//------------------------------// // Lunch in the Castle // Story: Metal Wings // by Halfpaw //------------------------------// As much as I had always wanted to enter the castle and dine with the princesses the circumstance which had ended with myself in that exact scenario were… unexpected. That is to put it mildly of course. It wasn’t my fault that a delusional guard had chosen me of all ponies to be the victim of his insane ramblings, yet whoop-de-doo here I am. Anyhow here I was being escorted into the castle by a bunch of guards to “ensure my safety”. Yea… how dense do you think I am? At this point it seemed my only option to gain my freedom was to try to convince the Princess of my own innocents to whatever crimes the insane guard had claimed I committed. The accursed guard who had assaulted me without reason followed the princess as she entered her own carriage. He was smiling like he was the savor of the world, which his ill mind most likely thought was true, as he walked purposely into the carriage. Mindset on maintaining my own dignity I calmly walked past the large crowd of ponies trying to get a glimpse at me before I entered my own golden colored carriage. The door swung shut behind me, undoubtedly closed by another guard. I winced at the sudden sound but instantly relaxed pleased to be on my own after the stressful action I had just been through. Well this is boring. Looking around in the carriage I found there to be nothing of interest. Just a conferrable red velvet interior surrounding the entirety of the cart. There wasn’t even a window for Celestia’s sake! Despite the fake I saw the obvious and good reason for not having given a possible criminal a means of escape, or weapon on that note, I was still angry. “I would say this day could have gone worse, but I really can’t envision it getting any worse.” The moment I said that a cold shimmer ran down my spine as if I had been touched by the presence of a Wendigo. That better not be a sign… well I guess I will just have to wait out the ride to the castle. I frowned, I hope I don’t have to wait too much longer. That took ages. I was starting to dose off after having waited an unknown amount of time to get to castle when I heard the door open. I got up to my hooves in a heartbeat turning to face the guard that was to asset me to my trial, so to speak. I mean what else is this dinner but a trial to prove my guilt or incents to the unknown crime I had been accused of. I mean I had stolen the guard’s money (an act I would do again without hesitation) but at this point I doubt that the Princess would get personally involved in such an unimportant act. “It is time to leave Sir”, said a well-dressed ponies as he opened the door making a gesture for me to leave. Wait a second, this wasn’t a guard. It was a butler. Perhaps I am not in trouble? That is… unexpected. Let me not raise my hopes too much, this day is far from done. “Why thank you, I am happy to do as you suggest. It was rather boring in the carriage”, I answered truthfully with a smile as I left the carriage. I stepped out to find myself upon one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. I was standing in front of the castle, which was without a doubt the most regal building I had ever had been gifted to see. Its tall towers seeming to scrap the sky reaching as they towered before me. The architecture was executed masterly, having built many large machines I fully understood the amount of work that had gone into every brick that had been used in the construct of this masterpiece. “This is… truly there is no more majestic sight to behold”, I said put off by the amazing scene. Many people say the gardens are the most beautiful part of the castle. I disagree the castle itself was a piece of art unjustly upstaged by a plant grown within a week. That very thought made me angry beyond measure. “I cannot agree more.” I swiftly turned to find the sun monarch herself standing to my side. I wasted no time to bow opening my mouth to say something before being interrupted quickly by the Princess. “I see you are upset over something, is everything alright?” “No it is not my Princess, I’m afraid I was slightly upset that I was not told of the regal beauty that this castle is, yet I have heard many times of the grander of the Gardens located on these grounds. It bewilders me that a simple group of plants can upstage the masterpiece that is the castle itself”, I said knowingly to the intimidating alicorn. “Please just call me by my name, Celestia, and yes it is a shame that the castle doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. The architects in charge, Golden Hoof, was considered a genius in the field”, the princesses gave me a smile before making a gesture to follow. I frowned but followed her as she walked up the staircase to the castle. Though I would have thought it to be rude to call her by her name instead of her title I knew it would be unwise to argue with her wishes once more. She walked past a few guards just outside the entrance saying calmly, “The foal is with me.” The guards looked at me funny and I smirked back as I entered the castle itself. Whoa… I walked in to find myself in front of a large hallway. Colored light seemed to flood through the many large stained glass windows decorated with many historical events. “Please follow me to the lunch table”, said the happy seeming sun monarch as she once again motioned for me to continue. “My apologize Celestia, I have found the overwhelming beauty of the castle to be distracting.” “It is understandable, though all things considered you are handling this much better than any colt your age would normally be able to Mr.