Yet Another Horrible Decision - Chapter 7

Yet Another Horrible Decision

 

Chapter 7

 

>The color returns to the world as you recover from your high-G induced blackout.

>Automatic pull-up... damn but this plane is well-constructed. Gotta love German engineering.

>You level out the aircraft and get your bearings. You’re not very far from the track.

>As fun as this little jaunt was, the ride has to end eventually.

>You reduce your pitch and dial back the throttle, aiming for the paved trackway.

“Hey Spitfire! You alright back there?”

>“Uhnn... huh? Anon? W-what happened? I... faded out there for a second.” Spitfire is speaking omewhat slowly.

>Maybe that last move wasn’t the best choice. You don’t know how these ponies react to high G-forces.

“We went into a dive, a mock run. This plane in particular has an ‘auto-pullup protocol’ in case the pilot blacks out. Y’know, high G-forces and all.”

>“Really? That’s... that’s pretty amazing. What happened to Rapidfire?”

“I dunno. I lost him during the dive. He’s probably catching up now. Anyway, brace yourself. We’re coming in for a landing.”

>You gently lower your pitch and dial back the throttle yet further. A jolt shakes the plane as it touches down on the track.

>Throttle down to 10% now. You taxi back to the approximate area where you got in.

>“I’ve gotta say, Anon, that was pretty intense. It’s strange flying without feeling the wind in your mane or the updrafts under your wings, though.”

“I bet. The oldest models didn’t have glass canopies like this one. Humanity’s first pilots would likely agree with you.” While speaking, you unlatch the canopy and swing it open, followed that by unbuckling your harness.

>“Uh, hey Anon? Little help here?”

>Climbing out onto the wing, you see that Spitfire is having some difficulty unbuckling herself. Hooves aren’t hands, after all.

>You lean forward, unlatch the buckle, and pull away the straps.

>“Heh, thanks. Easier to get in than out. For me, anyway. But thanks for the ride I had a lot of fun.” Spitfire stands on the seat and stretches her wings and back. Looking off to the side her eyes widen.

>“Well, looks like Rapidfire made it back afterall. We’ve been gone a little while, haven’t we? Best get you back to the Princess.”

>Princess Celestia and the rest of the Wonderbolts, save for Rapidfire, who’s trotting in their direction, are all sheltering in the shade of a tree a few meters away.

>Spitfire leads the way from the now-silent Stuka. Walking behind her, you can’t help but notice how form-fitting the Wonderbolt uniforms are.

>“All of you made it back safely. Good. I must say, Anonymous, I’m rather impressed with the skill you have in controlling that craft. How about this, Anonymous? I’ll consent to building this ‘hangar’ of yours if you’ll allow my engineers--and the Wonderbolts, of course--to examine it. While you’re present, of course. At no cost to you, since Equestria has the potential to benefit greatly from this. Is this acceptable?”

>The deal doesn’t sound too bad to you. You worry somewhat that perhaps the changelings left something that’ll hint at their modifications, but surely Chrysalis and Discord had planned for that.

“That sounds satisfactory, Princess. I agree to your terms.”

>“Excellent. Captain Spitfire, would it be a problem if this ‘hangar’ were to be built here, adjacent to the track?” Celestia flicks her gaze to the orange pegasus next to you.

>“Not at all, your highness. I hope you’ll allow Anon here to fly with us from time to time. Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, Princess, Anon, I have to speak with Rapidfire about a few things.” Spitfire dips her head in a half-bow.

>“That’s quite alright. Anonymous and I should be on our way. Also, do speak to Soarin’ when you have a chance. I asked him for a favor but your approval is ultimately necessary. Is was very nice to see you again, and all of you as well,” Celestia sweeps her head indicating all the gathered pegasi. “Your service to Equestria is greatly appreciated.” She turns to you. “Well, Anonymous? Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, Princess.”

>The princess begins walking to the waiting chariot, guards still hitched on. You’re impressed with their patience. You wave goodbye to the Wonderbolts and follow, hopping into the chariot and gripping tightly onto the frame as it takes off.

