Extended Holiday
Chp 2: Discord, Harmony, and Three hairless Minotaurs?
Act 1
“We tell thee sister it is an attack! Discord hath discovered some new way to bring chaos to our doors.” Luna stomped her hoof as they examined the scene. “Let us put them in the cells until we can divine their purpose”
Captain Shining Armor only nodded his head. “While I do not agree with the Discord angle, I still agree that until we can ascertain their cause and meaning within Canterlot, they should be at least separated and detained until they are either found out one way or the other.”
Celestia slightly nodded in agreement. “Perhaps. If we are to separate them we should each watch after one.” Celestia said, pointing towards the three beings. “Each of them seem different, we should be able to get a basic background based off their appearance, and then we can determine which of us shall look over them.”
Luna examined the one beside the Koi pond. “This armor looks similar to what we remember before our… vacation.” The red sword levitated in her blue magic. “Fortunately this steel was made simply for ceremonial means, not for warfare, we shall take this one to our observatory”
Shining Armor looked at the hairless Minotaur behind the statue. “I can recognize some of the camouflage, not the writing but otherwise I think we can keep him in the barracks so as to keep them…. not so jumpy.” The Captain of the Guard replied as he whistled to have some of the guards to carry at least the one behind Discord’s Statute.
Celestia looked to the one on her prized rose bushes. “This one seems to be wearing something close to what some nobility would wear here. I shall take him with me.” She looked towards the being, and noticed a small glint near his side. Upon further investigation she noticed the long blade at his side that would have been hidden by its coat, if it wasn’t open. Thankfully, from what she noticed the blade was dull, most likely from lack of use, she took the blade and teleported it somewhere hidden.
“Lieutenant Nightshade.” Luna called, in response she was approached by a heavily scarred bat pony. The helmet of his armor had a metal patch welded over one of the eye holes hiding a empty socket from the eye he lost to a gryphon.
“Yes your majesty?” He asked with a respectful but at the same time tired tone.
“Take this… hairless minotaur to the observatory, have him under guard at all times. wake me when he shows signs of waking.” Luna ordered yawning as she left for her chambers.
Nightshade began shouting orders to the small squad of thestrals that were currently awake. They grumbled as they hauled the unconscious body away. The night guard desperately in need of sleep.
Celestia, using her magic, picked up the creature, and at the same time pulled out any thorns attached to it. Thinking it over quickly she decided, based off what she could think of the creature the time, decided to try and have a civil conversation with it if possible. Even if it tried to attack her, she could easily take care of the situation.
Shining Armor was the last to move out. He had three unicorns holding this unknown being and a fourth maintaining a sleep spell over the creatures head while he was transported away towards the barracks and a room set aside for Military nice interrogations, however he did order that a few other rooms be reserved just in case the creature proved to be either uncooperative or actually dangerous to all ponies in the vicinity.
The hairless Minotaur gasped and coughed as a bucket of cold water splashed down his head. The streams of water temporarily blinded him and also got him gasping and sucking in air from the coldness. He began to cough a little as some water did enter his mouth. Unknown to him behind a stone wall, he was being observed and notes taken by scientists and military analysts. “What?” He finally coughed out. “What? Where? What?” He muttered.
He heard some shouting, language that he did not understand and he blinked in fear. “Don’t tell me this is a joke.” he shivered, “Or did I get captured by actual crazies?” He still could not see anything in the darkness he could feel he was still wearing clothing but he was cold now. He heard the sound of a heavy door opening and closing and then a new voice broke the silence. “Who are you? How did you get into the Royal Gardens undetected?”
The man, who at one point had been called an Otter before actually relaxed a little. “Oh good you speak english, for a second I thought I was under some cruel prank.”
“English?” The voice actually showed confusion and now that he could focus a little more he could tell an odd accent, not Australian, Nor German, nor… he blinked as he realized the question had been repeated. “Where are you from?” The tone of voice made him think of TV and the military asking a captured…. he paled a little at what he thought.
“Oh…. oh is this some halloween prank? Well, fine, United States of America, Matthew Conner, Rank Civilian.” He at least mentally hoped that he got the stuff right of what he could give under the Conventions that the United States signed.
“Civilian? Why were you wearing military clothing?” The voice responded, and he heard something slam on… was the floor stone? He asked himself but he shook his head and returned the answer same as before. “If you do not answer why you were wearing military style clothing we shall have to move you to the dungeons and I do not think you would like the cold, damp, cold chains around your arms and legs… but you can avoid it, Answer the question.”
Mr. Conner gulped but slowly nodded his head. “Very well. The clothing to my nation is more surplus and outdated… I was wearing it for fun and to win a bet.” He shook his head, yeah, he would not do well without training. He only hoped this was a good guy playing bad to see how he would handle the stress.
