//------------------------------// // Castle Guest // Story: Finding Happiness // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// Rarity returned to Fluttershy's cottage, as the fashion unicorn spoke while levitating a bag up. "I have Anton's new clothes all ready." "He's still taking his bath." Twilight noted. "Well, I'll go leave it upstairs for him," Rarity trotted upstairs and knocked on the bathroom. She knocked on the door, "Anton? It's Rarity. I have your new clothes all prepared. I'll leave them right here for you." "Ok. And thanks." Came Anton's voice. Rarity trotted back downstairs, as Anton peeked his head out and saw the fresh new pair of clothes all folded neatly. Downstairs the girls and Spike were waiting, until they heard steps coming down form upstairs. They looked and saw Anton step down dressed in his new clothes. His new outfit were composed of sneakers, black jean shorts, and a red shirt with a chest pocket. Over it he wore his blue hoodie that was washed and dried. "How do I look?" he asked. "You look smashing, darling." Rarity smiled. "Like a million bits." Pinkie added. "Thanks. It feels good to be back in more casual wear," Anton admitted before coming down and smelt an aroma, "Mm, something smells good." "I did make you some vegetable soup." Fluttershy said, as she filled up a bowl for him. "Thank you," Anton went to the table and took a seat. After blowing the steam away he took a bite. Everyone waited for his reaction, until he spoke, "Delicious." They smiled seeing he was pleased, "Go on, Anton. Eat up." Fluttershy said, as he continued to eat. Twilight spoke, "By the way, Anton. All your things are still in your bag here." she levitated his backpack over. "Really? Even my sketchbook?" "Accounted for." Twilight confirmed, as she levitated the bag over. Anton pulled the book out and sighed in relief, "Thank goodness. I don't want anything to happen to this." "It must be special to you, huh?" Applejack asked. "It is. It was a gift from my mom." he held it close. Hearing that made the girls respect how passionate he is about the book. "So do you actually draw in that or something?" Rainbow asked. "You bet. Draw. Sketch. Paint. It's my specialty." "May we see your drawings?" Fluttershy asked. "But we already..." Pinkie was cut off by Twilight who shushed her. Anton was unsure, but seeing how nice these ponies have been to him gave him this feeling he could trust them, "Sure." he opened his sketchbook up and showed them his various drawings. Even though the girls and Spike already looked through it beforehand they were still impressed that a young boy could draw so well. "These are absolutely splendid." Rarity said in amaze. "Thanks. Glad you appreciate them, unlike others." he muttered under his breath "What'd ya say?" Rainbow asked. "Oh, nothing." he replied, while continuing to eat. Suddenly Spike burped up green fire which became a scroll. Anton seeing that looked wide eyed, "Nice one." he chuckled on his belch. "A letter from the Princess." Twilight saw it. "Princess?" Anton asked. "Yes, Princess Celestia's the ruler of Equestria," Twilight explained, "She's also my mentor." "Really?" Pinkie bounced over, "Uh-huh, and Twilight here's also a Princess." Anton almost spat up his soup, "You're a princess?!" "Yeah. Well, I try not to boast about it." Twilight admitted sheepishly. "She's so modest." Pinkie ruffled her friends mane. Anton nodded clearly seeing that, as Applejack spoke, "What does the letter say?" "It says she and Princess Luna want to meet Anton. And wants us to come to Canterlot asap. They will be sending the royal chariot to us." "How does your princess know about me?" Anton asked curiously. "While you were taking your bath I sent a message to her of your being here." "I see. And she wants to see me?" he asked nervously. "Don't be so nervous, Anton. It's not like you're in trouble." Rarity assured him. "I hope not. I've had enough people mad at me already." he sighed. The girls could tell Anton had more bad details to his life, but decided not to push him into telling them until he wanted to himself. Twilight spoke to the boy, "Well, eat up. Because the chariot will be arriving soon." Anton nodded and continued to eat until he was filled up. They went outside the cottage, where Anton saw Silver leaned up against Fluttershy's home, "Silver!" he ran to the bike and inspected it, "No damage. Sorry about that crash, buddy." he laughed. Rainbow looked at the scene awkwardly, "He's talking to something that's not alive." "Rainbow," Fluttershy chided her, "Anton said that was a present from his father. It's special to him." Rainbow remembering that fact took back what she said. The group looked up and saw six pegasi wearing helmets and armor saddles, while carrying a large chariot like in Greek Mythology touch down. