Chapters The Begining of the Flight
Where was I?
I was comfortable but… something was off. The sheets were thin and had a much rougher feel then I recalled them having. And the mattress was way softer then the straw one I was used waking in. My mind slow from the night’s sleep took a few seconds to give me an answer to my predicament, this wasn’t my bed.
This wasn’t my bed! The though hit me like a bag of bricks and I opened my eyes in retaliation, only to be blinded with the light of Celestia’s sun. I squinted trying to get a glance at my surroundings.
“Oh.” The pleasant feeling of relief spread through my tense body as I saw the trains roof inches away from my nuzzle. Afterwards the events that had lead up to my mother and I sleeping on a train set on a track to the Canterlot suddenly came back to me.
I heard the soothing sound of the train running gracefully up it tracks at neck breaking speeds as I lied warm under my thin blanket, unwilling to leave my place of comfort. I thought of the day my mother had entered my barn, holding the train tickets happily telling me about how I was going to love the Games.
The enthusiasm was lost on me as I gave her my fake smile and jumped happily up and down like any other foal my age might be seen doing at a sweets shop.
Then next day we packed up our bags and boarded the train.
Train. My eyes widened as I realized with my mom sleeping soundlessly below me now would be a perfect opportunity to observe the great machine at work.
I had always loved machines, I understood them. They were predictable and mostly dependable if made correctly. Much better than naive ponies who cracked under pressure and never manage to do anything to the complete utter perfection that should be expected. And they were so kind, never asking me what I was doing. Or telling me a young foal like myself should not be messing with such complex tools since I would hurt myself.
Sometimes adults really should shut up and mind their own business.
Like a machine does.
I was shocked I hadn’t received my cutie mark yet. I knew that some foals and fillies had to wait until they were 15 but at 13 years of age I was the only one in my class without a cutiemark. I mean I only have invented a crossbow with auto refilling charges, a revolutionary device using magnets that lets pony’s grip items better, and a robot that does my homework. Regardless I realize it is better to be without a cutiemark then to have a stupid one that shows I will never amount to somepony important in society.
I quietly moved the blanket away from my limp body as I made my way to the other side of the bed. This was much harder than it sounded, as I quickly discovered after bumping my head of the celling. The pain fades into gentle throbbing and I bitterly reminded myself to take the lower bunk on the way back. I then carefully placed my hooves on the lower rungs of the ladder.
After making my way down the ladder with as little noise as possible I slowly made my way to the desk hoping to not disturb my mother. Once there I used one of the many devices I had attached to the manticore hide glove I was wearing to magnetically pick up the artificial metal quill laying on it. Once properly adjusted to my liking I wrote a message to my mother detailing where I had gone and wishing her a good morning.
My leather boots muffled the clop of my hooves as I silently exited the room shutting the door as carefully as I could behind me.
Free at last.
I congratulated myself as I quickly looked over my surroundings. It was a beautifully decorated hallway with many paintings and vases, and I felt as though I was viewing some sort of art gallery instead of going to the engine room.
The decorative clock caches my eye. “Why that is the most expertly built clock I have seen in ages, I wonder if the owner would be willing to sell it.” I would have loved to study its inner mechanisms but I knew I must likely would never get the chance.
That reminds me I had best be going the longer I simply stand here and observer the less likely I am to get to the engine room with time to spare. I wonder if they will even let me in?
Wait a second! Why wouldn’t they let me in? I am an incredible inventor and extraordinarily gifted in mechanics (not to mention handsome), it should be an honor for me to study their train’s engine!
I practically facehoofed at my own stupidity as I continue on my walk to the engine room.
“What do you mean no!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, you just don’t tell me, Callidus Gears, no!
“I mean you cannot enter this room, it is too dangerous for young foals like yourself. You will get hurt if you don’t know what you’re doing”, stupidly replied the idiot stallion who got confused when they asked for someone to help run the train, and volunteered thinking they asked anypony here deranged?
“I’ll let you know that I know exactly what I am doing so.”
“Good day to you to Mr. Gears”, he interrupted slamming the door in my face.
After saying a few choice things about said stallions mother, that would my own mother had heard would have ended with me looked in my room for the summer with a bar of soap in my mouth, I stormed off as loudly as possible in my manticore leather boots.
Having made my way to my room I pulled out the skeleton key which I had made using a blueprint I had bought for a ridiculous low price from another idiot who didn’t realize its obvious value, and placed it in the key hole turning it. It made an odd skree sound the caused a shiver to go down my spine but otherwise preformed perfectly leaving me with both an open door, and sense of pride at my handy work.
Opening the door I hide my anger under a smile as I saw my beautiful mother getting ready for the trip. She turned to greet me having heard the door creak open.
“Hello Cal, are you ready for the Equestrian Games”, my mother asked in a voice so fair it was rivaled only by the princes of the day herself.
“Of course mother, I couldn’t be more excited if I tried.”
Author's Note
Tell me what you think about this chapter? Then next few will be coming out soon so I can get this story rolling so to speak. I would also like to note on a more personal achievement level that this is my first fanfic, ever! Lets see how long it last shall we not?
After about an hour of prepping I had managed to make my long brown mane presentable. Though it had taken many mane products to do it, I knew it was for a worthy cause. My mane along with my freshly washed bronze fur and neat coat made me quite dignified, or striking.
Yes I think striking is it.
Now I realize it is never a good idea to rush a mare when it comes to makeup but I had no intentions of being late to the Games and we were already slightly behind due to a slight delay in transportation.
I left the room to find my mother in a dress which I was surprised we could afforded, but I decided not to question as it would not gain me any points in my favor.
With a faked expression of shock I said,” Mother you look… stunning.” I wasn’t lying either she truly was beautiful.
“You truly are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen”, I said a smile never leaving my face as I honeyed her in my kind words. She blushed and I asked “Are you ready to leave, you said we have to be there at 1:45 and the train is already going to be late.”
“That is excellent! Here let me help you with that as we leave.” I carefully picked up our baggage throwing them over my back, then using some magically enhanced magnets to attach them to my back.
I opened the door and gestured with my hooves for her to leave. She passed me her dress running over my nuzzle. I felt an itch and attempted to suppress an upcoming sneeze.
“Achoo!”
I failed.
“By Celestia are you alright”, asked my Mother.
“Of course I am sorry to concern you”, I answered politely. “But let us not delay any longer.”
“All right, all right. I get it I’m slow”, she responded with a laugh.
Oh if only I could tell her exactly how slow she was, but the last thing I needed was for her to start crying and demand to redo her makeup.
I started laughing with her as we headed to the exit. I looked up at the clock, buck! 2 minutes behind schedule!
Guess I’ll walk faster. I thought releasing a deep sigh.
Finally.
Exiting the train felt amazing, the cool breeze over my fur felt amazing after having spent the last 2 days stuck in that Celestia forbid train without fresh air. I felt as if the wind had washed away may years of hard work and stress I had experienced working in the barn as I lowered myself down the rungs of the ladder, that was used to get down the ground.
