When Twilight returned, she told us that her friends would be a while, as they needed to pack. So while we waited, we sat down and continued to talk.

“So, Laurence, other than these great ones, what did you study at this college?”
“ I studied quite a few things. Some as simple as literature and mathematics, to more advanced topics such as chemistry and pharmacology.”
“That is quite impressive. How long did you study there?”
“ I studied there for about 5 years, taking only a year for each subject.”
“Really? Only 5 years, with one year per subject? What degrees did you get?”
“ I got a doctorate in chemistry and pharmacology, and a masters in mathematics. I also had a bachelor’s in literature. Couldn’t get a degree in biology in old ones, otherwise I would have a doctorate in that as well.” Twilight’s jaw hit the floor.

“Wow! Even I don’t have that many degrees! ”
“Yes, there was a reason I was the personal protege for master Wihlem, the founder of the college. Speaking of degrees, what do you have Twilight? And you as well Celestia?”
“I have a doctorate in magic and magical research, and a masters in literature and chemistry.”
“Its been so long I forgot what degrees I have. I do remember my doctorate in magic and magical research, like my dear student Twilight.”

“Well, that is impressive! Most people I met at byrgenwyrth only had one or 2 degrees, and most of the time their highest was a masters.”
Twilight blushes at that comment, while Celestia chuckles. I get the feeling that she has more degree than she is letting on, but I don’t care. I have found fellow intellectuals at my level!

As we continue to converse, I notice the sound of the door opening. The first of Twilight’s friends has arrived. The orange earth pony, applejack.
“Well howdy there Twi. Good to see ya! And it’s an honor as usual to see ya princess Celestia. And howdy to ya as well Laurence.”
“Hey AJ!”
“Hello applejack.”
“ A pleasure, Miss Applejack.” She only had her hat and her saddlebags. Glad she packs light, because I imagine how much a nightmare some of the others might be.

The next to arrive was Rainbow dash, who was upset to see Applejack got here before her. Then was Pinkie Pie, who somehow hopped out of a book labeled ‘wormholes and you’. I’m not even going to question it. Flutter shy arrived shortly thereafter, carrying saddlebags, as well as luggage that looked a little too ornate for the shy ones taste. I was confused, until the next 2 arrived.

Next to enter was spike, but he was barely recognizable under the amount of luggage he was carrying. He looked like some sort of purple and gold trimmed turtle. Finally was Rarity, carrying her saddlebags, as well as some more luggage. It seems that Fluttershy and the young drake decided to volunteer to help her carry her obscene amount of luggage. For which I might add, was most likely going to be no more than a few days for them.

“Rarity, did you need to bring so much?”
“A lady must always be prepared, darling.”
“For what? Are you going to scale mount canterlot by hoof?”
“Oh! That sounds like fun! And while we do it we can camp, have a fire, make s’mores, tell spooky stories, get scared by Laurence’s stories due to the terrifying nature of the place he came from and the indescribable beings that resided there, go to sleep, die of hypothermia mere feet away from salvation!.Let’s do it!” As everyone just stared at her, I couldn’t help but wonder just what the hell this pink one actually was. Maybe she had some relation to a great one.

After that… interesting exchange, we helped Rarity get her luggage loaded, before boarding the chariots. I feel bad for the poor saps pulling Rarity and her luggage, best hope they had a light breakfast. As everyone sat down, Princess celestial leaned into my ear.
“You might want to hold on. Everyone’s first flight can be a little… hectic for them.”
As I grip my seat, curious as to how bad it could be, we took off.

If I could describe the flight, I would say as if I was in a small shack that had been lost in a sea of beasts, all banging at the walls to try to get into the shack to get at the tasty prize inside. Several times I had to grip down on the seats harder. Every time, the seat creaked a bit more than the last, until shattering into splinters in my hand. As I begin to pick them out, we hit a bout of rough weather, and I go flying across the interior, to the amusement of the other occupants.

As soon as we landed, I hopped out, and quickly lost my breakfast. As I asked Celestia if one of her servants could bring me a mop, a trash bin, and a bucket, she giggles, before teleporting it away. As I watch her teleport it away, I hear a splat and muffled shouting. Celestia looks mortified, and I in turn, begin to giggle.

After that incident, we enter the castle. Twilight leads her friends to the guest rooms, as I am led to the throne room. There, we meet a pony, with a blond mane and white hair, wearing a suit and having a compass on his rear. He takes one look at me, scoffs, turns to Celestial and begins to complain.

“Auntie, why did you bring back this strange mangy creature? It looks feral.”
“That, Blueblood, is Laurence, the last member of his kind.”
“Well if they all looked like him, no wonder they’re all gone.”
And with that remark, I could feel myself ignite.

“ For your information, I was turned into this against my will. I was once a proud scholar, the leader of a sprawling city, and the vicar of a church, meant to heal the sick. And from what I gather from you, you appear to be a distant descendant of Celestia, who is so inbred you can barely count to 2, and likely hasn’t influenced a dignitary to try a different food for breakfast. I on the other hand, forged alliances with nations, saved thousands of lives, and helped pioneer research into a never before discovered study. So before you go insulting me for how I look, to better have some real accomplishments.”

As these words came out my mouth, he began to slowly shrink. After I was done, he nodded, turned around, and began to run away, crying. I, looked to the princess, expecting her to be mad, but she was laughing her ass off, to the point of tears. I guess he was a nuisance to her, and seeing him be put in his place made her day.

After that happened, Celestia took me out in the garden for a walk. She said that it was her favorite place, as it helped calm her nerves after a very stressful situation, and she believed that I could use a little breather after that noble snob had been put in his place. As we were walking by a strangely serpentine statue with a deer head, I noticed the statue had begun to slightly crack.

Author's Note

Thank you to Fxcf for the suggestion of breaking up the text a bit more to help the flow! You have earned the title of honorary hunter!