Death's Invitation

As we left the castle James asked "So, where do you want to go first?"

"Well, I was probably thinking of taking a little stroll through those public castle gardens right next to us, maybe go to the library next and see if we can get you a book on changling biology and history if you would like, have a look around and see what else might be interesting, and then grab a donut I guess"

"Sounds great!"

We then proceeded to enter the gardens. It was pretty much empty apart from a family of tourists, there was only three of them, a mare, stallion and their little colt, I let James take the lead so I can just follow him and enjoy the peaceful sounds and smells of the garden.

But after a little bit of trotting around James came to a stop at a certain interesting statue,
"Uh, what's this kind of statue doing here?"

He then turned to me wondering if I knew what a statue of these two strange creatures and a little pony was doing here.

"Ah, I would recognize this anywhere, you see Cyax, this isn't just a normal statue, its actually three beings imprisoned in stone."

"Queen Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow"

His eyes widened in surprise, "What!?" He then looked at the statue and then back to me,

"Indeed, I suppose it is better than being hung or something like that for their crimes"

"And those crimes are?"

I gave a little smirk knowing how much of a story this was going to become and how many story's there were to be told of this "Oh I don’t know, maybe each of them trying to take over equestria on multiple occasions for example"

"Oh please do go on"

"Gladly"

Then I proceeded to tell him all the stories of these three foes, all the way from the great canterlot wedding, to the final stand against all three of them empowered with the strength of Grogar's ancient bell.

As I finished my stories I noticed more than one creature had given a 'wow' when I was done. I then noticed the family of tourists had been listening to my tales,

"Oh, uh... hi"

The family then realised I was done with the stories, "Oh, sorry for listening on you like that, but those where amazing" the stallion said

"Yeah, they are quite the tales aren't they." I replied

"Did that all really happen mister?" The cute little colt asked in his young squeaky voice.

"Why indeed little one" and I gave him a little nudge on his head, (His mane was sooooooo soft).

"Enjoying Canterlot you three?" I asked the family

"Indeed we are" said the mare

"We came all the way from Manehattan to visit!" the stallion stated.

"Ah, the big city I see, I used to live in a place like that, but recently I've learned to enjoy the peaceful sounds of the world like this garden or a forest for example, quite relaxing"

"Agreed, well I suppose we should be off then, shall we honey?"

"Sure, so much to see!"

Then the family went to leave the gardens, then the colt stopped just in front of me, "Thanks for the stories mister!"

"No problem, now you better catch up to your parents before they leave" The colt nodded and sped off to his parents, then they were gone.

"That's it, you're killing me Crimson, to much cuuute!" James said, bursting out in laughter.

"Ha! You're dying from cuteness? Did you feel how soft that little colt's mane was?" After James was able to catch his breath from all his laughing

"Okay okay, I guess you win."

"Well, shall we head to the library and find you a few books for you to learn more about Changelings?"

"Sure, cant wait for a donut later too"

We then headed out the garden and down the road to the Canterlot library we saw on our first walk through Canterlot.

We soon arrived at the library and went straight in.

"Wow, this has to be one of the biggest library's I've ever seen" James said in a slightly lowered voice, heh, even though all that we've been through, he still remembers to be quiet in a library.

I then proceeded to the nearest reception desk with James following closely behind,

"Good evening, im Speed Reader, is there a certain book you may be looking for?"

"Because I'm the best and quickest in this library at finding any subject of book anypony may need, or are you returning some books instead?" She said

"Looking for books, Changeling biology or history please"

"Yep, we definitely do have some books for that somewhere, if you'll just follow me"

Then she hopped out from her desk and we followed her through a few aisles of books.

She soon grabbed one down and handed it over, 'The body and biology; Changelings, the
6th edition from the B&B series'.

"Actually quite reliable that series, now, onto the history"

A few more rows later she handed over another book, 'The history of changelings' 'After King Thorax updated edition'.

"There we go, will you be reading here or loaning the books?"

"Loaning please"

"Well then I'll take you back to my desk, write down some details and then you can have 'em"

We then went back to her desk and all she asked was ours names and where we're currently living, as expected, she was a bit surprised at the answer to the latter.

"Oh, you two are staying in the castle? For how long?"

"Long enough to return the books when we're done with them that's for sure"

"Well then I'll just do this aaand-- done! You can now take those books with you wherever you please"

I then use my wing to open the saddlebags and chuck the books in, which felt a bit more easier and natural than what I would think, Its still only day two in equestria for me.

"Thank you. Oh, and do you know the way to pony Joe's? Me and my friend were going to go grab a snack"

"Just down the other end of the street, back past the castle"

"Ok, thanks again"

We then waved goodbye as we left the library and headed down the street. "You seem to be a natural with those, never thought you could do something so practical like that with them so soon" James said as he pointed at my wings

"I was kind of thinking the same thing actually, anyways let's go get a donut and then go see what our rooms are like back at the castle, we actually haven't seen them yet"

"Oh, yeah!"

The rest of our travels went smoothly, we got to Pony Joe's, both got a chocolate donut,
used my wings again to bring out and put back the pouch of bits and was complimented yet again by James for my practical use of them.

I then told him after we sat down at a table that he could also conduct a bit of magic from the horn he had too, magical laser beams or levitation for example, he gave a pass on the lasers but said he'd love to learn the levitation. Then we returned to the castle with no trouble from the guards.

It was about 4 o'clock and it seems the princesses had just finished their day court as it looks like they were just leaving the throne room, "Ah, good evening you two. How was your stroll around Canterlot?" Celestia asked, James was actually the first to answer,

"Great! We met this tourist couple in the gardens with their cute little colt, while Crimson was telling me the tales of Tirek, Cozy Glow and Chrysalis when I asked what a certain 'weird statue' in the garden was.”

“We then went to the library and got out a couple of books to help me learn a little bit more about myself and changelings, and then we went and got a donut from pony Joe's."

"Well, it seems you two had a fun time" said Luna.

"Indeed, and who knows, maybe Cyax might learn a little magic trick or how to fly from one of those books" I gave him a quick nudge and a chuckle.

"Well, I suppose you'll be wanting to head to your room's and talk about the days events and have a look over those books you got, won't you?" Celestia suggested.

"Indeed" I replied.

"Well then, we will get a guard to alert you when it is time for dinner"

"Ok."

We then went to our room's as the princesses went somewhere else in the castle.

It seems James had decided who's room is who's, since he just went straight into one without a single word or even opening the door to look at the other one.

"So I guess you choose this room then?"

"Yea, I just want to plop onto a bed right now" He did just that, ran to the bed and chucked himself onto it.

"Hey, it's almost as soft as you" He tried to say through his chuckling.

"Thanks I guess"

"Well I'm going to go into my room and put my saddlebags somewhere- Oh wait, here's your books"

I then take the books out of my saddlebags and put them on top of James' bedside table.

"Oh yeah, I guess I might give those a little look through before dinner, or maybe a nap instead"

I then left James to himself as I went over to my room. It was pretty much the same as James' room, a bed with a small table to the side, a cabinet, bookshelf, all the general stuff you'd find in a average bedroom.

I took off the saddlebags and placed them next to the beside table and hopped onto the bed, and I immediately laid flat out and spread my body over the bed as a felt how soft it was.

"He wasn't kidding" I said to myself.

I just continued to lay on the bed and think about the days events, but surprisingly, Luna kept popping into my head a few times, probably just excited for the flying lessons.