Once dawn approached, the nine comrades found that the train has stopped at their destination and made their way out of the train and onto the platform with bewilderment in their eyes. Towering buildings of white surrounded them while the streets were a dark green, something that the reviewers found odd. To make things even stranger for the three, a tall castle with different towers spiraling around it could be seen in the distance.
"Nostalgia Critic, Linkara, and Angry Joe," Twilight said gliding her hoof over to the city that sprawled out in front of them, "Welcome to Canterlot."
The three broke out into laughter, getting a harsh glare from Twilight, "What's so funny?"
"The name!" laughed Joe, "The name is so stupid!"
"Yeah," wheezed The Nostalgia Critic, "What's next? Manehatten? Las Pegasus? The stupid names are endless!"
"You have to admit that the name's pretty dumb," agreed Linkara through strained breathing, "Especially since you guys are ponies and it's a pun of Camelot."
"Camelot?" asked the six ponies in unison.
"In our reality, Camelot is a fictional kingdom," explained Linkara, "It's also a great movie!"
The Nostalgia Critic and Joe let out collective groans, "Oh god, not again," said Joe.
"What's it about?" asked Pinkie as she approached Linkara.
"Well," started Linkara, "It's about-"
"SAY!" interrupted The Nostalgia Critic, in a vein attempt to stop Linkara talking about that godforsaken movie, "Why don't we go get some breakfast?"
"I am quite famished," agreed Rarity, "Maybe we can go to that restaurant with the-"
"DONUT JOE'S!" yelled Pinkie.
"What's that?" asked Joe.
"It's a shop where they sell some of the most delicious donuts ever!" answered Rainbow Dash, licking her lips, as she thought about the treats.
"Okay, we'll go," giggled Twilight, she turned her attention to the reviewers and asked, "Are you guys okay with that?"
"Of course!" replied The Nostalgia Critic as he turned his head around.
"Donuts make everything better," stated Joe.
"They do," agreed Linkara.
"Then it's settled," chirped Pinkie, followed by a pout by Rarity, "Sorry Rarity. It's eight to nine, so that means we get to go to Donut Joe's!"
"But I didn't get to vote," pointed out Fluttershy.
"Neither did I," said Applejack.
"Still, you girls want donuts right?" asked Pinkie, getting nods from the mares, "Then let's go!" she shouted, bouncing ahead of the group in the direction of the shop, the others following.
"Thank you come again!" hollered Donut Joe as his customers left his shop.
He smiled to himself. Business was great the past few days, with him getting customers everyday... except that there's usually only two customers in his shop whenever there is in fact customers. Still, one could only dream until his shop soars through other donut shops, making him the ruler of the donut underground...
He shook his head. No, Joe, he thought to himself, There's no such thing as a donut underground...
Ring!
He quickly moved his head to the entrance to his shop as he saw six mares enter and sit near a table that can allow the six of them to sit close to each other, "Hey Twilight! Long time no see!" yelled Donut Joe as he approached the table.
"Hi Joe," replied Twilight.
"Hi Mane!" chirped Pinkie, "Did you find the Rainboweye yet?"
Donut Joe looked at her for a long second before chuckling, "No Pinkie, but I'm working on it."
"Do you mind setting up a table seated for nine?" asked Twilight.
"Sure," answered Donut Joe as he started levitating three chairs to the table, "Mind if I ask who you gals are sitting with?"
"Oh just some friends I met yesterday," replied Twilight, "Mind if I let them in?"
"Go ahead."
Twilight stepped out of the shop for a split second and went back in and had a seat where the rest of her friends were sitting. The door opened with a ring once more as three strange creatures entered, looking like they could be... Aliens!
"Joe, this is The Nostalgia Critic, Linkara, and Angry Joe," Twilight introduced.
Donut Joe's eye twitched, but he shook it away asking, "What will you, your friends, and your... gentlemen have?"
"Just two boxes of donuts and eight cups of coffee," answered Twilight as she placed a few bits on the table, which Joe scooped them up and ran behind the counter and ran back, levitating boxes.
"Yeah... Here's your donuts," Donut Joe said in a hurry as he placed the boxes on the table, "It seems like we're out of coffee beans, so... I'll be right back!" he yelled as ran towards the entrance and opened the door, it making a ring as he ran out closing it.
"Well, I guess we should dig in," said Twilight as she opened the first donut box as her eight friends grabbed a donut each and bit into them.
