Finders: Find me in Ponyville

Celestia-

BOOM!

Welp… I was awake now. I was definitely awake. I didn’t want to be awake- darn forces of evil, half the time can’t wait for a decent hour can they?

I looked at the mirror in my room. Not exactly a regal appearing princess, my mane still flowing, but my fur was messy and my wings were unpreened. Still, I dragged myself out of bed. I was about to fix my appearance, but… well as if whatever was attacking the palace this time deserved me looking my best anyway. I sighed. Should probably hurry anyway.

I flew out of my window and into the cool night air. I looked down at the entrance to the gala. There was a small hole in the roof. “Sheesh, wonder where the problem is… how I long for the days of subtle villains. At least you could get a good night’s rest.”

I flew in through a window, smashing my way through and landing on the stairs above the room. “Eh em…” I looked down and what I saw looked absolutely dreadful. There was my sister with a pair of foals, A\an earth colt and a pegasi filly, the older filly looking to be desperately trying to protect her friend. The colt’s eyes were darting about, mostly looking at my sister.

Honestly, attacking foals? What sort of a villain does that? I swooped down in front of the pair, casting a spell in midair that granted me my full regal appearance- it certainly saves time in the mornings-. There I stood, wings outstretched, mane flowing and eyes searching for the evil that had forced these two children to hide in the palace.

I nodded, still feeling a little tired, and a bit snarky. “So, Luna, I see you just rescued two foals from something… well I’m up now, might as well battle it together. What is it this time?” I looked back as the filly started shoving the colt back again, this time her head was lowered, as if ready to spring. I eyed the filly, almost pitying her, but feeling a sense of pride in her bravery as well. “It is noble that you wish to defend your friend, however if there is danger you should run and hide. Fear not, the solar sisters will protect you!” I stamped my front hoof, trying to draw out the danger. Not seeing it I turned my attention to the foals, the filly looking like her heart was about to jump from her chest. I would have to calm her later however. I moved to push her with my head and lead them both to safety under the stairs. “Perhaps it would be best if you two hid under the stairs before-“

“GET BACK!” The filly stamped the floor with both of her front hooves. An electric field surrounded the two foals now, myself receiving quite a shock, actually a little more powerful than a few years back when a mischievous pegasi colt decided to prank me. (I do remember having to get the royal guards off him… darndest thing I thought but they didn’t…)

Luna turned to me. “By the way Celestia, I’m not really fighting anything right now save bewilderment.”

I stared in disbelief at the filly. “Did she just…” The only source of that electric surge had to be her… but that was impossible.

“Yes,” said Luna with a nod.

“But she’s a…

“Yes.”

“What?” My eyes darted from the young foal to the ceiling above.

“That was my reaction dear sister,” Luna said. I shook my head. “The yellow one has been refusing to bow and the blue one seems to lack some education in that department.”

“So?” I asked. I think Luna’s priorities were often a little strange. “The yellow one seems terrified.” The filly continued to back away from the two of us, wings spread out. “Apparently of us.”

“That one threatened us,” the filly said, pointing at Luna with her right fore hoof.

I looked down at my sister. My instinct would normally be assuming the filly was playing with her, a silly prank of some kind, however that was not a look of play. “Luna, nightmare night isn’t for another month. You take things too far sometimes. I know you enjoy-“

“I was only scolding them and this one attacked,” Luna defended, pointing at Jessica. She looked up at the ceiling again. “Apparently.”

I regarded the two foals. Messy, small, eyes darting about, but with a ting of curiosity still there. To me, in short, they were adorable. Too bad they seemed scared out of their wits.

“Um… like I said, I am the Queen of Lightning,” said the filly.

I smiled. I was pretty sure that was an empty gesture, the filly trying to wrest control of the situation by asserting some made up title. It certainly didn’t sound legitimate. Still, if it made her feel a little less frightened, why not? “Luna, how rude of you not to bow to such royalty. We will have to discuss your own manners latter.” I whispered to Luna to “play along”. We both bowed our heads and lowered ourselves to the ground. I smiled to myself, strange yes, but this was amusing. The filly stopped backing away, her eyes still darting between the two of us, so much larger than she was. The colt however bowed to us in return, copying our gesture. We rose, the colt again copying us. “You are safe here. You have nothing to fear from either of us.”