 

 

>Princess Celestia’s sky-chariot takes off, the Wonderbolts all watching as it goes.

>The temporary silence is broken as the pegasi all crowd around Spitfire and Rapidfire, who’s finally caught his breath.

>“So Spitfire, what was it like?” Misty inquires, her words almost blurring together.

>“Hang on a sec, ‘bolts. Rapidfire, you okay? I didn’t think you would have to exert yourself THAT much; the plane was going much slower yesterday,” Spitfire asks, her eyes filled with concern.

>“Heh... frankly, Cap, I was more worried about you. That last dive... I just couldn’t catch up. And then the pullout? No way could anyone pull that off without leveling out a bit, not with those kind of g’s.”

>“Both Anon and I passed out at that point. He said something about an ‘automatic pull-up protocol, I’ve got to say, that’s one advanced machine. When did you have the most trouble keeping up?”

>“During the take-off, for one... after I caught up to you guys it wasn’t nearly as hard, until the dive, that is. I thought something went wrong, it didn’t just drop to the ground, it accelerated towards it! After I saw you guys level out I just came back to the track. At that point I was pretty tired, it’s not often we fly that fast for that long.”

>“I see. Alright, thanks for doing that for me, Rapidfire. You go get some rest now, ya hear me?” Spitfire orders.

>“Will do, Cap.” Rapidfire trots toward one of the two rectangular officer’s dorms.

>Soarin’ steps forward. “Hey, Spits? Princess Celestia wanted me to talk to you about something. Get your approval and whatnot.”

>Spitfire raises an eyebrow. “Alright, shoot.”

>“Ya see, it’s like this...”

 

 

>The sky-chariot ride took as long as it did on the way to the Wonderbolt Fields.

>This time you were afforded a magnificent view of the castle itself.

>You also conversed a bit with Celestia, mostly about the hangar you intend to have built, although she did ask for some clarification on fixed-wing flight.

>Arriving in the same courtyard that you had left from, you accompanied the princess on her way to converse with her majordomo. Since there was little you could accomplish there, she sent you with Twilight, instructing her to give you a tour of this splendid keep you’re to call home for the next month.

>Twilight evidently spent a lot of time here in her youth, and knows much of the castle and the neatest places.

>After you gain a general idea of the castle’s layout, a guardstallion comes searching for you, informing you and Twilight that your presence is requested by the princess. The time has come for your formal welcoming ceremony.

>Frankly this all comes as a little much;  you’re just a normal guy. However, you also figure the first extra-dimensional being to arrive on Earth would receive much the same treatment. Possibly.

>After rendezvousing with Princess Celestia, you and Twilight are led up to a room with a balcony overlooking the main courtyard.

 

 

>The sitting room you and Twilight are in seems to be used for visiting dignitaries, diplomats, and the like.

>Like most of the second and higher floors of the castle, the flooring is a light hardwood parquet, the walls are white stone with gold and silver accents, and doors are made of solid yet surprisingly light wood. This room in particular has a wall combed with latticed windows that stretch nearly from the floor to the ceiling. A pair of these windows are bound together and hinged to serve as a set of doors.

>Celestia is outside looking out across the courtyard below. She turns and flicks her head in a ‘come nearer’ gesture, or so you think. Equine body language is surprisingly similar, but somewhat difficult to get used to.

>“You ready, Anonymous? I hope you don’t have a problem with crowds. This was on short notice, so it won’t be TOO large.”

>You rise from your seat and stretch.

“Naw, I’m not worried about it, Twilight. I still think all of this is a little much though.”

>Twilight smiles and shakes her head from side to side softly. She walks next to you and heads for the glass doorway, pushing it open.

>You pass through and are greeted by the princess, two guards flanking the balcony doors are visible via your peripheral vision.

>“Ready to begin, Anonymous? Great, I’ll start my bit, then,” Celestia whispers, not bothering to wait for your response.

>Twilight stands next to you while the princess takes her speaking position in the semicircular extension. You look down at Twilight, who returns your glance with a smile and a wink.

