//------------------------------//
// The Chapter in Canterlot 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Next Generation 
// by MedicHorse 
//------------------------------//


My Little Pony: The Next Generation
The Chapter in Canterlot

Everypony was finally done unpacking. Each family was given their own room in the castle, with access to a large lounge area for the group. As soon as they had permission from their parents, each of the children broke off to go do whatever they had planned. Annie, not really having a plan, decided she would follow T, as his agenda sounded the most relaxing. She couldn’t take in the view like he planned to, but that was okay. Nature seemed to speak to her anyway. As Annie heard her friends leaving, she locked on to the gentle but totally unique sound of T’s claws hitting the ground. She had gotten very good at this over the years, being able to pinpoint her friends’ gaits in crowds and follow them well, even on dirt or up stairs. T, being lost in thought as he usually was, failed to notice his tiny, timid tail. He simply walked up the stairs of the castle leading to its tallest tower. As soon as he cleared the door and was standing on the small patio, he was suddenly taken aback by the magnificent sight before him. He uttered a quiet “wow,” which garnered a response from the pony following him.
“Is it really that pretty?” she asked, not sure how T would respond. He jumped a little, and turned around. His face almost literally light up when he saw Annie standing there.
“It’s more beautiful than words can describe,” he said, and he believed it with all his heart.
“Could you try?” Annie asked timidly. They were both taken back to the first time she had asked him to describe something, and the many times since then. As a stallion of few words, he learned how to make the small amount he said carry vivid imagery and strong emotion.
“Of course,” he said, as he sat down on the patio. “The sun looks like a flaming amber sphere of passion, surrounded on all side by the mellow, tantalizing blue of the open sky. No clouds, no approaching storm, just endless freedom and beauty, stretching all the way to meet the mountains...” As he spoke, Annie found herself drawing closer to the sound of his voice, and was soon sitting next to him and losing herself in the description. “…but it’ll be even better at sundown,” he finished, planning to come back then to see it again.
“If you say so,” Annie replied, finding no part of nature any more or less beautiful than any other. “Thank you for this, Turquoise.”
“It was my pleasure,” he answered, finally getting up. “Now let’s go see what the others are up to.”

Claire, on a personal mission to find someone she hadn’t seen in years, decided to begin looking in the throne room of the castle. She reasoned this was the most likely place he would be. He was royalty, after all. As she walked, she noticed a strange sound coming from beneath her. She looked down, and noticed her hooves and claws were now covered by large, squeaky clown shoes. She vocalized in shock lightly when her brain finished processing the information it was receiving. After a little more thought, she smirked, knowing exactly what had happened.
“Illusion, get these tacky things off me this instant!” she hollered, knowing he could be anywhere.
“Now, now,” he started, and happened to be right behind her, making her jump a little. “Is that any way to speak to a prince? I would think you’d been taught better than that.” After a moment of intense staring, the two began giggling uncontrollably. Claire, realizing how silly she must look, stopped and cleared her throat.
“Didn’t your parents ever teach you how rude it is to play a silly joke on a poor, unsuspecting lady such as myself?” Claire said, trying her best to look upset with him.
“I simply couldn’t help it,” he said. “You looked so serious. And I can’t help that you were trotting about the castle looking for me. Besides, I figured I should be the one responsible for your annual laugh.”
“You have an ego larger than your mother’s sun. What makes you think I was looking for you?” Claire asked.
“No mare can resist the fluff,” he boasted, referring to the large patch of fluffy black fur on his chest. “Especially not you,” he added with a wink. As he finished, both ponies noticed a Royal Guard approaching.
“Prince Illusion, Princess Celestia wishes to speak with you at once,” he said with a tinge of urgency in his voice.
“Oh, poo,” Illusion started. “I was just about to get to the part where I ask you out on a date tonight at seven at that quaint little café down the street.”
“Wait, what?” Claire asked loudly, with a lingering blush left over from Illusion’s earlier statement.
“See you then!” he said with a wave as he walked into the throne room to see what he was interrupted for, leaving Claire with  a myriad of thoughts running through her head. One of which, strangely, was happy excitement. She decided to head back to the lounge to see if she could gain any advice whatsoever from her peers. She walked back towards the guest area with a noticeable pep in her step.

