Celestia Quest 2

After what seems like minutes of laughter, Celestia finally exhausts herself and rolls onto her belly, panting. While you can tell she's trying to straighten her face, a snort escapes every now and then followed by a brief smile. You cross your arms and frown at her.

 

"Care to share what was so funny?"

 

"Sorry, truly, I am—" Another chortle interrupts her and she takes a deep breath before continuing. "Sorry. It's simply that I have had a very long, demanding and now exhausting day, not to mention a week of stressful planning to get this far, and I found it amusing that, at the end of what has been a very upsetting encounter, you choose such strong language in your outburst. My subjects would never use lewd language like that, and as such, I have not heard a word like 'fuck'—" she allows herself another giggle, "—for many centuries. Goodness, the last time I heard it was even out of my own mouth! So when you said it, I could not help myself. This entire situation is simply too absurd."

 

"I'd certainly agree with you on that last part."

 

You watch Celestia get up, brushing some dirt off her coat with a "Tsk."

 

"I take it you're alright after that whole ordeal with the unicorns, then."

 

"Yes, quite alright, if a bit tired." She gives up cleaning herself off and points at your elbow. "Is that going to be fine? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your physiology."

 

"My elbow?" You tentatively bend your arm and wince when the pain returns. "Ah, it's probably going to hurt for a while, but I don't think anything is broken."

 

"That is good to hear, though I still feel you should get a doctor to look at it. Shall we continue on to the camp?"

 

 

 

"Ah, yes. Them." Her voice darkens at the mention of your ambushers. She starts walking down the road and you match pace, listening intently. "I do not know how politics work in your world, but here I rule along with my sister and, more recently, my student. The last of Equestrian royalty is Princess Cadence, who rules the Crystal Empire to the north. However, some are unhappy with the heirarchy of power, and have made themselves known. Those unicorns were members of a group that seeks to remove me from power."

 

"Oh." She's royalty? Why couldn't you have landed somewhere else? Maybe a nice, quiet summer home? Someplace that might not kill you? "So this is some sort of revolution?"

 

"For lack of a better word, yes. I know you are likely concerned with how to return from where you came from, and I assure you I will work as hard as I can to get you out of this dire situation. I can understand if you aren't exactly enjoying yourself."

 

You grimace at the statement. "You read my mind. I'd love a little R&R right now. Away from here." Looking over to Celestia, you add, "No offense."

 

"None taken."

 

The two of you continue toward the camp, walking side-by-side for several minutes before you sight what must be Celestia's camp

 

It's a decently-sized camp, a little less than a half-mile from one side to the other by your estimate and in the rough shape of a rectangle. The largest tent grabs your attention first; over twice your height and towering over the others, the white circular tent sits in the middle of everything. You also spot out a grid of tents, all uniform in size and shape, though that's all you can spot out before you—well, Celestia, to be exact—are greeted.

 

"Princess! It is good to see you back!" An armored pony, you assume a soldier of some sort, salutes Celestia while glancing back and forth between you and her. That's the second time you've seen ponies freaked out by your appearance. It must be your size.

 

 

 

 

"Uhh...hi?" You offer with a wave, though your greeting doesn't exactly have the intended effect. The guard takes a step away from you, still desperately trying to face Celestia and give her his full attention.

 

She looks at you and then the guard, a small smile growing as her gears start turning. You hope she's only thinking up an introduction.

 

"Silver Shield, it isn't nice to treat strangers so coldly." She steps back, removing herself from between you and Silver Shield. "Now introduce yourself."

 

"H-hi," he says, voice much more shaky and unsure than yours was. "I'm S-Silver S-Shield." Slowly, he lifts a forehoof toward you. "Pleased t-to meet you."

 

And he's supposed to be a soldier? You give as comforting a smile as you can manage and shake his hoof, giving him your name. "Pleased to meet you, too." The shake is weak and he pulls his hoof back the second you release it, but at least it doesn't look like he'll fall over any more.

 

"Excellent!" says Celestia. "Now, Silver, return to my tent and let my sister know I've returned. I'm going to introduce my fellow traveler to some ponies who might help him."

 

With another salute, Silver takes off toward the large white tent you noticed before. Touching your back with a hoof, Celestia directs you to a slightly shorter tent not far from the white one. "Come."

 

 

 

Walking alongside Celestia, you survey the camp, trying to gauge other ponies' reactions. Most are too busy with thier own duties to notice, but as time goes on, more and more are stealing glances at you or outright staring. Maybe it's because you're walking with thier leader, but you know that's just wishful thinking.

 

"Guess I'm gonna have to get used to that sort of greeting, huh?"

 

"I wouldn't worry too much about it. While my little ponies may be cautious and even sometimes scared around things they do not understand, the great majority of them are open-minded and will come to accept your presence, especially if you're seen with myself and my sister. These ponies trust my judgement."

 

You raise an eyebrow at her. "I can't help but find that a little surprising. Back where I'm from, an alien would be met with fear and a strong need to control it. The understanding ones are in the minority."

 

She nods, acknowledging your reply and thinking on it, but offering no reply of her own. Her attention is now focused on the tent flaps before you.

 

"Wait here a moment, I will let them know you're coming and ask you to enter when we're ready." She ducks her head to make it into the tent, though you stop her by laying a hand on her back.

 

"Who?"

 

Smiling, she says, "The Elements of Harmony," and enters the tent.

 

That's a fantastic non-answer.

