A/N Hey guys, we're getting real close to the start of the journey. Here's what happens before and during the briefing. Please review, follow, and/or favorite if you want to! Have an awesome life!
Chapter 19: A Helping Hoof
We disembarked from the train, I was still a bit shaken from my dream. What could it have meant? It was so weird... We saw a group of royal guards standing to the side of the platform. As soon as we spotted them, they rushed over to us. There was one guard that seemed a bit different, though. He took his helmet off and my companions' faces lit up. "Big brother!" Twilight said, and glomped Shining Armor. He got up, laughing, "Hey kiddo, it's been a while. I haven't seen you since the Sunset Shimmer debacle." "I know, so much has happened, but we can start with my new friend." She moved aside so that Shining could see me. "An honor to meet you, Captain." I said to him, dipping my head lightly. "Chill with the formality, if you're a friend of Twily's, you're a friend of mine." "Cool," I walked up to him and held out my hoof. We brohoofed and I asked, "so what's with the escort?" "Just a precaution. You guys are on some pretty important business, so you get an escort. Speaking of important business, we should probably get moving. Don't wanna keep the princesses waiting, do ya?" He said. "Alright, let's get movin." I said.
Shining started off and we followed, the guards moving around us. This is a bit weird. I'm not really used to having a friggin platoon of guards hanging around. We continued toward the castle. The trip was mostly silent, even Pinkie was quiet. I was pretty sure everyone was deep in thought. I tried to admire the scenery but it's kinda tough to look around when you have a bunch of royal guards surrounding you. After what I thought was about half an hour, I was able to see the castle over the heads of the guards. We're almost there.
We made it to the steps leading in to the castle and the guards broke ranks, presumably returning to their posts. Shining Armor led us through the castle and I was finally able to appreciate the scenery. The walls were adorned with an endless amount of beautiful paintings, landscapes, portraits, and abstract works; ancient pony weapons, swords and spears, shields, and bows; and the bare walls were of fabulous marble. The floor was of the same marble but was hyper-polished. It was also covered in luxuriously soft carpets that I guessed were imported from Saddle Arabia.
As I gazed at the marvelous decor, the others talked amongst themselves whist we were being led to wherever we were headed. I tuned back into the conversation when I heard my name, "-at right, Brony?" Twilight said. "Huh? Sorry. I kind of zoned out." I said. "It's ok," Shining said, "Twily was just telling me how good you are at magic." What? But she kicked my plot in our duel. "I'm ok, I guess." I said humbly. "Are you kiddin, that magic ya did when you and Twi had yer duel was fantastic!" Applejack said. "It was pretty good." Fluttershy agreed. "Well, thanks guys." I said, "I still can't top Twilight, though." "That's my sis for ya." Shining Armor said, pulling Twi into a hug. It sure is. Shining Armor released his sister from the hug and said, "Alright guys, the throne room is right up ahead." Almost there… We turned the corner and saw the throne room, doors opened wide, just 10 yards away. However, I didn't see Tia or Luna. That's odd. "Hey Armor, where are the princesses?" I asked. "They're probably in the war room." He replied. War room? That doesn't seem like the kind of thing you'd find in Equestria. The rest of my party was unfazed by this remark, if anything, their faces darkened slightly before returning to normal before I could confirm it had happened. Ooookaaay then… We walked through the throne room, all of us gazing at the beautiful decoration, save Armor. We halted once we were about 10 feet from the throne and Shining Armor said, "This way." Beckoning to the left. We followed him down a small hallway (compared to the rest of the hallways in the castle) that branched off from the throne room to a wooden door. "It's in here." Shining Armor said, magicking the door open.
We entered a huge, rectangular room. The walls were covered in maps and charts and all manner of topographical and mathematical data. There was a large table in the center of the room with a 3D map of Equestria on it, and beside it, a map of Earth: the human world. Woah, this is sick! I am feeling this place. Celestia and Luna were sitting at the far end of the table/map. "Thank you, Shining Armor. I expect Princess Cadence is waiting for you... in your room." Celestia said, smirking. AUGH! NO! Bad images, man. Apparently Luna agreed, "SISTER!" Princess Luna shouted in a reprimanding tone. "What?" Tia asked innocently. "I should think it inappropriate to imply such things in present company!" Luna said indignantly. "You're the one that construed it that way, dear sister." Celestia retorted, grinning. Pwned. Luna's look was priceless: one of utter defeat. "Now that's settled. You called us here, Your Majesties?" I said, bowing. "Yes, greetings Brony, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie." Luna said. "Now, I need you all to listen very carefully, because you need to remember all of this and there's quite a lot to it." Tia said. Oh great. "Twi," I whispered. "Yeah?" She whispered back. "D'you know a transcription spell?" I asked. "In fact, I do. Great idea, Brony." She said, magicking a sheaf of parchment and a quill and inkwell to her. "Are you all ready to hear your mission?" Tia asked. Seven "Yes."s were heard so Celestia began speaking.
"As you know, there is a portal in this castle that leads to a parallel world inhabited by humans. Brony was brought to the human world and lived there for most of his life, so he has a great deal of knowledge concerning them. Twilight, of course, also has a grasp on the human world. Anyhoof, there are 13 other portals scattered across our worlds. This may not seem to be of consequence, unless you know that people and ponies are wandering through these portals, meeting their parallel selves, and dropping dead. This is where you seven come in. Brony, as he has no human double, is able to close these portals, but only from the human side of them. Thusly, you must travel to the human world, seek the portals out, and close them. The mares of the group apart from Twilight remember not being permitted to accompany her on her venture to the other world. This is not because of some unbalance, but because I knew your doubles were at Canterlot High and it would be the utmost tragedy for one or all of you to die. Brony is also the key to using the portal here in the castle. For whatever reason. The portals open for him, regardless of whether it's their time to open or not. You have your mission, and I expect a report weekly. Brony, I shall attempt to enter your dreams each Saturday with Luna's aid and you shall give me a report of the week's developments. I am unsure if I'll be able to reach you, though. There is one more order of business, though. Money. You shall require food; drink; clothing, as humans always wear clothes; and shelter. I have asked Sunset Shimmer to give me the exact specifications of the currency that humans use and I developed a spell that transmutes one bit to one dollar. I have withdrawn 2 million bits from the royal bank and transmuted them, and asked Sunset Shimmer and your doppelgangers to attain what is called a 'debit card', which is money on a small card that you can deposit to and withdraw from at will. 2 MILLION DOLLARS ON A DEBIT CARD!? I' M RICH! I hope this is an appropriate sum for your journey, Brony." I trembled a bit but managed to respond, "Yeah, that should be fine." "Excellent. You depart tomorrow. Princess Luna shall show you to your rooms, I must attend to some pressing matters." Celestia said.
"Come, my little ponies. This way." Luna said.