"I know what and who you are. You have quite the future ahead of you. I don't want to spoil too much, but just make sure you make the right decision in the end and follow the instructions you've learned in the past through some of the nightmares people have thought up. You only need five of them. And remember what End said. - Doctor Whooves."
If he's the one who sent this to me than why didn't he just tell me? Doesn't matter that much I suppose. I wonder what he meant by 5 of them, and who End is. Again, doesn't matter that much.
"Who's that letter from?" Someone asked.
When I looked up from the letter I saw Twilight looking at it.
Does she know about the Doctor? I assume she would since she lives here. Guess there's one way to find out.
"It's from the Doctor. You know him?"
"Yeah. The one who hangs around Derpy, acts kinda weird. What did he have to say?"
You and your questions.
"Nothing of interest."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really."
Twilight didn't look convinced.
"Let me see."
Twilight used her magic to take the letter out of my hand and levitated it over to herself. Once she was done reading it, she gave me a confused look.
"Told you."
"What does this mean?"
"I don't know," I half-lied.
"Anyway, I have more questions."
She put the letter on my clothes.
"Ask away."
"Where is your home at?"
"I told you, it's complicated."
"How could it be complicated?"
"'Cause I don't know where it is from here. It's not exactly easy to find your home when you don't know the area at all."
"I could use my magic to help you."
"Thanks, but no thanks. Celestia is the only one I know who can help me, and so far negotiations haven't been the best."
"Why? Why is she the only one who can help you?" Twilight asked with a hint of sadness.
"I... I don't know for sure. Either she's the only one who knows the spell or the only one powerful enough."
"I... I see. I didn't think of it like that."
She turned away from me.
Here you go again Twilight.
I put a hand on her head.
"If this is about not being able to help me get home, you have helped me. You put a roof over my head, and you got me out of prison. That's certainly help to me."
"Really?"
"Of course."
She turned to me with a grin. Suddenly, a burst of rainbow came through the window and started hovering over me and Twilight. It was none other than Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, um. Sorry guys, didn't know you were in the middle of... Do you want me to--" Rainbow Dash began to say.
"No! What do you want?" I interrupted.
"It's time for your first lesson in hovering."
"Alright. Meet me at the front door then you can show me the training field."
I got up and went downstairs.
"I'll be back," I said to Twilight.
"Okay. And thanks."
"Anytime."
I walked outside to see Rainbow Dash hovering impatiently. When I closed the door she took off towards the training field. Having to follow the trail of rainbow throughout the town, I saw that it ended a few feet away from Fluttershy's house.
"Alright newbie. This is your first lesson in hovering," Rainbow Dash announced.
"Then let's begin,” I said.
"The first thing you need to know about hovering is that you need to keep your wings moving. Second thing, you need to keep them at a steady pace, you don't want to wear yourself out too quickly. Third thing, stay focused. Now try and see how long you can go."
I cracked my fingers, crouched down, and jumped. I quickly flapped my wings in a steady pace, hovering about a foot or two off the ground. When I flapped my wings harder I managed to gain about an extra foot off the ground, but it grew more tiring, so, I returned to my steady pace and stayed there, but even then I was having a bit of trouble keeping a good rhythm in how my wings fluttered.
“Come on, you can do better than that!” Rainbow Dash yelled.
What could help to keep a steady rhythm? Well, duh, what else?
I thought of a quick-paced song and played it in my head, flapping my wings along with it. Rainbow Dash looked a bit impressed at my progress, or she was just proud of herself. When I decided to survey the land I saw a purple tail, fleeing into the forest. I knew it wasn’t Twilight’s tail since it didn’t have the pink strip on it.
"So. You and Twilight, huh?" Rainbow Dash asked with a little smirk.
"It's not like that,” I assured flatly.
"Oh come on. I saw how you two were looking at each other."
"And I didn't think you were quick to assume things, but I guess we were both wrong."
Rainbow Dash looked at me as if I was talking in some sort of secret code.
"Forget it," I said.
About 12 minutes passed by before I started to slowly descend, and my feet were about to touch the ground.
