//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven // Story: Second Chances at a New Story // by Vulpibard //------------------------------// I took a long drink, slowly draining my glass, looking over the rim as the eight ponies settled in for the story. I lowered my glass to it's proper spot, paused for a second, then nudged it a little. "Now about my home," I scooted closer to the table, "I already said i come from a place called Avalon. A place that exsited in the dreams of Ponies. The place called avalon was created by the ancient magic named 'Mielikuvitus', no doubt you've heard of it." Everypony shook their head but Celestia, who narrowed her eyes. "What language is that?" "No clue, but anywho, Avalon is lead by it's king and guardians Arthur Pendragon and the knights of the round table." I leand back in my chair and waited for the inevitable firestorm, oddly none came. "Well?" Rainbowdash asked "Well what?" "What about the knights, do they do anything?" "Huh, not much, I mean there was that time they fought a witch named Morgana, and then there was the evil knight Mordred who nearly killed arthor that other time." "Tell us about those then!" "Why? Don't you already know about them?" "Why would we?" Twilight asked. "Well, I was sent to find the city Camelot, there was a prophacy that Arthor would return to it in it's time of need." "Our cities name is Canterlot." "Really? Well, I must've misheard then." "And what was your job in this kingdom?" Celestia butted in. "I was the court magician." "Really?" Sparkle asked eagerly, "No, actually I was just his apprentice. The court magician was a wizard named Merlin, said to be the strongest of all time." That answer did nothing to deter Star-butts eagerness. "What can you tell me about him?" Celestia seemed to sense my distress and stepped in to the rescue. "Perhaps it's time to call this to a close. Twilight, I have a few things to talk to you about, your friends can feel free to explore the castle. Luna, keep our guest company." The immortal sun princess stood and walked out with her student, leaving me with a slightly smaller crowd of six, all of whom turned to me. "So then... What do you want to know now?" "Tell us about Mordred!" "The fashion!" "What kind of parties do they have?" "Um, if you don't mind, I'd like to know about the animals." "What style of magic do they use there?" I looked around at the five who answered, something was missing. "Daniels?" I asked, looking at the orange earth pony. "Huh?" "What would you like to hear about?" "Oh, uh... I wouldn't mind hearin' what kinda economy they got." "I see." I took one last second to look at the group of curious ponies before gritting my teeth. It was time to push through a train wreck. "I am just saying, it makes no sense to make an army of Chimney Sweeps!" "And ahm tellin' you, you shouldn't underestimate us working class." "Applejack, please, I'm working class as well and it makes no sense how such filthy and unrefined ponies could forge a military that strong." Currently my story telling had derailed into an argument with Apple Jack, Rainbow dash, and Pinkie Pie on one side against Luna, Rarity and Flutter Shy. If I had to guess, it started around the time I started telling them about Marry Poppins' Involvement in the war with Germany. Not historically accurate, but it painted a better picture. And now the ponies I was suppose to be teaching about the early cruesades were making up their own stories of the immortal king Arthur and wizard Merlin. Meanwhile I just leaned back and began humming a song. Hearing a band play off in the distance I tried to clean out my new and pointy ears. The music got louder as I continued humming and I took it as my queue to start singing when the other six turned to me. "Chim chimney chim chimeny Chim chim cheree; A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey Chim chim cher-oo! Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you Or blow me a kiss and that's lucky too I stood up swiftly and began waltzing around the table, pausing to shake hands with Apple Jack, then blow a kiss to Luna. Spinning a bit more, and thanking my dance classes, I landed behind Rarity in time for the next line. "Now as the ladder of life 'as been strung You might think a sweep's on the bottommost rung Though they spends their time in the ashes and smoke In this 'ole wide world there're no 'appier blokes." Another chorus of capering and the others joined me in a trip to the fireplace on the other end of the dining hall. "Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey Chim chim cher-ee! A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey Chim chim cher-oo! Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you "I choose me bristles with pride, yes, I do A broom for the shaft and a brush for the flue "But it's awfully dark and dirty up there." I chuckled at Rarity's perfectly timed comment and continued singing. "Up where the smoke is all billered and curled 'Tween pavement and stars is the chimney sweep world When there's 'ardly no day nor 'ardly no night There's things 'alf in shadow and 'alfway in light On the rooftops of London coo, what a sight!" "Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey Chim chim cher-ee! When you're with a sweep you're in glad company" As I finished the next verse we all heard the door open and Celestia walked in with her pupil, singing the chorus for us and setting up the finish to the song. "No where is there a more 'appier crew, then them wot sings chim chim cheree chim cheroo." As the music faded we all walked back to the table with smiles on (most of) our faces. So either this isn't cannon or Hasbro bought out Disney. I chuckled, at my job getting the elements to sing that song. It was hilarious how they just knew the lyrics. All the prank possibilities were just lining up. "I see you were enjoying our absence," Celestia commented. "Well, it's hard not to enjoy myself in such a lively place." I tilted my head, "May I ask howyour ponies knew the lyrics, or you knew them, after walking halfway into the song?" "That may be a story for another time, it's getting late and my pupil and her friends likely need some rest." "I see, well see ya'" I said, trotting to the door. "Make sure to keep inside the castle." Celestia called after me. "May or may not do~"