Death's Invitation

The travel to:

The morning had arrived and it greeted us with a nock on the door.

"Rise and shine sleepyheads!"

We got up from our cramped sleep and exited the booth "Not the worst sleep I've ever had, how about you Ma- uhh, Crimson?" He said as we were leaving the booth

"I've always been a rough sleeper, though I’m pretty sure you had a better sleep than me, I still remember that little coo of yours from my warm embrace"

"What! I did no such thing!" His face fuming

"Well, weren't you the one who complimented my fur?"

"Yea, but-" He just looked away and let out a large huff of embarrassment from his muzzle.

"Don't worry about it, it was actually kind of cute"

"What!!"

We then turned our heads to notice the station pony giggling a little to our conversation.

"Oh, uh, sorry about that, I packed some extra daisy sandwiches in my saddlebags for you two too have, here"

"Thanks for that. Oh, and when will we be leaving to Canterlot?"

"Around a little more than an hour from now, one train will be passing through soon, then you'll be on the next, it'll arrive in Canterlot just in time for the princess's day court"

"Ok, well then, shall we go sit down and eat then?"

"Sure, I'm starving"

While holding the sandwiches in our mouths, we went and sat down on the station benches.

"So, what kind of sandwiches did he say these were again?" James questioned as he looked at his sandwich and tried to get a hold of it with his hooves.

"Daisy sandwiches."

"Wait, what?"

"Well, what did you expect? Were in different bodies anyways, so just try it"

I was the first to take a bite, and... it actually wasn't that bad. James was watching my expressions to look for any disgust, but saw none, so he tried a bite too. Its seems he quite enjoys daisy sandwiches even more than I did.

"I guess I'll write that down as one of your favourites I see" All I heard was a joyful moan in reply as he continued to eat his sandwich.

We soon finished our sandwiches afterwards.

"Heh, yeah I guess so. Anyways, what are you planning on saying when we meet the princesses?"

"The actual story."

"Really?"

"Yeah, well, first I was going to mention the subject 'humans' and see if they either do, or do not know of them, hoping it's the former we can then tell them what's happened so far and hopefully they can help us"

"Sure, I guess that will work, but after all of that, where will we stay?"

"That's one thing I'm hoping they can help us with"

"Ok, I suppose that's all I've got to ask for now, anything we can do to pass the time?"

"Well, I know I can sit back and enjoy the peaceful sounds while we wait, how about you?"

"Sure, I guess"

The first train had already passed through, it was probably about half an hour until the next train we leave on. We saw a few ponies leaving and arriving on the first train, none that I knew from what I saw. But it was still nice and peaceful most of the time. Then I wondered if James had any other questions he might've thought of.

"Any other questions about equestria?" He was silent for a few seconds, then asked,

"Anything else you could tell me about changelings?"

"Sure, you already know a few of the basics, what you look like, and what a changeling's unique magical ability is."

"The leader of the changelings is King Thorax and-- oh..."

"Oh?"

"Uhh, the changelings, they uhhh, used to be..."

"What?"

"Evil..."

"oh."

"Yeah, the changelings used to be ruled by the tyrant Queen Chrysalis. They used to change into the form of other ponies to impersonate them and live by feeding off of the love and joyful emotions from that pony's loved ones."

"Oh..."

"Then a single changeling decided he didn't want to fight or feed off of another's love."

"He was then kicked from the changeling hive for his ill will to fight or steal love, but soon after, he simply made a friend, and discovered changelings don't need to feed off of other's love if the changelings were to embrace love rather than take it."

"Then with the help of his new friend and a few other ponies, he stood up to Queen Chrysalis, defeated her and taught the changelings how to embrace love between one another, then it all turned out great and the changelings have become grear allies with ponies"

"Wow, what was the name of that single changeling?"

"Thorax"

"Really, not only did he do all that, he even became the new changeling ruler?"

"Yep, oh, and will you look at that, it seems my little story has taken up almost all the time until our train"

James then looked up at a clock by the booth, "Well then, it seems so"

It was only five minutes until our train, we waited about half of it or so on the bench then got up to stand and stretch our legs throughout the last bit.

Then the station pony came to wish us farewell to Canterlot,

"Now don't go causing a ruckus on the train"

"Don’t worry, we won't"

"And thank you for everything you've done"

"It's alright, and I've sent a message to the ponies on the train of a bat with a Crimson mane and a changeling travelling to Canterlot on urgent business."

