"Well my children, I must be off. Canterlot never sleeps, and that makes my work much harder. May we meet again Gabriel, If you need anything please have Spike send me a letter." Celestia said as she stood and made way to the door.
"Well as much as ive enjoyed staying here myself, i think i should head back home as well. It was very educational learning that im not the only intelligent life in the universe." Gabriel said with a chuckle. "If you dont mind Princess, could you levitate me back to that ripple thing?"
"Of course." Celestia said with a smile. "Its sad to see you going so soon though."
"I know, but i cant stay, who know how long that portal is going to stay open."
"Understandable, I hope we can meet again." Celestia smiled
Everyone gave a disgruntled aww as he picked uo his belongings and was levitated to the portal.
"Hopefully we will meet again." Twilight yelled waving a hoof.
Gabriel smiled giving a wave and floated closer to the portal.
Just as he was getting closer the ripple in the air seemed to flux. Gabriel could sense comething was wrong.
"WAIT! Quickly! Drop me and everyone out!" He yelled.
Celestia didnt think twice and rushed everypony out the door, dropping Gabriel in the process. He managaed to land on his feet and bolted toward the door. As he exited the library Twilight, although startled began to ask him what was going on. Before she could get out the words though the entire library imploded in on itself. The portal turned black and vanished in a blink of an eye.
Gabriels eyes went wide as he fell to his knees, looking at the spot were the portal once stood. He gave a deep sigh, his head drooping, eyes to the ground. He began to speak.
"Im guessing you can make another portal right?"
Twilight snapped from her trance as all eyes fell on her.
"I... dont know. The book i was reading said that the spell effects were random if they interacted with one another. I can try but i cant gaurantee that the portal will reappear, or for that matter, if it will lead to the same plane you came from."
Gabriel gave a heavy sigh and stood up looking at the spot were the portal was. He turned his head to the side looking back at everypony.
"Princess... I hate to ask this, but if im going to reside here, im going to need a few things."
Celestia smiled walking up to Gabriel giving him a little nuzzle. "Im sorry this happened. All i can offer is to help you get a new life started here in Equestria. I can have a home built for you in the next couple weeks. Until then though, You and Twilight can stay at the castle with Myself, and Luna."
Gabriel gave a tired smile toward Celestia, giving in to what had happened. He knew that the probabilty of him returning home was astronomical. But what a better way to start over, than on a new world, as a mythical species that is new and interesting to all of that worlds inhabitants.
Everyone talked for a few minutes, offering Gabriel and Twilight to stay with themselves, Fluttershy was surprisingly first to offer, as was Rarity. Pinkie would have offered but the spare bedroom in Sugarcube corner was taken by Pikies new little brother and sister. Applejack didnt have a spare bedroom, just the loft in her barn. Gabriel smiled thanking everyone for thier hospitality but went with Celestias first offer. Twilight did as well.
After a few minutes or preperation Celestia offered to transport all three of them to the castle.
"How exactly are we going to get there, Im not sure you would be able to carry us both all the way there." Gabriel said giving an uneasy smile.
Twilight looked up to Celestia, Celestia back to Twilight, both giving a small giggle.
"My friend, you have much to learn while you are here. Now come and place your hand on my shoulder." Celestia smiled
Gabriel walked over placing his hand gently onto Celestias shoulder. She was very warm, Her coat was very well brushed and soft to the touch. His hand rested fully on her should now.
Twilight moved closer to her mentor as well waiting for what was about to happen next.
"So exactly how are we getting to your castle..." *FLASH*
Gabriel was cut off in a brilliant flash of light. From his viewpoint everything turned whiter than snow for a split second, then darkness as he blinked several times, his eyes readjusting, He felt Celestia pulled away from him as he stood still temporarily blinded. Pulling his hands up to rub his eyes he felt a little dizzy and stumbled falling to his knees on the ground.
"What The...?" Gabriel yelled stilltrying to focus.
"Im so sorry Gabriel, I forgot to mention that teleporting has some minor side effects for a few seconds." Celestia said quickly moving to him helping him up. Gabriel put his orm over her mane making it ripple in the light. He stood still wobbling a little, almost falling as Celestia caught him with her wing. "Your species has never experienced magic before have they?" Celestia inquired.
"Sadly, our version of magic is slight of hand, not real magic. If we had magic then we wouldnt need these." He smiled patting his sidearm as his vision and balance started to return.
Twilight came over to Celestia and Gabriel looking up to them, Celestia smiled to her young pupil knodding to the door at the end of the hall. "Come, ill show you to your rooms."
After regaining his sight and balance Gabriel followed the 2 ponys down the hall. The doors opened into a lavish room filled with everything you would expect from a royal standpoint. Beautiful furniture, a large fireplace, several doors on either side of the room, and a large painting of 2 Alicorns in a ying yang formation in the center of the far wall. The curtens had been pulled flush revealing a brilliant red with purple fringes. They looked much like crushed velvet but had the texture of silk. Large pillow lay around the room, Gabriel guess that they were meant for the princess and the furniture for fellow ponies.
They walked further heading to the right side of the room through an open walkway, a large set of stairs curving up and around the back wall of the room. As they reached the top the stair entered into a dual directional hallway going left and right. Celestia walked both to seperate rooms next to one another. just down the right side of the hall, a few doors down from the staircase.
