Life at Canterlot Castle

Chapter 3:

From Bad to Good?

“This is so stupid!” I shouted angrily as I paced inside of Luna’s Game Room. Chrysalis was on the couch, lazily following me with her eyes as she sipped at her soda from a straw.

“You need to stop fussing about it.” Chrys said shrugging, if I was paying attention I would have noticed the complete apathy she was voicing.

“I can’t though! Twilight get’s turned into a Princess TODAY! And that means I have to be ninja for the rest of my life now!” I shouted and continued my angry pacing. “I don’t know what to do!! I can’t go to the coronation because, well one: no one knows I am here. And two: Twilight would fry me with magic if I did go!”

“Moony...” ‘She knows I hate that name.’ “You need to stop fussing.” Chrys said. “Slayer’s not going and he is just as worried as you are. Albeit for different reasons. Maybe you two could work together or something? I dunno.”

“Chrys that’s!...” I stopped as I thought about it. “Actually not that bad of a idea...”

“Well why don’t we go and find him?” Chrys asked putting her drink down and getting up before stretching. I raised an eyebrow at her.

“We?” I asked a bit confused.

“I’m bored.” Chrys said shrugging. I shrugged as well and gave a ‘Why not’ nod while we walked out the door. After a few minutes of walking we heard a familiar voice.

“All I am saying is that if you are going for that is you shouldn’t dress in what you are describing.” Slayer said as we approached a corner. There was a muffled voice before some sighing was heard. “Well just tell’em how you feel. I am sure he will understand if you’re gay.”

This stopped us dead. Both me and Chrys looked to each other before back to the corner. “Should we wait and come back later?” I asked. Chrys was slightly blushing but looked at me then to the corner before she sighed and shook her head.

“That coronation is in a hour. You have to make something of a plan before it happens.” She said as we began to walk towards Slayer’s voice again.

“Yes, I am sure! Just go tell’em!... Oh. He is? Well here just use my phone. Make a date of it.” Slayer said as we round the corner and saw him helping out a beige pegasus pony with a rust red mane. On his flank was a shadow covered by a hammer.

“Y-you sure about this?” The pony asked.

“Yes I am Shade. Just ask ’im. It’s not like he is gonna yell out like a maniac.” Slayer said chuckling. Shade just smiled and took the phone before using his wings to press the buttons and walk down the hall a few steps to have some privacy.

“Hey, Slayer! Who’s your friend?” Chrys said announcing our presence. Slayer turned and saw us before he smiled again.

“Oh hey you two! That was Shade Maker. He is one of the staff.” Slayer said looking at Shade. We all glanced at Shade before Chrys said something a bit inappropriate.

“Soooo... He’s gay?” Chrys asked causing Slayer to laugh out loud and a hoof to connect my face.

“You heard that?” He asked snickering while we nodded. “Well yeah he is. Just go tellin’ anyone, he is a bit shy about it.”

“Huh... I have seen him around he doesn’t seem like the type that... swings that way.” I said looking at Shade from across the hall as he was talking on the phone.

“Yeah imagine my surprise when he asked help about it. He nearly broke into tears when he said he was gay. Thought I was gonna hurt him or something.” Slayer said in a sympathetic voice as he looked to Shade as well. “He apparently met one of the more patriotic humans.”

Me and Chrys titled our heads in wonder. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“Um well... Let’s just say back home, not a lot of people are tolerant of people who are Bi or gay.” Slayer said rubbing the back of his neck.

“And how would you know that? Seen a lot of it?” Chrysalis asked in honest curiosity. Slayer sighed and looked at Shade again. He turned back to us and nodded before there was a small yelp and a cry of joy. We all looked to see the pony running back to us with Slayer’s phone in his teeth and a smile that was easily seen, even with the phone in his muzzle.

He run up and hoofed Slayer his phone back before jumping up and down in excitement. “EEEEEEE!!” He squealed barely able to contain his joy.

“I am assuming he sai-” Slayer began.

“YES! He did! Oooh! I got to go and get ready! Thank you Slayer ya magnificent bastard!” Shade exclaimed shooting into the air to give Slayer a big hug before smiling sheepishly and zipping down the hall at near speeds that I wish I could imagine.

