One Trip We Didn't Plan

Celestia, Luna, the humans, and the guards made their way to the dining room usually reserved for the royal sisters. The sisters had insisted on eating there because they thought it best to surprise as few ponies as possible with the two, albeit very tired, humans. Celestia sat at the head of the elaborately decorated oak table with Luna at her right. Kevin sat next to Celestia and Doug to his right. The three night guards that accompanied Luna filled in the rest of the table. Everyone was quiet, some for different reasons than others. A groggy waiter came around to ask the princesses what they wanted, they directed him to the humans sitting beside them. He seemed unfazed by the two humans unlike most of the other ponies they had met.

"So, what can we get you ambassadors?" The waiter asked.

"Uh, I dunno. Whataya got?" Kevin asked.

"Just about anything you can think of." The waiter deadpanned.

"Um... Doug?"

"Oh for crying out- we'll just get some pancakes."

"Yeah. that sounds good."

"That sounds good for us as well." Luna answered.

"I agree." Celestia stated as she looked to her guards and they all nodded. "Pancakes for the guards as well, please."

"Any drinks while you wait?"

Everyone ordered coffee except Doug, who ordered orange juice. The waiter nodded and walked off. The assembled party sat in silence until Doug apologized.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, I wanna say I'm sorry for what I said, er, thought earlier. It was just that-"

The older princess held up a hoof. "Don't be sorry. It was your mind, and you are entitled to your own thoughts."

"And if we did not see those thoughts thou may have been severely hurt. Thou art sure you're okay?"

Doug held up his right hand wiggled his fingers. "I still got 'em. I'm fine, thanks. Just a little... shaken up."

Celestia looked at her sister. Luna knew what she was thinking, and it wasn't pleasant. Doug turned to the night guard sitting next to him.

"Do they always do that?"

"Yeah. I always feel like I'm only hearing half of their conversations." The golden armored guard said. "You get used to it after a while."

The waiter came back with everyone's drinks and everyone sipped thoughtfully, trying to think of what to say without bring up what had just transpired.

"Well, I do believe there is an elephant in the room." Kevin said bluntly.

"An elephant? Where? We see no elephant." The night princess asked.

"Luna, it's a figure of speech that we use on Earth when there's something that's on everyone's mind but doesn't want to talk about." Doug explained.

"Oh. Well then carry on."

"Those...things...that attacked Doug, they knew we were here. I'm no expert, but I don't think they're supposed to be here."

"They sure aren't." Doug commented. "Those changelings were supposed to be defeated a few episodes ago. They're not supposed to be here."

"Excuse me, but, episodes?" One of the golden armored guards asked.

"I'll explain later. All you need to know is that I'm familiar with your history. Now, they knew we were here, and they want us. Whether it was intended as a kidnapping or an assassination I don't know, but what I'm pretty sure of is that someone in this castle isn't who they say they are."

Everyone but Celestia and Luna was taken aback by this new theory.

"We feared as such."

"That's what we thought as well." Celestia muttered.

"So how do we get rid of them?" Kevin asked.

"We-" Doug started as the waiter came into the room.

The waiter began serving the pancakes to everyone. Doug seemed unnerved and eyed the waiter until after he left.

"...Does anyone know how to check for poison?"

"Doug, this isn't Dungeons and Dragons. The food's not going to be poisoned."

"After being attacked in the middle of the night, I'm not taking any chances."

Kevin rolled his eyes. The one unicorn guard at the table quickly scanned his own food when he thought nobody was looking. He proceeded to check everyone's food and deemed everything safe to eat. Celestia looked to her sister and thought.

He's a paranoid one isn't he?

A tad, but his fears are justified. We know he's not as calm as he looks.

I'm going to talk to them later.

We'll come too.

Sister, you need your rest. I'll take care of this.

Luna remained silent.

"I think it's time we presented the award." Celestia said.

Everyone looked to Celestia, surprised. Even Luna didn't expect what she had said.

"I don't have it with me now, but I would like to present Kevin with a medal."

Kevin gaped, Doug was shocked, and the guards were dumbfounded. Luna caught on to what her sister was getting at and smiled.

"For protecting Canterlot and your fellow pony- excuse me, man from Changeling attack; I hereby present the Equestrian Defender award to you, Kevin."

Everybody other than the royal sisters sat dumbfounded, mouths agape. Kevin looked around and sighed.

"All I can say is thank you... Your highness."

Doug couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Yes, Kevin deserved it but he still wanted one for himself. An internal debate started deep within his mind.

You're kidding me? You're joking right? I'm the brony here! I should be getting a award! A purple heart or something!
Oh no, it's not enough for Luna to say that I was just 'collateral,' now they're awarding him a medal!?

No, calm down, Doug. There's no need for these thoughts. They'll poison your mind.

Luna looked at Doug and her eyes went wide.

"Nay! Child, come with us at once!"

"Huh-?"

"NOW!"

Luna levitated Doug from his seat and started trotting out the room.

"Hey! What gives?"

"Thine eyes."

Doug looked at everyone still at the table and they gasped. His eyes were not his own; his black pupils were no longer circular, the eyes of dragons, cats, and a very infamous alicorn. The eyes of Nightmare Moon.