“I’m… I’m not really a queen,” the filly sputtered out. Well, good to see I wouldn’t have to figure out how to keep and eventually break that little act.

“Oh?” I asked, acting a little caught off guard. Yes I was laying it on thick, but I was tired and this was fun. “Then what is the truth of the matter?”

“I’m um… I’m um-“

“I really am the son of a lead noble where we’re from,” interrupted the colt. He looked at at the filly. “And she really is my body guard.” I was about to start believing him but… body guard, a filly- no. “We mean no insult to either of you, however she has been trained not to allow others to control her or me in strange and dire circumstances. Surely you understand her position here?”

Luna and I paused looking at the colt. That was… very articulate for a little colt. Finally Luna blurted out. “You are a colt?”

The colt looked at himself. “I… yes? Maybe? I’m older than I look? Um…”

“You sound like a colt, you look like a colt and you’re groomed like a colt, but those sounded like the words of an educated stallion.” Luna pointed out.

The colt nodded side to side. “Well you can’t judge someone based on just a few words but… well yea… I’m about a hundred and ten years old.” Luna raised an eye brow. “You don’t believe me.”

“Your pegasus friend blasted a hole in the ceiling with an electric spark with no apparent source… let me say that my mind is a little more open than usual,” Luna replied. Looking up at that hole again, as did I.

“So I take it that being ponies is normal here… maybe?” asked the colt. “We’re not ponies, we’re humans.”

“I beg your pardon, what’s a human?” asked Luna.

My eyes momentarily lit up, but that was an involuntary reaction, better to temper enthusiasm in public. I dialed back. “Remember that world we sent Twilight to not long ago? She told me about these creatures. They walk on two legs, have very little hair and use mechanical devices in the place of magic. If she was transformed into one of them when passing through the portal. Maybe they just change into ponies when coming into our world.” I looked back at the colt. “I suppose that you then came here unexpectantly?”

The colt patted his friend on the back and the foal finally rested her wings. She still eyed the two of us with unease. “Um… sounds about right. So, how do we get back?” asked the colt.

Understanding a little of what might have been their plight, I began to understand the fear that was in that filly’s mind. We must have looked like towering aliens, and demanding respect as we did probably didn’t help. I wanted to help them, if out of nothing else, than just for the sake of pity. “Well… not knowing exactly which world you came from, I’m unsure. It’s likely you actually DON’T come from the world Twilight went to, as I don’t remember anything about people being older than they look or controlling electricity.”

“Um… real quick, is being blue normal here?” Kyle asked.

“Depends on the pony,” Luna replied.

“I take it that’s not normal where you come from?” I asked.

“Different people are different colors, but none of them blue.”

“I see,” I said thinking aloud. “Then the world where Twilight went is probably irrelevant. Similar, but not the same. I assume you wish to return.” Kyle just nodded. “Then I shall look into the matter.”

“That’s very nice of you,” the filly finally spoke up again, this time sounding considerably less fearful. “Considering I blew a hole in your roof and all.”

“Worse things have happened,” I replied. “If you would bow, it’s still ceremony.” The filly finally bowed, copying what Luna and I and her friend had done. “Now that that is over with, introductions are in order I suppose. I am Celestia, ruler of the land of Equestria and princess of the day. And this is my sister Luna, Princess of the night.” We both closed our eyes and bowed our heads slightly. We looked back to the foals.

“I’m Kyle, son of house Tornin, from the nation planet of Triad. This is my body guard Jessica, of the house Amon,” they both copied out gestures. “I also have no idea where I am, what I am, where to go, what do to… yea.”

I smiled again, trying to appear friendly. “If you two need rest there is a small guest chamber inside the palace.”

Jessica smiled. “That is REALLY nice of you. However, I must decline-respectfully.” I raised an eyebrow. I would have insisted, such a harrowing experience must have worn on such young bodies but Jessica continued. “Can I fly?” she asked looking eagerly at her wings.

“Likely, but it’s not easy to just pick that up,” I answered.

