Lazlo surveyed the interior of the building he found himself in. The Canterlot Station. It was more extravagant than one would expect from a train station, even from the largest one. While it wasn't the type where the train tracks pierced through the building, leaving it looking like they'd forgotten to build the fourth wall, similar to those in his previous city, it had its own impressive charm. Like many structures in Canterlot, white dominated its facade. The building was adorned with other bright colors and featured large windows.

As he gazed at the station while walking toward it after disembarking from the train, he noticed numerous small statues gracing its roofline. The interior boasted numerous ornate pillars, and at its center, a fountain adorned with a statue of an alicorn. It wasn't immediately evident which alicorn it represented, but it was easy to guess who had inspired it. A small golden plaque near the fountain briefly recounted its history. It had been created for the station's opening. Judging by the date on the plaque, only one alicorn had been present at the time.

The station itself was primarily designed for function, featuring rows of benches, timetables, a bistro, and, of course, ticket windows. While the ticket windows were relatively plain, they still displayed some decorative elements.

With limited time for sightseeing, Lazlo exited the building and began walking toward the castle. Although the princesses had invited him for lunch, it was already late morning, and he also wished to drop his suitcase off in the room they had arranged for him.

The walk to the castle was straightforward, as the station sat along the main road leading from the main gate to the castle. The only challenge was that the station was on the outer fringes of Canterlot, almost near the city's wall. He wasn't sure if there was any kind of taxi service available here, he hadn't seen any. Then again, he wasn't certain what to look for exactly. He had almost decided to make the long trek on foot when he remembered that most major train stations typically had an information desk or help center, or he could simply ask a pony at a ticket window.

Before he could re-enter the building, he heard his name called. Turning toward the voice, he saw two earth pony royal guards approaching him.

"Lazlo Kis?" one of them addressed him. "We were sent here to take you to the castle by the order of Princess Cadance." He was slightly surprised to hear that Cadance had sent them for him but didn't comment on it.

"All right, what do I need to do?" he inquired, uncertain about the protocol in this situation.

"Please allow us to stow your luggage in the carriage's cargo hold, and then take a seat in the carriage," the guard informed him, while his companion reached for Lazlo's suitcase.

He handed his
suitcase and backpack to the guards. The carriage had a compartment under the
seat where one of the guards placed his belongings, while the other guard
showed him how to climb into the carriage. Once they had ensured his comfort,
they began trotting along the main road toward the castle.

During the journey, Lazlo noticed many ponies on the streets looking at him. Some even had cameras and took photographs. It made him a bit uncomfortable, as he wasn't accustomed to this level of attention. It felt as if he were some rare species on display, though, in truth, he was the rarest being in Equestria, if not the entire world.

Fortunately, the guards moved swiftly, and they soon arrived at the main entrance of the castle. Two ponies dressed as butlers approached the carriage.

"Greetings, Sir. Please allow my colleague to take your luggage to your room, and I will escort you to the princesses. Her Majesties are expecting you in the Royal Dining Room. Please, follow me," said one of them, an earth pony stallion, while the other, a unicorn stallion, retrieved Lazlo's belongings from the carriage. Once they had unloaded the carriage, the guards departed, presumably returning the chariot to the depot.

Lazlo followed the earth pony butler, and soon they were in the dining room. He vaguely remembered being here before, but at that time, he had been too deeply immersed in his depression to pay much attention. The room, while not as expansive as he remembered, was still spacious enough to accommodate a smaller gathering. It featured elegant pillars along the walls and large windows. In the center was a table, albeit small, with seating for six individuals or ponies. He recalled that this table could be extended if necessary. Four dishes were set on the table, two at each end and two along one side.

"Please, take a seat," the butler instructed Lazlo. "The Princesses will be here shortly." With that, he executed a slight bow and departed, leaving the human alone.

Lazlo stood in the room, looking around, uncertain of what to do next. His gaze settled on the table, which was set with an array of silverware, similar to those he had seen in movies. He had no idea about the proper etiquette for such a setting, though he vaguely remembered that it had been arranged similarly during his previous visit. He had simply ignored it back then, like most everything else.

