chapter 8: the castle
He immediately knew he was in a dream. He was gathered with his family in front of a recording set, with his parents excited for the upcoming show. "The Truthman Show" was quite popular in his childhood, and he remembered how his parents always tuned in, never missing any of its controversial interviews. Honestly, back then, at his ten years old, he didn't care much about what happened on that show, but he remembered this specific episode. Who would have thought that shortly after that moment, life would change so much?
They sat in those virtual stands for what felt like an eternity until the lights in the grand hall dimmed, and the atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. The applause erupted as the owner of the show, The True, made his appearance. Known for his great speaking skills and enormous charisma, but his most distinctive trait was an emblematic brown paper bag he used to cover his face, on which he drew funny and dynamic facial expressions quite fluidly. With a subtle blue glow, a man dressed in a striking white robe made his entrance and sat on one of the two chairs on the stage. The True took the other chair shortly after.
"So tell me, Professor Huggs, this object truly left both the scientific community and the modern seer completely dumbfounded, causing quite a stir. On behalf of myself and all the humans who witnessed your magnificent talents, but who aren't quite up to understanding the intentions of a mind as grand as yours, why did you do it? What are you seeking?" The professor remained silent, formulating his response.
"I simply wanted to be the precursor of a new stage of humanity, one that will be definitively the last. Now, transcending throughout the multiverse will be just the basics of our capabilities. I want to push the limits of our definition of godhood and finally have humanity experience its reach firsthand, and take this even further," the professor concluded with a smile containing a certain arrogance within it. In response, "The True's" paper bag only displayed an exaggerated and grotesque expression of surprise. Green had always been curious about what the true expression of the man behind the mask would have been.
"What nonsense. This man says we should aspire to be almost like gods? He's clearly deranged," a distorted voice said beside him. His father had always been skeptical, and fortunately, he died in ignorance. Green didn't even bother to turn his head, as he wouldn't be able to see him, he already knew. If he did turn, all he would see were distorted faces.
"I believe his ideas won't be remembered a month from now. Tell me what else he says afterward," said the distorted voice of his mother before disappearing from her seat in a celestial glow. It made him chuckle a bit; he remembered that his mother always disconnected at the most interesting parts.
"A somewhat difficult response for anyone to digest," said "The True," grabbing everyone's attention. "And something that intrigues me greatly... excuse me." He walked over to a box with a striking red cover with golden tones. Inside was a small bracelet, which the presenter handled with special care and even fear before returning to his original seat. "This here is one of your prototypes. For greater comfort and understanding, we'd like you to explain in your own words what it uses for energy."
"It uses the essence of a living being's existence. I know this may scare you, but don't worry, I can assure you that it's infinite, and every living being contains it," the professor explained without beating around the bush.
"Could you be a bit more specific?"
"To summarize, I have found an energy that is transcendental and common to all in a plane. As you may know, we all form part of the same system, from the most insignificant bacteria to the oldest and most imposing tree. Our energy is provided by feeding on the energy of something that, in turn, was provided energy by something smaller, and so on infinitely. When a living being dies, its energy returns to the earth to be used by other living beings, and so on forever in a perfect balance. This is the energy that is capable of directly powering the accessory, and I apologize if my response was a bit rough; I wouldn't know how to explain this to a non-specialized audience," concluded the professor.
"Don't worry; it was understandable enough. But still... the energy you speak of... we also have it..." The True took several tense seconds, tightening the atmosphere. "It won't be possible... for the accessory to confuse us with mere energy?"
"Well..."
Green opened his eyes forcefully and took several seconds to adjust to the environment upon waking up so abruptly. Twilight was sleeping next to him. It had been a long time since he had such a vivid dream, and he could remember almost all the details. But something that worried him was that he didn't see Luna anywhere. Was she hiding? This concerned him because his dream subconscious was quite revealing. With his arms crossed behind his head, he waited for the day to begin. The room was too spacious; he could tell by the many meters separating the floor from the ceiling. It even gave him a sense of vertigo, and he looked around just as his roommate woke up. She rubbed her eyes and then opened them slowly and drowsily.
"Good morning," he said to the sleepy alicorn. At first, she didn't react and just stared at him with half-open eyes. This didn't last long as she fell back asleep after muttering something that was an attempted "hello."
Princess or not, she's still just an ordinary person. Well, In her case, a pony, thought Green, turning to look for a clock but was interrupted by a shout from a certain alicorn.
"What are you doing here?!" Twilight squealed quite dramatically, with a slight blush on her cheeks. How is that possible with fur? Green's main question was about that. Twilight's movement was so abrupt that she got tangled in the blanket and fell to the floor in a bundle of hair and feathers. After recovering, she looked around confusedly until she noticed the extended hand offered by the human.
"I guess I fell asleep, didn't I?" she said, taking his hand, realizing she wasn't in her room. Green just nodded.
"You were listening to me read certain passages, and suddenly I realized you had fallen asleep."
"Yes, but that means then..." she spoke, looking at the blanket, feeling guilty.
