Chapter 4: When This Baby Hits 88
"Maybe we shouldn't go in.." Tomb said to me, looking very much ruffled up from this journey.
"We finally made it, Tomb. We are not turning back now."
He looked down at his hooves, then over to me. "This mess was all my fault.. I can't put you through more of it, dude.."
I turned and put a hoof on his shoulder, and as he looked up at me I told him, "There'd be more trouble heading back then going in. We're in this together, until we can get that psycho off of our tails."
He nodded in reply, pulling himself back together. We both headed to the gate guards, told them we were there for the contest, and they let us pass into the large courtyard.
There were lawn mowers driving across the large open fields, with a path straight down the middle to the gigantic and majestic palace. On top of the stairway to its doors sat on a throne Prince Delachord himself, and below the stairs was a line of contestants.
A griffon in a top hat was currently singing to the Prince. "One Trick Pony's only got one song-"
"Enough, enough," the Prince said, obviously bored. "If you've only got one song, then why would I pick you? Seems like that would get old fast. I am no longer amused by you, bird, now fly back to your nest. Next!"
A lone pig then walked up, looking at Prince Delachord. The Prince looked back down, thinking thoughtfully. "..Yeah pig. Next!"
After a few more contestants, Tomb and I walked up. With a gulp, I started unpacking my laser equipment while the Prince sat up in his seat, trying to get a better look. I turned on the machine, and neon outlines of stripping ponies appeared on the pathway.
Tomb quickly turned to me, "What the hell did you do?!"
"I forgot what I last had on there!" I exclaimed back, quickly turning it off and putting it back in the bag. "Come on, let's get out of here before-"
I was cut off by the sound of whistling. I looked up to see Prince Delachord clopping his hooves together, applauding our show. "Brilliant! Beautiful! Erotic and talented! Come, come! You two may touch my butt!" He motioned for us to come up the stairway to heaven, and we did.
"What are your names, you two?" He asked, having a servant take his robe so he could get down from his throne.
"Well," Tomb started to respond. "I'm-"
Before he could finish, a booming cackle could be heard from down below. I only caught a glimpse of Yaplap, driving a lawnmower at an alarming speed and in our direction. Before a could react, I turned at the sound of screaming to see Prince Delachord clutching his face, shouting, "MY EYE! THESE TWO BROKE MY EYE! KILL THEM!!"
Without even thinking, I bolted. I ran, I ran so far and fast, away from everyone, through the palace doors. Guards were chasing me down through every hallway, and I didn't have time to process any of it. Entering a large open room, the voice of a tour guide echoed in my ears, "And this priceless artifact is called the Phoenix Gate, which is told to have the power to-" That was all I heard, before I crashed head first into the display. The artifact landed in my lap, and I saw the guards start to turn the other way as a bright light shone, until it turned into daylight.
I blinked. There was daylight all around me, because I was outside. I was on a park bench, my laser equipment still on my back, and a Phoenix encrusted object fell into pieces, having accidentally been crushed by my hoof.
"Where am-" A pony on a bicycle threw a newspaper in my face as he passed by. I picked it up, reading the front page.
"Hark! King Larson and Queen Alicorn OC have given birth to two twin Princes of the land, Prince Michael Delachord and Prince Whatever! We shall remember this day, September 29th, 1985 as the-"
"..." I looked at those last few words again. "..1985. 1985?! I'm.. In the past!"