After making it down I gave a quick glance over to my mother hoping to see her getting ready to lower herself as I did. I was pleased to see she was and head to the closets map that happened to be about 20 hoofs in front of me, making it convenient for travelers such as myself to find our destination.
Looking at the map I was pleased to find that our hotel, The Golden Oak, was not a mile away.
Glowing with relief that we were not going to have to walk all over town I looked over the bagged on my back to see my mother, who was taking her sweet time, making it to the ground.
I sighed as I walked over to her to tell her of the good news, the path to the hotel already memorized in the short time I had scanned it.
“Mother, the hotel happens to be much closer than we expected”, I said loudly trying the best I could to talk over the loud crowd of people leaving the train.
“That is great Cal!”
“Yes here let me help you with that then we will leave there immediately.” I was in a rush to leave and I would never admit it but this was in part of the great weight of the bagged that laid on my back. I should be able to hold it for a large quantity of time having the magically enhanced physical strength of a Earth Pony, but magic could only come so far and I’m afraid sitting in ones barn tinkering all day doesn’t particularly improve one’s endurance or build.
I turned to leave the boarding/exiting area and started walking. I put my googles over my eyes to serve the double feature of providing me with more visibility due to the mirrors which I had added to the sides, and to make me look awesome. They of course did both of these tasks with tremendous success.
I looked at the sides of my googles to get a glance of my mother, which I was pleased to see hadn’t lost me as I walked zigzag expertly through the crowd of tourists here to see the games, and the Canterlot upper class.
I glanced over to the sides of the googles again only to see the back of my body in the mirror like building behind me.
So that’s what my tail looks like from behind…
I was honestly a little disappointed, sure it looked decent! But it didn’t look as amazing as the front of me.
Guess I’ll have to find something to fix that I thought with a frown. Maybe I could have my mother help me with a couple new types of tail styles, or maybe I could go to that new mane cut place near the town’s bakery. I mean sure it’s expensive as Tartarus but I’m sure mother could pull out a few bits to do it.
Yea I’ll just ask mother that usually never goes wrong. I looked out the side if my googles again expecting to see her again… she wasn’t there.
I turned my head around in a violently, desperately hoping I hadn’t lost her when I got distracted by my ridiculously handsome tail.
“Mother”, I called loudly truly hoping that I really hadn’t lost her. This was turned out to be a fruitless action as that only caused several of the pony’s to look at me funny, and the last thing I needed was for some mare who thought I couldn’t take care of myself to try to “help me” find her.
Buck! When we get home I’m going to attach a tracker to that mare. I swear she can’t last a second without me.
Author's Note
Like I said in the last chapter I am new to this whole writing thing and any criticism or suggestion are requested.
Where should I go now?
Usually when you are separated from your parents you are told to stay where you are. Which generally is a good rule and tends to find the child with relative ease. But I wasn’t lost.
I knew exactly how to get to our hotel room and it was much safer to stay there then in the middle of the street of a town of ponies I didn’t know, and we were on a tight schedule. I didn’t in particular want to come to see the Equestrian Games but mother did and the tickets had cost a fortune. And we may not even get the opportunity to do this again as the Equestrian Games could be hosted anywhere, and unfortunately Canterlot was the only city within a reasonably priced trip to get there from our farm.
I pondered what to do as I walked to the side of the road making it easier for others to pass me. Maybe I’ll just look for her for a bit and if I don’t find her I could always just return to the hotel.
Yeah at this point I think that is my best option.
If I was my mother where would I go? I looked around the town area around me there were many neat looking buildings some of which were houses and some were stores. Defiantly to one of the many stores I thought with a frown.
There were at least only 5 of them within the area I had lost her at. Could be worse I guess… so which one to first?
Looking around the closets store was just across the street from me. I couldn’t tell what it sold but it was clear that it was a shop.
I carefully weave my way through the crowd of tourists and nobles causing a muffled clopping noise as my leather boots hit the cobble road. After having made it past the dangerous crowd I was finally close enough to read its name, The Canterlot Book Store.
Well that’s convenient I might as well try to find that one detailing the connection between time and space, and the time dilations it causes. I couldn’t find anything on it at the local libraries and I found time to be an intriguing topic.
I walked into the store hoping to see my mother.
Horesapples!
Of course she wouldn’t be here the only other ponies in the surprisingly large store was a purple filly with a darker purple mane, and an old gray looking stallion who looked as though he was a couple decades past his expiration date.
I walked up to the stallion who was sitting at a counter on the other side of the large store assuming he was the owner and asked him about the book on time dilation.
“Ah, that’s a refreshing topic unfortunately not many ponies ever wanted that book since the fluctuation of time and how to manipulate it with magic is a hard concept to grasp”, he said with an understanding smile. “But I still purchased a few copies written by Starswirl himself! Should be near where that mare your age is standing.” With that he pointed his hoof at the purple filly I had seen earlier.
“Thank you sir, I will be back as soon as I find one that is to my liking”, I returned the knowing smile he had given me as I headed to the back of the large store.
I headed to where the purple filly was standing, I realized as I got closer that she was older than me, I would say based on her height she was about 13 years old.
“Excuses me Miss but would a beautiful mare like yourself happen to know where the books on time dilation by Starswirl are?”, I gave a smile hoping that I might be able to score a new fillyfreind out of this encounter to.
She looked up from a book she was muzzle deep into a moment ago, she gave me an evil glance after hearing my statement and nervously replied,” Um… I am sorry but there are no books on time dilation from Starswirl.”
It was a painfully obvious lie.
“I’m sorry but can I get that again, the kind stallion at the counter over there has made it very clear that there is a copy of it near here”, despite my best effort to hide it a small frown worked its way onto my lips.
“Well yes but you see we have, um, we have… run out!” she said sweat starting to run down her nuzzle as she forced a smile.
“Then what are you reading?”
“Well, um, well you see I am reading a book!”
“Keep your voice down nopony in Equestria wants to hear it.” As much I was enjoying playing with her I had a tight schedule that I was determined to keep and 4 other stores to check for my mother. “Unless you intend on buying that book please give it to me now, I am on a very tight schedule and I must hurry.”
“No, please don’t take it, I need it for a research.”
She started sobbing as she took the book and hugged it tightly.
“I’m sure you will manage”, I said greedily eyeing the book. “Now please give me the book before I have to get the poor old stallion by the counters to do it for you. You don’t want to be the one the makes an old stallion walk over here because you are depriving him of the bits he has worked hard to earn.” I gave her a grin and said softly, “Or do you?”
I reached down to take the book from her hooves when a purple aura surrounded me, preventing me from moving.
The act of trapping another sentient being with your own levitation spell without their previous consent had been illegal act for many years and you could be arrested for do it. The law was made since it was easy for many unicorns to cast a levitation spell and the techqiue to force a pony to do acts against their own will could be easly learned.
Though we hadn’t talked very long with the young unicorn, the fact that she was nothing more then a common criminal disgusted me. And like many other ponies the thought of taking away ones free will was horrifying and despised.
She stared at me for a few moments only to my shock to completely end the spell.
I fell limp to the ground having not expected to be released prematurely.
Owch… my head hurts like Tartarus.