“Very well… no more questions,” The voice was sounding horse at the moment. “You can rest and we shall dry your clothing for being a good Colt.”
“Colt?” He asked the room but nothing stirred or voices replied, however he did feel his clothing beginning to dry and his shivering slowed as he warmed up.
Taze groaned as he began to come to consciousness, the world seemed to swim into place and the first thing to pop into his mind ‘is this what a hangover feels like?’ He attempted to get up only to feel something cold at his neck. Looking down he groggily noticed the metal spike attached to a long wooden pole… a spear that was the term, being held by what would appear to be a black bat like pony wearing blueish armor.
Not being a morning person, or even a waking up person in general, Taze’s mind took a few extra seconds to compute moving probably wasn’t the best idea, ignoring the pony for the moment to avoid a total mind crash. “Um did I kill somebody or something?”
His response was unintelligible sounds, sounding something like the neighs of a horse. “Ok, I’m just gonna lay here till you get a translator or something.” In his head several voices were having intense debates about if what was happening was possible, how it happened if it was and who spiked his drink last night?
These questions where interrupted as a larger pony with both wings and a pointy horn walked into the room. looking at Taze, then the spear at his neck she made some sounds at the pony holding the spear, which in term caused him removed it hastily.
“Uh thanks” Taze said attempting to get up slowly, when none of the other ponies moved to stop him he sat up. “Okay where am I?”
The larger horse seemed to attempt to respond. Taze shook his head. “No I don’t understand you.” Nodding, the pony seemed to be practicing a few mouth movements before she tried again.
“Please forgive my accent” she said indeed her voice trailed with a heavy accent sounding somewhat scandanavian to Taze’s ears. “It has been a long time since we used this tongue.”
“Uh, it’s fine” Taze said looking around warily. “Where am I?” He asked again.
“Thou hast entered the land of Equestria, fair warrior.” Luna said. “We are the crown, Princess Luna, co-ruler of the land, and thou art?”
“Uh” Taze’s mind raced for an answer looking down he decided to roll with with we had. “I am called Taze, a hunter from the land of pokke.” He said his voice gaining depth and bravado as he convinced himself he could play this roll. With a deep bow he looked up. “It is an honor lady Luna”
“Such armor and weapons are hardly fitting for hunting simple game.” Luna noted “Strange for a hunter.”
“Pokke is plagued by terrible beasts my lady, hunters are not sent to hunt for food but rather for safety..” Taze searched his person carefully. “My weapons wouldn’t happened to have came with me would they?” He asked casually.
“We took the liberty of sending them to the forges for cleaning, come, I sense you bear no danger to equestria, we will retrieve your arms and then we shall feast.” Luna grinned, gesturing to a direction out with flair. after all there was nothing better then a good feast.
Shawn opened his eyes only to shut them again at the amount of light being let into his room. Taking a second shot, he opened his eyes once more, this time slowly.
He moaned in annoyance. “Did I leave my blinds open or something?” He questioned nobody. Reaching an arm over to his right he reached for the rod to close his blinds, only to grab air.
“Huh?” Taking a look around himself he noticed he was not in his bedroom. This causing a couple of alarms to go off in his head, he quickly jumped out of the bed and investigated the room around him.
The door was on the wall to the right of the room, along with a dresser and mirror. Taking note of a couple scratches across the right side of his face he scanned the room further. On the wall across from the door he spotted the window, which was letting in all the light. The last things he could note was another door to the opposite side of the bed, a nightstand next to the bed, a desk next to the window, and a couple bookshelves.
After scanning the room he went towards the door on the opposite side of the bed, opening it up, it was a bathroom. With a quick turn he turned towards the other door and tried to open it, only for it to be locked. Looking down at the handle, there was something wrong with it…
“Who has a lock on the outside of a room?” He mumbled to himself.
Taking a quick glance around again he noticed he was still in his halloween costume. Shaking his head, he ignored the fact and quickly walked over to the window.
“Oh…” He said, staring out the window. “Oh that is high. That is really high up.”
The only thing he could see was, what looked to be another tower off to the right, and a very, very long drop. Taking a second to calm his nerves, he glanced around the room again, this time on the bookshelves, more specifically, the language printed on the books.
“What in the world…” He grabbed the book, opening it to a random page. All he could notice was that, he could not understand the symbols.
A slight jingle make him turn towards the door, he could hear door knob shaking. A second later the door opened up to reveal a certain white alicorn.