I can still do this. I can still-- oh forget it.
I stopped my wings and landed softly.
"Not bad. But you still need more practice. This time try going higher,” Rainbow Dash ordered.
I jumped up again, this time picking up the pace of my wings to go up higher than I did before, and I even managed to hover next to Rainbow Dash. As I was hovering I saw curious ponies coming from the town to hills, quite a distance from where we were training.
I’m surprised they can see me from that far away. No matter. If enough of them come this may put an end to all the whispers.
Rainbow Dash seemed to take noticed to the ponies as well.
"Looks like you got some fans,” Rainbow Dash said.
"Seems like it,” I agreed.
I slowed the pace back to just plain hovering. After about 17 minutes I landed on the ground. The spectating ponies came closer, standing about 20 feet away from us, Fluttershy even coming out of her house to see.
This is almost getting weird. Come one, come all. I suppose.
"Ok newbie. This time I want you to give it all you got."
"Let's do this."
I crouched down as far as I could and jumped. I quickly started flapping my wings and started to rise. I even passed where Rainbow Dash was hovering. I kept rising until I was near the top of the trees nearby. I was able to see the entire crowd of ponies, there was even more than I thought. By the look of it there were about 35 or 40 of them. Some of the pegasus ponies hovered over earth ponies and unicorns to get a better look.
I should totally say something. Like, "Come my followers; I shall guide you to the promised land." Or something along those lines.
But I just kept looking over the crowd. This time it was 23 minutes before I hit the ground.
"That was good. Next time we'll get you flying,” Rainbow Dash said.
She took off into the sky and away from the field as soon as she was done speaking.
"Yet again you don’t give me a date or a time,” I mumbled to myself.
"Um, excuse me," Fluttershy said from behind.
I turned and faced her.
"Yes?" I asked, crouching to her level.
"You did a good job on hovering, if you don't mind me saying."
"Thanks. Did you enjoy watching?"
"Oh yes, I did. It looked like other ponies did too."
"So it seems. In fact, I think things are starting to get a bit better."
"That's good. How is it going with you and Twilight?"
"Things are good."
"I think you two make a good couple."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh, Rainbow Dash came to me before you started practicing and told me that you and Twilight were together. Why? Is something wrong?"
This is payback for waking her up, isn't it?
"I'm afraid that Rainbow Dash has made it upon herself to spread rumors."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"Me and Twilight are not together. Rainbow Dash made it up."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Tis quite alright."
I looked behind me and into the air, catching a glimpse of Rainbow Dash’s trail before it disappeared.
A bit too far Rainbow Dash, a bit too far.
"I'm afraid I must be going now. Have a good day, Fluttershy."
I stood back up and started to walk towards the town.
"You too."
Having to pass by the spectating and whispering, ponies, I saw Rainbow Dash talking to two female pegasi about 18 feet into town. Most likely more spectators from the training.
"Rainbow Dash! Thine proclamation hath gone too far!” I loudly said.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, confused with my choice of words.
Doesn't anybody understand Olde English anymore?!
"That rumor you told Fluttershy has crossed the line."
"Oh come on, I only told Fluttershy.”
“Told Fluttershy what?” One of the pegasus asked.
The look I gave Rainbow Dash when I stared her directly in her eyes was one of threatening and begging.
I will kill you if you tell them the lie you told Fluttershy.
As if she read my thoughts, she gave a mischievous smile.
Don’t do it.
She turned back to the two pegasai.
“He...,” Rainbow Dash began.
Don’tdoitdon’tdoitdon’tdoit.
“Is friends with the Princess.”
"Really?” The two pegasi asked.
The three of them looked at me for confirmation.
“Uh… Yeah. We met the night I first came here, and we kinda got along quite nicely,” I answered.
If one forgets all about the “me breaking in and beating up guards and getting thrown into a dungeon” part.
"See. Nothing to worry about,” Rainbow Dash mouthed.
"Indeed," I said under my breath.
I started walking towards Twilight house.
"Wait," one of the pegasi said.