“Please don’t tell anyone! Please my mentor… she, she will kick me out of her school”, her voice sounded broken as she looked at me with pleading eyes.
I looked behind me at the old stallion at the counter who had seemed to have fallen asleep. I then turned to the purple unicorn filly eyes filled with hate at the revolting act she had commented against me.
“It would be a good riddance.”
I walked right past her acting as though she didn’t exists as I picked up the book and headed to the counter. While passing her I said without looking down at her.
“But promise me that you will always remember, no matter who the pony is, no matter what they have done. To give them a second chance. Everypony deserves a second chance.”
“I will”, she said sniffling.
I ignored her only to ring the bell at the counter waking up the old stallion sleeping there.
“Yes the filly over there was a huge help, poor thing started crying about halfway through though when I mentioned my father had died in a serious accident on the farm.”
“I’m sorry for your lost, you’re much too young to go through that.”
A fake tear ran down my nuzzle as I stared at the ground, “It’s ok, you get used to it after a while.”
“She really is a nice young filly, very sensitive, dedicated to her studies, but hearts in the right place.”
“She is perhaps you should get her a copy of this one, she did want it.”
“Perhaps, but enough of this chitchat. Is that all you want for today?”
“Yes that will be all”, I responded with a grin.
“23 bits.”
“23 bits well spent”, I answered as I hoofed him the money.
He hoofed me the book in return. I put it and a saddle bad I had attached to myself before my mother and I had left the train.
“I apologize for my harsh actions earlier please forgive me. It was unnecessarily cruel.”
She just stared at me in shock.
I never got your name by the way I said offering her my hoof.
“It’s Twilightsparkles”
“Everypony makes mistakes Twilight just don’t make them twice.”
And with that I walked out of the book store with the book that had caused so much trouble.
Author's Note
Hey guys please let me know what you think on the new chapters. Any advice on how to improve will be gladly accepted! Other then that there may or may not be another chapter today... just going to have to wait and find out!
On another note should I be making longer chapters, if so I will not be able to update as frequently. Tell me about it in the comments.
The many bags I was carrying were finally tiring me.
They were degrading to be wearing and caused me to feel as though I was some sort of pack animal like one of those revolting mules, the thought of that hideous species on its own nearly made me lose my lunch. Not to mention by Celestia’s fat ass, why couldn’t the pegasi have given me some clouds! But no, there wasn’t one in the sky to be seen.
Those lazy feather bags probably fell asleep, yet I’m sure our taxes will be used to pay for their work despite their laziness. They have us under their wings yet we don’t even realize it.
I myself had never actually seen a pegasi, though it wasn’t unheard of for pegasi to leave their larger cloud cities(like Cloudsdale) to live on the ground, the town closest to the farm was just too small for any to ever bother to move there, and this was the first time I had gone traveling.
I attempt to weave my way through the large crowd as I had done previously but blinded by my vivid thoughts I ran nuzzle first into a stallion knocking him over as I hurried to the closest store.
I turned to look at the deep blue unicorn I had knocked over. Seeing the many medals that covered his expensive looking vest I winced.
Well he looks important. Noticing the unique pattern of the uniform he was wearing my eyes widened with shock. Great I just knocked the Captain of the Royal Guards down I thought as I both took his bits bag and reached out my hoof to help him up.
Captain Fast Sword of the Royal Guards was having a tiring day.
The large amount of tourists swarming Canterlot due to the all-important Equestrian Games were proving… difficult to control. To put it mildly that is.
And that was only the tip of the iceberg. He also had to neatly order the many ponies swarming the newly made arena to prevent any trampling, stop any cheating or smuggling of weapons into the arena, stop the many thefts caused by the sudden increase of more rural folks in the rich city, preventing the destruction of many of the nobles and cities property, and later meeting the princesses to watch over the entirety of the Games. All that without mentioning the hundreds of other small tasks necessary to stop total chaos to take over the city in this great event.
All in all Fast Sword was looking forward to his lunch break.
Imagine the shock he found himself in when all the sudden distracted by these many exhausting thoughts he found himself laying nuzzle first in the cobble street on his way to Pony Joes Donuts.
What… happened?
I saw a leather covered bronze hoof reached to help him up and I gladly accepted it.
“Are you alright sir, I’m terribly sorry about knocking you over. I am afraid I was a bit distracted by my many vivid thoughts.”
It was a young voice… yet cold and calculated. It had the tone of kindness yet there was something wrong about it. Unnatural.
Royal Guards like myself are trained from the very beginning on how to tell what a pony is most likely thinking or feeling based on their facial expressions. We could use spells meant to read a ponies mind but that was only taught to the most trusted Guards and it was highly disapproved of. Despite this with nearly 30 years of experience in the bag, I was unnaturally gifted at telling what a pony is feeling based on their expression or how they acted.
But I this was one of the unique times where despite my 30 years of experience with the Guard I couldn’t tell the emotion of the speaker from the voice alone.
After being helped to my feet I finally got a look at my mystery pony. He was a very handsome bronze Earth Pony wearing some sort of odd assortment of leather clothing hidden under a neat brown coat. He was caring a few light bags on his back and a pouch on his left side. Along with that he was wearing googles to cover his eyes preventing me from telling anything else on how the pony was feeling.
There was an odd way this pony held himself, it was like the nobles who stood up proudly trying to project there superiority to the other ponies they consider less than themselves. Fast had hated most of those ponies since they had always looked down at ponies like himself despite only having acquired their high position in government due to birth.
He had never seen this much self-confident on a little colt before. It was… unnatural. And there was something else to, he couldn’t place it but there was something about the colt he just… respected. Almost as if he were next to the princesses themselves.
He frowned suspecting the worst as he responded,” I am alright. Thank you for your concern but I’m afraid I was equally at fault for that accident, my day has been stressful and I am afraid I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have”
The odd colt gave a convincing laugh as he responded saying, “I’m sure being Captain of the Royal Guard has its… disadvantages, doesn’t it?”
I was shocked.
“What are you and how did you know who I am?” I said genuinely scared of this colt who was able to tell what my position in the Royal Guard was despite the fact I had never introduced myself.
“I do not know what you meant by what I am, but my name is Callidus Gears, and your metals say your name on it. I just pieced together the fact that you share the same name with the Captain whose name also is Fast Sword and the fact you are wearing the Captains uniform and made the reasonable assumption that you must be Captain Fast Sword of the Royal Guard.”
That settles it this thing was most defiantly not a young colt, a foal the age of what he seemed to be would barely be able to tell the difference of the uniforms of the Royal Guards, and much less what it means!
“Excuses me sir but may you please remove your googles.”
“My googles! How come? I do enjoy the protection from the sun they provide, and it makes no sense to remove them seeing as we can enjoy a perfectly civilized talk with them on”, the thing was cleaver I will give it that but I was no fool and it was clear just by looking at its posture that it was no colt.
We were attracting a small crowd and I was in a hurry to get this over with. “I said take off your googles, if you refuse I will have to remove them by force.”
He just looked directly at me his smile turning into a small controlled frown as he put his hooves to his glasses.
Changeling.