“Oh boy… This is not good.” He said, slightly backing up. “This just can’t be…”
Mr. Conner blinked as he woke up from the warm doze he had been lulled into as he looked around. For one thing he noticed that was different then when he first woke up was that his arms were free. Yet he could feel his waist and legs still bound. He also had a single light from the ceiling illuminating only a table in front of him. However it was what was on the table that surprised him. Gems, Gems of many shapes colors and sizes that just made his eyes boggle. “Are… those can’t be real.”
“They are,” The same voice replied from the darkness. “What? Surely you are hungry by now?”
That question caused his stomach to gurgle and he grunted a little. “Yeah I am hungry but what? You think I eat gemstones?” He asked with curiosity. “Don’t be silly, did you look at my mouth? My teeth are not for chewing gemstones.” However he did pick one up and looked at it. “Uh… if this is food…. can I keep one in my pocket?”
There was a sound of another language again as if a discussion was occurring before the voice return, the accent he could not place voice speaking English. “They are all yours, if you can answer what these are.”
Another light appeared over another table and he could see his attache cases open and all the books laid out neatly. “Oh… uh… well as part of being a Civilian attache.”
“You said you were Civilian and wearing the uniform as a bet.” Came the voice from the darkness.
“Don’t you wear things outdated or different than normal clothing at times either for fun or to win bets you know you can win?” The silence was all the answer he needed, and he chuckled a little. “As for what those are? They are what I felt were good choices for representing my nations writing, both in founding documents, and fiction.”
“Fiction? You mean you carry fake stories and novels?” The voice seemed shocked. He heard a bit of that first language again but he ignored it.
“You ever get bored waiting for meetings or assignments? And all you have are approved items? that is what some of those novels are for. To pass the time for me.”
“You are suddenly very talkative…. why is that?” The voice suddenly barked, it was another voice.
“Because I am hungry and…” he gulped. “Well, I might have a limited time left to me I realized while sitting here.” He looked down at his wrists and realized that he had bruised around the wrists a little badly. “Not sure how well I might survive without my medicine.”
“Is that what this…” The sound of metal clattering showed a small dogtag with a red metal finish and text on it. It had his name, phone number, and Coumadin on the last line. “What is the last item?”
“Blood thinner. If your doctors would listen to my heart, you would hear two clicking mechanical valves.” He paused at the gaspes and the rapid chatter now, he could tell maybe three voices were present. He didn’t know what happened next as what felt like some mist covered his face and he blacked out. He would later say it was like being knocked out for a surgery.
Taze took most of his willpower not to geek out looking around. Swords, spears, hammers, waraxes, battle axes, polearms, daggers. Weapons, everywhere, the sound of metal being beaten into shape, the warmth of the coals heating the room. Luna lead him into the room followed by two lunar guards. Tazes eye’s constantly examining every inch of the beautiful medieval style forge was like magic to him.
Luna stopped before a large black anvil in the forge stood a large black unicorn levitating a mallet in her grasp. other smiths at other stations didn’t even look up as they worked not daring even to turn away for there princess and risk ruining their projects.
“Hello Storm Hammer, how goes the work” Luna requested of the smith in equestrian.
“Dull and boring until you sent these Princess.” The unicorn levitated Taze’s blades, the metal had been polished and the handles were bound with new leather. “The designs are like nothing I’ve seen.” She levitated Shawn’s sword momentarily. “This resembles a gryphon longsword but the blade is better balanced and the metal is forged differently, if not for being dull this weapon would be deadly.” She noted before turning to Taze’s blades. “And these, the long one seems perfectly made for slashing and cutting. The metal looks fragile but it’s been bent over onto itself repeatedly. I would enjoy the chance to reinforce the blade simply to see what it’s capable of, and this.” She levitated the blue handled weapon it was a straight edged short blade with a barbed metal spike sticking out the side. “Princess I beg of you to give me more time with these weapons if anything for the sake of Equestria’s growth”
Luna turned toward Taze. “The smith is astounded by your arms she requests more time with them.” Luna explained.
“Would she be able to improve the metal quality?” Taze asked curiously. Luna seemed to ask the smith who responded positively. “She says for another day she’ll make this sword split stone”
Taze considered it for a few minutes. Letting them research these weapons could be bad, but he guessed the cost of reinforcing such things could be incomprehensible. With a deep breath he nodded. The smith unicorn neighed happily, getting to work.
“HUZZAH! WE SHALL FEAST IN HONOR OF YOUR GENEROSITY GOOD HUNTER!” Luna let loose the Canterlot voice causing everyone to wince. “Oh sorry” Luna said sheepishly. Quickly, the guards lead them away.
Celestia took a moment to recognise the language. Having known the language due to her treaties with the other races, she could easily swap to the language.
