//------------------------------// // That turned into a peaceful night. // Story: My Little Pony: Blue Version // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// By the time Celestia had finished her business in Ponyville, she was left slightly more confused compared to when she had left. If she had to guess as to why, it was the exact nature of what she had found there. Beside her stood Rarity, one of the element bearers, coming with her to Canterlot. As she paused in town, Rarity looked up and gave a grateful smile. “Thank you so much Princess Celestia, if there is anything I can ever do for you in return, don’t hesitate to ask.” Rarity bowed once before taking a few steps back, and giving a wave. Celestia smiled as she left, and once more thought of the female human, and of the quality of Rarity’s dresses. Turning, she began casting the final teleportation spell, and appeared at the entrance to her castle. Taking into the sky, she knew the guards would recognise her. While she could leave the castle via teleport, she couldn’t enter as a precaution, lest the guards decide to attack her before seeing who she was. Landing, she entered the castle and asked the nearest guard the location of the group of strangers. After finding out they had moved into the kitchen, she smiled and nodded her thanks, before turning and heading in that direction. Celestia was worried they might have touched the 5-layer cake left to cool so she could eat it with her sister. Turning the corner and entering the room, she realised her fears seemed unfounded. “I’m telling you! The only ghosts that exist are Pokémon ghosts, wheather they are the element or an actual ghost.” The loud voice of the human called Blue blasted her ears the instant she arrived, and she noticed all seemed to be drinking some of her vast cider stores. Celestia had a feeling she would have to watch those stores from now on. The cake in the middle of the room was completely untouched. “Doesn’t stop you from running and screaming like a sissy when ya see one.” Lyra poked Blue with a hoof, and laughed at the panic stricken face of Blue. “How did you find out about that! Red sealed his lips!” Blue finished another cup, and poured himself another while he waited, amused by how little cider the unicorn could take before passing out. “He didn’t have to, you just told me yourself.” Lyra watched Blue stiffen and bow his head, muttering a quiet swear. Turning on her, he glared at her, giving a small hiccup as he pointed to Red. “Yeah? Well Red was…Red was the one that had to be saved by me, without me risking my life to get him the Sylph Scope he’d have never made it this far. I’m just that awesome.” Blue took another swig of his drink, and finally noticed Celestia nearby, taking first place for Red impersonation. “Hey, legendary. Come join us for some drinks!” Blue raised his glass into the air, and then drunk it down with a few quick gulps, slamming it down on the counter. Celestia forced herself to not raise an eyebrow at the humans behaviour, and shook her head, giving a polite smile. “No thank you-er-Blue. I was actually wondering if I could ask you some questions.” Looking to the two over the other side of the table, she saw that both seemed far less drunk than the others. The one named Green was watching the two with a casual interest, however she looked to Celestia when Green sensed her gaze. “Your best bet is asking Red. He’s mute, but he probably knows the answers to your question.” Green nudged Red, who was staring into his cup, not really looking at anything. He raised his head and met Celestia’s eyes, and she flinched at the unreadable expression. “Would you please follow me outside, so I can ask the questions without interrupting your…friend's fun?” Celestia expected the human to shake his head, and point to one of the other three to act as an interpreter. However as he stood up, and gave a slow nod, she watched him leave the room. Glancing to the guards, she motioned for one to follow her, as a precaution. “So now the buzkill is-er-gone, how about we have a drinking contest?” Blue smirked at Lyra, who looked to her cup and rolled her eyes. “You know as well as I do I can barely manage three cups.” Looking down at her cup, she refilled it to the brim, and let a small smile fall on he face. Turning to Blue, she held the cup in front of her. “But I’m up to the challenge, Green?” Lyra and Blue finished their cups quickly, and Green shook her head. “I’ll pass, I’ve got a bad history with alcohol.” Taking a sip of her water, Green looked toward the door and thought about what the pony might possibly want to ask. She could see the flowing mane