I was confused, I had helped Fast up almost immediately after I had realized who he was and though I had taken the pouch of money he had daggling from his uniform that would hardly explain the burning look of hatred he had given me as soon as I had removed my googles.
Maybe I should give him his bits back and apologize. It’s not as though I could go anywhere with the circle of ponies now tightly surrounding the two of us.
The ponies watching were giving the scene a wide mouth look of shock. What pony would have thought that Fast Sword would just start threatening a young colt like that? He had always seemed nice enough to all the ponies and they were all gathered around trying to figure out what had happened.
“Come with me now, monster.” He growled under his breath as he continued to glare at me not even attempting to hide the clear hate on his face as he stared at me.
I figured I should give him his bits back now.
“Excuses me but may we please handle this situation more civilly? First I am not a monster. Second I apologize for taking”
My eyes opened with fear as I silently cursed myself for not bringing the auto refillable crossbow, I then quickly pressed one of the many buttons on my glove trying to eject a pen.
The pen only just appeared at my hoof when a sound of anger louder than anything I have ever heard before came from within the crowd.
Everyone turned to face the pony who had screamed.
And with a voice unmatched in causing pure fear and terror, a new glimmer of hope came to me despite my terrifying situation.
HOW DARE YOU ASSULT MY SON!
Author's Note
Two chapters in one day! Take that fimfiction! take all of it!
Mother!
I had never been so happy to hear her beautiful voice in all my young life, and despite the fact I mute for the time being due the inappropriate actions of the idiotic stallion in front of me I wanted to call out to her and comfort her with my voice.
I was happy to hear my mother’s voice for more reasons than one. First, I had been looking for her for about 20 minutes and her finding me meant our schedule might still be able to be scavenged. The more obvious reason being that I was a ten year old colt cornered into a wall of ponies surrounding me as I lied trapped and disarmed of my greatest weapon (my voice) and fruitlessly attempting to write something on the ground to defend myself from the Captain of the Royal Guard who happened to have more than 30 years of hoof to hoof combat experience and magic.
Before my mother showed up I was at least 60% sure I was bucked. Which happened to be about 60% more than my previous record. Got to start somewhere I guess.
Now that things were starting to fall into my favor I let a small smile escape my lips. I wonder which one of us will win this game Fast, you may be smart but I’m smarter.
I looked up from the ground at Fast Sword, allowing him to get a glance at my smile before I hid it under a mask of emotions that hid my true thoughts from him.
Fast just continued his glare, as his horn lit in order to power his new spell.
As soon as his horn lit however the beautiful figure of my mother dashed out of the crowd only to throw herself in front of me.
LEAVE YOU MONSTER HOW DARE YOU ATACK A POOR INACENT COLT! I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK HE DID OR WHO YOU THINK HE IS BUT THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT A YOUNG COLT! HE IS OBVIOUSLY TERRIFED OF YOU OR HE WOULD HAVE TALKED…
Me terrified? Phff, who is this mare and what has she done with my mother?
I took this time to try and get familiarized with my surroundings. I couldn’t actually see much from inside my little circle as many
Wait I could see one thing.
That’s odd it was shaped like a white pony but no pony was that big. Why was everypony making an opening into the circle in the direction toward it? That’s odd why are they bowing?
Bowing?
Buck, it was the princess!
My mind worked at double speed trying to process that information. After a short battle over common sense I figured that this might be my time to try and get some favor points with the princesses.
I calmly walked over to my mother who was still yelling at a very pale faced Fast Sword who keep on repeating some madness about me being some sort of Changeling thing and that she was under mind control.
Yea… that stallion needs some help. Maybe all those years of stress had caught up to him.
Well regardless I poked my mother with my hoof. She turned to look at me only for myself to calmly point in the direction of the princesses.
And that kids is how you break your mother. The moment she turned to see the princesses approaching her she just flat out froze as she stared unresponsively at the princesses.
Well that’s interesting… I assumed she would faint.
BANG!
I winced, that was her fainting. Ouch she fell hard.
The idiot of a guard just stared at the princesses for a moment before running up to her as fast as his legs could carry him.
“Celestia, Celestia come quick there is a Changeling here you must help me remove of it. I didn’t know what to do.”
Well thinking that it would help to have my voice back I reached down at my hooves grabbing a fallen magazine by the title, The Canterlot Gossip. I took my pen noticing the many dozens of eyes watching me as I wrote on the paper. I then walked over to the princess purposely, bowing when getting within about 5 feet of her only to put the magazine next to her hoof.
Celestia only stared at me with an expression that appeared to be shock as she picked up the magazine in her golden aura lifting it to her face. Celestia then out loud read, “Would you be so kind as to remove the voice removal spell (scientifically named Placidus) that your idiotic captain cast on me when I attempted to civilly deny his outlandish accusations of me being some sort of monster he has no doubt created in his delusions?”
The whole crowd just stared me for some reason. Yes I am handsome… can you stop staring at me already? The princesses just stared at me in thought as I watched her horn and my body erupt in the golden light of her magic.
“This is a much preferred method of communication, due you not agree my majesty”, I said a small smile on my lips as I spoke. “I had never realized how much I depended on my voice until it was most rudely ripped from me.”
Silence. Why was everypony staring at me like that! This is beyond weird.
Celestia seemed to shake the odd expression off her face as she quickly replaced her expression of that of kindness.
Responding with a small frown I responded,” I’m afraid I would mind to be honest, I have many places to go and I am afraid I would rather like to go to my hotel and lie down after this tiring event” Please don’t forces me to come, please don’t force me to come. I was going to beg to my god to help me escape Celestia, then I realized that my god was Celestia.
“Nonsense, we have some very conferrable couches you can lie on while we have some tea nothing can be more relaxing then that.”
Maybe I should run.
No that would be a very foolish action, there were unicorns everywhere I wouldn’t make it a yard without being caught.
A hundred wide eyed ponies stared at me as they anxiously waited to see what my next action would be.
“After reconsidering the offer I feel as though I am obligated to accept, but in return I fully expect my mother to be escorted to the nearest hospital.”
Celestia only smiled as she said “Your terms are accepted let us be on our way little one.”
Well this is bucking great… I have said that a lot today. Yea this has been a very bad day so far.
Author's Note
Yea... I had no good titles for this chapter.
As much as I had always wanted to enter the castle and dine with the princesses the circumstance which had ended with myself in that exact scenario were… unexpected. That is to put it mildly of course.
It wasn’t my fault that a delusional guard had chosen me of all ponies to be the victim of his insane ramblings, yet whoop-de-doo here I am.
Anyhow here I was being escorted into the castle by a bunch of guards to “ensure my safety”. Yea… how dense do you think I am? At this point it seemed my only option to gain my freedom was to try to convince the Princess of my own innocents to whatever crimes the insane guard had claimed I committed.
The accursed guard who had assaulted me without reason followed the princess as she entered her own carriage. He was smiling like he was the savor of the world, which his ill mind most likely thought was true, as he walked purposely into the carriage.
The door swung shut behind me, undoubtedly closed by another guard. I winced at the sudden sound but instantly relaxed pleased to be on my own after the stressful action I had just been through.
