Author's Note

A new chapter for Eid!!
I'm gonna keep writing this no matter what you critics throw in my face. *cough* JINX *cough* *cough*
This fanfic is probably gonna be a not-THAT-good HiE fanfic that will be personal (i.e. for me to read in my free time much later on when I've improved and can look back at all my old stuff). Enjoy this chapter anyways

In the Castle

“So how long have you had trains here in Equestria?” Harry asked, sitting down on one of the seats in the second last car of the train heading to Canterlot.

“They’ve been around for almost as long as Equestria itself,” replied Rarity.

“When Equestria was first formed,” Twilight explained, “the engineers and constructors of the (back then) newly formed empire had trouble transporting materials back and forth across long distances to build up a large town that became what is now Canterlot. So they invented the train to help move materials more quickly and in larger amounts.”

“Interesting,” said Harry. “Much like how in the early days of America, we humans invented the same thing – the steam engine – to move silver which me mined tirelessly for. Sad to say that one shiny metal consumed our hearts like the Nightmare, resulting in a lot of violence, battles against native residents, and fights over possession of well-kept land. Much like Appleloosa and the buffalo – only with lots – LOTS – of bloodshed.” Harry sighed sadly, and his face fell.

“That’s pretty sad,” Applejack added. “I never knew the human world was so cruel and conflicting.”

Harry nodded. “Yeah, it is. Thankfully the intensity of it is a lot less than it used to be.”

“Wait a second, darling,” Rarity asked as the train pulled into the station. “How did you get all the info on Nightmare Moon and Appleloosa?”

“Fluttershy’s got some interesting books at her house,” Harry replied with a wink.

Twilight led Harry down the refined streets of Canterlot, advising him not to ride his skateboard this time to avoid catching excessive attention, in addition to potentially dirtying or damaging the city’s “clean and dignified” roads.

“I get into scuffles with the public almost all the time,” Harry scoffed, trudging behind Twilight as they neared the royal castle. “But this is your ponies’ land I gotta respect ya.”

Twilight shot him a pleased smile, satisfied that the human had dignity and respect. Maybe popping over to Celestia’s house for a quick visit wouldn’t be so hard.

“Who is this?!” the palace guards exclaimed. “A…human?”

“You know it,” Harry replied with a mocking wink.

“I’m Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight said politely and clearly. “May we enter please? I have come here to see Princess Celestia, with prior request.”

The guards rubbed their chins, and Harry wore a pouty face to give them the edge. “You all may enter. But keep an eye on that human, and make sure no trouble arises.”

Why would you think that? Harry thought angrily, tempted to flip them off. Damn, I thought you ponies were less judgmental than this.

The castle was surprisingly complex, and whilst Twilight led him to the throne room, Harry used every moment he had to construct a mental map of all the halls and door positions they travelled down or passed by.

As usual, Princess Celestia was in the throne room, waiting for orders. Princess Luna and Cadence were there too. The doors gently swung open and in walked Twilight with Harry, Applejack and Rarity bringing up the rear.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. “It’s good to see you.”

“Twilight Sparkle! My faithful student,” Celestia responded, walking off the throne and embracing Twilight in a comforting hug.

“Damn, teacher and student? More like mother and daughter,” Harry whispered under his breath, but Celestia heard it and instantly turned to face him.

“Ah, Princess Celestia is it? It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Harry said, bowing before her and keeping his voice in a low, respectful tone.

The princess didn’t reply; instead, she walked over and examined him closely, the way a cop would look at a suspect in the interrogation room. Her stare was intense, and Harry had to force himself to observe the stained glass walls to avoid sweating from mere fear. Finally, when he could take it no longer, he shut his eyes, stiffened his legs, and slowed his breath.

“I’ve been told about you by Twilight Sparkle here and Fluttershy,” she then spoke, shattering Harry out of his petrified trance. “You entered the property grounds of Fluttershy without permission. Is that true?”

“Y-y-yes,” Harry stuttered, still recovering from his fearful state. “Um, not exactly. I came upon her house from the EverFree Forest, but of course I couldn’t approach it from the pathway. So I approached from the back, walked around to the front, and knocked respectfully. I never touched anything of her property, unless she said I could do so.”

Princess Celestia stood silent for a few minutes. “I see. So you ended up in our world by falling down a pit and you crawled out of a tunnel…and ended up in the EverFree Forest. You’re also unable to find a way back home. Is that true?”

“Yes, your Highness,” Harry replied, half-bowing. “I am also grateful for the incredible generosity, kindness, courtesy, and friendliness of your student Twilight Sparkle and her friends. I honestly have no idea how I’d fare in this land without them.”

