A Knight to remember

by Lusewing


Upon the cobbles

“It’s so big!” Gideon’s eyes wandered over the expanse of buildings that continued to grow in both size and number. She had thought the elder trees glimpsed in the elven grove had been impossibly big, but as the hooved procession drew closer, the full size of the city was becoming harder and harder for the squire to comprehend, stretching out before her, and filling her entire field of view. With her mind brought back to the enchanted groves the only thing she could compare it to was a forest of shining towers reaching up and out from the sea, chaotic at first but with an almost organic growth, it really was dazzling to behold.

“It certainly is impressive. Bigger than any of the human cities by at least four fold.” Sir Wallace, for once, was just as awestruck as his ward, though that still did not leave him lost for words.
“I think only the two largest dwarven holds can rival it in the mortal realm, though I can only go by hearsay since they are at depths a human would never endure.”

The impossible bridge they now walked on had more or less been forgotten by the pair since it had proven to be both stable and safe. The tracks that lay across one side assured them that their added weight would not be an issue. Besides, there was too much to marvel at ahead of them than to focus on what was at their feet.
“Look, over there at those boats. No sails or oars, yet they're as swift and controlled as swans on a lake, and that statue, it must have been inspired by some great figure in their history.” The two humans found it hard to look anywhere and not find something to puzzle and wonder over.

“Sir look,” Gideon pointed over to a large building at end of the bridge, “there are more of those loud snake wagons.”

“Good eye Giddy, though I think track runners might be a better name for them, at least until we can find their true title." The two travelers quickly proceeded to go backwards and forwards with different ideas on what to call the transport till they eventually settled on Giddy’s idea of ‘Smoker’.
Having now started their game of naming the Smoker the pair proceeded to pass the time by tossing around and guessing the names for other new oddities.

***********

Celestia stole another glance over her shoulder at her guests, a smile continued to play on her lips as she noted their reactions. While the mountain horses continued to show no real sign of greater intelligence, the diplomats were quite clearly the opposite.

Their words, still foreign to her, nonetheless spoke volumes through tone and responses to all they could see. Nearly everything that came into view was commented on with an enthusiastic air; it reminded her very much of the first time she had brought Luna to the city. What a day that had been. Celestia had wanted to share how much their little ponies had advanced after a thousand years, but the trip had ended on a low note. Luna had indeed been impressed, she had always been the one to dream up new ideas, but, the changes and advances their little ponies had made had gradually weighed on her, emphasizing just how long she had been away, how much she’d missed. Even now after a few years had past, Luna still felt a little out of place, out of step with the world around her. She tended to visit the more humble towns and villages now, echos of times past.

“Princess, I think we have company.” Steadfast nodded towards the city where a handful of pegasi were flying towards them, but it was clear that these ponies were not part of the guard or the city police.

“Judging from their cameras I would say our guests will soon be making front page news.” The Princess sighed. She used to enjoy the newspapers from each of her cities and towns, but lately they had been more focused on providing the most outrageous stories, all in an attempt to sell more than their rivals. The worst of it was when such stories were believed.

“I can take a few of my flight and confiscate their cameras Princess.” Captain Mistral knew all too well how much damage and panic could spread by a single news story.

“Thank you Captain, but that won't be necessary. We have nothing to hide here. Besides, since I plan to address the city about our guests, I think we are safe from the newspapers running anything that would contradict my words.” Turning towards the flying photographers, Celestia smiled and waved, encouraging them to come closer. The Captain shifted a little. He hoped the Press would not prove his Princess wrong.

“Princess!” One of the newsponies had decided to try his luck by flying much closer to the royal carriage.
“How did you manage to capture and subdue the giants and their monsters?” Other pegasi were now starting to descend after seeing their peer not immediately chased away by the guards.

“My little ponies, I am happy to say I have seen no giants or monsters today.” The Princess smiled gently as she watched the confusion in the ponies spread. In unison all seven newsponies leaned to one side to glance back at the strange creatures keeping pace behind the royal carriage.
“However that is not to say there is no news for you, my guests here are the diplomatic envoys from a nation beyond Equestria.” Celestia decided to leave out the part that it was the bipeds, and not the horses, that were the diplomats, at least for now.
“But I am afraid that questions will have to wait until I make my address at the Manehattan library.” More questions sprang from the reporters, Celestia paid them no mind and simply raised one hoof to silence them.
“Of course all reporters will be given a section near the front so they may ask their questions at a more appropriate time, that is so long as they have proper identification.” The Princess watched as all seven pegasi looked sheepishly around at each other. Just as she had thought. They had come without their ID in order to avoid problems if they got caught. It proved quite satisfying to watch the ponies quickly bow in midair before racing one another to get back to their respective places of employment.

