//------------------------------// // Chance Meetings and New Beginnings // Story: A role-playing gamer in Celestia's Court // by Gsarge9289 //------------------------------// I disembarked from the long train ride and was hit by a blast of chilly Northern air as I shivered and wrapped the green scarf Fluttershy had made me before I left Ponyville a bit more tightly around my neck. I was rather surprised they had already finished the new train station the new train station that was inside the domain of the Crystal Empire for the Equestria Games. I looked around the platform holding my two bags and backpack of luggage as I spotted Shining Armor much to surprise levitating a sign with the name "Onyxian" written on it. I walked over to him as he looked up at me with a start. "Wow, I guess Twilight wasn't foaling around when she said you were something new. I'm Shining Armor, Twilight's brother." I bowed politely to him. "I'm Onyxian, you're just like she described. I wasn't expecting you to come get me yourself. Do I need to get a hotel room or something for a while before I get more long term accommodations?" Shining Armor shook his head. "Not a chance, we've got more than enough room in the palace. Cadance got a room all ready for you." I was rather surprised by the news that I was going to be a houseguest to royalty. "Oh, I hope I'm not imposing on you and your wife." "Hardly, Cadance is really excited to entertain a friend of Twilight's" I walked with him off the platform and out onto the mainstreet. "Quite an interesting place she rules over. I'd heard it was lost long ago and recently resurfaced. Must be strange being in a land where almost everypony is over a thousand years your senior." Shining Armor scrunched his face slightly looking at all the crystal ponies going about their day. "You know, I hadn't really thought about it. I know Cadance had to update the Crystal Empire's education system but I didn't think as to why until right now. So what did you do for fun before you ended up in Equestria, Onyxian?" I looked back at him from my sightseeing of the crystal buildings. "Some friends of mine and I played Dungeons and Dragons, a role playing game for telling stories in an age of legends." "Really? Sounds a lot like Oubliettes and Ogres, it's a very similar game, at least in the fact it's a role playing game with a similar setting." I had seen it before in the comic that told the story of how Cadance and Shining Armor first got together. We talked about characters we had played and the adventures that had had. It was nice getting to nerd out even though it seemed Shining Armor had been out of gaming for a bit which I could understand with a new wife and the demanding nature of being a guard captain I noticed a few gazes were lingering on me as I passed by groups of crystal ponies. "So be honest, I look a lot like somepony named King Sombra and it's unnerving someponies, right?" Shining Armor looked a bit awkward as she looked around at the other's looking at me. "Twilight had said you kinda looked like him, but what's important is who your are not what you look like. Given time, I'm sure you'll make friends just like you did in ponyville." I needed to get on track with why I was even here. "So when would be a good time to start lessons?" Shining Armor gave a nod as I was rather shocked I hadn't recognized the crystal palace as the guards opened the gate to let us in. "As soon as you're ready to start. I'll do my best to teach you all I can." We walked along through a few chambers and I spotted a familiar starry tail flowing from the corner of vision stopping me dead in my tracks. "Princess Luna is here?" I also heard Cadance's voice in the room as the door was pushed open as I saw Luna looking to me the necklace I had made around her neck as she smiled to me. "Onyxian? I didn't know you were coming to the Crystal Empire." I couldn't help but smile as I then saw Cadance turn to look at me and then back to Luna. "Oh really? Those rumors going around are true? That's wonderful! I thought I saw a love in your aura, Luna." She turned her head to look back to me. "So you're Onyxian, Twilight spoke very highly in the letter she sent ahead of you." I blushed lightly and moved in dropping my bags to give Luna a hug around her neck in greeting which she returned. "I'd gotten the letter about you trapping a hydra single hoofedly. I wish you didn't push yourself like that, but I know you couldn't leave a friend in danger. What brings you here?" I grinned and let Luna go. "Princess Cadance and Shining Armor have been kind enough to take me as a guest while I train under the captain." Luna seemed rather surprised and Cadance moved the little party into a proper sitting room as a member of the palace staff took my luggage. "That certainly is a change. A big saddening that you'll be farther away from Canterlot, but we'll still have our dreams." Cadance looked on at the little drama in front of her in doe-eyed fashion. "Can't you stay a little bit longer, Luna?" "Sadly, it is not meant to be. I am needed back at the castle post hate." She shook her head with a sigh giving me one more hug on her way out as she was escorted by Princess Cadance. Shining Armor and I were left in the room staring at eachother. "So not to be too noisy, but what's Luna like behind the tiara?" I turned to him laying back on the couch. "Wonderful, she just needs somepony to remind her from time to time. I'm just the lucky guy that gets to do it."