Why are Royal Guards so serious?

While the trot to Canterlot Castle was certainly less than it had been when she had lived in Ponyville, it was exhausting nonetheless. More so, Pinkie thought, since she had been walking so little since the accident. Her hooves ached. Worse still, it was raining, and while Pinkie used to enjoy gallops through the rain, it simply reminded her now of Rainbow Dash setting up clouds for her to prance under. She didn’t want to remember her friends right now – She wanted to learn about them, find what had happened and sort out the honest truth. But what irked her the most, she learned, was that Royal Guards are the most serious ponies she had ever met.

The entire way to the castle, they didn’t respond to a single thing she said. The walk had been spent in complete silence from them – Pinkie could hardly stand it. She had never been one for peace and quiet. She babbled to them, telling them they were just like the Royal Guards in her fantasy world, and how come they never answered back to her, and what breakfast did they prefer, oatmeal or apple slices, because oatmeal was simply crazy to eat – And she digressed.

Still, they said only 2 words, at the very end of the trip. “We’re here.”

“Well, duh, like I couldn’t see that.” Pinkie shuddered at the slight edge in her voice. She wasn’t quite sure why she sounded so cold now – Although, she was absolutely certain why. She just refused to admit that the death of her friends changed her so much that she was on the verge of bullying others. “Time to see the Princess then.”

Security was a hassle – Seems that stayed the same, no matter what reality she was in. They let her in (after about an hour long search and clear for a mental patient around the castle) and she was quickly led to the throne room doors. Inside, ponies could meet with the Princess privately. Of course, the Princess had sent away all commoners today – Pinkie had important business with her.

The guards opened the door for her and she trotted in. The room was as it always had been. Pinkie was glad there was no stained glass here, however – She would hardly be able to stand seeing all the empty planes of things they had never done. Instead, the windows were bare, curtains drawn to the sides to let in sunlight. Upon the throne rested the Princess of the Sunlight, her mane flowing in a non-existent wind.

“Heya.” So much for formality, she almost heard Twilight say in her mind. She shook out her mane, dripping water on the tiles below. Her mane hung down, but not from the rain – She had started wearing it that way. It had always seemed to fit when something bad had happened, after all. “What do you need to tell me, Princess?”

“Ah, Pinkamena… Guards, I request you wait outside. This business is a private matter.” Pinkie turned to see the guards nod and turn, leaving through the large doors. While she understood the matter being a tad more private, she didn’t quite understand what harm her mental health was. Wasn’t she healing?

“It’s nice to see you again, Pinkie. Tell me, how was the trip here?”

“Your guards need a better sense of humor,” she said dryly. “I didn’t come all the way here for idle chit-chat, Celestia. What’s so important that you need to talk to me in private?”

Pinkie watched as Celestia’s horn glowed. In a bright flash, they were in her own personal bedroom chambers. Pinkie hardly paid attention to the surroundings – Everything around her was obviously expensive, beautiful, and more than likely held the insignia of the sun. Celestia sat on her bed. “There. Now we’re guaranteed privacy.”

“And when the guards come into the throne room and realize you’re missing?”

“I left them instructions not to bother us. They wouldn’t disobey their Princess.” Celestia looked at her, more serious than Pinkie had ever truly seen her – Of course, she really couldn’t count anything she remembered from her other world. “Did you bring your Element?”

Pinkie undid the cloak around her to reveal her necklace resting there. It was cold and still, just like your average necklace. “I hid it in case anypony along the way asked any questions. Of course, I assume here that the Elements aren’t nearly as famous as they were in my world.”

“You’re probably right about that… Tell me, Diane, what… What happened, in your world? Where had you left off?”

“I…” Pinkie took a deep breath. She knew how much this would hurt the Princess. “Tirek escaped his prison in Tartarus.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “He began to absorb the magic of all those around them. Discord, freed from stone and reformed by Fluttershy, went to him to try and stop him. Instead, Tirek pulled him into his crazy plan. However, Tirek didn’t know that… Well…”

“W-well, what?” The princess’s voice had shook just a tad. Tirek was indeed real, and there was hardly any record of him in any book. How Pinkie had gained knowledge of that, she would never know. Discord, he was just a statue in the grounds – He could never be set free unless on purpose by the Elements.

“He… didn’t know that another Alicorn had come to power.”

Celestia stood, amazed. “Another Alicorn!?”

“One… One you knew very well, Princess.”

Celestia knew that could mean only one thing. Pinkie watched her amazement turn to pain. Unbelievable pain. The Princess turned and trotted to the window – Pinkie had no doubt in her mind that she was crying. After a few moments, the Princess spoke. “What of me and Luna?”

“You, Luna and Cadence, actually. There are 3 Alicorns already in my world, without… Without Twilight.” Celestia nodded, practically unfazed at this point. “All three of you… You poured your magic into Twilight.” No response. “She… She held onto it, trying to keep it a secret. After absorbing all of the magic from Equestria, he turned to you all. When he learned you had no magic, he was in a rage… That’s when he learned about Twilight.”

“He… He drained all of our magic... He then betrayed Discord, stealing all of his magic as well. Twilight faced off with Tirek then…”

“Tell me she didn’t die.”

Pinkie frowned softly, sighing. “No… Not in my world at least. She and Tirek were evenly matched.”

She saw Celestia perk up a bit at that, but only slightly – Apparently there was something surprising about that. It didn’t matter much, though. Pinkie didn’t care about what had apparently never happened. “Tirek then tried to bargain all of us, including Discord, in exchange for all of the Alicorn magic. Twilight… She agreed.”

“Discord gave her a medallion as a sign of their friendship, and how he had truly reformed now. It turns out that that medallion became the last key needed to open a certain box that contained untold power, all stemming from the Tree of Harmony, where the Elements of Harmony came from. Using that power, we defeated Tirek and sent him back to Tarturus, and returned all the magic back to Equestria… Oh, and Twilight got a castle.”

Celestia nodded, and both remained silent for some time. Then she heard Celestia speak softly. “Then it will be very hard for you to kill my faithful student.”

Author's Note

BOOM. BOMB DROOOOOP (You all know you saw it coming)

Edited by DrakeFang, as always~