A Strike of Change

A Nice Place to Stay

“What!? This isn’t like Princess Celestia, why would she want to meet Lucius so soon and why alone? I have to inform him early next morning if we want to get there by the afternoon.”

Twilight paces around her tree house library nervously, trying to figure out why this was so urgent. Princess Celestia usually takes a few days to arrange a meeting, no matter who it was. After the many letters the Princess sends, Twilight knows what her intentions are through the way she writes. This letter seems urgent. Maybe humans were dangerous, what if they actually did murder ponies! Oh no, I’ve got to check if Fluttershy is alright…

Spike groans and stands next to Twilight, “You can do whatever you want but just don’t wake me up so early tomorrow, I’ve been tired all day.”

“Fine, but I’ve got to check on Fluttershy to see if she’s alright.”

“Oh so now you’re worried? I’m going to be the one saying ‘I told you so’ after you find out Fluttershy is actually in danger.”

Twilight sighs and tries to calm herself down, she was the one who reassured Fluttershy so it would be her fault if she was in any kind of danger. She opens the door slowly and peers out the gap between the door and frame; there is nopony in sight, just as expected. The luminous moon shades the town in a soft blue glow.

“Jeez Twilight, why are you acting so sneaky?”

“AHH!”

She screams loudly at Spike's sudden remark, it frightened her to say the least. She noticed the door was still open and her scream had echoed to all the neighbouring houses. Lights start to flick on and a few ponies look out their windows. It was already dark so shadows were cast onto the dirt paths by the lights in each of the ponies’ houses. Twilight could see a few ponies walking around their rooms and she could hear soft mumbling throughout the neighbourhood.

But fortunately after a few minutes of being patient waiting, everypony decides to go back to sleeping. Light’s turn off one by one until the moon’s glow covers everything once again.

“Spike! You almost made have a heart-attack! Just go to bed and I’ll be back soon ok?”

Spike almost chokes on his words as he attempts to hold back a laugh. Twilight aims a frustrated glance at Spike and heads outside. She can hear giggling from inside her library which quickly escalates to a loud laugh.

Twilight approaches Fluttershy’s cottage after a 5 minute walk. The lights are still on and can be seen from afar. They’re still awake? It’s so late, they should have been to bed an hour ago. *Thump* A soft thump came from inside the cottage, followed by rapid flapping of wings. Twilight tenses at the thought of Fluttershy being in danger, it sounded like Lucius was tackling Fluttershy.

*Thump* Another thump can be heard, this time it was louder and caused a few birds to fly away in the area. Now Twilight was worried, she gallops up to the door and knocks as hard as she could while kicking up some dirt in the process. Heavy footsteps can be heard through the wooden door, coming closer and closer. Everything was silent except the unlocking of the wooden door and the slow creaking.

“Oh, hello Twilight! Why are you here so late?”

Lucius answers the door with a bead of sweat making its way down his forehead. He smiles warmly to Twilight as she glares at him.

“Where’s Fluttershy!? Is she alright!?”

Lucius’ smile disappears and he takes a step back because of her forceful question. “She’s right here, why do you seem to worried?”

He opens the door fully and Fluttershy trots to the door while giggling, Twilight raises an eyebrow and looks behind Fluttershy and Lucius, the room is a mess; pieces of furniture are scattered throughout the cottage with a few small things scattered around the place.

“What happened? Are you alright Fluttershy? It looks like there’s been a fight in here!”

Lucius’ smile returns as he realizes why she was so paranoid. “Well, technically it was a fight but it’s just a game I taught Fluttershy. We humans call it wrestling and I used to do it all the time.”

Twilight’s head dips down and she lets out a loud sigh. She was relieved that Fluttershy wasn’t being assaulted by Lucius. When she raised her head to look at him, she sees a bruise on the side of his head. Twilight opens her mouth to ask him what that was from, but he had noticed her curious stare.

“Oh the bruise, Fluttershy accidently kicked me when I was pinning her down. She’s pretty good for a beginner.” He smirks at Fluttershy.

She gives Lucius a sorry look and moves her attention to Twilight, “Hey Twilight, Lucius told me so many stories about his world and what they did for entertainment there. He said something about vi- vid- ee-“

“Video games, I was telling you about the technology we had. It’s a pity you don’t have them in Equestria. Fluttershy explained so much to me, I should know the basics so it won’t be too difficult to live here.”

