Snickers: On the Road

Trixie hushed the group and told them to wait at the halfway point while she announced herself. A minute later a stallion came galloping from further inside the Keep to greet Trixie. The stallion stopped at the gate in front of Trixie and panted, smiling as he greeted her. “Greetings, Great and Powerful Trixie, you’re back a little later than we expected. The Lord is ready to receive you and your,” he glanced past her to the motley crew, “friends?”

“They are barely Trixie’s friends and more travel companions. One of them is a royal prince of Equestria, but has absconded from his duties to explore the world and sow his royal oats as he goes, so we expect royal treatment for him and his herd.”

The stallion’s eyes widened and he bowed his head to the group. “Indeed. Would you follow me please, to be seen by the Lord at once?”

“Yes, Trixie would like to see her friend again. Come along, foals and gryphon, we are going now.” Trixie announced with a flounce of her cape and slight adjustment of her hat.

Snickers hurried to her side. “Why did you announce me as a royal? I’m trying to stay low here.”

“Because, you cannot escape your past, as Trixie has learned. Accept who you are or you will be doomed to lose yourself.” Trixie said before she looked around at the interior of the Keep. It was very open with a garden along one side hosting a variety of vegetables and a small grove of fruit trees along the other wall with a tower in the center.

They were led up a ramp into the tower that was a bit bigger on the inside, or so it seemed. The stone made it feel cooler than outside and the main floor was decorated lightly with a chandelier in the foyer that was walled off with wooden planks painted by children with a meadow theme. Once through they saw barrels along one wall behind many support pillars going up into the ceiling. Couches and cushions were placed around the room implying where guests were entertained until they were guided elsewhere in the tower.

A goat servant hurried to Trixie with a platter and a single metal goblet on it. She took it and nodded to the goat who looked over the other creatures with rectangular eyes. He turned and hurried to a table behind a pillar they hadn’t noticed and quickly filled several wooden tankards with something before placing them on a large platter he balanced on his back. He then hurried back to the group and turned to the side. “For the youth.”

Kiwe cantered to the front. “I am most thankful, I have been thirsty for a while.” He took one of the tankards in his golden magic and brought it to his lips, drank, and sighed. “It’s just juice,” he said.

“Leave the one with the red stripe for the griffon.” The goat stated.

They obliged and each took a drink, with Gil carefully taking a look into his before he chirped in a usual fashion. He drank quickly and red leaked down his beak to his neck. The others stopped enjoying their juice to stare at the sight.

“Is that… blood?” Silver Spoon asked as Gil finished his drink.

“And tomato juice. So good,” he sighed with a happy shiver. The feathers on his crest rose. “Can I have another?” He held the tankard back to the goat who turned to have it placed on the platter.

The rest of the foals looked at their drinks and then hesitated to finish before Snickers took a loud sip. The rest followed his example and drank their juice while the goat left to refill Gil’s tankard. Once the goat had returned and given another drink to Gil, Gil asked, “What’s this called? I’ve never had anything like it.”

The goat blinked, then glanced to a heavy wooden door. “It’s a Bloody Mary.”

Gil chuckled. “I think I’ll have another after this one, too.”

The goat shook his head. “Mary only has so much to give, sir. I’ll have to give you a Bloody Velvet next, then. Would you be willing to wait half an hour while I resupply?”

Gil stopped drinking and coughed into his tankard. He swallowed and sneered at his drink. “This is from a living pony?”

The goat laughed loudly and it echoed around the room. “No, Mary is a lamb, much like Velvet. Not sickly, don’t fret, sir. They are of the best stock in the city for griffin’s such as yourself. ”

Gil looked into his mug, then placed it back onto the goat’s platter. The rest of the foals were finished at that moment, too, and replaced their tankards. “I think I’m done drinking here for now,” Diamond Tiara stated. The rest nodded in agreement, their stomachs twisting a little at the thought of so casually drinking living blood.

The announcer moved from the wall by the foyer and greeted the group. “If you’re done refreshing yourselves, would any of you like to use the privy before we move on?”