Celestia always loved how a few well placed words could completely change a situation, it was one of the greatest weapons she had learned to wield. Looking behind at her puzzled guests however caused the princess to wonder how she would manage this situation without words at all. Her gaze stopped their chattering and caused both diplomats to bow their heads but what caused Celestia to pause herself was the way the smaller of the two almost crumpled in on itself, desperately trying to avoid eye contact. The elder on the other hoof carefully watched her from beneath its brows, only lowering its head when his eyes met hers. Celestia turned back around, not wishing them any more discomfort. Were they afraid of her?

Something had gone wrong during their meeting, but had it gone worse then she had first thought? Her use of magic on the elder still seemed to be the most likely cause of the matter, she was sure of that now, but when he had first seen her use magic there had been no fear, only curiosity. The gifted cloak was also a puzzlement, it was magical, there was no doubt about that, yet the elder had shown no sign of discomfort or disdain in holding it. So many questions hung in the air, Celestia could only hope the literature inside the library could help answer at least some of them.

Passing into the threshold of the city proved nerve racking for everyone. The unexpected royal visit had quickly gained the attention of the resident ponies who now lined the streets to watch, though this was mostly due to the sudden closure of one of the main roads and thus a near standstill of the normally bustling city. Police patrolled the area to calm anyone who got a little worked up about the interruption to their busy schedule but, for the most part, everypony took today as a day off, and all hoped the time would not come out of their pay or holiday hours.

The diplomats and their mounts were open to a lot of speculation from the crowds as they made their way slowly behind the royal carriage, yet despite the initial fear that rippled its way through the city, Celestia’s open display of them helped calm most of those present. Talk of war and monsters was quickly replaced with questions on where these strangers had come from? What new trade might open up? As well as how they might be able to find and employ saddle guards like those atop the diplomats. Manehattan was after all a city of trade and opportunities and those that were able to make a living here normally had a good eye for both.

*************

“Sir, why do I getting the feeling that we are being led to some sort of volcano, or pit, before being thrown inside to appease their Gods?” Gideon pulled Duty as close as she could to Honor, hopelessly trying to shield herself from the staring eyes of the multi coloured ponies. It was creeping her out how happy they looked. The fact that now there were not just pegasi but also similarly sized unicorns living in the city did not help matters, the two humans had already seen a few of the horned ponies teleport or hold things using magic that seemed to emanate from their alicorns.

“Because you read far too many story books and have an active imagination. Look around, these are clearly an advanced and intelligent race. Their streets are clean and their people look fed and happy. These are all good signs.” Despite the knowledge that he needed to keep his guard up Sir Wallace could not help feel swept up in the excitement that swam around them. A small herd of youngsters caught his eye, as they squeezed their way to the front. The knight found himself unable to resist smiling and bowing his head in their direction, much like he would with the children of small towns who still saw wonder in the life of a knight. Three of the foals ducked down and tried to hide back in the crowd, but one brave grass green youngster with a mop of gray and pale pink hair smiled back and waved.

“It's weird, and I don’t mean the fact that they are miniature horses. They are just too happy. Its like a story book. Where are the normal folks?” While Gideon could see exactly the same scene around her she lacked the experience to see the similarities between this race and those she was more accustomed to. Instead she focused on the strange clothing, or lack thereof; the buildings that reached up all around her and, strangest of all, how clean everything was. There was no mud, no discarded reeds from the floors of homes and no muck or smell other than the salt air and a slight smell of smoke. Who ever heard of a city that showed no signs of being lived in?

Duty, unfortunately, decided to rectify this problem with a lift of his tail.

While Sir Wallace and Gideon heard the soft pats as they struck the smooth cobbles below, neither would have paid the sound any mind had there not been angry shouts from behind and gasps from the crowd. The procession quickly came to a halt as the guards in front tried to work out what had happened, while the guards behind tried to forget what had happened, particularly one guard that had almost gained a new accessory to his helmet.

“Giddy, I think you had better clean that up, they don’t seem too happy with Duty.”