I stopped and turned to see which one it was. It was the golden yellow, female pegasi. She had blue eyes and a tan colored mane.
"Yes?" I asked.
"That was some good hovering you did. That was your first time, right?"
"Indeed."
"You certainly learn fast. How come you didn't learn to fly sooner?"
Not good. Last thing I needed was civilians asking questions. Though, this one seems easy.
"I always preferred walking."
"Why? Don't you want to see the world from a different view?"
"I always thought it would be fun. But I never bothered."
She looked at me as if I was a strange person, but I just simply shrugged it off and continued to walk towards Twilight's house. When I got there, Spike was sorting out some books, just before burping up another letter. Spike looked at me than the letter.
"Just in time Trevor. The Princess sent you a letter.”
"Did she now?"
Spike handed me the letter and I unravled it. It read:
"Dear Trevor: how have you been these past few days? My faithful student tells me you've been having strange dreams. If you would like, I have astrologists that could help, or you could talk to me if you want. But the main reason I am writing this to you is that I wish you to visit me, just to talk. If you're available than meet me in my throne room. - Princess Celestia."
Quite unusual. However, I could get my answers... Or not.
"What is it?" Twilight asked.
"Tis a letter from the Princess."
"What does she want?"
She seemed fully interested in just the letter.
"She wants to talk."
"Are you gonna go?"
"Sure. I don't see why not."
"When do you think you'll go?"
"Now, I suppose. Could you give me some paper and a quill?"
"Sure."
She levitated a piece of paper and quill with some ink to a nearby writing stand. I went over to the stand and wrote:
"Dear Princess Celestia: I appreciate your concern, but it may be unnecessary. Though I can't give my answer for certain. As for us talking, I am available and shall be leaving by the time you're reading this letter. I hope that our conversation is a good one. - Prinz des Wahnsinns, Trevor."
I could feel Twilight peeking over my shoulder as I wrote the letter.
"What's that last part at the end for?"
"Prinz des Wahnsinns?"
She nodded her head.
"It's something from my home. A… group of people that aren't really liked by mine, for a few different reasons, but I think they're nice people."
I rolled up the letter and handed it to Spike. He used his flames to send it to Celestia, still not knowing how that works.
"I should be going," I said.
Heading out the door, I took the same the path I used before to get to Canterlot. As I was walking the path I was thinking about how the conversation with Celestia could go, but the results I came up with ended with an argument, or worse endings that I’d rather not write down. I quickly shook the thoughts out of my head and kept on walking in silence. When I could see the gates up ahead, it wasn’t hard to see the guards at the gate's stern looks of remembrance as well.
"Remember me, do ye?" I asked when I got near the gates.
"Every guard knows who you are," The guard on the right said.
"Guess I have a rep to uphold then."
No response.
"Twas a joke,” I admitted.
No response to that either.
Is every guard's humor as dry as the desert in the middle of July.
When I advanced forward they didn’t automatically block my path, so I went to the castle. The ponies on the streets didn't say anything, excluding the occasional whisper, but I could feel their eyes watching me. When I made it to the gates of the castle the guards stuck their hooves in my way.
"The princess is expecting me,” I said.
In thier eyes I could see they didn't believe me.
"Ask her yourself.”
The guard on the left went inside to verify what I said was true, leaving just me and the other guard.
"So... Nice weather we're having, ain't it?" I asked, trying to break the silence.
He just looked at me lazily.
Do they remove your vocal cords when you get accepted or something?
The guard on the left returned and whispered in the other guard's ear, nodded his head, and they let me in. Quickly finding my way to the throne room, I opened the door and saw Princess Celestia sitting on her throne, doing nothing yet again.
"Ah. Trevor, come in," Celestia said.
I did as she said, closing the door behind me, and she used her magic to summon a table, two chairs, and two cups. She teleported herself in the chair closest to her and motioned for me to take a seat. Again, doing what she asked, I took my seat and looked at my cup, seeing it was full of tea.
How did I know?
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
My face must have shown disinterested. I gave a small smile and looked at her.
