Youngblood

by Centurion Pike-Wall

23~The Gilded City (PT. 2)

December 17th, 3095 Imperial Calender (1522 AD)
Hoofiat Hotel

Depressi and DJ met the rest of his friends in the dining room of the hotel. Both had grabbed plates, piled high with eggs, toast, and hashbrowns, and sat down at one of the larger tables in the middle of the room. Occasionally, other hotel patrons would trudge in in various states of awakeness, however the number was still rather small.

"Salve, Amicus", Depressi said, sliding into one of the seats next to his brother. "So, does anyone have any plans for today?"

"Well, Pumpkin's gonna go swap spit with Glitterati", Soundboard said, earning a furious blush and an equally furious expression from said mare. "But, as for us? I got nothing."

"It is a big city", DJ said. "Must be something we can do."

Flurry shook her head and chuckled. "Well, maybe in Pryha. Or, Hay, in other Equestrian cities. Not here. All private clubs, restaurants, and Aristocrats garden parties."

"It's not all that big, to be fair", Maraschino said. "But, I'm afraid that Flurry has a point. There isn't a whole lot that we can do in the city."

"Maybe the Hedge Maze bah the Castle?", Southern Rose asked. When the suggestion earned her a few deadpan looks, she threw up her hooves. "Y'all asked fer suggestions. Ah'm given y'all a suggestion."

"It's not that bad of an idea", Depressi defended. "I mean, if what you say is true, it's pretty much all we can do."

"Well, that isn't all", another voice cut in. They turned to see Rarity and her family enter. While Thunderlane guided his daughter over to the buffet, Rarity came over to the group with a slight waddle, accenting her small bulge. "There is more to Canterlot than just the hedge maze."

"Like what?", Flurry asked. "And before you answer, keep in mind that Depressi and DJ have, like, a hundred bits each."

That made Rarity stop slightly, tapping her hoof to her chin a few times. "Well, there are a few stores where you can get some items for relatively cheap. Restaurant Row has some good places, obviously. Hmm... Perhaps you can go up to the CSFGU Campus and look around for a bit."

"Campus is closed for Winter Break", Flurry deadpanned. "I've been here enough in the winter to know that."

"Oh", Rarity said. "Well, of course, there is the Hearths Warming Play tonight."

"Gratias, Mulier Rarity", Depressi said.

Rarity smiled and gave a light laugh. "Just helping out. Feel free to come and ask if you need any other recommendations. Now, if you'll excuse me, I just go stuff my face with Zucchini Bread." With that, she trotted off, grabbing herself a plate from the buffet.

"Ok then", Maraschino said. "We go to the hedge maze, get something to eat, then just check out shops until tonight? We all on board?"

"Well, I'm going to be spending the day with Glitterati", Pumpkin Cake said timidly. "But, I'll meet up with you guys for the Play."

"I'm down, I guess", Soundboard said.

"Sure", Southern agreed.

Depressi said, "Very well."

With a nod from DJ and a shrug from both Pound Cake and Flurry Heart, the days' plans were set. After they finished up their breakfasts, they said goodbye to their families, heading out into the nearly completely white city.

+++++~+++++

To the right of the Palace entrance, dominating an entire right side of the largest platform that made up Canterlot, was the Canterlot Hedge Maze. They had to pay a small fee at the entrance, but otherwise entered the maze without missing a beat. Maraschino said, "Alright. Now, did anyone grab one of those maps?"

"I did", DJ said, holding up the folded piece of paper. "Why?"

"You know, just in case we get really lost or something. If what Miss Applejack and the other former Element Bearers said is true, then this place is pretty expansive", he said.

Soundboard asked, "I just thought that was Discord or whatever his name is making it bigger?"

"Mother did say it was pretty big from the air", Depressi said. "She did say she wasn't in her right mind at the time, to be fair. But I still don't think we should need it."

Flurry sighed, trudging ahead into the maze. "Let's just get this over with", she groused, disappearing around the corner. With little real choice, the rest of them gave chase.

They wove their way through the maze, following Flurry Heart. They would start talking about various things among themselves, stopping when Southern Rose ran into Flurry. Southern, stopping just short of bowling the smaller mare over, asked, "Wah'd ya stop?"

"That", Flurry said, lifting a wing. The others peaked around Southern Rose, spotting the dead-end that Flurry was pointing at.

"Well, we backtrack", DJ said, pointing at the prints in the snow that marked the path they took.

"Well, lead the way. You're in the back", Depressi said.