"Don't worry, your castle has a very pleasant climate, and besides, you must have been very tired if you were searching for me all night. The least I could do was let you sleep. Oh, and by the way, thank you, Twilight. You've only known me for a relatively short time, and yet you've done so much to help me." Twilight's response was a sincere smile.
"You're welcome, and it was obvious that I would come looking for you. After all, we're already friends," Green felt honored by these words, so he nodded enthusiastically. With how important Twilight is, if she's my friend, she'll be a great ally, he concluded.
"Rest for now," said the princess, taking her blanket and heading to her room.
Green took advantage of the moment alone to inspect the surroundings and distract himself. The first thing that caught his attention was that the castle was made of some kind of solid crystalline stone. As he approached to touch it, its texture was gentle to the touch. It felt like touching a surface covered with very resistant plastic. When Twilight returned, she had tidied herself up, a quite noticeable change considering that before she seemed like some sort of stressed-out college student with disheveled hair. Now she looked like royalty.
"There are several things that will likely happen from now on," Green paid close attention to her words. "First, in the next few hours, the princesses will come so you can tell them your version of all the events. It's also possible that they'll send a squad of soldiers to guard the town until they're sure everything is in order. Second, you'll have to stay in the castle indefinitely under the guard of the soldiers and me. Will you have a problem with that?" This time she seemed concerned, which was normal since overnight she had been burdened with a huge responsibility, and Green knew her well enough to know she wasn't foolish; she was perfectly aware.
"Of course not, Twilight. After all, you're the one in charge," Twilight looked pleased with the response.
"Alright, let's go have something to eat. I'm sure Spike made something delicious," Twilight remained thoughtful for a few seconds. "After eating, you'll take a shower and stay tuned for any... news," the lavender couldn't find the right word to express herself. Very subtle, Twilight, thought Green.
The dining room wasn't particularly large, only fitting about seven chairs, and instead of having a huge and refined kitchen full of chefs preparing the most delicate and expensive dishes of that land, there was only a humble stove that was almost in the same room as the dining area. In this kitchen was the small Spike, Twilight's brother/servant. When they took their seats, Spike hurried to fill their table with a generous number of dishes and sat with them after finishing. Green opted for a vanilla tea with assorted flavored cookies.
"Wow Spike, this is delicious! I didn't know you were such a good cook," the mentioned one smiled proudly.
"Of course, after all, I'm the number one assistant of the Princess of Friendship," he spoke with a hint of childish pride. "Still, Twilight told me you couldn't eat everything, so I made a bit of everything I know how to make," the dragon said quite optimistically. Green glanced at the other things Spike had brought, a fairly varied array of foods, from cakes to sandwiches of all sizes and fillings, and even soups of all colors. Green was surprised and looked at the food longingly. Maybe he didn't need to eat, but he still enjoyed it a lot. "Although it would help me a lot if you told me what you eat. After all, you'll be staying here for a while, right?"
"Well, for starters, any kind of dessert like cake or similar things. Actually, flour itself, like bread, but I can't eat bread with just anything. I also eat some fruits and vegetables," he said carefully choosing his words, obviously avoiding anything related to meat. "Anyway, I always come across food I've never seen, but mostly it's not a problem," Green couldn't really finish his point when he noticed Spike biting into and shattering a gem as if it were a cookie. It must not be fun to get bitten by a dragon, and Spike is just a baby.
"Can I ask you a question?" Twilight, who had been observing in silence for a while, finally spoke up. "I've been curious since Zecora's house, but I didn't ask for fear of making you uncomfortable." Her words worried Green a little, but he wouldn't refuse.
"In that case, you'd be asking two questions," Twilight tilted her head in confusion. "Of course, you can ask. Didn't I tell you that you're the one in charge?"
"Oh... right, but well..." She put a hoof on her chin, pondering how to approach the situation. "I've noticed you have fangs. I know you haven't fully mentioned your dietary habits, and I'm sure you have good reasons for that, but then... are you an omnivore? Do you also eat meat? It's something I can easily deduce, but I want to hear the answer from you," Twilight put on a perfect poker face, and Green couldn't tell if she was uncomfortable, nervous, or anxious. In contrast, Spike looked clearly worried. Green decided to speak truthfully but cautiously.
"It's true. I can feed on both meat and vegetables and fruits, although I don't need to," he emphasized these words. "But obviously, just like with some plants, I can't eat all kinds of meat. In my dimension, we are the only ones with reasoning, so we didn't feel guilty about eating other beings, but I would never eat anything that is rational. Nobody does it; humans don't eat each other for the same reason. And don't worry because I understand perfectly that I'll have to set aside part of my diet while I'm in this world."
"That's okay, I understand. You're not responsible for the needs of your race, and I'm not really worried," the princess seemed more at ease, as if she had lifted a weight off her shoulders. "You have awareness, and I trust you. I know you wouldn't harm anyone. You'll have to explain this to the princesses, but I know they'll tolerate it. You can eat whatever you want as long as you don't harm any of our citizens physically or emotionally."
"Thank you, Twilight. I'm glad you're so understanding," the tranquility that Twilight exuded was contagious, and Green felt genuinely relieved by the princess's maturity. She was undoubtedly trustworthy to him.
