind him and saw the purple winged and horned horse from before, being escorted by a white unicorn guard. "Excuse me, Stephen," she said. "I have an important question." "Well," I pretended to think about it. "No. i'm not going to answer it." At first my meant reply was caught her off guard, but she regained a look of composure. "Please," she pleaded. "It has to do with your pets!" Now she had my attention. "First of all, they're not pets." I said. "Not to me, at least. Second of all, what is it?" "What happens," There seemed to be a slight pause in her voice. "If you break one of the capsules with one of those creatures still inside?" My eyes widened with fear and concern, and a bit of anger. "Did you?" I pulled her by the hoof and got her as close to my face as I could despite the bars in my way. "Did you break one of the Pokeballs?" "Nononono," The purple horse said, trying to pull away. The guard watching all of this tried to call for other guards, but she not to do anything. "We didn't. But..." "But..." I repeated. "C'mon, out with it then!" "But, if you are able to," she continued. "Could you demonstrate some of the items and the creatures?" "Maybe." I answered. "Now why did you want to know about the Pokeballs?" "That's what they're called?" she was momentarily distracted, but regained her train of though. "We wanted to know how they worked, and learn about one the creatures inside." "For one thing," I huffed. "Only I and a few others can open them. Two, if you ever did decide for some insane reason to destroy a Pokeball with a Pokemon still inside it..." I paused. I've seen it happen before in an accident. "The Pokemon inside dies." I watched as a solemn, sad expression came upon the purple horse's face. "You also asked for a demonstration, yes?" I tried to distract us both form such a dark thought. She nodded, but was still a bit sad at the previous statement. "I guess I better try to make a better impression, then? Bring me up, bailiff!" I ordered the guard, who glareda t me with contempt. "Please Lieutenant High Marks," the purple winged and horned one pleaded. "The Princesses need to see him." The guard remained stoic for a minute as he was contemplating what to do. It was the Princess' orders, after all. "Alright, creature." The one called High Marks' horn started to glow with a white aura, and the same aura took over the cell doors, which vanished in moments. "Come on out. If you ever make an attempt to escape or fight back, you will be detained again." "Like I know where I am," I countered. "I'm in a world-" I didn't noticed the purple horse's horn glow and everything went with a flash. Suddenly, we were in a completely different place. "-of multicolored, talking horses, and I obviously don't belong here!" I continued to rant at the guard until I noticed we were a huge room with a long red carpet leading to a pair of large ornate doors. I turned around and saw the two taller horses with wings and horns, and the three smaller horses from the forest. Is this some kind of throne room? I wondered. "We're called ponies, sir." the taller, white winged pony spoke to me. I was still taking in my surroundings. I looked to the ponies in the room and instantly demanded my belongings' return. "I'd be very happy to have my things back." I kind of growled. A short, blue pony wearing a whiter lab jacket and had the image of a magnifying glass on its flank. "Our most sincere apologies," the white one said again. "We did not mean to be rude. We were just... curious." "Curious, indeed." I repeated. "Didn't your elders ever tell you it wasn't right to not only steal but meddle with a stranger's belongings Miss...?" "Princess Celestia," She gestured to herself with a hoof, then gestured to the dark blue pony beside her. "And this is Princess Luna. We rule over this land together. And once again, we are very sorry for having taken your possessions." "Well, Celestia-" I began before another guard, I couldn't tell; they all looked alike, interrupted me. "It's Princess Celestia," It barked. "Foul beast!" I smirked. "Am I a fellow pony? Do I live here in this country?" I asked rhetorically. "No. I am not one their subjects. While I do respect your authority," I said to the Princesses. Celestia watched calmly, but Luna looked irritated. "We both recognize that they cannot control me nor have any authority over me." Before Luna could angrily respond, her elder sister spoke. "He is correct." Celestia smiled at me. "He is not of our country or origins. He does not lie under our jurisdiction and should not have to." "May I say something, sister?" Luna cut in. The aforementioned sister nodded. "Good sir creature," she spoke to me now. "We are sorry for knocking you out under the pretense that you were hostile. But know that if you harm our subjects in any way, there will be dire consequences." "What," I countered. "You don't trust me?" The blue pony shook her head. "Then I guess the feeling's mutual." The ponies in the room gasped, and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Why should I trust this place? I woke up in a jail cell! For all I know you, could be horrible ponies to other countries, you might be the source of troubles for other species in this weird world. You might even drug me or knock me out again and experiment on me while I'm unconscious!" "Please, sir," Celestia tried to calm me down. "We're not here to harm you in any way. We're all just trying to help you; you are lost, correct?" "Yes." I answered. "Yes I am. And until I have a way to get back to my own world, I will not trust anyone." and with that and a theatrical flair, I put on my backpack and ball-sash, turned, and walked to the doors. "Good night." "Wait!" I heard Celestia call. I turned once more to her, and saw her order a guard. "Sergeant Iron Wall, please escort our guest to a proper room for the night." She then looked to me with pleading eyes, seeking forgiveness. I let my stern expression soften, but turned away once more, letting the guard lead me on a silent trip to a guest room. ~~~Pony POV~~~ "So," Twilight was deflated. "That went well." "We shouldn't have acted so rashly," Luna felt at complete fault. "I'm sorry, everypony." "It's alright," Celestia consoled everyone, including herself. "We just need a way to find his way home." "But, Princess!" Twilight cut in. "He's from a completely different world! How could we ever find a way to get him to trust us that way?" "Leave that to us," Luna answered. "Celestia and I will be the ones to toil to find a solution to this. However you, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, will be the ones to try to cheer him and and to make a friendship in some way." The four named ponies agreed to the assignment, determined to make this right. "Don't worry, Princess Luna." Twilight spoke for the four. "We'll try our best to fix this!" "But for now," Celestia added. "We better call it a night. Luna, could you?" "Of course," the sister nodded. "We'll try and see what we can find out." "Good," Celestia smiled, before turning to the doors to retire for the night. "Good night, everypony." All in attendance replied their 'goodnights' and also went to their respective rooms. That night, before she went to sleep, Twilight Sparkle thought of ways to gain Stephen's trust. He was willing to speak to her and her friends by the forest, maybe she can attempt to converse with him again through them. Tomorrow, they would test how each of the four available Elements could get through this.