He didn't have to wait long. The door swung open, and a cheerful alicorn entered. Princess Cadance walked in, wearing a broad smile, and greeted the human in the "human way," which consisted of two kisses on the cheeks.

"Welcome, Lazlo!" she greeted him verbally as well, following the non-verbal greeting, although it’s usually done in the opposite order.

"Hello, Princess," Lazlo greeted her with a respectful bow of his head. "You seem very happy," he observed.

"Of course, I am! Auntie Celestia asked me to organize everything related to your stay here, well, except for your presentation at her school, and she said I did well so far. But of course, your feedback will be the final score," Cadance explained.

"Is this some kind of test for you?" Lazlo inquired.

"More of a practice. I'm still learning about being a princess, and your visit is a good way to practice for a scenario when a foreign dignitary comes and will be our guest for a few days," she told him.

"Oh... Well, good for you," Lazlo responded, not having expected this but feeling the need to say something. "So far, everything was okay, though I don't think my feedback would be very useful in this case, as I don't really know much about the procedure for handling foreign dignitary guests."

"I'm glad for any feedback, regardless. By the way, I wanted to ask you if you had plans for the day after tomorrow. I would like to spend some time with you, and I'm free on that day. Maybe have lunch and some talk," she requested.

"Sure, I don't have any plans other than the reason why I'm here, so sure," Lazlo accepted her invitation, though he couldn't help but wonder what she wanted to discuss with him.

Cadance smiled and nodded, but before she could say more, the other two princesses entered the room. Lazlo bowed his head in respect, while Cadance went up to them and embraced both of her aunts.

"Welcome, Lazlo!" Celestia greeted the human with the customary kisses on both cheeks.

"Greetings, Lazlo!" Luna also greeted him with a polite nod.

"Please, take a seat, and let's have lunch together," Celestia invited, and they all took their places. The sisters sat at the two ends of the table, with Cadance beside Celestia, and Lazlo occupying the last space between Cadance and Luna.

However, Lazlo suddenly remembered that he had something to say and stood up just after sitting down.

"I have something to tell you first!" Lazlo announced. The princesses looked at him with their usual smiles. "I want to apologize for what I've done when Discord was free. I made a decision that would've made the lives of millions miserable. And I'm very thankful that you didn't banish me or throw me in a dungeon, even though I would have deserved it." He bowed his head.

"Hold that thought," Celestia said as the doors opened, and several butlers entered, carrying plates filled with different dishes.

Lazlo wasn't very knowledgeable about pony dishes. The plates contained vegetables, fruits, various hay-based foods, and he also noticed flowers in some of them. He didn't eat out often; most of the time, he prepared his own food at home.

After placing down the plates, the butlers all bowed and left. Once there were only the four of them, the princesses turned their attention back to the human. Celestia spoke again.

"I appreciate your apology, but you've already been forgiven. We all believe in second chances, even when you feel like the crime you committed is unforgivable."

"When I returned, I was saved by the Elements," Luna added. "Even after the horrible things I've done, the threats I made, and almost destroying the world, I was forgiven not only by my sister but by the ponies in general. They were wary of me, many still are, but I am patient because I know that it will take time. It is already better than before my banishment." She finished speaking and then looked back at her sister.

"I could only hope that Luna would forgive me," Celestia continued. "After all, it was my fault just as much as hers. It was very painful to see my mistake every night when I raised the Moon in her place and then every morning when I lowered it. And I was beyond joyful when she forgave me, and now we are together again." She said this with a heartfelt tone.

"I made mistakes too," Cadance suddenly spoke up. "Maybe it didn't affect as many ponies' lives, but it doesn't change the fact that I ruined a few lives and had to work hard to make it right."

"And that's what we all can do. Make it right," Celestia nodded. "But for that, we need to give a chance. I'm so happy that my little ponies are capable of such things, and only a very small portion of them would deny it. And I'm sure that you will make it right, or maybe you already have," she said, looking deep into his eyes.