>“Citizens of Equestria! I know many of you have expressed concern over the presence of the ‘strange bird’, as it has been called, since yesterday. I have also received reports regarding a similar sight today. I have called this gathering to dispel any rumors that may be forming. This ‘strange bird’ is in fact a flying machine, not dissimilar to the airships we are all familiar with. Tying into this are the reports from Ponyville of a strange creature sighted near its bounds. These incidents are indeed connected.” Celestia pauses a moment, gauging the reaction of the crowd. “Yesterday, this machine, known as a ‘plane’, landed in the Wonderbolt Fields; it was controlled by what may well be the first extradimensional creature ever known. This creature was dragged her, almost against his will, however I have received him as a guest and emissary of his kind.”

 

>Celestia glances at you and Twilight nudges your knee. You take that as a sign to step forward. You stand next to the princess, looking down at the crowd gathered below. It isn’t as large as you thought, although the lack of warning likely has much to do with that.

 

>A chorus of gasps, murmurs, and dribs and drabs of conversation lift to your ears.

 

>“This is Anonymous, known as a human. It is he that controls the plane some of you have seen. My sister and I have accepted him into our palace as an honored guest, and I hope you all will treat him with the same respect you would accord anypony,” she announces before moving her body in a diagonal position relative to you and the crowd. “Anonymous, I hereby officially welcome you to Equestria!” she shouts loudly enough to be heard by the crowd below.

>Several guardsponies on the ramparts surrounding the courtyard sound a fanfare from instruments not unlike trumpets.

>Two blue-suited pegasi jump onto the top of the three rampart walls you can see from your position. The Wonderbolts! They salute Princess Celestia, and perhaps you as well before taking off into the skies above at an incredible speed.

>Shouts of wonder, exclamations of surprise, and cheering can be heard from the ponies assembled below, their heads turned up to watch the unfolding spectacle. The Wonderbolts begin to circle around the courtyard in a spiral formation, somewhere beginning to emit dark smoke from their hindlegs. They rocket upwards in unison and begin to... write?

>“Here comes the best part!” whispers Twilight, not taking her eyes off the pegasi above.

>The message is complete, the first example of Equestrian writing you have yet seen. Your eyes seem to blur a moment and suddenly the shapes make sense to you:

>WELCOME, ANONYMOUS

>The Wonderbolts return to their lower position above the courtyard, flying in a large circle with their bodies turned upward; pointing at the letters above.

>At that moment, an explosion of color dissipates the smoky letter-clouds, culminating in a rainbow leading above and behind you.

>At that, he Wonderbolts all fly down onto the top of the castle ramparts directly in front of you, closing their sensational flight with the same bow you’re becoming accustomed to.

>“And now, ponies of Equestria, is when I inform you that a press conference is to be held in the grand foyer for the next few hours. Later this evening, we will be hosting a reception for our new guest which will be open to the public. We hope that all present will attend.” Celestia turns from the crowd, which you take as your cue to follow.

>“That was wonderful, Princess! It’s nearly time for me to go meet Spike at the train station, though, so I’ll be on my way. I hope you two have fun at the press conference!” Twilight courteously opens the doors for you and the princess, who seems to roll her eyes.

>“I hope you’re ready for this one, Anonymous. The Equestrian press can be... straining, let’s say. And as much of a photogenic sort as you seem, you’ll likely be blinded by the flashes by the end of the conference.” Celestia looks like she’s been sucking on a lemon.

>Twilight accompanies the two of you to the entrance of the castle, where a red-draped table and two chairs await you.

 

 

>Celestia wasn’t kidding. You spend the next five hours answering all sorts of questions and getting blinded by popping flashbulbs.

>It isn’t so bad at first. Hell, the first hour or so it’s actually pretty fun. Not to mention how interesting those photographer ponies’ camera contraptions are.

>But then it just starts think of the princesses?’, ‘What do you plan on doing while you’re here?’, and others simply astounds you.

>Still, that’s all behind you now. Now you get to enjoy the reception and one more night of rest before starting on the cultural and information exchange.

>The event is being held in a large ballroom. A banner hangs from the ceiling, announcing the same message the Wonderbolts wrote in the sky.