“Ah, I see you are awake.”
Shawn took a second to register what was going on, thinking as quickly as he could, he pulled himself together and steeled his nerves. Putting on a calm expression he pulled together any information he could remember at the moment, as well as thinking of a plan. With a quick breath, he put on a small smile.
“Yes, just a couple moments ago in fact.” He said, glancing at the bed. “Just a question though, where am I?” He said, looking back to Celestia.
“You are in the nation of Equestria, at the capitol city Canterlot. I am Princess Celestia, of the sun. I rule alongside my sister, Princess Luna.”
Taking a moment, he processed the information. ‘So far, it’s the same.’
“And, what is your name?”
Quickly glancing up, he smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry about that, lost in thought. My name is Shawn. I am from… Somewhere I can say, is very, very far away.”
His choice of words caused Celestia to raise a brow in question. “What do you mean far away?”
He rubbed the back of his neck with an uneasy look. “I am pretty sure where I come from, we do not have a nation called Equestria on the planet, at all. Nor do we have Alicorns.”
“Do you know how you got here?” She asked him.
Shawn hummed in thought. “I was thinking about that as well. I remember heading outside for some reason, I think I saw something in the dark…” He mumbled the last part to himself.
“What was that?” Celestia questioned.
“Nothing, it couldn’t have been what I am thinking anyways.” He said waving a hand dismissively.
Mr. Conner blinked and slowly opened his eyes as he found himself lying on his back and staring at a white ceiling. He blinked again as he turned his head and found that the left of the room which was whitewashed walls had one window. The white curtains drawn shut but still light was shining into the room from it. He could not tell what time it was because first of all, he was in a hospital gown, and second, wait no second he was free to sit up. Which he did slowly and looked around himself wondering what was going on now.
He blinked as he was now facing forward and saw that their was a door to the right of his position as well as another window with the blinds drawn and shut. “So, I am in a hospital again. This is fun.” He noticed that he was not hooked up to any machines, yet the machines were making noises and he could tell that it was taking his heart rate, and other items. However the language he could not read and the numbers were…. funny looking. This was his first time that he thought that, he was not…. where he should be. Yet as he thought back he could not remember anything one moment he was talking to his friends the next he was in the darkness talking to a voice.
His mind was drawn to the door as it opened and he just blinked in shock as… a dragon, a dragon as tall as his brother with wings folded on his back. Blue in color looked up and stopped. “Oh, you’re awake, I have just come to tell you that the doctors are first mystified at how you have such advanced valves in your heart. But the trauma scar on your chest shows how they entered your body.” he blinked but smiled with so many fangs and sharp teeth. “They say that by tonight they should have a potion you can drink that would maintain your blood levels as they are at the moment.” He made a face. “Those drinks I have heard are bitter so advice is to eat a peach after the drink to get rid of the bitter taste.”
The entire time this dragon was talking. This Dragon with a sash with the image of a sun and moon emblem over his right shoulder, Mr. Conner, Otter, a Human soldier want to be, just stared in utter shock before he finally opened his mouth. “Myth…. mythology, how? Where? What? What is that?” Mr. Conner waved at the screen with the text. “Not the monitor the language, Where AM I?” The voice and tone had grown serious and he had not known it, but a little threatening. However he was talking to a dragon.
Unfazed the Dragon just tilted it’s head, no the voice put it male, or female, Mr. Conner was not sure. Still the answer left him in a stupor of thought that lasted for a half hour at least. “You are in Equestria. Canterlot Royal Veterans Hospital. Restricted Ward.”
He was still sitting there after a nurse came in. An Equine nurse and took his vitals and left after trying to get him to talk. Through what a small part of his mind was telling him was an interpreter, still his mind had shut down.
The great hall of Canterlot castle had been decorated quickly, so quickly it surprised Taze how fast the staff had managed to work, considering Luna has only ordered this feast a matter of hours ago. New banners had been placed all over the room, including one with the symbol of the Monster Hunter Guild, which was surprisingly accurate considering what Taze considered to be a feeble description. The tables were laden with all sorts of food, fruits that Taze was sure he’d never even heard of before, baked goods, sweets, moonpies…. lots of moonpies, and a large multi-layered cake topped with much to Taze’s delight raspberry cream icing. He spent the next half hour meeting ponies of different stations and titles, many of whom he accorded the respect they truly deserved by instantly forgetting.
Taze noticed a few times that the servants seemed to anticipate what Luna was about to say and began to wonder about the frequency of feasts ordered by the lunar princess. Acrobats performed around the room and there was even a Zebrican drummer. Finally, Taze set down on what seemed to be his pre-decided place, aside from spots he guessed belonged to Luna, Celestia, and Shining Armor. He noticed a pink pony seated nearby, similar to Celestia and Luna, she possessed both wings and a horn, her mark seemed to be a blue heart with pink wings.