"But now, let us enjoy our meal," Celestia said, but then turned to Cadance with a small frown. "My dear niece, I think you forgot something very important."

"What?" Cadance asked, looking worried. "Aunty, what did I forget?"

"You forgot to take into consideration our guest's eating habits. If my memory is correct, humans are omnivores," Celestia pointed out.

"You're right! I totally forgot!" Cadance started to panic. "I'm so sorry, Lazlo! I will make sure that there will be some meat for your next meal here!" She bowed her head.

"What?" Lazlo asked, confused.

"It looks like Cadance forgot to mention to anypony that our guest is an omnivore. Since your diet is not well known, even among the staff, I hoped that Cadance would inform them of this. Please accept my apologies," Celestia apologized as well, then turned to Cadance. "I know it's usually not our responsibility to assess this, and that this was probably a unique incident, but we need to make sure that everything is in order for our guests, even things that may seem trivial. I know that Lazlo is a special case, but I hope you take it as a lesson. We will talk about it more in the evening," she said to her.

"Of course, I apologize again, Lazlo!" Cadance spoke.

"It's okay, but how come I hear about this just now? I was here before," Lazlo pointed out after accepting the apology.

"I told you that time that we had to send our supply of meat to a small town that had many griffons, but they had a shortage of meat. You even said that it was okay, though I could imagine you not remembering it, as you weren't really listening then," Celestia pointed out.

Lazlo nodded. He really didn't remember it, but he believed that the princess was telling the truth.

After they were done with the lessons, apologies, and explanations, they could finally begin to eat. After they all finished, the staff took away everything. Soon Luna and Cadance left, as they had duties. Celestia led him to her sitting room, where they both took a seat.

"Alright, let's get to the point of this visit. I really wish to chat about many things with you, but even if Cadance and Luna are covering for me, we can never know when I'm too needed for something. But I hope you would stay after to have some more conversation. I don't even remember if we had any, where none of us was under the influence of some negative emotion," she began.

"Okay. I was never the best at small talk and such, though," he replied.

"I'm sure it will go fine. Anyway, about this summit: it takes place on an island between this continent and the eastern continent. The island belongs to no kingdom, it's a completely neutral place. I could go into the history of this whole GSSC, but it's not that relevant right now, so let's keep it short. It started as a trade deal between Equestria and the griffons. Back then, they weren't doing well, just after the fall of their kingdom. They became small independent towns, which they called colonies. At one point, one of these colonies contacted us to seek aid and try to make some kind of trade deal. They needed food, and we had plenty, especially since they are carnivores and we are herbivores. They also needed some help to tame the weather, and it turned out that with some training, they could control it, though not as well as pegasi, but still manageable. In exchange, they could provide us with building materials and rare metals, as their territories have more mountains and some ores that we don't have here."

Celestia suddenly shook her head.

"Oh dear, I said I would keep it short, and yet I'm rambling here. Okay, let's really keep it short. So the trade deal was made, and the griffon colony started to grow and annex the other colonies, mostly, but not fully peacefully. But we both realized that the trade was good for both of us, and it slowly grew into a full alliance. During that time, we came up with an agreement that we would meet up from time to time to discuss things and help each other the best we could. Also, we made sure to invite the other species that live in our kingdoms to hear from them too, and maybe we could help the other species of the kingdom, especially those with different dietary needs than the main population."

She paused for a moment to let Lazlo absorb the information before continuing.

"As we realized how big of a positive impact our cooperation had on our kingdoms, we invited others as well. The Duchy of Maretonia was the first to join. Then came Saddle Arabia, then the Zebra Lands, and finally, the Minotaur Tribes. We meet up every four years to discuss trades, cooperation, helping each other, or a new leader's introduction. Other than you, the minotaurs have a new chief, but everyone else has been there already at least once. Any questions so far?"

"In that letter you sent me with the invitation to this summit, you mentioned that there was another reason you wanted me to come. What is it?" he asked, recalling the letter.