Well this is boring.
Looking around in the carriage I found there to be nothing of interest. Just a conferrable red velvet interior surrounding the entirety of the cart.
There wasn’t even a window for Celestia’s sake!
Despite the fake I saw the obvious and good reason for not having given a possible criminal a means of escape, or weapon on that note, I was still angry.
“I would say this day could have gone worse, but I really can’t envision it getting any worse.”
The moment I said that a cold shimmer ran down my spine as if I had been touched by the presence of a Wendigo.
I frowned, I hope I don’t have to wait too much longer.
That took ages.
I was starting to dose off after having waited an unknown amount of time to get to castle when I heard the door open.
I got up to my hooves in a heartbeat turning to face the guard that was to asset me to my trial, so to speak.
I mean what else is this dinner but a trial to prove my guilt or incents to the unknown crime I had been accused of. I mean I had stolen the guard’s money (an act I would do again without hesitation) but at this point I doubt that the Princess would get personally involved in such an unimportant act.
“It is time to leave Sir”, said a well-dressed ponies as he opened the door making a gesture for me to leave.
Wait a second, this wasn’t a guard. It was a butler. Perhaps I am not in trouble? That is… unexpected. Let me not raise my hopes too much, this day is far from done.
“Why thank you, I am happy to do as you suggest. It was rather boring in the carriage”, I answered truthfully with a smile as I left the carriage.
I stepped out to find myself upon one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. I was standing in front of the castle, which was without a doubt the most regal building I had ever had been gifted to see. Its tall towers seeming to scrap the sky reaching as they towered before me. The architecture was executed masterly, having built many large machines I fully understood the amount of work that had gone into every brick that had been used in the construct of this masterpiece.
“This is… truly there is no more majestic sight to behold”, I said put off by the amazing scene.
Many people say the gardens are the most beautiful part of the castle. I disagree the castle itself was a piece of art unjustly upstaged by a plant grown within a week. That very thought made me angry beyond measure.
“I cannot agree more.”
I swiftly turned to find the sun monarch herself standing to my side.
I wasted no time to bow opening my mouth to say something before being interrupted quickly by the Princess.
“I see you are upset over something, is everything alright?”
“No it is not my Princess, I’m afraid I was slightly upset that I was not told of the regal beauty that this castle is, yet I have heard many times of the grander of the Gardens located on these grounds. It bewilders me that a simple group of plants can upstage the masterpiece that is the castle itself”, I said knowingly to the intimidating alicorn.
“Please just call me by my name, Celestia, and yes it is a shame that the castle doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. The architects in charge, Golden Hoof, was considered a genius in the field”, the princesses gave me a smile before making a gesture to follow.
I frowned but followed her as she walked up the staircase to the castle. Though I would have thought it to be rude to call her by her name instead of her title I knew it would be unwise to argue with her wishes once more.
She walked past a few guards just outside the entrance saying calmly, “The foal is with me.”
Whoa… I walked in to find myself in front of a large hallway. Colored light seemed to flood through the many large stained glass windows decorated with many historical events.
“Please follow me to the lunch table”, said the happy seeming sun monarch as she once again motioned for me to continue.
“It is understandable, though all things considered you are handling this much better than any colt your age would normally be able to Mr.….”
“Silly me sorry for not introducing myself right away, my name is Callidus Gear.”
“Well Mr. Gears may I bother to ask you if you can read? Your mother seemed to have been from the more rural part of Equestria and in my experience I have found many from those parts to be rather uneducated to put it bluntly.”
“I learned to read when I was two from my father, though I have already quite school in my area a few years ago. I was learning nothing and there were many more important thing I would much rather be doing then listing to a teacher talk for 6 hours.”
She frowned but then asked,”You could read at two? Did neither of your parents find anything odd about that?”
“No, why is that uncommon”, I didn’t understand why the princess would be interested in the fact I could read.
“Yes most colts start to learn when they are 7, I have only heard of a few cases when learned that young. Do you like reading?”
“Yes, unfortunately I have read all the local library has to offer, and the book store doesn’t offer much variety. Actually it is funny you should ask that for earlier today I recently came into obsessing a book on the understanding of time by Starswirl.”
“We have a large library here in the castle, we could visit it later if you would like.”
“Perhaps though it may be better if we discussed future plans during lunch.”
“Yes, you are right. But fortunately for us the dining room should be just through that door at the end of this corridor.”
I looked down the beautifully decorated hallway to see a large door already opened. As if we had been expected. Actually we probably were.
The princesses entered swiftly wasting no time to getting to our destination.
I was tempted to look better inspect the craftsmanship of the door but I choose to follow the princesses example of hast walking past it and into the banquet room.
Like everything else I had seen in the last hour the beauty of the room was unmeasurable. But I threw the thoughts away as I went to seat myself at the table.
Celestia gestured for me to sit facing herself and I happily obligated.
“What would you like today your majesty?”
A pretty maid approached the table her eye locking on me for a second before turning back to the princesses.
“The normal”, the Princess replied looking at me in interest.
“And I assume a something healthy for the young sir? “It annoyed me that she looked at Celestia when she spoke instead of me despite the fact that I was right there.
“Preferably carrot soup with a slice of whole wheat bread, I find the taste of white oddly plain. Along with that I would like a glass of carbonated water without ice”, I said feeling as though I should speak up.
The maid just looked back at me in shock.
“I have found the staring to be rather annoying today, I don’t understand why ponies keep looking at me as if I were some sort of alien all-day. I know I am handsome but this is just getting awkward.”
The maid blushed turning her head before asking, “Is that all?”
Celestia nods and she quickly rushed out as if she would rather be anywhere but here.
Celestia just looks across the table at me before asking another question, “Would you by chance know which pony invented the spell Arma Aequitas Equitas, and what does it do?”
That was an odd question.
“General Great Shield, it is an advanced healing spell designed to block out most spells and weapons yet still allow spells that are considered helpful, or medicine in.”
After this Celestia continued to ask me many questions all ranging in various topics from history to math.
“The answer would be 436.89768320012345.”
Your majesty the food is ready.
Celestia turned from me to address the mare. “Bring it in right away I’m sure I speak for all both of us when I say we are famished.”
As the maid pony put out the food I said, “Give my compliments to the kitchens, the food looks delicious.”
The mare looked at me oddly for a second before agreeing to relay my message.
As the mare left I took the spoon and started to eat, reminding myself to be on my best behavior.
Celestia just stared into space in thought not even noticing the food laid in front of her as I continued to eat. After a while the princesses seemed to snap out of it giving me a smile.
“How much time do you spend with foals your age?”
This question in particular caught me by surprised. Unsure if this was some sort of trick question I hesitantly answered.
“I don’t recall ever meeting a pony my age or younger.”
Celestia just looked at me again but there was no shock on her face.
“Would explain a bit.”
Wait what? Explain what exactly.
I decided to remain quite as I continued eating the best soup I had ever had in my life.
The thought to put on my glasses occurred to me and I slipped them over my eyes like usually.
“Would you mind coming with me to the castles school grounds to take a test?”