“Well I’m just glad you’re not a threat to us…”

“Twilight, I thought you were the one who told Fluttershy not to worry.  Besides, I wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

She calms down and returns to her normal mental state at that response, after all, she was the one who reassured Fluttershy. Twilight stands awkwardly in front of Lucius and Fluttershy for a few seconds until she remembered Princess Celestia’s letter, I might was well tell him about it since I’m already here, I hope he can get enough rest before we depart next morning.

“Ah! Lucius, Princess Celestia has arranged a meeting for you tomorrow afternoon. Her letter sounded pretty urgent so I suggest you get ready for tomorrow, we will take a train to Canterlot early next morning.”

“Next morning!? I thought you said it would take at least a few days to arrange a meeting!”

“U-Um… Sorry Lucius, even I was surprised when I read the letter. My mentor has never been so urgent about something like this.”

“Mentor!? Your mentor is the Princess!?”

“Yes of course, she was the one who tutored me and gave me magic lessons. It’s because of her I got to come here and make these great friends!”

Lucius leans against the door frame and rubs the back of his neck. At least that explains the letters, but having a princess as a mentor? I’m kind of jealous of her; I’ve never really met royalty back at Earth. Lucius had hoped the visit to the princess would be delayed for a few days so he could clear out a few rumours floating around Ponyville. Fluttershy told me all about the best places to visit tomorrow, but I guess I’m going to have to cancel those plans.

“Alright then, I’ll need to get some sleep and clean myself up for tomorrow.” Fluttershy nods to Lucius and raises a forehoof to point at the bathroom.

“Bye Twilight, I’ll see you soon I guess.”

Twilight grins at Lucius and waves a goodbye to him before he leaves for the bathroom door. Phew, I thought he was going to be more resistant at Princess Celestia’s abrupt request. I doubt she actually thinks humans are dangerous… He seems nicer than most stallions I’ve met.

The next morning…

“H-Hey… Lucius, it’s time to wake up. You need to get ready for the train trip…”

*Snore* “Just… One more minute mum…”

Fluttershy smiles and giggles, it’s nice to have someone who actually appreciates her help, it’s usually only her animals that she takes care of who shows her some gratitude. She slowly closes the door and quietly trots downstairs to get breakfast ready for him. Rustling and footsteps can be heard from upstairs as the click of the opening bedroom door echoes through the hallway. Birds were singing their usual melodies and the aroma of morning nature wafts through the cottage.

Lucius walks down the stairs to see Fluttershy preparing some food in the kitchen, how did they hold things with their hooves? Is that even physically possible…? Lucius shrugs it off and sits down at an old, round wooden table.

“Oh Lucius… I have some breakfast for you, I didn’t know what you ate so I just got what I had.”

“Thanks Fluttershy, anything will do for now.”

It would be great if I could get some protein, it's a shame these ponies are herbivores. I wonder if they at least have fish that you could eat here. Fluttershy trots out of her kitchen and puts down a few plates with cut up fruits and an assortment of colourful foods that Lucius had never even seen before. He takes a strange red fruit dotted with small yellow circles and bites down. His mouth is filled with thick, sweet nectar and crunchy seeds within the fruit. The outside was soft and had a slight sour taste to it.

“This… is amazing! I’ve never tasted anything like this before!” Lucius says with his mouth full while taking a few more bites out of the delicious fruit.

“I’m glad you like it, I forgot what it was called but I bought it at the market yesterday.”

“Thanks again, there has to be some way I can pay you back. Your hospitality is just amazing.”

Fluttershy blushes at his compliment, “W-Well… You could tell me more about your world, I find it very fascinating…”

Lucius nods warmly and picks up another fruit from the various foods in front of him, he felt bad for eating and staying at Fluttershy’s place without giving her something in return, he always appreciated other people’s help.

The sun had come out by now and is shining brightly through the glass windows across from Lucius, he turns his head to look out the clear panes of glass and sees small animals pouncing about in the lush green grass, tall trees that loomed above, and between all of the flora and fauna, there is a town. Not the one Lucius is used to seeing, but one filled with houses of different shapes and sizes while the streets were bustling with colourful ponies.

I think I’m going to like this place.