 

You listen to the sounds coming from inside the tent, mostly muffled, but you can make out a few distinct voices. You wonder if they're regular ponies or alicorns like Celestia. Wait, it's 'Princess' Celestia. You should start using her title—might help you fit in a bit better. Putting your hands on your hips, you keep watch on the camp, nodding or smiling occassionally to staring ponies. Unfortunately, all they do for the most part is turn away and busy themselves with something. Some even ignore you completely and just keep staring.

 

"You can come in now!"

 

 

 

Taking a deep breath, you straighten your back and walk in with a smile. You're greeted by the sight Celestia standing next to four ponies, two of which have wings, one has a horn and the other, while lacking both, makes up for it with an explosively pink mane and tail. The tent feels a little cramped to you, with the roof scraping your hair, but you imagine it's fairly large as pony standards go. It seems each of these ponies sleeps here, as there are four beds, most with what you figure to be their personal belongings.

 

You wave to the group with your good arm, giving them your name and an enthusiastic, "Hi!"

 

Pink immediately fills your vision, with the offending pony bouncing up and down in front of you, speaking every time her face levels with yours. "Hi—I'm—Pinkie—Pie—and—it's—really—nice—to—meet—you!" Thankfully, she stops bouncing after her energetic greeting, though the ridiculous smile stays plastered on her face. A hoofshake seems like the proper greeting here, but this pony looks much more enthusiastic and informal than the guard. You reach out and pat her fluffy mane, surprised with how poofy and soft it really is.

 

"Nice to meet you, Pinkie Pie."

 

The next pony steps forward, a white-coated unicorn, and gives a curt bow, greeting you with a much more refined tone. "I am Rarity. Pleasure."

 

You return the bow. "Pleasure to meet you."

 

The third, a blue pegasus, hovers over to you and extends a hoof. "Rainbow Dash." You gasp the hoof to shake it, but she pulls back. "Nah, not like that, like THIS!" She pounds her hooves together, then extends the hoof again. "Try again."

 

Curling your hand into a fist, you bump her hoof. She lets out a hoot, pumping her hoof in the air. "Yeah! You're alright, dude."

 

The last pony, however has not come forward for an introduction. If anything, she's only backed up, peeking at you from behind her mane. You'd go up and ask her name, but you're not sure if that would help or simply scare her further. You could try asking for help, too...

 

 

 

 

Figuring Pinkie would probably better at introducing you to the last pony, you bend down and whisper in her ear. "Who's the last one?"

 

"Oh, Fluttershy? She's a very kind pony and great with animals!" Her volume renders whatever kind of secrecy you were attempting moot. "Just give her some space, talk soft, and she'll warm up to you for sure!"

 

"Thanks, Pinkie."

 

Fluttershy, anticipating your approach, backs up even further. You glance over to Celestia, wondering if she is planning on helping, but all she does is jerk her head over to Fluttershy and smirks. Great. You're on your own.

 

 

Calming yourself with a breath, you walk over to Fluttershy, getting as close as you dare, then crouch down to her eye level, offering a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you too, Fluttershy." You offer your hand as a gesture of peace and wait.

 

For a few seconds, all she does is look back and forther between your hand and face, wondering whether or not to accept your greeting. It occurs to you that there's a possibility she never warms up to you and you'll just have to live with being awkward around her. You'd really hate to do that, though, as Celestia—'Princess' Celestia—said these ponies might be able to help.

 

Your fears turn out to be unfounded, as Pinkie's advice holds true. Fluttershy meekly extends a hoof and lays it in your palm, allowing you to shake it gently. She offers a cute little smile as well. "Nice to, um, meet you."

 

"I'm glad you all are able to get along so well!" says Princess Celestia, grabbing your attention. "I brought you here because these ponies have proven themselves most reliable in times of crisis in Equestria, and I believe they might find a way to help you as well. I also consider them my friends, and you can trust each of them as you would me."

 

You open your mouth to ask exactly how these ponies might help but are interrupted by a shout coming from just outside the tent. "Sister? Are you in here? I'm coming inside!"

 

Sister? That must mean...

 

The pony that steps inside is indeed another alicorn, though colored in sharp contrast to Princess Celestia. Her coat drinks in the light, a navy blue that matches her mane and jewelry. Just like her sister, this alicorn carries an aura of power, though while you felt only gentleness from Celestia, this pony radiated business and formality.

 

"Did the exchange go as planned, sister? I was hoping to see—" Her statement stops in its tracks when she lays eyes on you. "Who are you?"

 

Blunt. Very blunt.

 

 

 

"I'm a human." You stand up, turning away from Fluttershy and taking a step toward the newcomer. Giving a deep bow, you introduce yourself. "Pleasure to meet you, your majesty." You hope she favors formal.

 

Looking up from the bow, you find her face curious and calculating, obviously trying to take in all of this new information as best she can. Princess Celestia certainly had an easier time with her greeting, though those were slightly difference circumstances.

 

"Come now, little sis, introduce yourself," says Celestia. You're relieved to finally get some backup.

 

"Sister! I would appreciate you not referring to me as such in front of our subjects!" The way she says it with that blush, it's almost like she's pouting.

 

"Then stop standing there like you've just seen the sun explode and say something."

 

"Hmph." She turns back to you. "Greetings, human. I am Princess Luna, ruler of the night and co-founder of Equestria. It is a pleasure to meet you."

 

So many pleaseantries these last few minutes, you feel like gagging. You aren't really one for so much formality. Finally, you straighten back up from the bow, finding Luna had already walked over to her sister. She's clearly eager to know what happened. You can't help but feel a little awkward, as the context of Celestia's excursion is completely lost on you, and you still just met all of these ponies, not to mention you still have no idea where the hell you are.

 

You'll just have to take things as they come, you guess.