"I did mention it, yes. Though I'm afraid I used the wrong term. It's not a reason, more of a favor to ask. The others will likely ask about your world a lot. I'm sure they will be interested in your kind's technology, but please avoid mentioning any weapons that are more advanced than what we have now. Of course, I can't and won't stop you if you do so regardless, neither can I reprimand you, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could do this for me," she told him. However, he sensed that her response wasn't the complete answer to his question. Given what he knew about her, it was unlikely she would make such an obvious mistake.

"Of course, I won't. I never planned on it, but now I will watch myself to ensure I don't accidentally say anything inappropriate," he assured her. He noticed a brief moment of relief washing over her face but couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. "But there really was something else, another reason. What was it?"

"It isn't relevant anymore. It was based on a possibility, and I wanted to be prepared for anything. But since you've figured me out on this, I'll tell you. Back then, it seemed that the dragons might join this time and become part of the cooperation, partly because their migration is close, and they will go to the volcanic lands southeast of Equestria. I was sure that in that case, they would be very difficult to work with, at least at first. I wanted to ask you to stand with me in case it went that way so we could have a bigger impact on them during negotiations. It may not sound nice of me to say things like these, but so far my dealings with dragons haven't been pleasant. They rarely agree to a fair deal, often trying to take more than they give, leading to limited trade and cooperation. I did inquire with their Dragon Lord if he was interested, but I only received the final answer a few days ago. He declined," she explained.

Lazlo didn't know much about the dragons in this world, as he had only encountered Spike. Spike had been raised in Equestria and had never met another of his kind. From what Celestia told him, these dragons seemed more aligned with the greedy dragons of mythologies. While he liked dragons in general, back in his world, he currently had enough on his plate with attending a political summit, something he hadn't initially desired, and meeting many other species. One less to deal with didn't particularly bother him.

"We also use this time to relax a little bit. Of course, we discuss issues, solutions, trades, deals, and assistance, among other things. But we also take time to share aspects of our culture, like sharing a part of our history with each other, showing them a meal from our land, or engaging in any other cultural activity. I'm sure they will be interested in learning more about your world's culture," she added, pausing briefly to gather her thoughts.

"If you want, I can tell you about each participant now, but we can also do it while we're traveling. We'll be taking a train, and it's a little over two days of a journey with only one stop, so we'll have plenty of time," Celestia continued.

"I think it will be okay to tell me when we're traveling," Lazlo said, not wanting to admit that he would probably forget most of it in the following week.

"Alright. I wanted to ask, though, do you only participate in this meeting to get over with meeting the leaders of the other nations?" she asked.

"Mostly," he answered honestly. "I really don't want them to come to my home and bother me, or even you. I feel weird enough already, and I don't need others coming to my house and seeing me like I'm some kind of tourist attraction. I'm glad that the ponies don't do that. But I also owe you a lot, after everything you've done for me. I know you said that you can't force me to say or do anything that goes against my thoughts or values, but let's be honest, the timing is a little too good. I just got the invite after the Discord incident."

"It might seem like that, but there is nothing behind it. As I said, as the sole member of your species and a citizen of Equestria, I am bound to invite you, and that is the time when we send out the invitations to the representatives of the kingdoms. The griffon, donkey, and buffalo received their invitations the same day as you. I promise you that the timing was nothing but a coincidence," she assured him. It was believable, so he decided to drop his suspicion, as it was most likely false.

"Makes sense," he simply said, admitting the truth behind her reasoning.

"On another note, I wanted to ask if you are prepared for the presentation. Also, I'd like to let you know that not only the students of my school will be present, but many students from the Canterlot Academy as well. We'll be using the largest auditorium, but still expect it to be packed to the brim," she changed the subject.

"Yeah, I'm ready. I can give you a run-down of it, or my notes on it, if you want," he offered.

"That's not necessary; I'll see it when everyone else does," she said, shaking her head.

"Okay. Huh, so many ponies are curious. I admit, I'm a little nervous, but I'll be okay. I haven't done a presentation this big before," he admitted.

