This whole place was far different from the comfort of the wilderness. The walls were smooth and covered with interesting patterns, hard floors covered with what I think to be fur pelts of fallen adversaries, and an interesting array of clear wall arts.
When I was more able to walk again, I was given permission to explore these valiant halls, with the aid of a warrior pony or two, who helped me limp along occasionally. A few days ago I would have lied down and died rather than accept help, but. . . these circumstances were very different, my honour was intact. I will stand in defence of the innocent yet again. Although I was strong within the wilderness, here I was treated far differently, I was pampered. . . I felt as if I was growing fat from it all. Still, I can't help but feel the cravings. . . I would literally kill for a bloody morsel. . . but I have managed so far. The warrior escorted me to the eating room and helped me to a seat at a table.
He walked away, grabbing a plate of bread and placing it before me. He left me alone to eat, as I preferred, but I couldn't help but slowly choke down the dry loaf.
I can't keep eating this. . . I need something. . . flesh, meat, anything!
My thoughts were disrupted, the one called Princess Celestia entered the room.
'Your Highness.' I said, giving a nod.
'Good morning.' She greeted, moving through the kitchen and began cooking something. Something. . . that smelt delicious.
'If. . . it's not too much to ask, may I-'
'There will be plenty to share, for I, you and Luna too.' She cut me off, although it was irritating, if she was going to feed me it would be worth enduring it.
She set a plate before me, on it was a curious combination of fruits and some other type of bread in a sweet sauce.
'What, don't like Waffles?' the Princess asked.
'We shall see. . .' I said, licking at the fruits and sauces in front of me.
'Well?' she asked.
'I. . . may need more your highness.' I said before I tucked into the meal, eating it all within a moment.
I looked up to see Princess Celestia giving a small laugh, I couldn't help but laugh as well. A moment later, Princess Luna walked in the room, looking rather. . . dishevelled. She took a seat beside me at the table. Celestia slid a plate before her.
'Long night sister?' Celestia asked.
'Seemed longer than most. . .' she began to eat, but she looked to me, 'are you alright? You look a little-.'
I let off a burp. They both looked at me. . . and started laughing.
'Excuse you!' Luna said in her fit of laughter, and I couldn't help but smile and laugh in response.
Luna walked me around the castle, like she did on my first night. I would ask questions, and she would be gracious enough to answer them. I asked about the wall arts that allowed colours into the rooms.
'Ah, these are called Stained Glass Windows' She answered.
'Stained? Curious depictions.' I told her.
'Yes, some are.' We walked on.
On our walk, I halted as we passed a curious one.
'Is that you?' I asked.
The window I stopped at showed Luna, and Celestia fighting. I moved onto the next, then the next, and I saw an entire story unfold.
'You challenged your own sister?' I asked, I looked to her, 'for what?'
'. . . Greed. Envy. She shone so bright, that the shadow she cast fell long on me.' She began, I could see the look in her eyes, 'I gave into rage, and I fought for attention, and I tried to take all of it.'
I saw tears fall from her eyes, they all one by one fell to the floor.
'. . . You regret it?' I asked.
'I failed. . . and I was banished for a thousand winters. . .' she confessed, lowering her head.
'. . . My father raised me better.' I told her, she glanced at me, 'he always said: "whatever forges greed and malice, is always the result of pain." He taught us to never give in. . .'
I could feel a tear falling from my eye.
'. . . When your father died. . . ?' I could almost tell the rest of the question.
'. . . All turned to Greed and Malice. Mother wants blood.' I told her.
'. . . Not you, I guess your purer than me.' She said, I could feel a tingle of excitement.
'. . . I never gave in, but none are pure. Yet all can be good.' I walked on.
'. . . We can.' She said as she followed, her footsteps were fast paced, almost like she was happy, 'Wait, let's go to the tower again!'
'What-!?No!' I shouted back.
'Don't worry, I'll hold your paw again.' she joked.
'That's not the problem, despite it working!' I complained.
'Aww. . . Sweet.' she moaned as she walked past.
'. . . Wait, that's not what I-!' I chased after her.
Over the next few days I returned to my prime, they gave me orders to remain within the castle walls until I was well enough to walk without help. I was given permission to visit Ponyville, to see Fluttershy and thank her. The trip was rather. . . beautiful. . . Except. . .
'. . . Must you follow me every step I take?!' I asked, turning on the two guards.
'Orders are orders, sir.' One of them responded.
'And orders are really. . . irritating. . .' I commented, while we were on a road to Ponyville I purposefully stopped and stepped back every so often just to annoy them.