“... Well that went well! Knew that guy would understand.” Slayer said smiling.

“Oh playing match maker are we?” Chrysalis teased. ‘Ooooooh. Bad move Chrys. Baaaad move.’ I thought as I saw the malicious grin spreading across his lips.

“Am I? Have your eye on somepony Chrys?” Slayer said leaning down and smiling at Chrys, causing a very faint blush to appear on her face.

“No, Slayer. I don’t.” She said simply.

“Oh then someone is it?” Slayer said coyly. Chrys blushed a bit harder, but not too much to be noticed right away.

“No! Just stop it, Slayer! You ruined a perfectly good joke.” Chrys said lowering her ears and pouting.

“What? Are you just too busy, imagining his hands gliding all over you?” Slayer said in a low and almost seductive voice making Chrys’s blush turn her entire face bright red as she snapped her head in Slayer’s direction and glared.

“You ass.” She grumbled before pouting more. Slayer just let out a hearty laugh before standing up right and gently patting Chrys on the head.

“Oh you know I am just kidding with you Chrys!” Slayer said taking his hand away as Chrys snapped at his hand with her fangs. “Jeez! Take a joke, girl!”

“No. It’s my job to make dirty jokes at ponies.” Chrys said turning away and pouting a bit making me snicker. Slayer just rolled his eyes before looking to me out of the corner of his eyes and mouthing “Pick’er up to freak her out?”. I almost broke into laughter before nodding rapidly.

Next thing Chrysalis knew was she was being hoisted into the air by an unknown force. She hissed like a snake and flailed for a good minute for she calmed down and went limp in Slayer’s grip. She lifted her head and looked up at Slayer, whom was grinning from ear to ear.

“You love torturing me like this don’t you?” Chrys asked deadpanning. Slayer just nodded and Chrys sighed and shrugged before getting comfy in his grip.

“Woah woah woah, who said this was a free ride?” Slayer asked before a hoof smacked his nose and three bits were magically deposited into his shirt pocket. “Ah. Welp onto the game room?”

“Yeah sure. By the way, we didn’t just come looking for you to chat, but a different reason.” I said as we began to head back to the game room.

“Oh?” Slayer said as we rounded a corner and Chrys lazily followed random objects with her eyes as she was carried. I nodded and told him about how Twilight would most likely experiment or some freaky thing on me in my sleep or possible abuse her newly elected princess privileges to make me part of a experiment. “You really think that Twilight would stoop that low?”

“Maybe! She didn’t seem to like me last time I saw her.” I grumbled. I looked at Slayer, who had a deadpanned expression on. “Okay okay, I know what you are going to say.”

“Yeeeeaaah.” Slayer said snickering. “But in all honesty, I think you are just overthinking it. Worst comes to worst, I will be there to protect you.”

This made my eyes widen, and if I was drinking something a spit would have done a spit take. “WHAT!?” I shouted.

“Ow... What? I was just saying I wasn’t gonna let Twilight experiment on you. Just with less words.” Slayer said shrugging. I just stared for a minute or two before sighing.

“Right right. Anyway we are here... Camp out until Twilight shows up?” I said. Slayer only smiled and nodded before walking in putting Chrys on the couch. I smiled and walked in myself. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

(~~~~~~~~~~~/)

While Slayer was in the middle of a game, Luna came in and laid down in his lap sighing quite heavily. I just kept looking at the screen and saw that Slayer had stopped to hug Luna a bit and move around so she could properly lay down while he played his game.

“Today... Was awful.... Ly boring.” Luna slurred out a in the tired state she was in. “Soooooo much singing.... Even my sister.”

“Oh it couldn’t have been that bad!” Slayer looked at Luna who was glaring at him. “Okay maybe it was that bad.”

“You have no idea what we had to sit through, Slayer.” Luna sighed out. “Just let us sleep for right now. And Nightmare, no using him as a pillow right now. We swear upon our moon that we will slay thee where thou stands.”

I gulped a bit and nodded quietly before scooting away from Slayer. Slayer looked at me before looking at Luna and sighing a bit. he resumed his game for a little bit before he face turned to one of a man who suddenly had a idea. ‘Uh oh.’

