Planescape: Equestria 5

>Stepping through the portal is like waking from a dream.
>Even at anti-peak, the closest thing Sigil has to the middle of the night, the atmosphere there was hot and thick with the stink and din of so many people living on top of each other.
>You hadn’t even noticed just how stifling it was until the moment you leave it behind.
>Your foot comes down on thick, soft grass and a mild breeze caresses your face in a tender greeting as you take your bearings.
>The darkness enfolds everything about you, a thick shroud, jasmine-scented.
>Leaves rustle all around and branches shift overhead, allowing brief glimpses of the luminous tapestry of stars beyond.
>You fill your lungs with the sweet night air and let the serenity of the moment wash over you as, behind you, your companions arrive one by one.
>Twilight is the first to step over and join you, her horn flaring for a moment and then settling to a steady glow that illuminates the area around.
>You are standing before a stone arch in a thickly overgrown garden amidst the ruins of what must once have been a grand palace, much of it now crumbled with centuries of neglect although other parts seem remarkably well preserved.
“All in one piece?” Twilight says, looking you over. “Great! I wasn’t completely sure if-“

“WELCOME TO EQUESTRIA!” Pinkie interrupts. “Oh, I just know you’re going to love it here! It’s still a work in progress, but I have just the perfect song for this very occasion. Just give me a moment… now… what does ‘fingers’ rhyme with?”
>She trails off into inaudible muttering as Twilight rolls her eyes.
>There is a heavy clanking of armour signalling Mercy’s arrival, and with that everybody is accounted for.
“So where exactly are we?” you ask.
>You aren’t entirely sure what you expected from the ponies’ home plane, but this isn’t quite it.
>The tranquillity of this place has an almost sanctified quality, and the ruins all around seem too grand and forbidding to possibly have been built by such creatures as these ponies.
>Then again… you think back to the fearsome showing that they gave in the tussle with the Mercykillers, and remind yourself not to take them too lightly.
“This is the ancient castle of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” Twilight says. “They used to rule Equestria together from here, but it’s been empty for a long time. Well over a thousand years.”
“That explains the lack of a royal welcome,” you say.
>Twilight starts to lead the way out of the courtyard as she replies.
“Yes. These days the princesses rule from Canterlot.  It’s an easy train journey from Ponyville, where we all live, so the best plan is probably if you come back there and stay with one of us. Then you can get some rest and clean up, and we can present you to the Princess tomorrow."
“Plenty o’ room out at Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack suggests. “That way we won’t have to alarm anyp0ny by bringin’ him an’ Mercy into town.”
“Umm… my cottage is outside town, too,” Fluttershy murmurs quietly.
>Nop0ny seems to hear or pay any attention.

“I do hope you’re not suggesting that Anonymous’s appearance is alarming,” Rarity says in playful reproach to Applejack, then turns to you. “Don’t let her hurt your feelings, darling. I think you look simply dashing – although now that we mention it, perhaps your mane could use a little work…”
 “That’s not what ah meant,” Applejack says with some irritation in her voice, obviously missing Rarity’s teasing tone. “Nop0ny’s seen anythin’ like him before, so he’s bound to cause a stir, that’s all.”
“My cottage is right outside the Everfree Forest, so, um, it would be right on our way, it’s very convenient, I have room for Anonymous and Mercy as well…” Fluttershy seems to be making an effort to speak louder than usual.
>She goes unnoticed again.
 “Oh yes!” Rarity replies to Applejack, sweeping back her mane dramatically. “It will be a sensation! Everyp0ny will want to know who this mysterious stranger is, and where he got his magnificent outfit… which reminds me, actually, never mind, we should wait for your first public appearance until I’ve had time to design you something. No sense wasting good publicity.”
>Applejack just rolls her eyes.
“So we’re all agreed, Anon’ll stay out on the farm with me?”
“Woah there, hang on, my place is outside Ponyville as well,” Rainbow Dash says.
>Applejack gives a chuckle.
“Ah think the whole clouds thing might be a dealbreaker there, Dash.”
“Oh… right.” Dash turns a little red, and you give an inquisitive look. “All the awesomest people, like pegasi and griffons, live in the clouds,” she explains. “So if you crashed at my place you’d… err… actually crash. Like, through the clouds and into the dirt.”
“My cottage is on the ground, though,” Fluttershy puts in earnestly.
>Rainbow Dash perks up as something occurs to her.

“Unless you’re awesome enough to walk on clouds too! It’s not like we’ve ever tested a human.”
“I doubt it,” Twilight says thoughtfully. “Humans seem to be adapted for life on the ground. They don’t even have any natural way to get up to the clouds, so I don’t think they’d have the ability to walk on them.”
“Pfft, you never know ‘til you try…”
>Fluttershy rallies for one last attempt.
“Um… my cottage…”
>You have to give her credit for her persistence.
“Anyway, your farm probably is the best place for tonight, Applejack,” Twilight says with an air of authority that seems to wrap up the discussion. “Oh! Unless… Fluttershy, your cottage is outside town too, and it’s closer than Sweet Apple Acres. “
“…yes, it is,” Fluttershy agrees.
“Do you have room for Anonymous tonight? Would you mind him staying with you? I wouldn’t mind staying with you as well, if you’d feel safer-“
“Um, no, I mean, yes, I mean… it will be fine,” Fluttershy says with a blush. “Good thinking, Twilight.”
>She actually sounds sincere.
“Great,” Twilight beams. “It’s settled, then.”
>In the meantime you have been walking through the stone hallways of the ancient castle, Twilight leading the way with the light from her horn as the ponies’ hoofsteps and the clanking of Mercy’s armour echo off into the darkness.
>Pinkie Pie has been uncharacteristically quiet as she hums softly to herself and tries out various tunes and bits of rhyming verse under her breath.