"So in other words you two aren't going to be bothered for tickets on your ride and all you have to do Is hop on and hop off"

"Thank you"

"Well then, it looks like your ride is here"

The train came to a stop and we entered with all the other ponies traveling on this train. We found a spot in one of the back passenger carts, I let James sit next to the window so he could have a nice view on the way to Canterlot. Then we were off.

As we were on our way I noticed James taking in the sights, mostly just a bunch of small towns and farms, but it was all new and beautiful to him, and, beautiful to me too I suppose.

"Enjoying the view ey?"

"Yeah"

"Well just wait until we get to Canterlot"

"What's Canterlot like?"

"Big fancy city, Capitol of Equestria, all kinds of ponies, but usually it's home to all the fancy, sophisticated unicorns generally, and also home to the two rulers of equestria of course"

"Ok then, do you know where we'll be going?"

"Canterlot castle, pretty hard to miss it so I think we can find our way"

As we exited the tunnel we were currently just in, something new entered our sight, well, new to James sight to be precise.

"Wait, is Canterlot on the side of a mountain?"

"Yep, and if you can see, the largest building you see right now is Canterlot castle"

"Wow, I can't believe a place that large is on a mountain like that!"

I almost began to laugh too early before I could even say the joke,

"Damn, I feel like a tour guide right now" We both had a good laugh at that one. Then we arrived at Canterlot's train stop.

The arrival:

We had just stepped out the train, as expected, James was in awe of the sight of such a magnificent city.

"Geez, it's only a train stop, we haven't even got to the castle yet"

"Yeah I know, but it's much better then my home anyways"

We were just about to head off towards the castle, but a guard pony decided to cross our path.

"Hello there you two, I've never seen anyone like you two here before, is this your first time in Canterlot?"

"Why yes, it is"

"Well then, what brings you to our fine city?"

"We're actually here to see the princesses"

"Oh, well then, you're just in time for the princess's day court to begin, do you need help getting to the castle?"

"Wonderful, and I think we can manage on our own thanks"

"Well, I'll let you two be on your way then"

The guard did as he said and let us pass, we carried on towards the castle and I heard a little sigh of relief from James.

"Thought we were in trouble didn't ya?"

"Yeah"

"Well, I suppose he is in his right to ask what we're doing in Canterlot, I'm pretty sure changelings don't often come to Canterlot, and usually the only bat ponies here are Luna's royal guard"

"I guess that makes sense."

"Anyways, where to tour guide?"

"To Canterlot castle!" We let out a laugh and continued on our way.

There wasn't too much we passed by, a few restaurants, some boutiques, plenty of house's, and Canterlot library. There was also the public castle gardens next to the castle's front entrance.

We then stood right out front the castle entrance,

"It's even bigger up close"

"Of course it is, anyways, shall we?"

James gave a shy nod, I gave him a quick hug around the neck and reassured him, we then approached the front entrance.

As expected the guards at the entrance stopped us before the entrance and asked what our business is,

"We're here to see the princesses in the day court"

"Very well, you may enter"

"Speak with the receptionist after you enter and tell her you are here for the day court, she may ask a few questions, but you two should be fine"

We did just that, it was only one question asked too, but it was a tough one for James,

"What are your names?"

"Mine is Crimson Night and uh, well you see, my friend is quite shy when talking to other ponies or telling them his name"

"I'm presuming our names are for when we're announced to the princesses when we enter, so uh, could something like 'Crimson Night and his partner' work?"

"Hmm, unusual, but very well. You will be announced to the princesses as 'Crimson Night and his partner' when you enter, now take a seat and I'll call for you when it's your turn"

"Thank you"

We then went to take a seat, James seemed to have wiped a bit of sweat off his forehead as he asked,

"Did you only just come up with that line now?"

"Yeah, at least it worked"

"Let's hope it was worth it then"

He was right, this was either all worth it, or the total opposite, and if it was the total opposite, then I'd have almost no clue where to go next, also the fact of confusing the princesses of a mythical creature that even they don't know of.

There was a few other ponies here before us, so there was a bit of a wait. Then the receptionist called out my name and told us it was our turn.

We approached the entry to the princess's throne room and heard the guards on the inside introduced our names before we entered.

'Crimson Night and his partner'.

The princesses gave each other an intrigued look, wondering why somepony has kept their name unknown for the time being.

We entered.