//------------------------------// // Ponyville // Story: Dragon Quest 9 1/2: New Starry Skies // by Swordoath //------------------------------// "Here we are!" Said FlutterShy. She'd sucessfully led the duo out of the forest and to Ponyville, describing the town and ponies in general, and was escorting them to her friend Twilight's home. "So this is Ponyville?" Stella said, flying high above Rylan to take a better look. "Huh. Looks a bit boring if you ask me." "Oh no, lots of stuff happens in ponyville. Just last week, my friend Twilight was crowned a princess!" The pegasus said. "A princess? Wow. What'd she do? Save the king?" Stella asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "'Save a king?' Nononono, she solved an mystery of magic that nopony before had. It was really amazing!" Stella turned away from the beaming pony, and rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh." She then turned to Rylan, whispering to him, "Am I the only one who thinks the ponies are giving us weird looks?" Rylan shook his head. The ponies had been staring at them as they walked through the town. He supposed it was understandable- it would be akin to seeing a fully-fledged Celestrian walking through Stornway- an absolutely unheard of oddity, not at all part of a normal day. The group came upon a large tree, caved with windows and balconies that reminded Rylan of The World Tree, while at the same time reminiscent of it's holding, the Observatory. FlutterShy walked up to the door, giving it a couple knocks, and waited for a moment as a small purple lizard opened it. Immediately on guard, Rylan brought up his shield, anticipating an attack. When none came, he peered around the edge, and was greeted with a stare from both the lizard and the pony. "Uh... Hi, FlutterShy," the lizard spoke. "I'm guessing you want Twilight...?" The pony nodded, and Rylan lowered the shield, now knowing he wasn't in danger. "Twilight's that princess you were talking about before, right?" Stella asked, and FlutterShy nodded. "Why is she living in an old tree? Shouldn't she be living the life of lavishness up in some castle?" "Twilight lives here because she runs the library," the pony explained. "And the nearest castle is really, really too far for her to stay in contact with me and her other friends." The door reopened, this time revealing a light-purple pony, with similarly colored hair. This one had not only wings, but a crown as well. An Alicorn, if Rylan remembered correctly from FlutterShy's short lesson on the pony types. "Hello FlutterShy. Spike said you found some interesting animals in- oh! Oh, wow!" She exclaimed. "Hey! Who're you calling animals!?" Stella pouted angrily. "Oh goodness! They talk! Please, please come in!" The Alicorn gestured the trio inside her home, into a room lined entirely with bookshelves. "This is amazing, really amazing! We've never seen your kind in Equestria before- not once! We can be the first to document your-" She was cut short by Stella, who yelled, in annoyance, "Hey! Excuse me for being a bit frontward, but neither of us are your little science projects! We just wanted to get home, right Rylan?" Rylan nodded, then turned to the pony, who he determined to be Twilight, and explained their situation. Mostly she just nodded and asked the occational short question, taking down a quick note with a magically levitated quill and parchment. When he finished, she rolled up the paper and set it on an escritorial desk. "So you two- a fairy and a part Celestrian- crash landed your sky train here when it was shot down?" She surmised. "Yes! Thats what we've been flapping talking about!" Stella said, sitting atop a wooden horse head bust. "We gotta find out what that light was all about. Back in our world, they led to a huge fiasco with magic fruit and a really, really neglected Celestrian prisoner, not to mention a huge arial battle atop a dragon! Rylan here, he had to sort it all out. But now the those lights brought us here, and we don't know who brought us down or why." "Is it possible it was the same pony- uh, Celestrian as before?" Rylan shook his head, explaining about Corvus's reunion with his lover. There was little chance he'd do this again. "Okay then... this is really something we should let Princess Celestia know about. We should head over as soon as we can. FlutterShy, do you think you can round up the others? Tell them to bring their elements." Twilight requested of her friend, then turning to Stella and Rylan. "You two, you stay around here. I need to write a letter to the Princess." "A letter? That'll take ages to get there," Stella pointed out. "Why bother?" "Don't worry. I can get it there faster than you think." Twilight said. "In the meantime, feel free to take a look at the library books." Celestia? Doesn't the Alicorn mean Celestria? Wondered Rylan briefly. Rylan set down another book as he heard the door open. Two ponies walked in, one with a hat, a dark orange coat, and light yellow mane coloration, while the other was sky blue with wings, and a multicolored mane. "Twi, we got FlutterShy's-" called the more normal pony, stopping when she saw Rylan and Stella, who gave a little wave. "What in tarnation-?" "I'm Stella, this is Rylan," the fairy interrupted, rising from the desk she sat on. "I guess you're the purple pony's friends?" Slightly taken aback by the fact the new creatures could speak, the orange one went silent. The pegasus, however, asked another question. "What are you two, and what are you doing in the library?" "Big story," Stella said before Rylan could delve into a lengthy explanation. "Maybe when everyone's here." Not long after came a knock at the door, which the orange pony opened, not taking her eyes off of the odd pair. "Hiya!" a pony comprised of several varying hues of pink walked in. "Ooh, I like your wings!" She said to Stella. "Oh thanks, it takes forever to- Wait, your not freaked under by us?" Stella said, eyes widening a bit. "Nope! I think you two are cool! Hey, can I see this?" The pony was already holding Rylan's power shield, somehow taken right from his arm. he motioned for her to return it, which she did, but only after examining it from every angle. FlutterShy and another pony walked in almost immediately after, this mare snow-white with a curled, wine purple mane. It also had a horn, signifying the fact it was a unicorn. "Oh, well hello darlings. FlutterShy here-" she stopped short when she saw Rylan. "Oh my! Wherever did you get such exqusit attire? It simply ravishing, darling!" She said, eying his hat and fencing jacket. "That's it? You're not gonna freak out about who's wearing it either?" Stella said, hands on her diminutive hips. The unicorn caught eye of her dress and reacted in a similar manner as to Rylan's appearance. "I explained things to her on the way'" FlutterShy said. "Oh terribly sorry. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Rarity, pleased to make your aquaintance." The unicorn curtsied, and Rylan bowed in return. "I trust that you are Rylan, yes? And this is your companion, Stella?" "Yup! Stunning stewardess of the Starflight Express!" Stella struck a pose, at which everyone stared at uncomfortably. "... Really? Still nothing?" "Well, I ain't know nothin' bout no StarFlight Express," said the orange mare. "But mah name's AppleJack. Pleased to meet yah!" Rylan went for a handshake, but realized the pony had none. So he bumped his fist instead. A new "party trick" as he liked to call them. The most colorful pony went high up toward the ceiling, and exclaimed, "I'm Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria and soon-to-be Wonder Bolt!" The other ponies were sent into a titter of giggles and comments, while Stella grumbled softly, "Why did they like her introduction better than mine...?" "My name's Pinkamina, but you guys can call me Pinkie Pie!" Said the poofy-haired pink pony in a cheerful tone. Rylan was reminded of Patty, from the inn at Stornway. Of course came the barrage of questions- "What are you? Where are you from? Can I see your hat? Do you like cake?" Most of which were answered without problem. Soon Twilight descended the staircase. "Girls! It's great to see you." She said. "I suppose your all wondering why I called you here."