>Your stomach lightly grumbles, announcing its desire for nourishment.

>You’ve hardly eaten much since the light lunch before the interview began, so you head over to the white-clothed tables where there is a lot of food on display.

>Applejack is here, wearing an apron but not the hat that she’s seemingly unable to part with. A pony with a ponytail, how meta. She sees you approach and walks up to you, smiling.

>“Howdy there, Anonymous. Come ta get some grub?”

“Yeah, I could use something to eat. Any recommendations?”

>She sidles up closer to you and speaks a bit more softly: “Look, Anon, I know I’ve apologized already, but I really do feel bad about the way I treated you when we first met. Yer actually a pretty good guy, from what I c’n tell, an’ I wanted ta make it up to ya. Here’s somethin’ special, a homemade Apple family zap-apple pie. Don’t have too many of those left this time a year.”

>She hands you a whole lattice-topped pie, the filling within an electric rainbow color. It smells absolutely incredible.

“Thank you, Applejack. There’s no way I can eat the whole thing right now, though. Why don’t you cut me a big slice, and have one yourself as well. As for your apology, as before I gratefully accept it. Water under the bridge, as far as I’m concerned.”

>“Water under the what now?” she asks confusedly,

“Water under the bridge. It means that what’s in the past stays in the past.”

>“Oh, gotcha. So whaddya say? Friends?” She extends a forehoof.

“Friends.” You bump her hoof with your fist.

>She smiles widely at that, sets down your pie, and cuts two large slices out.

>“I’ll just put the rest in the kitchen when I git a chance. What ‘bout somethin’ to wash it down with? We got all sorts a juices. Don’t rightly know if your kind can drink alcohol, but there’s an open bar with hard apple cider, sour apple mash, and whatnot.”

“Alcohol? Now you’re talking my language, AJ! I guess I’ll give the cider a try.”

>Applejack heads to the bar and gets two large mugs of foamy liquid, bringing them to you afterwards.

>“Whaddya say we have us a toast?” she asks, handing you a mug.

“Sounds good to me.” You grab the mug and raise it, waiting for her to raise hers.

“To new friends!”

>“Ta new friends!”

>You clink your mugs together and each take a drink.

>The cider is really quite good. The alcohol content can’t be that high, but that’s to be expected from creatures half your size.

“This is some great stuff, AJ. You don’t mind if I call you ‘AJ’, do you?”

>“That’s what all my friends call me. Ya can count yerself among them, Anon.”

>You and Applejack eat the zap-apple pie, which is one of the more interesting foods you’ve ever eaten. It’s slightly sour as well as sweet, and each bite seems to send a literal shock down your tongue.

>You spend the next few minutes devouring your pie and conversing with the friendly cowpony.

 

 

 

>After placing the plate in a bin amongst others, you bid farewell to Applejack and go out to mingle with the rest of the crowd.

>Twilight approaches you with a small lizard or gecko... thing at her side.

>“Hey there, Anonymous. Enjoying your party?” Twilight asks.

“Yeah. Really though, it seems a little much. I’m just a normal guy who’s gotten more lost than I thought possible.”

>“It’s good to know you’re a humble sort. But you do deserve it; you’re the first interdimensional being ever to be known! Anyway, I’d like to introduce you to my assistant, Spike. He’ll be working with us.” Twilight indicates the reptilian creature at her side.

>“Uh, hi Mister Anonymous. I’m Spike, Twilight’s number one assistant! Wow, so you’re the alien, huh? I kinda thought you’d be a little more... tentacle-y, I guess.”

“Tentacles? Anyway, it’s good to meet you, Spike. Uh, what are you? If you don’t mind my asking.”

>“Me? Oh, I’m a dragon!”

”You. A dragon,” you glance at Twilight for an explanation.

>“Spike is a baby dragon. I hatched him about six years ago when I was taking my entrance examination.”

“You... hatched him? Y’know what, I’ll ask about it later. We’ll have plenty of time over the next month or so.”

>Twilight nods and dips her head to something approaching from behind.