"I'm just... not really a fan of tea,” I admitted.
Her horn glowed yellow and the tea instantly turned into water.
"Sorry about that. If you want I could turn it to wine."
I see what you did there.
"Clever. But no thanks, it's fine."
I took a sip of the water and quickly discovered that it wasn’t cold, but lukewarm.
Delicious.
"So how has your stay been?"
"It's been nice. Certainly interesting, that’s for sure.”
"And I've heard you've been helping out my student."
"Indeed I have. In return she’s been letting me stay at her house
I took another sip.
"So she’s said in some of her letters. I hope you don’t have any hidden agendas by staying with her.”
I was in the middle of swallowing when I heard that. My throat stopped the water from pursuing to my stomach, so I tried to re-swallow quickly. When the water was safely in my stomach, I let out a few held-in coughs, trying to respond at the same time.
“Are you—“
A few more coughs came out.
“I can assure you I have no plans like that.”
"And I'm guessing that you are gonna accuse me of doing something to you again?"
Some chuckles escaped from me.
"I was thinking of it."
"Like I said before, I don't know who you are or what I did to you."
"Then how in Gorlog's name did you know my name?"
"Twilight told me. She’s also told me that occasionally speak of this Gorlog. Who is Gorlog?"
"A northern Skandian god."
"Skandia? I can’t say I’ve ever of a place like that."
“Can’t really tell you about it since I’ve never been there myself, though I’ve read a bit about it. It’s a bit of a cold place.”
“We have a place like that north of here, called the Crystal Empire.”
"For a reason I assume. So, why did you let me live?"
"Hmm?"
"The first day I came here. You could have had me executed, sent me into the moon, or the sun. Yet you allowed me to live. Why?"
"Twilight convinced me to let you live. She thought that we could learn from you, and that you were probably just someone who was brought here because some pony’s teleport spell didn't go so well."
So Twilight helped me out. Then again, I could have run away before execution and hid out in the Everfree Forest. But then I would be hunted, more or less.
"So what kind of dreams have you been having?"
Aren't you supposed to be Goddess of the sun? Luna has night stuff. Then again, Luna is banished for about a thousand years. So someone, or some pony, would have had to take her job.
"Dreams about different adventures."
"What kind of adventures?"
Great, how am I gonna get outta this one?
"Didn't Twilight tell you?"
"The ones she has given me were the ones she's talked to you about."
"Then those are the only ones.”
As I took another sip of my drink, I noticed that Celestia didn’t have any of her tea yet.
"You know... I'm thinking about staying here,” I said.
"Really?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yep. One question though."
"What is it?"
"First time we met and you said you didn't know who I was or what you did to me, I saw you smile. What was that about then?"
I expected her to be surprised and she would have to make up a lie or something. But that wasn't the case. Her smile was still where it was.
"I thought it was a prank from some the guards here. They have some sense of humor."
But they-- never mind. Forget it.
"Everyone needs a good laugh."
She nodded and took a sip of her drink. Suddenly, I heard the door behind me burst opened.
"Princess Celestia. An urgent message has come from Manehattan!" A certain surfer dude voice yelled.
When I turned back my suspicions were correct. Shining Armor was standing in the doorway, wide-eyed with concern.
"Sorry about this Trevor. We'll have to finish this another time."
The chairs, cups, and table disappeared, causing me to fall on the floor, somewhat expecting that to happen.
"Quite alright," I said as I picked myself up from the floor.
I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. But I didn’t leave. Instead, I pressed my ear against the door and eavesdropped on what they were saying.
"What is it Shining?" Celestia asked.
"The mayor of Manehattan has reported more disappearances have happened since yesterday,” Shining Armor replied.
"Hmm. I'll send some of our royal guards to investigate this matter and see if they come up with anything."
"Yes, Princess."
Disappearances, eh? That's new.
Quickly, I left the castle and headed back to Ponyville. On the way there I saw royal guards conversing, I assumed about the disappearing. Passing the outer gates, I heard the guards say something to me quietly.
"Be careful."
Don't tell me what to do.