DJ snorted. "Yeah, yeah, yeah", he said, turning around and following the tracks back to a point where there were another two paths that they hadn't gone down. "Ok, now which-" He was cut off by Flurry pushing past him, heading down the one directly in front of them. "I guess we go to that one."

Once again, the group followed Flurry Heart. This time, she didn't run into any other dead ends and lead the group into a large open area. Lining the rectangular clearing were tall stone statues of various creatures and ponies. They stood in dynamic poses, further dressed in different clothes or carrying different items. One stood on its hind legs, holding what appeared to be a large scroll. Another held a flag and was standing firm and resolute, as if glaring down an invading army.

"How'd you find this place so quickly?", Soundboard asked. "I mean, it's been, what? Fifteen minutes?"

"Me and a friend of mine, Glamour, used to come here all the time when we were in Canterlot", Flurry explained, chuckling. "I'd slip away from my guard, and Glamour from her parents, and we'd come out here. We'd just mess around, playing 'Knights in Shining Armor' or test out our magic. All that jazz that kids did-"

She was cut off by a voice calling, "And hopefully still enjoy from time to time." Standing up from behind one of the taller statues was a unicorn mare. She had a darkish orange coat along with white spots on her hooves and nose that reminded Depressi of Danger Zone, as well as a dull red mane with white and lavender streaks, done in a side-cut. A spiked choker was affixed to her neck, while a pair of silver studs pierced her right ear. "Good to see you, Heart."

"Speak of the Draquonoquus", Flurry said, breaking into a laugh. "What're you doing here?"

"Ma's meeting some of her old friends from CSFGU", Glamour said, trotting up to the group. "I got dragged along cause dad was doing some research project back home. It was either come back to my old stomping ground or be his assistant for a few days. So, care to introduce me to this gaggle of misfits?"

"Hey!", Pound Cake said.

"Sorry", Glamour said sarcastically. "This gaggle of misfits and the floofed up chicken."

Flurry cut in before Pound Cake could do anything, pointing to each one of them as she introduced them. "Pound Cake, Maraschino Cherry, Soundboard, Southern Rose, Depressi Tonituro, and DJ."

"Knarly scar, dude", Glamour said. "How'd you get it?"

DJ's paw went up to the white line along his fur, somewhat instinctively running a claw along its length. Depressi stuck his wing out slightly, gripping his other foreleg. DJ sighed, before saying, "None of your business."

Flurry turned to her friend, whispering into her ear, "Try not to aggravate DJ. He's got some... serious anger issues."

"You got it", Glamour said. "Well, as Flurry already said, name's Glamour. A.K.A, the Crystal Empire's little punk."

"I thought Flurry would've held that title", Pound said.

"Naw", Glamour said, elbowing the alicorn. "She may be abrasive and shit, but she's like an ice cream bar; Hard on the outside, soft on the inside."

"Thank you, for the allusion, Glamour", Flurry said. "Now, what're you doing here?"

"Just reading beneath the God of Chaos", Glamour said, flicking an ear to the statue she was concealed behind when the group entered.

Sure enough, it was the spindly, mismatched form of the petrified Discord. The form held it's arms out, face frozen in a look of shock, while its tail wrapped around its pedestal. The statue, being made from a petrified form, was incredibly detailed, from the faint roughness of the body to the emotion in the still eyes. Unlike the others, this one appeared to have been defaced; ten long, iron spikes had been driven through its chest, the ends sticking out having been bent.

"What happened to it?", Soundboard asked. "With the spikes, I mean?"

Glamour shrugged. "Don't know. Heard some of the guards think it was some of the Pryhans, but can't say. Course, they're stuck in there pretty good, and I doubt anypony wants to get near him after what he pulled like, twenty years ago."

"Well, enough of that", Flurry said. "We're trying to kill some time, and we need something to do before lunch."

Glamour just smiled, levitating her book out from the opposite side of Discords' pedestal. The book had a pale blue cover, decorated with the image of a snowflake and golden text reading: The Uses and Applications of Frost Magic. "Who's up for a little bit of Icicle Jousting?"

+++++~+++++

"Flurry. Your friend is terrifying", Maraschino said, rubbing his neck.

Flurry said, "Oh, she's not that bad."

"I beg to differ", DJ said, lifting up his cloak to reveal a decent-sized hole.

"Ok, fine. She's... not the most sociable", Flurry said. "But, now that that's over with, let's get some lunch."

The group turned down one of the side streets, entering a street lined with restaurants. At least a dozen on each side of the street, all of which were bustling with activity.

"So, any suggestions?", Depressi asked.