“Hey Luna? You asleep?” Slayer said receiving a small snore in response. He smiled happily before he looked to me and sighed. “Sorry about Luna. Like seriously, I am really sorry. I know what you did, and yes I know you came from her hatred of not being loved by other ponies as much as her sister. But I have a plan Nightmare. I have a plan. I am going to get you two to be normal around each other.”

“Um, how? She ha- no... Despises me worse than Church does when someone steals his energy drinks.” I said.

“Yeah, I know. But here is what I am going to do...” Slayer said. “Tomorrow, I am taking the two of you out into town. And I am going to make sure you two talk.”

“And how are you going to make her go?” I asked unconvinced.

“Simple. I just say ‘Celestia needed someone to see how I am teaching Nightmare, and she said you had to do it.’.” Slayer said shrugging. Then he picked up his game remote and continued to play. After a few minutes he paused and looked to the door.

“My gypse senses are tingling.” Slayer said as he looked to the door. Then he looked to me. “I know this is going to sound odd, but I need you to get behind my back.”

“Whhyyyy?” I asked unsure.

“Because I feel as if a certain purple ali-” That was all he needed to say before I plunged myself into the cushions behind him. “Ow.”

That was when the door burst open and I heard some trotting from the side of the couch. I dug a little further into the couch behind Slayer and became still as the hooves stopped in front of the couch.

“Oh hey Ms. Sparkle! How was the coronation?” Slayer asked.

“Oh fine fine. Um. May I ask why Queen Chrysalis is snuggling against your leg?” I heard that dreaded Twilight ask.

“Oh she just moves a lot in her sleep. Kinda like a puppy.” Slayer said.

“Ah. Why is she in the castle I mean? And not guarded?” Twilight asked.

“She is making a peace treaty with Celestia. She is pretty nice lady though. Fun to be around.” Slayer said.  I heard someone sigh, I am assuming it was twilight.

“Alright well I am off to go continue looking around.” Twilight said trotting to the door.

“Anyone you are looking for in particular?” Slayer asked.

“Oh no one really, was just looking for nig- I mean!... heh heh, IGOTTAGOTALKTOMYBROTHERBYE!” She shouted quickly before exiting the room. When the door slammed, I crawled out from behind the couch. I gave a small gasp as I was able to breathe freely again and went to my spot on the couch again.

Slayer chuckled slightly and then a small buzzing noise brought his eyes to his pocket as he reached into it and pulled out his phone. He chuckled before pressing the button on the screen and getting up, much to Luna’s sleep’s pleasure. he mouthed the words. “I have to take this.” Before he walked outside the room saying. “Hey Shade! Hows it going?”

As soon as the door was closed, Luna snapped awake and looked directly at me. “We need to talk, Nightmare.” She said in a voice that sent nervous chills down my spine.

“A-A-Ab-bout what?” I stuttered out. Luna sighed and sat up properly before Chrysalis awoke too.

“Huh wuzzat?” Chrysalis babbled out in her sleepy state before she looked at me and Luna. “Oh yeah, I know what’s going on. I’m out. I am gonna go find Slayer and ask him where I can get a cup of coffee.”

With that she got up and left the room with half closed eyes trying in vain to keep them open long enough so that she didn’t fall asleep in the hall. With Chrysalis gone, Luna looked directly at me. It wasn’t an evil glare, nor anything else. It was just one of those looks that you would get from a parent that practically said ‘We are going to have a talk. And you are mostly likely not gonna like it.’

“Sooo... What is it we are going to talk about?” I asked smiling sheepishly. She just sighed and began.

“As much as we don’t want to admit it, we know that you have feelings for Slayer.” She said bluntly. I sputtered out non-understandable words as I tried to comprehend what she just said. I wasn’t denying the fact, but more or less how she knew.

“H-how do you know?” I asked blushing quite a bit.

“You want the easy version or the hard version?” Luna asked.

“Um... Hard version?” I asked unsure.

“Well to put it bluntly, you weren’t exactly subtle after a while. I mean, falling asleep on him? Snuggling against him while you play a game?” Luna said as if I was stupid, only causing me to blush a bit more.

“Oh yeah well what was the easy version?!” I asked a little annoyed.