>You pass through a great domed chamber, largely untouched by the centuries except for the vines that wind through the metal lattices where glass is missing from the windows.
>Twilight leads you on through a grand arched doorway and you find yourself at the top of a broad flight of stone steps, looking out over the canopy of a great forest.
>From here, above the trees, you have a clear view of the starry sky, all studded with strange constellations.
>A full moon shines down, bathing the trees in milky light.
>The forest seems as wild and primal as any you have ever seen, from the realms of the Elven powers in Arborea to the Crimson Jungle of Carceri.
“Got it!” Pinkie Pie exclaims.
>You look at her with a certain amount of trepidation, which only increases as you notice the resigned expressions of the other ponies.
>Sure enough, she draws herself up and bursts into song, with a full accompanying dance routine that involves the other ponies far more than they look happy with.
“Welcome to Equestria! We know you’re going to like it,
We’ve got a lot of cake and punch, I promise we won’t spike it!
Welcome to Equestria! We hope you’re going to linger,
We don’t mind at all that we’ve got hooves and you’ve got fingers,
Welcome to Equestria! …wait, who are these strange ponies?”

>The musical number is aborted prematurely as Pinkie finds herself trying to dance with a very uncooperative armoured stallion, one of two dark-coated ponies who have just stepped into view at the foot of the steps.
>The new arrivals both sport identical heavy barding in shades of purple, matching plumed helmets, and stony expressions.
>They’re both pegasi, but their wings look more like those of a bat or a dragon than the feathery wings of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.
>Another figure looms out of the darkness, equine, but larger than any of the ponies you have so far encountered.
>You tense, your hand finding the grip of a knife as you prepare for what may come.
>As the large figure steps into the light you see that it is a midnight blue mare with both the horn of a unicorn and the feathery wings of a pegasus, her flowing mane scintillating with specks of light like the night sky above.
“Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaims, bowing to the floor.
>The other ponies follow suit; even Pinkie Pie seems to have grudgingly accepted the curtailment of her song and is showing her respect by desisting in her attempts to get one of Luna’s royal guards to dance along with her.
>You bow as well, after a moment’s consideration deciding that bending from the waist will be quite sufficient.
>You’ve done your share of dealing with high-ups, and your policy is that it’s better to show too little deference and make up for it with charm than to show too much and then have to claw your way back to a more even footing.
“HELLO, MY LITTLE PONIES. HELLO, HUMAN,” booms the princess.

>Fluttershy seems to be trying to hide behind your leg.
“Um… Princess Luna? Remember what we talked about, regarding the traditional royal Canterlot voice?” Twilight asks meekly.
>Luna cocks her head.
“WE HAD THOUGHT… ahem… I had thought this might count as a state occasion, and therefore it may be appropriate,” she says with some consternation. “Dost thou think a more informal approach would be better?”
“I do,” Twilight nods with an attempt at a reassuring smile that ends up a bit more of an awkward grin.
“Very well,” the princess says, stepping closer. “I appreciate thy continued aid in my efforts to update my image, Twilight Sparkle.”
“You’re welcome, Princess. Allow me to introduce Anonymous. Anonymous – Luna, Princess of the Night.”
“It’s an honour, your highness,” you say with another bow.
“…just Princess will suffice,” Luna interjects.
>You’re pretty sure she’s blushing.
>You’ve met princesses before, but never one this socially awkward.
“A thousand apologies,” you smile. “Princess.”
“It falls to me to extend to thee an official greeting,” Luna says, falling back on her official tone.
“…but I was JUST in the middle of doing that,” Pinkie grumps to herself.
“My sister Celestia and I bid thee welcome to our realm,” Luna continues. “Thou art the first of thy kind to set foot in this land. We hope that thou find it to thy liking, and that we may enjoy cordial relations with thee, now and henceforth in perpetuity.”
“Likewise, Princess. I’m very much obliged.”
 “…coulda done a better job than that if she’d just have let me finish…” Pinkie grumbles under her breath.

>Luna’s gaze falls on Mercy for the first time, where he sits contentedly on one of the steps near Fluttershy.
“What is this?” she asks. “Princess Celestia told me to expect one human visitor, not two.”
>Fluttershy goes back to hiding behind your leg.
“We sorta had to adopt this’n here too, Princess,” Applejack steps in after a moment. “He was in a real sorry state, and we couldn’t just leave him. His name’s Mercy. Fluttershy’s gonna take real good care of him, an’ we’ll all help out, an’ he won’t be no trouble, so… can we keep him?”
>Luna seems a little discomfited, but nods after a moment.
“It seems there is little choice. I will consult with Princess Celestia, but I imagine that as long as you ponies take responsibility for his welfare and good behaviour, there will be no problem.”
>Mercy beams gormlessly as he realises he’s being talked about.
“Anonymous, in addition to greetings, I bring word from Princess Celestia,” Luna says. “She bids thee attend her in Canterlot tomorrow before sunset.”
>You nod.
“Then… it is a long walk to Ponyville,” she says, “and it is already late. I will take my leave, that you might get underway… Anonymous, to my previous royal greetings, allow me to add that I am personally pleased to meet thee. I hope that we will have some chance to converse in the nights to come. There are things I would like to discuss.”
“That would be my pleasure, Princess.”
“Excellent. Then farewell, until we meet again.”

>The royal guards pull up some description of winged chariot, and the princess climbs aboard and is borne away into the night sky.
“Well, well, it seems you warrant a royal welcome after all, Anonymous – even in the middle of the Everfree Forest,” says Rarity.
“It seems so.”
“Well,” Pinkie chimes in happily, “now that that interruption is out of the way, let me start over from the top!”
“Welcome to Equestria! We know you’re going to like it…”
>It’s going to be a long walk to Ponyville.