A test? If it was anything like the questions she was asking me earlier I see no reason not.
“Of course, I see no reason not to.”
Author's Note
HA! I said I would do one a day for a least a week! I got this one out 15 minutes until midnight. Still keeping the promise.
It didn’t take long to finish my breakfast. It was delicious.
I finished my meal happily putting my silverware in a neat pile to the side of my empty dishes.
Looking up I saw the princess eating her salad deep in thought. I decide to interrupt to sustain my own personal curiosity.
A frown graced her lips as she said, “He will be demoted to sergeant due to his actions without proper evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“Anyway let us go to the library to get some testing done.”
Well as much as I wanted to press the topic I knew better than to continue to press a topic the princess obviously didn’t wasn’t to answer.
I stood up from the table eager to leave.
“Now why the rush little one? You seem eager to start the test.”
A little annoyed I responded, “Unfortunately for Earth Ponies like myself we don’t possess immortality. Time is much more precious to those who have less of it, and I have no intension of wasting it all in a banquet no matter how good the food may be.”
Celestia stared at me with a puzzled expression, “I have seen old mares and stallions who could careless to be reunited with their love in Elysium.”
More likely Asphodel.
Why did everypony always assume they had achieved great feats when in reality they haven’t nor ever will?
“My worst fear isn’t death, it’s to waste my life. I have no intentions of seeing my father prematurely.”
“Your father, what do you mean by that”, said Celestia as she left the table walking to the door.
“He is dead, was killed by a manticore. In front of me.”
There was silence as I followed Celestia out the door. After a while she finally decided to speak.
“I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry. Is that all anypony could ever think to say! That’s all they ever say.
“He took my dad but I got him back.”
Celestia turned to me wide eyed as she asked me another question.
“What do you mean?”
“See the leather I use to make my clothing? It’s manticore leather. I came back when I was eight and killed the beast as it slept”
“That is… how old were you when it killed your father.”
“I was three. My father was showing me to make gunpowder.”
There was more silence. We kept on walking both unwilling to acknowledge the other. I could care less the death of my father had stopped hurting years ago. I really only killed the manticore for the leather anyways. But that didn’t stop me from putting its decapitated head on the wall of my barn and dedicating it to my father’s memory.
We finally reached a large door. It was made out of an ebony wood carved with beautiful pictures depicting a dragon guarding a treasure-trove of books.
“Wait out here for a second this might take a bit.”
I shrugged no longer in the mood to talk. The door swung open as I dug through my bag for the book I had previously purchased.
Then I was on the fifty-sixth.
104… done!
I looked up to see Celestia just staring at me again.
“Did you just read that whole book in the time I left you here?”
She said it in a loud tone like my mother did when I used to get in trouble. I hope I didn’t do anything wrong.
“I’m sorry.”
“There is nothing to apologize about. Now did you read that whole book in the time I was gone?”
“Yes.”
“How many pages are in that book?”
“4,235”
“Did you start when I left?”
“Yes.”
“On what page.”
“One?”
“But I was only gone for 5.6 minutes, I would know I move the sun. So are you saying you read 4,000 pages in about 5 and a half minutes?
My confidence was coming back and I responded with pride, “Yes I read all 4,235 pages in 5.6 minutes.”
Celestia grabbed my book out of my hooves and opened it to a random page.
“Okay then mister, tell me what the third paragraph of page 2,341 says?”
“To an average unicorn this spell will take about a day of magic essence to cast. I suggest to try to cast as little spells as possible for about two days before using this spell after a good night of sleep. Even then be careful and make sure there is a pony to watch in case you don’t have enough energy to cast to the spell. If you mistakenly think you have enough but you don’t and cast the spell you may die due to exhaustion.”
Celestia just stared at me again.
I looked at the clock on the wall.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
“Princesses are you okay I thought you were just going to retrieve the colt for the test!”
Who was that? I turned from the shocked princesses to see the beautiful ebony door open. A young yellow unicorn entered the hallway.
“Excuse me Celestia?”
“Hello there miss”, reaching my hoof out to shake the yellow unicorn mares.
The yellow mare turned to face me only seeming to have noticed me when I talked
“Hello there young one do you know what happened to the princesses?
I frowned and put my hoof down. “Well I was intending to get formal greeting out of the way before we engaged in a conversation over the current state of the Princesses. But alas I can understand why some would rather just”
I was then rudely interrupted by the Princess.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting I was merely shocked by the display of comprehension and memorization of this colt”
“Let us continue with our introductions, hi my name is Callidus Gears what is yours?”
“My name is Sunlit Story.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you Sunlit, may we continue with the testing I am so eager to finish.”
“You are taking the test? I was under the impression it would be a stallion taking it. You seem a little young to comprehended most of it.”
Celestia chose this time to interrupt. “I think you will be surprised at what he knows.”
“Whatever, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when he guess all the answers and fails”, Sunlit responded.
Yea… I really didn’t like that mare.
Celestia only smiled.
“We will see.”
Sunlit open the door for us as we entered the library. The place was huge! It had row after row of books and seemed to fill up at least half of the castle. But at this point I was past the shock stage so it didn’t take much for me to get over it.
“Here is your test. Just guess what you don’t know but try not to rush. You have 24 hours. No cheating or you start again.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all! That’s 300 pages of work ranging from history questions to Algebra. This test is used to measure all ponies’ intelligence the moment they graduate school. The highest score ever was by Clover the Clever with a 98.2 percent a thousand years ago. And you say that’s all!”
1,000 years ago.
Why is it that it is always 1,000 years ago?
Here we all are admiring the work of ponies dead for 1,000 years. I mean has nopony really not contributed anything to society in the last 1,000 years because our history books sure make it sound that way. You got to wonder if Sombra took our intelligence with him when he was banished.
“So this is the SMPI test created 1,200 years ago and constantly updated to modern standards. I really don’t think you should brag about Clovers score, a thousand years ago the test had 128 pages. Now it has 359 pages. They are different tests in my eyes.”
I sat down using my magical enhanced magnetic glove to pick up the pencil.
I opened it up. Question 1 what is 2,346 divided by 54.
Wait a second isn’t this supposed to be hard?
I filled the answer portion after seeing the answer appear in my head only to find the next question just as easy.much easer then I was lead to believe.
Question 1,257. What was the last spell StarSwirl created before his disappearance on an unrecorded date?
I answered the question before moving the page only to find the table.
“Done!”
Sunlit looked at her timer before laughing. “Told you he would guess.”
I was mad. “I didn’t guess!”
“Oh, so you not only knew the answers but you also finished the test in under one and a half hours”, She said laughing at me.
“Yes the test was easy.”
Celestia chose this time to interfere with our bickering.
“If Cal said he didn’t guess he didn’t guess. Now how about you go and check the test right here.”
“Sure thing Princess!”
Boy was she loud for a librarian.
Sunlit smiled like a lunatic as she cast the auto grading spell on my test. The papers glowed a red color before a blank on the first page start to fill with numbers.
“Let’s see how well you did little colt!”
I hate belittlement.
Sunlit picked up the front page looking at me with a grin.
