For somepony that I thought personally hated me, Celestia really went all-out in making me feel comfortable here. I noticed it from the minute I walked into the guest room lobby. Right. The lobby. There's an entire section of the castle dedicated to guest rooms. And it is beautiful. It smelled like lemons and a little bit of rich chocolate. White marble columns sprang up from the polished oak floors. A stainless steel elevator in the corner of the room was quietly buzzing while a stallion in a tuxedo played a giant ivory piano in the other corner. It was amazing, and I couldn't think of what to say. I actually stood there for a few seconds completely dazed by everything I was seeing before a cute beige mare with a brown ponytail called me over.

"Mr. Flare, sir?" Oh I loved that. I almost asked her to say it again.

"At your service," I replied, doing a little bow, at which she giggled.

"Official business here?"

"Recovery of official documents and research regarding the Crystal Empire," I said as professionally as possible.

"Your room is 406," she said as she handed me the light blue electronic key. "Enjoy your stay!" I merely nodded and headed to the elevator.

And then, modern things. For as ancient as the castle looked on the outside, the inside was as good as a Manehattan penthouse. Glass windows, hard granite floors, and other luxury things were everywhere. Is this what it felt like to be an elite? Because it was feeling good. I threw my stuff under the bed and looked at the time. 11:30. I still had some time to dick around. After all, when somepony says "at noon" or any specific time, it never happens until about 15 minutes after. I sat on the bed, wondering what there was to do around such a giant empty place. I could put more guards to sleep, but that got old after the third guy. I glanced at myself in the mirror and found myself staring back, my robe still in good shape. Then, another idea.

"I really shouldn't," I said briefly.

"You know you're going to anyway."

"Fuck you. Get out of here."

"I can leave just as easily as you can swim across the ocean."

I sighed. "I don't wanna see him again. I'm cool with him, but not right now."

"You're such a fucking let-down. To both him and I."

Before I could retaliate, Guilt Trip Flare had drifted away into some god-forsaken region of my brain. I sighed. I wasn't going to do it. Fuck him. I wasn't. I didn't feel like seeing my dad again. It just wasn't convenient right now. I looked at the time. 12:01. I got my sorry ass up, hoping to every goddess and princess I knew that Celestia wasn't really going for exact timing.

"...and that's why I'm late." The response meant nothing as I was glared at by two irritated princesses and one giggling draconequus.

Author's Note

Short chapter, but I'd like to say this is just filling the gaps in between more significant plot events. I'll see to it that this doesn't happen that often.