The rest of the meal was pleasant, although Green encountered some difficulties trying to swallow certain foods. What was interesting was that he noticed Spike jotting down some words in a notebook every time he pushed away a dish or made a face of disgust or displeasure. This detail made it clear to him how attentive Spike was in these cases and that he was indeed the number one assistant to the princess of friendship. Speaking of the princess, when it came to eating, she lost all modesty, and her majestic and divine demeanor was replaced by that of a child visiting a fast-food restaurant. For Green, the detail was nothing more than amusing.
The guards didn't take long to arrive and were quickly attended to by Twilight, by which time Green had finished showering. It was a pleasant surprise when he found a T-shirt and pants in the bathroom. The clothes were a bit loose on Green, but they were undoubtedly comfortable.
Dressed and dry, Green spent the rest of the morning with Spike, helping him wash the dishes. "Hahaha!" Green chuckled at one of Spike's anecdotes, , or rather, one about Twilight.
"That's because it's true, every time there's ketchup on the table, it's like something possesses her," the dragon explained, smiling as he held a stack of plates in his claws.
"At least it's interesting to know this side of her, although seeing the mess on the table, does she sometimes help clean or organize?"
"Almost never, to be honest. Only on very special occasions. But it doesn't bother me because I know she has very important things to do. After all, she's a princess."
"And you've always been by her side?"
The conversation was interrupted by a female shout of excitement or euphoria. "That was definitely Pinkie," the dragon spoke after a few seconds.
"I'll go see what's happening outside," Green said, then proceeded to walk down the hallway guided by the voices echoing in the castle until he reached what would be the entrance. There, he saw Twilight with a furrowed brow while guards prevented her friends from entering.
The girls gave up their attempt to enter and decided to wait attentively outside the castle. Green approached the alicorn, being careful not to expose himself too much to view.
"Twilight, what's going on? Why aren't the guards letting your friends into the castle?" he asked, to which she only sighed heavily.
"I received a letter from the princess. She said she doesn't want anypony to enter the castle until she arrives, no matter who they are," Green directed his gaze to the rest of the girls. Pinkie somehow noticed his presence and started waving enthusiastically in his direction.
"What happened last night must have worried them a lot," Green remarked, and Twilight nodded in response. "In that case, I suppose I'll head back to the kitchen."
When Green reunited with Spike, the dragon had already finished washing the dishes.
"Why did Pinkie scream?" Spike asked.
"I guess she just felt like it. With what little I know about her, it wouldn't surprise me," Green replied.
"Anyway, it's good to know she's okay..."
"Just her? You seem quite concerned about Pinkie, huh?" Green teased, but it went unnoticed by the dragon.
"Pinkie?" Spike asked, looking confused. "Well, she's a good friend. It's also good to know she's okay," he concluded with a smile.
Up to that moment, it hadn't crossed Green's mind that Spike might have a crush on one of Twilight's friends, but it made perfect sense to him, given that Spike's personality was more like that of a teenager than a child. Not that Green cared much about which colorful pony the dragon he met just a couple of days ago was in love with.
"Hey, can I tell you a secret?" Spike said, gesturing for Green to come closer.
"Huh?" Green moved closer out of instinct.
"I have a crush on Rarity," Spike said with dreamy excitement, leaving a bewildered human looking at him in disbelief.
That must be the worst-kept secret in history, Green thought to himself. He wasn't even sure who Rarity was, and Spike was looking at him expectantly, as if awaiting a response.
"Of course, Rarity," Green said, quickly running through Twilight's friends in his mind, able to rule out Twilight and Pinkie, one being an alicorn and the other an earth pony. So, Green concluded that she must be... "The Pegasus, right?" At his response, the dragon burst into laughter for a few seconds.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to tell which one she was, but it's very easy to figure out. When you see them again, keep in mind that the most beautiful of them all is Rarity," Spike said with a grin. I don't think I have the same criteria to define what 'beautiful' is, Green thought to himself with humor.
"If I couldn't even tell who she was, why did you tell me?" Green asked.
"What's the worst that can happen if I tell you? It's not like you're going to shout it from the rooftops or anything. And you know what? I have a feeling we're going to be good friends, so I don't mind," Spike replied. His words were turning the atmosphere into a cheesy one, something that Green couldn't allow.
"Do all dragons come to such weird conclusions, or is it just you?" Green teased.
"What can I say, I'm one of a kind," the dragon said, shrugging slightly.
Before Green could say anything, Twilight interrupted the conversation by bursting into the kitchen and then directing her gaze at him.
"Green, follow me. The princess is waiting for you in the living room," she said, then hurriedly began to walk down the hallway, prompting Green to pick up his pace to catch up with her.
Throughout the morning, there was something that had been bothering him quite a bit, something he had to conceal, but now it was time for Twilight to clear up his doubts. Depending on her answer, the good relationship he had formed with these creatures might come to an end.
"Only one of the princesses came? Which one?" Green inquired.
Twilight took a few seconds before responding.
"Princess Luna."