of the—Lyra had said it was an Alicorn right? Even to her eyes, she could sense the status of the pony, it was obviously a legendary. Pondering it, she wondered what exactly made a Pokémon a legendary. “So you are, Red correct?” Celestia was outside of the room, heading towards a nearby balcony where guards often patrolled during a crisis. As she walked she kept her eyes on Red, watching his every move out of curiosity. Red followed the legendary calmly, standing tall but relaxed at the same time. His eyes looked over the world with a certain calm, as if seeing nothing wrong with the way it was. Leaning on the edge of the balcony, he raised his head to look at the night sky as the stars began to appear, noticing them wash across the sky like someone had painted them on. Giving a nod, he waited for her to continue asking questions, watching the world around him without a care in the world. “Your friend said you came back in time, and I have reason to believe that is true. Tell me, have you ever been to Ponyville?” Celestia wasn’t sure her words had reached the human at first, however as he looked in the exact direction of Ponyville, a single nod answered her. Turning to look down on Canterlot, she found it slightly disjointing talking to someone who was mute, however she persisted. Until she knew exactly what she was dealing with, she couldn’t let this group wander as they pleased. “You seem to know Twilight, can you tell me what she said about you when we met?” If he was indeed a time traveller, answering that should be easy. However, as his eyes meet hers, she realised she had forgotten an important aspect to being mute, that being the inability to talk. Looking into his eyes, she saw the calm, knowing gaze that looked completely different compared to the cold, dark eyes of the one she had met in Ponyville. If she had to call it, this Red seemed a lot more mature than that Red. “I see.” Looking at the human, Celestia could find no reason to not trust them. They had clearly stated their intentions, and were aware of their doubles in Ponyville. So until she met with Twilight in a week, or instantly if there was a problem, she could not find a reason to not trust them, besides the fact they had crash landed in her throne room. “I will reduce the guard to one, and you can ask him if you have any enquiries or wish to find something.” Celestia pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly made a note of her decision. The one guard was a formality, a means to both keep an eye on them and help them out. If Red was aware of this fact, he either didn’t care, or wasn’t bothered by it. Turning to leave, she spared one last look back at Red, who had returned to gazing at the sky, and wondered what exactly the air around him she sensed meant. As she left, Red closed his eyes and listened to her hoofsteps as they faded from hearing. The sound from the room where his three friends were faded into the backdrop as well. As the world slowly began to prepare to rest for another night, Red watched on. He watched as a small child complained about going to bed, wanting to stay up late. He watched as two colts headed into their homes, separating after a long day of adventure. “Nostalgic, isn’t it Red?” Blue’s voice came from behind him, and joined him looking over the balcony. In the room behind them, Green sat sipping her drink and Lyra layed on the table, knocked out. If Green was planning on getting up and joining the two, she didn’t show it, seeming to be content just where she was. “A lot has changed in four years, but nothing really has, has it?” Blue chuckled, and looked toward Red, who had yet to look at him. Closing his eyes, Red let a ghost of a smile fall on his face, and pulled down his cap, hiding his face in shadow. Blue turned back to looking at the city, letting a casual smile fall on his face. “It doesn’t feel like we’ve changed, and yet when we see our old selves we will be able to see how far we’ve come clearly.” Blue smiled, pulling out a Pokéball and gazing at it, his smile slowly turning to his trademark smirk. Blue turned to Red, who finally turned to look at him. “Of course, I’ve changed less, after all I was already pretty awesome.” Blue felt a fist gently hit him in the face, and growled as it was kept on his face. “Red, we’ve talked about the face. How am I supposed to woo girls if you wreck my perfectly handsome face?” Blue waited as Red finally removed his hand, and turned away. Hidden under his cap, was a slight smirk, invisible to everyone nearby. However, Blue didn’t need to see it, smiling as he turned to look to the sky, putting away his Pokéball. Blue knew it was there.