"Mah aunt an I go to this place called 'The Tasty Treat' whenever it's just the two 'a us in Canterlot", Southern Rose said. "It's food from a district of Saddle Arabia, and it's pretty good!"

"Oh yeah, I remember that place", Soundboard said. "Mom took me to one after one of her concerts up here."

"So, Tasty Treat?", Pound Cake asked.

"I guess", DJ said, shrugging. "Can't be that bad."

This time, Southern Rose led the way. They passed by several other restaurants, arriving at a small alley in the street. At the end of the alley was a complete contrast to the other restaurants. While the others had simple paint and signs on the outside, this one was painted in a swirl of various colors, mostly oranges and bronzes. A pair of tall windows made of brass stuck out on either side of a green door with a heart-shaped window. As they approached, a group of ponies exited the restaurant, with the two groups skirting past each other.

The inside was equally as decorated as the outside, with long strands of silk running across the ceiling and brass lanterns lighting up the inside. The tables had lamps and small coverings on them, while the seats were covered with multi-colored pillows. Most of the tables were packed, filled with groups of creatures ranging from apparent Tourists to Canterlot Locals to even a few off-duty Pryhan soldiers.

A slightly fat and aging unicorn stallion came up to them, a few menus held in his aura. "Oh, hello there. Welcome to the Tasty Treat. We just had a booth open up."

"Thank you", Depressi said.

"Follow me", he said. He led them to one of the booths, placing the menus on the table as the group slid into the booth. "I'll have my Son-in-Law come to take your orders in a bit to get your orders."

As he walked off, they looked through the menus, scanning for something they might like. "I'll admit. This looks really good", Flurry said.

"No meat", DJ muttered, disappointed.

Depressi looked up from his menu and said, "They ARE a pony nation."

"Germaney has meat", DJ replied.

"Because they're mostly Pegasi there. Saddle Arabia is mostly Terrans", Depressi pointed out. DJ muttered something else, but didn't say anything loud enough to be audible.

After a few minutes, a Changling wearing a multi-colored bandana came up to them. He levitated several cups of water to each of them, before pulling a notepad out of an apron pocket. "Hello. Can I take your orders?"

"Hey, Thorax", Southern Rose said. "How's it goin'?"

"Oh, hi Southern", Thorax said, smiling sheepishly. "Fine, fine. We're, uh... planning on starting a family soon."

"Oh, that's great!", Southern said. "Congrats. Anyway, ah'll have mah usual."

Thorax nodded, his embarrassed face turning to simple contentment as he looked scribbled something down in the notepad. "Alright. And, as for the rest of you?"

The others ordered, with Thorax jotting down what they wanted. After all of them finished, he said, "Great! You'll be served in a bit. Business is booming today!"

As he headed back to the kitchen, Southern asked, "Trust me. This place is great!"

"Oh, I don't doubt it", Depressi said. "I've never had Saddle Arabian food, granted. But, it can't be that bad."

"It do smell good", DJ noted.

Depressi took a deep breath, noting the very strong aromas in the air. "Agreed. Like the Lunch Booths at noon, eh?"

DJ licked the rim of his beak, while Flurry said, "Both of you. Shut up. I'm already hungry, and you're making it worse. Now, no one talks about food until we're served, or I'll smash you into the center of the mountain."

+++++~+++++

Several hours later, the group returned to their families. They met outside of Canterlot Castle, into which a large crowd entered. Ponies of all shapes and sizes milled about, finding seats in the converted ballroom. Scootaloo said, "I remember my first time coming here. You'll enjoy it, I swear."

"I trust you", Depressi said. "When does it start?"

"Now", Rumble whispered.

A young colt, whom Depressi recognized as Prince Rising Dawn, came onto the stage. He was dressed in a short silk cape, blue vest, and yellow and blue hat with a white feather. "Once upon a time, a time, long before the peaceful rule of the Princesses, and before ponies discovered the beautiful land of Equestria, ponies did not know harmony. It was a strange and dark time. A time when ponies were torn apart... by hatred!"

Comments

[Lady Lightning Strike]

"Once upon a time, a time, long before the peaceful rule of the Princesses, and before ponies discovered the beautiful land of Equestria, ponies did not know harmony. It was a strange and dark time. A time when ponies were torn apart... by hatred!"

....But then Pryhan Solders led by the mighty Rainbow Dash came around and kicked everyone's butts! And that's how Equestria survived! And why they require Pryhan Solders to train the Royal Guards!

[THERDSTORYWHISPERER]

Great chapter!