We finally made it to the town, and it was. . . exciting! Ponies were made aware that I was coming so ponies wouldn't be scared. . . too much. So, I almost felt like. . . a pony. . . sort of. . .
A small trio of ponies passed me. One with a well-kept mane of hair stopped before me.
'H. . . hi.' It said, before it passed me, running.
'. . . Hi. . .' I whispered back.
I passed certain structures where ponies bartered for items: food, supplies or other. . . strange things. Some decided to hide all of their wares as I passed, all but one. A familiar grey pony, a look of craze and eagerness on her face.
'Hiya Runt, want a cupcake?!' she enthused.
'Pie, was it? I'm sorry, I don't know what a cupcake is. . .' I told her.
'Well, here you go then, on the house!' she put a strange food item on the wood slab in front of her.
It was uneven, it had multiple shades of grey as well as a strange scent of sweetness. I licked at it, my tongue going haywire at the sensation. I licked it again, and again. . . and again before I consumed the tasty morsel.
'Wow, glad you liked it!' she cheered.
'Well, it was. . . quite tasty. . .' I commented, before moving, 'farewell pie.'
'Byeiee!' she shouted.
I continued for a while, before noticing something. . . interesting. I raced up to intercept it, I raced in front of it, stared it down and bowed my head.
'You have keen eyes, you can look ahead as well as look behind. . . please teach me. . .' I pleaded, bowing lower.
'Well I don't know about that, my eyes are just. . . the way they are. . .' she said, so very humbly.
'No, they are unique, please teach me?' I pleaded, she looked around, before she bolted.
'Oh no, I'm late!' she yelled, speeding off.
'Wait, I want to be taught! Miss!?' I barked out, but I didn't receive a response, the two guard ponies behind me chuckled, 'whatever's so funny?'
'Clearly you haven't heard of Miss Derpy Hooves, she is a. . . rather special citizen, don't think she would be a. . . suitable teacher with her reputation.' The unicorn on the right answered.
'We shall see. . .' I muttered as I moved forward.
I continued looking around, eventually I approached a store, behind it was a grey and. . . sorrowful looking pony behind it.
'You have the expression of something of dark decent. . . a past of stale nature. . .' I told her.
'And you have the look of regret, sadness, and loneliness. . . the desire to belong with the fear of it. . . you are welcome here though wolf, Many Ponies here are very kind and are welcoming with time. Welcome to my stall.' She said, mirroring my introduction with the same level of emotion. None.
'What are your wares?' I asked.
'Rock jewellery, rock pendants, fossil jewellery and fossil pendants. Pet rocks, decorative rocks and minerals. . .' She answered, still accounting other items.
'. . . What do you recommend for an outcast of warriors?' I asked.
She picked up a odd looking rock connected to a length of twine and she held it to me, the rock appeared to be in the form of bone or tooth.
'A fossil, from an ancient hunter.' She offered it to me, 'free, to our honoured guest.'
I sat there for a moment, but one of the guards told me to lean forward. As I did, she placed it around my neck.
'. . . Thank you, if I ever have my own home, you would be welcome.' I said as I left the stall.
I continued looking around, until something caught my eye. Three small ponies from before playing with a strange item: small, round like a stone but appeared smoother. It bounced as they played with it.
'What is that. . . curious item?' I asked the ponies behind me.
'That? That is a ball, sir.' He answered.
'Ball? A strange item. . . how pathetic, it appears to be a meagre way to distract one's self from the moment. . .' it bounced between the trio, and I kept my eyes on it, 'how weak the minds who fall victim to the alluring-BALL!'
One of the ponies slammed it into a wall, it bounced back and fourth across the street as I gave pursuit. I cornered it as it slammed against the wall, but it collided with my head, and rebounded through the window with a crash. I leapt in after it, knocking over piles of items in the store before I lost track of it. I leapt outside the window, turning to the small ponies. I leapt at them.
'Where is it!?' I barked at them, they cowered before me until one pointed away.
I bolted down the direction it pointed, but I couldn't find it. I followed the path for a few minutes. . . before I gave up pursuit. However, I could see a new objective. . . my new teacher was there, she was racing off down the road. I ran after her.
'Teacher, I am ready!' I yelled, racing beside her.
'No time, I'm late for work.' She told me, clearly she needed assistance.
'Then. . . I will help you in this endeavour, then afterwards will you teach me?' I asked.
'Well, can you sort mail?' she asked.
'. . . We will see!' I answered.
'Good enough!' she chimed.
'Excellent!'