Return of the Lord

Twilight lay her head against the cold glass of the window she was sitting next to, and stared out unto the world as it flashed by before her. From below, she could hear the heavy sounds of the train thundering over the rails, but slightly bored, she abandoned her observations, and rose from her seat. Stepping out into the another compartment of the carriage, she could see that Rarity was fast asleep on her bed, and further on down the room, Midnight Feather sat and stared out the window.

Why did I let him come along? Hay, why did I even tell him I was going? Well, he is a grown pegasus, I can't exactly tell him not to go.

Twilight walked over to a nearby window and glanced outside, catching sight of a nearby mountain. The light was fading, but she could make out the silhouettes of several towers on the far side of the mountain. It would be a while before they reached Canterlot.

"Twilight." The cold voice came from behind, and made her jump slightly, but turning round she saw it was just Midnight Feather.

"Yes?" Twilight replied rather quickly, but soon regretted it slightly as she thought she might have come across a little hostile.

"I was just wondering," Midnight Feather continued, seeming not to notice mind or even notice if Twilight had indeed appeared hostile, "what exactly you and Rarity will be doing once we get to Canterlot? And also, whereabouts will we be staying?"

Twilight panicked a little, suddenly realising she had nothing believable to tell Midnight Feather. She couldn't really tell him that the whole reason she was travelling to Canterlot was because she was highly suspicious of him and hoped that something about him was locked away in a secretive wing of a forbidden, or maybe not so forbidden, library, so she quickly had to think of a cover.

"Um, Rarity is attending a special event, and I'm accompanying her!" Twilight grinned wider than wideness itself, but it looked rather forced. "Oh, and there are rooms we can stay in in the Princesses' castle."

The last part wasn't exactly a lie, as she had written to the princess requesting if she and her friends could stay in some of the rooms that they stayed in during the wedding, but she had left before the Princess had even had time to reply. Twilight hesitated grinning for a second.

Why was Midnight Feather coming anyway? What did he want in Canterlot?

Twilight almost laughed.

Don't be so silly, Midnight Feather was probably going to Canterlot to see some of the sights, right? I mean, it is quite nice this time of year.

"Oh, ok, it's always nice to know I'm going to have somewhere to stay before I arrive." Midnight Feather explained, and Twilight relaxed, and began to walk away. "Oh, and Twilight, do you know if there are any libraries in Canterlot?"

Twilight froze through half a pace, thankful her back was to Midnight Feather, so he couldn't see her half shocked, half terrified, expression.

"Um.... Well... I'm sure...." Twilight paused, and started glancing around frantically.

He's on to me! Oh no, oh no! Think Twilight, think! You're intelligent, aren't you? If Celestia saw you like this she would send you back to magic kindergarten!

Twilight visibly shuddered, and Midnight Feather raised his eyebrow slightly.

"Um, well I'm not going to be with Rarity the whole time I guess, so, um, I guess you could visit the royal library with me in my spare time?" Twilight almost kicked herself.

Taking a visitor into the depths of the most revered library in the whole of Equestria? Was she mad? Who knows what dark secrets he could find and use against her? Or the princesses?

Twilight's paranoia was cut abruptly short as Midnight Feather offered a short thanks, and then walked back to his personal bed cabin as the sun finally lowered itself below the horizon, plunging the outside world into darkness.

Ah well, nothing more I can do now, I guess. He's just another pony anyway, right?

Tired, and only a little worried, Twilight retreated to her carriage, and with a final glance out of the window at the night sky, got into bed and fell asleep.

Rarity shrieked a little as she was jolted awake, primarily because she was now firmly on the floor, whereas a few seconds before, she had been resting peacefully on her bed. Scrambling to her hooves, she noticed the train was no longer moving, and looking out a nearby window, she could see the train had arrived at Canterlot.

Rarity could hardly contain her excitement at the prospect of all the events and parties she would be attending over the next week, and unlike last time, she would hopefully be able to do so without being forced to choose between friends or fame. Exiting her bed cabin, she trotted gracefully down the empty halls of the carriage, before slowly, and carefully, stepping off the side of the train onto the awaiting platform below.