Taze didn’t consider himself a good judge of character but something about her seemed to bother him. Deciding it was just nerves he continued scanning the room, he noticed, aside from his own chair which he had been told was meant for visiting minotaurs and other bipeds, he noticed another one set on the other end of the table. Shrugging it off for now, he found his attention drawn to the antics of the acrobats as he patiently waited for Lunas accent to begin with eating the food.
Off to the side he noticed a pair of doors opening, a second later Celestia walked in, she was turned to whoever was holding the door open. He couldn’t see much on who was holding it open, except for a black gloved hand, and a blue cuff with gold stripes.
Shawn and Celestia were seated at a small table inside the room Shawn woke up in, both with tea in front of them.
“My sister has invited us to join her in a feast. We would understand if it is something you would rather not attend. However it would be appreciated, should you appear to dispel any worry amongst the nobles.” Celestia said, after taking a sip of tea.
After thinking about it for a second Shawn only smiled slightly.
“I would be honored to go. Best to get any rumors out of the way before they appear.”
Celestia smiled at his response and choice of words. “We will head off when you are ready.”
A soft clank was heard as Shawn placed his cup down onto the table, already finished. “Ready whenever you are Princess.”
After a moment, both of them stood and were on their way to the feast. Whilst walking, Shawn would occasionally glance over to the windows and tapestries, that lined the walls.
The guards that wandered the halls didn’t seem to pay them that much attention, except for a quick glance at Shawn.
After several minutes of walking they came across a set of big double doors. With a quick thought Shawn took a couple of steps forwards and opened the doors, then heading off to the side, and putting his arm out. “After you.” He said with a small smile.
“Thank you.” She said, as she walked in.
The sounds from the room were louder than he expected, and oddly enough he noticed a couple of banners that seemed, oddly familiar to him.
He glanced into the room only to meet a pair of eyes staring back at him, within the couple of seconds provided at glance, the two recognised each other immediately.
“Peter?!”
“Shawn?” Taze almost shouted.
“I thought thy name was Taze?” Luna asked confused.
“In Pokke we are given two names, our birth name which we carry till we decide what we want to do, then the name our guild master christens us with.” Taze spouted on the fly. “We still use our birth name amongst close friends.”
“A strange custom.” Luna noted, but seemed to be accepting the story. Taze sighed out of view.
“And what is thy title?” Luna asked Shawn quite suddenly. “Surely such close friends would share the same occupation.”
Taze spoke up. “My lady this man is the cousin of our king, he is sometimes sent to inspect the guild the members, the public would not take well to men dying do to being underprepared” Taze tried to signal Shawn to play along.
“Indeed a wise man, your king.” Luna nodded.
Soon, Shawn had walked over to them alongside Celestia.
“I thought I was the only one here. This is wonderful.” Shawn said with a smile. “Glad to know that a friend is here.”
Taze got up thinking quickly he grabbed Shawns left hand with his own and hugged him. “It’s been too long.” This wasn’t entirely a lie as the last time he had seen Shawn physically was at a convention over a year ago.
Matthew Conner slowly sat up and after being left alone to dress in the only outfit he had, he was led out of the hospital, and into an underground tunnel system. WHile he did try to speak twice he learned that at the moment he was to be seen and heard breathing but not talking. Didn’t help that his interpreter had gone another way. He did not see anyone till he found himself in another part of another building.
The dragon suddenly appeared at his side giving him a little fright as he quickly whispered to him. “We are taking you through the nobles section of the castle, thankfully we have most of the hallways closed off, which is normal when leading high level nobles, the rumors will be about which noble got led through the castle this time. We are going to take a shortcut through banquet three, it is usually empty at this time of…” He noticed that many of the folks were trailing off. The Dragon without much ceremony suddenly moved a scaly arm out which Matthew walked right into, he noticed that the entire group was now standing still as if trying to decide what to do next. “It seems Luna is holding another of her feasts… I, this is.” he paused and looked back. “Or maybe not.” he turned to face and spoke in the other language with the pony guards quickly and then grinned. “It seems that you might help us a little, you seem the most advanced of the three.”
Mr. Conner did not like the toothy grin he was getting from the Dragon, yet he found himself led right into the feast before he could even ask about this three he mentioned, as he was surrounded by guards, his presence with all these guards he realize just created a rather sudden silence in the entire room. All eyes upon the last of the hairless MInotaurs. One who looked like he had been blindsided by a bright light.