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, we've come by request of Princess Celestia to escort you and your friends to Canterlot." one of the guards began. "Thank you. My friends and I are looking forward to the trip." Twilight answered, before looking back at Anton, "Come on, Anton, you're gonna love this." "I will?" he asked curiously. Soon enough the girls, Spike, and Anton were in the chariot being pulled by the pegasi guards through the sky. "I love this!" Anton cheered. "This is the only way to travel." Rainbow smirked seeing how happy the boy was. "Just don't lean too far over the chariot, Anton." Fluttershy warned him. Anton who looked down below saw how high up they were, "I feel like I'm on top of the world!" "Incoming cloud!" one guard called, as they maneuvered the chariot around. Anton held out his hand hoping to see it pass through the cloud, only to see his hand catch a palm full of it, "Whoa, clouds really are fluffy." "Aren't they where you're from?" Rainbow asked. "Not really." Anton answered, as he released the piece of cloud in his hand. One of the guards spoke, "Approaching destination now." They looked ahead seeing Canterlot, and Anton looked amazed, "Whoa. Is that Canterlot?" "The capital of Equestria." Twilight confirmed. "Now this is picturesque, even from way up here." Anton said in awe. The guards came down and the chariot landed outside the castle. The group got off the chariot, as Twilight spoke to the guards, "Thank you all for the ride." Anton spoke, "Yeah, thanks for the ride, fellas." the pegasi bowed their heads in respect. "Anton, welcome to Canterlot Castle." Twilight showed him. Anton looked up seeing the castle, "This is hardcore amazing. You don't see too many castles where I'm from that aren't merely tourist traps." "Come along, we mustn't keep the princess waiting." Rarity said, as they went inside. Upon entering the castle, Anton looked all around with an agape jaw, "It's beautiful." "Hold your excitement in until we give you the real tour." Rainbow said, as they led Anton through the hallways. Upon entering the hallway of the stain glass windows, Anton looked at them in awe, "Rapture. Glorious. They're masterpieces of work." "They're just windows." Applejack replied, not seeing the big deal. "Windows with you in them." Anton replied, as he studied them. They opened the doors and saw Celestia and Luna sitting on their thrones. The two monarchs got off and trotted over to their subjects. "Princess Celestia. Princess Luna." The ponies and Spike greeted them. "Welcome, all of you," Celestia greeted them, "I'm glad you could come. Now where is our special guest?" "He's right here." Twilight turned, as Fluttershy spoke to him. "Come on, Anton. The princesses just want to meet you." Anton stepped out from the crowd and upon seeing the two sisters was wide eyed as if he was looking at angels. "Wow to the wow." he gasped, upon looking at their colorful and majestic beauty. Celestia giggled at his reaction, while Luna smiled while secretly feeling relieved. Celestia spoke, "Welcome, young one. I am Princess Celestia, and this is my sister Princess Luna." "We are honored to meet you." Luna added, while smiling. Anton snapping out of his stupor knew he had to be respectful. He got down on one knee and bowed his head to them, "Your excellencies. My name is Anton MacLeod. I cannot tell you what an honor it is to be standing before royalty." The two sisters giggled, as Celestia spoke, "You may rise, Anton. There's no need for you to be all formal with us." "Still we appreciate your good manners." Luna added. Anton rose up as Fluttershy and Twilight stood near him. Celestia continued, "My student informed me how you came from another world, and woke up in the Everfree Forest." "Yeah. I don't get it either. But hey, compared to this place, I have nothing left back home." "We had heard from Twilight about your mother's recent death," Luna spoke up, "Our sincerest of condolences to you." "Thanks." he answered, still feeling down about it. Celestia looked at Luna, and the youngest sister nodded, before the eldest one spoke, "Spike, why don't you show Anton around the castle? We need to have a word with the girls." "Sure thing, Princess." Spike agreed. Anton looked at the ponies, as Twilight spoke, "Don't worry, Anton. Stick with spike and you'll be fine." "If you say so." Anton said, as he followed Spike eager to see more of the castle. When the doors closed, Celestia spoke looking serious, "Now that Anton is out of the room, there's an important matter we need to discuss." The ponies were curious by the princess' change in mood, and Twilight asked, "What matter is that, Princess?" Celestia turned to Luna, who answered, "The truth is, Anton's being here is no accident." "What're you talking about?" Rainbow inquired. "If Anton teleporting to Equestria wasn't an accident, then how did it happen?" Rarity asked. Luna sighed, "That was my doing." The ponies were suddenly confused, "Yours?" Fluttershy asked. Luna nodded, "To understand why I did it. I need to show you exactly what I saw from his world." "Ooh, a story. I love stories." Pinkie said being all giddy. Luna shook her head, "Pinkie Pie, this story isn't going to be a happy one." Twilight spoke, "Anton did say he didn't really want to talk about what happened to him before he came to Equestria." "He has every right to not want to speak of this," Luna said, "Now watch and see exactly why I had to bring the poor boy here." she readied her magic, as the girls awaited to see what it was that left Anton sad and alone.