Gold, excited to finally lay this whole “golden apple” thing to rest, slowly sauntered his way through downtown Canterlot. As he was walking, he couldn’t help but notice a familiar pink and white mane, but it looked uncharacteristically low. “What’s wrong, Candy?” he asked as he approached her.
“Doughnut Joe run out,” she said with a hint of whine. “What kind of doughnut shop runs out of doughnuts at two-thirty?”
Gold laughed at the statement. “Well, you’re welcome to come with me to see this apple that defies all reason and logic!” he said theatrically while still maintaining a sarcastic tone. Candy giggled a bit, then nodded with a smile. After a short walk, the pair found the apple in question. Unfortunately for Gold, it was as huge, beautiful, and magnificent as the stories had promised.
“Ya know, this thing looks just like your Cutie Mark,” Candy noticed, causing Gold to glance at his flank and giggle.
“Well, we saw the darn thing, what now?” he asked, growing bored with the giant gold apple before them.
“Why don’t we go grab something to eat?” asked Candy.
“That sounds wonderful,” Gold answered. The two headed off to a quaint little café that they had passed earlier, just down the street from the castle.

Prism had finally tracked down his father. He was at the Royal Guard recruitment center, trying to find Pegasi worthy of joining the Wonderbolt academy. As he walked he noticed Starburst walking out of the training facility that was just next door.
“Well, hey there,” he called to his friend, who had noticed him and was approaching him. “Done with your tour?”
“Yes, but there was a lack of useful information,” she seethed, obviously upset for some reason. “Less advice and helpful comments, more blurbs about mares never lasting long in the guard.”
“Dang, sorry to hear that,” Prism commented as if this was the first time something like this had happened. “Wanna stop by the recruiter’s office? You might qualify for the delayed entry program.”
She shot him a quizzical glance, as his knowledge of the guard was highly unexpected. “Fine,” she finally answered, and the two walked through the door.
“Hey son!” Soarin said excitedly as Prism walked through the door. “Finally taking your old man’s advice and singing up for the guard?”
“No, Dad,” Prism answered as he had many times before. “Just came down to give you our room number and your key. I’m sure Mom looks forward to seeing you again.” Soarin simply smirked, and accepted the key and the small note attached to it.
While this was happening, Starburst had been speaking to the Royal Guard’s Recruiter. “Do you know of any delayed entry programs near Ponyville?” she asked.
“I know where stallions from around there go for training,” he answered.
“Perfect,” she replied, ignoring the implications of his statements. “What paperwork do I need to fill out?”
“Look, sweetie,” the recruiter said while leaning forward in his chair. “We get your type in here from time to time, and we tell them the same thing. The guard isn’t for mares. If you’re looking for a job, there’s a quaint little café up by the castle hiring. I know the manager and I could…”
“You could give her the papers she’s asking for,” said Prism, who had heard the whole thing. The stallion said nothing, simply looking between the two with a smirk. “Hey, Dad!” when Soarin flew over, the smirk disappeared. “This guy won’t let Starburst sign up for the guard.”
“Really?” said Soarin, shifting his gaze to the recruiter. “That sounds like a riveting tale to tell the captain.”
“No need, sir,” said the recruiter nervously as he shuffled the papers towards Starburst.
“Thank you,” she said as she filled out the papers. After she finished, she turned around and walked out with Prism right behind her. “You didn’t need to do that,” she said to him.
“Yeah, but that guy’s face is a lot less broken then it would have been if I hadn’t.” They both giggled at the thought of a large military pony cowering before an admittedly smallish mare. “So, what now?” Prism asked.
“Well,” Star answered, “he did say something about a quaint little café…”