The laughter lasted a long time. Long enough for another knock to come and be promptly ignored by both me and Vice. We started calming down by the second knock, and at the third I had recovered enough to stand. "Who issss it~?" I sing songed, moving to the door. Gods, laughing was really nice. I hadn't actually had fun with somebody in a long time.

A refined voice came from the other side of the door. "It's only Rarity dear, and Twilight, but she seems to be distracted." I smiled wide and peeked the door. Indeed Rarity was there, and Twilight was still staring at a wall where I left her. I gestured for Rarity to walk in, which she did with a graceful smile. "Thank you dear. Luna had said you had had a trying evening. I simply had to come make sure you were fine, some of those guards are absolutely brute-ish." She looked to Vice who had elected to stand behind me. Hiding from Rarity. So he wasn't just terrified of me, he was a shy little bugger too. Gods, he was just like a little kid.

I patted him on the head absently. "Oh, they tried to jump me. Once." I flashed a smile. Moving to the large chair I sat back down. "But it all turned out fine. Plus the Princess said I'd get a house out of this, so I'm cool with it."

Rarity smiled. "Of course dear, Luna filled me in. In a few hours we're supposed to catch the train to Ponyville and meet a construction team." I smiled.

"So, by that line of thought I should be allowed out in the city then?"

Rarity nodded while moving to one of the pillows. "Yes dear, Lady Light is learning of a spell that should allow you out and about in Canterlot without the Princesses having to deal with a million calls to the guards."

I could deal with that, not having people flee in terror was always nice. I put the bow away in my bag, before sitting back fully. "Fair enough. Though I hope Silver doesn't mind, since I showed up she's pretty much been my personal guard, with Vice here dragged around as her second." I tried to gesture towards Vice, but he just slunk behind my chair.

Rarity raised her eyebrow at my chair. "Yes, I had heard he said some rather uncouth things when you first met. Though I must admit everypony's been very tight lipped about it though."

I nodded. "Sorry Rarity, it's personal stuff of mine. Honestly I lost it a little bit. But that's besides the point."

Rarity looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "And what is the point dear?"

I smiled wide and spread my arms. "The point is I get to explore a new city!" I leaned back the whole chair, which managed to make Vice jump from behind it. I sheepishly patted him in between the wings. "Sorry man, I'm just super excited." I stood up and began moving towards the bed to tap Creepy. "Hey Creepy, get up." He unrolled, as I heard a sharp intake of breath from Rarity and Vice. It seems they shared my thoughts on Creepy. "We're going on a trip, I'll need eyes. You up for it little guy?" He clicked a few times before climbing up my arm, and perching on my shoulder.

Rarity trotted up and visibly shuttered at my new friend. "Well dear, when Silver arrives you will surely be allowed to explore. There is a show of some sort happening about Lunchtime, we could make it easily."

I smiled wide. "Hells yea, let's get ready." I began throwing together an explorers outfit. My beanie, a turtleneck, and cargo pants later I felt much more ready to explore, with only an hour or two until the show. I was also hosting a few more ponies. Namely a recovered Twilight who still wouldn't speak directly to me, and a grumpy Silver Light.

She was grumpy because apparently Vice had been supposed to brief Twilight on the situation before I had the chance to break her, and had been distracted by my antics. I took full responsibility, but she seemed less than thrilled with the whole situation. She grumbled as her horn glowed over me. "So now I get to enchant the crazy alien to look like a freaking minotaur. All I wanted to do was one simple assignment, and now I get this." She grumbled as her horn flashed over me. covering me in a few measured illusions that hooked onto my clothes. Creppt chirped in alarm as they washed over him. She pointed a glare at him. "And don't get me started on your buckin' pet."

I smiled at her wide enough to split my face. "Yeah, but I can finally look inside you guy's city without being a complete freak."

She smiled back, though I could tell it had a minor strain. "Yeah well, you still wanna catch that Trixie show later?" At the mention of the name Rarity and Twilight paused, and began a hushed conversation in the corner.

I however, cared not for their pony power politics. I nodded. "Yep, watching a show can tell you a whole lot about an area. Plus I love theater, I was an actor myself for a little while."

Silver's smile formed into a much more genuine article. "Of course you were, I can actually see it. So what do you say we head out and see some sights? You know you're actually right beside the statue gardens, which are super popular, right?"

I was standing up. "Nice, let's check 'em." I was led through a maze like hall of tapestries again, only this time I was excited. I loved being a tourist, and after seeing the guards in action and getting some good sleep I was much less worried about actual dangers. Plus new shows turn me into an overexcited school child. We made it into the statue gardens fairly quickly, exiting some huge door into a beautifully maintained garden.

Now, I'm scared you misunderstand me. When I say this garden was near perfect I don't want you to imagine some little garden that's homey and pretty. Every flower, every bush. Hell, I think every leaf was perfectly positioned. The only thing that disturbed it was a statue in the center. It was posed as if mid song, or perhaps a theatrical blown kiss. Either way, it was gloriously wrong. Different animals making up all the various pieces as it assembled by a three year old on the sugar rush from hell. I walked up in awe, and I saw it's name. 'Discord - Spirit of Disharmony' The whole garden was a perfect picture of order, but disharmony itself sat at the seat. I'm pretty sure there's some philosophy behind that, but I'm not the one to say it.

I reached out, and touched the statue, and heard it speak. Well Aren't you special? I managed to stay still. I doubted saying I heard a statue speak would make it easier to catch my show. I breathed deep, letting my mind settle away from such bad thoughts as 'WHAT THE FUCK' and 'WHY IS A STATUE TALKING'. I went through a mental list of all the weirder shit I'd seen to calm down. I nodded at the statue, before moving back to Silver. I took a half second to hide my "I think I'm done here Silver. I really want to see the city itself."

Silver looked at me strangely, but nodded slowly. "Yeah, sure. there's an exit to the city back here." She led me past a huge hedge maze and through a massive topiary doorway. I swear a freaking titan could have walked through it. I stared the whole way out, and when I stopped I saw something beautiful. I saw Canterlot. It was like someone combined all the beauty of ye olde Camelot with all the wonder of a fantasy world. Then threw in modern architecture for giant buildings. All of it looked like ivory and gold, with culture literally visible in the streets. I don't know how long I stared, but I was awoken from my stupor by Silvers hoof in my ribs. "Hey Draitha, you good."

I stared at the city a moment more, before charging towards it. "C'mon Silver, I've gotta see everything!!"

Author's Note

Short chapter, I know. But I'm already working on the next one. A couple other hints to the next few chapters here too. Hope you enjoy it.