BANG
What was that? I looked at where Sunlit had been standing to see her laying on the floor.
Celestia had a wicked grin on her face as she levitated the page over to herself. “Well aren’t you full of surprises Callidus, it seems as though we have a new record holder with a 99.7 percent!”
The number hit me and I froze.
99.7?
99.7.
99.7 percent.
That was… almost incomprehensible. Almost.
“I had no idea.”
“No idea of what” asked Celestia still with a smile on her face.
“That I was that smart. I just thought I was a bit above average.”
“You really haven’t meet anypony your age before have you?”
The silence was an answer on its own.
I felt… light headed.
“Can I go outside for a little? I need some fresh air and some time to collect my thoughts.”
“Let me call my guards they can take you to the gardens for a while.”
I just stared at the wall.
99.7
I started laughing like a maniac.
Ha! Take that history books! 98.2 The best in 1,000 years. Not anymore!
Celestia ignored my laughing as she walked out to fetch some guards.
Sunlit of course took that moment to finally come to. She just stood up and looked at me.
Okay she is still looking at me.
This is getting awkward.
“But you’re only a colt… You cheater!” Sunlit looked at me in rage as she got ready to punish me for “cheating”. “A 10 year old colt cannot be smarter than Clover the Clever, she was one of the greatest minds ever to bless Equestria! I refuses to believe you did that test legitimately!”
Well guess what mare. I did. The smile on my face clearly caused her much anger as she attempted to walk toward me.
“Please escort this colt to the Royal Gardens as I talk to his mother, watch him at all times. And more importantly make sure nopony harms him in anyway.”
The Royal Guards showed no expressions on their faces as they walked over to me in an organized manner.
Celestia turned to me. “Callidus Gears you are not in trouble, but now that I understand the extent of your intelligence I feel as though you should be better protected until you are old enough to properly defend yourself from those who would wish to influence you.”
Well there goes my personal life.
“And from anypony that may want to hurt you in anyway.”
And there goes my fun!
I frowned. “I understand your reasoning yet disapprove of your actions. Perhaps I will argue against it latter but for now I just need to be alone.” I looked at the guards unsure what to do. “Um… so can we leave? I got no clue where the gardens are.”
One of the unicorns to my side simply made a motion with his hoof and they all walked out of the library moving me with them.
99.7
That was unbelievable. I knew I was that smart but… whoa that puts a whole new perspective on things.
One of the guards nudged me as we walked.
“So what did you do that made the princess so impressed with you? We haven’t had to foal sit since Celestia found Twilight Sparkles about ten years ago.”
“I have been talking to her all day and seemed impressed with my Equish, she then decide to make me do the SMPI test and I broke the record for highest score with a 99.7.”
The guards all stopped for a second to look at me.
“Did you just say you scored a 99.7 on the SMPI test?” one of the 5 guards asked.
“Yes I broke Clover the Cleavers old record of 98.2, a full 1.5 point difference.”
They just stared to walk again looking a bit more rigid.
“So how old are you”, another one of the guards asked.
“10 years.”
The pegasi to my side just sighed, “To think I got my score beat by a 10 year old Earth Pony colt.”
“I know bro, geniuses always making folk such as ourselves feel idiotic.”
I managed to hold off my smile. I was very happy about my new genius status.
“Here we are!”
I and my five guards entered the garden. It was beautiful filled with many magically grown plants. I walked past many of the trees only to finally sit at a beach below a pink tree a recognized as a common cherry tree.
It was a nice view and I could just see the famed Canterlot maze just at the end of the gardens. This is… peaceful.
I closed my eyes intending to sleep my wait away when I heard the sound of ponies coming close.
I opened my eyes to see a bunch of ponies my size heading towards me. There was one the normal size who was guiding them. The larger one was a mare with a pink coat and a light pink mane.
Perfect… time to get a fillyfreind. I put on my awesome googles and took out the mirror I had attached to one of my leather straps. I did I quick check. Yes still looking as handsome as ever.
I looked at my guards. “Mind if I attempt to communicate with the herd of school children, I never have meet a foal my age.”
“That’s excellent, follow me then.”
“Hello, hello odd foals of my age. Now can one of you explain what the buck you are doing?”
A guard just laughed at me the moment I walked up to the group.
“Silence you, your laughter isn’t making my failing attempt at communicating with others of my age any easier.”
“Um… like who are you?” said a light purple filly with a tiara on her head.
“My name is Callidus Gears, foal genius and prodigy."
“Foal, what? Never mind I don’t want to know what a bankflank loser like yourself is saying. What are you like 11 and you still don’t have a cutie mark?”
“Is it true you are a genius Mr. Gears”, said another.
“Yes I am a foal genius. And yes I do not have a cutiemark, nor do I care.” I lied about that last part but oh well.
“Of course that’s what a bankflank like yourself would say”, said the purple filly.
Yea… she was asking for it. “A cutiemark can do two things, it can forever brand you as someone great, or a nopony. A pony without use. Without talent. And that is exactly what yours does my pretty pony. You actually think a cutiemark of something as useless a tiara makes you special? No it doesn’t. It shows you for all you will ever be, a piece of jewelry to either be discarded when it gets old or out of fashion. Maybe expensive but still useless. Where’s I am free, I am limited by nothing. I have no cutie mark to force me into a destiny I do not want. I can be whatever I want to be. I may not have a cutie mark, but I would rather have none then have one as useless as yours. Good day madam.”
With that I walked away not giving a second glance to the idiotic filly I had left behind. She was so pathetic she wasn’t worth the slightest amount of my attention.
I grinned. I don’t know who you are poor naive tiara pony. But I am already better then you could ever dream of being.
Author's Note
Hey guys managed to get a new chapter out today! I have been working on the size of my chapters so tell me what you guys think. Do you like them this big, or do you want them smaller. Or are you incredibly cruel and going to force a sweet incent author to write even more?
Nah!
Well like always any advice is excepted. Leave a like if you haven't and tell your friends. Anything helps!
Bucking Universe is out to get me
I decided to walk around the gardens statues.
There were many yet I knew what they represented. Though there were many they all displayed a literal depiction of a form of emotion. Love, bravery, and discord were among my favorite of the statues because it gave a clear picture of what we ponies envision these emotions as.
I looked at the statue representing discord for a bit as I recalled the story of his defeat. It talked about how a being brought discord to Equestria throwing it into a state of inconstancy that was unimaginable in our current society.
Complete rubbish of course, no creature can wield as much power as the draconequus was claimed to do at leisure. But I enjoyed the symbolic nature of the ancient tale, despite the fact I disagreed with its more obvious lesson that chaos was evil and should be rid of. Without chaos society wouldn’t be able to properly grow. We would be without the debates or augments needed to make well educated decisions, the many forms of arts that come from ideas that are products of our chaotic imagination, and any sort of distinguishable personality to differed two ponies from one another. Without chaos not only would our society collapse on itself, but would life be worth living?
Looking back at the accomplishments of ponykind ever since the banishment of “Discord” was claimed to be I wondered if this accent story held any merit. We have practically have accomplished nothing worth mentioning in our history books since then so it made sense that we have been without chaos for the last 1,000 years.
