//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: Untouchable // by Magenta Gleam //------------------------------// Sanguine's P.O.V. Oh my Faust! I am so excited! I never thought I would ever get out of Hollow Shades and see the world and now I’m in Canterlot! This is like a dream come true. I thought, while being led through the massive city that sat high on mount canterhorn. Everywhere I looked I could see beautiful buildings sculpted from white stone and marble, some even inlaid with precious gems and metals. Nothing could have prepared me for such a beautiful sight. And to think that Twilight was raised here! Getting off the train had been a simple matter as everypony kept their distance from Eric, allowing us to move unimpeded. We saw Twilight’s friends for a moment through the crowds, pinned back by the thick mass of ponies. The only thing that really cut the mood was when I looked at the ponies that stopped to look at Eric. The looks of fear and disgust on their faces was obvious and it really made me sad. When I looked at my friend though it seemed he hadn’t noticed. His eyes shifted over the buildings with amazement, even more so than mine. “How is this place possible? Something this big should have fallen off the mountain while it was being built. And don’t just say magic.” Eric asked Twilight. “While magic would be an appropriate answer I guess I’ll have to be more precise.” Twilight started, quickly shifting into lecture mode. “During the creation of Canterlot many ponies from all tribes came together to ensure that they could create the grandest city that had ever been seen. Unicorns imbued thousands of gems that would lesson the relative weight of objects around them and placed the gems inside the cities base, pegasi used their abilities to control clouds to create super light air ballasts that would support the cities reduced weight and earth ponies used their building skills to create everything else, including the stone and marble the unicorns and pegasi needed to make place their creations in. It might surprise you to know that nearly the entire base of this city is made up of hollow marble, reinforced with magic, filled with said enchanted crystals and supported by helium pockets.” I froze there for a moment as the explanation confused me, but Eric just nodded, amazement still on his face. “But wouldn’t that be risky? I mean if only one of those systems failed then the entire city would just fall from the mountain.” Eric asked her, suddenly nervous. “Ohh that’s not a problem, the entire surface of the cities base is enchanted with the most powerful magical wards which only the princesses are able to move through and powered by a series of ponies trusted by the crown. Not only that but they power it through a set of relays so nopony but the princesses ever have to set hoof in there.” “Wow Twilight, you know a heck of a lot about this.” I said to her. “Well I was interested by the same questions Eric asked the first time I saw the city from the outside. It just seemed so strange that such a massive and probably heavy city was able to sit on such a precarious position, so I endeavoured to find out how it works.” Twilight answered standing up straighter than before. Our conversation kept us focussed on each other while we moved through the city, it was a welcome distraction from the group of ponies that followed us from behind and the stares of the ponies we passed by. Twilight’s friend had caught up with us only a few minutes after we left the trains station and the ponies of Canterlot had been stopping to stare at Eric the moment our tall friend had stepped off the train. Not surprising considering he is the tallest being here. Not long after Twilight’s lecture had finished we were accosted by a group of ponies in golden armor, they leveled long spears at Eric who shrunk back in fear. “Halt monster!” One of the royal guards called out as they circled around our group, their spears all pointed towards Eric. “Stand down everypony!” Twilight cried out to the group of guards. “This is no monster and if you call Eric that again I will personally bring you to Celestia herself to be punished.” They all stood there nervously before rising their weapons and looking at Twilight with fear in their eyes. “Uh um, we are very sorry Princess Twilight, but how is that not a monster?” A terrified guard asked her. “Because he is a sapient and kind creature just like anypony here. Is that clear?” Twilight said while glaring around her. “Yes Princess!” The guards called out at once. “Good, now escort us to Celestia. We are on a mission.” The guards surrounded us on all sides, this time covering us on all sides as we continued walking towards a grand building in the distance. Even from here Canterlot castle was massive and if I wasn’t focussed on my friends the sheer majesty of it would have taken my breath away. But while it didn’t do that I couldn’t help but bounce along with a giant smile on my face. I was here, in the most beautiful city in Equestria, escorted by a princess