//------------------------------// // The castle // Story: Identity // by Hyper44 //------------------------------// Many things went through Lightening Jolt's mind as the chariot was flown to the castle. She was nervous about meeting a princess, and namely, the head princess. She had of course known a princess for some time now but with ,Twilight she could hardly think of her as one, not in the manner she thought of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Twilight acted like any regular pony. She lived in such a humble place and she was never putting on airs. She never would have guessed that Twilight was one until she heard other ponies referring to her as Princess Twilight. She was quite surprised and even half believing that they were mocking her for some reason. She could see that Twilight was unusual with both a horn and wings but she never would have guessed she was royalty. It had never even occurred to Twilight to tell Lightning Jolt that she was a princess. She would guess that Twilight herself didn’t really think of herself as a princess but just as a normal pony having to fulfill that role. Perhaps all princesses were. Among other things that went through her head was doubt that she was finally safe. She worried that the guards escorting them were the same as the ones who tried to kill her. Her mind even considered that this search was only a ruse, that the princess really had sent those guard to get rid of her and she was heading right into a trap. She was even worried that the princess royal magic scholars just might figure out who she was and it would not be good at all. About anything a pony could worry about she did. She battled with her thoughts for a time but finally chose to push it all aside and ignore all the nagging ideas. She had enough problems without worries beating her up. “Ug! I have a bad habit of thinking up all the worst possible things!” She thought. * * * In Canterlot two unicorns walked down the hallway away from the direction that led to the throne room. They both wore a shirt with a second long sleeved shirt lain across their backs and the sleeves tied around their necks. One, a male was grey with a black mane. The other, the female was yellow with a white and pastel purple mane. "We come so close to actually getting an audience with the princess and now it's postponed due to some other 'important' guest arriving." The male unicorn complained in a poor attempt at a smooth and suave voice. "Don't worry dear," The female replied. "When we do get called back for our audience with her we'll just pretend that we were able to see the princess twice. We'll be the talk of Canterlot then and maybe we'll even get into Fancy Pants circle." Her eyes went starry as she imagined some scenario in her head. "That's true. Good thinking dear. It's a win win." The stallion said. "We'll look twice as elite and not only that we won't have to tell them that Princess Celestia found some other guest more important than us. Hey! If perhaps we can meet them before we leave. Then we can move up even more. These guest must be very important if the princess changed her plans the very moment she heard that they were coming. This is even better and..." His ears wiggled and a grin spread across his face. "And you know what? I hear hoof steps coming." His voice was that of an eager child. "Oh! This is so exciting!" The female said and the two unicorns moved to the center of the hall to make sure to get the full attention of whoever was coming. They held their heads high with eyes almost closed and walked with regal stride so they could look as important as possible. When they guards came around the corner they opened their eyes to peek at the guests of Princess Celestia. They froze with wide eyes and their jaws dropped. The guards were leading three younger ponies, all of whom had their mane and tails twisted and tangled with leaves and sticks mixed in. There was dirt smeared in their coats and they left hoof prints of soil on the carpet. The pair was so surprised that they didn't even think to get out of the way as the guards drew near. "Excuse me but we must get past." The brown unicorn stated as he stopped up in front of them. The two ponies moved automatically out of the way, still staring. Ember Light, Lightning Jolt and Valentine stared at them too as they passed. Sure they were dirty in such a clean place but did that really merit those slack jawed, bug eyed looks? Once around another corner their heads snapped back again as they heard them yell out, "She cancelled out audience for those filthy ruffians! Do peasants bathe in dirt?!" "Ignore them." The guard said. He hadn’t even bothered to glance back. "Just some stuck up, high society, expect to be entitled ponies. Their around here all the time. I've tried asking countless times but The Princess Celestia will not let me put them to work. The business ponies can be hoity-toity but they at least provide other ponies with jobs and make products, provide services and so on. These kind just walk around with their heads in the air and demand to be served. Completely useless. I would love to put them to work where they can at least contribute something to society. Perhaps I can at least convince the princess to disallow them into the castle. The statues are of more use than them. Oh, I wish I could draft them, then I could make real ponies out of them then." When he finished they had walked up to a large set of double doors. The unicorn took a deep breath and bellowed out, "Captain Whirlwind here with the escorts that you requested to see as soon as possible." From the outside they just managed to hear a rather gentle voice on the other side say, "Guards, let them in." The doors were then gripped in magic and were swung wide open. Standing at the other end of the throne room was not just Princess Celestia but also Princess Luna. All three of the escorted paused and stared, especially Lightning Jolt who had never seen so much of a picture of them as Valentine and Ember Light had. They stood tall and regal, more so than Lighting Jolt