******************

It was an eerie sight as a ripple effect happened to the ponies lining the street. Their smiling happy cheers falling into shocked and angry whispers so palpable that it seemed to oozed like a thick fog. Celestia’s elegant form turned from left to right to survey the sudden change in her subjects, part of her fearing that some sort of spell had been cast on her little ponies, but a spell was not the cause of the sudden hostile atmosfear.

She and her guards might know that the horses were nothing but beasts, but the rest of her ponies believed them to be visiting dignitaries. Dignitaries that had just...relieved themselves, not only in public, and so callously upon their beloved city, but in the presence of their princess. The city population stood at a tipping point and Celestia needed to act carefully if she was to gain control. The guards were at a loss as to what to do, this was after all not a duty they knew how to handle.

“Princess Celestia, the smallest is moving.” Unsure what might happen next Celestia stood up in her carriage and turned around to confirm that the smaller of the dignitaries had indeed climbed out of its saddle and was now pulling at the packs on the brown horse’s back. The poor thing looked positively terrified with the way it hunched over, and was clearly trying to avoid making any sort of eye contact with the dark gazes surrounding it. Celestia had to stop herself from moving towards it and offering comfort. She was sure now that this smaller being was much younger than its companion, were the pair a parent and child? Teacher and student?

The crowd watched as a brown sack was removed from the saddlebag and Celestia found herself watching in confusion, and no small amount of disgust, as the student then proceeded to fill the sack with waste using nothing more than its pale hairless hands. Silence fell upon Manehattan, and only a cough echoing a small distance away proved that her ponies had not been turned to stone. Unfortunately it was in this silence that the gray horse chose to duplicate the natural act of its kin.

It is often said that a mob’s intelligence can be calculated by taking the lowest individual's IQ and dividing it by the number comprising the mob. Manehattan might be an intelligent city on the whole, but when a mob of this size builds up it can only be compared to a force of nature. What first started with a single angry shout soon became five and then twenty. Ponies began moving forward as they tried to make themselves heard and within a matter of moments the greeting crowd had become far less welcoming.

“Continue to the library.” Was all Celestia said to her guards before she leapt from her carriage towards the eye of the storm. Ponies pressed in from all sides while both of the diplomats were already struggling to hold onto their horses, who were at least smart enough to know that this was not a place they wanted to be. Her guards meanwhile had quickly moved to circle their guests and hold back the tide of angry voices and hooves.

Celestia wished for no harm to come to either her subjects or her guests but she knew that it would not take long for a stone to be thrown or for someone to trip and fall beneath the tide of hooves. Her best option was to remove her guests until the city had regained its senses. As she moved forward her guards moved instinctively out of her way and allowed Celestia quick access to the diplomats circle. Angry shouts, demands and insults flew all around, mostly towards the diplomats though there were plenty of voices aimed at both the guards and even the Princess. The ponies of Manehattan wanted retribution for this affront to their beloved city, even if individually they would not know what it was they were trying to achieve.

So concerned by the angry mob just beyond the wall of guards, that Celestia found herself caught by surprise when she had to dodge the gray mare who had tried to strike out at the Princess. Celestia held back for a moment, once again unsure of her actions, but she could see the foam starting to dot the corners of both horse’s mouths. They were panicked to the point of blindness and would clearly become a danger to both her ponies and themselves if things continued to the way they were. As Celestia collected her magic and focused the teleportation spell her eyes locked on to those of the elder. Shock, and then something else registered in his face before he quickly shouted something to his kin.

********************

“Giddy, shield ya’ eyes!” Sir Wallace didn’t know what was about to happen but by the way the Queen’s horn glowed something big was on its way. Gideon was still fighting to control Duty when she turned to catch the knight’s voice, her eyes quickly moving to see the light coming from the Queen’s horn before raising one arm to block her sight.

Suddenly the world seemed to shift, too large and too small at the same time before the humans felt their stomachs lurch as though for a brief moment they were on a ship at sea. Despite the discomfort it was a relief to all that the angry voices had faded to the background and now the loudest sounds were those of hooves on cobblestones. Both of the riders quickly took stock of their new location, their mounts snorting loudly as they were controlled to walk in circles rather than bolt at the sight of the open streets.

“I am never going to complain about travel powder again.” Giddy was sure she was about to lose what little she had gotten to eat that morning while her mentor merely gave a relieved laugh.