//------------------------------// // 2 - To See a Princess // Story: An Undertale of Equestria // by David Silver //------------------------------// We walked past two more ponies dressed up like guards, though one of them was as bright and sparkly as most of the ponies wandering around. The other had the feel of being special. Maybe he wasn't an NPC? Or at least he had a line of dialogue or two, so I veered away from Trixie a moment to say hello. I didn't know the difference between boy and girl horses very well. Trixie was a girl, I was pretty sure. The horse nodded down at me. He had brown-orange fur, blue hair, and blue eyes. He wore the golden armor of a guard. "Hello there. Are you Trixie's friend?" I nodded at him. I was pretty sure it was a him, if their voices were a hint. "Mom said she has business here." Trixie suddenly hurried over to us and slapped a hoof over my mouth. "Ah ha ha ha! Trixie's familiar says the most interesting of things." The horse tilted his head confusedly. "Familiar? Trixie, are you up to something?" Trixie flashed a bright smile over the top of my head. "Trixie is always up to something. It's one of her better qualities. Now, excuse us, we have an appointment to keep." She pulled me away from the guard. I'd never even gotten to see what words appeared next to him, darn. She suddenly grabbed me at the nape of my striped shirt and tossed me right onto her back. "There, now Trixie can be sure you stay out of trouble." Familiar didn't sound nearly as nice as son, or daughter. I still wasn't sure which applied. I was... certain I was a guy before. I was taller. I had a job! I wasn't surrounded by or being given rides by friendly horse monsters... Trixie woke me from my thoughts. "What are you thinking about up there? Are you bedazzled at this rare opportunity? You should be! To be Trixie's familiar is a rare and prestigious position." I blinked down at her. "Oh, what does that mean, exactly? I thought you were my mom." She raised a hoof. "A child made from magic is a familiar. You are clearly not my true child. You're not even a pony! Nothing to be done for that. I am a magician of great renown. Of course, I'd attract a familiar. Where did you come from?" That was a great question... "I was at a convention..." She nodded uncertainly as I fished for more. "Then I was falling through the sky, but some flowers broke my fall..." "See?" Trixie got the cutest, and self-satisfied, grin. "Trixie's stupendous magic must have pulled you here just to serve her." Wait wait wait! "I'm not a slave!" I moved to hop off of her, and was suddenly surrounded in a pink and glowing field that kept me still. It tingled a little where it touched, which was everywhere. "You misunderstand." Trixie nodded softly. "A familiar cannot be forced. If you truly wish to part ways from the fantastic Trixie, then you simply need say so, but why would you want that?" She lifted me in the magic and set me down in front of her. "Destiny, and Trixie's magic, has brought us together. We may become even more awe inspiring together. A familiar is a boon companion, and your presence may enhance Trixie's magic! Slave? Hardly. Trixie is delighted to have you." That sounded far less intimidating, and I smiled a little up at her. That was apparently sign enough, because she reached out a hoof and hugged me softly. "Alright? We have an appointment to make. I wasn't joking about that. Keeping royalty waiting is a terrible habit to get into." She rose to her hooves and began walking. "By the way, calling Trixie 'mother'? Please keep that to private times. Otherwise 'Trixie' will do." She glanced over her shoulder. "'Great and Powerful' or 'Mistress' would be nice to add." With the argument settled, I took a moment to absorb the hall we were walking through. The walls were made of the same crystal sheets that made up most of the city. Adorning them were paintings of very important looking ponies. Soft music played from somewhere, and the air smelled fresh and almost... minty. There were ponies wandering up and down the halls, ducking into rooms or vanishing around corners on their way to things. Most of them were guards. There were unicorn guards, pegasus guards, and just horse guards. A minority of them looked like 'normal' horses, dressed in nothing at all half the time. Clothing was very optional, and nobody raised a brow about it. Indeterminately sexed or not, I was happy to be dressed. Stripes weren't the first fashion choice I would have gone for. They made me look a bit dumpy, but it serviced, along with the pants. We stopped before double doors big enough for a giant to walk through without kneeling. The guards there turned their eyes on Trixie, than on me, and back to Trixie. "Business?" Trixie rose to her full height, head held up high and haughty in pose. "The Princess has requested the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie. Kindly let us in at once." One nodded as the other slipped inside a moment. He returned a moment later. "She's still holding an audience, but will be with you in a moment." Trixie made a soft noise and moved to wait a little to the side of the door, where I joined her. She looked to me and began sweeping her eyes over me. "What were you, again?" I put a hand on my chest. "I am a human, Great and Powerful Mistress." My answer pleased her. I could see it in her smile and the way her tail swayed with joy. "Trixie could get used to your presence, loyal familiar. A human? Curious. It only makes sense that her staggeringly powerful magic should summon a creature never seen before." The doors leading inwards swung open towards the hallway beyond, and a very important looking horse with dreadlocks stepped out, garbed in brightly colored robes. "A pleasure, as always, Princess." He nodded towards the princess, which I couldn't see from that angle, then quickly moved down the hallway. One of the guards gestured to Trixie. "You're next." Trixie nodded and suddenly picked me up with