Millennia - Part 2

>You stir out of your pleasant unconsciousness some time later.

>The cool, crisp grass has been replaced with warm bedding and a fluffy pillow.

>Aww yeah. It was all a dream.

>You extend all your limbs for a good stretch.

>Your ankles extend off the end of the bed, so you just curl up into a nice, warm ball.

>Mmrph… Shoes. You don’t wear shoes to bed!

>You blindly kick them off onto the hardwood floor. You don’t recall having a hardwood floor, but that isn’t important right now.

>What IS important is the sound of two people talking outside your door.

>Unless it’s a couple bros throwing you a random surprise party, which is extremely unlikely, then you have something to worry about.

>You quietly sit up in your bed, which to your surprise, isn’t actually your bed.

>In fact, this isn’t your room at all!

>The bed is way too short, the floor is hardwood, and the walls are decorated with paintings of colorful horses!

>Wait. Horses.

>Oooohhh no.

>These horses are real…

>Or you’re still dreaming, but that seems very unlikely at this point.

>You slip your shoes back on and walk softly towards the door where you heard the voices.

>They seem to get quiet as you take the last step towards them.

>You cautiously and slowly open the door.

>Suddenly, two spear tips are thrust a mere inch from your face.

>You stumble backwards into your room and hold your hands up in surrender.

>Then you get a good look at whatever holds them.

 

>Two more of these horses with horns, both with bright white coats.

>One wears a pure gold armor while the other has purple with a gold trim.

>They stare at you, spear raised and ready to kill.

>The one in golden armor whispers something to the other.

>”I know! I just… Don’t know what this thing is capable of!” He hisses back.

“Easy, man. I’m not here to cause trouble.”

>They both stare you in the eye for several seconds before the one in Purple armor quietly commands to the other,

>”Go get the princess.”

>Golden boy over here look between you and the other horse a few times before galloping away.

>Then it’s just you and the purple one.

“So uh… What’s your name? You guys have names, right? I mean, you are a sentient race so I assume—“

>”Shining Armor, Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard.”

>Okay, weird name and ‘Canterlot’ is an unfamiliar word to you.

“Alright, alright… My name,” You bring a hand to your chest while keeping the other rose. “Is Anonymous.”

>He doesn’t respond.

>The two of your stand like this for a few more minutes before you hear trotting from down the hall.

>The guard from before swings around the corner and stops at attention next to Shining Armor.

>A deeper, heavier clopping echoes from around the corner.

>Your mind puts two and two together. They mentioned something about a princess, and you recall passing out in front of a princess.

>Just as you expected, that dark blue princess of the night rounds the corner with an apprehensive look on her face.

>She gives you a quick look over before spinning on her heel and turning the other way.

>”Come, we will talk in the dining hall.”

 

>You’re forced into a chair that fits perfect, so it must be big and elegant for these horses.

>The table in front of you is what you’d expect from a medieval play or something.

>And it’s covered in a plethora of unique dishes, all of which look masterfully handcrafted by the finest chefs in the world.

>Even the dishes that are obviously inedible look very edible.

>So you scooch the closest one towards you, pick up a fork, and begin slowly eating.

>It tastes okay. A little… grassy? Yeah. Still though. Food.

>While you chow down, the Princess sits at the other side of the table, observing your movements.

>”We… Weren’t sure how large of an appetite your species has.”

>You finish your small bite of food before quietly thanking her.

>The awkward silence picks up exactly where it left off.

>You only manage to finish half a dish before feeling full. Once your silverware clatters to the dish, that’s when it gets REALLY awkward.

>Luna softly stares at you while you stare at your lap. The guards perched around the room let out a quiet cough or two, silence otherwise.

>”Are you satisfied with your meal?”

“Yeah…”

>”Hm, very well. Might we ask you something?”

“Yeah…”

>”You mentioned you were looking for us, or something of the sort.”

“I guess I was. Thank you for saving me.”

>Luna looks at you expectantly while you grab a napkin to wipe your mouth with. You’re sure there’s nothing on your face, but in the presence of a princess being cautious isn’t a bad thing.

>Luna lets out a silent sigh before looking to the armed guards stationed around the room.

>”Anonymous, was it?”

>You nod.

>”There is something we must discuss. We imagine it would be easier without… An escort.”

 

>Luna abducts you from the dining hall and brings you into a long hallway with stained glass windows.

>Each window is some sort of different piece of art. Perhaps something religious or historical. You don’t know.

>And Luna was sure to dismiss any guard that wanted to follow. The spears pointed at your back was unnerving, but that’s not your greatest concern right now.

>Once Luna deemed the two of you were ‘alone enough,’ she finally speaks.

>”You mentioned you had something to tell us.”

“What?”

>”Last night when we found you… Falling from the sky. You said you had something to tell us.”

>You take a moment to scour your brain for that memory. It’s foggy, but you recall having that brief conversation.

“… Mmmph…”

>”DO you have something to tell us?”

“Nothing specific really… Some big, black thing told me to find you.”

>”… Big, black thing?”

“Yeah, looked a little like the other horses here, but scarier…”

>She lifts her head to stare at something behind you.

>You spin on your heel, and your heart skips a beat at the sight.

>The horrific vision of what you saw in The Null stared back at you.

>Of course, that’s what you thought for a second there.

>Her image was merely portrayed in the stained glass window. Her visage was plastered over the moon while another white horse with a rainbow mane was resting below, crying.

“That!”

>You point to the window.

“That’s what I saw! It told me to find you.”

>”And what?”

“Well, nothing.”

>She takes a step back.

>”Nothing at all?”

“No,” You turn back to her. “She just told me to find you. Said you’d guide me or something.”

>You manage a halfhearted shrug.

>”And that is all?”

“Uh-huh.”

>You turn back to the window once more.

 

“Luna?”

>”Yes, Anonymous?”

“What is that thing?”

>Luna bows her head while taking a deep sigh.

>”In essence, that is myself.”

>What?!

>That doesn’t make sense!

>Ugh, nothing makes sense right now. This is no time to panic though.

>So you keep your mouth shut and pretend it doesn’t frighten and confuse you.

>Luna takes your silence as a queue to move on.

>”Anonymous, you’ve been kind enough to answer our questions. We imagine you have many of your own.”

>Oh yeah, you do.

>”Whenever you’re ready, we shall summon the greatest educators in all of Canterlot to answer your questions.”

“Thank you, but I think I’d rather spend the rest of the day sleeping. After a warm shower, of course.”

>”Are you sure?”

“Positive.”