>You turn around and are faced by Celestia and a refreshed-looking Luna.

>“How are you enjoying the reception, Anonymous?” Celestia asks.

>If you answered honestly, you’d say it’s a little too dignified and courtly. Of course, such things are to be expected in diplomacy, as much as tactful answers are.

“I like it. The food’s great, the music is pleasant, the crowd is... not exactly unlike those reporters from earlier.”

>Luna chuckles, “Ah, yes, the press is an absolute joy to work with, is it not? How fortunate I was to have slept through it. Anyway, Anonymous, my sister and I would appreciate it if you were to accompany us.”

>“Yes, Anonymous. There is something we wish you to see,” Celestia remarks cryptically.

>You can’t exactly turn down your hosts, can you?

“Very well, your highnesses. Where are we off to?”

>“The Royal Solarium. Come now, we must be going, we’ll return once you’ve seen what we wish to show you.” Celestia turns and rotates her head expectantly.

>You slip between the sisters and follow.

 

 

 

>The Solarium is one of the most intriguing places you’ve ever set foot in.

>It resembles an open-topped greenhouse filled with fascinating flora, set in one of the highest places in the castle as far as you can tell.

>The foliage surrounding you is largely yellow, red, and orange. Even the grass is slightly yellowed, but in a robust and healthy way. It’s all very mystical.

>In the center of the solarium is a depression in which sits a stone circle decorated with a bas-relief strikingly similar to the Asiatic yin-yang, only with a white horse chasing the sun and a black pony running after the moon.

>“Anonymous, I’m not entirely sure how things are run in your world. If it’s anything like the majority of the world outside of Equestria, then I assume you haven’t seen anything quite like what we’re about to show you,” Luna says, her head turned to you and her eyes burning with a determined fire.

>“It’s a shame you couldn’t have arrived a few weeks ago. The... sight would’ve had considerably more fanfare and spectacle.” Celestia walks a few steps forward, until she’s standing next to the depression. She flicks her head from you to her, seemingly requesting you stand next to her. You go forth, Luna walking around onto the other side.

>Celestia steps off to your left. You notice that they’ve each taken up places on their respective sides of the bas-relief, with you straddling the dividing line.

>“Watch now, Anonymous,” Luna insists.

>The horns of both princesses begin to glow, softly at first, with the light expanding until it nearly blinds you.

>The sisters close their eyes, and that’s when you notice it.

>The sky above darkens as the sun sinks behind the mountains, visible through the glass of the solarium, and the moon rises on its opposite side. Both celestial objects are wreathed in light; the fading sun with a pale halo of yellowish-green and the moon with a mix of purple and cerulean.

>Incredibly enough, the flora itself changes color as well: The grass becomes a carpet of soft blues, the leaves on the tree a silvered purple, the flower petals indigo and a deep hunter green.

>Both princesses open their eyes, droplets of sweat dripping into their manes.

“My God... it really is real.” You can scarcely believe your eyes.

>If nothing else that’s happened in these past few days has convinced you of the magic in this realm, this has.

>“Such is the burden we bear, such is one of the reasons we rule.” Celestia blinks, but holds her eyes closed for a moment, as if the weight of her responsibilities physically pains her.

>“We sensed your disbelief when presented with this. As has been explained, I rule the night and my sister the day. That was no metaphor, no falsehood. Come now, Anon. Let us return to your reception,” Luna states, boldly staring into your eyes.

>“Yes, Anonymous. Although not for very long, it would be best for you to get much rest tonight.” Celestia doesn’t wait for you to respond, walking out the way you entered.

>“She’s borne that burden longest of all. I... I had failed her...” Luna whispers, half to you and half to herself.

“What do you mean, ‘failed her’?”

>Luna shakes herself from her reverie. “It’s nothing, Anonymous. Nothing I wish to speak of now, at least. Come, walk with me.”

>Saying nothing further, you walk side by side with Luna back to the grand ballroom. You spend an hour or so repetitively conversing with all who wish to speak with you until Princess Celestia guides you to your stateroom and wishes you a good night. Like last night, you quickly fall into a dreamless sleep.