"Not half bad," commented The Nostalgia Critic as he finished his donut.
"Not as good as Dunkin Donuts, but still good," said Joe.
"Just wait until you try the coffee-donut combo," replied Rainbow Dash, "It's out of this world!"
"We'll take your word for it," answered Linkara as he raised the rest of his donut up to his face and finished it off, savoring the taste.
“Why did you say only eight cups of coffee Twilight?” asked Pinkie, “Are you not having a cup?”
“No Pinkie, it's just that we can't trust you with a cup,” answered Twilight, causing Pinkie to droop her head, which then Twilight asked, “Remember what happened last time?”
Pinkie lifted her head and giggled, “I remember! Fillydelphia put a coffee ban on their town because of me!”
The door to the shop swung open as the nine customers arched their heads to it, seeing Donut Joe along with two gold armored ponies.
"DON'T MOVE ALIEN SCUM!" one of the armored ponies yelled, drawing a sword.
"We're aliens?" asked Joe, getting shrugs from the other two reviewers.
"Just come with us," the other armored pony urged.
"You'll have to take us out first!" yelled Joe, taking a fighting stance and taunted, "You have a sword? I have lightning bitch!"
He raised his hands as lightning surged through his fingertips... except before he could use it, the flat end of the pony's sword slammed on his head, causing him to black out.
"What the hay's wrong with you?" asked Rainbow, "These ponies-!"
"Humans," coughed Linkara
"Humans," said Rainbow Dash, annoyance in her voice, "didn't do anything to you!"
"Didn't do anything yet," stated one of the guards cautiously, "We'll have to take them to Princess Celestia."
“Can you please let us go to the castle with you?” Rarity asked with a seductive tone, “It would mean the world for us if a tall, handsome, and ever so strong stallion such as yourself could lead us there with our three friends. You can't deny a request like that, can you?”
Through a harsh blush one of the armored ponies stammered, “S-s-sure thing miss. Follow us, we have a chariot prepared that was supposed to take your alien friends to the castle, but we could probably make room for you six.”
The other armored pony opened the door, allowing the six to leave, with only five of the friends exiting, Rarity giving the pony a seductive wink, causing him to fall to the ground.
Donut Joe approached Twilight, the one who stayed in the shop, and said, “Listen Twilight, I'm sorry this happened. It's just that these aliens look so weird and I thought they might be hostile,” he levitated a cup holder with eight cups in it, with a few bits in the empty one, “Here's your guys' coffee. Don't worry, it's on the house.”
Twilight levitated the cup holder to her and said, “Thank you Joe. They are really nice guys once you get to know them, and I'll see if I can talk to Celestia about not hurting them.”
Donut Joe let out a chuckle, “With your charisma, I'm sure you can do it. Take care Twilight.”
“You too Joe,” Twilight said as she turned around and trotted up to the three reviewers and asked, “Aren't you guys coming?”
“Yeah, just give us a second,” answered Linkara.
Twilight nodded and walked out the door as The Nostalgia Critic asked, “So how are we going to wake him up?”
“I know how to,” Linkara leaned close to The Nostalgia Critic's ear and whispered something causing the Critic to chuckle.
“Hey Joe!” The Nostalgia Critic yelled into the incapacitated friend's ear, “Did you know that Capcom is making a game without on-disc DLC?”
In a split-second, Joe launched into the air, “Is it true?" he asked energetically, "Did Capcom really stop doing that dumbass practice?”
The only answer he got was his two “friends” breaking out into harsh laughter.
“Oh, fuck you guys!” he yelled with malice.
“Come on, Joe.” Said Linkara, “We need to get aboard that chariot those armored ponies were talking about.”
“What chariot?”
“Just follow us,” Linkara answered as he directed his comrades out of the door and into the chariot, taking a seat next to their six new buddies as the armored ponies equipped the chariot's reins on their armor and took off to the giant white castle ahead of them.
Hey everypony, The ArcadeLords here! Just wanted to say sorry for the wait. I'm working on a one-shot, which you can find a preview here. I need to say some things real quick:
1. The next chapter will be called "Royal Pain"
2. I will be posting a deleted scene of the chapter Train Ride on my blog, so be on the look out for that.
3. I am also writing a story that is NOT pony related or a fanfic titled "Midnight" and I wanted to know if you guys want me to post it on my blog.
4. Give around of applause the newest member joining the pre-reading team: gamerdude72!
See you guys next time!