magic, setting me back astride her. "Shall we make an impression?" Without waiting for reply, she trotted easily into the room. It was a throne room? I could see a pink horse perched on a tall chair of crystal. She was bigger than all the other horses, and she had wings and a horn, not to mention a crown right on her head. That she could be the 'princess' was much of a doubt. There were a few guards around, to protect her, or so I'd guess. Beside her was another horse. He had white fur, and a horn. No wings. He sat beside her, equal in importance despite not having her stature or extra parts. I felt the tension of an upcoming conflict coming on us as Trixie strode up to them without delay. She bowed to the royal couple. "Trixie has arrived as requested, and she has brought something to help." She gestured over her shoulder with her horn. "Behold!" The words suddenly appeared. The white horse had 'Talk about Family', 'Insult', and 'Say Hello'. The pink horse had 'Hug', 'Explain', and 'Plead' beside the usual options. I felt especially threatened. They weren't just random monsters. They were, or at least one of them was, a boss. The pink one tilted her head lightly at me. "What..." She spread her wings and suddenly I wasn't in me anymore. I was being pulled right out of my chest with a powerful suction. Oh god! Being a heart wasn't just videogame logic! I hovered before her, a mere red heart that drifted in the air as she gawked at me. "This creature... It... I can see its very nature." The white horse pinned an ear back. "Is this normal?" Trixie squirmed uncomfortably. "This hasn't happened before..." Okay! I had to stay calm. Stay calm... That's a lot easier to say than to do. I was a fricken naked heart! How did I even pick a command?! Suddenly, the panic melted away. The pink horse reached out with her hooves as her horn glowed. "You're safe here..." Somehow, I believed her. She was a creature... of love? It washed through me and left me weak. I found myself back in my body with a start. The white horse looked to Trixie. "Where did you come across this?" Trixie gestured with a hoof back outside. "Trixie found them on her way here. They fell from the sky, drawn by Trixie's magic." The pink horse smiled gently. "Is this true, little one?" I gave a hesitant nod. "I don't know how I came here, but that's as good a reason as anything else. I'm sorry if I scared you." She tilted her head lightly. "You were far more scared than either of us were. I've never seen somepony just expose themselves so thoroughly. I could feel your nature." She smiled a little. "It was a good nature. You mean well, do you not?" When I nodded, she reached out a hoof. "I don't know what you are, little one, but you're welcome here." The white one gave a less certain nod. "Sure thing, uh, so Trixie, about why we called you here." His... wife? She nodded. "Ah, yes. I became distracted. Trixie, are you aware of the purpose of the Crystal Fair, and the Crystal Heart it empowers?" Trixie held her head up. "Trixie has thoroughly reviewed the history." The pink one smiled. "Good. We're afraid it isn't as effective as it should be. There are leaks, and it worries us. Our own scholars have determined there is a shadow nest that is growing in power, and could threaten our kingdom. For a crystal pony, even approaching would be a horror they couldn't stand. You, however, are not a crystal pony, and are a talented magician besides." Trixie seemed surprised. "Trixie is, of course, Great and Powerful, but she admits... Why not inquire of your sister-in-law in such a grave affair?" The white one sagged a little. "Twilie's busy saving the day somewhere else." Trixie went tense beneath me. "Of course... Trixie is second call to the likes of Princess Twilight Sparkle..." She sucked in some air through her teeth in a quiet hiss. "If Trixie is to be second to anypony, at least it is royalty. Princess Mi a--" "Cadance will do," spoke the Pink Horse, Cadance? Trixie revised her statement quickly. "Princess Cadance, you've called the right pony. Trixie will see all your problems solved." I slipped off of Trixie's back and moved up towards the two. Even if I had felt they were powerful, it was a good powerful. They were on the good guy team. Their eyes turned towards me curiously, but they didn't stop me. I looked towards the white horse. "Hi." The 'Say Hello' option flashed and he smiled, looking more at ease. "Hey there, little one. Do you have a name?" "I'm Frisk. What's your name?" He gained a soft yellow nimbus, telling me he was willing to stop the conflict. "I'm Shining Armor, but Shining, or even Shiny's alright with me." Cadance nodded towards me. "And I am Cadance, but you heard that. A pleasure to meet you, Frisk." I looked at her options and hesitated a moment. Ah hell. You only lived once, right? I stepped up towards her and she looked more and more curious. The guards began to stare at me as I got closer and closer to her. I reached out... She didn't stop me, so I went for it. I hugged her. She was just as warm and soft as she looked. She even hugged back, a hoof wrapped around me, set at my back. "Aw... You'd better take good care of them, Trixie." When I drew back from her, I could see she was glowing a soft yellow as well. I could end the conflict whenever I wanted to. That tension, right in my chest, I didn't want that anymore, so I nodded to the both of them. "Glad to meet you both." As I returned to Trixie's side, their auras faded off to a soft grey, and the tension relieved itself. I had 'won'. I heard a faint tinkling and paused. I wasn't going to steal from the princess! I fished out my collection of coins and showed it to Cadance. "Are any of these yours?" She looked confused. "I don't keep my bits on me..." Shining Armor shook his head. "I don't either, unless I'm leaving the castle. Why do you ask?" Trixie tilted her head. "Trixie would like to know this as well. Familiar, explain yourself." Shoot. Maybe honesty wasn't the best policy...