Well that got deep fast.
I looked up to see my guards staring at me once more. I lifted my head nodding to them in a gesture of recognition and they turned back to scene the surrounding area for anything that may be of a threat.
“What a shame that a virtue as cruel as honesty is so revered in our society, whereas ones as necessary as discord and chaos is looked down on by the majority of ponies. Isn’t that right my dear petrified draconequus?”
I looked up at the statue after addressing it only to see it stare back at me with its pained expression indifferently. Oh well It wasn’t as though I expected it to smile, the idea of a statue being alive is absurd.
Let us go closer to the castle, I wouldn’t want to get to close to the castle incase Celestia came to retrieve me. I can’t imagine the princess talking to my mother for much longer.
Without warning I walked toward the castle. I was pleased to see my guards follow without me having to acknowledge the fact I was leaving.
As I was heading to section of the gardens closer to the castle I noticed my one of my guards wasn’t at my side like he should
“Quick Hoofs is talking to the teacher of that group you talked to earlier. Apparently she wanted a apologize for insulting one of her students.”
“I see, could you perhaps lead me to him so I can attempt to find a compromise to my predicament?”
“I am afraid we cannot do that Sir, we were told to keep you out of harm’s way and that could be a possible hazardous to your health. Who knows what the teacher may do to you if anger her too much.”
“Oh no, what possible horrors may the school teacher inflict upon my incent soul!” I said mockingly annoyed by the protective manner in which I was being treated. I managed myself perfectly without aid for years, yet Celestia for whatever reason decided that I was unable to protect myself for an afternoon. I really wish I had brought my crossbow, then I could show them what a helpless foal could do. “Considering it’s her job to civilly discipline disobedient foals all day I would assume she wouldn’t inflict any permanent harm on me. Also with five guards, two of which are unicorns, I find the idea that she would attempt to inflict any sort of harm on me ludicrous.”
The guard frowned obviously uncertain with letting me near the mare yet seeing no flaw in my logic.
“If you are to be respectful I see no reason not to, but as I said before I dislike the idea of bringing you near possible conflict.”
“There is always a way for a fool to hurt himself, the trick is having the common sense not to.”
Without word the guards lead me to their comrade who was bickering with the teacher at the hoof of Discords statue, which I had not moments ago left.
“Well this is an ironic place for a fight”, I said with a smirk as I approached to two. “May I please have the honor of knowing your name Miss?”
“Cheerilee, I am Miss Cheerilee and I want an immediate apology to Diamond Tiara from you right now Callidus Gears.”
“Guards if one of you would please tell him to apologize? He made one of my students, Diamond Tiara, to cry,”
The guard closets to me was about to answer when I quickly intruded him.
“I’m sorry but I have no intentions of apologizing to the filly that I insulted. Before you argue about it being unmoral I have many reasons not to do so, first if I were to apologize I regret to inform you I will not mean a single word I say. Next, I was the one that was first insulted and I feel as though I am the one that deserves to get an apology from my attempted bully. Lastly, every word I said was true, she really is useless, I am merely pointing out a fact that she may or may not accept as the truth that it is.”
Cheerilee just looked over my shoulders in something akin to shock. This scene feels familiar… I look in my goggles mirrors. And buck my life cause it the princess! With my mom. With 24 other guards. What do you know the universe decided to throw me a party! Thanks bucking universe. Just bucking great! Remind me to tell you I love you when I rip your mother bucking throat out universe! Cause I bucking CARE SO MUCH ABOUT YOU!
Glade I got that out of my system.
I am having a… weird day. I want to call it a bad one but at this point I don’t know, nor care about doing anything other than going to sleep. Preferable in the 4 star hotel room we rented. Oh right we were going to watch the equestrian games. There goes my once in a lifetime chance to watch the opening ceremony.
“Hello princess, mother. I trust the chat went well.”
“Callidus, what were you doing”, said my mother with a concerned expression.
“I was simply civilly denying to apologize to a filly who pitifully attempted to insult me.”
“I take it you decided to tell her your own opinions on herself?”
“No, I simply expressing my own opinions on the topic of cutie-marks.”
“Cutie-marks eh? That seems like something a bit too… normal for you.”
I looked at the teacher who was still gaping opened mouthed at the princesses, suddenly she seemed to come to her sense addressing her class in an excited voice.
“Foals behave yourself in front of the princess. Get into order like we talked about in the class.”
Celestia smiled, “Callidus would you like to come into the castle with me and your mother for a second we would like to talk to you about a few things.”
Because I have so much of a bucking chose don’t I? I hate it when ponies simply say things in the form of a question when it is clear almost instantly for everypony else they have no chose. Oh well appearance is important I guess. And I should remember that bit of wisdom to at times.
“Of course let us leave immediately, I have no reason to delay anything of importance.”
She smiled and turned her back to me and her mother walking toward the castle.
My mother stopped smiling at me immediately. “Callidus, no more books for a week.”
“That seems a little cruel could I suggest changing it to 3 days? I understand that I shouldn’t be rude to other ponies so it seems a little unreasonable to take literature of all things away from me. I mean how about you ground me from hanging around with my friends I read that happens to be a very affective punishment for colts 16 and younger.”
“One week. And you have no friends.”
It was worth a shot can you blame me? Wait, why am I thinking to myself as if I was addressing somepony that was reading my mind? Which of course is ludicrous, mind reading is illegal with a 50 years sentence, so I really don’t know why I’m doing it.
I try not to grin as I follow the princess to the castle.
“Guards leave us for a moment.”
“Yes princess Celestia”
I was sitting on a comfortable cushioned chair enjoying the beautiful sunset from outside the large window. The sky was taking a beautiful shade of pink, and the clouds were lit up in a harvest orange.
“Callidus I and your mother have been talking a bit about your education and we were unable to provide a compromise. So we decided to let you decided which you prefer seeing as this is your future and deserve a choice. I am willing to apprentice you to a close friend of mine to learn from. You would be given an apartment with him here in Canterlot. And the education and everything else would be free. Or you can go back home with your mother.”
Mother.
Why can’t the decision be easy? My dreams of being successful. All my hopes of leaving the farm to something great. To be important, like my father. And I can have that. Right now all I have to say is that I would like to further my education here in Canterlot and I could more successful than I ever had hoped. It was the smart chose. There shouldn’t have to be any decision over this. I looked in my mother pleading eyes. Asking, no begging me not to leave her like my father. To not leave her by herself on the farm.
Why did the smart chose feel so wrong?
Author's Note
Okay guys I am so sorry that this took a week to get out. I have been getting completely buried in homework recently and I still have a lot to do right now. Like I have 6 different assignments due tomorrow for 6 different classes and have pulled 3 all nighters this week. Not fun
Also I wrote this entire chapter while balancing a potato on my head. Why a potato? Because I didn't have any tomatoes. Duh.
But in all seriousness I actually did balance a potato on my head while I wrote this chapter. Tell me in the comments what you want me to balance on my head next time! Suggestions range inbetween nonlethal and in my fridge!