“Is there a place where I can practice?” she continued.

“More importantly,” said Kyle. “Is there a place where I can do some research on… where and what we are right now?”

I sighed. ‘So then,’ I thought to myself ‘A Twilight and a Rainbow Dash.’ “Come. The library is this way. I’ll also alert the guards to your presence so they don’t disturb you. I can suggest a few books to start.” I then looked at Jessica. “The hall leading to it is quite spacious, you can try out your wings there.”

Luna quickly asked, “Wouldn’t she be better off practicing outside somewhere?”

“Body guard, remember?” I reminded her. “I assume she doesn’t want to be separated from her charge.” Jessica nodded.

The two foals followed as we lead the way up the stairs.

“This is REALLY nice of you,” said Kyle. “Why?”

“Do you wish me to be blunt?” I asked back.

“Of course.”

I nodded side to side. “I wake up to find two foals alone, confused and scared out of their wits in my house. No matter how old you really are, you look like children. Frankly I’m tired, want to go back to bed without a fight and this is all out of pity.”

Jessica leaned over to Kyle. “Did she just call us pathetic?”

Kyle leaned back to her. “Do you disagree?”

“Well maybe you’re pathetic,” Jessica retorted.

“I know you are but what am I?” Kyle retorted.

“Apparently a pony,” Jessica finished. I looked back to see Kyle grin. I chuckled at their exchange.

Luna leaned over to me. “That was out of character. Did you just call them pathetic?”

I gave a slight grunt. “I’m tired. Besides I was just being honest.”

“I know my way around the library. Just tell me the titles and I’ll show them the books,” Luna offered.

I sighed in relief. “Follow my sister,” I announced.

Luna looked at me again and whispered. “Is that,” she snickered.

“What?”

“Under your wing… is that Bugsy? He must be over a thousand years old. How does he still exist?”

My eyes went wide as I checked under her right wing. Sure enough, there was a small stuffed animal, my old teddy bear Bugsy, I forgot he was there. “Oh wow, that looks regal… um Star Swirl taught me a permenance spell…” Luna was still chuckling at me, trying to keep the foals from seeing or hearing. I sighed. “I’m going to bed.”

Jessica turned to Kyle. “Is it just me or does the white one have a picture of the sun tattooed on her butt?”

“Is it just me or are we all naked?” Kyle asked in return.

Jessica gave out a loud squeak causing everyone to look back at her. “I just-but I-“

“Just roll with it.”

“But.”

“That’s an order.”

“But…!”

(***)

Luna-

I had been rolling my eyes privately so many times I thought they might bounce out of my head. I had spent twenty minutes reassuring a filly that nudity, of all things, was not something to be ashamed of, and then another thirty in the library teaching a colt how to read without just ripping out the pages. “One hundred and ten my eye,” I said to myself when neither were in ear shot, getting ready to leave the library. I closed the door to the library just to hear the filly crash into something for the nth time. I looked ahead.

“Please leave the door open,” said Jessica. I sighed and obliged her.

I began to walk away as the foal tried to take off again into the air, only to crash into a wall and roll in front of me.  “YOU will have to clean up.”

“Not a problem… unless I have to fly… I kinda suck at that.”

“Pardon my bluntness but, that’s an understatement.”

“Still, you’re princess of the night right?” The foal returned to her feet.

“Of course… and you the queen of lightning?”

“That’s actually a self-given title, thought I would put it to use and see if it got any play. Your sister is really nice by the way.”

“So everypony says.” I nodded. “Indeed she is.”

“So are you really. Thing is… if I had to choose… no offence to her… but I’m more interested in seeing the night than the day, if it’s a night that requires its own princess and all. Could you show us around tomorrow night?”

“Surely you both will want to get back on a normal sleep schedule.”

“Ahhh, c’mon… just one night?”

“Are you… begging to see the night?”

“Is that so har-“

I shot my head down to the foal. “YES!” I then righted myself, remembering I always needed to keep my enthusiasm in check, especially with a filly who was scared to death of me not but a few moments ago. “I mean, that is acceptable.” I left, a huge smile going across my face.

(***)

Celestia-

I returned to the library with my sister Luna. “And then she begged to see it, for me to show it to her. Begging to see the night, how many ponies do that?”