"I'm sure you will do great. By the way, I asked the students to write down and collect their questions, so when that part comes, those will be ready. But I'm sure there will be others that come up during your presentation, so be ready for those. Also, will you show some of your memories to the class?" she asked. Lazlo looked at her, confused for a moment, and then remembered that there was a memory viewing spell. He shook his head, as he hadn't thought about it when working on the presentation. "If you wish, I can use it even now and show it to them, but in my opinion, it's better without it. Let them use their imagination," she offered, both the spell and her opinion on the matter. Lazlo nodded in agreement.

Celestia suddenly used her magic to open the door to the room and told one of the guards who stood at it to fetch a servant and bring some refreshments. They waited in awkward silence for a few minutes. Lazlo wasn't sure if he should say anything, especially when it came to small talk, which wasn't among his stronger skills. The princess just looked at him with her usual smile, probably waiting for him to speak up, but he remained silent.

Then, finally, a servant brought a tray filled with tea, water, and snacks. Celestia offered some tea to Lazlo, but he chose water.

"This is one of my favorite rooms," the princess decided to continue the conversation, again changing the subject. She looked back at the huge painting of her and Luna that hung above the fireplace, and a smaller painting of her and Cadance. "That painting is from before her banishment. One of the few things that survived the battle and was worth keeping. I feel very lucky for it. I often came here in my little free time in the past, just looking at it, remembering the better times of the past." Her smile became more and more sad, and Lazlo was sure he saw her eyes getting a little watery.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Lazlo finally broke the silence, a question that had been on his mind ever since he met Celestia but had never asked before. The princess nodded. "What is it like? Being immortal?"

"I will answer it if you will answer a personal question too after," Celestia said, and he nodded.

"Technically speaking, I am not immortal. I don't age, my immune system can protect me from almost anything, and I can completely heal myself from many injuries that would end another. Many ponies and other creatures envy us alicorns for it, and it can be really good if you have others whom you love and who won't leave you. But, of course, it has its sadder side. Your friends and family will eventually die, leaving you to make new friends or continue alone. It's very painful every time, and you can only learn to ignore the pain, but never become immune to it. Another thing is that some might try to find a way to kill you. Fortunately, that completely stopped over a thousand years ago, but there was a time when Luna and I learned about the dangers to us. How do humans view immortality?" Celestia asked Lazlo after some explaining. Lazlo knew that she wasn't finished with her answer, and he also knew that he had to answer her question now.

"I guess many humans want it, or at least want to extend their lifetimes. Since no one has achieved it before, we can only make assumptions about what it would be like. We often create stories with immortal characters. Gods in different religions are typically portrayed as immortal, and there are also fantasy creatures often depicted as immortal or long-lived. We can even imagine a future where we achieve immortality, perhaps by uploading our minds to a virtual reality. However, it would depend on whether we still consider that existence to be life or not," Lazlo sighed as he considered his words. "Our lives are short, and we have so little time. I think the life expectancy was around seventy-six for me at birth. I'm twenty-three now, almost at the third of my expected life, barely having reached adulthood, and now I find myself starting over," he sighed again, not wanting to dwell on the topic. He had already come to terms with the inevitability of death and tried not to think about it too much, especially now that he could potentially live much longer.

"My little ponies tend to live a bit longer than that on average," Celestia began speaking again. "I've met many wonderful ponies and other creatures who have left a profound impression on me, and it's always a source of sadness when their time comes to an end. I believe you're among those already. Despite my previous explanation, I can't really convey what it's truly like. Luna and Cadance experience it differently from me. Like most situations, it depends on the individual and how they choose to navigate it. I've chosen to help my little ponies and do my best to create a stable kingdom where they can all live in peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, I'm not a god, and I can't make their decisions for them. All I can hope for is that they have opportunities," Celestia said, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy.

A brief silence fell over the room, and Lazlo began to feel that asking about immortality had been a mistake. Although Celestia seemed willing to discuss it, she sensed his discomfort and decided to cut it short. It was now his turn to answer a personal question.