and a group of royal guards to the royal palace! Spike however was starting to tire, the long walk to the place was starting to wear on him so I let him rest his little legs by climbing onto my back. “Sorry about this Sanguine, I still I’ve been eating too much at Sugarcube Corner lately.” He said quietly into my ear. “It’s alright, I’m happy to help. A friend always lends a helping hoof.” I said back to him with a smile. When we reached the palace gates two armored pegasi stepped back to allow us through, saluting Twilight with their wings and scanning our group with impassive eyes which widened slightly when seeing Eric. We continued through, our escort taking us through a winding maze of corridors. My mind spun as we moved through the labyrinthine building, it’s corridors confusing me more with each turn but also amazing me with what I could see. Every once in awhile we would pass by beautiful paintings, ornate tapestries and many other objects that spoke of extreme wealth. Finally we came to a pair of double doors, we could hear many voices behind it as we approached. A unicorn that stood at either side lit their horns, opening the doors and allowing us to enter. The moment Eric passed through the entire room fell silent before a loud voice called out. “What in tartarus is that?” Eric’s P.O.V. As nice as it was to get a personal escort to the princess I could help but feel like the other shoe hadn’t been dropped, but that feeling went away as I stepped foot inside the large room before me. Even compared to the lavish hallways we had just passed through, this room just breathed money. Every surface was bright white marble, inlaid with what looked like pure gold, ornate banners hung from every surface displaying images of the sun and moon and others showed two ponies, stylized like a yin and yang. The room was also massive, easily three stories tall or more and at least half of the room was filled with ponies while the other half held two thrones, one of which that had a backdrop of the sun behind it was filled with the biggest pony I had seen so far. A pure white pony, a large horn on her head and wings tucked into her side sat there, an impassive yet warm look on her face and eyes staring directly at me that felt like they were piercing into my soul. I froze there, caught in the gaze of the alabaster alicorn until a loud voice broke me from my stupor. “What in tartarus is that?” The voice cried out. With grace I never thought possible form such a large creature the alicorn that had drawn my gaze stood up before saying simply. “The day court is over. If everypony would please register their cases with my guards I will ensure that we can continue with them tomorrow.” She then looked at my friends and I, eyes lingering on me and Twilight before leaving through a door with words that somehow reached us. “Twilight and company, please, follow me.” Immediately, like our movements were not even of our own will we moved forward quickly and passed through the door the alicorn had passed through a only moment earlier. We came out into a much smaller room, no less ornate than the rest of the castle but with a table in the centre. Twilight immediately moved to the alicorn who had invited us in, they nuzzled for moment before moving back. “Twilight, it is lovely to see you. You must come here to visit more often.” She said, the impassive look had left her face and more warmth was there in it’s place as she spoke to the lavender alicorn. “It’s good to see you too Pri-Celestia. I’m here to report to you on what I found in my mission.” Twilight said nervously. “It would seem you found a lot more than I was expecting.” Celestia said while looking over me, her eyes suddenly narrowing in suspicion. “Spike sent me a letter last night saying that you had made contact with a strange creature. I assume this is the Eric he spoke of?” Spiked shifted for a moment nervously at her words. “This is me your highness, Eric Hayes, it is an honour to meet you. I would offer to shake your hoof but that wouldn’t go well.” I introduced myself while giving a slight bow, my hand over my heart. Celestia’s eyes shot open the moment I spoke before she covered her face in an impassive look again. “It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Hayes, I must admit that I am shocked that you speak such excellent Equish. Some strange creature appears here that has never been seen before and it’s speaks our language fluently, it seems like it should be impossible.” “I don’t begin to understand your majesty but I am glad that our languages are the same. I’ve never been good at learning other languages.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck in nervousness. As we spoke a guard came into the room, saluted to Celestia then spoke. “Your highness, the other bearers of harmony have appeared to speak to you about your guest.” The guard's eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Please, send them in.” She replied. We all looked at each other, knowing that things were about to get complicated, again.