"This is were we must part im afraid. I will notify the help of your presence, should you need anything please pull this cord next to the door. Help will arrive shortly to cater to your needs." Celestia smiled and turned heading down the hall from the direction they came. Gabriel stepped outside the door. "Princess!" He spoke, just above normal level. Celestia turned looking back. "Thankyou for your hospitality." He said looking down feeling a little ashamed. Celestia smile turning and heading back to Gabriel, She gave him a loving nuzzle, he in return wrapped his arms around her giving her a hug back. The hug was abruptly halted when they had noticed Twilights face turning a light shade of red. Celestia and Gabriel both turned a small shade of red letting out a small laugh. "I shall be nearby if you need me. Just have one of the help locate me should you require my assistance." Celestia smile heading down the hall. Gabriel and Twilight said thier goodnights to each other and headed off to bed.
Gabriel lay there silently staring at the ceiling from his bed. His mind still awake a,d his eyes exploring the room and the night sky outside from his window. The night brought cool air that seemed to intrude into his room causing him to shiver. He pulled the covers from him, standing quietly. He walked slowly toward the balcony to the outside, opening the door and moving outside and taking a seat on a chair that was situated with a small table. He gazed up to the sky noticing how bright the stars were and gave a contented sigh. He could see a large streak across the sky, very similar to the mikly way galaxy on his home world. "Wow... I have never seen such a beautiful night sky before. I can even describe it."
Gabriel was in awe at how bright the night sy was. The moon just barely peeking over the horizon. He spent a while looking at the sky until he becaem uncomfortabley aware of a set of eyes on him. He looked slowly around himself, taking in his surroundings, trying to find the prying eyes. Noone there. he thought to himself, He then heard a loud flapping of wings above him as he leapt backwards off of his chair and through the doorway. He watched aas a dark figure landed on his balcony It was another pony but its coat was very dark. almost invisible in the night sky. "Whos there?" Gabriel spoke loud enough for the intruder to hear but not loud enough to wake his sleeping neighbor. The figure moved quietly in through the balcony door, A swirl of its mane seemed like floating stars moving slowly in the night sky. "So thy rumors are true." A sultry low feminine voice spoke "We have a new guest, and a mythical one at that." The pony giggled walking into the room. "My name is Luna, Celestia said that she mentioned me earlier to you." She said with a smile as her horn began to glow.
As her horn glew, all the candles in the room suddenly lit into flame. each tip glowing a hot orange and red. The light flickered all around. Luna smiled at her little magic feet looking around at the candles then back to the human in her presence, Both figures froze for a moment as Luna's and Gabriels face turned a slight shade of pink. Gabriel in his haste to exit the balcony had left his blanket on the floor. He now stood in front of Luna with just his boxers on. He quickly jumped onto the bed pulling another cover in front of himself.
Luna gave a small laugh still beet red. "Oh my, we are very sorry for the intrusion. We did not expect for you to be, well... underdressed while you were on the balcony."
Gabriel gave Luna a icey star of embarassment which made her stop laughing and move her line of sight elsewhere. She turned heading back onto the balcony clearing her throat to advise Gabriel of where she was. Gabriel stood quietly moving over to were his clothes were and pulled on what he was wearing earlier that day, Luna peeked around the corner watching with a small grin, curiosity getting the best of her. Gabriel smiled noticing her peeking. "I can see you watching me." He said, a hint of humor in his voice. An audible gasp and single flapp of wings let him know he was correct. He gave a small chuckle shaking his head as he headed onto the balcony seeing Luna with her head lowered, her face flushed red. She raised her head, eyes closed as she spoke. "We were not looking." She said in a huff a single hoof scuffling the ground. Gabriel smiled sitting down in the chair he was previously scared from, His gaze went back to the heavens as he spoke. "Isnt it beautiful?" He spoke softly causing Luna to give a small whinny of surprise. "Um... what is?" She spoke, automatically assuming he had spoken of her.
"The sky, Its the most beautiful i have ever seen. From my home i would be lucky to see but a handful of stars due to all the lights across the land on the ground. This... This is once in a lifetime sight." Gabriel smiled resting back into his chair. Luna still felt the heat on her cheeks as she moved closer to Gabriel.
"I... I have never met another who admires the night as much as myself. I feel honored that you like the night sky as much as I."
"No... I dont like it. I love it. When i was little..." He began. "When i was but a child, i went far out into the country to my grandparents home. I had always lived in the city were noise and lights were common. But that first night there. It was the most memorable time of my life. Since then i had longed to see another beautiful night sky like this one. It makes me feel so at peace inside. As if i could just fall into the heavens and get lost in the sea of stars." Gabriel said not taking his eyes from the sky.
Luna's heart raced at these words. She felt exactly the same way each and everytime she brought the night forth. Her sister could bring warmth and sunlight, but only she could bring a sea of stars that danced across the sky. Her face burned red in Gabriels presence. She showed a soft smile as her wings flew open and launched her into the air. Gabriel watched her witha smile as she turned to him. "We shall talk again in the morning at breakfast, Please be there bright and early."
Gabriel stood and gave a deep bow. "As you wish my princess." He arose seeing that almost all of Luna's Face was now flushed red As she pulled a hoof up to cover her embarassment she flew off into the night sky. Gaberiel gave a small chuckle as he walked back into his room closing the balcony door then heading to bed. "If this is how all the ponys are in this world then im going to have quite a bit of fun here." He laughed jumping into bed.