"What were the other reasons you didn't pursue a career in politics?" she asked, and he looked surprised. He wasn't expecting a question like this. He was about to ask why she chose this question, but she answered before he could say anything. "The only thing behind this question is my curiosity."

"Well, the main reason was that my mother was trying to force it on me," he mentioned, even though this was the one reason she knew about and wanted to explore the others. "I guess there might be other factors as well. I’m not a natural leader, or at least, I don't perceive myself that way. Also, I'd say I'm more interested in things than people. Another aspect is the way politics tends to infiltrate almost everything. For example, politics has encroached on areas like science." He paused for a moment. "But the primary reason was that I observed how radicalized it has become in recent times. One side makes a statement or takes action, and the other side immediately opposes it, regardless of the merits of the matter at hand. It's truly frustrating because they often fail to consider whether it would genuinely benefit the majority, or even if it had been suggested years ago by them. Then there's the issue of people. More and more individuals are exhibiting cult-like behavior, blindly following one side without questioning, turning a blind eye to their flaws, and harboring disdain for anyone who doesn't share their views. I don't seek that kind of notoriety," he concluded.

It was peculiar discussing these matters with a princess, a ruler. However, she had always exuded an aura that made it feel like any topic could be broached with her, that she would listen without judgment. It was a bit disconcerting, considering he had entertained the idea of being cautious around her. Strangely, that notion hadn't taken hold. He remembered mentioning the sensation that his mind wasn't entirely his own when he first met her, but since then, no explanation had surfaced.

She didn't comment on his response, merely nodded, her smile unwavering.

"I'm pleased to see you in better spirits. I can only assume that it indicates your capacity to move forward and discover happiness in your life here," she once again shifted the conversation.

Lazlo gave her a somewhat uncertain nod, conveying more of a "mostly" than a definitive yes, but it seemed to satisfy her.

"I hope your positivity continues to grow. I'm sorry we cannot send you back to your home, but I'm glad we could assist you in starting a new life here."

"Well, we humans are pretty good at adapting to things, if needed," he commented. "I could have ended up in worse places, to be honest, although the best outcome would have been not ending up anywhere else in the first place," he sighed, realizing he had run out of conversation topics. "I think I'll stop taking up your time for now. With your permission, I'd like to take my leave," he said, acknowledging that she was now his ruler, even though she wished to maintain a friendly rapport with him.

"Of course!" She stood up, and Lazlo followed suit. "Please, allow me to escort you. Where would you like to go?" she inquired.

"Just to my room." he replied.

"This way, then."

She led him to the entrance of his guestroom. The short journey allowed him to take in the beauty of the architecture. The tall hallways, elegant pillars, subtle decorations, and grand windows. The prevailing colors were white and purple, consistent with the rest of the city.

"If you'd like, I can show you the most beautiful parts of the castle at some point," she offered, and he nodded in appreciation.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance to his assigned guestroom.

"Here we are," she announced, leaning in closer to him. "Enjoy your stay here. If you wish to speak with me, my sister, my niece, or anyone else, simply find a guard or servant, and they will locate the pony you seek. I can't promise their availability at all times, but we do our best. Dinner will be served around seven, and a servant will inform you of the exact time. I hope you'll join us then. I'll ensure there's some meat for you," she nuzzled his cheek affectionately. "See you later."

With that, she walked away and soon disappeared from view, leaving him alone. He had enjoyed their conversation, even if the topics weren't the most cheerful. However, he knew much of that was his doing. Now, all he desired was some relaxation, allowing his mind to absorb the information and contemplate how to spend his free time here. With that in mind, he entered his room.

Author's Note

Damn... It took too long again. I'd gladly make the excuse that my work, or my dear friend, who made sure that my chapters were more readable and maybe enjoyable were behind this, the truth is that the game: Baldur's Gate 3 and also that many birthdays, name days, and even some anniversaries in my family is around this time (late summer, early autumn), so I had very little free time, and spend that on other things.

But enough of my rambling here. Many thanks to my friend again for the help. (Even if he doesn't read this note, and I already thanked him many times in person)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll hurry up to deliver the next one asap.