Princess Celestia was amazed at Harry’s respectful behavior, but his overtly anxious deposition still bothered her. He looked like he was about So she looked at him head-on with a calm expression.

“You’re…so beautiful,” Harry whispered, feeling soppy all of a sudden, and he fought back against his love feelings.

Why did you say that to a ruler, you idiot? he angrily thought to himself. But in a sudden turn of action, Celestia stepped right up to him, wrapped her right wing around him, and gave him a loving snuggle. “It’s okay if you love me,” she whispered. “Hug me if you wish.”

“Thanks, Princess,” Harry replied, lovingly throwing his arms around Celestia’s neck and dropping the skateboard in the process. It rolled down the carpet towards the throne.

“Oops,” Harry realized. “Now I’ve got the royal red carpet dirty! What have I done?”

The quizzical looks on Princess Luna and Princess Cadence were absolutely priceless as they stared at the skateboard. Harry released his love grip on Celestia and ran after his skateboard, lifting its dirty well-worn wheels off the red carpet.

“It’s all right,” Celestia said, walking up behind him. “I’ll get it cleaned up later today. Just try to be careful next time, okay?”

My God, Harry thought as he thanked her again. I just met the ruler of Equestria and now she’s acting like a mix of a friend and a mother.

“What’s that?” Princess Cadence inquired, pointing at the skateboard.

Harry looked up and smiled. Never in his life would he imagine that such powerful and regal rulers would look so adorable and inquisitive. Then again, he and his possessions were still strangers in this new world. “Nice to meet you, Princess…”

“—Cadence,” the pink alicorn replied.

“I love that name, it’s adorable,” Harry complimented. He turned to the other alicorn, whose mane and tail looked like a sky full of sparkly stars, and who had a royal necklace with a crescent moon on it.

Harry didn’t have to guess her name twice. “Princess Luna?”

“How did thou guess thy princess of the night name right first time around?” Luna replied in a voice that sounded comforting, yet seemed to have a hint of longing. “Wait a minute…” Harry thought, and it soon clicked. “You used to be Nightmare Moon before you returned to normal.”

But revealing a redeemed criminal’s past in front of everyone else was never a good idea, and so Harry kept his mouth shut on the matter. Instead, he returned to Cadence’s question.

“Princess Cadence, this is a skateboard,” he began, holding it up for her to see from her sitting position on the side of the throne. “You have the deck, which is flat for me to stand on, then you have the trucks, which are fastened securely to opposite ends of the deck. In turn, the wheels are then attached to the trucks. On top of the deck is a black, self-adhesive gritty wrap called grip tape, which gives the skateboard a good, clean top look and more importantly, it ensures my feet don’t slip.”

“I like it,” Princess Luna complimented with an excited look, and Harry had a feeling of what she wanted, so he cut to the response to the question he was positively sure she’d ask next. “I’m sorry, Princess Luna, but you can’t ride it. You’re too heavy – it’ll snap.”

“Oh.” For a princess, the sad look on Luna’s face was undeniably adorable, and it made him jump back to his previous thought that she was alone after her criminal actions. Harry made a mental note to ask Princess Celestia for permission to hang out with her sometime.

“Enjoy your stay in Equestria,” Celestia told Harry as he exited. “And if Twilight isn’t able to send you back, you’re more than welcome to stay here…”

“…with me and Luna,” she added, whispering sneakily. “I’ll get Cadence to pop by now and then if possible.”

Really? Living with the princesses? Harry was so shocked his kness twitched violently.

“I’d be honored,” was all he could reply in a quick whisper back before Twilight turned her head in suspicion.

“Were you privately making out with Celestia?” she snapped.

“N-no!” Harry replied quickly, trying not to blush. “She was just informing me of something…important, that’s all.” A blissful smile appeared on his face, but Applejack and Rarity caught sight of it before he could wipe it off.

“Do you…” Rarity began, a slight smirk playing across her lips.

“Shut it, guys, I’m feeling hungry already,” Harry retorted, attempting to use a sudden change of temperament to quickly switch direction. But his “friends” weren’t giving up.

“You did hug her…” Applejack said suggestively.

“She was the one who embraced me first,” Harry pointed out. “Now can we please leave? My stomach is growling. I don’t wanna sound like a moaning bear amongst all the dignified beauties of Canterlot.”

Skateboard in hand, Harry glowered as Applejack and Rarity whispered and exchanged chuckles all the way to the train station.