The Problem of Other Sapients, Memoirs of a Man

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

Benjamin Franklin

There I was, standing on the balcony in the moonlight, looking over the city below, and beyond that, the expanse between Canterlot and Ponyville, the town itself barely visible from this distance.

After the debacle at dinner, I asked the guards to escort me to my room, a lavish abode containing all the luxuries of modern lifestyle. It was a far cry from my mat at Zecora's, certainly much more comfortable, but I couldn't help but want to return the the humble cottage, and to my mat on the floor.

Well, perhaps not the mat, I would have preferred a proper bed, something Zecora took great pains to find for me, but the endeavor turned fruitless, as there were no beds large enough for me to sleep on.

Sleeping areas aside, I missed the hut anyways. There was always something to read there, and the company much better. Much better indeed.

My reminiscing was soured by the reminder of that  outrageous affair at dinner. Still, once this summit was over, I could go back to Ponyville, see Zecora again.

I sighed deeply, my breath carried away by the evening breeze.

I turned back into the room. On the bed lay a note. I had read this note before, it was the first thing I noticed upon entering, but I decided to read it again.

Joshua,

These will be your quarters for the entirety of your stay here, I hope they are to your satisfaction. If you need anything, inform the guards. You are free to go anywhere you please within the castle. The guards will escort you to any location you wish to go.

I apologize for the guards, as well, but they are for your security.

Once the summit is over, you may go back to Ponyville if you so choose.

Below the note was a signature in fancy cursive, and a seal, presumably the royal one.

I set the note down on the bedside table, there were other matters to attend to.

Firstly, a proper shower or bath, whichever one the bathroom happened to be equipped with. I hoped for a shower, if there was only a bath I might as well have been sitting in river water again.

Secondly, sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Before I could act out my plan, the door opened behind me.

"I'm not in the-"

Before me was not one of the princesses or Twilight, but rather a yellow pegasus with a pleasing pink mane.

"Ah, hello Fluttershy, I was expecting somebody... taller."

The doors closed behind her.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she squeaked.

"No, it's quite alright. Have a seat," I said, gesturing to a posh chair in one corner of the room.

She sat down there as I sat on the edge of the bed, facing her.

I'm sorry, Fluttershy," I said to her, holding my head in my hands.

"Oh, you don't need to apologize. Shining was just being... overly protective. He was captain of the guard for many years, and he's Twilight's brother."

"There's protection and then there's bellicosity. He put a sword to my throat, what am I to do, ignore that fact? He thought of me as naught but a threat to the nation, some fierce beast to be slain for the good of the realm."

"You forgave Applejack for calling you a monster."

"Her actions were taken in ignorance, and no harm came of it. Shining acted out of malice. Besides that, you are ignoring the fact that he wanted to slit my throat."

She seemed deeply perturbed at this point.

"Believe me, I can tell the difference between malice and ignorance. Life has taught me that much common sense, at least.

"But tell me, how much of a diplomatic nightmare is it out there?"

"Pinkie is inconsolable, Shining is being lectured by his sister, his wife, and the other princesses, and the rest of us are trying to calm Pinkie down before she does something drastic."

I sighed yet again, but this time, no nocturnal wind carried my cares away.

"If its okay with you, I'm going to go now, I can feel that you want to be alone."

With that, she got up, opened the double doors, and left the room.

I sat there for a few precious moments, pondering the nature of my predicament, and wondering about what the future would hold.

Come to think of it, I still didn't know what I was actually in Canterlot for. When I inquired to Twilight earlier, she simply responded 'You'll see in a second,' only for my question to go unanswered.

I got off the bed and prepared to head for the shower, when I was yet again interrupted by the doors opening behind me.

"Can I not both have my cake and eat it?" I asked the ceiling.