When she looked back up, her four hooves planted firmly on the ground. She saw Twilight and Midnight Feather both looking back at her. Twilight seemed a little annoyed at how long she had taken disembarking the train, Midnight Feather looked... expressionless, as usual.

Why had Twilight taken him along?

Rarity didn't mind Midnight Feather, but felt it was kind of odd how he was accompanying them to Canterlot, having only been in Ponyville a few days. Regardless, Rarity thought he was rather well spoken, and most likely quite the gentlecolt, despite his rather frosty demeanour.

With all of them off of the train, it whistled loudly, before slowly pulling away from the station. The trio then started a rather brisk walk, much to Rarity's discontent, she would have preferred a slow, leisurely stroll, through the streets of the nation's city. At last they began to draw close to the castle.

If Rarity had been focusing on Midnight Feather, instead of the surrounding architecture, ponies, and their attire, she would have noticed he had become slightly uncomfortable, but as she was not, she did not notice in the slightest, and Twilight, absorbed in her own thoughts, did not either.

Zaros carefully scanned the area, but his fears were confirmed. Whether or not it would become a problem was debateable, but Zaros would have to try and limit the amount of power he used, and try to conceal the rest, for the two powerful beings he had located from orbit appeared to be located in the very castle Twilight was leading them to.

If they can't tell anything strange about me, then hopefully I should have less reason to worry in the future, and be able to use a little more of my ability without fear of detection.

If the two beings did indeed detect him, and felt somehow offended by a pegasus who could also cast magic, then Zaros was sure he would easily be able to defeat them, but he did not desire the extra effort, and had calculated it would be, overall, detrimental to his overall regeneration.

Before long, however, they were at the castle gates, and Twilight, who had got through the security effortlessly, and obviously seemed to be favoured by these minor deities in some way, seemed determined that they introduce themselves immediately, and make their presence known to the princesses, as Twilight had called them.

Ah well, here goes.

Princess Celestia sat on her throne, a little relieved, as the government representatives and officials from Stalliongrad slowly filed out of the audience chamber. She glanced over to Luna, and they shared an understanding glance.

So I didn't imagine it, it really was that boring!

Now that she and Luna were alone, Celestia finally let out a little giggle.

How truly dull those politicians were!

Celestia turned to Luna to ask her opinion on the meeting, when all of a sudden a guard burst into the room and started trotting up to the Princesses.

Celestia frowned a little.

"You care not to knock or introduce oneself? What is the meaning of these actions, has something important transpired?" Celestia said in a loud and commanding voice.

The guard paused a little, catching his breath, obviously rather nervous, before lowering himself and replying, "Your highness, your student Twilight Sparkle is outside, and wishes for an audience immediately."

Celestia's mood brightened immediately.

"Well why are we waiting then? Send her in!" Celestia replied, in a much better mood than she had been before the previous meeting.

The guard scurried back across the hall back to the door from which he had arrived, and returned a short while later flanked by Twilight, Rarity, and another, strange pegasus pony whom Celestia did not recognise.

Celestia had known they would be staying in Canterlot, however, as Twilight had mentioned that she needed three rooms in her letter, which she had sent yesterday, and if the pegasus was a friend of Twilight's then she certainly didn't mind.

"My Faithful Student, did you wish to see me?" Celestia said to the three ponies.

"Princess! I was just hoping you had got my letter?" Twilight replied, slightly concerned.

"Yes, don't worry, they are all ready for you. I'm sure a guard will show you to them when you're ready." With that, she nodded to a guard at the back of the hall, who snapped upright and walked forwards a few paces, waiting for Twilight to finish.

"Oh, um, Ok Princess, thanks once more!" Twilight replied, although Celestia could tell Twilight seemed to be a little disappointed. Regardless, the ponies said their thanks and departed, and the guard led them off into another area of the palace.

"Sister, If one may offer her opinion?" Luna suddenly spoke up next to her.

Celestia nodded.

"Well, I do not fear Twilight's judgement, but the pegasus whom was accompanying her seemed to be most strange. Thou would agree?"

"Yes, he was most odd." Celestia said wistfully, and thought deeply for a moment. However, she was exhausted after the day's events, and so she left the hall and retreated to her quarters, and Luna did so also.