“Did you hear? Princess Celestia dared a creature to destroy her sun!” a soft pink pegasus in a maid outfit whispered heatedly to another maid nearby. She brushed her gray mane out of her eyes with a hoof, then moved away from the other maid at the clip-clop of approaching hooves. A grey guard with a white mane in golden armor, signature of the Solar Guard, came around the corner nodding to the both of them as the maid who’d spoken began polishing a bust of Celestia, while the maid she’d spoken used her magic to dust off the top of the door to a guest room. The guard turned the corner, and they approached each other again as soon as the sound of his hooves retreated.

“Why would she dare a creature to destroy her sun, Sunrise?” the second mare, a turquoise unicorn with a forest green mane responded with a troubled look on her face.

“He said he was able to do so, and she dared him to do it. Considering he was an alicorn, and she blasted him in the back with her ‘Solar Flare’, and he didn’t even NOTICE, I believe he may not have been bluffing,” Sunrise responded. “She used that in her battle with the demogorgon, and severely wounded it!”

“An alicorn? I thought the Princesses were the only alicorns?” the second mare asked curiously, a pondering look crossing her face.

Nodding in thought, Sunrise replied quietly, “They are, Water Lily. He wasn’t actually an alicorn, he turned into something else. It was bipedal like the minotaurs and some of the races that live in the Northern Wastes. Though he was wearing a lot of clothing, now that I think about it. Maybe he’s rich? From what I saw, they easily surpassed the quality of one of our best tailors.”

“Were they a servant’s clothing?” Lily asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No, they were unlike anything that I’ve seen before.” Sunrise replied, eyes unfocused as she stared at the bust she had been polishing.

“So, what were you two talking about?” Egil said from next to them. The two mares jumped away from each other, their faces having been inches apart.

“Uhh, nothing?” Sunrise responded hesitantly.

“Cool. Do you know where I could find a room? I got here the other day with Luna, was never really told where I was supposed to stay.” Egil said.

“If you arrived with Luna, you’re likely in her wing of the castle. Would you like me to take you there?” Lily asked. Egil nodded, smiling gently at her.

“Thanks. What are your names, by the way?” he asked curiously, with an eyebrow raised.

“Oh, I’m Sunrise, and this is Water Lily.” Sunrise said, smiling at him. Water Lily gestured for him to follow with a hoof, then waved to Sunrise as they left. She guided him through the castle, and entered the entrance hall. They went through the door opposite, and the castle became noticeably more night themed, with darker themes and moon motifs on the banners hanging from the ceiling. A batpony guard who was on patrol nodded politely to Egil and Water Lily, and they continued past him.

They entered a guest room that seemed more like a suite than a room, with three doors leading into different rooms. The one opposite the entrance clearly opened to a large bath, the one on the right opened to a closet, and the one on the left opened to a bedroom. There was an antiquated couch against the wall to the right of the door to the bedroom, and a painting of Celestia and Luna in a Victorian era pose. There was a writing desk below the painting, though there was a conspicuous lack of windows.

Water Lily waved to him and left after lighting an oil lamp on the desk. Now alone, he made his way to the bedroom and flopped onto the bed, unsurprised to find it a feather bed, given the average technological and societal level he’d seen thus far. The blankets were a thick dark blue wool, and the pillows were also feather stuffed. He lay there for a few minutes just thinking, before falling into a deep sleep.

He dreamt of his normal life before being sent to Equestria, then snapped into focus when he saw Luna standing there in front of him. “Well, shit. How’d you get in here?” he asked curiously, looking her up and down. Luna, meanwhile, was too busy admiring the cars and city, though when he spoke, her head snapped towards him.

“Tis a dream, though it seems most odd…” Luna responded, looking at one of the cars that were driving past. It froze as her attention settled on it, and she made her way around it, examining the vehicle.

“That doesn’t answer the question, you know.” Egil responded, popping the hood of the car, revealing a blurry image of an engine. He closed it again after a moment’s examination revealed nothing useful, turning back to Luna.

She winked at him once, blinking out of existence, to which he raised an eyebrow. He blinked, sitting up in his bed, fully awake, just as a knock came from the door. “Sir, Princess Luna has requested your presence,” the familiar voice of Swift Moon called, muffled as it was through the door.

“Of course,” he called back, rubbing his eyes by force of habit. He stood up and brushed off his jeans and hoodie, then just used his abilities to unwrinkle them.

“Sir?” Swift Moon’s voice again came from the door, sounding slightly worried.

“So, what’s up?” asked Egil as he pulled the door open. Swift had his hoof raised, presumably to knock a third time, and quickly put it down.

He nodded to Egil respectfully, before answering, “I believe the princess has requested your presence regarding the incident two days ago.”

Egil raised an eyebrow at that. “Two days?”

“Yes sir. The princess informed us to leave you be until today, as she felt you needed your rest.” Swift calmly informed him.

At this, Egil looked at him for a second before clarifying, “I’ve been asleep for two days?” At Swift’s nod, he continued, “Huh. I think that may be the longest I’ve slept since my first show.” Swift took this in stride and led him to Luna’s quarters, which were only around the corner of the hall. The two guards posted outside were obviously expecting them, given how they immediately opened the door inward, revealing a scene of a unicorn stallion with a dark grey coat and glacial blue mane, and a unicorn mare with an oddly shaped horn, who was a light pink with a cascade of solid black that made up her mane and tail.

Between the two was a young colt, who had what was presumably his father’s coat, and his mother’s horn and mane. He was sleeping quietly, as the parents were seemingly speaking with Luna, but looked up upon Egil’s entrance.

“Egil, we need to speak about thou’s place in the capital,” Luna said with finality, a sympathetic look in her eyes.

Author's Note

HAHA! I'm back, with a new chapter and writer's block taken out behind the barn and shot! Hopefully it'll stay dead this time, or alternatively my motivation comes back more frequently. My apologies for taking so long with this chapter, but hey, that's how it be.