“No, we went before we entered the city.”

“Speak for yourselves,” Trixie stated firmly. “Trixie was pulling the wagon while you all went and must go at once.”

She was led to another wooden door, this one with a small bucket cut into the front. She went in and a minute later left the room with a slight blush. “Trixie forgot plumbing doesn’t work on the first levels of this building. The chamber pot is nearly full from others using it.”

“Not a problem. Whitaker! Change the public chamber pot at once!”

“Yes, Hugo, at once!” The goat stated and rushed to set the platter down before galloping to the heavy wooden door. He pulled it open and disappeared behind it before closing it.

Hugo, now named for the group, nodded in approval. “He’ll take care of it at once, Great and Powerful Trixie. Please, follow me upstairs.”

“How tall is this place?” Silver Spoon asked.

“Seven stories tall. Two in the lower levels for the servants and storage and five above them. You’re in the first floor right now, young lady. The second floor is where we have our official banquets and parties, while smaller gatherings happen here in the main lobby. Follow me while I explain.

“The third floor is where residents, guests, and officials stay, save our lord who lives on the fourth floor with any dignitaries, leaders of state, or royals, such as your highness,” he bowed his head slightly toward Kiwe as they were led to a flight of stairs. “Lastly is the fifth floor, which is actually the roof, but it’s set up more like an outdoor villa than the traditional fortress guard tower it was originally designed as.”

“What about a dungeon,” Cress asked.

“We have a small one, but the local police and guard forces have better stockades than us here in the tower. Come along now, we must make it to the lord before luncheon is served.” Hugo said and led them all up more flights of stairs until they reached the fourth floor. “Before we enter, I must know your names and who the prince is.” The stallion asked. A maid pushing a broom rushed past them all at the glare Hugo leveled at her. Once the names were given and Snickers was called out as being royal, Hugo opened the door and stepped inside, standing by the doorway.

“Announcing: The Great and Powerful Trixie and her guests; Prince Snickers of Equestria and his mares; Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon. Also Watercress, Azikiwe, and Gil the griffon to see Lord Lorde.”

The room was well furnished with silken cushions placed in piles to be separated to fit their guests of different sizes. Tables were set around the room holding either paperwork or empty bowls for fruit or snacks. One table was decorated with lace and had a bowl of various fruits in it while a plate had vegetables on it, easily viewable since they were at the lord’s height.

The group, save Trixie, gawked at the sheep that approached them wearing a necklace of gold bobbles and charms, a blue ribbon tied into a bow around his right ear, and a silvery metal circlet around his head. He quickly met Trixie and grinned with crooked teeth. “Tr-rixie-e, it’s so good to have you ba-a-ack.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, back. So sorry, I’m a little sheepish.” He joked and several of the group chuckled.

Trixie giggled and moved to hug the sheep. “It’s okay, I don’t mind a little bleating from an old friend. How have you been these past few months? I’ve been a little horse, myself”

The sheep bleated in laughter. “Fine, the work of a Lord is never finished, though. I’m still waiting for some of my tenants to pay their taxes and rent this month, but that’s not a concern for you.” He waved a cloven hoof. “So, Snickers the royal from Equestria,” he moved to Kiwe and grinned. “It’s so nice to have you here.”

“I apologize, but I am Azikiwe. Snickers is over there.” Kiwe pointed to the colt trying to hide behind Diamond Tiara.

Lorde bleated shortly in surprise and turned quickly to face Snickers. “I am very sorry for my mistake. Most royals are unicorns, as you must know. I am Lord Lorde and I am pleased to me-e-et you. Ahem. Meet you.”

Snickers sneaked from behind Diamond and stood opposite her and peeked over her back to see the sheep. Then he narrowed his eyes. “.”

Lorde’s eyes widened and he inhaled a deep breath. Then laughed loudly. “, nonetheless. You must introduce me to these fine girls you have with you. Have you mated with them yet? I must say, going local has its benefits>!”