Blank Slate

Okay... really hope one of the other alicorns knows about plumbing or we have an engineering savant of a pony just waiting to get to work with pipes, or this is gonna be an annoying few years start, I thought to myself after experiencing what this world has for restrooms. After the 'chancellor' left, I returned to get the hang of my hooves for an hour or so till nature called. Blossom then led me outside my room to the restroom, where I learned we resided in a rather old castle being repaired. I also saw some other ponies, namely a few more of the castle maid staff, a few worker ponies, and even some guards. Though, it was hard to call them guards, since their gear consisted of a breastplate over a tunic with a simple helmet alongside a spear. Their armor looked made from iron, though poorly maintained since I could see some rust all over them. This makes me wonder if they had any actual guard training or were given the armor and told to stand still.

Regardless, hoof training proceeded as normal till the late afternoon, with no sign of Stalwart in the meantime, at least till the door opened and said stallion showed up, with a forced smile as he said, "Your Majesty since you were so instrumental in placating her lady Star, you may be of assistance with your latest kin who has awakened," as I repressed the urge to groan as he was now more focused on using a title instead of my name.

"Star? Wait, she must be the one that slapped me, at least I have a name now. So... umm... are you sure you'll need me? I'm certain the case with Star was more of a fluke than anything," I stated as I was working on gripping the round stone.

"But you were such a natural in handling your fellow alicorn, even when she... committed bodily harm to you," Stalwart countered. "Not only that, you will have to meet the others at some point, so why not sooner rather than later? Wouldn't you want to have a good first impression instead of them learning that you may be trying to avoid them?"

Giving Stalwart a stare that caused him to sweat a bit, I replied, "You're just gonna be passive-aggressive about this, right?"

"Well... not really. I'm just trying to help you be the best you alongside your fellow alicorns," Stalwart said as I kept my flat look before letting out a sigh.

"Fine, lead the way, but do tell me what is wrong so I don't end up going into this blind," I responded as I made my way to the door, having a bit more practice that I'm not falling flat on my face anymore, but still taking it slow.

Stalwart would lead me down left from my room, passing a few doors as he said, "Well... she's just laying on her bed, not even moving her limbs, but talking about how they feel so stiff and weird. She even sounded like she was a bit out of it, but it doesn't seem like it. It's just rather confusing and being a worldly alicorn like you, maybe you can get some insight into what is wrong with her."

Worldly alicorn my ass, I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes till Stalwart led me to a door, opening it to reveal another dirty white coated alicorn, this one with a pink mane, just sprawled out on the bed. Resisting the urge to let out another sigh, I walked over to the bed, and seeing that the alicorn was awake with just her eyelids half drooped over her green eyes, I asked, "Umm... hello? Are you okay?"

"Oh... yeah... I'm okay. Just peachy. All these new sensations, it's a blast," the alicorn said, a dopey smile on her muzzle as she just lay there.

Is this mare stoned or something? I thought with a blink before waving a hoof over her eyes, to which she just let out a laugh. "It doesn't look like you're okay... are you just going to lay down like that still? Your legs and back might get sore from doing that," I stated as I turned to look at Stalwart, who just gave a confused shrug in response.

"Heh, legs and back... so that's what these stiff things are called?" the mare replied as she slowly lifted one of her legs before giggling a bit before dropping it back down.

"Oh, yeah, new body. Yeah, that can be weird, mind telling me what you had before?"

"Oh, nothing special, just a bunch of tentacles. Each one is flexible and great for grabbing things and moving them around all over the place. Had like twelve of them, really go at brushing with five brushes at the same time easily. These stiff things, not so much, with how stiff they are. Do you know why they're so stiff?" the alicorn stated, causing me to blink as I realized this was another one from some odd species like Star. Unless humans were the odd ones out there, but that is one can of worms I would rather not open as I focus on the matters at hand. Or in this case on hoof.

"Ummm... that would be the bones inside... did the old you even have bones?" I asked as I glanced at Stalwart again, only to see him flabbergasted at the revelation.

"Oh, are these bones the reason why these new tentacles are so stiff? Weird..." the alicorn said with another giggle.

"Yeah... things are a bit weird for me too, but how about you get up and try out your body? Walk about a bit, I'm certain that would be a new experience for you too," I proposed.

Blinking, the alicorn said, "You do have a point. Walking, never done that before," as she turned to her side and, well it looked like she was trying to crawl, but it was clear that she was trying to treat them like her old tentacles, I guess.

"Ummm... maybe you should wait till a couple of ponies are here to help you learn to use your legs," I recommended, causing her to glance at me and then shrug.

"Sure, whatever you say, I'll just chill and feel these bones some more," the alicorn replied as she took on a dopey smile once more.