would have thought that any pony could. Their mane seemed to be made of magic and flowed like water. Lightning Jolt had expected them to look very much like Twilight but only with crowns and robes. They wore no robes or any extravagant amount of items but it was obvious that they were leaders. All of this made them intimidating, not in the way of one fearing personal harm but, well, how one would feel at approaching and speaking to the leaders of a country. If not for the nudge Valentine gave her Lightning Jolt would have been hanging back awhile. They walked down the carpet path to the thrones. When the guards stopped and bowed the three did the same not sure how to act. "Thou may rise." Luna announced as soon as they had bowed. Princess Celestia put a hoof to her mouth to keep from laughing. "I did say bring them as soon as possible and you certainly did so. Next time I'll be sure add that you should let them clean up first if they want to." She said. "Indeed. That must be most uncomfortable." Luna added. "It's not so bad." Valentine replied. Her two friends were surprised that she could speak so casually. Celestia laughed. "I see that though you have been through quite and ordeal that your spirits have not been dampened. Now tell us everything that happened from the moment the guards showed up." She said directing her attention from Lightning Jolt to her two friends. "And you too as well. I want to hear your versions and perceptions of the events. Leave out nothing." Luna nodded to a guard who had been standing off to the side. He levitated up a piece of paper and a quill as he prepared to record their words. It was clear that Lightning Jolt was to start. With all eyes on her she cleared her throat, shifted on her hoofs, cleared her throat again then finally started. Her voice was nervous at first but she grew more confident as she went on. * * * It took a while for all three to give a detailed version of each of their accounts and the princesses had them sit down on the steps to the thrones since it was taking awhile. They asked many questions as well as had quick discussions intermittently. "This is quite disturbing." Princess Celestia commented when they were finally finished. "It's all the more important that we find out who Lightning Jolt is." "Yes, sister but we must be careful who we choose to do that research from now on." Luna said. "I say that we do much of it ourselves." "Agreed." Celestia said. "We can't take any risks." "Um..princess Celestia...your majesty.." Lighting Jolt started not sure how she should address them. "Princess Celestia is fine." Celestia replied. "And what do you want to ask." "Well....have you found out anything at all about me?" Lightning Jolt asked not sure if she wanted to hear yes or know. A sad look spread over Celestia's face. She had the expression of one who has failed somepony. "No, I'm sorry, but no pony has identified you and we have found no record of you in Equestria." Despite her apprehension about learning her past Lightning felt her face fall. "But this world is vast." Luna added quickly. "Thou hast likely come from a land beyond Equestria. We are preparing delegates to request to do some searching in the lands surrounding our kingdom." "In the meantime I-" Celestia was interrupted by loud and very excited shouts echoing through the doors behind them. Celestia smiled. "Good, they’re here." The doors were smashed open and six ponies and one dragon came stampeding in. Ember Light and Valentine jumped back as they tackled Lightning Jolt. She couldn’t make out what they were saying since they were talking all at once but she made out things like "You’re alive!" and "I'm so glad you’re alright!" "I had Twilight informed of you being found safe and sent her to gather her friends." Princess Celestia said as they smothered Lighting Jolt. "I'll let all of you catch up and they can get to know your new friends. I'll have the guards take you to the baths as well as prepare accommodations for all of you to stay at the castle." She went on even though she was sure that few of them, if any, actually heard her. * * * The guards led the group of nine ponies and one dragon to the baths and spa used by royals which Rarity found to be, "Simply divine." Lightning Jolt and her two new friends were quite happy for a relaxing soak in the sweet smelling water and to have all the elements of the forest cleaned off them. Introductions were made all around and of course her friends wanted to hear all about their adventure in the Everfree. Ember Light had to explain the nature of his cutie mark again. Twilight was quite fascinated by the spell cast on Valentine and she was pretty sure that the dragon that they encountered in the forest was of the same kind as Spike. Spike scoffed at that declaring that that dragon was nothing like him. Rarity assured that they knew that their little Spiky-Wikey was nothing like that uncivilized brute. All in all they stayed in the spa until well past evening. Finally exhaustion overtook their excitement. It was not just Lightning Jolt and her new friends but her first friends as well. They had all been up at the crack of dawn and had searched for Lightning Jolt nonstop. They let the guards lead them to their rooms. The princesses had arranged for each of them to have their own room in the same wing of the guest floor. They all slept huddled together in the same room though. Lightning Jolt couldn’t help but sigh happily as she listened to all the snoring and deep breathing around her. So many good friends she had and the princesses were willing to go through such lengths to find out her identity. It was there that she realized that she was happy that whatever had happened to her had occurred. Even without knowing her life was before, she could guess that this was probably the best thing to ever happened to her. There had to be something at work here for every bad thing was traded, sooner or later, for something better than before. She didn't know what her life was before her memory loss but she was sure that there was nothing better than this.