….” “Silly me sorry for not introducing myself right away, my name is Callidus Gear.” “Well Mr. Gears may I bother to ask you if you can read? Your mother seemed to have been from the more rural part of Equestria and in my experience I have found many from those parts to be rather uneducated to put it bluntly.” “I learned to read when I was two from my father, though I have already quite school in my area a few years ago. I was learning nothing and there were many more important thing I would much rather be doing then listing to a teacher talk for 6 hours.” She frowned but then asked,”You could read at two? Did neither of your parents find anything odd about that?” “No, why is that uncommon”, I didn’t understand why the princess would be interested in the fact I could read. “Yes most colts start to learn when they are 7, I have only heard of a few cases when learned that young. Do you like reading?” “Yes, unfortunately I have read all the local library has to offer, and the book store doesn’t offer much variety. Actually it is funny you should ask that for earlier today I recently came into obsessing a book on the understanding of time by Starswirl.” “We have a large library here in the castle, we could visit it later if you would like.” “Perhaps though it may be better if we discussed future plans during lunch.” “Yes, you are right. But fortunately for us the dining room should be just through that door at the end of this corridor.” I looked down the beautifully decorated hallway to see a large door already opened. As if we had been expected. Actually we probably were. The princesses entered swiftly wasting no time to getting to our destination. I was tempted to look better inspect the craftsmanship of the door but I choose to follow the princesses example of hast walking past it and into the banquet room. Like everything else I had seen in the last hour the beauty of the room was unmeasurable. But I threw the thoughts away as I went to seat myself at the table. Celestia gestured for me to sit facing herself and I happily obligated. “What would you like today your majesty?” A pretty maid approached the table her eye locking on me for a second before turning back to the princesses. “The normal”, the Princess replied looking at me in interest. “And I assume a something healthy for the young sir? “It annoyed me that she looked at Celestia when she spoke instead of me despite the fact that I was right there. “Preferably carrot soup with a slice of whole wheat bread, I find the taste of white oddly plain. Along with that I would like a glass of carbonated water without ice”, I said feeling as though I should speak up. The maid just looked back at me in shock. “I have found the staring to be rather annoying today, I don’t understand why ponies keep looking at me as if I were some sort of alien all-day. I know I am handsome but this is just getting awkward.” The maid blushed turning her head before asking, “Is that all?” Celestia nods and she quickly rushed out as if she would rather be anywhere but here. Celestia just looks across the table at me before asking another question, “Would you by chance know which pony invented the spell Arma Aequitas Equitas, and what does it do?” That was an odd question. “General Great Shield, it is an advanced healing spell designed to block out most spells and weapons yet still allow spells that are considered helpful, or medicine in.” After this Celestia continued to ask me many questions all ranging in various topics from history to math. “The answer would be 436.89768320012345.” Your majesty the food is ready. Celestia turned from me to address the mare. “Bring it in right away I’m sure I speak for all both of us when I say we are famished.” “She is correct”, I bluntly confirmed. As the maid pony put out the food I said, “Give my compliments to the kitchens, the food looks delicious.” The mare looked at me oddly for a second before agreeing to relay my message. As the mare left I took the spoon and started to eat, reminding myself to be on my best behavior. Celestia just stared into space in thought not even noticing the food laid in front of her as I continued to eat. After a while the princesses seemed to snap out of it giving me a smile. “How much time do you spend with foals your age?” This question in particular caught me by surprised. Unsure if this was some sort of trick question I hesitantly answered. “I don’t recall ever meeting a pony my age or younger.” Celestia just looked at me again but there was no shock on her face. “Would explain a bit.” Wait what? Explain what exactly. I decided to remain quite as I continued eating the best soup I had ever had in my life. The thought to put on my glasses occurred to me and I slipped them over my eyes like usually. “Would you mind coming with me to the castles school grounds to take a test?” A test? If it was anything like the questions she was asking me earlier I see no reason not. “Of course, I see no reason not to.”