I smiled at my sister’s enthusiasm. “Oh dear, it appears I lost this round to you dear sister.” Luna still had problems with feeling overlooked, even after the nightmare moon incident. It was good to see her feeling she was gaining a fan.

As we walked I noticed the sleeping filly, sprawled out the floor like she just crashed in that position and promptly passed out. She was bruised, but sleeping peacefully. Like a normal foal just playing too rough.

We walked past her into the library. Books lay strewn all over a small desk. The colt was passed out next to a reading desk, looking like he was more prepared for when sleep finally won out over him. On the desk was a note.

It was surrounded by several scribbled on pages, two of them comprising one note with giant letters “ALL I WANNA DO IS WRITE A NOTE, WHY DOES THAT HAVE TO BE SO HARD!?!!!

The real note read like this.

“Dear Princesses- thank goodness ponies can read English

Thankyou for the hospitality. I think I was able to glean the basics of how things work around here after about five hours… the very basics mind you. Please don’t mind the mess, my friend and I will clean it up tomorrow night… if it takes us all night… Jessie just crashed into a book case so it might. Yes, we will do whatever work we have to in order to get everything fixed. Jessie is doing her best not to fly around anything that looks expensive.

I have no way of repaying your kindness for now as what few possessions we have aren’t with us and even if they were we’re kind of drifters in our world so you can guess how that goes. Anyway, please know all is appreciated and accept my sincerest thanks.”

Well that was what I was able to make out, having taken care of several foals in the past. Dear me however, Kyle had atrocious hoof writing.

Luna looked around with a sheepish grin. A few of the shelves were damaged but only one knocked completely over and indeed none of the tapestries or decorations had been disturbed.

Blue magic surrounded one of the fallen book shelves and the books that belonged on it as it seemed to automatically right itself.

I raised an eyebrow to Luna. “What?” Luna asked back. “Oh come now, two foals their age trying to lift a shelf that big, that’s impossible. You’re not so cruel as to force-“

“You could just ask the servants.” I pointed out. I pulled a backpack out from my wing and placed it next to Kyle. “They left it in the gala entry. I’m not sure they even knew it was there. I’m assuming it’s his.”

“Did you peak at what was inside?”

“Are you questioning the integrity of your sister? I do not rummage through the belongings of others.” Such a thing would have been unbecoming.

Luna bowed her head. “Of course not.”

“Besides, the bag was open, I just gathered the books and closed it.”

“What books?”

“Tom Sawyer, Sherlock Holmes and two other books… I saw as I put them away…” I looked away sheepishly. “Fine, I also memorized the titles so I could ask all about them later.”

“You didn’t pick them up during the night, I know that.”

“Fine. A guard found the bag, curiosity got the better of me but my conscience stopped me- but I’m over it now.”

“Are you?” A small vial levitated out from under Luna’s wing. “What is this? The oblessance potion? One drink, we switch powers and sleep cycles for a day with no ill effects from sleep deprivation… what is that doing here? Well, long as somepony ISN’T all that interested in walking through the dreams of two completely alien beings to see if she can find anything out… she isn’t curious… I’ll just put it away.”

“Star Swirl hated it when we used that sister…”

“We’re older and wiser now. Surely we can handle switching duties for just one day. You’re not interested in what they dream?” Luna looked down at Kyle. “Maybe we should just wake them up and demand explanations. Truth is I’m getting tired of waiting and I don’t know that I believe that hyper active air headed filly is somehow a body guard, even if she does have some unusual abilities.”

“You mean to try to force them to talk?” I asked. “You can’t be serious. Remember the fight that filly almost put up? It would be difficult to subdue her without injuring her.

“I could easily wake her and paralyz-“

“Absolutely not, can you imagine how terrifying that would be for her?”

Luna levitated the vial again. “I want answers, you want answers. I admire your charity but I also think it is a risk to have a powerful and strange creature in our palace without knowing what she is and have her unguarded. Just humor me sister. Let us both try to gain some assurance about what these two are exactly. You know as well as I do, the true form of a creature is always shown in a dream. Dreams don’t lie.”