"Alright, it was nice meeting you..." I said as I turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door.

"You done it once again, Your Majesty. I knew you were a natural at this," Stalwart said as I started to walk back to my room.

“Hardly, I just gave a simple suggestion and she went along with it. Nothing special that you couldn’t have done,” I countered with a roll of my eyes.

As we arrived at my room, Stalwart said, “Oh don’t sell yourself too short, you did well. This is alone of the signs of the reason why destiny picked you! But I must go now, Her Majesty Star may require me once again,” before he rushed down the hallway.

Shaking my head, I glanced at Blossom before asking, "So... it is getting late and I have been 'technically working' all day, if you count picking up stuff and walking work. So how about you go find me a book so I can have some time to relax?"

Okay, another idea on top of indoor plumbing is raising literacy rates, I thought to myself as I stared at the worn-out cover of a foal's book that Blossom found. Though the mare apologized, she admitted that she couldn't read and they didn't have many books to begin with, so I forgave her and asked to be left alone for the rest of the night. Though noting the state of the book, it made me wonder when the last time anypony wrote a book, though since I could read the title that was one saving grace out of all this. I rather not have to ask for a book on reading the alphabet after all.

Figuring that it was better than nothing, I mindlessly skimmed the pages of the book, glad it wasn't a picture book and simply had stories to read to foals at night or something like that until I stopped at what looked to be a short saying titled 'The Five Elements'. "Wonder if this is tied to the Elements of Harmony," I muttered to myself as I read it.

Fire warms the body, and water quenches the thirst. Earth provides the food and Wind cools the fur with Light shining the way. Together united, they drive away the dark.

"Huh, no correlation to Elements of Harmony, but it's better to try than do nothing," I said with a shrug before looking out the window to see the sun setting. "Welp, this has been one crazy day, let's hope tomorrow is a better day... Yeah right, there are three other alicorns according to what Stalwart said, and if this world is anything like Equestria, those three will wake up tomorrow," I muttered to myself with a shake of my head before I turned in for the night.

"So, are things proceeding as you stated?"

"It is Your Holiness. The empire fell so easily to me, and these ponies are quite easy to control."

"So you say, but there is still the matter of the two princesses."

"Fear not, they are still young and inexperienced. They needed those trinkets to defeat their first true foe, they will pale before a user of dark magic and will be under my thrall with ease."

"Don't grow too arrogant, I still advise caution. I have seen others grow too complacent with their power only to be toppled by others. I have invested too much in this endeavor for you to simply fail, and you know the price of failure."

"...Very well Your Holiness, I will prepare contingencies to ensure my inevitable victory, one way or another."

"Good, but one more thing that we need to address."

"What is it, Your Holiness?"

"I know you're plotting to use those two against me."

"Your Holiness, I am no—"

"Do not take me for a fool! You were chosen for your ambition, and I know what said ambition often entails. I expect you to try to betray, thinking that you have all the cards you need to do so. But lest you forget, all dark magic obeys me, and your frequent use of it resulted in it permeating throughout your body. One little thought, and you will be in utter agony. Not only that, but those two will heed my call instead of yours. So don't waste time with those pointless schemes against me."

"...Yes your holiness."

"Good, and remember, your magic grows stronger when fueled by your emotions. So put your resentment towards me to good use, and once this is all over, you will have the ascension you so desire, Sombra."

"What the fuck‽" I shouted out, jolting awake as I looked about, seeing my room was still dark till the door opened and a brown-coated earth pony guard with a lantern in their hoof came in.

"Your Majesty, is something wrong? I heard you screaming," the guard said as he came to my side.

Panting in shock, I took control of my breathing as I thought about what I dreamt, before replying, "I... just had a nightmare. Nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure Your Majesty? I could retrieve Stalwart if you need him," the guard proposed, concern still present on his face

"That won't be necessary. If I need to talk to him about what I dreamt, it can wait till the morning, it isn't a pressing issue," I reassured him. Inwardly, I wondered if this was something I should confide to Stalwart, but I rejected the notion since I still didn't trust him, especially with that creepy smile of his. If anything, I need to be careful of what I reveal to him, though it would be curious to see if the guard would inform him of my nightmare.

"Very well then, Your Majesty. I wish you a good night," the guard replied, some concern still present but he left the room and closed the door, allowing me to let out a tense breath. Looking out the window, I could see the moon hanging in the night sky, causing me to wonder if this moon had to be raised and lowered by unicorns or if it behaved like the rest of the known universe.

Here I thought this world wasn't connected to Equestria, then I had a dream with Sombra in it... just what the hell is going on here? And who the fuck was he talking to?