“You came from our mind remember? You are going to like the same things we do.” Luna said in a matter O’ fact tone. She was right though. I was once part of her, so I must have picked something up from her when we were separated. “So that brings us to this little talk. So we are going to ask you a question and be honest with us. No lies, no foul right?”

“Okay.”

“Do you like Slayer?” She asked. I looked off for a moment and lowered my head before smiling a little bit. ‘He is really nice to me. Puts up with all my antics. And he lets me lay on him whenever I play a game.’

I looked up still smiling and nodded. “Yes, I believe I do.” I said.

This caused Luna to sigh a bit and scoot over next to me. “Well, we guess there is no other option. Nightmare Moon.” Luna said sternly.

“Y-yes?” I said shakily. She sighed and gently put a hoof on my shoulder, which caused me to slightly flinch.

“If you want to try and get Slayer to make a herd with you and us... As much as we don’t want it, we will accept it. If Slayer says yes, then we will be happy for you.” Luna said with a small smile.

“R-r-really? J-just like that?” I said and she nodded. “Why?”

She sighed and slowly looked around the room before answering. “To be honest, Nightmare, we despise you. You made us do things to ponies, we can never forgive and we despise you greatly for it.” She said simply, which stung a bit, but at least she was honest. “But at the same time, we can’t help but feel as if you are our responsibility. As if we would have not had any of this if we hadn’t made you out of our anger.”

She let out breath then looked at me. “As much as we don’t like to admit it, you are us in your own way. And we can accept that. You have truly changed Nightmare and that is the first step in getting anything good out of your life. So if you are willing, we’d like to ‘bury the hatchet’ as Slayer would say. We will not forgive those actions you committed so long ago, but we will forget them. And let them be nothing but history.”

“R-really?” I asked with tears in my eyes. ‘Why is this getting to me so much!?’

“Yes. We just want to forget all that and let it be nothing but words on paper. So what do you say? Let bygones be bygones?” Luna said holding one arm out as if to signal for a hug. I stared at her blankly for a moment before slowly beginning to nod. Before I knew it, I was hugging Luna and she was hugging me back as I let tears of joy and relief fall from my eyes. This lasted for a good ten minutes before I let her go and wiped my eyes clear of any more tears.

“Sooo... What now?” I asked as Luna gave me a tissue which I promptly blew my nose into. She tapped her chin and smiled.

“Well, first step would to convince Slayer we are still not on good terms.” Luna said. I raised an eyebrow at this before she continued. “Just so that he can do his little plan and make himself think that is okay. And maybe use one of his little get togethers to possibly do your little ‘Confession’.”

I blushed a bit and chuckled. “You worked this out when?” I asked.

“When he was explaining it while I was ‘napping’ in his lap.” Luna said snickering before we heard the door open. She quickly mouthed ‘Go with it’ as I nodded and she began. “So you think it’s funny to mess with our remotes do you!?”

I honestly flinched a bit before I saw her wink at me. “W-well, I didn’t mean too! It just kinda happened!”

“Yeah wel-” Luna began before I saw Slayer sit next to Luna and pat her on the back.

“Easy Luna. Easy.” He said as he gently rubbed her back causing her to pur slightly. “What’s all the fuss about?”

“Well you see-” Luna began before she let out a yawn and actually began to doze off. “She... Oh stop doing that you are making me sleepy!”

Before I knew what happened, Luna actually passed out while leaning back against Slayer’s chest. I blinked before I heard him snicker and sigh. He picked Luna up like she was a large cat and said his good nights before he left. No more than five minutes after he left, Chrysalis walked in with a cup of coffee, that was barely keeping her awake.

“What happened while I was away?” She asked sipping on her coffee.

“Nothing.” I said simply. “Just getting ready for bed.”

“In the Game Room?” She asked raising an eyebrow. I shrugged and laid on the couch.

“It’s a comfy couch.” I said closing my eyes.

“Well... Okay I guess. I am going to finish my drink and go back to my room. See ya tomorrow Moony.” Chrysalis said leaving the Game Room. I chuckled before sighing and letting out a small yawn and letting the weight of the day finally just slip away as I fell into my slumber.